7 – Chapter 7
Should women be confined to domestic roles?
By the time everyone had finished their late-night snacks, Xie Zhi still hadn’t returned. He had already gone to bed early.
The smell of alcohol had completely faded from his body. He sniffed his fingers—the faint fragrance had long been replaced by the scent of body wash.
Around midnight, the other male guests gradually returned to their rooms. Even though they tried to be quiet, Xie Zhi still opened his eyes.
He hadn’t actually been asleep at all.
Due to incidents from his childhood, his sleep had never been good over the years. Getting five hours of sleep per night was considered his best scenario, and even that was light sleep.
Let alone in this shared dormitory setting.
The live broadcast wasn’t 24/7. Sometimes when the production team predicted there wouldn’t be any dramatic moments, they would turn off the cameras to give everyone some breathing space.
Seeing that Xie Zhi was awake, the others stopped restraining themselves and started chatting.
Perhaps because they had drunk some alcohol, the men had become slightly more familiar with each other.
Liu Yu: “I can’t believe three of us voted for Si Nian. You guys are something else—talking about liking other people, but then… tsk tsk tsk.”
Gao Li also laughed: “You’re no different.”
Liu Yu: “Well, I just lacked some confidence in myself… Someone like Si Nian seems a bit hard to approach. I was just being bold to give it a try.”
Gao Li: “That’s the first impression, especially when she’s not smiling. But after spending the day together, I actually think her personality is quite cute.”
Liu Yu: “Come on, we’re all men here—no need to boast to your buddies. Personality? Are you sure it’s not about her figure and face?”
Gao Li shook his head: “Let’s not talk about this anymore. She only seems interested in Xie Zhi.”
Liu Yu: “Actor Xie, I’m really envious of you! Such a beautiful woman…”
Xie Zhi responded with a faint smile but said nothing.
Bai Yanlin sneered coldly and surprisingly joined the conversation, “Whether it’s dating or marriage, women should be the type who are good at domestic affairs. Otherwise, who knows what kind of chaos might ensue.”
After saying this, he cast a cold glance at Xie Zhi, full of disdain and contempt, then took his pajamas and entered the bathroom.
Both Liu Yu and Gao Li vaguely knew about Bai Yanlin’s background. Neither dared to confront him, so they eventually fell silent.
In the unseen darkness, Xie Zhi’s originally gentle peach-blossom eyes darkened, their depths pitch black and unreadable.
On the other side, Si Nian also couldn’t fall asleep early. She tossed and turned several times, feeling like the hand that had wiped Xie Zhi’s clothes earlier was somewhat burning.
Actually, she had touched that part of Xie Zhi! Although she had maintained her composure on the surface, inwardly she had felt somewhat dizzy and flustered.
She had been intimate with Xie Zhi once before, but it was due to a misunderstanding. Moreover, she had been drunk and blacked out, leaving no memories of it.
Added to that, after they married, they had lived separate lives with no contact at all.
But today, right from the start, there had been hugging and touching. Even as someone who had been reborn, she found it quite stimulating.
She just didn’t know what Xie Zhi might be thinking…
“Ding—” A clear notification sound rang out as the system appeared again, “Host! Given your excellent performance in today’s tasks, and with approval from higher authorities, I’ve decided to give you a reward!”
“Oh? If you’re talking about this, then I’m definitely not sleepy anymore. What’s the reward?”
“Culinary Talent!”
“Huh?””To capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach. A feast brings him a dual experience for both his taste buds and soul…”
At 6 o’clock the next morning, Si Nian opened her eyes and walked out of the small wooden cabin to find the sun just rising from the other side of the sea.
The temperature difference between day and night at the seaside was significant, and the wind still carried a chill. She returned to her room to grab a thin jacket, only to discover that Lin Yulan’s bed was already empty.
Arriving at the small kitchen, she indeed found Lin Yulan busy at work.
Seeing Si Nian appear, Lin Yulan gave a gentle smile. “Sister Si Nian, why don’t you go back to sleep for a while? I’ll call everyone when breakfast is ready.”
“No need.” Si Nian shook her head and walked toward the stove.
“You seemed a bit upset with me yesterday. Let me cook a meal as an apology,” Lin Yulan said, clasping her hands in front of her chest, her eyes filled with anticipation. “Let’s make up and be on good terms again.”
Si Nian frowned slightly, feeling somewhat speechless. Then she picked up a basin from the counter, scooped some rice, and began washing it. “But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you, so why talk about making up? Unless you feel I’ve offended you in some way?”
“No, that’s not what I meant, I—”
“Alright, cooking for eight people alone would take too long. Why not work together?”
“But Sister Si Nian, yesterday you…” Lin Yulan trailed off mid-sentence.
Yesterday, she had noticed that Si Nian was probably a young lady who never lifted a finger at home—even chopping vegetables seemed difficult for her. It was clear she didn’t know how to cook.
What had gotten into her today, insisting on making breakfast? Did she think breakfast was simple and wanted to use this chance to earn some goodwill?
Well, if that’s the case, let her do it…
When the results come out and everyone compares, they’ll know which is better.
Thinking this, Lin Yulan’s lips curved into a slight smile. By then, both the male guests’ and the audience’s favor would likely shift to her.
She knew it wasn’t right to climb up by stepping on others, but the entertainment industry was brutally competitive. She had to learn to be strong gradually.
Besides, wasn’t this Si Nian’s own doing?
On the island, the ingredients for each day’s meals were placed in the kitchen ahead of time. After thinking for a long time, Lin Yulan decided to make sandwiches—they were hard to mess up.
“Sister Si Nian, I’m planning to make sandwiches. What about you?”
“I’ll cook some seafood porridge and stir-fry a few side dishes.”
Lin Yulan was taken aback. Seafood porridge? Could she really make it? If she wasted those seafood ingredients, she couldn’t imagine how angry the other guests would be.
With a somewhat amused and watchful attitude, Lin Yulan buried herself in toasting the bread, then frying eggs and bacon to prepare the sandwich fillings.
Meanwhile, the early risers in the live chat were already buzzing.
[Has Si Nian been cursed or something? Since when does she know how to cook? I’m dying of laughter—I still remember her blowing up a pot on that variety show.]
[Hahaha, upstairs! That day, her hair got singed in a few spots. I laughed so hard I crowed!!]
[What is she trying to prove? Does she want to win Xie Zhi’s favor by making him porridge?]
[No need, absolutely no need! If Xie Zhi eats her porridge and… departs, the film industry would lose a superstar! Si Nian would be eternally condemned!]
[Someone, quick, stop her! Director, where are you? Your kitchen is about to explode—what are you waiting for?!]【Yesterday I still thought Si Nian and Xie Zhi actually had some potential, but after witnessing this scene, I no longer hold any hope…】
【Nian-bitch is practically digging her own grave, trying to compete with the school belle in domestic virtues…】
The bullet comments were flying across the screen, yet Si Nian’s cooking talent truly seemed maxed out, as if blessed by divine assistance.