Does Bao Ruanruan actually know how to make clothes? Yang Xueni didn't believe it. She had been in that room the whole ...
Does Bao Ruanruan actually know how to make clothes?
Yang Xueni didn't believe it.
She had been in that room the whole time, watching precisely how Bao Ruanruan handled the fabric.
Swish, swish.
Bao Ruanruan really cut the fabric as though she were wielding a large knife or wide axe1 with those scissors.
Yang Xueni even broke out in a sweat over the fabric supplied by the production team.
However, Yang Xueni followed Cheng Shaogang back to the clothing workshop and took a look at the fabrics.
She found that Bao Ruanruan's cuttings weren't much different from the cardboard models that Cheng Shaogang had made...
Only then did she realise, "So she didn't cut the fabrics randomly?"
"Yes," replied Cheng Shaogang, looking genuinely embarrassed.
He hadn't expected to be so full of himself this time.
Just one look at the fabric that Bao Ruanruan had cut was enough for him to know that it was usable.
Of course, being a good cutter didn't necessarily mean she could finish an entire garment, or that she was better than his assistant.
But Cheng Shaogang blushed deeply.
This was especially the case when he thought of how he had looked down on Bao Ruanruan earlier and forced her to sleep at the hotel so that he could have the entire workshop to himself.
He felt he had been arrogant to the point of being totally unreasonable.
Remembering the admiring look she had given him earlier only made his heart feel as if it had been tormented over a fire2.
He felt utterly lousy about himself.
"Since Teacher Bao is asleep, I won't disturb her."
"When she wakes up, please tell her that I thank her for believing in me. I was too hasty earlier, and I sincerely apologise. I owe her a favour, so if she ever wants to borrow clothes from Brand C, please tell her to come to me."
The designer, who had just been so proud and aloof, was now bowing to her at a thirty-degree angle🖼️.
Yang Xuenie was stunned.
Did Bao Ruaruan win the favour of someone in the fashion world just like that?
And so easily gained a brand's goodwill?
Cheng Shaogang wasn't just here to compete on 'Fashion Sense'for himself — he was also representing Brand C's public image.
Yang Xuenie rubbed her forehead.
She was starting to understand why Bao Ruanruan didn't have a manager or an assistant by her side.
No one can keep her under control…
No one at all.
Having this kind of talent, not playing cards by the normal rules3, yet still managed to gain multiple connections and resources… was truly baffling, making people lose all their hair trying to figure it out.
It's better not to try managing her at all!
Yang Xuenie had an epiphany.
She looked at Cheng Shaogang with sudden sympathy.
Cheng Shaogang apologised profusely, insisting that they let Teacher Bao sleep — he would complete her design vision himself!
He would win the championship and take Teacher Bao flying4.
This declaration… Yang Xueni didn't even know what to say.
She now fully realised that her agent, Brother Le, had been right all along. She really hadn't known how to deal with people before!
If only she could learn even half of Bao Ruanruan's ways…
Yang Xueni shuddered slightly.
How could she even think something like that!
Stop right there!
Sure enough, Cheng Shaogang also began to consider Bao Ruanruan's earlier proposal seriously.
"What Teacher Bao said about those survival functions — combining them with the beach theme — I've thought it over carefully now. It's feasible, and quite creative.
Teacher Bao really is impressive. I'll go revise the designs right away."
Yang Xueni: "...?"
She felt a bit dazed.
As long as you're happy, that's fine.
She recalled Bao Ruanruan, who was still fast asleep when she had just left the hotel room.
She couldn't help but admire her.
With so many cameras around, how could she possibly sleep so soundly?
Of course, Bao Ruanruan could sleep soundly.
In the five-star hotel room, surrounded by a dozen cameras and under the supervision of the accompanying PD, she felt completely at ease.
It even felt like there were more security guards here than at Beijiao No. 1 — absolutely perfect.
When she woke up, she glanced at the sky.
It was still relatively early — only two in the afternoon.
But a forty-minute nap was just about right.
"Brother Feng?"
A call came in from the work chat group on WeChat, checking in on her.
Bao Ruanruan answered the call, sounding energetic.
Even her little voice sounded bright and lively.
"No problem. Hmm, how did I get on with the designer? Very well, actually."
"He's actually quite nice."
Yang Xueni happened to walk in just then. When she heard Bao Ruanruan's words, the bottle of mineral water she was holding almost slipped from her hand and fell on her foot.
Quite nice... hmm, sure.
That designer had just gone all out for her without a single complaint!
"The show recording went smoothly, too."
Bao Ruanruan yawned and got out of bed.
Then she turned around and made her bed neatly.
"Pretty good. I didn't have any conflicts with anyone, hmm."
True, there was no 'conflict'.
She had simply worn a mask and sanitised her hands, yet still managed to make Qin Lu furious.
Yang Xueni looked up at the ceiling.
Bao Ruanruan finally got out of bed, her little face glowing and dewy from sleep.
"So, what do we do now?"
She asked the show's PD with genuine curiosity.
The PD was speechless.
So was Yang Xueni.
"Then... shall we go for a walk?"
