At Cen Meng's suggestion, the three of them first went to the bookstore on the fourth floor of the shopping mall.
Meanwhile, the three mothers also set out together to buy gifts for their daughters.
Ning Fei, elegant and gentle, and Qin Man, cool and reserved, were not particularly talkative.
Qiao Yazhen, appearing on the show for the first time without her daughter by her side, was visibly nervous.
Compared to the daughters' lively dynamic, the atmosphere among the mothers was somewhat awkward.
Fortunately, the production team had prepared in advance. A staff member stepped forward to lighten the mood: "Based on your understanding of your daughters, what kind of gifts do you think they'd like to receive?"
The staff gestured for Cen Meng's mother to answer first.
Qiao Yazhen spoke slowly: "My daughter... has loved literature since she was little. She often reads both Chinese and foreign classics, and her father and I have always encouraged her in this. I think she'd appreciate a book as a gift."
[Our Mengmeng really comes from a family of scholars—both mother and daughter love literature!]
[Just came from the daughters' side—Mengmeng also wants to buy a book for her mom! Their bond is so sweet!]
[This is textbook mother-daughter relationship goals: mutual understanding and shared interests.]
Amid the flood of praise, a few skeptical comments surfaced.
[Not that loving books is bad, but Cen Meng's been pushing this since the previews—it's getting old.]
[From what I've seen, celebrities who flaunt "bookworm" or "genius" personas tend to crash and burn.]
However, Cen Meng's fans seemed especially active today, drowning out dissent with an endless stream of compliments.
The staff then posed the same question to Qin Man.
Qin Man smiled faintly, a hint of self-deprecation in her expression: "Ning An studied abroad for years, and I usually just sent her living expenses—I never really bought her gifts. Honestly, I’m not sure how to answer."
Ning Fei chimed in warmly: "No worries. Since Yazhen and I are here today, we can all help pick something for Ning An together."
Qin Man glanced at Ning Fei in surprise before nodding.
In the past, Qin Man had crossed paths with Ning Fei at events a few times. From what she remembered, Ning Fei wasn’t the type to initiate conversation.
So this unexpected kindness caught Qin Man off guard.
And she wasn’t wrong—under normal circumstances, Ning Fei would’ve stayed quiet.
But today, Ning Fei was in exceptionally high spirits.
The night before, she had cautiously probed her daughter about her love life.
A week had passed since the preview filming—meaning Ning Yuxuan and Gu Yunhao had officially been broken up for seven days.
Holding back for a week to avoid upsetting her daughter, Ning Fei finally couldn’t resist asking.
She’d braced for tears, but Ning Yuxuan answered bluntly: "Yeah, we’re done. And we’re never getting back together."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Ning Fei had seen her daughter "break up" before—back then, Ning Yuxuan would claim it was over while her face betrayed lingering affection.
This time, however, her tone was decisive, with no trace of sadness or reluctance.
Knowing her daughter couldn’t fake such detachment, Ning Fei was convinced it was truly the end.
She slept soundly that night and woke up practically glowing.
Even the production crew noticed, asking, "Ms. Ning, something good happen?"
Ning Fei only smiled.
That buoyant mood carried into the present.
Finally, it was Ning Fei’s turn to answer the staff’s question.
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke: "Yuxuan’s always had eclectic tastes. I tease her for wanting everything but losing interest after five minutes. Honestly, anything pretty or eye-catching would probably make her happy."
[Ms. Ning clearly adores her daughter—you can see the affection in her eyes just talking about Yuxuan!]
[+1 Even when calling her out for being fickle, it’s in the most doting way.]
But soon, less charitable remarks appeared.
[Let’s be real, the contrast is stark… Cen Meng loves literature, while Ning Yuxuan just likes shiny things.]
[Speaks volumes about upbringing—one raised by scholars, the other by a divorced mom who’s always working. Not the same caliber.]
[And Cen Meng’s family is just as wealthy. Did you see her mansion in the previews?]
Observant viewers noticed a pattern: since the episode began, certain comments consistently pitted Ning Yuxuan and her mother against Cen Meng.
While Ning Fei had widespread appeal, her fanbase skewed older—few were actively watching the livestream.
Most defenses of Ning Yuxuan came from casual viewers.
[What’s wrong with liking pretty things? Does Cen Meng prefer ugly stuff?]
[Reading’s fine, but no need to trash others’ preferences.]
...
Back at the bookstore, Cen Meng browsed the shelves while sharing childhood reading anecdotes with the audience.
Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan received a reply from Xie Zhiyan.
Xie Zhiyan: [What’s up?]
With Cen Meng monopolizing the spotlight, the cameras stayed fixed on her.
Ning Yuxuan seized the moment to type: [I heard Yi Xin’s autographed novels are rare. Do you know who else in the country might have a copy besides the one you sent me?]
Xie Zhiyan: [Only two exist domestically. One was bought by a woman in Jiangcheng as a gift for her grandfather. The other is—well, was—yours.]
Ning Yuxuan sighed. Hers was long gone.
