Chapter 5: The variety show Ming Huai signed up for began filming in early April. When it was time to leave, Dudu clung to Ming Huai, the corners of his mouth turned downward in an expression of deep sadness. Ming Huai could never bear to see his little treasure looking so aggrieved; he immediately showered the child with comforting words. Yet Dudu remained visibly dejected, his small hand tightly gripping Ming Huai's clothes—he simply couldn't bear to let his father go.

"Dad, can you come back early to spend time with me?"

For some reason, Dudu was unusually sensitive today. His big eyes were already reddening, though he stubbornly held back his tears. Aunt Chen and Yu Fanglan watched from the side, helpless expressions on their faces. This round of filming would take place in H City, right next to S City. Although not far in distance, the location was a village under H City's administration with inconvenient transportation. Driving from H City to Zaohua Village alone would take at least three to four hours. Moreover, the production team planned to film several episodes in one go, making it impossible for Ming Huai to return mid-shoot to see Dudu. Each filming session began the moment the production team's vehicle picked up the cast, with that footage later edited into behind-the-scenes clips. The crew was already waiting downstairs, yet Dudu's current state made it truly difficult for Ming Huai to leave with peace of mind.

Ming Huai glanced apologetically at Yu Fanglan.

"Sister Lan, could you please wait a few more minutes? I need to say a couple of things to Dudu."

Yu Fanglan understood immediately.

"Of course, don't rush. I'll go inform the production team."

With that, she turned and left to speak with the crew. Ming Huai lifted Dudu onto his lap, gently ruffled the boy's hair, and spoke softly, "Dad will try his best to come back early. Don't be sad, okay?"

Dudu pouted, his long eyelashes lowered. After a long while, he finally looked up at Ming Huai, extended his tiny hand, hooked his pinky finger, and whispered, "Dad, pinky promise."

Ming Huai exhaled in relief, feeling both helplessness and guilt. He hooked his pinky with Dudu's and made a sincere promise: "Dad definitely will come back early to spend time with Dudu."

It was thirty minutes later before Ming Huai finally headed downstairs. He apologized to the production team and asked his assistant to order some desserts and drinks as a gesture of gratitude. The crew members, especially the young women, happily accepted the treats, each declaring they had become Ming Huai's devoted fans.

"Farmhouse Courtyard"

is a reality show designed to let celebrities experience rural life and reconnect with simplicity. Each episode invites two or three guests to stay at the farmhouse. One interesting aspect is that while the first half of the season featured pre-selected guests, those for the second half were chosen based on audience nominations combined with practical considerations. The show's first season began filming last September, consisting of twelve episodes across two different locations. The first six episodes were filmed in a small town in southern China, a place truly worlds away from S City. Ming Huai still harbored some psychological scars from that location. Situated at a low latitude, the town was extremely hot in September. The production required guests to work in the fields, and Ming Huai still vividly remembered picking watermelons under the scorching sun. Not to mention other hardships, after staying there for over ten days, his skin tone had darkened significantly.

Fortunately, Ming Huai tans easily but also returns to his original complexion quickly; otherwise, he might have become too embarrassed to appear in public. The show features four fixed MCs: three men and one woman. Besides Ming Huai, the other two male artists are veterans in the entertainment industry—one is the legendary Best Actor Chen Jun, and the other is a renowned variety show host. The female artist is Zhao Manman, a currently popular young star. Before filming began, Ming Huai wasn't particularly familiar with the other three. However, after spending more than half a month together last September, the four of them unexpectedly developed a decent friendship. Especially with Zhao Manman; since they were close in age, Ming Huai grew particularly close to her. This proximity inadvertently sparked some controversy. Once, paparazzi photographed the two of them having a meal together with their assistants. After some "embellishment"

by the media, rumors of a romantic relationship between them quickly spread.The scandal had been quite a stir back then. Although explanations were offered later, people still couldn't help but speculate, and fans of both even paired them up as a couple. By the time the production crew arrived at Zaohua Village, dusk had already settled in. Chen Jun and Zhao Manman had already arrived; Wang Lun was delayed by some matters and would arrive shortly. The small courtyard was enclosed by a wooden fence. The house was a typical rural brick-and-tile structure, with flowers and plants filling the yard. Nearby stood a chicken coop and a sheep pen, while a simple shed occupied the center. Not far from the courtyard lay a fish pond and vegetable plots. The April evening air was perfectly temperate; a gentle breeze carried the unique freshness of the countryside. Ming Huai took a deep breath of the crisp air, feeling a growing anticipation for the upcoming filming.

As the crew continued setting up cameras, Director Gao approached Ming Huai, gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, and said with a grin, "Ming Huai, remember to bring some buzz this time too!"

He was teasing Ming Huai about his past rumors with Zhao Manman. Ming Huai smiled, his eyes curving into crescents.

"That won't work anymore. If I try that again, Sister Lan will hit me."

Just then, Zhao Manman emerged from the house. Upon seeing Ming Huai, her face instantly lit up with a delighted smile. She hurried over to them, greeted Ming Huai, then eagerly asked, "What's going on? What happened?"

"Yes, yes! Exactly that kind of dynamic!" the director exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically.

