In the show I Bring the Fridge and Let Me Treat You to a Meal , the show invited two celebrity guests to appear in every episode...
In the show I Bring the Fridge and Let Me Treat You to a Meal, the show invited two celebrity guests to appear in every episode.
The invited celebrities not only brought their own fridges to the recording studio, but also treated the other guest to a meal made from the food inside.
They also recommended three of their favourite restaurants to the production team. The production team then invited the head chefs from these restaurants to cook live in the studio.
For today's show, Yang Xueni and Bao Ruanruan were teaming up.
This wasn't because they naturally understood each other. Rather, it was because Snow Mountain Rescue was preparing to release its first trailer after the Lunar New Year. The film's production company and the actresses' studios had therefore joined forces to arrange for them to appear together on a variety show to promote the film.
Although Bao Ruanruan was not one of the film's leading cast members, she played a female university student in need of rescue, while Yang Xueni portrayed the rescue team's deputy captain.
In the trailer, the two actresses stood at opposite ends of the bridge of life1.
Furthermore, as the influence of their appearance on The Assistant continued to ferment2, the film's publicity team was even more eager to have them participate in the promotional campaign together.
"Please welcome actress Yang Xueni!"
The host, Dong Xingwen, rose and greeted her with a smile.
Today, Yang Xueni wore an unusual azure-blue sports jacket paired with jeans as she approached the long white table.
She smiled and greeted the camera before taking the seat to Dong Xingwen's left.
In line with the film's promotional campaign, she wore a more practical, genderless style befitting a capable deputy rescue team captain.
Even her long, wavy hair, which she usually styled, was neatly tied up.
Her makeup was casual and natural, completely different from her previous glamorous look.
[ Ah, Jiejie changed as soon as the New Year arrived! ]
[ So dashing3! ]
"When did they tell you that you'd be treating Bao Ruanruan to a meal?"
Dong Xingwen smiled.
He was old enough to be either of the actresses' fathers.
"Have you made all the necessary preparations?"
Yang Xueni drew in a sharp breath and immediately rubbed her nose. "Preparations... Of course, I've made a few."
Her eyes darted about. "But regardless of who it is, I'll certainly treat them to a meal before the New Year."
Dong Xingwen chuckled. "Just a few preparations? Your fridges seem to tell a different story."
No sooner had he finished speaking than two members of the production crew appeared to his left, struggling to wheel two enormous double-door fridges, each at least 170 centimetres tall, into the studio on trolleys.
One was local-tycoon gold4, while the other was prosperity red5.
Placed side by side, they almost occupied an entire wall.
[ Just a little, 2333336! ]
[ Hhhhh7! ]
[ I honestly don't know whether to laugh at Nini's taste in colours or at how much she's prepared for Xiao Bao... Her mouth says yes, but her heart says no8. ]
Yang Xueni blushed visibly. "My fridges are always like this."
Dong Xingwen stood up and touched the gold fridge on the left.
He lifted a small corner of the protective film covering it.
"Nini, you haven't even peeled this film off yet. Did you only buy it yesterday?"
Yang Xueni: "...!"
[ Hahahaha! Bloody hell! Even Teacher Dong knows Nini's nickname now! ]
[The Baoxue CP9 is real~]
"Ahem, actually, there aren't that many ingredients."
Yang Xueni did her best to explain with a straight face.
"I've rented a place near the film set, and this red fridge belongs to my landlord."
"A week ago, when I found out that I had to bring a fridge and the ingredients I normally use onto the show, I realised that I couldn't possibly take my landlord's fridge away. So I went out, bought another one of the same model, and transferred the ingredients into it... But then, unexpectedly, my landlord said it was fine and that the production team could transport the fridge here..."
"I see."
He saw through her excuse but chose not to call her out.
Dong Xingwen smiled and nodded knowingly, deciding not to pursue the matter.
"Next, please welcome actress Bao Ruanruan."
The moment Bao Ruanruan walked in, the audience's eyes lit up.
She was wearing a knitted long dress decorated with little red chillies, looking unusually adorable.
As soon as she entered, she greeted everyone cheerfully.
However, she quickly pointed at the bright red patterns on the chest of her knitted dress and corrected them. "They're not little chillies. They're radishes."
She even went out of her way to stress that these weren't just any old radishes.
"Teacher Dong, Nini, hello, everyone."
When no one responded, Bao Ruanruan simply waved at the camera as if nothing were amiss.
Then she smiled and took her seat.
Silence.
Dong Xingwen was no stranger to the entertainment industry. After years of working with established artists and newcomers alike, he knew how to prevent awkward silences. Yet this time, even he was at a loss for words.
For a moment, he genuinely didn't know how to respond.
"Red... radishes?"
"Mm. Eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer11," Bao Ruanruan replied with a smile. "Red radishes are warming in nature, white radishes are neutral, and green radishes are slightly cooling. Lately, I've been rather fond of red radishes."
Yang Xueni turned her head away and covered her mouth with her hand.
Her shoulders began to shake.
[ Nini: "Hahahahaha!" ]
[ Even Teacher Dong is completely bewildered! Sorry, Teacher Dong. Please be patient with our Kiddo Ruan Zai, ying, ying, ying12.]
[ Teacher Dong: "Since when do your red radishes look like red chillies?" ]
[ To be fair, this is also the first time I've seen red radishes on a knitted dress... Xiao Bao, are you sure the seller hasn't tricked you? ]
[ Hahahaha! Does this mean I'll get to see our Kiddo Ruan wearing ginger-themed clothes next summer? @Pengmai, we've just handed you the secret code to riches13. Hurry up and design some short-sleeved tops, short skirts and sports shorts!]
