Even if the King of Heaven himself came, he’d have to pick through it with his chopsticks!
[The grandmothers don’t look too happy. I really want to know what “representative works” the production team showed!]
[Do the grandmothers think the acting is that bad? Why is everyone so serious…]
[OMG! One grandmother just rolled up her sleeves and stood up! What did she see that was so unbearable? So angry she wants to hit someone? (Scary…)]
The four grandmothers had their reading glasses firmly on their noses. They huddled together, covering their microphones, whispering as they discussed something.
The first to rise from her seat was Wen Xuelan, dressed elegantly in sparkling jewelry.
Wen Xuelan, sitting farthest from Chu Xingxing, stood up with a huff and looked around, searching for something.
She strode briskly over to Chu Xingxing: “Xingbao, let me borrow your pen for a moment.”
Chu Xingxing was momentarily stunned before realizing she meant the marker pen in her hand.
“Here you go.” Chu Xingxing handed the pen to Wen Xuelan.
Earlier, the staff had collected everyone’s whiteboards and markers, but they had forgotten to take Chu Xingxing’s.
Wen Xuelan walked over to the screen and said seriously, “Please replay the video we just watched. Pause it when we say stop.”
“Right, play it again.” Sheng Shuwen’s voice was booming, her eyes fixed directly on Director Sun.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and play it.” Ai Minli chimed in as well.
Jiang Yao remained silent but suddenly reached out and held Chu Xingxing’s hand, gently patting it twice as if comforting a child.
Suddenly held by a pair of warm, soft hands, Chu Xingxing turned her head.
In Jiang Yao’s eyes, she saw a flicker of sympathy, and inexplicably, her heart softened.
So this is what it feels like to be doted on?
——-
The staff glanced at Director Sun’s expression and, after receiving permission, replayed the video.
Jiang Changsheng suddenly understood the grandmothers’ intention.
He immediately switched the camera shot to Wen Xuelan and the big screen.
“Stop!”
Wen Xuelan shouted loudly, pointing her pen at a corner of the screen: “Here in the kitchen, that’s Xingbao’s back. Her clothes, shoes, and hairstyle are all the same.”
Grandmother Jiang Yao was still holding Chu Xingxing’s hand and spoke directly to the camera: “Right, our sweetie was clearly washing dishes and tidying up leftovers in the kitchen at this time. So why does the post-production subtitle say ‘Tian Mengtong can’t find Chu Xingxing anymore?’ How does it make it look like our sweetie intentionally shook off her friend to go out and play alone?”
[OMG! The grandmothers are all Sherlock Holmes!]
[So the grandmothers caught the malicious editing! The production team is so disgusting!]
[That’s an eye-opener! Wow, they got caught red-handed with malicious editing!]
“And here…”
Wen Xuelan called for a stop again, pointing to another spot: “Notice the time. It’s around 9:30 PM. Xingxing just sat down to eat, but just now, Tian Mengtong told the camera she hadn’t eaten enough at 9 PM.
Why did your post-production subtitles deliberately guide the audience to think that Xingxing ate Tian Mengtong’s portion of food?”
[OMG! What kind of trashy show is “Bestie’s House”?]
[Wow, so this is where Tian Mengtong’s ‘unlucky best friend’ reputation came from. Feel bad for Chu Xingxing, getting criticized for two years without ever fighting back.]
[Fighting back wouldn’t have helped anyway. But looking at it now, Tian Mengtong is also a victim. Good thing they’re still good friends and their friendship wasn’t affected.]
[Right, right. Tian Mengtong often posts their daily moments on WB. It’s actually pretty cute.]
Just as Wen Xuelan was about to move on, Sheng Shuwen called for another stop.
Grandma Sheng spoke assertively: “And look here! The dish was served in a deep, small bowl, and it was spicy diced chicken. That’s a dish where you basically have to fish for small meat pieces among the peppers. Anyone eating it would have to pick through it with their chopsticks.
What did your subtitles mean by adding ‘Please cultivate good dining etiquette’? Are you implying our Xingxing has no manners? Even if the King of Heaven himself came to eat this dish, he’d have to pick through it!”
[Hilarious! Grandma Sheng is so witty! ‘Even the King of Heaven himself would have to pick through it’ is classic!]
[I remember this part. Chu Xingxing got dragged online back then for being ‘ill-mannered’!]
Ai Minli’s expression was aloof, but her voice was firm and clear: “This is malicious editing. It’s too easy for you people to try and destroy a young person.”
Having navigated the entertainment industry for decades, the grandmothers understood media tricks all too well.
They had all, to varying degrees, experienced having their own words maliciously twisted when they were younger.
Back in the underdeveloped internet age, there was nowhere to go to argue your case.
Grandmother Ai Minli once did an interview. The reporter asked: “How does it feel to receive gifts and letters from fans every day now?”
She replied: “For me, it’s a sweet burden. I’m grateful for the fans’ support. I will read all the letters, but please, don’t buy any more gifts.”
But when the interview aired, her answer became “It’s a burden for me.”
Coupled with Ai Minli’s always aloof demeanor in front of the camera, it directly led to a large number of fans writing letters and calling her workplace to curse her out.
Back then, Ai Minli, who was still with the cultural performance troupe, was severely criticized by her superiors, received a disciplinary warning, and was almost expelled from the troupe due to supposed “character issues.”
—
After this, the live broadcast of “Grandma’s Journey” pilot episode was paused for over ten minutes.
This time, Jiang Changsheng didn’t intervene.
The grandmothers’ brilliant exposé had already been broadcast live, which could help clear Chu Xingxing of the unfounded accusations from the previous bestie variety show.
