My cousin asked me to go to Wuha, and Hanikezi stuck to me.

The assistant director stood next to the monitor, pointing to the soaring data curve on the screen.

"Director Wang, the individual clips of Chen Yi and Hanikezi have already surpassed 200 million views. This morning, the business team added three more duo endorsements, specifically requesting that the two of them appear together in the clips."

Old Wang took a big gulp of goji berry water and slammed his large tea mug heavily onto the table.

"Go contact Sister Hong. I need to get Hanikezi back for the fifth episode recording."

The assistant director looked troubled.

"Sister Hong is very strict. She's always worried that celebrities will be backfired if they create a CP (couple pairing) scandal. Recently, she's even been checking Hani's phone very closely, so she might not be willing to let her go."

Old Wang sneered.

"Tell Sister Hong that I'll give her a special episode of '24-Hour Partner Survival Challenge.' She wants viewership, so I'll give her top-tier exposure across the entire internet. If she doesn't agree, I'll push all three of these dual endorsements onto someone else."

Twenty days later.

Outside Dali Old Town.

The sunlight was blinding.

Chen Yi sat in the last row of the bus, looking down at his phone.

The screen displays a WeChat message from Hanikezi.

"Sister Hong has gone mad! She's made me eat boiled cabbage for a whole week! I'm going to sneak out for some Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles tonight!"

Chen Yi typed a reply.

"With your level of exercise, you'd have to do three days of flying dances to burn off the calories from just one bowl of rice noodles."

Hanikezi replied instantly.

"I don't care! I've already planned the route. I'll sneak out after Sister Hong finishes her room checks at 10 PM!"

Chen Yi tapped his fingers on the screen.

"It gets colder in Dali tonight. If you dare to go out in short sleeves, don't expect me to give you any cold medicine if you catch a cold tomorrow."

The other side sent me an emoji of someone holding a kitchen knife and chopping someone up.

"You just wait! I'm going to eat you out of house and home today!"

Chen Yi looked at the screen, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

For more than twenty days, they argued with each other on WeChat every day.

The chat content was all meaningless nonsense.

But he always replies on time every day.

Neither of them dared to break the unspoken agreement, but their tacit understanding was already beyond question.

The car door opened.

Chen Chichi walked up yawning and plopped down next to Chen Yi.

"Cousin, what are you looking at? Why are you laughing so heartily?"

Chen Yi pressed the lock screen button and put his phone in his pocket.

"Look at your medical report from yesterday. Your aunt said your fatty liver has gotten worse."

Chen Chichi's old face fell.

"Don't try to intimidate me with your aunt! We have a mystery guest today, and Old Wang has been keeping us in suspense all morning."

Deng Chao turned around from the front row.

"With Old Wang's stingy temper, what kind of big stars could he possibly invite? Maybe he just pulled someone from some other film crew to take the fall."

Lu Han added insult to injury from the side.

"Brother Chao, as long as they're not here to steal our food, it's fine."

The bus stopped at the ancient city square.

Old Wang stood under the scorching sun, holding a megaphone.

"Filming for the fifth episode has officially begun! Today, we welcome back an old friend!"

A person walked over from the other side of the square on the bluestone path.

White short-sleeved T-shirt, light blue high-waisted jeans, and a high ponytail.

Hanikezi waved at the camera while dragging a pink suitcase.

"Hi everyone! I'm here to freeload again!"

The entire staff erupted in cheers.

Deng Chao's eyes widened as he turned to look at Chen Yi.

"Cousin, your dinner buddy's here!"

Lu Han joined in the commotion, letting out a loud whistle.

Chen Yi stood still, watching Hanikezi approach.

She's a little thinner than she was twenty days ago, and her chin is more pointed.

Hanikezi walked up to the crowd, her gaze passing over Deng Chao and Lu Han, and landing directly on Chen Yi's face.

Their eyes met.

No one spoke.

Hanikezi's lips curled into a smile.

Chen Yi nodded almost imperceptibly.

Chen Chichi suddenly darted out from the side.

He rushed forward, grabbed Chen Yi's arm with his left hand, and pulled Hanikezi's wrist with his right.

He forcibly pulled the two of them together, stood in the middle, and yelled at the main camera.

"Rest assured, everyone online! I'm watching over your favorite couples! With me, their cousin, here, no one can break them up!"

