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As soon as Rong Yuheng finished replying, the comment section of that post exploded. It instantly turned into a sea of joy:

Reply: “Hahaha, what kind of logic is this? I’m cracking up!”

Reply: “Big brother! I can’t believe Rong Rong has a big brother, hahaha.”

Reply: “My dear Rong Bao always surprises us.”

Reply: “I’m out of laughter. How can someone dare to challenge Rong Rong? Haven’t they watched ‘Treasure Hunt’ and ‘Star Creation’?”

Some clever netizens even captured screenshots from “Treasure Hunt,” one of Rong Yuheng looking at himself in the mirror and the other of him performing comedy in “Treasure Hunt”:

@Netizen15402: [Treasure of Girls.jpg] Treasured Younger Brother

[Our Shellfish Family.jpg] Precious (Real) Pearl Big Brother

Conclusion: Your whole family is priceless!

For a while, the heated arguments came to a halt. Humorous anecdotes and parodies took over, quickly dominating the trending topics on Weibo.

Rong Yuheng put down his phone and continued his work of rallying fans: That’s right, harmony is key, let’s keep things pleasant and foster a healthy and positive online environment.

–

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Amidst this inexplicable turn of events, the second episode of “Treasure Hunt” aired. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected work commitment, Wen Zhecheng couldn’t watch the show with Rong Yuheng.

In this episode, Rong Yuheng’s relationship with the horse would be revealed. Shi Qiu instructed him to watch it promptly and cooperate with public relations efforts.

At 6:30 PM on Thursday, Rong Yuheng sat alone on his bedroom’s small bed, opening his computer.

With a fervent heart, he placed Wen Zhecheng’s photo on his phone’s screen and stood it beside the computer.

Rong Yuheng clasped his hands together and bowed sincerely, “Master, the hamster is with you.”

Huang Jianing, holding a bag of potato chips, entered the room and saw this strange scene, “…”

His thoughts froze for five seconds, and then he cautiously asked, “What are you doing?”

Rong Yuheng scooted over a bit to make room for Huang Jianing, “Sharing with Master Wen. Do you want to join us?”

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Huang Jianing sat down with a complex expression, glancing at the half-body shot of Wen Zhecheng on the phone screen, “Aren’t you two close…?”

Rong Yuheng gently stroked the phone case, as if petting Wen Zhecheng’s head, “Yes, that’s right. So, I’m always thinking about him.”

“…” Huang Jianing said, “He’s quite lucky.”

As they chatted, the show began. The massive logo swept across the screen, followed by the introduction of this episode’s guests:

Su Yuyin, Rong Yuheng, Zhou Yin, and Duan Xiuyi… The final silhouette remained a mystery.

Comments flooded in:

—Is this it? Is this it??

—Who on earth is the mysterious permanent guest W?

Huang Jianing turned his head and asked, “Is it Master Wen?”

Rong Yuheng pinched his phone and shook it, and the screen’s Wen Zhecheng nodded.

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“…”

After introducing the guests, the show moved on to the opening Q&A session. As the camera swept across the row of guests, the collective explosion of the comment section signaled Wen Zhecheng’s appearance on screen:

—I’m losing it!! It’s really Master Wen!! [Table pounding]

—It’s Gege! I’m here just for Gege. I bet on him!

—Wen Zhecheng?? Oh my god, isn’t he a movie star? His movies are great, but can he handle variety shows…?

—Gege’s variety show debut! I swear I’ll follow ‘Treasure Hunt’ from now on!

Rong Yuheng didn’t forget to turn his phone toward the computer screen, saying, “Look, your flourishing dynasty.”

Finally, Huang Jianing couldn’t help but comment, “Rong Bao, this doesn’t seem very auspicious…”

Rong Yuheng remained unfazed, “But my intentions are good.”

In this episode, the host had been changed to Xi Lin. Some netizens noticed and couldn’t help but express their relief, “Finally, a change in the host! And it’s Xi Lin, who previously hosted ‘Star Ace.’ I love it!”

Guests took turns mentioning their favorite desserts, and the barrage of comments displayed a string of dessert names. When it was Wen Zhecheng’s turn, he stated, “Mille-feuille.”

The barrage of comments immediately erupted:

—Ah ah ah, mille-feuille! I’m a mille-feuille girl!

—Is Brother Lin talking about desserts or fans? [Dog head emoji]

Then, Wen Zhecheng continued, “It was given to me by Rong Rong.”

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—Oh my god, is Wen Zhecheng really close to Rong Yuheng?

—Direct everyone to ‘Ace Star.’ Their interactions there are quite cute.

—Rong Rong is so sweet, even giving mille-feuille to our Wen Zhecheng. Could it be that he knows the fan group is called ‘Mille-feuille’? [Hehe]

—Sigh… Did no one notice the address? I think I’ve stumbled upon something… [Covering mouth emoji]

Huang Jianing exclaimed, “Oh my god!! The mille-feuille that day was really given to Teacher Wen?”

At the time, Rong Yuheng didn’t think much of it, but now, looking at the barrage of comments and hearing Huang Jianing’s excitement, he suddenly felt a bit guilty, “Gratitude to a teacher is unforgettable.”