The show was still warming up and had not even reached its main segment, yet the live comments were already convulsed with laughter.
Even Yang Xueni could not help herself. Her face turned red as she tried to hold back her laughter.
However, when the camera turned to Bao Ruanruan's little face, she didn't look uncomfortable at all.
She had been filming a lot recently, and this was one of her few public appearances. Still, she wasn't as thin or as tanned as her fans had imagined.
In fact, her complexion had become even fairer, with a delicate rosy tint, and her skin looked soft and radiant.
Her long, glossy black hair flowed down over her shoulders. With a black baseball cap on her head, her eyes appeared especially bright and sparkling.
[ Our lil girl is even prettier now! ]
[ Looks like our daughter has kept up her healthy lifestyle even while filming. All those red radishes certainly haven't gone to waste~ ]
[ She's nourishing herself for winter14. Mama can finally stop worrying. ]
"Xiao Bao, have you prepared properly for today's meal?"
Dong Xingwen asked her the same question.
"Nini has brought two fridges, you know."
Yang Xueni immediately blushed and waved her hands. "They weren't prepared especially for the programme. This is just what I normally have."
Dong Xingwen chuckled.
"Xiao Bao, do you cook your own meals while filming, or do you eat the boxed meals provided by the production crew?"
Bao Ruanruan adjusted the brim of her cap. "At lunchtime, we all eat meals ordered by the production crew. If we finish work early in the evening, I'll cook for myself. The fridge I brought with me today was moved from the place where I'm currently staying to the film set last month."
"Oh, and you probably received our invitation about two weeks ago. So the ingredients we're seeing in your fridge today are actually the things you normally use when cooking for yourself."
"That's right."
Bao Ruanruan nodded obediently.
The boxed meals she ate on set were actually quite good. They contained a healthy balance of meat and vegetables and were rich in nutrients.
However, some evenings she preferred to plan her own meals.
When she cooked, she thoroughly washed the ingredients to remove as much bacteria as possible, then slowly cooked them in filtered water over low heat.
This brought out their original flavours while preserving as much nutritional value as possible.
Even before tasting the food, preparing a meal like this already gave her that wonderful 'lifespan +1 day' feeling.
Bao Ruanruan enjoyed this process every day while she was filming.
So when Xue Jing asked whether she wanted to appear on this meal-invitation programme, she agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"All right, then. Let's have our staff bring Xiao Bao's fridge in."
Bao Ruanruan immediately turned around in anticipation, her eyes fixed on her fridge.
It was as though it were more than just a household appliance.
It seemed to hold something extraordinarily important and meaningful to her.
"Is there something special about this fridge?" Dong Xingwen, a seasoned veteran, immediately sensed that something was unusual.
Bao Ruanruan's fridge was a dark green, double-door, three-compartment model. It was also enormous.
"That's quite an unusual colour for a fridge."
"Isn't it? I bought some adhesive film and covered it myself."
Dong Xingwen: "!"
[ Hahahaha! Xiao Bao: "I've made myself green." ]
[ Poor Teacher Dong! He wasn't mentally prepared at all, and now he doesn't know how to respond again! ]
[ Kiddo Ruan: "Everything can be made green15. Green symbolises new life, and bamboo represents longevity. While reading or working, you can walk around your living or dining room and gaze at these furnishings in the distance. This way, you can relieve eye strain without taking a single step outside your home." ]
[ Hahahaha! I know that kind of adhesive film. The cupboard doors beneath my gas hob were looking rather old, so I bought some and covered them myself... Ahem. ]
In front of the camera, Dong Xingwen raised a hand to cover his mouth and coughed.
At his age, with retirement approaching, he had encountered plenty of comedians.
Yet Bao Ruanruan, despite being an actress, was no less funny.
He no longer dared to let his guard down.
Her unexpected comic punchlines just kept popping up everywhere, always when he least expected it!
"It seems you really like this fridge. You've even gone to the trouble of decorating it."
Bao Ruanruan nodded, her eyes flashing with the conviction that this was perfectly natural.
"Everything inside the fridge is an essential ingredient that provides us with the energy and nutrients we need every day."
As Bao Ruanruan spoke, her little face practically glowed.
Recently, she had been living in seclusion16, where she interacted with many people and shot numerous scenes each day. Her obsessive concern with cleanliness had gradually improved.
At the very least, she hadn't disinfected anything in front of other people or the cameras today.
She interacted with dozens of production crew members every day. Even if she did not see them when she raised her head, she would see them when she lowered it17.
If she disinfected her hands dozens of times a day, the skin on them would eventually become raw.
So she made a determined effort to overcome this habit. By now, she could generally wait until she left a public place before disinfecting herself.
However, restraining herself in this way had caused her desire to prolong her life to build up inside her, leaving her with no outlet for those feelings.
While filming, she could only release them through a few activities, such as exercising and cooking.
Consequently, whenever she looked at her fridge, it felt as though she were seeing a beloved family member.
She felt uncomfortable if she couldn't go over and touch it.
"Eating is one of the most important lessons we must master to improve our physical fitness."
Bao Ruanruan's eyes lit up as she spoke.
"The fridge is full of treasures."
"Well, now we're really looking forward to seeing what's inside."
Dong Xingwen was beaming.
As a host, he genuinely loved it when guests had plenty to say and were eager to express themselves. They made it easy to spark interesting conversations and boost a programme's entertainment value. Although suppressing his laughter was rather exhausting...
"Now, we'd like both of you to introduce the three chefs you've brought to the studio today."
"Nini, let's start with you. Which talented chefs have you invited to prepare a meal for Xiao Bao?"
