It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Qiyu, who had gotten herself involved while watching the commotion, scrambled up from the ground. Rubbing her sore buttocks, she limped over to the three people who were sprawled in an awkward mess.
Just as she reached out to help them up, a figure suddenly rushed over with a stern shout.
“Move aside!”
The person shoved her so hard that she stumbled backward, nearly losing her balance and falling flat on her butt again.
Fortunately, a hand appeared behind her, gripping her arm firmly to steady her, preventing the unlucky bystander from getting injured a second time.
She looked up at the figure who had barged in like a mad dog.
It was none other than the famously aloof and reserved film emperor, who now crouched beside Jiang Mian with a look of deep concern, carefully supporting her body.
As if she weren’t a person but a fragile snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains.
Just as described in the original story, his brows were tightly furrowed, his face filled with unconcealed worry:
“Mianmian, are you alright?”
After receiving Jiang Mian’s response, he displayed his boyfriend prowess by scooping her up in a princess carry.
Then, with a chilling gaze, he turned to the malicious female supporting character standing nearby, his voice low and icy:
“Miss Jiang, even jokes should have their limits.”
The only difference from the original story was that the malicious female supporting character had changed from Jiang Banmasuo Ling to the unlucky Jiang Qiyu.
Meanwhile, due to this sudden accident, the live stream was about to explode.
【Ahhh! Lu Heng is so domineering protecting his wife! I’m crying!!】
【I thought Jiang Qiyu had stopped causing trouble, but she’s still so despicable? Can’t stand our Mianmian so she resorts to dirty tricks?】
【A bitch will always be a bitch. She must be jealous seeing Lu Heng getting close to Mianmian these days.】
【The green tea attention-seeker can’t stand being rejected, so she’s throwing a tantrum. Can’t she see how Lu Heng feels about her? Yet she keeps throwing herself at him?!】
【Wait, did I see wrong? Jiang Qiyu didn’t even touch Jiang Mian. Everyone fell, so why is she being blamed? Seems a bit targeted, doesn’t it?】
【I also don’t think it’s Teacher Changmao’s fault. Maybe it was just an accident. The comments are way too harsh.】
“Hey, buddy…”
Hearing this, Jiang Qiyu almost laughed out loud. With a look of disbelief, she met his gloomy gaze:
“Are you mentally stable right now?”
Blaming the victim?
Are you serious?
Even Dou E would shed a tear for her in this situation.
But Lu Heng didn’t respond further. He simply gave her a deep look before firmly tightening his hold on Jiang Mian, whose ears were flushed red as she struggled slightly in his arms, and strode off toward the apartment.
Standing behind Jiang Qiyu, Qi Yu used one hand to lift the fallen suitcase. He glanced at the bewildered woman and asked calmly:
“Did you fall and hit your head?”
Jiang Qiyu didn’t answer but casually removed her microphone. She looked at the retreating figure carrying Jiang Mian, then turned to the composed man beside her:
“What do you think his deal is?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Qi Yu calmly removed his own microphone as well.
He raised an eyebrow at the pretentious, hurried figure in the distance and uttered two words nonchalantly:
“Idiot.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qiyu nodded slowly with a sincere expression:
“Whoever invented that word, I’m a little grateful.”
From when exactly it started, words like “fool” and “idiot” began carrying a hint of affection and ambiguity, even “baka” sounded like someone coquettishly teasing.
Only “asshole” remained consistently sharp-edged, clearly derogatory, and remarkably versatile.
After this “unexpected” incident, the program team very considerately canceled this morning’s task segment.
This allowed the injured guests, especially the tripwire lady who brought it upon herself, to rest and recover a bit before continuing in the afternoon.
As for those who weren’t injured, they were organized and led by a certain teacher with the compound surname Changmao.
They borrowed from the program team a set of traditional Chinese four-player tabletop game equipment that tested intelligence, finger dexterity, and memory—suitable for all ages.
Jiang Qiyu, Zhou Shun, and Song Yan sat around a square table, all three looking seriously at Fang Xubai, who wore a somewhat forced smile.
Song Yan: “Do you know how to play mahjong?”
Fang Xubai: “No.”
Zhou Shun: “Did you bring money?”
Fang Xubai: “Yes.”
Jiang Qiyu: “Take a seat.”
At first, Fang Xubai, who didn’t understand the rules, suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of the three. But once he grasped the basics of the game, the newbie protection period immediately kicked in.
“Haha! I won again!”
After Fang Xubai pushed over his tiles for the thirteenth time, this time with a “winning on a kong,” the other three instantly achieved enlightenment.
Song Yan shook her head: “Actually, this game isn’t all that fun.”
Zhou Shun agreed: “True, we should go prepare lunch.”
Jiang Qiyu swore to the heavens: “I, Jiang, am sworn enemies with gambling and drugs!”
After saying this, she inadvertently caught a bold comment scrolling across the living room’s large screen:
[Teacher Changmao, you didn’t mention pornography at all?]
So, maintaining her posture, she re-swore:
“By the heavens above, I, Jiang, am sworn enemies with gambling, drugs, and pornography!”
……
The joyful morning passed quickly.
Song Yan and Jiang Qiyu were full of energy.
Jiang Mian only had a scraped elbow, which had pretty much healed by the time the first-aid kit arrived.
As for Jiang Ling, who had made the biggest fuss, after being examined by a doctor, it was confirmed her foot was fine. After some rest, she could gloriously return to duty.
With this minor incident over and everyone fortunately unharmed, Director Zhang set his mind at ease and moved on to the next part of the program.
“Team up?”
Jiang Mian frowned slightly.
“Play a game?”
Jiang Qiyu’s eyes lit up.
The program team had downloaded a recently viral battle royale mobile game onto each guest’s phone.
They required the eight guests to form two teams of four. The team with the last surviving member, or the one whose members were eliminated last, would win.
The winning team would receive advantageous assistance in tomorrow’s tasks.
Since some guests had never played this game before, the program team gave everyone thirty minutes to familiarize themselves and prepare.
After the rules were explained, Jiang Qiyu looked down at the most frequently used app on her phone and grinned silently.
What a coincidence, isn’t it?
“Um, Qi… President?”
Just as she was reveling in the secret joy of having guessed the exam questions, a soft, hesitant voice spoke up.
Jiang Mian had somehow approached Qi Yu, who was fiddling with his phone, and with a slightly awkward smile, tentatively asked:
“Could we team up together later…”
Her words left several people present momentarily stunned.
Especially Lu Heng, whose face was already long, now looked as drawn as a donkey that had trekked through the desert for three days and nights.
The barrage exploded instantly.
【Oh my god, oh my god! In the morning, Handsome Heng saves the beauty, and in the afternoon, the beauty has her heart set on someone else? What kind of love triangle is this?!】
【Oh my god, the tsundere, soft-hearted CEO × gentle, adorable little bunny—this setup is unexpectedly fun to ship, what’s going on?】
【Shipping everything will only hurt you. Mianmian obviously just thinks Qi Yu is good at games, right? It’s just for the mission, you’re all overthinking it.】
【Taking Handsome Heng away with me! Our movie star is just handsome and kind-hearted, okay? No shipping allowed!】
【Love triangle, entertaining, love it, want to see it every day.】