Chapter 226: A New Variety Show
It wasn’t just Lu Yiyang who had this thought. As soon as the cast list for Light and Shadow Journey was released, other artists immediately called their managers to confirm whether the news was true.
After receiving a definite answer, everyone had the same “…” expression flash across their faces, accompanied by a shared premonition—this variety show was probably not going to be as easy as they had imagined.
And to make things worse, Lu Xu could form alliances!
The entire entertainment industry knew that his relationship with Shao Yao and Zheng Xiao was so close they might as well share a pair of pants.
Being on the same show as veteran actors meant that younger actors would inevitably suffer. Although they didn’t know much about Lu Xu’s style, Lu Yiyang and the others had plenty of experience with variety shows. Even before the program had started, he had already mentally assigned himself the role of a bag-carrying lackey.
Lu Xu was someone who even dared to take on Liu Rennong. If he offended Lu Xu, would he still have any good days ahead?
“Relax, Lu Xu doesn’t eat people,” his manager tried to reassure him.
But this only made Lu Yiyang’s expression even more exasperated. “He may not eat people, but I feel like he’s even scarier than someone who does.”
At that moment, Lu Yiyang was sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes—the result of staying up all night digging into Lu Xu’s gossip. To be honest, there wasn’t much tabloid news about Lu Xu. He had no major scandals, but in terms of achievements, he was practically unbeatable in the entire entertainment industry.
Too many stars had fallen at Lu Xu’s hands.
He even had a dream that night—one where Lu Xu was grinning menacingly at him. When he woke up, he found himself mentally reviewing all the bad things he had ever done in his life, nearly confessing to something as trivial as getting double eyelid surgery.
Well, his agency had always marketed him as having a “natural face,” the type that had never undergone cosmetic procedures.
These days, getting double eyelid surgery wasn’t even considered plastic surgery, but if fans from rival fandoms found out, he would undoubtedly become the target of ridicule.
All in all, Lu Yiyang felt extremely anxious about the variety show he was about to participate in.
After getting off the car, the guests boarded a tour bus to gather together. Once they had assembled, they finally had time to exchange pleasantries. Lu Yiyang greeted those around his age first before politely and obediently greeting Lu Xu as well.
Lu Xu responded with a smile.
No one knew that, at that moment, he was complaining to Shao Yao and Zheng Xiao, “Do I give off T-Rex vibes or something?”
It was obvious—apart from Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao, everyone else in the show, no matter how lively they were in front of the cameras, instantly transformed into well-behaved little boys when greeting Lu Xu.
“Am I really that scary?”
Lu Xu was internally screaming.
The show Light and Shadow Journey was meant to let the audience experience the beauty of cinema, but the interactions between guests were just as important. Zheng Xiao was fine—he was an outgoing extrovert that both Lu Xu and Shao Yao had personally recommended, someone who could chat with anyone. Shao Yao, on the other hand, was a well-known introvert, and since everyone knew his personality, they naturally wouldn’t put him in an uncomfortable position.
Lu Xu, however, was a different case. His assigned partner, Lu Yiyang, was clearly on edge—way too much.
Lu Xu: “……”
He began trying to appear more approachable.
[Hahahahaha, stop trying to be friendly—Lu Yiyang looks like he’s about to pass out.]
[Lu Xu’s idol charisma is officially in shambles. Please enjoy.]
[Hahaha, every time Lu Xu feels awkward, I feel incredibly entertained. I’m really curious how these two are going to interact normally.]
[Suggestion: Lu Xu should cosplay as an emperor. Every dominant personality eventually finds their perfect submissive match.]
Fortunately, despite Lu Yiyang’s obvious fear of him, he was fully committed to making Light and Shadow Journey a great show. And since Lu Xu wasn’t actually a T-Rex, after two days of filming, Lu Yiyang naturally began to understand that.
The first stop of Light and Shadow Journey was a river that left a lasting impression on everyone’s hearts. The waters stretched wide, flowing endlessly, nurturing civilizations throughout history. It was also the filming location for the 1960s classic Rice Fields, a film that had cemented its place in cinematic history with one unforgettable scene.
