In short, with no escape route, Yu Xia still obediently went to join the filming of the variety show.
On June 2nd, the talent show "Limited Youth" officially premiered.
The production team made a grand purchase of equipment from Zhipu Electronics, emulating the format of a recently trending variety show to conduct full livestreaming.
They even secured a huge place to accommodate everyone inside.
Showtime.
A hundred trainees gradually walked through a bright cultural corridor and gathered in an oversized rehearsal room, greeting each other and introducing themselves.
The young men, full of energy, spoke and laughed loudly, their voices carrying far.
Meanwhile, Yu Xia was in the lounge with the other three mentors.
She listened to the lively sounds, reclining against her seat lost in thought.
Next to her, Shu Ran was touching up her makeup, while Yu Kuang and He Mingjie chatted with her.
The conversation naturally shifted to Yu Xia.
Shu Ran closed her compact, revealing an intelligent and graceful smile: "Yu Xia, right? Are you nervous?"
Yu Xia came to her senses: "A little bit, it's my first time participating in this kind of variety show."
Yu Kuang, a handsome man in his thirties, quite active, joked after hearing her words:
"Yu Xia, how come you're joining this variety show? Netizens are worried you might fall in love here."
Yu Xia chuckled: "Ha, with all the frequent fake rumors, my agent has gone a bit crazy, saying she'll use poison to combat poison by sending me here."
Yu Kuang and He Mingjie both laughed.
"Using poison to combat poison can be used like this?"
"Better keep it in check, I've noticed some of the trainees here are quite good-looking."
Shu Ran inquired about the previous rumors: "Is it true about you and Yuan Wang?"
"It's false, I've clarified, but nobody believes it."
She sounded resigned, and Shu Ran chuckled: "Depends on how fake it is, sometimes netizens only believe their own speculation."
Yu Xia contemplated: "Let's put it this way, it's as fake as your exposed relationship with Huai."
Shu Ran's graceful smile vanished: "...indeed, that's quite fake."
After this brief exchange, the crew came to remind them it was time to go on stage.
This was the mentors' first meeting with the hundred trainees, set in that rehearsal room.
Each mentor also had gifts to give to the trainees—the production team would reimburse to a limit.
When the four of them entered the rehearsal room, the lively discussion paused for a moment, followed by a surge of louder cheering and screaming.
Just how intense is the scream of a hundred people?
Yu Xia felt like she was going to get tinnitus.
She kept her eyes lowered, without closely examining the young people, following Shu Ran onto the stage.
Yet, perhaps due to a psychological effect, she felt a burning gaze subtly fixed on her.
Shu Ran, acting as an experience officer, essentially a host, adeptly greeted everyone with a microphone.
"You're all so enthusiastic, I hope you keep this energy throughout the next two months. I'm Shu Ran, the experience officer, nice to meet you all."
The crowd below roared with appreciation again, with someone loudly asking.
"Shu Ran! When will 'Different Variety Show' season two be filmed?"
"Shu Ran, did you go on vacation with Huai and the others recently?"
Day in and day out, focusing solely on these gossips.
Shu Ran just smiled without speaking, prompting the other three to introduce themselves.
Yu Xia took a small breath, her gaze landing on the hundred green young boys below.
She didn't intentionally look at anyone, but quickly scanned through, one steadfast figure among them particularly caught her eye.
"Hello everyone," she forced a professional smile, "I'm Yu Xia, over the next two months, I'll be your most useless mentor, spending a memorable and limited summer together."
This round of cheering was equally loud.
Although no one directly asked "are you here to ruin us or what?" many expressed ambiguous smiles.
Some were even blushing preemptively.
Geez, so awkward.
Afterward, Yu Kuang and He Mingjie introduced themselves, and the four mentors sat down, chatting equally with everyone.
Shu Ran and the other two brought out their gifts for the trainees, mostly food and drinks, and small signed cards.
The former were mostly products they endorsed, sponsored by brands, the latter were more popular, and a hundred placed together filled just one box.
Then it was Yu Xia's turn to present her gift.
She had the staff drag over a super large cardboard box.
With scissors in hand, she prepared to open it, and since her hands were occupied, Shu Ran assisted by holding the microphone.
Before unpacking, Yu Xia sighed standing in front of the box.
"This gift represents my agent's earnest message to me, and also the gentle advice from the netizens to you all."
A restless young man couldn't hold back, jumping up to ask, "So what is it, Yu Xia?"
She tore open the box, pulled out a packaged piece of clothing, and gave everyone a look.
Monks embracing lotus flowers, pure and detached.
The text below was modified—No romance in the heart, naturally cool in song and dance.
Other three mentors: "..."
The hundred trainees: "..."
"Pfft—"
The first episode's bullet comments became active.
[Haha, Yu Xia is also quite funny]
[I've seen people flaunt love, but never saw someone print advice on their chest]
[I also want one of these shirts, love it/dog head emoji]
[A few of the guys here are really handsome! A glance and they stand out]
[No need, no need, just don't go for the lads, don't sever ties, give me a chance]
[There's a hottie in the middle, so right! A hottie glows even in the corner, love it love it!]
When the laughter in the rehearsal room softened, Shu Ran suggested the four should personally hand out the shirts.
Yu Xia couldn't turn it down, so she swiftly chose to start distributing at the farthest corner.
The young lads accepted the shirts while chatting cheerfully with her.
"Yu Xia, you're so pretty."
"Yu Xia, you're so fun."
"Yu Xia, you're not even daring to look at us?"
Yu Xia matter-of-factly: "Male and female should keep their distance, you're too young, even a glance feels like offending you."
They all laughed and nudged each other.
Such great atmosphere, Yu Xia stood among a bunch of boys, like a wild rose sprouting amid weeds, vivid and beautiful.
She was indeed the bold and colorful type.
Featured with bright and exquisite facial features, a shapely figure, and notably wearing a red cropped top and black cargo pants today, accentuating her bright skin.
Too conspicuous.
Like a butterfly fluttering in the vegetable patch.
Borderline girl.
Xie Qingci withdrew his muted gaze, accepted the shirt handed to him, and whispered a "thank you" to Shu Ran.
Shu Ran glanced at him a couple of times.
This young man was notably different from those around him.
Taut brows, clean and sharp facial lines, with a slight mole on the bridge of his nose, long dense lashes visible when he lowered his gaze.
With pursed lips, his face sported a cool and indifferent demeanor, somewhat intimidating.
Like...what to compare it with? Using Mu Qiu's melodramatic prose:
A hottie.
Never mind, she couldn't get melodramatic enough.