Yi Xin’s novel had been gripping—even as a non-fan, she’d been hooked, carrying it everywhere.
She didn’t recall the exact details, but she’d likely left it at the Gu family’s place after finishing, only for Gu Yunhao to give it to Cen Meng.
Ning Yuxuan: [Thanks, that helps.]
Though the cameras weren’t on her, lingering on her phone looked unprofessional.
As she went to pocket her phone, another message popped up.
Xie Zhiyan: [Why ask about this now?]
Ning Yuxuan paused. "..."
Technically, it wasn’t entirely her fault—who’d expect a scion like Gu Yunhao to regift stolen items?
But with Xie Zhiyan now her fiancé and Gu Yunhao her ex, the whole situation felt… awkward.
Ning Yuxuan: [Long story. Filming right now—I’ll explain later. Back to work, CEO Xie!]
She quickly tucked her phone away.
Cen Meng’s monologue finally wound down, and the trio left the bookstore for lunch.
Afterward, Ning Yuxuan and Jiang Ning'an picked out their gifts at the mall.
By 3 p.m., the guests returned to the villa, where the director announced the gift exchange.
First up was Cen Meng’s group—both she and Qiao Yazhen had chosen books.
Cen Meng mentioned that her mother loved reading poetry at home, so she chose a poetry collection, while Qiao Yazhen picked an original English novel.
The live comments section was naturally flooded with praise once again.
Jiang Ning'an bought Qin Man a pair of sunglasses.
"Mom loves collecting all kinds of sunglasses," Jiang Ning'an explained. "She really likes this brand, but there aren’t many stores carrying it domestically. I noticed a new boutique had just opened in the mall, so I picked a pair."
In return, Qin Man chose a rabbit plush toy as her gift.
"Ning An likes to keep stuffed animals on her bed to sleep with," Qin Man said simply.
Truthfully, she hadn’t initially thought of buying this—it was Ning Fei who reminded her, suggesting she consider her daughter’s unique habits.
Jiang Ning'an seemed to adore the plush toy, hugging it tightly in her arms the moment she received it and refusing to let go.
When the camera panned to the other guests, their chosen gifts were placed beside them.
But when it was Ning Fei’s turn, there was nothing next to her.
"Sorry about this," Ning Fei said with a smile, gesturing toward a coffee table on the other side of the room. "I might have bought a little too much."
The camera then cut to a staff member pushing a small cart over, piled high with colorful shopping bags.
To protect the guests’ privacy and maintain suspense, the shopping segment had been handled by staff members who completed the purchases on their behalf.
Viewers had only seen the potential gifts the guests considered but didn’t know what they ultimately bought.
It wasn’t until now that everyone realized Ning Fei had bought nearly everything she had eyed.
There were three designer handbags alone—a white cloud-shaped clutch, a pink bucket bag, and a classic black chain-strap purse.
There were also necklaces, bracelets, hair clips, and rings, ranging from luxury brands to trendy retail pieces, each with distinct styles.
On top of that were accessories like hats and belts.
All in all, the miscellaneous gifts added up to over twenty items, filling the entire cart.
Ning Fei looked slightly embarrassed as she explained, "I figured Yuxuan likes everything, so I couldn’t help myself and ended up buying a bit extra..."
In truth, Ning Fei had another motive—her daughter had just ended a deeply invested relationship, and no matter how carefree she appeared on the surface, heartbreak was inevitable.
During a breakup, comfort and companionship from family were essential. Ning Fei wanted to shower her daughter with things she loved to lift her spirits.
The live audience was stunned by the sheer quantity of gifts.
[Ms. Ning, you’re being too modest—this is "a bit extra" multiplied by a million!]
[Shocked! Who knew our elegant Ms. Ning was a shopping maniac?!]
[LMAO, I never expected someone as poised as Ms. Ning to go on a shopping spree like this!]
[Hahahaha, I can feel Ms. Ning’s overwhelming wealth and the flood of love for her daughter!]
[Let me ask again—Ms. Ning, do you need another daughter? Sign me up!!!]
[You’re all too polite—I’ll just say it: Mom! From today onward, I’m your long-lost daughter!]
Even Jiang Ning'an couldn’t help but sigh, "Ning Yuxuan, I’m kind of jealous of you now."
After spending hours shopping together, the two had grown much closer.
In contrast, Cen Meng had kept to herself most of the time, claiming she wasn’t particularly interested in shopping and preferred reading instead.
Ning Yuxuan teased Jiang Ning'an, "If you keep talking like that, Qin Man might regret not buying you five plush toys."
Jiang Ning'an laughed. "One is enough. Any more, and I wouldn’t have enough arms to hug them all at night."
Ning Yuxuan blinked, catching the key detail. "You sleep hugging plushies?"
Jiang Ning'an froze, her cheeks suddenly burning. "I—I only do that sometimes, not every day!"
[Hahaha Jiang Ning'an is so adorable! Officially a fan now!]
[I thought she was an ice queen, but turns out she’s a softie who cuddles plushies to sleep!]
