Since FTM’s fifth anniversary reunion and decision for “solo without disbanding,” all five members’ schedules were packed.
Mo Xun and Tan Junwen spent most of the year filming movies and TV dramas, participating in various commercial and fashion events after wrapping.
Fang Yinnian often disappeared for months in songwriting seclusion, then released music albums and appeared as music variety guest—recently heard to be planning personal concert tours.
Fu Fei’s main work was variety show hosting, also releasing albums for singing and dancing when free. Tang Che focused on his rock band, touring national rock festivals.
The five usually only reunited for New Year galas or concerts.
Since reuniting, they hadn’t appeared together on variety shows for a long time.
Back then, FTM’s first wave of popularity came from Fu Fei falling and knocking down teammates on “Red vs Blue Competition,” becoming viral comedy.
Later they broke “Desperate Escape Room” variety show records—FTM’s episode became the highest-rated.
FTM’s variety show effects were always excellent, so industry variety show producers constantly offered high appearance fees inviting them.
However, manager Xu Baichuan never accepted.
Xu Baichuan’s reply: “Having all five record variety shows together? Really sorry—all five are busy, schedules are hard to coordinate!”
Industry insiders knew big stars were all popular—gathering five wasn’t easy.
Fortunately, after FTM’s tenth anniversary world tour, all five took month-long vacations. Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian’s social media announcement was no longer secret in the industry.
So Nanxing TV producers targeted this rare leisurely vacation period, calling Xu Baichuan daily with persistent persuasion, inviting FTM for variety shows together.
They wanted to capitalize on Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian’s MoFang CP becoming real, plus FTM’s first variety show reunion since regrouping—definitely explosive for audiences.
“Our variety show is simple—guests travel to niche scenic spots together. No scripted acting required, just relaxing and playing.”
“We sincerely invite FTM to participate, offering industry-highest appearance fees. They only need one week for recording.”
The variety show called “Meaning of Travel” was relaxed travel reality TV with average ratings among current variety programs.
Producers spending money for FTM guests obviously aimed to boost the show’s popularity.
Such variety shows had no pressure—like vacation, playing while recording.
Xu Baichuan asked in the FTM group: “Nanxing TV producers contacted me wanting everyone for travel variety recording lasting one week with very high appearance fees. Any interest?”
Tan Junwen emerged first: “I’m bored at home with grandpa forcing me to paint daily—help! Any schedule arrangement works.”
Tang Che: “I don’t mind, depends on everyone’s opinion.”
Fu Fei: “I know this variety show—slow travel variety, very casual type. Mainly depends if Brother Mo and Brother Nian want to go? Did you two finish your honeymoon?”
Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian had actually secretly returned home.
They’d stayed in Northern Europe over twenty days, daily intimacy in snow lodges, plus lucky aurora sightings.
After honeymoon, they returned to accompany family for Lantern Festival. When receiving messages, both families were gathering at the couple’s newly purchased home.
Mo Xun called Fang Yinnian aside, quietly discussing: “Old Xu says there’s travel variety show looking for us—want to participate?”
Fang Yinnian asked: “All five FTM members together?”
Mo Xun: “Yes.”
Fang Yinnian smiled: “Then let’s go—haven’t traveled with everyone for ages.”
Last group travel was during album recording when they filmed MVs and group variety simultaneously—long ago.
Though tenth anniversary world tour covered thirty-plus cities, arriving in new places meant concert preparation, rehearsals, and venue supervision—no mood for sightseeing.
Now with leisure time, perfect for brothers traveling together.
The TV variety invitation perfectly satisfied everyone’s wishes.
After Mo Xun and Fang Yinnian stated positions in the group, Xu Baichuan decisively accepted the schedule.
The production team was thrilled, announcing on Weibo: “‘Meaning of Travel’ first anniversary special will invite five mysterious guests to participate! Guess who they are?”
Weibo released black silhouettes of five people together:
Curly-haired Junwen, ponytailed Tang Che, round-headed Fu Fei, center-positioned suited Fang Yinnian, and short-haired Mo Xun beside him.
These silhouettes were too obvious—fans recognized them immediately.
“Ahhh is that our music group?”
“Holy crap, all five silhouettes match perfectly—definitely FTM no doubt”
“Production team is amazing, actually getting the top group for variety shows”
“This is FTM’s first group variety since reuniting, right?”
“The guys haven’t done variety shows together in forever—did the production team pay too much hahaha”
“Looking forward to it!”
“Really want to see all five together ahhhhh”
FTM truly deserved being Chinese music’s top group. Without even showing their faces, just releasing silhouette previews, fans’ comments exceeded six figures with Weibo views in tens of millions, directly pushing #FTM Group Variety Show# to trending #1.
Junior groups and other industry stars were incredibly envious.
These five’s popularity was too high!
The producer was beaming, immediately launching serial promotional bombardments. Today releasing photo segments, tomorrow behind-the-scenes footage, rapidly maximizing fans’ anticipation.
Variety show recording was February 10th, with all five arriving in casual wear.
The director excitedly shook their hands, explaining recording rules: “‘Meaning of Travel’ mainly promotes domestic niche scenic spots. We’re visiting a relatively unknown Jiangnan small town, staying one week.”
“During travel, you can’t spend your own money—only the production budget: 3,000 yuan total for one week, covering all food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation.”
Fu Fei blurted out: “3,000 for all five of us?”
The director smiled: “Yes.”
Tang Che raised an eyebrow: “3,000 for five people averages 600 each—accommodation alone would be tight for a week, right?”
