When it comes to picking a partner, Ye Lin was completely indifferent. Given the original host’s dismal reputation in the entertainment industry, she assumed no one in their right mind would actually want to team up with her.
The production team required every guest to vote, so she simply picked the only dish she could actually eat. Out of the six options, the “Sugar-Coated Tomatoes” was her sole choice not because the others were unpalatable, but because of her abysmal luck. Eating rich, high-quality food usually resulted in a prompt and violent stomachache.
Ye Lin let out a soft sigh. She had voted for the person with the highest popularity, Gu Li—and Gu Li, apparently unafraid of stirring up trouble, had chosen her right back. Truly, a karmic entanglement.
“You didn’t happen to choose me, did you?” Gu Li blinked playfully. She was finding that teasing Ye Lin was becoming a rather addictive pastime.
Ye Lin turned her head away, refusing to look at her. She realized she was constantly being led by the nose by this “Human Koi.”
Across from them, the Director raised his megaphone to announce the results.
“Now, we will announce the scores in the order the dishes were presented. The first dish, made by Movie Queen Gu Li, received 25 votes.”
【No way, our Little Carp only made sugar-coated tomatoes?】
【It’s definitely because she didn’t have any ingredients. The people in front took everything!】
“The second dish, by TV King Luo Quan, received 24 votes.”
【Is the crew rigging this? That steak looked amazing, how could the score be so low?】
【Not necessarily. The steak just looked good. Didn’t you see how much everyone loved that final bowl of noodles?】
“The third dish, by our young star Chen Qingyang, received 28 votes. The fourth, by the ‘Light of Girl Groups’ Ming Fanshuang, received 15.”
【Hahaha, Mingming’s sweet and sour pork was burnt! Hahaha, it’s as cute as she is!】
“The fifth dish, by ‘Iron-Blooded Alpha’ Shen Biejun, received 10 votes.”
【Heavens! Does that mean the best bowl of noodles was made by Ye Lin? Is it really that good? It looks so plain.】
【Is Ye Lin bribing the crew?】
【Are you blind? Couldn’t you see how much the villagers enjoyed it?】
【But.】
【Wait, does this mean a lot of people are going to choose Ye Lin?】
The viewers couldn’t accept that Ye Lin had produced the best-tasting dish, and a flame war erupted on screen.
“The final dish, the clear broth noodles, was made by the starlet Ye Lin. It received 30 votes, making her the ultimate winner of this round! Congratulations, Ye Lin!”
Ye Lin’s victory caught everyone off guard. In the industry, Ye Lin was known as the pampered “Young Miss” who wouldn’t even tie her own shoelaces. How could such a person cook a meal this good? Though skeptical, everyone clapped politely. After all, not a single drop of broth remained in that bowl. It really was delicious.
Coming from a Celestial Sect, Ye Lin had once taken first place in a “Culinary Cultivation” competition. Forget greens and dried noodles; give her a stone and she could make it taste enticing.
“Next, we will announce the guests’ voting results.”
【I’m so nervous! Who did my baby Qingyang vote for?】
【The Movie Queen’s CP is about to be born! Excitement.jpg】
【King Luo, take the Movie Queen away! I’ve already drafted the posts for your Super Topic.】
【I’m shipping the ‘Double L’ (Li & Lin) CP!】
Since Gu Li’s debut, she had stayed at the top without ever engaging in a “CP” (Couple Pairing) scandal, making her pairing the most anticipated highlight of the show.
Naturally, the production team wasn’t kind enough to reveal it immediately. They saved the suspense for last.
“First, let’s see who Shen Biejun, our lowest scorer, voted for.” The crew flipped the board behind Shen Biejun’s name. It displayed the number 4.
Ming Fanshuang was in a daze! As a die-hard Gu Li fan, she knew Gu Li was a terrible cook but loved meat. When she had tasted the nearly undrinkable rib soup, she had been secretly ecstatic, thinking she’d found the “Movie Queen’s dish.” It turned out that terrible soup was made by this hulking Alpha? It was over! They had chosen each other. A “Double Arrow” pairing built on a complete misunderstanding!
