The Ming Family Head firmly believed she was strong—except when she was acting cute and complaining about being tired.
Lu Shiyu released the suitcase, wrapped his arm around her waist, and let her comfortably hang on him to rest. With his back to the camera, his thin lips curved slightly, and his half-lowered phoenix eyes were filled with tenderness and affection. The little treasure in his arms was so well-behaved, knowing to find her husband when she was tired.
【Wtf?!】
【What happened? Why are Ming Shu and Lu Shiyu hugging??】
【Holy crap! Lu Shiyu’s arm strength is amazing, prprpr】
【Such fake PDA, so awkward…】
【What are the previous comments talking about? The size difference is perfect, and you call this fake? Are we watching the same show?】
【Stop arguing, maybe it’s required for the task】
Ten minutes passed. After recharging in Lu Shiyu’s embrace and slightly wrinkling his neat, clean black shirt, Ming Shu stepped onto the ground in her pink sneakers. Sweat beads slid down her fair, slender calves, prompting many male viewers in the livestream to spam the phrase “vivid and charming.”
Ming Shu opened the convenience store’s refrigerator and asked the shopkeeper, “Auntie, is there a key we need in here?”
The auntie smiled without speaking, pointed at Lu Shiyu, and said coyly, “If you let him kiss me, I’ll tell you.”
The post-production team added a big-head effect to Ming Shu’s shocked expression.
【Hilarious! Give the post-production team a bonus!】
【The auntie may be old, but her heart is young!】
【No way! Let me kiss Lu Shiyu instead—I’ll even donate my house keys!】
【Isn’t Lu Shiyu worried at all? After all, it’s a plastic marriage. Ming Shu would probably agree just to find the key, right?】
【I really dislike Ming Shu! Can’t stand watching—doesn’t she know Lu Shiyu has mysophobia? She even wrinkled his shirt!】
Ming Shu turned around, took Lu Shiyu’s hand, and walked away.
“Auntie, you can kiss me, but not him!”
“Then come back!” The auntie, with her strong variety show sense, reasonably suspected she was a plant sent by the production team.
The comments section was filled with “hahaha,” and the number of online viewers kept rising, nearly surpassing 70 million.
Assistant: “Director, should we switch the camera angle?”
Li Ye: “Switch what? The highlights right now are all on Ming Shu and Lu Shiyu. I originally thought Lu Shiyu would be the one controlling the scene while Ming Shu just looked pretty, but it’s the opposite…”
Assistant: Is it okay to say that?
Ming Shu glanced at the camera and whispered, “There were no cameras in that convenience store just now, so the key probably isn’t there. Lu Shiyu and I will go look elsewhere.”
【Oh my god! Ming Shu has some high-level player potential!】
【Brilliant! She actually thought of this method! Interesting, interesting—my mealtime entertainment depends on you now!】
【Taking shortcuts, so disgusting】
【Do you know the word ‘smart’ exists in this world? Hating just for the sake of hating—you’re the disgusting one!】
Comments started defending Ming Shu, but they only acknowledged her intelligence, not that the Celestial Deer Couple was sweet. Not a single comment said “so sweet.”
Lu Shiyu left the luggage at a gift shop and, relying on his looks, borrowed an umbrella to shield himself and Ming Shu. He spoke very little throughout, only responding when Ming Shu talked. The award-winning actor, who had always relied on his skills and acting to dominate the film industry, seemed intent on being a mere eye candy in this variety show.
Since Lu Shiyu didn’t like to talk, the production team had to frantically add special effects for him in post-production to give him screen time, as the vast majority of the audience was there to see him.
When Lu Shiyu looked at Ming Shu, the special effects caption read: The Boss’s Brainwaves.
When Lu Shiyu looked at nearby shops, the special effects caption read: The Boss’s Observation.
When Lu Shiyu looked at nothing in particular, the special effects caption read: The Boss’s Contemplation.
