Jing Yu and Jiang Shiqing briefly exchanged a few glances, then both quickly averted their eyes.
No matter how much they disliked each other, this was a live variety show. Showing hostility on camera was a definite no-go.
It's like getting into a fight—no matter what your reason is, the person who throws the first punch is always the one at fault.
Variety shows in the Zhou Federation weren't all that different from those in Jing Yu's previous life.
When a big-budget film needed promotion, the cast and crew would often appear on shows like this. Others focused on pranks or competitive games.
But in recent years, these shows have been evolving in a... more twisted direction.
Scare pranks, dressing up as ghosts, pulling out nose hairs with glue... Even disgusting challenges like putting fried spiders and scorpions in a two-way plastic tube and having two people blow until someone ended up with it in their mouth, and then had to eat it.
Fortunately, tonight's program had none of that nonsense.
Since White Lover was taking a two-week break, this particular episode had one simple purpose: to explain the hiatus and offer the audience an apology—all within about an hour.
Some loyal White Lover fans had even stuck around after the drama ended just to watch this.
—
When the show began, the hosts were familiar faces, but no one paid much attention to them at first.
What caught the viewers' eyes were the two groups seated on opposite sides of the stage.
The hosts introduced both teams: Jing Yu's group and Jiang Shiqing's group.
Once their identities were known, the online comments started pouring in:
"Hmm… looks like the White Lover team isn't as good-looking as the 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' crew?"
"Yeah, kinda feels that way…"
"Not really—Director Lin Qi is better looking than that chubby guy directing 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'."
Couples, grandpas, and aunties gathered around their TVs, eagerly discussing.
Meanwhile, Jing Yu sat there, bored out of his mind. He didn't believe this kind of PR would do much for My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday's ratings or visibility.
If he'd had a choice, he wouldn't have come at all.
But as Production Director, Chu You had specifically asked him to attend. It was a kind gesture, and Jing Yu couldn't refuse.
Of course, Chu You's involvement ended with the invitation.
He had no say in how the Variety Division ran things.
This episode had been arranged by the station for the White Lover cast—and it showed. The hosts were attentive, enthusiastic, and very obviously biased.
As for 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'—the so-called "backup" drama—well…
The hosts could barely be bothered.
Jing Yu sat with Director Gao Wencang and Yu Youqing.
But for the first twenty minutes, the entire segment focused exclusively on White Lover content—blooper reels, behind-the-scenes clips, and footage of Tang Yidong's injury.
"Oh no, Yidong-meimei, that must have been so painful!" the female host exclaimed dramatically.
"It wasn't that bad," Tang Yidong said sweetly. "Just a small accident on my part. Luckily, it wasn't serious. But I couldn't move around much for the next two weeks, so filming got delayed… and that's why White Lover is going on hiatus. And why 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' is filling in for now."
She looked apologetically into the camera—but her gaze slid sideways, flashing a smug look at Yu Youqing.
Everyone knew what was going on here, but saying it aloud made it all the more smug and condescending.
Tang Yidong had deliberately name-dropped 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' to frame it as the "back-up drama".
The female host, clearly uninterested, didn't even glance at Jing Yu's group.
Hosts are all about status, after all. In the Zhou Federation, White Lover's ratings were average nationwide, but in Lan Province—Jin Hui TV's home turf—it was #1.
If the last three episodes landed well, it would likely place in the top five—maybe even top three— across the province's four major networks this year.
As for competing nationally? Not even White Lover dared to dream of that.
Just like in Jing Yu's previous life, annual ratings champions were always born on mega-networks like CCTV or Ma Tong TV.
Provincial stations might seem equal on paper, but their viewership numbers didn't even reach one-tenth of those big players.
The host was no fool. She had her own KPIs tied to ratings.
If the show's viewership dropped because she spent too much time on 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday' instead of White Lover, her bonus would be toast.
So for the entire first half-hour, she all but ignored Jing Yu's team.
Other than the brief name introductions at the start, all the discussion focused on Tang Yidong, Song Xin, and the plot developments of White Lover.
It was like watching an esports match with three commentators—two chatting excitedly, and the third silent for twenty minutes straight.
Yu Youqing and Gao Wencang, initially nervous, slowly turned awkward.
