Members went to their respective workplaces with their own partners.
Song Jianchu and Lu Shen first went to the sheep pen. There was no conversation on the way, but strangely, there was no awkward atmosphere either.
Both of them were the silent working types. Surprisingly, they coordinated well, understanding what to do with just a glance. Because they didn’t have the leisure time that their previous partners used to have, their work efficiency was extremely high. In less than ten minutes, they herded the sheep into the designated grazing area and continued to feed other animals on the ranch.
The filming by the program team progressed exceptionally smoothly, with all procedures conducted rigorously as if filming a guide for ranch management on an agricultural channel.
[“Welcome everyone to watch <How to Properly Run a Ranch.>”]
[“To be honest, the aura of these two seems quite strong.”]
[“So, without Teacher Mu, the son is just an iceberg, huh?”]
[“Teacher Lu = the smelly treasure after growing up??”]
[“Can you see it? Actually, the son was so active in the previous episodes solely because Teacher Mu was around.”]
[“Sigh, I want to see Mu Tangtang being affectionate.”]
After completing most of the work, the two took a brief break, finally having their first formal conversation.
Song Jianchu handed Lu Shen a bottle of water, saying, “Teacher Lu, have some water.”
“Thank you.” Lu Shen took the water bottle and took a sip.
Song Jianchu said, “We’ll release the cows later, and then we’ll be done here.”
Lu Shen glanced at the time on his phone, “Mm.”
Song Jianchu noticed that Lu Shen seemed to be in a hurry, knowing that he probably wanted to go to Bai Xingyu’s place soon. After a two-minute break, they went to release the cows.
Passing by the grazing area with tourists, Pei Shinian stopped and watched the two in their “silent communication,” unable to contain his laughter.
Pei Shinian leaned on the railing, marveling, “Jianchu, Brother Lu, how do you communicate without talking?”
As if they hadn’t heard him speak, neither of them paid attention to him, focusing solely on herding the cattle.
[“Hahaha, the leader got snubbed.”]
[“How could they ignore the leader!”]
[“Feeling the silent protest, haha.”]
Being ignored by the employees, Pei Shinian raised an eyebrow, “How are these two like blood brothers, it’s really scary.”
[“Year after year, discovering the truth.”]
[“Exactly!!!”]
[“Teacher Mu, come quickly, we want to see the lovely son.”]
Pei Shinian lazily said, “Just shot a video of Brother Xing, Brother Ye, and their new partner cooperating. I guess you guys wouldn’t be interested, so I’ll leave.”
The two in the distance simultaneously stopped and walked towards him.
[“Indeed, people only hear what they want to hear.”]
[“Leader! What about your dignity as a single dog!”]
[“Hilarious, how did Year after year turn into a carrier pigeon?”]
Lu Shen reached out over the railing and calmly said, “Hand it over.”
Meanwhile, Song Jianchu was waiting in line behind, seemingly indifferent while waiting to watch the video.
“Do you want to see?” Pei Shinian slyly smiled. “Watching the video comes with conditions.”
Lu Shen retracted his hand.
Sensing this person’s strategy, Song Jianchu also felt there was nothing particularly necessary to see; after all, they would see it later.
The two turned away coldly once again, preparing to return to continue herding the cows.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see?” Pei Shinian, casual and leaning on the railing, teased, “Don’t you want to know how your old partners and new partners work together? There’s even a message in there for you.”
The two paused and hesitated, turning back again.
Pei Shinian felt satisfied inside but restrained his laughter. “The condition for watching the video is straightforward. Just agree to participate in the children’s theater performance this evening.”
“Children’s theater?” Song Jianchu paused, never having heard about a children’s theater at the ranch.
“Today afternoon, I plan to personally organize a children’s play as a gift from us for the kids visiting the ranch. It’s to give back. I need your cooperation in acting, of course. I’ll decide the roles, and you just have to participate in the rehearsal this afternoon.”
Pei Shinian took out his phone, pulled up the video he just shot, and lured, “So, they’ve both agreed already. Think about it, you two?”
Lu Shen’s primary job was acting, so performing in a children’s play wasn’t difficult. He reached out, saying, “The video.”
“Thank you, Teacher Lu, for your friendly participation.” Pei Shinian respectfully handed over the phone.
Song Jianchu was still hesitant.
Apart from lacking acting experience, based on what he knew from watching children’s plays as a child, he would probably find it challenging to play any warm and endearing roles.
