[I'm fucking dying laughing! Nan Zhou vs. Gu Tang, round two: total victory!]
[Gu Tang's bitchiness hit me right through the screen.]
[Oh, whose paid trolls are these? Could you be any more obvious about dragging our Tang baby down to prop someone else up? That ugly B pretending to be an O had better watch out for the backlash!]
Nan Zhou's words left Gu Tang choking on his response.
Just then, the show's host cued the next part of the program.
"Dreams are a beacon for the soul, the force that drives us ever forward. On the path to pursuing our dreams, we may encounter difficulties and challenges, but it is these very experiences that shape us, making us stronger and more mature."
"The theme of this season is Dream Apartments. Our guests will stand shoulder to shoulder with their partners and, through unwavering conviction and tireless effort, work together to create a future filled with hope and possibilities."
As the words fell, the big screen lit up, revealing the first game segment, which was also You Make My Heart Flutter's classic room selection segment.
"This season, our guests' roles in the game will be determined by the rooms they choose as they embark on their pursuit of their dreams. Now, let's tour the Dream Apartments our guests will be moving into, one by one!"
Everyone was astonished when the first room appeared.
It was a studio of just forty-five square meters, with everything except the bathroom visible at a glance. The space was cluttered and cramped, with a single bed in the corner and a jumble of cardboard boxes stacked on the floor.
[Holy shit! I knew the production team were monsters, but this is just...]
[A single bed... even fitting my God Xu on it alone would be a struggle. Is Sister Jiang supposed to sleep in his arms? I'm blushing.]
[Hahahaha, look at God Xu's face. He's dumbfounded.]
[The most expensive thing in the whole place-a high-spec computer. Is there even any need to choose?]
Gu Tang immediately turned to tease Xu Xiao. "God Xu, does this one catch your eye?"
"Let's keep looking," Xu Xiao replied.
With that conspicuous high-spec computer, perhaps one of the roles for the guests who chose this room would have something to do with gaming.
Though he was somewhat tempted, those living conditions...
He did not want to make Zhenzhen suffer by squeezing into a tiny apartment with him.
Gu Tang said, "Ms. Jiang Zhen..."
"Do you want to pick this one?" Jiang Zhen countered with a smile.
Gu Tang's eyelid twitched.
No way. How could anyone live in such awful conditions!
Soon, the second apartment appeared on the big screen as well.
This apartment was much better than the first, a two-person apartment of over seventy square meters.
Although the furniture was a little old-fashioned, there was plenty of space. It had not only a living room and kitchen, but even a walk-in closet!
The third was another studio. But compared with the first, its conditions were so much better. Not only did it have a 1.5-meter-wide double bed, its decor was simple and modern, its layout practical, and it was clean and tidy. It even came equipped with smart-home features throughout.
The fourth was another two-person apartment. Compared with the second, it was slightly smaller, but its decor was more avant-garde, with very little furniture. Instead of a sofa, the living room had a carpet spread across the floor with small cushions piled on it, making the entire space look larger and more open.
[I declare the first one the worst. No arguments, right?]
[That seventy-five-square-meter two-person apartment is pretty weird too. They even put in a walk-in closet...]
[The last one is spacious and nice. Its vibe really suits our poppy, kind of frigid-chic.]
[Everyone clearly prefers the last two.]
[Poor God Xu. Does being a non-celebrity mean he has to live in the worst one...]
[They haven't even picked yet. Why are some people already choosing for the guests? Hilarious. Who ends up in the worst one is still up in the air.]
On the livestream, each pair of guests was discussing which room to choose with their partner.
Nan Zhou motioned for Huo Xingye to lower his head and quickly said something into his ear.
The next second, Huo Xingye's gaze sharpened slightly, a brief flash of surprise crossing his eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Can you manage it?" Nan Zhou asked seriously in return.
Huo Xingye looked back at the screen, which showed four still images of the four rooms. His deep gaze lingered on the little 1.2-meter-wide bed for several seconds.
[Has Nan Zhou lost his mind? He actually wants the worst one?]
[When it comes to publicity stunts, if Nan Zhou calls himself second-best, no one would dare claim first.]
[He can fuck off. If he wants attention, he shouldn't drag my idol into it. How could someone like my idol live in a place like that!]
[That bed... wouldn't even Best Actor Huo struggle to sleep in it alone...]
[Shameless bastard, trying to take advantage of my idol and sleep together?! Get away!! Throw him out! My idol would never agree!]
When Huo Xingye remained silent for a long time, Nan Zhou thought he found the conditions too poor.
In the past, Nan Zhou would not have been willing to accept conditions like these either.
But he was far too curious about the boxes in that room.
Among the clutter on the floor, one of the records peeking out was a vinyl record he had once owned and really liked.
If the boxes held a record player along with several vinyl records he liked, that would be absolutely wonderful.
Huo Xingye withdrew his gaze, unhurriedly switched off both their microphones, and leaned in to whisper in Nan Zhou's ear. "The bed's too small."
Oh, so that was it.
Nan Zhou grinned. "You can have it. I'll sleep on the floor."
Then he lifted his eyes and added, "Don't you crowd me even in a king-size bed?"
Huo Xingye froze at that, then let out a low chuckle.
"All right."
[Wait, why did they turn off their mics???]
[Whispering again, damn it!]
[Huh??? What are these two talking about? Why does Nan Zhou have such a filthy grin on his face?]
[Best Actor Huo smiled too. What on earth are these two saying, aaaaaah!]
[Discussing something naughty?]
"I'm sure all our guests have a favorite now. But what you like won't necessarily be yours. We'll play a little game to determine the order in which you choose your rooms. How the rooms are ultimately assigned will depend on your performance. Good luck, everyone!" the host said at just the right moment.
A moment later, the screen changed, and a cartoon accompanied by the rules appeared before everyone.
Chemistry mini-game-Pocky showdown!
Each pair of guests would share one stick of Pocky. Each person would hold one end of the Pocky between their teeth and start eating at the same time, stopping when either person let go or the Pocky broke. Whichever pair ended up with the shortest Pocky in their mouths would choose their room first.
The accompanying cartoon showed one person carrying the other bridal-style while they ate together, a decidedly intimate pose.
[Oh my god, of course it's you, Pei Feng! Fucking brilliant!]
[Hurry up and make them eat!!! I can't wait to see this!!]
[Eating while carrying someone bridal-style? That difficulty level...]
[Hahaha, God Xu, what are you blushing for? It's not like you haven't kissed our Sister Jiang on the lips before!]
[Pei Feng, I'm your dog! I actually get to see Brother Zhou holding Yu baby and kissing. I'm losing my mind.]
[I'm shattered... just thinking about having to watch the best actor holding trash like Nan Zhou while they eat a biscuit makes me fall apart.]
[Can Nan Zhou get the hell out of showbiz!!! Stay away!!]
[Some of you solo stans need to settle down. If you don't want to watch, leave. Plenty of people love it. Just casually shipping Xingzhou, hehe.]
Before you continue