Chapter 48: Livestream (Part One)
Xu Sinian “…”
Xu Sinian’s temple twitched slightly.
Chen Bai felt like his good neighbor’s expression seemed a little different from usual, yet also not too different.
In any case, after breakfast, they washed the dishes together, and it was time for him to meet up with his money-making partner.
As he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He looked up and added, “The photo I take myself, I’ll only send it to you.”
That was what his agent had instructed, strictly forbidding him from sharing it with anyone else.
His neighbor helped him put on his hat and casually replied, “Alright.”
Chen Bai left, and his money-making partner’s car was already waiting outside the building.
Once he got in the car, Gao Qian once again expressed the need for the company to provide them with a driver and a car. As for this great wish of hers, Chen Bai could only respond, “I’ll do my best.”
His agent, satisfied, patted his shoulder and hit the gas.
The destination was a familiar place, a familiar studio, and a familiar professional team. The only difference this time was that they no longer had to travel from the old part of town, saving them quite a bit of time.
Having been there so many times, Chen Bai was now well-acquainted with the team and his agent, making the process smooth and familiar.
Knowing the day was going to be long, Chen Bai had stayed up late the night before, counting on this time to catch up on sleep.
Sure enough, as soon as he sat down, the professional team began a round of analysis and engaged in an enthusiastic discussion with his agent, which seemed to be heading for at least half an hour of debate.
Chen Bai, trusting them, immediately leaned back and closed his eyes to nap.
The morning passed in a dreamlike state. He woke up a few times, sleepwalking through the process, standing and sitting as directed by the team. He vaguely heard them talking, but the voices were muffled, and he couldn’t make out what they were saying.
He fully woke up around noon, when his money-making partner called his name.
The studio staff watched in amazement as the agent’s shouting failed to rouse him. Finally, she leaned close to his ear, took a deep breath, and whispered, “The God of Wealth has arrived.”
The staff “…”
In an instant, Chen Bai’s eyes snapped open. His pupils hadn’t even fully focused yet, but his gaze was unexpectedly sharp and clear—he was wide awake.
The staff: “…?”
A method they’d never seen before, but undeniably effective.
Tricked awake by his agent, Chen Bai lifted his eyes and caught sight of his blurry white hair in the mirror. The work was done, and it seemed to have finished faster than usual.
Anticipating his thoughts, the agent explained, “Your hair length is perfect as it is, so we didn’t need to adjust it. That saved us a step.”
Chen Bai nodded and squinted his eyes, trying to get a clear look at himself in the mirror, but his vision was blurry, and he couldn’t see clearly. So, he lifted his head and looked at his money-making partner, asking, “Do I look cool?”
The agent held up her phone and met his gaze, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
The person sitting in the chair was wearing a loose white shirt, looking thin, with pale eyes beneath his white messy hair—his eyes clear and clean, but slightly red-rimmed. His gaze, when directed at someone, could make their heart skip a beat.
The stylist, who was holding a camera, commented objectively, “If I had to say…”
Rather than looking “cool,” he looked like he was about to break.
Those who knew him well were aware that he was just tired from sleeping, but to an unknowing observer, he might have looked like someone utterly heartbroken, as if they had just witnessed a breakup.
When he spoke, his eyes met the stylist’s again.
The stylist “…”
Meeting his gaze, the stylist quickly looked away and continued, “…pretty cool.”
Chen Bai “?”
Everyone else looked at him in disbelief.
The “cool guy” smiled, pulled out his phone, found the camera app, and snapped a picture of his hair, immediately sending it to his good neighbor and friend.
The agent watched him send the message, recalling who was on the other end of that conversation, and couldn’t help but facepalm.
It was hard to imagine that the person who would still praise such abstract photos was Xu Sinian.
She sent the photos on her phone to Chen Bai, saying, “You should send him these pictures too, just to please his eyes.”
Chen Bai forwarded them without hesitation but still thought that the photo he had taken himself looked cooler.
