Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

"I don't get seasick," Pei Muchan insisted, her face feeling somewhat hot.

She thought her pallor had been noticed, but really, the boat wasn't rocking that much. Anyway, she couldn't figure out why. Seeing him hand over the sour plums, she felt a bit awkward inside and was reluctant to admit it.

"Then take it as a snack," Xu Qingyan stuffed the sour plums into her hand and found an excuse to leave.

As soon as he stepped out of the cabin, he saw You Zijun making faces at him.

"Weren't you just fetching sour plums? Why did it take so long?"

Xu Qingyan realized that this world was just like a rookie wrap-up, everywhere there were big and small items to deal with. He regretted not tying up this little rascal at the door before leaving.

"Nothing much, where's Shen Jinyue? Aren't you two supposed to be pairing up for the show? How come she's not with you?"

At those words, You Zijun's face instantly turned awkward.

"She said she felt a bit thirsty. Anyway, we've already spoken a few words just now."

"What words?"

"She asked where to find 1.25-liter bottles of orange granules. She clearly saw them when we boarded. I told her they should be in the storage room at the back of the cabin, brought up by the show's crew."

How daring they were, to associate Shen Jinyue with orange granules.

"Forget it, where's the storage room? Let's get some drinks for everyone," Xu Qingyan suggested, glancing at You Zijun. "How about it?"

"Sounds good, we still have a way to go before reaching our destination," You Zijun said, gazing into the distance and squinting into the sea breeze, cheerfully adding, "The clear weather is perfect for diving."

In the shot, the two walked side by side toward the storage room, chatting casually as their figures gradually faded into the distance.

"By the way, do you like to drink oolong tea?"

"Oolong tea?" You Zijun's voice faded, "We have that on the ship?"

"Of course...."

Storage room.

The door opened with a clang, and the light hit Shen Jinyue, who looked utterly dumbfounded as she shielded her eyes from the glaring sun with a half-bottle of orange granules, looking like a cornered mouse.

Xu Qingyan crossed his arms, You Zijun was flabbergasted, and the live comments burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, I'm going to die laughing at this dating reality show. Who sneakily drinks orange granules like that!"

"My mom: My kid doesn't like snacks. Me: *burp*"

"During the holidays, my mom wouldn't dare lock me in the same room with sugar mandarins, I'd eat them from midnight until the next morning, and wake up with a nosebleed all over my face."

Shen Jinyue tried to hide away, moving to the side and kicking out a box of orange granules. She sounded stilted and still tried to argue her case in the face of damning evidence.

"I came down to get drinks. I saw the orange granules looked off, and then... took a sip to see what was up."

You Zijun: "...."

"Alright, alright, we're here to move some drinks, too. You go back up," Xu Qingyan said, "We'll handle these drinks; you just take that bottle of orange granules with you."

"Oh." Shen Jinyue obediently scampered off.

The two exchanged glances, and You Zijun shifted his gaze away, coughed, and proactively went to carry the box of orange granules. Xu Qingyan dragged his feet until You Zijun had left before he started to move a box of drinks out the door.

Inside the cabin, the sponsor's drinks were self-serve.

To fit with the promotion, everyone but Nian Shuyu pretended to have a drink. Xu Qingyan, holding a cup of brown oolong tea, handed it to You Zijun.

"Brother You, tired from moving drinks, right? Here, have a sip of oolong tea."

Cui Ying looked up curiously at his words, turning to Xu Qingyan with a surprised look.

"Does the sponsor of this show sell oolong tea?"

"Thank you," You Zijun said, looking relieved and without hesitation, took a gulp. "Pfft!!!"

"Cough cough cough!!! Your oolong tea!"

"What's wrong?"

"Something's not right with this oolong tea..." You Zijun wiped his mouth and, with a flick of his lighter, set the cup of oolong tea in his hand ablaze.
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"How is it flammable?!"

"That's how oolong tea is at sea, the old captain taught me. What's the matter?" Xu Qingyan said with a smirk, full of smug confidence, "A real man would down it in one go!"

"Brother Xu, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! Trying to set me up, to get me drunk so I can't dive!" You Zijun hissed through clenched teeth.

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could oolong tea make you drunk? Huh?" Xu Qingyan pushed the oolong tea back toward him, "Although we haven't known each other for long, I've always treated you as a close friend!"

"This is what you give your 'close friend' to drink?"

"What's wrong? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Haven't you heard of oolong tea at sea?"

"Since that's the case, why don't you try some lemonade too?"

"Damn! Where did you find vodka!"

The cabin was noisy and chaotic, Lin Wanzhou and Pei Muchan couldn't bear to watch, both diverting their gazes. Cui Ying seemed contemplative, glancing at Xu Qingyan and then at Pei Helin.

A thought suddenly emerged in her mind, wondering if Xu Qingyan could actually be a natural-born master of 'serving up' drinks.

Not long after, the boat came to a stop, and professional divers stood ready on the deck.

They had planned to teach some basic diving signals and safety tips for a quick experience, as there would be people keeping watch throughout the process, so they didn't expect any issues.

As they were about to speak, they caught a strong whiff of alcohol.

The diving instructors collectively: "...."

"Who's been drinking? Why is there such a strong smell of alcohol?"

All the women turned their heads simultaneously, looking toward the middle of the cabin where Xu Qingyan and You Zijun appeared dazed, their faces speechless. At this moment, silence spoke louder than words, and the instructors were confused.

"We're about to go diving, and it's just drinks we're drinking, what's with the alcohol?"

"Unfortunately, these two gentlemen can't go into the water now and will have to rest on the boat instead."

Back at the production team.

Chen Fufeng, looking at the footage of Xu Qingyan, who showed no signs of drunkenness, couldn't help but rub his temples. He knew he shouldn't have let Xu Qingyan do as he pleased.

His task was to keep the relationships between the two little divas balanced, to prevent major conflicts that would affect the normal filming of the show, not to treat everyone equally!

"Old Chen, this counts as a broadcasting accident, doesn't it?" Gao Changlin adjusted his glasses, looking troubled.

In the footage, apart from You Zijun and Xu Qingyan, the other guests were already suited up in diving gear ready to go into the water under professional guidance.

The sunlight glistened softly and brightly on the sea, tumbling over the waves.

"Let's just go with the flow. We've just had a few more sponsors contact our program team, and we're about to top the trending searches," Chen Fufeng said, his hand holding the cigarette trembling slightly.

"Old Gao, do you know how much they are offering for these ads?"

Gao Changlin wore a speechless expression; the love-themed reality show was quickly turning into a live-action variety show. Aside from Nian Shuyu and her partner, the guests were almost all eccentric.

"Old Chen, remember our original slogan was 'Conscientious Romance Reality Show'?"

"Old Gao, I know integrity is important," the director Chen Fufeng took a deep drag of his cigarette and turned back, "but they're offering too much."

At sea.

With a splash, Pei Muchan emerged from the water and climbed aboard, then removed her figure-hugging diving suit.

Tying her hair up, she gave it some thought and then turned to head toward the cabin where Xu Qingyan was resting.