"……"
Bao Ruanruan returned to the clothing workshop at four in the afternoon, feeling completely refreshed and clear-headed.
From two to four o'clock, she hadn't been idle either.
Out of concern for his health, she offered the designer her full support. "Teacher Cheng, I've brewed you some ginseng tea, and here's an air cushion for you to sit on while you work."
Cheng Shaogang was deeply moved.
Bao Ruanruan then took some leftover fabric scraps and made little red flowers.
Yang Xueni, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel the twitching at the corner of her eye.
Still so ugly!
Ugly, rejected!
But while Bao Ruanruan worked, she also slipped over to the other clothing workshops to spy on the competition.
She didn't actually peek inside; she just stood at the doorway and listened for a bit.
Then she went back and secretly reported to Designer Cheng, "I think our chances of winning are still pretty high."
Cheng Shaogang froze for a moment.
Even Yang Xueni perked up her ears.
"It sounds like they don't have much teamwork going on. Their discussion sounded really heated, and they never stopped talking."
According to her gaming experience, the final outcome depended on teamwork in the later stages.
The other teams were still discussing incessantly, but no one was taking the initiative to make the final decision.
That was a very dangerous sign.
Bao Ruanruan felt their side was safe now.
However, Cheng Shaogang couldn't help blushing.
The other designers actually demonstrated a sense of teamwork and discussed things with the celebrities, whereas he came across as petty and dictatorial by comparison.
"Teacher Bao, I've finished both of these outfits. Please come and see if there's anything that needs improvement."
Yang Xueni: "……"
*
Zhu He was one of the celebrity guests on Fashion Sense. When he heard that Yang Xueni would also be attending, he made a special request to his company, promising to work nonstop on film sets the following year in exchange for this opportunity.
During the recording, he lingered outside Bao Ruanruan's room several times, but never found the courage to knock on her door.
While standing by the door, he suddenly heard Bao Ruanruan's gentle voice coming from inside.
"Nini, can you swim?"
"Then this outfit will suit you~"
Zhu He froze for a moment.
So Bao Ruanruan and Sister Xueni were really close after all.
She was even designing clothes for Sister Xueni?
Now that's true love.
Back in his own room, he couldn't help but log in with his alt account.
[CheeringSnowmanV: On this fashion design show, Bao Ruanruan's genuine affection for Sister Xueni couldn't be more obvious. Everyone, get ready to be impressed.]
[CrystalSnowman: !]
[HamSausageSnowman: ?]
At 2 p.m. the next afternoon, Fashion Sense admitted 500 pre-registered audience members.
The invited sponsoring brands, along with 20 guest judges from the fashion industry—photographers, models, magazine editors, and design-school instructors—entered the studio.
The 24-hour garment-making session had come to an end.
The formal stage recording was about to begin.
"Have you heard? Apparently, someone in the industry leaked that Bao Ruanruan was really taking care of Sister Xueni during Fashion Sense."
"Yeah, I saw that. ...'Love that can't be spoken from the heart, all hidden in the clothes'?"
"I saw the leaked photos of Sister Xueni and Bao Ruanruan this morning, so I immediately found a ticket scalper to buy tickets~"
"+1! Luckily, there were still some left! They're so expensive, but I hope we'll get to see Sister Xueni and Bao Ruanruan interact~"
"Mm-hmm. Are there any 'Snowmen' here? I'll ask in the group chat. If there are any, we should meet up and recognise each other~"
While waiting in line, some audience members began chatting among themselves.
As well as fans of the celebrity guests, there were even 'Snowmen' who couldn't be hit together even with eight poles5.
Tang Xi, who prided herself on knowing all the ins and outs of fan culture, held up Bao Ruanruan's light sign and was utterly baffled.
The girls next to her also seemed confused and leaned closer.
"Fake Mom, are they talking about Kiddo Ruan?"
"Who's a Snowman? Are they Yang Xueni's fans?"
"Fake Mom, didn't you say Kiddo Ruan might not get along with Yang Xueni, and that we shouldn't flood the Assistant show's comments with Kiddo Ruan's name?"
Tang Xi: "......"
This question is totally beyond the syllabus6!
As Tang Yuxin's career-focused fan, Tang Xi was well aware of the nature of Yang Xueni's relationship with Sister Yuxin.
Yang Xueni hardly had any friends in the industry — Tang Yuxin was her only close confidante.
Everyone in the 'Sugar7' fandom knew that.
There was even a time when the 'Sugar7' fans took pride in this fact.
This reaction was because their 'Sister Yuxin' had managed to win over Yang Xueni, someone whom no one else in the entertainment industry could get close to.
Yang Xueni had low emotional intelligence, often said hurtful things, and had a volatile temper. However, whenever she encountered their Sister Yuxin, she immediately softened and wanted to help her.
It was certain that Yang Xueni didn't like Bao Ruanruan.
There was the feud with Tang Yuxin, the fall on the red carpet and the slap on the face during the dating show.
Now, after the Great Escape, Yang Xueni had been assigned as Bao Ruanruan's assistant...
In just those two or three seconds, Tang Xi thought of countless reasons why Yang Xueni and Bao Ruanruan wouldn't get along.
