13 – Chapter 13
A woman’s words are as deceptive as a ghost’s whisper.
At 7 PM, during prime time, viewers cozied up in warm blankets clutching their phones, staring intently at screens whose colorful glow illuminated their excited faces.
Whether it was men competing for women or women competing for men, the drama was thrilling.
Moreover, everyone wanted to know what Xie Zhi truly felt about Si Nian, so they all hoped she would win first place in this competition and get to invite him on a date.
The other guests thought the same, believing Si Nian would desperately fight for first place again to secure a date with Xie Zhi.
Even Xie Zhi himself suspected this…
The four female guests had already taken their positions at the small wooden table. Qin Zishuang winked at Si Nian: “Go easy on me.”
Si Nian stared at the red wine before her, feeling dizzy already. Her alcohol tolerance was notoriously poor—she usually only drank sweet fruit wines or champagne at most. Strong beverages like red wine or baijiu that burned her throat were hardly swallowable.
Given Xie Zhi’s current attitude, she figured it was better not to hover around him and risk worsening the situation.
So this time, she wouldn’t push herself.
“My alcohol tolerance is low—I probably can’t win this round,” Si Nian shook her head with a resigned expression.
Lin Yulan also frowned at the wine. “I likely have the weakest tolerance here, but I think Sister Si Nian is being modest. You’ll probably take first place, right?”
Si Nian ignored her. Lin Yulan rubbed her nose and fell silent.
At the referee’s signal, the female guests raised their glasses, but the results were shocking.
Si Nian, expected to be a strong drinker, grimaced as if wearing a mask of agony, taking tiny sips that were even less impressive than Lin Yulan’s beside her.
The final winner was Qin Zishuang.
Netizens refused to believe it, convinced Si Nian was pretending. A woman with her looks, they argued, must be sociable and accustomed to drinking.
[Seriously? Has Si Nian lost her mind? Why the act? Giving up on chasing men?]
[I was all hyped up for this? This is what we get?]
[Truly, a woman’s words are as deceptive as a ghost’s! Claims to like him, then tosses him aside after a little flirting?]
[Told you she’s no good. Xie Zhi should stay solo—Si Nian, get lost!]
[Why so much hate toward a beauty? If you pursued someone and got no response, wouldn’t you hesitate? Must she be a doormat?]
[Hang in there, beauty! If Xie Zhi doesn’t like you, forget him. What about Liu Yu? A muscular tough guy and a sexy beauty—wouldn’t that be a perfect match?]
[Didn’t Xie Zhi speak up for Si Nian? He can’t be completely indifferent to her…]
Unfortunately, no matter how heated the comments became, the winner was Qin Zishuang, who chose Bai Yanlin as her date.
The two left one after another, while the others gathered around the table. In the distance, the bonfire flickered, making everyone’s expressions appear more vivid.
After downing 200ml of red wine, Si Nian’s throat burned. Spotting a drink nearby, she grabbed it and gulped eagerly—only to realize after several swallows that it was beer.
“Ugh…” Her already dizzy head spun worse, pale cheeks flushing crimson before she finally slumped onto the table.
An empty seat remained beside her. Seeing an opportunity, Liu Yu promptly brewed a cup of hot tea to offer his attentions.
But a glass of plain water had already been placed by Si Nian’s hand.In a dazed state, Si Nian caught a familiar scent and slightly lifted her head to discover Xie Zhi.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. No need to force yourself if you can’t handle alcohol.”
“Mhm, don’t leave yet. I have something to tell you…” Si Nian’s voice, softened by intoxication, carried a hint of sweetness as she reached out as if to grab Xie Zhi. But her mind was foggy, her vision blurred with faint shadows, and her hand closed on empty air.
Xie Zhi, as if compelled by some unseen force, halted his steps and looked down at the woman whose face was half-pressed against the table.
He had to admit—Si Nian was truly beautiful, especially her eyes, which held a captivating allure.
Otherwise, why would he keep following her lead time and again?
As the man and woman locked eyes, the six guests on set seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own world…
Neither spoke first. After what felt like an eternity, Xie Zhi finally broke the silence. “What did you want to tell me?”
What was it again? Si Nian rubbed her temples but couldn’t recall what she had intended to say to Xie Zhi…
She lifted her head from the table, sat up straight, and gazed seriously at Xie Zhi. Her pink lips parted, and the words that escaped had a heart-racing effect.
“Your eyes are so beautiful… they made me forget what I wanted to say.”
At that moment, Si Nian’s eyes sparkled with a childlike innocence, as if these words were her genuine feelings.
“You’re drunk. You should head back and rest early.”
[Is she really drunk or just pretending? Damn, she’s smooth!]
[Sis, you’re killing me! Let go of Xie Zhi—I can handle this, I swear!]
[Holy crap, I don’t even need to chase her—I’d throw myself at her, no questions asked!]
[Did I just see Xie Zhi’s Adam’s apple move? Was he swallowing? I’m dead! Obsession CP is way too sweet—I’m recommending this to everyone!]
[Wuwuwu, I’m betraying my bias! From now on, I’m a fan of Sister Si Nian.]
[I’m genuinely invested in this ship. If these two don’t end up together, it’s a crime against nature!]
The live chat was going wild, and the little system felt equally conflicted.
Who said you couldn’t charm a man without dating experience? Look at how smoothly the host was pulling this off—she really had some tricks up her sleeve, seemingly even more effective than its own methods.
At that moment, it wanted to join the live chat and shout: Sister Si Nian, you’re amazing!
In the end, since Si Nian was drunk, everyone dispersed, and the two other female guests escorted her back to the dorm.
The production team did a decent thing by turning off the cameras in the girls’ dorm.
Zhou Yuan sat by Lin Yulan’s bed, sipping hot tea and chatting freely without the cameras.
“Sister Zishuang and Si Nian both seem to have their sights set on someone. That leaves just us. I’m fine with it, but you’re so pretty—you should take this chance to find love.”
“These things depend on fate…” Lin Yulan shook her head.
“But Xie Zhi picked you for his first impression vote. If only you’d been more proactive…” Zhou Yuan sighed.
“Let’s just forget it…” Lin Yulan’s tone carried a hint of regret.
“Forget what?! You do have feelings for Xie Zhi, don’t you?” Zhou Yuan grew excited. “If you like him, you should go for it! I think you two would be a great match—similar ages and all. Even if you don’t end up as lovers, you could still be friends.”
“But…””But what? Are you worried about Si Nian? They haven’t confirmed their relationship yet, everything is still uncertain. Besides, how can you know the outcome if you don’t even try?”
Lin Yulan was swayed by Zhou Yuan’s words.
Thinking about it, it was indeed true. Xie Zhi had initially chosen her, hadn’t he? It was only after Si Nian persistently pursued him that his attention shifted.
Moreover, since she planned to develop her career in the entertainment industry, building a good relationship with Xie Zhi could open up another path for her.