Yang Xueni smiled, gradually getting used to being addressed by her nickname.
"Well, filming is usually very demanding for us, so it's nice to relax occasionally."
As she spoke, she glanced casually at Bao Ruanruan.
"That's why I chose three restaurants I usually visit to unwind. One has a chef who makes particularly delicious fried rice, while the other two specialise in steak and desserts."
[ Desserts are a major taboo for actors! ]
[ But Nini doesn't eat much. She only treats herself to dessert after completing a whole production. ]
"Whenever I'm especially exhausted, I absolutely have to eat a proper, substantial serving of rice."
Yang Xueni took a deep breath. "Meat and sweets, too."
Those three things were practically her lifeblood.
"But entertainers have to watch their figures, so we only treat ourselves to these things occasionally, when we're completely exhausted."
Although Yang Xueni didn't know the exact details, she guessed that Bao Ruanruan had already completed most of her scenes and was nearing the end of filming.
"These three chefs all prepare my favourite dishes whenever I visit their restaurants."
As soon as she had finished speaking, three male chefs of varying heights, dressed in neat white chef's uniforms, along with a young female pastry chef, walked into the studio, smiling.
They greeted the camera and took their seats.
The host, Dong Xingwen, promptly introduced them. "Master Cai, a specialist in Huaiyang cuisine📹 who has spent twenty years perfecting fried rice🔗 ; Head Chef He, who specialises in beef dishes; and Xiao Zhou, a Le Cordon Bleu🔗 -trained pastry chef. Nini has brought us three formidable generals18."
There were plenty of foodies among the viewers, and they immediately began discussing the restaurants.
Some viewers living in Jiangcheng or near Hengcheng had even eaten at those establishments before.
"Now, Xiao Bao, please introduce the three chefs on your side. What kind of masters have you invited to prepare a meal for our Nini today?"
[ I'm looking forward to this. ]
[ Don't even ask. They're definitely masters of healthy cooking! ]
[ If you ask me, they'll probably be masters of nourishing cuisine, right? ]
Sure enough, Bao Ruanruan stood up with a beaming smile and walked towards the three empty chef's seats beside her.
She reached out and made a motion as if to pull out a chair.
Dong Xingwen looked over expectantly.
Yang Xueni was equally curious and eager to see what would happen.
And then—
Nothing else happened.
Bao Ruanruan reached out, patted herself, and sat down in the C position19.
Dong Xingwen: "!"
Yang Xueni: "!"
The three chefs: "!"
[ !! ]
"My manager told me that the production team wanted me to choose my three favourite restaurants, places I visit frequently and would recommend to my friends."
Bao Ruanruan looked rather embarrassed.
Apart from the boxed meals provided by film crews and production teams, she had hardly eaten out at all.
"My favourite food is the food I cook myself."
With a clatter, the spoon bearing the programme sponsor's branding, which Dong Xingwen had been playing with, slipped from his hand.
A sudden silence descended over the entire studio.
Dong Xingwen wanted to ask if she was joking. He hadn't been told about this arrangement beforehand!
He looked down at his cue cards. "You wrote down your favourite restaurants. The first one is Home-Style Little Kitchen..."
Bao Ruanruan nodded. "That's me."
Dong Xingwen: "!"
"The second is Hengcheng Noodle House..."
Bao Ruanruan nodded. "That's me."
[ Pfft. ]
"...And the third one..."
"Xiao Bao's Nutritious Meals," Bao Ruanruan announced, raising her little face proudly. "That's me as well."
Dong Xingwen: "..."
Well, this was something he had never thought of in ten thousand ways20.
No wonder the programme director had kept looking at him strangely before today's recording, as if he wanted to laugh but didn't dare.
So this was the surprise they had been saving for him!
"Xiao Bao, it looks like you're going to have quite a busy schedule on the show today."
[ Hahahahahaha! ]
[ Teacher Dong: "I've certainly broadened my horizons..." ]
[ Bloody hell, I've watched so many episodes, and this is the first time I've ever seen this painting style21! ]
[ Hahahaha! I should have realised sooner. Why would our Safety Commissioner ever eat at a restaurant? Gutter-oil warning22! Improperly washed vegetables warning!... ]
[ I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe, everyone! Bao Bao is certainly earning her appearance fee! One trip outside and she's doing four jobs at once! ]
[ Xueren, Bao Bao isn't being careless with Nini. She's bringing out the special skills that she keeps in reserve (doge23)! ]
[ At first, I was making fun of the Baoxue CP, but now... mm, Baoxue will never fall~ ]
[ If this isn't true love, what is? Xiao Ruan: "The person cooking for you is me, me, and still me!" ]
The live comments instantly erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
Neither the new viewers nor the regular audience could take it anymore.
Who would have thought that Bao Ruanruan could bring her own unique sparkle to an ordinary cooking show that had long since run out of fresh ideas?
Inside the studio, Teacher Dong had already taken off his glasses and wiped his face thoroughly at the table in front of the cameras.
Yang Xueni could no longer hold it in.
She covered her face with both hands, terrified that if she took them off, she would burst out laughing.
The three chefs couldn't suppress their smiles either. Meanwhile, the youngest female pastry chef's shoulders trembled, and she simply couldn't stop laughing.
"Esteemed chefs."
Bao Ruanruan nodded modestly.
"Today, I will humbly display my inadequate skills."
Her home-style cooking certainly wasn't something to show off in front of professional chefs.
But were they eating for the flavour?
No. Every mouthful they ate extended their lives.
Faced with her solemn yet utterly matter-of-fact expression, even Dong Xingwen started to think that there was nothing wrong with Bao Ruanruan being the cook.
