As the year neared its end in December, everyone was busy preparing for New Year's Eve galas. Quite a few actors from various prod...
As the year neared its end in December, everyone was busy preparing for New Year's Eve galas.
Quite a few actors from various production teams also emerged from seclusion1 to take part in the live galas broadcast by the major television stations.
However, the production team of The Female Physician didn't even stop for the holidays.
The producer asked around. Apart from a few actors who already had other engagements arranged, everyone else wanted to stay with the production.
Bao Ruanruan was the first to take the lead, choosing not to take time off.
"The sooner we finish filming, the sooner we can go home."
She also wanted to return to Beijiao No. 1.
However, the round trip between Hengcheng and Jiangcheng alone would take three hours.
If she factored in the end-of-year rush, when everyone was travelling home or going out socialising, she estimated traffic jams could stretch that journey to four hours.
Taking one day off would mean losing half a day.
Bao Ruanruan was quite good at arithmetic.
So she chose to give up on the idea.
Besides, she had already sent her New Year presents to Beijiao No. 1 a long time ago.
She devoted herself entirely to her work and was so focused that she didn't even accept any other gala appearances that could have increased her exposure. She had also stopped all her variety-show work.
Once again, she had captured the admiration of both the director and the producer.
In their personal rankings of actors who were easy to work with, Bao Ruanruan was clearly in the top 3.
Han Mo and Qin Xing felt even more strongly that they had learnt something again, too.
They both felt that they had rediscovered another little piece of their original passion for acting.
*
The news that Bao Ruanruan would not be coming down from her mountain2 over New Year had her fans howling.
In the comments beneath her Weibo posts, her Mom Fans were already crying.
[ 365 days of missing my Kiddo~ ]
[ Eh, I always thought the December schedule released by her studio was a joke, but it turns out she really spends the entire month filming with the production team! ]
[ Waah, Kiddo Ruan isn't even appearing on Taking Dream any more. Mama misses her to death. ]
[ Hungry-hungry, food-food3~ ]
[ The studio should be able to post her January schedule tomorrow, right? ]
[ Here's hoping, although I don't dare get my hopes up too much. ]
[ Dying of laughter, I know the answer to this question — January: filming with the production team all month. ]
[ Stop talking about it! Awooo, I'm already crying! ]
Weibo was full of her fans weeping.
On 31 December, the final day of the year, the entire production team finally finished work at six in the evening.
At the production's hotel, Bao Ruanruan started a video call and shared a hotel-room dinner with a certain someone, despite the thousand kilometres separating them.
"I ordered these for you based on the nutrition books I've been reading recently."
Xue Jing looked through the screen.
He silently went over what was on the dining table.
"Blood replenishment foods, qi replenishment foods, sufficient fibre intake, vitamin B, and carbohydrates…"
The corners of Bao Ruanruan's mouth lifted as she, too, looked at the hotel room on the screen.
"I did the same."
The dinner in front of Xue Jing had also been delivered by his hotel.
Bao Ruanruan nodded in satisfaction. "I also ordered you a glass of red wine."
"According to the Diet Myth🔗, which you read to me yesterday, an analysis of thirty-four observational studies indicated that drinking a small glass of red wine each day had the most significant effect in preventing heart attacks and reducing mortality rates among men."
Xue Jing couldn't help but look fondly at the glass of red wine on his dining table, delivered by a hotel waiter only a short while earlier.
His heart softened until it was almost melting.
It was as though this conversation were their own private Morse code, a language known only to the two of them.
He continued quite naturally.
"Mm. According to the book, men who drink 4.8 units of alcohol daily and women who drink 2.3 units can reduce their risk of heart disease by eighteen per cent."
Xue Jing, too, belonged to the evidence-checking camp4.
Listening to him, Bao Ruanruan wanted nothing more than to give him a Like5.
She smoothly continued in turn.
"The alcohol-concentration number before the percentage sign × the volume of the drink in litres = alcohol units."
"Exactly."
"You have such a good memory~"
"So do you."
After speaking, they looked at each other through the video call.
They shared a knowing smile.
A brief silence fell, but the air in the room warmed by another two degrees.
Bao Ruanruan gradually began to blush.
Holding her chopsticks, she felt this was the loveliest New Year's Eve she had ever spent.
Looking at Xue Jing on the screen, she bit her lip and squeezed the edge of her rice bowl.
"Then I'll start eating."
"All right. Happy New Year."
