Star Baby, look! These two are fighting…
Jiang Changsheng knew his limits and understood he couldn’t stop Chu Xingxing.
To avoid disrupting the live stream, he first retreated behind the scenes. Instead of going straight back to the hotel, he stayed with the on-set director to shadow Chu Xingxing’s group.
Shadowing a shoot is tiring, tedious grunt work. For the celebrities present, the highest-ranking staff member following along was usually just a senior assistant. No one had ever seen an actual agent do the grunt work themselves.
And yet, here was Jiang Changsheng, the young master of CBM Entertainment. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, and an all-black luxury designer outfit, his height, aura, and looks were completely on par with any star.
He didn’t just draw frequent glances from the staff and guests of both production crews; even local girls shopping in the supermarket thought they’d spotted an unknown Asian idol. They snapped photos on the sly, and a few bold teenagers even came up asking for autographs.
Jiang Changsheng offered a flat, simple explanation in English, raised a hand to block one girl’s camera lens, and then strode off, following right behind Chu Xingxing’s cameraman.
He utterly, completely broke those foreign girls’ hearts.
Inside Tesco Supermarket – Fruit Section
Chu Xingxing had already picked up all the necessary items and reached the checkout five minutes ahead of schedule.
The grandmothers, having gotten a bit too carried away shopping, were uncharacteristically late for the designated meet-up time.
Over ten minutes later, Wen Han finally arrived at the meeting point with a cart piled high. It was filled with all sorts of tropical fruit-shaped soaps, scented candles, fir wood carvings, fruit acid face masks, body lotions… and a mountain of other tourist souvenirs.
The grandmothers crowded around, talking over each other, eager to show their “good grandchild” their shopping haul.
“Did we stay within budget?” Wen Han shook his head, a helpless smile on his face.
“Absolutely! You all picked such great things!” Chu Xingxing exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm, shooting Wen Han a look that said don’t say a word. “These souvenirs are so much cheaper than buying them at tourist spots outside. Plus, the quality in the supermarket is better and more reliable. Seriously, great job!”
Chu Xingxing had done her homework. These little trinkets in large supermarkets were generally at least thirty percent cheaper than identical souvenirs at tourist traps.
Better to buy everything in one go at the supermarket than overpay at some roadside stall.
It was a way to save money, after all.
“Huh? Isn’t that… that young man from before?” Grandma Sheng Shuwen spotted a familiar figure and tilted her head, asking Chu Xingxing.
Chu Xingxing nodded. “My agent is here.”
Jiang Yao also noticed Jiang Changsheng, who stuck out like a sore thumb. He chuckled. “Hey, that young fellow’s not bad. Diligent and responsible. I haven’t seen any other agents tag along like this.”
“Why do I get the feeling he’s not just here to work? More like he’s keeping an eye on someone?” Ai Minli murmured quietly, having seen him too.
“He looks much more handsome with black hair. Still not as good as our Xiao Nuan though,” Ms. Wen Xuelan finished her assessment, patting Wen Han’s arm and giving him a look loaded with meaning.
Wen Han just shook his head and chuckled softly. He’d spotted Jiang Changsheng too.
But in Wen Han’s eyes, Jiang Changsheng was just a kid. He didn’t take him seriously at all.
[Comments exploded with laughter. The grandmas are such gossips!]
[Hahaha, do the old babies feel like there’s a new person in the village?]
[Ms. Wen Xuelan is killing me. She’s basically admitting Chu Xingxing’s agent must be really handsome, otherwise why would she feel so threatened?]
[Hey, cameraman? Can we slip you a digital red packet to make that agent show his face for a second?]
[The less we see, the more curious we get! Is Xingxing’s agent really that good-looking?]
Feeling intensely uncomfortable under the grandmothers’ sharp gazes, Jiang Changsheng silently tugged the brim of his cap lower.
Young Master Jiang rubbed his temples, trying to ease the fatigue of the long journey. He grumbled internally: If it weren’t for you guys insisting on going to that damn Idol 101 restaurant, I wouldn’t bother tagging along…
——-
You really had to hand it to the production team for stirring up drama.
Just as Chu Xingxing’s group was checking out, the cast of Let’s Travel Together finished their shopping too, lining up at the register right next to theirs.
The contrast was brutal.
Chu Xingxing and her group were loading the conveyor belt with organic milk, certified-safe raw eggs, assorted artisan breads, smoked bacon, pure meat sausages, fresh, vibrant ears of fruit corn, piles of fruits and vegetables, organic yogurt, granola—all premium breakfast ingredients.
There were also all sorts of local specialty snacks and dried fruit. The scene looked like a kid from a wealthy family packing for a spring outing.
Meanwhile, on the conveyor belt for the Let’s Travel Together cast, it was almost entirely cheap instant noodles, soda crackers, and a few suspiciously large… sausages?
The sausages had little stickers on them—some cows, some chickens—to indicate the flavor.
It was Tian Mengtong who had put those giant sausages in the cart.
Staring at the cart full of instant noodles, Tian Mengtong had zero appetite. Still rattled from being “reported” for sneaking food earlier and worried Jiang Changan’s attempt to get them a special meal might fail, she’d wandered the aisles and stumbled upon these incredibly cheap sausages.
As a meat lover, Tian Mengtong was thrilled by the sheer size of them.
The packaging was in the local T-language with very small English text. Tian Mengtong managed to decipher “beef” and “chicken,” figuring out they were beef and chicken sausages. And the label claimed eighty percent meat content!
