All the contestants returned to the dressing room to remove their makeup. After a day of travel and physical exertion, every one of them was exhausted.
Zhou Xing sat next to Zhan Zhiqing, with Shen Lin on her other side. She closed her eyes and sighed. “We still have to cook when we get back. I am absolutely dead.”
Zhan Zhiqing understood that the girls’ stamina was lower than the boys’. He was not actually that tired, so he said with a smile, “I will cook for you. I am not tired. What do you want to eat?”
Zhou Xing opened her mouth in amazement. “Zhiqing, you are a little angel! I love you! I want a steak salad burger! Linlin wants celtuce and potatoes, right?”
Zhan Zhiqing nodded. “Okay, I will make it for you when we get back.”
Just as he finished speaking, Wei Ming, who was supposed to have left already, suddenly walked in with a cheerful expression. “Hello everyone! You must be starving after such a hard day! I have some good news for you. Want to guess what it is?”
Le Xin raised her hand first. “In the next episode, only one person gets eliminated?”
Wei Ming shrugged regretfully. Other contestants threw out various guesses related to the competition rules, all of which Wei Ming ruthlessly rejected one by one.
Suddenly, Zhou Xing shouted at the top of her lungs, “Are you going to take us out to dinner?!”
Wei Ming immediately turned to her. “You guessed right!”
Shen Lin whispered to Zhan Zhiqing across Zhou Xing, “She really is a foodie.”
Though the others had not guessed it, they were thrilled by the news. They had lived in the house for nearly a month, cooking every single meal for themselves. They had begun to think they would never get a free meal from the show. Everyone cheered for the upcoming feast.
“Teacher Wei, where are we going?” Zhou Xing asked eagerly.
Wei Ming tapped his chin with his index finger. “Well, that is a secret for now! Alright everyone, get changed and let us go!”
Yi City was not only a fashion capital but also a culinary one. China is vast, and different cuisines from every region could be found in the city. Zhan Zhiqing did not think too much of it. The competition was halfway through its fourth episode, and the production team was likely organizing this dinner to announce some news.
However, he was also quite expectant. Lately, to maintain his physique, he had eaten nothing but beef, fish, vegetables, and fruit. Everything was prepared by boiling. He felt that life had been far too bitter. He only hoped the production team would be kind enough to choose a normal restaurant instead of a health food cafe.
The bus stopped in front of a classical, elegant gate. It looked like a private courtyard with a plaque that read: Yu Pin Xuan.
Wei Ming led them to the entrance and rang the bell. A woman dressed in a traditional robe with her hair in a bun welcomed them. As they entered, they realized the interior was a whole different world.
“This is a high end Cantonese restaurant in Yi City,” Wei Ming explained. “It requires a reservation. I heard the President of the MA Group helped us secure this spot.”
Walking in the back, Zhan Zhiqing heard a girl in front of him whisper in awe, “I have heard of this place before. It costs thousands per person. CEO He is so generous!”
The President of the MA Group. Zhan Zhiqing realized something.
Wei Ming led them to a private room, bid them farewell, and told them to contact the waiter after dinner for a ride back. Once left alone, the contestants quickly became excited. The waiters helped them order and brought out small snacks first.
Zhan Zhiqing had never stayed in the country before. While there were Cantonese restaurants abroad, they had fewer dishes and were often not authentic. He preferred light flavors, so this restaurant suited his palate perfectly. The private room of Yu Pin Xuan was decorated in a gorgeous, vintage style, and some dishes even featured special serving rituals. Zhan Zhiqing was very interested in the authentic dishes, though his interest in seafood was only average.
After the meal and dessert, the contestants began to relax. Everyone was chatting, especially Zhou Xing, whose loud voice filled the room as she played drinking games. Zhan Zhiqing did not like too much noise, so he used the excuse of going to the restroom to step outside.
In the hallway, he ran into an older, wealthy looking lady wearing a large emerald necklace. She gasped and covered her mouth. “Are you… are you Zhan Zhiqing from Top Model?!”
Realizing she was a fan, Zhan Zhiqing felt a bit shy. He nodded in the dim light and said softly, “Yes, I am Zhan Zhiqing. I am currently participating in the show.”
The lady smiled broadly and extended her right hand. “Oh, I have been following it! You are my favorite. Keep it up, Xiao Zhan!”
Zhan Zhiqing extended his right hand, suppressing his body’s natural discomfort. “Thank you for your support. I will work hard.”
The lady chatted with him for a few more minutes before leaving reluctantly, promising to buy whatever clothes he eventually endorsed. Zhan Zhiqing went to the sink to wash his hands. He respected and liked the lady, but the physical reaction to the touch made him feel uneasy. Still, knowing he had fans after only four episodes gave him a strange sense of joy.
He stepped out, intending to walk in the small garden, when a voice came from the side. “Mr. Zhan, can we talk now?”
Zhan Zhiqing froze. He turned around to see a tall figure stepping out from the shadows. The man wore a black three piece suit with a dignified brooch. His hair was slicked back, giving him a serious look, yet his lips carried a smile and his eyes were warm.
He approached until the distance between them was closer than any encounter on the runway. The man wore a faint woody fragrance that made Zhan Zhiqing dizzy. His heart raced and his breath hitched; just being near this man made him feel weak.
The man extended his right hand and adjusted his tie with his left. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Ying Yuan, President of the MA Group. This is our fourth time meeting.”
Zhan Zhiqing felt a blur of heat. His face flushed as he reflexively reached out his right hand. The moment their skin touched, a current surged up his spine and straight into his brain. A shiver ran through him, followed by a wave of pure relief. His breath turned hot, and his body went so limp he was about to fall.
Ying Yuan immediately caught him by the waist, opened a nearby door, and led him inside. He placed Zhan Zhiqing on a sofa, half holding him. Zhan Zhiqing was still drowning in the afterglow of that touch. How could it feel this good?
After a moment, he looked up at Ying Yuan. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes watery, and his lips slightly parted, but he could not find the words.
Seeing him like this, Ying Yuan pulled him tighter. He did not know exactly what was happening, but Zhan Zhiqing’s state was clearly unusual. He decided to tease him. “What is wrong? Do you have to wash your hands after shaking mine too?”