Chapter 226: 226 New Variety Show

**Chapter 226: The New Variety Show**

It wasn’t just Lv Yiyang who felt that way—after receiving the participant list for *Light and Shadow Journey*, other cast members also immediately called their agents to confirm whether the news was true.

Once they received a positive reply, everyone shared a similarly speechless look, simultaneously sensing that this variety show might not be as easygoing as they had imagined.

And Lu Xu could even form alliances!

The entire entertainment industry knew he, Shao Yao, and Zheng Xiao were thick as thieves.

Being on the same show with senior actors naturally meant hardship for younger ones. Though unfamiliar with Lu Xu’s style, Lv Yiyang and others had extensive variety show experience. Even before filming began, Lv had already mentally cast himself in the role of a lackey.

Lu Xu was someone who dared to cross even Liu Rennong—if he offended him, would he stand a chance?

“Relax, Lu Xu doesn’t bite,” his agent reassured him.

This only earned an even more exasperated expression from Lv Yiyang: “He doesn’t bite, but I feel like he’s scarier than someone who does.”

Lv Yiyang had two huge dark circles under his eyes—evidence of his all-night digging up dirt on Lu Xu. Truthfully, there wasn’t much dirt on Lu Xu—he had no juicy scandals. The issue was that, in terms of achievements, Lu Xu was virtually unbeaten across the entire entertainment industry.

Too many stars had been taken down by him.

He even had a nightmare where Lu Xu was leering at him menacingly, causing him to panic-recall every bad thing he’d ever done—even almost confessing to getting eyelid surgery.

Well, his agency marketed Lv Yiyang as having a natural face, completely untouched by plastic surgery.

These days, getting eyelid surgery wasn’t considered plastic surgery per se, but if anti-fans found out, he’d definitely face a wave of mockery.

In short, Lv Yiyang was extremely nervous about the upcoming variety show.

After getting off the car, the guests boarded a bus to gather, and only then did they have time to make small talk. Lv Yiyang chatted with those close in age before politely greeting Lu Xu.

Lu Xu responded with a smile.

Little did anyone know, he was currently grumbling to Shao Yao and Zheng Xiao: “Am I really giving off predator vibes?”

Clearly, aside from Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao, no matter how lively the other participants acted in front of the camera, they all turned deferential the moment they greeted Lu Xu.

“Am I really that scary?”

Lu Xu was screaming internally.

The original intention of *Light and Shadow Journey* was to let the audience appreciate the beauty of cinema, but interactions among the guests were equally important. Zheng Xiao was fine—he was the designated extrovert jointly chosen by Lu Xu and Shao Yao, able to chat comfortably with anyone. Shao Yao, on the other hand, was a well-known introvert, so people didn’t push him too hard due to his personality.

Lu Xu, however, was different—his partner, Lv Yiyang, was clearly walking on eggshells.

Lu Xu: "..."

He started trying to play nice.

“HAHAHAHA, stop being so friendly—Lv looks like he’s about to pass out!”

“Witness Lu Xu’s idol appeal crashing and burning.”

“HAHAHA every time Lu Xu feels awkward, I get intense schadenfreude. Curious to see how these two will interact normally.”

“Here’s a suggestion: Lu Xu should play emperor. Every bully eventually meets their perfect victim.”

Fortunately, although Lv Yiyang clearly feared him, he was dead set on making *Light and Shadow Journey* a success. Lu Xu wasn’t actually a predator, and after two days of filming, Lv Yiyang came to realize that.

The first stop of *Light and Shadow Journey* is a river that holds deep meaning for everyone—a broad and powerful waterway where civilizations flourished. The classic 1960s film *The Rice Field* was shot here, creating an iconic scene in cinematic history.

Lu Xu was quiet on the bus, but when *The Rice Field* came up, he could vividly describe the moment when the protagonist said goodbye to his friend by the riverbank—the lush rice fields near the village, the soldiers swimming across the river amid gunfire, and their blood-stained battle robes.

Decades have passed since the scenes depicted in *The Rice Field*. Today, the riverside has become a bustling city. On hot days, shade shelters dot the banks, offering cool relief. Yet sometimes, the past and present still feel intertwined.

When this episode aired, viewers noticed a better relationship between Lu Xu and Lv Yiyang—clearly shown by Lv Yiyang’s impressed look as Lu Xu talked about *The Rice Field*.

Lu Xu’s commentary wasn’t just from an actor’s point of view. He closely analyzed the cinematography and the emotions in the protagonist’s eyes.

“So impressive!!”

“You can tell Lu Xu came prepared. I’ve decided—I’m watching *The Rice Field* tonight.”

“As someone who’s seen it, 60-year-old films may show their age technically, but the emotions they carry are completely genuine.”

At first, Lv Yiyang’s fans worried about his nervousness, but now they see Lu Xu as an excellent mentor—someone Lv Yiyang can learn acting and professionalism from.

There was no hint of Lu Xu picking on Lv Yiyang. In fact, he was as sincere as his thoughtful film analysis.

In addition, *Light and Shadow Journey* invited a renowned cinematographer whose stunning visuals made you feel like you were there by the river, watching the rice blossoms sway gently along the banks.

