On Sunday, because the preview aired after the seventh episode of Love Cottage the previous night had shown a few tantalizing seconds of the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig, countless viewers became especially eager for the episode airing that day!
The speculation over who exactly made that roast suckling pig even became such a hot topic that some bored individuals set up a ‘betting pool’.
Of course, this ‘betting pool’ was just for fun and didn’t involve real money.
Since it didn’t involve real money and only used free forum coins for bets, a huge number of people participated, placing all sorts of wagers.
However, even with so many people placing bets in this pool… Bai Baozhu’s name saw no action.
In fact, she was the only dating guest that no one was willing to bet on.
After all, since joining the show, this girl had never once set foot in the kitchen, presenting the image of a pampered rich beauty who never lifted a finger to do housework. She also acted spoiled and helpless, unable to even open a bottle of mineral water.
Therefore, everyone ruled Bai Baozhu out, believing she had absolutely nothing to do with the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig.
As time passed, more and more people joined this betting pool.
With the pandemic keeping everyone stuck at home, people were so bored they were about to grow mold.
They became particularly enthusiastic about anything even slightly interesting.
Precisely because so many netizens participated in this pool, what was just a forum betting game, powered by the collective energy of netizens who had nothing better to do, managed to trend on the Hot Search list again!
And so, before anyone realized it, Love Cottage Episode Eight exploded in popularity.
It hadn’t even aired yet, but the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig, due to overwhelming attention, had already broken out of its niche and become a mainstream hit!
Even though, with the episode not yet aired, no one knew who made that Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig that had only appeared for a few seconds in the preview, judging by the current momentum, whoever made that dish was about to become hugely popular and famous!
The production team staff were completely taken by surprise by the massive reaction and breakout popularity caused by the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig in the Episode Eight preview.
While they knew the roast suckling pig would be the biggest highlight of Love Cottage Episode Eight, they never imagined it would become this viral.
They could only sigh that everyone really had too much time on their hands during the pandemic!
“Director Qi, I think we can include more footage of Bai Baozhu in the Premium Version and the Behind-the-Scenes clips. I even suggest making a dedicated Gourmet Behind-the-Scenes segment for her cooking scenes. I believe the view count would be excellent, and many viewers would be willing to ‘pay for it’,” suggested Zhu Hualiang, the post-production team leader who had just received another batch of pan-fried buns from Li Le that day. He approached Qi Gaofei again with sincere advice.
Zhu Hualiang and Qi Gaofei were old partners, having collaborated on several programs together. They could be considered good friends.
It was precisely because of this that Zhu Hualiang dared to voice any opinion in front of Qi Gaofei.
“…You’ve been acting strange lately,” Qi Gaofei said, giving Zhu Hualiang a suspicious look. He felt his partner had been acting very oddly recently.
“Hahaha, don’t overthink it. I’m genuinely thinking about our show’s benefit. After all, our show is currently the hottest variety program!” It definitely wasn’t because of Bai Baozhu’s pan-fried buns! (￣﹃￣)
“Hmm, your suggestion does sound good. I really didn’t expect Bai Baozhu, after starting high and falling low, to now be rising from the low again. It’s quite astonishing. Let’s see the audience’s reaction to her tonight before deciding how to arrange her screen time,” Qi Gaofei said very fairly. He was someone who judged matters, not people. As long as it boosted the show’s appeal, he didn’t care if the person was blacklisted by the whole internet or trending positively.
After getting a clear answer from Qi Gaofei, Zhu Hualiang felt he had lived up to the crispy and fragrant pan-fried buns he ate today!
Having received a verbal confirmation, Zhu Hualiang didn’t bother with Qi Gaofei’s caveat about waiting for the audience’s reaction after this episode aired.
He directly returned to the post-production editing team’s office, waved his hand, and set all his colleagues to work!
“Our Director Qi said we can include more footage of Bai Baozhu in the first Premium Version. It’s fine even if there’s no romantic interaction! Also, from now on, don’t delete any videos of Bai Baozhu cooking. Organize them all properly. Later, we’ll make a dedicated Gourmet Behind-the-Scenes segment for Bai Baozhu…” As Zhu Hualiang spoke, the post-production team staff all nodded in unison.
Regardless of whether these people had also received ‘bribes’ (the food), they genuinely wanted to properly rehabilitate Bai Baozhu, this treasure girl.
After all, the post-production team had witnessed Bai Baozhu’s gradual change and ‘growth’ firsthand. They were the ones who could most directly see the wonderful qualities she radiated.
In terms of liking Bai Baozhu, they were no less than the camera guys who followed her around filming every day.
Of course, the food was also very important! (￣﹃￣)
While Bai Baozhu remained completely unaware, through her culinary offensive (courtesy of Li Le!), she had already won over the connections of the Love Cottage staff, high and low, left and right!