Wow!
One of these was so huge you couldn’t even finish it in a single meal! Impossible to finish!
Determined to maintain her sweet, considerate image, Tian Mengtong magnanimously recommended the sausages to Little Bear and Su Wei, who were browsing nearby.
The two grown men could barely believe it. A sausage as thick as a child’s arm for only about seven yuan?
They immediately decided to spend the rest of their food budget on these sausages.
The cameraman following them only focused on the people, never getting a clear shot of the price tags. Besides, they were just incomprehensible scribbles anyway.
The price did shock the viewers, though—
[Such a huge sausage for so cheap! Wow!]
[Tongtong is such a smart shopper! Who says rich girls can’t be thrifty?]
[So impressed by Tongbao’s eagle eyes! Finding such a bargain sausage, Tongtong baby is a lifesaver!]
——-
At the Checkout Counters
Cashiers on both sides were efficiently scanning items with sharp beeps.
The Grandma’s Journey budget was managed by Chu Xingxing.
Since they’d bought so much, Chu Xingxing and Wen Han were still loading items onto the belt at the back, while the grandmothers, armed with Ai Minli’s reusable bags, had already started bagging everything at the other end.
The two worked quickly, piling goods high on the belt.
Bored while waiting, Chu Xingxing glanced curiously at the Let’s Travel Together conveyor belt next to them.
Her brow furrowed when she saw the pile of sausages. She then scanned the other show’s large, chaotic group of eleven people for a familiar face.
Finally, she spotted Cookie at the very back of the line, idly playing on her phone, looking bored out of her mind.
“Ahem…” Chu Xingxing cleared her throat quietly and pulled out her own phone to send Cookie a WeChat message.
Some things weren’t her place to say out loud.
But this was a perfect chance for Cookie to win over the audience.
Cookie stared at her phone for a second, frozen. Then she stood on her tiptoes and looked at the giant sausages tumbling along the conveyor belt…
“No!” Cookie shrieked, lunging forward and practically sprawling across the belt to snatch a sausage right out of the cashier’s hand just as it was about to be scanned.
Tian Mengtong stepped back, eyes wide. “What are you doing?! Just because you don’t want any doesn’t mean we can’t buy them! We’re about to be stranded on a deserted island. Food is scarce! This sausage is cheap and packed with protein. It’ll give us energy. If you won’t eat it, we will!”
Tian Mengtong sounded completely righteous. Even Little Bear and Su Wei sided with her.
“Yeah, Cookie, don’t throw a tantrum just because you’re the youngest,” Su Wei said, reaching to grab the sausage back.
“Sorry, sorry… go on, go on!” Little Bear apologized to the cashier, motioning for him to continue scanning the rest of the sausages.
“P-people… people can’t eat this! It’s not for people!” Cookie’s Mandarin stumbled as panic set in.
Worried no one would understand English, her face flushed red as she clutched the sausage, desperately trying to explain. “Look, look here! It says right here: ‘feeding guidelines, puppy weight and puppy age in months’… Dog weight, dog age… this is for dogs!”
Cookie had lived in T-country for three years with her diplomat father and could read the local language.
The front of the pet sausage packaging clearly stated “Dog Food” in the local T-language.
The back provided clear English instructions on how to feed it to dogs.
The bewildered cashier finally understood what was happening. Using gestures and broken English, he tried to explain to the cast: “No human eat! Woof woof eat!”
Everyone understood that perfectly, including the audience watching at home.
[Hahahaha! I’m begging you, is Tian Mengtong still trying to push that “top student” image? She couldn’t read this?]
[Toe-curlingly awkward. This is so embarrassing.]
[Thank goodness Cookie caught it, or these people would’ve taken dog food to a deserted island for survival. Wait, actually, watching them try to survive with dog food sounds hilarious too, hahaha!]
[I’m dying! If Cookie hadn’t noticed, they’d literally be eating dog food. Hahahaha.]
Of course, Tian Mengtong’s fans couldn’t just sit back and watch their idol get mocked. They leaped to her defense—
[Tongtong has never claimed to be a top student! Don’t believe those marketing accounts! We’ll sue for defamation!]
[Tian Mengtong obviously didn’t see the small print on the back. I found this exact pet sausage on Taobao, and the English is only in tiny letters on the reverse side. Most people would just glance at it. Is that really worth mocking?]
[Tongbao meant well! Why are you being so mean to a kind-hearted, beautiful girl? Sounds like jealousy to me!]
But counter-comments quickly followed from other viewers—
[I screen-recorded it! Your Tongtong flipped the sausage over and stared at the back for a good ten seconds. She even nodded at the camera and said ‘eighty percent meat.’ You’re telling me she didn’t see the back?]
[Hilarious. Just admit her English isn’t great. It’s not a big deal. Nobody would laugh at her for that.]
[This is trying to have it both ways. (I’m not naming names, no need to send me a lawyer’s letter).]
“This is really misleading. Anyone could miss it at first glance,” Jiang Changan said casually, picking up one of the sausages and defending Tian Mengtong.
Tian Mengtong shot him a grateful look, biting her lip.
Cookie, wearing an apologetic smile, spoke to the cashier in the local T-language, explaining that their friend had misunderstood the label.
T-people are generally laid-back and easygoing. The young cashier just grinned and said it was no problem.
He and Cookie placed the remaining sausages into a separate shopping basket, away from the other items.