"Mm~ Happy New Year to you too~"
No fireworks lit the sky outside the window.
Yet Bao Ruanruan could hear her own heart thumping.
As though a tiny shooting star were soaring into the sky.
*
The first day of the new year: New Year's Day is a time for joy and celebration.
It was a day when workers across the country could rest.
Those who had to work could also proudly receive triple pay.
Everyone was brimming with festive cheer.
Amid the bitter cold, people nestled at home, enjoying the warmth of their heaters and staying tucked up indoors.
However, some people still did not dare to relax.
For example—Bao Ruanruan's fans.
Across the Ruan fandom, people rubbed their hands together in eager anticipation, nervously and expectantly awaiting Bao Ruanruan Studio's January schedule.
[ Comrades, good news! Rejoice, celebrate and run to tell everyone! ]
[ Has the studio made a move? I'll go and look right now! ]
[ No, Yang Xueni's studio has released her schedule~ ]
[ … ]
[ …… ]
[ Don't be like that. Now that Nini's schedule is out, can our Kiddo Ruan's be far behind? ]
The Ruan Moms, the Ruan Dads, and Ruanruan's career fans6 were all at home, checking their phones every few minutes.
Then they would look at the green plants at home.
Those without any plants need not panic: they could open a window and imitate Kiddo Ruan by gazing into the distance to ease their eyestrain.
Then they would resume checking their phones.
They had begun this team-building activity7 at eight that morning.
They had originally thought they would have to wait until at least noon, or possibly even the afternoon, but the studio made its move at 9:19 am.
[ BaoRuanruanStudio V: Wishing everyone a happy New Year, good health, and a long life reaching a hundred. ]
Everyone smiled as soon as they saw it.
That was exactly their studio's style!
Even without reading the heading, they could never mistake it for someone else's.
While other studios were wishing their fans joy in a hundred things and for all ten thousand things to go as they wished, theirs alone favoured longevity.
In the sea of people, theirs was the only studio of its kind!
Unlike other artists, who posted photographs, BaoRuanruanStudio V posted a video.
[ Bao Ruanruan's First Month of Looking After Her Health in the New Year ]
[ 1. Filming with the production team; 2. Exercise; 3. Eating healthy, nutritious meals on time; 4. Having cheerful conversations with friends to improve her mood; 5. Finish reading three books about health. ]
As each label appeared, behind-the-scenes clips of Bao Ruanruan doing the activity were shown.
Her busy appearance while filming.
Running at the gym without makeup.
She sorted her healthy lunch by category and type, then ate it with obvious enjoyment.
They also saw her chatting, laughing and joking with the little older sisters8…
Bao Ruanruan had opened for business9!
Her fans finally had something new to see again!
Ruan Fans almost burst into tears.
[ 55510, only at this moment, seeing Kiddo Ruan, have I realised that I really can't do without her. ]
[ Exactly. I used to see her on variety shows every week, and she had become an essential part of my weekends~ Now that I can't see her on weekends, I'm so sad. ]
[ Wow, the moment I saw her in the video, I burst into tears! What a beautiful girl! Our girl is still as health-conscious and adorable as ever! ]
[ Even while she was working with the production team over the New Year period, she still found time to remind her Moms to live healthy. She's Mom's precious little heart and liver11~ ]
The Mom Fans were filled with one tearful voice message after another.
Once their excitement subsided and they came to terms with it, they felt even sadder.
[ I've watched the video thirteen times, and only now has it dawned on me—waah, my Kiddo will still be with the production team in January! ]
[ 55510, there'll be no sunshine in my January~ ]
[ For all 31 days of January, I'm going to watch this video once a day and complete Kiddo's five daily tasks~ ]
[ +1 I'm buying health books right now. I'm going to finish three books together with Kiddo Ruan! ]
[ Mm. Kiddo Ruan is working hard, so I will too. I'm giving up variety shows and stopping livestreams. January will be my month of effort~ ]
The fans were reasonably resilient and soon rallied.
The video was positive and uplifting, and from beginning to end, it showed Bao Ruanruan's desire to live to a hundred.
As her Moms, they naturally had to stay by her side for those hundred years too.
For a long, long time!
All the fans were going off to study health information.
They would also retreat into seclusion.
The first of January was also a Saturday.
It was the day Season One of Taking Dream reached its finale.
Also on that day, Director Zheng Mingchang had never imagined that he would face the greatest crisis of his career!
A whole group of Bao Ruanruan's fans was about to abandon their variety show!
