The same-sex marriage law was successfully implemented. “About Us” was the first lifestyle couple variety show to feature a same-sex couple after the law was passed.

The official casting announcement listed a total of five couples: two same-sex and three opposite-sex. Unlike previous variety shows that announced the guests early on, the “About Us” production team said nothing other than that there would be five couples.

After all, it was the first same-sex couple variety show, and the online hype remained high. Since the production team wouldn’t say, netizens started guessing who it could be.

The range for opposite-sex couples was too broad, but same-sex… there were only a few who had publicly come out.

[It must be Sun Jiayu. He just said on Weibo a couple of days ago that he and his partner are starting a different kind of new life.]

[I think it’s Li Lin. A-list male star and a popular singer are a great ship.]

[…]

After guessing back and forth for a long time, someone finally couldn’t help but speak up.

[Wait, is no one guessing Jiang Shi and the CEO of Hengyuan?]

Although they were the first to come out, the two were too low-key. Compared to other same-sex couples who showed off their affection every day, Jiang Shi had only posted a total of two Weibo posts about Cheng Ye.

As for Cheng Ye, he was even more mysterious.

Occasionally, when netizens dug him up, they would only see his figure in some important economic venues, standing with a group of tycoons. He was eye-catching, but his aura was too strong. Even through a screen, he felt intimidating.

As time went on, more same-sex couples came out, and netizens gradually forgot about this pair.

Among the many guessed couples, the one that people were least optimistic about was Jiang Shi and Cheng Ye.

[It’s been so long. I’d say they probably broke up a long time ago, just didn’t announce it.]

[Looking at Jiang Shi’s usual interviews, he’s cold and detached, doesn’t talk much. CEO Cheng seems to talk even less than him. I can’t ship this couple at all.]

[Jiang Shi is just a minor celebrity. After so many years, he can still only play supporting roles. If Cheng Ye really cared about him, how could his resources be so poor?]

[Hengyuan’s industries are everywhere now. My house is full of smart products developed by Hengyuan. There are plenty of people who want to get into Cheng Ye’s bed. No matter how good-looking Jiang Shi is, the CEO must be tired of him by now.]

[Please don’t pick them. I want to enjoy the variety show happily…]

[How long has it been since Jiang Shi has been in a production? I’d say he’s probably been dumped for real.]

[…]

Liu Heping was so angry he threw his phone on the sofa. After thinking for a moment, he grabbed his car keys and rushed to Jiang Shi’s house.

When he arrived, Cheng Ye was in the villa’s backyard, building a chicken coop. Jiang Shi was lying on a recliner, drinking iced watermelon juice. Hearing the sound of a car, he lifted his eyelids for a moment, then closed them again.

Before Liu Heping had even arrived, his voice preceded him.

“My dear ancestor, my little ancestor, what month is it now? Can you sleep? Can you sleep peacefully?”

Jiang Shi couldn’t be bothered to reply.

Cheng Ye sat on a small stool, weaving a bamboo fence. He greeted him, “Hello, Brother Liu.”

Liu Heping’s steps faltered. After so long, he was still not used to seeing Cheng Ye like this.

He gave a dry laugh. “CEO Cheng, what are you doing?”

Cheng Ye said, “Building a chicken coop. I’ll buy some chicks to raise in a while.”

Suddenly hit with a face full of rustic atmosphere, Liu Heping wiped his face. “Aren’t you two going to be on a variety show in two days? What chickens are you raising?”

“I’ll raise them when I get back.”

Liu Heping was speechless.

He then looked at Jiang Shi, who had started his retirement in his twenties. “Ancestor, you’ve been on vacation for months, haven’t you? Do you see what they’re saying about you online? Originally, a bunch of people were trashing you for not taking lead roles, and now, you’re not even taking supporting roles.”

Jiang Shi took a sip of watermelon juice. “Brother Liu, be peaceful. Don’t let yourself get caught up in anxiety because of others’ opinions. The weather is so hot. If I go out to film, I’ll be the one suffering.”

He said slowly, “I’m not short on money, why work so hard? Besides, it’s not like Cheng Ye doesn’t pay you a salary.”

Liu Heping: “…”

Liu Heping pulled over a small stool and sat beside Jiang Shi. “Fine, I won’t bother you about filming, but what about the variety show? You two should be prepared, right?”

