I'm in Wuha, and the whole internet is shipping me and Song Yuqi as a couple.

the next day.

The sea breeze rustles the coconut trees of the film and television base.

The bus was parked on the outer side of the beach, where waves crashed against the rocks.

The theme of this stop is "Time Capsule," and the recording site is decorated in a style that combines a Republican-era street with a modern bay.

The guests disembarked from the bus one after another.

Song Yuqi jumped out of the car and habitually moved closer to Jiang Che, holding a freshly opened box of mints in her hand.

She poured out two pills and handed them to Jiang Che.

"Jiang Che, do you want some candy?"

Jiang Che put his hands in his coat pockets and paused slightly.

He glanced at Song Yuqi's outstretched palm, then shook his head calmly.

"I don't eat sweets, and my stomach feels a bit cold."

Song Yuqi's hand was suspended in mid-air.

She blinked, feeling a little strange.

This guy usually loves to grab his own snacks without a second thought, so why is he suddenly being so particular today?

Director Wu, holding a megaphone and wearing a windproof jacket, stood on a high platform in the middle of the beach.

"Welcome to the South China Sea Film and Television Base, teachers!"

"This episode's theme is 'Time Capsule,' and we need to divide into teams to complete classic tasks from different eras."

"Today, the production team will no longer force you into groups. Everyone is free to choose their partners, two people per group!"

As soon as Director Wu finished speaking, Chen He and Deng Chao exchanged glances.

Song Yuqi's lips curved slightly.

She turned around, about to call Jiang Che's name.

Jiang Che took two steps forward and put his arm around Chen He's shoulder.

"Today I'm in a group with Brother He."

Song Yuqi's smile froze on the spot.

She thought she had misheard and stood there staring at Jiang Che.

"Jiang Che, what did you say?"

Chen He, a veteran actor, immediately put on an exaggerated expression of being flattered.

"Oh, chef, have you finally realized that I'm your best partner?!"

"Brother Chao, you saw that? The head chef chose me!"

Deng Chao rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips.

"Xiao Che, did you take the wrong medicine today? Aren't you usually inseparable from Yu Qi?"

Jiang Che remained calm, his tone completely unwavering.

"Today's challenges combine both physical and mental exertion."

"Being in the same group as Yuqi makes us too conspicuous and easy targets for Director Wu."

"The tactical split-up gives both teams a chance to score."

Song Yuqi stood to the side, her fingers slowly clenching the box of mints in her hand.

Tactical diversion?

Hasn't Director Wu targeted me a lot before? Every time, he just dragged me through it.

Today, he actually used such a high-sounding reason to push her away.

Song Yuqi turned to look at Lu Han.

"Little deer, then we..."

Lu Han's eyes darted away for a moment, then she immediately took half a step back and grabbed Qin Xiao's arm.

"Sister Yuqi, what a coincidence, Lao Qin and I just agreed yesterday to form a crosstalk boy band."

"We're going to tackle the traditional folk art challenges together, so I really can't take you with me."

Deng Chao also coughed lightly and pointed to Bai Lu, the female guest star standing next to him.

"Yes, yes, Yuqi, look, Bailu just arrived today, and she's unfamiliar with the place."

"You two girls can look out for each other if you're in a group. Our Five Hahs group should be gentlemanly, right?"

The entire audience was instantly divided into groups.

Jiang Che was paired with Chen He, Lu Han with Qin Xiao, Deng Chao was left to be a referee and patrol, and Song Yuqi was assigned to Bai Lu.

Bai Lu stepped forward and, smiling, took Song Yuqi's arm.

"Yuqi, nice to meet you today."

Song Yuqi forced a smile and nodded.

Please give me your guidance.

However, she couldn't help but glance at Jiang Che.

Jiang Che was engrossed in discussing something with Chen He, not even glancing in their direction.

Song Yuqi felt inexplicably choked up.

The first task was to do the accounting at the vintage general store.

Each team needs to find the corresponding goods in a warehouse full of old items, based on ancient ledgers, and calculate the total price.

The warehouse was filled with old-fashioned leather trunks, clocks, and abacuses.

Song Yuqi and Bai Lu searched for an old-fashioned table lamp in the middle of the shelf.

Just as they turned the corner, Jiang Che and Chen He walked towards them, each holding a vintage bar of soap.

Song Yuqi slowed her pace.

"Jiang Che, how many items have you found?"

Jiang Che stopped and put the soap into the bamboo basket.

Two items.

