The behind-the-scenes shoot for Fashion Sense went smoothly, and the Assistant production team gained a lot from it. They ...
The behind-the-scenes shoot for Fashion Sense went smoothly, and the Assistant production team gained a lot from it.
They were just about to wrap up for the day, but who would have thought that a single behind-the-scenes teaser from Fashion Sense would shoot up onto three trending lists?
As a result, the 'Bao Ruanruan' hashtag on Weibo had 120 million reads.
Taking advantage of this 'east wind1', The Assistant production team decided at the last minute to add a live broadcast episode, just in time to properly film Bao Ruanruan's interactions with her assistant after work.
They could also ride the wave of the trending topic to attract more traffic to their show.
Bao Ruanruan had no objections.
To her, this show didn't count as overtime — she was the one being 'waited on'.
Yang Xueni rarely got to leave the film set. Whenever she did, she wanted to pack her schedule to the brim, finish all her public appearances, and then return to the crew.
She gritted her teeth and agreed.
Better a short pain than a long one.
If she could, she would much rather finish all of Bao Ruanruan's assistant work in one go than be tortured slowly by a dull knife.
"Nini, that kind of thinking won't do."
"We need to balance work and rest, or you'll be seeing your doctor soon."
As soon as the livestream started, Bao Ruanruan appeared in her nanny van.
"You definitely haven't copied down the Core Socialist Values yet."
"I have! I just haven't posted them online!"
"Then you didn't copy them sincerely."
"!"
Yang Xueni wore an expression of utter despair, as if to say, 'Just open the door and let me jump out'.
The moment she appeared, the live comments were flooded with strings of hahaha.
[Honestly, seeing this right after the 11/11 shopping spree ended made me absolutely delighted!]
[Sister Xueni, your Snowman baby is here~]
[Heehee, Kiddo Ruan, Mommy's here.]
[@SnowmanGrandpa, you were right! Our Xueni and Bao Ruanruan really do get along well. They bicker just like me and my bestie, haha.]
[I'm Kiddo Ruan's mom—just asking timidly, so Sister Xueni doesn't dislike our Ruanruan?]
[Of course not, @KiddoRuan'sMom! Who'd ever work as an assistant for their enemy?]
[Aiya, I'm calling the other Kiddo Ruan's moms to see this—this is big news!]
[My Xueni has such a fiery temper, yet in front of Bao Ruanruan, she actually got so mad that she pouted, hahaha~ I've never seen her make that face before!]
Usually, Yang Xueni only had two modes: ruffled or unruffled.
Getting her to swallow her anger and stick around someone she doesn't like? That was just impossible!
All the Snowmen knew this—take her rival Qin Lu, for example.
Xueni refused to appear in the same frame as her—they were like fire and water and would never share the same show, even if it killed them.
But now, when faced with Bao Ruanruan, Yang Xueni was clearly unwilling to admit defeat, yet she was holding herself back.
Her expression was just too funny!
Yet somehow, Bao Ruanruan could keep her in check.
But behind that control was genuine care.
That was why, even knowing Yang Xueni was exhausted, the Snowmen still hoped she would continue filming this Assistant show.
"You think you're being sincere? Then recite it—where does 'dedication' rank among the Twelve Core Values?"
Yang Xueni: "……"
She raised her eyes, preparing to roll them at Bao Ruanruan.
[Hahaha, you know English? All right then, tell me—what number is 'H' in the 26 letters?]
[I'm dying of laughter... When I was in school, I dreaded being asked that question. I had to recite all 26 letters on the spot every time, hahaha!]
[+1]
[That just shows you're not practised enough! Nini, copy them out carefully and put your heart into it, hahaha!]
[Nini, you should respect your teacher. If you act like that, she'll punish you, 2333]
As expected, Bao Ruanruan shook her head gravely.
"'Dedication' ranks tenth, in the same line as 'harmony', which is fourth."ℹ️
"If your body's out of harmony, dedication means nothing."
"You have to make sure your foundation is solid—only then does your hard work have value."
That one sentence instantly erased any resentment the Snowmen felt towards her.
Even though she was lecturing Yang Xueni, which went against rank and seniority, the Snowmen didn't mind.
In fact, they wanted to cheer her on.
[Ruanruan, you know a lot—you should say more!]
[Go on, teach your older sister! If she won't admit it, just keep talking until she does!]
[I also think she's too tired, but her manager won't let her rest! We feel bad for her, but she won't listen to us either.]
[Ruanruan, don't worry—no matter what you do to Sis Nini on this show, I'm on your side! Don't be afraid; boldly educate her! If anything happens, the Snowmen will take the blame for you!]
[That's right! Here's a little wooden ruler for you, Ruanruan — smack her on the palm~]
Bao Ruanruan still didn't realise that she had just been bestowed an Imperial Sword by the Emperor2.
The so-called 'fierce' Snowman fanbase — a group that always answers the call and acts in perfect unison — all thought she was right, too!
At that moment, Bao Ruanruan looked at Yang Xueni and quietly revised her opinion of her.
This 'werewolf' had already lost her fangs.
She had even signed a life-saving agreement with her.
For now, she was still her assistant.
