Ning Yuxuan gently stroked the bookmark in her hand and cast a faint glance at Cen Meng.
"It's nothing," Ning Yuxuan closed the book, her tone calm. "It's just that I happen to have an identical copy—a gift from a friend who sent it to me from the UK. I thought it was quite a coincidence."
Cen Meng instinctively retorted, "H-how is that possible?"
The book in her hands had been given to her by Gu Yunhao.
After the first season of Dear Mom aired, the show became a massive hit, boosting the popularity of its cast members and significantly improving their career prospects.
At the time, Cen Meng had just secured a spot on the show, knowing she would be appearing alongside two award-winning actresses.
She was well aware that this was her golden opportunity to elevate her career—especially with someone as notoriously difficult and unlikable as Ning Yuxuan serving as her perfect foil.
So, as soon as she got the offer, she began meticulously crafting her public persona: the cultured, well-read starlet from a family of scholars.
To sell the image, she even had Gu Yunhao’s villa—where she lived—renovated, converting one of the rooms into a library filled with classic works from both Eastern and Western literature.
Then, she coaxed Gu Yunhao into helping her source rare editions—first editions, limited prints, anything exclusive.
To her surprise, Gu Yunhao actually had the connections to deliver: a special commemorative edition of a novel, one of only eight copies in the world.
He never explained how he got it, and Cen Meng didn’t press for details. After all, it wasn’t unusual for an old-money family like the Gus to have ties in literary circles.
But now, hearing Ning Yuxuan’s claim, Cen Meng’s first reaction was disbelief.
Ning Fei might be wealthy, but she was still just an actress—the kind of person literary elites looked down on. How could Ning Yuxuan possibly have the connections to get such a rare book?
Yet Ning Yuxuan’s tone was steady, devoid of any hint of bluffing. If anything, she sounded utterly confident.
And given that Gu Yunhao and Ning Yuxuan had once been in a relationship, Cen Meng couldn’t help but waver.
Could it be… that Gu Yunhao had given Ning Yuxuan a copy too?
Cen Meng didn’t immediately counter Ning Yuxuan, but her fans were far less restrained.
Earlier, when Cen Meng and her mother had ranked last in the voting, her fans had already been fuming, some even accusing the show of rigging the results.
Then, when Cen Meng presented the book, her supporters saw it as a triumphant comeback, flooding the livestream with praise.
Now, hearing Ning Yuxuan boldly claim she owned the same book, they wasted no time mocking her.
[Is Ning Yuxuan that desperate not to be outshone? The second Cen Meng says she has the book, Ning Yuxuan suddenly claims she does too?]
[Right? If you’re going to copy someone, at least make sure you can back it up. Cen Meng’s copy is a signed limited edition—there are barely any in the country. Where would Ning Yuxuan even get one?]
[LOL, Ning Yuxuan clearly has no idea how rare this book is. Tried to fake it and got exposed.]
The barrage of ridicule from Cen Meng’s fans silenced most of Ning Yuxuan’s supporters, leaving only a handful of neutral viewers to comment.
[Let’s wait and see. Ning Yuxuan doesn’t sound like she’s lying.]
[Oho? Where is this going? The show just got interesting.]
Within seconds, Cen Meng had already calculated her next move.
No matter what, she had been the first to present the book—that gave her the upper hand.
Even if Ning Yuxuan really had a copy, so what?
If she couldn’t produce it on the spot, it was just empty talk. Cen Meng remained untouchable.
And even if Ning Yuxuan somehow proved it later, she’d still be labeled a copycat, a pathetic imitator.
With that thought, Cen Meng’s unease faded, her confident smile returning.
"Yuxuan," she said sweetly, "you’re saying you have the same book? Then where is it now?"
Ning Yuxuan admired the exquisite cover in her hands and replied airily, "Right here."
For a split second, the corners of Cen Meng’s lips stiffened.
She had considered every possibility—except one.
What if the book Gu Yunhao gave her… had originally belonged to Ning Yuxuan?
Her mind raced, but her expression remained perfectly composed.
As long as she stood her ground, insisting the book was hers, what could Ning Yuxuan possibly do?
"Yuxuan, I don’t understand," Cen Meng said, feigning confusion. "I personally went to the UK to receive this book from Madam Yi Xin. If you like it that much, I’d be happy to lend it to you. But you can’t just claim it’s yours."
Her gaze was a masterclass in wide-eyed innocence, tinged with pity—as if she were certain Ning Yuxuan was lying.
