The shooting location for the romance reality show "Summer Love" was set at a secluded villa nestled in a primitive forest park.
The luxurious three-story villa was surrounded by a lake and built amidst serene woods. The garden had fountains and a swimming pool, while the backyard was decorated with romantic props for the show, like a flower room and swing.
Not far away, at the lakeside in the forest, black swans and mandarin ducks were raised. There was also a deer park along the shore.
After half a day's hike, the guests arrived and settled into the villa. The production team first let them go to their rooms to unpack.
The room arranged for the actor couple Zhang Duo and Lin Qianxi was in a nostalgic Republican era style, making them feel as if they had stepped onto a period movie set. The walls had retro posters and gramophones as decoration, catering to their vintage taste.
The idol couple Yun Moli and Lu Shen got a Japanese tatami mat room, relaxed and casual, which Yun Moli also loved very much.
Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao entered their room, which was a spacious starry sky-themed girls' room. The ceiling was made of glass so they could see countless stars at night. Everything around them was in soft and romantic pink tones.
The cheerful Yun Moli hopped over curiously and peeked into their room, letting out an envious exclamation, "Wow! Your room is so romantic! Shen Shen, come look, I'm so jealous!"
Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao expressionlessly glanced at each other, feeling like the show's producers had deliberately created this contrast to be cute.
She immediately went to find the main director, "I want to change rooms."
Director Fang was easygoing about it, "Which room would you like to change to?"
"Any, as long as it's not with him." She pointed at Chen Huaixiao.
Director Fang said awkwardly, "But you two are husband and wife, are you sure you want to...sleep separately?"
Chen Huaixiao walked over and calmly said, "We sleep separately at home too."
Bai Yin added, "That's right, we're a plastic couple, we never sleep in the same bed."
The audience: ...
Did you two really come on a dating show?
Director Fang thought for a while and said, "I'm sorry, but according to the script, the couples have to stay in the same room. Otherwise the subsequent filming won't go smoothly. You two will have to...bear with it. If we have a divorce show next time, I'll invite you again and definitely give you separate rooms!"
Bai Yin glared at Chen Huaixiao, "Then you have to keep your word. Remember to notify me if there's a divorce show."
"Of course, of course." Director Fang wiped his sweat and finally persuaded them back into the room.
Bai Yin used a pillow to divide the two-meter wide bed into a clear border, sternly reminding him, "Don't cross this line when sleeping."
Chen Huaixiao tidied his luggage without turning his head, expressionlessly replying, "Don't worry, I'm a man of my word."
"You'd better be!"
Bai Yin grumpily got into bed and started playing on her phone.
After putting away his own luggage, Chen Huaixiao saw Bai Yin's several huge suitcases. Without thinking, he opened them up, took out the folded clothes her assistant Tangka had packed, and meticulously sorted and organized them as if he had OCD.
He also carefully wiped off the dust on the shoes she brought with wet wipes before putting them away in the closet.
The room had cameras installed that could film live with the guests' consent. So fans also saw this scene—
"Although their marriage is unhappy, Chen is still a good husband who takes care of the household."
"No, no, I remember in an interview with Chen Jingye, he said his older brother was spoiled since childhood and completely helpless at home, he couldn't even cut vegetables without injuring himself. "
"That doesn't seem to be the case though..."
"Don't you think Chen dotes on his wife a lot! Although he calls it a plastic marriage, his every action is full of love!"
"Fellow fans, I'm starting to ship this couple!"
"Me too!"
...
At dusk, the production team arranged a barbecue for the guests as an icebreaker activity.
The model actor couple Zhang Duo and Lin Qianxi naturally worked together.
Zhang Duo was worried the oil smoke would bother Lin Qianxi, so he gently asked her to stand farther away.
Lin Qianxi helped wash vegetables and skewer them, supporting him as his assistant in every possible way, displaying their harmonious relationship.
Meanwhile, Yun Moli sat on the garden swing while Lu Shen brought the grilled food to her mouth, "Sweetheart, is it delicious?"
