“Qiao Mei? Qiao Mei?” The staff member’s voice pulled Wen Ruqiao’s wandering thoughts back to reality.
“Hmm?”
“Don’t worry, Director Meng has already had He Huainan withdraw from this episode’s livestream.” In fact, after falling into a manure pit and getting beaten up, even if the production team hadn’t asked him to leave, He Huainan would have been too embarrassed to stay.
Not having to see that despicable idiot lifted Wen Ruqiao’s spirits considerably. She chuckled softly, “Alright, thank you.”
The sea breeze gently lifted the stray strands of hair at the girl’s temples. The dazzling sunset spilled across the ocean’s surface, shimmering with golden light, layer upon layer spreading and rolling. Her face was bare of makeup, yet her smile remained utterly captivating.
The staff member felt a bit flustered and reverted to a more formal address: “Teacher Wen, this way, please.”
The livestream camera finally cut from the kitchen back to the courtyard.
Xiao Ou and the others were bustling about, tidying up the tables and chairs in the pavilion.
The audience scanned the screen but didn’t see He Huainan, Lu Minglang, or Wen Ruqiao, growing increasingly anxious.
【Where are they? Where are they? Where are they?】
【Just give it to me straight! What exactly is the relationship between Lu Minglang and Wen Ruqiao?!】
【I heard ‘meimei’ (little sister)! But is she a sweetheart or an actual sister?! Aaaaaah!】
Amidst the overwhelming discussions from netizens, one of the parties involved, Lu Minglang, appeared.
Lu Minglang was twenty-three this year, yet he still carried the youthful aura of a campus heartthrob.
He had changed into a clean white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and a pair of canvas shoes. His hair was no longer styled; instead, it was washed and left to dry naturally. His soft, fluffy chestnut short hair had a slight natural wave, accentuating his exquisitely handsome face.
Instantly, the livestream chat flooded with cries of “Brother!” and “Hubby!”
“Brother Lu is here!” Xiao Ou greeted him.
Lu Minglang gave a slight nod and placed a vase in the center of the table.
Inside the vase, several sunflowers bloomed vibrantly and brightly.
Immediately, some viewers in the livestream began speculating:
【Holy crap?! The language of sunflowers is: ‘In my eyes, there is no one else, everywhere I look, it’s only you. When you are here, you are my sun, I can’t take my eyes off you; when you are not here, I lower my head and see no one.’ Is Lu Minglang secretly in love with Wen Ruqiao?!!】
The livestream exploded into chaos. Lu Minglang’s girlfriend fans all started wailing in despair.
There were also older sister fans and mom fans who felt heartache for Lu Minglang, thinking their beloved idol was so outstanding, yet he was not only secretly in love but also pining unrequitedly!
Wen Ruqiao, you have no heart!
Of course, even more were the melon-eating spectators drawn by the gossip.
Come on, Lu Minglang is a top-tier celebrity!
Isn’t it thrilling to watch a top star make things official?!
Thus, the popularity of the “Island Survival” livestream soared higher and higher, breaking records one after another!
In the control room, Director Meng grinned from ear to ear. With Lu Minglang around, today’s livestream had long since broken this season’s record and was now approaching the popularity of the very first season!
That was the most glorious and magnificent highlight moment of “Island Survival”!
“Oh, Ru Qiao is back.” The scriptwriter next to him, spotting Wen Ruqiao’s figure in the camera feed, smiled. “She really is a little lucky charm.”
“Absolutely!” Director Meng’s gaze toward Wen Ruqiao was filled with kindness and benevolence. “I’ll have to ask her later if she’d be willing to become a permanent member of our variety show!”
…
Courtyard.
Xiao Ou had sharp eyes. The moment Wen Ruqiao reached the entrance, he spotted her.
“Sister Qiao!” Xiao Ou trotted over eagerly to open the door for Wen Ruqiao. “Where did you go?”