Tang Xi looked helplessly at the girls beside her.
Some of them, like her, were already office workers, and a few were even middle managers.
But why did they all become so reckless the moment they started chasing idols?
"Keep your voices down. Don't discuss fan-circle gossip in public."
She picked up her phone and signalled for everyone to talk about it in the group chat instead.
"Oh oh oh, Fake Mom, we'll listen to you."
When it was their turn in line, the staff began verifying each invitation email.
"Hmm, the invitation says the surname is Tang? Aren't you surnamed Jia?"
The staff stopped Tang Qian.
It's the 'Jia' in 'Jia Ma'...ℹ️
Tang Xi: "...?"
How polite of you—thanks a lot, your whole family9!
After that little farce, she finally led a team of more than twenty 'mom-fans' into the venue.
There, they encountered another dozen or so of Bao Ruanruan's 'career-fans'.
Everyone redistributed the banners and light boards according to their seats.
They tried to get spots closer to the centre from which to cheer Bao Ruanruan on.
Tang Xi couldn't help reminding them, "Among today's celebrity guests, Qin Lu is the most famous, and if Yang Xueni is here too, she should be seated near the front."
"So, when our girl isn't on stage, don't light up our light boards or call out her name. We need to show respect to the other guests and avoid drawing the dislike of their fans or the general audience."
Bao Ruanruan's group of fans were all relatively new.
She could only take the lead a little more.
However, as soon as they sat down, two unfamiliar girls in front of them glanced at the Bao Ruanruan banners they were holding.
As if long-lost relatives had recognised each other, they lifted their wrists to show off Snowman ribbons — the fan ribbon of another celebrity.
"Bao Ruanruan fans?"
"I just heard you talking — you all seem really well-mannered! I'm a Snowman."
"Our two idols are good friends, so let's get along well too!"
"When Bao Ruanruan goes on stage later, we can help clap and cheer for her together~ Oh, my seat's closer to the front — I can even help you hold up Bao Ruanruan's light board!"
Tang Xi: "......!"
Our rival fandom helping us cheer? Even helping us hold our signs?
She couldn't make sense of it.
And she was utterly stunned.
When she lowered her head, she saw new messages popping up in the QQ group chat.
[@Fake-Mom, looks like the Snowmen aren't as fierce as you said.]
[@Fake-Mom, you were right — since we showed respect to the other guests, they've started treating us like friends and are even offering to help us!]
Tang Xi: "......"
She wanted to leave the group.
Once the audience had settled into their seats, the official recording of the show began.
The outfits, created jointly by the four designers and their celebrity partners, were temporarily sealed in garment bags to ensure they remained strictly confidential.
Meanwhile, dozens of models headed backstage to change.
The host then invited the designers and celebrities to come up on stage one by one.
Qin Lu, being the most famous of them all, was placed first in line.
Before walking up, she deliberately glanced at Yang Xueni and Bao Ruanruan, giving them a faint, knowing smile.
Then, full of confidence, she linked arms with the designer and stepped onto the stage.
Thunderous applause soon rang out from the front of the hall, accompanied by Qin Lu's melodious voice, as graceful and lilting as an oriole's song.
"I'm delighted to be working with designer Chen Mo. I've always admired his talent and have dreamed of sharing a stage with him."
"So, when I heard this season's theme was the beach, I immediately thought of Teacher Chen's speciality—the national-style ink painting—which even matches his name10."
"In the gentle summer breeze over golden sands, the shifting tones of ink embody the beauty of our traditional culture for all to see."
Her words drew continuous applause from the audience.
Even though Yang Xueni disliked her, she had to admit that Qin Lu truly knew how to express herself well.
There wasn't a single flaw to pick out—she had skilfully patted Chen Mo's horse's rump11 while simultaneously elevating the show's theme.
Her emotional intelligence was clearly much higher than her own.
Yang Xueni's mood instantly soured.
Zhu He stood a little further back, watching her anxiously.
As her fan, he was aware that Qin Lu was Sis Xueni's long-standing rival.
As a fellow actor, he was also aware that Qin Lu's acting style was heavily influenced by Sis Xueni's.
However, he had no idea how to comfort her.
Just as he started to worry, Bao Ruanruan took a step forward.
Holding the measuring stick in her hand, she poked Yang Xueni twice on the back — once on the left and once on the right.
Yang Xueni's back instantly tensed up.
In an instant, her shoulders became perfectly level.
Just like during military training, she stood ramrod straight with her chest out and her shoulders back.
She turned around and shot Bao Ruanruan a resentful look.
Bao Ruanruan didn't say anything, but seeing her like that, she nodded in satisfaction.
Then, holding the little red flower in her hand, she stuck it on Yang Xueni's chest.
Zhu He: "!"
Yang Xueni's face quickly flushed, visible to the naked eye.
She immediately plucked the little red flower off and hid it in her pocket.
It was as if she were terrified someone might see it.
But after that little episode, the bad mood she had felt because of Qin Lu vanished completely.
Her posture, too, looked even more photogenic and upright than before.
Zhu He took a deep breath.