Cheng Ye, holding a knife and splitting bamboo, glanced at him upon hearing this.

Jiang Shi said, “What’s there to prepare for? Just pack our bags and go, right?”

Liu Heping wished he could shake him. “This is a slow-paced variety show! A slow-paced one! You two will be living there for a full three months. Don’t you know many people have their careers ruined on variety shows? Once your public persona collapses, your future development will be affected.”

Jiang Shi thought for a moment. “Do I even have a public persona?”

Liu Heping: “…”

Thinking about Jiang Shi’s half-loved, half-hated constitution, Liu Heping thought to himself, It can’t get any worse than this.

Before he could speak again, Jiang Shi added, “It’s fine. Worst case, I’ll just quit the entertainment industry.”

“…”

He looked at Cheng Ye, who was splitting another piece of bamboo, and then looked back at Liu Heping, hoping for some guidance.

He wasn’t afraid of participating in the variety show or of his artistic skills; he was afraid of embarrassing Jiang Shi.

But Liu Heping just patted his shoulder and said earnestly, “You have it tough.”

Cheng Ye: “???”

Before leaving, Liu Heping gave Jiang Shi a file. “This is the information on the other four groups. You two take a good look at it later, don’t…”

“You two should remember, right? The pilot episode films in two days. This time, the show will be a mix of live broadcast and edited content. The pilot is live. The production team will come directly to the villa. It’s a lifestyle variety show, so relax, don’t be too nervous…”

He glanced at Jiang Shi. “But don’t be too relaxed either.”

After Liu Heping left, Cheng Ye picked up the file Jiang Shi had set aside and flipped through it. He asked Jiang Shi, “What kind of public persona do you think I should establish?”

In the recliner, he finally sat up and looked at Cheng Ye. “You want to establish a public persona?”

Cheng Ye said, “I asked Liu Man. He said everyone on those variety shows establishes a persona, so I should too.”

Jiang Shi lay back down.

Cheng Ye was still beside him. “You haven’t answered me yet…”

Jiang Shi stuffed the fruit juice into his mouth.

---

On the day of the pilot episode, even though it was only 9 AM, countless viewers were already waiting in the live broadcast rooms.

Five sets of guests, five live broadcast rooms. The audience didn’t know who the guests in each room were, so they could only randomly choose one to enter.

In live broadcast room number three, a young hostess was holding the equipment. She faced the camera with a brilliant smile.

“Hello, viewers, this is the ‘About Us’ production team. I’m your old friend, Mingyue. Today, I’ll be taking you to visit our third group of guests.”

She opened the envelope in her hand. “Inside this envelope is the home address of our third group of guests. Let me see where it is? What? You want to know too? Of course, I can’t say…”

She got into the production team’s car and chatted with the bullet comments.

The comments kept asking who it was, with guesses for everyone. Mingyue watched with a smile. Seeing that they were getting close, she finally spoke. “I’ll give you a little hint. The home we’re going to is a same-sex couple, oh.”

Viewers had seen plenty of variety shows with opposite-sex couples, but a same-sex one was a first. With a whoosh, the audience flooded into live broadcast room number three.

Finally, the car arrived. Mingyue got out, holding her phone.

“It is now 9:15 in the morning. The production team told the guests we would arrive at ten. We didn’t expect to do a surprise raid. I wonder if this couple is up yet. Let’s ring the doorbell.”

[Holy crap, I’m so excited. I wasn’t this excited even for my final exam results. Whose house is this?]

[It doesn’t look like Sun Jiayu’s house. The color of his gate is different.]

[I’ve never seen this one either. Could it be An Xu’s house?]

The doorbell rang for a long time before a figure vaguely appeared. As he got closer, the bullet comments went quiet for a moment, then suddenly exploded.

[No way! Is it really Jiang Shi?]

[Ahhh! Jiang Shi, it really is Jiang Shi. I haven’t seen my baby in so long.]

[The production team really couldn’t find anyone else to invite. They actually invited a couple with zero variety show sense.]

[Ugh, I’m so annoyed seeing this face. I’m out.]

Mingyue glanced at her phone and greeted the person at the door with a smile. “Teacher Jiang, long time no see. Are you surprised?”

