Undercurrents

Shi Zhou watched Xie Jiali from beside him and sighed inwardly.

Don't just worry about everyone else. Which guest do you like?

What a headache.

Convinced that Shi Zhou had already ruled out his potential romantic rival, Xie Jiali was in a very good mood.

Things had nearly slipped out of his control during his absence yesterday, but he was back now, and Shi Zhou's feelings hadn't changed.

If he had known what the other man was thinking, though, he probably wouldn't have been able to smile.

Shi Zhou watched Xie Jiali finish his medicine. Then someone from the production team came to get him. "Zhouzhou, you can make a video call to your family or friends."

The others would probably get to make calls too.

Shi Zhou was delighted. They had been using the Mindnets issued by the production team, probably supplied by a sponsor. Of course it would be great to get his own Mindnet back and contact his family!

"Really?"

"Yes. You can choose to keep the video call private or let us livestream it. Either is fine," the staff member explained with a smile.

It didn't really matter. He didn't mind everyone knowing about his family; quite a few of the guests already knew anyway. Besides, he was just a nobody.

Still, keeping it private would be best.

He called home. It happened to be noon on the planet where Shi Zhou's family lived, and the call had barely rung before someone hurried to answer it.

His father's broad face filled the entire screen, his eyes disappearing into his grin. "Zhouzhou! Zhouzhou!"

The medication he needed for his illness had left his once-handsome face puffy and swollen, and it would take a long time to recover.

But all that mattered was that he was all right.

Shi Zhou's voice was slightly hoarse. "Dad-"

He had always been close to his parents and younger sister. Yet he had no memories of the past two years, when someone had controlled his body and done all sorts of awful things. His parents had still treated him well, believing he was simply going through a rebellious phase.

Once their son returned to normal, they even said they were happy either way, and that he really was their son-his rebellious phase had only lasted two years, and so on.

Just thinking about it made Shi Zhou's heart ache terribly.

Hearing his son's voice, his father could only beam and keep answering, "Yes, yes!"

His mother snatched the communicator away and chided him, "Why are you just grinning like an idiot instead of saying anything?"

Then she turned to Shi Zhou, all gentleness again. "Zhouzhou, are you having fun on the show? Have you made any new friends?"

Shi Zhou was already grateful he hadn't agreed to livestream this!

How old was he now? His mother was still coaxing him like a kindergartner!

Still, he had always been well-behaved around his parents. At her question, he immediately nodded and smiled. "I'm having fun. I've made new friends."

His mother's nose stung. How had her sweet boy grown so big in the blink of an eye? She marveled at it every time, and with Zhouzhou so far away from her, longing washed over her like a tide.

"Oh, Zhouzhou, keep some money for yourself. You don't have to give it all to us," she hurriedly added, remembering something.

His father squeezed into view too. "That's right. We've reopened the shop, and business is pretty good. Take care of yourself."

Whatever they said, it all came down to family wanting the best for one another.

Shi Zhou didn't need much money while he was with the production team. When his parents refused to accept it, he wheedled and whined, clinging to them with his sweet coaxing.

"Come on, take it. Please~"

His mother smiled and tapped the forehead of Shi Zhou's projected image. "What are you going to do when you get a girlfriend?"

He had always been the best at wheedling.

His little sister had woken from her nap too. Her head popped up from beneath the table, and she was still rubbing her eyes. The moment she saw Shi Zhou, her gaze cleared. She rose onto her tiptoes and shouted:

"Big brother!"

"Yes, I'm here. Have you been a good girl today, Wanwan?"

His heart melted at the sight of his sister's rosy little cheeks, but he still had to straighten his back as he asked. To his sister, he was a manly big brother who could do anything.

He had to maintain that image.

They chatted for a long time before he reluctantly ended the call at his parents' urging.

His ears were still a little red afterward. He wondered whether his sister had seen him wheedling.

Behind the camera, the staff member stifled a laugh. Shi Zhou seemed to have forgotten that even without a livestream, the production team still had cameras.

Oh well. Better not tell him.

Shi Zhou had spent quite a while talking with his family, and knowing they were all doing well had lifted his spirits considerably. Tonight was when the guests first messaged the person they liked in the original story. He certainly didn't think Xie Jiali would necessarily message him.

If Xie Jiali was going to send one, it would be best to send it to his intended CP, so Shi Zhou could finish his mission sooner.

Shi Zhou decided he still needed to put in a good showing at this stop. It would be embarrassing if he didn't receive a single message.

As for the next stop, it would be best not to receive any. Otherwise, wouldn't that prove the others still hadn't settled on someone they liked?

That would be awful.

He had just tidied his things a little when a staff member knocked on his door.

Once downstairs, Shi Zhou glanced around and found everyone there. The handsomely dressed men and women sat or leaned back, chatting at ease. Outside, the rain pattered down, lending the room a warm, peaceful atmosphere.

But that peace was about to be broken.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, the production team set up the cameras, and a member of the directing staff said with a smile:

"Since it's raining so hard today, let's not go out just yet. Stay inside and play cards."

Their eyes positively sparkled, their expressions brimming with excitement, as if announcing that they were about to stir up trouble.

And why wouldn't they? Yesterday, Shi Zhou's romance arc—one of the CP lines the production team had the highest hopes for—had failed to produce a dance with either of his two potential male partners. Some viewers were satisfied, but others weren't.

Now that everyone would soon be here, no one could complain about unfairness. They could each compete on their own merits.

The viewers rooting for their respective favorites were all raring to go too!

After all, the point of joining a Dating Reality Show was to win over the person you liked. That was what made shipping their CP so satisfying!

There was already steamy fan art flying everywhere, yet the CP hadn't even held hands. How could the fans not get worked up?

Go for it!

Shi Zhou asked curiously, "What kind of cards?"

