The guests' emotions were filled with anticipation for their partners and identities.
The previously burning gossip fire gradually extinguished.
"Let's Play, Youngsters" had already gained fame from the successful recording of the first episode's preview, and the mysterious suspension case also garnered significant attention from netizens.
Yun Rou's involvement added fuel to the fire.
When the variety show officially announced the lineup, the internet's memory was abruptly reawakened.
The Jin Xin (靳歆) CP army was cheering and waving banners in the comment section.
[Dream collaboration, everyone! Jin Xin! Jin Xin! This episode has me absolutely thrilled.]
[My heart is pounding, my hands are trembling. The obscure fandoms I support, the popular ones, the ones I've followed for years, are all together!]
[My mom asked why I was crying, laughing, and watching my phone on my knees.]
[Speaking of which, when will President Sheng and President Shi make their official announcement? The civil affairs bureau is right next to me, and I'll present it to you with both hands.]
These comments quickly rose to the top.
They garnered over ten thousand likes and comments.
Sheng Chenjin casually liked the comment about the civil affairs bureau, thinking that with so many likes, no one would pay attention to who liked it.
Unexpectedly, the great Weibo also helpfully added a note below.
[Liked by Sheng Chenjin]
Sheng Chenjin: !
By the time Sheng Chenjin realized he wanted to cancel the like, it was too late. He couldn't escape the keen eyes of the CP army.
That comment had already received over a hundred thousand likes and was rapidly climbing to the top.
Shi Xinxin scrolled to this point and frowned.
She elegantly raised her hand and quickly typed a message.
Shi Xinxin: [Friend, I swear President Sheng and I are just in a working relationship. That photo a little sister accidentally took earlier was of President Sheng and me discussing business. The video was an accident because I only then found out that restaurant was President Sheng's property. I was surprised. Is being rich something to be proud of! Angry /.]
Shi Xinxin decided to go all in and clarify their relationship without appearing arrogant or stringing people along ambiguously.
This was out of respect for him. She had previously thought that if these matters weren't brought up, people would forget, as the internet's memory is notoriously short.
However, she clearly underestimated the influence of her and Sheng Chenjin's looks and capabilities.
She also underestimated netizens' ability to dig up old dirt.
Her post led to a flood of funny yet questioning comments.
[This is the real reaction. From our perspective, the angle of the photo determines a lot. It's not right for everyone to arbitrarily pair people together based on their looks. I hope it doesn't cause trouble for the main subjects, but I'll still secretly ship them. No one can stop me!]
[If it were me, and I knew the restaurant I was eating at belonged to a friend, I would immediately start blackmailing them.]
[Why didn't the two of them clarify earlier, but only now at this crucial moment? What if there really is something between you two?]
Shi Xinxin frowned, feeling that this matter might not be so easily resolved.
At this moment, Sheng Chenjin replied to that person.
[Look at my Weibo.]
Sheng Chenjin: Currently, Ms. Shi and I are indeed just in a working relationship. The last incident was purely coincidental, and it was all my one-sided wish. I haven't even secured a probationary period, so... can you all help me pursue her?
The gossip-mongering netizens who saw this immediately swarmed Sheng Chenjin's Weibo.
The click-through rate surged.
Especially the employees of Shengshi Group, who were jumping with joy.
[President, it's not that I'm slacking off at work, it's that our entire company is too focused on you.]
[Damn, I thought that was our President's wife, but I was told she's nothing. President, you, you, you're not good enough!]
[You must be! We'll help you pursue her! At your age, you still can't win over a wife? President, don't disgrace Shengshi!]
[My life has been elevated. Seeing the President not working, going on a variety show for the first time, and for the first time... chasing after a wife and not succeeding.]
The passersby who came to spectate were all won over by the employees of Shengshi Group.
What kind of divine employees and president are they, so friendly!
[Damn, I'm so jealous. So capable people can also surf the web. President Sheng, I'll help you pursue your wife too, on the condition that I become your employee. What do you say?]
[The above, you're very promising.]
The screen was instantly filled with laughter. The previously questioning atmosphere instantly became lively and relaxed.
Shi Xinxin also breathed a sigh of relief. She had to admit that this way, Sheng Chenjin had shielded her from a lot of trouble.
However... whether he would succeed depended entirely on his own fortune.
...
When Shi Xinxin and her assistant drove to the recording location designated by the director, they found that in addition to the temporarily erected studio, there was also a cluster of buildings that looked like a derelict hospital.
There was not a single person around, only cameras placed everywhere, like cold eyes. The staff and director closely monitored them from afar.
Shi Xinxin, remembering her identity, walked up to the fifth camera and waved her hand.
She smiled and went into the studio, calmly put on the sunglasses on the table, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair.
She looked like she was resting because she was too tired.
[Why do I feel like Xinxin is catching up on sleep?]
[Above, remove the "feel like." If it were me, I'd be dead tired at seven o'clock too.]
[Hahaha, I'm guessing this episode is an escape room. I've played here before.]
[+1, it's really exciting. You'll regret it for a lifetime if you don't play.]
[You'll regret it for eight lifetimes if you do.]
Of course, the guests couldn't see these spoiler-like comments.
They arrived at the recording site with excitement and trepidation.
The second to arrive was Xiao Jue.
He looked around curiously when he arrived and found the sixth camera, making a phone call gesture.
He yawned without caring about his image, completely unaware of Shi Xinxin, who was catching up on sleep, mistaking her for a staff member trying to scare people.
Coincidentally, there was a large computer in front of Shi Xinxin, and if you didn't look closely, you couldn't see that someone was sitting there.
"I'm so sleepy, I should have slept a little longer before coming."
He walked forward, looking for a place to catch up on sleep.
"There's a mat here, you can sleep for a bit. It'll be more fun if they can't see us."
Shi Xinxin suddenly spoke, startling Xiao Jue, who jumped to the side.
"Ouch!"
"Xinxin? Catching up on sleep, I'll join you."
Saying that, he moved the mat over, ready to lie down under the large table, so he would be completely invisible.
"Pathetic." Shi Xinxin pulled out a large pillow from somewhere and threw it to Xiao Jue.
"The director's team really knows how to play, they've got all the facilities."
Xiao Jue blinked for a moment, then reacted with a smile.
He lay down leisurely, using the pillow as a headrest.
"This chair is high-end, it can also be raised and lowered."
Lying down, Xiao Jue glanced at Shi Xinxin and suddenly noticed her chair.
Shi Xinxin curiously looked down and, wow, it really was.
She immediately lowered the chair, making her a little taller than Xiao Jue.
"Now no one will be able to find us."
Shi Xinxin brought a curtain and draped it to block the line of sight.