I just realized you're actually pretty cute

Fang Yi put down his chopsticks and smiled innocently. "I have Mr. Yu to thank for that. He gave me the chance to notice how outstanding Mr. Su is. Why would I need a reason to choose someone outstanding?"

Everyone turned to look at Yu Xiuyuan. Even Yun Chuan, who had remained silent all this time, fixed a dark gaze on him.

Only Wen Lin showed no curiosity in his eyes, just startling malice.

Yu Xiuyuan chewed his lamb viciously. That bastard set me up on purpose! Protagonist Shou's hatred +10086.

He wasn't remotely afraid of Wen Lin harboring ill will toward him. After all, he had never intended to let Wen Lin off the hook. But Fang Yi setting him up was unacceptable. Ungrateful bastard.

He tried to hold it in, but failed. Turning toward Fang Yi, he gritted out, "I should never have helped you! May you stay impotent for the rest of your life."

Watching him clench his back teeth, Fang Yi suddenly broke into a wide smile. "I just realized you're actually pretty cute."

Yu Xiuyuan even stopped chewing his lamb and glared at him in disgust. "Are you sick in the head?"

The live comments immediately followed:

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head?"

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head?"

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head?"

"Can you stop copying and pasting? I'm scared to post anything in case I ruin your formation."

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? Why is he suddenly complimenting Yu Dog? Don't blame our Linlin if he ignores you after this."

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? After chasing our Linlin for so long, he suddenly stabs him in the back?"

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? Our poor Linlin."

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? Do we really have to keep the formation?"

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? Yu Dog does look kind of cute glaring at people with his cheeks puffed out."

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? I want Yu Dog to glare at me like that too."

"Is Fang Yi sick in the head? The person above me is sick too."

On set, Fang Yi's smile grew even brighter. Looking at Yu Xiuyuan, he said each word distinctly. "Maybe I really was sick before. Now I'm cured."

Yu Xiuyuan paused at that, then picked up a piece of steak.

Has Fang Yi awakened? Escaped his fate as a hopeless simp?

Whatever. Nothing to do with me. This steak is delicious.

The director looked at the guests' differing expressions and felt lost all over again. What on earth was going on?

He could only continue with the proceedings. "Next, could Best Actor Yun tell us why he chose Mr. Yu?"

Yun Chuan looked grim. Staring at Yu Xiuyuan, he said in a low voice, "He was the only man."

Wen Lin's eyes flickered, and he explained with a smile, "God Yun means Little Yu was the only man left at the time, so he had no choice but to pick him. It was the same for me, really. I was worried about making Ms. Lin and the others uncomfortable. Still, I'm very honored to be Ms. Lin's roommate, and I'll do my best not to cause her any trouble."

Yun Chuan's expression grew colder, his brows drawing together. He looked at Yu Xiuyuan, who was utterly unaffected and busy gnawing on a hairy crab, but ultimately said nothing.

Wen Lin's explanation made him seem very close to Yun Chuan. Sure enough, his fans went wild:

"Our Linlin and God Yun really are that close. He speaks for God Yun."

"Our Linlin and God Yun really are that in sync."

"Our Linlin is so considerate. God Yun isn't good with words, so Linlin explains for him."

"God Yun isn't good with words? Have Wen Lin's fans lost their minds? How do they dare say that?"

Watching the rapidly scrolling live comments, Director Liu smiled in satisfaction. A little buzz? Easily secured!

After dinner, Director Liu announced, "Now that everyone's finished eating, let's return to the living room and play a quiet little game to help our food settle."

Every change of location involved another round of maneuvering over seats. It was already the second episode of the dating reality show, so how was there not a single promising couple?

There had originally been one. Now even that was gone.

Fang Yi used to stick to Wen Lin's side. Now he seemed eager to stay miles away from him and sat beside Su Ziming, just as he had at dinner.

Yun Chuan sat diagonally across from Yu Xiuyuan.

Once everyone was seated, Director Liu announced, "We'll be playing truth or dare. We'll spin a bottle to choose the lucky winner. Whoever the bottle points at must choose either truth or dare as their penalty. If you forfeit, you have to drink a glass of alcohol. Once the winner completes their penalty, they'll host the next round. I'll host the first round."