Lu Xu wasn’t particularly talkative on the bus, but the moment Rice Fields was mentioned, he effortlessly recreated the atmosphere of the movie’s farewell scene between the protagonist and his confidant on the riverbank. He described the lush rice fields surrounding the village, the sudden eruption of gunfire, the soldiers swimming across the river, and the battle robes stained red with blood.
The scenes depicted in Rice Fields were from a bygone era. Today, the riverside had transformed into a bustling city. In the summer, shaded pavilions were set up by the water for people to cool off. But in certain moments, the past and present of Rice Fields still overlapped.
When this episode aired, viewers quickly noticed that Lu Xu and Lu Yiyang seemed to have gotten along much better. The most telling sign? Lu Yiyang’s face, filled with admiration as Lu Xu introduced Rice Fields.
Lu Xu’s breakdown of the film wasn’t just from an actor’s perspective. He analyzed the cinematography, the emotions conveyed in the protagonist’s eyes—every detail was carefully examined.
[So impressive!!]
[It feels so well-researched. You can tell Lu Xu put in a lot of preparation. That settles it—I’m watching Rice Fields tonight.]
[I’ve seen Rice Fields before. A movie from over 60 years ago might have various technical flaws, but the emotions it conveys are absolutely the most genuine.]
At first, Lu Yiyang’s fans were worried about his state, but now they felt that being paired with Lu Xu was actually a great opportunity. Lu Xu seemed like the best possible mentor—Lu Yiyang could learn both acting skills and an actor’s professional attitude from him.
There wasn’t a single sign that Lu Xu intended to b*lly Lu Yiyang. On the contrary, Lu Xu was just as sincere as he was when introducing the film.
In addition, Light and Shadow Journey had invited an exceptionally skilled cinematographer. The real-life scenery was captured beautifully, making viewers long to stand by the river, feel the breeze, and admire the rice flowers on both banks.
The landscape was stunning, and within the camera’s frame, Lu Xu and Lu Yiyang contributed dynamic shots that were no less cinematic than a movie.
This season of Light and Shadow Journey had another name: The Great Rivers and Mountains.
The visuals that the production team wanted to deliver were fully felt by the audience.
Even viewers who had never seen Rice Fields could still grasp the film’s grandeur through Lu Xu’s vivid descriptions.
Although the first episode didn’t go viral, it still generated plenty of discussion. With so many well-known celebrities joining the show, Light and Shadow Journey managed to stand out by offering a rare sense of tranquility.
The wind rippled across the river, stirring gentle waves. Time seemed to linger in the rustling reeds, evoking memories of the past.
[What a peaceful show.]
[Perfect soundtrack, perfect cinematography, impeccable use of light and shadow. The stars all did their homework before coming on. There’s no over-the-top drama, but after watching this, I just feel… movies are truly beautiful.]
[+1 +1.]
Light and Shadow Journey aired on Huayu TV, and among the variety shows in the same time slot, its ratings temporarily ranked fifth.
In the first episode, the guests were still unfamiliar with one another, and if viewers weren’t particularly interested in films, they probably wouldn’t find the show appealing either.
However, before producing this variety show, Huayu TV had already anticipated this outcome.
Some shows thrived on non-stop drama, generating enough gossip to be dissected in 180 different ways—those naturally had no trouble attracting viewership.
But aside from chasing ratings, the network also needed to create programs worth appreciating, and Light and Shadow Journey was clearly one of them.
From the second episode onward, the show’s entertainment value improved significantly.
It was obvious to viewers that the guests had done much more preparation compared to the first episode—undoubtedly influenced by Lu Xu’s exceptional groundwork in the premiere.
His interactions with Lu Yiyang also increased noticeably.
This episode introduced the film Fearless Life, and Lu Xu was extremely familiar with its filming location.
Not only had Lu Xu been there before, but Shao Yao had as well. This time, Lu Yiyang was responsible for presenting the film, while Lu Xu provided supplementary insights from behind—demonstrating seamless teamwork.
