WBJAO CH 2: Departure – A Heavy Task Ahead

Three days passed quickly.

After receiving the address, Shen Chiyuan set off with his small suitcase.

The plane ticket was provided by the production team. Before boarding the plane, they sent Shen Chiyuan a message.

They explained that this time, the show would be recorded in a live-stream and edited format. As soon as he got off the plane, filming would begin, so they advised him to mentally prepare.

Shen Chiyuan didn’t have any objections. Even if they started a live stream right away, there wouldn’t be many viewers interested in watching him. However, he was curious about who else the production team had invited.

The filming location chosen by the production team was in City A, a small seaside town. Known for its year-round summer-like weather, breathtaking scenery, and unpolluted environment, it was an ideal place to relax, unwind, and enjoy coastal activities like clam digging.

This town attracted many tourists each year, and some variety shows often chose it as a filming spot. The picturesque setting made it convenient for creating entertainment effects and organizing tasks, making it a popular location for shooting.

As soon as Shen Chiyuan stepped off the plane, a faint salty smell carried by the breeze swept past him—this was the scent of the sea.

There were many people disembarking, and Shen Chiyuan wasn’t particularly noticeable in the crowd. He proactively scanned his surroundings, looking for the production team.

He didn’t expect anyone to come and personally meet him. After all, he wasn’t a celebrity. Taking the initiative to find them seemed more practical.

Fortunately, among the tourists flocking to the area, the production team was still quite conspicuous. It didn’t take Shen Chiyuan long to spot their location. Pulling his suitcase behind him, he leisurely walked over.

The production staff, bored and staring at the steady stream of travelers, were growing impatient. Not a single guest had arrived yet, and they felt like waiting for these people was even harder than waiting for celebrities.

“Excuse me, is this the production team for Love, Starting at This Moment?” Shen Chiyuan asked.

A cool, soothing male voice reached the group’s ears, like a gentle breeze calming restless hearts in an instant.

“Yes, may I ask who you are?” A short-haired female beta responded, raising her head to look in the direction of the voice.

Under the blazing sunlight stood a stunningly handsome young man.

The sunlight illuminated his face, adding a radiant touch to his already exquisite features. His clear, bright eyes seemed to hold an entire galaxy, captivating anyone who dared to look too long.

The strands of hair across his forehead swayed with the breeze, like mischievous children vying for attention.

Shen Chiyuan curled his lips into a friendly smile. “Hello, I’m Shen Chiyuan.”

“Shen Chiyuan?”

The woman snapped out of her daze. She recalled the list provided by the director, which did indeed include a person named Shen Chiyuan. However, his secondary gender was listed as beta.

Yet the young man before her, so strikingly attractive, didn’t seem like a beta at all—he resembled a taller omega instead. Then again, no one would go out of their way to impersonate someone else just for this.

Shen Chiyuan nodded. “Yes, that’s me. Should I wait here with you for the other guests, or head to the villa to prepare?”

The woman replied, “You can either wait here for the other guests or head straight to the villa. However, before going, we’ll need you to complete a solo interview.”

Shen Chiyuan nodded, expressing no objections.

“Alright, where is the interview location?” he asked with a smile.

The woman pointed to a white van parked nearby and said, “That white van over there. Just explain your identity, and they’ll take care of the rest.”

Shen Chiyuan took a candy out of his pocket and placed it on the table in front of the woman.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

With that, he pulled his suitcase and strode toward the van. His long legs drew attention with every step.

The woman stared at the strawberry-flavored candy, momentarily at a loss for words. After gazing at it for a while, she finally picked it up and tucked it into her bag.

A colleague nearby leaned over curiously. “What did that handsome guy give you? You were staring at it so intently.”

The woman didn’t bother hiding it. She glanced at her colleague indifferently and said, “Just a piece of candy.”

The colleague lost interest and turned away, resuming her position at the desk, counting the heads of people coming out of the airport.

The woman understood that Shen Chiyuan had noticed her struggles. Betas often faced unequal treatment in the workplace. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to it.

In fact, things were much better now compared to decades ago. Back then, betas were considered the lowest class, assigned the dirtiest and most exhausting jobs.

Still, prejudice against betas persisted. The woman didn’t have high expectations for Shen Chiyuan, a beta, to succeed in a dating show. However, she also understood that everyone had their own reasons for doing what they did.

The program’s interview car wasn’t parked far away, and Shen Chiyuan reached it after walking just a short distance.

The car had excellent privacy protection, with privacy film covering all its windows, making it impossible to see inside.

Shen Chiyuan placed his suitcase beside his leg and knocked on the window.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing a man sitting in the passenger seat. After giving Shen Chiyuan a quick up-and-down glance, the man opened the back door and said nonchalantly, “Get in. The filming and interview are in the back.”

Shen Chiyuan curved his lips into a gentle smile. “Alright, thank you.”

The man was momentarily dazzled by Shen Chiyuan’s smile. He awkwardly coughed and averted his gaze, silently berating himself. How could he, an alpha, be caught off guard by the smile of a beta? It was ridiculous. If he were to lose focus, it should at least be because of a sweet-looking omega.

While the man in the front seat was mentally lecturing himself, Shen Chiyuan didn’t seem to care at all. He pulled his suitcase and climbed into the car.

