After a D-List Celebrity and Their A-List Ex-Partner Join a Travel Reality Show - Chapter 19

These people were definitely asking him who that person was on purpose.

Just now, He Lan’s face had been completely exposed to the camera lens. He did not believe for a second that there was anyone who did not recognize him.

The screen was bustling with activity. Shen Shiqin searched through the sea of comments, trying to find one he could answer to pull the topic back on track.

His response was standard and formal, as if what just happened was merely a minor interlude that had no impact on him whatsoever.

As the netizens’ excitement began to wane, the host hurriedly pulled the content back to the movie, and the lead actors tacitly continued with the process.

The culprit was completely unaware of what he had done, humming a tune as he wandered around the living room.

There were ten minutes left until their live broadcast. He sat cross-legged on the carpet, propping his elbow on the small coffee table, and waited for Shen Shiqin while looking toward the bedroom.

His phone screen suddenly lit up. It was a message Meng Yichun had just sent in the group: “Director Xiao Meng: Due to the impact of extreme weather, the trip to see the aurora is moved up to tomorrow night. Everyone, be prepared.”

“Clang!”

Before He Lan could even reply to acknowledge the message, a loud bang startled him so much that he almost threw his phone.

He looked toward the sound and saw the bedroom door being kicked open.

Shen Shiqin walked out with a gloomy face.

He Lan silently scooted his butt backward.

He Lan was sitting on the carpet with his legs blocking the space between him and the coffee table. Shen Shiqin did not even blink; he just lifted his knees and stepped over He Lan’s legs with a blank expression.

He Lan, conversely, reflexively pulled his legs together, looking exactly like someone trying to prevent a sudden attack.

However, Shen Shiqin did not even grant him a glance. He walked straight past He Lan, sat on the small sofa to the side, and looked at his phone.

He Lan was not used to this quiet atmosphere. He turned to look at the person on the sofa and, after some deliberation, asked: “The livestream did not go well?”

Shen Shiqin sneered: “Thanks to you.”

He Lan was confused: “What did I do?”

Shen Shiqin ignored him, lowering his head to search for something on his phone.

He Lan leaned over to look, curiously asking: “What are you doing?”

Shen Shiqin showed him the phone screen. On it was something resembling a pet muzzle.

He Lan was horrified: “What are you going to do?”

“Finding something to make that mouth of yours shut up.”

“!” He Lan was shocked.

Why did he have to make him shut up?

He had not done anything, yet Shen Shiqin was willing to use a muzzle to deal with him!

Seeing He Lan’s struggle to recall, Shen Shiqin realized belatedly that this person did not understand how easily his words could be misinterpreted.

He seemed even angrier now.

Just as both of them were deep in their own thoughts, there was a knock at the door. A staff member’s voice came from outside: “Sorry to disturb, Teachers, we are here to deliver the livestream equipment.”

He Lan responded to the door, then stood up and noticed the person on the sofa was still scrolling through his phone with his head down.

A strange thought flashed through his mind. He Lan decisively snatched the phone from the other’s hand and, before the other could react, quickly locked the screen.

He tossed the phone onto the coffee table, turned, supported the confused Shen Shiqin by his shoulders, and lifted him up.

Shen Shiqin was forced to stand: “What are you doing?”

He Lan: “Teacher Shen, making me shut up is not as efficient as just giving me a knife.”

He turned to walk toward the door after speaking, muttering: “And I do not think our current relationship is suitable for those things.”

In the small space, one could hear their own heartbeat, so naturally, they could hear the other person’s words too.

Shen Shiqin silently clenched his fists.

Why did this person, like the people in the comments, always think of things so crookedly?

His anger was justified.

He stared at that slender back for a while, resisted the urge to punch him, and followed behind.

He Lan opened the door, and they helped the staff set up the dedicated livestream equipment. After the makeup artist who had followed them did some quick touch-ups, they sat by the coffee table and waited for the broadcast to start.

The living room was not particularly large, but the design of the open kitchen and small bar made the space feel quite adequate.

The livestream was conducted using a phone provided by the program team, controlled remotely. The guests only needed to wait for the livestream room to open.

The phone was set up on the coffee table in front of them, framing their upper bodies perfectly.

Shen Shiqin and He Lan sat there, one cross-legged on the carpet, the other on the small sofa beside it.

Both of them looked at their own phones, neither saying a word.

Shen Shiqin was diligently searching for something legal that could make people shut up, while He Lan was searching the internet for “What does it mean when an ex wants me to shut up forever?”

When the audience entered, they only saw two people sitting in silence like statues.

The comments rolled in:

“Finally inside. Why does this room have more people than the others?”

“He-Shen CP, ahhh! Leopard and Cat, look at me!”

“Do not understand, let me ask: are these two roleplaying as wooden statues?”

“Hello, is anyone there? I am here, can someone work for a bit?”

The comments were lively. The two looked up, noticed the comments that had already scrolled through several rounds, and finally put their phones away to start working.

Shen Shiqin spoke first: “Hello everyone, welcome to the ‘Finding North’ surprise livestream room. I am Shen Shiqin.”

A pile of comments instantly rolled across the screen, mostly simple content: phrases praising Shen Shiqin and slogans from his fan club.

After Shen Shiqin finished his introduction, He Lan spoke: “Hello everyone, I am He Lan. It has been a long time!”