The scene fell silent for a second.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of boisterous laughter erupted, as if the roof had been blown off.

Old Wang laughed so hard he sprayed water all over the screen from behind the monitor.

Hanikezi's face instantly turned bright red, even the roots of her ears turned red.

She forcefully shook off Chen Chichi's hand, glaring at him through gritted teeth.

"Brother Chichi! What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not lying! Look at the way you two were looking at each other just now, your eyes were practically glued to the Pacific Ocean!"

Chen Chichi proudly sticks out her belly.

Hanikezi grabbed the straw hat in her hand and threw it at Chen Chichi.

"You still dare to talk back!"

Chen Chichi covered his head and ran away like a rat, circling around Chen Yi.

"Cousin, help! Your wife is trying to murder her own brother!"

Hanikezi chased after her, holding up her straw hat, panting heavily.

"Brother Chi, stop right there! Who's his wife?! If you keep shouting like that, I'll really hit you!"

Chen Chichi hid behind Chen Yi, peeking out half of his head.

"Your face is as red as a tomato and you're still being stubborn! Cousin, you need to control her! She's not ladylike at all!"

Chen Yi stood still.

He took a step directly to the left, completely exposing Chen Chichi to Hanikezi's attack range.

"Honey, there's an opening on the left, attack him."

Chen Yi stood with his hands in his pockets, his tone calm.

Hanikezi patted Chen Chichi's shoulder with her straw hat.

A crisp sound.

Chen Chichi clutched his shoulder and howled.

"Chen Yi! You traitor who betrays you for lust! I'm your own cousin! How dare you help outsiders beat me!"

"Relatives only need to visit during holidays. As for the beatings you get at other times, you'll have to bear them yourself."

Chen Yi didn't even lift his eyelids. "Besides, she's not exactly an outsider."

The last half of the sentence was not loud, but it was just enough to be heard into the microphone.

The crowd erupted in cheers again.

Hanikezi froze, her hand holding the straw hat stopped in mid-air, and the pink on her ears spread all the way to the base of her neck.

The roughhousing ended.

Old Wang picked up the megaphone again.

"Serious! Now, let's announce this week's theme!"

All the guests stood in a row.

This episode is the "24-Hour Partner Survival Challenge"! You will be divided into pairs and must work together to complete all survival tasks within the next 24 hours. The mission reward is only fifty dollars!

Deng Chao immediately raised his hand in protest.

"Old Wang, are you crazy?! What can you do with fifty yuan in Dali? It'll be gone in two bowls of rice noodles!"

Lu Han shouted along.

"Director, we're here to film a variety show, not a wilderness survival challenge!"

Old Wang ignored the protests and continued making announcements.

"The group assignments have already been decided by the directing team. Deng Chao and Lu Han are in the same group."

Deng Chao and Lu Han high-fived in celebration.

"Chen Chichi, you're paired with the assistant director."

Chen Chichi was dumbfounded.

"Why am I paired with the assistant director?! He doesn't even give me food! And he cuts my pay!"

Old Wang turned the loudspeaker towards Chen Yi.

"Chen Yi, you're paired with Hanikezi."

The groupings were as expected.

Old Wang has arranged exactly what viewers across the internet want to see.

Chen Chichi, standing to the side, drew out his voice in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh dear. This grouping is so random. Old Wang, you've really messed with my plans."

Chen Yi turned to look at Hanikezi.

Sunlight shone on her profile, revealing fine downy hairs.

Chen Yi's gaze lingered on her earlobe.

There hung a pair of teardrop-shaped turquoise silver earrings with ethnic patterns.

It was the pair he bought under the pretense of going to the toilet at the Hengdian Ancient Town market, and then gave to her late at night.

Hanikezi wore these earrings specially today.

Of all the people in the room, only Chen Yi noticed this detail.

Hanikezi turned her head and met his gaze.

She did not dodge.

She looked at Chen Yi, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards into a bright smile.

That smile belonged only to him.

A blue virtual screen popped up in my mind without warning.

"Ding!"

"Hani Kezi's favorability has been updated."

Current favorability rating: 83!

Ps:

[New book launch, seeking support! Three quick actions: add to bookshelf, urge for updates, write a review. The writer is online begging for support!]