"Will they be doing some adult things ?" Bao Ruanruan had only recently come across this new kind of knowledge an...
"Will they be doing some adult things?"
Bao Ruanruan had only recently come across this new kind of knowledge and was still at the stage of being very curious about it.
Although she hadn't had the chance to try it herself, she was happy to see others doing so. She wanted to observe the effect of romance on a person's health first-hand.
Her small face seemed to glow on camera as she earnestly asked the director.
[Aowu, Ruanruan, is it what I think it is?]
"Adult things…?"
That question practically knocked Zhong Zeyuan senseless.
He knew Bao Ruanruan was bold, but he hadn't expected her to be this bold!
Other amateur dating showed only involved participants getting to know each other over the course of thirty days, during which time they sent confession texts and went on slightly flirtatious dates. However, she was actually thinking of having them engage in more adult activities!
This practically sparked a brand-new idea in Zhong Zeyuan's mind.
Indeed, if the show went that route, it would surely stand out and be different from all the rest.
Having the guests kiss, hug and lift each other up could attract a whole crowd of dirty-minded viewers (just kidding).
Zhong Zeyuan shivered on the spot at that very moment.
He had no idea how many views it might get if they filmed it that way, but he was sure he'd be 'invited to have tea1'.
Once the programme was taken offline, his name would definitely be on the list!
Zhong Zeyuan coughed twice, coming back to his senses but still drenched in cold sweat.
"Teacher Bao, this…"
Before he could finish speaking, Bao Ruanruan interrupted, "Since you asked me, I will briefly share my thoughts."
Zhong Zeyuan: "…"
They couldn't even stop her from talking now.
Why on earth did he have to ask that question during the live stream?!
[Oh my gosh! The moment Bao Ruanruan said that, I wasn't sleepy anymore.]
[This episode won't get taken off the shelf2, right? Lucky I came to watch the live broadcast~]
[Excitedly rubbing my hands~]
But after a faint pink flush, Bao Ruanruan's expression instantly turned solemn.
"Since romance can't avoid some adult activities, Director, why don't you arrange for them to get medical checkups first?"
Zhong Zeyuan: "?!"
[???]
[!]
Bao Ruanruan's expression became solemn. "When you don't know whether the other person has any contagious physical diseases, ones that can be spread through saliva, and you engage in intimate activities, that's being irresponsible to your own body. Director, it's very easy for something to go wrong that way."
[!]
[!!]
Bao Ruanruan's tone was especially serious.
It seemed that, as a melon-eating guest3 of the show, she felt the programme was being very inhumane by doing this.
This could also cause harm to the amateur participants.
The other guests on site were so shocked that they couldn't get a word in.
Zhong Zeyuan was almost at a loss for words.
His scalp tingled.
He was about to force out an awkward 'heh-heh' laugh and brush it off, but suddenly he froze.
"Teacher Bao… I think… I'm starting to understand what you mean."
All the other guests: "!"
Live chat comments: "!"
Zhong Zeyuan had a faint sense that he had grasped the key to making the show a success.
Although Bao Ruanruan's suggestion of getting a medical check-up before dating sounded absurd, the central idea was exactly this: when two people come together and eventually take that step one day, they should do so responsibly.
Her guiding principle was authenticity.
She had a genuine heart and an authentic desire not to deceive her audience.
She treated the ordinary participants as couples who might truly end up together!
This mindset was different from that of the other guests and the production team.
"Thank you, Teacher Bao. Your constant realness4 really commands my respect."
Zhong Zeyuan was filled with genuine, solemn admiration this time.
[? …]
[…Director, what exactly did you get? You'd better say it out loud for me!]
[I get it: Bao Bao is once again hinting at the importance of premarital health checks. If you're going to have adult 'happy5' fun before marriage, be sure to take precautions by wearing a tt6. In short, be careful, ask your partner for their health report, don't be shy!]
[!]
[Got it~]
When faced with Director Zhong's thanks, Bao Ruanruan calmly waved her hand. "No need to thank me. Keep it up."
"Okay!"
All the guests: "!!"
Qu Feifei and Xiao Qi both snuck a glance at Bao Ruanruan, a trace of admiration rising in their hearts.
