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“Fourth Brother, the family bucket!” As soon as she got off work, Jiang Beibei rushed to Meow Meow Mi with three large buckets of fried chicken. “Did you set up the projector?”
Song Lang laughed. “Didn’t you say there wouldn’t be a family bucket for me today?”
Huang Yuandao, who had followed Jiang Beibei into the shop, asked, “What’s going on?”
Jiang Beibei explained, “It’s that super boring yet classic question that causes countless couples and families to bicker—if both you and Song Da Miao fell into the water, who do you think Fourth Brother would save?”
“Who did he say he’d save?”
“You,” Jiang Beibei replied. “My Fourth Brother told me to cling to Song Da Miao and sink together. So today’s family bucket doesn’t include Fourth Brother!”
Huang Yuandao exclaimed, “That’s too cruel! How could he save me first? He should save Song Da Miao first!!”
Jiang Beibei retorted, “Yuandao, our friendship is over!”
A little later, Tang Xizhou walked in, and Huang Yuandao greeted him, “Tang Second Brother, I owe you my thanks.”
“Did the ratings break records?”
“They did, even online views broke records—you’re something else!”
Tang Xizhou chuckled. “Tonight, we’ll have to toast one drink.”
“Hey! What are you talking about? I’ll propose the toast!” Huang Yuandao continued, “I analyzed it—the most popular segment was definitely the SWAT competition. The clip they posted on the official blog had over a million clicks in just one day. And then, three days ago, it exploded in popularity, especially after your mom helped boost it—it was insane!”
“Do you know I changed my phone number?” Tang Xizhou smiled. “Write down my new number.”
“Are girls still coming around?”
“Yeah…” Tang Xizhou sighed with a mix of amusement and frustration. “They’ve been showing up these past few days too.”
Jiang Beibei, munching on fried chicken, added, “Some even made it to our family building.”
Song Lang said, “I’m looking at those smart intercom doors for the hallway—I’m planning to bring one back tomorrow and install it.”
Huang Yuandao laughed. “Oh, it’s gotten this serious? We intentionally blurred the address in our program, but somehow people still managed to dig it out…”
“It’s my mom’s fault,” Tang Xizhou admitted frankly. “Honestly, most young women these days are quite reserved. If you don’t mention finding a partner, who would come running to bother you? It’s all because of my mom’s matchmaking announcement.”
When everyone arrived, the show began.
Jiang Beibei leaned against Chu Yao, drinking cola. During the segment showing Song Lang’s training session, she stared intently, her nerves on edge.
When Song Lang successfully cleared an obstacle in the video, Jiang Beibei clapped and exclaimed, “Fourth Brother looks so cool! I’m falling in love with someone else for a second!”
Tang Xizhou teased, “Why does that line sound so familiar? Last week, wasn’t there someone else who said the same thing to me?”
“That was me!” Jiang Beibei raised her hand. “It was me! Second Brother, let me have two ships for a second!”
Huang Yuandao laughed at her. “Next week, when it’s Chu Yao’s turn, I wonder what you’ll say.”
“Yao Ge looks so cool, forever devoted!” Jiang Beibei quickly followed up. “I’ve already prepared my lines—I’m just waiting for the episode to air so I can praise each one!”
“Jealous of you,” Huang Yuandao remarked. “You can joke like this, and Chu Yao won’t even get mad.”
Chu Yao responded, “I was about to get mad for a second, but when she said ‘forever devoted,’ I decided not to.”
Qin Yuan chimed in, “In half a month, when it’s my turn, Beibei, promise me you’ll fall for me for a second.”
“Third Brother, I can give you an extra second.”
Chu Yao interjected, “Just two seconds—he can’t have more than that.”
Huang Yuandao, ever the veteran driver, picked up on the double meaning and burst into laughter.
Chu Yao thought, “...There was no hidden meaning... Oh well, let it go.”
