Upon hearing the result, Jin Yang smiled faintly, his satisfaction hidden beneath a composed demeanor.
As long as he didn’t act recklessly, he could pull this off without anyone suspecting a thing.
This time, many netizens had also voted for the pair, and no one felt it was orchestrated by capital.
— "I just wanted to see if Xie Guanyan would refuse this time! If he doesn’t, they’re 100% a couple!"
— "Is no one going to care about Xu Yan’s well-being? The poor heartbroken puppy is shattered."
— "Xu Yan is still too young. He’ll never get past Shen Sizhan."
— "Just got my paycheck. Any young guys want to chat? If it goes well, I’ll treat you to Mixue."
Shen Sizhan’s eyes widened in disbelief at the outcome.
What were these netizens thinking?
Did they all lack morals like him?
He glanced at his sister.
Her expression was complicated.
Her rationality and ethics must be at war too.
Two rooms—she had to keep herself in check!
Then he turned to Xie Guanyan.
Xie Guanyan’s expression remained unchanged, with no intention of refusing.
He must know there were two rooms.
Better lock the door tight.
His sister had never failed to get what she wanted since childhood.
She had both the cunning and the strength to make it happen!
Gu Jingchuan was so angry his nostrils flared.
Xu Yan nearly coughed up blood in frustration.
Li Huanyu couldn’t believe it—Xie Guanyan actually had no interest in her!
Jiang Wan smirked like a proud auntie, while Qiao Yinyin was visibly displeased.
The director paused for two seconds, confirming Xie Guanyan wouldn’t refuse.
Then he continued, "As usual, drones will patrol the villa tonight. If anyone’s caught not sleeping, their live stream will start automatically."
"The rest will stay in single rooms or tents based on how many times they got ‘hammered’ in the game."
Qiao Yinyin and Shen Sizhan got single rooms.
The live stream ended.
Staff guided Xie Guanyan and Lin Mo to the so-called "sweetheart suite."
Lin Mo pushed the door open and stepped inside.
It was a spacious suite—a hallway led to a small living area, with two bedrooms on either side.
Like the kitchen, the room was equipped with seven or eight cameras.
They’d clearly show whether the guests slept together or separately.
Lin Mo peeked into the right bedroom and noticed no cameras inside.
She walked in. "I’ll take this one, then."
Xie Guanyan adjusted his silver-framed glasses with a single finger, his voice gentle. "Alright."
Lin Mo headed straight for the shower.
Midway, she realized her period had started.
Checking the dates, it was right on time.
Thankfully, she’d brought sanitary pads in advance.
After changing into yellow cartoon pajamas, she stepped out to pour herself some hot water.
Just as she reached for the door, a knock echoed through the room.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Was Xie Guanyan coming into her room?
A second later, she realized the knocking wasn’t at her door—but at the suite’s main entrance.
She opened it to find a silver-haired young man standing there, holding a cup of brown sugar water.
"Here, drink this before bed," Shen Sizhan said.
Lin Mo had heard that brown sugar water wasn’t scientifically proven to help, but psychologically, it still felt comforting.
She took the lukewarm cup, drank it, then handed the empty glass back. "Get some rest."
A drone hovered above Shen Sizhan.
His live stream had already started.
He couldn’t say much—the drone’s mics would pick up even the softest whispers.
"Goodnight, sis."
— "Shen Sizhan, you’re way too considerate. Auntie here would love to hear your troubles."
— "I miss living with him. Me on the bed, him on the wall… [crying emoji]"
Lin Mo smiled. "Goodnight."
That guy realized she liked Xie Guanyan but didn’t notice Xie Guanyan liked her too.
He thought she was meddling in someone else’s relationship.
What a fool.
According to the "door-in-the-face" technique, when she later confesses to Shen Sizhan that she and Xie Guanyan actually have mutual feelings, he should take it a little easier.
Watching Shen Sizhan leave, Lin Mo closed the door and turned back into the room.
Just then, the door to the left opened.
Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes widened instantly.
The beautiful man wasn’t wearing a shirt—just a pair of silver-gray sleep pants.
His well-defined muscles were on full display, leading down to a lean, powerful waist.
Lin Mo glanced at the cameras inside the room.
All of them were already covered.
Given the director’s tendency to avoid conflict with the strong-willed, he probably wouldn’t say anything.
Looking back at Xie Guanyan, Lin Mo noticed he was holding a kettle.
“Are you boiling water?”
Xie Guanyan nodded. “Yeah.”
The man strode across the living room with his long legs, set the kettle down, and plugged it in.
A soft hum filled the air.
Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes lingered on him, suddenly recalling Zhao Ziling’s comment about his "husband material" vibe.
He walked back just as effortlessly.
Just as Lin Mo thought he was heading to his room—
He suddenly closed the distance, his leg sliding between hers, pinning her against the wall.
