After a D-List Celebrity and Their A-List Ex-Partner Join a Travel Reality Show - Chapter 2

With no camera crew behind him, Shen Shiqin was in no mood to manage his expressions.

He suddenly recalled the variety show his manager had suddenly signed him up for three days ago.

At that time, he had just finished filming a modern urban drama, having spent several consecutive months on set with his day and night cycle completely flipped. After shooting the final scene, he was sitting in the rest area, flipping through the script for his next project.

Plans for the next drama had been slow to materialize, and he had not arranged any transition time for rest, thinking he would read through the script once before the contract arrived. That way, regardless of whether the deal was finalized, he would be fully prepared to handle it.

The weather in February was bitter, the early spring ice and snow still unmelted, and he was someone who feared the cold intensely.

Heat patches and electric fans were essentials on set, but they offered little relief. He had originally thought that three years was enough time to get used to living on his own, or at the very least, enough time to train himself to stop fearing the cold.

But in reality, his body had become accustomed to being cared for in that specific way; such things are not habits, and they are certainly not easily changed.

His manager, Shi Yong, walked in. Seeing him still reviewing the script, he handed over a few variety show proposals.

“I asked the company for some variety show scripts; you pick one.”

Shen Shiqin merely glanced at them without taking them. He flipped another page of his script and said, “I don’t like doing variety shows.”

Shi Yong had long anticipated this response. He simply pulled one out of the pile, handed it to him again, and said, “I know, but take a look at this one.”

“A ‘living abroad’ variety show?” Shen Shiqin’s interest was slightly piqued. He took the booklet and scanned the content. “Meng Yichun is the director?”

“Yes. He is your friend, is he not? He will not make things too difficult for you.” Shi Yong pointed at the synopsis. “Besides, I specifically secured this for you. Although it is not quite a match for your status, I have checked into it. The program focuses on travel and cultural promotion; it will not use guests as mere clickbait.”

“You have filmed a lot of dramas these past few years. Just treat this show as a way to relax.”

…

It will not use guests as clickbait.

Recalling those words, Shen Shiqin sneered inwardly. If an appearance by him and He Lan on the same stage did not count as clickbait, then what did?

He had known Little Meng for many years and knew he would not intentionally sabotage him like this. The specific reasons could be sorted out later. But the person standing in front of him was someone he had not seen in three whole years.

The person at the door stood frozen, his hand gripping the handle of his suitcase, tightening his hold unintentionally. Because Norway was bitterly cold, his face was flushed red, and his scarf covered half of it. Yet, that did not stop him from broadcasting unfriendly signals over the top of the scarf.

He Lan stared at the man in front of him. After a few years, he was thinner than before, and at first glance, he did not seem to hold much intimidation.

Ha, yeah right.

It was just an appearance; he could see right through it!

He Lan immediately looked away, maintaining his composure as his expression threatened to crack, and stepped aside to let Shen Shiqin in.

The two of them did not say a word. They simply entered the room in silence, closed the door, and sat at the two furthest ends of the sofa.

At the same time, the trending topics on social media absolutely exploded.

#HeLanShenShiqinInTheSameFrame #HowDaringIsTheChubafareTeam #TheOriginalMainCoupleReturns

Countless topics like these soared to the top of the charts.

The cameras had been recording in secret, and seeing the heat generated, the production team opened up the live comment section. In an instant, the screen was flooded.

“Are you kidding me? The production team is this bold?”

“Grandma, come quick! Your CP has reunited!”

“The production team loves chaos; they actually dared to put these two enemies together.”

“He Lan is definitely just here to leach off our Shen Bao’s popularity! Such a sinister move!”

“Hey, you above, get lost! How could this show invite Shen Shiqin? It is obvious he is the one who came here to make things difficult for our Brother He on purpose!”

“Laughing to death. Are you a He Lan fan, by any chance? And by the way, do two exclamation points make you sound tough?”

While the internet was experiencing a storm, the two in the homestay remained unmoved.

He Lan had already cursed Zhong Wei a thousand times in his heart.