Qin Yuan suddenly realized the implication amid Huang Yuandao’s laughter and pointed at his glasses. “Yao, do you see my lenses? Are they reflecting light? Watch it—when my lenses start reflecting, that’s when our brotherhood ends!”
Tang Xizhou handed them each a stick of fries, feeding one to Qin Yuan and one to Chu Yao. “How about trying contact lenses?”
________________________________________
Everyone who participated in The People Around Us was asked one particular question:
“Do you have someone you like?”
In the end, as human beings, we cannot escape matters of emotion and love. These are also the topics that capture the most interest from audiences.
Do you have someone you like?
This question became a staple of The People Around Us after six years of broadcasting.
“Like” is a subtle expression of love—it’s gentler. Even someone as shy as Jiang Beibei could answer it without hesitation.
And “someone”—this word carries no gender restrictions or constraints. Respondents can express themselves freely while also concealing their true feelings.
In Tang Xizhou’s episode, when asked this question, he replied, “Yes, I love him.”
The subtitles later clarified: “I love her (him).”
The host didn’t press further about who this person was but instead asked Tang Xizhou how he defined love.
Tang Xizhou smiled and answered, “To transcend life and death, to spend a lifetime together, never betraying.”
Song Lang’s episode had a cheerful and lively tone, enhanced by his humorous demeanor, making the atmosphere light and fun.
When asked the same question, Song Lang replied, “How could I not? There are many—I like everyone. Yes, everyone. Every living or deceased person who has ever existed—I like them all. Because of them, I have this world to live in now. Yes, truly everyone… Not out of universal love, but every morning when I wake up, I’m happy. Whether alive or dead, I’m happy because I’ve lived. I’ve experienced this wonderful world.”
Song Lang continued, “Music, movies, games, art, my family, my brothers who’ve fought alongside me, my rivals, my older and younger brothers, my sister, everyone I know—I like them all. Every day, thinking about how they’re still with me makes me happy. Think about it—isn’t that the truth? When I die, I’ll have no regrets because I’ve seen and embraced all the beauty this world has to offer. It’s been a lucky journey. The universe is vast, and generation after generation, we’ve built society, order, and all these beautiful things—they’re miracles. Every day, I’m surrounded by miracles. The more I think about it, the more I love this world. Thank you, Earth. Thank you, miracles.”
At first, Jiang Beibei wanted to laugh, but as she listened further, she softly exclaimed, “Wow, Fourth Brother—you’ve reached philosophical heights!”
Song Lang shrugged. “Ah, while I’m on TV, I might as well show off. This is the kind of stuff I think about every day.”
Huang Yuandao nodded. “Because of that, I couldn’t bear to edit it out. Initially, we planned to add some fluff, but after discussing it, we decided it was better to leave it in. Big Song radiates positivity—it’s genuine.”
Jiang Beibei agreed. “I agree.”
“Big Song is a treasure, Beibei. Thanks.”
“No problem.” Jiang Beibei smiled. “I originally thought you two were alike when I introduced you. That you ended up together is fate.”
Huang Yuandao draped an arm around Song Lang’s neck. “Big Treasure, shall we go home this weekend?”
Song Lang was still fixated on the door. “Wait until I install the anti-theft door tomorrow and get a haircut.”
“We’ll handle the door installation—you’re not the only one with hands. You go meet Yuandao’s parents. That’s more important.”
Tang Xizhou took charge of installing the anti-theft door at the entrance of the hallway. However, the next day, a meeting at the bureau forced him to ask for leave in the group chat. The remaining members found time to install the door themselves.
Jiang Beibei volunteered to drive Chu Yao to pick up the anti-theft door. Together with Qin Yuan, the three of them spent half a day figuring it out before finally calling a professional installer to put it up.
When Jiang Beibei’s grandmother went out to buy groceries and saw the new door, she asked, “What’s this for?”
Jiang Beibei replied, “Anti-theft.”