When he looked toward Bao Ruanruan, his eyes were full of gratitude.
Soon, Zhu He and the designer also took to the stage.
"The theme of our summer beach collection is joy."
As he spoke, he glanced towards the backstage area.
"I think joy should be like the waves — never-ending."
His words were tinged with his trademark melancholy and a faint blush.
They instantly drew applause from some of his fans and the audience.
Even Yang Xueni, watching from the backstage monitor, couldn't help but glance at him once more.
The next group soon went up on stage.
"Our design is inspired by the concept of sunrise red. It's like watching the sun rise over the sea at the moment it breaks the horizon and bathes everything in light."
"It brings hope, and the courage to set out."
Design sketches from all the designers were displayed on the big screen above the stage.
The ink painting design featured flowing brushstrokes reminiscent of a highly skilled artist's work, as if the ink itself had merged with the sea.
The happiness theme incorporated many elements of childhood, such as swings, rubber balls, and see-saws, which were featured on the swimsuits and skirts.
The third group's sunrise concept incorporated sun motifs and the idea of light refraction in their clothing designs.
Traces of the celebrity guests' handwriting or personal touches were visible in the sketches of the first three groups.
Tang Xi glanced nervously towards the backstage area.
The first three groups had been outstanding.
She didn't know whether Bao Ruanruan could withstand the pressure of being the last to go on stage.
This was Bao Ruanruan's first time appearing in a show with such high professional standards and a strong fashion atmosphere.
Her mom-fans were getting nervous now.
"They're all so talented—what should we do? Will our Kiddo Ruan be scared?"
"Does our Kiddo Ruan have any foundation in drawing?"
"Zhu He's drawing is the best; that seesaw looks exactly like the real thing."
"Qin Lu's is not bad either — my son learned ink painting, too, and her work looks like that of someone with professional training."
In recent years, the celebrity world had truly been a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons dwell12 and it had become increasingly competitive.
Nowadays, if a celebrity didn't have several talents up their sleeve, they wouldn't even dare appear on variety shows.
The group of mom-fans were just like mothers watching a kindergarten performance.
Each of the earlier 'kids' had performed confidently and produced excellent drawings. When it was their own 'child's' turn, the moms were worried she might not do well and would start crying once she stepped off the stage.
In this tense yet expectant atmosphere, Bao Ruanruan finally walked onto the stage with Cheng Shaogang.
Her red dress had already been revealed earlier through leaked photos.
But today, she finally wore the matching crystal high heels from Brand M—and in an instant, everyone who had seen the leaked pictures drew in a sharp breath.
She had swapped her musket for a cannon13… always catching people off guard!
Even when she casually wore simple slippers before, people thought her ankles were exquisite and her calves long and straight.
Now, with these carefully designed, dazzling heels, her beauty had instantly reached a new height!
It was a direct cannon blast to the heart!
The crystal shoes accentuated her snow-white skin and delicate ankles perfectly.
"Those shoes are gorgeous!"
"Oh, no! My 'Mom fan' status is going to change; I'm going to become a Kiddo Ruan's 'walking fan14'."
"Once the show ends, I'm totally going to the store to buy them~"
From the audience seats, the conversation began to veer off course.
Clearly, many people had seen Bao Ruanruan's leaked photos—not just her fan community.
Bao Ruanruan quickly smiled as she took the microphone, and with just one sentence, she steered the conversation back on track!
"Sunshine and beaches."
"Our design focuses mainly on protecting everyone's skin and encouraging self-care while enjoying seaside activities."
The entire audience, including the fashion judges, fell silent all at once.
All discussions stopped instantly.
Had they misheard her?
On stage, Bao Ruanruan, dressed in a red gown, simply smiled and set down the microphone.
The giant screen behind Bao Ruanruan lit up in an instant, showing her group's design drafts and main elements!
— A swimming ring, a life jacket.
— Sunscreen...
— And the bright, internationally recognised distress signal: SOS.
The entire audience fell silent.
This atmosphere continued for quite a while.
Tang Xi, mouth agape—unsure whether to laugh or cry—felt her arm suddenly gripped tightly by the 'mom-fan' beside her.
The excited voice of the mom-fans rang right next to her ear:
"This must be our Kiddo Ruan!"
"She wasn't swapped out15"~!"
Tang Xi: "..."
"The moment I saw this picture, I knew right away — that the swimming ring had to be drawn by her."
"She definitely didn't hire a ghost designer16!"
What an honest child!
She didn't receive any outside assistance for the show, yet she still managed to maintain her unique style.
At just one glance, her mom-fans could recognise it—
That overwhelming will to survive.
No substitutes.
One of a kind.
Tang Xi raised a hand to her forehead.
The two 'Snowmen' in front also began whispering to each other, surprised.
And she could still hear every word.
"Was this outfit designed especially for our Xueni? Did they design it after knowing that she couldn't swim and was afraid of getting tanned? Wow, that's so thoughtful!"
Tang Xi: "???"
You all are reading far too much into this!
On stage, Bao Ruanruan glanced back at the draft design displayed on the slideshow, her small face full of satisfaction.
