Chapter 18#

Chapter 18: Program Recording#

After a simple breakfast, the phone rang right on cue.

It was Song Hui. The program they were to appear on the next day carried considerable weight, and Qin Feng took it very seriously. He had Song Hui pick up Lu Yan in the afternoon and bring him to the company to prepare in advance.

Lu Yan asked Song Hui to come pick him up after lunch and then hung up. A full day off had turned into a half day, but Lu Yan didn’t complain. This is how the industry worked—if you wanted to look your best in front of others, you had to put in even more effort behind the scenes.

When he arrived at the company in the afternoon, Shan Chuyu and Song Tiantian were also there. Since the three of them were scheduled to appear on the program together the next day, Lu Yan wasn’t surprised to see them.

The program they were to appear on the next day was called “Speak from the Heart.” The host, Shu Hang, was a top figure in the industry. In his nearly twenty-year career, he had won the Golden Microphone Award so many times it was almost routine. Although it was just a talk show, the guests invited were usually highly influential, mostly the most popular figures of the moment. Coupled with Shu Hang’s sharp yet witty hosting style, the show consistently enjoyed high ratings.

The group made a rough prediction of the questions and topics that might come up the next day and then discussed how to respond appropriately—neither losing their decorum nor coming across as boring.

After that, they chatted casually. Although the afternoon was ostensibly for preparing in advance for the show, most of the time was actually spent in casual conversation. Still, strengthening their rapport and mutual understanding was also part of the goal. Previously, they had only met on set, so they were familiar enough with each other, but rarely had they been so relaxed. Afterward, they had a group dinner. When it was over, Shan Chuyu suggested going to a bar since it was still early. Lu Yan rarely frequented such places, but back in school, a bunch of guys often went out at night to eat and drink. It was just a different setting; he had no trouble adapting. However, having been exhausted lately, he called it an early night and went back to rest.

The next day’s recording was scheduled for the evening, but the group arrived at the TV station just after three in the afternoon. Considering the time needed for makeup and familiarizing themselves with the process, it wasn’t early at all.

Before the recording began, they met the host, Shu Hang. Before his rebirth, Lu Yan had struggled in the entertainment industry for nearly a decade without ever being qualified to appear on Shu Hang’s show. Now, after only two films, he had this opportunity—truly, circumstances outweighed effort.

Although Shu Hang was over forty, he looked young, always had a smile on his face, and was easygoing and pleasant to get along with, which made him very popular in the industry. When hosting, he would occasionally throw out tricky questions, but he was also good at helping guests out of awkward situations. He rarely let anyone lose face. As a result, regardless of the type of show, he could easily invite high-profile guests. And high-profile guests boosted ratings, which in turn attracted more popular artists to his show—a virtuous cycle.

Whenever the station planned a new show, they always liked to have Shu Hang host it first. Once the show gained popularity, they would replace him with another host. Over the years, this had happened many times, and Shu Hang had never been angry or dissatisfied. He was always willing to cooperate and remained dedicated and professional year after year. The station relied on him and felt guilty, but his top-dog status was unshakable.

“Speak from the Heart” was one of the few shows that Shu Hang had consistently hosted, which spoke to its importance. Despite the somewhat cliché title, the engaging content and the strong performances of the host and guests kept ratings high every episode.

Lu Yan gained a deeper appreciation for the show’s popularity after personally participating in the recording. The audience consisted of college students from nearby schools. When the host appeared, he was met with great enthusiasm, applause, and cheers. When the guests came on, there was another explosion of excitement. Seeing his own name glowing in the audience again, Lu Yan felt a subtle sense of wonder even though he was used to it.

The show began with a round of self-introductions, followed by a few interactive games. The atmosphere became livelier, and they naturally transitioned into the interview.

Initially, the conversation focused on the upcoming movie set for the New Year holiday and anecdotes from the set. The three of them even playfully exposed each other’s embarrassing moments, drawing bursts of laughter from the audience.

When the topic turned to the relationships among the three characters in the film, Shan Chuyu eagerly spoke up. “The relationships among us three in the movie are pretty complicated.”

Shu Hang asked, “Is it a love triangle? Do both of you like Tiantian?”

Shan Chuyu blinked and smiled cutely. He put an arm around Lu Yan, who was sitting next to him. “This guy and I even have an intimate scene in the movie.”

“Wow!” The audience erupted—mostly female screams.

Lu Yan smiled calmly. “It’s not that exaggerated. We just have a drink together, and we almost kiss.”

Shu Hang teased, “Sounds like there’s a bit of regret there.”

Shan Chuyu nodded along. “Yeah, it’s a shame. If we had actually kissed, I would have taken this guy’s on-screen first kiss. But I’m scared I’d get hunted down by his fans.”

