As Xie Zhiyan's voice faded, the short clip transitioned to the next person.
The audience's reaction was unanimous:
[Huh? That's it?! So short and so formal?]
[President Xie, won't you say a few more words to your fiancée?]
[Way too concise—even the leads from Tides of Fate spoke more than you!]
But the shippers were already satisfied.
[You just don’t get it! Couples save their sweet nothings for private moments!]
[Don’t be fooled by how brief it seemed—last night, they were definitely kissing, cuddling, and trying every position in the book!]
[For all we know, Xuanyuan’s phone right now has a 100-word love letter from President Xie!]
As if to confirm the shippers’ speculations, Ning Yuxuan’s phone screen lit up at that very moment.
She glanced down, making sure the camera angle wouldn’t capture her messages, then opened the notification.
Xie Zhiyan: [When you get to Lucheng, remember to miss me.]
Ning Yuxuan couldn’t help but smile, though she quickly suppressed it to avoid giving anything away.
She put her phone away without replying.
To the fans, this only solidified their love story.
[Ahhh! Xuanyuan definitely got a message from President Xie!]
[She smiled! That’s the smile of someone deeply in love!]
After Xie Zhiyan’s segment came Tao You’s, followed by a familiar face.
[Wait… isn’t that… Liang Jihuai?]
Liang Jihuai’s status in the entertainment industry was undeniable—his achievements placed him among the greatest actors in Chinese cinema.
However, in recent years, he had mostly stayed out of the spotlight, only occasionally making cameos in films by old friends. His appearance on a variety show was unexpected.
[Damn, our show must have serious pull if even the legendary Liang Jihuai agreed to record a clip for this segment!]
[Gotta say, Liang’s in his fifties now, but he’s still as handsome as ever—just with more gravitas!]
When the camera cut to Ning Fei, memories came flooding back for the audience.
Ning Fei’s first major film role, the one that earned her Best Actress right out of the gate, had starred Liang Jihuai as the male lead.
Back then, the internet wasn’t as developed, and terms like "shipper" didn’t exist yet.
But their on-screen chemistry had caused a sensation, making them the golden couple of their era.
[Oh, I remember! My family still has their movie poster—so romantic!]
[My mom used to say she thought they were actually dating because they looked so perfect together.]
[Same! My dad even bet my mom they’d get married. Too bad they both ended up with other people—cost him all his secret savings!]
[Hahaha, our parents were the OG shippers! Proves shipping is a universal instinct, no matter the generation.]
In the clip, Liang Jihuai began with a formal wish for the show’s success.
Then, his voice softened. "Safe travels, Ah-Fei."
His delivery was steady and warm, his acting chops as impeccable as ever.
The line felt like something straight out of a classic film, instantly evoking a cinematic atmosphere.
The camera shifted to Ning Fei, who responded with an elegant smile and a slight nod.
No words were needed—their exchange spoke volumes.
Given their stature, Ning Fei and Liang Jihuai were practically acting legends, so fans treaded carefully, not wanting to disrespect them with over-the-top shipping.
But the way he called her "Ah-Fei," paired with her quiet smile, still sent imaginations running wild.
[T_T He still calls her Ah-Fei, just like in those old interviews!]
[Wait, Ning Fei’s divorced now, right? And Liang’s single too… so, theoretically…?]
[I’m fully on board with this!]
The final segment featured an unfamiliar face.
Unlike the previous guests—all celebrities or past show participants—this girl, though pretty, clearly wasn’t a polished industry star. She had to be a civilian.
Some viewers found her vaguely familiar but couldn’t place her.
As speculation filled the comments, the girl spoke.
"Hello, everyone," she said, smiling at the camera from her seat. "I’m Cheng Tingting."
[Cheng Tingting?
That name rings a bell…]
[Oh! Isn’t she the sister of that disgraced actor Cheng Xiyang?]
"Yes, it's her! I remember she personally posted on Weibo exposing Cheng Xiyang back then!"
In the original video, the girl wore a faded, washed-out shirt, her expression resolute yet undeniably weary.
Now, however, she was dressed in fresh clothes, her face glowing with vitality, a stark contrast to before.
The most striking difference was in her eyes—they held a completely new light.
Because of this, most viewers didn’t immediately connect her to the "older sister" who had once held up her ID card to accuse Cheng Xiyang.
It wasn’t until a few comments pointed it out that the realization dawned on everyone.