Did you not say it would just be small-timers like us? Why is Shen Shiqin here? This was a naked, barefaced trap!

The homestay had a fireplace roaring, making it very warm; however, it was a little too warm. A thin layer of sweat soon formed on He Lan’s forehead. He glanced sideways at Shen Shiqin and saw that he was still bundled in his heavy coat, his hands resting neatly on his knees, though the redness at his fingertips was glaring.

He Lan let out a “hmpf” of ambiguous meaning.

Tsk, afraid of the cold and yet you come to Norway. So impressive.

However, the other man obviously did not intend to let it slide, and followed up with a cold “Heh.”

The two sounds were jarring in the quiet, empty homestay. He Lan clenched the hand resting on his chair, gritted his teeth, and could not help but force out a smile: “Teacher Shen, why are you on this show too? As far as I know, you cannot stand cold weather.”

Shen Shiqin did not even give him a look, his tone flat as he said, “Recording the show.”

Recording. The. Show.

He Lan was so annoyed he laughed. What kind of nonsense was that? Why else would he be here if not to record the show?

Oh, wait. It is also possible he came specifically to irritate me. This move had truly caught him off guard.

Just as he was about to lose his composure, the doorbell rang again. Feeling as if he had been granted an amnesty, He Lan immediately stood up to open the door.

Outside was another permanent cast member, a veteran from the previous season. His name was Duan Nan, in his thirties, an actor who had been in the industry for years without ever being a massive superstar, but his refined, gentle looks and mild personality had always earned him a good reputation in the entertainment circle. He was the type of star that people might not immediately name, but everyone recognized and remembered.

Duan Nan entered, saw He Lan first, and shook his hand with a polite smile. “Teacher He, you are here to record the show too?”

He Lan shook back and smiled. “Yes, just taking the opportunity to get out and about; consider it a vacation.”

Duan Nan nodded, but paused for a moment the instant he entered the room and saw Shen Shiqin. His gaze swept between the two of them, and he understood. Given Shen Shiqin’s status, he should not be on this show, and since the production team had uncharacteristically not announced the permanent guests, it now seemed clear it was all because of these two.

He nodded at Shen Shiqin and sat in the middle seat.

Before long, the remaining guests arrived. Because He Lan and Shen Shiqin had made no attempt to hide their breakup and had had a very messy public falling out years ago, other stars, who also love a bit of gossip, knew at least a little something about it. So, seeing He Lan and Shen Shiqin sitting at the far east and far west ends of the room, they were shocked inwardly, but did not show it on their faces.

Except for the last guest to walk in.

Her name was Yu An. She had been acting for a few years and was a long-time friend of both He Lan and Shen Shiqin. However, after they broke up and He Lan entered a semi-retired state, she had gradually stopped contacting them privately.

As soon as she walked in and saw both of them there, she widened her eyes and blurted out, “Yo, did you two get back together?”

“What are you saying? Is that even possible?” He Lan choked on his own spit and began to cough violently.

Shen Shiqin, hearing the coughing from not far away, did not answer Yu An. He simply gave a calm side-glance at the man who was busy trying to recover his composure while wiping his hands with a tissue, and said coldly:

“How ambitious.”

“?” He Lan immediately bristled. “Who are you calling ambitious?”

Yet, Shen Shiqin sat there neatly wrapped in his coat, appearing completely unmoved.

After a long while, He Lan squeezed out another remark: “You are tough, being wrapped up that thick.”

The other man heard this, turned his head, and gave him a cool, sharp look before ignoring him again.

He gave himself a mental thumbs-up.

Heh heh, He Lan, that is one point for me.

Shen Shiqin watched him look as if he had won a competition, and said quietly, “Someone is very fired up; even before everyone arrived, he was already hot enough to start stripping off clothes.”

He Lan’s composure instantly shattered.

“Whether I am hot or not has anything to do with you? It is not like it is because you are here that…”

“Cough!” Yu An grabbed He Lan. “Brother, just sit down first.”

Sure enough, whenever these two got anywhere near each other, they were bound to set each other off. Yu An now confirmed that the two were impossible to reconcile, so she patted He Lan’s shoulder to signal him to calm down.