Cookie’s gracious handling of the situation made her immensely popular with viewers.
[Cookie is so cool! She speaks T-language!]
[She’s so young but has such high emotional intelligence. So mature and well-behaved. What a sweetheart!]
[Ah, my darling daughter Cookie! Her voice sounded so sweet and soft speaking T-language, and her English is beautiful. I heard she also speaks French and Spanish! Truly talented!]
[Who doesn’t love a sweet, well-behaved girl? I’m totally a Cookie fan now!]
[I’m kinda looking forward to the results of Cookie’s audition for Shining Flower. The official account said they’d announce it in a few days. I really hope she gets it!]
[Me too! Even though her competition is Tian Mengtong and the chances might be slim, I’d love to see more of sweet little Cookie on TV.]
Back at Chu Xingxing’s checkout, the cashier had finished scanning all their items.
They finished paying just before 8 PM.
The grandmothers had expended quite a bit of energy and were getting hungry.
The group headed straight for the “Idol 101” restaurant.
Many of the items they’d bought at the supermarket needed refrigeration. In the tropical heat, leaving them in the car for an hour or two would definitely spoil them.
Wen Han, acting as the designated pack mule, offered to drive the groceries back to the villa first and then rejoin them.
Chu Xingxing would take the grandmothers to order food first.
By the time they’d ordered and the dishes started arriving, Wen Han would likely be back.
Everyone agreed to the plan. Wen Han dropped the five ladies off at the restaurant and headed straight for the villa.
As soon as they got out of the car, before the grandmothers could even properly admire the row of life-sized cardboard cutouts out front—each one a “walking advertisement” boasting a chiseled six-pack—they linked arms and made a beeline for the restrooms, clearly in a hurry.
Since they hadn’t notified the restaurant in advance about filming, the maître d’ was a bit taken aback by the sudden influx of cameramen and production crew.
The director of Grandma’s Journey had to pause the shoot and go negotiate filming permissions with the restaurant manager.
Seizing the moment when the cameras weren’t rolling, Jiang Changsheng pulled Chu Xingxing aside to a shaded spot near the main entrance.
“There were cameras in the supermarket. Some things weren’t convenient to say there.”
Jiang Changsheng deliberately positioned himself to block Chu Xingxing’s view, shielding her from the lineup of “wild” men, even if they were just cardboard cutouts… that simply wouldn’t do.
Leaning one hand against the wall, he looked down at her. His cold tone was a deliberate attempt to mask the youthful tremor in his voice—the one she’d once teased him about. “I told you as soon as I landed that I had good news. Aren’t you even curious?”
Anxious to get back to the entrance and wait for the grandmothers—terrified they’d come back and find her missing—Chu Xingxing played along. “Curious? Of course I’m curious! Tell me, oh great Agent Jiang! I hate riddles!”
“Well, there’s more than one piece of good news…”
A boyish grin finally crept onto Jiang Changsheng’s face, revealing two small dimples. His tone relaxed slightly. “First, the start date for Shining Flower is confirmed. You’ll join the production as soon as this trip ends.
Second, I snatched the endorsement for Vila’s sportswear line right from under Xiao Xiang’s nose. Chen Dong is a sneaky bastard, somehow managed to get his team to back Tian Mengtong. But no worries, Vila’s heir is my senior from school. He’ll do me this favor.
There’s also a small supporting role in a patriotic film dedicated to the nation. They need an actress who can handle action scenes without a stunt double. I’ve secured an audition for you. If all goes well, it can be scheduled before our second trip.
And lastly, Saci has extended an olive branch. They’re interested in you as a potential global ambassador. Specifically, this is the personal decision of the designer and brand founder, Jiang Luoze. However, Saci has investors and shareholders, so it’s still under discussion.
Until there’s an official announcement from Saci, don’t take it as a done deal. I’m just telling you this as market validation—another piece of good news.”
Chu Xingxing listened carefully, then looked up at Jiang Changsheng.
This “spoiled rich kid” was proving to be more mature than she’d given him credit for. She was genuinely impressed.
“What?” Jiang Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his jawline sharp, and tilted his head to meet her eyes. “Teacher Chu isn’t satisfied?”
“Satisfied, satisfied,” Chu Xingxing replied, looking away with a smile and nodding. “Thank you for the resources, Agent Jiang. I’ll work hard. I won’t let you down.”
“That’s more like it,” Jiang Changsheng said with a light laugh, turning his head away.
Being praised, even a little, had actually made him shy.
But as he turned, he caught a whiff of a sweet, fruity fragrance that only made him feel more flustered.
“Oh, by the way…”
Chu Xingxing peeked towards the entrance. Seeing the grandmothers still hadn’t emerged from the restroom, she remembered something she needed to ask. “So, the start date for my role in Shining Flower is set… what about Cookie? Did her audition pan out? I noticed the official account still hasn’t announced the final casting for the hip-hop girl character.”
Chu Xingxing had been thinking about this.
Cookie’s performance that day had been stunning. She was far better suited for the rapping street dancer role than Tian Mengtong.
She knew Cookie wouldn’t say it out loud, but she must be incredibly anxious, desperately hoping for an answer.
Jiang Changsheng replied flatly, “From what I’ve heard, Director Wang Yang was leaning towards using Cookie, but it seems Uncle Xiang managed to sway them in the end. The producers pressured him, so Wang will probably go with Tian Mengtong.”
