Chapter 18: As Long as Qian Bao Is Alive, There Will Be Traffic; Without Qian Bao, the Fandom Would Be in Turmoil! [Seeking Monthly Votes]

That very night.

Nanhu TV broadcast the edited version of Mushroom House with the title "The Nine-Turn Intestine Incident," adding fresh fuel to the ongoing discussion about the Mushroom House affair.

Although Nanhu TV was a relatively formal local station, many scenes featuring crude nationalistic remarks and some overly intense clips had to be censored or muted. Yet, in the face of soaring viewership, Nanhu TV willingly lowered its standards—muting where necessary, blurring where required—dramatically relaxing its review criteria.

All the highlights from the episode involving Lv Ming’s participation were preserved intact.

The explosive effect of the program, broadcast nationwide, was immediately evident. Nanhu TV reaped a massive wave of traffic, setting a new record for viewership ratings during the prime 7 to 8 p.m. slot—an unprecedented peak in variety show history!

The trending search terms on social media were refreshed once again.

Many viewers who rarely surfed the internet eagerly downloaded Weibo and flocked to Lv Ming’s homepage to hit the “Follow” button.

Over a single night, his new followers surged by a staggering 2.48 million!

And this was only the beginning.

Because only the first half of the episode aired last night, the prime-time slot on Saturday evening would feature the continuation of Mushroom House.

Now, with the “Eastern Villain Huang Yaoshi” and “Western Venom Ouyang Ming” effectively becoming an inseparable duo, every mention of Teacher Huang naturally conjured thoughts of Lv Ming. Especially since the second half, titled "The Mushroom Hotpot Incident," was just as explosive as the "Nine-Turn Intestine Incident."

Everyone anticipated that Lv Ming’s fan base would experience another massive surge once the latter half aired.

As expected.

Fueled by the online buzz and Nanhu TV’s pre-broadcast hype last night, the show’s ratings surpassed the previous peak within just ten minutes, soaring steadily until the program’s conclusion.

Nanhu TV was truly drowning in traffic!

What had once been a lukewarm show transformed overnight into the most popular blockbuster in variety show history. Its fame was so widespread that even elementary school students, who usually paid no attention to entertainment shows, joked about Teacher Huang and Lv Ming.

At this critical juncture, Nanhu TV issued a highly anticipated announcement.

“Due to adjustments in the permanent MC lineup, this season of Mushroom House will be temporarily suspended. The exact date for resumption will be announced on the official website.”

Many netizens had joked before, saying: “If one day even Teacher He stops praising Teacher Huang’s cooking, this show is probably doomed.”

They thought it was just a joke.

But no one expected it to become reality!

“I’ve endured three years of fake variety shows. Lost my house, lost my car, lost my family to these shows. Now that we finally have Mushroom House, you want to suspend it? One episode of Mushroom House has countless hilarious iconic scenes. No other variety show compares. Now you stop it, and we’re all stuck awkwardly staring at our screens!”

“Please don’t suspend the broadcast. I just want to laugh sincerely in front of the screen!”

“I thought this was the peak of entertainment variety shows, but it turned out to be the finale!”

“What are we supposed to watch without Mushroom House?”

“After watching this episode of Mushroom House, every other variety show feels like chewing wax.”

“Don’t worry, even if Mushroom House is gone, Hu Ming is still here!”

“...”

Amid the regret, many thought of the fallen top influencer Lv Ming.

Critics who accused him of being a sycophant remained numerous. Moreover, because Wu Qian hallucinated on the show and mistook Teacher Huang for Lv Ming, viciously retaliating, many trusters of Lv Ming’s fanbase felt they had been tricked by Hu Ming’s cunning ploy and began to turn against him.

Adding fuel to the fire, Zheng Jie’s fans, known as “Little Ears,” had been viciously insulting online, sparking a renewed wave of fan attacks against Hu Ming.

Being condemned by thousands and scorned by millions was real.

Controversy surrounded Lv Ming constantly.

Yet no one could deny that this guy, who often drank a little on the show, was truly a master at generating spectacle!

His fans, the fun-seekers, praised him especially loudly!

Jiangzhe TV had long been scheming. Seeing the uproar online caused by Mushroom House’s suspension at the height of its popularity, they joined forces with Kiwi TV to announce officially:

“May 14th, 7:00 p.m.: ‘Run, Brother!’ will be broadcast live in full on the Kiwi platform!”

“Permanent MCs: Li Chen, Deng Chao, Chen Chichi, Wang Baoqiang, Reba, Baby.”

“Guest stars: Lv Ming, Wu Qian, Teacher Huang.”

The moment netizens saw the announcement, the internet exploded!

“Is this for real? Am I hallucinating?”

“Can these three even share the screen together?”

“The production team is really going all out!”

“Do they not fear these three guys might start fighting during the recording?”

“Just for daring to assemble such a hardcore guest lineup, even if this show turns out terrible, I’ve got to tune in and see.”