But beside her, Zhu He was completely stunned.
Clearly, he hadn't seen this coming.
Qin Lu instantly burst into laughter, creating a perfect meme-worthy moment.
"Teacher Bao, how did you come up with this?"
At that, the entire venue erupted with laughter.
"I'm dying of laughter! If someone painted a life ring on my clothes and told me it was fashionable, I wouldn't wear it even if it were free!"
"The designer working with her must have such bad luck."
"Is their brain empty or what? Our Lu Lu has real talent — ink painting has such class!"
Tang Xi and Bao Ruanruan's 'mom-fans' immediately glared at those in the back row where the rude remarks had come from.
The Snowmen seated in front of them were also united in anger as they turned around to glare furiously at the hecklers.
The Snowmen had never liked Qin Lu's fans.
But to them, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
"Well, I personally love Bao Ruanruan's design!" one Snowman shouted back.
"Exactly! What's so special about ink painting anyway? Is classical culture meant to be worn on your clothes? Such showing off!"
Tang Xi: "……"
The rival fandom is helping me argue with them? Seriously?
They were about to start arguing, but fortunately, the stage had already moved on to the next segment.
Based on the design sketches and concepts, the brands were now invited to bid on the four groups of guests.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
"I really like the ink-painting concept, and I'm looking forward to seeing the surprises that Teacher Chen has in store for me this time." The Brand M representative was the first to speak. "My bid goes to Teachers Chen Mo and Qin Lu for 3.6 million."
"I personally like the childlike, playful concept. Beaches are naturally a popular destination for family trips with kids," said the shopping app representative, quickly adding, "2.8 million."
"'Sunrise' and 'Joy'—these two concepts are usually hard for me to choose between. It's difficult to divide the autumn colours equally17. But today, with this ink-painting theme, I'll go with Teacher Chen Mo's series. 3.5 million."
The women's fashion brand representative also announced her price.
The last company representative turned out to be someone Bao Ruanruan knew:
He was Qian Hongyi, from Pengmai Sports.
But—
That acquaintance looked at Bao Ruanruan on stage with a complicated expression.
He didn't even know where to begin.
She had really managed, all by herself, to make it impossible for him, as a brand representative, to even find a way to support his own spokesperson!
"Hmm... the safety concept isn't bad..."
"Personally, though, I'll go with the ink-painting theme: 3.65 million, thank you."
As soon as Qian Hongyi said that, the audience burst into laughter.
Even Yang Xueni, backstage, let out a sigh.
On stage, Cheng Shaogang and Bao Ruanruan exchanged glances. "It's fine — there'll be more chances later."
The first round of bidding has ended.
The second round would be the clothing showcase.
The models put on four sets of summery, beach-themed outfits and walked onto the stage to showcase them.
As soon as the first group, themed 'Ink Painting', appeared, the whole studio was filled with gasps.
The outfits were bold and vivid, as if black ink had been spilt across white paper. Yet at the same time, they appeared as though the brush had touched down lightly, leaving only soft, fading ink shadows.
There were eight complete sets of summer beachwear for both men and women, including swimwear, dresses, and trousers, all unified under the ink-painting theme.
Each piece looked like a work of art.
Everyone could imagine what it would look like to wear them in the water.
As the fabric fluttered, it seemed the ink was spreading and blending into the ocean.
Drifting, floating, and sinking.
The fusion of this theme with the sea was truly perfect.
"The only problem is that the colours aren't eye-catching enough."
Bao Ruanruan stood backstage, watching silently.
"If someone got submerged and reached out for help, no one would even see them…"
Yang Xueni: "……"
Cheng Shaogang: "……"
Zhu He, who was just passing by: "……"
The ink-painting theme sparked a bidding war among three companies, each offering over four million.
In the end, it was bought by an online fashion app eager to break into the market.
Next was the turn of the second group: Zhu He's team.
The host asked with a smile, "How about it—still feeling confident? The previous ink-painting theme was pretty strong, wasn't it?"
If you're a real man, don't you dare say you can't!
Zhu He nodded. "I'm confident. The ink painting is nice, but the colours are too light — if it got submerged in the sea, you wouldn't even see it...!"
Zhu He nearly bit his own tongue.
How did he get infected by Bao Ruanruan's way of speaking?
Help!
"Ahem, anyway, our colours are more vivid. A summer beach... Summer is meant to be bright and colourful!"
The audience burst into hearty laughter.
Soon, the second group of models took to the stage.
Their theme was 'Joy', and they wore a variety of rainbow colours.
Each of the eight models wore a different colour and paired it with elements of childlike innocence — the result was certainly eye-catching!
But in the end, only a women's fashion company placed a bid, winning it for three million.
The other three companies all withdrew.
"It's missing some trendy elements."
"It feels too ordinary, too everyday."
"The colours are too chaotic — your main tone gets lost, and the theme becomes unclear."
Zhu He had originally joined just for the experience and didn't care about winning or losing.
However, when he saw that their price was nearly half that of the others', he felt sorry for the designer and wished he could have helped her achieve a better value.
Backstage, he looked a bit dejected.