What is an assistant?
According to Xue Jing's definition, it was someone who would follow and assist her.
Not just with work, but with everyday life as well.
This definition caused Bao Ruanruan to start re-examining things.
Originally, the werewolf's health was not her concern, but now she had no choice but to take care of it.
If she ever needed her assistant's help, but that assistant's poor health caused her to drop the chain3 at a critical moment, that would be embarrassing.
There was no such thing as a regret medicine4 in this world!
So she'd have to put her assistant's health management, physical coordination training, and emergency response drills on the agenda.
"Nini, I looked it up — the most reputable orthopaedic hospital in Jiangcheng, the Ninth People's Hospital, is nearby."
"?"
Yang Xueni was just about to ask her own assistant, Xia Xia, what work they were supposed to do in the nanny van when Bao Ruanruan's words made her freeze for a moment.
[Little one, do you have a lot of question marks?]
[? Is Bao Ruanruan feeling unwell?]
"If we register now, we should be able to get the scan done by tomorrow afternoon."
Bao Ruanruan finished her brief analysis and put down her phone.
"Nini, have you got your medical insurance card?"
Yang Xueni: "?!"
She was so shocked that she didn't even register the affectionate way in which she had been addressed.
[!]
"It's about the question you asked me last time." Bao Ruanruan paused for a moment before admitting her mistake. "I was too careless when I told you to get a fitness trainer for guidance."
"You should go to the hospital for an X-ray first to check for any underlying bone problems."
"Otherwise, if you keep training the wrong way, you'll only hurt yourself more over time."
Yang Xueni opened her mouth.
[Ah! It must be what Grandpa mentioned! It was when Xueni asked Bao Ruanruan about her health when they were on that dating reality show!]
[Aww, Bao Bao is such a sweetheart. She didn't expose Xueni's health issues directly on the show—she really protected her privacy. And she's even taking her to the doctor… sob sob, Snowman, I'm guccigucci5 crying my eyes out~]
"I don't need to go to the hospital."
Yang Xueni's face flushed red.
"It's not that serious anyway."
Bao Ruanruan's expression turned serious.
"If you're not physically fit, how can your frail shoulders possibly handle the sacred, busy and exhausting daily life of being an assistant?"
Yang Xueni: "......"
"PD, my fragile assistant might not have the stamina for this. Can I change assistants?"
Yang Xueni: "............"
[Hahahahaha!]
[Bao Ruanruan: "If you don't behave, I'll replace you."
Nini: "I'm scared, I'm scared!"]
[Every villain meets their match… Ah, no, every stubborn Nini has her Ruanruan to handle her! 2333.]
Yang Xueni: "I'll go after the show is done. I don't want to waste everyone's time…"
"Online registration makes queuing much more convenient." Bao Ruanruan reached out her hand and said, "Let me do it for you."
Yang Xueni: "!"
"Remember, pursuing good health is always about extending our lifespan, not wasting it."
Yang Xueni: "!"
You might as well write a book on that topic instead!
Why are you even becoming a celebrity?
[Her face was full of the defiance of a bad student.]
[When you don't listen in class and the teacher scolds you, that's exactly the face I make, just like Yang Xueni's, 233333.]
[Bao Ruanruan: "Run if you want, but you can't escape."]
The nanny van soon stopped at the hotel where Yang Xueni was temporarily staying.
Ever since her home address was exposed, Bao Ruanruan had no longer allowed the production team to film at her place.
After all, Beijiao No. 1 was now Xue Jing's private property, so it was not a suitable place for filming.
So the crew simply booked another room for Bao Ruanruan to rest and shoot in.
The five-star hotel room wasn't actually huge.
There was just enough space for an extra desk and a yoga mat.
With no choice but to bite the bullet, Yang Xueni was forced by Bao Ruanruan to book an orthopaedic appointment online for the following morning.
Her head was pounding.
She immediately boiled water for Bao Ruanruan and cleaned the hotel's teacups.
She was being unusually diligent, working harder than ever before.
She even remembered to wash her hands, fearing that Bao Ruanruan would start nagging her again as soon as she turned around.
The livestream comments were filled with hahaha.
[Please type 'Nini is really self-aware' in the public chat!]
Yang Xueni was doing all this without the slightest concern for what the viewers might think.
She just wanted to finish work early and get Bao Ruanruan to bed as soon as possible!
That way, Bao Ruanruan's chattering mouth would finally stop making noise.
"I'll go take a shower first."
Bao Ruanruan nodded in satisfaction at Yang Xueni's actions.
Yang Xueni was momentarily dazzled by her carefree, heartless smile.
As expected, Lu Wenyao's scandal hadn't affected Bao Ruanruan at all.
Had she already seen it coming?
Yang Xueni glanced at the camera and ultimately decided not to ask Bao Ruanruan the questions she had about Lu Wenyao.
Clearly, that topic was unsuitable for a live broadcast.
She watched as that slender back gracefully lowered into a squat, perfect posture intact.
Yang Xueni couldn't help but find it pleasing to the eye, even a little enviable.
Soon, she saw Bao Ruanruan open her suitcase right in front of the camera without the slightest hesitation.
