5 – Chapter 5
The Movie Emperor’s Ears Turned Red
In the end, only Lin Yulan and Xie Zhi chose each other. Amid the envious voices of the others, the two arrived at the late-night snack venue prepared by the program crew.
A bonfire, barbecue, fruit wine—young men and women sitting face to face, the romantic atmosphere was fully charged.
Lin Yulan had changed into a white dress with purple floral prints. Her long hair, freshly washed, was very smooth, and she looked incredibly fresh overall.
Yet she still seemed somewhat uneasy, feeling slightly restless inside.
She had joined this show with a mission. The company she signed with didn’t want her to fall in love; they just wanted her to showcase herself more, increase exposure and fame, laying the foundation for her future entry into the entertainment industry.
And she really needed to earn money urgently—her mother was sick. Besides the surgery, the subsequent medical expenses were unpredictable…
The male guests here were all impressive, but the most famous was undoubtedly Movie Emperor Xie Zhi, so she hadn’t hesitated when making her choice.
She just hadn’t expected Xie Zhi to choose her as well.
Holding the hem of her dress, she gave Xie Zhi a gentle smile, her tone a bit nervous: “Hello…”
“Please sit, no need to be polite with the program crew…” Xie Zhi nodded at her. “The potato and chicken stew you made was delicious.”
Perhaps because Xie Zhi’s words were as comforting as a spring breeze, Lin Yulan’s tension quickly eased. Gradually, she began to talk more.
“I thought you would choose Sister Si Nian. She’s so beautiful, while I’m not well-known, just a student…”
Xie Zhi shook his head: “You have your own beauty too. Be more confident.”
“Mm, but Sister Si Nian must have chosen you, right… I don’t even know how to face her when I go back later. She’ll probably be unhappy, won’t she?”
“She doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”
Lin Yulan nodded, “You’re both in the entertainment industry, so you must be friends, right?”
“Not very familiar.” Xie Zhi picked up the fruit wine and took a sip. This conversation wasn’t going as he had expected. He wanted to chat with Lin Yulan about each other, but he hadn’t anticipated that she would keep steering the topic toward Si Nian. It was a bit dull.
Lin Yulan had a small appetite; after eating a little, she couldn’t have more. The late-night snack ended in just 40 minutes.
In the end, the two cleverly packed the leftover barbecue and wine to share with the other guests in the dorm.
[I’m dying from shipping them! The innocent little white flower and the gentle movie emperor work too!]
[You’ll ship anything! Go crack some sunflower seeds if you’re free!]
[Why do I feel there’s no chemistry between them? It’s so boring… And this girl seems timid and not very poised.]
[I think she’s a bit fake and tea-like.]
[The one upstairs must be that Si Nian bitch’s fan! Mad that a beauty stole your idol’s man? Pfft!]
The comments section erupted into a war of words, full of curses. At this point, the system also started to panic, buzzing incessantly in Si Nian’s mind.
“Big trouble! They’ve gone on a date! Host, aren’t you going to do something to stop it? Xie Zhi is your husband! Your head is practically glowing green!”
“It’s just a meal together, no big deal.”
“Host! You really have never been in love, have you? You don’t understand anything! Looks like I’ll have to step in again!”
“Huh?” This system is quite good at personal attacks.
The two returning from their date carried a large bag of barbecue. The other guests, smelling the aroma from their dorm rooms, gathered in the dining area, their eyes practically gleaming.At this moment, no one was paying attention to how Xie Zhi and Lin Yulan were getting along anymore. They sat in a circle and began enjoying their late-night snack.
Si Nian seized the opportunity to sit close beside Xie Zhi. Her long nightgown skirt fanned out, partly brushing against his leg.
She believed that pursuing someone shouldn’t be rushed, but clearly, the system didn’t share her view.
Just as she reached out to take a glass of fruit wine handed to her by Xie Zhi, a mechanical voice drifted into her ears, “Beginner’s Guide: Friction of Love.”
“Huh?” Before Si Nian could react, the glass in her hand tipped over, spilling all over Xie Zhi.
“Host, there’s a cloth right beside you. Hurry and wipe him dry!”
“Oh, right!” Si Nian, already on edge, immediately treated the system’s words as a command. She moved swiftly, grabbing the cloth and wiping Xie Zhi’s abdomen.
Xie Zhi was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt that day, and the hem, soaked with wine, had turned semi-transparent and clung stickily to his stomach. Before he could say a word, a pale, delicate arm pressed against the sensitive area.
“I…”
“It must feel uncomfortable, all sticky like that, right?” Si Nian asked.
No man could remain completely unaffected by such a provocation. Xie Zhi quickly caught hold of her arm and took the cloth from her hand. “It’s fine, I was the one who wasn’t steady.” As he spoke, a faint blush crept up behind his ears.
The viewers clearly caught that blush. “What the hell is this development? I don’t get it!”
[Didn’t that bitch Si Nian spill the wine herself? This cheap, vulgar trick is beyond shameless!]
[Xie Zhi apologized—it seems like he was the one who spilled it. Stop blaming everything on the beauty, okay?!]
[Did you guys see that? Xie Zhi’s ears turned red! I think I’m witnessing love blooming right here—help, I’m totally shipping them!]
[Ugh, the mole on his earlobe is killing me! So sexy!]