Lately, Jiang Changsheng had already noticed marketing accounts and paid commenters starting to hype Tian Mengtong’s involvement in Shining Flower.
There were also numerous posts and short videos praising Tian Mengtong’s acting skills.
He’d held onto the secretly filmed footage from Chen Dong’s audition mainly to protect Chu Xingxing’s interests.
He didn’t care about anyone else, as long as his artist got the part.
“Oh…” Chu Xingxing paused, thinking. Then she asked earnestly, “Is there any way to still fight for Cookie?”
“She’s not my artist. Why should I care?” Jiang Changsheng scoffed, shrugging indifferently.
“Agent Jiang! How can you say Cookie isn’t your artist?!” Chu Xingxing’s tone was exaggeratedly shocked.
Jiang Changsheng laughed in exasperation. “Damn it. You’re the only one who’s mine…”
“Young Master Jiang, Cookie is the main dancer of JAM, the girl group that debuted from CBM Entertainment’s flagship talent show. In terms of popularity, fanbase, and commercial potential, Cookie is a valuable asset.
One day, all of CBM Entertainment will be yours. Since Cookie is, like me, an artist under the company’s umbrella, how is she not your artist? We’re all your artists, okay? You need to think about what’s best for the company, young master. Consider who playing this role will bring the greatest benefit to CBM. And besides… you don’t want to keep being overshadowed by Xiao Xiang, do you?”
Chu Xingxing delivered this little speech with a look of earnest concern, like she truly had his best interests at heart.
Jiang Changsheng fell silent.
She was right. Especially the part about Xiao Xiang.
His brother’s good relationship with Uncle Xiang was one thing. Company interests were another.
Uncle Xiang would have to be dealt with eventually. Keeping him around would only lead to bigger trouble down the line. Might as well strike while the iron was hot and knock Xiao Xiang down a peg.
“Director Wang and the producers haven’t definitively said ‘Tian Mengtong or bust,'” Jiang Changsheng said, feigning nonchalance. “I’ll look into the specifics when I have a moment.”
“Thank you, Agent Jiang! See? A man who takes his work seriously is just more attractive. You’re looking even more handsome, kid.”
Hoping to secure a role for little Cookie, Chu Xingxing laid the flattery on thick for once.
“Don’t call me ‘kid,'”
Jiang Changsheng fumed, then suddenly changed tack, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Speaking of which, Wen Han knows Director Wang well. They’re old classmates. Why don’t you just ask Wen Han to talk to Wang about Cookie for you?”
Chu Xingxing’s response was immediate and indignant, her cheeks puffing out. “Wen Han isn’t my agent! Why would I go to him for work-related matters?”
Clearly, that answer pleased Jiang Changsheng immensely.
The young master tilted his chin up arrogantly. “Good you know that. From now on, you come to me first for everything, got it? I’m the only one who truly has your back. Everyone else is just an amateur…”
“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right!” Chu Xingxing stifled a laugh and gave him a thumbs-up.
——-
After much discussion involving the Grandma’s Journey director and a translator, the restaurant manager finally agreed to allow filming. It was, after all, good publicity for the restaurant and its affiliated trainee company. Who knew, it might even open up vast overseas markets.
Even though she’d braced herself, Chu Xingxing was still deeply awestruck when she finally walked into “Idol 101,” arm-in-arm with the grandmothers.
Seriously, with all these… well, beautiful bodies—pretty-faced young idols, edgy heartthrobs, gentle Euro-American types—and handsome faces and bright smiles everywhere…
Even the waiters were all uniformly handsome and at least 185 cm tall, with impeccable service…
Who wouldn’t be mesmerized by a place like this?
While Chu Xingxing had no particular worldly desires, being surrounded by so many beautiful people naturally lifted her spirits sky-high.
The grandmothers went from shyly nudging each other and sneaking peeks to openly admiring the young men after being greeted so warmly. They were all beaming from ear to ear.
Even the usually aloof Ai Minli cracked a rare, genuine smile when a trainee with a cute, Japanese-style aesthetic showed her his Kuromi collection on his phone.
[Ahhh! So many beautiful faces, I’m completely dazzled!]
[I can’t even pick a favorite! I love them all!]
[Seriously, maybe domestic idols are just put on too high a pedestal. These foreign ones are so down-to-earth. This fangirl is shedding tears of pure jealousy!]
Once they’d ordered, both Chu Xingxing’s phone and Grandma Sheng Shuwen’s smartwatch buzzed simultaneously with a reminder.
Chu Xingxing pulled a bottle of room-temperature water and a small packet of assorted pills from her bag.
Having promised Sheng Luzhi she’d look after his grandmother, she’d set up daily reminders specifically to ensure Grandma Sheng didn’t forget her medication.
“Grandma Sheng, time for your health supplements,” Chu Xingxing said, handing the sealed packet and water across the table to Sheng Shuwen.
Remembering Sheng Luzhi’s request, she deliberately avoided using the word “medicine.”
“Oh my, I thought I’d forgotten them!”
Sheng Shuwen dismissed the watch alarm, her eyes wide with pleasant surprise. “How did Xingxing know it was time for my supplements?”
Chu Xingxing smiled. “Sheng Luzhi gave them to me. You were in the restroom at the airport this morning. He was really worried about you and kept reminding me to take good care of you.”