They both turned to Jing Yu.
What exactly are we doing here?
Jing Yu took a deep breath and gestured for them to just go with the flow.
At worst, they were sacrificing an evening of filming to be human props.
That's just how this industry worked.
If you were famous, the host treated you like royalty. If not?
You were invisible.
"We promise that the final three episodes of White Lover will give the audience a satisfying conclusion," Jiang Shiqing said confidently to the camera.
"In two weeks, we'll deliver an ending that exceeds everyone's expectations."
Jing Yu glanced at his watch. Less than ten minutes left in the program.
Then—next to him—a strange sound began.
It started faintly.
Then grew louder.
So loud it began to interrupt the hosts and White Lover's cast.
Gao Wencang was sitting upright, eyes open—but he was snoring.
Yes. Snoring.
Director Lin Qi, seated across from him, turned his face slightly.
That guy hasn't changed one bit… still sleeping with his eyes open.
Back when Gao Wencang had been Lin Qi's assistant, he would do the same during long meetings.
If he didn't snore, no one even noticed he was asleep.
Jing Yu and Yu Youqing both stared at him with complicated expressions.
Old Gao… seriously? And did he just smack his lips? Is he dreaming about his assistant adding a chicken leg to his lunch box?
Meanwhile, Tang Yidong had spent most of the show subtly watching Yu Youqing.
She couldn't stand how cute and pretty Yu Youqing looked tonight.
Even though she'd achieved far more career success, she knew she'd never match her in looks—and that drove her mad.
Song Xin, too, was deeply unsettled.
As Jing Yu's ex, she had hoped he would never meet another woman who measured up to her.
But just a month after their breakup, he was working with Yu Youqing—a girl she didn't even know. If there wasn't something going on between them, she'd eat her shoe.
Even worse, Song Xin was only the third female lead in White Lover, despite now dating Jiang Shiqing.
But Yu Youqing?
The female lead of 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday', even if it was just a backup drama.
Song Xin couldn't handle it. She felt Jing Yu had fallen, and Yu Youqing was shameless.
But seeing Gao Wencang snore on live TV—
Both Tang Yidong and Song Xin couldn't help laughing.
So that's their director? Seriously?
This drama must be absolute trash.
And Jing Yu still thinks coming on this show will help him make a comeback?
What a joke.
Jiang Shiqing smirked too.
After a brief pause, he deliberately shifted the topic.
"So let's all look forward to Jing Yu-laoshi's new short-form series—uh, what was it? 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday Wedding'?"
He intentionally got the title wrong.
"It's 'My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'," Jing Yu corrected, frowning slightly.
"Ah, sorry. I've just been so busy lately, I mixed it up." Jiang Shiqing replied lightly.
Then he added with a fake smile:
"Speaking of Jing Yu-laoshi, maybe the audience isn't familiar with him yet—but his father, Jing Liang, should be a household name to old Jin Hui viewers. He's the screenwriter behind Countdown and the comedy legal drama Lawyer Zhang San."
At home, many viewers immediately perked up.
Childhood classics!
Especially Lawyer Zhang San, who had once ranked in the top 15 nationwide. The story of a lawyer who ends up accidentally helping the plaintiff's lawyer send his own client to prison was legendary. It left a deep impression on viewers.
Wait, so this guy is his son?
The host, finally remembering her cue from the higher-ups, jumped in—only a few minutes remained.
"Ah, no wonder! That show was my childhood favorite, too! Now I'm really looking forward to Jing Yu-laoshi's drama!"
She smiled sweetly at Jing Yu.
"After all, like father, like son. Even if it's just a short drama, I bet you have high expectations for it."
Since they all worked for the same station, even Jiang Shiqing couldn't push things too far.
But that didn't stop him from twisting the knife in another way.
"I actually studied under Jing Liang-laoshi for two years. And to be honest, he often spoke of his son. He once said Jing Yu-laoshi has even more potential than himself—and would one day become a towering figure in the Zhou Federation's screenwriting world."
The entire studio went quiet for a moment.
Jing Yu, Yu Youqing, and Gao Wencang, as well as Tang Yidong and Song Xin, immediately realized what Jiang Shiqing was doing.