In the 'Great Escape' variety show, she led everyone to safety while leaving Director Zhong spinning in circles.
And now, on the dating show, she's even advising him?
Bao Ruanruan is actually this smart.
They simply couldn't reach her level.
Deep down, they couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration and envy.
It was the kind of awe a struggling student felt for a straight-A student.
Zhong Zeyuan had wanted to keep chatting with Bao Ruanruan.
However, when Yang Xueni finally arrived five minutes late, their conversation had to come to an end.
This was the first time Yang Xuenie had ever been late for a live recording. Even her make-up wasn't as flawless as usual, betraying a hint of haste.
"Sorry, I just rushed here from the airport."
Last night she'd been filming a night scene on a snowy mountain, and after wrapping it up before dawn, she flew straight to Jiangcheng.
The moment she landed, she came directly to the studio to record the variety show.
Yang Xueni kept her back stiff, greeted everyone, and pulled out a chair to sit.
Her expression was slightly unnatural.
She had never missed a single recording of this dating show before and had recorded four episodes in a row.
No matter how busy she was, she would fly out from her film set to record, working harder than anyone else.
Yet neither the staff nor the other guests grew close to her.
They all preferred chatting with Bao Ruanruan, who had missed many recordings.
As she walked in, she again saw Director Zhong laughing and chatting with Bao Ruanruan; everyone else was enjoying themselves, too.
But the moment she arrived, the conversation instantly stopped, and Zhong Zeyuan returned to his director's seat.
Yang Xueni drew a breath.
She didn't care about any of it in the least.
All she needed to do was take care of her own business.
If no one wanted to talk to her, then so be it.
The staff and newcomers were afraid of her, and even her peers and seniors didn't like her.
Fine, let it stay that way.
Besides, she could never learn to be as likeable as Bao Ruanruan!
With this thought, Yang Xueni glanced at Bao Ruanruan beside her.
She looked as if she had just returned from a vacation, even though she had also just finished a gruelling film shoot. Her skin glowed as though she had eaten a ginseng fruit, which made Yang Xueni feel frustrated.
They were only two or three years apart.
How could their skin look so different?
"Morning, Nini," Bao Ruanruan greeted her casually when she saw her looking over.
Yang Xueni: "!"
Hey, this is a dating show, not the Assistant programme!
But as soon as Bao Ruanruan spoke, there were a couple of pfft sounds that could be heard from the table.
Muffled laughter rippled around the recording studio.
Yang Xueni: "!!"
She swept her eyes across the room and saw the staff with their heads bowed and their shoulders shaking.
"Xiao Yang, did you eat while watching TV today?"
"Pfft."
Zhou Minwen asked with a grin. Xiao Qi at the table couldn't hold back, letting out a laugh like a beatbox.
Qu Feifei quickly lowered her head and covered her mouth.
Yang Xueni: "......"
Are entertainers really this free, with time to watch shows?
They were actually cuter back when they simply ignored her!
"My agent saw the video in her daughter's kindergarten chat group." Zhou Minwen, the most senior member, explained casually. "The kindergarten teacher said they should show the kids the part with you and Xiao Bao."
"Haha."
Zhong Zeyuan laughed without holding back.
"Perfect timing—today our show's new gold-master daddy7 wants a live read8, so we'll have to trouble Teacher Yang to read it together with Xiao Bao."
Yang Xueni: "?"
She had heard from Jiang Zhengle that the programme had a new sponsor who had specifically requested her for the live ad read.
The new sponsor didn't compete with any of her current endorsements.
It was an established Jiangcheng household brand—a nationally loved skincare giant.
So Yang Xueni agreed.
However, as she had been spinning continuously on a spindle9, she hadn't had time to look at the ad copy and planned to just record it straight away in the observation room.
But what did it mean to read it together with Bao Ruanruan?
Zhong Zeyuan made a gesture.
Yang Xueni saw the show's assistant pick up the cue card for the live read.
Then, at the table next to hers, Bao Ruanruan silently pulled out a bottle of no-rinse hand sanitiser.
She then passed it over.
"Nini, have you washed your hands today?"
Yang Xueni: "......!"
[Hahaha!]
[The moment I entered the livestream, I saw this!]