Her follower count was now about to surge to twenty million.
Successive exposure on variety shows and in television dramas had brought her substantial long-tail effects12.
However, her fans had all decided to study diligently and were full of positive energy.
They were about to say goodbye to the variety show's livestream.
Zheng Mingchang felt a tightness in his chest.
On this festive day, he almost shed tears.
Fortunately, however, he had prepared in advance.
Soon, internet users and the Ruan Fandom came across a post on Taking Dream's official Weibo account.
[ TakingDreamsAsOurSteeds V: The day has come to say goodbye to season one. Thank you, @BaoRuanruan, for taking part in recording this episode despite your work commitments.
Teacher Bao Ruanruan has left us the first challenge of the new year. We hope both today's lucky audience members at the location and everyone watching the livestream will have fun~
Happy New Year, and may all ten thousand things go as you wish. ]
[ ! ]
[ ?? ]
[ Did my Kiddo go there? Or is she livestreaming remotely from afar? ]
[ Oh, Mom, I'm coming right now! ]
[ A challenge??? ]
Everyone was immediately lured back over.
The livestream of the final episode of Taking Dream officially began at ten in the morning.
As soon as viewers entered the livestream, they noticed that today's video layout was particularly unusual.
The screen was divided into two sections.
The larger section showed the reunited guests from the Blue and Red Teams.
In the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, they could see Bao Ruanruan's small, fair face.
She wore a thick black down jacket over her costume.
On her head, she wore the long-haired wig from her period drama, adorned only with a single straight silver hairpin.
Her makeup was also fresh and dignified.
She waved at the camera.
"Hi, everyone! Happy New Year~"
"I've got you some little New Year gifts to help you with healthy everyday living. I hope you'll be able to find them and take them home."
"Mm, I'm going off to film now. I'll be back later~"
After speaking, Bao Ruanruan hugged her insulated flask, hurriedly stood up and walked out of the shot.
[ Awooo, how much later is 'later'? ]
[ ! So, I will be able to see Kiddo Ruan whenever she has a break from filming today?! ]
[ 5555510, a surprise after the January schedule! Thank you, Taking Dream! Thank you, Director Zheng! ]
The Ruan Fandom was thrilled.
Happiness came too quickly, just like a tornado~
In addition to her own fans, the show's long-standing viewers and fans of other artists also liked Bao Ruanruan.
They all became interested in the little gifts she had mentioned.
[ What gifts? Can we get them too? ]
[ Hehe, Brother @ChengYao, look at her, then look at yourself. Where's my gift? ]
[ My Mom, we're all fans, so why are the Ruan fans so lucky?! @ZhenXuan! You'd better answer me! ]
Everyone else began making a fuss too.
Fortunately, Director Zheng Mingchang soon stepped in front of the livestream camera to explain the game's rules.
"On the day that Season One comes to its finale, we've returned to Hengshan Village."
The livestream camera panned around.
First came shots of the mountains, waterways and fields of Hengshan Village, then the houses and hamlets, and finally the chickens, dogs, and cats.
"In the previous episode, our Red and Blue Teams personally telephoned two thousand lucky viewers."
"We invited you to join this year's two-day Hengshan tour."
"You can choose any available date from today until 31 May this year."
"We're also honoured to welcome the first small group of twenty viewer-tourists to our recording location today."
[ ! ]
[ Viewers are already taking part today? ]
[ Who managed to pass the Blue Team exam? Those brainy top students! ]
Director Zheng Mingchang looked into the camera.
"Because of her work commitments, Xiao Bao can't come to our recording location."
"But she has left us some little gifts."
"These little gifts are also a challenge for everyone."
As he spoke, Director Zheng waved his hand. Soon, two burly staff members carried in a wooden cabinet similar to those used to store traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients.
The little wooden drawers were labelled with the names of traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, such as angelica root and cassia seeds.
Zheng Mingchang stepped forward and pulled out the drawer labelled 'Angelica Root'.
Only when the camera moved closer did viewers discover the drawer was empty.
[ Surely we aren't supposed to identify the medicinal ingredients and put them inside? ]
[That's too difficult! I'm going to ask Du Niang🔗 right now! ]
[ If I answer correctly, can I get an autographed photograph? ]
Contrary to everyone's expectations, however, Director Zheng Mingchang pushed the empty drawer back into the cabinet.
"There are fifty-six little compartments here, each containing a small health-promoting gift that Xiao Bao personally selected for you."