The agent agreed, “Yes, of course.”
Putting her phone away, she added, “The shoot is next week, so try to avoid staying up late these days.”
Chen Bai nodded, “I’ll do my best.”
The agent patted him on the shoulder and, with a smile, warned through gritted teeth, “You ‘have’ to avoid staying up late.”
Chen Bai did his best to heed the warning, managing to shift his bedtime from 2 AM to midnight, gaining a whole two hours of sleep.
The photoshoot was scheduled for the following week. During that time, he spent most of his days streaming and occasionally playing games in private. While his understanding of the character wasn’t particularly deep, his game ranking improved quickly.
On the day of the shoot, it was overcast, and the rare cool weather was a blessing. His agent picked him up, and instead of heading directly to the shoot location, they first stopped at the brand’s dedicated studio.
An assistant arrived from another location, meeting them at the studio. Chen Bai was thrilled to receive a temporary work badge that allowed him to move freely in and out, and he casually stuffed it into his pocket.
The brand took this collaboration seriously, and the studio was equally meticulous. Everything was prepared before they arrived, and upon their arrival, they were immediately offered a drink while they discussed the details.
Most of the discussion was between the agent and the studio staff, with occasional questions thrown Chen Bai’s way.
Chen Bai, sitting on the side holding a cup, chimed in now and then, almost getting lost in the repeated “Teacher Chen” from the staff.
Luckily, the meeting didn’t last too long. After finalizing the details, he took off the hat still on his head and went to change into the prepared outfit.
Some people, when silent, look quite serious, and Chen Bai was no exception—he indeed looked like a cool guy. His naturally cold features, under the white hair, appeared even more aloof. People passing by couldn’t help but take a second glance.
The only flaw in his “cool guy” image was when he opened his mouth.
As soon as he spoke to the person next to him, he couldn’t help but smile, and his eyebrows softened, instantly dissolving any trace of coldness.
The changing room was at the end of the hallway. A staff member was explaining the intricate details and origin of each pattern on the outfit, noting the fine embroidery on the moon-white satin.
Chen Bai listened and nodded, but as he looked at the outfit, only one thought ran through his mind.
This outfit looks incredibly hard to wear.
The character he was portraying was named Yue Yi, an archer. The design referenced traditional costumes with regional embellishments, primarily in moon white and pale blue, adorned with a large amount of silver accessories.
Every movement caused the silver ornaments to jingle, and in a way, the sound was quite pleasant.
As he stood still, allowing the final adjustments to be made to his outfit, he glanced at the silver accessories hanging from his body and asked, “Are these real silver?”
The staff member confirmed that they were, specially crafted by a jewelry maker to ensure quality, using a few genuine silver strips.
Chen Bai “…”
Chen Bai felt a deep sense of respect.
Once the outfit was on, he took the last opportunity to run his hands through his hair before following the staff to the makeup room.
The makeup artist and stylist glanced at him and were momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, “You’re almost there already.”
There was a hint of humor in their words, but it was also partly true.
Ever the master of compliments, Chen Bai returned the praise, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the makeup room was filled with joy.
Due to the special nature of the look, the makeup process took longer than usual. Chen Bai kept chatting as he sat, not feeling bored at all.
The studio staff, ever thoughtful, brought drinks several times. Every sip of water seemed to refresh him, allowing him to keep up the conversation.
Finally, the makeup artist added a slender, faint blue line across his forehead, her hand steady and sure, marking the end of the process.
As she finished, the stylist also completed the final touches.
A skilled stylist can work miracles. Chen Bai lifted his gaze and saw the stylist had managed to create a small white braid behind his right ear, embedding a silver pendant that hung just to the nape of his neck.
Looking at himself, Chen Bai didn’t feel much had changed, but everyone else seemed satisfied. His agent gave him a few extra glances and said, “So, you can look like this too.”
Chen Bai didn’t quite understand but smiled nonetheless. The agent looked at him, closed her eyes, then opened them again, saying, “You’re still you.”