[This is killing me with laughter! I just finished watching the neighbouring show, Assistant, but there's only one episode, and I wasn't satisfied yet!]
[+1. As the show Assistant hasn't updated yet, I can only watch this dating reality show to see how these two interact, hahaha! I didn't expect the hand soap sponsor to chase them all the way here!]
[Nini, you still need to wash your hands~ I'm a Snowman, but what Bao Ruanruan said is right—my girl also thinks so.]
[Hee-hee, my mom watched Assistant with me and asked which TV dramas these two have acted in and which other shows they've appeared in. I quickly recommended this dating show to her.]
The livestream comments instantly lit up with excitement.
Compared with the previous two episodes, the audience number had increased quite a bit again.
It was nudging past the 30 million mark.
"Welcome back, Teacher Bao, to our show, Meeting, Getting to Know Each Other."
Host Jiang Xu said with a cheerful smile.
"I heard that Teacher Xueni and Teacher Bao have recently been filming with the same production crew."
"Do the two of you have any romantic scenes in that film?"
Yang Xueni smiled. "No, it's a rescue-themed film, and its whole pace is rather intense."
Bao Ruanruan nodded, her expression showing that she was still shaken.
The memory of being buried in snow made her uncomfortable.
"I'd like to, but I can't."
[Haha, Ruanruan is so cute.]
[It feels like my girl has grown up and wants to fall in love now.]
"Oh, is Teacher Bao really looking forward to a romance scene?"
Jiang Xu's eyes lit up.
"Mm… I hope the directors take notice of me."
Bao Ruanruan thought of her tragic role of being buried on the snowy mountain.
At that moment, she earnestly scrunched her face into a 'steamed-bun face🔗', doing her best to promote herself on camera.
"I have lots of practical life skills—I can handle any job I take on."
"And my personality is peace-loving, gentle, and quiet, so I'm well-suited to playing long-lived characters during peaceful times."
She genuinely longed to play happy, upbeat, and healthy characters.
Her watery eyes sparkled as she looked towards the camera.
Jiang Xu: "……"
Teacher Bao has arrived on Mars again10.
He was completely stumped by her words!
No one stopped her.
Bao Ruanruan happily continued introducing herself, ready to settle for second best.
"I'm great at cooking and doing laundry, so acting in those ordinary family-life scenes would be no problem; it'd come naturally. If there aren't any suitable roles for my age, Director, you can still consider me. I could even try out for the heroine's mom—or a grandma, that works too."
Grandmas lived long lives.
She wasn't afraid of looking old either!
Right then and there, Bao Ruanruan even performed a short impersonation of an elderly person.
This was the result of the acting classes Xue Jing had arranged for her.
She left all the guests and staff members in the observation room completely dumbfounded.
[Hahaha, Bao Ruanruan is job-hunting live on air!]
[I'm dying of laughter, oh my gosh!]
[Didn't expect Xiao Bao to hustle this hard.]
[Can't believe I unexpectedly witnessed the bitter struggle of working-class job seekers from a female celebrity.]
[Sigh, same here—I just sent out a résumé and don't know if it'll work out. Boss, notice me!]
Bao Ruanruan's impromptu 'job application audition' was incredibly down-to-earth.
Seeing that the on-screen comments were already leaning towards the pressure of corporate job hunting and life pressure in modern society, Director Zhong Zeyuan immediately made a hand gesture.
Jiang Xu hurriedly coughed to stop her.
"Teacher Bao, you're still so young! It would be far too unfair to make yourself act like a grandma. Besides, you can't just skip dating and jump straight into starting a family. That won't do."
"No, I'm not skipping dating. According to my latest research, falling in love boosts dopamine secretion, which benefits both mind and body."
Bao Ruanruan declared she wouldn't take any shortcuts.
"But moms and grandmas can date too. 'Twilight romance11' is great."
"Directors, if you have a suitable role, be sure to contact my studio on Weibo~"
Jiang Xu: "……"
Just shut up already!
Once again, the topic was derailed with a bang.
Jiang Xu couldn't help rubbing his forehead.
[Hahaha, looks like Brother Jiang is exasperated.]
[Agree with Kiddo Ruan—my mom had a 'twilight romance11 too, hehe.]