He hadn't performed well in front of Sister Xueni.
"There's nothing wrong with a lower price. This is the kind of design I'd actually buy — if it fell into the sea, I'd spot it right away."
Bao Ruanruan spoke up.
Everyone: "......"
Zhu He turned to look at her, then at Yang Xueni.
His heart suddenly felt warm.
Was she saying that on purpose to comfort him?
The third group, Sunrise, also received a bid of three million, and was taken by an online shopping app.
Qin Lu, who was temporarily ranked first, even her walk carried the wind18.
She deliberately walked from the lounge to the backstage area where they were waiting.
"I'm nervous for you guys already."
"I heard that both companies bidding today have chosen Xiao Bao as their spokesperson."
"No matter what, we should give Xiao Bao some face. Surely we won't just forfeit, right?"
"Ah! Surely the sugar daddies won't offer a lower price than the other two companies, will they? That would be so embarrassing."
Yang Xueni rolled her eyes.
She took a deep breath.
Inhale.
Then she took out a bottle of 'King Clean' hand sanitiser from Bao Ruanruan's backpack.
Qin Lu: "……"
Clearly approving of Yang Xueni's actions, Bao Ruanruan washed her own hands before going on stage with designer Cheng Shaogang.
The models, who had been waiting backstage under a cloak, finally appeared.
As soon as they appeared on camera, the audience froze for a moment.
The first three groups had all featured adult models.
But this group included child models.
"We'd like to thank our Little Starlight Art Troupe for their friendly collaboration."
"Now, please enjoy the fourth group's outfits."
As soon as these words were spoken.
The sound of the waves on the beach echoed across the stage.
Led by a female model, the first child walked onto the stage, hand in hand. Both were wearing masks as they strode down the runway to the centre stage.
Then they removed their capes.
Both revealed matching bright yellow striped swimsuits — a mother-and-son set.
Over the swimsuits, each wore a sheer, transparent sun-protection jacket that draped down to their forearms.
They spun once in place at the centre of the stage.
The child lowered his head and loosened the drawstring at his neckline.
The female model holding his hand bent down and blew a puff of air into the child's jacket.
The audience: "??"
Everyone waited for a full half-minute.
During this time, the boy's transparent sun-protective clothing inflated like a life jacket!
It had formed a protective armour around him.
Then the boy struck a Superman pose🖼️.
The adult model retook his hand afterwards and led him back to their starting point.
The audience: "!"
Next, a male model appeared, holding a little girl's hand.
They were wearing matching father-daughter outfits in a soft yellow 'little bee' design: a beach dress and beach shorts.
The little girl had a pale pink sun-protection jacket that reached her ankles.
She, too, reached up and pulled on the tightening cord.
The male model bent down and blew air into it.
—— The little girl's sun-protective outfit blossomed like a flower, swelling around her waist like a swimming ring.
The little girl grinned, tugged at the hem of her dress, and happily took the male model's big hand, walking back to her spot.
Finally, Bao Ruanruan emerged, wrapped in a black cloth and walking with the hip-swaying strut she had learnt from Sister Fang Lei.
Like a little leopard, she strode powerfully and gracefully to the centre of the stage.
She untied the cord of her cloak.
This action caused the black cloth to slip off.
Revealed underneath was a floor-length, transparent, sun-protective gown adorned with yellow and green sequins.
Wearing high heels, she walked across the stage as if she were striding through a swirl of fluttering green leaves in nature.
Her hair was tied up in a stylish ponytail.
She reached out, grasped her trailing gown, and spun around in place.
Shimmers of light rippled across the fabric, glinting under the stage lights.
Beneath the translucent gauze dress was a vivid red outfit that shimmered like a ruby as she moved.
With each step, it even produced a light jingling sound.
"Why can I hear a sound too?"
"So shiny! My titanium eyes19— they hurt!"
"So beautiful!"
The audience buzzed with excitement.
Both Tang Xi and Bao Ruanruan's mom-fans in the audience held their breath.
With the red and green contrasting so vividly with her snow-white skin, Bao Ruanruan looked even more like a piece of polished jade, making it impossible for people to pull their gaze away from her.
The Brand M representative in the front row was the first to light up their bidding lamp.
"I think this outfit is red-carpet-worthy, and it matches our brand's high heels perfectly."
The women's clothing representative next to them quickly followed suit and lit up their lamp.
"This woman's set uses a contrasting colour design and natural patterns for the inner and outer pieces. It feels fresh, natural, and eye-catching."
"The two children's sun-protection outfits are also very interesting—innovative yet practical."
The remaining brand representatives remained silent.
Backstage, Qin Lu let out a small smile.
Then the music stopped, and the host invited Bao Ruanruan and the designer to the centre of the stage.
"Teacher Bao, I seemed to hear a jingling sound when you were walking just now," the host asked curiously.
They wanted her to demonstrate again.
Bao Ruanruan picked up the microphone and nodded.
"Yes, that was the sound of two whistles on me knocking against each other."
Host: "?"
Audience: "?"
Fashion insiders and brand judges: "??"
"What? What do you mean, 'whistles on you'?"