After all, what was wrong with cooking your own meals?
It was perfectly normal...
"I'm just rather surprised. I assumed the Hengcheng kitchen team would include the chef you brought from the production crew."
Bao Ruanruan hummed in acknowledgement and spoke quite loyally. "The production crew are on holiday. The aunties and uncles have all gone home to celebrate the New Year. They won't return to the set until afterwards."
She spread her hands.
"They finally have a chance to spend a little longer with their families during the Spring Festival, so I don't want to disturb them."
This child had done her best.
Dong Xingwen felt he couldn't keep asking questions.
Otherwise, today might become the Waterloo24 of his professional career.
He might laugh so hard that he caused an incident during the live broadcast.
"Ahem. All right, then. Let's take a look inside both of your fridges."
Dong Xingwen stood up.
He had originally intended to walk towards Yang Xueni.
However, his footsteps suddenly faltered.
If he stuck his head out, he would face the blade; if he pulled it back, he would still face the blade25.
It was better to endure short pain than long one26.
While the after-effects of her previous punchlines were still fresh, his ability to withstand further surprises was at its strongest. Whatever other jokes she had in store, he could surely handle them!
Dong Xingwen changed direction at the last moment and walked towards Bao Ruanruan's fridge on the right.
"Xiao Bao, let's look at yours first. Since you're preparing three dishes by yourself today, you'll need more time. This way, you can get started earlier."
"All right. Thank you, Teacher Dong."
Bao Ruanruan believed him.
She stood up and personally led Dong Xingwen to her fridge.
It had been a long time since Dong Xingwen had experienced this level of courtesy and respect from someone younger than him.
Since the fridge was less than three metres away, there was no real need to be quite so respectful towards an older person.
Nevertheless, Dong Xingwen's eyes crinkled with pleasure. He found the gesture gratifying and thought that this young woman had a genuinely good character.
But before his smile had even faded, he saw Bao Ruanruan swiftly remove a packet of disposable gloves from a transparent holder attached to the side of the fridge.
She immediately handed him two.
She then put on a pair herself.
"Teacher Dong, whatever you want to look at, I'll get it for you."
"Just tell me what you need."
Dong Xingwen froze for a moment.
What a good child!
How long had it been since he had met someone so well-behaved?
She even offered to help him with something as simple as looking in the fridge!
[ Xiao Bao's pretty good. She has manners. ]
[ Not bad, not bad. This actress seems lovely. ]
However, in the livestream chat, all of Ruanruan's mom fans and Yang Xueni's fans, the Xueren, had fallen completely silent.
They were not even praising their own favourite actresses. Casual viewers thought the two fan groups were remarkably considerate. Neither group flooded the chat nor showered their idols with exaggerated 'rainbow farts27'.
That was until—Bao Ruanruan promptly opened the doors of her dark-green fridge in the recording studio.
It was as though the doors to a laboratory research facility were slowly opening before their eyes.
Only then did they begin to understand...
Inside the fridge, almost none of the visible contents looked like ordinary fruit or vegetables.
Only food-storage containers, bottles, and jars were there, all meticulously arranged, with the larger items below and the smaller ones above.
Every storage container, bottle and jar also had a label attached.
—————— 11 February: Homemade chilli sauce, stored.
......
—————— 12 February, 9 p.m.: Steak defrosted.
......
—————— 9 February: Eight eggs, stored.
......
—————— 13 February: Fresh milk, half remaining.
Bao Ruanruan opened the fridge door, then pulled out the middle drawer compartment.
Inside were leafy green vegetables wrapped in kitchen paper and labelled with the storage date.
There was also a sealed transparent bag bearing a label identifying blanched broccoli.
......
Then came the freezer compartment below.
Bag after bag of sealed meat was arranged so neatly that it resembled troops deployed in military formation.
There were also small compartments dedicated to storing tea leaves in food storage bags, as well as freezer compartments for mantou and flower rolls.
Each item was labelled with its storage date.
The moment the fridge door opened, it was as though the entire world had been frozen by the freezer's -18°C temperature.
The live comments came to a brief standstill.
Then came the sight of Dong Xingwen hesitating, wanting to reach out but not knowing which item to touch.
It was far too neat.
Everything was far too meticulously sorted into its proper category.
If someone moved even one item and could not restore it to its original position, it would practically drive anyone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies to distraction on the spot.
"Xiao Bao, does your fridge always look like this?"
"Mm."
Dong Xingwen carefully took out a food storage container, marvelled at what he saw, and quickly put it back.
[ I think I finally understand! She rushed over earlier because she was afraid Teacher Dong would mess up her fridge, wasn't she? 23333336! ]
[ hhhhh7! ]
[ Has everyone learnt something? I'm a mom fan, and I'm already taking notes. Record the date everything goes into the fridge. Got it. ]
However, Dong Xingwen soon noticed something wrapped in aluminium foil inside the fridge.
His interest was immediately piqued.
"What's this?"
He casually picked it up, and the camera followed his movement.
Bao Ruanruan appeared on screen, looking anxious as she watched Dong Xingwen's hands, seemingly terrified he might drop the item onto the floor.
"Oh? Is this a truffle?"
Dong Xingwen peeled back a bit of the aluminium foil and sniffed.
Bao Ruanruan immediately displayed an expression of pain as though her own flesh had been cut away in the livestream.
"Teacher, don't unwrap it... Ah!"
She let out a cry.
The viewers were practically laughing themselves into convulsions.
Casual viewers who hadn't noticed before that Bao Ruanruan found Dong Xingwen's interference unwelcome now understood perfectly.
