“Love on the Journey” began filming right on schedule as planned.
With the 50 million yuan investment from Ji Xingzhu, the production team immediately became flush with funds. Not only did they upgrade the original plan overall, but they also upgraded the guest list. Their promotional efforts caught up too; it was no longer that obscure little variety show and had attracted a large wave of interested viewers.
“Love on the Journey” adopted a simultaneous live broadcast and recorded format. Each episode was broadcast live during filming, and later the highlights and unseen footage were edited into the official variety show episodes.
On the first day of the live broadcast, it was the classic guest introduction segment. The livestream quickly drew in a crowd.
[A dating show enthusiast has arrived! Let me judge this new show!]
[This dating show seems quite interesting. They haven’t officially announced the guests even on the day filming starts, really love keeping us in suspense.]
[Rumors say Wen Yajun is on it; the other guests are probably celebrities too.]
[Wen Yajun’s tier is just average… so probably no big-name stars then.]
[Wait, aren’t there eight guests total, four male and four female? Why are there only four live camera feeds?]
[Did you just join the stream? The host explained the process earlier. They’ll follow the four male guests first, briefly introduce their family background and life experiences, then have the male guests draw lots. They’ll each pick a female guest, and then the male guests will go to the female guests’ homes to pick them up. That’s when they’ll introduce the four female guests and facilitate some male-female guest interaction. So, only four camera feeds are needed.]
[Ah, that arrangement sounds good, very efficient.]
[Where are the male guests? I’m so curious about who they are. The production team really can keep secrets, holding out until the last minute.]
[They’re here, they’re here! They’re about to arrive at the male guests’ homes!]
…
At this moment, the production team had arrived outside Song Qingchi’s single apartment. Multiple cameras were all aimed at the front door.
“Huh? Why isn’t the door opening?” Chief Director Lu Xuguang muttered quietly. They had already rung the doorbell once, but the door remained shut. Just as he was about to ring it again, there was a soft click.
The door opened, and the male guest in front of him left Lu Xuguang so shocked he was almost speechless.
This male guest was very tall, estimated to be nearly 190 cm, with a lean, long build. He was dressed in formal attire; the collar of his black shirt was slightly open, revealing half of his delicate collarbones. His sleeves were rolled up, showing forearms with smooth lines and firm muscle. As his long legs, clad in suit pants, stepped forward, he brought with him an overwhelming aura of masculinity.
[Ahhhhhh! Screaming like a chicken!]
[I’m an adult, let me date this kind of man first!]
[Girls, I really, truly like this one! Give him to me, give him to me!]
[Excuse me, is the “Love Journey” program still accepting applications?]
[Director, can you help take off his clothes? Thanks.]
…
His exceptionally handsome face wore a gentle and polite smile, making Song Qingchi appear like a good-natured, easygoing person. But for some reason, standing before him, Lu Xuguang felt an inexplicable shiver of trepidation.
It was like accidentally stepping into a beast king’s territory, the heart trembling slightly.
But this vague sense of crisis was quickly ignored by Lu Xuguang. His eyes suddenly brightened, his mind flooded with excitement.
Ji Xingzhu had only told him to arrange for someone named Song Qingchi to join the dating show and had given his home address, without introducing him in detail. Out of respect and obedience to the investor boss lady, Lu Xuguang hadn’t dared to ask too much. Who knew that opening this blind box today would reveal such a huge surprise!
Just based on this Mr. Song’s looks, even the entertainment industry, filled with handsome men, would have no match! With such excellent conditions, he wouldn’t need Miss Ji to pull strings for him; Lu Xuguang himself would beg him to join the show!
“Hello, hello! Are you Mr. Song Qingchi?” Lu Xuguang stepped forward eagerly.
“Hello.” Song Qingchi smiled and shook his hand.
After welcoming the production team into the room, at Lu Xuguang’s signal, Song Qingchi introduced himself to the live camera.
The curve of his lips was slight but softened his sharp eyes and brows. The wild, fierce aura from the boxing ring was completely tucked away. Now, he resembled a gentle, courteous nobleman. “Hello everyone, my name is Song Qingchi.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Xingzhu complained discontentedly in his mind: “What’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you make the entrance I told you to? Your first appearance on camera should be more impactful. This is way too ordinary. How are you supposed to stand out and become the most popular male guest?”
Song Qingchi smiled and chatted with the director, pretending not to hear Ji Xingzhu.
Lu Xuguang proceeded with the questions according to the script. “Mr. Song, what is your profession?”
Song Qingchi: “I’m currently in the startup phase of my own business.”
Ji Xingzhu: “Hey! Are you stupid? You should say you’re a CEO! A domineering CEO, understand?”
Song Qingchi maintained his smile, but felt a sense of helplessness as he secretly communicated with Ji Xingzhu: “Could you be quiet for a little while, please?”