After saying that, he took a potato chip and placed it in front of the phone screen, “I must show my respect to Teacher Wen.”

Huang Jianing looked at him meaningfully, “Do you believe that tomorrow’s trending topic will be ‘#Wen Zhecheng Rong Yuheng Mille-feuille#’ or something like that?”

Rong Yuheng paused for two seconds, then shook his head, “It’s hard to say.”

Because there was something even more explosive coming.

Before Huang Jianing could ask, the screen showed Rong Yuheng beginning to reveal more about himself, “Of course, I made it myself… Um, I studied abroad before…”

The barrage of comments exploded again:

—Studied abroad!? What’s going on? Wasn’t it said that his family raised pigs?

—The earlier… the one about his family raising pigs was about Rong Yuheng’s dark side. [Laughing while crying]

—Oh my god, wait… If what Rong Yuheng is saying is true, this could be the biggest face-slapping moment in history!

—I suddenly remember a comment from the previous episode that predicted: “If Rong Yuheng’s family is actually millionaires…”

—Studying abroad only suggests that his family isn’t poor, but probably not millionaires…

—There are too many explosive elements in this episode. It’s only been a few minutes into the show! [Frustrated]

Huang Jianing, in front of the computer, dropped his potato chip in shock, “How did you come to the decision to reveal this?”

Rong Yuheng admired the fireworks of comments from fans while explaining, “If misunderstandings aren’t cleared up quickly, rumors will only escalate. It’s better to expose myself early and minimize the damage. If it’s left for too long, others will expose it and it’ll become a stain.”

Huang Jianing wasn’t dull. He quickly understood the strategy behind the recent topics on Weibo, “First, let ‘bad family background’ become the target of online trolls, then turn potential negatives into positives?”

Rong Yuheng nodded, “That’s Autumn’s PR strategy. Looking at the same thing from different angles can yield different perceptions.”

He paused for a moment, then sighed deeply, “I still have to thank Liu Wanjing for putting up that act. She paved the way for me, laying out a path even a thousand miles long, presenting gifts with deep intentions…”

Huang Jianing was silent for a second and then plugged his ears… As an observer, he felt a bit sorry for Liu Wanjing.

…

In the show, the guests had already entered the venue. Rong Yuheng was pulling a strand of shredded pork…

The camera didn’t miss Su Yuyin’s frustrated expression, and amid the laughter, they suddenly saw Wen Zhecheng secretly pulling Rong Yuheng aside and saying, “This piece is delicious.”

Huang Jianing was stunned, “Is Teacher Wen like this?”

Many netizens were equally shocked. An onslaught of “???” scrolled across the screen, mixed with shouts of “Teacher Wen, you’re ruining your image!”

Rong Yuheng didn’t quite get it, “What image is Teacher Wen ruining? Hasn’t he always been like this?”

Huang Jianing couldn’t even respond, “Think back to the first day of auditions when you met Teacher Wen.”

Rong Yuheng thought for half a second, then evaluated, “His rear isn’t perky enough.”

“…” Huang Jianing stared at the solemn Wen Zhecheng on Rong Yuheng’s phone screen and recalled a sentence:

“Teacher Wen Zhecheng is watching you.”

In the show, Rong Yuheng had become Wen Zhecheng’s rainbow-farting unicorn along with a teasing machine, and the barrage of comments had completely surrendered:

—Teacher Wen… What’s with you only talking to Rong Goose? Are you shy?

—Saying he’s shy has me laughing. Hasn’t Actor Wen attended award ceremonies and press conferences?

—Hold on… Why do I feel like this is a bit intriguing (raising a pot lid)?

—You’re not alone!! Although I didn’t hear what they were saying, it’s clear that Brother Zechen spoke to Rong Goose for a long time, three to four times more than what was shown on screen for the program!

While Rong Yuheng hadn’t realized it during the recording of the show, looking at it from an outsider’s perspective now, he suddenly felt… like it was kind of intriguing?

…Oh my god. Two seconds later, he snapped back, what the heck? They are in pet and master relationship, what’s there to be intrigued about!

When the clue for the first door was solved and Wen Zhecheng pulled out a long strand of saliva-drenched shredded pork from Rong Yuheng’s mouth… the barrage of comments suddenly seemed to clear as if it had been emptied.

It wasn’t until half a minute later when the scene changed and the guests entered another room that the barrage of comments gradually recovered:

—I’m blinded… Offering a heavy reward for a pair of eyes that haven’t seen this scene.

—Too much to say, and for a moment, not knowing what to say.

—If this isn’t love…

—I want to say it’s slightly disgusting, but it’s also really funny. Rong Goose is just too cute, and Brother Zechen is surprisingly… impressive.

—”Impressive” has me cracking up. I can sense this student’s complex emotions.

With this shocking scene, Rong Yuheng’s subsequent “I’m a number one” and “I heard there’s a stove in my house” appeared ordinary…

As expected, Liu Wanjing was given another face-slap by being slipped into the episode. The joyful atmosphere continued until Wen Zhecheng took out two earphones from behind.

