Kid, that wasn't how you acted a moment ago

"You probably can't afford it." Jiang Chuyu sounded utterly serious.

Song Jincheng's expression stiffened. Seeing Jiang Chuyu's serious expression, he felt displeased but couldn't very well show it.

"This pair of couples' watches is super expensive, and right now, you can't get them even if you have the money."

Jiang Chuyu seemed not to think anything was wrong and continued explaining, before finally saying hesitantly:

"Given our current relationship, giving me couples' watches seems a little too intimate."

Uh...

Things became extremely awkward for a moment.

Li Chonghua and Pei Lan exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads in unison. Seemingly mindful of the livestream, they pressed their lips together with effort, but the corners of their mouths were harder to keep down than an AK's recoil.

Zhong Xi looked on from the side, enjoying the show, but didn't dare make a sound either.

Sang Xiangwan neither smiled nor spoke, merely looking away and pretending not to have heard Jiang Chuyu's words or seen Song Jincheng's embarrassed expression.

Only one person held nothing back.

"Hahahahaha!"

Ye Yizhou lounged on the sofa, grinning and laughing delightedly, very loudly.

Being guileless really countered everything!

Song Jincheng's expression darkened further, and his gaze toward Ye Yizhou grew colder.

Trying to get his attention with tricks like this?

How pathetic.

Yet Ye Yizhou didn't spare him so much as another glance.

"You know quite a bit about watches, huh?"

In a good mood, Ye Yizhou patted the empty seat beside him, inviting Jiang Chuyu over and starting a conversation.

"Yeah! Who wouldn't love a watch this sparkly, cool, and gorgeous? I can't afford one, but that doesn't stop me from learning about watches!"

Jiang Chuyu happily sat down beside Ye Yizhou, still holding the open watch box, his voice carrying a little pride.

"Want one?"

Ye Yizhou looked at Jiang Chuyu with a smile, tapping the watch box with a long, well-defined finger.

Jiang Chuyu's eyes widened in disbelief, and he nodded repeatedly. "Yes!"

"Kid, that wasn't how you acted a moment ago."

Amused by Jiang Chuyu's honest double standard, Ye Yizhou teased him.

Jiang Chuyu's ears reddened shyly, and he grinned sheepishly.

"Because you actually have them! If you really give me one, I hit the jackpot. If you don't, I don't lose anything. Hehe."

[Hahaha, Chuyu is such a little smarty-pants!]

[I want one too, handsome! Raising my hand.]

[LMAO, is this a roundabout way of saying Song Jincheng is showing off when he can't afford it?]

[What's wrong with Jiang Chuyu? Watching him suck up to Ye Yizhou like this makes me feel our fave deserves better.]

[Jiang Chuyu doesn't deserve Song Jincheng.]

The fans in the livestream seemed more easily rattled than the celebrities themselves, yelling in the comments about who didn't deserve whom, as though their own favorites were so superior.

"Click."

Ye Yizhou raised his hand and pressed down on the watch box's lid, closing it.

"But you can't have this one."

There was no sign of disappointment on Jiang Chuyu's face as he cheerfully handed the watch box back to Ye Yizhou.

Just as he'd said, getting one would be a huge win, and not getting one wouldn't cost him anything.

Ye Yizhou rested his elbow on the back of the sofa and propped his chin on his left hand, looking at Jiang Chuyu as though he wanted to say something.

Limited-edition couples' watches, impossible to find on the market-he'd explained all that so thoroughly, yet missed the main point.

Couples' watches!

And nobody thought he had something going on?

He'd even put his ring-wearing hand against his face. It was this obvious, and still nobody asked?

Ye Yizhou raised his eyes and swept his gaze over the other guests. Not one of them reacted.

Huh?

They were all so young, and their eyesight was already failing?

"Ahem, ahem."

Director Ji forcefully interrupted, attempting to get the show back on track.

The downside of livestreaming was that there were too many unpredictable factors.

It was easy for the pacing to get disrupted.

Especially when certain guests refused to play by the usual rules. It was truly exhausting.

"Now, let's begin our first heart-fluttering task and enjoy the pleasures of grocery shopping and cooking together!"

After speaking, Director Ji waited for the guests' reactions.

However...

"Are you out of your mind?"

Ye Yizhou's voice carried obvious disdain. He tapped his phone and checked the time before speaking.

