Pushing Open the Door to the World? No!

"Squeak—"

A dull, slightly sour friction sound echoed long in the quiet alley of Jiangnan.

Those two wooden doors, exposed to wind and sun year-round, with their surfaces covered in fine cracks.

Jiang Ruoyun pushed him away forcefully, full of anticipation.

A faint musty smell, a mixture of damp earth and stagnant air, wafted over with the cold winter wind.

The hidden cameraman behind them immediately lowered his body while carrying his equipment.

The camera precisely panned over the two people's shoulders.

In the live streaming rooms of major platforms across the internet, the millions of viewers waiting online collectively held their breath.

Everyone was waiting for a stunning courtyard, like a traditional Chinese ink painting, to slowly unfold.

however.

The moment the gate was fully opened, revealing the entire courtyard to the light of day.

The entire scene seemed to have been frozen in time.

There are no picturesque bridges and flowing water.

There were also no well-arranged artificial hills and pavilions.

What came into view was a desolate scene that had not been tended to for a long time.

The weeds in the yard weren't very tall, only about calf height.

But in the cold winter rain, the withered yellow grass blades lay askew, looking particularly desolate.

The ground, which was originally paved with bluestone slabs, is now covered with a layer of slippery moss because it has never seen sunlight.

Several shallow puddles of mud and water had accumulated in the cracks between the stone slabs.

In the southwest corner of the courtyard wall, there stands a lone, open-air earthen stove.

A corner of the stove was broken, and blackened bricks were scattered around.

Several intricate spider webs were woven on it, swaying in the rain.

Through the withered grass, one can vaguely see that the main house structure at the back is intact.

The production team clearly left some room for error.

Looking through the half-open glass window, the interior had indeed been repainted.

The floor was laid flat and clean, and inside you could see two separate bedrooms, each with a neatly made bed.

But before reaching that clean bedroom.

They had to first walk through this slippery, uneven cobblestone courtyard.

Jiang Ruoyun stood on the high wooden threshold.

Her face, which had been beaming with a sweet smile, completely collapsed the moment she saw the entire courtyard.

The curve of his lips was so stiff it looked frozen.

The girl blinked her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, trying to convince herself that this might just be a unique feature in the front yard.

But the cold wind mixed with rain blowing on your face is so real that you can't escape it.

She still habitually rested one hand on the handle of the huge suitcase next to her.

The exquisite wheels at the bottom of the box have just landed.

It got stuck on a moss-covered stone and couldn't roll forward an inch.

She turned her head blankly and looked at Lin Mo beside her.

Her eyes held a clear sense of bewilderment and helplessness, like a ragdoll cat that had accidentally stepped into a puddle.

The live stream screen remained frozen for a full three seconds in this suffocating silence.

Followed by.

The screen was flooded with comments like a burst dam, erupting instantly.

It densely covered all the images.

"Holy crap! Is this the legendary Jiangnan paradise?"

"I've got my melon seeds ready, eager to see 'Gods Living Together,' and you show me this 'Going Back to the Countryside for a Spring Cleaning'?"

"Where did this promised romantic, slow-paced life go? This is clearly a reality show about transformation!"

"Have some decency, production team! Look at the young lady's expression, it's like the sky has fallen!"

"Although this yard isn't a primeval forest, the moss and muddy water all over the place are enough to make you drink a pot of water."

"Oh no, oh no, this muddy water is definitely going to get my wife's shoes all dirty! I'm so heartbroken!"

"You understand contrast, Central Bank. Yesterday you were enjoying a French meal in Beijing, and today you're being sent to the countryside for labor reform."

"Waiting for the young lady to throw a tantrum, waiting for Chef Lin to flip the table and leave!"

Netizens were sending out a barrage of comments while laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight.

The visual impact of falling from the clouds to reality in an instant is really interesting.

At this moment.

A secluded spot at the village entrance, a few hundred meters from the old house.