The production team hadn’t expected a simple gift exchange and voting segment to spiral into such drama.
Viewership surged as netizens, ever hungry for spectacle, eagerly awaited the next twist.
The crew frantically contacted the director in the control room, who ordered the livestream to continue.
The cameraman even cut to reaction shots of the other guests, heightening the tension.
Jiang Ning’an looked anxious, as if she wanted to intervene, but Qin Man held her back with a warning glance: Not yet. Let’s see how this plays out.
As a mother, Qin Man knew her daughter’s impulsive nature—Jiang Ning’an was itching to defend Ning Yuxuan.
But Qin Man, a veteran of the industry, could tell Cen Meng’s performance was too calculated. Something was off.
Still, without knowing the full story, jumping in might backfire.
And while she privately preferred Ning Yuxuan over Cen Meng, she wasn’t about to let her daughter wade into this mess.
Meanwhile, Ning Fei frowned, deep in thought.
She recognized the book in her daughter’s hands—it had been a birthday gift from her close friend Zheng Xinmei.
If Cen Meng’s copy was truly the same one, what hidden history existed between her and Ning Yuxuan?
Ning Fei had never heard of Cen Meng before today, nor had her daughter ever mentioned the name. The mystery gnawed at her, mingled with maternal concern.
But seeing Ning Yuxuan’s unshaken composure—as if she had everything under control—Ning Fei stayed silent.
Sure enough, when Cen Meng pressed her, Ning Yuxuan merely smiled.
"You say you personally retrieved it from Madam Yi Xin. Then tell me—do you know she inscribed the dedication during a private literary gathering? No media was present. Only her closest friends and invited guests."
As she spoke, Ning Yuxuan ran her fingers along the book’s spine, her tone almost indifferent.
The tone was unhurried, not the least bit aggressive, yet it compelled everyone to listen intently to her words.
Not only was Cen Meng momentarily speechless, but even the live stream audience was stunned into silence.
[It sounds like this book really does belong to Ning Yuxuan? Otherwise, how would she know so much about it?]
[Exactly. Cen Meng can’t even refute it—doesn’t that just prove Ning Yuxuan is the original owner?]
Cen Meng’s fans quickly fired back in defense.
[Mengmeng just doesn’t want to expose Ning Yuxuan, that’s all! She’s too kind-hearted!]
[Knowing about the book club doesn’t prove the book is Ning Yuxuan’s! Who’s to say she didn’t hear it from someone else or just made it up?]
[Right? Anyone can talk big. How is that evidence? Let me try—I could spin a story like that too!]
“I… Of course I know all that!” Cen Meng, afraid of exposing her lie, instinctively followed Ning Yuxuan’s line of reasoning.
After a pause, she realized—wasn’t this practically admitting Ning Yuxuan was telling the truth?
Realizing her mistake, Cen Meng quickly added, “Ning Yuxuan, what are you trying to prove with all this? This book is undeniably mine. No matter what you say, I was the one who personally obtained it and gave it to my mom! Are you suggesting I stole it from you?”
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
Before this, even if their exchange had been tense, it had at least appeared civil on the surface.
But with Cen Meng’s accusation, there was no way to resolve this conflict gracefully anymore.
“I never said you stole it,” Ning Yuxuan replied coolly, her gaze steady on Cen Meng. “I only said the book originally belonged to me.”
Cen Meng’s voice sharpened. “You claim it’s yours? There’s no name written in it! You just happened to know about the book club—how dare you make such a bold statement?”
Her agitation was stark against Ning Yuxuan’s calm demeanor.
Regret flashed across Cen Meng’s face as soon as the words left her mouth.
She had only wanted to humiliate Ning Yuxuan, not escalate things into an ugly public spectacle. Worse, she had nearly lost control of her emotions under Ning Yuxuan’s composed provocations.
Even if she won this argument, it would clash with the gentle image she’d carefully cultivated for the public—terrible for her reputation.
Taking a deep breath, Cen Meng forced a smile. “Yuxuan, it’s okay… I know you didn’t mean it…”
Before she could finish her conciliatory act, Ning Yuxuan suddenly smiled. “Say that last part again?”
Cen Meng blinked. “I said, I know you didn’t…”
Ning Yuxuan cut in. “The line before that.”
Cen Meng froze.
A dreadful realization seemed to dawn on her, her face paling.
“You said… ‘There’s no name written in it.’” Ning Yuxuan leisurely flipped the book open to the page she had been studying earlier, where a bookmark rested.
“Then take a look—what’s this?” She held the book up.
