FLME Ch80

On the day Moon Harbor wrapped up filming, Yu Wen posted a long Weibo entry expressing his fondness for Song Mingzhu.

One major advantage of adapting a novel is that the original work is readily available online. This allows the cast to post about the characters without worrying about spoilers—as long as the ending isn’t revealed, they can write as much as they want about the characters’ backstories.

Yu Wen spent a long time editing his post, pouring his sincerity into every word.

The character Song Mingzhu was already popular before the show aired. While the character’s complex and dynamic nature was one reason, credit was also due to the makeup, styling, and lighting. Yu Wen had managed to breathe life into what was once an empty shell, turning textual descriptions into a vivid and captivating presence on screen.

Audience anticipation for the show was high, and expectations for this character were even higher.

Yu Wen’s farewell Weibo post alone sent him trending on social media, a testament to the character’s popularity.

With the actors wrapping up their roles, the show entered the intensive post-production phase.

Director Miao’s team had been working with him for years and were seasoned professionals. They edited as they filmed, significantly reducing the post-production timeline. With Huiteng Group providing full support, the finished product was quickly pushed to the forefront. The buzz Yu Wen had generated with his visuals hadn’t yet faded when the second wave of hype arrived, less than a month after the wrap-up.

When the first trailer was released, Yu Wen was at home packing for a company-sponsored vacation—paid leave in style.

Xi Su was the first to catch the trailer. Ever since he became the king of reaction videos, he’d developed a dog-like sense of smell for new releases. No new show, good or bad, could escape his notice, and he made it a point to check them all out.

The first trailer for MoonHarbor was suspenseful, focusing on the plot rather than character personalities. Its fast pace and high-stakes twists made viewers’ adrenaline spike.

Xi Su went upstairs with the trailer in hand to find Yu Wen. “Can we ship the male and female leads? In the original novel, neither of them died. They’re not going to die this time, right?”

Yu Wen tilted his head. “Didn’t you say you’d never watch my shows again?”

Xi Su replied, “Well, as mother and son, I can shallowly follow along.”

Yu Wen got goosebumps and lunged at him, yelling, “Don’t! Call me! Godmother!”

Xi Su dodged the beating, twisting and shouting, “Alright, alright, Third Godfather! Third Godfather, okay?”

As he escaped downstairs, he let out a deep sigh, thinking how messy their relationships had become. If Xie Heyu was the Second Godfather and Yu Wen the Third, didn’t that make them brothers?

Sigh. Yu Wen has such thin skin.

Hopefully, Xie Heyu wouldn’t blame him later.

The second and third trailers were released that afternoon. Unlike the main trailer, these focused on the female lead and Song Mingzhu, respectively.

The female lead, Gao Qin, was the most dazzling character in the show, while Song Mingzhu was the most complex. Compared to these two, the male lead, though well-developed, seemed slightly overshadowed. Director Miao, clearly disliking the idea of promoting the male lead purely for his looks, opted to downplay his presence for now.

Song Mingzhu’s trailer featured several iconic scenes, including the widely circulated footage of the small Western-style building and a scene filmed the same day with the male lead. In it, her pale legs swayed, captivating viewers.

The most enchanting moment was undoubtedly the “beauty under the moon” scene. With her clothes slightly undone, she shyly and hesitantly murmured, “Brother, my waist is so slender…”

The trailer sparked an uproar among viewers.

—“I have a good eye—this is my wife, no doubt.”

—“Grow faster! Grow faster, my dear wife!”

—“Our dear Yu Wen is truly versatile…”

—“Isn’t Song Mingzhu a villain?”

—“Villain? Heaven-defying villain! With a face like that, how could they ever be wrong?”

—“Mingzhu calls me brother, Mingzhu is good. The male and female leads oppose Mingzhu, so they’re bad.”

—“Lol, you guys are such shameless fans…”

Xi Su shared the trailer in a group chat and directly tagged Xie Heyu: [Teacher Xie, the netizens are trying to pair your wife with someone else. Don’t worry, I’ve got a fork ready. As the love security guard, no one dares to ship your wife with anyone. I’ll skewer anyone who tries.]

Xie Heyu didn’t respond, but Xie Jiamao popped up instead.

[A new show? Great! What do you mean by ‘wife’? Haha, are you guys role-playing?]

Gao Kaiyu: […]

Director Gao, slightly sharper, caught on after a moment and asked: [Are they dating?]

Xi Su cheerfully replied: [Yes.]

By afternoon, Xie Jiamao rushed back from another province and met Yu Wen before his vacation. With heartfelt emotion, he said, “Great, great, from now on, you’re the golden egg of Starlight Media. No one will dare to poach you again…”

Within half an hour, Gao Kaiyu also arrived, carrying a variety of gifts. He said to Yu Wen, “May you have children early and enjoy a long and happy marriage.”

Yu Wen: “…”

When news of a relationship spreads to one or two people, it’s only a matter of time before a whole crowd knows.

