Chapter 245
The staff member by the boxes, receiving the instructions through her earpiece, squatted back down.
Cheng Tingyan, after placing the slip and the wooden sign in the boxes, exited through the back door.
Guests, after making their choices, were escorted back to their rooms, with no further interaction.
Efficient and discreet, typical of this program team.
Cheng Tingyan, following the staff member, her mind still on the task.
Four days on the show, three “dates.”
The first, anonymous, the second, based on red string votes, the third, based on questionnaire answers, also anonymous.
But this one was different, they knew each other’s identities, and they chose based on their own preferences.
That line on the task board, [Choose a guest for your afternoon date], if Cheng Tingyan had seen it before entering the House of Delicacies, she would have hesitated, considered the consequences.
But after seeing her, the answer was clear.
But Cheng Tingyan knew the distance she had created couldn’t be closed so easily. She chose Maomao, but Maomao might not… probably wouldn’t choose her.
But Cheng Tingyan, encouraged by the results of her “little trick,” hoped she was finally on the right path.
Choosing Maomao, always choosing Maomao… like in her past life, and… when they were younger.
But sometimes, when you focused too much on one thing, you overlooked others.
Like the last line on the task board: [You can’t choose someone you’ve already dated].
Cheng Tingyan overlooked it, but the viewers didn’t, the live stream chat filled with question marks and pleas for the program team to remind her.
But no one went to get Cheng Tingyan, and the next guest entered the greenhouse.
Wei Maomao, after reading the instructions, also made her choices quickly.
This segment was a bit cruel. If the program team was being kind, they would have had lunch separately in their rooms. Having someone receive no extra dishes and eating together would be too embarrassing. Wei Maomao cared more about the girls’ feelings than the boys’ pride.
She had two slips, one was for Yan Yan, of course. And the other…
Wang Zhiqing would definitely give one to Zhao Can. And Zhao Can, although she usually avoided Wang Zhiqing, she was soft-hearted, she would probably give one to Wang Zhiqing.
Then…
Wei Maomao placed one slip in Xia Lanruo’s box, the other in Cheng Tingyan’s.
The viewers, pausing their pleas for Cheng Tingyan’s return, held their breath, waiting to see if Wei Maomao would make the same mistake, then Wei Maomao, without hesitation, placed her wooden sign in Wang Zhiqing’s box.
The viewers, who had been urging the program team to follow the rules, now felt… disappointed.
“Our Little CEO Mao, she was so good at exploiting loopholes when she was young, why so rule-abiding now?”
“I want to tell her, ‘Yan Yan chose you, and she wasn’t penalized!’”
“You YanMao shippers, you’re dominating the red string votes, you’ll be paired up anyway, give them a chance to explore other possibilities! The dates this morning were also quite cute.”
“??? Cute how?”
“Cheng Tingyan deliberately letting Yan Yongzhi win those last two rounds, Wang Zhiqing and Xia Lanruo’s silent teamwork, Yang Yuanming’s coaching session, if you look closely, there’s sweetness everywhere.”
“Except for Wei Maomao and Zhao Can, right?”
“That’s not sweetness, that’s pity. Maomao’s frantic worry when Yan Yan burned her hand, that’s true love!”
“It’s actually quite sad, one breaking the rules for the other, the other choosing someone else…”
“And Maomao and Qingqing, I’m not buying it, Qingqing’s intentions are obvious. And she’s already dated Zhao Can, no chance next round.”
“Wang Zhiqing is here, she gave food to Zhao Can and Xia Lanruo, and… she put her sign in Cheng Tingyan’s box. A love triangle!”
The triangle was completed by Wang Zhiqing.
Cheng Tingyan and Wei Maomao, her and Zhao Can, they had already dated each other; there was no need to choose them.
Wang Zhiqing chose Cheng Tingyan, the “reliable” one, to improve her image.
Although she had reconciled with Wang Zhizhi, she was still the “outsider,” not as important as those who had helped him during his difficult childhood. She understood, she wasn’t trying to compete, but she hadn’t expected that even now, Wang Zhizhi still prioritized his friends… He refused to help her after she confessed to Zhao Can and was rejected.
It was… infuriating!
She had to join Zhao Can’s film projects just to see her.
But even Zhixing Entertainment, although willing to accommodate her, had their limits, she couldn’t always get what she wanted.
Like this time… months of effort wasted, she only got on this show because of Cheng Tingyan.
And in just ten days, she didn’t think she could win over Zhao Can.
But she still wanted to use this opportunity to improve her standing with Wei Maomao and Cheng Tingyan.
She wasn’t expecting them to help her with Zhao Can, she just hoped that after the show, they would include Zhao Can when they hung out…
Everyone had their own goals, some, too obvious in their pursuit, their intentions easily seen through.
Xia Lanruo, entering the greenhouse, looked at the two signs, a bit confused.
Choosing two dishes for two people, it was easy.
But choosing a date…
Her first date was with Maomao, it was… nice. And for the second date, since it was based on audience votes, she thought it might be Maomao again, considering their popularity as a CP after “Drunken Palace,” it would be… nice. But it wasn’t.
And then, at dinner, she realized one of the mystery guests was Cheng Tingyan, she suddenly understood.
Her third date was with Wang Zhiqing, playing board games… it was also nice. But… after seeing Wang Zhiqing’s interactions with Zhao Can, she would be more careful in the future.
On the fourth day of the show, everyone had their targets.
Except for her…
Xia Lanruo sighed and made her choices.
The greenhouse, after the guests came and went, finally became quiet.
After everyone returned to their rooms, the lunch trays were delivered.
Xia Lanruo, feeling a bit lost and discouraged, took the tray, then another… and another?
Her discouragement turned into surprise, besides the basic rice, pickles, and soup, there were five dishes!
The plates, with their unique designs, Xia Lanruo recognized the senders: the Black Bear, the Long-tailed Tit, the Pika, the Yellow Dog, and the Lamb.
Cheng Tingyan’s constant glances at Wei Maomao, Wei Maomao’s attentiveness towards Cheng Tingyan, Wang Zhiqing’s obvious interest in Zhao Can, and Zhao Can… always being manipulated, Xia Lanruo had seen it all.
Now, looking at these plates, Xia Lanruo blushed slightly, not because of the food, but…
This, it was like choosing the two people you liked the most. But for those four, sending her food, it was… to protect her?
To make sure she didn’t have to eat just rice, pickles, and soup.
Xia Lanruo smiled, her heart touched by their kindness.
Truly, such thoughtful gestures, almost… excessive.
The plates were delivered to each room.
Some were touched by the amount of food, ignoring the wooden signs.
And some… focused only on the wooden signs, unable to eat.
What was going on?
Wei Maomao picked up the wooden sign with a bear’s head.
Why was Yan Yan’s sign… here?
