Looking at the delicious food on the screen, Lin Qiqi's mouth was watering.
"Sister Song, should I ask Aunt Li to make something?"
"It's too late," Song Jing said. "Why don't we just order delivery?"
"That works too."
As they scrolled through their phones, they continued watching Big Fei's show.
Lin Qiqi had completely forgotten what she'd said earlier.
*She really doesn't have that kind of self-control?*
She really didn't.
***
The show was fifty minutes long, but Lin Qiqi and Song Jing didn't get their takeout until the last ten minutes.
"Big Fei is so mean! He made this show and didn't even take me." Lin Qiqi grumbled, picking at her stir-fried bamboo shoots.
Song Jing felt guilty eating her late-night snack. Even though she was just an agent, she was still a woman, and women were always self-conscious about their figures.
But she wasn't focused on the delicious food; she was focused on Big Fei's capabilities.
"This show is so addictive," Lin Qiqi said. "I think it's going to be a hit."
"Yeah, I agree. It's actually really good. I can't believe I've been watching for so long without realizing it."
"The TV station is such a tease, airing this at this hour. It's practically an invitation to eat late-night snacks!" Song Jing put down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious as she watched the show.
"Big Fei is about to sweep the entire entertainment industry."
***
In their apartment complex, Hu Yuhui had just managed to coax their child to sleep.
The young couple closed the bedroom door and held a brief meeting in the adjacent room.
After changing into their pajamas, they sat on the sofa, embracing each other as they watched TV, savoring their fleeting moment of sweetness.
Hu Yuhui patted his flat stomach. "That was quite an workout. I'm a little hungry."
The woman rolled her eyes, annoyed. "It's already so late. No more snacks."
Hu Yuhui chuckled wryly and patted his stomach again. "I don't need to diet, do I?"
"If you don't, I will. Don't eat in front of me. Let's watch TV to distract ourselves."
"Alright. Ever since we had the baby, we haven't had proper TV time. These past few days, we've been watching *Peppa Pig* every day. I'm almost memorizing it."
Although *Peppa Pig* had been a lifesaver for their family, it wasn't exactly what adults wanted to watch. Since having a child, their entertainment options had dwindled.
Being able to steal a moment to watch TV was already a luxury.
When they turned on the TV, they saw a steaming bowl of river snail rice noodles. The woman's face lit up.
"This is Liuzhou river snail rice noodles! You've never tried them, have you?"
Hu Yuhui pursed his lips. "I've heard they smell terrible."
The woman snorted. "Just the smell is bad. They taste fine. You eat stinky tofu, don't you?"
Watching the TV documentary about how sour bamboo shoots are made, and seeing that steaming bowl of soup, Hu Yuhui unconsciously swallowed, his resolve wavering.
"Is it really that delicious?"
The woman nodded. "Of course. Next time I take you back to my hometown, you can try the real thing."
"Who knows when that'll be?" Hu Yuhui said. "I can't wait. I'm ordering delivery right now."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Delivery isn't the real deal... Order me one too."
She said no, but her body betrayed her.
There was no help for it. The documentary was just too tempting, and the timing was terrible—10 PM, right when everyone was hungry.
Who could resist a snack after seeing that?
By the time the river snail rice noodles arrived, the documentary had already ended.
Hu Yuhui frowned slightly, the pungent aroma almost overwhelming.
But remembering the mouthwatering visuals from earlier, he picked up his chopsticks and took a tentative bite.
The first slurp of noodles sent a tangy, refreshing flavor straight to his brain.
Seeing his expression, his wife smiled. "Well? Isn't that tangy and refreshing?"
Hu Yuhui nodded. "Not bad."
"Delivery is nowhere near as good as the ones back home. Let's go back when the kids are on vacation and have a proper meal."
"Why wait for vacation? Let's go this Sunday."
***
The perk of watching variety shows during paid work hours ended at 10 PM. What kind of company works overtime until that late?
Still, Lin Chudong and Wang Zhi watched TV in the dorm for a while longer.
Before them sat a bowl of perfectly authentic river snail rice noodles, making Wang Zhi's fingers twitch with anticipation.
