9 – Chapter 9
Xie Zhi is a bit tricky.
After all the guests had finished eating, Lin Yulan volunteered to do the dishes. Seeing her insistence, the others stopped being polite and left the dining area.
Only Bai Yanlin remained, staring blankly at the bowl of congee in front of him.
Si Nian’s cooking skills were this good? How was that possible? He knew her temperament all too well—aside from causing trouble and throwing tantrums, she was utterly useless. How could she possibly know how to cook?
In the end, he couldn’t resist scooping a spoonful of the congee…
He had to admit, it seemed even better than the craft of the Michelin-starred chef his family had hired.
“Are you still going to drink the congee? I need to wash the dishes.” Lin Yulan suddenly appeared beside him.
Bai Yanlin snapped back to reality and straightened up. “No, it doesn’t suit my taste. The sandwich you made was delicious.”
“Ah, really? Thank you.” A glimmer of light returned to Lin Yulan’s dim eyes. “I thought none of you liked the sandwiches.”
“In my opinion, it’s much better than congee.” Bai Yanlin tapped his fingers on the table. “You’re quite good in many aspects, but sometimes you’re too nice and easily bullied… If anything happens in the future, you can come to me.”
Bai Yanlin’s words carried an implicit meaning. Lin Ylan suddenly thought of that arrogant female celebrity. After a moment of stunned silence, she smiled and said, “Thank you, but I’m fine. Sister Si Nian might just have that kind of personality.”
This was the first time Lin Yulan had been this close to Bai Yanlin, and the first time she had carefully observed this man.
She couldn’t help but feel he had the aura of someone in a high position—not like an ordinary company owner. And that watch on his wrist… if she remembered correctly, she had seen it online before, and its price reached eight figures…
[Is no one shipping these two? They’re such a perfect match, ahhh! I’m screaming like a groundhog!]
[Who wouldn’t like a gentle and kind beauty like her?]
[Did you see the watch on Bai Yanlin’s wrist? It could buy a house! What’s his background? He seems super rich!]
[I looked it up—the president of Bai Entertainment seems to be named Bai Yanlin. Could it be this big shot? Damn, this production team is amazing, they can invite anyone!]
[Am I the only one who thinks these two are a bit… shady? And this President Bai seems to have some inexplicable hostility toward Si Nian. The way he looks at Xie Zhi is also a bit weird and uncomfortable.]
After just one breakfast, Bai Yanlin and Lin Yulan grew closer. During group activities, the two sat together, chatting idly.
Si Nian watched them and thought to herself that indeed, the male and female leads would always end up together, regardless of whether a cannon fodder side character like her existed or not. She shook her head again, feeling that she had been truly foolish in her past life.
Moreover, now it seemed that Bai Yanlin wasn’t particularly outstanding among all the high-quality male guests. He always wore a stern expression as if everyone owed him money—it was off-putting.
He really wasn’t as good as Xie Zhi. Although she couldn’t figure out what schemes were brewing in his mind, his face was always adorned with a smile, so pleasing to the eye…
Her eyes must have been blind back then.
The current Si Nian had yet to experience the tormenting methods of a certain yandere, still immersed in his harmless smile…
Soon, it was afternoon. Perhaps the production team felt things weren’t exciting enough, as they arranged a beach volleyball match.First, the men and women competed separately to determine one winner from each group, and then the final match would be between these two winners.
The ultimate prize was a luxurious dinner for two.
Who wouldn’t want to win first place and invite the person they liked to enjoy it together?
As soon as the rules were announced, the live chat exploded with discussions.
【I think it’s fair to have one winner from the men’s group and one from the women’s group. Otherwise, the women would definitely be at a disadvantage compared to the men.】
【Exactly. Lighting a candle for the female celebrities here—looks like she won’t get to fawn over Xie Zhi again today, hahaha.】
Gradually, as the guests changed into their outfits and gathered by the beach, the tone of the live chat shifted.
【My mom asked me why I’m watching my phone with a nosebleed. I don’t think I can explain it clearly…】
【They’re all male and female bodhisattvas! The production team are true saints!】
【Liu Yu’s muscles are way too bulky. I feel like he could crush me with his armpits…】
【Omg, Xie Zhi’s physique—I’m drooling all over it.】
【I’ve become a fan of Si Nian’s figure.】
【Xie Zhi only focuses on making movies—no magazine shoots, no variety shows. God knows how many times I’ve rewatched his movie scenes. I never thought I’d see him playing volleyball shirtless today?!】
【Brothers and sisters, forget volleyball—just hit me instead!】
Whether it was the production team’s requirement or not, the male guests were only wearing swim trunks, leaving their physiques completely on display.
The female guests had varied styles, but their figures were also clearly visible.
Qin Zishuang, who regularly tanned and exercised, wore a black sports bra and yoga shorts, radiating a healthy, energetic vibe.
Zhou Yuan, a food blogger who ate more often, opted for a low-key T-shirt and athletic shorts, keeping it simple and fresh.
Lin Yulan, who was on the slender side, wore a sports tank top and shorts but added a white sun-protective jacket over it, making her the most conservative.
And Si Nian was undoubtedly the center of attention.
Though she wasn’t wearing a tank top or a sports bra—just a fitted polo shirt set with a cropped short-sleeved top and athletic shorts—the form-fitting style accentuated her lovely curves perfectly.
The pink-and-white checkered pattern added a touch of brightness, making her look like a flower bud that had just bloomed on a morning branch, fresh and dewy.
Two male guests stared at Si Nian for a long time, and even Bai Yanlin’s gaze lingered on her more than once.
Si Nian tightened her headband and glanced at the man she cared about the most, but his expression remained as indifferent as ever.
Was her outfit not attractive enough?
She recalled how, at the start of the show yesterday, she had worn a tube top, and Xie Zhi hadn’t reacted much then either. So today, she had deliberately chosen pink and white, hoping to go for a pure and innocent look—but it seemed that didn’t work either.
So tricky…
Determined to win, Si Nian gave it her all in the competition. The result was good—she came in first in the women’s group, though it was mostly because none of them were particularly skilled at volleyball.
But who would have thought Xie Zhi would end up as the men’s group winner?
What now?
【Holy crap, the production team is amazing! Did they foresee this scenario? Former crush turned rival?】
【Let’s be real, a match between a man and a woman is way more exciting. Let’s see if Xie Zhi will go easy on her.】