"The No-Romance Cottage" has been trending nonstop.
This time, it's explosive.
#BillionaireCEOPlaysMermanForLove is trending.
#XieGuanyanSchemesAgain is trending.
#LinMoXieGuanyan
Netizens have seen it all, but this? This is new.
Xie Guanyan could've easily hidden his face behind a mask or used coded gestures only Lin Mo would understand—but he didn’t.
It’s as if he wanted the whole world to know he loves Lin Mo, with zero restraint.
The internet is losing its mind!
The livestream also reached Beijing’s elite circles.
Jaws dropped.
What happened to the untouchable billionaire tycoon?
Look at him now.
Even Huo Tingshen caught wind of it.
The man who never watches variety shows or dramas just learned Zhao Ziling’s vote campaign was for this very program.
Xie Guanyan—one of Beijing’s most formidable figures—not only joined a reality show for some kid…
He dressed up as a merman and performed.
Zero shame left!!
"Stop watching." Huo Tingshen’s low voice cut through the room as he glared at his assistant.
The assistant quickly closed the livestream, then remembered something. "Sir, the yacht for your ex-wife is booked. The male model party is scheduled for the end of the month."
Huo Tingshen slammed his fist on the desk, his face dark as thunder.
He’s been playing it straight, but Zhao Ziling?
Still the same as ever!
And Xie Guanyan? Outrageously shameless!
Do women actually prefer men like him?
Shen Yihan, now discharged from the hospital, watched the livestream from his office, eyes wide. He spun the Buddhist beads around his wrist with his left hand. "Master Xie’s tactics are unmatched."
The day’s filming was covert.
Visitors enjoyed the aquarium as usual—until a stunning merman appeared.
The two professional mermaids performing suddenly felt threatened.
Since when did they have competition?
They doubled down on their routines.
Xie Guanyan gazed through the rippling water at the radiant girl outside, heart pounding.
In Lin Mo’s memories, this aquarium trip would belong to him alone.
And she would remember only him.
The beautiful man blew a stream of bubbles, mouthing three words: "I love you."
Lin Mo’s chest melted like sweet chocolate. She mouthed back, "Your pearl’s crooked."
Evening.
All guests returned to the villa.
After resting, the director summoned them to the rooftop.
"Tonight’s agenda: outdoor barbecue. Rule remains—only talk to your assigned partner!"
The crew provided skewers of every kind.
Shen Sizhan took charge of the grill.
Gu Jingchuan, eager to impress, joined in.
He handed Lin Mo freshly grilled squid and pork belly.
Starving, she dug in without hesitation.
"Good?" Gu Jingchuan beamed.
A staff member promptly bonked him with a foam hammer for breaking the no-talk rule.
Lin Mo kept eating in silence.
Later, the director announced, "Let’s play a classic—Truth or Dare."
"Skip a truth? Chug beer. Minors are exempt."
Eight players circled the table, spinning an empty bottle to choose victims.
Shen Sizhan fiddled with his blue earring, glancing at Xie Guanyan.
If this game could reveal Xie’s true feelings, he’d at least have clarity.
Qiao Yinyin spun first. The bottle landed on Lin Mo.
"Truth or dare?" Qiao Yinyin grinned.
"Dare."
"Say ‘I love you’ to me!"
Lin Mo tilted her head. "Love you!"
Qiao Yinyin: "..."
Lin Mo laughed, forming a heart with her hands. "Love you."
Qiao Yinyin’s smile returned.
Shen Sizhan scoffed. "Qiao Yinyin, you’re evil."
Several rounds later, the mood heated up.
Gu Jingchuan drank to avoid answering, "Ever considered a hair transplant?"
Shen Sizhan’s spin nearly hit Xie Guanyan but stopped at Xu Yan.
"Dare," Xu Yan said.
"Swear you’ll never approach my sister again, or may you die childless."
Xu Yan glanced at Lin Mo, then recited the oath verbatim.
(No kids anyway.)
Shen Sizhan blinked, stunned he’d agreed.
Lin Mo bit her tongue—rebuking Shen Sizhan risked a hammer strike.
Besides, oaths were meaningless. Otherwise, half the world would’ve dropped dead.
Gu Jingchuan’s spin landed on Lin Mo.
"Truth," she declared to the sky.
No way she’d risk his deranged dares.
Tipsy, Gu Jingchuan gazed at her with his famously "even-a-dog-feels-loved" eyes. "Lin Mo… what did our one-day relationship mean?"
Lin Mo to the sky: "Nothing."
Gu Jingchuan got hammered but persisted. "And my grand confession?"
Lin Mo, still skyward: "Best I can do is compensate you… with $0."
Gu Jingchuan: "..."
—「Other siblings: wealthy elites. Lin Mo & Shen Sizhan: chaotic gremlins.」—
Eyes reddening, Gu Jingchuan pleaded, "Take me back. I’ll treat you like before!"
Lin Mo addressed the air beside him. "Why won’t I?"
She patted her cheek three times. "Because I’ve got standards."
The group erupted.
As Gu Jingchuan opened his mouth again, Shen Sizhan snapped, "Gu Jingchuan, get a lip piercing—connect your mouth shut."
By 9 PM, Xie Guanyan hadn’t been picked once.
Shen Sizhan seethed.
Near the end, viewers voted for the "Sweet Bedroom" couple.
Results flashed:
"Tonight’s winners: Gu Jingchuan and Li Huanyu!"
Jin Yang, fearing bias if the leads kept winning, rigged it for the "toxic soulmates" pair.
"Most-viewed livestream team gets the single room. Others: tents."
Lin Mo and Xu Yan’s stream, boosted by Xie Guanyan’s cameo, dominated.
No eight-pack cuddle tonight, so Lin Mo took her sleep meds early.
At 11 PM, Xie Guanyan sent drones on a wild goose chase and knocked on Lin Mo’s door.
He wanted to massage her stomach—she often ached the next day.
No answer.
Had she fallen asleep already?
Exhausted from the day’s events and meds, probably.
He retreated to his tent.
Midnight.
A wave of heat jolted him awake.
Xie Guanyan crawled out to blinding flames.
His body locked.
Buried memories surged—pain, smoke, screams.
Then a hand yanked him.
"Fire! Run!"
Through the haze, silver hair flashed.
Xie Guanyan broke free from his grip and ran. "You go first. I'm going to find your sister."
Shen Sizhan shouted after him, "My sister can get out on her own!"
His sister had always told him to flee first in danger—not to hold her back.
But Xie Guanyan didn’t look back.
Shen Sizhan could only watch as he charged through the sea of flames, sprinting toward the direction of his sister’s room.
