Chapter 13: 213. Ultimate Challenge

Qi Le’an laughed wildly; he couldn’t care less about his image. And the staff of Cute Rabbit couldn’t help but laugh one after another, leaving Tresse alone with a face full of confusion.

In the end, it was Chen Shan who couldn’t bear to watch and said to Tresse, “NUE GOU, means showing off love in front of a single man.”

Tresse was still dumbfounded.

Chen Shan sighed and said to everyone, “Forget it! Let’s take a group picture!”

Everyone stood in a group, and this time there was no need to say anything about “Cheese” or “Qiezi”, as everyone was smiling from ear to ear.

After the group photo was taken, Qi Le’an was naturally dragged along to take a bunch of photos with the stuff. He was kind and tried his best to meet the needs of every single member of the staff.

That evening, after sending Tresse back, Qi Le’an saw someone post the news on a Wechat Official Account in the entertainment circle. It said that Qi Le’an, who was once a sensational actor, was actually young and handsome in person, and was kind to everyone. The news also said that he and Wei Changfeng looked especially a good match as a couple.

Qi Le’an read it and couldn’t help but nod in compliment.

“A good match as a couple”. That’s too great!

Since no one can see the “likes” on WeChat Official Accounts anyway, Qi Le’an clicked the “like” underneath!

Signing with Cute Rabbit was Qi Le’an’s first step to start working. A week later, Qi Le’an signed a contract with the variety show “Ultimate Challenge” as well.

It just so happened that Ultimate Challenge was broadcast on Hai City TV, and the guests were recording the show more often in the south, saving everyone from having to go back and forth. Qi Le’an was assigned to an episode recorded in Suzhou. He believed that three days was enough to get the job done.

During the week, Qi Le’an followed the teachings of his fitness instructor and nutritionist and ate only vegetable leaves and boiled white meat. Seeing that Qi Le’an was determined to lose weight, Wei Changfeng did not tempt him with food but instead tried to make the vegetable leaves as delicious as possible for him according to the nutritionist’s advice.

Apart from the diet, Qi Le’an insisted on exercising. No more staying in bed in the morning, no more games, every day he woke up and went for a morning jog first, then ate breakfast and rest before swimming in the pool, making sure he worked out all day.

After exercising hard during the day, the quality of his sleep at night had improved. After only a week’s work, Qi Le’an’s routine had been adjusted. He used to go to bed at one or two o’clock and get up at eleven or twelve o’clock; but now he went to bed at eleven o’clock and got up at eight o’clock, which was incredibly healthy.

Although this week was not enough for him to build up his muscles, his overall image had improved a lot. Another week later, Qi Le’an flew to Beijing and went with Chen Shan to sign a contract with CCTV (China Central Television).

The day they went there coincided with the Spring Festival Gala rehearsals, where all kinds of stars were gathered and security checks were particularly strict. Chen Shan looked at the situation and muttered from the side, “It’s only just July and the rehearsals have already started…”

Qi Le’an was a little envious of these people. It was the Spring Festival Gala after all!

“What’s so great about the Spring Festival Gala,” Chen Shan grunted and whispered, “The actors have to rehearse six months in advance, and by Spring Festival they all do lip-synch… It’s time-consuming and laborious. Don’t you see Wei Changfeng attended once and didn’t want to go for the second time? ”

Qi Le’an knew that Chen Shan was comforting himself and he laughed, “Brother Chen is right. It would be better to get red envelopes from the elders at home!”

Chen Shan nodded approvingly and said, “Exactly!”

After the two entered the CCTV building, someone took them upstairs to the advertising department.

There was an internal department and an external department at the advertising department, with the external department mainly taking on commercials, while the internal department shot its own public service advertisement.

The theme of today’s advertisement was to promote the spirit of unity and love among the Chinese nation, as well as mutual help and respect for the elderly and the young. Neighbourhood harmony was also mentioned. The advertisement was divided into several short films with different themes.

After all, it was CCTV, so even if the theme sounded a little boring, it had a wonderful plot and was very watchable.

After signing the contract, Qi Le’an couldn’t help but gripe with Chen Shan, “A month? It even takes a month to shoot such a short advertisement?”

Chen Shan was amused and he said, “Isn’t that because people here are well-prepared? Don’t worry; the actual shooting won’t take that long. Li Che is calling you for dinner. Are you going?”

The last time Qi Le’an saw Li Che was when he was discussing the “top of bottom” issue with Chen Shan. He was a bit scared of Li Che’s eccentric temper, so Qi Le’an was a bit hesitant.

Chen Shan added, “He’s going to be angry if you don’t go.”

When Qi Le’an thought about it, his own Coolrunning commercial was still unaired in Li Che’s hand, so he gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll go!”

Chen Shan laughed out loud, and after laughing, he said, “Actually, Li Che has a cold face but a warm heart. He’s a very good person.”

Qi Le’an thought of it; when he was forced to leave China, only Coolrunning did not terminate his contract with him, so he nodded, “You’re right, Brother Chen.”

The hot pot that Li Che treated the two to was mild and not spicy at all. Qi Le’an was on a diet, so such food was just right for him, but Chen Shan was not enjoying himself and he said, “This is too tasteless… Waiter! Add some spice!”

Li Che looked up at Chen Shan and didn’t stop him. Instead, he thoughtfully threw a red pod pepper into Chen Shan’s sauce.

Chen Shan’s face twitched as he was eating, as the pepper was too hot. Li Che poured him another cup of ice-cold cola to drink.