"However, she asked our production team to hide them around Hengshan Village."
"Today, we're going to test everyone's treasure-hunting abilities."
[ ??? ]
[ Director, I suspect you're making this up. ]
[ Kiddo Ruan asked you to do that? Why does this part feel like your own improvisation? ]
[ My Kiddo Ruan would never deliberately make things difficult for her Moms! ]
Director Zheng Mingchang's credibility fell to an all-time low.
His authority vanished completely.
However, he soon turned to the twenty lucky viewers waiting behind him, all of whom were willing to appear on camera.
"Anyone who finds a gift can take it home."
"You can also ask any guest from the Red or Blue Team here for an autographed photograph."
"The game lasts two days and one night."
"Begin!"
This was the final episode, the final battle.
The production team had invited ordinary viewers to take part in the filming.
By doing this in the final episode, it was almost as if they were officially announcing that Taking Dream no longer needed ratings.
The competitors watching Jiangcheng Television most closely were already preparing to laugh.
However, they soon discovered that the number of people watching Taking Dream live had increased rather than fallen!
Shortly after Director Zheng left the shot, a round-faced girl wearing Pengmai sportswear stepped forward from among the twenty ordinary participants.
A small brooch depicting Bao Ruanruan's cartoon likeness was pinned below her neckline.
Decorative little clips adorned the two drawstrings of her sports hoodie.
The one on the left said 'Kiddo Ruan', and the one on the right said 'Mom'.
She was a little nervous, but she still bravely stood before the camera and spoke loudly.
"I'm one of Bao Ruanruan's Mom Fans."
"I hope the Ruan Mom Fans watching the livestream will help me find the gifts Ruanruan left!"
At this point, her small face flushed bright red.
"I'm Fake Mom. Real Moms, you should all have my contact details."
"Let's pool our Moms' wisdom and avoid embarrassing our Kiddo."
[ !? ]
[ Awooo, Fake Mom, you actually passed the test! ]
"Any mom who helps me find them, I'll try to get Kiddo Ruan's autographed photograph and post it to you."
The person whose hands were trembling with nerves, although she could still speak without difficulty, was none other than Fake Mom, Tang Qian.
That's right—she was supposedly one of the 2,000 lucky audience members who had passed Bao Ruanruan's test... Yeah, right. As if that were possible.
She had scored only fifty-eight.
This time, she was responsible for leading the small tour group and working as local reception staff for Jingtian Travel.
However, at the last minute, one girl had an allergic reaction on her face and didn't want to appear on camera, so Tang Qian took her place in this glorious gift-finding game!
She, too, had only just learnt that the production team had arranged this little game.
Upon hearing that Ruanruan had personally prepared the gifts, Tang Qian was so excited she wanted to scream. She had to find them.
Of course, moms understood their little girl best. The Mom Fans would never admit defeat.
Of the fifty-six little gifts, the Mom Fans would definitely find the most.
Unexpectedly, once she stepped forward, the others soon found their courage too.
"I'm a Ludi13 fan."
"I'm a Xuanchuan14, someone who likes Zhen Xuan… Help me search too."
"Feifei fans, are you all here?"
"I'm not anyone's fan. I'm just an ordinary viewer who enjoys variety shows. Apart from the fans, the rest of us viewers are clever too, aren't we? We, passersby, should unite as well!"
The twenty people jostled to get to the front.
They weren't fighting for steamed buns, but for Bao Bao's gifts15!
The twenty lucky viewers, representing various fandoms, passersby, and ordinary variety show viewers, took turns appealing to the audience on camera.
The viewer count stopped falling abruptly after dipping when ordinary people appeared on camera.
Instead, the numbers began to increase steadily.
The scrolling comments erupted in laughter, especially when Director Zheng's expression grew distinctly unpleasant.
[ Director, did you think you'd invited twenty ordinary people to play a game? No, you've recruited evolved viewers16 who've spent three months watching and learning from Xiao Bao on how to play games! ]
[Viewers' experience points UP, Level 1 to Level 100! ]
[ Xiao Bao's escape skills, loading… Xiao Bao's ability to spot game loopholes, loading… Xiao Bao's little health tips, loading… ]
The scrolling comments were filled with laughter and smug satisfaction.
.......
But an hour later...
After finishing filming a scene, Bao Ruanruan returned to the camera for the Taking Dream livestream. She was once again carrying her insulated flask and her script.
She took a sip of water and looked at the iPad that Liu Qiu had handed her.