The shoot was on location, chosen for its seclusion in a near-suburban forest to ensure privacy. A convoy of four or five cars took them straight from the studio to the shooting site.
The suburbs were noticeably cooler than the city, and as Chen Bai stepped out of the car, a breeze greeted him, carrying his gaze straight into the ink-colored green mountains.
The others got out of their cars too, and the crew began carrying equipment to the pre-scouted location. Chen Bai, dressed more heavily than the others, stood by the roadside, still needing assistance from a small pink fan spinning non-stop in the wind.
This spot was at the foot of the mountain, in the forest. There weren’t many people around, but it wasn’t completely deserted either. A path lay hidden beneath the leaves, barely visible. The forest, full of evergreen trees, remained lush and green, with a mist lingering around it.
The photography team found the right spot and began setting up their equipment. Chen Bai’s agent, who had briefly left to handle other matters, returned with some of the crew, asking, “Do you know how to shoot a bow?”
Chen Bai, squatting by the roadside with the small fan in hand, looked up.
The agent had already guessed the answer, quickly adding, “It’s fine if you don’t. One of the photographers here knows a bit about archery. You can learn from him and make sure your movements look more professional.”
“Well,” Chen Bai raised his hand, saying, “I do know a bit.”
“Huh?”
The agent’s eyebrows twitched, “How do you know how to do that too?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? I used to work at a horse ranch.”
Chen Bai explained, “The archery range was right next to the ranch. I worked both jobs.”
Morning shifts at the ranch, afternoon shifts at the archery range—the timing worked out perfectly, and he didn’t have to run back and forth.
Gao Qian “…”
Gao Qian was momentarily unsure whether to admire his work ethic or make some other comment, but eventually just wiped her face in exasperation.
Chen Bai waved his hand and started to chat, “There was this one customer back then—he’d go horseback riding with his wife in the morning and then bring his mistress to practice archery in the afternoon. I ran into him both times, and at that moment…”
Before he could continue and drag everyone into his story, the agent interrupted, quickly halting the gossip session.
The two assistants nearby, who had been listening intently, regretfully shifted their attention back.
A crew member brought over a bow and arrows to be used as props. Chen Bai took them.
The bow wasn’t flashy, mainly a rare moon-white color, and surprisingly practical. It was heavier than a typical bow of the same size, with detailed craftsmanship. The arrows were real too—no corners cut.
It seemed the client had indeed invested heavily in this shoot.
Watching Chen Bai handle the bow and arrows without actually stringing one, the agent asked, “Aren’t you going to try it out?”
Chen Bai stretched his wrist and replied, “You don’t dry fire a bow. Once it’s drawn, the arrow has to be released. If I test it, the arrow’s really going to fly.”
Seeing that he seemed to have a professional air about him, the agent gave him a second glance. But before she could say more, she saw him switch hands, take a breath, and say, “This thing is heavy.”
Gao Qian “…”
Assistant Liu stepped forward to help hold the bow, and Chen Bai quickly passed it over with a polite thank you. The agent stood quietly again, wondering if he could even draw the bow.
While the other side finished setting up the cameras and equipment, the shoot’s director came over to give Chen Bai instructions on what he’d need to do during the shoot.
The director addressed him as “Teacher Chen” repeatedly, and Chen Bai responded in kind, calling him “Teacher Director,” with both parties maintaining a tone of mutual respect.
The shooting officially began as dusk approached.
In the forest, night came quickly. The sunlight was almost gone but not entirely, and the mist started to appear, so thick that artificial fog wasn’t even necessary.
Outside the circle of light, the photographer made a quiet hand signal.
Chen Bai flexed his wrists slightly, took the bow and arrow, and exhaled.
When he turned around again, the usual light in his pale eyes vanished, replaced by a distant, almost emotionless gaze.
His face had always been naturally cool, but since he was usually smiling, it wasn’t noticeable. Now, with the smile gone and his white messy hair covering part of his eyes, his expression seemed even colder.
