Chen Quanying was in her early forties and had been famous for over a decade. She had been on the Spring Festival Gala several times and had a high national recognition.
She joined this show partly because of its popularity and partly because she hadn't been active in a long time. After all, she hadn't retired yet and couldn't stay hidden forever, so she accepted the director's invitation and came on board.
Zhou Yun treated Chen Quanying with great respect, calling her "Sister Ying" every time she opened her mouth.
Chen Quanying, from the older generation, maintained her composure regardless of what she thought internally. She would never openly clash with a younger artist.
On the surface, the two appeared to get along well, chatting and laughing as if in perfect harmony.
Zhou Lan stood by the director's team, quietly observing.
After a while, Lew Qingqing and Su Yan showed up.
Hand in hand, the two walked over, talking and laughing brightly as they came.
From a distance, Zhou Yun momentarily froze, almost thinking she was seeing things.
Upon a second glance, she noticed a cameraman with a filming rig beside them, capturing the moment. Only then did Zhou Yun understand the situation.
Personal grudges aside, it didn't matter if rumors about their bad relationship spread, but on camera, harmony was key. After all, they were all regular cast members. How else could the show go on?
There were some lines you could cross, but never leave evidence behind for people to use against you.
All the guests had changed into their outfits and were ready to go.
The director raised a megaphone and announced, "Our first game is Mud Pit Battle Royale!"
The rules for Mud Pit Battle Royale were simple: all participants were divided into two teams to compete for three balls in the mud pit. The goal was to get the balls into the designated baskets. Whichever team scored the most balls would be declared the winner.
It was one of the classic games on "What a Nice Weather."
The teams had already been prearranged, but for the sake of filming, they would need to shoot a segment pretending to draw lots to determine the teams.
Variety shows always had scripts. The difference was that some scripts merely provided a broad outline and direction, while others detailed specific gags and effects.
"What a Nice Weather" struck a balance—it had a general script. For example, three balls, three rounds. In the first two rounds, each team was arranged to win once. But the third round was left unplanned, relying solely on the teams' actual performance. This setup added a hint of suspense to the competition, avoiding a one-sided narrative where one team was too dominant.
Zhou Yun ended up on the same team as Lew Qingqing.
Su Yan and Chen Quanying were on the opposing team.
This was to balance the teams' overall strength. In terms of physical stamina, women were generally at a disadvantage compared to men, so each team was assigned two women for equity.
On camera, Lew Qingqing naturally stood beside Zhou Yun.
"Let's just stay on the sidelines and rest later," she whispered to Zhou Yun, seemingly out of kindness. "Be careful not to get too caught up in the fray. These guys can get downright savage fighting for the ball."
Of course, Lew Qingqing's dedicated camera recorded the moment.
Zhou Yun chuckled and said, "It's my first time here, so I'm a little nervous. Sister Qingqing, I'll follow your lead later."
Lew Qingqing laughed heartily, "Relax, I've got your back."
A whistle blew, signaling the start of the first round.
The men charged toward the balls on the far side of the mud pit with all their might.
Zhou Yun trudged a few steps forward, following Lew Qingqing's pace.
Navigating the mud pit was especially challenging due to the resistance. For the women, who were already at a physical disadvantage, the task was even tougher.
Zhou Yun never intended to dive into the fray with the men to snatch a ball. After all, it was a slapstick variety show. The key was to seize moments that would endear her to the audience.
Take Lew Qingqing, for instance. She didn't rush in but fervently waved her arms, cheering and encouraging her team with gusto.
Just then, Zhou Yun noticed Su Yan and Chen Quanying sneaking toward the edge of the mud pit on the other side.
"Catch it!" Zhang Haichen from the opposing team yelled, tossing a ball that had already rolled through the mud. The ball hurtled through the air, landing near Su Yan and Chen Quanying.
"Ah—" Lew Qingqing shrieked, "Zhou Yun, stop them, quick!"
Zhou Yun immediately dashed forward with Lew Qingqing.
The two blocked Su Yan and Chen Quanying.
The ball was now in Su Yan's hands.
Zhou Yun sprang into action, trying to wrestle the ball away.