She took one item after another out of the suitcase.
A portable collapsible foot bath.
Herbal foot-soak packs.
A mobile sleeping bag.
A small electric rice cooker.
……
Heating pads, muscle pain plasters, and wrist guards.
Then came several transparent, sealed storage bags, each containing an item of clothing.
Each item of clothing had its own separate bag.
Everything was neat and tidy.
It was practically the model example of packing.
The last bag, which appeared to contain the girl's underwear, was a black, opaque zip bag.
Yang Xueni opened her mouth slightly.
Even her assistant, Xia Xia, probably couldn't achieve this level of perfection, let alone herself.
[Such a packing pro—no wonder she's named Bao Ruanruan!]ℹ️
[Wuwuwu, my little girl is so sensible and good at housework!]
[So neat and tidy—ah, she's exactly the daughter I want!]
[God, let my messy and chaotic son learn from her right now!]
[+1 Calling my daughter over!]
[The camera moved too fast! Let me see what brand that portable foot-soak bucket is—give me a chance to buy it this Double 11!]🤓
[I want those sealing storage bags…]
"Nini, go find your medical insurance card. I'm fine over here."
Bao Ruanruan waved her hand briskly.
"Oh, right, remember the values-copying homework you promised? Bring it over; we need to give our audience an explanation."
Yang Xueni: "…..."
The audience doesn't want an explanation.
You must have made a mistake.
She did copy it, yes.
But she put the little notebook in the compartment of her suitcase.
Glancing at Bao Ruanruan's neat and orderly suitcase, which looked like something out of a textbook, she didn't quite dare to open her own in front of the camera.
Over the past few days, Jiang Zengle had said that, to make the show more authentic, Xia Xia wouldn't be following her around.
When Yang Xueni arrived at the hotel last night, she just casually packed her own suitcase.
The dirty clothes she needed to wash—she simply tossed them straight into the suitcase without thinking much about it.
Now…
Yang Xueni glanced at the cameras in the room.
"Mm. I'll go back to my room to look for it later. For now, I'd better focus on taking care of you, Teacher Bao."
But as if she had seen a ghost8, the moment she said that, someone knocked on Bao Ruanruan's hotel room door.
Her manager, that dog agent Jiang Zengle, was actually the one standing at the door, calling out:
"Need to get something?"
"Xueni, I've pushed your suitcase over."
Yang Xueni: "!"
She had never seen him this proactive before.
Why wasn't he ever this fast or capable when it came to grabbing movie scripts for her?
Ah, another day when I just want to switch jobs…
Yang Xueni's face darkened as she looked at the suitcase that the show's PD had dragged over.
She didn't want to move.
Bao Ruanruan had already gone off to have a shower.
If she didn't move, no one would dare to make her move.
As a result, this show The Supporting Role seemed to have grasped the code to wealth9.🦊
The show's PD had also grown bolder.
"Assistant Yang."
Yang Xueni: "!"
"I remember the first time we met — you said that the most important thing for an assistant is to carry out their boss's orders."
Yang Xueni: "……"
She really had been too naïve before.
How could she have been so clueless as not to realise that assistants have human rights, too?
Bracing herself, Yang Xueni glanced at the bathroom, where the sound of running water could be heard.
Taking advantage of Bao Ruanruan's absence, she clenched her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and opened the suitcase!
But—she only opened a crack!
Not even enough for the camera lens to fit through.
Yang Xueni's face was expressionless.
She reached inside her suitcase and groped around.
Her expression was even saying, This is just how I usually take things out—nothing unusual here.
[!]
[Is there something inside that even a VVIP like me shouldn't see?]
[Teacher Xueni, you've stirred my curiosity.]
[Are you hiding gold bars in there? hhhhh]
After rummaging for quite a while, Yang Xueni's face changed from snow-white to slightly red, then to deep red.
She remembered that her copybook was kept in the inner compartment.
However, after feeling around over and over, she still couldn't find it.
Her clothes and skincare products were piled up in a messy heap and scattered everywhere inside the suitcase!
Yang Xueni took a deep breath and widened the gap a little more.
Just enough for her to bury her small face in and search inside.
[Pfft—]
[I can tell, it's such a mess that you can't even let people see it, right?]
[...No need to go that far, Sister Xueni, don't treat us like outsiders!]
[Did you forget to put away your sanitary pads? It's fine, we're all girls here — no one's going to laugh.]
But just as that comment floated past on the screen, Bao Ruanruan appeared in the camera view, her body still misted with steam.
As if warmed by the vapour, her snow-white skin glowed faintly pink.
She was drying her hair while wearing a set of long-sleeved, long-pants pine-green pyjamas.
She looked in surprise at Yang Xueni, who was almost burying herself in the suitcase.
Bao Ruanruan didn't understand what was happening and was utterly stunned.
Curiously, she took a few steps closer and bent down.
Her soft, pink face came close to Yang Xueni's, and she was just about to warn her that bending over like that could hurt her back.
Then, by accident, her eyes caught sight of the scene between the gap of the suitcase, and her face instantly turned as white as a startled fawn in the forest!
She lifted her little face and gasped sharply right in front of the camera.