Cen Meng’s stomach dropped, but her eyes still darted to the page.
The cameraman, eager for drama, zoomed in with a close-up shot.
On the inner margin of the page was a handwritten note in blue ink—
“May we love someone steadfastly, until death.
—Yuxuan.”
The ink looked at least a month or two old.
The live stream fell silent for a few seconds before exploding with comments.
[No way… I’m speechless. What just happened?]
[Damn, that’s irrefutable proof. So the book really is Ning Yuxuan’s?]
[Oh god, my secondhand embarrassment is acting up… Cen Meng’s been flaunting this thing all day, and it turns out it’s not even hers?]
Cen Meng stood frozen.
When she first got the book, she had meticulously checked the front and back covers, even skimming through the pages. She hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
Since the book looked brand new, it never occurred to her that someone might have written a note inside.
Panicking, she glanced around, only to find everyone’s expressions had turned knowing.
Not just Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei—even the staff were looking at her with barely concealed disdain.
She couldn’t bear to imagine what the thousands of live stream viewers must be thinking.
“I… I don’t know how this happened,” Cen Meng stammered, her voice shaky. “This book, it’s definitely mine…”
Her words trailed off, her confidence crumbling.
Ning Yuxuan finished for her. “You personally went to the UK and got it at Yi Xin’s book club?”
Cen Meng: “I…”
“Oh, and one more thing.” Ning Yuxuan added casually, as if it had just occurred to her. “Guests who attended that day didn’t just receive Yi Xin’s new book—they also got a limited-edition set of special editions. Mine is on my bookshelf at home. If you’re really that fond of it, I’d be happy to lend it to you.”
The last line was a direct echo of Cen Meng’s earlier words, thrown back at her with precision.
Cen Meng’s face turned ghostly white, her lips trembling soundlessly.
Every argument she’d used against Ning Yuxuan had now boomeranged back to strike her instead.
Her reaction left no doubt about who was telling the truth.
The live stream, previously dominated by Cen Meng’s fans, now swung decisively against her.
[LMAO I always knew Cen Meng’s bookworm persona was a ticking time bomb, but I didn’t expect it to blow up this fast—first episode and she’s already exposed!]
[All that bragging from Cen Meng’s fans, acting like she’s some literary connoisseur… turns out she was just showing off something she stole from Ning Yuxuan!]
[Honestly, Ning Yuxuan’s so low-key. If not for Cen Meng, no one would’ve even known she had Yi Xin’s limited edition. Now that’s real connections in the literary world!]
[Wait, how did the book even end up with Cen Meng in the first place? Did she actually steal it?]
In her desperation, Cen Meng took a deep breath.
At this point, her plan to use Yi Xin’s book to bolster her image was completely ruined.
If she kept arguing, she’d only cement the narrative that she’d “stolen” it from Ning Yuxuan. She needed to pivot—to paint herself as the victim and win the audience’s sympathy.
Closing her eyes, she quickly formulated a new strategy.
When she opened them again, her gaze was brimming with pitiful tears as she looked at Ning Yuxuan.
“Yuxuan, I’m so sorry… The truth is, my boyfriend gave me this book. He’s not in the industry and prefers to stay out of the spotlight, so he asked me to say I got it myself.”
Her voice quivered with heartbreak and confusion, the picture of an innocent victim.
“I don’t know how things ended up like this… My boyfriend, he… You…”
Her voice trembled with suppressed sobs, "I'm sorry, I lost control of my emotions."
With that, Cen Meng suddenly stood up and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, covered her mouth as she rushed toward the first-floor restroom.
The restroom was a private area, and the cameraman couldn’t follow, capturing only the distant sight of Cen Meng fleeing.
Her actions made it seem as though she had suffered some unbearable injustice with no one to turn to.
Most netizens remained unsympathetic, mocking Cen Meng for resorting to tears when she couldn’t defend herself.
["I can’t stand people like Cen Meng—crying when they can’t win an argument."]
["Exactly! If she did something wrong, she should just apologize. What’s with the tears?"]
Yet Cen Meng’s tears did manage to sway some viewers, earning her sympathy and making her fans even more protective.
["Come on, give her a break. It’s just a book, not like she committed some unforgivable sin."]
["Sure, Cen Meng might have messed up, but it’s not the end of the world. Who hasn’t acted out of vanity at some point?"]
Soon, the live chat erupted into arguments between the two factions.
Some fans, picking up on subtle hints in Cen Meng’s words, seized the moment to defend her.