"Once you open it, the aroma will escape, and it'll spoil more easily."
Bao Ruanruan watched him anxiously.
"If we're not going to use it, let's not touch it."
Dong Xingwen could hear the unmistakable disapproval in her voice. He did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Did you buy this yourself?"
He swiftly wrapped the truffle back up in aluminium foil, afraid that if he were even a little slower, Bao Ruanruan might burst into tears.
"No, my agent gave it to me."
Dong Xingwen: "!"
After all his years in the industry, how had he never come across an agent like that before?
However, his gaze soon moved to something beside it. "Is this donkey-hide gelatine🔗?"
Before he could even touch it, Bao Ruanruan hurried over nervously to the donkey-hide gelatine🔗.
[ Hahahahaha. ]
[ Ruan: "Don't touch anything, and we can still be friends." ]
"Oh, you've even got cordyceps here?"
Bao Ruanruan hummed in acknowledgement. "They were all gifts from other people."
Her cheeks turned a little red.
Some came from Xue Jing. Others came from Sis Lanzhi, Xiaoxiao, and the rest, who knew she enjoyed taking care of her health...
"It looks like you've prepared quite a few heavyweight class28 ingredients to treat Nini today. She's really in for a treat." Dong Xingwen was already growing impatient to hear the menu.
Upon hearing this, Yang Xueni straightened her neck.
Her eyes turned towards Bao Ruanruan in eager anticipation.
However, unexpectedly, Bao Ruanruan quickly shook her head. "We're not using any of those today."
Yang Xueni: "?"
Dong Xingwen: "?"
"Mm. I'm just going to prepare a few simple home-style dishes that follow the rhythm of the winter season."
Dong Xingwen: "?"
[ Little friend, is your face covered in question marks? ]
Fortunately, someone present understood her.
Master Cai, the Huaiyang cuisine chef, spoke up. "In traditional Chinese medicine, winter corresponds to the kidneys. Therefore, people generally eat foods believed to nourish the kidneys during winter."
The camera moved towards Bao Ruanruan's face. Sure enough, she was nodding.
"Also, root vegetables are seasonal foods in winter."
Master Cai continued speaking, but halfway through, his square face froze in surprise.
He pointed at Bao Ruanruan, looking as though he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Teacher Bao, the radishes on your clothes are exactly the kind of root vegetables people should eat in winter."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Bao Ruanruan's little face lit up, as though she had finally found someone who understood her perfectly.
"I'm making a red-radish dish today."
She pointed proudly at her waist.
Clearly, her stylist hadn't chosen today's outfit. They were Bao Ruanruan's own recent favourites.
She had deliberately chosen to wear them in winter as part of her seasonal nourishment theme!
She had introduced a whole new world to the viewers.
[ I choose my clothes every day according to my zodiac sign's lucky colour. I never imagined someone would choose theirs according to a recipe...! ]
[ Why has this programme only invited her now? ]
[ Just make her a permanent cast member! She's absolutely perfect for it! ]
[ You're too kind, too kind! Mama is taking Ruanruan away now. All the teachers here are wonderful, and so is Teacher Xueni~ ]
[ Our Kiddo Ruan is only here as a guest today. Thank you, everyone, for taking care of her~ ]
Only then did the mom fans proudly pretend to scoop up their precious child and carry her away in the live comments.
Quite a few people burst out laughing as well.
The camera had turned directly towards Yang Xueni's face, revealing an utterly speechless expression.
Who could have imagined that after crossing mountains and seas29, their plastic friendship30 would only continue to deteriorate, from truffles all the way down to radishes!
However, Bao Ruanruan had a perfectly reasonable explanation. "When it comes to particularly powerful tonics, you have to be careful and consider each person's physical constitution. If someone has just finished filming and is completely exhausted, they might be too weak to tolerate nourishment31. That could have the opposite effect."
"That's why I've chosen gentler dishes today."
Yang Xueni: "..."
She did not believe a word of it!
Her fans, the Xueren, on the other hand, began flooding the chat rather conspicuously.
[ Wuwuwu! Our heavenly Xiao Bao is worrying about Nini's health again today. ]
[ In this endless sea of faces, how did Nini happen to meet someone like Xiao Bao...?~ ]
[ Only love for Xiao Bao~ Go, Xiao Bao, go! ]
For a while, the casual viewers could no longer tell which fans belonged to which actress.
But that did not matter. Bao Ruanruan had already put on disposable gloves, grabbed a tray, and started pulling ingredients from her fridge.
The camera then turned towards Yang Xueni's fridge.
"Xueni..."
Dong Xingwen was about to inspect her fridge.
But the moment he opened his mouth, he discovered that Yang Xueni's seat was already empty.
Looking around, he found her standing in front of her fridge, already taking ingredients out!
She was a step ahead of him!
"Let's have a look inside your fridge..."
"It's fine. There's no need to look. I've already taken everything out."
Yang Xueni waved her hands so quickly they almost blurred.
Nevertheless, Dong Xingwen insisted on looking inside.
However, before he could reach the fridge, the camera had already captured the tray in Yang Xueni's hands.
Having just emerged from Bao Ruanruan's laboratory-like fridge, everyone now felt as though they were looking at a jumble of different paints mixed together.
It was a complete change of style.
"What's this?" Dong Xingwen asked, picking up a plastic package.
"Those are vegetables that can be eaten raw."
Yang Xueni blushed and quickly added,
"I sealed the bag! No bacteria have got inside!"
[ Nini has grown up. ]
Despite her protests, Dong Xingwen was determined to inspect her fridge. Finally, Yang Xueni opened it with the resolve of someone marching towards certain death.