Then, the audience noticed something unexpected: Lu Yiyang had become Lu Xu’s little shadow.
Viewers: “……”
[If I remember correctly, weren’t these two basically strangers last episode?!! When did this happen?!]
[Lu Xu the movie industry’s resident incubus—confirmed.]
In this episode, the guests had clearly relaxed. Zheng Xiao and Lu Xu started playfully exposing each other’s embarrassing moments, while Shao Yao took it upon himself to lead the production crew on a food tour of the area.
[…A flawless commitment to their character personas.]
[I’m dying of laughter—Shao Yao’s way of bonding with people was taking them to eat good food. And you know what? Every restaurant he recommended went straight into my favorites. So far, not a single miss.]
[Upstairs, please share!]
The behind-the-scenes footage from the Fearless Life film crew was also included in the show, which naturally led to yet another round of mockery aimed at the Golden Flame Awards.
The once-barren Gobi Desert, as seen in Fearless Life, had become lush with greenery by the time the crew arrived. The entire team took a train to the location, and through the windows, they watched herds of cattle and sheep grazing under a vast blue sky that seemed to merge seamlessly with the land.
That feeling of solitude—standing alone between heaven and earth, with only one’s heart grounded in the moment—was nearly impossible to put into words.
As they filmed, the guests let out one “Wow” after another, and viewers at home echoed the same reaction.
[Is it really this beautiful? Is this a real location? I want to visit!]
[This is where Bai Qianshan struggled to survive. The sky looks so vast and majestic. Back then, he must have felt lonely. But now, he is no longer alone.]
[The only word I can use to describe this is ‘breathtaking.’]
The landscapes shown in the film and those captured by the show’s cameras were, of course, different. Bai Qianshan had endured endless lonely nights, uncertain of when he would achieve his goal. But what the audience saw was a massive, perfectly round sun sinking into the horizon, as if filling the entire sky.
Lu Xu shared details about the filming process—how he researched Bai Qianshan’s life, how he immersed himself in the character, and the small details that helped him bring the role to life. He spoke earnestly, and the others listened intently. The cameras focused on capturing the beauty of their interactions, allowing the audience to experience it naturally as well.
[A whole group of people sitting in a row, listening to Lu Xu tell a story—so well-behaved, so cute!]
[Lu Xu truly recreated the filming atmosphere of Fearless Life. My only thought is—Lu Xu is seriously, seriously amazing!]
[Everyone was listening so attentively, hahaha! Shao Yao and the others even tried to reenact the scene in secret, but when they noticed the camera, they panicked and ran away. Their faces were so red—I’m dying of laughter!]
The audience’s overall takeaway from episode two of Light and Shadow Journey was: super relaxed atmosphere and incredibly delicious-looking food.
The ratings for the second episode increased significantly compared to the first, reaching third place on the variety show charts. However, what the production team hadn’t expected was that, out of everything, the most-discussed topic of the episode turned out to be: just how good is Shao Yao at finding food?
Mainly because the entire group ate like they hadn’t seen food in days, completely devouring everything with satisfied expressions.
Of course, beyond the food, the behind-the-scenes stories of Fearless Life also deeply captivated viewers.
[Lu Puppy transforming into a kindergarten teacher—confirmed.]
[I’m dying—this episode’s follow-up: Lu Xu’s new side job. Everyone was listening so intently, even Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao!]
[Hey, this is a free masterclass from a Contention Award Best Actor! Even if you paid, you wouldn’t get this opportunity. Lu Xu isn’t much older than them, and the roles he takes on now are the ones they’ll likely be playing in the future. What they learn from him here, they’ll probably use when filming later.]
All in all, even if there were no breathtaking scenery, no background music, just Lu Xu’s Mini Masterclass, Light and Shadow Journey would still be an incredibly worthwhile show.
As for episode three… The atmosphere didn’t just lighten up—it completely transformed. As netizens put it: the entire cast went full monkey mode.