At that moment, Xie Heyu was driving and kept receiving calls from family members one after another. The phone rang incessantly, and the laughter of his aunts alternated in his ears like something out of a horror movie.

In the end, they didn’t say much, only cryptically remarking, “We’ll be waiting for your wedding banquet.”

When he got home and opened his phone, he discovered that the group chat had turned into an online wedding ceremony. Xie Jialin was playing the host, reciting wedding vows and asking Xie Heyu whether he was willing to marry Yu Wen, to love and care for him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful until the end of life.

Just as Xie Heyu was about to reply, a message from his eldest aunt popped up impatiently.

Eldest Aunt [Xie Heyu’s Version]: [I do.]
Eldest Aunt [Xie Heyu’s Version]: [Deeply moved.jpg]

Xie Jialin reminded everyone that this was a serious occasion and asked them not to fool around. The eldest aunt sheepishly withdrew the sticker.

Then another message appeared.

Second Aunt [Yu Wen’s Version]: [I do too!]

Xie Jialin said it wasn’t her turn yet and told her to wait. She also withdrew her message.

Xie Heyu: “…”

“You’re back!” As soon as he entered the door, Yu Wen bounced toward him like a rabbit and gave him a heavy hug.

Xie Heyu supported Yu Wen’s hips, but before he could smile, Yu Wen nervously glanced around and pulled him to a stop at the entrance, sneakily pulling out a red envelope.

“Uncle just came by to see me and gave me this…” Yu Wen opened the envelope and poured out a bank card.

Xie Heyu: “…”

“I didn’t want it, but Uncle secretly hid it in my shoe. I just found it.” Yu Wen looked distressed. “Xie Jiamao told me to accept it, but how can I dare?”

Xie Heyu asked which shoe it was hidden in.

“This one.” Yu Wen held up his sneaker. “I stepped on it and got poked by the card.”

“No problem,” Xie Heyu said. “I’ll take it back and have him draft a donation agreement.”

“There’s already an agreement.” Yu Wen bent down and fished around in the other shoe, pulling out a folded document. “Here it is… Uncle even signed his name.”

Xie Heyu: “…”

It was just another moment in a day filled with speechlessness.

Gao Kaiyu and Xie Jiamao hadn’t left yet. The company veterans rarely gathered, so they had a quick meal together before sending everyone off to the airport.

“I want to go too…” Xie Jiamao leaned against the door like a forlorn housewife, sighing deeply. “I shouldn’t have started a company. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be stuck here. Why did I think it was a good idea to start a business? Wouldn’t life be happier as a parasite?”

Before he could finish, Yu Wen, having loaded his luggage, got out of the car and ran up to Xie Jiamao. “Boss, take good care of the company. Xiao Yu will come back and make you lots of money.”

Xie Jiamao immediately straightened up. “With me here, you can rest assured about the company.”

Yu Wen clenched his fist. “Once the show airs, Xiao Yu’s position as a top-tier star will be solid. Our Starlight Media will have a pillar, and Fortune 500 status is just around the corner!”

Xie Jiamao’s blood boiled. “A pillar! Fortune 500, here we come!”

As the car drove away, Yu Wen rolled down the window and waved. “Boss, take care of yourself—”

Xie Jiamao felt an inexplicable surge of energy coursing through him, as if the top of his head had been lifted. He was brimming with vitality.

Eyes shining, he turned to Gao Kaiyu and said, “Let’s go! Time to write a script!”

Gao Kaiyu: “Weren’t we going to rest for two days…”

Xie Jiamao: “Rest? With weather this good, it’s perfect for working! Xiao Yu’s next project isn’t secured yet! Who dares to rest? Do you dare to rest?”

Gao Kaiyu cursed, “Xie Jiamao, are you crazy?!”

*

Yu Wen and Chu Han were both busy, so aligning their schedules for a vacation together wasn’t easy.

“I’m the only one free.” Xi Su slid back and forth on a suitcase, happily saying, “It’s been so long since I last acted.”

Yu Wen, fully masked and capped, replied, “I didn’t hear an ounce of ambition in that statement.”

Xi Su said serenely, “Having two godfathers is enough for me.”

Once, he had been a fiercely career-driven star constantly thinking about creating buzz. But now, after just a few months, he found the charm of a laid-back life irresistible.

Yu Wen asked, “Do you have no aspirations left in life?”

Xi Su replied, “I do. I aspire to become a true couch potato.”

Yu Wen praised him, “Truly enlightened.”

The vacation had several destinations planned, initially set for two months with room for adjustments. Xie Heyu handled the itinerary and plans. Yu Wen skimmed through them briefly, feeling confident he could just relax and be a tagalong.

Teacher Xie—reliable and a great man.

Despite their heavy disguises, Yu Wen was still recognized at the security checkpoint. A few fans called out his name, and to avoid causing a commotion, Yu Wen cooperatively removed his mask, struck a pose, and gestured for them to move away from the checkpoint.

