Li Xunwen suddenly stood up, his face filled with disbelief as he asked Gu Zhaoping, "You did this on purpose?"
Gu Zhaoping glanced at him, then calmly averted her gaze and replied, "No."
Li Xunwen’s expression darkened even further. No? How could this not be on purpose?
What else would she have to do for it to be intentional? This was clearly a trap, and they had walked right into it!
Gu Zhaoping’s tone was light and airy. "I just happened to want to bid on the truffles, but you outbid me. Then I decided to go for the oil—simple as that. I lose money every time I do business. How could I possibly be smart enough to scheme against you?"
Her voice carried a hint of regret, even humility, as she modestly downplayed herself. She wasn’t even looking at them, her lips curved in a polite smile.
Yet Li Xunwen and his sister felt as if they had been slapped dozens of times across the face.
Who was it that had just said Gu Zhaoping was a walking financial disaster? That if she dared to bid, they’d dare to follow?
They had been so confident, betting heavily on their own team’s victory and Gu Zhaoping’s team’s loss.
But before the bidding round was even over, they had nearly lost all their capital. Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoping’s team still had 50,000 left.
Li Xunxi’s face twisted through a series of emotions before she finally turned to the director and said, "Director, is it really fair for them to monopolize the oil? Every team needs it—how can we run our restaurants if they control it all? The game becomes unplayable!"
The production team wiped their sweat but cleared their throats and replied, "Well, sorry, Teacher Li, but these are the rules of the game. This is actually a hidden strategy—monopolizing ingredients makes things more exciting!"
Exciting? We’re about to be excited to death by this show!
And the actual restaurant management phase would be even more thrilling!
Now, they had no choice but to negotiate for oil if they wanted to keep their restaurant running. Did that mean they had to beg Gu Zhaoping?
The third team watched in stunned silence. Their leader smacked his forehead in frustration. "Damn, we forgot about this—we need oil the most."
Chu Yanze reacted instantly. He pushed himself up from the table, leaped over the narrow gap between them, and swiftly snatched up the barrels of oil, hauling them back to his team’s table.
He moved so fast that he didn’t even need Gu Zhaoping’s order—he had already secured their prize.
After returning, he gracefully settled back into his seat, draping an arm over the oil barrels in a silent but unmistakable display of ownership. He cast a faintly proud glance at the neighboring team—not quite a challenge, but close enough.
This was what Zhaoping-jie had won for them. He wasn’t about to let it slip away.
The tension in the room was palpable, on the verge of erupting. Ruan Nian, seeing Li Xunxi gearing up for another argument, panicked. She was terrified Li Xunxi would lose her temper again and do something reckless, so she quickly grabbed her hand.
Watching Chu Yanze’s smug expression, a sudden idea struck Ruan Nian. She whispered to Li Xunxi, "Don’t panic, Xunxi-jie. There must be a way to get oil later. The show can’t let them monopolize it—otherwise, our restaurant can’t function, and the game falls apart. Maybe the production team will add a task later. If we win, we can trade for ingredients."
She glanced at Chu Yanze again, feeling slightly more confident. "I know Chu Yanze pretty well. If we need to negotiate later, I can talk to him. It should be fine. Let’s move on—don’t fall into another one of their traps."
Li Xunxi glared at them for a long moment before finally turning away with a cold expression, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
Ruan Nian’s heart was pounding.
Does Li Xunxi have no experience filming variety shows? Doesn’t she know everything is being recorded? If this got edited and aired, she’d be torn apart by viewers!
The worst thing in a competition show was being a sore loser—audiences hated that.
Since they’d already lost, they should just swallow their pride and move on. There would be chances later to turn things around, and that kind of comeback could actually win them more fans.
Meanwhile, Gu Zhaoping’s team had started off too strong. With such high expectations, any misstep would make them look worse by comparison.
But as Li Xunxi sat back down, her emotions churned.
"Don’t fall into another one of their traps." That phrasing stung—as if she was some fool who couldn’t help but walk into Gu Zhaoping’s schemes.
Yet the more she thought about how much she’d lost in just a few rounds, the more her chest tightened with frustration. She didn’t understand.
Wasn’t Gu Zhaoping supposed to be clueless about business? Then what was all that just now?