In fact, she had already tidied it up beforehand.
"You deserve some praise. You've made progress."
Bao Ruanruan happened to walk past behind her, glanced inside, and nodded in approval.
Yang Xueni blushed.
Without a word, she quietly pushed an open, unfinished carton of milk to the back of the fridge.
Her fridge was not as neat as Bao Ruanruan's.
However, since the previous suitcase incident, she had become more careful. In particular, she had learnt to pack food intended for consumption into separate storage bags, categorised by type, just as Bao Ruanruan had organised her clothes.
She also used sealing clips on almost all the bags to prevent smells from transferring.
Even so, her fridge still couldn't compare to Bao Ruanruan's.
The difference was too obvious.
[ It's all right, Nini. You can't eat your way into a baozi in a single bite32. 2336! ]
[ It will take a long time to reach Bao Bao's level. ]
[ The Baoxue CP will learn as they travel along the road33, accompanying one another all the way! ]
After the two actresses had shared their experiences for a while, the programme moved into the cooking segment.
On Yang Xueni's side, the three professional chefs took turns entering the fray to prepare an elaborate meal for Bao Ruanruan.
Meanwhile, Bao Ruanruan was doing the work of three people!
She had to prepare three dishes in total.
The overall time limit was sixty minutes.
On Yang Xueni's side, the chefs took turns using the preparation counters, cooking utensils and kitchen knives.
They all wore serious expressions and moved their hands at tremendous speed.
They barely spoke, forcing Dong Xingwen to approach them personally and ask questions such as, "What are you making?", "What special techniques are you using?" and "Will you finish in time?"...
Even so, the three chefs were so busy that they hardly had time to answer.
The schedule was clearly extremely tight.
However, when Dong Xingwen approached Bao Ruanruan, the entire scene suddenly changed.
Bao Ruanruan was wearing a food-service mask and humming cheerfully. Her face showed none of the tension or anxiety of someone worried about running out of time. Instead, she looked indescribably relaxed.
"Oh, Xiao Bao, you're in a good mood, aren't you?"
"Mm."
Wearing disposable gloves, Bao Ruanruan gently touched each ingredient arranged in small bowls and plates on the table, as though she could see her blood volume +1 +1 +134...
She really was in an excellent mood.
Walking through the disinfected cooking area felt like wandering through her happy old home35.
"What dishes are you making?"
"Just as Master Cai said, winter is the season for nourishing the kidneys. So today, I've mainly chosen black coloured ingredients."
Dong Xingwen: "??? What colour?"
Black, during the New Year celebrations?
As he spoke, the camera turned towards Bao Ruanruan's table.
From left to right...
Black rice, black wood-ear mushrooms, black sesame seeds...
"The dishes I'll be preparing shortly," Bao Ruanruan explained, rubbing her hands together, "are black rice cakes📹 as the staple, a cold wood-ear mushroom salad📹, and a little sesame paste📹 for dessert."
"Mm, the colours are rather dark, so I've chosen red radishes as today's root vegetable to make things a little more festive."
[ So that's why she chose red radishes! I was wondering why she didn't use white radishes... ]
[ Hahahaha! ]
[ 233336! ]
"What about a meat dish?"
"I'll make steamed eggs with a minced meat patty📹. They're relatively easy to digest, and I wish everyone a complete and happy family reunion and good health during the New Year~"
"That way, we'll have a fairly complete balance of fibre, carbohydrates and protein today..."
Bao Ruanruan was still the same old Bao Ruanruan.
She promptly took out a kitchen scale, weighed the various ingredients and began cooking.
But when she glanced sideways at the three professional chefs nearby, the spatula in her hand clattered to the floor.
Zhou Qimeng, the pastry chef, was slicing off a piece of butter three fingers wide and had scooped out three generous spoonfuls of white sugar, ready to carry on.
Then, a quiet, dread-filled voice came from behind her.
"Big sister, that amount of sugar you've put in, which is enough for three days, isn't meant for me to eat, is it?"
Zhou Qimeng: "...!"
[ Hahahahaha! Xiao Bao, sugar overload! SOS! ]
[ Kiddo Ruan: "I don't want this blessing. Does anyone else want it?" ]
[ After seeing this, I quietly put down the little cream cake in my hand. ]
[ I quietly spat out the sweet in my mouth. ]
#Bao Ruanruan's Mask of Agony While Looking at a Little Cake#
#Yang Xueni Enjoys a Seasonal Meal#
On Little New Year's Eve, the two trending topics quietly climbed onto the real-time popularity rankings.
In the video, Yang Xueni could be seen reluctantly forcing a spoonful of dark, murky sesame paste into her mouth. The suspicion on her face eased slightly. The suspicion on her face eased slightly.
She then scooped up a spoonful of the equally dark wood ear mushrooms and ate them hesitantly. Her hesitant expression softened further.
Next, she picked up a thoroughly black-looking rice cake and cautiously took a bite. To her surprise, it had a wonderfully springy texture, and her eyes narrowed in pleasure almost instantly.
By the end, Yang Xueni had eaten so much that even the corners of her mouth were black. Yet she had not left a single bite behind and even let out a small, satisfied burp.
Meanwhile, Bao Ruanruan stared at the little cake in front of her, which contained three days' worth of sugar. She struggled to pick up a small spoon, then, with her eyes closed and trembling, scraped a tiny layer from its surface. With the resolve of someone marching towards death, she slowly slipped it into her mouth.
Unexpectedly, her eyes lit up as though she had never tasted anything so delicious in her life.
But three seconds later, she covered her mouth in distress again.
"It's delicious, but I can only eat a third of it today..."
