Liu Qingye was listening to music in a vinyl record store.
The sound of the door opening drifted over.
She turned instinctively, and her gaze met the man standing at the entrance.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a white shirt with the top button undone and the sleeves rolled up to the middle of his forearms.
His skin was fair, and his fingers were long and slender.
His hair was deep black. His brows were straight, and his eyes were calm and reserved.
“Hello, I’m Lu Nanxun.”
The corners of Liu Qingye’s lips lifted.
“Hi, I’m Liu Qingye. My friends all call me Yezi. You can call me that too.”
She was wearing a pale ivory, lightweight knit cardigan draped loosely over her shoulders, with a white lace slip dress underneath.
A silver chain rested just above her collarbones.
Her long black hair spilled over her shoulders, and her lips were coated with a thin sheen of gloss.
At first glance, she had an innocent yet alluring air.
Lu Nanxun was a little shy. He didn’t dare look directly into her eyes, merely glancing at her before quickly nodding.
“Hello.”
The answer came out stiff and awkward.
Liu Qingye couldn’t help covering her lips as she laughed. Her laughter was bright and clear. “Why did you say hello twice? Do I look that scary?”
Her words left Lu Nanxun with no choice but to look up at her.
The tips of his ears instantly turned red.
His social circle was very small, and he had barely interacted with any girls before. He had only come to participate in this dating show because his younger sister had enthusiastically signed him up.
She had told him that staying single forever wasn’t an option. Since he never had the chance to meet any outstanding women in his daily life, he might as well give the show a try.
Lu Nanxun had no idea what to do with his hands.
When he noticed a chair beside the vinyl record cabinet, he walked over on his own and said, “Why don’t we sit down and chat?”
“Sure.” Liu Qingye had just taken her seat when Lu Nanxun handed her the blanket beside him. “Cover yourself with this.”
Liu Qingye smiled. “Thank you. You’re very thoughtful. You must be good at taking care of women.”
Lu Nanxun spoke quietly. “Maybe it’s because I have a younger sister. I’m used to it.”
Liu Qingye nodded along. “What a coincidence. I have a younger brother too, but he’s always arguing with me. I’ve always envied people who have younger sisters.”
Hearing that, Lu Nanxun’s nervousness eased considerably.
After that, their conversation became much more relaxed.
The staff members watching them couldn’t help nodding in approval. Once this date was edited and broadcast, plenty of viewers would probably be crying out, “They’re so sweet!”
“Yezi, it’s time for you to head to your next date,” a staff member reminded her softly, interrupting their conversation.
Lu Nanxun hadn’t yet come back to reality. He looked puzzled. “You’re leaving?”
Liu Qingye smiled. “Yes. Your card was the one I picked, right?”
Lu Nanxun nodded honestly.
Liu Qingye gave him a subtle hint. “Then I guess I wasn’t lucky enough to pick the card with your name on it.”
Lu Nanxun immediately understood. Liu Qingye must have selected another male guest’s card.
Disappointment appeared on his face. He waved goodbye and wished her well. “Then I hope your next date goes smoothly.”
“Okay. Bye-bye.”
Liu Qingye waved and pushed open the door.
The camera captured Lu Nanxun’s disappointed expression in full.
In the nanny van, Liu Qingye was speaking with her manager.
“Qingye, what were you thinking? Didn’t I tell you to mutually choose Lu Nanxun for your first date to create a sense of destiny? You were supposed to meet Xu Jinsi on the second date.”
“Then the production team could create a love triangle for publicity. If you met Xu Jinsi right away, there’d be no twist.”
From the very beginning, the script had been designed for Liu Qingye and the gentle male guest, Lu Nanxun, to mutually choose each other.
The two of them would develop the first hints of romance.
Then Liu Qingye would begin a second, sweet date with the domineering CEO.
The plot would immediately turn dramatic: after the dates, the domineering CEO would pursue her, while Lu Nanxun would remain unable to let her go, creating a cliché, melodramatic love triangle.
Of course, Xu Jinsi wasn’t going to cooperate with the production team’s scripted drama.
Lu Nanxun was straightforward too.
That meant everything depended on Liu Qingye steering the situation.
Naturally, her ultimate goal in coming on the show wasn’t to fall in love. It was to become famous.
She had acted in several web dramas, usually in third- or fourth-billed supporting roles. She wasn’t particularly well-known, but her fans loved her looks and were fiercely loyal.
If this dating show became a hit, she could use the opportunity to land better projects.
Speaking into the phone, Liu Qingye said, “I know that’s how the script is arranged, but isn’t there another female guest who’s a model?”
“She already met Xu Jinsi during the initial selection. If I don’t show up, what if the two of them hit it off? Then when I date Xu Jinsi the second time, won’t I look like the other woman?”
“So I have to be there for the first meeting. That way, everyone starts from the same place. If Xu Jinsi chooses me later, the audience won’t have any reason to criticize me.”
Hearing this, her manager couldn’t help admiring her. “Not bad, Qingye. You really have thought this through.”
Then she gave Liu Qingye another reassurance.
“But don’t worry. That female guest was brought in by the production team to stir up controversy. She won’t pose any threat to you.”
“All the negative publicity later in the show will be pinned on her.”
“You just need to play the innocent little princess.”
Liu Qingye smiled when she heard that and said hypocritically, “Oh, so she’s the sacrificial pawn? That’s awful.”
Her manager replied, “What’s so awful about it? She was the one who signed with an unreliable agency. Our company is different. We’ve already reached an agreement with the production team that you’re the one they’ll be promoting this season.”
“You’ll have plenty of screen time and storylines, so just enjoy yourself.”
“Okay.”
Liu Qingye ended the call, feeling much more at ease.
…
The door to the garden restaurant opened.
“Excuse me, are you the male guest for Card One?” a gentle, melodious female voice asked.
Ji Liuyue was seated directly facing the entrance.
Before Xu Jinsi could even look up, her gaze met Liu Qingye’s as she stood in the doorway wearing a white lace dress.
Unlike her date with Lu Nanxun earlier, Liu Qingye had taken off her pale ivory cardigan for this one.
She knew that Lu Nanxun was a gentle, honest man.
But to attract someone like Xu Jinsi, a domineering CEO who was surrounded by beautiful women, she needed to show a little more allure.
The lace dress with its slender shoulder straps revealed her distinct collarbones. Its combination of innocent sensuality and exposed skin gave her an alluring air.
Xu Jinsi looked over at the sound of her voice as well.
His eyes met a pair of tender, captivating eyes.
His voice remained calm. “Yes. Hello, I’m Xu Jinsi.”
Liu Qingye walked toward him slowly in silver stilettos. When she stopped in front of him, she extended her hand.
“Hello, I’m Liu Qingye. You can call me Yezi or Qingye.”
Xu Jinsi hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t raise his hand.
