Chapter 421 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Tang Tang, Long Time No See (04)
By the time Heng Xingjian found out, the guest lineup for “Wild Extreme” was already full.
Of course, Heng Xingjian knew just how brutal this show was. Countless artists with flawless public images had joined with smiles, only to leave in tears, their dignity completely shattered.
The more embarrassing the artists became, the higher the ratings climbed. And it seemed the production team had grown addicted—going further and further down the path of pranks. Not only did the guests have to struggle to survive in the wilderness, they also had to stay on guard against the show’s endless traps.
Heng Xingjian recalled the boy’s frail figure, and his heart clenched. The production team would never miss a chance to create sensational moments. Tangtang’s previous scandal had already damaged his reputation, and the audience was just waiting to see him make a fool of himself. The show would definitely focus all its early attention on Bai Tang.
Just imagining Bai Tang being pranked to the point of teary eyes, while the people around him watched coldly, no one stepping in to help—Heng Xingjian felt a sharp, unbearable ache in his chest.
Ignoring Assistant Yan’s attempts to stop him, he insisted on joining “Wild Extreme.”
Assistant Yan looked like he was about to cry. “Ge, my dear brother—you’re a Best Actor! Isn’t this ruining your image and lowering your status…?”
With a resentful expression, Assistant Yan tried to persuade him, but Heng Xingjian remained unmoved. “I’ll call the production team myself.”
Assistant Yan: “!!! No, no—I’ll do it! I’ll handle it!”
Heng Xingjian had never used his influence to pressure others before. This was the first time.
When Assistant Yan revealed Heng Xingjian’s name, the production team was beyond thrilled.
An artist of Heng Xingjian’s caliber was someone they had never even dreamed of inviting. Now that he was volunteering to join, forget the fact that the guest list was already full—even if there were issues with the venue, they would still do everything possible to ensure the show aired on schedule.
“Wild Extreme” began filming as planned. Bai Tang currently had no agency or manager, so he could only carry a backpack on his own, bring along his two little dogs, and take the bus to the production team’s hall.
He arrived relatively early—not because he intended to, but because all the other guests were more famous than him and tended to arrive later.
Bai Tang didn’t mind. After signing in, he found a quiet corner and stayed there.
The two puppies were inside his backpack. Xiao A was well-behaved, but Qiu’er couldn’t sit still at all, constantly poking his head out to look around.
“Qiu’er, is it too stuffy inside the bag? If you come out, don’t run around, okay~” The boy’s voice was soft and sweet, his expression gentle as he carefully lifted the little husky out. After taking care of Qiu’er, he naturally didn’t forget Xiao A.
A tiny husky and a little golden retriever circled around the boy’s feet. The boy picked them up affectionately, kissing each of them once. “Everyone gets a kiss—no one gets left out.” As a good host, he believed in treating them equally; he wouldn’t favor one and neglect the other.
Flustered by Bai Tang’s kisses, Qiu’er’s face seemed to flush red. The little dog sprawled in the boy’s arms as if drunk, eyes hazy, happily sticking out his tongue.
Bai Tang thought the show hadn’t started yet, completely unaware that, because a Best Actor Heng was joining this episode, the production team had secretly changed the format—filming began the moment the guests walked in.
From the instant the boy entered to the way he interacted with the puppies, everything was captured on camera.
[“Did the production team run out of people or something? Why invite someone like him?”]
[“What do you mean “someone like him”? He has a name—learn some respect, will you?!”]
[“Wow, that’s so cute. Now I want to get a dog too.”]
[“Bai Tang seems even better-looking than he was six months ago. Sure, he has a stunning face, but the internet never forgets—I still remember what happened back then.”]
[“I have a dog too. The way Tang Tang looks at his dogs is so affectionate. You can’t fake that kind of love.”]