The scenery was breathtaking, and Lu Xu and Lv Yiyang captured moments just as compelling as movie scenes.

This season of *Light and Shadow Journey* also goes by another name: *Magnificent Landscapes*.

The audience clearly felt what the production team aimed to show.

Even those who hadn’t seen *The Rice Field* could sense the grandeur of its filming through Lu Xu’s descriptions.

Though the first episode didn’t go viral, it generated plenty of buzz. As a film-themed variety show with many celebrity guests, *Light and Shadow Journey* managed to create a peaceful mood.

The breeze ruffling the water, the reeds rustling with history—it all brought back memories of the past.

“Such a calm show.”

“Perfect soundtrack, perfect visuals, and amazing use of light and shadow. The stars clearly did their homework—no fake drama, just pure cinematic beauty.”

“+1 +1.”

Airing on Huayu TV, *Light and Shadow Journey* started out ranking fifth in its time slot.

With the guests still getting to know each other in the first episode, and the niche focus on films, it naturally wasn’t drawing in casual viewers.

But Huayu TV had expected this result.

Some shows thrive on endless drama and overanalyzed controversies, which naturally ensures high ratings.

However, beyond ratings, networks also need quality programs—and *Light and Shadow Journey* is clearly one of them.

By the second episode, the show became much more engaging.

Viewers could clearly see the guests had prepared even more thoroughly—likely inspired by Lu Xu’s strong performance in the first episode.

His interactions with Lv Yiyang also increased noticeably.

This episode focused on *Fearless Life*, a film shot at a location Lu Xu knew well.

He wasn’t the only one familiar with it—Shao Yao had been there too. This time, Lv Yiyang led the introduction while Lu Xu added insightful details. They worked together perfectly.

Then, the audience noticed that Lv Yiyang had become Lu Xu's shadow.

The audience: "..."

"If I remember correctly, these two weren't even close at all last episode?! When did this happen?"

"Proof that Lu Xu is the ultimate screen charmer."

This episode, the guests really let loose—Zheng Xiao and Lu Xu were trading good-natured jabs, while Shao Yao took charge of leading the crew to explore nearby top eateries.

"Never breaking character!"

"LOL, Shao Yao’s way of bonding is taking people out to eat. And honestly, every restaurant he recommended is now in my favorites list—not a single miss so far."

"OP, share please!"

The behind-the-scenes footage from the *Fearless Life* set was also brought in by the crew, and naturally, the Golden Flame Awards got roasted yet again.

The once-desolate Gobi desert from *Fearless Life* was now surrounded by greenery when the crew arrived. The entire team took a train, and through the windows, herds of cattle and sheep grazed under skies where the horizon seemed to meet the earth.

That feeling of standing alone between heaven and earth, with only one’s heart present, was indescribable.

During filming, the guests kept exclaiming "Wow!" in unison—and so did the audience watching.

"Actual location shots? This beautiful? I want to go see it!"

"The place where Bai Qianshan struggled—the sky stretches endlessly, so high and vast. Back then, he must have felt night after lonely night, right? But now, he’s no longer alone."

"Absolutely awe-inspiring."

The scenes captured in the film and those shot by the crew were naturally different. Bai Qianshan faced loneliness and uncertainty about achieving his goals, but what the audience saw was a sunset so huge and perfect it seemed to fill the entire horizon.

Lu Xu recounted the filming process of *Fearless Life*, including how he immersed himself in the character by studying Bai Qianshan’s story in detail. He spoke earnestly, and the others listened intently. The camera focused on capturing the heartwarming interactions among the guests, and naturally, the audience felt it too.

"A whole row of people sitting and listening to Lu Xu tell stories—so well-behaved, so adorable."

"Lu Xu truly brought the filming experience to life. My main thought? Lu Xu is seriously, seriously amazing!"

"Everyone’s listening so attentively, LOL. Shao Yao and the others even secretly tried reenacting scenes, only to flee in embarrassment when the camera caught them—faces all red. I'm dead!"

Audiences’ takeaway from *Light and Shadow Journey*’s second episode: The atmosphere was chill as hell, and the food looked mouthwatering.

The ratings for the second episode improved significantly, climbing to third place in the variety show rankings. But what the crew never expected was that the most-discussed topic afterward would be “Just how much of a foodie is Shao Yao?”

Mainly because everyone was devouring the food with such satisfaction.

Of course, for the audience, the behind-the-scenes stories of *Fearless Life* were also fascinating.

"Lu Xu morphed into a preschool teacher."

"LOL, bonus content + Lu Xu’s new side gig. Everyone’s listening so seriously—even Zheng Xiao and Shao Yao."

"Hello? This is a free masterclass from a *Contention Award*-winning actor. You couldn’t pay to hear this stuff! Lu Xu isn’t much older than them, and the roles he takes are ones they’ll likely play in the future. Learn now, use later—simple!"

In short, even without the beautiful scenery or the soundtrack, just tuning in for "Lu Xu’s Mini-Class" made *Light and Shadow Journey* an amazing bang for your buck.

As for the third episode... Not only did the atmosphere get livelier, but as netizens put it, it was literally the entire cast turning into monkeys.