From the outside, the van appeared unremarkable, but the interior was surprisingly well-equipped. As soon as he entered, Shen Chiyuan noticed a blue folding table set up in the center. On either side of the table were two chairs fixed to the car’s floor.

On one side, neatly arranged storage racks lined the walls, with tightly sealed compartments whose contents remained a mystery. Further back was a single bed for resting, currently occupied by a man whose face was obscured.

A man sitting in one of the chairs, absorbed in his phone, looked up when he heard movement.

He froze for a moment when he saw Shen Chiyuan’s face but quickly recovered. Judging by the appearance, he immediately identified who it was. The man set his phone on the table and cleared his throat.

“Shen Chiyuan, right?” the man asked.

Shen Chiyuan nodded.

The man called to wake up the person still sleeping in the back and directed Shen Chiyuan to sit in the empty seat across from him. “Get ready. We’ll start as soon as the equipment is set up.”

Shen Chiyuan inclined his head. “Alright.”

He placed his suitcase in a corner of the van and then sat down in the designated seat, lowering his gaze slightly. He looked like a perfectly crafted doll placed quietly in the corner.

While waiting for the equipment to be adjusted, the man couldn’t help but glance at Shen Chiyuan repeatedly. From the photos, he had already known Shen Chiyuan was attractive, but seeing him in person, he realized Shen Chiyuan was even better-looking than in the pictures.

With such stunning visuals, even if Shen Chiyuan did nothing on the show and just acted as a decorative “vase,” he would still draw a crowd of viewers eager to admire his appearance. Moreover, the other participants he had selected for the show were all top-notch individuals, equally impressive in looks—every one of them was undeniably handsome.

The man figured that even if this program ended up as lukewarm as previous seasons, it wouldn’t be a total loss.

There weren’t many people in the van. Aside from the two who were already there, another person joined later. By the time the interview officially began, including Shen Chiyuan, there were only four people in the van.

The man smiled warmly at Shen Chiyuan and asked, “Are you ready?”

Shen Chiyuan returned a polite smile. “Yes, let’s begin.”

The man asked, “Why did you choose to participate in ‘Love, Starting at This Moment’?”

Shen Chiyuan replied, “Because I wanted to experience a different kind of life.”

The man wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer but couldn’t find any fault with it.

For the subsequent questions, Shen Chiyuan’s responses were equally proper and composed, without anything particularly noteworthy. Once the man had finished asking his questions, he didn’t immediately call it a wrap. Instead, he scrutinized Shen Chiyuan from head to toe.

“You…”

Shen Chiyuan thought to himself, The small talk is over—time to get to the point.

“So, Director, do you have any instructions for me?” Shen Chiyuan’s understanding of the situation was crystal clear—since he was getting paid so much, he should do something beneficial for the show.

The man blinked. “Actually, there’s not much. Just, at the beginning of the show, pay more attention to the other participants…”

Shen Chiyuan nodded repeatedly. “I understand. I’ll make sure to do everything I’m supposed to do. When I shouldn’t be present, I won’t show up at all. When I’m needed, I’ll step in without hesitation.”

The man: ?

Shen Chiyuan continued smiling and assured him, “Director, rest assured. I understand my role perfectly and will absolutely not cause any unnecessary trouble for the production team.”

The man: … Why do I feel like I can’t keep up with his train of thought?

The man opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but found that there was really nothing else to add. He had already said everything he needed to, and Shen Chiyuan’s responses didn’t seem to pose any issues. However, the part about “not causing trouble” left the man puzzled. What trouble could a recently graduated student possibly cause?

Unable to figure it out, the man simply waved his hand and let Shen Chiyuan get off the van.

The vehicle used for interviews wasn’t the same as the one taking participants to the villa. The idea was that guests could record their interviews as soon as they arrived. If that wasn’t feasible, they could always film later at the villa.

After getting off the van, Shen Chiyuan followed the staff member assigned by the man and got into another vehicle. During the ride, he learned a bit about how the production team planned to shoot the show.

The production team employs a dual approach: live streaming for viewers who enjoy following events in real time and edited clips for those who don’t have time to watch the live broadcasts.

There won’t be any staff stationed inside the villa, but there are over thirty cameras installed throughout, including numerous ones outside the villa. The aim is to capture the guests’ daily lives in meticulous detail.

The rooms have the fewest cameras, with only two 360-degree rotating cameras installed. At night, these cameras can be covered if the guests wish to ensure privacy during their rest.

Inside the villa, the production team will not be present, giving the guests ample time to interact privately. Any tasks or challenges will be issued to the guests via task cards.

Since the production team doesn’t intervene, it means the guests will need to take care of their meals and other needs entirely on their own.

As the driver explained this while driving, he added, “Once you arrive, you’ll need to figure things out on your own from that point forward. The production team won’t be providing any help.

”Resting his chin on one hand and leaning his other arm against the window, Shen Chiyuan watched the scenery retreating behind them.

Turning his head slightly, he smiled and said, “Thank you, I understand.”

With the production team not interfering in the guests’ interactions, it would be up to the participants to foster romantic connections between the Alphas and Omegas.

Shen Chiyuan suddenly felt an immense weight on his shoulders.

This money was really not going to be easy to earn—there was a long road ahead.