Perhaps the fans were too loud, as more onlookers gathered, snapping photos. The crowd’s natural curiosity led others to join in, taking pictures regardless of whether they recognized him or not.

A girl stuck in the back shouted, “Manager, we can’t see! Lift Xiao Yu up—”

Xie Heyu froze mid-motion, turned to glance at Yu Wen, and raised an eyebrow.

Yu Wen choked for a moment, then reached out his hand.

Xie Heyu tilted his head slightly, bent down, and Yu Wen took the backpack from his hands before skillfully climbing onto his shoulders. He rested his hand on Xie Heyu’s neck, sitting steadily as they “took off.”

Xi Su exclaimed, “Wow—”

Chu Han: “Oh—”

The crowd outside erupted in gasps of surprise. Yu Wen, used to such reactions, casually formed a few heart shapes with his hands and waved goodbye. Gradually, the group disappeared from view.

Their flight was in the afternoon, and they didn’t arrive at their destination until evening. It was a seaside vacation island, and the rented villa faced the ocean. Every morning, they could wake up to the sea breeze.

In China, Moon Harbor aired at 7:30 PM during prime time on two channels, with simultaneous updates on streaming platforms. However, due to the time difference, they could only watch it at around 10 PM.

On the night of the premiere, they had just adjusted to the time zone. Xi Su’s fans urged him to livestream while watching Moon Harbor, so he reluctantly started a stream despite his drowsiness.

After watching one episode, he was wide awake.

“Wait, this is too mind-bending,” Xi Su said, tugging at his hair as he paced around, muttering to himself while trying to analyze the plot. “Who’s the villain? Is the female lead the villain? Why does she know Fu Mingshen so well? She entered that department store, and then it exploded… Is this show full of bad guys?”

Some fans had read the original novel and knew the general storyline, but not a single one spoiled it for Xi Su. Instead, they pretended to analyze the plot, deliberately leading him astray.

Xi Su: “Right, right, exactly! That rickshaw puller is suspicious too. And the shop assistant—also suspicious… Wow, I think I’m getting smarter. Maybe watching all these shows has not only improved my stress tolerance but also boosted my IQ.”

—”Exactly!”

—”OMG, don’t call yourself dumb. You even noticed the rickshaw puller’s suspicious behavior!”

—”Blue-Haired Teacher, you’re already on another level…”

The barrage of praise from fans boosted Xi Su’s confidence. Though he initially couldn’t follow the plot, he refrained from calling Yu Wen or Chu Han for help. If everyone agreed with his reasoning, it must mean he had transformed into a wise and insightful individual.

—”Is Yu Wen and Chu Han there? Aren’t you supposed to be on a beach vacation?”

Xi Su: “Yeah, the company gave us a group holiday. Even the assistants are on break. But others are on different routes—they’re sightseeing, while we’re just relaxing.”

The suggestion of filming a group variety show quickly gained unanimous support from viewers. The chat exploded with enthusiasm, but Xi Su hesitated. “This isn’t something you can just film with a phone…”

Someone gifted him a Carnival.

Xi Su, now financially comfortable, showed a hint of pride. “I really don’t know how—”

A second Carnival.

A third… and then many more.

Xi Su: “I’ll go learn right now.”

He wouldn’t bend for five bushels of rice… but for ten bushels? Absolutely! Hahaha!

The viewers urged him to drag the other two back to watch the show together. As the chat continued, more Carnivals lit up the screen.

Grabbing a selfie stick, Xi Su sprang into action. “Everyone, thank you for your support. Now, I’ll take you all to find Yu Wen. He’s probably at the beach—I know his little hideout…”

The nighttime beach was cool and illuminated by the villa’s lights. In the distance, a lighthouse glowed faintly. Yu Wen loved sunsets and the moments just after nightfall, often lying in his little hammock while gaming.

His “hideout” was a hammock strung between two trees, set up by Xie Heyu on their first day there. Yu Wen usually lounged there with a small table nearby, holding drinks and snacks.

Xi Su, wearing flip-flops, charged toward the area.

The villa was surrounded by a patch of trees—not dense but enough to obscure the view. With no streetlights nearby, Xi Su took a shortcut but got a bit lost. The surroundings were pitch black, and he held up his phone to look around. “Uh, which way now… Let me think.”

He swung his phone around aimlessly, taking a few steps here and there, trying to find familiar ground.

Focused on finding his way, he didn’t notice the chat going wild.

—”Left, left! I can see it, Blue-Haired Brother!”

—”Xi Su, can you look at the chat for once?”

—”I just caught a glimpse of Yu Wen!”

—”Yeah, he’s on the hammock, swaying back and forth—so cute!”

—”There it is again, there it is again—I see him… Wait, who’s the other person?”

—”What are they doing…”

—”AHHH!!! Xi Su, load your weapon! Fire! Fire!”

—”Damn! They’re kissing!”