At eight thirty that evening, the others were sitting together in the villa, eating the takeout they'd ordered.
Huang Ze Jun pushed one of the chicken wings toward Jiang Lan. She thanked him.
Yang Jia Xing suddenly said, "Could they have gone on a date? That mini-date thing?"
Tang Zhi Chu and Zhou Yun were usually the first two back. Why hadn't they returned yet?
Huang Ze Jun had pretty much guessed what was going on, but it had nothing to do with him, so he said nothing.
At Yang Jia Xing's words, Huang Ze Jun thought, Someone's finally getting anxious.
"Probably not," Jiang Lan chimed in, then glanced at Chen Si Yang.
Chen Si Yang kept eating, seemingly unaffected by Yang Jia Xing's words.
Yang Jia Xing put down his chopsticks and emphasized, "They definitely did!"
When Chen Si Yang still didn't respond, Yang Jia Xing copied Huang Ze Jun and pushed the takeout box of crawfish he'd ordered beside her. "I'm full. I'll move this over so it's easier for you to reach."
Chen Si Yang nodded. "Thanks. I'll have Old Tang bring back more crawfish tomorrow. I think the ones from his shop are delicious."
Yang Jia Xing: "..."
Jiang Lan clicked her tongue in amazement. Chen Si Yang was much more composed than she'd expected.
Jiang Lan had been about to smooth things over, but it looked like there was no need.
Truthfully, Jiang Lan was happy to see Chen Si Yang and Tang Zhi Chu get together. For one thing, she liked shipping couples; for another, they were both decent people—especially Tang Zhi Chu. Even now, snacks from Jiang Lan's own shop were still displayed on the coffee table in the living room.
As for whether they could leave the blurring off in the later episodes, that was something to discuss after filming.
Tang Zhi Chu wanted Chen Si Yang to feel included in the group. Jiang Lan had noticed. And hadn't he also helped Jiang Lan feel more included?
She didn't talk much in the villa either.
"I agree. He should bring at least two portions!" Jiang Lan chimed in.
Huang Ze Jun looked up and took out his phone. "If you really want some, I can get a courier to buy it right now."
Chen Si Yang shook her head. "No need. I think everyone's full anyway."
Huang Ze Jun laughed. "I'm kidding. It's too late now; delivery would take at least an hour. But we could all go to Zhi Chu's shop together sometime and have a proper meal."
"That's not a bad idea," Jiang Lan said with a smile.
The faint sound of a door opening came from the entryway. Everyone looked over.
Zhou Yun appeared in the living room first, followed by Tang Zhi Chu.
Tang Zhi Chu had been about to go upstairs, but when he saw everyone in the dining room, he changed course and headed over.
"You're all here. What delicious food are you having?" Tang Zhi Chu asked with a smile.
Jiang Lan smiled without answering and looked toward Chen Si Yang. Chen Si Yang put down her chopsticks and asked, "Have you eaten? There's still some here."
Tang Zhi Chu took the seat beside Chen Si Yang, and she really did push the crawfish over to him.
Yang Jia Xing stared at them in disbelief. "You two didn't actually eat, did you?"
His choice of words was telling. Chen Si Yang had said "you," while Yang Jia Xing said "you two."
Tang Zhi Chu smiled. "I ate. Just not enough."
Just then, Zhou Yun walked into the dining room and gave him a huge eye-roll. "How did you not burst?"
Yang Jia Xing's expression grew complicated. Suspecting they'd gone on a date was one thing; having it confirmed was another. He grumbled inwardly about how quickly women changed their minds.
Still, he looked at Tang Zhi Chu with schadenfreude. This should count as a shura field, right? So why did he feel so sour?
Tang Zhi Chu seemed completely unfazed by the situation. Instead, he replied sarcastically, "Bursting would be impossible, but dying of exhaustion could happen."
Zhou Yun sat beside Jiang Lan, directly across from Tang Zhi Chu.
Tang Zhi Chu didn't care about this kind of situation, but would Zhou Yun? She'd be more than happy for the storm to get even worse.
"Have you no shame? With your stamina, you really should eat more."
Tang Zhi Chu had already started peeling the crawfish, but before he'd finished peeling his own, Chen Si Yang took the one she'd peeled and put it in his bowl.
The room fell silent, in a way that felt a little eerie.
Huang Ze Jun turned away, no longer wanting to watch, and started cursing to himself.
What the hell? Why did he get to have that?
Yang Jia Xing's eyes widened. Unbelievable!
Jiang Lan was surprised too. She'd thought Chen Si Yang and Tang Zhi Chu had feelings for each other, but Tang Zhi Chu had gone on a date and come back, then started interacting so enthusiastically with his date.
And Chen Si Yang was still peeling crawfish for him?
You're Chen Si Yang!
Zhou Yun gave Chen Si Yang a complicated look and thought, Now that's more like an entertainer.
"Thanks," Tang Zhi Chu said, then ate it without a hint of embarrassment.
Chen Si Yang's expression didn't change. "They're just not as good as the ones from your place."
"Then I'll bring more back tomorrow."
"I want chicken feet too."
"What about rabbit heads? Want those?"
"Sure."
Jiang Lan turned her gaze away from Chen Si Yang, thinking that she'd grown.
The bewildered Chen Si Yang was beginning to change.
Yang Jia Xing suddenly coughed twice, then stood up. "I'm a little tired. I'll head upstairs."
Everyone told him to get some rest.
Huang Ze Jun didn't move. He knew he couldn't—not even if he saw something more outrageous. Otherwise, he'd be pushed to the margins for good.
He was in turmoil. How did Tang Zhi Chu do it?
One girl-group entertainer, one gym owner—both beautiful in their own right. They'd stand out in any circle.
What gave him the power to make the two of them give in so much in front of him?
Huang Ze Jun suddenly glanced at Jiang Lan and thought, At least I'm safe. Someone like Sister Lan, successful in her career and mature in character, wouldn't act like them and forget all about restraint.
"Is it good?" Zhou Yun asked again. She wasn't one to back down.
"It's all right," Tang Zhi Chu replied.
Then Zhou Yun stood up. "Then I'll try some."
She reached into the takeout box in front of Tang Zhi Chu and took a crawfish for herself. Once it was in her hand, she turned to Jiang Lan and said, "Sister Lan, roll up my sleeves for me. We only had fish up on the mountain!"
Hearing Zhou Yun say that, Tang Zhi Chu immediately pulled the takeout box closer to himself.
"See? You said I'd burst, but this is mine now. You can't have any."
Chen Si Yang nudged Tang Zhi Chu with her elbow, then pushed the takeout box back to the middle of the table. "Don't be stingy. We can always order more."
They seemed harmonious, but neither side was giving an inch.
There was an unspoken understanding in the air, much like the one that had sent Yang Jia Xing upstairs. Whoever left first would be the loser.
The corner of Tang Zhi Chu's mouth lifted, though no one could see it.
It worked!
With six people on a dating show, how else were they going to get screen time?
By developing a relationship with real tension.
Zhou Yun had used her interactions with Chen Si Yang to set up a showdown. Did Tang Zhi Chu not see that?
He'd simply gone along with it, adding more weight to his own side—more leverage in the eyes of the production team.
If Zhou Yun really was clever, she'd realize it afterward. This was good for her too.
And Chen Si Yang?
Tang Zhi Chu believed she'd break through her usual personality. Otherwise, why had she come here? To find a boyfriend for real?
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