Lu Shen had already opened the video. Bai Xingyu appeared on the screen, cooperating well with Sheng Yi. They worked and laughed together; Bai Xingyu even personally taught the newcomer how to cut carrots faster.
Seeing Bai Xingyu generously praising the newcomer, Lu Shen’s expression cooled.
At the end of the video, Pei Shinian asked Bai Xingyu to leave a message for Lu Shen. Bai Xingyu looked at the camera indifferently and said, “Who’s he?”
Lu Shen: …
Lu Shen took a deep breath, his face gradually turning blue and frosty. He tossed the phone back to Pei Shinian and turned to walk towards the herd of cows.
Watching the video’s contents from the side, Song Jianchu felt a bit envious.
[“Hahaha, look at the little brother’s envious expression.”]
[“If you want to see your husband, then act!”]
[“What could be more important than watching your husband?”]
[“Children’s play, isn’t it awkward for non-professional actors? It’s easy to embarrass oneself.”]
[“Aw, it seems the son still cares about someone online.”]
[“Son, don’t worry, Mom won’t laugh. Look (pats).”]
Pei Shinian pulled up a video from the Secondary Products Department and asked, “What do you think? Have you decided? There’s no need to force yourselves if you really don’t want to perform.”
Unable to resist the curiosity about the video’s content, Song Jianchu took the phone. “Okay.”
Pei Shinian smirked victoriously. “Thanks for your cooperation. Many of today’s kids are your fans; they’ll surely be happy.”
Song Jianchu clicked on the video.
Mu Ye was attempting to milk a cow. Without his boyfriend around, he looked mature and composed, which seemed normal but also a bit abnormal.
Hearing that he could relay a message through the video, Mu Ye immediately looked towards the camera, a faint smile appearing on his face.
“Darling, don’t worry about me.” Mu Ye smiled with a mix of loneliness and strength. “Dr. Rong takes good care of me.”
Rong Yu’s milking action faltered beside him, looking at Mu Ye with complex emotions for a moment.
Song Jianchu: …
[“Pfft hahaha”]
[“Mu Tangtang, you’re killing me with laughter”]
[“Teacher Mu, you’re quite the performer”]
[“Can’t go a day without acting, it’s unbearable”]
[“Doctor Rong: It’s not necessary”]
The moment Song Jianchu clicked on the video, he regretted it.
His pupils flickered, unsure whether to continue watching.
Mu Ye continued, “You should perform well over there too, try to come see me soon. Take care, I’ll be waiting here for you.”
[“Feels like your wife just got in”]
[“Released from prison??”]
[“Amazing, Mu Tangtang, you’re something”]
[“So why does it have to be your wife going to see you? Can’t you make an effort yourself?”]
Unable to resist any longer, Song Jianchu lowered his head.
His lips subtly tightened for a moment, his mood brightening, and the regret diminished. He even thought of saving this video for later; it could be something to watch when feeling low.
Adjusting his expression, Song Jianchu returned the phone to Pei Shinian, “Thank you.”
Having persuaded the most challenging actor, Pei Shinian took the initiative, “Do you have any message for Brother Ye ?”
Song Jianchu decisively shook his head, “No.”
He had already figured out that Mu Ye would probably record another video in response.
“Alright then.” Pei Shinian put away his phone, smiling warmly, “Rehearsals will start after this morning’s work ends. Don’t worry if you lack acting experience; I have the simplest core role assigned to you. It only has a few lines, but it will definitely make you the center of attention and astonish everyone.”
Song Jianchu blinked.
Suddenly, he had a familiar yet not-so-good intuition.
–
After finishing the morning’s work, all the members gathered for children’s play rehearsals in the afternoon.
All the actors received scripts written personally by Pei Shinian.
The story was named <Miracle Princess> featuring condensed versions of various famous fairy tales.
<Miracle Princess> told the story of a royal princess named Lena and her miraculous journey.
As the only princess in the royal family and the heir to the throne, Lena acquired the world’s most wealth, leading the god of wealth, Laledo, to envy her. On the night before Lena came of age and was to inherit the throne, Laledo appeared at her birthday banquet and, with malicious words, cast a powerful curse. If Lena couldn’t give away all her wealth by midnight, she would be frozen into a cold stone statue, unable to revive or be taken by death.
Despite the efforts of several royal wizards tasked with guarding Lena, they couldn’t break the curse as the divine curse was too strong. Their only advice was for Lena to immediately open her treasury and give away all her wealth to the citizens. Lena’s treasury was quickly emptied, not a single gem left.
