Chapter 45 – Using Love to Embrace Nature (1/2)
Qiu Qian’s trap for Bai Li required some time to completely take effect. Bai Lang knew what hadcaused the fire however as for the exact plan that followed, Qiu Qian didn’t give him any details. He knew that if Bai Lang knew about it, it would only worry him. However Qiu Qian firmly believed that the three Bai family members needed to be chased out of those two apartments. Who asked them to cause trouble for Bai Lang all because of those two apartments?
Bai Lang also didn’t have much time to look into this matter. Other than being busy filming Chaos Street, he also had to attend a wide variety of programs because of his Golden Emperor nomination. Of course all of these programs had been given specific instructions and a list of topics that they were not allowed to discuss. The same rule applied to everyone.
Other than that Bai Lang also accepted a special job. The country’s aviation dragon, Rong Air, invited Bai Lang to attend a press conference to announce that he would be their spokesperson for the next five years.
Usually this type of spokesperson was signed on from year to year, so a five year contract can be considered significantly long. Also previously Rong Air had never called a press conference for the specific purpose of introducing a spokesperson. So by doing this the Rong family was plainly making a statement that they were supporting the Bai Lang who had just come out of the closet.
In the press conference, not only did the very private CEO Rong Ai appear, even Rong SiQi made an appearance as a member of the Rong family. It was first time he had ever admitted in public his identity as a young master of the Rong family.
When this was exposed, it almost gobbled up all the attention of the reporters. Bai Lang naturally didn’t mind. He was both amused and touched by Rong SiQi’s stubborn insistence on getting involved in this matter, even though previously he had clearly stated that he didn’t want his identity to be known because it might affect his music. And the scene during the press release that made the reporters the most excited, was the scene of Rong SiQi and Bai Lang embracing as close friends.
Not only that but at this time Qiu Qian was also sitting underneath the stage, arms crossed, having mingled in unannounced with the reporters. This distracted the reporters even more. Both on the stage and off the stage there were so many interview opportunities that they only hated that they didn’t bring even more cameras and crew!
So with the support of his friends, his lover and his family (Qiu XiaoHai who could only stay at home to watch TV), this period of wind and rain brought on by the photographs on the internet, didn’t cause much fluctuations in Bai Lang’s mood. In fact the kindness, friendship and support shown by the people around him, including Zhu Kuan, Que QiMing and even Sun XiBin who he had not even known for very long, all made Bai Lang feel that his life after rebirth was really very beautiful.
But of course, not everything could be so smooth and easy.
Only just after the fuss had begin to die down, Bai Lang once again received an invitation to a special program: “Using Love to Embrace Nature”.
Other than Bai Lang, the invitation specifically stated it also wanted to invite Qiu Qian and Qiu XiaoHai.
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The main formula of the program “Using Love to Embrace Nature” involved inviting three famous star’s families to go on a backpacking and camping trip into nature for three days and two nights. After editing it would show the comedic interaction of the families, lovers spats, as well their awkwardness and lack of experience in dealing with outdoorsy type situations, in order to entertain the audience. The concept was healthy, natural and family-friendly and it was a very popular program.
However previously the families that were invited by the program were all picture-perfect, socially acceptable nuclear families. This time by inviting Bai Lang, Qiu Qian and Qiu XiaoHai, this was really exceeding their regular style.
If Bai Lang accepted the invitation, then his impression in people’s minds of being someone in a “gay marriage” would become even more flamboyant. However if he rejected them then people might question he was changing from the two people’s recent public acknowledgement of their relationship. That is to say, since the two of them were not afraid to admit their relationship in public, then why fear going on a little program?
So the purpose behind the invitation, was it friendly or not friendly? Was it someone who wanted to flatter Qiu Qian but only used an incorrect method? Even Fang Hua wasn’t sure. Bai Lang originally already didn’t want to go. After Fang Hua did some investigating and found out that the coordinator behind the program was someone that was supposedly good friends with Harmony Entertainment’s young miss Li Sha, Bai Lang naturally rejected it.
Qiu Qian heard about it however, he muttered during dinner one night that there was still a few people that needed to be cleaned up. Then he asked a few more questions about the camping format and this was overheard by Qiu XiaoHai who excitedly yelled, “I wanted to go camping with Ah Bai! Camping! Camping!” He yelled so loudly the entire night until Bai Lang and Qiu Qian raised their arms in surrender, promising him over and over again that they would definitely find a day for the whole family could go camping together.
