Just This?

Tang Zhi Chu had experience with running.

As long as you had something on your mind, half an hour would pass before you knew it.

He heard some movement midway through, but it didn't distract him. When he finished and looked back, there was a cup of water on the nearby counter, though he had no idea when it had appeared.

Tang Zhi Chu assumed Chen Si Yang had poured it for him, but Zhou Yun was also in the living room.

Picking up the cup, Tang Zhi Chu gestured his thanks to Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun nodded and smiled. "I'm an expert when it comes to exercise. You're too tall—or rather, too thin. Eat more and put on some muscle, and you'll have a completely different kind of presence."

"Thanks."

"Your headache's gone, right?"

"It's basically fine now."

The more they talked, the more Zhou Yun's smile gradually faded. This guy was just like yesterday—stiff and unpleasant.

But after thinking about it carefully, Zhou Yun understood. She knew some of the inside details.

Season Seven of Heartbeat, this season, had nearly been canceled. Dating shows were popping up on every major platform, and viewers had long since grown tired of them.

Tang Zhi Chu's arrival might be the show's breakthrough. What kind of chemistry would result from bringing an ordinary person onto a dating show?

Yes, aside from his looks and temperament, Tang Zhi Chu was an ordinary person in every other respect in Zhou Yun's eyes.

Yet Zhou Yun also felt that Tang Zhi Chu was not quite such an ordinary ordinary person. At the very least, he didn't look awkward here.

There was a sound at the entrance, and Zhou Yun got up and went over.

Huang Ze Jun had returned, looking like he had just gotten off work in a full suit.

"Whoa, Brother Jun, heading out for a gig?" Zhou Yun joked.

Besides a briefcase, Huang Ze Jun was carrying a guitar.

"No, no, no. I brought this for you guys."

Zhou Yun gave Huang Ze Jun a meaningful look. There were three female guests. Chen Si Yang went without saying—she had debuted in a girl group, so she could definitely sing. But Huang Ze Jun had said "you guys," which meant he was including her as well.

Zhou Yun had indeed mentioned that she liked singing. Jiang Lan, meanwhile, was always so mysterious that no one knew much about her.

But just as Zhou Yun was waiting to get her hands on the guitar, Huang Ze Jun carried it straight upstairs.

Zhou Yun froze for a moment, then glanced at Tang Zhi Chu, who had just greeted Huang Ze Jun. After wiping away his sweat, Tang Zhi Chu went upstairs too.

These men are so realistic, Zhou Yun silently complained.

Upstairs, Tang Zhi Chu took a shower, then sat down in front of the computer and put on his headphones.

Out of professional habit—and because he wanted to get a feel for the state of music in this world—he started browsing the charts again, going through major domestic and international music rankings.

At eight that evening, they called everyone downstairs for dinner.

Tang Zhi Chu went downstairs. There were only five people in the dining room; Jiang Lan had yet to arrive.

"Sister Lan said she hasn't finished with work yet and told us to eat first." As one of today's chefs, Chen Si Yang invited everyone to sit down.

How should they choose their seats?

The table was long and had eight seats. For convenience, the four middle seats facing one another were best since they made it easier to reach the dishes. But this was a dating show.

Yang Jia Xing pulled out a seat near the middle. "Yang Yang, sit here. I barely did anything today; you handled everything."

Chen Si Yang hesitated before replying, "You guys sit down first. I'll go get a spoon."

Tang Zhi Chu stepped back twice, went to the seat opposite Yang Jia Xing, and sat down near the edge. It was just a seat. He felt some people were overthinking things.

At that moment, Zhou Yun suddenly pointed at the mapo tofu on the table. "I especially love tofu dishes, so I'll sit there."

With that, Zhou Yun walked over on her own and sat beside Yang Jia Xing, in the seat he had just offered Chen Si Yang.

Tang Zhi Chu glanced at Zhou Yun. A seat alone couldn't determine anything, but it could reveal a lot of information.

Huang Ze Jun was amused and sat directly opposite Yang Jia Xing with a chuckle.

Chen Si Yang brought over the spoon and deliberately lingered by the table for a moment before sitting opposite Zhou Yun. This seat was quite subtle.

Zhou Yun was across from her, Huang Ze Jun was on her right, and Tang Zhi Chu was on her left.

Yang Jia Xing rubbed his temples. That guy surnamed Huang has some moves. Not only did he get Chen Si Yang's text, he even got to sit beside her during dinner.

The smile on Huang Ze Jun's face deepened, and his mood steadily brightened. So what if that kid across from him had received Chen Si Yang's text? He still hadn't won her over. How could a girl like Chen Si Yang be won over by just anyone? Of course she needed to interact with other people and compare them!

Tang Zhi Chu started picking up food.

Chen Si Yang knew how to cook; it was obvious from the appearance of the dishes. But as for the taste, they were a little bland overall.

"How is it?" Chen Si Yang lowered her head and ate her rice, her voice very soft.

Before Tang Zhi Chu could answer, Yang Jia Xing across from her spoke up. "It's delicious. I had the advantage of being the assistant, so I tasted every dish. Nothing to criticize—this is amazing!"

Huang Ze Jun frowned. What does this have to do with you? She's asking now, not whether you tasted it earlier. She's obviously asking the people eating it now.

Huang Ze Jun set down his chopsticks and said, "It's excellent. I suggest opening a restaurant right away."

A smile appeared on Chen Si Yang's face, and she nodded slightly. Under the table, however, her pink-slippered foot lightly bumped Tang Zhi Chu's foot beside her.

Chen Si Yang hadn't mentioned that Tang Zhi Chu had helped prepare the ingredients today. In her eyes, Tang Zhi Chu wasn't the type to brag about such things.

He had helped her, and he had been so professional about it. She didn't want to let him down either.

Besides, she hoped to have some interaction with Tang Zhi Chu.

Tang Zhi Chu paused. She really was asking me?

So Tang Zhi Chu said, "It's alright, just a little too mild. Sichuan cuisine emphasizes layered flavors. When it's too mild, the chili ends up overpowering everything."

You asked me to say it, Tang Zhi Chu thought.

The table fell silent for a few seconds. Yang Jia Xing wanted to laugh but held it in. He felt that the quiet guy sitting diagonally across from him would have a hard time finding a girlfriend. He wouldn't even spare a girl's feelings in a situation like this. Impressive.

Huang Ze Jun coughed twice and followed up, "If we're judging by commercial tastes, it may indeed be as Zhi Chu said. But when we're eating for ourselves, lighter flavors are healthier."

Huang Ze Jun's words defended Chen Si Yang while also taking a subtle jab at Tang Zhi Chu. Yet Tang Zhi Chu looked even more pleasing to him now. Wasn't this a heaven-sent ally? With a personality like that, there was no need to guard against him.

Chen Si Yang didn't react much. She simply gave a soft "Oh."

But just then, Zhou Yun picked up the conversation. "I think the mapo tofu is delicious, and the hot and sour shredded potatoes are pretty good too. I need to try the braised prawns—I love shrimp the most."

Tang Zhi Chu looked up at Zhou Yun. If you know how to talk, then talk more.

Huang Ze Jun had just said lighter flavors were healthier, yet every dish Zhou Yun named was heavily seasoned.

That was right—this time, Yang Jia Xing laughed outright.

This whole table was Sichuan food, and you were telling him lighter flavors were better?

For some inexplicable reason, Yang Jia Xing's mood improved. Even counting Tang Zhi Chu, he only had two rivals. One was reserved, insecure, and couldn't speak properly. And the other?

He acted lofty and full of pride, yet he didn't seem very smart.

Just this?