Husband isn't a gender-it's a feeling

#Ruan Feng, a scheming old man#

#Xie Mi tears an old scumbag apart#

#Xie Mi, the entertainment industry's judge#

As Ruan Feng's reputation collapsed, Xie Mi shot to fame.

The commenters under the trending tags split into two camps: one focused on cursing Ruan Feng, while the other reviewed Xie Mi's performance on the show.

[Can't breathe]: She brought a veteran celebrity crashing down in just ten minutes. This woman is seriously badass.

[Hair down to my kidneys]: I'm suddenly falling for Xie Mi's unhinged energy. The entertainment industry is such a mess; we need a few people who actually dare to speak up.

[Full of butt holes]: I'm dying. Ruan Feng tried to throw his weight around with Xie Mi, but she wasn't scared in the slightest. She straight-up taught him a lesson.

[One smile sends chickens flying and dogs scrambling]: Let me say it again: husband isn't a gender-it's a feeling.

[Little yellow dog of Mount Wudang]: If Ruan Feng paid for all those stories about Xie Mi acting like a diva on set, doesn't that mean she might actually be a decent person?

[Melting snow, bleak winds]: That doesn't clear her completely. Don't forget the biggest stain on her reputation.

Seeing public opinion turn in Xie Mi's favor, the Xiao Rong CP fans were the first to lose their composure.

As Xie Mi's biggest haters, they were the sort who could get extreme enough to stab her to death. How could they allow her reputation to recover?

They immediately created the tag #Xie Mi, a homewrecker#, recounting from beginning to end how she fantasized about being Xiao Jingxi's girlfriend, how she came between the Xiao Rong CP, and how utterly shameless she was.

They even pushed the tag onto the trending list.

Meanwhile, after seeing Ruan Feng off, the show began its morning sports meet.

Director Niu announced the next segment through his portable microphone.

"Exercise stimulates adrenaline and heightens our senses, making it easier for sparks of romance to fly between people."

"So today, we'll hold this dating show's very first sports meet-a three-legged race!"

Xie Mi remembered this part.

In the original novel, Xiao Jingxi and Xu Shuangrong had been paired together. Neither was good at three-legged races, so they fell halfway through and accidentally landed in a lip-to-lip kiss.

It was an iconic scene that brought the Xiao Rong CP closer together.

"Now, I'll announce the teams!"

Director Niu's voice rang out through the portable speaker. "Liu Woxing and Qiu Chengye will be one team. Xu Shuangrong and Shen Yeqing will be another. Xie Mi and Xiao Jingxi will be the last!"

Xie Mi's freshly bared grin vanished instantly.

Hold on. Who taught you to pair people up like that?

Shouldn't you be promoting your hottest pairing, the Xiao Rong CP? Besides, this isn't what happened in the original novel!

Xie Mi wasn't the only one furious. The fans in the live chat were, too.

[Why are you splitting up my Xiao Rong CP?!]

[Something's wrong. Xiao Rong is the most popular pairing on this show. There's no way the production team would pass up a chance to promote them. Someone must have pulled strings behind the scenes.]

[Obviously, it's Xie Mi. She deliberately got the director to pair her with Best Actor Xiao so she could get close to him. I'm speechless...]

[Can Xie Mi stop being a homewrecker? I literally just praised you. Unbelievable.]

Xiao Jingxi walked over to Xie Mi with a strap in his hand and no expression on his face. "Tie it on."

In their previous relationship, Xiao Jingxi had always held the upper hand and had long since grown used to ordering Xie Mi around.

So this time, too, he naturally handed her the strap, expecting her to tie their legs together.

He hadn't expected her to refuse so bluntly.

"Sorry, don't know how."

The corner of Xiao Jingxi's mouth twitched, but surprisingly, he said nothing more and crouched down to tie their legs together.

He was being unusually cooperative.

Just as Xie Mi wondered what he was plotting this time, she suddenly felt someone watching her.

There it is again.

It had been the same during her confrontation with Ruan Feng. That gaze had stayed fixed on her, studying her like a hunter watching his prey.

This time, Xie Mi didn't ignore it. She looked straight back.

Shen Yeqing leaned against a tree with his arms loosely folded, his alluring eyes especially captivating.

When their gazes met, his thin lips curved into a smile, restless and eye-catching.

-Need my help?

He mouthed the question.

Xie Mi merely smiled without answering and calmly looked away.

Until she figured out who he really was, she wasn't going to respond.

All three teams had tied their legs together and lined up at the starting line.

Qiu Chengye wrapped an arm around Liu Woxing's waist and assured her confidently, "Don't worry. I'm pretty athletic. As long as you don't mess up, we can win."

Liu Woxing smiled gently. "I'll do my best."

Xu Shuangrong lightly bit her lower lip, looking uneasy. "Mr. Shen, I've never competed in a three-legged race before. If I hold you back, please don't scold me."

"Don't worry." Shen Yeqing wore his usual faint smile. "I will."

The corner of Xu Shuangrong's mouth twitched.

"Follow my commands. Start with your left foot." Xiao Jingxi remained expressionless, his eyes fixed ahead.

"You'd better not pull anything." Xie Mi cared only about the seafood feast awaiting the winners and intended to get this over with quickly.

"Start!" At the command, all three teams set off.

"One, two, one! One, two, one!" Qiu Chengye's commands were deafening, but a glance revealed that he was still at the starting line.

Shen Yeqing and Xu Shuangrong set off steadily. They weren't fast, but at least they made no mistakes.

With the seafood feast on her mind, Xie Mi immediately stepped forward with her left foot.

But then...

That bastard Xiao Jingxi stepped forward with his left foot, too!

His left leg was tied to her right, which meant both of Xie Mi's feet left the ground. She lost her balance and toppled over.

Whether intentionally or not, she felt Xiao Jingxi tug on her.

That changed the direction of her fall, sending her straight toward him.

Wait. I think I've figured it out.

Xiao Jingxi did that on purpose. He deliberately told me to move my left foot so I'd fall, then pulled me toward him. That way, I'd definitely get accused of deliberately trying to seduce him.

Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you want to play.

** Take a punch from your daddy! **

Xie Mi drove her fist into Xiao Jingxi's spine. He nearly spat up last night's dinner with a splutter, while she used the force to steady herself.

"Are you insane?!" Xiao Jingxi erupted.

"Sorry. You told me to step with my left foot, but then you moved your left foot, too. I lost my balance, so I just used you to steady myself. You don't mind, do you?"

Xie Mi wasn't taking the blame for this. She exposed his little scheme on the spot.

The muscles in Xiao Jingxi's face twitched. He was clearly struggling to suppress his anger.

Steady herself? She called that steadying herself? That punch nearly sent me to the afterlife!

"It's fine. I wasn't clear enough. I meant that I would start with my left foot. Looks like you misunderstood."

Xiao Jingxi took a deep breath and said, "Let's try again. This time, you move your left foot."

"Okay."

Although she agreed aloud, Xie Mi remained wary and moved her right foot instead.

Sure enough, Xiao Jingxi tried the same trick again and moved his left foot!

Xie Mi laughed in anger.

Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you want to play?

If you're going to play dirty, don't blame me for returning the favor.