Qi Le’an realised that when Li Che wasn’t in a temper, he was actually quite nice.

After dinner, Qi Le’an and Chen Shan planned to return to Hai City. But when they arrived at the airport, Chen Shan stopped going and said to Qi Le’an, “Umm, you can go back by yourself. I’ll go back later.”

Qi Le’an was confused.

“Hey!” Chen Shan smiled with a wry smile and said, “Come on! Don’t think about that so much when you’re still a kid! It’s not healthy! Go back!”

Qi Le’an was speechless.

Looked like Brother Li Che’s warmth and softness really did work!

Qi Le’an, who was returning to Hai City alone, could only ask Wei Changfeng to pick him up. Luckily, Wei Changfeng had nothing to do today and went to the airport early to pick him up.

Qi Le’an complained about Chen Shan and said to Wei Changfeng, “Wei Sama! Are we going to buy tickets to New Zealand these days?”

Wei Xin’an was expected to give birth to her baby on August 8, and the two of them had agreed to go back to celebrate the birth of the little one.

While Wei Changfeng was driving, he asked, “How about your work?”

Qi Le’an nodded and said, “I have no problem! I’m going to Suzhou next week to shoot a variety show, and the CCTV commercial won’t start filming until late August.”

After the variety show, it would be the 20th of July, so it was time for the two of them to go to New Zealand.

Wei Changfeng nodded and said, “Then let’s buy tickets for the 30th?”

Qi Le’an smiled, “Sure, I hope the little one doesn’t come out too early.”

Wei Changfeng also smiled.

After buying the tickets, Wei Changfeng called again to inform his sister the flight number. Wei Xin’an was still awake and smiled as she showed the two men her fetal movements.

The two men gathered in front of the screen and watched Wei Xin’an’s belly rise and fall, tsking in wonder.

In the end, it was Sheng Chang’an who was reluctant. He said that his wife would catch a cold and he covered up his wife’s belly.

Somehow, Qi Le’an was especially looking forward to the birth of this little life.

A week later, Qi Le’an met Chen Shan’s requirement of “losing ten pounds in half a month”. The fitness instructor and the nutritionist were relieved and said with a smile that Qi Le’an was the most easy-going customer they had ever met and they looked forward to working together next time.

Qi Le’an said, “Thank you, but as for working together… Maybe in the future! I don’t want to lose weight anymore!”

On the afternoon of July 23, Qi Le’an took an assistant with him and headed to Suzhou to prepare for the recording of the variety show “Ultimate Challenge”.

On the plane, Qi Le’an finished watching the latest episode and said he was totally ready!

The variety show’s car was already waiting at the airport, and as Qi Le’an was the guest of this episode, an assistant director explained the rules of the game to him in the car. Qi Le’an nodded as he listened, thinking to himself, “Aren’t you guys famous for not having rules in the games…”

The assistant director suddenly smiled wryly.

“Now, Mr. Qi, please put on this eye mask.”

Qi Le’an was confused, “???”

The assistant director handed the eye mask to Qi Le’an with a smile.

Qi Le’an was bewildered, “I come over early… We shouldn’t start recording so early now!”

Although there had been a follow-up cameraman next to him, Qi Le’an thought that he was shooting for a blooper reel!

The assistant director lady smiled and nodded her head, indicating that the recording had started.

Qi Le’an did not know what to say.

Resigned to his fate, Qi Le’an put on his eye mask, feeling that his two days here would not be easy…

The car swayed all the way and finally came to a stop after driving for an unknown period of time. Qi Le’an was helped out of the car the whole time, then went upstairs, and bumped his head in the process of going upstairs.

He cried out, “Where are you taking me?”

No one answered from all around.

Finally, the man beside Qi Le’an let go his hand and everyone stopped.

Qi Le’an was confused and he shouted, “What’s going on? Is anyone here?”

No one answered, and suddenly there was a banging sound of a door closing behind them.

No one was around now! Qi Le’an would be stupid if he still didn’t remove the eye mask! Qi Le’an pulled off his eye mask and was dumbfounded!

He found himself in a room with only a door and there was no one in the room!

Even Qi Le’an, who had seen all the previous episodes of the show, didn’t expect the crew to make such a big move right away.

No one answered him.

Qi Le’an really wanted to cry!

He went to pull the door and found that it wouldn’t open at all. He was afraid the only medium he could use to communicate with the outside world was the few cameras in the room. Qi Le’an walked back, looked up and asked, “This game… is on? What should I do?”

Still, no one answered.

Qi Le’an genuinely felt that things were becoming much more complicated!

Just then, a voice suddenly came from the room!

“The theme of this episode is rescuing the hostages. You have been chosen to be a hostage. Please wait patiently for rescue.”

“I’ve been chosen to be a hostage?”

“Who chose me?”

“This is how it starts?”

“Will you prepare meals for me?”

“……”

“I’m not going to have to wait here forever, am I?”

Qi Le’an took a deep breath, thinking to himself that the most important thing about this show was its unpredictability!

Since no one answered, he would have to fend for himself!

Qi Le’an walked over to the door and took a closer look at the white door and suddenly noticed something.

The white door… This door seemed to be wrapped in paper?

Having discovered this, he immediately began to tear the door! In less than three minutes, a layer of white paper was torn off the door!

The door revealed its original wooden colour, while a key fell out from it!

Qi Le’an picked up the key, smiled with his cute little canine teeth and said, “I knew the crew wouldn’t lock me here like that…”