Chapter 3: Variety Show Recording Begins

Meng Chengxiao’s apartment remained with its familiar layout.

Yet, seeing the entire place so desolate, Yun Xingcan strongly suspected that Meng Chengxiao hadn’t lived here for a long time.

Entering his own room, everything was neatly arranged, with his old belongings left exactly as they were.

“Brother Yun, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head off now.”

Yun Xingcan hurried out of the room and stopped Guo Meng.

“Tomorrow I have to film a variety show. Pick me up at 5 AM to go to the airport.”

Guo Meng quickly agreed and, seeing that Yun Xingcan had no further instructions, went back.

It was still better working with Brother Yun no need for 24/7 close following. He finally felt treated like a human being!

“Three Meals, Four Seasons on the Road” was a variety show that had gained widespread popularity recently.

Each episode featured four guests: two permanent members and two guest stars.

The general concept of the show was traveling to a location, sampling local delicacies during the day, and having the four guests each recreate one dish the following day.

Tomorrow, they were heading to Chengdu, Sichuan.

Yun Xingcan was quite skilled at cooking. Back when he lived at the Taoist Temple with his master, it was just the two of them.

He had learned to make a variety of home style dishes from his master.

Looking at the cold stove and empty refrigerator,

Yun Xingcan became even more convinced that Meng Chengxiao hadn’t been back for ages.

But this didn’t make Yun Xingcan overthink it Meng Chengxiao owned plenty of properties.

Perhaps he was just angry and didn’t want to stay anywhere Yun Xingcan had been.

Clapping his hands decisively, Yun Xingcan resolved to go out and buy groceries to cook.

Meng Chengxiao used to love his cooking, often coaxing him just to get him to make a few dishes.

Maybe if he took photos of the meal and sent them to Meng Chengxiao, the man would be lured back home.

No sooner said than done Yun Xingcan carefully put on a mask and hat and went out to buy ingredients.

Although he wasn’t popular now, he was well aware of the online bullying from six months ago and all the vile insults hurled at him.

Better to go out fully disguised; he still had his pride and didn’t want to be chased around and asked if he was being kept.

Strolling outside after so long, Yun Xingcan greedily soaked in the lively atmosphere.

Crowded places still felt more reassuring.

Humming a tune, he returned home, washed his hands, and started cooking.

Within two hours, three home style dishes were laid out on the table.

Keeping in mind his upcoming trip to Sichuan for the variety show, Yun Xingcan specially made a dish of boiled sliced pork.

Meng Chengxiao had always preferred strong flavors, so this dish was sure to please him.

Opening his phone and tapping on Meng Chengxiao’s profile picture, Yun Xingcan tentatively sent a message.

He breathed a sigh of relief thank goodness Meng Chengxiao hadn’t been so angry as to block him.

He sent the carefully taken, mouth watering food photos to Meng Chengxiao.

Along with the text: Meng Chengxiao, come back for dinner after work tonight.

And an adorable puppy sticker.

A long time passed after the message was sent, but there was no reply from Meng Chengxiao.

Holding his face in his hands and facing the now slightly cold food, Yun Xingcan decided to eat his fill first.

As the saying goes, nothing matters more than eating.

No man was more important than a full stomach.

After eating and drinking his fill, with still no reply from Meng Chengxiao, Yun Xingcan simply washed up and went to bed.

He had to wake up early the next morning he couldn’t afford to stay up late. If his face looked tired, it would ruin his gentlemanly image on TV.

In the dead of night, all was silent.

Yun Xingcan suddenly woke up. A dark figure loomed over him from the bedside.

“Holy shit!”

Yun Xingcan nearly tumbled off the bed in fright, trembling as he switched on the bedside lamp. Meng Chengxiao’s figure materialized before him.

“Meng Chengxiao?”

Yun Xingcan tentatively called out the name. The man before him seemed utterly unhinged his gaze vacant, brows furrowed, reeking of strong liquor.

“Meng Chengxiao.”

He called again, and the rigid figure standing by the bed finally stirred.

Slowly leaning forward, Meng Chengxiao dropped to one knee at the bedside, his eyes glazed as he sniffed the air like a wolf locking onto its prey, contemplating where to strike.

