Meanwhile, the guests’ helicopter touched down on the lawn.
Before disembarking, Lu Ren had fought tooth and nail against Yin Beilin’s insistence on carrying him down.
“Brother Lin!” Lu Ren crossed his arms flusteredly in front of his chest, even forgetting to address him as Teacher Yin. “I—I can do it myself.”
Yin Beilin stared at him for a moment. Lu Ren’s hair stood on end under the gaze of those dark, phoenix-like eyes, and he almost blurted out, “Actually, maybe you should just carry me down after all.”
However, Yin Beilin merely raised an eyebrow and, surprisingly agreeable, helped him off the helicopter.
But as Lu Ren limped down, he immediately locked eyes with three women.
There was a hostile glare (Xu Qingqing).
There was a probing look (Rao Mengmeng).
There was a faint, resentful gaze (Luo Jiuge).
Lu Ren swallowed hard. His small-animal instincts told him one thing with absolute certainty he had managed to offend all three of these women at the same time.
*God, what does this have to do with me? This is a complete disaster falling from the sky…*
Lu Ren shrank back to one side, but Zhou Zichuan still kindly walked over and said, “Teacher Lu, is your foot better? Otherwise, I can carry you in on my back?”
The moment those words left his mouth, not only did the three women’s glares pierce him, but even the Great Demon King’s gaze shot over, murderous.
Yin Beilin let out a slow, deliberate, “Hmm?” and asked, “Teacher Lu, do you need Zichuan to carry you?”
“I don’t!” Lu Ren flinched, waving his hands frantically. “I don’t need it at all! I can do it myself!”
Zhou Zichuan just laughed beside him, hooking his arm. “It’s okay, Teacher Lu. If you don’t want to be carried on my back, I can give you a princess carry just like Teacher Yin did!”
Feeling the Demon King’s burning gaze, the hair on the back of Lu Ren’s neck stood on end. *…*
*Please, brother Zichuan, stop talking!!*
“Really, there’s no need,” he forced a dry laugh, desperately changing the subject. “Zichuan, look, this place is so huge and beautiful…”
At his words, Zhou Zichuan immediately looked around with curiosity. “Yeah, I just saw that the villa’s glass is all colored. So cool.”
“Hmph, where’s the luxury in that?” Xu Qingqing scoffed. “This little dump—”
Before she could finish, the tall butler following closely behind them coughed.
Xu Qingqing’s expression twisted for a moment. Her face darkened as she shot a fierce glare at the butler. “Beilin, you can go now.”
The murderous aura she radiated was a match for Yin Beilin’s.
Lu Ren saw it all and gave the butler a look of shared misery.
The butler’s eyes met his, and the next moment, he gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Lu Ren nodded back, his face full of grief… *Fellow wanderers at the edge of the world, why must we meet only after we’ve already known the struggle!*
“The program is about to begin,” the butler named Bai Li announced in a deep voice. “My young mistress is a handful. I ask everyone to be patient with her.”
Xu Qingqing frowned. “What is there to be patient with?”
The butler didn’t argue. He gave a slight bow, turned, and walked away.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble—*
Xu Qingqing’s bodyguards and butler boarded their helicopter, which gradually vanished into a speck on the horizon.
Before long, a loud buzzing sound echoed from the sky. Lu Ren squinted as he looked up. It was the production team’s helicopter.
The helicopter landed. Whether it was due to some good news or not, Director Qian’s face was flushed with excitement, and his smile had grown even wider as he stepped off.
“Everyone’s here!” Director Qian greeted them with a grin. “This is the filming location for our first episode. Come on, I’ll show you inside.”
With that, Director Qian led the group toward the manor.
Lu Ren, who had “sprained his ankle,” limped along at the very back.
After a three-minute walk along the long, man-made stone path that crossed the open lawn by the garden fountain, Director Qian brought them to a halt before the manor’s entrance.
“Each episode of *Fantasy Couple* has its own theme,” Director Qian announced, pushing open the white maple doors. He emphasized his next words: “A friendly reminder from this moment on, every guest should be mindful of how they express the theme.”
Lu Ren wasn’t really paying attention. His gaze was completely captivated by the hallway inside.
The classic dark green walls were adorned with oil paintings of landscapes in frames of all sizes, arranged with a pleasing asymmetry. Further in, a half-life-sized, elegant statue of Venus stood nestled in a deep alcove in the wall.
*Wow, this is so unique!*
Lu Ren marveled as he walked past, almost forgetting about his sprained ankle if he hadn’t been following right behind Yin Beilin and Luo Jiuge.