Cheng Tingting smiled and said, "Thank you to the program team for inviting me to record this message. Recently, many netizens have reached out, asking about my well-being and offering help. I’m truly grateful. I’d like to take this opportunity to briefly share my current situation."
She spoke concisely and clearly, detailing the treatments she had undergone since her last public appearance and the improvements in her health.
Now, after undergoing successful surgery abroad, she was in recovery.
Most of her post-operative complications had subsided, and the occasional aches or mobility issues no longer interfered with her daily life or work.
Finally, Cheng Tingting added, "Given my financial situation, I never could have accessed such high-quality treatment on my own. So, I want to especially thank two people: Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue. Without Ning Shiyue amplifying my voice, my story wouldn’t have gained public attention. And without Ning Yuxuan’s medical support, I wouldn’t have had the chance to recover like this—to live like an ordinary person again."
At Lin Yuanfeng’s request, she didn’t mention his name.
At the end of the video, Cheng Tingting said earnestly, "I hope you all enjoy the final episode. I’ll always remember your kindness. Thank you."
As her words concluded, the heartfelt message came to an end.
The livestream fell silent for a moment before comments erupted like spring bamboo shoots after rain.
"This is so wonderful! The bad guy got punished, and the good people got their happy ending!"
"I’m actually tearing up—such a perfect resolution is so rare!"
"Honestly, this show has done so much good! Not only did it expose two problematic celebrities, but it also genuinely helped someone in need!"
"Can we take a moment to praise Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue? These siblings are incredible—so principled and action-oriented. No surprise, given how they were raised by Teacher Ning!"
...
After the video ended, the staff went over some logistics before the livestream paused, and everyone prepared to board the plane.
The Ning family’s luggage had already been checked in, leaving them with only their carry-on bags.
Without being asked, Ning Shiyue walked over to Jiang Ning’an. "Let me help you with your suitcase."
Before Jiang Ning’an could respond, Ning Yuxuan chimed in, "Ning’an, don’t be polite with him. Just treat him like your personal assistant."
Ning Shiyue shot her a glare. "I’m not your assistant! This is basic courtesy—nothing to do with you."
Watching the siblings bicker, Jiang Ning’an couldn’t help but laugh.
"Thank you, Shiyue," she said, no longer refusing.
Ning Shiyue grinned. "No problem!"
Once on the plane, everyone settled in for the four-hour flight.
The in-flight meal was served, and Ning Yuxuan, after eating her fill, flipped through a magazine while listening to music.
Eventually, she dozed off and only woke up as the plane began its descent.
By the time they landed, the sun was dipping toward the horizon.
The program team had rented a beachfront villa for the final days of filming, spacious enough to accommodate all the guests.
After collecting their luggage, the group took a shuttle to the villa, arriving famished.
But professionalism demanded they squeeze in one last livestream segment before dinner.
Viewers watched Ning Shiyue, noticeably more exhausted than in the morning, hauling a large backpack and two suitcases with visible sympathy.
"Earlier it was funny, but now I feel bad for Ning Shiyue—he’s working so hard!"
"Yeah, flying is tiring enough without having to drag all that luggage upstairs."
Ning Shiyue lugged the suitcases to the villa entrance.
A short flight of stairs led to the front door, and each piece of luggage had to be carried up before being taken to individual rooms.
Ning Yuxuan followed behind him. "Just worry about your own stuff. I’ll handle my suitcase."
Having napped on the plane, she was the most energetic of the group.
Ning Shiyue glanced at her, his expression a mix of surprise and... something oddly touched.
"Hahaha, Ning Shiyue’s face is priceless—like he’s finally experiencing sibling kindness for the first time!"
【Ning Shiyue's reaction: Who are you? Why are you suddenly being so nice to me? Get off my sister's body!】
"No need." After a moment of shock, Ning Shiyue firmly refused. "Moving one is the same as moving three. Besides, your suitcase isn’t even heavy—the heavy stuff is all with me!"
Ning Yuxuan didn’t argue further. "Fine, then I’ll just cheer you on."
Ning Shiyue waved his hand dismissively. "Got it. Now move aside—you’re blocking my suitcase route!"
Considering how exhausted the guests were, the production team skipped the usual room-assignment games and prearranged the rooms instead.
Qin Man and Jiang Ning'an stayed on the first floor, while Ning Yuxuan’s family of three occupied the second floor.
After everyone’s luggage was moved to their respective rooms, the production team let the guests decide how to handle dinner and announced the next day’s schedule.