[“Oh please, it’s just image marketing. What’s the point? Once he’s on the show, he’ll still get scared out of his wits—probably crying for his mom in under ten minutes…”]
[“Get lost, the person above! You’re the one who’ll cry! Our Tang Tang is the best—you just can’t stand seeing others do well, can you?”]
[“I remember the show used to start filming only after all the guests arrived and they began checking luggage. The rules changed this episode—Bai Tang probably has no idea…”]
[“I don’t care. If the “villain” is handsome enough, my morals will follow my eyes. I’m stanning Bai Tang!”]
The online chatter was constant—it hadn’t stopped since Bai Tang appeared.
The production team was very satisfied with the show’s rising popularity. Inviting Bai Tang despite the risks had indeed been the right decision.
Unaware of everything happening, the boy took out a comb and began brushing Xiao A’s fur.
The second guest to arrive was Ke Liangong, an artist who had been out of the spotlight for three years. This show marked the first step of his comeback—if he performed well, he could quickly win back the audience and return to center stage.
After signing in and entering the waiting room, Ke Liangong noticed a boy in the corner playing with two dogs. Though he didn’t recognize him, he approached with a polite attitude, setting down his luggage to greet him.
“Hello, I’m Ke Liangong.”
Hearing the voice, the boy looked up. His clear, almond-shaped eyes were bright and slightly dazed, almost identical—ninety percent alike—to Qiu’er’s gaze when the little dog lifted its head at the sound. Pure and childlike, so beautiful that it made people hesitate to say anything more, as if afraid of breaking the quiet moment.
[“I’m dead. How can Bai Tang be this cute? I’m going to stan him, I am!”]
[“Hey, calm down. Did you forget what happened six months ago? He’s an actor—it’s just acting.”]
[“It’s Ke Liangong! Didn’t he retire? I can’t believe I get to see him again—this is amazing…”]
The boy smiled slightly, shallow dimples appearing on both cheeks. “Hello, Senior Ke. I’m Bai Tang~”
Before coming here, Bai Tang had done his homework with Qiu’er and Xiao A. He already knew who would be participating this time—the guests’ status, preferences, and backgrounds.
Ke Liangong, a Best Actor who had been forced into hiatus three years ago due to a work-related injury, was known for his gentle personality. He had no airs about him and was easy to get along with.
Ke Liangong was momentarily dazzled by the boy’s smile and froze for a brief second.
“If you don’t mind, you can just call me Brother Ke. Being called ‘senior’ makes me feel old,” Ke Liangong said. True to his gentle nature, his words were warm and soothing, putting people instantly at ease.
“Are these your dogs?” As a dog lover himself, Ke Liangong quickly shifted the conversation to the puppies. He didn’t pry into Bai Tang’s status or background, avoiding any potential awkwardness.
“Yes, this is Qiu’er.” Bai Tang pointed to the husky in his arms, then reached down to stroke the one by his feet. “And this is Xiao A.”
Just as the two of them were chatting enthusiastically about the dogs, the other guests began arriving one after another. Unlike Ke Liangong—who had stepped away from the industry to recover and was unaware of recent entertainment news—these newcomers recognized Bai Tang immediately. Some openly, others subtly, curled their lips in disdain, clearly looking down on him. They found seats and struck up conversations with other guests instead.
Liu Lingfan had recently gained some recognition and was being heavily promoted, leaving her with a packed schedule. Having just finished filming an MV, she hurried over to the “Wild Extreme” studio. She arrived relatively late, and by the time she entered, most of the seats were already taken.
“Hello, seniors, I’m Liu Lingfan.” She maintained a lively, youthful persona, which actually matched her real personality quite well. Everyone recognized her as a rising newcomer strongly backed by Xingyu Entertainment. Out of courtesy to her agency, they all stood up and greeted her warmly.
After exchanging greetings, Liu Lingfan noticed Bai Tang in the corner, playing with the dogs alongside a man. Just as she was about to go over and say hello, the door behind her opened again.