“Why is Feng Feng not on the list? Are they looking down on Brother Feng?”

“The five generals of Mushroom House are all gathered here, even Teacher Huang is on our side now. Officially it’s ‘Run, Brother!’ but secretly it’s ‘Run, Hu Ming!’”

“This show is also known as ‘The Days I Chased Hu Ming on Running Man,’ ‘Teacher Huang’s Revenge Diary,’ ‘The Sequel to the Nine-Turn Intestine Incident,’ and ‘Hu Ming’s Fugitive Life.’”

“Hahaha, this is hilarious!”

“Other shows look like kids playing house with their lineups, but this one looks like they’re here for some serious business.”

“Maybe one second they’re solving puzzles, and the next, Qianbao and Hu Ming will start fighting over some disagreement!”

“Your ideal scenario. The reality is: everyone’s starving, the production team laid out a mountain of ingredients for them to cook, Teacher Huang whips up a mushroom hotpot for the team, and Hu Ming follows with a grand feast of nine-turn intestines for friends and family.”

“Can’t even imagine... really can’t imagine...”

“Fast forward to tomorrow afternoon—I really want to watch this!”

“Awesome, it’s Hu Ming. Variety shows in the entertainment industry are saved!”

“...”

Within just one hour of the Running Man announcement, Weibo’s trending list was completely dominated by promotional terms, and the servers briefly crashed due to the overwhelming flood of enthusiastic comments.

The traffic legacy left by Mushroom House was flawlessly inherited by Running Man. Although the show had not yet aired, netizens’ attention had already broken through the roof!

---

The next day.

At 2 p.m., the Kiwi livestream room was packed. The show hadn’t even started, yet eager netizens were already chatting animatedly in the comments.

The Kiwi CEO sat in his leather chair in the executive office, staring at the incredible data on his computer screen, grinning ear to ear.

“I knew inviting Hu Ming was the right choice!”

“Jiangzhe TV is still hesitating, scared of this and that. What’s there to fear? Look at these peak traffic numbers. After the live broadcast, just make some posters and release them. Then secretly pour hot water on their money trees. What can little Penguin do against me?”

The middle-aged man seemed to envision Kiwi TV riding the success of this show to new heights, snatching all Penguin’s users.

Amid his joy...

The livestream screen brightened.

Under the night sky, Leifeng Pagoda by West Lake was heavily guarded. Suit-clad bodyguards patrolled sternly.

The roar of a motorcycle approached, and under the watchful eyes of the guards, the bike performed a 360-degree drift right in front of the camera. The man wearing sunglasses atop the bike was just about to strike a stylish pose on one leg.

But—

“Crack!”

Wang Baoqiang was suddenly pinned beneath the bike...

“Ahhh! Help! Someone come help me up, please!”

The bodyguards were speechless.

[???]

[Is this show really this fast-paced and funny?]

[Hahaha, that’s so Baoqiang—can’t be cool for more than three seconds. At first, I almost didn’t recognize the guy with sunglasses.]

[His way of speaking—when will I ever stop laughing?]

[Too funny!]

The bodyguards helplessly helped lift the motorcycle.

If this were a televised broadcast, this part would surely have been cut, since the opening was set to be serious, and the first shot showing a guest humiliating himself publicly would be unacceptable.

But since it was a livestream, the incident delighted the online audience.

After Baoqiang’s failed attempt at looking cool, the following permanent MCs were more obedient, avoiding flashy antics.

Big Black Bull charged straight at Leifeng Pagoda with straightforward force.

Deng Chao sneaked quietly, and Chen Chichi was clever and resourceful, all successfully evading the guards.

As the two appeared, the comment barrage intensified:

“Here comes the naked guy!”

“The number one seductive dancer in entertainment, nicknamed ‘Lang Chao,’ his striptease is even more wild than the women’s!”

“The Pigpen Knight is the real god.”

“Chichi, remember the pigpen in Mushroom House? The buffet is still there, but no sign of Pizza Bro from the other day!”

Amid the teasing...

Model Baby tiptoed carefully through a maze of infrared lasers, agilely infiltrating.

Many netizens were quite taken with this entertainment industry supermodel’s looks.

Then, a girl exuding exotic charm walked in confidently through the main gate, dressed in a flowing evening gown. Wherever she went, the bodyguards were captivated by her radiant presence.

Fans wildly cheered for these two confirmed female permanent MCs in the comments, while casual netizens also admired their beauty and joined the chorus.

Everyone was eager for the three guest stars to appear, though as guests, they naturally wouldn’t enjoy the same grand entrance as the regular MCs.

As the camera shifted inside Leifeng Pagoda, the team leader, Chao Ge, was already greeting the permanent members.

Suddenly, a representative song by XO played.

Everyone fell silent and turned their gazes.

From the corridor, the impeccably dressed Wu Qian made a dazzling entrance.

Today, Qianbao was decked out in full regalia: a high-end custom suit, a stylish haircut befitting a heartthrob, two diamond earrings sparkling under the lights. As a rising entertainment industry idol with excellent physique, his refined appearance set him apart from the likes of Super Ge and the others.