Ming Fanshuang covered her face in despair, which the camera captured as the “bashful charm” of an Omega.
“Now, let’s look at the result for the maker of dish number 4.” After a burst of suspenseful music, the board was flipped to reveal Ming Fanshuang’s name. “Congratulations on the birth of our first ‘Double Arrow’ CP! Congratulations to Ming Fanshuang and Shen Biejun, our ‘Three-Day Couple’! Let’s celebrate!”
The parties involved were practically in tears. Shen Biejun scratched the back of his head, looking bashful. It was his first time being part of a “CP,” and he actually seemed quite happy about it.
The netizens on the other side of the screen let out “goose-like” honks of laughter.
【Hahaha. Shen the Silly is so true to his name. The way he scooted over was so dumb, haha.】
【I have to say, that height difference is the cutest! Hahaha, it’s just a pity my delicate ‘daughter’ is paired with this big oaf.】
【Does Shen Biejun think he just won a blind date? He looks so smug.】
The other guests clapped, and the scene felt like a wedding. Only Ye Lin nodded like a wise mother. “It’s good that they’re together.”
“You can read faces too?” Gu Li’s sharp ears caught her. “What’s so ‘good’ about it?”
“Ming Fanshuang has a constitution that attracts ‘Sha’ (malevolent energy). Shen Biejun may be a bit of a dunce, but his ‘Fate’ is very strong. They complement each other,” Ye Lin said seriously. She glanced toward the mountain. With those two together, Shen Biejun should be able to shield Ming Fanshuang from a lot of trouble over the next three days.
“Oh?” Gu Li re-evaluated Ye Lin. “You really know your stuff? Did you study this? Then, guess which one I chose?”
Did she even need to guess? Extreme good luck and extreme misfortune attract each other like poles of a magnet. In this group, it was likely the best choice—at least she wouldn’t have her luck siphoned away.
“It doesn’t matter who you chose, just stay away from Ming Fanshuang. Her constitution is troublesome.” Ye Lin paused, then added, “Luo Quan and Chen Qingyang are also very troublesome.”
Just then, the Director announced that Luo Quan and Chen Qingyang had successfully formed a team. Chen Qingyang, being small and delicate, looked quite well-matched with Luo Quan. He kept his head bowed in shyness. Even knowing King Luo’s heart wasn’t with him, he was happy just to be on his team.
“I, I can cook. I’ll handle the meals from now on,” Chen Qingyang whispered, fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
Is he implying my cooking is bad? I didn’t come here to eat, Luo Quan thought, his brow furrowing. He refused to admit he had been drawn to Chen Qingyang’s dish because it tasted exactly like something his grandmother used to make.
His feelings were complicated; he generally didn’t like male Omegas.
“Wow, if two ‘troublesome’ people are together, will they become a ‘Double Trouble’?” Gu Li rested her chin on her hand, finding the whole thing fascinating.
“You still have the heart to worry about others?” Ye Lin pressed a hand to her forehead. “Do you realize you’ve been set up?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve walked into a trap, Great Movie Queen!” Ye Lin explained with exasperated patience. “Weakness, malevolence, bad luck, heavy fate, and no luck, when people with these negative constitutions gather, they will siphon off your fortune. They’ll suck you dry, do you understand?”
Gu Li covered her mouth, her eyes widening. She let out a small, quiet gasp: “Heavens, you want to suck me dry? Ah, that’s so lewd. Do your fans know you’re like this?”
Damn it! Ye Lin wanted to scream. Out of everything I just said, you only focused on those three words? She felt like grabbing Gu Li by the ears to make her understand how dangerous her situation was. A “Human Koi” among this group was like a lamb in a den of tigers. A Koi that loses its luck is just a dead fish, and it would end miserably!
“Third couple, please be mindful of the setting. No flirting allowed!” the Director announced through his megaphone as a friendly reminder.
I wasn’t! I didn’t! At that moment, Ye Lin really wished she could throw a “Silencing Talisman” at him.