Chapter Thirty-Five: Appearing on the Show

September 22nd, Friday, 6:30 PM, Changsha, Hunan.

As soon as Gu Zhi and his three companions stepped out of the arrivals hall at Changsha Huanghua Airport, they spotted two staff members from Hunan Television waiting for them, holding a tall sign high above their heads.

Hunan Satellite TV's pick-up service was impeccable. Forty minutes later, the group arrived at the Shuntian Kempinski Hotel.

On the way, one of the staff members eagerly introduced the hotel, describing it as an “international luxury five-star hotel of an authentic European royal brand, newly opened in Changsha this year.” He spoke with such exuberance and pride, it seemed as if his delight might take flight.

Indeed, these grand European-style luxury hotels had always been synonymous with exclusivity and high prices in China. Gu Zhi himself felt little for such things, but the fact that Hunan TV had gone to the trouble of arranging their stay here was a clear display of sincerity.

“It seems the string of promotional events over the past ten days has had some effect after all,” he mused quietly as they reached the hotel entrance.

Thanks to the massive investment from China Film Group, the publicity for “Butterfly Effect” had been a resounding success. The two previously little-known leads, Liu Ye and Tang Wei, had steadily gained considerable popularity.

Tang Wei, in particular, despite the film not yet being released and having no other notable works to her name, captivated audiences with her delicate beauty and graceful allure. With her increasing exposure, she had swiftly gathered a legion of fans nationwide, many drawn by her looks—perhaps even surpassing Liu Ye in popularity.

Just yesterday, a reporter from Enlight Media had conducted an exclusive interview with the main cast, and today gossip tabloids were already splashing headlines like, “Rising Stars Liu Ye and Tang Wei Spark Romance, Eyes Locked in Autumn Glances,” on their entertainment pages. The level of hype was nearly catching up with the paparazzi from Hong Kong.

With two stars just beginning to shine, and the addition of Gu Zhi, a teenage idol writer at the height of his fame, Hunan TV was determined not to treat them lightly.

As for Ning Hao, he was still a behind-the-scenes creator, with average looks and a director’s title yet to make waves. Whenever he appeared before audiences, people tended to overlook him entirely.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, they were greeted by three smiling hosts—two men and one woman—who approached eagerly.

Both men were short and thin, though one had a delicate, boyish face. Despite being twenty-six, he looked younger than Gu Zhi himself. The other had dark skin and a prematurely aged appearance; though only twenty-four, he could have passed for thirty.

Between them was a slightly plump woman with an air of wealth and charm, long hair flowing and a full figure.

“Gu Zhi, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m finally meeting you in person today,” the woman said warmly. As soon as their eyes met, she greeted him with practiced ease, her handshake gentle and her manners impeccable.

“Ms. Li Xiang, it’s a pleasure. You look even better in person than you do on TV,” Gu Zhi replied, returning the compliment with equal poise.

He quickly greeted the other two as well.

“Hello, Mr. He.”

“Hello, Brother Weijia.”

Ning Hao, Liu Ye, and Tang Wei also stepped forward to exchange greetings. Both parties were already familiar with each other’s reputations, though they hadn’t met until now. A few polite exchanges, and the introductions were complete.

“Xiao Zhang, go find a few people to take their luggage up to the rooms.”

“You all haven’t eaten yet, have you? In a moment, let’s head to a local Hunan restaurant and give you a taste of authentic Changsha cuisine. I guarantee you’ll be impressed,” Li Xiang announced, taking charge as the big sister of the group.

Soon, their luggage was handled, and everyone followed her out for dinner.

At this time, the hosts of “Happy Camp” were still Li Xiang, He Jiong, and Li Weijia.

Li Xiang was an experienced host and the mainstay of Mango TV, unrivaled in her position. He Jiong was still working as a counselor in the Arabic Department at Beijing Foreign Studies University; “Happy Camp” was only his weekly part-time gig, and his reputation as a host was just beginning to grow, his standing not yet fully established. As a university lecturer, it was perfectly appropriate for Gu Zhi to address him as “Mr. He.”

Li Weijia was a newcomer, barely known to anyone, having only joined “Happy Camp” the previous year with no recognition to his name.

Another important figure in the show was Xie Na. She had joined as a co-host earlier this year, but left after a few months to head to Beijing to film the TV series “Fortune Street.”

Originally, Liu Ye was the lead actor in “Fortune Street,” and it was through this series that Xie Na and he met, became close, and eventually fell in love. They were together for five years, had met each other’s families, nearly married, but in the end parted ways amicably—a story that left many sighing.

Now, because of Gu Zhi’s involvement, Liu Ye had acted in “Butterfly Effect” instead of “Fortune Street.” The two hadn’t even met yet, so there was no chance for romance.

Whether they would still meet and fall in love in the future, repeating the same story, was a question Gu Zhi couldn’t answer.

He only knew one thing: if Liu Ye didn’t marry his French wife, there would be no little cutie, Nuo Yi!

As things stood, history had already been altered. There was nothing Gu Zhi could do about it; he could only let things take their course.

An hour later, over clinking glasses at the dinner table, everyone’s relationships became much warmer.

As entertainment hosts, Li Xiang, Mr. He, and Li Weijia were all adept at managing relationships with their guests—an essential professional skill. Li Xiang and Mr. He in particular were like fish in water at the dinner, praising their guests without being obvious, weaving compliments seamlessly into conversation. Talking with them, it was impossible to find fault—a testament to why one was the current queen of the channel and the other a future king.

The next day, Saturday morning, the three hosts and the four main creators of “Butterfly Effect” arrived early at Hunan TV for rehearsals for the evening’s show.

At that time, “Happy Camp” was still broadcast live, so they had to be well prepared. Every segment was rehearsed repeatedly during the day, the show’s script and guest Q&As all finalized in advance.

In its early days, “Happy Camp” focused on entertainment, relaxation, and interaction. The show included traditional segments that delighted audiences, such as the hilarious game “Happy Relay” and the thrilling “Firewall Challenge.” There were also sections that emphasized interaction and audience participation, like the brain-teasing “IQ Unlimited,” the uplifting “Sunshine Project,” and “Happy Parallel,” which helped viewers fulfill their wishes.

Despite appearances, these segments, which seemed to rely on spontaneous interaction, were all meticulously prepared in advance—everything scripted and rehearsed. The so-called interaction between guests and audience was, in truth, a performance for viewers at home.

After running through the rehearsal, Gu Zhi realized that, with the exception of the “live audience hotline” segment, every part was carefully crafted and scripted.

At 7:30 PM, everything was ready.

With the opening, the three hosts—Li Xiang, He Jiong, and Li Weijia—greeted the audience with the “cheer song” and the slogan, “Happy Camp, happy every day!” The show officially began.

It was Gu Zhi’s first time on live television. To be honest, he was a little nervous.