Liu Jinzi deliberately walked past Yan Jiaojiao, giving her a smug look. Yan Jiaojiao chuckled softly and began clapping. “You’re so kind. Could you wash one for me too?”
Her tone was calm, yet another layer of meaning could be discerned from it.
Afraid of being misunderstood by the audience, Liu Jinzi forced a dry laugh. “Of course. I just saw you sitting here for so long and thought you’d already eaten. My apologies.”
Her gentle counterattack left no room for criticism. Yan Jiaojiao nodded, playing along. “Then hurry up and wash it. I really want to eat it.”
An awkward smile froze on Liu Jinzi’s face as she was thus ordered by Yan Jiaojiao to wash an apple for her.
“Oh my, Yan Jiaojiao’s personality is so spoiled. She even made someone else wash an apple for her.”
“Exactly! Doesn’t she have hands? Her attitude is like everyone owes her something. I feel bad for Liu Jinzi.”
“Liu Jinzi isn’t her maid. Her tone is so annoying.”
“Everyone, open your eyes! Yan Jiaojiao is clearly just playing along with Liu Jinzi.”
“Honestly, Liu Jinzi wasn’t very active when Yan Jiaojiao was around. She changed her tune as soon as Xu Mo arrived.”
“Personally, I think it’s a bit ‘green tea’ behavior.”
“Yan Jiaojiao was the first to arrive and didn’t even think to wash the fruit, just focused on her phone. Meanwhile, Liu Jinzi was considerate in taking care of the guests. How is that ‘green tea’?”
“No one asked her to wash the fruit. She’s just trying to build a persona.”
“…”
The director watched as the livestream’s popularity soared, with the comments section still embroiled in debate. The voices of opposition and support were evenly matched. Squinting, a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes as he stroked his chin and instructed, “Give more screen time to Yan Jiaojiao and Liu Jinzi.”
He had a feeling this variety show would be a huge hit.
The guests gradually all arrived. There was another female actor and a male guest from the same company. The two had just collaborated on a campus drama and got along quite harmoniously.
They were also relatively popular rising stars lately, having trended on hot searches several times.
“Hello everyone, I’m Lin Qingfeng.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Zhong Qing.”
Xu Mo: “I know, the ‘Zhong Qing’ CP, right?”
Lin Qingfeng and Zhong Qing exchanged a smile. Yan Jiaojiao felt an invisible magnetic field between the two that no one else could penetrate, filled with a subtle yet palpable ambiguous atmosphere. She teased, “Love at first sight?”
Lin Qingfeng covered his mouth and coughed. “That’s the name of the drama.”
Zhong Qing also chuckled softly. “That’s right.”
“Oh.”
Xu Mo and Yan Jiaojiao’s voices overlapped in perfect tacit understanding, their tones rising with an ambiguous meaning that made both of them blush.
Seeing that all the guests had arrived, the program team director began explaining the rules: “Welcome everyone to ‘Shining Week Eight,’ exclusively sponsored by Lemon Video.”
“This program features five teachers forming a novice parenting team, each responsible for taking care of one child. To provide a more immersive experience of the joys of parenting, the entire show will be presented via livestream. Each episode will be recorded over two to three days.”
“The novice parenting team must wholeheartedly care for the children, instilling in them correct values and sound educational principles.”
“During this period, each of you will be responsible for three meals a day for yourselves and the child under your care. There are two kitchens on the first floor that you can take turns using.”
“For each episode, the program team will provide each of you with a living allowance of one hundred yuan. All expenses for feeding, buying things, and entertaining the children must come from this amount.”
Xu Mo: “Ah… what can you even do with one hundred yuan?”Yan Jiaojiao: “Did you forget to say a word?”
Liu Jinzi: “That’s way too little.”
Director: “You heard right—it’s one hundred yuan!”
“But the production team isn’t unreasonable. As long as you complete the tasks we assign, you’ll earn points to exchange for rewards.”
The director concluded cheerfully: “We hope everyone can stay patient, face difficulties without discouragement, and bravely overcome them. We look forward to your wonderful performances in the future.”
