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Psst! We're moving!
On the day of the program recording, Huang Yuandao greeted them at the studio entrance. “I’m really sorry for making you take time out of your busy schedule to record this.”
Jiang Beibei removed her sunglasses and asked, “Did I look cool just now?”
“Let’s do it again,” Huang Yuandao raised his phone. “Quick, let me record a video so you can see how it looks.”
Qin Yuan groaned, “My lady bosses, hurry up! We’re wearing suits—it’s scorching hot!”
Huang Yuandao urged, “Big Song, lead the way. Let’s do it again—walk like you’re James Bond!”
Tang Xizhou teased, “Are we adding Mission: Impossible music in post-production?”
Huang Yuandao grinned. “I think Tang Laoli would make a better editor than me. Guys, perk up—let’s go!”
Song Lang quipped, “Little Huang has the makings of a madam. That last shout almost made me think the next line was ‘time to entertain.’”
Yan Qingming sighed helplessly. “Song Lang, don’t say things like that…”
Tang Xizhou chimed in, “Are you implying we’re a male escort troupe now?”
Qin Yuan smirked. “If we are, we’re definitely the hottest one.”
Chu Yao deadpanned, “I’m married—I’m out.”
Qin Yuan shot back, “Dream on!”
Jiang Beibei handed her guitar to Huang Yuandao for safekeeping, then led Chu Yao and her brothers back to the entrance.
“Alright, perfect,” Huang Yuandao instructed. “Line up, Beibei, stand in front. When I say start, walk over, put on your sunglasses, and after seven steps, when I say one-two-three, take them off!”
Before he could shout “start,” Jiang Beibei burst into laughter. “How old are we? Still doing this… so middle-school anime protagonist.”
And right outside her workplace studio, with colleagues watching—how embarrassing.
“You’ve got so many brothers; show them off if you’ve got them. Ready?” Huang Yuandao waved his hand. “Go!”
With her high ponytail and sunglasses, Jiang Beibei led five brothers in black suits and sunglasses from the entrance. On Huang Yuandao’s cue, they all removed their sunglasses simultaneously. Though most of them ended up laughing uncontrollably, they managed to look incredibly suave for at least three seconds.
The handsome men and beautiful woman were a sight to behold, but most importantly, Jiang Beibei’s commanding presence as the leader stood out.
Indeed, with brothers by her side, even walking carried an air of confidence!
“That was so stylish!” Huang Yuandao exclaimed. “You guys should debut as a group. I’ve already thought of a name for you: The Six Agents! I’ll be your manager, and Big Miao will be our mascot! Look, everything’s ready!”
“I’ll be the lead singer!” Jiang Beibei declared. “Main guitarist too.”
“Bassist,” Tang Xizhou joined in the fun. “Big Brother can handle the triangle, Third Brother will drum, Yao Er can play keyboard, and Fourth Brother will just handle the beatboxing.”
Song Lang said, “I’ll be your main dancer, perform some martial arts. The crowd below will scream and faint with excitement.”
Huang Yuandao snorted. “Don’t count on it. Last time you performed for my cousin, he started hiccupping.”
Song Lang scratched his head. “He looked too much like a little girl. I barely started, and he cried.”
“Your gaze is terrifying,” Huang Yuandao nudged Jiang Beibei. “Have you ever seen your Fourth Brother fight?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Beibei nodded. “Before he enlisted, he often took me to boxing matches.”
“Do you find his gaze scary?”
“Not at all,” Jiang Beibei laughed. “I can’t even see his eyes—they’re too small.”
Song Lang snapped, “What did you say? Look at my eyes and say that again!”
Jiang Beibei ran behind Chu Yao, closed her eyes, and said, “Fourth Brother, where are your eyes? Open them wider—I can’t see them!”
“Don’t bully people like that,” Tang Xizhou interjected. “Fourth Brother’s eyes aren’t small. They’re not! I can still see them when I lean close.”
“Second Brother! You’re dead to me!”
Tang Xizhou justified himself. “I’m Beibei’s brother-in-law, not on your side. Feel free to cut ties—I’m not scared.”
Song Lang turned to Chu Yao. “Yao Er, you’re on my side. Say something fair!”
After a long silence, Chu Yao reminisced, “Remember that time we played Werewolf when I first started college?”
“Oh, you mean the night we waited for your college entrance exam results,” Tang Xizhou said. “Yeah, what about it?”
Chu Yao patted Song Lang’s shoulder and continued, “One round, Big Brother was the judge, and Fourth Brother and I were the killers. When the judge told the killers to open their eyes, I looked around but couldn’t figure out who my partner was. I thought it might be Fourth Brother because he was moving, but I couldn’t catch his gaze. He seemed to have his eyes open, but maybe not. Later, I found out he was indeed the other killer. I asked him why he didn’t communicate with me through eye contact. He said, ‘I did—I kept winking at you to kill Second Brother first, but you didn’t listen…’ Sigh, honestly, I really couldn’t tell if his eyes were open.”