He wasn’t the only one; Rao Mengmeng and Zhou Zichuan beside him also let out a series of gasps in admiration.
Only Xu Qingqing stood with her arms crossed, her expression one of utter disdain.
Fresh lilies were tucked into the stained-glass window. There was a tufted leather chair, and on the other side, a long table covered with a pristine white tablecloth. Upon it sat a shimmering silver candelabra, and six glasses of red wine were already poured and waiting.
*This is way too luxurious!*
Lu Ren couldn’t help but walk over and reach out to touch the candelabra.
“Like it?” a deep voice murmured. Lu Ren jumped, only then realizing Yin Beilin had appeared beside him without a sound.
Lu Ren scratched his head sheepishly. “Not really, I just think it’s kind of cute…”
Yin Beilin gave a noncommittal hum. His long arm reached out, picked up the candelabra, and examined it before suddenly letting out a scoff.
Lu Ren froze.
Yin Beilin set the candelabra back down and said lazily, “It’s actually quite similar to you.”
Lu Ren: “…” *Similar to me?*
*He can’t be talking about that silver-white, bare-bottomed little angel…* A black line streaked down Lu Ren’s face.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zichuan had already reached the other side of the dining table and pulled out a chair. Just as he was about to sit down, Director Qian suddenly clapped his hands with a beaming smile.
“Wait!”
Zhou Zichuan looked toward the production team, utterly bewildered.
“Although it’s lunchtime, we’ve only provided the ingredients,” Director Qian said, his smile widening. “The teachers will have to earn their own lunch. Please go upstairs and change into the outfits provided by the production team. We’ll have a live-streamed interactive segment shortly. Only when the audience votes for you will you get your meal.”
Zhou Zichuan’s expression turned awkward. “Ah, but I don’t know how to cook.”
Xu Qingqing also frowned, crossing her arms as she asked, “What about a chef?”
“No chef,” Director Qian nodded solemnly. “But it doesn’t matter if you can’t cook. After all, not everyone will necessarily have ingredients to prepare.”
What was he getting at? Lu Ren asked tremulously, “…Director Qian, you don’t mean someone will go without a meal, do you?”
Director Qian snapped his fingers. “Bingo!”
The group fell silent. “…”
“Don’t give me that look,” Director Qian said cheerfully. “You teachers can help each other out. You’ll still get to eat.”
At his words, a dark glint flashed in Rao Mengmeng and Luo Jiuge’s eyes.
*…That’s right, we know how to cook. If we get the ingredients and make a meal, even if we can’t get Yin Beilin to take a bite, we can at least overshadow that Xu Qingqing…*
Lu Ren was still worrying about his own situation, he definitely wouldn’t win the audience vote… Suddenly, the two women sitting on the sofa opposite him stood up at the same time!
Rao Mengmeng asked, “Changing clothes, right?”
Luo Jiuge added, “Director Qian, where are the clothes?”
Lu Ren: “…”
*Why are they being so… enthusiastic?*
In this small villa for the show *Fantasy Couple*, cameras were everywhere. The staff had set aside two rooms specifically for the male and female guests to change clothes.
Out of respect for privacy, everyone went in alone, changing before coming out.
Lu Ren had deliberately chosen to be the last one in. He had “limped” around the house for a while, taking his time to admire the place.
After Zhou Zichuan left, Lu Ren entered the dressing room and discovered that the walls were actually a deep ink-blue!
Countless gold-leafed picture frames still hung on the walls, and the ornaments were exceptionally exquisite and beautiful. After changing into his trousers and long boots, Lu Ren stared in amazement for a moment before snapping back to reality and preparing to put on his shirt.
He had just pulled the short-sleeved shirt up.
*Bang!* The door swung open.
“!” Lu Ren yanked the shirt back down in a flash, his hair a mess as he stared at the newcomer with a “what the hell” expression. “…Brother Lin? Aren’t you already changed!”
That was a completely pointless question.
Yin Beilin had been the very first one to change.
He stood in the doorway, his black hair combed completely back. Yin Beilin wore a sharply tailored, deep black suit, the style of a mid-20th-century British aristocrat. The corners of his snow-white shirt collar were slightly turned up, with a pure white bow tie below. A gold chain draped from the lapel button, connecting directly to the inner lining of his waistcoat.
He leaned one hand against the doorframe, the other tucked in his pocket. With his waist cinched like that, his broad shoulders and long legs were even more pronounced, exuding an extraordinary aura.