Zhao Manman looked utterly confused and turned to ask Ming Huai what Director Gao meant. Ming Huai quickly bid farewell to the director, then led Zhao Manman inside to explain the situation. Inside, the floor was wooden. A square table stood in the center. Zhao Manman sat cross-legged beside it, took a sip of water, and burst out laughing upon hearing Ming Huai's explanation.

"Brother Ming Huai, people are going to say we're bundling ourselves together for publicity!"

The two chatted for quite a while. Ming Huai having a three-year-old child was something he had never concealed since his debut, so everyone knew about it. Zhao Manman had met Dudu several times before the New Year and had been fondly thinking of the adorable little one ever since. Even though filming hadn't officially started yet, she was eager to see photos of Dudu. Ming Huai had a dedicated album on his phone specifically for Dudu's pictures. He swiped a few times to open it, then handed the phone to Zhao Manman.

"Oh my god, how is Dudu so cute!"

Zhao Manman, who had absolutely no resistance toward fair-skinned, chubby little children, exclaimed.

"You're making me want to fall in love and have kids!"

She spoke with a mix of envy and sentimentality. However, she was just saying that casually. At only twenty-two, Zhao Manman was in the rising phase of her career; whether dating or having children would significantly impact a female artist's trajectory.

Not long after, Chen Jun arrived. He was a veteran Best Actor award winner, though not particularly striking in appearance. What he lacked in conventional looks, he made up for with an unmistakably masculine aura and a tall, imposing stature. Contrary to his rugged exterior, he possessed exceptional cooking skills; otherwise, everyone else would surely have starved. Ming Huai and Zhao Manman felt slightly reserved in his presence and respectfully addressed him as "Teacher"

upon his arrival. This segment also served as behind-the-scenes footage for the program; while they chatted, someone filmed them discreetly. As the conversation flowed, the topic naturally turned to the upcoming guests. Unlike other variety shows, the guests on "Farmhouse Courtyard"

remained completely confidential until the last moment—you truly never knew who might appear. Of course, the production team wouldn't leave participants completely in the dark until the next day; invited guests would receive a preview call the day before.

"I recall Teacher Qu Mei being highly anticipated in previous seasons,"

Zhao Manman guessed, shooting a playful glance at Chen Jun. Qu Mei was Chen Jun's wife; they had been married for over a decade and shared a deeply affectionate relationship. Chen Jun smiled and replied, "Teacher Qu is currently filming a drama, so I doubt it's likely." Zhao Manman then suggested two more names and asked the director if either was correct.

Naturally, Director Gao refused to answer. Ming Huai, who hadn't interacted much with other celebrities in the industry, simply listened without interjecting.Suddenly, Zhao Manman exclaimed excitedly, "Oh right, right, there's one more!"

Ming Huai looked at her, waiting for the answer.

"Ji Tingqian!" Whatever they said afterward, Ming Huai could barely hear; his mind echoed only with those three words:

"Ji Tingqian."

How wonderful it would be if Ji Tingqian could truly come, yet he knew it was impossible. Wherever Ming Huai existed, Ji Tingqian could not. The assistant had already placed the luggage in the rooms. After chatting for a while, Ming Huai decided to go upstairs and unpack first. The house had two floors: the first floor served as a dining and lounging area with storage space, while the second floor contained five bedrooms. Ming Huai's room was the second one on the left side of the second floor. By the time Ming Huai finished unpacking, Wang Lun had arrived. Since no one had eaten yet, the production team had already reserved several tables at a local farmhouse restaurant in the village. Everyone was notified and then traveled together by vehicle to the dining location. The farmhouse dishes were generous in portion and delicious; the fish, ducks, chickens, and other ingredients were all home-raised, offering a unique flavor.

The vegetables were exceptionally fresh, crisp, and sweet, making one eager for another bite immediately after the first. Ming Huai ate slightly more than usual that evening because once the official recording began tomorrow, all supplies would need to be exchanged through tasks, leading to irregular meals, which seemed somewhat pitiable. For this recording session, Yu Fanglan, having no recent commitments, had accompanied them. That evening, she called Ming Huai to her room to discuss thoroughly the matter concerning him and Zhao Manman. Ming Huai had debuted only two years ago, yet rumors had already linked him romantically with five or six female celebrities. If this continued, his public image would inevitably collapse. Had these scandals been real, Ming Huai's PR team might have accepted them, but Fanglan was absolutely certain that Ming Huai remained completely innocent regarding all these women. She had even teased him before, wondering what kind of constitution he possessed to attract such attention.

Actually, Fanglan didn't need to specially remind him about this; Ming Huai already exercised proper judgment himself. Before leaving, Ming Huai suddenly asked, "Sister Lan, do you think Ji Tingqian will come?" Yu Fanglan laughed helplessly,

"I'm not the director; how would I know?" Then she added,

"Besides, Ji Tingqian never accepts variety show invitations, so it's unlikely he'll come."

Ming Huai nodded silently, forced a smile to bid farewell to Yu Fanglan, and walked out into the courtyard. There, he gazed absentmindedly at an orange cat lazily sleeping in the yard. If he isn't coming, then so be it.