The wind rustled the leaves of the tall trees, and amidst the sound of the rustling, the soft clinking of silver ornaments could be heard, clean and crisp, echoing clearly in the quiet forest.
As he turned, his white hair lifted slightly, and when his eyes lifted again, the chill in his gaze was almost tangible.
Facing the night breeze, the figure on camera emerged from the dense mist, came to a steady stop, and firmly gripped the bow. His other hand nocked the arrow, the notch at the end of the arrow slipping onto the string.
Drawing the string, pushing the bow, nocking the arrow, fully drawing the bow, forming a perfect curve.
The person holding the bow slightly tilted his head, eyes narrowing as his light gray pupils contracted slightly, aiming, before swiftly releasing the arrow.
His white hair lifted as the arrow shot out, cutting through the mist.
The surrounding leaves were caught in the air currents generated by the flying arrow, forcefully altering their descent. They hung in midair for a moment before being pushed to the sides.
For the first time, those present clearly heard the distinctive whistling sound an arrow makes as it cuts through the air, and it wasn’t quiet.
They watched as the arrow streaked past, catching only a glimpse of its trail before it embedded itself deep in the green board strapped to a tree.
The arrow’s force hadn’t diminished; its shaft and fletching still trembled, creating a faint buzzing sound.
The sound of the silver ornaments clinking echoed again as Chen Bai, standing a short distance away, lowered the bow, his movements swift and clean.
“…”
Aside from the wind, the only sound left was the rustling of leaves.
Even after the faint buzzing sound faded, no one moved.
There was a brief silence before Chen Bai, standing in the frame, slightly tilted his head and cautiously asked, “Was that good?”
Then he added, “This bow is really heavy.”
And his hand was still slightly numb. If nothing went wrong, he wouldn’t be able to hold it much longer.
The atmosphere on set broke in an instant, and the lingering tension evaporated.
Everyone finally snapped out of it. Assistant Liu quickly stepped up to take the bow, while the stylists rushed over to fix Chen Bai’s hair and outfit. Other crew members went to retrieve the arrow embedded in the green board.
As they fixed his hair, others were pulling out the arrow.
While they straightened his costume, others were still working on extracting the arrow.
By the time the photographer called for them, the arrow was finally pulled out. The crew member wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed the arrow back.
“…”
The agent stood nearby, glancing at the long slit in the green board made by the arrow, then at Chen Bai’s slender arms, feeling like her perception had been challenged. This definitely didn’t seem like just “knowing a bit” about archery.
Noticing her gaze, Chen Bai looked over and objectively stated, “My hand’s going to be useless by tomorrow.”
In fact, he might not even make it until tomorrow—his arm was already feeling slightly sore and swollen. That impressive shot had come at a cost.
The agent patted his shoulder, saying, “Go visit your friend, let him take care of you for a few days.”
Chen Bai said it wasn’t necessary, but instinctively took his phone from the assistant, opened WeChat, and found his best friend at the top of his chats. He sent a voice message, asking if they were free over the next couple of days, since his fingers weren’t quite working properly.
—This person’s words and actions always seemed like two different things.
Once his clothes were straightened out, the shoot continued.
Fortunately, the earlier shots were good, so no reshoots were needed, and Chen Bai’s soon-to-be-useless hand wouldn’t have to endure more strain. They just needed to take another set of photos.
When they’d arrived, it was still bright outside, but by the time the crew wrapped up and headed back, the sky was fully dark.
After a truly busy day, Chen Bai sat in the car, and at this point, only his mouth was still working.
The project lead, riding in the same car, mentioned that the other team would work overtime to produce sample edits within the week, and if everything went well, the final cut would be ready by the end of the month—just in time for the 15th-anniversary celebration.
The end of the month would also coincide with the live stream promotion for ‘Ask Fate’. The agent flipped through her notebook and quietly said, “First the live stream, then the anniversary celebration.”