"Mm, so delicious! Thank you darling."
"Then I'll go grill some more for you."
"Mm! Love you, darling."
Seeing this heartwarming scene, the bullet screen was filled with sweetness—
"The actor couple is the real deal!"
"The idol couple is so sweet too, Lu Shen really dotes on little Moli."
"This is how a dating show should be, the other plastic couple should learn from them."
"Different couples have different dynamics, no need to diss them."
At this point in the show, the audience had become extremely polarized.
The "plastic couple" persona of Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao was absolutely adored by some, while intensely hated by others, bringing a lot of hype to the show.
Bai Yin came downstairs wearing a casual T-shirt and slippers.
She had her hair up in a relaxed, messy bun with a few loose strands falling down.
When she appeared, the gazes of both male guests involuntarily drifted towards her.
But noticing the camera following Bai Yin, they naturally greeted her.
"Hey everyone, cooking dinner?"
"Yeah, barbecue."
"Let me help too."
Even while filming the show, Chen Huaixiao didn't stop working.
He sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows on a stool, laptop in front of him, discussing a collaboration with the person in charge of Iku.
The slanting sunset shone on him through the windows, illuminating his sharp, handsome features. His dark eyes exuded a tranquil aura of power.
Even by just sitting there occasionally captured by the camera, he was able to elicit fervent screams from the audience—
"Damn, no matter where Chen Huaixiao sits he's a f*cking masterpiece!"
"I'm so envious of his looks! Wuwuwu."
"I'm tired of being envious of Bai Yin!"
As Bai Yin walked through the garden and passed the floor-to-ceiling windows, she caught sight of Chen Huaixiao.
Chen Huaixiao also noticed her. They exchanged a glance through the glass.
After a long moment, she made a silly face at Chen Huaixiao inside.
The corners of Chen Huaixiao's lips slightly rose. He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, trying hard to restrain his smile and pretended to be serious.
This tiny detail was also captured by fans with a taste for the quirky CEO couple—
"To be honest, this couple is so sweet!"
"Chen Huaixiao's expression trying hard not to smile is so cute!"
"Look at how he gazes at her, the doting is almost overflowing!"
Bai Yin came to the barbecue grill, picked up some beef skewers, and skillfully brushed on sauce to grill them.
The camera zoomed in for a closeup of the meat.
While grilling, Bai Yin explained, "Our Chen works so hard he even has to handle work while filming the show. Can't be helped, as his wife I'll have to take extra care of him and grill some beef skewers first."
After saying so, she began madly sprinkling chili powder on the beef, as if the chili powder was free.
The audience—
"Bai Yin is so thoughtful and caring."
"What kind of weird handyman nickname is 'Old Chen'? Haha."
"This couple is so down-to-earth."
"Wait...doesn't that seem like too much chili powder?"
"Bai Yin, stop! Are you trying to burn your husband Chen to death so you can inherit his Super Star Media?!"
"Hahahaha, I'm dead."
Although the CEO couple mutually disliked each other and received a lot of criticism, they got the most bullet screen comments whenever they appeared, compared to the others.
Bai Yin brought over the beef skewer she had sprinkled a galactic amount of chili powder on and presented it to Chen Huaixiao—
"Bai Yin personally grilled this for you, if you don't eat it then you're not a good husband."
Chen Huaixiao accepted the chili coated beef skewer and glanced at Bai Yin again, "It does look very delicious."
"Then please have a taste, Mr. Chen. Remember, chew slowly and carefully!"
Bai Yin deliberately emphasized the words "chew slowly and carefully."
Without hesitation, Chen Huaixiao bit into a piece of beef and chewed it slowly.
Meanwhile, the barrage in the livestream chat were all clutching at their hearts—
"Ahhh, I can't take it anymore."
"I can feel the flames burning in my throat already."
"Old Chen can even eat this, he must really be in love."
Chen Huaixiao elegantly chewed and then swallowed it down, commenting lightly: "Not bad, nicely charred on the outside and tender on the inside."
After saying so, he eagerly ate another piece, as if it really was very delicious.