[!]
[?]
Hearing the sound, Yang Xueni turned her head around.
She was startled on the spot.
However, Bao Ruanruan felt that she was actually the one who got the bigger fright.
"The production team said that an assistant's job also includes helping me sort my clothes and suitcase. Is that true?"
Yang Xueni: "……"
"How about I do it myself instead? Assistant, you can take a rest."
[Hahahahahaha!]
[Bao Bao: "I want to leave!"]
[I'm dying of laughter—no way, my Xueni can't be like this? You've always been so strong-willed! I thought you were such an organised person!]
Yang Xueni took a deep breath.
Since she decided to smash the already cracked jar11, she simply opened the suitcase completely.
Calmly and openly, she continued looking for her things.
But the moment she opened it, the live chat was flooded with exclamation marks.
The suitcase was truly a mess.
The towels and clothes were not folded or organised; they were simply stuffed haphazardly.
As soon as the suitcase was opened, the crumpled fabrics that had barely been pressed down sprang out.
Sheets of facial masks were scattered everywhere, almost ready to explode open.
Mixed among them were bottles and jars of skincare products.
[…]
[Uh… Teacher Bao, please teach our Xueni!]
[Someone please save this child!]
[From today onwards, the Snowmen will entrust this kid to Teacher Bao!]
Yang Xueni's face turned bright red. "Say whatever you want!"
"My… uh, my mind is a little messy right now."
Bao Ruanruan took a step back.
[hhhh, are you seriously stepping back half a step?]
[That's hilarious, Bao Bao's completely giving up!]
[Bao: "Baobao12 doesn't want to talk13."]
Yang Xueni took a deep breath.
"Are there seriously no videos online teaching how to pack a suitcase?"
Bao Ruanruan: "……"
[Pfft, the kid is even asking for lessons now!]
"Nini, do you think this is a problem that can be solved in one lesson?"
Yang Xueni: "......!"
If one lesson isn't enough, then we'll take ten!
Bao Ruanruan thought for a moment — she really had no choice but to help her assistant improve.
"Let's start by talking about your approach to learning."
Yang Xueni: "!"
She suddenly felt the nervousness of an elementary school student.
"If a girl's clothes aren't stored properly, bacteria can easily grow on them, which can cause skin problems and gynaecological issues."
Yang Xueni blushed deeply.
Bao Ruanruan sighed, took a couple of steps, and brought over the small rice cooker she had set down beside the sofa earlier.
Yang Xueni was full of question marks.
"Not only do we need to store intimate clothing properly and separately, but on rainy days when we can't sun-dry them, we also have to find ways to sterilise them using high heat."
Bao Ruanruan pressed the button that opened the lid.
Yang Xueni opened her mouth in surprise.
[! What is this!?]
[Ahh, it's so tiny! Is this a machine specially for sterilising underwear!? I'm so tempted!]
[+1, I'm seriously tempted. I'm gonna check it on tb🔗.]
[Oh my, what brand is it?]
Honestly, even Yang Xueni felt a bit tempted.
She read the button labels. "Drying and UV disinfection—two functions?"
Bao Ruanruan nodded. "Perfect for drizzly days like today."
Yang Xueni secretly glanced at the brand.
Then she sneakily opened Taobao and added it to her cart.
Today, there's a cross-store discount where you get ¥30 off when you spend ¥300!
[Awooo, you two sisters should do a livestream selling products together!]
[I'm begging you, please tell me the brand!]
[I searched it up—seems like it's Brand **. Looks very similar.]
[It's got asterisks, sis! Argh, d@mn this livestream word-filtering system!]
[I found the same model too! #… There are fewer than 3,000 left! Are you two secretly placing orders again!?]
[! Hold on! What kind of lightning-fast reflexes do you guys have?!]
Bao Ruanruan's variety show viewers were all old wanderers of the jianghu14.
Being experienced, they immediately went to that certain Bao site15 and started placing orders one after another.
However, Yang Xueni's fans lack that level of experience; they were busy spamming the screen and ended up a beat too late.
[@Snowmen, this Kiddo Ruan's Mom is telling you: next time you see something that looks useful, stop spamming the bullet comments and hurry to TB to buy it. Don't worry about your Nini or my little girl.]
[Yeah, let them fool around for a while. We'll come back after we finish buying. Otherwise, the stock will instantly hit zero, and the product will be taken off the shelf.]
[We trained our hand speed by following Ruanruan.]
[@Snowmen, you'll get used to it. Next time, move faster~ hehe.]
All the Snowmen were speechless.
Why was buying a steriliser harder than trying to win a license-plate lottery?!
This world was truly a dangerous place.
Meanwhile, Bao Ruanruan was sharing a new lesson with Yang Xueni in front of the camera: how to organise clothes to prevent bacteria growth, how to disinfect and store undergarments, and some small tips for packing a suitcase.
Bao Ruanruan was even playing another video!
This time, the level of content had clearly risen from kindergarten level to the elementary-school version.
Yang Xueni couldn't remember how to fold and store clothes of different types, sizes and materials all at once.
Blushing, she took out a notebook to jot down the key points.