[Exactly! Don't look down on moms! As long as you're young at heart, you can fall in love.]
Bao Ruanruan worked hard at job-hunting.
Unlike her former days of just drifting along, she could now see the dawn of a secure home.
Living in Beijiao No. 1 had made her feel incredibly safe—she never wanted to move out!
She wanted to save money quickly and then ask Xue Jing to transfer one of the apartments to her.
If he refused… she would have to find a similar place in Yanjing, which would also cost money.
After finishing her words, she noticed that the host, Jiang Xu, was speechless and frozen, so she enthusiastically cued the next segment of the show herself.
"Then let's take a look at what's happening in the little house today~"
She could even handle the host's job!
Jiang Xu: "!"
[Hahaha, Brother Jiang is facing an unemployment crisis.]
[Just give Kiddo Ruan two paychecks, hhhh12.]
Bao Ruanruan had been absent for two weeks, and the three pairs of amateur male and female contestants in the cabin had already reached their first dates.
In the last episode, Chen Kaiwei was still the 'text-message king', having received three messages.
The other two male contestants felt the pressure and tried hard to shine, but they still couldn't turn the situation around.
Online doubts that Chen Kaiwei was a 'scumbag' gradually faded.
With no real evidence of this and with Bao Ruanruan absent for two episodes, none of the studio guests questioned Chen Kaiwei anymore.
After nearly three weeks, the audience began to waver.
—After all, a boy who can win over three girls' favour can't be that bad, right?
The week before last, the production team revealed the contestants' occupations and educational backgrounds.
Chen Kaiwei held an EMBA degree and was currently the general manager of an international logistics company.
His education and abilities far surpassed those of the other two male contestants.
Furthermore, a Weibo post claiming to be from a college friend of Chen Kaiwei's was published last week, exposing the fact that he had never dated while in college.
A younger female classmate once pursued him, but he was such a 'super straight guy' that he even treated her like his bro.
This revelation immediately improved everyone's impression of Chen Kaiwei.
They even equated him with a purebred, totally straight guy.
The episode finally reached the six-person dating segment.
On a weekend noon, the six of them shared a lunch they had prepared together.
The girls then chose their dates based on the selected locations and paired up with the male guests for outings.
The three men didn't really compete much either.
Female No. 2, Li Xuan, chose the amusement park.
This place happened to be the date spot suggested by Chen Kaiwei.
Everyone was delighted by this level of tacit understanding.
[The Kai-Xuan CP13 is solid.]
[I've swallowed the key—lock them in!]
[They're such a perfect match!]
Male No. 2, an engineer working in a technical position at a large company, picked a shooting range as the location for this episode and was chosen by Female No. 3.
However, as neither his job nor his looks gave him much of an advantage, he was not very popular.
Male No. 3 owned a bookstore. He was gentle and cultured, but shy and passive—hardly noticeable in the shared cabin.
This time, he was going on a library date with Female No. 1, but no one had high hopes for him.
[This is an episode of strong women and weak men. The three girls are all gorgeous, but only one of the guys is even okay. Sigh.]
[Production team, please use your brain! Beautiful women deserve handsome men, too!]
[Hope they learn from the dating show next door and raise the male standard! Bookstores aren't reliable—nine out of ten lose money.]
"They chose three places for the date: an amusement park, a shooting range, and a library."
"If it were you, which place would you pick?"
Jiang Xu asked the women present with a smile.
Yang Xueni, the biggest star among them, answered first.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'd probably choose the amusement park."
"Everyone's work is so busy now. We constantly shoulder adult responsibilities and have lost some of our original simplicity."
She smiled.
"Going to an amusement park feels like returning to the purest time of childhood, when you had nothing else on your mind."
"So this date location gets bonus points?"
Jiang Xu pressed further.
Yang Xueni nodded. "I think that would be an added bonus. Dreamy places are perfect for creating a couple's first beautiful memory."
Jiang Xu turned to Qu Feifei.
"Hmm… the amusement park and the shooting range both sound good." Qu Feifei hesitated, clearly torn between the two. "The amusement park should be lively and cheerful, but shooting feels fresher, and I think it's pretty fun too."
Jiang Xu inclined his head.
Finally, it was the turn of Bao, the 'thorny one14'.