Bao Ruanruan took a few steps closer to the camera so that the big screen could capture the details of her red dress.
Tied around her slim waist was a hand-woven belt of the same colour, tied in a double knot. Hanging from the ends of the belt were two gold-coloured... whistles, each about half an inch long.
Bao Ruanruan loosened the knot slightly.
"If you ever find yourself in danger—if you see a child fall into the water, or if you yourself are swept away by a wave..."
"?"
"Untie the slipknot."
She lifted the whistle to her lips and blew, instantly producing a sharp beep.
"This will immediately attract the attention of the lifeguards."
Host: "......!"
Everyone: "!"
"So your theme really is about safety."
"Yes," Bao Ruanruan twirled once. "These sequins on my outfit can also refract light underwater, so I can be spotted immediately."
"Oh, right, they're also glow-in-the-dark. Could we turn off the stage lights?"
Bao Ruanruan requested.
The studio lights went off immediately.
Bao Ruanruan, standing on stage, turned around.
Everyone — and the camera — could clearly see her dress.
The yellow and green sequins on her body shimmered faintly in the phosphorescent light.
"And this drawstring belt... When a drowning person struggles desperately, they can endanger the lifeguard and quickly drain their strength. However, if you remove this belt, it can be used not only to blow the whistle for help, but also to tie around the drowning person's body, enabling the rescuer to pull them towards the shore."
"This is a professional-grade rescue rope that has been dyed and made into a belt. Its quality is guaranteed, so everyone can rest assured."
After speaking, Bao Ruanruan even pulled the belt off, intending to find someone to demonstrate with.
Host: "......"
Do you want the honour of being her test dummy?
He hurriedly backed away, not wanting to get tied down!
However, Bao Ruanruan quickly demonstrated that her sun-protective outfit could be inflated into a life jacket… oh wait, no — into a lifeboat…
Bao Ruanruan first took off her floor-length coat.
Then she grabbed an air pump, gave it a few pumps, and it turned into—
"A floating airboat, 1.6 metres long and 1 metre wide."
The host: "!"
Even after it turned into a float boat, the sequins on it were still sparkling.
In the sea, it would be the shiniest kid20 of them all.
The audience burst into laughter.
In an instant, the laughter became contagious — even the usually serious company representatives couldn't help but smile.
The audience's chatter grew louder.
"I kind of want to buy this children's version of the sun-protective outfit for my daughter."
"It looks pretty cute, but will it leak air at a critical moment?"
"Not long ago, I went to the beach — I didn't dare take my eyes off my son for even a second. Boys can be so mischievous, they might dash straight into the sea."
"Yeah, same with my kid."
"I still can't swim even now, hahaha!"🦊
Designer Cheng Shaogang also demonstrated:
"We took breathability into consideration, so the double air chambers inside the sun-protection clothing are spaced apart. This design keeps it ventilated and prevents stuffiness or sweat build-up."
Bao Ruanruan nodded, then recited a line from her own ad slogan:
"When you go to the beach, do you ever worry that your float ring might be blown away by the wind in an instant?"
"When you're in the sea, do you fear that your life jacket might carry you too far out, leaving you unable to call for help?"
"And during hours when few people are around, do you ever worry that you can't swim, yet might encounter someone drowning and be unable to save them?"
"What should you do at a time like that?"
As she spoke, she solemnly picked up her whistle belt.
Her small face was filled with a glow of benevolence.
"Buy it."
"Own one — protect your family, care for everyone."
"An essential item for summer beaches and travel!"
Host: "...Uh, then let's ask our company representatives to take thirty seconds to decide whether to make a bid!"
The five company representatives suddenly came back to their senses and froze in unison.
They probably hadn't planned to buy it at first.
But now, it seemed like not making a bid wasn't an option.
Otherwise, wouldn't that mean being irresponsible for the safety of their families and everyone else?
The pressure… was huge!
Qian Hongyi from Pengmai gave Bao Ruanyuan a deep look.
After one second, he hit the bidding button.
"Pengmai bids 5.2 million!"
Qian Hongyi, the marketing director, spoke solemnly to the camera:
"Pengmai — I can, without limits."
"To protect everyone's safety, Pengmai's efforts will also never end!"
The whole audience instantly burst into applause and screams.
"Five-two!"
The highest bid of the night.
Backstage, Yang Xueni — who had been too embarrassed to show her face just moments ago — blinked. "We won?"
She glanced at Qin Lu. "You lost?"
Qin Lu, who only got 4.2 million: "!"
Yang Xueni covered her mouth.
Pfft pfft—
She couldn't help laughing out loud in public.
"Sorry, I'm just so happy!"
Qin Lu: "!!"
*
[Yang Xueni and her fan support rate: down 2.4%.]
Tang Yuxin, who had just finished shooting her scene, froze on the spot.
[Beauty rating: down 2.4%.]
Tang Yuxin: "!"
"Get me a mirror!"
Her assistant jumped in fright.
Tang Yuxin snatched the mirror and saw that, although her make-up was still on, her pores had visibly enlarged.
She could even see blackheads on her nose!
What's more, the fine hairs on her upper lip that she had painstakingly removed earlier had started to grow back.