Ever since filming started, Gu Zhaoping had been acting completely unlike the person Li Xunxi remembered. The discrepancy unsettled her, leaving her confused and uneasy.
But it was hard to change one’s first impression, especially of someone they disliked. To reevaluate Gu Zhaoping’s character and abilities required humility and open-mindedness—qualities Li Xunxi lacked.
Admitting that someone she hated was competent would mean admitting her own judgment was flawed.
No one liked slapping their own face.
That was why letting go of grudges was considered a virtue—one Li Xunxi certainly didn’t possess.
People naturally wanted to believe those they disliked were incompetent. It justified their hatred. But if the other person was capable, then their dislike just seemed petty and envious.
And as Li Xunxi watched Gu Zhaoping calmly raise her bidding paddle again and again, with neither her team nor the third team daring to challenge her, her expression only grew uglier.
In the initial ingredient auctions, the two teams had clashed repeatedly, driving up prices in their rush to secure what they needed. They had both won and lost.
Although Group 3 had the most remaining funds—a full 80,000, leaving them with over 60,000 even after deducting kitchenware costs—they were relatively conservative in their approach, opting for low-cost operations. This meant their competition with Li Xunxi’s group, which had nearly depleted its budget, was still somewhat balanced.
But now, things had changed.
After the fierce bidding between the two groups, Li Xunxi and her brother’s team was left with almost no funds, save for a small emergency reserve they absolutely couldn’t touch. Group 3 didn’t have much left either, and if they were to go up against Gu Zhaoping’s team now, they stood no chance of winning.
Gu Zhaoping’s group had waited until the very end to select their ingredients. By then, most of the remaining items on the field could be acquired at base price, with no one left to compete against them.
Li Xunxi watched helplessly, her teeth clenched tighter and tighter. She couldn’t understand how Gu Zhaoping had the nerve to wait so long before making her move.
Part of it made sense—each group had a limited capacity to process ingredients. If the two competing groups drove up prices through bidding, they’d end up with fewer options, inevitably leaving plenty for Gu Zhaoping’s team.
But how could they be so sure the remaining ingredients would be exactly what they needed? What if another group had already snatched up something crucial?
Then, in a flash of realization, it hit her.
Gu Zhaoping and Liang Zhiwei discussed quietly before finalizing their ingredient purchases. After a quick inventory check, Liang Zhiwei leaned in and whispered something in Gu Zhaoping’s ear—apparently, they were still missing a few items.
Gu Zhaoping lifted her head and glanced at the two opposing groups.
A calm smile played on her lips, unhurried and utterly unshaken, as if she already knew exactly how they would react.
"These are the ingredients we still need," she announced. "You have one minute to trade them for our cooking oil."
The expressions of the other two groups instantly shifted.
Wait—trade now?
No, hold on—one minute?
Li Xunwen and his sister’s group paled. Of course! Gu Zhaoping had oil, which meant she could trade with anyone she wanted.
And what she was offering was a necessity. If they wanted to keep their restaurant running, they had no choice but to trade—and worse, they’d have to accept Gu Zhaoping’s terms.
This was shameless!
Absolutely shameless!
With this move, wasn’t she essentially securing all her ingredients at the lowest possible price? She might even get them for less than the production team’s base rates!
She had no shame!!!
Gu Zhaoping had given them only a minute. The other two groups still had some interchangeable or duplicate ingredients, which meant they were now pitted against each other again.
Whoever traded first would get more oil.
How was this possible? Had Gu Zhaoping really come up with this entire scheme in such a short time?
From the moment the director announced the task to the start of the bidding, barely any time had passed. How could Gu Zhaoping have orchestrated such a seamless strategy?
Her announcement was so abrupt that there was no time for the others to think.
Some wanted to haggle, to discuss within their groups what they could afford to trade, but Gu Zhaoping’s demeanor was unshakable.
After speaking, she simply folded her hands and sat back, her gaze steady. She even started counting down on her watch, waiting for them to come to her.
Group 3 exchanged panicked glances. Though they weren’t hostile toward Gu Zhaoping, the urgency of the situation forced them to scramble through their supplies, searching for items they could spare.
In the end, they reluctantly handed over a few less essential ingredients.
The team members rushed back and forth, nearly emptying their baskets in their haste. Just as time was about to run out, Su Yubai joined the frantic exchange.