Seeing the bustling scene of the twenty lucky tourists searching through Hengshan Village, she could not help but stare.
Still wearing her filming makeup, she looked unsure whether to laugh or cry.
In particular, she watched Tang Qian enter a villager's home and greet the villager warmly on the screen.
When Tang Qian asked the grandmother whether anything had been hidden in her house, Bao Ruanruan lifted her eyes and glanced silently at the camera.
Her eyes betrayed a hint of hesitation, as if she wasn't sure whether to say anything.
"Isn't this the home of the grandma where I often went for meals? Back then, whenever I took her for a walk after eating, she gave me a hundred points."
[ Hehe, that's our Fake Mom! She found a key person straight away, and Kiddo Ruan still remembers her so clearly. ]
[ Kiddo Ruan cares so much about repaying kindness. She must have left something at that Grandma's house. ]
[ So excited! Fake Mom is racking up points17! ]
The next moment, however, PD Liu Qiu asked a question in the one-eighth display window.
"Teacher Bao, did you hide anything in this house?"
Bao Ruanruan hesitated for a second.
"Mm… I did give that Grandma a New Year present."
"But why would I put things intended for the viewers in someone else's house?"
[ ! ]
[ ??? ]
Behind her, Liu Qiu asked again, "So you hid everything in your own house?"
"Yes, it's all in my dream sunroom. Mm, some things are little clues to help find the gifts, but those are all in my sunroom too. Although I'm not there, everyone's welcome to go and have fun."
[ !! ]
On camera, the twenty viewers were searching all over the mountains and fields.
Bao Ruanruan watched for a while, then still gave them the highest praise.
"Getting some exercise is quite good."
"Mm."
[ …………Fake Mom, walk well all the way18! ]
[ 233319, this reminds me of her recitation on The Great Escape show. ]
[ ? ]
[ —You search till the ends of heaven, yet I am only a handspan away. ]
[ Pfft—— ]
It turned out they had been told the answer ages ago!
Their Kiddo was indeed a good kid.
The thing was, neither her Mom Fans nor the passersby had seen this coming!
Author's Notes:
Ruan: Keep it simple~
*
Ah, let me explain the drinking issue in more detail.
The passage in the story that says drinking can reduce the risk of heart disease comes directly from a book. However, drinking can cause other health problems, and the benefits of alcohol may not outweigh the harm it causes. Excessive drinking is particularly harmful, so I'm not advocating drinking~
In the story, though, it was a celebratory drink, so the male and female leads just had a little~
Also, this observational study suggesting heart health benefits falls into a comparatively less accurate category of research, because other factors cannot be completely ruled out—for example, the people who drink may have been healthy to begin with…
Anyway, exercising to strengthen your body is the kingly way20!
**
Awooo, if you have time, please bookmark my author page. Mwah-mwah~
Also, my lovely readers, if you're interested, you can bookmark my upcoming novel, The Imperial Chef Who Was Supposed to Be the Foil on a Variety Show Became a Sensation). Mwah-mwah.
After Xia Xiaoyi transmigrated into a palace-intrigue novel and levelled up to become the foremost imperial chef, she returned to her original world!
She returned to her 108th-tier21 days: her contract was terminated, she was subjected to online violence, and she was losing her hair at an alarming rate.
Viewers all called her an unprofessional flower vase22 for sleeping in her room during variety shows and for being unable to memorise her lines.
In reality, however, her apparent lack of effort had been forced upon her by her agent, because the company was using its capital to lift someone else, making her serve as the foil to a wealthy family heiress.
The company sent her onto variety shows and into acting projects together with the wealthy family heiress.
The more viewers criticised her laziness, the more they liked the 'rich yet hardworking' persona of the wealthy family heiress!
As a result, the heiress became the internet's top traffic star, and the company kicked Xia Xiaoyi aside!
That was when Xia Xiaoyi returned from her transmigration.
On the final day of filming the variety show, she swung her cleaver through the chopping board and drove it a centimetre into the kitchen worktop.
"Crawl away from this old lady, all of you!"
Viewers: "Lazy and violent too! Roll out of here!"
Five minutes later, her cleaver moved like an afterimage, slicing the tofu into strands as fine as dragon whiskers.
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the tofu into water, where it bloomed like a chrysanthemum, not a single petal broken.
Viewers: "!"
Ten minutes later, she rushed to the yard behind the farmland and bought a free-range chicken.
