Liu Qingye was lying alone in the lounge chair on the terrace, wallowing in her emotions as tears silently slipped from her eyes. This scene had to look beautiful.
At least, that was what she thought.
Just as she was quietly indulging in her melancholy, footsteps sounded behind her.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly. Xu Jinsi? No, that couldn’t be right. He seemed to have such a terrible temper—why would he care about her?
Then it must be Lu Nanxun. He had always been such a gentle, easygoing person.
Perhaps he felt bad about hurting her with what he’d said earlier and had come up to apologize?
She knew it!
Just as Liu Qingye was turning around with a smile tugging at her lips, she saw the clumsy Ji Mingtian coming up the stairs with a steaming bowl of taro balls.
He greeted her with a foolishly cheerful grin.
“Yezi, you didn’t have much of an appetite tonight, right? So I cooked you a bowl of taro balls. I used strawberry milk. Try some.”
He finished speaking and looked at her with a smile as silly as a big puppy’s.
It was impossible for Liu Qingye not to feel even the slightest bit moved. But she simply couldn’t bring herself to look at Ji Mingtian that way.
His profession wasn’t even remotely what she wanted in a romantic partner.
A retired athlete who ran a rehabilitation studio—how much money could he possibly make?
At the very least, her partner had to be someone like Xu Jinsi or Lu Nanxun to be worthy of her.
With a complicated look in her eyes, Liu Qingye took the bowl of taro balls.
Ji Mingtian looked expectant. “Go on, try it.”
Liu Qingye lowered her head and scooped up a bite. After a moment, she put on a sweet, innocent smile.
“It’s delicious.”
Rather than looking at Ji Mingtian, her gaze seemed fixed on the camera mounted in the wall behind him.
A scene where she, the pure and fragile beauty who had been ostracized by the other female guest in the house, shed lonely tears before receiving a heartwarming bowl of taro balls from a male guest and responding with a pristine smile—surely it would make countless viewers feel sorry for her.
Ji Mingtian thought she was looking at him. Embarrassed, he scratched his head.
“If you like it, that’s good. Actually, you made the taro balls yourself today.”
He suddenly seemed a little bashful and lowered his voice.
“This bowl is the result of our teamwork. You rolled the taro balls, I cooked them, and I used your favorite strawberry milk.”
Liu Qingye froze. “How did you know I liked strawberry milk?”
Ji Mingtian continued, “I was in the kitchen that day when you were talking to Lu Nanxun. I heard you say you liked it. I’ve been the one buying the strawberry milk in the fridge these past few days.”
Liu Qingye fell silent.
What? Ji Mingtian had been buying it?
She had thought Lu Nanxun was the one quietly replenishing the supplies.
This time, Liu Qingye stared at Ji Mingtian with an even more complicated look. After a long pause, she said,
“You’re a good person.”
Ji Mingtian’s heart immediately went on high alert.
What did she mean by that? Why was she suddenly saying something like this?
Was she about to reject him?
He hurriedly waved his hands, turned around, and hurried downstairs without looking back, leaving only a sentence behind.
“I, uh, still have to go down and help them wash the dishes. Drink it while it’s hot. When you’re finished, just leave the bowl by the side. I’ll come back and collect it later.”
Watching him scurry away, Liu Qingye let out a quiet sigh.
Then she went somewhere no one else was around and called her agent.
“What is it, little ancestor?”
“The production team really did arrange for me to be paired with Lu Nanxun and Xu Jinsi today.”
“Isn’t that great?”
“But we didn’t interact at all. After we got back, those two immediately went over to fawn over Ji Liuyue. I don’t want to admit it, but…”
“No way. Who could possibly resist the charms of Gorgeous Miss Liu?” Her agent sounded incredulous.
After all, in the past, the producers and investors on every set had all been firmly under Liu Qingye’s thumb.
Even the boss of her agency was somewhat infatuated with Liu Qingye, which was why he had spared no effort to make her famous.
“Exactly! It’s like I’ve been cursed!” Having dropped her pretense, Liu Qingye couldn’t help complaining. “Ji Liuyue is my nemesis. Ever since I met her, nothing has gone right.”
“Then you need to think of something quickly. The production team may be pushing a love triangle between you and the two male guests, but if you don’t deliver, they won’t stubbornly stick to the original plan. They’ll adjust it according to what actually happens.” Her agent was beginning to panic as well.
“Adjust it? You mean that if I can’t win over Xu Jinsi and Lu Nanxun, they’ll edit the show into a love triangle between Ji Liuyue and the two of them?” Liu Qingye drew in a sharp breath.
“That’s highly likely. The production team can’t force the two male guests to pursue you against their will.”
Liu Qingye frowned. “But I’ve already tried. The closer I get to Xu Jinsi, the more he hates me.”
“What about the other one?”
“Lu Nanxun? I originally thought he’d be easy to handle, but ever since our last one-on-one date, his attitude toward me has turned cold. I don’t know what went wrong.”
“Can you still turn things around?” her agent asked.
“I’m not sure.” Liu Qingye’s voice was filled with uncertainty.
“Fine.” Her agent let out a long sigh as well.
After thinking for a moment, she continued, “I understand. Look, don’t panic for now. There are only four initial guests—you four. Later, another male guest and another female guest will join the show.
“When that happens, try to form a couple with the new male guest. A mutually chosen pairing would be fine too. But this time, you absolutely have to seize the opportunity.”
“When will the new male guest arrive?” Liu Qingye asked.
“In about three or four days. Later, everyone in the house will go on a trip to an island, and he’ll probably join the show then. This is insider information, so make good use of it!”
“All right. If you can, could you find out what the new male guest likes?”
“I’ll do my best! Yezi, the rest is up to you. Also, the response to the first episode wasn’t as good as expected. Your popularity didn’t take off the way we’d hoped. On the other hand, Ji Liuyue’s side… Keep an eye on her.”
“Understood.”
…
After dinner, Ji Liuyue volunteered to take out the trash.
Since she hadn’t cooked and hadn’t washed the dishes, it was only right for her to do a little work.
Lu Nanxun quietly moved closer.
“I’ll go with you.”
Ji Liuyue glanced at the trash bags in her hands.
“No need. There are only two bags—I can carry them. Besides, you cooked dinner tonight.”
Lu Nanxun pressed his lips together, his gaze darkening slightly. Then he said bluntly,
“I want to go out with you for a bit. Maybe take a walk while we’re at it?”
“Sure.”
Ji Liuyue understood. He didn’t really want to accompany her while she took out the trash. He simply wanted to create another chance for them to spend time together.
The two of them changed their shoes in the entryway. They were just about to leave when they ran into Xu Jinsi, who had come into the living room to fill his cup at the water dispenser.
The moment he saw them together, he immediately became alert.
“Where are you two going?”
Ji Liuyue lifted the black trash bags in her hands.
“To take out the trash.”
Lu Nanxun silently watched Xu Jinsi without saying a word.
The corners of Xu Jinsi’s lips lifted slightly.
He didn’t even bother getting his water. Setting his cup down, he hurried toward the entryway with a bright smile.
“Perfect timing. I ate a little too much tonight. I’ll go with you.”
Lu Nanxun said, “It doesn’t take three people to take out the trash.”
Xu Jinsi raised an eyebrow.
“Then you can leave?”