The live broadcast would start at 8:30 a.m., followed by a full day of outdoor activities by the beach—a packed itinerary.
Hearing this, everyone agreed: they’d save dining out for the next two days. Tonight, they’d just grab a quick meal and rest early to conserve energy for tomorrow.
So they ordered takeout to the villa and finished dinner quickly.
After saying goodbye to the viewers, the day’s live stream came to an end.
With only five guests, everyone had their own room—but the trade-off was that none of the bedrooms had private bathrooms. The entire second floor shared a single shower.
Ning Yuxuan returned to her room first, waiting until Ning Fei finished showering before going to remove her makeup.
After freshening up, she heard a knock on her door.
Before she could ask who it was, the person outside announced, "It’s me, Ning Shiyue."
Ning Yuxuan: "Come in."
She had just blow-dried her hair and changed into the pajamas Jiang Ning'an had gifted her—a set with bunny ears.
Ning Shiyue pushed the door open and immediately scoffed at her outfit. "Aren’t you too old to be wearing such childish pajamas?"
Ning Yuxuan ignored him, tilting her chin toward the door.
Ning Shiyue glanced back. "What? It’s just our family on this floor—no need to close the door, right?"
Even so, he shut it behind him.
"No," Ning Yuxuan said flatly. "I meant if you don’t have actual business, you can leave now."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
"Ning. Yu. Xuan!" His gritted teeth practically echoed in the room.
This time, Ning Shiyue had come to ask if she wanted to retrieve the items he’d stored in his suitcase—mostly miscellaneous things, including sunscreen.
After a brief pause, Ning Yuxuan said, "I’ll grab a few bottles of sunscreen, then."
She followed him to his room and dug out several bottles of sunscreen and two cans of spray.
She stuffed the spray into Ning Shiyue’s backpack for him to take the next day.
Then she delivered two bottles to Ning Fei’s room—one for the face, one for the body.
The remaining two, Ning Yuxuan kept for herself to use in the morning.
"Oh, and make sure you apply sunscreen before heading out tomorrow," she told Ning Shiyue. "Need me to show you how?"
He dismissed her instantly. "No! I’m not an idiot—how hard can sunscreen be?"
Ning Yuxuan shot him a look but held back further advice.
"Just remember to use it," she said. "Or you’ll turn into a boiled lobster, and no one’s gonna pity you."
Ning Shiyue snorted. "Yeah, yeah."
Just then, her phone pinged.
Ning Shiyue glanced over. "Who’s texting you this late?"
Ning Yuxuan picked up her phone and smirked. "Guess."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Right. She had a partner now.
He wrinkled his nose. "Fine, I’m leaving. Wouldn’t want to interrupt your lovey-dovey chat."
...
As it turned out, Ning Yuxuan’s instincts were spot-on.
Saturday’s entire schedule was outdoors—the production team had arranged for everyone to try dune buggies, surfing, and even a beach volleyball match in the afternoon.
By the time they returned to the villa that evening, Ning Shiyue’s skin was noticeably redder than it had been that morning.
A light touch made him wince.
Finally, he had to admit: maybe he really didn’t know how to use sunscreen properly.
Later, Ning Yuxuan’s door was knocked on again.
She opened it to find Ning Shiyue standing there, looking pitiful.
"...What’s wrong?" She raised an eyebrow.
Wordlessly, Ning Shiyue—wearing shorts—lifted the corner of the towel draped around his neck, revealing his sunburned, flushed chest.
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
"Didn’t I tell you to put on sunscreen yesterday? You didn’t?"
"I did," he muttered, sounding aggrieved. "Still ended up like this."
Ning Yuxuan: "How much did you squeeze out?"
Ning Shiyue thought for a moment, then gestured with his hands: "About this much."
"Just this little bit? For your whole body?"
"...Yeah, all the areas that would be exposed under clothes."
Ning Yuxuan frowned. "Come on, let's go to your room."
After retrieving the aloe vera gel from Ning Shiyue's room, Ning Yuxuan had him lean back on the bed and applied a thick layer to all his sunburned areas.
Once finished, Ning Yuxuan went to wash her hands.
"Tomorrow evening, reapply the aloe gel the same way I just did," Ning Yuxuan instructed. "Oh, and tomorrow morning, remember to use plenty of sunscreen."
This time, Ning Shiyue didn’t dare to brush it off. He looked at her pleadingly. "How much is 'plenty'?"
