Tang Zhi Chu rested his head on his arm and looked up at the sky.
The deep night sky was filled with an expanse of dark blue, and the stars glittered.
At that moment, Tang Zhi Chu felt something he could only describe as a sense of belonging.
Because as he gazed at the night sky, his thoughts were on Old Tang Sichuan Cuisine, his DY account, and the Dating Show.
The breeze whispered in his ears, cool and wonderfully comfortable.
Tang Zhi Chu thought that if it were daytime, he could probably see the grass blades, green on both sides, swaying in the breeze.
At some point, Chen Si Yang had also sat down beside Tang Zhi Chu. She glanced around, then handed him something.
"What's this?" Tang Zhi Chu asked in confusion.
"Quick, put it away first!" Chen Si Yang urged him.
It seemed to be a note. Tang Zhi Chu didn't think much of it and slipped it into his pocket.
"I want to ask you out on a date tomorrow. This has to be kept secret, so don't tell anyone," Chen Si Yang said quietly.
Tang Zhi Chu suddenly understood. The show's second round of dates was here: the women would invite the men.
Tang Zhi Chu grinned. "Okay."
"What are you looking at?" Chen Si Yang asked.
Tang Zhi Chu nodded toward the sky. "Nothing. I'm just relaxing."
Following his example, Chen Si Yang lay down on the grass too.
They watched the night sky and the stars together. After a long while, Chen Si Yang suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about the future?"
"I have."
"And then?"
"I'll keep running the shop, then learn how to sing and stuff. I'll try to be more like you."
"Then... could you handle a long-distance relationship?"
Tang Zhi Chu fell silent for a moment before answering, "I think so."
Chen Si Yang didn't say anything more. The mood between them turned delicate.
After lying there a while longer, Chen Si Yang got up. "I'm a little sleepy. I'll head back first."
Tang Zhi Chu got up too. "I'm sleepy too. Let's go back together."
They didn't speak on the way back.
Once they returned to the villa, Chen Si Yang went upstairs.
In her bedroom, Chen Si Yang took out her phone and sent a message.
"Jin Bao, I'm eom-ing."
"What's wrong?"
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"If I start dating someone, how would it affect my career?"
After she sent the question, the other person's status showed that they were typing for a long time. Only after a while did a reply come through.
"If you mean on a Dating Show, there could be a publicity pairing, commercial promotions, losing your husband fans, and even an impact on the roles you get, among other things. I suggest asking Sister Yu. It's not necessarily a bad thing."
"I understand."
"I'm suddenly curious. When are you going to introduce him to me?"
"Jin Bao, what would you do? How would you choose?"
"I don't know. Honestly, I don't. But I think you should listen to what your heart says and not leave yourself with regrets."
Downstairs, Tang Zhi Chu was running on the treadmill.
His mind was clear. He was even picturing the uncle who'd been manning the hot pot shop during the day, with his huge arms.
How would he have to train to get arms like that?
"Working out in secret all by yourself, huh?" a voice called out.
Tang Zhi Chu turned his head. It was Zhou Yun.
"I'd recommend running and doing pull-ups, then sticking with it. You'll be surprised by the results," Zhou Yun said as she came closer.
"How many kilometers?"
"Five to start with."
"Okay."
Seeing how seriously Tang Zhi Chu took it, Zhou Yun held back her urge to joke around. She placed something like a card by the display on the treadmill in front of him.
"What's this?"
"A gym membership card. Want to try out my gym tomorrow?" Zhou Yun lowered her voice a little. "It's a date. A secret date. I'm asking you out."
Tang Zhi Chu said, "Honestly, I'm a little scared."
Zhou Yun laughed. "Don't worry, I won't force you to exercise."
After saying that, Zhou Yun jogged upstairs, looking a little shy. Tang Zhi Chu shook his head. What a good performance.
According to the show's rules, you couldn't turn down a date. Just like the first blind date, whoever showed up and whatever activity they had planned, you had to go along with it.
Tang Zhi Chu ran five kilometers in forty minutes and was drenched in sweat.
He thought, Why bother? Isn't it better to lie down?
Just as he was about to go upstairs, he saw Jiang Lan holding a glass of water.
Tang Zhi Chu smiled and nodded in greeting, but Jiang Lan didn't move.
Tang Zhi Chu stopped, then rubbed his temples. Surely not. Was it happening again?
Jiang Lan wore a faintly gleeful smile. "You're free the day after tomorrow, right?"
She deliberately emphasized the words "the day after tomorrow."
Today was the day the women initiated dates. Jiang Lan could naturally guess Tang Zhi Chu's predicament. She hadn't even asked the production team to coordinate; she'd simply booked him for the day after tomorrow.
Tang Zhi Chu looked at her pitifully. "Sister Lan?"
Jiang Lan shook her head. "Good night!"
Watching Jiang Lan go upstairs, Tang Zhi Chu let out a quiet sigh and thought, I've really gotten myself into it now.
Three women. Damn, this was exhausting.
After going upstairs and taking a shower, it was just about time to send the evening messages.
Yang Jia Xing was more laid-back about it. He quickly wrote and sent his message, then closed his eyes, looking like he didn't want to see or hear anything.
Huang Ze Jun hesitated, editing his message several times before finally sending it.
Sure enough, Tang Zhi Chu's phone began to vibrate.
Tang Zhi Chu glanced at it, then set it down again, his expression calm.
Huang Ze Jun even found himself guessing that, given how unhappy Tang Zhi Chu looked, the message was probably from Zhou Yun.
A moment later, Tang Zhi Chu's phone vibrated again.
Tang Zhi Chu picked it up and looked. This time, it was from Chen Si Yang.
"Rabbit heads are tastier than crayfish. Good night!"
Tang Zhi Chu set his phone down. He felt those subtle changes between them, and in a way, they were both indulging each other.
He'd expected as much.
Just then, another vibration sounded.
Huang Ze Jun instinctively picked up his phone, then froze.
Why? Why hadn't he received a message?
Tang Zhi Chu picked up his phone again. This time, a message from Jiang Lan had come through.
"I'd like to make QQ candy sometime too. Could you show me how?"
Tang Zhi Chu almost laughed out loud. Sister Lan, you're really using your position for personal gain, huh?
Huang Ze Jun turned to look at Tang Zhi Chu, then at his own phone. He felt his vision darkening.
Why?
What had gone wrong? Surely the message hadn't been sent to the wrong person?
Across from them, Yang Jia Xing was sitting alone on a sofa. He suddenly opened his eyes. He'd also heard that Tang Zhi Chu had received three messages.
Yang Jia Xing was puzzled at first, then surprised, and finally burst out laughing. He immediately covered his mouth again.
He looked at Huang Ze Jun as if to say, "See? Wasn't I right? Girls need companionship."
Yang Jia Xing suddenly felt much more at ease. He thought back to his conversation with a friend earlier that day.
"The most unassuming male guest barely talks, and he doesn't even seem to spend the most time with the female guests. Why are two of them interested in him at the same time?"
His friend's answer had been, "Could you introduce him to me? I think we'd really hit it off."
Before you continue