“Wow!”

“It’s Qianbao!”

“Such dazzling light, it blinds me!”

They welcomed him warmly.

Wu Qian wore a happy smile. Since being criticized online after “The Defense Boy,” he hadn’t felt this cheerful in a long time.

But the thought of soon seeing that damned Hu Ming made him inexplicably angry.

Hu Ming, not even Jesus can save you this time, mark my words!

After brief greetings, as the upbeat background music continued, Teacher Huang, also in a suit, emerged from the corridor, waving excitedly.

Deng Chao said, “Teacher Huang, long time no see! I’ve really missed your cooking!”

Chen Chichi added, “Me too! I still can’t forget your dishes. Your skills are truly unmatched!”

Teacher Huang smiled brightly, enjoying the praise from his juniors.

Baby and Reba exchanged peculiar looks, both seemingly hesitant to speak.

Wang Baoqiang bluntly said, “Weren’t you two nearly poisoned in Mushroom House a few days ago? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already hungry again?”

Deng Chao: “???”

Chen Chichi: “!!!”

They looked at Baoqiang in disbelief.

He was a guest, yet the seniors showed him no respect at all.

Teacher Huang: “?!”

Who was this clumsy guy’s subordinate? His tone bore an uncanny resemblance to Hu Ming’s.

Teacher Huang frowned, feeling embarrassed.

The other guests were unsure how to save the awkward moment. For a while, one could hear a pin drop; the atmosphere was eerily quiet.

Lv Ming walked out from the corridor.

No applause, no cheers, not even the explosive background music that accompanied every guest’s entrance—this cold reception made him somewhat uncomfortable.

“May I ask, have you all been hallucinating from Teacher Huang’s poison?” Lv Ming spoke up.

Everyone glanced sideways, noticing the sharply dressed Lv Ming had approached. Baby and Reba immediately brightened.

Compared to Wu Qian’s flashy diamond earrings and rings, dressed extravagantly from head to toe, Lv Ming’s outfit was extremely simple—just a bespoke suit with no accessories.

But his striking face was magnetic. His upright posture and highly recognizable features resembled a two-dimensional anime protagonist breaking through the dimensional wall. In terms of charisma and physique, Wu Qian was on a completely different level.

If only this mouth didn’t talk!

“You didn’t bring any secret snacks for everyone?” Lv Ming approached Teacher Huang, surprised. “Or has Teacher Huang’s poison advanced so much that it no longer needs food to act as a medium and can now infect people through the air?”

Teacher Huang: “...”

That familiar tone, those familiar nagging remarks—damn it, it was just like Hu Ming! He hadn’t changed at all after all this time!

“Why are you talking to Teacher Huang like that!” Wu Qian scolded sharply.

Lv Ming glanced at the flamboyantly dressed youth, surprised: “Qianbao?”

“You called him Qianbao too?!” Wu Qian glared. “That annoys me!”

Lv Ming couldn’t believe it, choking up: “Qian-bao!”

“What’s with that face?!” Wu Qian was stunned.

Lv Ming’s voice trembled: “You’re still alive!”

Wu Qian: “???”

Before he could react, Lv Ming suddenly rushed forward, hugged him tightly, and began to sob into his ear:

“A few days ago watching the Mushroom House livestream, brother thought you were poisoned to death there, Qianbao! My brother, I’m so glad you survived the hospital!”

“Our Mai Genie is saved!”

“Qianbao is alive, so there’s still traffic! Without Qianbao, the fan community is doomed!”

Wu Qian: “?!”

Damn it, you’re disgusting right from the start, huh!

If it weren’t for the cameras, he would have punched this bastard right in the face to teach the damn Hu Ming a lesson!

“Please don’t pretend to be my fan!”

“But Qianbao, I really am a Mai Genie, a fan of yours for ten years!”

Wu Qian: “...”

I just debuted this year! For the past few years, I was a trainee. Where on earth did you get ten years of fangirling?

“Do you believe I’ll punch you?!” Wu Qian angrily raised his arm.

Lv Ming looked shocked, then utterly incredulous:

“Qianbao, I’ve been losing sleep lately, heartbroken at the thought that some incompetent, unscrupulous chef poisoned you into the hospital. I was worried you’d suffer there. But now your 38-degree mouth says such cold and rude things!”

“I’m heartbroken, my trust was betrayed, my conscience has been thrown to the dogs!”

“A fan like you is the sorrow of fans and the disaster of the community!”

“All Mai Genies nationwide, look clearly! Today Qianbao dares to hit a fan; who knows what he’ll do tomorrow? I urge everyone to unfollow early and run! Beware of getting blood on yourselves!”

Wu Qian: “!!!”

Still pretending, and so damn shameless! This yin-yang demon is addicted to pretending to be a fan, isn’t he?

He moved his lips but, thinking of the high viewership and the national treasure about to be lost, forcibly swallowed back his words.

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