Since Qiu XiaoHai got his way, then naturally Rong Zan’s family could also not escape either. In the end it became two families going together. They found a weekday when they could get away from the usual work, school and meetings; and decided to go a two-day camping trip together.
The reason they had chosen a weekday was mainly because Bai Lang was a public figure and they didn’t want to turn their camping trip into an impromptu fan meet and greet. They didn’t really want to go somewhere deep in the wild to torture themselves, so naturally they would chose a more easy-to-get-to and scenic location to camp.
In order to make sure these four very busy people could all put aside their jobs and squeeze out two whole days to go camping, the time had to be set for three weeks later.
However it was unknown if God was making fun of them but it just so happened that at thelakeside camping area that the four people chose, they actually ran into the crew of “Using Love to Embrace Nature”.
When Qiu Qian and Rong SiYu’s (who was Rong Zan’s father, Rong SiQi’s second eldest brother) car arrived at the camping ground, they saw the large and small camera equipment being carried on two big buses. In order to make sure that things went smoothly, Bai Lang had no choice but pig-headedly go and seek out the production crew. And it just so happened that the crew leader was someone that Bai Lang knew. He was the producer of “Partners”, Chen DongLi.
“Producer Chen, it’s been a long time.” Bai Lang smiled someone helplessly when he saw him. “You came to film today?”
“Bai Lang!? Ah, it’s really you!! How come you’re here!?” Chen DongLi’s face was filled with surprised joy. Then he saw Boss Qiu with a backpack not far away, along with a little boy who was jumping up and down in excitement. Other than them there was another car with a unfamiliar husband and wife along with an exquisite looking little boy. Clearly Bai Lang was having a real family outing. “What a coincidence, hahaha, previously you didn’t accept our program, it was such a pity. However I didn’t think we’d still run into you here. Hahaha, we are really fated!”
Chen DongLi didn’t show any signs of frustration or anger. Bai Lang naturally replied, “If not for your invitation, why would the children insist on going camping so strenuously? Originally I wanted them to stay away from the cameras but I didn’t think we’d still run into you guys. This…”
Chen DongLi didn’t wait for Bai Lang to finish talking. He rushed to say, “I know, I know. Of the people who reject the invitation, more than half is because of the consideration for the kids. This is completely understandable. So you don’t need to worry. I will let the camera crew know and they will do their best to avoid any shots of you guys. However I can’t guarantee it 100%, it’s possible that you guys may appear in the background of some shots.”
“As long as it’s not purposeful, then showing up a few times is okay. Thank you Producer Chen. Sorry for troubling you.” Bai Lang pulled down his baseball cap and smiled serenely. “But isn’t the idea of the program to go to some challenging spots? How come you selected this easy campground?”
After he spoke, it was time for Chen DongLi to laugh helplessly. He came closer and whispered, “Why else if not because of the guests? It’s the popular goddess Ruan Ying ah. Previously she used to be a teacher. She insisted that she can’t let her daughter go to any primitive places where there might be bugs or snakes, her daughter won’t be able to sleep. The production crew can only cooperate. Anyway changing the filming location can also keep the program fresh. This time we also purposely didn’t clear the set, the reason is because we wanted to film some interactions with other campers. But we didn’t think we’d run into you guys.”
Bai Lang also felt curious. He nodded. He asked a few questions about where the crew was planning on setting up camp. They would camp slightly further away to avoid disrupting them.
Chen DongLi pointed out the spot. However the lakeside camping spot was only so big, so even if you avoided you couldn’t get too far away. Chen DongLi even gave Bai Lang a production schedule which let him know what the crew would be doing during certain hours. This was being very considerate. Thus Bai Lang said gratefully that if he made anything yummy he would definitely send over a portion.
When the fatty Chen DongLi heard this his eyes lit up. He still remembered Bai Lang’s cooking skills. In the behind-the-scenes footage of “Gold” which was shown at promotional events, the camera had lingered often on the food that Bai Lang had prepared. Chen DongLi happily agreed to eat and expressed that he was waiting in anticipation.
The two people exchanged some more pleasantries and by this time more and more people around them discovered that the young person talking to the producer was the Bai Lang who currently often appeared on the screens. This roused a small commotion so Chen DongLi decided to directly call over the director, planner as well as a few people who were responsible for the cameras, and made Bai Lang’s previous requests clear.
These people were very surprised but they all immediately agreed that they definitely wouldn’t be taking any sneak shots.