This time, it was Li Manpei, a trending young star who rose to fame last year, known for her sweet and obedient girl-next-door image.
“Wow, there are so many seniors here! Hello, everyone—I’m Li Manpei. This is my first time participating in a variety show, so please take care of me,” she said in a sweet voice. Dressed in a pink short skirt, she looked especially cute. She took out small boxes from a bag and handed them out to everyone. “I made these cookies myself. I hope you won’t mind.”
With that, all the guest slots were filled, and everyone had arrived. The livestream chat exploded with comments.
[“It’s Manpei! Peipei, I love you!”]
[“Peipei is still so sweet and considerate /starry eyes/”]
[“I’m here for Fanfan—Fanfan is the best!”]
…
Each guest had their own fanbase, and the livestream’s popularity continued to soar.
After handing out cookies to the seated guests, Li Manpei still had two boxes left. She walked over and smiled. “Senior, I’m Li Manpei, you—” The rest of her sentence caught in her throat the moment Bai Tang lifted his gaze.
A flicker of shock flashed through Li Manpei’s eyes, and her gaze wavered for a moment before she quickly regained composure. Putting on a smile, she continued, “I made these cookies myself. Since you arrived early, you must be hungry. If you don’t mind, have some to fill your stomach.”
To boost ratings and create buzz, the production team kept their focus on the trending celebrities. Li Manpei’s moment of shock was captured clearly by the cameras, and her antis immediately began stirring things up.
[“Li Manpei looks really surprised. Did she do something guilty and now feels nervous seeing the person involved?”]
[“She’s probably scared to face Bai Tang. Back then, Bai Tang treated her so well, but when something happened, she trampled him mercilessly.”]
[“It was Bai Tang who didn’t behave properly, okay? What does that have to do with our Peipei…”]
In order to attack Li Manpei, her antis didn’t hesitate to praise Bai Tang while stepping on her. The two were from the same agency, and Li Manpei’s rapid rise to fame within just a year had actually been helped along by Bai Tang.
“Thank you, Peipei,” Bai Tang said, following the original host’s memories when speaking to her. His serene smile was refreshing, and some viewers who didn’t know much about him found their impression of him improving rapidly.
“You’re welcome. I’ll go take a seat first,” Li Manpei replied with a nod before hurrying away. Watching her retreating figure, there was an unmistakable hint of awkwardness—almost like she was fleeing in embarrassment.
Finally able to get away, Liu Lingfan went over to greet Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, how have you been lately?”
Seeing that it was the female lead, Bai Tang smiled. “Pretty good. I’ve been eating well, and my parents’ health has been stable.”
The two spoke with an easy familiarity. Instead of stiff, polite exchanges, their conversation felt more like casual family chatter, leaving the audience dumbfounded.
[“Are we sure this is ‘Wild Extreme’ and not ‘Everyday Family Life’?”]
Just as the viewers began to question reality, the waiting room doors opened once more. Heng Xingjian walked in, dressed casually, his steps steady and confident.
[“Ahhh—It’s Heng Xingjian! I’m not seeing things, am I?!”]
[“In my lifetime, I get to see a Best Actor Heng on a variety show—oh my god, the production team is amazing.”]
[“My god, what do the earlier guests even count as? In front of Heng Xingjian, they’re nothing.”]
[“I’m dead—I’m saying it now, I’m stanning the Best Actor Heng for sure. No one can change my mind—this is my chosen idol!!!”]
The atmosphere in the livestream exploded the moment Heng Xingjian appeared. More and more viewers flooded in, the surge in traffic nearly causing the stream to lag.
The guests held their breath as they watched the almost otherworldly Heng Xingjian stride in. And then…
He walked straight toward the corner, extended his hand to Bai Tang, and said, “Tang Tang, long time no see.”
Author’s Note:
Lock this “picking sugar (eating sweets)” CP in place for me!!! (i.e., this sweet pairing is officially sealed!)