But He'd Been Cheated On

They started drawing from left to right.

The first was Xie Li.

Before the staff brought over the box, Xie Li pressed his palms together in front of his chest in prayer.

He obediently closed his eyes and made a wish before opening them again, his smiling eyes curving as he drew.

He wanted to be paired with Pei Heng.

That way, he could have a proper talk with Pei Heng and explain the slander Shen Yan had made against him in front of Pei Heng.

Xie Li drew out a pink bracelet from the box and smiled as he put it on his wrist.

His skin was fair, and the pink made it look even more delicate.

Once he had it on, he smiled sweetly and obediently at the camera. "It's a color I really like!"

[Wow, Xie Li is really so fair! This kind of pink is so demanding on skin tone!]

[My baby smells so good, I want to give him a kiss.]

[I hope Teacher Lu draws pink too, so he and Li Bao can choose each other!]

The moment he smiled, his fans immediately flooded the screen with comments.

Standing beside Xie Li was Lu Xingchuan.

Lu Xingchuan shot Shen Yan a vicious glare, then silently prayed in his heart: Pair me with Pei Heng.

That way, he would have enough time to explain all the awful things that had happened earlier to Pei Heng.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Xingchuan reached out to draw.

He pulled out a pink bracelet in one go.

A heavy disappointment flashed through Xie Li's eyes, but he quickly leaned closer. "Xingchuan, we're in the same group. I'll be counting on you later."

Lu Xingchuan was disappointed too.

But he was still happy to be grouped with Xie Li. Smiling, he said, "Let's do our best together."

The camera shifted away from the two of them and focused on Pei Heng.

Pei Heng was visibly relieved as he murmured, "Thank goodness."

[Hahahahaha, President Pei is so real. He couldn't make it clearer that he doesn't want to be grouped with those two scumbags.]

[I really hate Pei Heng. He came on the show and still has to target the guests? If you can't handle the game, don't come.]

[Because of their own little schemes, everyone couldn't film properly and had to keep traveling back and forth. Isn't it normal for people to target them?]

[I'll say it again: Xie Li is very innocent. He has no ulterior motives. He just kindly wanted to cook for everyone.]

[I hope you're surrounded by good people like Xie Li, and that you stay locked together for all eternity.]

The comments started fighting again.

Pei Heng drew a green bracelet from the box.

He said nothing, merely putting the bracelet on his wrist in silence.

It was Shen Yan's turn to draw.

He fished out a bright green bracelet from the box in one go.

He was paired with Pei Heng.

Jealous, furious sparks flared in Lu Xingchuan's eyes, and he could not help saying, "Shen Yan is really lucky. On the first grouping, he got paired with President Pei."

Shen Yan raised a brow at Lu Xingchuan. "I may never have become famous in this life, but I've been cheated on. I'm satisfied."

Xie Li immediately bit his lip. "Shen Yan, you really misunderstood me. Xingchuan and I are completely innocent."

Shen Yan—

Had already turned to watch Bai Jing and Song Qianshan draw their bracelets.

As though he were intensely interested in the suspense of the remaining results.

Pei Heng could not help laughing. "I really want to know who Bai Jing will be paired with."

Xie Li: ...

Lu Xingchuan: ...

The grouping ended.

"Next is the segment where the guests look into each other's eyes and speak their hearts. Guests who have successfully formed pairs, please hold your partner's hand."

Lu Xingchuan looked at Xie Li. "I've finally waited for you to return to the country."

[Ahhhhhh!]

[So sweet!]

[Are these two really together?]

[My ass they are. Xie Li has been emphasizing that he and Lu Xingchuan are innocent.]

Xie Li tilted his head up at Lu Xingchuan, his eyes full of affection, but his words were, "I hope we work well together, Xingchuan."

Lu Xingchuan did not think there was anything wrong with that.

The way Xie Li looked at him proved everything.

Nearby.

Bai Jing took Song Qianshan's hand first, tilted her head up, and looked at Song Qianshan. "I'm hungry."

Song Qianshan nodded with a serious expression. "Me too!"

Director: ...

[Hahahahaha.]

[So real.]

The camera switched to Shen Yan and Pei Heng.

Shen Yan impatiently grabbed Pei Heng's hand, his eyes anxious. "I need to pee."

That stupidly frustrating game earlier had made him drink too much water.

He really could not hold it any longer.

Pei Heng: ...

Director: ...

[Hahahahahahaha!]

[I'm dying, fuck, I spat out my luosifen.]

Pei Heng smiled. "What a coincidence, me too."

The director rubbed his forehead.

"Everyone has one minute to deal with your individual issues. After one minute, the game officially begins. You need to find the ingredients the production team has prepared throughout this villa and its yard.

"You have thirty minutes.

"Whatever you find is what you get to eat. Guests who find nothing will get nothing to eat."

As the director spoke, Shen Yan and Pei Heng were already rushing toward the stairs to pee.

Shen Yan comforted Pei Heng. "It's okay. If we really can't find anything, we can still steal some."

Pei Heng shared his sentiments. "That's what I think too!"

Director: ...

Grinding his teeth, he added, "You are not allowed to steal other guests' ingredients!"

[Hahahahahahaha!]

[He caught the game loophole just in time.]

One minute later.

The game officially began.

Bai Jing and Song Qianshan held hands and rushed straight for the refrigerator, successfully finding—

Three shrimp in the side-by-side fridge.

Bai Jing rolled her eyes on the spot. "The production team is such assholes."

Song Qianshan nodded in agreement as she placed the three shrimp into the basket hanging from the crook of her arm.

The two continued searching for other ingredients.

Shen Yan and Pei Heng held hands, planning to look around the yard.

Xie Li wanted to know what Shen Yan and Pei Heng were talking about, so he pulled Lu Xingchuan along and deliberately, seemingly casually, kept close to Pei Heng.

Lu Xingchuan did not know what Xie Li was thinking, but he himself also wanted to know what Shen Yan and Pei Heng were saying. So even without Xie Li pulling him, he followed Shen Yan and Pei Heng's group closely.

"Why are you two always following us? Are you trying to steal our ingredients? The director said no stealing!" Shen Yan looked at Lu Xingchuan warily.

Lu Xingchuan wore a mocking expression. "The entire villa area is equally open to all guests. What do you mean, we're following you? Everyone can go wherever they want here."

Xie Li tried to smooth things over, smiling at Shen Yan and Pei Heng. "The four of us can work together too."

Shen Yan and Pei Heng exchanged a look.

They had clearly never met before.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, they understood each other perfectly.

In the other's eyes, each saw exactly what he was thinking.

Without showing it, Pei Heng pulled Shen Yan along. "Let's see what's over here."

He led Shen Yan toward the entrance.

Lu Xingchuan and Xie Li moved toward the entrance too.

Just as Lu Xingchuan and Xie Li took two steps to follow.

The two people in front suddenly spoke in unison.

"Run!"

Whoosh~

Like the wind.

The two took off running.

Behind them.

Xie Li and Lu Xingchuan both looked awful.

[Hahahahaha, Lu Xingchuan and Xie Li are about to fall apart.]

[Shen Yan and Pei Heng are being way too ridiculous. Can't they just get along peacefully with the other guests?]

[The villa area is so big, but they refuse to go anywhere else and insist on following those two wherever they go. How are they any different from clingy dogs?]

[Lu Xingchuan, what are you doing? Can't you just date Li Bao properly? Why do you keep chasing after someone else's group? I'm speechless.]