Chu Yao let out a long sigh.
Song Lang retorted, “That’s because you’re nearsighted! Your eyesight must’ve been bad!”
Huang Yuandao’s laughter nearly flattened the TV station. “Big Song! What if our kids inherit your tiny eyes?”
Song Lang shrugged. “What can we do? Throw them away? Guess we’ll just raise them as they are!”
Jiang Beibei added mischievously, “Though it might sound harsh, I think my future kids will definitely have big eyes.”
Song Lang huffed, “What’s the point of big eyes? Can glaring hurt people more? Useless!”
Jiang Beibei laughed again. “Let me confess something I’ve never said before—I actually like single-lidded, small-eyed guys.”
Her brothers, including Song Lang, collectively groaned. “Oh, please stop!”
Huang Yuandao shoved Chu Yao forward. “Look at the husband you chose. Tell me honestly—is he single-lidded and small-eyed?”
Jiang Beibei sighed dramatically. “They always say the person you marry isn’t your ideal type…”
“If Big Miao were here, even he wouldn’t be able to bear it!” Song Lang waved his hand dismissively. “Beibei, I know you’re comforting me, no need to say more. If Yao Er weren’t your ideal type, why would you pick him from our bunch of men? Are you doing charity work?”
Chu Yao smiled and asked Jiang Beibei, “Am I your ideal type?”
Jiang Beibei grinned. “You know the answer. I love you.”
Qin Yuan rolled his eyes. “Please spare some dignity for us single folks, thank you.”
During the TV station’s variety show recording, the men, as Huang Yuandao had suggested, simply followed Jiang Beibei and saluted the audience.
Afterward, the brothers watched from the sidelines as Jiang Beibei’s colleagues joked around, cracked jokes, and showcased their talents.
Qin Yuan sat beside Chu Yao. Sweating in the warm studio, he took off his suit jacket and asked Chu Yao, “Should I ask Big Brother and the others if they want water? I’m thirsty—I’ll go buy some.”
From his seat in the aisle, Tang Xizhou gave Qin Yuan a thumbs-up and held up two fingers.
Chu Yao added, “Get me one too.”
Just as Qin Yuan stepped out, Jiang Beibei walked onto the stage with her guitar.
The host of the general channel introduced her. “Here’s Jiang Beibei, reporter for News Focus . Looks like she brought her guitar today—are you going to perform a song for us?”
Jiang Beibei replied, “No, I’m here to perform cotton-spinning. One yuan for seven segments of that skill level. Do you think the station would still let me on TV?”
Host: “We’ll mute your live performance and play a backing track for you. Just lip-sync.”
Jiang Beibei: “What if I mess up?”
Host: “Hahaha, then they’ll definitely dock my pay.”
“Great, so I’m fine, right?” Jiang Beibei adjusted the microphone, sat down, and said, “Sound guy, give me something difficult—how about Mendelssohn’s Wedding March?”
Host: “J Reporter, you’re torturing the sound guy! A guitar and you expect symphonic music?”
“The bigger the dream, the bolder the move.” After finishing her joke, Jiang Beibei got serious. “Alright, today I’ll perform a folk song.”
Host: “Does your ring get in the way? Should I hold it for you?”
Jiang Beibei burst into laughter and removed her ring.
The host examined it under the light, hummed, and pressed it against her guitar. “First, let me ask—this is your wedding ring, right?”
Jiang Beibei nodded.
“The other person—one of the neighbors’ brothers?” the host teased. “This is on behalf of the viewers.”
The camera panned to the brothers in the audience, zooming in on Chu Yao and catching his matching ring.
“You know who it is,” Jiang Beibei smiled. “It feels like the whole country knows I’m getting married…”
“Our little Jiang Reporter has national fame now,” the host joked to the camera. “Recently, advertisers contacted her for endorsements. Tell the audience what product you’re promoting, Reporter Jiang.”
Jiang Beibei stifled a laugh and answered, “Sibling-brand thermal underwear… Pfft.”
Host: “If the company sees this, consider it free advertising from our station.”
The audience chuckled along.
The atmosphere of the small variety show organized by the station was very relaxed. After teasing her, the host helped Jiang Beibei adjust the microphone, and she began her talent showcase.
As soon as she started singing, the audience shouted for her to stop momentarily to confirm authenticity.
Qin Yuan happened to return at that moment, confused. He asked Chu Yao, “Is there a problem with the recording?”
Chu Yao gestured subtly and whispered, “Maybe they think it’s lip-syncing.”