Ning Yuxuan picked up the small bottle of sunscreen on the table and shook it. "Well, tomorrow’s the last day of outdoor activities anyway. Just use up the whole bottle."
Ning Shiyue’s eyes widened. "This much? The entire bottle?"
Ning Yuxuan gave him a silent stare.
Ning Shiyue: "...Fine. Got it."
Sunday’s schedule was even more packed.
The production crew took the guests to a nearby island to experience various water activities: snorkeling, parasailing, and jet skiing.
By the end of the day, Ning Yuxuan had reapplied sunscreen spray countless times for herself and Ning Fei.
Today, Ning Shiyue wasn’t holding back either—every time he saw Ning Yuxuan pull out the spray can, he immediately shuffled over.
Just yesterday, in the same situation, he’d waved her off, insisting he didn’t need it.
[LOL, Ning Shiyue must’ve gotten scared by the sunburn! His neck looks pretty red—did he actually get burned?]
[Seems like it. No wonder he’s so eager to get sunscreen from Ning Yuxuan now.]
That evening, the guests held a bonfire party on the beach.
As an idol who debuted from a survival show, Ning Shiyue performed several songs using the makeshift sound system.
Though there was still half a day of filming left on Monday, this was their last night together—tomorrow, everyone would board flights back to Beicheng, marking the end of their two-month variety show journey.
Whether it was the guests, the live audience, or even the crew, no one wanted it to end.
Everyone had a little too much to drink, and Ning Shiyue’s eyes even looked slightly watery.
Back in the day, actors often released albums too, and at the peak of her fame, Ning Fei had put out a few singles.
With the mood just right, the group pushed her to perform one of her movie theme songs.
Amid the flickering firelight, Ning Yuxuan smirked at Ning Shiyue, who seemed on the verge of tears. "What are you crying about? You weren’t even here except for the preview and the first episode. If anyone should cry, it’s me."
Ning Shiyue glared at her. "I’m not crying! You’re seeing things—it’s just the firelight!"
......
By the time the bonfire party ended and they returned to the villa, it was already past 9 p.m.
Ning Yuxuan went back to her room and waited for Ning Fei to finish washing up before removing her own makeup.
She changed into a nightgown and stretched her limbs.
The past two days had been fulfilling, but exhausting.
Ning Yuxuan planned to take a long bath later to soothe her fatigue from all the high-energy activities.
Then her phone rang—Ning Shiyue’s name flashed on the screen.
Ning Yuxuan frowned.
If he needed her, why call? He could’ve just knocked.
Still, she answered.
Ning Shiyue’s voice came through: "Uh, I need you for something. Can you come to the villa’s front gate?"
Ning Yuxuan didn’t hesitate: "No."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Ning Yuxuan: "It’s late. I’ve already taken off my makeup and was about to take a bath and go to bed. What earth-shattering emergency could you possibly have that requires me to go out now?"
Ning Shiyue sounded sheepish: "Well… I ran out of aloe vera gel, and I wanted to buy another bottle. The convenience store’s about to close—can you come help me pick one? I don’t know which kind to get."
Ning Yuxuan was incredulous: "Ran out? That huge bottle? Did you drink it?"
Apparently, even Ning Shiyue found his excuse ridiculous.
After a few coughs, he switched tactics: "No, I… accidentally knocked it over. Most of it spilled, so it’s unusable now."
Ning Yuxuan was speechless.
"Then just skip it," she said. "Missing one day won’t kill you."
The line went quiet for a few seconds.
"Look, I know it’s my fault," Ning Shiyue said carefully, "but… it really hurts."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
Over the years, she and Ning Shiyue had bickered countless times—but he never whined like this.
She had to admit, it softened her a little.
"Fine," Ning Yuxuan relented. "Wait there. I’ll throw on some clothes and be down in two minutes."
The dress from earlier in the day was quite intricate, with laces and other details, and she couldn’t be bothered to change back into it.
After hanging up the phone, Ning Yuxuan threw a trench coat over her nightgown and headed out.
...
Meanwhile, downstairs at the villa.
Ning Shiyue glanced at the man beside him, a smug expression on his face. "Brother Zhiyan, I contributed the best acting performance of my life just so you could make up for that failed proposal. When you succeed, you better remember the major role I played in your marriage!"
After a pause, Ning Shiyue added, "Oh, and don’t forget to tell Ning Yuxuan not to scold me for lying to her."
