Chapter 131: Not to Be Outdone in Presence

As the clock struck nine, the entire crew relocated to the picturesque plaza of the Kate Estate, and the recording officially began.

The assistants and staff members belonging to the celebrity teams—Chen Ke, Qin Xueyang, and their peers—were all left behind at the hotel and forbidden from participating in the shoot. They could only stand on the hotel balconies, peering through binoculars at their respective stars recording dozens of meters away.

On the plaza, producer Xiao Qiang personally issued the order to commence the final episode.

"Action!"

At Xiao Qiang’s command, fifteen cameras swiveled in unison toward the seven hosts of the "Infinite Team" standing on the plaza. The hosts began chatting, laughing, and joking as they always did, yet the atmosphere lacked the usual vibrancy. With today being the tragic final installment, the mood among the staff was subdued and listless; they felt as though they were chewing on gristle—no amount of enthusiasm could stir them up.

The seven hosts, however, maintained their composure well. They strove to project their most sunny and cheerful personas, determined to bring the program to a successful close.

"My goddess is here today, so everyone, show me some respect!" Wang Dawei, in his usual goofy fashion, began by teasing the guest team.

Xiao Qiang, controlling the rhythm, signaled that the banter had gone on long enough. He held up a cue card for Wang Dawei: [Call for the guests to enter].

Upon seeing the sign, Wang Dawei immediately clapped and transitioned the topic: "Let’s welcome today’s guest team!"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

The Infinite Team hosts joined in, welcoming the challenger team with the warmest applause. Led by their captain, Luo Zhikang, Zhang Qiyang and his group strutted into the frame with an air of complete confidence.

The day was scorching, with outdoor temperatures reaching at least 30 degrees Celsius. The Infinite Team hosts were dressed in uniform red T-shirt sportswear. With the exception of the chubby Wang Dawei and the short Pan Ziwen, the other hosts looked impressively fit and eye-catching in their athletic gear.

In contrast, the guest team, clad in blue T-shirts, looked like a mismatched bunch. While the two women, Li Xuan and Zhao Lijing, could hold their own against the Infinite Team's female hosts, the men fell far short. Only the lean and tall Zhang Qiyang carried a hint of athleticism. The other four—some soft, some fat, some thin, some short—were clearly not the athletic type.

Yet, the aura they projected as they walked over was no less formidable than that of the Infinite Team. Each of them held their head high with arrogance, striking a pose as if they had come to crash the party. They leaned fully into the variety show effect, entering the camera frame with an air of haughty defiance.

"I see what's going on. You guys are determined to lose with style today, right?" Wang Dawei joked, taking a jab at the guest team. Many of the staff members burst into laughter.

Unlike other outdoor celebrity shows that rely on scripted scenarios and dialogue, this program’s main hook was the stars engaging in various challenging games. It required no pre-planned scenes; it relied entirely on the hosts' improvisational skills.

Luo Zhikang, refusing to be outdone, countered Wang Dawei with a flamboyant and arrogant retort: "We’re here to beat you today!"

"Boo!"

Wang Dawei led the chorus of jeers against Luo Zhikang. Lu Kai and the others exchanged looks of disdain—how could a motley crew like Luo’s possibly defeat the Infinite Team?

"Don't underestimate us. Each of us is a hidden talent. First, there's our singing diva, Li Xuan. While she might not swim as well as your team's Sophie, Li Xuan is tall! Plus, she can sing. If there's a singing competition, Li Xuan will definitely beat you!" Luo Zhikang utilized his gift of gab to introduce the members one by one. As each guest was introduced, they would step forward to greet the crowd and accept the applause.

The two teams stood in a line, with captains Luo Zhikang and Wang Dawei in the center. The closer an artist stood to the captain, the better their position in the shot. On the guest team, Li Xuan naturally took the spot next to Luo Zhikang.

Normally, Zhao Lijing would have stood next to Li Xuan, but when the two stood side by side, Zhao Lijing appeared incredibly tiny. At only 1.55 meters tall, she was dwarfed by Li Xuan, who stood over 1.70 meters. Zhao Lijing also had a baby face and wore her hair in a bun; her slender frame was no match for Li Xuan’s tall, curvaceous figure in sportswear. Standing next to Li Xuan, Zhao Lijing looked like a pupil beside an elegant, sexy teacher, and she risked being completely eclipsed.

Zhao Lijing was well aware of this, so she steered clear of the "photo-killer" Li Xuan, placing three odd-looking variety stars between them. She took the second spot from the left end of the line.

She had actually wanted to stand further on the edge, given her junior status, but Zhang Qiyang had intentionally positioned himself at the end of the line. When Zhao Lijing tried to bypass him to reach the very edge, Zhang Qiyang raised an arm to block her, signaling her to stand further in and not take the flank. He would take the end spot himself.

This gesture left Zhao Lijing pleasantly surprised and warmed her heart; it felt as if Zhang Qiyang was deliberately looking out for her. When she first saw him in the hotel lobby that morning, she had been quite afraid of this "Crown Prince" who was rumored to be so arrogant. But after actual contact, she realized that this billionaire’s son didn't have an extra head after all. He was just a normal person.

Though he didn't say much, she could tell his words were thoughtful, not the mindless rambling she expected. This was a far cry from the "brainless" image people portrayed of him, and it differed greatly from his reputation for lashing out at others on Weibo. In private, he was unexpectedly calm.

It made Zhao Lijing wonder if the billionaire’s son had sent a body double to the shoot. It wasn't until Zhang Qiyang taught them to sing a simple "hype song" that she was convinced this was the real "Cannon Lord." Listening to him sing, one could hear the magnetic quality and depth in his voice—it was incredibly captivating, exactly the same as the singles released on Dongwang. It was truly brilliant.

Regardless of what others thought, Zhao Lijing loved the singles Zhang Qiyang had released recently. She loved every one of them and had downloaded them all using a secondary account. In front of others, she dared not admit she was a fan or show any appreciation for his music, fearing the mockery of others. But in her heart, she truly loved his work.

After interacting with him today, she found his character to be quite good, not at all the terrifying figure people claimed. This sparked a secret fondness for him. A young man as handsome and talented as Zhang Qiyang would naturally appeal to a young girl’s heart, even without his immense background. But with that background, he became someone she both admired and feared.