Early in the morning on the 7th, Zhong Ruanxing boarded the plane going abroad for filming.
Although it was still winter at home, the island location was already in summer. Other than the long down jacket she wore, Zhong Ruanxing had brought only summer clothes.
Love Instinct was filmed in a livestream format, with cameras following the cast around the clock except for sleeping time. No managers or assistants were allowed on the island.
So Ran Ting did not go with her this time, but stayed in the country to handle business affairs for her, trying to ensure she could seamlessly enter another project after returning. Only Wu Chengwang went along to assist her when needed before and after filming.
It had been announced earlier that Zhong Ruanxing would participate in Love Instinct. Her fans were very excited that their idol got to be on this hot reality show. They didn't care if she found love or not, as long as the show could bring her popularity and exposure, elevating her resources afterwards, the fans were happy!
Some fans who came to see her off even held up signs saying "Star, boldly pursue love!", almost making Zhong Ruanxing laugh to death.
In the VIP lounge, Zhong Ruanxing ran into leading actress Yong Yun unexpectedly.
In her forties, Yong Yun was well maintained and didn't look her age. The former leading actress was now semi-retired. Over the years there had been many scandals about her but she never married. She would participate in one or two acting-related variety shows every year, plus her endorsement for Yun Shan's Ye Yu Ji Bei series, maintaining a certain level of exposure.
It was surprising to both the audience and Zhong Ruanxing that she would join a dating show.
The noble leading actress didn't seem to match a dating show. And the two revealed male guests so far, singer Xia Xi and actor Yao Jingshan, weren't much older than Zhong Ruanxing. Would the experienced leading actress be interested in these little boys?
Could the last two unrevealed male guests be charming uncles?
Zhong Ruanxing looked forward to finding out.
Not that she wanted anything to happen with a charming uncle. She actually quite liked Yong Yun and had been her fan in previous years. If the leading actress could really find true love on the show, she could fan girl about the couple in person, which would be so exciting.
As a junior in the industry, she took the initiative to greet Yong Yun: "Ms. Yong, I'm Zhong Ruanxing, also a cast member of Love Instinct. We should be on the same flight."
Yong Yun removed her sunglasses and looked up. She had a very dignified and gentle face, with no senior's arrogance towards a junior. "Hello. I've seen you at a Yun Shan press conference."
Zhong Ruanxing was a bit surprised. "Yes, I greeted you then too. Didn't expect you'd remember me."
Yong Yun was the endorsement model for Yun Shan's Ye Yu Ji Bei series, while Zhong Ruanxing was the overall endorsement model for Yun Shan, so she topped Yong Yun in that endorsement.
But Yong Yun didn't seem displeased at all, still gentle and mild: "You're very pretty, unforgettable." She took out her phone on her own initiative: "Let's exchange contacts?"
Zhong Ruanxing sat down beside her: "Sure."
The two added each other's WeChat and chatted about the upcoming show. Yong Yun asked curiously: "Do you know anything about the other guests?"
The production team had done their secrecy work too well. Zhong Ruanxing shook her head: "No idea."
Yong Yun just smiled: "I happen to know one." She searched out a name to show her: "Also heard inadvertently at a dinner recently. Have you heard of this Mr. Cheng? The production team said they'd invite a layman, but ended up inviting such a big shot."
Zhong Ruanxing's smiling face instantly froze as she stared at Cheng Yaowen's name on his wiki page without a word.
Yong Yun shared a little secret happily, but when she turned to see Zhong Ruanxing's odd expression, she immediately understood as someone who had weathered ups and downs in the industry: "You know him?"
Zhong Ruanxing collected herself and nodded calmly at Yong Yun.
But inwardly she was cursing that pervert Cheng Yaowen to death.
She really shouldn't have doubted White Yin Yue! The jerk actually came chasing her again. Hadn't Song Jinxing given him enough trouble already? He actually still had the leisure to pursue her onto a livestream show!