["Don’t be so quick to judge Cen Meng—what if she really didn’t know?"]
["Doesn’t anyone find it weird? How did Ning Yuxuan’s book end up in Cen Meng’s boyfriend’s hands? What’s their relationship?"]
["I bet five bucks there’s more to this story. Cen Meng’s boyfriend is the key!"]
The live chat descended into chaos, and the on-set atmosphere wasn’t much better.
No one had expected things to escalate like this. Cen Meng had abruptly fled to the restroom, likely hiding inside to cry.
After reviewing the live stream’s soaring viewership, however, the director decided to continue broadcasting, inserting only a brief ad break.
Ever since the confrontation between Cen Meng and Ning Yuxuan began, the audience numbers had been climbing. Cutting the stream now would mean handing over the spotlight to competitors.
Since the situation still seemed manageable, there was no need to shut it down—just a short ad buffer would suffice.
The production team sent someone to talk to Cen Meng in the restroom, accompanied by her mother, Qiao Yazhen.
The room was now left with only the two remaining pairs of guests.
Ning Fei approached her daughter. "Xuanxuan, are you okay? If you’re upset, you can talk to me."
Even though her daughter had never confided in her about the details, Ning Fei had pieced together the gist from the exchange between Ning Yuxuan and Cen Meng.
The boyfriend Cen Meng mentioned was almost certainly Gu Yunhao.
No wonder… her daughter had been so adamant about breaking up.
And as a mother, she had been completely in the dark, leaving her daughter to bear the pain of betrayal alone.
Ning Fei was filled with guilt and heartache.
Ning Yuxuan gave her mother a reassuring smile and shook her head. "I’m fine, Mom."
She knew what Ning Fei was worried about.
But now that she was free from the story’s control, she felt nothing for Gu Yunhao—only disgust.
The fact that he had given her book to Cen Meng only deepened her revulsion toward him, but it didn’t stir any sadness or anger in her.
Seeing Ning Fei’s lingering concern, Ning Yuxuan grinned. "Mom, are you hungry? Didn’t the crew say we’re cooking dinner ourselves tonight? What do you feel like eating?"
Ning Fei shook her head. "I’m not hungry."
Ning Yuxuan made an exaggerated pout. "But your daughter’s stomach is growling!"
Ning Fei finally laughed. "Alright then, let’s make your favorites—braised pork, okay?"
"Yes!" Ning Yuxuan nodded. "And chicken stew with mushrooms! And garlic ribs!"
As the two chatted, Cen Meng finally re-emerged from the restroom, escorted by a staff member.
Her eyes were still slightly red, clearly having cried recently.
Seeing that Cen Meng had calmed down, the director instructed the crew to switch the live feed back to the set.
During the ad break, Cen Meng’s fans had flooded the chat, trying to smooth things over.
Their argument was simple: Cen Meng was also a victim, deceived into believing the book wasn’t Ning Yuxuan’s.
Most of the viewers defending Ning Yuxuan were casual watchers, there for entertainment, not die-hard fans who would spam the chat.
After the ads, the mocking comments toward Cen Meng gradually died down.
A staff member announced the next segment: the three pairs of guests would head to a nearby supermarket to shop for dinner ingredients.
The show would provide a limited budget, so they’d have to spend wisely.
They also had a strict 20-minute time limit, meaning they’d need to split up to gather everything in time.
How they divided tasks was up to them.
At the same time, another announcement was made: three special mystery guests would join the recording later that evening, each paired with one of the mother-daughter duos.
These guests would arrive after the shopping segment, meeting everyone at the villa to help prepare dinner.
After hearing the rules, Ning Yuxuan leaned toward Ning Fei and whispered, "I’ve decided—tonight’s menu is braised pork and garlic ribs!"
Ning Fei whispered back, amused, "What if we don’t have enough money?"
Ning Yuxuan replied with mock seriousness, "Don’t worry, your brilliant daughter has a plan."
Ning Fei chuckled.
She had no idea what scheme her daughter had concocted this time.
Unconsciously, Ning Fei’s expression softened into one of fond indulgence.
She remembered how, as a child, Ning Yuxuan used to whisper all sorts of whimsical ideas in her ear—
"Mom, are you tired? When I grow up, I’ll invent a flying bed that follows you everywhere, so you can rest even at work!"
"Mom, can I act with you? Then I can be on TV too!"
But at some point, her daughter had stopped sharing those little secrets, growing quieter and more distant.
Now, thankfully, her lively, affectionate girl was slowly returning.