[Whispering… I’m kind of shipping Ning Yuxuan and Jiang Ning'an now.]
[+1+1, the bold, radiant beauty and the cool-but-warm reserved beauty—who wouldn’t say they’re perfect together?!]
Finally, only Ning Yuxuan’s gift remained to be revealed.
She pulled out a large bag from behind her and produced five jigsaw puzzle boxes of varying sizes.
"My mom loves puzzles," Ning Yuxuan said. "But I wasn’t sure which design she’d prefer, so I bought a few options."
The audience: "..."
[LOL, guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—same thought process!]
[I see it now—this mother-daughter duo buys everything in multiples, minimum five.]
[Finally found something in common with my goddess Ning—I love puzzles too!]
Once all the gifts had been showcased, the production team announced the next segment: selecting ingredients to cook dinner.
But before the meal, the livestream would host a real-time vote.
Every registered viewer could vote for their favorite gift from the earlier segment, and the ranking of votes would determine which group got first pick of rooms for the night.
As soon as the rules were explained, Cen Meng’s expression darkened.
She had previously hired a marketing firm to flood the comments section, aiming to undermine Ning Yuxuan while boosting her own image.
But Cen Meng hadn’t anticipated the production team’s last-minute twist—this voting round.
The accounts used for spamming comments were unverified throwaways, making it impossible to mobilize votes in time.
What bothered Cen Meng wasn’t the room selection but the fact that her carefully crafted illusion of superior popularity would be exposed.
Ten minutes later, the results were announced.
Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan took first place by a landslide, with Ning Fei’s cartful of gifts leaving an unforgettable impression.
Qin Man and Jiang Ning'an came in second, while Cen Meng ranked last.
Earlier, when presenting her gift, Cen Meng had given a lengthy speech about how thoughtfully she had chosen the poetry collection, framing it as the most heartfelt present.
Now, faced with this outcome, her composure wavered.
Noticing the camera on her, Cen Meng forced a gracious tone. "It’s fine. Even if we didn’t win the vote, I don’t consider this a loss—our gift just wasn’t as mainstream as the others."
After a pause, she added casually, "Oh, by the way, Mom, you brought that novel by Yi Xin I gave you, right?"
Cen Meng’s original plan had been to use the comment bots to contrast Ning Yuxuan’s superficiality with her own refined, unconventional taste.
But Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan had unintentionally stolen the spotlight, securing the top spot in the vote.
Left with no choice, Cen Meng decided to play her trump card early.
Qiao Yazhen immediately caught her daughter’s hint.
Before the show, Cen Meng had reminded her repeatedly to keep the book on hand at all times—it would be needed sooner or later.
Qiao Yazhen nodded and pulled a book from her bag. "This was given to me by Mengmeng. I love it so much that I always carry it with me."
The director zoomed in for a close-up shot of the book.
[Wow, is that really Yi Xin’s special signed edition novel? I heard it’s super rare!]
[I just looked it up—only eight copies of this special edition exist worldwide, and Cen Meng actually has one of them.]
[That’s amazing! Does Cen Meng have connections in the literary world?]
Seeing the cameraman focus on the book, Cen Meng smiled with satisfaction.
It didn’t matter if the production team or the others on set didn’t understand its significance. With so many viewers in the livestream, someone would surely recognize it. Soon, she and the book would be trending together.
By then, no one would care who won the voting—they’d only praise her for coming from a scholarly family, a rare breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry.
Just as Cen Meng was basking in her triumph, Ning Yuxuan’s voice cut in.
"May I take a look at that book?"
Cen Meng paused for a moment, then felt a surge of delight.
This was exactly what she wanted.
If Ning Yuxuan dared to make some pretentious comments about the book, it would only highlight her ignorance and make Cen Meng appear even more refined.
"Of course," Cen Meng replied sweetly. "But be careful. Since you’re not familiar with literature, you might not realize how valuable this book is."
Ning Yuxuan took the book and flipped to the title page, where Yi Xin’s handwritten signature and a personalized message for the reader were inscribed. This was what made the book so precious—each copy had a unique note from the author.
After studying it for a few seconds, Ning Yuxuan began turning the pages, as if searching for something.
"Hey—" Cen Meng cautioned, "be gentle. Don’t damage it."
Ning Yuxuan didn’t respond, silently continuing until she stopped at page 126. Her gaze sharpened.
She wasn’t one to take notes while reading, so the book bore almost no traces of her presence.
Except for this page.
Moved by a tragic love scene where a female character sacrificed herself, she had once scribbled a few lines in the margin. The writing was tucked near the spine, nearly invisible unless examined closely.
Noticing Ning Yuxuan lingering on that page, Cen Meng frowned. "What are you looking at?"
At this, Ning Yuxuan lifted her eyes with a faint smile. "Cen Meng, you said earlier that you personally went to England to get this book?"
The tone made Cen Meng’s confidence waver for a split second, but she quickly steadied herself.
As long as the book was physically in her possession, who could prove how she’d obtained it?
She straightened her posture. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