What's going on?!
She immediately called Yang Xueni.
But the line was busy the whole time.
"Book me an appointment at the beauty salon—right now!"
*
#Bao Ruanruan Teams Up with Pengmai to Protect You#
#Bao Ruanruan's Beach Safety Design Concept#
#Pengmai's New Sunscreen Clothing Line to Launch in January Next Year#
On that day, the teaser for the 'Fashion Sense' segment, featuring Bao Ruanruan, dominated the top three trending spots.
The live comments section was flooded with rows of 'hahaha's.
[My head's about to fall off from laughing.]
[Are you serious? I'm laughing myself to death…]
[Hahaha, Pengmai's marketing angle is actually pretty good!]
[Brilliant!]
[That's my Kiddo Ruan! Even the teaser is this explosive~!]
Amid such a joyful atmosphere, the special Double 11 live broadcast edition of Sister as Assistant went live at short notice!
From the very first second, both the Snowmen and the audience were in stitches.
"Nini, have you finished copying your socialist core values yet?"
Footnotes Full List
- Metaphor: "大刀阔斧 (dà dāo kuò fǔ)" (lit. "big knife, wide axe") means acting boldly or decisively, often without hesitation or delicacy. Here, it vividly describes her cutting style — vigorous and confident, but potentially reckless.
- Metaphor: "受煎熬 (shòu jiān āo)" (lit. "being tormented over a fire") expresses emotional suffering or inner torment.
- 不按常理出牌 (bú àn cháng lǐ chū pái)" (not playing cards by the normal rules) – idiom meaning someone acts unpredictably or doesn't follow conventions.
- "带…飞 (dài … fēi)" (take someone flying) – internet slang from gaming culture, meaning "to carry someone to victory," i.e., help them succeed without them doing much. Used humorously here.
- The idiom 八竿子打不着 (bā gānzi dǎ bù zháo) is used to describe two people or things that are entirely unrelated, utterly remote, or have no discernible connection. The distance between the two is so great that even a very long pole cannot bridge it.
- "这题又超纲了 (zhè tí yòu chāo gāng le)" is a humorous metaphor comparing unexpected gossip or confusion to a test question outside the exam scope — meaning she feels unprepared to deal with this situation.
- The character 糖 (táng), which means sugar, is a play on Tang Yuxin's surname, 唐 (táng).
- This scene plays on word confusion and sarcasm. The staff mistook 假妈 (jiǎ: fake, mā: mom)'s '假' (jia: fake) as her real surname 'Jia'.
- "谢谢你一家人了 (xiè xiè nǐ yì jiā rén le)" literally means "thank your whole family," but sarcastically it means "thanks for nothing" or "what a mess you've caused." It's a humorous way of expressing exasperation.
- The Chinese characters for Chen Mo's name are 陈墨 (chén mò). The character for his first name, 墨 (mò), means 'ink'.
- "拍了陈墨的马屁 (pāi le chén mò de mǎ pì)" literally "patted Chen Mo's horse's rump," a slang idiom meaning "flattered or buttered up someone in power."
- "卧虎藏龙 (wò hǔ cáng lóng)" (literally "crouching tigers, hidden dragons") is a metaphor meaning a place full of hidden talent or capable people.
- 鸟枪换炮" (niǎo qiāng huàn pào), which literally means 'to swap a bird gun for a cannon' and is a vivid metaphor for dramatically upgrading one's equipment or presentation. Here, it suggests that her overall image has been upgraded spectacularly, shocking the audience.
- 走路粉 (zǒulù fěn) = literally "walking fan," slang for someone who adores the way the idol walks — basically a fan of their physical charm or visuals.
- 没被人调换 (méi bèi rén diào huàn)" — "wasn't swapped out" refers to an online joke about celebrities who change drastically or behave unlike themselves (like being replaced by a lookalike or an imposter). Here, it humorously means, "She's still the same person we adore."
- "代笔" (dàibǐ) — literally "ghostwriting"; here it means hiring someone to help with the design secretly.
- The idiom 平分秋色 (píng fēn qiū sè) is used to describe a situation where two people, things, or sides are equally matched in beauty, skill, or achievement, meaning neither is superior to the other.
- "走路都带着风 (zǒu lù dū dài zhāo fēng)" literally means "even her walk carried the wind."→ It's a metaphor meaning she was full of confidence, swaggering, or walking with pride and energy—her mood and status made her seem unstoppable or radiant.
- 我的钛合金眼 (Wǒ de tàihéjīn yǎn): This is internet/pop culture slang, humorously referencing a superhuman or bionic vision upgrade (like a strong metal frame) needed to withstand something extremely dazzling, bright, or visually intense (e.g., dazzling jewellery, extreme beauty, or a shocking display of public affection.
- "最亮的崽" (zuì liàng de zǎi) — A popular internet slang phrase in Chinese. "崽 (zǎi)" literally means cub or kid, but online it means "the most eye-catching one," or "the coolest/most attention-grabbing one in the group." It's often used humorously or affectionately, e.g., "He's the coolest guy around."
- Me too, me too.
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