“I see…” Sheng Shuwen unscrewed the water bottle, took a sip, and gave a mysterious little smile. “So, Xingxing, you’ve met our A-Zhi? Tell me, isn’t our A-Zhi handsome? And he’s still single, you know.”
With that, Sheng Shuwen held her smartwatch up to Chu Xingxing’s ear and replayed the voice reminder.
“Old lady, remember to take your supplements today.”
A magnetic, pleasant male voice sounded right next to Chu Xingxing’s ear.
Perhaps because the watch was so close, the voice carried a slight vibration, like a feather lightly tickling her earlobe. It was both ticklish and strangely unsettling.
Chu Xingxing shivered involuntarily and instinctively pulled away from the watch.
Sheng Luzhi’s voice was so pleasing it was disconcerting.
Just then, Wen Han returned. He slid into the chair next to Chu Xingxing with a laugh. “What’s this? Is Grandma showing off my little nephew Sheng Luzhi’s custom voice reminder again?”
“Always trying to take advantage of our A-Zhi,” Grandma Sheng chuckled, patting Wen Han’s head. “Xiao Nuan is only a year older than A-Zhi, yet he really acts like he’s his little uncle.”
She turned to Wen Xuelan. “You need to discipline your son.”
Wen Xuelan, thoroughly enjoying the drama, held up her hands. “Big sister, this is out of my hands. Sheng Luzhi and Wen Han have been fighting over this since they were three years old. It’s been over twenty years. But the generational hierarchy is clear. Our Xiao Nuan’s seniority is indisputable. A-Zhi really should be calling him ‘Little Uncle’.”
[Help! I think I have a problem. I’m suddenly shipping Wen Han (the Little Uncle) and Sheng Luzhi (the Little Nephew)? Is this… pseudo-incest? /shivers]
[Hahaha, I’m going to hell! OP commenter, what kind of crack ship is this?!]
[LOL! It’s clearly Grandma Sheng and Ms. Wen Xuelan playfully squabbling over their own grandson/son! How did you guys start shipping them???]
[I don’t care! Let my daughter Xingxing shine alone! No man in the world is good enough for her! P.S. I can accept Cookie though (gently)]
[I’m on board the Clumsy Beauty Cookie x Cool Sweet Unnie Xingxing train too! Their friendship arc is so shippable!]
The viewers were having a field day in the comments, throwing all sorts of couple pairings into the mix.
Just then, the food at “Idol 101” started arriving.
In the hot, humid tropical climate, nothing hit the spot quite like the local sour and spicy cuisine.
Fist-sized shrimp balls bobbed in a bright red seafood broth. Just the aroma of that tangy, spicy goodness was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.
Mantis shrimp as big as forearms, each one bursting with roe. Half were served raw-marinated, half were salt-and-pepper style.
The raw-marinated shrimp was like a savory, umami-packed, sweet jelly. A single slurp was pure bliss.
The salt-and-pepper shrimp shells had been pre-cut. You could practically devour the shells along with a few mouthfuls of rice, let alone the intensely flavorful roe and the sweet, tender, springy meat.
The largest mud crabs were prepared two ways: one with black pepper and garlic, the other with traditional curry.
After demolishing the rich, succulent crab meat, the leftover black pepper sauce or fragrant curry was perfect for mixing with rice or dipping the golden and silver fried mantou buns.
Small green lobsters, compared to giant Australian ones, were actually more delicate, tender, and sweet. Steaming them plain preserved their natural flavor best.
Crispy, paper-thin five-spice roasted suckling pig, its fat perfectly rendered. Dipped in a slightly sweet, savory soy paste to cut the richness, then wrapped in a chewy lotus leaf bun… one bite transported you straight to happy hour.
Even seemingly simple dishes like pineapple fried rice, seafood instant noodles, and stir-fried squid with flat rice noodles were bursting with wok hei—that elusive breath of the wok—yet not at all greasy. They were flavorful without overshadowing the main courses, making them the perfect accompaniments.
Dish after dish of local specialties covered the table. Chu Xingxing and the grandmothers dug in with gusto, too busy eating to even describe the food.
Even Wen Han, usually strict about his physique, threw his “fitness enthusiast” principles out the window. Faced with this feast of fresh seafood, his only reaction was: Come to papa! He devoured everything.
There was a one-hour time difference between T-country and home. Back home, it was just past 9 PM—that awkward gap after dinner but before late-night snacks.
The viewers in the livestream were suffering—
[Does anyone realize it’s 9:20 PM here right now?! Wuwuwu, I’m dying of food envy!]
[I strongly advise against Xingxing and the grandmas eating so much seafood. It’s a health risk, and more importantly, it’s making me green with envy…]
[Wuwuwu, I have zero resistance to arm-sized mantis shrimp. Is there a Price Hero here to crush my dreams?]
[Price Hero here! Mantis shrimp is about 40 RMB per kilogram. Note, that’s per KILO, which is two jin back home…]
[Can someone please describe the texture of that raw-marinated crab? I’m literally drooling like a child!]
[I just checked my fridge. The only thing I could possibly ‘raw-marinate’ is a cucumber…]
[That roasted suckling pig, wuwuwu! I can practically hear how crispy the skin is! (Covers mouth)]
Dessert arrived: classic mango sticky rice, coconut pudding ice cream, and a complimentary tropical fruit platter.
Slices of golden mango, each almost twice the size of an adult’s palm, were pure sweetness, arranged elegantly. They were served alongside white sticky rice and pandan-infused pale green sticky rice, drizzled with a slightly salty coconut cream and sprinkled with crunchy toasted mung beans.