To prevent this troublemaker from 'overperforming' again, Jiang Xu deliberately repeated the question.
"Teacher Bao, which dating spot will you choose?"
He didn't even mention Chen Kaiwei's name at all.
This time, Bao Ruanruan was unusually straightforward. "I choose the library."
Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned.
In the entertainment industry, many celebrities didn't have high academic backgrounds.
More than half were school dregs15, who got a headache just from seeing books.
He was a talk show host who had studied some social psychology.
Right then, he tried to give an on-the-spot analysis.
"Of the three locations, the library is the quietest."
Jiang Xu shifted his right elbow forward, a gesture carrying a hint of assertiveness.
"This place isn't very convenient for conversation; you have to stay quiet."
"Teacher Bao, for a first date, you picked a place where you can't really talk. Does that mean there's a little castle16 inside you that you don't want anyone to see?"
"Or is it that you don't want to communicate with men because you think they're aggressive… wild beasts?"
Jiang Xu asked curiously, but in doing so, he dug a pit17 for Bao Ruanruan to fall into.
If she gave a poor answer, it would instantly clear Chen Kaiwei of the 'beast' stigma, showing that she herself was just mentally sensitive, closed off, wary and suspicious of men, rather than there being anything wrong with Chen Kaiwei.
Jiang Xu practically wanted to give himself a thumbs-up.
However, the other guests in the meeting room—especially Yang Xueni and Qu Feifei, who had just answered—slightly furrowed their brows.
They felt uncomfortable at being labelled by the host based on their answers, even though they weren't the ones being questioned at that moment. They could easily imagine how uneasy it would feel if they were put in that spot.
Jiang Xu hadn't yet realised that he had dug a hole and buried himself18 in it.
Brimming with excitement, he looked expectantly at Bao Ruanruan.
"Teacher Bao, do you find it very difficult when you confront your own inner self?"
But all he saw was Bao Ruanruan's puzzled expression.
It was as if he had thrown a heavy punch, only to hit a ball of cotton19.
"Brother Jiang, what do you mean by 'inner self'?"
"I chose the library for a date because I want both of us to improve together."
Jiang Xu: "!?"
He had the illusion that he was in a classroom, watching a 'three-excellences' student20 studying hard.
It was as if he weren't talking to a female star from the entertainment industry!
"Within books there naturally are houses of gold; within books there naturally are secrets for long life21."
"The library is truly a treasure trove of knowledge."
[Hahahaha!]
[As expected of my girl! Kiddo Ruan keeps striving every day~]
[Who wouldn't like a motivated kid?]
Bao Ruanruan's voice was soft and sweet, yet firm.
It was as if the light of righteousness had once again shone over the livestream room.
"Brother Jiang, while you're still young, you really must read more beneficial books."
Bao Ruanruan spoke with heartfelt seriousness.
Her gaze was utterly sincere, as if opening a book could somehow extend everyone's life.
"Time flies in an instant—you must cherish life."
Jiang Xu: "!"
"We're supposed to be reading books, but this is a date..."
"Reading together and making progress side by side—I really appreciate this Male No. 3's idea of a date."
Bao Ruanruan rarely praised anyone.
She just loved reading books on health maintenance and safety management.
She felt that truly good books were hard to find.
Lately, she had even been wanting to visit a library or bookstore.
"I think he's sure to get the text message this time."
Jiang Xu: "......"
Today, he finally found out who held the number one spot for blind confidence in the circle.
[Hee-hee, my Ruanruan is such a well-behaved child!]
[This actress is really great! I'm going to share this clip in the moms' group so that the kids will follow stars who love learning like this. How do I capture this part of the livestream?]
[+1. My daughter wanted to watch this show, but I didn't dare let her in case early romance would affect her studies. Now I think this programme is fine! I'll watch it with her once she's finished her homework.]
The live chat comments were buzzing with excitement, but then they took a strange turn.
Suddenly, a dating reality show felt like an educational programme!
In the livestream room, Yang Xueni's red lips curved in mockery as she looked at Jiang Xu.
Zhou Minwen, on the other hand, was happily eating melon and watching a play22, hoping for even more drama.
He even cracked open a sunflower seed on the table.