Ning Fei gazed at Ning Yuxuan and nodded gently. "Alright, I’ll follow your lead."
Whatever "plan" her daughter had, she’d play along.
After the announcements, the group was given ten minutes to strategize their supermarket run.
Cen Meng was the first to speak up. "Um, everyone… I have a suggestion."
Since returning from the restroom, her eyes had remained red-rimmed, and she’d barely spoken, as if deeply shaken.
But in truth, she’d done a lot of thinking in that restroom.
The book incident had embarrassed her, but it wasn’t irreparable.
What celebrity didn’t have some scandal?
This could be spun—with the right narrative, she could recover.
Her priority now was to perform well in the upcoming segments, and also…
Cen Meng quietly touched the phone in her pocket.
It wasn’t the right time yet. Once everyone started preparing dinner, she would find an opportunity to contact the marketing company.
She had already laid the groundwork earlier by mentioning that the book was a gift from her "boyfriend."
All she needed to do now was steer the public’s attention toward the romantic entanglement—then it would be anyone’s guess who would come out on top between her and Ning Yuxuan.
Cen Meng adjusted her demeanor and shared her thoughts on the division of tasks: "If we’re going to make a detailed list and assign responsibilities, ten minutes probably won’t be enough. I think it’d be better if the three groups separately handle meat, vegetables, and staples with seasonings?"
She glanced around, and seeing no objections, she continued, "Out of these, buying vegetables is the hardest—there are so many varieties, it’s easy to mistake them, and quantities are tricky to estimate. So, my mom and I will take care of that. Buying meat is relatively simpler, so how about Ning Yuxuan and Teacher Ning handle that? As for staples and seasonings, Jiang Ning'an and Teacher Qin can take charge."
As soon as Cen Meng finished, Jiang Ning'an frowned.
Leaving aside whether buying vegetables was actually harder than buying meat, the show had allocated the same budget to all three groups. But given the prices in Beicheng, meat was clearly more expensive than vegetables.
With this arrangement, Ning Yuxuan’s group would likely end up at a disadvantage.
Jiang Ning'an wanted to say something, but Ning Yuxuan beat her to it, nodding casually. "Sure, I’m fine with that."
Cen Meng’s heart leapt with delight. "Great, thank you, Yuxuan. I didn’t expect you’d agree with my idea—I thought you might have some reservations about me..."
She deliberately trailed off, leaving the audience to fill in the blanks.
Her fans immediately caught her drift.
[Poor Mengmeng, she’s worried Ning Yuxuan might hold a grudge against her and didn’t dare say it outright.]
[Ugh, our Mengmeng is so considerate, just voicing her thoughts normally but still afraid of being treated unfairly by Ning Yuxuan.]
But to the surprise of Cen Meng’s fans, their earlier antics had already cost them a lot of goodwill among neutral viewers. This time, as soon as they spoke up, a flood of comments defending Ning Yuxuan poured in.
[What’s Cen Meng playing at? She knows exactly what she did—how dare she imply Ning Yuxuan is the unreasonable one?]
[Given that she literally stole someone else’s belongings to show off, isn’t it normal for people to dislike her?]
[Let’s be real, after what just happened, the fact that Ning Yuxuan hasn’t cursed her out yet is already being polite.]
The live chat erupted into chaos, but on-site, the segment proceeded smoothly.
Seeing that Ning Yuxuan had already agreed, Jiang Ning'an couldn’t very well oppose Cen Meng’s arrangement.
With no further objections, the division of labor was settled.
The three groups boarded a shuttle bus heading to a nearby supermarket.
Seated inside, Ning Yuxuan texted Ning Shiyue: [Bring me some stuff later.]
She attached a screenshot of a checklist from her notes.
Ning Shiyue replied almost immediately: [Aren’t you and Mom filming right now? How am I supposed to get it to you?]
Ning Yuxuan: [Stop pretending.]
Ning Yuxuan: [And double-check the list—don’t get anything wrong!]
Ning Shiyue: […]
A few minutes of silence followed. Ning Yuxuan could practically picture him agonizing over whether to protest further.
Eventually, he sent back a resigned "Fine," accompanied by a kitten sticker—one she frequently used in their family group chat.
Ning Yuxuan couldn’t help but laugh.
The expression was hilariously mismatched with Ning Shiyue’s usual aloof demeanor.
Hearing her chuckle, Ning Fei turned to her curiously. "What’s so funny?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked innocently. "Just found myself a willing errand boy."