Soon, however, Bao Ruanruan appeared in front of Yang Xueni, holding a hanger, and gently lifted her chin with it.
Yang Xueni: "!"
This girl dares to act like a hooligan right in front of the camera!
"Keep your eyes one chi16, about thirty centimetres, away from the book."
"Keep both shoulders level."
"Keep your feet shoulder-width apart."
Yang Xueni: "...!"
[Hahahahaha!]
[Sister Xueni, her life is just one big collection of errors.]
[This is exactly how I teach my son, hehe.]
Their livestream went viral again.
It spread quickly through all the moms' and teachers' chat groups.
— The correct posture for doing homework.
— Child, do you know how to fold your clothes?
— Can you put away your toys yourself?
#Big Yang Family Group#
[ErShen17: @YangXueni, haha, you've made it into my son Dabao's kindergarten moms' group again.]
[Dabo18: @YangXueni, if you can't tidy up your own home, how can you manage the world19? Your suitcase is such a mess—it's unhygienic! The Yang family kids' reputation has taken another hit because of you.]
[ErBo20: EverythingYou'reSayingIsCorrect, ButWhyWon'tTheChildListen?.JPG]
Yang Xueni: "..."
She wanted to quit her big family group!
Toward the end of the livestream, Bao Ruanruan wanted to do a set of the Five-Animal Exercises📹.
However, concerned about Yang Xueni's scoliosis📹, she didn't ask her to join in; instead, she let her rest.
Yang Xueni didn't actually want to rest, but she had already embarrassed herself enough for today.
Every time she appeared on The Assistant, it was basically a recipe for social death21.
She was the one who suffered the biggest loss.
[Jiang Zhengle, that pig: Xue, you two have hit the trending list.]
[Jiang Zhengle, that pig: Your Weibo followers have gone up by twenty thousand.]
[Jiang Zhengle, that pig: An online education platform wants you and Bao Ruanruan to be co-spokespersons!]
Yang Xueni: "!"
Were the joys and sorrows of the world really so different from her own?
[Jiang Zhengle, that pig: And there's also a suitcase with internal compartment dividers—they want you to endorse it! The tagline is: 'Mom will never have to worry about my packing skills again!']
Yang Xueni: "……"
Just as she was struggling over whether to accept the endorsement, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen, and her eyes immediately lit up.
However, after seeing Bao Ruanruan practising the Five-Animal Exercises in front of the camera, she hesitated for a moment before stepping outside with her phone.
"Yuxin? I, I… I'm busy right now."
Yang Xueni lowered her voice.
She suddenly felt a little panicked, as though she had climbed over a wall22 and been caught in the act.
Tang Yuxin had just had a photorejuvenation session at the beauty salon, but when she looked in the mirror, her pores still looked huge.
She felt a tight, suffocating heaviness in her chest.
Scrolling through Weibo's trending topics, she suddenly saw Yang Xueni's name high up on the list.
#The World Inside Yang Xueni's Suitcase Is Too Beautiful#
#Yang Xueni Has Her Posture Corrected While Doing Homework#
She immediately clicked in to check and saw that Yang Xueni was unexpectedly doing a show together with Bao Ruanruan.
The production team had most likely bought this trending topic.
They probably knew that Yang Xueni and Bao Ruanruan didn't get along, which was why they didn't dare put their names together when buying the hot search.
Tang Yuxin chuckled.
She felt a sense of victory in her grasp, but, given her recently declining support rating, she quickly called Yang Xueni anyway.
"Dear, I've just finished filming for the day and have just now got a break. I saw your topic trending tonight."
"The production team is going too far—how could they buy a hot search that puts you in such an awkward position?"
Tang Yuxin said gently.
Her tone was full of concern.
Even after a whole day of work, she was still thinking about the other person.
She had even put her own relationship issues aside just to check on her.
Surely she should be able to recover at least half of the 3% lost support she lost, right?
Soon, she heard Yang Xueni's voice, sounding a bit soft and almost guilty.
"Xinxin, I'm recording a show with Bao Ruanruan. Will you be mad? I didn't know it would be her…"
Tang Yuxin hurriedly smiled.
"This is work—of course I won't get angry."
"No matter what you do, I'll support you."
And in return, you should support me too!
"Whew," Yang Xueni clearly let out a sigh of relief; even her tense voice loosened. "That's good then. It's fine now. Xinxin, I need to continue recording the show."
Tang Yuxin: "?"
She thought she might have missed the notification sound while she was on the call, so she checked the system log.
But she saw that her support rating hadn't changed at all.
"Wait!"
Tang Yuxin hurriedly called out.
"My dear, are you feeling unwell today? Are you OK? Did something upset you during the show recording?"
"Bao Ruanruan really did ruin my engagement ceremony, but Xueni, don't you get angry with her on my account. If you make yourself sick with anger or get into a confrontation with her on camera—"
In the past, as long as she acted magnanimously, everyone would think she was sensible, pitied her, and her support rate would rise immediately.
But—
"I'm not angry today."
"?"
Yang Xueni paused for a moment, giving Tang Yuxin a sliver of hope.
"Xinxin, you're right. No one should interfere in your relationship."
"???"