She killed it, drained its blood and scalded its feathers, moving like drifting clouds and flowing water23.
Then, using her small hands, she pulled out the sinews, severed the veins, and removed the bones, inch by inch.
The result was a creamy, lotus-scented chicken with unbroken skin, an intact shape, and an oily sheen.
Viewer 1: "!!"
Viewer 2: "Perhaps she isn't quite so lacking in effort after all?"
An hour later, the director's assistant shouted excitedly.
"Xia Xiaoyi's popularity is rising!"
"The number of tips for Xia Xiaoyi has exploded!"
Having finished three dishes and a soup, Xia Xiaoyi packed them up and left the filming location.
Director: "Stay! Could we also film tomorrow's three meals?"
Viewers: "Keep cooking! Don't make me get down on my knees and beg!"
Xia Xiaoyi: "…??"
Xia Xiaoyi: You've got it wrong. This time, I really don't want to work hard!
A month later, Xia Xiaoyi's work schedule was completely full.
Several major talent agencies were competing fiercely to sign her!
Her former company: Well… we rather regret it.
These are new novels I'm planning to write. If any interested little angels24 are interested, please click through and bookmark it~
- [accordion]
- Niangzi, Are You Slacking Off Again Today? (A Long Aotian Couple Competes Every Day to See Who Can Lie Flatter
-
- Original Title: 娘子,今日也摆了吗 (龙傲天夫妻每天都比谁躺的更平)🖼️
- Translated Title: Niangzi25, Are You Slacking Off Again Today? (A Long Aotian26 Couple Competes Every Day to See Who Can Lie Flatter27)
Su Qian was a genius Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, and its fastest cultivator in nearly a hundred years. She was reportedly capable of advancing three ranks in a single day.Shen Qingfeng was the final disciple of the Pure Yang Sword Sect's Grandmaster, who only accepted the most gifted sword cultivators. His prestigious status made him the centre of everyone's attention.In order to harmonise the yin and yang of heaven and earth through a marriage between the immortal and demonic factions, Su Qian and Shen Qingfeng were deemed the ideal candidates.They had both heard rumours about each other's genius and illustrious battle record, and were both very pleased with the match.However, on the eve of becoming cultivation partners, they discovered the horrifying truth: they had each found their perfect match — a fellow genius who was every bit as lazy as they were!If they could lie down, they wouldn't sit; if they could sit, they certainly wouldn't cultivate. They were waiting for their Dao companions to step up and support them.Su Qian and Shen Qingfeng: "…"Having discovered each other's true characters, the two could only let the matter go.They could not rely on their future partner, but that was all right: they still had their senior brothers, senior sisters and masters to rely on.Then, one day, all of their senior brothers and sisters from both sects, along with the sects' dogs, ascended. Only the two of them and the thatched hut, which had withstood the lightning during the ascension process, were left behind. There was nothing they could do but sigh.Meanwhile, the competition between the cultivation sects was about to begin.Confronted with the task of rebuilding their sects, which their senior brothers and sisters had left behind, they both took a deep breath.Su Qian jumped behind the bed curtains. "Xianggong28, I'm leaving it to you."Shen Qingfeng struggled to lift his head from the pillow. "Niangzi25, your husband is counting on you now."Su Qian and Shen Qingfeng: "???"Every night, they would have a spectacular showdown beneath the bed curtains, shaking the bed as though an earthquake had struck. This was all part of their ritual for deciding who would be stuck doing the work.Until one day, when a powerful enemy of their sect came to attack.Su Qian and Shen Qingfeng exchanged a tender glance, both overflowing with affection, before swiftly flying in front of each other.At the same moment, they seized the enemy's longsword.Shen Qingfeng: "If you must kill someone, k!ll me!"Su Qian: "If anyone is going to hell, it might as well be me!"Even the enemy was moved by their affection for each other as cultivation partners, and prepared to send them both down to hell.But d@mn it, he couldn't pull his sword free!The enemy: "?"Su Qian urgently sent a telepathic message: "Idiot, stab me! Let me spend three months recovering!"Shen Qingfeng stood upright without releasing his grip. "Hit me, quickly! Then I can rest instead of patrolling the mountain next month!"The enemy: "???"Everyone thought the lofty and aloof Sword Immortal, Shen Qingfeng, would never let his Dao heart waver.In fact, he was too lazy even to cultivate it.One day, however, he heard that Su Qian had gone to an immortal sect to consider an ambitious male cultivator, a newly emerged genius, as her new cultivation partner.That very night, Shen Qingfeng took up his sword and travelled thousands of miles without a wink of sleep for three days and nights. He went on such a rampage through the newcomer immortal sect that he practically turned the place inside out, and even the poor little bachelor dog outside was scared out of its wits."Who else!"