Shen Xingcan glared at Xie Linchuan, thoroughly displeased. "You're not happy even when I compliment you? Could you be any more moody?"
Xie Linchuan remained expressionless. "Done eating?"
Shen Xingcan snapped, "I'm eating, I'm eating! I'll shut up, okay?"
[What Xingcan said sounds a little strange... a little jealous, a little green tea, but there's nothing wrong with taking it as banter between good friends either.]
[Doesn't it make sense if you take it as him testing the waters? Sure, we ship them like our lives depend on it, and there practically seem to be enough shippers to take over the planet, but being gay really isn't mainstream in our country.]
[I seriously suspect these two have crushes on each other, but each thinks the other is straight.]
[Can the shippers get out of the livestream? Aaaah, I'm losing my mind!]
As a carnivore, Shen Xingcan went straight for the braised pork with a clear goal in mind. After eating a piece and shoveling in a mouthful of rice, he offered a heartfelt observation. "Noble Lady Xie has a sharp tongue, but his cooking really is excellent."
Xie Linchuan: "..."
The sharp-tongued Noble Lady Xie carried off Shen Xingcan's rice bowl without a word.
Shen Xingcan stretched out an arm to try to rescue his rice bowl while trying to get back into Xie Linchuan's good graces. "Not Noble Lady Xie, then. Empress Xie, will that do? Empress, give Us back Our rice bowl! We're starving to death!"
But a mere empress's throne was not enough to make Noble Lady Xie let Emperor Shen off the hook.
Shen Xingcan was about to get up and snatch it back when he caught sight of the bowl of rice in front of Xie Linchuan out of the corner of his eye and instantly had an idea. With lightning speed, he grabbed Xie Linchuan's rice bowl.
Shen Xingcan said, "Take it if you want. I can just eat yours."
"I've already eaten out of it."
"That's fine. I've already eaten out of mine too, so we're even."
With that, Shen Xingcan turned the tables, holding Xie Linchuan's rice bowl as he began to focus on eating.
After a few seconds of wordless silence, Xie Linchuan picked up the rice bowl that had originally belonged to Shen Xingcan.
[How was that not an indirect kiss? Sob, sob, sob.]
[Can't this show really livestream twenty-four hours a day? Obviously, I want this so I can supervise those two, because I'm afraid they'll go at it nonstop without the cameras watching.]
[Shen Xingcan, that desperate clinger, has finally given himself away. When the show first started streaming, Xie Linchuan was really surprised to see him. Clearly, Xie Linchuan didn't know Shen Xingcan was coming.]
[What the hell is the person above spouting? Who do you think Xie Linchuan is? Do you understand what it means to be the Xie family's one and only crown prince? If he hadn't known, Shen Xingcan couldn't possibly have appeared on the show.]
[This really is strange, actually. Judging solely by Xie Linchuan's reaction back then, he clearly didn't know Shen Xingcan would be coming. But with his status, if he really didn't want it, how did Shen Xingcan get on the show?]
[The answer is right there in the question. Who is Xie Linchuan? The Xie family's crown prince. But don't forget, the crown prince still has an imperial father and mother!]
[Holy shit, I get it now, guys.]
[I went to check the other two livestreams. Ours is miles ahead in popularity.]
[My bestie and I swap food all the time too. It's perfectly normal.]
After eating and drinking his fill, Shen Xingcan even took an interested look at the other two pairs' food, then delivered a scathing assessment that spared neither friend nor foe. "About on par with my cooking."
Once all three pairs of guests had finished lunch, Song Tiantian appeared with a task card.
"Today is the guests' first day on the island. The production team has arranged a beach bonfire dinner to welcome you all, starting at six sharp this evening. Admission requires a gift, one to exchange with another guest. To keep the gifts more mysterious, the livestream will shut off in ten minutes and resume at five thirty this evening."
Jiang Yifeng asked, "Can we give anything? Would picking a flower nearby work?"
"Of course."
As soon as Song Tiantian finished speaking, Jiang Yifeng plucked a wilted flower beside him without hesitation. "Okay, I've picked my gift."
Shen Xingcan was utterly scornful. "Isn't that gift way too half-assed? You're not giving the shippers anything to work with."
Jiang Yifeng rubbed his chin. "I guess you're right... How about I prepare something more elaborate, and we exchange gifts then? I checked the other day. We have a few shippers too. It'd be a perfect chance to drum up some publicity."
For some reason, after saying that, Jiang Yifeng suddenly felt a chill down his back.
Shen Xingcan showed no mercy. "In your dreams. My official partner is right here. Who wants to promote a cursed ship with you?"
Unwilling to give up, Jiang Yifeng circled Shen Xingcan. "How is it cursed? What makes it cursed? Our ship is obviously great shipping material!"
Shen Xingcan crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I refuse."
Jiang Yifeng clutched his chest with a sorrowful expression. "My heart is breaking. Were all these years of affection between us a lie? Shen Beichen, you're so heartless!"