【I think Ming Shu is just pretending to be clever. We still have to rely on Lu Shiyu to find the keys.】
【Lu Shiyu is widely recognized in the industry as having a high IQ. I’m looking forward to his killer move!】
【Ming Shu shouldn’t flaunt her little tricks, okay? She’s clearly stealing Lu Shiyu’s spotlight. His displeasure is written all over his face.】
Ming Shu felt that searching together was a waste of time and wanted to split up, but when she met Lu Shiyu’s gaze, she swallowed her words.
He definitely wouldn’t agree to separate.
Ming Shu’s eyes lit up: “That convenience store over there has a surveillance camera! Quick, quick, quick!”
She ran at the fastest speed of her life, with Lu Shiyu protecting her from behind, afraid she might trip.
Li Ye: “Quick, switch the camera!”
At that moment, the live stream cut to Zhou Yichen and Su Jin’er.
The two were sitting in a café, sipping coffee and enjoying the air conditioning while discussing the task card. Their leisurely scene formed a stark contrast with the Celestial Deer Couple, who were sweating and running around outdoors. Aside from fans of each couple showering praise, variety show enthusiasts and casual viewers still found the Celestial Deer Couple’s outdoor key hunt more entertaining.
Half an hour into the broadcast, they had only just begun to make some progress.
Zhou Yichen said mysteriously, “The key to the residence should be somewhere with plum blossoms.”
Su Jin’er suddenly understood and nodded in agreement. “But it’s summer now. Where would we find plum blossoms?”
Zhou Yichen: “They don’t have to be real plum blossoms. They could be painted on a wall.”
Su Jin’er looked at him with admiration. “Honey, you’re so smart! Let’s hurry and go find the key! Brother Song and Brother Quan just left earlier, so they probably haven’t found it yet. I wonder if Teacher Lu and the others have found it.”
Zhou Yichen’s eyes flickered slightly. He lowered his head to look at the task card and said casually, “I haven’t worked with Teacher Lu before, so I don’t know his personality. But Ming Shu and I were university classmates. She’s quiet and gentle, not the competitive type. She’s probably taking her time searching for the key too.”
He raised his eyes and smiled at the woman across from him, not holding back his charm. Not only did he make Su Jin’er blush, but the female waitresses nearby also let out soft squeals.
Zhou Yichen had a pair of captivating, amorous peach blossom eyes that were full of electricity when he smiled—charming yet roguish. With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his physique was excellent. His looks and demeanor resembled those of a playful and flirtatious playboy, but he was deeply devoted to his wife. This contrast attracted many girlfriend fans and shipping fans.
【Ahhh, Zhou Yichen is so handsome! He’s electrifying me—I need a kiss from handsome Zhou Yichen to get up!】
【Only figuring it out now, and you still have the nerve to call him smart?】
【Did I hear that right? Zhou Yichen said Ming Shu is quiet and gentle? Ming Shu is sweating buckets and frantically searching for keys all over the streets—she’s already going all out, okay!】
【Report! Ming Shu has found two keys!】
【Oh ho, looks like one guest won’t be able to open their door. Which couple will be the unlucky ones?】
Ming Shu found two keys. One was at a convenience store with surveillance cameras, and the other was obtained after she helped a street artist paint 66 plum blossoms while watching him paint.
The street artist gave her a thumbs-up: “You paint very well, very beautiful!”
Ming Shu clasped her hands in a modest gesture: “You flatter me.”
She was already drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her body, and she was on the verge of exhaustion and heatstroke.
Lu Shiyu frowned, no longer indulging her. Holding an umbrella with one hand, he firmly supported her with the other. Seeing how much fun she was having, he was content to play a supporting role, not even speaking much. If he had spoken, the camera would have surely focused on him. But he hadn’t expected her to exhaust herself like this, leaving him both angry and concerned.
“Are you tired?”
“Not at all!”
“Not at all?” Lu Shiyu’s tone rose.
“We girls must get what we want!” Ming Shu waved her triumphant little fist, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the keys held high.
The post-production team amplified Ming Shu’s declaration and added a sparkling effect to the two keys.
Instantly, the barrage of comments surged, and the number of online viewers skyrocketed to 130 million!
Li Ye excitedly slapped his thigh: “Damn! This variety show sense is absolutely incredible!”