Sheng Nian recalled the plot System 01100 had shown him.
In the original plot, he had started searching all over the museum for Jiang Shu the moment he entered, and through sheer persistence, he really had found Jiang Shu right at the beginning.
But at the time, Jiang Shu was thoroughly fed up with him because of the fainting incident the day before. Yet he had rushed over and, right in front of the cameras, started saying that He Gu was a scheming O who had done all sorts of bad things and tried to drive a wedge between them.
Even more absurdly, just as he was bad-mouthing him, He Gu had emerged from behind him looking deeply hurt, yet still offered explanations on his behalf to Jiang Shu, putting on the perfect act of an understanding, magnanimous innocent.
Although his family had pulled strings to keep this segment from airing, Sheng Nian knew the production team had secretly livestreamed the first episode's recording.
And precisely because of that, every single word he had said to Jiang Shu had been livestreamed.
Those remarks had also gotten him dragged onto the StarNet trending searches. From then on, the name "Sheng Nian" had become inseparable from "scheming, vicious Omega." After that, no matter what he did or whose fault it was, netizens thought he was to blame and attacked him without bothering to learn the facts.
At that thought, Sheng Nian wanted nothing more than to stay far away from the two romantic leads.
He had only stayed on this dating show to salvage his progress, so he had no intention of looking for a romantic match. Besides, he still had the "maintain the lovestruck persona" debuff and did not want to run into Jiang Shu and He Gu so soon. After hiding his perfume bottle, he simply began touring the museum with the hovering-ball-like drone in tow.
Sheng Nian did not give the livestream a second thought. Since he had no plans to look for a guest he liked, he walked through the museum at an unhurried pace, stopping now and then to sniff pheromone scents that interested him. He looked so relaxed that he seemed less like a show participant than someone strolling through his own backyard.
The viewers watching Sheng Nian wander around the museum in his livestream: [???]
[Is this guy here on vacation?]
[Unless I read the rules wrong, aren't they supposed to find a partner this episode? Why is he wandering around here? I can't even (ーー;)]
[Okay, but don't hate just for the sake of it... The rules never said they had to find a partner. If they don't want to, they can wait until this part is over.]
[I don't care whether he wants to find someone. Just don't pester my fave.]
[I'll give up meat for three days. Please don't let my fave run into Sheng Nian!]
In the monitoring room, the assistant director was also rather speechless as he watched Sheng Nian's leisurely behavior in the footage transmitted by the hovering ball.
After all, they had invited Sheng Nian for two reasons. First, the Sheng Family had invested a large sum in the show and was one of its sponsors. Second, they valued the buzz surrounding him. The love triangle between Sheng Nian, Jiang Shu, and He Gu was one of the main attractions of this show.
Didn't everyone on StarNet say Sheng Nian relentlessly pestered Jiang Shu, even insisting on following him onto a dating show? Why wasn't he rushing to find Jiang Shu during such an important segment today?
Failing that, he could at least pick a fight with He Gu like he had on the first day. Otherwise, this episode would be far too uneventful.
The assistant director's eyes shifted. He picked up his walkie-talkie and contacted Jiang Shu's camera operator. "Steer Jiang Shu toward Sheng Nian. Sheng Nian is currently in the east section of the museum's second floor."
After a moment's thought, he decided that still wasn't explosive enough, so he contacted He Gu's camera operator and gave the same instructions.
Only after setting down the walkie-talkie did the assistant director settle back into his chair, perfectly happy to stir up more trouble for his own entertainment. "There. That should give us editing material and trending searches."
Meanwhile, Sheng Nian had no idea that he was about to "run into" Jiang Shu and He Gu. He was still enjoying the museum's message board.
He couldn't help it. Apart from thirsty remarks like "When will the curator recreate my dream guy XXX's pheromones as a perfume?", "I'll die if I don't get to smell XXX's pheromones soon," and "Please give me something about XXX to dream about," the museum's message board was full of complaints about the bizarre pheromone scents in its collection.
"Does anyone understand the despair of getting hit with a whiff of durian without warning? I hate that fruit more than anything!"
"Durian's not so bad. Have you smelled the river-snail rice noodle one? This museum really goes for the bizarre. They even added pheromones that smell like that..."
"You guys only had to put your noses through it. Did I say anything when I smelled the hallucinogenic scent of poisonous mushrooms and started shaking my ass and dancing right in the museum?!!! My tough Alpha image, waaah..."
At the last message, Sheng Nian actually laughed aloud.
The viewers in Sheng Nian's livestream were completely baffled to see him laughing so hard at the message board.
[...]
[What exactly is he doing? Did he come on a dating show to read jokes?]
[If it's that funny, can we have a look too?]
[This stream is so boring. I'm out. Going next door to watch Qi Xiao and Mo Yuanyuan's fated encounter.]
[What? Cute romantic moments? Wait for me~]
"Nian? You're here too? What a coincidence. Looks like you and I have more of a connection than Shu and I do."
He Gu's voice suddenly sounded behind him, making Sheng Nian's scalp prickle. He thought, We've already fallen out completely. How can you still act as if nothing happened and speak to me so gently? Playing the innocent really isn't easy...
[Aaaaaah, no! Why did our sweet boy have to run into this walking disaster?]
[It's over, it's over. Gu is going to get bullied again, waaah! Mommy's heart is breaking!]
Sheng Nian looked away from the message board, completely missing the provocation in his words. He raised his head and watched He Gu warily without speaking, feeling that he was up to no good.
Seeing Sheng Nian guard against him as though he were a predator, He Gu's gentle expression stiffened. Why did it feel like Sheng Nian had gotten smarter? In the past, wouldn't he have already impatiently told him to leave or warned him to stay away from Jiang Shu?
How was he supposed to keep up his act if Sheng Nian didn't react?
An awkward atmosphere spread between them.
[Umm... this is so damn awkward~]
[Just a passerby, but didn't people say these two don't get along? Why is this He Gu insisting on going over to say hello?]
[Taking our Gu away, no thanks. Is being too polite and too gentle a crime now?]
[Oh, come on. Being polite is fine, but saying something about having a connection is laying it on a bit thick...]
[Then what should he say? "I'm really unhappy to run into you"? The person defending this pretty face so hard up there must be a paid troll hired by Sheng Nian.]
He Gu's eyes shifted. If the mountain wouldn't come to him, he would go to the mountain.
He stepped forward and linked arms with Sheng Nian before he could react, making goosebumps rise all over Sheng Nian's body.
And that wasn't all. He Gu covered the microphone on his chest and leaned toward Sheng Nian's ear, provoking him in a very quiet voice. "Nian, I know what Shu's pheromones smell like. Let me help you find him."
Sheng Nian froze for a moment, then came to his senses and tried to pull his arm free.
Yet before he had used any force at all, He Gu let go and fell to the floor.
Sheng Nian: "..."
So this was what you had in store for me? I didn't even use any force, okay?
Fine. You think you're the only one who knows how to fall?
With that thought, Sheng Nian also let out an "Ah!" and fell to the floor.
"Gu, Sheng Nian? What happened to you two?"
When Sheng Nian saw Jiang Shu approaching too, realization immediately dawned on him. It really was a setup!
Before you continue