Mask of Agony, JPG.
[ If only the two of you could combine your eating habits, everything would be perfect! ]
[ Are you actually eating, or are you performing a comedy sketch? ]
The two actresses' videos were so funny that even casual viewers couldn't help but laugh.
Yet after laughing, everyone quietly took note of some useful traditional advice about what to eat in winter.
At 9.19 p.m. on Little New Year's Eve, Snow Mountain Rescue finally released its first teaser trailer.
Magnificent, majestic snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly into the distance, their peaks rising and falling. A team of adventurers appeared, their youthful faces brimming with strength and vitality, full of courage and anticipation as they prepared to explore and challenge the natural world.
Among them were a young female university student, experienced snow-mountain climbers, and a retired soldier... all headed toward the summit of the snowy mountain.
But a sudden, unexpected blizzard trapped them halfway up.
Their food supplies ran out, they faced hypothermia during the night, and their companions became separated... It was as though a nightmare had descended upon them.
Zheng Chuan, the rescue team's captain, received the mission the day before the New Year and immediately assembled his squad to rush to their aid!
In the closing sequence, the images flashed across one exhausted face after another, each showing determination, perseverance and a refusal to give up.
— — — #Look Forward to Snow Mountain Rescue!#
[ This actually looks pretty good! What a major production! ]
[ ? They're releasing the trailer this early? Didn't they only finish filming last year? Is there any hope of a summer release this year? ]
[ The entire cast is made up of skilled actors! Absolutely incredible! I'm keeping an eye on this one. ]
[ Aaaah! This time, it's Nini's turn to rescue Xiao Bao! Nini has made a comeback. Spread the word! ]
[ The Xuerens are thrilled! Nini has finally turned the tables in the film! ]
[ I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe! Who would have thought that their real-life roles would be the complete opposite? ]
[ Surely the Baoxue CP won't have a BE36? Wuwuwu! Why has Xiao Bao been buried in the snow? ]
Bao Ruanruan's face appeared for only a single second in the teaser trailer.
She was the figure who collapsed helplessly into the snow. Next, the camera cuts to a close-up of her slowly closing her eyes, her frosted eyebrows already covered in snow.
The camera then cut to Yang Xueni receiving her orders and setting out on the rescue mission.
[ Hurry up and release it in the summer! ]
[ Why tease us if you're not going to release it?! ]
[ How am I supposed to wait another six months or even a whole year? Just tell us when it's coming out already! It's only the price of a cinema ticket, isn't it?! ]
Snow Mountain Rescue had five lead actors.
Each was a well-known performer who regularly appeared on the big screen. As soon as the teaser trailer dropped, fans of all five actors began shrieking with excitement.
Everyone thought the cinematography looked exquisite and that the entire cast's acting skills were online37.
Even Bao Ruanruan, who was making her big-screen debut, received considerable praise from casual viewers and fans of the other actors.
[ She seems all right. ]
[ I looked up her photographs, and she's very pretty in real life. But she doesn't look out of place in the film either. I'll wait and see for now. If the finished film is good, I might consider falling into the fandom pit38. ]
[ Mm, the way she collapses looks so realistic! ]
[ Her expression as she dies at the end is really convincing too. It's rather tear-jerking, hahaha! ]
By Lunar New Year's Eve, almost everyone was already at home.
The teaser trailer had attracted considerable attention.
"?"
What did they mean by 'dying'?
Bao Ruanruan also checked the trending topic.
It was Chen Feng who had told her about it.
[ Xiao Baozi, see? You really do have a talent for acting! The audience really seems to like your performance! Keep charging ahead in the New Year! You can do it! ]
[ Chen Feng has transferred ¥666 to you. Note: New Year's red packet. ]
[ Xiao Baozi, Happy New Year! May you live to a hundred! If you need anything over the next couple of days, just contact Brother Xue, OK? I probably won't be able to leave home until the third day of the Lunar New Year. I'm already at Yanjing Airport. ]
After reading it through once, Bao Ruanruan declared that she couldn't bear to look at the screenshots of netizens' comments Brother Feng had shared.
And during the New Year celebrations, of all times! Sigh.
[ Oh, come on, Xiao Baozi! You're rather superstitious, aren't you? The netizens are talking about your character, not you. That proves how well you acted! ]
[ All right, all right. My mistake. I didn't check it carefully before sending it to you. ]
[ How about this? I'll stay up to welcome in the New Year tonight and offer the first incense at the temple tomorrow, the first day of the New Year. I'll ask for health amulets for you and Brother Xue. Don't be angry, all right? I've just got off the plane. Talk later! ]
Stay up?
Bao Ruanruan's attention was immediately drawn to that particular word.
She promptly searched for it online.
'On Lunar New Year's Eve, the entire family gathers together. After eating their reunion dinner, they light candles or oil lamps, sit around the hearth, chat, and stay up all night. This symbolises driving away all evil influences, plagues and diseases...!'
When she read the part about staying awake all night, her little face scrunched up immediately.
However, when she reached the next sentence about driving away evil influences, plagues and diseases, her expression relaxed again.
She read it once more. Her face scrunched up again, then relaxed...
Should she stay up all night or not?
She found herself caught between two difficult choices.
However, Bao Ruanruan blinked. Halfway through her thoughts, she suddenly stood up, dragged along the portable little stool she had bought on Taobao for use on set, paced around twice, then opened the door and went outside.
At Beijiao No. 1, it was still peaceful and quiet at nine o'clock on Lunar New Year's Eve.
Jiangcheng did not permit fireworks or firecrackers to be set off.
Bao Ruanruan had always found that prohibition extremely reassuring.