Lu Xuguang: “What are your hobbies, Mr. Song?”
Song Qingchi: “I’m quite fond of playing golf.”
Ji Xingzhu: “Who is Golf?”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Ji Xingzhu: “Can Golf withstand one of your punches? Ares.”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Cannon Fodder System asked timidly: “Host, are you being sarcastic towards the male lead?”
Ji Xingzhu chuckled dryly: “Of course! He’s a brute who can supposedly kill a bear with one punch, yet has the nerve to say he usually plays golf? When has he ever played such a refined and leisurely sport? Such a pretender!”
Cannon Fodder System: “Host! I knew you were up to no good! Just now you were teaching the male lead to touch his jawline and wink and whatnot for his entrance. You deliberately wanted him to make a fool of himself, didn’t you?”
Ji Xingzhu stubbornly denied it: “I did not! Don’t you slander me!”
Cannon Fodder System sighed helplessly: “Host, please stop messing around. We’re supposed to make the male lead famous! Not turn him into a laughingstock!”
Ji Xingzhu: “Being extremely cringe-worthy can also make one famous.”
Anyway, all she had to do was ensure the plotline where the male lead “joins the show and becomes wildly popular.” The way he became popular—well, that was up to her to decide.
Ji Xingzhu made no attempt to hide her mischievous intent, but 999’s wailing was giving her a headache. She could only shout back even louder: “Stop chanting! Your male lead has more schemes than a beehive has holes! It’s not like I actually managed to trick him, did I?”
“At most, I just made things a bit more troublesome for him,” Ji Xingzhu scoffed dismissively.
Actually, Ji Xingzhu was being modest. The trouble she caused for Song Qingchi was far more than just “a bit”!
In reality, Lu Xuguang looked at Song Qingchi with confusion. “Mr. Song? Mr. Song! Are you alright? Not feeling well?”
Song Qingchi supported his forehead with one hand, head bowed, eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed. After a moment, he looked up with a smile. “I’m fine.”
It was just the headache from the two “systems” arguing in his head.
If not for not wanting to expose anything, Song Qingchi really wanted to ask Miss Ji—aren’t you also supposed to be filming the dating show? Why aren’t you logging off to prepare?
Song Qingchi secretly took two deep breaths, continuing to maintain his gentle smile as he conversed softly with the director.
During this brief interview segment, Song Qingchi roughly introduced his personal situation—of course, some information was given vaguely, not entirely truthful.
Next came the most important draw—
Song Qingchi would pick one of the four female guests, then go with the production team to visit her. After filming the female guest’s personal introduction, the two would travel together to the location of the first episode’s recording, officially beginning this dating show journey.
Before Song Qingchi drew his lot, Ji Xingzhu said mysteriously to him: “Host, I specially arranged a female guest for you. You definitely won’t be disappointed!”
Song Qingchi nonchalantly picked a card while following up with amused interest in his mind: “Oh? You can even influence my draw? How did you manage that?”
Ji Xingzhu: “I’ll tell you a secret, I have superpowers!”
Heh, more like monetary powers.
As the biggest investor of “Love Journey,” Lu Xuguang had to cater to her every whim.
After drawing the lot, Song Qingchi glanced at the card’s content and immediately raised an eyebrow with interest—it didn’t have the female guest’s name, only marked her as Female Guest No. 4.
But it listed this No. 4’s home address, located in the local famous affluent neighborhood, a place he had visited not long ago—precisely the home of his “fiancée,” Ji Xingzhu.
Song Qingchi understood: “So, the female guest you specially arranged for me is my fiancée, Miss Ji?”
Ji Xingzhu: “Heh.” Her laugh held a rather meaningful tone.
And so, Song Qingchi once again embarked on the journey to his fiancée’s home, only this time surrounded by many production team members and countless cameras pointed at him.
Soon, he arrived at the familiar villa gate and gracefully pressed the doorbell.
The next second, the large door slowly opened, revealing a delicate, pretty girl in the camera’s view. Seeing Song Qingchi, she was momentarily stunned, then her eyes suddenly lit up, filled with admiration.
Song Qingchi only gave her a casual glance before shifting his gaze into the house. He politely nodded to the girl before him, speaking gently, “Hello, may I ask if Female Guest No. 4 is here?”
He instinctively began looking for Ji Xingzhu’s figure.
However, the delicate girl’s smiling face instantly froze. “I… I am Female Guest No. 4… Wen Yajun!”
Song Qingchi: “…”
Song Qingchi fell silent. For the first time, his perpetually calm and composed face showed a nearly bewildered expression. He frowned, shifting his gaze back to the woman in front of him, silently observing her.
At this very moment, this dramatic scene had already exploded in the barrage comments.
[Hahaha, what does Song Qingchi mean? He doesn’t know Wen Yajun? Does he think she’s a maid or servant in the villa?]