Bai Yin's brows furrowed.
Seeing his unchanging expression and steady heartbeat despite showing no signs of being spicy, it was unscientific!
Could the chili powder not be spicy? Or did she sprinkle it wrong?
Curiously, she picked up another beef skewer from the plate and bit off a large chunk, chewing and swallowing it.
In an instant, the spicy flavor rushed to her head, and Bai Yin’s whole face turned red—
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"So spicy, so spicy, so spicy!"
In her fluster, Bai Yin grabbed the teacup beside Chen Huaixiao and gulped down a large mouthful.
Yet she did not expect that the water in Chen Huaixiao's cup was not ordinary tea, but a bowl of salty cola!
Bai Yin directly spit it out.
Seeing that she had fallen for it, Chen Huaixiao finally could not bear it any longer and hurriedly ran to the water dispenser to fill up a cup and started chugging water, appearing to also be unable to withstand the spiciness.
Bai Yin rushed over and grabbed his collar, but she also had no strength left to settle scores with him. She snatched the cup from his hands and frantically drank water and rinsed her mouth.
After this commotion, the two of them had left each other looking disheveled and bedraggled, glaring at one another.
Yet the barrage in the livestream chat was overwhelmed by "Hahahahaha"—
"Mr. Chen's acting is amazing! Big sis Bai was also schemed for a day!"
"Lord Huaixiao practices Seven Injuries Fist*, injures eight hundred and harms himself a thousand. Haha!"
"What is this silly couple?"
"My god, this pair is too cute!"
"I can hardly imagine they interact like this at home too?"
"I actually managed to pick up dog food from their antics!"
"Overdosed, too overdosed!"
"They're so real, a married couple's daily life should be like this!"
...
That night, the program team arranged for the three couples to sit in a tranquil garden house.
Under the host's facilitation, everyone chatted casually about anything and everything.
Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao each had a can of chilled cola, mouths still swollen red and the spicy sensation not yet faded.
When the host brought up the topic of children, the two couples began imagining what names they would give their future children.
Zhang Duo: “It’d be best to have a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, one taking my surname and one taking hers, that would be perfect."
Lin Qianxi: “We could try in vitro fertilization, I also want to have a son and a daughter."
Host: “That would be so ideal."
Yun Moli: “Our future child will definitely have to take our Yun family name.”
Seeking to stir things up, the host glanced meaningfully at Lu Shen: “Does Brother Shen agree too?”
The fleeting displeasure in Lu Shen’s eyes was swiftly masked by a gentle smile. He put his arm around Yun Moli and said with a laugh: “As long as she’s happy, I don’t mind at all, I’m not too concerned with such things.”
Host: “Actor Lu is truly so gentle, Moli is enviable for finding such an understanding good husband.”
Yun Moli’s face was full of smiles: “He always dotes on me like this. Dear, go get me a glass of water."
“Alright.”
As Lu Shen got up to pour water, only Bai Yin noticed that the smile at the corner of his mouth vanished instantly the moment he turned around.
It seems this husband and wife pair were not as...harmonious as they made it appear.
How interesting.
At this time, the host cued Chen Huaixiao and Bai Yin again: “Let’s interview the CEO couple next, what are your thoughts on married life so far? Do you find it fun?”
Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao spoke in unison: “Barely passable.”
After saying this, even the host was taken aback for a moment, not knowing how to respond: “Barely...that’s good too. Then...do you two plan on having children?”
Bai Yin glared at Chen Huaixiao: “He doesn’t want children.”
Chen Huaixiao calmly explained: “It’s not that I don’t want them, just not right now.”
The host was interested and asked: “Why is that?”
“Because she is not ready to be a mother yet.”
This was a topic that Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao had disputed countless times already.
She didn’t want to say another word now, letting Chen Huaixiao do all the talking.
The host persisted in asking: “Then why does Mr. Chen feel that his wife is not ready yet?”
Chen Huaixiao looked at Bai Yin and said earnestly: “Before she can become a good mother, I want her to become the best version of herself first.”