Just when everyone thought Laledo’s curse wouldn’t work, at midnight, Lena still turned into a stone statue, leaving the citizens in despair for their kind and beautiful princess.
The wizards sought the cause and found a bracelet on Lena, a token of affection from a neighboring prince. Only the prince himself could reclaim the bracelet for the princess to escape the terrible curse. When the prince heard that his beloved princess had been turned into a stone statue, he hurriedly rushed to rescue his love. Taking back the bracelet, the prince awakened his princess with love. Together, they devised a trap using their treasures and defeated the greedy god of wealth, Laledo. Lena smoothly ascended to the throne, and the prince and princess lived happily ever after.
The script itself posed no problem, nor was it difficult to perform.
There was only one crucial issue.
Bai Xingyu asked, “Who’s playing the princess?”
Encouragingly, Pei Shinian looked at everyone, “Though I already have a role in mind, if anyone wants to challenge this role, you can audition.”
Everyone fell silent.
In the room were all males, and no one was willing to compete for the opportunity to wear a princess gown.
But Mu Ye’s focus was slightly different: “Do the prince and princess have a kissing scene? How is the princess awakened by love?”
Since morning, Song Jianchu’s right eyelid had been twitching vigorously, trying to remain quietly inconspicuous throughout. He immediately grasped Mu Ye’s arm, signaling him not to attract the director’s attention.
Holding the rolled-up script, Pei Shinian, hugging his arm, said, “The audience will mainly comprise parents and children. Just as a formality, but of course, dedicating oneself to the drama would be better.”
Mu Ye became interested, hinting with his eyes to the people around him.
Song Jianchu leaned against the chair, closing his eyes, decisively blocking his boyfriend’s ambiguous signals.
“No one wants to play the lead role?” Pei Shinian emphasized, “Our costume and props are all of royal standards. The major sponsor has even given his endorsement. The lead role will undoubtedly be the highlight tonight.”
“Xiao Yu and I have no acting experience,” Sheng Yi politely declined the princess gown, “Give us a minor role as wizards; that’ll suffice.”
Bai Xingyu raised his hand, “I want to audition for Laredo.”
Lu Shen said, “I’ll audition for Laredo too.”
Bai Xingyu raised an eyebrow, “I have more experience playing antagonistic roles than you.”
Both of them never liked to concede in terms of acting. When it came to this matter, they became serious. Lu Shen said, “Then let’s compete fairly.”
Bai Xingyu lightly smiled, “Okay.”
“So, Teacher Sheng and Teacher Rong will play the wizards. Brother Xing and Brother Lu will audition for Laredo. Everyone will vote to decide who is more suitable, and the person who fails the audition will play the wizard role,” Pei Shinian looked at the remaining two actors, “The roles of the princess and the prince will be played by Brother Ye and Jianchu. You two sort out the role distribution.”
Sensing Song Jianchu’s stiff and bewildered gaze, Mu Ye comfortingly touched his hand’s back and eagerly said, “I’ll play the princess, and Chu Chu will play the prince.”
As a professional actor, Bai Xingyu questioned, “With your height, playing the princess?”
“Who says a princess can’t be tall?” Mu Ye said nonchalantly, “Having a pretty face is all that’s required.”
Gradually, everyone’s expressions became complex, unable to refute the facts.
Song Jianchu still seemed unsettled, hesitatingly looking down with a thoughtful gaze.
Mu Ye whispered expectantly into his ear, “You can really kiss me.”
Song Jianchu’s face flushed for a moment, hesitatingly biting his lip.
He felt extremely conflicted.
Making the senior guests wear a skirt was indeed not quite appropriate. Laredo was the most challenging role, testing acting skills, and it made sense for the two best actors to compete for it.
Considering multiple factors, Song Jianchu really didn’t want to admit that he was indeed the most suitable person to play the princess.
If only the princess could wear pants on stage, he wouldn’t have any objections.
The most suitable choice for the princess role didn’t come to fruition. Pei Shinian was a bit disappointed but couldn’t force the personal will of the actors, “So, it’s decided. Brother Ye will play the princess, Jianchu…”
“Wait a moment.” Suddenly, a person who had been silent in the corner spoke up.
Everyone looked towards Song Jianchu.
Mu Ye turned her head to silently inquire.
Pei Shinian’s eyes lit up, immediately asking, “Do you have a desired role you want to compete for?”
Song Jianchu released his clenched hand, lightly breathed out, feeling serene.
His expression was calm, very composed as he said, “I choose Princess Lena.”