"Xiao Jiang, how about you make a bet with Xiao Bao… sorry, I mean, play a little game with her."
"If she's right, you have to promise her one thing—just like what happened with Xiao Yang last time."
When Xiao Qi heard that, her eyes lit up instantly.
"Right!"
"This time, let's guess how many text message votes each of them got!"
Jiang Xu: "!"
[!!]
Director Zhong Zeyuan, standing in the corner, caught sight of the live chat barrage, and the viewer count skyrocketed in an instant.
In that moment, he glimpsed the show's 'wealth code23'…
Authenticity plus thrills.
Add in Bao Ruanruan on top of that!
Zhong Zeyuan had an instant epiphany right on the spot!
Footnotes Full List
- 请去喝茶 (qǐng qù hēchá): Euphemism for being called in by authorities or censors for a warning or interrogation.
- 下架 (xià jià): an idiom for a video or program being removed from the platform.
- 吃瓜嘉宾 (chī guā jiābīn): an internet slang term for someone who's just here to watch the drama or gossip without getting involved.
- In the original Chinese chapter, the author used the English word 'real' here. The word 'real' is borrowed from English slang, meaning 'authentic' or 'genuine'
- "嗨皮 (hēi pí)" is playful internet slang for sexual activity.
- "tt" is Chinese net slang shorthand for "condom," from the brand name "Trojan" or "T-shirt/TT" sound.
- 金主霸霸 (jīnzhǔ bà bà) is an internet slang for a wealthy sponsor or benefactor who funds a show or influencer. It's playful, slightly cheeky, and implies the sponsor wields power like a "sugar daddy," but in a business, not romantic, sense.
- 口播 (kǒu bō) refers to a live advertising read during a broadcast.
- 连轴转 (liánzhóuzhuǎn) is an idiom meaning working back-to-back without a break, like a machine that never stops.
- The line "火星上又派包老师来了 (huǒxīng shàng yòu pài bāo lǎoshī lái le)" is a slang exaggeration meaning 'she's acting like she's from another planet' or 'she's so out of left field', likening her unexpected remarks to something alien.
- 黄昏恋 (huánghūnliàn) is a metaphor meaning late-in-life love, like romance in the evening of life.
- hhhh: common Chinese internet laughter, similar to 'lol' or 'haha'.
- CP is Chinese internet slang for a 'couple pairing' (from "couple").
- 刺头 (cìtóu) is slang for a difficult, headstrong, or combative person—someone hard to handle.
- 学渣 (xuézhā): A common slang term for academically poor students or those who are 'bad at studying'.
- 小城堡 (xiǎo chéngbǎo): Metaphor for a hidden inner world or private heart that one keeps protected.
- 埋了坑 (mái le kēng): Idiom meaning to set a trap with words—leading someone into an awkward or difficult position.
- 埋坑把自己埋进去了 (mái kēng bǎ zìjǐ mái jìnqù le): a vivid metaphor meaning to set a trap or create trouble for others, only to fall into it oneself.
- 一拳猛击只打到一团棉花 (yīquán měngjī zhī dǎ dào yītuán miánhuā/a fierce punch landing on cotton): describes an effort that meets no resistance, leaving one feeling deflated or powerless.
- 三好学生 (sānhàoxuéshēng): a term for an exemplary student who excels in morals, academics, and health—essentially a perfect, diligent pupil.
- 书中自有黄金屋 (shū zhōng zì yǒu huángjīnwū): Literally "in books, there naturally is a golden house." The "golden house" is a metaphor for wealth, honour, and prosperity that can be gained through knowledge. 书中自有长寿秘 (shū zhōng zì yǒu chángshòu mì): Literally "in books, there naturally is the secret to longevity." The "secret to longevity" is a metaphor for a long and prosperous life, suggesting that a rich intellectual life can lead to a longer lifespan. This famous proverb is used to encourage reading and learning by promising that a person who studies hard will gain not just knowledge, but also wealth, a good reputation, and a long life.
- 吃瓜看戏 (chī guā kànxì): slang literally 'eat melon and watch a play', meaning to be a bystander enjoying the gossip or drama.
- 财富密码 (cáifù mìmǎ): modern buzzword/idiom meaning the secret formula or key to making money, often used half-jokingly.
COMMENTS