Chapter 109: On Seniority and Rank

After introducing the guests, Xiao Yao explained the rules of "Extreme Partners." It was simple: the ten celebrities would pair up to form five teams and complete various tasks across Nanshan City. Each team had to consist of one entertainment star and one sports star, with partners assigned randomly through a drawing. The tasks, scattered across different locations in the city, had to be completed according to specific rules and routes until the teams reached the finish line. The first team to arrive would be crowned the champions.

The ten celebrities began looking around, silently hoping for their ideal partners. Xiao Yao noticed this and suggested, "Why don't you all share who you hope to be paired with? We can see if your wishes come true after the draw."

It was evident that Zheng Xiongshi was the most popular choice among the five entertainment stars, given his sterling reputation and experience. Though he was known for his grit on the soccer field, he was famously easygoing in private, which suggested good communication and fewer conflicts. Furthermore, as a soccer player who could run for 90 minutes without fatigue, his physical advantage was undeniable. Who wouldn't want such a partner?

King Zhang spoke up first: "If I get paired with Old Zheng, the championship is ours." Beauty Lin and Sun Wan'er also expressed their desire to be paired with Zheng. Meanwhile, Wang Liang and Wu Tianqi voiced their preferences for basketball player Mina and swimmer Zhao Shuixin, respectively, leaving Mo Shu and Li Dai feeling a bit sidelined. With three of the five entertainment stars favoring him, Zheng waved his hands in embarrassment. In fact, had Li Dai not been so short, he likely would have had his own share of supporters.

Among the four sports stars, Mo Shu was at the greatest disadvantage. Soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and swimming all relied primarily on physical strength and agility, but Mo Shu’s identity as a race car driver put him at a disadvantage. After all, racing was a sport performed inside a vehicle; while drivers required physical conditioning to withstand high G-forces, outsiders often perceived them as "frail" compared to athletes in more visibly demanding disciplines.

The sports stars, being professional athletes, were equally physically formidable, so their choices were driven more by personal preference and aesthetics. Zheng Xiongshi reciprocated King Zhang’s praise, stating he would love to be paired with him. Basketball player Sun Mina had been a fan of King Zhang since childhood, and meeting him in person only deepened her admiration. Zhao Shuixin favored Wu Tianqi, and Li Dai wanted to be with Beauty Lin. Everyone had their ideal partner in mind.

When Xiao Yao asked Mo Shu, he didn't answer immediately. After a moment of thought, he said softly, "I follow all five entertainment stars, so I would be honored to be paired with any of you." This response felt overly slick to those present; it seemed he didn't want to offend anyone and was trying to curry favor with everyone. However, Mo Shu continued, "But if I must choose, I hope to be paired with Sun Wan'er, as I stayed up all night to watch that 30-episode spy thriller she starred in."

Spy thriller? When had Sun Wan'er ever starred in a spy thriller? The guests and staff were stunned. At 31, Sun Wan'er was famous for her historical dramas, having shot to fame overnight with a Qing Dynasty series that propelled her to the peak of her career. The staff began whispering, some chuckling that there was going to be a good show. Xiao Yao, standing in the center, was bewildered, unsure how to salvage the moment. Beauty Lin leaned over to whisper something into King Zhang’s ear.

Wang Liang and Wu Tianqi remained indifferent, while the other four sports stars, unfamiliar with Mo Shu, looked on with disinterest. Sun Wan'er herself remained calm, offering only a slight, unreadable smile. Puzzled by the reaction, Mo Shu wondered, *What’s wrong? Is it forbidden to pair with her? Am I that unwelcome?*

After a moment, director Xiao Yao gestured for the cameras to pause. He pulled Mo Shu aside and whispered, "Sun Wan'er hasn't starred in a spy thriller. Did you misremember? Should we re-record that segment?" Mo Shu replied calmly, "Director, I am certain I didn't misremember."

Just as they were discussing this, Beauty Lin stepped forward, her tone cold. "The younger generation today lacks substance; they can't even remember the works of their seniors." The set fell silent. Was a top actress about to lecture a newcomer? This was exactly the kind of drama that would make "Extreme Partners" trend instantly.

Beauty Lin, however, had no idea who Mo Shu really was. She had fallen into the same trap as the others, judging him without doing her research.

"Senior Lin, that’s a bit uncalled for," Mo Shu replied. He had been enduring slights since yesterday, but he hadn't expected her to humiliate him so publicly. His pent-up frustration finally boiled over. "I, as a junior, am not mistaken. If you don't believe me, ask Ms. Sun yourself."

Beauty Lin, shocked that Mo Shu dared to talk back, felt her status as an award-winning actress was being challenged. "How dare you speak to your senior like that! Do you have no respect for hierarchy? You didn't even come to the dressing room to pay your respects before we started filming. I let that slide, but now you not only misremember an elder's work, you dare to argue with my advice in public? Do you want me to have you kicked off this show?"

Her aggressive outburst left Director Xiao Yao too intimidated to intervene. Everyone waited to see how Mo Shu would handle it. Unfortunately, Beauty Lin didn't notice that Sun Wan'er, standing behind her, had tried to intervene before being cut off by the tirade.