The Film Queen’s Little Bunny Wife - Chapter 37

“No Money, No Problem”

“No Money, No Problem” is a highly popular reality TV show where the main premise is watching how the guests manage to thrive in various environments without any money.

Unlike other variety shows, the director team gives the guests a high degree of freedom.

The guests must complete the fundamental mission of survival, as well as some optional side missions.

Whether they choose to use their fame, work odd jobs, perform street art, or just find a corner to hide and starve, as long as the guests are willing and don’t violate any fundamental rules, the directors will not interfere.

To maximize screen time, none of the guests treat this show casually, which often leads to hilarious moments as they use all their wits to find ways to earn money.

When the audience can enjoy the show, see various aspects of life, and learn new things, that’s a good variety show that nails both reputation and ratings.

“No Money, No Problem” is now in its seventh season, with each season’s critical reception better than the last.

Each season features two permanent guests one established movie actor and one established TV drama actor as well as one singer.

When Ling Hanyan and her group checked into the hotel, the two permanent guests hadn’t arrived yet, so the director arranged for the three current-season guests to meet first.

“The Story of the Crane Spirit Empress” hasn’t aired yet, but Ling Hanyan’s previous film, “No Cure for Jianghu,” was an unexpected hit. Her role as the second female lead was enough to secure the spot of the established movie actor.

Besides her, the production team also invited veteran TV drama star Yin Dengzhu, and the newly debuted independent musician Dou Tian, who rose to fame quickly with just one song.

Speaking of which, Ling Hanyan had worked with Yin Dengzhu when she was younger. She was twenty then, not even as old as Jiaojiao now.

The role she played, as she vaguely recalled, was an uncredited colleague a simple prop with a few lines who had a couple of exchanges with the female lead.

Yin Dengzhu played her boss, also a prop.

However, there was a difference between one prop and another. Ling Hanyan fought tooth and nail for that opportunity to show her face, while he was an established veteran invited by the director to anchor the film with his presence.

Five years had passed with no further contact, and she wondered if he even remembered her.

As Ling Hanyan lowered her head, lost in thought, the rabbit Jiaojiao in her arms stirred. A pair of twitching ears cautiously peeked out from her collar and she started cooing softly into her ear.

Ling Hanyan listened closely, her brow furrowing with a pang of displeasure.

This little ungrateful thing, now that she’s become her girlfriend, she’s starting to be pampered and spoiled, setting her sights on other women.

That’s right, what Rabbit Jiaojiao just said was: “Wow! Miss Dou Tian is so cool in real life! That irregularly tailored black suit is so nice, no wonder she can sing such powerful rap songs! Yanyan, hurry up and take me over, let’s see if Little Sweet Pea likes rabbits.”

Though displeased that Rabbit Jiaojiao had taken her eyes off her, Ling Hanyan still walked towards Dou Tian.

It was a society governed by law now, and a relationship should be about mutual giving and nourishment; she had no right to imprison Rabbit Jiaojiao and turn her into an accessory.

As the “genius music girl” whose debut song had become a national hit, seventeen-year-old Dou Tian was under considerable pressure.

Therefore, she usually dressed and styled herself to look more mature, striving to distance herself from the “sweet” in her name.

She had been quiet for the past six months, currently preparing her next song. This time, she wasn’t going for the catchy rap route and was trying to add more depth.

In her search for inspiration, she actively consumed a lot of classic literature, TV dramas, and movies.

She became obsessed after watching “No Cure for Jianghu,” particularly loving the role of Jiang Wuyao, the beautiful, passionate female supporting character who often stole the spotlight from the male and female leads.

Originally, Dou Tian had no plans to over-exploit her fame by participating in a reality show.

But when she was told that Ling Hanyan, the actress who played Jiang Wuyao, was one of the guests, she immediately changed her mind.

Seeing the elegantly made-up and vibrant Ling Hanyan, who looked like a morning rose covered in dew, walk towards her, Dou Tian was so nervous she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on her forehead.

“Hello, I’m Ling Hanyan.”

Fortunately, Ling Hanyan’s private demeanor was vastly different from ‘Jiang Wuyao’s’; she was neither aggressive nor did she show any obvious outward emotion.

She simply walked over, holding a rabbit, and offered a simple greeting to the young girl.

“Hello, hello, I’m Dou Tian.”

Getting closer, Dou Tian finally realized what the white, fluffy mass in Ling Hanyan’s arms was. Her eyes widened in surprise, “You brought an Angora rabbit? I thought you only brought a cat.”

“Yes, her name is Little Moon Crescent.” Ling Hanyan hadn’t intended to engage in excessive socializing; satisfying Jiaojiao’s curiosity and making a brief appearance was enough.

But she hadn’t expected this girl, who was trying hard to act mature with a buzz cut, black suit, and combat boots, to recognize Jiaojiao’s original breed.

It was the first time she had met a fellow enthusiast, so she lingered for a moment.

Dou Tian sensed Ling Hanyan’s goodwill and instantly relaxed. She looked the rabbit up and down and praised, “Little Moon Crescent is so clean. I used to keep an Angora rabbit when I was little. Its paws were always yellow and its paw hair was messy, and it wouldn’t let me trim it.”

“Moon Crescent is very tidy.”

Praising Ling Hanyan might not work, but praising Rabbit Jiaojiao certainly hit the spot.

Ling Hanyan’s lips curved slightly as she recalled the scene a few days ago when Rabbit Jiaojiao was too lazy to transform into her human form to bathe and instead flirtatiously asked her to help wash her rabbit body.