Wen Ruqiao: “I went for a walk.” Seeing everyone busy with preparations, she asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”
Aunt Liu heard her voice and poked her head out from the kitchen window: “Qiao Mei, come sit down! Xiao Ou, hurry and pour some water for your Sister Qiao! Da Hai, quickly scoop an ice cream ball for our girl!”
Some new viewers were puzzled: 【Is this for real? Everyone else is working, why does she get special treatment?】
As soon as this comment appeared, it was immediately countered by a flood of replies:
【Why? Because Qiao Mei was the one who found all the ingredients!】
【Hey, ever heard of catching geese barehanded? Or climbing trees at lightning speed? Or fishing like a lucky koi?】
【Simply put, Qiao Mei is like the jungler carrying the whole team—clearing monsters, farming minions, stacking buffs with slick moves. How could the others not support her?】
Wen Ruqiao found herself inexplicably enjoying VVVIP treatment, holding a small bowl and scooping ice cream with a spoon.
The ice cream had been traded for fish—strawberry flavor, which Wen Ruqiao loved.
Suddenly, a tall figure cast a shadow over her, accompanied by a faint, fresh scent of soap.
Wen Ruqiao looked up and met Lu Minglang’s gaze.
Lu Minglang coughed awkwardly, his fair, pale skin seeming to flush slightly:
“Xiao Qiao, do you like sunflowers?”
Wen Ruqiao glanced at the vase on the table and replied with the utmost straightforwardness: “Can you eat sunflower seeds from these?”
Can you eat sunflower seeds from these…
Sunflower seeds from these…
From these…
Wen Ruqiao’s words were the kind that would leave men speechless and women in tears.
All the romantic flower language, all the unspoken feelings of secret admiration—completely shattered by this one sentence.
Lu Minglang was left speechless, forgetting every trick Director Meng had taught him.
Wen Ruqiao asked in return: “Haven’t you ever eaten raw sunflower seeds? The kind from a sunflower head, as big as a washbasin.”
She even gestured with her hands to show the size.
The guests: “…”
The viewers: “…”
You could say they were utterly speechless.
Lu Minglang shook his head in a daze.
Xiao Ou couldn’t stand it anymore and deliberately said loudly: “Brother Lu, you prepared these flowers specially. Do you have something to say to Ru Qiao?”
Lu Minglang snapped out of it, his lips moving slightly, but his mind went blank. He forgot every word Director Meng had taught him, and what came out was:
“If… if you like them, I can plant sunflowers for you. You can eat as many sunflower seeds as you want…”
He scratched his head shyly: “I’ll work hard to earn money and buy land to plant sunflowers for you.”
Wen Ruqiao: “…That really isn’t necessary.”
“Xiao Qiao, don’t you believe me?” Lu Minglang was like a child trying hard to prove himself. He puffed out his chest and said, “I’ll go ask the Director for my phone right now! To plant sunflowers for you!!”
Wen Ruqiao: ??
She watched as Lu Minglang dashed off to find Director Meng.
This fool is just too easy to trick, isn’t he?
Wen Ruqiao facepalmed. It was a miracle Lu Minglang hadn’t managed to sell himself off by now.
It was unclear what Director Meng and Lu Minglang discussed, but a few minutes later, Lu Minglang returned with bright, shining eyes.
“Xiao Qiao, I’ve already arranged for ten acres of sunflowers to be planted for you!!”
Wen Ruqiao: “…”
In the livestream:
【Somehow, this feels oddly sweet…】
【Ahhh, she likes eating sunflower seeds, so he plants ten acres of sunflowers for her. What kind of perfect love is this?!】
【Help, Lu Minglang looks like the silly son of a wealthy family. Is the Lu family really not going to go bankrupt?】
“Food’s ready, food’s ready—” Aunt Liu called out, “Let’s eat first! Whatever you have to say can wait until you’re full!”
A dazzling array of delicious delicacies was brought to the table, accompanied by a special gift from the production team—
Ice-cold beer.