My mom won't let me play with idiots

Early the next morning, the production team knocked on the guests' doors.

Shen Ting slumped against the sofa, hugging a cushion. Yan Yi wasn't doing much better.

"You eight must know what we're doing now, right?" Xiaoyue smiled at the eight people before her.

"I know. We're splitting into groups and getting today's spending money," Su Yu said softly, raising his hand.

"Exactly. Well said, Mr. Su. This morning, we'll be assigning date partners and handing out your date budgets."

"First, before we split into groups, I'd like to ask everyone what your ideal type is. I'm sure everyone watching the show is just as curious as I am."

Xiaoyue handed the microphone to Meng Yun, who was closest to her.

Young Master Meng didn't hesitate. "Wild and challenging."

"Wow, Mr. Meng, you really are direct." Xiaoyue smiled and clapped, then passed the microphone to Bai Yuanyuan beside him.

"I like someone tall and handsome." Bai Yuanyuan stole a shy glance at Shen Rui. Although she was very discreet, Xiaoyue and the viewers on their phones still noticed.

"Ohhh." Xiaoyue looked at Bai Yuanyuan in mock surprise, wearing a comical expression that said, "I get you."

When Shen Rui took the microphone, he looked as though he were giving a speech onstage. "Someone I feel a connection with."

Su Weiwang held the ticking time bomb in her trembling hands. "I, I... I don't know, thank you. Next."

Su Weiwang was so frightened that her voice kept trembling, as though it had been fitted with a spring.

Su Yu was the next to receive the microphone.

"My ideal type is someone gentle and responsible, who treats me well." Su Yu's cheeks flushed red.

Beside him, Si Chen watched him fondly.

[Si Chen really is head over heels for Su Yu. Just look at that loving gaze.]

[Su Yu practically said Si Chen's name outright, didn't he?]

[I've said "get together already" so many times I'm sick of it.]

[Bai Yuanyuan seems interested in Shen Rui.]

[Speaking of which, after all that excitement last night, how come there's not a single bit of news this morning?]

[That's the power of **. Someone must have suppressed it.]

Xiaoyue smiled in satisfaction at the sight. There was their talking point.

Embarrassed, Su Yu shoved the microphone into Si Chen's arms.

Holding the microphone, Si Chen chuckled. "It seems the person I like has already appeared."

"Ohhh, he's appeared." Everyone looked at the pair and teased them.

Su Yu blushed as he met Si Chen's eyes, faint pink bubbles appearing around them.

"Um, I really hate to interrupt you two young men who've just fallen in love, but this is my time now. Wasting other people's time is shameful." Shen Ting lazily raised his hand.

Su Yu's and Si Chen's expressions stiffened.

"Then, Mr. Shen, what sort of person is your ideal type?" Xiaoyue gave an awkward laugh. She had almost forgotten about this formidable character in front of her.

"I don't like people who live by the sea or don't have GPS installed in their heads."

???

Everyone present except Yan Yi had enormous question marks written all over their faces.

"Haha, your requirements are quite unusual, Mr. Shen, but what exactly do you mean?" Xiaoyue felt she had encountered the first cliff of her hosting career. One fall, and she would be smashed to pieces.

"Aren't your standards a bit too high? Even an ocean-view home isn't good enough?" Meng Yun loved ocean-view homes most and owned several.

Si Chen, however, looked at Shen Ting with disgust. "Did you sneak a look at my phone?"

Smack!!!

"What a load of spiraling bullshit! Spreading rumors costs nothing, but your daddy here can reward you with a big fat slap for free." Shen Ting held up both hands and blew on his palms.

"Shen Ting!!!" Furious, Si Chen was about to stand, but Su Yu grabbed his arm before he could leave his seat.

"Mr. Si, calm down, calm down. I'm sure Mr. Shen didn't mean it. Isn't that right, Mr. Shen?" Xiaoyue worked hard to smooth things over.

"Of course I..."

Xiaoyue's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"...meant every word. What, got a problem? If you've got a problem, come fight me. See if I'm scared of you." Shen Ting spread his hands.

Xiaoyue shattered completely.

"Shen Ting! Then explain exactly what you meant by that ideal type!" Si Chen looked at Shen Ting, his face dark.

"I'm afraid of someone like you, who sticks his nose into everything and doesn't know his place. Is that not allowed? You really do stick your nose into everything."

[Fight, fight!!!]

[Shen Ting's going too far. He actually wants to hit someone.]

[I'd be angry too. Si Chen just says whatever comes into his head. Calling someone a thief without any evidence is worse, if you ask me.]

[Someone up there is actually defending that cancer Shen Ting. Gag.]

[Let's judge each matter separately. I also think you shouldn't throw the word "steal" around.]

[Lesson learned. Next time a blind date asks what kind of guy I like, I'll copy Shen Ting.]

The moment Shen Ting finished speaking, Yan Yi, who was hugging a cushion beside him, laughed. "None of you understood that? Wasn't what Shen Ting said pretty straightforward?"

"All right, all right, we still have one guest who hasn't answered. Mr. Yan, what sort of person is your ideal type?" Seeing the assistant director frantically gesturing beside her, Xiaoyue hurriedly changed the subject.

"Me? I'm not picky. My mom said anyone human will do," Yan Yi answered lazily.

Hearing this answer, Xiaoyue nearly ascended to heaven. She struggled to take a deep breath. A mama's boy? How had the production team screened these guests? What sort of people had they picked?

In the chief director's room, the chief director had ordered a bottle of oxygen through an errand service ten minutes earlier. Why was filming this variety show leaving him short of oxygen?

He was filming a dating show! Not a roast battle!

Xiaoyue tapped her earpiece, and soon a group of crew members carried in a whiteboard.

There were eight round stickers on the whiteboard.

"It was a pleasure hearing everyone's ideal types just now. Now we'll be pairing you up for today's dates. There are eight round stickers on the whiteboard in front of you, each with a picture on the back. Every picture has a matching pair. Guests who draw matching pictures will automatically become partners for today's date. Also, different date locations come with different budgets."

All eight casually took a sticker and turned it over.

Bai Yuanyuan-Yan Yi

Su Yu-Meng Yun

Shen Rui-Su Weiwang

Last were Shen Ting-Si Chen.

"Just my rotten luck!" Shen Ting looked at the picture with utter distaste.

As though she hadn't noticed, Xiaoyue smiled and waved at the men in black outside the door.

"All right, today's date pairings are complete. I hope you all have fun today. Since these are outdoor dates, you'll need to take care of lunch yourselves, but the pair with the lowest love value today will be responsible for dinner."

At a small amusement park.

The men in black dropped Shen Ting and Si Chen off.

Shen Ting was still holding the date money the driver had given him in the car.

Ignoring Si Chen beside him, Shen Ting opened the envelope in his hands. Two bright red banknotes came into view.

"Only two hundred?" Si Chen frowned.

Without a word, Shen Ting pulled out a hundred-yuan note, then tossed the envelope behind him.

Si Chen caught it instinctively. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Have I not made myself clear enough? My mom won't let me play with idiots."