"It's almost eleven already. If we head out to the supermarket now, getting there, shopping, and getting back will take at least an hour. Then all six of us have to wash the vegetables, prep, and cook separately. That's another hour or two."

"By the time all the dishes are done, the first ones will be cold, and we'll have starved to death. Great, then we won't have to eat. Saves us the trouble."

Ye Yizhou laid into Director Ji sarcastically.

Director Ji: ...

Infuriating as it was, Ye Yizhou did have a point.

The original schedule had allowed enough time, but there had been a delay on the way, and then Ye Yizhou had drawn the guests' attention, costing them a little more time.

So there really wasn't quite enough time.

"Since everyone has only just arrived and has had a tiring day, the production team will provide lunch. After that, the guests will have to arrange every meal themselves."

After considering it, Director Ji immediately changed plans. It wouldn't affect much. Mainly, the livestream audience consisted mostly of the guests' fans. If they really made the guests rush out for groceries at mealtime and then come back to cook for themselves, the production team would probably be cursed to death.

Bad publicity might still be publicity, but he didn't want it.

"Yay!"

The guests were happy and very satisfied with this arrangement.

"You, come outside with me for a moment."

Director Ji pointed at Ye Yizhou. He wanted a private word with him.

"Oh."

Ye Yizhou stood, slipped his right hand into his pocket, placed the watch box on the sofa where he'd been sitting, and headed out first.

Only then did Director Ji follow.

"Director Ji looks a little serious. He's not going to scold Yizhou, is he?"

Jiang Chuyu craned his neck to look outside, a little worried.

"He deserves it. That's what he gets for being so full of himself and talking back to the director."

Zhong Xi was happy to see it happen and made no attempt to hide his glee at Ye Yizhou's misfortune.

After all, netizens loved seeing Ye Yizhou scolded and put down to make others look better. This would definitely resonate with them, and he might even gain some fans!

Zhong Xi entertained these happy thoughts to himself.

"He was clearly thinking of us. What was wrong with what he said? If the production team hasn't thought some things through, are we not even allowed to bring it up?"

Jiang Chuyu frowned as he argued back.

"You can bring it up, but he was far too rude. This is a livestream, too. He put the director on the spot. If he doesn't show others respect, how can they show him any?"

Song Jincheng spoke to Jiang Chuyu gently, yet cut straight to the point, before adding meaningfully:

"Chuyu, you're just too innocent. Don't let him fool you."

Jiang Chuyu didn't argue with them further, merely stressing one thing. "Anyway, I think he's pretty nice."

The other three guests remained silent throughout, offering no opinions on the matter.

Taking sides rashly at a time like this could easily backfire.

They'd all spent years in the industry. They were smart people.

[Ye Yizhou's got some skills. He broke up a ship just like that.]

[Aaah, I want to know why Director Ji called Ye Yizhou outside!]

[Oh my god! Does the production team even understand what brings in viewers?!]

[It's so awkward in the living room already, and they still won't switch cameras?]

The production staff monitored the comments and the livestream's popularity in real time.

They saw that the audience wanted to watch Director Ji and Ye Yizhou's private conversation more. Comments flooded the screen, and viewer interest was rising too.

A staff member immediately reported the trend to Director Ji over the walkie-talkie.

After weighing the pros and cons, Director Ji agreed to have a separate livestream camera sent over.

[Aaah, the production team heard us! They've opened another stream. Let's go!]

[I'm here, I'm here! I'm here to watch Ye Yizhou get scolded.]

[Director Ji isn't going to put on an act with Ye Yizhou, is he?]

The camera made its way outside, but after wandering around for ages, it still couldn't find them.

[For the first time, I truly understand visual storytelling. You can practically see the cameraman panicking because he can't find them.]

[LMAO, is this hide-and-seek? They still haven't found anyone.]

"Where are they?"

"I saw them come out!"

"I've gone around the garden twice and haven't seen a soul."

"They didn't take a cab and leave, did they?"

The two cameramen began talking quietly, their voices carrying an indescribable dejection. In the end, they even started joking helplessly.

"Huh?! Who took a cab and left? Who?"

Director Ji's irritable, panicked voice suddenly rang out, startling the cameraman so badly that the hand supporting his camera involuntarily shook.

That voice... seemed to have come from overhead.