Moreover, the most crucial post-production editing team had become her ‘back garden’! They were determined, without affecting the other dating guests, to showcase all of Bai Baozhu’s wonderful qualities to the greatest extent possible!
And the upcoming Premium Version and Behind-the-Scenes clips for Love Cottage were the stage they prepared for Bai Baozhu!
Themes like ‘rehabilitation’, ‘counterattack’, and ‘turning the tables’ were the subjects they had prepared for her.
The staff who liked Bai Baozhu (and her food) eagerly rolled up their sleeves, ready to use their expertise to make a big splash!
However, the protagonist, Bai Baozhu, knew nothing about this.
And the majority of the audience, who were mostly Bai Baozhu antis, also didn’t know they were about to experience… a warning of impending ‘deliciousness’! One specially designed by a group of camera guys and post-production guys!
On Sunday night, at eight o’clock sharp, Love Cottage finally aired amidst the highly anticipated mood of all viewers!
Knowing there would be a food warning today, many clever viewers came prepared with their own snacks, ready to eat while watching!
Right after the Love Cottage opening animation ended, as the episode began, it was Xu Bingying again dissing Bai Baozhu.
“…Sending the love text message to Wei Wenbo so unexpectedly was probably to win his heart.”
After hearing Xu Bingying’s analysis of Bai Baozhu’s reason for sending the love text to Wei Wenbo in the previous episode, the viewers all felt it sounded somewhat plausible.
Then, after hearing Tian Hongxiu’s defense of Bai Baozhu, calling her an ‘immature child’, the viewers were somewhat dismissive.
She’s twenty-one already, still a child?
Just as the viewers watching the show were mentally complaining like crazy, they heard Xu Bingying in the program sharply point out that Bai Baozhu was already twenty-one and had no right to act willfully like a child.
Instantly, Xu Bingying gained quite a bit of favor by relentlessly criticizing Bai Baozhu.
Viewers watching the show while scrolling through the live discussion thread in the Love Cottage Discussion Forum enthusiastically posted in the thread——
『She’s just a child, so we definitely shouldn’t let her off the hook!』
This cheerful banter quickly changed tone with the arrival of the Sun Date involving the foursome.
『Ahhh! I’m dying from the sweetness! My ideal CP! Su Han and Bo Shenyu! Little angel Su Han, go for it—!』
『This Sun Date is such an Asura Field! It’s like a massive CP free-for-all! And they all seem to be one-sided attractions, kinda tragic.』
『Wow—! I’ve become a fan of Song Zhi! Song Male God is not only incredibly handsome, but his views on love are so beautiful too!』
『Sniffle, my Song Zhi brother is really amazing! I want to have a sweet romance with my brother~』
『I also think the girl Song Zhi likes would be very happy!』
『Brother Zhi! Look at me! I don’t need you to put in 100% effort to pursue me. Just one glance from you, and I’ll throw myself at you! No! I’d throw myself at you even without a glance!』
…
Song Zhi’s views on love, revealed in Love Cottage, instantly shifted all the viewers’ attention from the four-person Sun Date to him.
It wasn’t until the celebrity observers’ cameras were gone and the four-person Sun Date officially began that the viewers’ attention shifted back to the four dating guests.
And because of a lollipop, a group of female viewers got excited!
『Ahhh—! This is definitely an Asura Field! An Asura Field! Ye Jingyu and Su Han are totally surface sisters!』
『Plastic Sisters having an online hair-pulling catfight! Hahaha, this is too good!』
『Speaking of which, even though I think what Ye Jingyu said is quite right—Bo Shenyu probably wouldn’t eat such sweet stuff—her tone of voice is really unpleasant.』
『Ye Jingyu is just a lofty rich beauty, right? And Su Han is her love rival, so her attitude is pretty normal. I think it shows her true nature.』
『She really is a true ‘rich beauty’. Even a five-yuan lollipop becomes a ‘three-no product’ (product with no production date, quality guarantee, or manufacturer info) in her mouth, tsk! I really can’t like this Missy. I prefer the down-to-earth Su Han~』
Just as all the viewers were arguing endlessly over Su Han and Ye Jingyu’s behavior, the result was—
『Ah—! I’m dead! Su Han is such a flirt! So sweet! Sweeter than the lollipop!』
『So sweet it kills me! The sweetness level this episode is off the charts! Su Han is too good at this! I think Bo Shenyu is going to fall for her!』
『”Brother Shen, is it sweet?” I’m dying from the sweetness! Don’t stop me! From today on, I’m shipping Su Han and Bo Shenyu’s CP!』
…
Just as all the viewers were being won over by Su Han’s actions, screaming about the sweetness, the program unknowingly approached its end.
It was only then that everyone noticed the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig from the preview hadn’t appeared!