"Brother Fei, you're amazing! So that's what you brought back from Liuzhou?"
"Eat up," Lin Chudong said. "These pickled bamboo shoots don't last long. Once this opportunity's gone, it's gone."
Wang Zhi watched the TV show while eating his own bowl of river snail rice noodles. *This kind of treatment... I bet I'm the only one outside Liuzhou who gets this, right?*
Lin Chudong sent Sun Xuan a WeChat message.
"Brother Sun, how's Luo Rui's show?"
Earlier, Big Fei had watched Luo Rui's dating show, which aired from 9 to 10 PM.
The show was decent, considering how few dating programs there are these days. It featured attractive men and women, but most of it was scripted, good for a laugh at best.
*This is why the station insisted Sun Xuan make a documentary. If they'd let him do variety, I would have shoved a dating show right in his face. Big Fei loves a good competition.*
**Sun Xuan:** The ratings are okay—0.9% on the first day.
**Lin Chudong:** What about us?
**Sun Xuan:** Still calculating. I'll let you know when the results come out.
As soon as the show ended, Lin Chudong's phone started buzzing with notifications.
He switched to the backend to check and saw that it was all comments from Weibo.
The netizens were furious about *A Bite of China*, but since they couldn't leave comments on the TV broadcast, they all flooded Big Fei's Weibo page instead.
"The best food-gasm show of the year... but it's ten o'clock, and I don't even have any food!"
"Big Fei, your show is so evil! It's making my stomach rumble. I'd already brushed my teeth, but I had to get up and order takeout anyway."
"Big Fei—Meituan Takeout Strategic Partner."
"At least you can still order takeout. Our dorm is closed, so I'm stuck with instant noodles."
"You still have instant noodles? I've only got a cactus at home right now. What am I supposed to do?"
"High-end ingredients often require the simplest cooking methods. Cactus with dipping sauce—it's bound to be delicious."
"I'm changing my dinner time to 10 PM from now on. That way, I can save a meal. Otherwise, I'd end up eating twice at night."
"Big Fei, please don't be so serious when you narrate. This is my first time watching a documentary, and I cried—though the tears were streaming from the corner of my mouth."
"Did anyone else notice Chef Qin? The one who lost to Big Fei in the Nine-Turned Intestines challenge?"
"Haha, Big Fei poached Chef Qin! When are we getting the Nine-Turned Intestines dish again?"
"..."
Seeing these comments, Lin Chudong smiled. It seemed the show's ratings were likely to be quite high.
Now, he just had to wait for Brother Sun's good news.
***
Yan Chaoxu had just finished watching the show and felt a surge of emotion.
He turned to the kitchen to make a bowl of instant noodles, adding two sausages to make it feel a bit more upscale.
His phone chimed. Yan Chaoxu opened it to find a photo sent by a colleague.
"Was the girl we saw that day her?"
Yan Chaoxu's eyes widened. "That's her! Do you know her?"
"Yes, she's a business representative from SouTu Video named Lu Duoduo. She's now a manager there, and she was the one who signed the deal for *Bright Sword*."
A surge of anger rose in Yan Chaoxu, nearly making him smash his phone.
*I've been hunting eagles my whole life, only to get pecked in the eye by a sparrow.*
*How dare that little girl trick me? After returning from Cool Sound Media, I was so scared I didn't dare take the elevator for days, afraid I'd run into a ghost.*
*Now that I think about it, she must have been signing the deal for *Peppa Pig*, right?*
Yan Chaoxu channeled his rage into appetite, wolfing down the bowl of noodles.
Then he threw on his clothes, rushed downstairs, and sped to Cool Sound Media.
Checking the time, he lay down in his car and fell asleep. He'd been waiting since midnight and refused to believe Lu Duoduo could possibly wake up earlier than him the next morning.
He'd missed out on *Peppa Pig*, but he absolutely couldn't miss *A Bite of China*.
Even though Shanghai was still brightly lit at midnight, the office building was completely empty. Staring at the dark, towering structure, Yan Chaoxu found it hard to sleep.
It was a bit creepy to be out this late.
He quickly pulled out his phone, opened SouTu Video, and started playing *Peppa Pig*. The cheerful music filled the air, and Yan Chaoxu finally relaxed.