Su Yan clutched the ball tightly and shouted, "Sister Ying, help me!"
Zhou Yun laughed as she tried prying the ball from Su Yan's hands, "Give me the ball!"
Su Yan shrieked, "Zhou Yun, how are you that strong?"
Zhou Yun tugged the ball hard, but suddenly, Su Yan let go. The momentum sent Zhou Yun sprawling face-first into the mud pit, clutching the ball.
Her entire face was smeared with mud.
Zhou Yun struggled to get up, but standing in the mud pit wasn't easy.
The others joined the fray. Lew Qingqing held Su Yan down while Chen Quanying tried snatching the ball from Zhou Yun.
The four women became a tangled mess.
The men hesitated to intervene.
Instead, they resorted to providing commentary.
"Wow, these women are terrifying!"
"Aren't they usually sweet and dainty?"
"Su Yan's got the ball!"
...
Zhou Yun felt multiple hands pinning her down as the ball was stripped from her grasp. She looked up just in time to see Su Yan holding the ball.
"Sister Ying, I got it!" Su Yan cried out joyfully.
Chen Quanying took the ball from Su Yan and sprinted toward the basket.
According to the script arrangement, this round was designated for Su Yan's team to win.
Lew Qingqing pretended to chase after her.
Zhou Yun was just about to get up from the mud pit when a foot suddenly struck her head, forcing her back down into the mud.
She accidentally took a mouthful of mud.
"Cough—"
Following the whistle, Chen Quanying scored the point.
She let out a cheer of victory.
"Sigh." Lew Qingqing sighed and turned back to help Zhou Yun up. With a concerned expression, she asked, "Are you okay?"
Zhou Yun shook her head, spitting out the mud. Although she looked a bit wretched, her mud-smeared face was still beaming with a bright, innocent smile. Her helpless appearance was almost endearing.
"They're too strong."
Lew Qingqing supported Zhou Yun as they walked toward the edge of the mud pit.
"Don't worry. We'll win the next round!" Lew Qingqing said, brimming with determination.
When they reached the shore, Su Yan handed them two towels.
"Oh my, Zhou Yun's first day on the show and she's already had a mud mask," Zhang Haichen said with exaggerated laughter.
Zhou Yun took the towel and began wiping the mud off her face, revealing her soft, fair complexion underneath. She smiled brightly and joked, "I knew this show was brutal, but I didn't expect it to be *this* brutal."
Lew Qingqing was also wiping her face.
"But Zhou Yun is really amazing. She's so fierce for her first time here. Incredible," Lew Qingqing said. "I've never been able to steal a ball from Su Yan before."
Chen Quanying laughed heartily, "That's true. Zhou Yun might look small and delicate, but she's surprisingly strong."
The group chit-chatted casually. No one brought up the kick Zhou Yun had taken earlier.
It was unclear if they hadn't noticed it or if they had chosen to ignore it entirely.
Zhou Yun didn't mention it either, pretending as if nothing had happened.
As for who had delivered the kick…
Zhou Yun had her suspicions.
Zhou Yun wasn't the type to let others walk all over her, but she usually avoided making waves unless absolutely necessary.
After all, it *was* a game, and accidents like someone accidentally kicking her were plausible enough.
Even if she wanted to pursue the matter, there was no evidence.
This was their turf; nothing good would come from stirring the pot.
Still, Zhou Yun made a mental note of it.
After a full afternoon of games, everyone was drained.
In the evening, Zhou Yun and the others used the program's makeshift showers to clean themselves up before changing into fresh clothes and heading to the next location.
Dinner was part of the show's recording.
The group piled onto a tour bus.
This was the unscripted chit-chat segment.
"Xiao Yun, how does it feel to be on our show for the first time?" Lew Qingqing asked enthusiastically.
Zhou Yun's eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists and said, "It's so much fun!"
As she and Zhou Lan had discussed beforehand, she needed to strike a delicate balance on this show. She couldn't overshadow the veterans, but she also couldn't come off as overly timid.
She aimed to exude a pure yet hardworking vibe while maintaining an upbeat and lively demeanor.
This was the trajectory the company had laid out for her—a lovable starlet with a radiant smile and a positive public image.