One bite of the mango was like a burst of silky, fiberless juice—more like drinking mango nectar.
The pandan-scented green sticky rice had a unique, refreshing fragrance. Eaten together with the coconut cream and mango, it was soft, sticky, sweet, and unforgettable.
The coconut pudding ice cream was served in a real coconut shell. The ice cream itself had a refreshing, icy sorbet-like texture with a hint of milkiness, but the dominant flavor was rich, fragrant coconut.
Fresh coconut meat, naturally sweet, was sculpted into a cute rose shape. Eating it with the ice cream sent dopamine levels through the roof. The joy of delicious food was just that simple.
Even the fruit platter, which might have seemed ordinary by comparison, was stunning.
Seedless watermelon was icy, crisp, and sweet. Fragrant mini-pineapples were sweet with zero fibrous texture. Honeydew melon was rich and tender. Persimmons were crisp and sweet, like candied apples. Sugar-coated guava had a unique fragrance. Wax apples were cool and refreshingly sweet…
[Ahhh! I could gnaw on that mango pit for another hour!]
[This coconut lover has gone crazy! I’m ready to buy a plane ticket just for that coconut meat ice cream!]
[Why does every single fruit look so tempting?! How is a person supposed to live like this?!]
[I accidentally caught a glimpse of the neighboring table’s bill. They had four more people than Xingxing’s group and ordered even more food and seafood, and the total came out to less than 900 RMB!]
[Pure envy. I’m tired of saying it…]
At that very moment, across the street from the “Idol 101” restaurant, inside a youth hostel…
The entire cast of Let’s Travel Together was seated on the rooftop terrace, each holding a bowl of instant noodles—sans egg, sans sausage, sans pickled vegetables. They were perched on tiny folding stools.
Listening to the lively music drifting from the restaurant across the way and smelling the tantalizing aromas of cooking food, they forced down mouthfuls of bland noodles.
For everyone on Let’s Travel Together, it was shaping up to be a very long, sleepless night…
Especially for Tian Mengtong.
She’d already resigned herself to sneaking out with Jiang Changan for that raw-marinated seafood feast once the livestream ended.
But unexpectedly, Cookie had undergone a complete personality shift. She was suddenly clinging to Tian Mengtong like superglue.
Wherever Tian Mengtong went, Cookie followed like a little shadow. Even to the bathroom or the showers.
What shocked Tian Mengtong even more was that after Cookie chose her bunk, she’d pushed Tian Mengtong’s single bed all the way to the far corner of the room.
Then, Cookie had shoved her own bed right up against Tian Mengtong’s, effectively creating one giant “double bed”???
Tian Mengtong’s face was a mask of utter bewilderment. TianMengtong.exe has stopped working.
Wait a minute, she thought. Aren’t Cookie and I supposed to be rivals?
Meanwhile, Cookie was loudly proclaiming she was going to be Tian Mengtong’s “bodyguard” and protect Miss Tian!
Tian Mengtong internally screamed: Who the hell asked for protection?!
I don’t want this!!
Argh!!!
Inside the “Idol 101” Restaurant
For Chu Xingxing and the grandmothers, this magnificent seafood dinner was merely a simple appetizer.
After eating their fill, they leisurely enjoyed their desserts and fruit while watching the trainees’ live, fully-vocal dance performances.
Objectively speaking, the local trainees’ stage presence and skill were on par with, if not better than, many popular domestic idols. Their singing and dancing clearly showed professional training.
The atmosphere was electric. Even while the main stage performance continued, many diners were already on their feet, swaying to the music.
Chu Xingxing’s table, however, stood out distinctly.
Some grandmothers had also stood up, but their “swaying” motions… were a bit unique.
With the lights focused on the main stage, most of the restaurant was relatively dim.
Grandma Ai Minli stood with her hands on her hips, gently rotating her hips.
Then, she began activating her joints, performing a few lateral slides and backward steps.
The movements weren’t large; it was mostly stretching and loosening up.
“Grandma Ai, what are you doing…?” Chu Xingxing asked curiously.
Ai Minli replied, “This is my own post-meal digestion exercise. After eating so much just now, doing ten minutes of gentle stretches after a meal prevents bloating, aids digestion, and works better than any antacid.”
Chu Xingxing remembered seeing Ai Minli eat plenty just moments ago!
And then she looked at the seventy-year-old’s still-slender waist and toned arms…
Dang, she was convinced. This exercise was the real deal!!!
So, Chu Xingxing discreetly stood up too and mimicked Ai Minli’s gentle ten-minute post-meal routine.
Over on the other side, Grandma Sheng Shuwen was also starting to move.
Feeling she had to try everything, Chu Xingxing also learned a finger massage routine from Grandma Sheng.
It involved locating specific acupressure points on the fingers, massaging each point for one minute, alternating between hands.
Amazingly, whether it was Ai Minli’s post-meal stretches or Sheng Shuwen’s acupressure massage—or the combination of both—Chu Xingxing felt the uncomfortable fullness in her stomach significantly decrease. The overstuffed feeling quickly subsided, replaced by the illusion she could even manage a bit more fruit to “fill the cracks.”
However, the grandmothers wouldn’t let her eat more fruit. Instead, they brewed her a very weak cup of hawthorn and tangerine peel tea.