Whatever they were playing, the fun-loving Asta and Zheng Yu were already clapping their approval.

Asta even asked with a bright smile, "Is there alcohol? Cards without a drink would be boring."

The staff member nodded first. "Yes."

Then he repeated himself with a mischievous chuckle. "Of course there is."

He handed the deck to Shi Zhou, who was sitting on the edge of the sofa closest to him.

Puzzled by the smile on the staff member's face, Shi Zhou began unwrapping the cards at his prompting.

Smiling, Asta lounged against the sofa with his arms spread and his legs crossed. As Shi Zhou unwrapped the deck, he tipped his head back to gaze at his fair profile.

He gave a meaningful chuckle, narrowing his long, tea-brown eyes. "As long as there's alcohol."

Shi Zhou opened the deck and couldn't help laughing. He glanced at the others, all of whom looked expectant.

Honestly, this production team. He'd known it wouldn't be so simple.

"What is it? The box doesn't look like ordinary playing cards." Xie Jiali adjusted his glasses and asked with a smile.

As if he couldn't wait any longer, Asta reached straight past Zheng Yu beside him and draped himself over Shi Zhou's back to ask.

"What are we playing? Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or Razz?"

His breath stirred the wisps of hair beside Shi Zhou's ear. It tickled, and Shi Zhou rubbed the spot before answering with a laugh:

"Hahahaha! Sorry, none of those!"

Asta deliberately put on a dejected expression. "Oh, then I guess I won't have much of an advantage."

Of course not. The other guests hardly played cards, so how could the production team choose such a difficult poker variant?

Even though Shi Zhou wasn't much of a player, he knew that the games Asta mentioned required systematic study of theory, extensive calculation and review, and, most importantly, a huge amount of actual practice before anyone could play with confidence.

He glanced at Asta, who looked like a melancholy young beauty from ancient Greek mythology.

His personality was another matter.

But once Asta saw what was on the cards, the smile returned to his face.

"Not bad. I'm already looking forward to this."

He was full of energy again.

As he spoke, he began examining the cards with Shi Zhou. "Haha, these are interesting."

Xie Jiali stood, his trouser legs falling back over his dress shoes. "Zhouzhou, what are the cards? Let everyone have a look."

Yu Manman clapped with a smile too. "Exactly. You two can't keep them all to yourselves."

Shi Zhou stood and handed the cards to the other guests.

Asta rolled off Shi Zhou's back. He hadn't noticed anything amiss and was still laughing. "Your production team really knows how to have fun."

Yu Manman casually took a card from the deck. One glance at its face drew an "Oh!" from her, and her face immediately reddened.

Lin Yuxi put down her own card to look at Yu Manman's, then glanced at everyone's expressions. Unable to help herself, she shrugged and stifled a laugh. Realizing her expression might look a little inappropriate, she hurriedly restrained herself, pressing her lips together to force it back.

Yet after looking at the cards, not a single person refused to play.

Only someone who didn't like anyone at all and had no interest in finding a partner would refuse.

Even Su Yue put his card back after reading it without voicing any objections.

That made Shi Zhou even more enthusiastic. He clapped his hands and smiled. "Just drinking would be boring. How about we have a barbecue?"

It was cold outside, so they might as well have grilled meat.

Grilled meat goes with alcohol. All sorts of thoughts turned over in Shi Zhou's mind.

Of course he was happy to play too. Cards and alcohol-who knew how many secrets might come spilling out?

Xie Jiali immediately agreed, adding, "There's no need for everyone to go grocery shopping from now on. It's too much trouble."

No one objected, and they all nodded in agreement. After all, there was no need to mobilize the whole group just to buy groceries.

"Let's pair up. Since Zhouzhou wants a barbecue today, I'll go with him," Xie Jiali added unhurriedly.

Zheng Yu's eyes curved at that. Whatever had occurred to him, he stole a glance at Asta.

Yu Manman and Lin Yuxi looked around, seemingly without objections.

But surely one person couldn't just decide the pairings however he pleased.

No one said anything.

Even if they had no objections themselves, what if someone else did?

Asta couldn't suppress a sneer. Of everyone here, Xie Jiali was the most calculating.

He lounged lazily against the sofa, shuffling the newly opened deck over and over with different flourishes. The brand-new cards rustled in his hands.

"That would be too much work for you, Jiali. I'll go with Zhouzhou."

Xie Jiali was utterly sick of this clingy pest, but remained perfectly mild on the surface. "Then don't you think it would be tiring for Zhouzhou too?"

Asta sat up and placed the neatly stacked cards on the table, smiling as well. "I don't know how to choose the ingredients. I need the chef with me."

He propped up his chin and looked at Shi Zhou, his amorous eyes full of laughter. "Zhouzhou can teach me. Then I can cook for him, and he won't have to work so hard."

Shi Zhou let out an "Ah." He wanted to say, Why don't you two go together? It's just grocery shopping.

Look at them. This was only the Dating Reality Show's first proper stop, and these two were already bristling with hostility, ready to battle over the smallest thing.

Poor little cannon fodder that I am. The system really did choose the right name.

Su Yue suddenly rose from his chair, its legs scraping softly against the floor. His expression was cold as he pressed his lips together and said:

"Why don't we wait until everyone's here before discussing it?"

With that, he left.

He seemed too impatient to listen to any more of this pointless chatter.

Shi Zhou smiled too. "That's right. Jiali's suggestion is good, but let's talk about it after Brother Shen gets back."

He said decisively, "Why don't we ask Brother Shen to bring some groceries back? There should be a supermarket between the space station and here. I'll go write a list-"

Shi Zhou went upstairs to write the list. With his departure, the problem was resolved, and the others dispersed.

For the moment, the brewing storm seemed to have dissolved without a trace.