This soft bellied creature always lay carelessly on its back when it was being flirty.

Its two front paws drooped over its chest, its body wiggled from side to side, and its short tail wagged, giving frantic hints.

It was impossibly cute!

Ling Hanyan even suspected Rabbit Jiaojiao had learned this from a female leopard in a nature documentary; what normal rabbit would make such a gesture!

But she thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rabbit Jiaojiao’s paw hair had also been a little long, and she had neatly trimmed it on that day.

Dou Tian looked somewhat nostalgic: “My rabbit was white too, but it was an albino with pink eyes. It passed away two years ago, and I haven’t seen an Angora rabbit in a long time. Sister Yan, can I hold Little Moon Crescent?”

“Coo-coo!” Let her hold me, let her hold me!

Seeing Ling Hanyan hesitate for a long time, Rabbit Jiaojiao couldn’t help but urge her.

This startled Dou Tian, who quickly retracted her eager hands, her eyes teary as she asked Ling Hanyan, “Is Little Moon Crescent angry?”

“No, my one just likes to make noise for no reason.” Ling Hanyan shook her head, trying hard to overcome the urge to snatch Rabbit Jiaojiao and run away, and formally handed her over to Dou Tian.

Dou Tian’s movements when stroking the rabbit were incredibly gentle, as if she were afraid of accidentally breaking her.

But she was truly a former owner, and soon had the little rabbit completely relaxed.

Rabbit Jiaojiao forgot she wasn’t in Ling Hanyan’s arms, her head spinning dizzily, nearly rolling over onto her back, belly exposed.

“Let’s go say hello to Yin Dengzhu,” Ling Hanyan said, taking Rabbit Jiaojiao back from her arms with a commanding attitude before Dou Tian could even react.

The veteran actor had probably gone back to his room to put things away and was only now making his formal appearance.

Yin Dengzhu was over sixty this year, but his frame was still robust with no sign of weight gain. His latest TV drama had him playing a retired teacher, so he had grown accustomed to wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

He carried a familiar-looking cage and walked towards them with a big stride.

“Uncle Yin, I’m Ling Hanyan, and this is Dou Tian.”

Because she was the one who suggested the greeting, Ling Hanyan abandoned her usual watch-and-see attitude and proactively spoke up.

Dou Tian occasionally suffered from mild social anxiety when faced with complete strangers. Seeing Yin Dengzhu approach looking like a chemistry teacher, she unconsciously hid behind Ling Hanyan.

Only after hearing Ling Hanyan’s calm and composed voice, as if nothing could faze her, did she slightly relax and peek out with half her face.

“Hanyan…” Yin Dengzhu pondered for a moment, and his eyes lit up.

The stern expression on his face vanished, replaced by the look of a cheerful old man. “I remember you! You played a minor role with me when I was a guest star in that movie years ago!”

“I didn’t expect you to still remember me.” Ling Hanyan’s heart warmed, feeling that her hard work back then hadn’t been in vain.

Without the version of herself that worked hard to pave a new path back then, she wouldn’t be the shining figure under the spotlight today.

“Remarkable young talent, truly remarkable,” Yin Dengzhu praised, then turned to Dou Tian with a smile. “Is that song ‘Mountain Fire Rap’ yours? My granddaughter’s TikTok BGM is all that song lately, listen, even I can sing it now.”

He then proceeded to sing a few lines without any pretense, which delighted Dou Tian.

She had always believed that she had gotten lucky to write a good song, and that it was because of the declining standards of the younger generation that she got her chance.

Now, to hear support directly from the older generation was a precious experience for her.

Looking up again, Dou Tian’s eyes became bright and sparkling, and the smile in her eyes grew warmer.

Seeing the two girls hit it off instantly and happily chat with the elderly actor, the director team secretly cheered.

It was great that the guest selection didn’t turn out to be a disaster this time!

This production team was different from the deliberate, manipulative editors Ling Hanyan had encountered before, who encouraged conflict and put downs.

They weren’t afraid if a guest was boring or couldn’t showcase themselves; they were only afraid of inviting a troublemaker who would make everyone else unhappy.

“Grandpa Deng, what do you have in that cage?” Dou Tian couldn’t help but ask after they had chatted for a while.

“It’s a little cat,” Yin Dengzhu said with a smile, uncovering the shade cloth on the pet carrier to reveal a tortoiseshell cat lying inside, purring.

“Like Little Ling, I also split my time to participate in another variety show, ‘Dirty Cat Observation Diary.'”

He then craned his neck, looked around Ling Hanyan, and asked, “Where’s your cat? Didn’t they require us to take care of our little cats 24/7?”

“Xiao Bai didn’t handle the plane well and has gone back to eat now. I brought Little Moon Crescent out to stand watch.”

Ling Hanyan pulled open her coat, revealing Rabbit Jiaojiao, who was excitedly listening to the stars talk with her big, black, round eyes.

Yin Dengzhu adjusted his glasses and, for some reason, suddenly felt that his own tortoiseshell cat which was useless at everything except eating was less appealing.

He couldn’t help but exclaim, “That really is a beautiful rabbit! I’ve never seen this breed before it looks like a lynx, with tufts of hair on the tips of its ears.”

Being praised and observed by so many eyes and cameras, Rabbit Jiaojiao became shy.

She turned around to face Ling Hanyan’s chest, tucking herself into a snow white ball, presenting her backside to everyone.

She was physically demonstrating the concept of “I can’t hear you, I’m ignoring you.”

Once everyone was familiar enough, the two permanent guests finally arrived.