She added, “The show passed approval earlier, and the trailer is scheduled to drop tonight. If you’re interested, you can watch it when you get home. I’ll handle the reposts and social media coordination.”
Glancing at his limp hand, she added, “But my suggestion is not to watch it—just rest when you get back.”
Chen Bai chuckled and agreed.
The car first headed to the studio, where they finished up the remaining work, and then everyone went their separate ways.
Chen Bai went straight to his neighbor’s house.
His good neighbor wasn’t currently filming but had other work, occasionally traveling for two or three days. Luckily, they happened to be free these days.
Despite his sore hand, Chen Bai still picked up a sweet cake that everyone loved on the way, bringing it along in the elevator. He knocked on the door and waited quietly. As soon as the door opened, he handed the cake over, saying it was a wild cake he found along the way.
His neighbor took the “wild cake” and invited him inside as well.
At exactly 10 p.m., after half a year of preparation and anticipation, the first trailer for ‘Ask Fate’ was released online.
The top scholar entered the capital and married a princess. The grand capital city was a web of power, where the only options were death or victory. The top scholar, not wanting to die, could only strive for victory. With the help of the princess’s brother, the only idle prince in the capital, he rose to high power.
The trailer, lasting three minutes, ended with a scene in broad daylight, the idle prince sitting by a bright window, always tending to his flowers and birds. He placed a black chess piece on the board and smiled at the shadow across from him, half-hidden by the window frame. “This capital, with its rise and fall, life and death, is far more interesting this way.”
The black chess piece fell into place, the chessboard unresolved, and the screen faded to black.
Netizen:
[Wait, are you serious, Zhou Jing? Is that really Zhou Jing? The same Zhou Jing who was once held up as a negative example in class?]
[Director Zhang, you are amazing! Everyone’s so good-looking and their acting is on point! Screenshot time!]
[Did they just use all the best scenes to piece together the trailer?]
[No way, Director Zhang is known for being stingy—he saves the really good shots for the show itself ]
[I can’t believe 8.91 looks this handsome when serious [shocked cat face.jpg]]
[Hurry up and give me the end of the month already]
[Wait, 8.91’s last line seems a little suspicious! Is he really a pure good guy?]
…
An hour after the ‘Ask Fate’ trailer dropped, it shot to the top of trending searches.
The production team was great at picking promotional angles, each one a hit, successfully dominating the top trending topics.
As the trailer hit the number one spot, the official account seized the moment to announce that on the night before the show’s premiere, the entire creative team would gather for a press conference, with the full event live-streamed. They promised it would begin at 8 p.m. sharp, with no one missing out.
[Wait, is everyone going to be there? I haven’t seen Chen Bai in a while.]
[I order it to be the end of the month when I wake up tomorrow (seriously)]
[It really has been a while. After ‘Youth Chronicles’, he hasn’t been seen much, right?]
[The two competitive kings are about to meet again (.)]
[I suggest we skip the wait and start the broadcast now—live stream and TV simultaneously]
…
Despite the fans’ wishes, time continued to crawl toward the end of the month.
On the day of the show’s press conference, Chen Bai, who had stayed up until 3 a.m. the night before, was dragged out of bed by his agent and assistant.
Having changed from his black-haired look to white hair, the most obvious difference was that his messy bedhead was now even more noticeable.
Pulled out of bed to wash up, he sipped black coffee to stay awake, barely opening his eyes as he watched his agent unpack a familiar paper bag in the living room.
“This is another new product from EV,” she said. “I brought it for you.”
It seemed EV was leaning favorably toward him since they usually didn’t send new products to artists they’d previously collaborated with.
She didn’t dwell on it. If he signed with a different brand for endorsements, they’d simply switch to that one.
Chen Bai nodded, finished his coffee, and changed into a simple, loose shirt, finally looking presentable.
He was quick to get ready. Once dressed, he grabbed a hat to cover his unruly hair. Lifting the brim slightly to reveal a bit of his messy white locks, he said, “Let’s go.”