Who knew *Peppa Pig* could be so reassuring?
After a few minutes, the animation paused, prompting him to upgrade to VIP.
Yan Chaoxu was speechless. He cursed under his breath, "SouTu Video's greed is truly unsightly."
He chose the 12 yuan VIP membership and activated the auto-renewal option.
Once the payment went through, he immediately went back to WeChat and canceled the auto-renewal.
Otherwise, a normal VIP subscription would have cost 30 yuan.
The whole process was seamless, every move precise.
***
The next morning, Lin Chudong opened his eyes and walked out of his room to find Wang Zhi had already prepared breakfast and was sitting in the living room, staring at his phone and grinning foolishly.
"What are you laughing at? Got a girlfriend?"
Wang Zhi sighed helplessly. "Brother Fei, don't stab me in the heart first thing in the morning."
"Someone made a parody of you! It's hilarious—'Dormitory on the Tip of the Tongue.' You should watch it."
Lin Chudong pulled out his phone and searched for it, surprised to find the video already had over a million likes.
*This video was posted late last night. How did it go viral so fast?*
The intro was a direct copy of Lin Chudong's own, recorded on a phone. The footage was blurry, but since Big Fei and the others made it, the effect was still quite good.
In the video, a college student lay in bed, his phone alarm blaring. He groggily got up, and a narrator's voice began:
"Haidian District, Capital City. The humid monsoon winds blow from the Pacific."
"It's once again the busiest season for college students: exam season."
"The carbohydrates from breakfast can sustain the body's sugar needs after a heavy study session."
"It's five in the morning. To prepare a nutritious breakfast for his slacker roommates, Brother Nima Kun is heading out to find the freshest ingredients."
"In modern society, thanks to rapid technological development, people no longer need to forage for food. They can simply buy their desired ingredients at the supermarket."
When the camera switched to Brother Nima Kun in the video, Lin Chudong chuckled when he saw him selecting instant noodles from a supermarket shelf.
*These college students are so creative! My video just aired last night, and they've already made a parody?*
"Braised pork dried noodle soup: smooth, tender, and rich in flavor."
"Old-style pickled cabbage noodle soup: crisp texture, tangy and spicy."
"These are essential staples in college dorms."
"High-end ingredients often require the simplest preparation. Ninety-four-degree boiling water is indispensable for a bowl of instant noodles..."
The college students mimicked Big Fei's filming style. While the production quality was laughably cheap, the comedic effect was undeniable.
Big Fei's videos showcased exquisite cuisine from across China, but these students focused on instant noodles of every flavor. When the video went viral, netizens were in stitches:
"Hahaha, the voiceover is genius! It's like Big Fei himself is channeling them."
"This 'A Bite of Instant Noodles' is too damn real. I was eating instant noodles while watching this show yesterday."
"How cruel of Big Fei to schedule his show at 10 PM. If he moved it to another time, I wouldn't be this hungry."
"Alright, alright, you've nailed the parody. Planning to steal Big Fei's job soon?"
"Awesome! You're making college students proud."
The viral video, while hilarious, also drove significant traffic to *A Bite of China*.
After a quick breakfast, Lin Chudong and Wang Zhi headed straight to the office.
As they approached the entrance, they spotted Yan Chaoxu, his eyes shadowed with dark circles.
"Big Fei, I've finally caught you."
Lin Chudong paused. "Director Yan, you haven't slept all night?"
Yan Chaoxu smiled. "It's fine. I wanted to discuss a collaboration."
"Alright, let's go upstairs."
Judging by Yan Chaoxu's appearance, he must have been waiting downstairs for a long time. Lin Chudong could easily guess why he was here.
After they went upstairs, Yan Chaoxu sat down, and Wang Zhi quickly offered him a cup of coffee.
"Big Fei, I'm really sorry we couldn't collaborate on our previous projects. This time, I've come with the utmost sincerity."
"I want exclusive online rights to *A Bite of China*. We'll offer you the best terms. Search Rabbit Video offered you a guaranteed 10 million yuan before, right? I'll match that for this documentary."
