The Prime Minister Becomes a Global Sensation After Transmigrating into a Pariah - Chapter 7

The host gestured for Qiao Yuxi to sit. As the final guest to arrive, he was forced into the only remaining empty seat at the corner. The moment he stepped out, Ye Qi had already slipped his watch back onto his wrist, abandoning his attempt to reserve the chair.

This seating arrangement immediately triggered a wave of outrage from the netizens:

• “Wait, my brother Qiao is sitting in the corner? Director, have you even looked at the seating chart?”
• “I never understood why stars fight over billing order and seating, but now I get it. Putting the biggest star in the corner, does the Director think Qiao Yuxi has no one backing him? [Smile]”
• “Didn’t Lou Yishu take the center seat first?”
• “Ye Qi and Shen Mo chose their seats first, and Su Er was forced to take a center spot. Why did Lou Yishu take the other one?”
• “Is he showing his fox tail already in the pilot episode?”
• “He’s really leaning into the ‘infamous’ route. The more he’s scolded, the more his popularity rises.”
• “Lou Yishu alone is occupying three trending topics, pushing the decent guests all the way down.”

While the internet debated fiercely, Qiao Yuxi himself didn’t care where he sat.

“Brother Qiao,” Ye Qi said, looking up at him from below, leaning forward to get closer.

“What?” Qiao Yuxi’s brow furrowed. He reached out and pinched Ye Qi’s shoulder, forcing his terrible posture into a straight line. He remarked with disdain, “Sit properly.”

Ye Qi ignored the fact that Qiao Yuxi’s grip was strong enough to crush his bones and simply offered him a shy, bashful smile. Qiao Yuxi felt a wave of goosebumps, completely unable to fathom what kind of “illness” Ye Qi was suffering from now.

The live comments reached a boiling point:

• “Ahhh! They look so close!”
• “Ye Qi looks so obedient here. Qiao Yuxi, are you sure you’re not interested?”
• “The ‘Qi-Xi Love’ is real!!!”
• “Where is my insulin! I need a shot of sweetness right now!”
• “I’ve already guessed the real couple from the pilot.”

“Now that all the guests are seated,” the host said, his lips curling into a slightly mischievous smile, “the content for the pilot episode officially begins!”

The words had barely left his mouth when several large men rushed out from backstage and surrounded the guests. All eight of them looked bewildered.

Wait—this wasn’t in the contract. Lou Yishu scanned his surroundings in confusion before being ushered onto a bus in a daze.

The comments were a mess:

• “Was this part of the show before?”
• “Long-time fan from Season 1 here: in the past, the pilot was just chatting, ice-breaking, and choosing a tour guide. Not this.”
• “My god, where are they taking them? This is exciting!!!”
• “Qiao Yuxi is so handsome. Even with the camera practically on his face, he’s still flawless.”
• “I don’t know about Qiao Yuxi, but Su Er’s foundation is cakey.”
• “How cruel! But baby Su Er is still adorable.”
• “What foundation is Lou Yishu using? His skin is flawless.”
• “Did they only give him a ‘beauty filter’? Director, you love him too much.”

When the guests are separated, each has a dedicated camera following them, in addition to a main “group” camera. Viewers can switch between feeds, though the comments are shared.

Once on the bus, Lou Yishu noticed the windows were covered with thick curtains, as if they were forbidden from seeing the scenery outside.

Once everyone was seated, the host reappeared, his voice full of passion: “Now, our Traveler’s Love Diary pilot officially begins! To help everyone get acquainted quickly, we’re starting the trip right now.”

“Dear travelers, our bus is leaving the studio. Our Bus Boutique is now open miss it and it’s gone!”

The host’s tone was playful, and everyone sensed he was up to no good. Sure enough, the next segment left everyone agape.

“First, our first item for sale.” The host reached behind him and pulled out a steel ruler. One side was straight, the other wavy, and it appeared to be of high quality. “The exclusive Travel Love Steel Ruler! Not 998! Not 98! Not 9.8! Only 118 yuan! You heard right. 118 yuan to take home this exclusive ruler!”

“How much? What did you say? You’re selling that piece of scrap for 118?” Qiao Yuxi was the first to speak up. The host’s sales pitch was absurd, though his encouraging energy would have made him a great professional salesman.