Chu Xingxing wasn’t the only one who found it effective. Viewers in the comments also shared their experiences—
[Whoa, I was just overstuffed and tried it randomly. I actually feel less bloated!]
[I overate this afternoon and felt chilled this evening. Everything felt stuck in my chest, and I had a headache. I followed Grandma Sheng’s acupressure massage for about seven or eight minutes, and now my chest doesn’t feel tight, and my headache’s gone! It’s amazing! Use some pressure when massaging, ladies. If your fingertips get tired, use your knuckles!]
[Tested and confirmed. I’ve been overstuffed for half an hour, and now I’m finally starting to burp!]
[I did Grandma Ai Minli’s digestion routine. I usually get bloated after almost every meal, but today—miraculously—no bloating! Begging Grandma Ai to do it again! The lighting was too dim, I missed a bunch of moves, wuwuwu!]
[My experience is different. I wasn’t overstuffed, but after doing Grandma Ai’s routine… I’m currently on the toilet. /forced smile]
[Link for that hawthorn and tangerine peel tea, please!]
[I’m just living in this livestream now. Watching Xingxing and the grandmas makes me so happy, and I’m learning so many great health and wellness tips!]
The head director, monitoring the constantly updating backend data, could barely believe his eyes.
Grandma’s Journey, this obscure little variety show that didn’t even have a single sponsor, had reached thirty thousand concurrent viewers.
Viewers had even started calling themselves “Milk Powder” and “Milk Baby Powder.”
“Milk Powder” were fans of the grandmothers (Nai = milk/grandma). “Milk Baby Powder” were fans of the grandmas’ precious darling, Xingxing.
These “Milk Powder” and “Milk Baby Powder” fans became voluntary promoters. They started clipping and sharing highlights from the first trip of Grandma’s Journey onto Bilibili and other short video platforms.
Beyond fans of Xingxing and the grandmothers, perhaps because Chu Xingxing was so “compatible,” a diverse array of couple fans (CP shippers) emerged among the viewership.
There were shippers for Chu Xingxing and film emperor Wen Han. Their CP name was a bit goofy: “Brilliant Starry Cold” (Xing Han Can Lan).
There were shippers for Chu Xingxing and Grandma Sheng’s grandson, Sheng Luzhi. Their CP name was “Star of Prosperity” (Xing Zhi Sheng Shi).
There were shippers for Chu Xingxing and Cookie. A freshly baked CP name emerged: “Star Cookies” (Xing Xing Bing Gan).
And thanks to that afternoon’s livestream, some fans had even started shipping Chu Xingxing with her as-yet-unseen agent.
Mainly because no one even knew the agent’s name yet, so the CP name was still pending.
Chu Xingxing had absolutely no idea that on just the first day of the trip, she’d already been paired off so many times…
The livestream viewer count kept climbing. The rate of increase was so rapid it was making the director a little nervous.
The comments were almost entirely flooded with [So excited], [When does it start?], and [Been waiting all night for this!] .
Because coming up next was the climax of the entire evening at “Idol 101″—the main event!
The highly anticipated Ball Pit Pool Party!
——-
One of the most classic and lively activities at “Idol 101” was the grand Ball Pit Pool Party, starting promptly at 9:30 PM every night.
To ensure a family-friendly environment, the restaurant didn’t have a real pool for suggestive “edge-play” content. Instead, the pool was filled with light blue plastic balls, and there was even a bubble machine to get the kids excited.
All the restaurant’s trainees would participate. Every type imaginable was represented.
If you could imagine it, they had it.
The refined, glasses-wearing intellectual type. The sunshine-smile puppy type. The mixed-race muscular type. The blonde, unruly, tsundere type. The dark-skinned athletic type. The impossibly buff, broad-shouldered “refrigerator” type…
[Ahhhh! I can’t decide which one to pick!]
[Hahaha, kids have to choose! Adults say: I’ll take them all!]
[Sunshine puppy boys forever! This big sister here loves that type!]
[I really like that dark-skinned athletic guy. He looks so handsome in that uniform, aaahhh, I’m dead!]
[That cold, glasses-wearing guy seems so aloof. I just want to drag that untouchable flower down from his pedestal and see him lose his composure!]
[Hahaha, OP commenter, preach! Say more!]
[To the person talking about dragging him down from his pedestal—here’s a pen! Keep writing!]
No matter how niche your taste, you were bound to find something you liked.
The Pool Party started with a DJ warming up the crowd, transforming the restaurant into almost a nightclub vibe.
Various trainees would dance on different smaller stages around the venue to build energy.
Once the atmosphere was sufficiently hyped, some trainees would take off their shirts and jump into the ball pit pool to play and splash around.
It had a bit of a “decadent feast” feel to it, but in a wholesome, G-rated, all-ages-appropriate way.
Chu Xingxing wasn’t exactly skilled at dancing, but the grandmothers pulled her up to join them.
At first, she had no idea how to move.
She’d spent six or seven years in the post-apocalyptic world learning to fight. Fistfights? No problem. But swaying her body naturally like the pretty girls around her…
Star Baby had to admit: This is way too hard!
The restaurant was packed mostly with female patrons from all over, including many locals.
Several local girls found the configuration of Chu Xingxing’s table fascinating and kept glancing over, clearly amused.
Wen Han remained seated alone at the table. The grandmothers were dancing openly and without inhibition to the music. Chu Xingxing stood stiffly to the side, looking lost.
After a moment, a few young women came over and complimented the grandmothers’ dance moves in English.