"So now that I've thought about it, I should also try my best to coexist peacefully with Bao Ruanruan."
"!"
"Oh, right. Xinxin, what do you really think about Lu Wenyao exposing those chat logs this time? Are you planning to stay with him? Give me the inside scoop. I need to decide whether to renew my endorsement contract with his company next week."
Tang Yuxin frowned.
If she broke up with Lu Wenyao now, she would lose 90% of his support rate.
"I… I've been too busy lately, and haven't had time to leave the set and talk to him properly."
"For now, I still choose to believe him."
Her public persona had always been that of someone who was understanding and considerate.
She didn't give up on people easily.
It was precisely this quality that had won Yang Xuenni over.
After thinking it over, Tang Yuxin wisely chose to keep her wording vague.
"Unless he tells me to my face that he cheated, I'll trust the people close to me over outsiders."
She smiled gently, letting even her voice take on a caring tone.
[Yang Xuenni and fan support rate: down 5.84%.]
[Severe drop warning!]
[She thinks you're not thinking straight. As a woman, it's pitiful to be deceived, but how can you still not have grown a brain that can spot a scumbag after being fooled once? Are you really going to trip over the same spot again?]
Tang Yuxin: "!"
[Your appearance rating has dropped by 5.94%.]
[It has fallen below 90%.]
[Best Actress Perfect Aura removed: From today onwards, people will see your actual appearance.]
"Hey, hey, hey! Isn't that Best Actress Tang Yuxin?"
"Wow, it really is! Her legs are so long and pretty… Ah, but her face looks a bit sallow?"
"Her dark circles are pretty heavy, too."
"How old is she? Why does she look so tired with her drooping eyes?"
Tang Yuxin: "!!"
After hanging up the phone, Yang Xueni walked towards her room.
As she walked, she even threw a punch into the air.
She was absolutely furious.
Why was Yuxin still believing that scumbag?
If she had even half of Bao Ruanruan's ability to tell beasts apart—
Yang Xueni was stunned for a moment.
When compared, it turned out that Bao Ruanruan was unexpectedly the clear-headed one, wasn't she?
Yang Xueni let out a heavy sigh.
She walked back to the room and saw the suitcase she had neatly repacked after watching the tutorial videos.📹
She couldn't help but admire how pleasing it was to the eye.
This suitcase was actually the one she had personally packed.
Everything was categorised by size and even sorted by colour, from dark to light.
Perfect!
Squinting with satisfaction, Yang Xueni took out her phone and snapped a photo of it.
She'd learned yet another skill from Bao Ruanruan (bushi23).
Thanks to her, she had also gained followers and even landed a new endorsement.
On the phone, Yuxin had called to say she'd been wronged and tried to comfort her, but hearing those words made Yang Xueni feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.
This time, it was Bao Ruanruan who had carried her to success.
How thick-skinned would she have to be to claim that she was the one who had been wronged?
"Xiao Baozi, impressive! Yesterday you forced Yang Xueni to go for an orthopaedic check-up, and today she's recommending you for an audition."
"An assassin role."
Cheng Feng was sitting at the dining table in Beijiao No. 1, glancing at his phone and chuckling.
Bao Ruanruan put down her chopsticks anxiously.
"Someone as peace-loving as me—how can I play such a violent, criminal character? Would the director even believe I could do it?"
"……Yang Xueni said that when you were forcing her to go see a doctor, your expression looked pretty fierce."
"? She must have seen it wrong. Mm, what happens to the assassin in the end?"
"He ends up behind bars, sentenced to life."
Bao Ruanruan's eyes lit up, but she quickly pulled a serious face.
"If you do something wrong, you should accept legal punishment."
"The light of righteousness shines across the roads of our motherland, protecting the lives and safety of every citizen."
"I love this script. When is the audition?"
Chen Feng: "……"
Xue Jing: "…………"
It's just that the character doesn't die, isn't it?
Who doesn't know her criteria for picking scripts?
Xue Jing's peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly.
But the next moment, the little girl picked up a piece of beef tendon from the cow's hoof with a pair of communal chopsticks and moved it into his bowl.
"Great Landlord, this hoof tendon will strengthen your sinews and bones, replenish your energy and vitality, and it's good for beauty and health."
"Please enjoy~"
She looked at him expectantly as he ate, but her eyes were full of reluctance to part with it.
Xue Jing: "……"
"You're not renting out the house in Beijiao No. 1 to anyone else this year, are you? You're giving it all to me, correct?"
Bao Ruanruan blinked her watery eyes hard.
Xue Jing: "…………"
"I'll think about it."
"Dear Landlord, shall I prepare a Shi Quan Tonic Soup📹 for you tomorrow?"
"…………"
It's always the housekeeper who cooks it!
The assassin role that Yang Xueni recommended was the fifth-billed female role in a modern suspense film tentatively titled Blood Zither.
Although the role didn't sound very important, the director, Wen Qi, was quite a big name. Tang Yuxin's breakthrough film, the one that won her the Best Actress award and the title of Movie Queen, was directed by Wen Qi.
Over the past ten years, his films had received dozens of nominations.