*There is another reason for the male lead's laziness.Fighting too often would allow sinister energy to corrupt his mind, eventually causing him to lose control.Theme: Stand up rather than lie flat.Tags: Joyful foes29; xianxia30 cultivation; sweet fiction31; satisfying fiction32; marriage first, love later.Other:ID: 9531130Main characters:Female lead: Su QianMale lead: Shen Qingfeng - I Stir Up Trouble in the Cultivation World with Civil Service Exam Questions (My Exam Questions Become Magical Talismans)
-
- Original Title: 我在修仙界 出考公题整活 (我用考公题来画符)🖼️
- Translated Title: I Stir Up Trouble in the Cultivation World with Civil Service Exam Questions (My Exam Questions Become Magical Talismans)
Jiang Qingqian, a civil service hopeful who worked herself to death grinding through aptitude test questions, had only wanted to make it ashore33 and secure a government job. Instead, she transmigrated into a cultivation novel as the Talisman Sect's supposedly useless youngest junior sister.Upon arrival, Jiang Qingqian realised that she knew nothing about ancient talismans.However, writing administrative aptitude test questions on talisman paper seemed to work!When the Eldest Senior Brother, who had always mocked her incompetence, came to bully her, Jiang Qingqian wielded her brush and wrote on a yellow binding talisman:[ The spirit grass on the rear mountain grows every day and can feed twelve of our sect's cows for twenty days… If the Sect Master increases the herd by 4 cows, how many days can the grass sustain the enlarged herd? ]The aptitude test mathematics question instantly became a binding cage talisman, locking the Eldest Senior Brother to a desk and chair. Only a correct answer would allow him to leave.Eldest Senior Brother: "?"During the sect competition, just as a sword-cultivating disciple thrust his sword towards Jiang Qingqian on the fighting platform, she swept her brush across a yellow offensive talisman and wrote:[ Without adequate mechanisms for trial and error, the Sword Sect harbours __ feelings towards reform and innovation, adopting the attitude of 'not seeking merit, but merely seeking to avoid mistakes34'. As a result, there is a general lack of motivation to pursue change. Fill in the missing word. ]The sword cultivator faltered for a split second, only to be struck by the yellow talisman that had become an exam question. His head spun, his vision swam, and he could no longer fight.Sword Sect: "?"Jiang Qingqian smiled. "Heh, everyone, let's stop all this fighting and killing. Instead, let's study hard, aim to pass our exams and make it ashore33 as soon as possible."All the inner and outer disciples of the Talisman Sect were left dumbfounded.The Eldest Senior Brother could barely stop his hands from shaking as he held the 5,000 Must-Practise Administrative Aptitude Test Questions; the Buddhist prodigy looked thoroughly miserable as he clutched his notebook of mistakes; and the sword cultivator? He took one look at his failing diagnostic test score and went very, very quiet...The Talisman Sect's disciples competed to imitate her, and all kinds of talismans containing real exam questions became widely circulated.Wails filled the cultivation world. "I can't answer this question! I can't! It's too difficult!"After years in seclusion, Jiang Qingqian's cool and aloof Ancestral Master finally awoke.The moment the Ancestral Master stepped out of the cultivation cave and saw genuine examination question talismans fluttering all over the Talisman Sect, he could hardly believe this was the sect he knew.The advance listing opened on 10 March 2025. Think of this as version 2.0 of my 'marking homework' idea from 2023.Theme: Study hard and rise higher every day.Tags: Farming fiction; female supporting character35; transmigrate into a book; satisfying fiction32; sand sculpture humour36.Other:ID: 9541002Main characters:Female lead: Jiang QingqianMale lead: Undecided