"I’ll help," he said, carrying a stack of ingredients Gu Zhaoping needed over to their table.
It was in that moment that he finally locked eyes with her up close.
Su Yubai held her gaze a few seconds longer than the others, though the difference was barely noticeable to Gu Zhaoping.
She didn’t spare the young man a second glance—but Chu Yanze did.
A moment later, Su Yubai felt a slight tug on the basket in his hands.
He blinked in surprise.
Looking up, he saw Chu Yanze had already taken the ingredients and placed them beside him, pressing a hand over them in a silent but unmistakable claim.
His expression was calm as he met Su Yubai’s eyes. "Thanks. Take a jug of oil."
There was something off about the way this man was looking at him.
Su Yubai lowered his gaze, a faint smirk curling his lips. He knew exactly what kind of people surrounded Gu Zhaoping, and after a few more seconds of staring at Chu Yanze, he had a pretty good idea.
"Thanks," he said simply before turning away.
The one-minute countdown was nearly over. Gu Zhaoping prepared to call time, but Ruan Nian’s group was still hesitating, unable to make a decision.
It was clear Li Xunwen and his sister would never swallow their pride and bend. Ruan Nian didn’t want to either—but what choice did their group have?
Fine. She’d take the fall. Once the episode aired, she’d be praised for being the first to sacrifice, while these siblings would be torn apart by comparison.
For the sake of her image, Ruan Nian resigned herself.
Her recent popularity had plateaued, but after viewers saw how Li Xunwen’s group treated her, sympathy would surely give her another boost. Whatever. In the long run, this team might still work in her favor.
She could stomach this loss.
Gritting her teeth, she grabbed a basket of the ingredients Gu Zhaoping needed and rushed over—though instead of placing them in front of Gu Zhaoping, she set them down beside Chu Yanze.
Panting, she looked up at him and said, "Chu Yanze, let’s trade. Give me the oil, okay?"
The words were entirely unnecessary. Once the ingredients were confirmed, she could’ve just taken the oil and left.
But this was her CP. Ruan Nian figured a little fan service wouldn’t hurt. Their popular pairing had been split into opposing teams, and now, isolated and struggling on her side, she was sure to win the audience’s sympathy for not being protected by Chu Yanze.
She’d take every ounce of pity the shippers could give.
She raised her eyes and stared intently at Chu Yanze, who was in the middle of checking the ingredients when he suddenly frowned, noticing that some seemed to be missing.
Just as he was about to lift his head and demand an explanation, he caught Ruan Nian’s piercing gaze fixed on him. A shiver ran down his spine, his hair standing on end.
He had always known there was something off about Ruan Nian—what kind of look was that?
Chu Yanze instinctively took a step back, even ducking slightly behind Gu Zhaoping for cover.
The moment he did, the dormant system in Ruan Nian’s mind abruptly woke up, urgently alerting her: Nian Nian, what’s happening? Stop immediately! A target who was supposed to provide you with sympathy points is now losing them rapidly! Pay attention!
What? Ruan Nian froze, not fully grasping the warning, when Gu Zhaoping beside her checked her watch and announced, “Time’s up.”
Chu Yanze quickly snapped back to reality and said to Gu Zhaoping, “Zhaoping-jie, the ingredients their group brought for exchange were short, so the trade didn’t go through.”
Gu Zhaoping glanced at them and nodded.
“The ingredient procurement phase is now over. From here, everyone must rely on their own efforts.”
Her gaze swept indifferently over the group, lingering on Ruan Nian for only the briefest moment, as if she were nothing more than a background element in the larger scene.
The production team stood dumbfounded as Gu Zhaoping effortlessly took control, ending the segment the moment her countdown concluded.
Ruan Nian’s pupils constricted. What did Chu Yanze just say? He actually accused her of shortchanging them?
A surge of indignation rose in her chest. How could Chu Yanze say such a thing? Weren’t they supposed to be a popular on-screen couple? What was he implying—that she lacked business ethics, trying to cheat them out of essential cooking oil?
No—Ruan Nian had come here to showcase her willingness to compromise and earn sympathy points. But if this scene aired, her image would be ruined! Would she be labeled as someone who pinches pennies?
Staring at Chu Yanze, Ruan Nian thought he must have lost his mind. Their pairing was trending—why wasn’t he seizing the chance to interact with her and boost their popularity? Being linked with her had no downsides!
