A long-planned, bold pursuer × a sunny, sincere, gentle sweetheart
#RankingTheHottestCPsOfAllTime# Add the hashtag and vote for your favorite ship!
At the end of the year, Weibo launched a poll, drawing in countless fans eager to see how their favorite pairings ranked.
The once-popular variety-show ship “Wu Qi Lu,” which had faded from view when the show ended five years ago, was thrust back into the spotlight.
“Wu Qi Lu” had not enjoyed the smooth journey its name seemed to promise. Instead, its path was full of twists and turns.
#OverdoingTheFanService
#DeliberatelyPlayingGay
#WithdrewFromTheShowAtTheLastMinute
Negative hashtags had flooded the internet back then.
And in the end, news spread that the two people at the center of it all had parted on bad terms and gone their separate ways.
Bystanders were baffled: Weren’t they just putting on a show for the fans? Once the program ended, they had nothing to do with each other, right?
Zou Qi had built a career in music after debuting on a talent show, becoming a superstar known throughout the country.
Zhuang Yulu had left the entertainment industry long ago to inherit the family business, becoming a promising young entertainment-company CEO.
Aside from having played up their pairing back then, the two had nothing in common.
Then, like a bolt from the blue, the marriage reality show Walking with Love made its dazzling debut.
An observational reality show billed as “documenting the everyday lives of married same-sex couples” listed “Zou Qi, Zhuang Yulu” as the very first names on its promotional page.
The two also reposted the announcement on Weibo, confirming their marriage.
Bystanders: ?
Fans: ?
The hot searches exploded.
#GrandmaYourShipIsBack
But only the two people involved knew that their marriage certificates were still brand new.
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The contract Zou Qi and Zhuang Yulu signed clearly stated: “We each get what we need.”
His family had fallen into turmoil, and his uncle was seizing power. He needed Walking with Love to become a huge hit and turn things around.
As for Zou Qi...
Honestly, Zhuang Yulu had no idea why this old acquaintance would choose to get involved.
He only remembered the night he was frantic, nearly out of options, while trying to find guests for the show. Zou Qi called and said:
“I can join the show and help build up the buzz, but only if you marry me.”
Hand-holding, hugging... kissing, all stipulated in their contract.
Everything was disguised as an act, yet it was all sliding toward the brink of getting out of control.
And Zou Qi seemed to have planned it all long ago.
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The “Wu Qi Lu” fan page hadn’t changed its tagline in five years.
Even now, it still read:
“We once strayed from our path, but love led us back.”
Theme: Learning to clear up misunderstandings