Footnotes Full List
- 出关 (chū guān) — come out of seclusion; leave intensive filming temporarily to make public appearances
- 不出山 (bù chū shān) — not come out of the mountains; remain away from public appearances
- 饿饿,饭饭 (è è, fàn fàn) — hungry-hungry, food-food; baby talk asking to be 'fed' fresh idol content
- 考据党 (kǎojù dǎng) — the textual-research faction; people who like to verify claims against evidence
- 点赞 (diǎn zàn) — click Like; express approval
- 事业粉 (shìyè fěn) — career fans; fans especially invested in an idol's professional success
- 团建 (tuán jiàn) — team building; jokingly treating their shared fan routine as an organised group activity
- 小姐姐 (xiǎo jiějie) — a friendly internet term for young women
- 营业 (yíng yè) — conduct business; an idol makes an appearance or provides content for fans
- 555 (wǔ wǔ wǔ) — five-five-five; a numerical imitation of 呜呜呜, the sound of crying
- 小心肝 (xiǎo xīn gān) — little heart and liver; an affectionate term for someone dearly treasured
- 长尾效应 (cháng wěi xiào yìng) — long-tail effects; benefits that continue well after the initial exposure
- 陆地 (Lùdì) — land; the fandom name for Lu Wenhao
- 宣传 (Xuānchuán) — publicity; a fandom name playing on 宣 in Zhen Xuan's name
- 不争馒头,争个包包的礼物 (bù zhēng mántou, zhēng ge Bāobao de lǐwù) — fight not for steamed buns, but for Baobao's gifts; a playful variation on 不争馒头争口气 (bù zhēng mán tóu zhēng kǒu qì), 'fight not for steamed buns, but for pride', with Bao Bao as Bao Ruanruan's nickname
- 进化版观众 (jìnhuà bǎn guānzhòng) — an evolved version of viewers; viewers whose skills have developed through watching Bao Ruanruan
- 上分 (shàng fēn) — raise one's score; gaming slang for gaining points, used here to celebrate her apparent progress
- 一路走好 (yí lù zǒu hǎo) — walk well all the way; a farewell often addressed to the deceased, used here as mock sympathy
- 2333 (èr sān sān sān) — two-three-three-three; an internet expression of laughter
- 王道 (wáng dào) — the kingly way; the best or most dependable approach
- 108线 (yì bǎi líng bā xiàn) — the 108th line; an exaggerated description of an extremely obscure celebrity
- 花瓶 (huā píng) — a flower vase; an attractive performer considered merely decorative and lacking ability
- 行云流水 (xíng yún liú shuǐ) — moving clouds and flowing water; smoothly and effortlessly
- 小天使 (xiǎo tiān shǐ) — little angels; an affectionate nickname for readers
- Historically, 娘子 (niángzi) was a common way for a husband to address or refer to his wife, especially in pre-modern or historical settings.
- 龙傲天 (Lóng Àotiān) — Dragon Who Scorns Heaven; an internet archetype of an overwhelmingly powerful, seemingly invincible protagonist
- 躺的更平 (tǎng de gèng píng) — lie more flatly; be even more idle and unwilling to strive
- 相公 (xiànggong) is an old-fashioned form of address whose meaning changes according to historical period and context. In Chinese historical romance and web novels, women commonly use it to address or refer to their husbands. It often sounds more affectionate, traditional, or deferential than the modern 丈夫 (zhàngfu, husband).
- 欢喜冤家 (huān xǐ yuān jiā) — happy enemies; lovers whose relationship involves affectionate bickering
- Xianxia (仙侠, xiān xiá) is a genre of Chinese fantasy fiction that focuses on immortality, cultivation, supernatural powers, Chinese mythology, and martial arts.
The word consists of two Chinese characters:- 仙 (xiān) – Immortal, celestial being, or someone who has achieved supernatural powers through spiritual cultivation.
- 侠 (xiá) – Hero, chivalrous warrior, or someone who upholds justice.
Literal translation: 'Immortal Heroes' or 'Immortal Chivalry'.
Natural English meaning: Chinese cultivation fantasy or immortal fantasy. - 甜文 (tián wén) — sweet writing; fiction centred on affectionate romance
- 爽文 (shuǎng wén) — gratifying writing; fiction delivering satisfying successes and victories
- 上岸 (shàng àn) — get onto the shore; pass the competitive examination and secure a civil service position
- 不求有功,但求无过 (bù qiú yǒu gōng, dàn qiú wú guò) — do not seek achievements, only seek to have no faults; avoid responsibility or risk rather than strive for results
- 女配 (nǚ pèi) — female supporting role; a story involving a character originally assigned a supporting role
- 沙雕 (shā diāo) — sand sculpture; a playful euphemistic spelling signalling goofy, absurd comedy
きつね's Musing
Of the three upcoming novels, I like number 3 best, followed by number 1 and then number 2. Sadly, none of the novels have any chapters yet. 😫
COMMENTS