Even Yang Xueni's own Best Supporting Actress award had been won in one of Wen Qi's films.
So Yang Xueni recommended Bao Ruanruan for the film because she had a relatively close relationship with the director.
"I heard your athletic coordination is decent. Don't embarrass me at the audition."
Before the audition, Yang Xueni awkwardly asked Jiang Zhengle to send a message to Chen Feng.
She even had Chen Feng pass it along for her.
To this day, she still hadn't added Bao Ruanruan as a friend.
However, Bao Ruanruan didn't go to the audition.
She submitted her résumé to the casting email address and was… accepted.
Bao Ruanruan: "……"
I don't want to work this hard, but unfortunately, my ability won't allow it otherwise.
Meanwhile, back on the Snow Mountain film set, Yang Xueni had just denied helping Bao Ruanruan to Jiang Zhengle just ten minutes earlier.
"I didn't help her at all."
"It was an open audition to begin with; everyone had a chance. I only passed along the notice."
"Director Wen has high standards and is strict; the closer you are to him, the harsher he is."
Yang Xueni turned her face away. "It's probably unlikely that her audition will work out anyway!"
Jiang Zhengle chuckled, but didn't expose her.
While she was applying her makeup, he casually scrolled through Weibo.
And suddenly, a rapidly rising trending topic popped up…
#Bao Ruanruan Invited to Play a Killer#
Jiang Zhengle: "!"
He looked at Yang Xueni, then back at his phone.
Meanwhile, Yang Xueni kept her eyes closed while the makeup artist applied her eyeliner.
"Brother, when is the next episode of Assistant being recorded? If it's before Director Wen's audition, do you think I should teach her some… little acting tips?"
As she said this, Yang Xueni looked quite conflicted.
Her willow-leaf eyebrows🔗 furrowed.
"Uh, it's not like I'm actually helping her or anything."
Yang Xueni pouted. "It's just that I was the one who recommended her. For a fifth female lead role, I'd guess there are usually at least three rounds of auditions. If she can't even pass the first round, I'd totally lose face."
Jiang Zhengle: "…"
Mm.
Right.
"Xue, everything you said is right."
"It's just… You won't have the chance to teach her."
"Hm?"
"Bao Ruanruan has already gotten the role."
"!?"
Yang Xueni's eyes flew open.
"Oh no, Sis Xueni, your eyeliner's smudged! You can't open your eyes!"
"...!"
Yang Xueni couldn't care less about that now, though. She turned and asked,
"Did she pass the first round of auditions?"
Jiang Zhengle replied, "…She got the role. Director Wen posted the news on Weibo himself, and the news is already trending on the real-time entertainment chart."
Impossible!
Yang Xueni was stunned.
Before joining Director Wen's crew two years ago, she had already acted in four or five major films.
But even with such an impressive résumé, she still had to work extremely hard just to get a fifth female lead role from Director Wen back then!
She auditioned three times and had to wait almost three weeks for news before Director Wen finally made his decision.
Bao Ruanruan… how come she was confirmed for the role after being recommended for less than two days?
Yang Xueni was utterly baffled and read the message on her phone slowly, word by word.
[WenQiV: Looking forward to working with @BaoRuanruan. Looking forward to you becoming the demoness lurking in the night.]
Yang Xueni: "!"
She and Yuxin had been cast by Director Wen before, but he had never once tagged them on Weibo!
Just as she did, many netizens and passersby found it shocking.
Many were fans of Director Wen's films and thought it was unbelievable.
[Is Bao Ruanruan an outstanding actress? I looked her up—she's only played some minor roles.]
[Her acting seems to get mixed reviews. @DirectorWen, are you sure this is OK?]
[That's strange. Isn't this film scheduled to start shooting next year? The female lead hasn't even been chosen yet, so why has the supporting actress been confirmed first?]
[Bao Ruanruan… I just saw her on Weibo a few days ago. Even when designing beachwear, she insists everything must be safe in case she drowns… A killer? With that temperament, it really doesn't match her.]
In addition, Bao Ruanruan's 'mom-fans' and 'career-fans' also saw the news.
They all left comments.
[Eating melons24, but not believing melons.]
[Oops, that came from the director. Sorry about that… I acted too hastily. I will now eat this big melon with a clear conscience!]
[What! That Wen director? The one who won Best Director? The one who made several Best Actor and Best Actress winners famous?]
[My Kiddo Ruan has always been obsessed with health and safety—she's basically a public-security Justice Bao! How can she play a killer? I'm shocked!?]
[I'm a bit worried about my baby. Can she really play a killer? That doesn't match her 'Safety-Committee-member' personality at all.]
Bao Ruanruan's fans were all stunned.
This big pancake25 had just fallen from the sky without any warning at all.
After the initial excitement wore off, they began to worry that their beloved idol wouldn't be able to handle it and would be criticised for her acting skills.
Once they became anxious and lost confidence, Director Wen's fans grew nervous as well.
#Is Bao Ruanruan good enough?#
This topic instantly started trending on forums and Weibo like crazy.
But soon, everyone saw a new Weibo post.
[WenQiV: Whether she's good enough or not, you'll find out at noon.]
He was even keeping everyone in suspense.