Fifteen minutes later, the bus pulled up at the supermarket entrance.
Following their assigned tasks, Jiang Ning'an and Qin Man headed off to buy staples and seasonings.
Cen Meng and Qiao Yazhen rushed to the produce section, meticulously selecting vegetables and calculating prices.
Both groups worked swiftly, anxious to finish within the allotted time.
Only Ning Yuxuan strolled leisurely toward the beverage aisle, pushing her cart without a care.
She even took her time comparing soda flavors. "Mom, which one should I get? Orange, peach, or classic lemon?"
Ning Fei shook her head in amusement. "I don’t drink those—pick whatever you like."
Even years after retiring from acting, Ning Fei maintained strict discipline over her diet, avoiding carbonated drinks to keep her figure in check.
As Ning Yuxuan dawdled in the drinks section, viewers in the live chat grew increasingly frantic.
[Didn’t their group agree to buy meat? Why isn’t she hurrying?]
[There’s only fifteen minutes left—how is she not panicking?]
[The budget’s tight too. With Beicheng’s prices, will she even have enough for meat to feed everyone?]
[I’m losing my mind. Does Ning Yuxuan even know how much meat costs? Is she some sheltered rich girl?]
More impatient viewers outright vented their frustration.
[Ugh, Ning Yuxuan, get your act together! This isn’t just about you—if there’s no meat, everyone goes hungry!]
[Seriously, even if she doesn’t care, she can’t just let the others suffer!]
If only those comments could materialize in bold letters right in front of her, some viewers would’ve gladly obliged.
Twenty minutes flew by, and the staff waited at the exit to collect the groups.
Cen Meng and Qiao Yazhen had spent every last cent of their budget, carefully selecting their items.
Jiang Ning'an and Qin Man had also completed their task, even using leftover change to buy some fruit.
But Ning Yuxuan’s shopping bag was conspicuously filled with colorful soda bottles and juice cans.
Jiang Ning'an stared at the bag, her expression caught between disbelief and speechlessness.
From their earlier interactions, she had pegged Ning Yuxuan as sharp and quick-witted—which was why she hadn’t objected earlier, assuming Ning Yuxuan had a plan.
Now, though, she regretted not speaking up against Cen Meng’s unfair arrangement.
Qin Man, ever the seasoned professional, masked her surprise smoothly.
Qiao Yazhen, who had remained quiet throughout the show, naturally said nothing.
Amid the silence, Cen Meng was the only one who spoke up. "Yuxuan… why did you buy so much soda and juice?"
Given the show’s tight budget, affording enough meat for everyone was already a stretch.
Cen Meng had suggested that Ning Yuxuan go buy the meat precisely to embarrass her, but what was she thinking, wasting money on drinks instead?
Ning Yuxuan shot Cen Meng a glance. "Is there a rule against it?"
Cen Meng opened her mouth but then closed it again.
Fine. When everyone realized there wasn’t enough meat, someone else would surely call Ning Yuxuan out for it.
She had already clashed with Ning Yuxuan earlier—no need to play the villain now.
In the livestream, Cen Meng’s fans seized the opportunity to criticize Ning Yuxuan, some attacking her attitude, others condemning her character.
[It was just a simple question from Mengmeng, why is Ning Yuxuan being so defensive?]
[Ning Yuxuan really has terrible character. She didn’t even complete her task, and now she won’t let others comment on it.]
[She’s so selfish. Who even likes her?]
But the earlier incident was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and many viewers defended Ning Yuxuan.
[Didn’t Ning Yuxuan say she had it under control? The cameras were switching between the three groups—who knows if she already bought the ingredients when no one was watching?]
[Honestly, Ning Yuxuan didn’t even do anything to Cen Meng. She was just a little cold. After what happened earlier, isn’t it normal for her to still feel upset?]
[Speaking of which, has Cen Meng even properly apologized to Ning Yuxuan? A half-hearted “sorry” doesn’t cut it.]
The livestream was in chaos, but the director, seeing the skyrocketing engagement, was more than happy to let the drama unfold.
The show proceeded as planned, and the group returned to the villa by shuttle bus.
A staff member announced that it was time for the special guests to make their appearance.
Cen Meng’s group was joined by Guan Cheng, a male actor who had co-starred with her in a drama.
During the show’s airing, the two had engaged in some CP marketing, which had generated decent buzz.
The program had originally invited Guan Cheng to capitalize on their on-screen chemistry, but Cen Meng’s sudden revelation of a real-life boyfriend today made his presence a little awkward.