Two others took Chu Xingxing’s hands, gently guiding her to relax and move with the rhythm of the music in a looser, more fluid way.
Chu Xingxing thanked them in the local phrase she’d learned from Cookie.
With the girls’ encouragement, she started to sway to the beat.
And as she moved, she realized… maybe following the music wasn’t so difficult after all?
In the dim, shifting light, an occasional colored beam swept across Chu Xingxing’s bare, toned back.
Whenever she raised her arms in her silk camisole, a sliver of her flat stomach, defined by visible obliques, peeked out.
Her bare arms and prominent collarbones were clear to see. Her movements were natural, her state relaxed, like she was just hanging out with friends.
And yet, just that alone made her radiantly, dazzlingly beautiful.
[I was totally focused on the various types of trainees, but the moment Xingxing started dancing, I couldn’t look away!]
[Me too! My eyes are glued to Chu Xingxing. Handsome guys are nowhere near as captivating as a beautiful woman. I absolutely adore Star Baby!]
[Wuwuwu, I suddenly understand King Zhou’s obsession now. Xingxing, keep the music playing, keep dancing!]
[Even I, a healthy, red-blooded eighteen-year-old girl, am feeling completely seduced by Chu Xingxing…]
[Help! Someone needs to teach Xingxing how to dance properly! With that body and natural rhythm, it’s a waste not to learn. Even her casual swaying is so mesmerizing!]
[Ah, Star Baby’s abs and waist, wuwuwu… I’m done for. Completely lost. That tiny waist, wuwuwu… I could watch her sway all night!]
[Watching a beautiful woman dance is just pure joy!]
[Xingxing is dancing right into my heart. Let’s crowdfund to send Xingxing to dance lessons. This humble one wants to see. /peeking]
Chu Xingxing didn’t notice the attention gradually centering on her.
The “Idol 101” DJ had great musical taste. It wasn’t cheesy pop songs or the headache-inducing beats of a typical club.
The music was upbeat, even a bit cute—the kind of music all ages could enjoy.
As a restaurant open to the public, the DJ’s job was to play songs that could get seniors and kids dancing along to the lively rhythm too.
Elsewhere in the “Idol 101” Restaurant
Jiang Changsheng sat with the crew, glued to the livestream on his phone.
Chu Xingxing was simply too conspicuous.
Normally, this would be a good thing for her career, but somehow, Jiang Changsheng couldn’t feel happy about it.
For the first time in his life, Young Master Jiang felt this strange sensation—like a treasured, long-hidden jewel was suddenly being gawked at by a crowd.
The Grandma’s Journey cameraman, however, saw things differently. Beautiful things should be shared with more people!
His framing was excellent, avoiding the typical “male gaze” pitfalls of many cameramen. His approach was purely aesthetic.
Through his lens, Chu Xingxing’s every expression, every glance, was intoxicating.
Just then, the cameraman heard the other unit’s director ask over his earpiece: “Has anyone seen Teacher Wen?”
“No, Teacher Wen was just here…”
“Try to get more tight close-ups of Teacher Chu. Give us more wide shots of the stage…”
Jiang Changsheng couldn’t take it anymore. He “borrowed” the director’s mic and started barking orders at the cameraman.
Though reluctant, the cameraman yielded to Young Master Jiang’s authority.
Jiang Changsheng noticed that inside the venue, some trainees were starting to casually, almost imperceptibly, drift closer to Chu Xingxing’s group.
Like hell I’m letting this slide!
Young Master Jiang’s short fuse was lit.
He marched straight backstage. Slipping the manager two hundred US dollars, he borrowed a set of the standard “Idol 101” uniform. He also grabbed a black lace mask from the makeup room—leftover from a Halloween costume party—and put it on.
Damn it, they think they can dance?
Young Master Jiang had been in dance clubs all through high school and university. He was always the most sought-after partner at campus dances.
Jiang Changsheng was confident his casual moves were way better than those “wild men’s.”
Just as he straightened his outfit and stepped out of the dressing room, he spotted a familiar, broad-shouldered “refrigerator” silhouette coming out of the restroom.
He looked closer…
Whoa!
Wasn’t that Film Emperor Wen Han?
Wen Han had also changed into an “Idol 101” uniform. The only difference was he wasn’t wearing a mask.
Their eyes met. Both saw the same giant, flashing neon sign in the other’s gaze: AWKWARD…
Three seconds later, in perfect, silent agreement, they both ignored each other and walked back into the main hall without a word.
Soon, Chu Xingxing noticed something was off.
Why did other tables have handsome staff members livening things up, pulling guests up to dance, while the ball pit pool was a riot of splashing fun…
But their table seemed… untouchable? Like no one dared approach?
And the surrounding crowd seemed to be slowly converging on one spot, cheering and hollering wildly…
Just then, Ms. Wen Xuelan, wearing an expression of pure, unadulterated enjoyment of the drama, grabbed Chu Xingxing’s hand and pulled her towards the front. “Star Baby, look! Those two are fighting… no, I mean, they’re competing! Let’s see who dances better! Is it our Xiao Nuan, or that masked young man?”
“Huh?” Chu Xingxing thought she’d misheard. She followed Wen Xuelan’s pointing finger…
Chu Xingxing instantly froze, completely dumbfounded.
She even rubbed her eyes, afraid she was seeing things.
The only word to describe her feelings at that moment was “shook.”