Su Yuyin commented, “The program crew must be well-funded, actually providing wireless earphones.”

Wen Zhecheng replied, “…I accidentally turned them wireless.”

The program crew even had the audacity to reverse the footage — a scene of Wen Zhecheng tearing off the earphone wire followed soon after.

The barrage of comments were on the verge of laughter. The thousand layers girls exclaimed:

“Who said our Brother Zhecheng lacks variety sense!”

…

At the end of the program, as the final answer was revealed, the five guests returned to the stage and were interviewed by Xi Lin.

When discussing family matters again, Rong Yuheng’s speech immediately became the center of attention. His lips moved slightly, and the elegant words flowed naturally:

“Ever since I transformed, I haven’t returned to my clamshell home… My clamshell father, the large clamshell I love the most… I’ll polish him to shine, filling the room with radiance!”

Huang Jianing nearly sprayed his crushed potato chip crumbs onto the computer screen, “Do your family members watch this show?”

Rong Yuheng closed the computer and crossed out Wen Zhecheng’s face on the phone screen, acting like a carefree fool,

“Don’t know~ But at least in that moment when I said those words, I was happy!”

Huang Jianing, “…”

–

As the show ended, the topic of “#Rong Yuheng Family Background#” resurfaced on Weibo.

There was organic buzz, as well as amplification by the Shi Qiu PR team.

Several film and television bloggers posted:

“Latest episode of ‘Treasure Hunt,’ Rong Yuheng possibly exposing real family background #Treasure Hunt Convention#”

“Not a pig farmer, but an overseas student! Newcomer Rong Yuheng’s family background takes a major twist! #Rong Yuheng Topic#”

“‘Treasure Hunt’ Episode 2 was likely recorded a week ago, and yesterday’s controversy hasn’t settled yet. Is this face slap coming too soon? #Treasure Hunt Convention# #Rong Yuheng Family Background#”

Many netizens, having just finished watching the episode, excitedly climbed onto Weibo to join in the discussion, and they indeed found these related trending topics!

The buzz snowballed, growing larger and larger. For a moment, fans, bystanders, and trolls all surged forth, engaging in an unparalleled debate under the Weibo hashtags.

“I’m really looking forward to a twist! To be honest, it’s pretty low to bring up someone’s family background. If it turns out Rong Goose’s family isn’t poor… Oh my god, it’s so exciting, I feel like I’ve reached the pinnacle of life!”

“Even if it’s not about coming from a wealthy family, studying abroad suggests at least middle-class status, right?”

“Oh my, yesterday they were bashing him, and today they’re using the student identity to defend themselves? Why not show us your academic certificates for verification? Let’s see if there’s actual evidence. @STAR—T Rong Yuheng V”

“Rong Rong already looked elegant before (except for the shredding part)… I always felt the talk about his family being poor was just a rumor.”

In the midst of chaos, that excellent “pig farming blog” from yesterday was once again dug up, and people were reposting it one after another:

“This blog is not meticulously crafted, it should be changed to ‘Sold a pig farm and sent Rong Rong abroad for studying [dog head emoji]'”

“The internet is in an uproar. Does Rong Goose’s big brother want to step forward and claim his treasure trove of a little brother?”

“Waiting for Pearl Brother [innocent emoji]”

“Uh… my family is quite wealthy. If no one claims Rong Goose, I’ll take him home [grinning emoji]”

Rong Yuheng looked at his phone with mixed feelings. He did have his student ID, but it was at home. As for letting Rong Congyan step forward to claim it… Rong Yuheng carefully recalled the “added value” he had brought to his family during this period…

It probably wouldn’t work.

Shi Qiu poked him on WeChat: “Quickly post your student ID, time for the first twist.”

Rong Yuheng stayed silent for a while, then decided to send a message to Rong Congyan.

[Rong Yuheng]: My dear big brother~ Coming back home from work~ After a day of hard work, how tiring it must be~ Big brother, please have a seat, and let’s have a cup of tea~

[Rong Congyan]: What trouble have you caused again?

Rong Yuheng, “…”, His own brother.

[Rong Yuheng]: Someone’s questioning my noble lineage! Hurry, help me take a picture of my student ID and send it over [angry otter.jpg]

[Rong Congyan]: Understood.

After sending the message, Rong Yuheng settled on his bed and waited for a reply.

Three minutes passed, five minutes, ten minutes… but there was no movement in the chatbox.

Rong Yuheng furrowed his brows, about to ask his brother if he had “flown abroad to get the student ID?” when a WeChat message from Shi Qiu popped up.

[Shi Qiu]: I originally wanted you to take it step by step, but you started with a royal flush right off the bat. [complex emotions.jpg]

A small question mark slowly appeared over Rong Yuheng’s head: ?

… After half a minute of contemplation, he quickly logged into Weibo!

In the comments section of that “pig farming blog,” an unexpected golden verified account appeared:

@Rong Group—Rong Congyan v replied: “You’re the only pig in our family.”

Weibo instantly exploded.

Author’s note: Rong Yuheng: You’re a pig!

Rong Congyan: No, you’re a pig!

Internet trolls: …I’m not worthy of participating.