Jiang Shi seemed to have been woken up by the doorbell. He was wearing a loose set of home clothes, his hair soft. The morning light shone on his face, and he looked a bit listless.

“Since you’re asking like that, it can only be a very pleasant surprise.”

Mingyue held up her phone to face him. “Come, say hello to the viewers in the live broadcast room.”

The camera was completely filled by the young man’s face. He lifted his eyelids, still looking a bit sleepy, but managed a faint smile.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Jiang Shi, a guest on ‘About Us’.”

[A beauty crit.]

[How does he look the same with and without makeup? Is his skin really that good? So close, I can’t even see a single pimple.]

[Little beauty, let me lick you…]

[Suddenly, I can understand CEO Cheng.]

Jiang Shi stepped aside to let the staff in. “Come in.”

Mingyue’s camera followed Jiang Shi. As he walked a few steps, a cornfield suddenly appeared before their eyes. Next to it was a vegetable patch, with crisp bok choy and heavy tomatoes hanging from the branches.

Mingyue was stunned. “Teacher Jiang, is this your home?”

Jiang Shi followed her gaze, paused, and chose to preserve Cheng Ye’s dignity as an overbearing CEO.

“My mom planted it. She likes to plant these things when she has nothing else to do.”

The dew on the tomatoes hadn’t yet dissipated, reflecting the sunlight, looking fresh and juicy.

Mingyue swallowed. “Auntie’s skills are really good.”

Jiang Shi saw her gaze, bent down and picked several tomatoes, stuffing one into the hands of the staff and Mingyue. “No pesticides were used. They were just watered yesterday, you can eat them without washing. If you want to wash them, the kitchen is on the right.”

Mingyue’s feet seemed to have taken root in the yard. “Teacher Jiang, can I look around your yard?”

The main point of the live broadcast was to show the private side of celebrities. This vegetable garden seemed completely out of place with Jiang Shi, but that was precisely what made it so appealing.

Jiang Shi said, “Then you guys can look around. I’m going to wash my face.”

Mingyue held up her phone and walked along the small path, giving the audience a full view of this not-so-big, not-so-small vegetable garden.

[The bok choy is so tender and fresh. Just looking at it, I can imagine how sweet it tastes.]

[The tomatoes in Sister Mingyue’s hand look so delicious. To grow so well without pesticides, I’m so envious.]

[The vegetables I plant in my game don’t even grow this well. Is Jiang Shi’s mom a natural Earth Spirit Root?]

[A celebrity with a vegetable garden in their yard, this is the first time I’ve seen it. Is this what Jiang Shi is like in private? So down-to-earth.]

[Didn’t he say it was his mom who planted it? What does it have to do with him?]

[The fact that he’s willing to let his mom plant vegetables in the villa also shows that he has a good relationship with his mom.]

[What big star would plant vegetables at home? Where are the morals, where are the principles, and where is the address?]

Jiang Shi didn’t know what the audience was thinking. After washing up, he felt a bit more awake. He went upstairs to change his clothes. When he came down, Mingyue had finished her tour.

Half an hour had passed before Mingyue remembered an important question. “By the way, where is CEO Cheng? Isn’t he with you?”

Jiang Shi went to the kitchen to heat up breakfast. Hearing her, he replied, “He has a meeting. He should be back soon.”

He opened the cabinet where Cheng Ye usually put his breakfast and was stunned by what he saw inside.

Jiang Shi liked to eat something warm in the morning and disliked Western-style breakfasts, so Cheng Ye always made him things like steamed buns, wontons, and fried dough sticks.

The breakfast Cheng Ye had made for him today was still his favorite crab roe buns, with a glass of soy milk, but next to it was a plate of sandwiches.

Jiang Shi didn’t like things like sandwiches, let alone a rough man like Cheng Ye. For him, a sandwich that could be swallowed in two bites was no match for a thick steamed bun.

Thinking about the public persona Cheng Ye was always talking about in his ear, he imagined President Cheng elegantly sitting in a dining room, eating a sandwich and drinking milk…

The corner of Jiang Shi’s mouth twitched.

Before he could take out the breakfast, he heard the sound of a car parking at the entrance.

A stern-looking man in a suit closed the door of his Maybach and strode towards the door.