Died Before Victory

Lu Xingchuan's face turned livid with anger.

"Show mercy when you can. Isn't it a bit much for you to keep pressing so hard?" Lu Xingchuan gritted his teeth as he spoke to Shen Yan.

Shen Yan cupped his ears. "There's such a huge daddy here! The smell is so strong!"

[Hahahahahaha!]

[Lu Xingchuan is seriously shameless. Things have gotten this far, and he still has the nerve to lecture Shen Yan? Pah!]

[Lu Xingchuan is innocent too, okay? He didn't know anything at all.]

[I have nothing to say to fans insisting on covering their ears and whitewashing him, but what he said to Shen Yan in that video was truly vicious, and it's a fact that he used resources Shen Yan got for him.]

[Borrowed money and pretended not to know him; used resources someone nearly got forced into a deal for, won Best Actor, and kept pretending not to know him. Fuck, he deserves to get hit by a car when he goes out!]

[Shen Yan threw himself at him and debased himself. Who can he blame? If he had the ability, he shouldn't have debased himself!]

Lu Xingchuan's fans immediately started tearing into everyone in the comments.

However, after this incident, Shen Yan gained a solid wave of fans.

His fans joined the fray, and Xie Xun's fans came charging in as well.

Xie Xun already had a more secure standing in the industry than Lu Xingchuan, and his fan base was even larger.

They pinned Lu Xingchuan's fans to the ground and rubbed their faces in it, leaving them utterly defeated.

Shen Yan's manager left in disgrace, tail between his legs.

Director Wang hung up his call with Zhao Sheng's side and looked at the guests before him with both excitement and indescribable mixed feelings.

Once again, he lamented.

Fuck!

How the hell was this dating show supposed to keep filming!

He really wanted to give Lu Xingchuan some money and kick him out!

But he had no money.

Sniffling, the director decided to become someone who had suddenly lost his memory and pretend nothing had just happened.

He turned and walked out.

Then he pulled open the door—

"Good morning, everyone! Did you rest well yesterday?"

A radiant, brand-new director entered through the door.

[Hahahahahaha!]

[Such great acting. I could totally tell you were acting!]

[The director is about to fall apart, hahahaha.]

[Wait, why are they still streaming with Pei Heng's phone? Aren't the production crew's cameras working today?]

The cameraman was holding his phone, watching the livestream while grinning like an idiot.

Then he suddenly saw that comment.

He jolted.

Fuck!

He had gotten so caught up in the drama that he forgot.

Quickly—

Attention, all units.

Go live.

The director wore an enthusiastic smile. "After spending a day together, I'm sure everyone has gained a new understanding of one another. Today, the production team has prepared a lavish breakfast for everyone.

"Ta-da!"

The director flung a hand toward the dining table in a grand presentation.

The camera shifted to the dining table. The staff were arranging the dishes, and it truly was a lavish breakfast.

The director said with a smile, "Since people generally don't have much appetite when they first wake up, before breakfast, let's do a little exercise to work up an appetite!

"As everyone knows, this is a dating show.

"So, for this little game, you'll be in pairs.

"To save time, we won't draw lots. I'll now announce the groups.

"Bai Jing and Pei Heng, one group.

"Shen Yan and Lu Xingchuan, one group.

"Xie Li and Song Qianshan, one group!"

[You really know how to make groups!]

[Isn't the director afraid Shen Yan will butcher Lu Xingchuan right in front of the cameras?]

[A dating show instantly turns into a murder show.]

[The director has completely gone dark!]

After announcing the groups, a villainous smile appeared in the director's eyes—

Hehehehehe!

You all want to stir things up, huh!

None of you are getting through this peacefully!

The moment the director finished grouping them, Xie Li immediately gave Shen Yan an obedient smile. "I said just now that I believed in your character. Sure enough, Shen Yan, I'm so happy you get to stay and keep filming the show!"

As he spoke, he tilted his head toward the camera and smiled.

But the comments were all spamming about the director going dark, and no one discussed the devastating charm of his head tilt and smile.

Song Qianshan looked coolly at Xie Li, then turned to the director and asked, "During the game, guests can't eat food that other guests have already eaten, right? Like ice cream."

Xie Li's tilted smile instantly froze.

Xie Li's fans immediately arrived with blades in hand.

[Song Qianshan is so annoying. She bullies Xie Li just because she's more senior.]

[Xie Li has been sweet and sensible from start to finish, and he's friendly to everyone. I really don't understand where Song Qianshan's hostility comes from.]

Song Qianshan's fans immediately counterattacked.

The comments were filled with murderous intent.

The cameraman carried his equipment and sighed to the director. "I finally understand the true meaning of a saying now."

The director raised his brows, looking puzzled.

The cameraman said, "Died before victory, and they broke up before they even became a couple."

Director Wang: ...

As a mature director, he would not fall apart on the second day of the show.

Taking a deep breath, the director said with a smile, "Our game is very simple. The two-person teams will carry each other back and forth between points A and B. The first team to finish gets first place and can eat anything on the table.

"The second-place team can only eat designated food from the table.

"The third-place team can't eat anything at all, and they'll be responsible for washing the dishes."

The game took place in the villa's courtyard.

The course had already been set up.

It was a hundred-meter relay. The first guest would carry the second guest to the other side. Then they could switch, with the second guest carrying the first back, or they could stay as they were, with the first guest still carrying the second back.

But they had to reach the finish line with one person carrying the other for the task to count as completed.

Pei Heng smiled at Shen Yan. "Go easy on us later."

Shen Yan immediately rolled his wrists. "Who comes out on top is still anyone's guess!"

He turned to Lu Xingchuan. "You can't do it. I'll carry you."

Lu Xingchuan had already been feeling awkward, but at those words, he immediately snapped, "How can't I do it?! What part of me can't do it?!"

Shen Yan spoke bluntly. "You don't have the strength, your waist can't handle it, and you can't carry me. Even if you did, we wouldn't get first place. And you'd definitely go easy on Xie Li's group, so our team would end up washing dishes because of you."

Lu Xingchuan said angrily, "Shen Yan, don't push it too far!"

Shen Yan raised his brows. "Then prove you can do it. Your mouth says not to push it too far, but your body is being very honest. You really can't do it!"

Lu Xingchuan's eyebrows twitched furiously. He bent down at once and gritted out, "Get on!"

Shen Yan bared his teeth in a triumphant grin and climbed onto Lu Xingchuan's back.

Pei Heng glanced at Shen Yan, then bent his knees and squatted down as well. He said to Bai Jing, "I'll carry you. We won't switch halfway through."

Bai Jing was rebellious to the bone. "No! When we get to the other side, we'll switch. I want to crush Best Actor Lu and prove I'm stronger than him!"

Lu Xingchuan nearly dropped to his knees on the spot.

Shen Yan laughed. "When we get to the other side, switch with me instead, so Bai Jing doesn't crush you."

"Shut up!" Lu Xingchuan snapped in humiliation.

Bai Jing and Shen Yan exchanged sly looks behind him.

Beside them, Xie Li looked as if nothing could get to him. He squatted down and said to Song Qianshan, "Shanshan, come on! I'll carry you!"

[Xie Li is truly so kind. I hope all of you can see how wonderful he is!]

Before that comment could float past.

Song Qianshan climbed onto Xie Li's back.

The director immediately shouted, "Start!"

Bang!

Died before victory.

They broke up before they even became a couple.

At the exact instant Song Qianshan got on and the director opened his mouth—

Xie Li's knees buckled.

He dropped straight to his knees.

With a tumble and a roll.

Song Qianshan rolled right off Xie Li's back.