Mo Xun said: “Small town accommodation shouldn’t be that expensive. With more people, we could stay at multi-room guesthouses for better economy.”
Fang Yinnian calculated seriously: “If we buy groceries and cook ourselves, the money should suffice.”
Fu Fei scratched his head with a bitter expression: “But then we won’t even have money for scenic spot tickets, or local specialty snacks.”
Tang Che said: “You still want scenic spots? Current ticket prices are expensive—100+ per person, some 5A spots 200+. We can’t afford those.”
Tan Junwen smiled: “Natural scenery viewing isn’t bad either—the free kind.”
Mo Xun suggested: “Let’s centrally manage this 3,000 yuan. Who’s handling money? Forget it, let Yinnian do it.”
Three teammates: “??”
Fu Fei couldn’t help complaining: “I thought you’d ask our opinions, but asking was pointless.”
Tan Junwen said: “Reporting captain for personal favoritism, directly giving financial authority to Yinnian.”
Tang Che glanced at him: “Otherwise give it to you? Can you calculate clearly when grocery shopping?”
Fu Fei immediately switched sides: “Right right, Brother Nian managing accounts is most reliable. If Brother Junwen managed, we’d be drinking northwest wind within three days.”
Tan Junwen pretended hurt: “You have so little confidence in me? I could have you drinking northwest wind within one day.”
Everyone: “??”
Fang Yinnian took the production team’s phone, checking the 3,000 yuan balance, smiling: “I’ll plan it—won’t let you starve anyway.”
At this moment, livestream bullet comments were densely scrolling:
“Ahhhhh long time no see, all five together!”
“Ten-year veteran musical note checking in, anticipating five members’ travel group variety”
“Hahahaha production team is ruthless, isn’t this making things difficult for guests?”
“Big stars traveling with only 600 per person per week? Less than 100 daily including accommodation…”
“Xiao Fei expressing what kind of human suffering this is”
“This is boarding a pirate ship~”
“What to do what to do, FTM wants scenic spots but no ticket money”
“Does production allow crowdfunding? I can donate one cent”
“I’ll donate five cents”
“Love watching them bicker~”
“Tang Che habitually roasting Junwen hahaha”
“Xiao Fei this fence-sitter swaying with the situation”
“Junwen you’re killing me—drinking northwest wind within one day, that works”
“Earned money they can’t spend, five instantly become debut-era nobodies period hahaha!”
Livestream fans felt no sympathy, all gloating.
After all, they owned companies with such successful careers, achieving financial freedom long ago. Especially Fang Yinnian—as a creative singer whose songs were frequently covered in recent years, appearing constantly in various music varieties. Annual copyright fees alone sufficed for lifetime comfort.
Letting them freely spend on luxury travel would be enjoyable—with their wealth, why hesitate buying anything? But such travel was meaningless, too distant from ordinary people.
Everyone preferred seeing how they’d arrange team travel with controlled budgets.
Fang Yinnian truly deserved being FTM’s housekeeper. Since debut, he’d consistently played team mediator—teammates willingly listened to him.
Mo Xun assigning him financial management was very wise.
Yinnian, raised in an ordinary family, excelled at budgeting. From 3,000 yuan budget, he allocated 1,500 to rent a local two-story guesthouse.
This unpopular town had low consumption—1,500 weekly could rent excellent guesthouses. Even tight-budgeted, accommodation must be clean and tidy.
They couldn’t stay in shabby hotels—Tang Che would go crazy in such environments for a week.
All five moved into the town guesthouse with luggage.
The guesthouse was exquisitely decorated with Chinese-style furniture and flower-filled courtyards, quite Jiangnan-flavored. Four rooms upstairs and downstairs, complete living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathrooms—suitable for large family tourism.
Director’s voiceover asked: “Four rooms for five people—how will you arrange this?”
Fu Fei said without hesitation: “What’s difficult about this? We three each get rooms, Brother Mo and Brother Nian share one.”
Tan Junwen smiled: “Save the master bedroom for them—avoid cramping.”
Tang Che said: “I have no objections.”
The director deliberately asked: “What about Mo Xun and Yinnian? Won’t sharing a room for the week be uncomfortable?”
The two looked at each other. Mo Xun smiled: “I have no objections. Yinnian and I have consistent schedules and no bad sleeping habits.”
Fang Yinnian was somewhat embarrassed, lowering his head: “Um, let’s do this.”
“Ahhh MoFang CP is really real?”
“Consistent schedules? Reporting Mo Xun for blatantly feeding sugar, sweetening CP fans to death!”
“Holy crap, directly feeding dog food on variety shows—is this appropriate?”
“Teammates seem long accustomed to this [dog head]”
“Act me, Junwen!”
“Tan Junwen truly deserves being head CP fan”
“So those widely circulated social media announcements weren’t photoshopped?”
“Both still wearing rings—definitely real.”
“Don’t believe don’t believe—unless they publicly kiss, I won’t believe”
“Above poster, your abacus beads are bouncing on my face”
“Nanxing TV so open? Actually letting homosexuals on shows?”
“Report Nanxing TV!”
“Mind your own business—did homosexuals eat your rice?”
“Teammates have no objections, group fans have no objections, solo fans continue fighting, CP fans celebrating New Year”
“Hahaha your music group fans are really lively”
“Following this group gives full experience—every kind of situation [peaceful lying flat]”
Hater reports would never succeed.
After all, Nanxing TV didn’t openly promote “we support homosexual relationships”—just invited FTM for shows.
Regarding accommodation—4 rooms for 5 people, what to do? Naturally pair up. The production continued feigning ignorance—they were just teammates.
**