“Chu Yanze, are you mistaken? I handed over exactly what the production team gave me. How could anything be missing?”
Ruan Nian forced herself to push through the awkwardness, determined to confront him.
But Chu Yanze, ever the stubborn one, shook his head with infuriating seriousness. “I counted. A full crate of fish like this should have twenty, packed tightly with no gaps. But this one has two empty spaces where the fish are misaligned—meaning at least two are missing.”
Ruan Nian was speechless. Was he nitpicking on purpose? They hadn’t even touched the ingredients—how could anything be missing?
Gritting her teeth, she turned and pointed toward their group’s area. “We didn’t even have anywhere to hide—”
But as she turned, her eyes widened in shock. There, on the ground, lay two fish still glistening with ice crystals.
They must have fallen out when the crates were stacked during the earlier bidding.
…Seriously? This kind of luck?
Ruan Nian stood frozen, stunned by the absurd coincidence. Was this really happening? Had her luck really sunk this low?
Then it hit her—her charm points had dropped, and her luck stat had been deducted too.
Did that mean the penalty wasn’t just about reduced luck, but actual misfortune to balance it out?
A wave of dread clenched her heart, leaving her breathless and rigid.
Li Xunxi, who had already been reluctant to lower herself to bargaining with Gu Zhaoping, was livid at seeing Ruan Nian humiliate herself further. “Ruan Nian, get back here! What are you still doing over there?”
She barely stopped herself from calling her an idiot. Now that the third group also had oil, why were they still fixated on Gu Zhaoping’s team?
Ruan Nian had such a polished reputation—was this famous actress really just a brainless pretty face? Picking fights with the worst possible people? Was she out of her mind?
Unable to bear it any longer, Li Xunxi grabbed Ruan Nian’s arm and dragged her back to their group.
“Fine, it’s over. Let’s just focus on setting up the restaurant. If there’s nothing else, we’re leaving.”
Li Xunxi suppressed her fury. She couldn’t stand another minute here—any longer and she might explode.
The director finally snapped out of his daze.
Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be under his control?
Somehow, things had spiraled into this mess.
Baffled, the director scratched his head awkwardly, then glanced at Gu Zhaoping with newfound wariness. She was terrifying.
Recalling his earlier impressions of her, a chill ran down his spine.
“Alright, then… the bidding phase is officially over. Everyone, do your best!”
Chu Yanze finally relaxed as Ruan Nian was hauled away, the sense of impending danger fading.
He couldn’t explain why he felt such intense wariness toward her—only that his instincts screamed to keep his distance.
Liang Zhiwei let out a relieved sigh. That had been too close for comfort.
Still, as she looked at the abundant ingredients Chu Yanze carried, she couldn’t help but ask Gu Zhaoping,
“Zhaoping-jie, you’re so clever. But how did you know we could monopolize the oil? What if someone else had thought of it first?”
“They couldn’t.”
Gu Zhaoping’s tone was casual as she walked ahead, carrying a crate herself, which made her seem almost approachable.
She rarely bothered with explanations, but after a brief pause, she continued, “Li Xunwen’s group didn’t have the funds. They only had 20,000 in capital—we had 50,000. Even if they drove the oil’s price up to 25,000, we could still outbid them. It was guaranteed.”
"Group 3 can't monopolize it either. After deducting stall and kitchenware costs, they have over 60,000 left, while we still have 50,000. But their group has four people—once four people are involved in decision-making, it’s not so easy to reach a firm resolution. They won’t take risky moves to avoid blame from the others."
"Besides, with the highest remaining capital, they already have enough to buy all the ingredients they need. There’s no reason for them to go through such a roundabout process of trading with others."
Gu Zhaoping’s tone even carried a hint of amusement as she joked, "This is the only benefit of a one-person rule."
"The oil monopoly can only be ours."
"Come on, let’s go see what our restaurant will look like."
Gu Zhaoping slipped the phone she’d been scrolling through into her pocket.
She had already surveyed the surroundings and had a plan in mind.
Liang Zhiwei, however, stood frozen in place, stunned.
This…
Had she figured this out right after hearing the rules?
Had she cornered their opponents so quickly?
Zhaoping-jie, what in the world did she used to do?!