The comments were alive:

• “LMAO, Brother Qiao, so this is who you really are.”
• “118 for a ruler. I’ve seen it all now.”
• “Brother Qiao should hit me with that ruler (not really).”

“118 is very cheap. Go ask around, you won’t find a better price,” the host claimed with a sincerity that almost sounded real.

“Can we choose not to buy it?” a weak voice asked. Lou Yishu looked up to see Su Er in the front row.

The host immediately turned into a “villainous merchant” with a smirk. “No! If you don’t buy, you don’t get off the bus!”

“This is a scam tour group!” “Let me off this black-hearted bus—” “Is this a legitimate production team? Or just a 118-yuan scam.”

The guests complained for comedic effect.

“I will buy it!” Amidst the chaos, a clear voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

“Aha!” The host’s eyes lit up as he locked onto the source. Lou Yishu sat in the corner with his hand half-raised. “Excellent! Yishu will take the exclusive steel ruler! What impeccable taste!”

Lou Yishu smiled, his handsome face looking bright and endearing. The steel ruler reminded him of a schoolmaster’s “discipline rod,” and he had a hunch that future items wouldn’t get any cheaper.

However, the comments were full of disdain:

• “Here he goes again, desperately trying to stand out.”
• “He’s so annoying. Can the production team add a ‘blur’ feature for specific people?”
• “I’m speechless. Someone actually bought it, ruining the market price.”
• “Lou Yishu looks so obedient, raising his hand like a student.”
• “I never thought I’d see the word ‘obedient’ used for Lou Yishu. Reminder: he’s violent and uneducated.”

As it turned out, Lou Yishu’s hunch was correct. The next item was a pair of dusty grey stones.

“Come, come~” the host grinned deviously, holding two palm-sized stones. “Do not underestimate these! They have absorbed the essence of the sun and moon! 500 yuan! One price! Buy one, get one free!”

Qi Luo joked, “1, 2, 3, show the link!” using a popular livestreaming meme that made everyone laugh. Ultimately, the stones were bought by a laughing yet tearful Ye Qi.

The comments were joyful:

• “Ye Qi is such a sucker, I’m dying.”
• “This is great comedic effect.”

“Next, our third item: a kite! Only 288 yuan.” The host presented a kite that looked like a ten-yuan toy for children, featuring “Peppa Pig.”

The guests were defeated, laughing in frustration. Ultimately, Qiao Yuxi bought it.

“At least it can fly,” Qiao Yuxi said, examining his kite. He looked as though he’d scored a bargain, though his tongue remained sharp. “Compared to that ruler and those two rocks, what even is that?”

• “I’m dying, Brother Qiao is so funny.”
• “Ahhh so cute! He has the face of a dominant CEO but speaks so petulantly.”
• “I thought he was Prince Qiao, but he’s actually Princess Qiao.”
• “Princess Qiao, Petty Princess my god, it fits him perfectly.”

On the other side, Lou Yishu couldn’t help but peek at Qiao Yuxi. The man was stroking the cheap kite repeatedly, seemingly admiring Peppa Pig’s “handsome face,” treasuring it like a rare gem.

“Congratulations to Yuxi for obtaining a ‘legendary’ kite!” the host continued. “And now, our final item: the Old-School Enamel Mug!”

It was a standard vintage mug, printed with “Labor is Most Glorious.” The figure on it had much more spirit than a modern office worker.

“This mug is 488 yuan! A super deal! We’re about to get off the bus final call for 688!”

“First time I’ve heard of the price going up as we reach the destination,” Qiao Yuxi laughed.

Lou Yishu looked at the mug with interest, but unlike the real stars, he didn’t have much money.

“You like it?” Shen Mo, who had been quiet since boarding, suddenly spoke to Lou Yishu. His voice was low but clear.

“I do,” Lou Yishu turned his head, his eyes sparkling with honest affection. “The white cup, is this enamel?”

Shen Mo nodded slightly and raised his hand without hesitation. “I’ll buy it.”

Shen Mo seemed to have a strange magnetic effect; the moment he spoke, the atmosphere fell silent. He didn’t seem to notice the awkwardness. He took the mug from the host and handed it directly to Lou Yishu. His tone was neutral: “Since you like it, it is yours.”

Qiao Yuxi happened to turn his head just in time to see this, and his eyes narrowed slightly.