Just as everyone was wondering if Love Cottage had made a false announcement or edited the wrong preview, the color palette of Love Cottage suddenly changed!
The tone became noticeably more full and soft!
The art style was completely different from the usual Love Cottage!
Just as everyone was puzzled by the show’s sudden change in artistic style, they saw Bai Baozhu and Xia Tiantian appear in the kitchen…
『Huh?! Could the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig have been made by Xia Tiantian?』
『But Xia Tiantian said she can’t cook, right?』
…
Just as everyone was utterly confused, a shocking scene unfolded!
Bai Baozhu, with a smile, gave the thoroughly cleaned suckling pig a massage, then picked up a massive cleaver, larger than her face… and began dissecting the suckling pig live!
Tearing the fascia, breaking the ribs, splitting the spine, scooping out the brains, removing the shoulder blade, extracting the leg bone…
Watching Bai Baozhu effortlessly, smilingly ‘dismember’ an entire suckling pig, everyone just felt—
『Holy crap! I feel a chill down my spine!』
The impact of this scene on all the viewers was too great! Consequently, all the viewers were stunned and completely forgot that Bai Baozhu had said she couldn’t cook.
They also forgot! That the forum coins from the betting pool they participated in were all about to be lost! Their adamant claims that the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig absolutely couldn’t be related to Bai Baozhu were now slapping their faces until they were swollen!!
『Suddenly… I feel my face hurts a bit!』
As the program kept giving close-ups of Bai Baozhu making the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig, the viewers whose faces were being metaphorically slapped couldn’t help but drool.
Roasting the suckling pig, slicing the meat, pouring oil, high-temperature frying to crisp the skin…
Watching Bai Baozhu focus intently on preparing the food, her fair hands contrasting with the ruddy pig skin, created an indescribable sense of beauty and… deliciousness!
‘I just realized Bai Baozhu’s hands are so pretty! Especially when she’s cooking, it’s such a feast for the eyes and so appetizing!’
‘Agreed, those hands are truly beautiful!’
In that moment, captivated by these scenes of culinary artistry, everyone forgot that the female guest currently cooking was someone they disliked.
When that pig skin was fried to a tempting amber hue, and the mouth-watering Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig was finally completed, the camera gave it a huge close-up.
It practically drove the viewers in front of their TVs crazy, making them swallow their saliva incessantly.
They had just finished dinner and were quite full when they tuned into this dating show, yet they were forcefully made hungry by watching it!
Even the clever viewers who had brought their own snacks weren’t much better off!
Although they held their favorite snacks in their hands, looking at those pieces of Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig sizzling with oily goodness, their snacks instantly seemed bland!
This frantic sense of hunger was driven to a peak for the viewers when Xia Tiantian took a bite of the roast suckling pig, and the crisp “CRUNCH—!” sound echoed. It nearly drove them mad!
At that time, in the live discussion thread for Love Cottage, countless people were spamming comments about how hungry they were, accusing the production team of poisoning them late at night!
‘The production team is too much! Poisoning us late at night like this! Don’t they know I’m on a diet!’
‘The chips in my hand suddenly taste bland, I want to eat Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig QAQ’
‘The skewers in my hand suddenly taste bland, I want to eat Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig QAQ’
‘The cake in my hand suddenly tastes bland, I want to eat Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig QAQ’
…
For a while, looking at the comments in the live thread, it felt as if Love Cottage wasn’t a dating show, but an exquisitely produced food program!
It wasn’t until the show reached its end, during the heartline connection segment, when the six celebrity observers mistakenly connected Bai Baozhu’s heartline, and Xu Bingying started dissecting Bai Baozhu again as a green tea bitch who loved stealing other people’s partners, that everyone finally snapped out of their food-induced trance.
However, perhaps because the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig Bai Baozhu made gave her a positive filter, or perhaps because aside from Xu Bingying, everyone else tried to interpret Bai Baozhu’s reason for sending a love text message to Lin Dong in a kinder light, a large portion of the audience inexplicably felt—Bai Baozhu didn’t seem quite so detestable this episode?
Whether their impression of Bai Baozhu had slightly improved or they continued to loathe her, nothing could change the fact that Bai Baozhu was the most talked-about dating guest in this episode of Love Cottage! Relying solely on the ‘power of a pig’, the moment the episode ended, she was already trending on the hot search!
And it was no longer that kind of notoriety-fueled heat, but perfectly normal popularity!
Furthermore, because of the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig she made on the show, she completely overshadowed the charm Su Han displayed this episode, leaving few netizens discussing her.
After watching Love Cottage Episode Eight, all the viewers could talk about was—
‘After watching this episode of Love Cottage, I just feel my face really hurts. And… I still want to eat the Gold Medal Roast Suckling Pig made by Bai Baozhu’s own hands!!!_(:з”∠)_’