Yet her shoulder blades didn’t meet hardness—his palm had already cushioned the impact.
Lin Mo’s heart skipped a beat.
Looking up, she was met with the breathtakingly handsome face of the man, the tea-colored mole on the bridge of his nose irresistibly alluring.
He was gazing down at her too.
His deep eyes were veiled with an unreadable emotion, one that made her chest burn.
Lin Mo couldn’t handle the intensity of his stare and lowered her eyes.
Her gaze landed on his porcelain collarbones, firm pectorals, and a certain pink hue.
Unable to resist, she whispered, “Did you get laser treatments… there?”
Xie Guanyan: “…”
Xie Guanyan removed his glasses with one hand.
The corners of his eyes had tinted faintly red as he leaned down to her level, his breath scorching, voice low and velvety.
“Shanshan, could you like me just a little more?”
---
Shen Sizhan had received his sister’s goodnight message but couldn’t sleep.
He stepped outside into the courtyard to clear his head.
Glancing up at his sister’s room, the light was still on—but he couldn’t see anything else.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Gu Jingchuan smoking on the second-floor balcony.
The haze blurred his features, making him indistinct.
Shen Sizhan rolled his eyes. “Is it New Year’s already? Why are we curing pork so early?”
Gu Jingchuan: “…”
Already furious, Gu Jingchuan was now seething.
“Shen Sizhan! Just you wait! I challenge you to a duel!”
He stubbed out his cigarette and stormed downstairs.
He’d had enough!
If they both ended up in the hospital, even better.
That way, Lin Mo would have to leave too—no more staying with Xie Guanyan.
The tents were set up in the second-floor living room.
Seeing Gu Jingchuan charging down, the others followed, eager for the drama.
Even Qiao Yinyin, in her single room, emerged at the commotion.
Within moments, the crew had six live streams running.
Shen Sizhan wasn’t afraid of Gu Jingchuan.
But the courtyard was pitch black.
He squinted around. “Old Smoky Gu, where are you?”
A set of gleaming white teeth flashed in the dark—followed by a fist flying toward him.
Shen Sizhan had learned taekwondo and Muay Thai alongside Lin Mo.
He dodged Gu Jingchuan’s punch effortlessly.
—「Old Smoky Gu really picked the perfect moment.」
The director was initially thrilled to see multiple live streams popping up for the show.
But upon closer inspection, he realized it was just everyone spectating a fight.
He started hopping mad with panic.
Immediately, he rushed over from the neighboring villa where the staff were resting.
"Stop fighting! All of you, stop fighting right now!"
Gu Jingchuan was pinned to the ground, gritting his teeth. "Shen Sizhan, you bastard, Xie Guanyan’s the one you should be targeting!"
Shen Sizhan, still in control of his senses, kept slapping Gu Jingchuan across the face. "Seems like your mouth isn’t a mouth—it’s a dung beetle’s nest!"
Gu Jingchuan could barely open his eyes from the barrage. "Alright, alright! Truce!!"
—「The school bully slapped me 800 times. I fought back with 800 more, and now I surrender.」
The director’s pleas fell on deaf ears, so he had to step in and pull them apart.
Gu Jingchuan scrambled up and shouted toward the upstairs, "Lin Mo!! Aren’t you going to rein in your third brother?!"
Rein in her third brother?
Lin Mo was currently preoccupied.
The overwhelming masculine aura enveloped her, and hearing her childhood nickname only melted her heart further.
With earnest determination, she said, "Xie Guanyan, I like you—so, so much."
Such a simple sentence stirred him more deeply than any drug ever could.
Xie Guanyan took her hand, his slender fingers curling to trace her palm. "Prove it to me, okay?"
The dragon stirred, pressing against her softness.
Lin Mo’s mind buzzed, and she whispered, "I’m afraid not. My monthly visitor just arrived."
Xie Guanyan understood instantly. Breathing in her scent, he reflexively replied, "I know."
Lin Mo blinked in surprise. "How do you know?"
Suddenly more alert, his long lashes fluttered. "I saw you drinking ginger brown sugar water earlier."
He leaned closer, his nose brushing hers, his voice a low, seductive drawl. "Shan Shan, love isn’t just proven in bed. Kiss me, hold me—that’s enough."
Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes sparkled mischievously. "No."
In the small room to the left—
A stunning man lay on the bed, his bare back pressed against the sheets, his sculpted lines on full display.
His glass-like eyes were now hidden behind a black silk tie, leaving only the delicate mole on his nose and his thin, parted lips visible.
The sight was unbearably alluring.
"Shan Shan…"
Deprived of sight, his sense of security wavered.
His entire body flushed pink as his chest rose and fell with each breath, his elegant fingers gripping the sheets tightly.
Lin Mo lay beside him, propping her chin on her hands, utterly serious. "Back when I lived in Sydney, there was this lovely grandma next door who always brought me food. I really miss her now."