Inside a surveillance vehicle disguised as an ordinary truck, the lights were dim.

The walls were covered with monitor screens of all sizes, broadcasting live footage from various cameras.

Director Li Lin was comfortably leaning back in his chair.

He was holding the thermos he always carried with him.

He slowly blew on the floating hot tea.

Watching the number of online users soar and the barrage of comments on the screen.

This director, well past fifty, couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from turning upwards, smiling like a cunning old fox who had finally succeeded.

All of this, of course, was arranged by him on purpose.

The advance team arrived here a week ago, but he gave a firm order.

Only interior repairs are permitted to ensure residential safety.

You are absolutely not allowed to touch a single blade of grass or tree in the yard, not even to sweep up the fallen leaves on the ground.

The current variety show market is too scripted.

When celebrities go to the countryside, even the chicken coops are spotless, and the ashes on the stove are freshly sprinkled by the art department.

That kind of fake pastoral idyll has long since made audiences tired of it.

What he needs to do is break down this hypocrisy.

He deliberately left this mess behind, just to see what would happen.

This is a powerful figure who wields considerable influence in Beijing's elite circles and always exudes a relaxed demeanor.

When faced with the realities of daily life and mundane details, will they ultimately break down and be left feeling defeated?

He also wanted to capture the genuine reaction of that delicate heiress, bewildered and helpless in the face of mud.

Only by pushing characters out of their comfort zones can the most authentic dramatic tension be unleashed.

This documentary won the moment it opened the door.

Li Lin smugly put down his thermos and pressed the button on the walkie-talkie next to him.

"Attention all units"

His voice rang out on the channel, carrying an undeniable authority.

"From now on, no one is allowed to come forward to help."

"Even if they can't even carry their luggage in, they're not allowed to lend a hand."

"Keep absolutely quiet and hold the machine steady. I want to see close-ups of them being completely flustered."

The instruction has just been issued.

Li Lin turned his gaze back to the main screen, ready to enjoy watching Lin Mo frown and sigh.

however.

The course of events unfolded completely contrary to the old fox's script.

Faced with a yard full of withered grass and slippery moss.

Lin Mo did not frown, nor did he show the slightest sign of disgust.

He simply stood quietly on the threshold.

I took a deep breath of the moist air, which carried the scent of earth.

Instead of anger, his eyes revealed a long-lost tranquility.

This is what life should be like.

Rough and primitive, yet full of vibrant life.

There was no nonsense, and no complaining lines.

Lin Mo calmly tilted the black umbrella in his hand slightly, securing it firmly against the edge of the door frame.

He happened to shield Jiang Ruoyun, who was beside him, from the falling cold rain.

then.

Under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes.

With steady movements, he unbuttoned the cuffs of the finely crafted shirt.

One fold, two folds.

He slowly rolled up his sleeves above his elbows, revealing his strong and powerful forearm lines.

His posture remained relaxed, and he remained incredibly steady.

It was as if he wasn't facing a desolate, dilapidated yard, but rather preparing to chop a cabbage in his own kitchen.

Lin Mo took a step and stepped onto the moss-covered stone path without hesitation.

He didn't even frown.

He bent down and casually kicked aside a few dead branches blocking the road.

He also pulled out a few of the most in the way of weeds.

He quickly cleared a narrow path that was barely safe enough for a person to step onto.

Li Lin, inside the surveillance vehicle, was stunned.

The chat in the live stream paused for a moment, then erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Holy crap! That's incredible execution!"

"So manly! That relaxed demeanor, that efficient work ethic—it's unmatched!"

Jiang Ruoyun stood on the threshold, watching Lin Mo's busy figure in the rain.

A sudden surge of intense bittersweetness and a strong urge to protect her welled up in the girl's heart.

This is the man she chose.

Back in the capital, I was already exhausted from being constantly schemed against by those hypocritical relatives and wealthy businessmen.

I finally managed to escape here after a long flight of several hours.