The comments went silent for a moment before starting to scroll again. Unlike Shen Shiqin’s side, the content of He Lan’s comments was incredibly mixed.

He Lan felt dizzy looking at them and could not find a single one to reply to, so he simply started following the process.

“It is too cold outside in Tromsø today. It is very warm inside, so we decided to livestream indoors.”

Shen Shiqin spoke from the side: “Does everyone have anything you want to see?”

Although both Shen Shiqin and He Lan were in the frame, the distance between them was not close.

It was already enough that one sat on the sofa and the other on the carpet, but they even tacitly scooted to their respective sides.

There was a massive rift between them, and they might as well have had “I find him annoying” written on their foreheads.

The viewers naturally noticed this and kept asking them to sit closer.

The two chatted about daily life, joking with some of the comments, but they remained as immovable as two stone statues.

The livestream dragged on without getting to the main point. The production team could not watch this anymore, so to keep the rhythm going, staff members hidden in the comments began asking them questions about the show.

“How does it feel to participate in this kind of ‘living residency’ variety show for the first time?” Shen Shiqin read the comment and thought for a moment before answering: “So far, it has been quite interesting. I have tried many new things.”

“Is Norway cold?” Shen Shiqin smiled helplessly: “Much colder than at home, but Tromsø is very beautiful, a scene I would never have had the chance to see while filming.”

“You sound nasally. Did you cry?” Shen Shiqin read this comment and explained to his fans: “I did not cry. I have a bit of a cold.”

There were many such questions. After answering a few, Shen Shiqin stopped speaking.

Just then, a comment slid by: “Is he being bullied? Is it He Lan’s doing!”

The person to the side, who was adding water to his cup, noticed this and became an innocent victim.

He was furious: “I bully him? That is pure slander.”

He looked at the person next to him who was sitting with his eyes lowered and did not speak. He nudged him with his elbow and said: “Teacher Shen, be fair. Who was it last night?”

Before he could finish, Shen Shiqin pulled back his arm and said indifferently: “I am not being bullied.”

Why did this tone sound so… He Lan wanted to say something but stopped, looking back at the comments.

When it was his turn to answer, the style of the questions went off the rails.

“Did He Lan take this show because he is broke?”

He Lan read the comment, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He originally did not want to read it, but since a pile of people were copying it, as if they would not let him go until he answered, he had to read it.

“Can I not just want a free vacation?” He Lan retorted speechlessly. “Also, who is your ‘Baobao’? This fan, please watch your language.”

The nickname “He Bao” had been used by fans for years, back when he first debuted.

Back then, he was the “dog-like boyfriend” type. He was young, his facial features were deep and handsome, and when he smiled, he had two shallow dimples, with his peach-blossom eyes curving into crescents.

The nickname started from there. Later, he transitioned into a serious actor, and after acting in a military drama, his expression became more heroic, though always with a rogue-like edge. The nickname gradually disappeared, though old fans still used it fervently.

Countless “He Bao” comments floated by. He Lan looked at Shen Shiqin out of the corner of his eye; the other was looking at the screen in a daze.

He remembered that he did not like this nickname, and neither did… He Lan just wanted to bury these comments quickly.

He randomly picked another one: “Are the snow socks in Norway more comfortable?”

Shen Shiqin, who had just picked up his water glass to drink, instantly choked. Half his body leaned out of the frame, coughing earth-shakingly.

The coughing did not stop. He Lan looked at Shen Shiqin with some surprise. Seeing him cough so violently, He Lan used his body as cover and reached out to pat Shen Shiqin’s back.

When He Lan’s palm suddenly touched his back, the warmth passing through the thin sweater made Shen Shiqin tremble slightly. Once his breathing smoothed out, he leaned forward a little and said: “It is fine.”

The palm under his back felt empty. He Lan hummed a response, pulled his hand back, and touched his ear uncomfortably. Once Shen Shiqin’s body was back in the frame, he looked at the screen to continue answering questions.

Although the viewers could not see exactly what happened, the observant netizens soon noticed that both their ears were red.

A large portion of the audience today were CP fans. They had been starving for so long that not a single tremor escaped their sharp eyes.

Rumors instantly filled the comments.

“They kissed. Yes, that is a period. An affirmation.”

“I knew it, the Leopard is pampering the Cat. Ah, I have been born again!”

“They definitely did more than kiss. Look at our Shen Baobao’s ears, they are so red!”

“The two in front of the screen remarried without telling us! It is fine, as long as you are happy.”

“Tell us more about the snow socks! If they are thin, I will buy some too!”

“The one above, I suspect you are talking about something inappropriate for minors…”

The comments became increasingly bizarre. He Lan did not really understand why they were so excited, but he still answered the previous question: “I do not know much about the snow socks here. I have not worn them.”

“Ahhhhh, is this something you can say?”

“Leopard and Cat, I am truly going to be born again this time!”

“What are you all saying?” He Lan did not know if it was because he had been disconnected from the internet for three years, but he did not understand the netizens’ train of thought.

He looked at Shen Shiqin: “Teacher Shen, did you not buy a few pairs while you were here? Share with us.”

Shen Shiqin met his eyes and quickly looked away. His tone carried a hint of shyness that He Lan did not notice: “Next question.”