Yang Xueni was curious too, but she had no choice—she had to film her movie scenes.
With the noon deadline filling her mind, she poured 120% effort into her morning scenes, performing above her usual standard and wrapping up early.
At 11:59, Yang Xueni opened Weibo right on time.
Just like her, countless 'melon-eating' netizens and fans were refreshing their feeds, too.
Then they all refreshed their feeds and saw—Bao Ruanruan's grand Pengmai advertisement film.
They saw a slender, graceful figure who, after putting on Pengmai running shoes, darted and leapt between towering buildings!
Her movements were nimble and powerful.
Her speed even reached up to seventy miles per hour!
It made people feel as if they were witnessing the head of a divine dragon, rather than its tail26 in jianghu27… the Wudang Sect martial arts technique, Ti Yun Zong📹!
[!]
[! !]
Author's Note:
Ruanruan: I… am just a shark-hand28.
Footnotes Full List
- 东风 (dōngfēng): East wind. In Chinese, "borrowing/taking the east wind" is an idiom that means taking advantage of a favourable situation or momentum.
- 尚方宝剑 (shàng fāng bǎo jiàn)" – literally "the Imperial Sword bestowed by the emperor," an idiom meaning the power or right to act with full authority (often beyond normal limits).
- "掉链子 (diào liàn zǐ)" (literally "the chain falls off") is slang for failing at a crucial time — like a bicycle chain snapping when you most need it.
- "没有后悔药 (méi yǒu hòu huǐ yào)" (there's no regret medicine) is a common saying meaning you can't undo mistakes; there's no remedy for regret.
- 'guccigucci' is playful internet slang imitating a cute or exaggerated way of saying "boohoo," used to express mock or adorable crying.
- FYI, the other meaning of the surname Bao (包) is 'bag'.
- What a coincidence! The 2025 Double 11 just passed!
- "见了鬼了 (jiàn le guǐ le)" literally means "saw a ghost," but it's an idiom expressing shock or disbelief, like saying "What the heck?" or "You've got to be kidding me" in English.
- "掌握了财富密码 (zhǎng wò le cái fù mì mǎ)" ("grasped the wealth code") is a modern Chinese slang expression meaning "found the secret formula for success/money." It's often used humorously to describe something that unexpectedly becomes very popular or profitable.
- So, this must be an extra episode for Assistant. However, as it only featured Bao Ruanruan and Yang Xueni, it was given a special show title.
- 破罐子破摔 (pò guàn zi pò shuāi) — literally "the broken jar is smashed even more." This idiom means "since things are already bad, I might as well stop caring" or "to give up on saving face once it's already lost." In this context, Yang Xue'ni feels embarrassed but decides to just go with it.
- The first Bao is Bao Ruanruan's surname—包 (bāo). Meanwhile, the characters for the word Baobao are 宝宝 (bǎobao), which means baby or darling.
- 宝宝不想说话 ("bǎo bao bù xiǎng shuō huà/Baby doesn't want to talk") – Internet slang used self-deprecatingly or humorously to express speechless frustration or exasperation.
- 老江湖 (lǎo jiāng hú)— literally "old wanderers of the rivers and lakes," an idiom meaning "seasoned veterans or old hands."
- a widely used nickname/euphemism for Taobao (淘宝), the major Chinese e-commerce platform. It's used to avoid naming the site directly.
- 尺 (chi) is a traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly equal to one-third of a metre, or about 33 centimetres/13 inches
- 二 èr: Second, 婶 shěn: wife of father's younger brother; aunt
- 大伯 dàbó: father's eldest brother; uncle
- "小家不扫，何以扫天下 (xiǎo jiā bù sǎo, hé yǐ sǎo tiān xià)" — classical idiom meaning "If one cannot sweep (keep tidy) one's own small home, how can one sweep the world?" It implies that personal discipline reflects one's ability to handle greater responsibilities. Used humorously here to scold her messy luggage.
- 二 èr: second, 伯 bó: father's elder brother; uncle
- "社死 (shè sǐ)" — slang for "social death," meaning extreme public embarrassment that makes you want to disappear.
- 爬墙 (páqiáng) — slang meaning "to switch allegiance," especially in fandom or relationships, like falling for someone new. Here, it humorously implies she feels guilty for talking secretly to someone else.
- Means 'not really' or 'just kidding' and is usually written in parentheses for humorous effect.
- 吃瓜 (chī guā) = slang for watching drama gossip.
- 大饼 (dà bǐng): literally "big pancake," slang for a major career opportunity.
- "神龙见首不见尾 (shén lóng jiàn shǒu bú jiàn wěi)" — idiom: "a divine dragon whose head is seen but not its tail," meaning mysterious and elusive, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
- lit. rivers and lakes—people wandering from place to place and living by their wits, e.g. fortune-tellers, quack doctors, itinerant entertainers, etc., considered as a social group
- The crucial part is 鲨手 (shāshǒu). This word is a deliberate homophone substitution: The intended word is 杀手 (shāshǒu), which means "Killer" or "Assassin." The speaker substituted the character 杀 (k!ll) with 鲨 (shark), which has the same pronunciation.
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