Yun Xingcan instinctively shrank back, but Meng Chengxiao’s hand shot out, clamping around his neck with brutal force. Even using both hands, Yun Xingcan could barely pry loose a single finger.

“Meng… Chengxiao…”

He choked out the words with difficulty, but Meng Chengxiao seemed deaf to them, his grip tightening relentlessly.

“Who are you?! How dare you sleep in Starry’s bed?!”

Meng Chengxiao was clearly wasted. Unable to break free, Yun Xingcan gritted his teeth and slapped him hard across the face.

The impact snapped Meng Chengxiao’s head to the side, leaving an inflamed palm print starkly visible in the dim bedside light. Time seemed to freeze. Finally free, Yun Xingcan rushed to check the injury.

“Don’t move!”

The sharp command halted him in his tracks.

“Stay away. You disgust me.”

Meng Chengxiao stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Yun Xingcan stood frozen, blood turning to ice in his veins. That word “disgust” had carved itself so deeply into Meng Chengxiao’s psyche that it remained a thorn piercing his heart.

Moving mechanically, Yun Xingcan returned to bed and stared at the ceiling, sleepless until dawn.

When the alarm rang, he hauled his luggage toward the door and spotted Meng Chengxiao passed out on the sofa. His expression tightened with conflict. Ultimately, he fetched a blanket to cover him, left a note, and placed a bruise ointment nearby. The slap had been vicious guilt weighed heavy as Yun Xingcan crept out with his bags.

Downstairs, Guo Meng yawned while taking the luggage. “Brother Yun, heading straight to the airport?”

“Yeah.”

Yun Xingcan leaned back exhaustedly, Meng Chengxiao’s vulnerable sleeping face haunting his thoughts. The once arrogant man had looked so fragile.

Originally, Guo Meng wasn’t scheduled to accompany Yun Xingcan to Sichuan he still had pending handovers from previous artists. But last night, President Meng had ordered him to focus solely on Yun Xingcan immediately. Regardless of other artists’ opinions, Guo Meng was thrilled.

As the plane descended, program crew members were already waiting. Coincidentally, Lin Ming appeared out of nowhere, greeting Yun Xingcan with excessive enthusiasm.

“Starry Splendor! What a coincidence! Same flight? How come I didn’t see you?”

Yun Xingcan barely suppressed an eye roll. Lin Ming was feigning ignorance he’d been in economy class, invisible to anyone in first class.

The moment they disembarked, the program crew began recording.

Yun Xingcan drew upon his professional composure, exchanging a few pleasantries with Lin Ming before heading over to the program crew members first.

“Hello, Teacher Yun.”

A staff member greeted Yun Xingcan politely, then warmly welcomed Lin Ming.

Well, that was the difference between a second tier celebrity and an eighteenth tier one. The fact that they didn’t give him a cold shoulder was already quite respectful.

Yun Xingcan shrugged and boarded the minibus arranged by the program crew.

Aside from a few staff members, the other two guests hadn’t arrived yet.

The documents Meng Chengxiao had given him included the list of participants for this show.

Both were female guests one was a regular cast member, a rising starlet named Bai Zhenzhen, and the other was the film queen, Sun Ying.

Overall, among the four of them, Yun Xingcan was at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Lin Ming still hadn’t boarded after a long while. Through the window, Yun Xingcan saw him chatting cheerfully with Sun Ying, who had arrived at some point.

Yun Xingcan knew he couldn’t show any hint of dissatisfaction toward Lin Ming now.

He was a professional actor and had to maintain the proper demeanor, ensuring no inappropriate behavior in front of the cameras.

“Teacher Sun, hello!”

Yun Xingcan got off the bus and greeted Sun Ying with pleasant surprise.

Sun Ying was not unfamiliar with Yun Xingcan they had worked together on a film set before. He was a nice and hardworking young man.

Although the scandal half a year ago had severely damaged his reputation.

“Starry Splendor, how is your health?”

Yun Xingcan smiled somewhat sheepishly. “I’m mostly recovered now. I didn’t expect Teacher Sun to still remember me.”

“Of course, after such a major incident.”

The two chatted familiarly, with Lin Ming chiming in as well.

“Absolutely, I was nearly scared to death when I heard the news. Thank goodness you’re alright.”

The three of them chatted and laughed as they boarded the bus, waiting for the final guest.