Yan Chaoxu knew he had few chances with Big Fei, so he laid his cards on the table, hoping sincerity would win him over.
After years in the industry, Yan Chaoxu had never faced such a dire situation.
Look at Huang Wei—she went from Tianxun Video to CCTV in just two years. Signing *Bright Sword* there made her an instant sensation, with a future brighter than the sun.
Meanwhile, he was stuck in the same place. If this year's performance didn't improve, he might not even keep his job at Youmei Video.
Big Fei was now so popular that it was a bit late to latch onto him, but Yan Chaoxu had to try, even if it was just damage control.
When they heard the terms Yan Chaoxu offered, Lin Chudong and Wang Zhi were both surprised.
Didn't Youmei Video have a deep partnership with Li Zhilin and his team?
With such favorable terms, wouldn't signing Big Fei offend Li Zhilin?
Lin Chudong said, "Director Yan, you might have the wrong person. This program is a CCTV production, and I'm just a director."
Yan Chaoxu smiled awkwardly. "Who doesn't know about your close ties with CCTV? I figured you could make the final decision on this."
"Ask on my behalf. This is Youmei Video's bottom line. If it's possible, we'll cooperate."
Lin Chudong nodded. "Alright, I'll ask about it for you. But I can't guarantee approval. The station's leadership will have the final say."
Lin Chudong's words were merely polite formalities.
The station's leadership had already granted Sun Xuan full authority over the program, making him the de facto decision-maker.
While Sun Xuan would likely consider Lin Chudong's suggestion, he'd still need to discuss it with his "Brother Sun" first.
Youmei Video seemed genuinely sincere this time. Yan Chaoxu was likely desperate to secure this deal for his own career.
After leaving Liangyin Media, Yan Chaoxu sighed.
He had done everything he could. The rest was up to fate.
As he reached the elevator, the doors swung open, and Lu Duoduo stepped out.
Yan Chaoxu's face darkened, a hint of anger in his eyes.
Last time, that little girl had toyed with him like a fool, even making up ghost stories to scare him. She really needed a lesson.
Lu Duoduo was startled for a moment when she saw Yan Chaoxu. Then she said, "Uncle, the elevator isn't crowded today. Come on in."
Yan Chaoxu snorted. "Director Lu of Search Rabbit Video, right? You're quite young to be a director. Impressive business skills."
Lu Duoduo's expression shifted in surprise. She hadn't expected Yan Chaoxu to see through her identity.
"Heh, Director Yan, I've heard great things about you too," she replied.
"So you recognized me last time? You were deliberately messing with me, weren't you?"
Lu Duoduo's face flushed with embarrassment. She lowered her head and said, "How would I dare mess with you? Your sister has been watching me the whole time. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't have the guts."
With that, Lu Duoduo quickly lowered her head and hurried past him, darting into the Liangyin Media building.
Yan Chaoxu froze. The elevator door slowly closed. Through the silver door, he suddenly saw a flash of red behind him. He whipped around, breaking out in a cold sweat!
*Phew... it was just an advertisement.*
Yan Chaoxu forced himself to remain composed and hurried down the stairs.
That little girl is so weird and unpredictable. If it weren't for the fact that I don't stoop to scolding children, I'd teach her a lesson today!
***
Lu Duoduo's visit to the company was indeed to discuss *A Bite of China*, but this time she didn't offer a ten million yuan minimum guarantee.
After all, the film was just a documentary. Although the first episode had aired yesterday and performed well, the series was only a few episodes long. Their company couldn't pour all their money into Big Fei.
So, this time they only offered him the industry's highest price, without a guarantee.
Lin Chudong brushed Sun Xuan off with a vague response, planning to discuss it with Brother Sun later. He figured signing with Youmei Video was more likely.
After all, that ten million yuan guarantee was real money—imagine how sweet it would be to divide among the entire production team!
After Lu Duoduo left, Liang Yin suddenly burst in.
Panting heavily, Liang Yin rushed to Lin Chudong's side after a dizzying, bumpy ride.
"Something's happened to the Big Fei Band! Did you know?"
Everyone froze. "What happened?"
"Wu Bo's been exposed! Go check the internet right now!"
-----------------------
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