After exchanging names with the others, Lu Nanxun quietly took a seat in the corner of the sofa.
Wang Aitian was carefree and outgoing. She asked, “Did you just come from a date?”
Lu Nanxun’s gaze swept lightly over the three people present.
He gave a slight shake of his head.
He clearly had no intention of saying anything more.
Wang Aitian, already acting like an old friend, linked arms with Ji Liuyue and complained, “Oh no! Why do all the male guests seem so introverted?”
Ji Liuyue smiled. “It’s fine. The extroverts among us can make up for it.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she discreetly sized up Lu Nanxun and noticed that he was staring blankly at the entrance.
His date with Liu Qingye had gone very well today, so he was probably wondering why she still had not arrived at the house. Had she gotten stuck in traffic? Or was she having a wonderful time on a date with the next male guest?
Two more guests arrived one after another.
One was a tall, slim young man who looked as though he loved to laugh. He introduced himself as Ji Mingtian.
Ji Liuyue said excitedly, “Huh? We have the same surname!”
Wang Aitian teased, “What a coincidence. You two aren’t secretly brother and sister who came on the dating show together, are you?”
Ji Mingtian was good at joking around too.
“Exactly. You’ve discovered our secret.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the previously awkward atmosphere eased considerably.
The other female guest was Zhang Weiyi. She had short hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses, giving her a rather aloof appearance.
Wang Aitian asked, “Can we call you Yiyi?”
Zhang Weiyi nodded. A shy blush flashed across her fair cheeks. “Sure.”
Ji Liuyue praised her as well. “Yiyi looks like the top-of-the-class type—someone who’s really outstanding.”
Zhang Weiyi’s face reddened further. Keeping her expression composed, she said, “I’m all right.”
It was clear that she was cold on the outside but warm within, and in reality, a very friendly girl.
Ji Liuyue glanced around at the guests who had already arrived.
The male guests were Cen Yu, a kind and easygoing good guy; Ji Mingtian, who looked funny and humorous; and Lu Nanxun, who radiated an intense air of indifference.
Apart from herself, the female guests were the lively and cheerful Wang Aitian and Zhang Weiyi, who seemed aloof but was actually easily embarrassed.
“We already have three men and three women. Are we all here?” Wang Aitian asked, looking around curiously.
Zhang Weiyi pointed to the blackboard by the entrance. It displayed cartoon badges bearing the guests’ names, along with a row of empty rooms available for them to move into.
She analyzed the situation. “There are four pink badges and four blue badges in total, so there should still be one male guest and one female guest who haven’t arrived.”
Wang Aitian said, “Wow, I can’t wait!”
Ji Liuyue covered her lips and giggled.
Wang Aitian caught it and pressed her. “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing. But I can introduce them to you later.” Ji Liuyue curved her lips into a mysterious smile.
Ji Mingtian was clever too. He looked at her and said, “I get it! You’ve already met them, haven’t you?”
Zhang Weiyi was curious as well. “So, was it a three-person date just now?”
Ji Liuyue waggled a finger. “Secret, secret.”
The sound of a suitcase being dragged came from the entrance.
Everyone stood up in unison to welcome the newcomers.
The door opened.
Xu Jinsi entered first, followed by Liu Qingye in a delicate white dress, looking frail and vulnerable.
Liu Qingye was struggling a little with her large suitcase.
“Oh? There’s a step here,” she said, slightly out of breath.
Xu Jinsi was every bit the gentleman. “Let me carry it for you.”
At the same time, Lu Nanxun, who had been sitting in the farthest corner of the sofa, saw Liu Qingye. His previously indifferent face brightened with a hint of happiness.
He quickly walked over.
“Let me carry it for you two,” he said.
Liu Qingye brushed back her bangs and met Lu Nanxun’s concerned gaze. In her sweet, soft voice, she said, “Thank you.”
It was only a small gesture of welcome at the beginning of the show.
Yet everyone had already caught the scent of gossip.
After they took their seats, Ji Liuyue eagerly seized the spotlight and said, “How about I introduce the next two new guests?”
Wang Aitian beamed. “Sure, sure! Looks like there’s a story here.”
The smile at the corners of Liu Qingye’s lips faded slightly.
She found Ji Liuyue incredibly noisy. Why did she always seem to be everywhere? Still, she had learned from her manager that Ji Liuyue’s role was to stir things up.
The more she acted like an attention-seeking fool, the more the audience would curse her after the episode aired.
Liu Qingye said in her gentle voice, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Xu Jinsi glanced at Ji Liuyue, a hint of disdain at the corners of his lips.
Ji Liuyue pretended not to notice their expressions. Completely at ease, she pointed toward Xu Jinsi and said, “This is Xu Jinsi. He looks very aloof, right? Well, he really is. He doesn’t show much emotion.”
Then she introduced Liu Qingye.
“This beautiful lady is the kind of beauty who takes your breath away at first glance. Her name is Liu Qingye. You can call her Qingye or Yezi.”
Once the introductions were over, Ji Mingtian looked at Liu Qingye with undisguised curiosity and asked, “Your name is so special, Qingye. It means ‘green leaf,’ so were you born in spring?”
Liu Qingye smiled demurely.
“My parents met in spring. Since my surname is Liu, they happened to choose this name for me. They hoped I would be like a green leaf sprouting in spring—full of vitality and limitless possibilities.”
Her brief answer revealed several important things.
First, Liu Qingye’s parents loved each other, which meant she had grown up in a warm and harmonious family.
Second, she was emotionally stable and carried herself with grace.
Almost everyone who heard her answer could not help but feel more favorably toward her.
Ji Liuyue was the sole exception. She curled her lips and wore a look of disdain.
The entertainment industry was a small circle. Ji Liuyue was a model, while Liu Qingye was an actress who worked in online dramas, so they had encountered each other at many events before—though usually only in passing.
The name Liu Qingye was a stage name her agency had given her. As for her real name—some other name beginning with Liu—Ji Liuyue did not know it.
So why had she been given this name?
Because the company had changed it.
“Her father and mother met in spring, so they named her Green Leaf.”
How ridiculous.
Her mocking expression lasted for no more than an instant.
But Lu Nanxun, seated diagonally across from her, caught it with great precision. His brows drew together slightly.
When he had first met her, he had thought only that this female guest was noisy.
Now, seeing the disdainful, mocking attitude she displayed toward Liu Qingye’s answer, he felt that there was something about her…
How should he put it?
Lu Nanxun actually found her rather unpleasant.
However, thanks to his good upbringing, he merely kept what he had seen in mind without revealing his feelings.
Xu Jinsi had noticed Ji Liuyue’s expression as well.
He could not help wanting to laugh.
He was laughing at how stupid she was!
Even if she looked down on Liu Qingye or found her answer amusing, she should at least have pretended otherwise.
Did she really think the four cameramen positioned around the house were there for show?
Even the tiniest microexpression could be captured. Wasn’t she afraid of being torn apart by the audience once the episode aired?
It seemed her head really was empty. What use was a beautiful face alone?
Xu Jinsi was just about to look away when Ji Liuyue keenly caught him watching her.
Their eyes met in midair.
The corners of Ji Liuyue’s lips lifted involuntarily, and her bright almond-shaped eyes blinked at him.
She looked utterly guileless.
It seemed to be saying, “Huh? You little rascal, you’ve been secretly watching me, haven’t you? Caught you, huh?”