However, when she knocked on the door opposite hers and saw Xue Jing standing there in an overcoat, apparently preparing to go out, holding a gift box of seven black foods for nourishing the kidneys🖼️ and a book about seasonal dietary nourishment, she froze for a moment. Then, deep inside her heart, it was as though little spinning fireworks had suddenly ignited and shot towards the sky39.
When the door opened, Xue Jing stood in the threshold, his gaze falling on her as she dragged a small stool and carried a small tea set for her late-night tea. Her delicate face was bathed in the rosy glow of the couplets on the door.
His heart skipped a beat.
He could almost hear the sound of firecrackers exploding40.
"Um, would you... like to stay up on New Year's Eve together?"
Bao Ruanruan asked softly from the doorway, her face growing warm.
Footnotes Full List
- 生命的桥梁两端 (shēngmìng de qiáoliáng liǎng duān) — the two ends of the bridge of life; a metaphor for the connection between a person in mortal danger and the person who might save her
- 发酵 (fājiào) — to ferment; figuratively, for publicity or public interest to develop and gather momentum
- 好飒 (hǎo sà) — so dashing; internet slang praising someone, especially a woman, for looking confident, powerful and effortlessly cool.
- 土豪金 (tǔ háo jīn) — local-tycoon gold; humorous slang for a flashy, ostentatious shade of gold
- 发财红 (fā cái hóng) — get-rich red; a playful description of an auspicious, wealth-attracting red
- 口是心非 (kǒu shì xīn fēi) — the mouth says yes, but the heart says no; saying something that contradicts one's true feelings
- 冬吃萝卜夏吃姜 (dōng chī luó bo xià chī jiāng) — eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer; a traditional Chinese dietary proverb about eating according to the seasons
- 冬令进补 (dōng lìng jìn bǔ) — taking nourishing supplements during winter; the traditional practice of strengthening the body through suitable foods and tonics during the colder season
- 万物皆可绿 (wàn wù jiē kě lǜ) — all things can be green; a playful adaptation of the internet expression 万物皆可 (wàn wù jiē kě), meaning virtually anything can be transformed or used in a particular way
- 抬头不见低头见 (tái tóu bù jiàn dī tóu jiàn) — if you do not see someone when you raise your head, you see them when you lower it; to encounter the same people frequently because of close proximity
- 大将 (dà jiàng) — great military generals; figuratively, highly capable experts or valuable members of a team
- 万万没想到 (wàn wàn méi xiǎng dào) — never thought of it in ten thousand ways; an emphatic expression of complete surprise at an unexpected development
- 画风 (huà fēng) — painting style; internet slang for the overall atmosphere, tone or manner in which something unfolds
- 地沟油警告 (dì gōu yóu jǐng gào) — gutter-oil warning; a joking alert about the possible use of illegally recycled cooking oil.
- 滑铁卢 (Huá tiě lú) — Waterloo; a metaphor, derived from Napoleon's defeat, for a disastrous setback or humiliating failure
- 伸头一刀,缩头也是一刀 (shēn tóu yī dāo, suō tóu yě shì yī dāo) — one cut of the blade if you extend your head, and one cut if you withdraw it; when an unpleasant outcome is unavoidable, there is little point in delaying it
- 长痛还不如短痛 (cháng tòng hái bù rú duǎn tòng) — prolonged pain is worse than brief pain; it is better to confront something unpleasant immediately rather than prolong the suffering
- 重量级 (zhòng liàng jí) — heavyweight class; figuratively, something exceptionally important, valuable or impressive
- 跨过高山与大海 (kuà guò gāo shān yǔ dà hǎi) — crossing high mountains and great seas; an image of overcoming enormous distances and hardships
- 塑料友谊 (sù liào yǒu yì) — plastic friendship; internet slang for a friendship that looks close but is supposedly superficial or unreliable
- 虚不受补 (xū bù shòu bǔ) — deficiency cannot receive supplementation; a traditional Chinese medicine expression describing a weakened state in which strong tonics are believed to be unsuitable
- 一口吃不成包子 (yī kǒu chī bù chéng bāo zi) — you cannot eat your way into a steamed bun with one bite; a humorous alteration of 一口吃不成胖子 (yī kǒu chī bù chéng pán zǐ), you cannot become fat from a single mouthful, meaning progress takes time
- 一路走一路学 (yī lù zǒu yī lù xué) — walking along the road while learning along the way; to keep learning and improving throughout a shared journey
- 血量+1+1+1 (xuè liàng jiā yī jiā yī jiā yī) — blood volume plus one, plus one, plus one; gaming slang depicting a character repeatedly regaining health points
- 快乐老家 (kuài lè lǎo jiā) — happy old home; a playful internet expression for a place that feels exceptionally comforting, enjoyable or familiar
- BE (Bad Ending) — an unhappy ending; fandom shorthand for a tragic or unsuccessful conclusion to a romantic or imagined pairing
- 演技在线 (yǎn jì zài xiàn) — acting skills are online; entertainment slang indicating that an actor's performance is convincing and up to standard
- 入坑 (rù kēng) — to enter a pit; internet slang for becoming deeply interested or invested in a celebrity, series or fandom
- 燃起了冲天旋转小烟花 (rán qǐ le chōng tiān xuán zhuǎn xiǎo yān huā) — small spinning fireworks igniting and soaring into the heavens; a metaphor for a sudden burst of excitement, joy and romantic anticipation
- 听到爆竹声响 (tīng dào bào zhú shēng xiǎng) — hearing the sound of exploding firecrackers; a metaphor for the sudden excitement and exhilaration bursting within his heart
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