Yu Xiuyuan was a little speechless. A glass of alcohol for forfeiting? He would fall straight asleep after drinking it. Was this aimed at him?

Li Rou, sitting beside him, bumped his shoulder and raised an eyebrow, grinning at him. She clearly wanted to watch him make a fool of himself.

This girl had completely stopped caring about her public persona.

Director Liu spun the bottle. The first lucky winner was Su Ziming, who chose truth.

The director asked, "Have you had your first kiss?"

Su Ziming hadn't expected such a blunt question and felt rather awkward.

"Come on, Director. We're all old enough to need a show to find us dates. Isn't asking about a first kiss a freebie?" Fang Yi teased.

Su Ziming became even more embarrassed, his face reddening as he struggled to answer. He could only force himself to sound calm. "I've been busy with work and haven't gotten around to dating."

"You haven't had your first kiss?" Fang Yi was stunned. Since they were roommates, he had tried to help when Su Ziming hesitated for so long, assuming he was embarrassed to answer. It turned out he had misunderstood. Su Ziming was simply shy.

"No, I haven't. There's nothing shameful about that." Su Ziming stubbornly held his ground.

"Of course there isn't. Being career-minded is a good thing. It's your turn to spin now." Fang Yi hurriedly ended the conversation and handed him the bottle.

Su Ziming breathed a sigh of relief, took the bottle, and gave it a casual spin. It landed on Li Rou.

Li Rou considered it for a moment. Su Ziming was gentle and quiet, so he probably wouldn't make things difficult for her. She chose dare.

Su Ziming was torn again. He really wasn't good at games, especially while filming a show. He worried that too simple a dare would make for dull television, while too difficult a dare would offend someone.

Yu Xiuyuan turned to look at Su Ziming. He was quiet and had never fought for camera time throughout filming, a classic decent, unassuming guy.

Seeing him anxiously struggle to think of something, Yu Xiuyuan spoke up first. "I have a suggestion. How about making her choose any guest and give them a kiss?"

Su Ziming frowned briefly, but quickly realized that this was a request that sounded exciting without actually putting anyone in a difficult position.

He glanced at Yu Xiuyuan and played along. "That sounds good. Who would you like to kiss, Ms. Li?"

Li Rou looked troubled by the dare. "We have to kiss someone in only the second episode? What if they reject me?"

"Uh..." Su Ziming hadn't anticipated those complications.

Yu Xiuyuan patted Li Rou's arm and urged her on. "Stop teasing the poor guy. Push him too far and he'll restrict which gender you can pick."

Li Rou hastily turned toward Lin Xi. "You wouldn't reject me, would you, Sister Lin?" Without waiting for an answer, she held Lin Xi's head and planted a kiss on her cheek.

The loud smack left Lin Xi's face flushed.

The live comments declared that they were shipping it.

After kissing her, Li Rou happily picked up the bottle and gave it a casual spin. It landed on Wen Lin.

"Oh, why did it have to be me? I really don't know what to choose." Wen Lin agonized aloud for a while, then pressed his palms together and looked at Li Rou. "I'll choose dare. Please go easy on me, Ms. Li."

"Don't worry," Li Rou reassured him. "Strike a pose flexing your biceps, take a photo, and post it on your Moments with the caption 'I'm a real man.' How's that? Not hard, right?"

Wen Lin nearly ground his teeth to pieces. He had chosen dare because this was a dating reality show, after all. He had assumed Li Rou would probably ask him to confess to someone, kiss someone, or do squats while holding someone-something that would give him a chance for intimate contact with another guest.

Instead, she had given him a dare that would ruin his image? His persona had always been that of a gentle, innocent flower. What part of him looked like a macho man?

He couldn't even get angry. He still had to smile and say, "Thank you for going easy on me, Ms. Li."

Gritting his teeth, he posted on Moments, took the bottle, and spun it hard. After a long time, it finally wobbled to a stop, pointing at Yu Xiuyuan.