Of course, there was still a long way to go for complete “rehabilitation.”
After all, “Grandmas Go Traveling” has a limited audience, and Chu Xingxing has no established fan base. But even reducing the amount of criticism she faces would be good.
For the current start, Agent Jiang was already quite satisfied.
—
The grandmothers, having lived for sixty or seventy years, had seen it all. They were all old foxes; trying to play tricks on them was pointless.
After this round of pointed remarks, Director Sun was forced to step forward and apologize to Chu Xingxing on behalf of the production team.
“An intern used the wrong clip. We will issue another apology on our official blog later. We’re truly sorry.”
Director Sun never stuck his neck out when he was in the wrong; his attitude in admitting fault was very sincere.
He also vowed to fire the “intern” and promised to manage the team more strictly in the future.
Seeing that the production team’s attitude was acceptable, the grandmothers agreed to continue recording for the time being.
—
Over ten minutes later, the “Grandmas Go Traveling” live stream resumed.
Chu Xingxing and the grandmothers continued with the interview segment.
Jiang Changsheng, whose phone was still live streaming, noticed that the number of viewers in the stream had inexplicably doubled.
It had gone from one or two hundred people to over five hundred.
He found the answer in the bullet comments:
[Came here from the “Bestie’s House” super topic. Not a fan of anyone, but I felt the editing was off when I watched that show. Came specifically to support Chu Xingxing!]
[Stupid production team, come out and take your beating! Making a beautiful woman suffer this kind of injustice should be punishable by drowning in a pig cage!]
[New face fan here to show support. Hope this young lady’s career gets better and better!]
[Totally charmed by the four Sherlock Holmes grandmas. The grandmas are so cool!]
[“Little Porter” and the grandmas totally made my day. The grandmas are so assertive, I love it!]
Some concerned viewers, wanting to stand up for what’s right, posted screen recordings of the grandmothers tearing apart the malicious editing into the “Bestie’s House” super topic and even tagged the show’s official account.
Although that show had ended two years ago and the super topic wasn’t very active, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse. There were still many fans keen on digging up the past who would browse through it.
—
The pilot episode recording only had two final segments left.
One was selecting the first travel destination by throwing darts.
The last segment was a staple of all current live variety shows – fan call-in connections.
During the connection, fans are allowed to ask the guests one question, and at the end, they receive some show merchandise as a thank-you for their support.
Staff pushed the props onto the stage. Different areas corresponded to different numbers, and behind the numbered cardboard were different travel destinations.
“Please choose a representative to throw the darts. You have five chances. If you hit the bullseye all five times, we’ll upgrade your travel standards.”
The grandmothers looked a bit troubled.
They rarely engaged in sports like darts, and at their age, their hands shook a bit.
“I’ll do it.” Chu Xingxing stepped forward voluntarily.
Since she was the “porter,” she felt a responsibility and duty to make the grandmas’ trip more comfortable.
Although she had never played darts before, Chu Xingxing, known as a sharpshooter in the suicide squad, thought the principle was similar to shooting.
“Xingxing, do you know how to play darts?” Jiang Yao asked.
“I haven’t played before. This would be my first time. Let me give it a try.” Chu Xingxing took the opportunity to ask the production team: “Can I do a practice round first?”
Having just been confronted, the production team was much more subdued now.
Director Sun looked at the slender and seemingly delicate Chu Xingxing and nodded. “Okay.”
Chu Xingxing took a dart and stood behind a line the production team had drawn.
She straightened her back, used her elbow as a “stabilizer,” and aimed at the bullseye with both eyes, estimating the landing point.
Then, she threw the dart in a manner similar to tossing a paper airplane…
The whole sequence of movements was naturally smooth and very crisp.
The dart “whooshed” through the air.
It landed firmly on the outer edge of the bullseye!
Just a tiny bit away from the exact center!
“F-first… first time trying?”
Director Sun smiled awkwardly. Bullshit…
“Does this count as the center? Does this count here?” The most lively grandmother, Jiang Yao, excitedly asked the production team.
Initially, the production team had said the outer ring of the bullseye counted.
But now, Director Sun clearly didn’t want the guests to win too easily, immediately stating that it didn’t count, that it had to be exactly in the center to count.
“That’s way too hard!” Jiang Yao instantly deflated.
Chu Xingxing watched Grandmother Jiang Yao, whose expression changed as quickly as a little baby’s, found it incredibly endearing, and quickly went over to comfort her: “Grandma Jiang, don’t worry. I can do it.”
“Really? Sweetie can really do it?”
After receiving an affirmative answer from Chu Xingxing, Jiang Yao perked up again and started acting as Chu Xingxing’s cheerleader on the side.
Chu Xingxing undid the cuffs of her shirt dress, rolling up the sleeves to reveal her slender, fair arms, preparing to try again.
Suddenly, a clear knock sounded on the conference room door.
Wen Xuelan happened to be standing closest to the door and pulled it open directly, muttering, “Who is it? So unreliable? Can’t you see we’re recording a show he…”
The moment the door opened, Wen Xuelan instantly shut her mouth.
She froze for a few seconds, then squeezed out a slightly ingratiating smile: “Son?”
Wen Han stood at the door, dressed in a light gray casual shirt and off-white linen casual pants.
His sleeves were casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing the distinct muscle lines of his forearms.
“Mom?”
Wen Han looked at his own mother with confusion, then glanced at the others in the room.
Finally, he spoke with a somewhat uncertain tone: “Um… is this the recording site for ‘Happy Fitness for You and Me’?”