Jiang Beibei smiled but didn’t stop. Instead, she sang while explaining, “I’m not lip-syncing—just joking earlier. Does this convince you? It’s not my fault if I sound good. Everyone at our station is talented—I’m just setting the stage.”
The audience applauded and cheered enthusiastically.
Chu Yao gazed fondly at the radiant Jiang Beibei on stage and remarked to Qin Yuan, “She’s very reliable.”
Qin Yuan took a sip of water and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Her life, her career,” Chu Yao explained. “If her parents could see her now, they’d be proud.”
“Of course,” Qin Yuan draped an arm around Chu Yao’s shoulders and squeezed affectionately. “Anyone I approve of won’t disappoint. There’s something about Beibei… something warm that makes your heart happier the more you look at her.”
After saying this, Qin Yuan noticed Chu Yao hadn’t responded. He added, “You’re not jealous, are you?”
“No,” Chu Yao replied. “You’re right. I feel the same way. She… is my source of strength.”
Qin Yuan snorted and ruffled Chu Yao’s hair. “Youngest Brother, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
Chu Yao sincerely responded, “Third Brother, thank you.”
Thank you for not giving your all on the path to loving her. Thank you for letting go in time and not falling too deeply. Thank you for finding your place again—as her protector.
Once Jiang Beibei finished singing, Chu Yao clapped with a smile. Qin Yuan asked, “Can we whistle in the studio?”
Chu Yao scolded lightly, “Can you behave? Your shirt buttons are undone—you’re improperly dressed! Do you want to act like a thug?”
But before he finished speaking, someone in the audience had already started whistling.
Qin Yuan pointed. “Look, they’re whistling!”
Chu Yao held him back. “Calm down—you’re thirty, not thirteen!”
Soon, thirty-two-year-old Tang Xizhou joined in with a whistle.
Qin Yuan protested, “There’s another thirty-two-year-old whistling over there! Why are you always picking on me? Unfair! Move aside—I’m whistling too!”
Chu Yao let go. “Fine, whistle!”
Qin Yuan took a deep breath, but just as he was about to whistle, he saw Jiang Beibei step offstage.
Without missing a beat, Qin Yuan dropped his playful demeanor and grumbled, “Tsk, missed it. So frustrating.”
________________________________________
After the program was recorded, it aired quickly during the May Day Golden Week. Meanwhile, Jiang Beibei and her brothers were playing mahjong at home.
When Huang Yuandao returned with Big Miao, he pushed the door open to find the siblings gathered around a mahjong table in Tang Xizhou’s apartment. Jiang Beibei’s face was covered in white strips, evidence of her losing streak.
“You’re living the good life!” Huang Yuandao asked. “Is everything prepared for the wedding?”
Jiang Beibei groaned loudly. “Please don’t mention it!”
Chu Yao showed no mercy in the game. “Mm-hmm, my sister has used her ultimate strategy—the art of procrastination.”
Qin Yuan reassured, “Everything will fall into place when the time comes. Don’t worry—things will work out. Even the wedding dress will come on its own. Pong!”
Tang Xizhou added, “It’s okay if the invitations aren’t done yet—we’ll finish them in our dreams.”
Jiang Beibei blew the white strips off her face and begged, “Stop! If you keep talking, I’m calling off the wedding!”
Qin Yuan teased, “Who are you threatening?”
Chu Yao admitted, “Sorry, you can threaten me.”
He stood up and said, “I’ll write the invitations. Yuanbao, come take my place.”
Yuanbao hesitated. “Wait, you’re using me so casually? Mahjong takes brainpower!”
“There’s a reward,” Chu Yao promised. “If you win, my Fourth Brother is yours.”
Song Lang, who was spectating, remarked dryly, “This reward isn’t tempting to Yuanbao at all.”
Yuanbao agreed. “All I have to do is crook my finger, and wolves will come running.”
“Ah, wolves,” Tang Xizhou joked. “Big Song the Wolf!”
“If you dare laugh, I’ll bite you!” Song Lang warned.
Yan Qingming sighed. “Forget it—I’ll go help Yao Er write the invitations.”
Jiang Beibei hurriedly pleaded, “Big Brother, go easy on me!”
Would a doctor’s handwriting make everyone guess what was written?
Tang Xizhou delivered the punchline perfectly. “No worries—he’ll write it, and we’ll include a pharmacist to decipher it. Problem solved.”
Huang Yuandao sat down and sighed contentedly. “This is life! All my luck accumulated over half a lifetime has led me to meet such interesting people. Pong!”
Yes, this was life.
Jiang Beibei, her face adorned with white strips, smiled sweetly.
And her groom was carefully writing out the wedding invitations.
Groom: Chu Yao
Bride: Jiang Beibei
Date: June 1st
Venue: Guijia Restaurant
Event: Wedding Ceremony
Message: Please join us as we celebrate our union.
Wishing for eternal love and a lifelong journey together.
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