Why should he have to suffer alone in the yard as soon as he enters the house?

The young lady's double standards were on full display at this moment.

She no longer felt that the dilapidated state of the yard was the production team's fault; she only felt that Lin Mo shouldn't be left to do all the work alone.

She had to prove that she could not only outshine everyone at the banquet.

Here, she is by no means just a pretty face that only holds things back.

Jiang Ruoyun bit her red lips.

She stepped directly onto the slippery bluestone slab, and mud and water instantly splashed onto her fair calves.

But she didn't even glance at it.

She gripped the handle of the huge suitcase tightly with both hands.

Because the wheels were difficult to push, she could only pull forward little by little with brute force.

"Ruoyun, put me down."

Lin Mo turned around when he heard the noise, his voice carrying a serious tone that left no room for argument.

"The ground is too slippery. What if you fall? Go stand by the door and wait for me."

"I don't!"

Jiang Ruoyun stubbornly raised her head, her beautiful peach blossom eyes filled with an indomitable spirit.

"We came back together to start a new life."

"You've been clearing the way ahead, I can't just stand behind and be a decoration."

As she spoke, she forcefully pulled her suitcase forward a bit.

"What's a little mud? We can just wash it off later."

Lin Mo stared at her quietly for two seconds.

Looking at the girl's ankle boots stained with mud, and that stubbornness in her fierce protectiveness of her husband.

A gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

They didn't stop them anymore.

He turned around and sped up the process of clearing the road.

The two worked in perfect harmony, one in front and one behind.

One calmly cleared obstacles ahead, while the other gritted his teeth and dragged his heavy luggage behind.

Although things were a bit chaotic, there was a sense of solid mutual support and comfort amidst the cold rain.

The viewers in the live stream were completely stunned.

They had expected to witness a farcical scene of a wealthy heiress throwing a tantrum.

Instead, I was force-fed a mouthful of high-class dog food, a testament to our shared hardships.

With great difficulty, the two finally made it across the slippery courtyard.

We arrived at the dry and spacious eaves of the main house.

Jiang Ruoyun was slightly out of breath from exhaustion, her face flushed.

Looking at her shoes covered in mud, she didn't cry; instead, she felt a sense of accomplishment, as if she had won a battle.

Lin Mo patted the dirt off his hands, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the corner of the eaves.

There sat quietly a basket woven from bamboo strips.

Lin Mo walked over and lifted the white cloth covering it.

Inside was a piece of pork belly with skin on and a bunch of fresh green vegetables still covered in dew.

There were also a few round potatoes and a small bag of white rice next to it.

It goes without saying that this is a "lunch blind box" left for them by the production team.

This implies that they must solve their own food and clothing problems.

It's already noon.

After a whole morning of fussing around, Jiang Ruoyun's stomach was growling with hunger.

Lin Mo looked at the ingredients in the bamboo basket.

Then he turned to look at the dilapidated earthen stove covered with cobwebs in the corner of the yard.

There were some withered grass and broken bricks scattered around the earthen stove, which had to be tidied up a bit before a fire could be lit to cook.

"Go inside and wash your hands and change your shoes."

Lin Mo turned around, preparing to walk out.

"I'll go to the backyard and see if there's a broom or any tools."

"We need to clean up the stove area a bit, otherwise we won't be able to start a fire."

He had just taken half a step.

A soft yet somewhat stubborn little hand suddenly reached out from the side.

He grabbed his wrist.

Lin Mo stopped what he was doing, turned his head slightly, and looked at the girl beside him with some confusion.

Jiang Ruoyun straightened her back and slightly raised her delicate chin. Her two large eyes blinked as she stared at Lin Mo.

"Lin Mo! You've worked so hard in the capital, you should rest today. I'll cook on the earthen stove in the kitchen!"

Lin Mo's eyes twitched slightly as he watched her struggle to distinguish the front from the back of a lighter.