Zhang Xiaotao was grumbling about Xu Jinsi under her breath.
But when she saw the scene on the variety show of Ji Liuyue standing beneath a cherry blossom tree while Xu Jinsi bent down to take her picture, the corners of her lips still lifted involuntarily.
She had to admit it.
Put two beautiful faces together, and there really was some chemistry.
She glanced at the comments scrolling across the screen. Opinions were sharply divided.
[Isn’t this female guest being way too forward? Who asks a male guest to take her picture the first time they meet?]
[Ahhh, this scene is so dreamy. It’s just like something out of a romance drama.]
[I’m shipping them already. What should we call this couple?]
[Laughing to death. I can’t ship them at all. I feel like Xu Jinsi isn’t interested in Ji Liuyue one bit. Didn’t you notice how perfunctory he looked whenever they talked?]
[Stop arguing. This is only the first episode.]
Zhang Xiaotao couldn’t stand it anymore and couldn’t resist sending a comment of her own:
[Whoever Baby Liuyue chooses, I’ll ship them!]
The photo-taking segment hadn’t actually gone very well.
When Ji Liuyue suggested taking a few pictures of Xu Jinsi as well, he turned her down.
Soon, the scene cut to a restaurant.
The two of them sat in a small outdoor courtyard, with Western-style simple dishes spread across the table.
Pasta, hamburgers, and fries—Ji Liuyue was happily digging in by herself.
Xu Jinsi, meanwhile, was focused on his vegetable salad.
Neither of them said a word. The background music was also a sorrowful, dreary tune. The longer Zhang Xiaotao watched, the more deeply she frowned.
What was going on?
Was the production team deliberately stirring things up? Did the editing and music mean that these two wouldn’t interact again and were destined for a breakup?
At last, the two of them started talking.
With a smile, Ji Liuyue asked, “Did you enjoy our date today?”
Xu Jinsi nodded politely. “Mm.”
Ji Liuyue continued, “I chose your card because I was curious about what you said on it. Now that I’ve met you in person, you really are just like your card described—a person who doesn’t show his emotions. You’re very mysterious.”
Xu Jinsi’s lips curled slightly. “Am I?”
Ji Liuyue pressed on. “Then which girl’s card did you choose? And will there be another date?”
“That’s hard to say. The show’s rules don’t allow us to reveal that.”
“Oh.”
Ji Liuyue rested her chin in both hands and smiled brightly.
“Then I’m actually looking forward to a second date. I chose your card, and I’d really like to know whether anyone else chose mine.”
Almost the very next second, a huge wave of comments flooded the screen, most of them viciously critical.
[Is Ji Liuyue a player or something? What does she mean by saying she’s looking forward to a second date?]
[Oh my gosh, is it really appropriate to say that to a male guest the first time they meet?]
[I watched the preview. It seems like she’s dated the most out of all the female guests—four times.]
[When someone says four times, it usually means even more than that!]
[Can we switch to the next couple already? I don’t want to watch this.]
[If you don’t want to watch, drag the progress bar. The rest of us are enjoying it!]
Zhang Xiaotao rapidly typed out a reply and sent it into the sea of comments.
Just as the arguments in the comments were reaching a fever pitch, the video moved on to the next scene.
The door to the garden restaurant opened.
“Excuse me, are you the male guest from Card One?” asked a gentle, melodious voice.
Liu Qingye appeared on camera in a white lace dress.
Xu Jinsi looked toward her voice.
His tone was calm. “Yes. Hello, my name is Xu Jinsi.”
“Hello, I’m Liu Qingye. You can call me Yezi or Qingye.”
[Ahhhhh! They’re so cute together!]
[Actually, when Yezi went on a date with the other male guest at the beginning, I was already wondering if she would come to meet Xu Jinsi next.]
[They look so perfect together! The black suit and white dress are an absolute match.]
[I can ship them based on that first glance when she walked through the door!!!]
[The calm, controlling dominant man × the fragile, helpless little white rabbit. Who else gets what I mean?]
Zhang Xiaotao let out a soft snort and quickly sent another comment:
[I don’t get it! I’m still shipping the powerful man who lowers his head for love × the alluring, passionate beauty.]
The scene showed the three of them meeting for the first time.
They exchanged brief greetings.
Everyone was waiting for Ji Liuyue to leave. If she had any sense, she should have given the new female guest some space with Xu Jinsi.
But she didn’t!
As if she couldn’t read the room, she continued quietly eating her meal with her head down.
When Liu Qingye and Xu Jinsi were talking, she even took the initiative to interrupt.
“He’s a pretty nice guy. His photography skills are just a little terrible.”
As she spoke, she handed over the photo the two of them had taken beneath the cherry blossom tree.
Liu Qingye glanced at it, her smile turning slightly unnatural.
The comments exploded with furious criticism.
[I feel so sorry for my Yezi. What kind of bad luck did she have to run into a female guest like this?]
[Exactly! This should clearly be Yezi and Xu Jinsi’s date now. Why is Ji Liuyue showing her the photo from her date with him earlier? Is she marking her territory?]
[This is so annoying! I’m instantly turned off by her.]
[My secondhand embarrassment is acting up again. What do I do?]
Just as the comments were tearing into her, the video reached the part where Xu Jinsi and Liu Qingye were taking a picture together. Ji Liuyue’s head suddenly popped into the frame.
Even with all the comedic captions and reaction images added to the screen, it was obvious that Liu Qingye’s expression had darkened.
[That’s too much! How can anyone act like this?]
[There are so many things wrong here that I don’t even know where to start. This is my first time watching a dating show, and I’m already so frustrated I can barely breathe.]
Zhang Xiaotao also wore a slightly puzzled expression.
Because she was starting to have trouble understanding Ji Liuyue’s actions too.
What was she doing?
Sis, don’t tell me you’ve really fallen for Xu Jinsi this quickly…
The awkward atmosphere practically spilled out of the screen.
Just then, Ji Liuyue spoke again.
“Xu Jinsi, give me your phone.”
Xu Jinsi looked at her warily. “Why?”
Ji Liuyue pointed at the two of them.
“I’ll take a picture of you together. Look, your outfits match so well today. The picture is bound to turn out beautiful.”
Xu Jinsi handed her his phone.
Ji Liuyue began directing them.
“Hey, move a little closer together.”
“That’s right. Yezi, turn your gaze toward Xu Jinsi a bit more. It’ll look very romantic that way, especially with the sunset behind you.”
“Xu Jinsi, don’t keep such a stiff expression. You’re on a dating show—try to look happy.”
The viewers were confused all over again.
[What is this woman doing? Wasn’t she acting possessive of Xu Jinsi just now? Why is she helping Yezi take pictures with him now?]
[And Xu Jinsi and Liu Qingye were both too embarrassed to get close at first. There was a gap between them, and she was the one who told them to move closer.]
[Is she trying to play matchmaker, or is she simply clueless?!]
[Could it be that she put all her talent points into her looks, leaving none for social awareness?]
[I mean… don’t be fooled by the fact that she’s a gorgeous beauty. There’s always this strangely pure, foolish look in her eyes!]
The barrage of insults thinned considerably.
Because no one could figure out what Ji Liuyue was thinking.
She was a woman as enigmatic as a riddle.
At the same time, everyone began mentally preparing themselves for her innocent cluelessness and lack of social awareness.