“Alright, next, please hand over your phones, electronic devices, as well as all snacks, ingredients, and seasonings.”
“Ah…”
The expressions on everyone’s faces turned grim, already sensing the suffering to come.
Xu Mo reluctantly handed over his phone—his ranked matches…
A crew member opened Yan Jiaojiao’s suitcase. Aside from a few sets of clothes, cosmetics, and a hairdryer, there were two large bags of snacks.
Yan Jiaojiao bent over to protect her soul food, trying to reason with them. “Can’t we keep just a little bit of snacks?”
The crew member replied sternly, “No.”
Yan Jiaojiao buried her head, looking pitifully at her potato chips and spicy strips… Her melancholy eyes were on the verge of shedding little pearls.
The crew member couldn’t just snatch them away. Seeing this, Liu Jinzi deliberately raised her voice to her own crew member and said with a smile, “I did my homework in advance and didn’t bring anything against the rules.”
Her obedient and sensible tone formed a stark contrast with the other half of the group, who were locked in a stalemate. Liu Jinzi thought gleefully that she was surely more likable than Yan Jiaojiao.
Just as the crew member was about to forcibly take the snacks, Yan Jiaojiao turned her head away and stepped back, waving her hand decisively. “Take them away.”
Ignoring her sulky tone, everyone thought Yan Jiaojiao had truly come to her senses.
At that moment, the live-stream audience watching the entire scene was going wild with laughter.
“Hahaha, even the production team was fooled by Yan Jiaojiao. She took her little wallet and swiped a few packs of fun beans. If anyone missed the triumphant smirk on her face, I’d be heartbroken.”
“Yan Jiaojiao is so funny—one second she’s reluctant to part with her snacks, the next she’s wearing a triumphant smirk. It’s all about the contrast.”
“Yan Jiaojiao: I’m sad and heartbroken… Oh wait, no, I’m faking it. I have a pocket full of cash, hahaha.”
“Little drama queen, she even fooled the production team.”
“Director, confiscate her pink wallet!”
“And those packs of fun beans—make her experience the harsh realities of the world!”
“…”
The handover process went relatively smoothly for the others. After the first segment ended, everyone returned to their rooms to unpack. The girls stayed on the second floor, while the boys were on the third.
When moving the luggage, the two boys rushed ahead. Lin Qingfeng helped Zhong Qing carry her luggage upstairs.
Xu Mo initially wanted to help Yan Jiaojiao with her luggage first, but halfway there, Liu Jinzi called out to him, “Xu Mo, could you help me with my luggage?”
Xu Mo could only nod, glancing at Yan Jiaojiao. “I’ll help you in a moment, it won’t take long.”
With that, he dashed upstairs like the wind. Liu Jinzi walked over to Yan Jiaojiao’s side. “Jiaojiao, why don’t we carry your luggage upstairs together?”
Just as her hand was about to touch the pink suitcase, Yan Jiaojiao lifted it. “No need.”
She leaned forward, her crimson waves of hair thick like a waterfall of blood, cascading over her shoulders and contrasting with her fair, delicate skin. Even her casual movements carried an air of alluring charm.It made one unable to help but gaze obsessively, yet dare not approach, fearing desecration.
Yan Jiaojiao was wearing a denim overall dress today. As she lifted her suitcase, her arm muscles bulged, revealing faintly visible muscle lines. She carried it all the way back to her room in one go.
When Xu Mo hurried downstairs, he only saw Liu Jinzi standing there in a daze. He asked softly, “Where’s Yan Jiaojiao?”
Liu Jinzi snapped back to reality and pointed upstairs. “She went up.”
Xu Mo was somewhat surprised. Yan Jiaojiao looked frail and delicate—how could she carry it up to the second floor?
After just a second, he regained his composure. Being left alone with Liu Jinzi was still a bit awkward, so he scratched his head and said, “Then I’ll head up too.”
Liu Jinzi never expected Yan Jiaojiao to break the usual pattern. Given her spoiled young lady temperament, how could she choose to carry her things upstairs herself?
After all, Yan Jiaojiao was notoriously delicate. How come she wasn’t acting up on the show? What a two-faced act!