Ji Liuyue said, “I’m guessing he’s a philosopher.”
The moment she said this, several people in the room burst out laughing.
Wang Aitian laughed so hard her stomach hurt. “Yueyue, your imagination is really something. But… you might actually be onto something.”
Zhang Weiyi looked him up and down, scrutinizing him.
She nodded in agreement. “Among the male guests in the house, Mr. Lu is definitely the quietest. He often sits by himself in a corner, lost in thought. He really does seem like a philosopher.”
Cen Yu laughed loudly as well. “You know what? You’re not wrong.”
Everyone could tell that Ji Liuyue had been deliberately teasing him and trying to lighten the mood.
But Liu Qingye was unwilling to let all the attention be stolen by her, so she said something startling:
“Jokes are only appropriate when the occasion calls for them. Aren’t we supposed to be seriously guessing each other’s professions right now?”
“Liuyue, I think you should apologize to Nanxun.”
How had this suddenly become a situation where someone needed to apologize?
Wang Aitian was bewildered. She exchanged a glance with Zhang Weiyi.
Both of them could see the shock in the other’s eyes.
They had confirmed that they were both perfectly normal people. The only abnormal one was Liu Qingye.
Lu Nanxun was rather quiet. Hearing that, he immediately spoke up.
“I could tell everyone was joking just now. It’s fine. I’m not that serious either, and I can accept everyone’s humorous guesses.”
Liu Qingye had not expected that he would refuse to appreciate her attempt to stand up for him.
She pressed her lips together and lowered her head, looking a little angry.
Lu Nanxun added, “Let’s just play the career videos.”
The first scene on the screen was an aerial shot of a hospital, followed by a close-up.
Wearing a white coat, Lu Nanxun sat in an examination room, receiving patients with a solemn expression.
The camera moved, revealing the sign outside the department.
“Cardiothoracic Surgery.”
A male voice from the video played in sync with the footage.
“My name is Lu Nanxun. I’m thirty years old, and I’m a cardiothoracic surgeon at a top-tier hospital in Hai City.”
“Many people’s first impression of me is probably that I’m quiet and reserved. That’s true. I don’t talk much.”
“I happened to be taking annual leave recently. A kindhearted friend helped sign me up for the show, and I only found out afterward.”
The scene changed.
An empty shot showed the back of a friend, accompanied by his voice.
“Yes, we’re good friends. Nanxun really has a great personality. It’s just that he’s never met the right girl, and as his friend, I was getting worried for him, so I signed him up.”
“I never expected him to actually get selected by the production team. Then the guy went and refused.”
“Yes, the production team had to contact him three more times before he finally agreed.”
“Of course, I hope he finds happiness.”
The scene shifted again.
Lu Nanxun was dressed in loose, ivory-colored loungewear, sitting in his study with his head lowered as he read.
One hand held down the pages of the book while the long, slender fingers of his other hand stroked the fat orange cat on the desk.
The cat narrowed its eyes and purred, its tail swaying up and down in a steady rhythm.
“What do I think about love?”
“Perhaps because I’ve seen too much life and death, I’ll keep my emotions restrained until I meet someone who truly moves my heart.”
The video ended.
Another round of enthusiastic applause broke out in the screening room.
Wang Aitian looked at Lu Nanxun with eyes that shone a little brighter.
“I really didn’t expect that! Dr. Lu is actually Mr. Lu!”
“That’s right, that’s right. We actually have a cardiothoracic surgeon among us. Old Lu, we’ll be counting on you if anything happens to us in the future.”
Ji Mingtian pulled a comical expression.
Influenced by the lively atmosphere, Lu Nanxun smiled as he replied, “Hopefully, you’ll never need to count on me.”
Cen Yu nodded repeatedly. “Exactly. The best thing is for everyone to stay healthy.”
After watching the videos, everyone returned to their rooms as instructed by the production team to send their anonymous heart-flutter messages for the evening.
As soon as Ji Liuyue returned to her room, she sent hers without hesitation.
She tossed her phone onto the sofa and went straight into the bathroom to wash up.
By the time she came out in her pajamas, she noticed that her phone was buzzing.
She picked it up and saw two anonymous messages.
—Today was even happier.
Ji Liuyue recognized at once that it had been sent by Xu Jinsi.
Heh.
Today, he had gone on dates with Liu Qingye and Wang Aitian.
And he still had the nerve to say he was “even happier today.” Why was he pretending to be so stubborn?
If he was really happy, then why had he sent a message to her?
—It feels like I’ve gotten to know a different side of you. Sweet dreams tonight.
There was no useful information to be found in this message.
But Ji Liuyue was certain it had not been sent by Lu Nanxun.
After all, someone as serious and honest-looking as him would never send a message like “Sweet dreams tonight.”
In Room A1 on the same floor, Liu Qingye clutched her phone, unable to sit still.
She was nervous.
Her date with Xu Jinsi that day had not gone smoothly. There had not even been the slightest hint of a romantic or ambiguous atmosphere.
So he might not send a message to her.
As for Lu Nanxun, she had originally thought she had him in the bag. The strawberry milk she had used to test him had not produced the effect she had expected, however.
After all, Ji Liuyue could drink it too.
Lu Nanxun had even made her a separate serving of sweet-and-sour ribs.
Just before leaving the screening room, she had tentatively asked Lu Nanxun whether she could invite him if there was another date in the future.
Lu Nanxun had hesitated for a moment before nodding.
That meant he was wavering.
No!
Liu Qingye decided to focus on Lu Nanxun for the next few days. She absolutely could not let this fish escape her pond!
As for Xu Jinsi, she would have to approach him gradually.
She was still lost in her thoughts when—
Bzz, bzz, bzz.
Her phone vibrated.
She excitedly unlocked the screen, and a red notification dot appeared.
—Hello, Big Star.
There was only one message.
How could there be only one?!
Liu Qingye stared at it in disbelief. In particular, the content clearly did not match either Xu Jinsi’s or Lu Nanxun’s style.
The tone was humorous and teasing.
It was from Ji Mingtian.
The least important fish in her pond.
Liu Qingye bit her lower lip.
So… had Ji Liuyue received three messages?
Wang Aitian clutched her phone for a long time, but she did not receive a single message.
After a staff member informed her that the segment was over, she silently nodded and went to bed.
Zhang Weiyi was working at her computer. Half an hour passed, but her phone remained empty. She asked a staff member, “Is it over?”
The staff member nodded.
Zhang Weiyi simply smiled with easy acceptance. “It’s pretty much what I expected.”
In the interview room beside the house, Lu Nanxun sat on a rotating chair beneath the studio lights.
A staff member asked, “Why did you choose to give up on tonight’s heart-flutter message? Is it because you still haven’t met the person who makes your heart flutter?”
Lu Nanxun fell silent.
He seemed to be thinking about something.
After a long while, he raised his head and looked toward the camera.
He still appeared confused.
“It’s because of me. I’ve never been in a relationship before, so…”
“If I can’t completely confirm how I feel, I won’t send the message. So, unless something unexpected happens, I’ll probably continue giving up on this part of the show.”
The staff member asked again, “We know you’re slow to warm up, but aren’t you afraid that by the time you’ve confirmed your feelings, the female guest you’ve fallen for may already have grown close to someone else?”
Lu Nanxun fell silent again for a moment.
His gaze gradually became resolute. The gentle aura around him faded, replaced by an intense, almost aggressive presence.
He stared directly into the camera.
“Once I’m certain of my feelings, whether she has someone by her side or not, I’ll do everything I can to pursue her—to get closer to her.”
The last three words were spoken so softly they were almost inaudible.
“Steal her away.”