Lu Yan countered with a smile, “You have way more fans than I do. If anyone should be scared, it’s me.”

Shu Hang smiled meaningfully. “You two seem really close. It doesn’t feel like this is your first collaboration.”

Song Tiantian finally seized the opportunity to chime in. “They’re like this all the time on set. It’s blinding. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the third wheel.”

Shu Hang laughed along, then steered the conversation back. “I’m curious, though—under what circumstances did you almost kiss?”

Shan Chuyu replied, “Well, I’ll have to keep that a secret for now. You’ll have to go to the theater to find out.”

Shu Hang smiled. “Chuyu is really dedicated, always promoting. So, ladies who just screamed, remember to go support the movie when it comes out.”

The audience responded with affirmations.

In the middle of the show, there was another small game. This year marked Shan Chuyu’s tenth anniversary since his debut. A few pre-arranged fans came onstage with flowers and gifts for Shan Chuyu, hugging him one by one and offering blessings. Soon, their eyes reddened, and the atmosphere became warm and touching.

When the fans returned to their seats, Shu Hang lightened the mood. “I remember Chuyu started as a singer. Ten years ago, Lu Yan must have been in middle school, right?”

Lu Yan nodded. “Yes, I was still in junior high.”

Shu Hang continued, “Back then, Chuyu’s songs were huge across the country. Did Lu Yan listen to them?”

Lu Yan smiled. “The lead single from his first album should be ‘Nightfall.’”

“Is that right?” Shu Hang asked.

Shan Chuyu’s eyes were still bright, and he nodded.

Shu Hang said, “Do you remember how it goes? Lu Yan, sing us a couple of lines.”

Without hesitation, Lu Yan sang the chorus a cappella.

When Shan Chuyu debuted, he was still young and his voice was very fresh. Lu Yan’s voice, however, was clear with a touch of magnetism, giving the song a unique flavor.

As soon as he finished, Shu Hang led the applause and joked, “I didn’t expect Lu Yan to sing so well. And I’m even more surprised that you remember a ten-year-old song so clearly. If this wasn’t pre-planned, I’d have to say, this is true love.”

The audience burst into laughter, followed by chants of “Get together, get together…”

Shu Hang had excellent control over the conversation’s rhythm. After the little interlude, he slowly steered things back to the movie.

Shu Hang asked, “In the movie, it seems like Chuyu and Tiantian are always getting into trouble, causing all sorts of situations, and Lu Yan is the one who cleans things up. Is it like that in real life too?”

Shan Chuyu laughed. “I can be a bit careless sometimes, but not as exaggerated as in the movie. And Tiantian is just a little scatterbrained. But Lu Yan really knows how to take care of people. And his assistant is just too thoughtful—I’d love to steal him.”

Lu Yan smiled. “I’ll tell Song Hui you praised him. But don’t even think about poaching him—I barely managed to snatch him from Director Li.”

Shu Hang asked, “Director Li, as in Li Ran?”

Lu Yan nodded. “Yes.”

Shu Hang praised, “I also saw the trailer for ‘Blade.’ It’s amazing. The officer you played in it really tugged at the heartstrings. But speaking of which, your two characters, though different in temperament, are both the steady type. Don’t you think they’re a bit mature for someone your age?”

Lu Yan smiled. “Maybe directors just think I look more mature.”

Shu Hang shifted the topic. “Is that related to you coming from a single-parent family?”

Lu Yan was taken aback. Public figures have little privacy—everything from their ancestors to their present could be dug up. This wasn’t exactly a secret family matter, so Lu Yan had never been shy about it, but he was surprised it came up now. He quickly recovered, and his smile faded slightly. “Maybe. My mother was in poor health, so I had to take care of myself from a young age.”

Shu Hang’s tone was sympathetic. “I imagine that must have been very hard.”

Lu Yan admired how effortlessly Shu Hang could evoke emotion, but he had no intention of playing the tragic card. He smiled instead. “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. But I don’t think I’m particularly unfortunate. Life’s hardships temper you to make you stronger.”

After some more conversation, the recording ended.

The show aired the following week.

That night, after the broadcast, a post appeared on a certain niche fandom site: “Did anyone watch today’s ‘Speak from the Heart’? Rejoice! Little Shou Shan finally found a good Gong! Pure fans stay out.” The thread grew several floors, analyzing every male costar Shan Chuyu had worked with since his debut, all the way up to his newest collaborator, Lu Yan.

After the show, Lu Yan’s background was thoroughly exposed in the entertainment section of a certain community. From his single-parent family to his mother’s unexpected death to how he supported himself alone—the line he said on the show became a motto of inspiration.

As a result, Lu Yan sparked another wave of discussion online, and soon after, the movie “Blade” officially premiered.