“Nonsense,” her grandmother scoffed. “In a police station’s jurisdiction, what thief would dare come?”
“To prevent love thieves,” Jiang Beibei joked, pointing at Tang Xizhou’s place. “Help my Second Brother block unwanted admirers.”
Her grandmother fell silent.
The old woman was practically a gossip hub. Whether it was news from East Mountain or Unit Two, any tidbit eventually reached her ears. Thus, she had also heard about the incident between Yan Qingming and Tang Xizhou.
Seeing her silence, Jiang Beibei grew nervous. “Uh, Grandma, don’t suddenly stop talking.”
Her grandmother whispered, “Qingming and Xiao Tang?”
“I knew you’d know!” Jiang Beibei exclaimed, her face pale with shock. “Grandma, who told you? Don’t spread rumors!”
“The neighbors from East Mountain overheard something during the chaos at Lao Yan’s house,” her grandmother waved dismissively. “It’s fine—I won’t say anything.”
Jiang Beibei sighed in relief. She trusted her grandmother’s integrity.
“When your grandfather was alive, there were two similar cases in his building—neighbors living upstairs and downstairs, neither marrying. Later, during that period, they were targeted... Sigh...” Her grandmother shook her head. “It’s better not to talk about it. People’s hearts are unpredictable—who knows who might stab you in the back? I won’t say anything. If anyone asks, I’ll tell them it never happened.”
Jiang Beibei blinked. “Grandma, bravo!”
________________________________________
After work on Monday, Jiang Beibei sent Chu Yao a two-word message: “Yao Yao.”
After sending it, she felt it was too straightforward and added a cute heart emoji.
Half an hour later, Chu Yao called. “Are you going out tonight? I’ve finished work and am heading home.”
“Mm, I’ll choose the place and send it to you later. Come find me.”
However, after hanging up, she noticed Song Lang asking in the group chat if anyone wanted to gather at his shop for dinner.
Eldest Brother: “Overtime.”
Second Brother: “Same.”
Jiang Beibei quickly added, “I’m working overtime too.”
Qin Yuan: “Raising my hand.”
Chu Yao: “Count me in.”
Song Lang: “Alright, let’s call it off.”
________________________________________
Jiang Beibei returned to the hotel with the hot spring buffet again. This time, she was smarter—she switched her phone to vibrate mode and grabbed a plate to fill with food.
While waiting for ice cream, a pair of hands covered her eyes. A voice, deliberately altered, teased, “Guess who I am.”
She heard Yan Qingming say, “Don’t scare the kids.”
Jiang Beibei guessed, “Second Brother.”
Tang Xizhou released her and teased, “Oh, working overtime, huh?”
“Isn’t Second Brother also working overtime?”
Yan Qingming: “Every time I come here, you catch me.”
When Chu Yao arrived at the restaurant and saw Tang Xizhou and Yan Qingming sitting beside Jiang Beibei, he was slightly shocked.
“...Huh? Eldest Brother and Second Brother?”
“Look at how startled Yao is,” Tang Xizhou joked. “You’re mistaken—your Eldest Brother and Second Brother are really working overtime. Young man, we don’t know you.”
Chu Yao thought, “...Working overtime is such a good excuse.”
________________________________________
The next day, Song Lang suggested gathering at his shop again.
Chu Yao: “Overtime.”
Tang Xizhou: “Hey hey, Yao, take it easy with the overtime this week.”
Yan Qingming: “Yeah, overtime isn’t good for your health.”
Jiang Beibei: “...He’s really working overtime. Fourth Brother, I’ll come over today.”
Qin Yuan: “Wait a minute—I feel something’s off!”
Song Lang: “I suddenly want to ask those who claimed they were working overtime yesterday—were you really working overtime?”
Qin Yuan: “...I’m starting to think maybe I’m the only one who was actually working overtime.”
Three seconds later.
Qin Yuan: “...I’m angry!”
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