She didn't have much contact with Cheng Yaowen, but understood him enough to know his sinister side was hidden away while he always wore an uncaring, lazy expression meeting anyone, fitting the current rogue handsome aesthetic. Good looks, good family background, in the audience's eyes absolutely a rich playboy. This kind of persona was super popular on dating shows.
Later on the show, with hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching, if she was even a little cold to Cheng Yaowen, she'd probably be scolded for not appreciating blessings.
He wouldn't harm her on the show, but he could annoy her!
For a moment Zhong Ruanxing even had the urge to break contract and withdraw from the show.
Yong Yun wasn't stupid either. She quickly saw from Zhong Ruanxing's reaction that she probably didn't get along with this Mr. Cheng. Similar ages, one rich, one pretty, it wasn't hard to guess the grievance between them originated from interest in each other.
Not every actress wanted to marry into wealth. Yong Yun herself had rejected the pursuit of wealthy playboys before, getting pestered for a while.
She had a good impression of Zhong Ruanxing, so pointed out: "Keep your distance from him on the show. Team up more with the other male guests. If there's someone you really like, interact more, get an early lockdown, and he'll naturally know to retreat. No need for any conflict with him, or you'll seem petty."
Zhong Ruanxing's mood quickly calmed. She nodded: "Thank you Ms. Yong. I know what to do."
After chatting for a while, the two got quite close. Yong Yun was very friendly, speaking gently, with a mellowness from years of experience. By the time they boarded, they were calling each other "Sis Yong" and "Ruanxing".
After nearly ten hours of flight, the plane finally landed. After getting out of the airport, the production team had arranged staff to pick them up and take them to the hotel. Zhong Ruanxing and Yong Yun were not at the same hotel.
The staff explained: "To maintain the mystery and first impressions between cast members, the eight guests won't meet before the show starts broadcasting. Tomorrow morning someone will take you to the pier to board the island. Once you're at the pier, the livestream will officially begin."
The two acknowledged their understanding.
After the long flight, Zhong Ruanxing felt exhausted too. She took a shower after getting to the hotel and went straight to bed.
She let her family and team know she had arrived safely, and couldn't resist making a call to Song Jinxing.
He picked up right away, his smiling voice coming through after barely two seconds: "You there?"
Zhong Ruanxing gave an "Mm-hmm", then hesitated before asking: "Did you know Cheng Yaowen is also coming on my show?"
The smiling voice sank: "Cheng Yaowen?"
Sure enough he didn't know.
Lying in bed, Zhong Ruanxing's voice was muffled: "You said Shi Rong Corporation was too busy to bother, so how does he have time to come pester me?"
Song Jinxing was briefly silent before replying: "Not long ago, Song Corporation intercepted a new energy project of theirs. But Song Corporation didn't show its face, I made the deal with another company. That project was fully handled by Cheng Yaowen. After it fell through, he went and clashed with the other party, even calling the police on them. To smooth things over, Cheng Zhiqian temporarily suspended Cheng Yaowen from his corporate position, saying he'd send him abroad to unwind."
So he came here to unwind, huh?
Song Jinxing also didn't expect things to develop this way by coincidence. His voice was apologetic as he softly reassured her: "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Zhong Ruanxing's gloomy mood swiftly dispersed. She jokingly asked: "How do you plan to handle it? Send a helicopter to pluck him off the set?"
Song Jinxing fell silent, as if truly considering the feasibility of this method.
Zhong Ruanxing suddenly felt great and collapsed laughing on the bed: "Relax! He can't bully me. He's delivered himself to my door, I won't let him off without some suffering. You just focus on dealing with Shi Rong Corporation. Him being so arrogant is only because he has Shi Rong backing him up. Only when Shi Rong is gone can he be truly struck down."
Song Jinxing regretfully said: "It was my oversight."
Zhong Ruanxing boldly declared: "It's fine! I'll engage, you backdoor, let's take down the enemy together!"