"We've found three."

Song Yuqi looked at him, her tone slightly probing.

"If you can't find the old-fashioned radio, I know where it is; it's in the third cabinet on the east side."

Jiang Che nodded calmly.

"No need, we can just follow our own route."

"The rules state that we can't exchange messages, lest Director Wu deduct points."

After saying that, Jiang Che patted Chen He on the shoulder.

"Let's go, Brother He, let's go check out the second floor."

Chen He responded and followed Jiang Che up the stairs, pulling the bamboo basket along with him.

Song Yuqi stood by the shelf, feeling a tightness in her chest.

Every single time, they blatantly slipped clues into her pocket.

What's wrong with me today?

It was businesslike and coldly indifferent, yet it made people feel exceptionally distant.

Bai Lu patted Song Yuqi on the shoulder from behind.

"Yuqi, what are you daydreaming about? Look, isn't this the abacus that's written in the ledger?"

Song Yuqi snapped out of her daze and bit her lower lip.

"They're here."

The neglect continued to escalate over the next two hours.

In the flag-capture contest on the beach, Jiang Che ran incredibly fast, passing right by Song Yuqi and snatching the red flag away.

He didn't stop to wait for her, nor did he even turn around to look at her disheveled appearance as she fell on the beach.

We ate boxed lunches at the film studio restaurant at noon.

Deng Chao and Chen He sat around Jiang Che at a table, chatting animatedly.

Song Yuqi sat at the next table with a tray in her hand, holding a box of braised beef that Jiang Che usually loved to eat.

She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and walked over, placing the braised beef on the corner of the table in front of Jiang Che.

"I cut you a portion of beef from the film studio's cafeteria."

Jiang Che paused slightly in his hand holding the chopsticks.

He looked up, his gaze lingered on Song Yuqi's face for half a second, and then looked away.

"Thank you, but I don't have much of an appetite today. The chicken leg from the boxed lunch will be enough for me."

"Keep it for yourself; you'll burn a lot of energy running on the beach this afternoon."

Chen He buried his head in his rice at the table, not daring to lift his head, his shoulders trembling.

Deng Chao looked up at the ceiling and whistled.

Song Yuqi held the box of braised beef, her fingers turning slightly white.

She took the box back, turned around, and quickly walked back to her seat, where she sat down.

She poked the rice in the lunchbox until it was mushy with her chopsticks.

Song Yuqi lowered her head, her eyes feeling a little hot.

She started to have wild thoughts.

Was it because Jiang Che went public with his relationship on the island a few days ago that the online public opinion put too much pressure on him?

Or perhaps Jiang Che felt that being too closely tied to the camera would negatively impact their respective careers.

If he really had concerns, he could have just said it in private, explaining why he was deliberately avoiding suspicion in front of the camera in this way.

The more Song Yuqi thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and tears welled up in her eyes.

At the next table, Jiang Che had his back to Song Yuqi, his knuckles clenching tightly around his chopsticks.

He heard Director Wu's voice from the control room through the miniature earpiece next to his ear.

"Jiang Che, the lighting truck has arrived, and the sound team is in position at the west clock tower."

"How's the emotional buildup going on your end? Has Yuqi become suspicious?"

Jiang Che lowered his voice and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

"The acting was over the top."

Director Wu laughed.

"You know what extreme contrast is! The harder you suppress her now, the more she'll cry when the bell rings!"

"You better hold on, and don't give in and try to appease them!"

Jiang Che put down his chopsticks, his eyes revealing helplessness.

He looked at the barely touched food on his plate and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

When he saw Song Yuqi about to cry, he wanted to stand up and hug her.

However, the complete set of confession equipment had already been delivered to the site, and all the brothers and staff had been preparing for two whole days.

Tonight, we must present this grand show that is ten years overdue.

Jiang Che calmed himself down, stood up, and walked towards the restroom.

As he turned the corner of the corridor, he took out a miniature walkie-talkie he carried with him and pressed the call button.

"Old Chen, this is Jiang Che."

"Teacher Jiang, you said we'd wait in the back alley of the castle."

"Is the drone formation complete? Nine hundred and ninety-nine drones, not one can be missing."

"Don't worry, Teacher Jiang, the coordinates have all been calibrated."

"As soon as you send a signal, the starry sky pattern will light up within ten seconds."

Jiang Che leaned against the tiled wall and looked at his watch.

There are still three hours until sunset.

There are still four hours until the town's grand lantern festival tonight.