Guan Cheng had rushed over from another filming and had no idea what had happened during the livestream.
Following the script, he stepped forward to give Cen Meng a hug—after all, maintaining their CP image required some level of closeness.
But the moment he approached, Cen Meng instinctively took two steps back.
Guan Cheng’s outstretched arms hung awkwardly in the air as he froze on the spot.
Realizing her mistake, Cen Meng quickly raised her hand for a high-five instead.
But Guan Cheng had already switched to a handshake, leaving their gestures mismatched once again.
[...I’m cringing so hard my toes are curling. This is painfully awkward.]
[Expired CPs should just stay expired. These two clearly have zero chemistry.]
[I can already tell tonight’s segment with Cen Meng’s group is going to be a trainwreck. Maybe I’ll just watch the other two groups.]
Finally, Cen Meng adjusted to a handshake, and their fingers barely brushed for a second before they pulled away, ending the excruciating moment.
Next up was Jiang Ning’an’s group, joined by Pan Wenyan, the actor who played her master in The Heart’s Plunder—the hottest drama airing at the moment.
Many viewers had tuned into the variety show after watching Jiang Ning’an in the drama, so the livestream exploded with excitement when Pan Wenyan appeared.
[Ahhhh! My master-disciple CP is back! It’s really him!]
[Why isn’t it the Demon Lord? I protest!]
[Remember how Ning Yuxuan ships the Demon Lord and the female lead? This is gonna be awkward for her, lol.]
[Oh right, haha! So Ning Yuxuan has to watch her rival CP flaunt their chemistry in person?]
Pan Wenyan was four years older than Jiang Ning’an, but they were close in age and had gotten along well during filming.
As friends, they shared a warm hug, sending the CP fans into another frenzy.
Pan Wenyan then greeted the other guests and introduced himself.
Since he had never met the others before, he politely shook hands with each of them.
But when he reached Ning Yuxuan, he first gave a deep bow before teasing, "Sorry, Yuxuan. I heard you’re a Demon Lord x female lead shipper. You’re not upset that it’s me instead, are you?"
Pan Wenyan had caught a clip of the livestream before arriving—specifically the part where the group discussed their favorite CPs.
Known for his quick wit and humor, he couldn’t resist playing up the joke.
Sure enough, the staff burst into laughter.
It was a tricky question to answer—coming up with a response that was both polite and funny on the spot wasn’t easy.
As the chat flooded with "LOLs," the camera cut to Ning Yuxuan.
Unfazed, she looked Pan Wenyan dead in the eye and asked, "How’s your cooking?"
Pan Wenyan blinked, clearly thrown off by the sudden topic shift.
Still, he answered honestly, "Not bad. I’m really into food and experiment with recipes a lot."
Ning Yuxuan gave him an approving nod before replying to his earlier question, "Of course I don’t mind. Welcome to the team."
Pan Wenyan: "..."
He was starting to understand her logic.
The chat erupted in laughter.
[HAHAHA Ning Yuxuan, you—so pragmatic! You’ll forgive him as long as he cooks well?!]
[She’s got a point. Shipping is fun, but eating comes first! I support Ning Yuxuan—food is life!]
[Who would’ve thought Pan Wenyan would escape Ning Yuxuan’s wrath just because he can cook?]
[Perfect timing too, since they’re about to make dinner. This works out great!]
Finally, it was time for Ning Yuxuan’s group’s special guest—Ning Shiyue walked through the door.
Many viewers had guessed he would be the one joining her, especially since he’d appeared in the pre-show as Ning Yuxuan’s younger brother.
Still, seeing him now sent the audience into a frenzy.
[It’s really Ning Shiyue! I’ve been waiting for this!]
[Yes! I loved their family dynamic in the pre-show. Can’t believe we get to see them together again so soon!]
[Same! My favorite part was when the siblings bickered while their mom just watched, lol.]
[Wait, what’s that huge bag Ning Shiyue’s carrying?]
Following the show’s rules, both Guan Cheng and Pan Wenyan had brought gifts—Guan Cheng with a preserved flower arrangement, Pan Wenyan with a grapefruit-scented candle, both beautifully packaged.
Ning Shiyue was holding a semi-transparent white plastic bag in his hand. As the camera zoomed in, the audience could barely make out what was inside.
[Uh… looks like pork belly and ribs…]
[So, Ning Shiyue brought a bunch of ingredients as gifts? And all of them are meat?]
[I just remembered—Ning Yuxuan didn’t buy any meat earlier, only drinks. Did she already know Ning Shiyue would bring some?]