Calm down? Not a chance. He Lan sat back in his seat, fuming. Getting along was impossible. If anyone could act pleasant, pretend nothing happened, and happily go on a trip with their ex, he would call that person his dad.

In any case, he could not do it! Since Shen Shiqin was going to needle him, he was going to needle him right back.

When all seven guests had arrived, the show’s director walked into the room carrying a task card. The moment he stepped inside, two impossible-to-ignore, knife-like gazes stabbed toward him simultaneously.

The director subconsciously took a half-step back, only to be shoved into the room by the assistant director behind him.

The assistant director whispered encouragement in his ear: “Keep going. One must endure the bitterest of the bitter to become the master among masters; you can do it.”

The director clenched his fists to cheer himself on, forced a smile back onto his face, and stepped in.

“Hello everyone. I am Meng Yichun, the director of the season two production team for Let’s Go! Check-in Around the World. Nice to meet you all.”

Most of the people in the homestay applauded cooperatively, except for the two at opposite ends of the scale; one sitting with arms crossed as if he might throw a punch at any moment, the other looking as cold as ice, as if he might serve a legal notice at any second.

Oh my god, so terrifying.

Meng Yichun gripped the task card, maintained a forced smile, and relied on his professionalism to announce the show’s arrangements for the season:

“We will span 20,000 kilometers, from Norway to Mohe; from the north of the world to the north of our country. We will pass through several cities along the way, living in each city for about a week. During this time, we will experience local cultural characteristics, culinary arts, and scenery. The guests will complete corresponding check-in tasks in each location and present them to the audience at the end of each episode.

“Our first stop, and the region where we are currently, is Tromsø, Norway.

“We are at 69° North latitude in Norway. We will spend a week of living here, experiencing the ultimate romance of the Arctic Circle, and by the end of our stay, we will go in search of the Aurora Borealis.

“Now, please start with self-introductions.”

The camera started from Shen Shiqin’s side, and the guests introduced themselves one by one. There were seven guests invited for this variety show: Duan Nan, Yu An, Ke Tongtong, who had become somewhat popular online after starring in a web drama, and Zuo Jiaxi, a newcomer who debuted in a boy band.

He Lan had heard of these people, but there was one young man sitting in the corner who had not said much, and whom he had not seen before.

The camera turned to this boy, who smiled shyly and said: “Hello everyone, my name is Yuan Kuanglun, and I am a new actor.”

Yuan Kuanglun?

The name sounded familiar. He Lan stroked his chin and suddenly remembered that this person had appeared in one of Shen Shiqin’s movies a while ago.

He asked curiously, “Are you a foreigner?”

He deliberately mimicked the tone of a foreigner while saying this, causing the others to laugh.

Yuan Kuanglun scratched his head sheepishly. “Hello, Teacher He. I am of mixed heritage; I chose this name when I debuted abroad.”

He Lan nodded in understanding.

Once everyone had introduced themselves, Director Meng Yichun spoke up: “Alright, because everyone has been traveling all day, we will use a lottery system today to choose our travel partners for Norway.”

He Lan looked at the lottery bucket the staff placed in front of them and his mouth twitched; what a simple and crude method.

“The two ladies do not need to draw lots; you are automatically one group. Teacher Duan Nan has trouble sleeping, so he needs a separate room.”

Meng Yichun covered his mouth with his hand and continued, “That leaves two rooms, two people to a room. The remaining four teachers, please draw lots.”

The staff smoothly placed the lottery bucket in front of Shen Shiqin first, gesturing for him to draw.

Shen Shiqin lowered his eyes and looked at the four bamboo sticks. He knew the production team could not possibly pass up the heat that he and He Lan brought to the show.

He drew a stick at random, turned it over, and looked: “Number 07.”

The staff immediately moved the bucket to He Lan. He Lan, naturally, also knew what the production team was up to. He pulled out a bamboo stick and looked at it; sure enough, it was also Number 07.

He looked straight into Meng Yichun’s eyes, with a smile that was not quite a smile: “How coincidental.”