Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

If there's something you could say or not, it's best not to say it.

The night market was vast, with seven or eight rows forming long queues. Aside from the dense array of electrical switches, two people assigned for fire safety patrolled back and forth—after all, a fire would be a major incident.

Patrons scattered in every direction, emerging from all corners of the city and converging naturally in this area.

Truthfully, Lin Wanzhou wasn't good at dealing with strangers, not even snack vendors. When she was nervous, she hardly showed any expression, which often made her seem unfriendly.

As the line moved up to her, she was still agonizing over what to choose besides takoyaki. Stinky tofu wasn't a good option; it would ruin the atmosphere.

Fried skewers, squid skewers or duck intestines were rarely her choice.

"What's next?" The vendor glanced at the girl wearing a hat and a mask, giving her a puzzled look. Why would a girl dress so heavily in the middle of summer?

Wasn't she hot?

"I'll have takoyaki, some fried skewers, and that chicken tender... and then that one." In her haste, she pointed around and paid thirty-eight yuan.

After paying, she began to regret it, worrying that Xu Qingyan might not like what she had chosen.

Too excited before the purchase, she forgot to ask what he liked to eat, didn't even ask about dietary restrictions. Her mind had been somewhat wooden since leaving the house, as if it had been left behind in the recording studio.

Sister Yun was probably still analyzing data; she and the owner of the recording studio were old friends. They had used the recording booth for singing practice free of charge these past few days, only paying a nominal fee for post-production and recording.

She had no clue how she had performed, as she sneakily set her work phone to silent. She dared not check messages, always keeping it in her bag unless a call came to that device.

Before long, Lin Wanzhou returned with several bags of food.

After looking around, she saw Xu Qingyan standing beneath a lamppost, as if to ensure she would find him. The streetlight cast a vast cone of light around him.

He just stood there using his phone, head slightly lowered, black hair fluttering in the night breeze. A white heavyweight cotton t-shirt fit him perfectly, looking good from any angle.

He looked like a mannequin in a shop window, fitting well in any attire.

She paused for a moment, belatedly understanding how that secret crush post had made it onto the hot search back then. Some people just by standing there, even doing nothing, can become someone else's youth.

The thought that she had never seen him at eighteen struck a sour note in Lin Wanzhou's heart.

People are easily attracted to beautiful bodies, after all, we are visual creatures. When such beauty is coupled with multiple laurels and labeled as almost unattainable, it drives people crazy.

For others, at eighteen, their youth had already reached the final chapter of a poem. But for Lin Wanzhou, at twenty-three, her youth had just begun.

Like a seed buried in the soil, hidden in darkness for two or three years, it had quietly sprouted.

He stood there, radiating simplicity yet undisturbed by praise or scorn, bathed cleanly in the light. At that moment, she only wanted to chase after his light, wandering like a shadow in a dream.

"Here, I got them!" Lin Wanzhou handed them to him.

"Thank you." He took the greased paper bag, peeked inside, and the aroma wafted out.

The food, although not very healthy, was mood-lifting. Just like junk food is bad for the body, but think of oneself as already toxic, and immediately feel relieved.

He pulled out two bamboo skewers and subconsciously offered one to Lin Wanzhou. Then, realizing what he was doing, how could he split it? Each item came in only one bag; were they going to eat together?

"Do you eat this?" he turned his head and asked.

"No," Lin Wanzhou replied with a flush, her words slipping out before she thought them through.

"Oh." Xu Qingyan didn't think much of it. If she didn't want to eat, then he would eat it, "Did you bring paper? I'm worried the oil might leak out."

"Yes, let me find it." She rummaged through her bag and briskly pulled out two sheets of paper, fluttering like white birds to his hands, "Here you go, don't let it drip on you."

Xu Qingyan took the paper, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable—rarely did anyone eagerly cater to his needs.

"What would you like to drink? It's my treat."

"Milk tea."

Having left the city center, they had only one last destination to visit: Luoshan Temple.

The temple was closed at night, but not many people were interested in visiting temples. Instead, they preferred a cliffside site just outside the temple that was open to visitors. Cars could drive up; it was crowded during the day but empty at night.

The destination lay halfway up the mountain, and reaching the summit would require hiking. But apart from those who liked to climb the mountain at midnight to watch the sunrise, hardly anyone else would do this.

The car tires rolled over the newly paved mountain road. The cliff was actually a large platform, surrounded by a fence. Various locks, engraved with names, were attached to the wooden fence.

Xu Qingyan illuminated the locks with the faint light of his phone, reading one inscription: Huang Yongguang and Zhao Xiaoyan, together for a lifetime.

Quite the "everlasting love lock."

Wooden plaques and love locks densely covered the railing around the platform. When the night wind blew, the red plaques clattered disconcertingly.

There were quite a few people on the cliff, the crowd bustling and somewhat chaotic.

"Are you...making a wish?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm wishing for my new song." Lin Wanzhou held a red wooden plaque, nervously looking around, "But this one wasn't bought here, wouldn't it be..."

Quite the self-sufficiency.

"What's so different? There are so many people, it won't be noticed." Xu Qingyan offered a hand, "Do you need help hanging it up?"

"No no no, there's no need!" Lin Wanzhou stepped back, shaking her head so vigorously it looked as though it could spin off, "I can do it myself, I'm not short, I'm one meter seventy!"

"I didn't say you were short. Don't you wear flat shoes?"

Lin: ???

She began silently reminding herself not to get angry.