His fair, slender fingers tapped a frighteningly steady rhythm on the brown wooden frame.
Lu Ren swallowed hard. The next second, he heard Yin Beilin’s cool, detached voice.
“Why aren’t you finished changing yet? How much longer are you going to dawdle?”
*I was the third person to come in, okay?! I haven’t even been dawdling that long!*
But even as he thought this, the sight of Yin Beilin with his hair slicked back made his presence even more imposing.
So, Lu Ren stammered awkwardly, “I only have one piece left. I’ll be done in a second.”
*…Wait, I’m supposed to have a sprained ankle. If I go downstairs too quickly, won’t it look completely fake?*
Yin Beilin let out a lazy “Hmm” through his nose.
*Thud.*
The door was shut again.
Lu Ren: “…”
Lu Ren pointed tremulously at the door. “…Brother Lin, you…?”
*Why aren’t you leaving?!*
“You’re too slow.”
Yin Beilin sat down on the armchair with a casual air.
He leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped between his knees over his dark black suit trousers. The gold chain on his chest swayed, and he seemed to offer a kind suggestion: “Want me to help you change?”
Lu Ren: “…”
His face flushing crimson, Lu Ren pointed to the microphone clipped to his waist and frantically mouthed, *There’s still a mic here!*
Yin Beilin watched Lu Ren, whose face was red enough to drip blood, with a faint, knowing smile.
After a long moment, he shrugged noncommittally and added a half-hearted excuse, “Didn’t you sprain your ankle? I can help you.”
“…N-no, thank you.”
Lu Ren’s ears were burning red. He didn’t want to argue with this big-tailed wolf of a male lead anymore.
If he stayed here any longer, even without the cameras, he didn’t know what kind of suggestive things Yin Beilin would say next… He had to finish changing and get out of here as quickly as possible!
Forcing himself to overcome his embarrassment, Lu Ren turned his back and started taking off his short-sleeved shirt.
Crossing his arms, he pulled the shirt upward. The preppy-style short-sleeved top was lifted, revealing a section of his slender, narrow waist.
With his long legs crossed in his suit trousers, Yin Beilin leaned back against the soft chair, quietly and with great interest, watching the scene unfold.
The short-sleeved shirt rode up with his movements, gradually revealing his smooth, pale back. His shoulder blades, like white butterflies, protruded before folding back into a groove that ran down his back, disappearing into his linen-gray dress pants. The safari-style shirt accentuated his long, straight, and well-proportioned legs, which ended in a pair of brown boots.
Lu Ren threw on the shirt, quickly fastening the buttons and tying the tie around his neck. He then reached back to grab the suspenders.
As if by magic, the suspender fell right into his hand the moment he made the move.
Without thinking much of it, Lu Ren hooked the suspender onto the waistband of his pants. But as he turned around, he was suddenly confronted with Yin Beilin’s handsome face, looming close.
Lu Ren gasped, “—!”
*Fuck, you scared the shit out of me! When did the male lead get over here?*
No wonder they say you should never turn your back on a tiger. It all makes sense now!
While Lu Ren’s mind raced with wild thoughts, the man opposite him stared at him with dark, phoenix-like eyes. The next second, he raised an eyebrow.
“Is that tie crooked?”
“Huh? Yeah…”
Lu Ren snapped back to reality and looked down at his tie.
What’s wrong with it?
The man opposite him scoffed again. Lu Ren was still a little confused. Just as he looked up, his tie was suddenly yanked.
“Don’t move.”
A low, magnetic voice sounded faintly.
Lu Ren stiffened.
The next second, Yin Beilin leaned down slightly and loosened his tie.
Yin Beilin’s cold and handsome face was just inches away.
Being so close, Lu Ren subconsciously lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly.
But this way, he couldn’t help but meet Yin Beilin’s hands—hands that were so damnly attractive and alluring…
Lu Ren’s face flushed even hotter.
Slender, clean fingers lightly held the bottom edge of the tie. The index finger hooked, passing through the middle of the knot, slowly and deliberately tying it for him…
“Remember for next time.”
Remember what?
Lu Ren looked up in a daze. The man opposite him seemed to smile.
The smile was gone in a flash, so fast it felt like an illusion.
“You’re tying a necktie,” Lu Ren heard Yin Beilin say slowly, “not a red scarf.”
Lu Ren, “…”
Lu Ren, “…………”
*What the hell do you mean, a red scarf?!*
I’m clearly tying the third classic knot every man must learn, alright!