[No wonder Ning Yuxuan wasn’t in a hurry earlier—she had backup!]
[Wait, hold on… does that mean this was all scripted? Did they already know who the special guest would be?]
The production team felt wronged.
To ensure the guests’ reactions were genuine, they had kept the arrival of tonight’s special guest a secret from all three groups.
Ning Shiyue had been recording a show in another city that morning and had only flown into Beicheng two hours ago. Even the production team wasn’t entirely sure he’d make it in time, so they had prepared a backup plan.
They had no idea how Ning Yuxuan had predicted Ning Shiyue’s arrival—let alone instructed him to bring ingredients.
Cen Meng stared at the items Ning Shiyue had brought, her expression one of disbelief.
When she saw Ning Yuxuan buying a pile of drinks earlier, she had secretly been pleased.
If the others ended up with a poor meal because of Ning Yuxuan’s recklessness, Cen Meng planned to swoop in, cook a few delicious dishes, and generously share them with everyone—winning their favor in the process.
Now that her plan had fallen through, Cen Meng couldn’t help but ask, “Yuxuan… why did the production team only tell you who the special guest was? The rest of us had no idea…”
Her tone was a mix of surprise and grievance, and the way she phrased it made it seem like she was already certain Ning Yuxuan had “cheated.”
Ning Yuxuan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she lightly tapped her temple.
Cen Meng: “…What?”
Ning Yuxuan curved her lips into a faint, indifferent smile. “Because I have a brain. I think things through instead of jumping to accuse others.”
Cen Meng: “……”
[She’s right—plenty of viewers guessed the special guest was Ning Shiyue. It’s not that weird for Ning Yuxuan to figure it out too.]
[Pfft… was Ning Yuxuan calling Cen Meng brainless? That was a high-level insult.]
[Ohhh, now I get it—no wonder Cen Meng’s face turned green after hearing that, lol.]
Fans of Cen Meng chimed in:
[Cen Meng was just asking a question. How could Ning Yuxuan insult her like that?]
But as more neutral viewers joined the discussion—and given how Cen Meng’s earlier behavior had already annoyed many—her fans could no longer control the narrative.
The audience quickly rallied to Ning Yuxuan’s defense.
[Who said Ning Yuxuan insulted her? Where was the profanity?]
[Honestly, while Ning Yuxuan’s words were a bit harsh, Cen Meng was the one who started by making baseless accusations.]
Cen Meng’s face darkened as she glared at Ning Yuxuan, but since she was in the wrong, she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
At that moment, aside from fury and resentment, she was also deeply puzzled.
Several times when Ning Yuxuan and Gu Yunhao had argued over the phone, Cen Meng had been right beside Gu Yunhao, listening in.
The Ning Yuxuan on those calls had either cried like a scorned wife or rambled incoherently—nothing like the sharp-tongued woman standing before her now.
What on earth had happened to make Ning Yuxuan seem like a completely different person?
Cen Meng couldn’t figure it out.
After the three special guests finished their introductions, the staff announced that the groups could now split up to select ingredients and prepare dinner.
While everyone else headed to the kitchen, Cen Meng excused herself, claiming her eyes were bothering her, and sought out the staff member in charge of the guests’ phones.
“I’m so sorry,” Cen Meng said weakly. “I know the rules say we’re not supposed to have our phones except during outdoor shoots. But my eyes… if I don’t contact a doctor soon, I’m afraid…”
She lightly tugged at the staff member’s sleeve, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “My health isn’t important, but if it gets worse and affects the whole production… I—I don’t want to hold everyone back because of me…”
The staff member in charge of the phones was a male intern, completely defenseless against a beautiful woman pulling at his sleeve and pleading tearfully.
Besides, Cen Meng’s excuse did sound legitimate.
After glancing around nervously, the intern lowered his voice. “Alright… but as soon as you’re done, return the phone to me. I’ll be in trouble otherwise.”
Cen Meng’s face brightened instantly. “Of course! Thank you—you’re so kind.”
The intern’s face flushed red as he handed her the phone. “It’s nothing. Go ahead and use it.”
Cen Meng took the phone and slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
There were no cameras inside, but she double-checked anyway before carefully removing her microphone, turning it off, and burying it under a thick towel.
Once everything was secure, she hesitated briefly before opening a social media app on her phone.
Her heart plummeted the moment she saw the trending list.
Her name and Ning Yuxuan’s were sitting side by side in the top ten.
