Chapter 73

The group returned to the Love Cottage amid an extremely eerie atmosphere.

As soon as they entered the Love Cottage, a “meow” echoed from the living room.

Jiang Sisi heard the familiar meow, changed her shoes, and walked toward the living room.

A pure white Ragdoll cat nestled obediently on the sofa, wagging its tail at Jiang Sisi.

Jiang Sisi smiled, picked up the cat, and skillfully scratched its neck to play with it.

The Ragdoll cat meowed a few more times.

The cameraman gave the Ragdoll cat a big close-up.

Jiang Sisi lifted the cat’s little paw and waved it at the camera, laughing. “Come on, Xiangxiang, say hello to everyone.”

The three live stream feeds merged into one, with all the barrage comments concentrated at the top of the screen, scrolling endlessly.

“Xiangxiang??”

“It’s Xiangxiang!! Princess Xiangxiang!!”

“Aaah, I finally get to see my Princess Xiangxiang again!!”

“Get lost upstairs, clearly it’s mine!!”

“You two fight it out, I’m taking Xiangxiang and running!”

“Speaking of which, Xiangxiang and Xiangxiang, pffft hahahaha, did Jiang Sisi do that on purpose?”

“Of course not, Teacher Jiang has had Xiangxiang for years!!”

“Four or five years at least. Wherever Jiang Sisi goes, she brings Xiangxiang along. Every time photos leak from the set, you can spot Xiangxiang in the corner.”

“Teacher Jiang says Xiangxiang can’t be without people, emmmm, but I think it’s actually Teacher Jiang who can’t be without Xiangxiang.”

“I don’t want to leave Xiangxiang either!! Xiangxiang is so cute, what if someone steals it!!”

Lu Rui came over first, smiling. “Teacher Jiang, is this your cat?”

Jiang Sisi held the cat. “Yeah.”

Lu Rui leaned in and reached out to pet the Ragdoll cat.

Xiangxiang was petted several times but stayed nestled in Jiang Sisi’s arms without any reaction.

Lu Rui petted it a few more times, and Xiangxiang still showed no response.

Lu Rui withdrew her hand and said dryly, “Teacher Jiang, your cat really has personality.”

Jiang Sisi gently rubbed Xiangxiang’s head, and it let out a “mrrrow,” lifting its head to nuzzle her palm.

The barrage exploded.

“Aaah!!”

“I’m going crazy!! So adorable aaah!!”

“Xiangxiang is so cute so cute!! Lu Rui is just awkward though, why pet it? Teacher Sisi didn’t say she could, and she just goes for it, no manners at all.”

“No manners +1”

“I thought she at least looked sweet, but she’s so rude. Road fan turning black.”

The other five gathered around the sofa to look at the cat in Jiang Sisi’s arms. Leng Xiang stood on the outermost edge of the group and set aside the human-sized plushie she was carrying.

Xiangxiang turned its head, its glass-bead-like eyes scanning the surroundings. It spotted a familiar figure, jumped down from Jiang Sisi’s arms onto the sofa, then leaped to the carpet.

Everyone’s eyes followed Xiangxiang curiously, wondering what it was up to.

Xiangxiang walked a few steps, elegantly weaving through the crowd like a noble, then rubbed against Leng Xiang’s feet and rolled on the carpet, exposing its soft belly.

Leng Xiang had been pondering what to eat for dinner when a strange sensation at her feet caught her attention.

She looked down and saw a fluffy white ball rubbing against her feet.

Xiangxiang flipped over, pawed at her leg, and meowed at her a few times.

Leng Xiang crouched down and picked up Xiangxiang.

She and Xiangxiang were already very familiar. During the three-plus months filming Luxury Goods, Xiangxiang had stayed on set the whole time.

For some reason, Xiangxiang seemed to like her a lot. Even during shoots, it would curl up in a corner of the set, waiting for Leng Xiang or Jiang Sisi to have a break so it could rub over and get its belly rubbed.

The entire crew had envied Leng Xiang and Jiang Sisi for it.

Leng Xiang held Xiangxiang and asked Jiang Sisi, “You bring Xiangxiang to film, fine, but how did you manage to bring it on a variety show too?”

There was a hint of reproach in her tone.

Jiang Sisi said, “I can’t sleep without Xiangxiang beside me.”

The barrage lit up with amusement.

“Can’t sleep without Xiangxiang.”

“Can’t sleep without Xiangxiang!!”

“Hahahaha, you perv!!”

“It’s like a mom complaining that dad brought the kid to work…”

“Xiangxiang and Xiangxiang have such a good relationship…”

“After all, Leng Xiang is Teacher Jiang’s favorite little sister.”

“Ten-year Jiang fan here: Over the years, Teacher Sisi has worked with hundreds of actresses on her sets, leads and supports combined. Leng Xiang really is the most favored.”

“I wouldn’t even be shocked if they came out tomorrow. Xiangxiang is this close to Leng Xiang—it’s basically family.”

The stroller full of plushies that Jiang Sisi brought back became Xiangxiang’s cat bed. It nestled in the pile of plushies, clutching one in its paws, its glassy eyes quietly watching the toy.

The largest plushie that Leng Xiang brought back was set aside for Xiangxiang to play with.

Dinner that evening was made by Bai Rou and Yi Jing. Bai Rou knew some home cooking, but Yi Jing’s Beijing playboy persona held firm—he knew nothing and trying to help only got in Bai Rou’s way.

Bai Rou: “That’s not how you cut veggies. Your grip on the knife is wrong. Be careful—wait, don’t move!”

Yi Jing chopped veggies like he was about to slice off his own finger.

Yi Jing’s confidence took a severe hit in cooking. He sheepishly set down the knife and went to help Bai Rou wash things instead.

Qin Yang came down from upstairs, surveyed the kitchen, thought for a moment, rolled up his sleeves, and stepped between Bai Rou and Yi Jing to help.

The three had briefly formed a little shopping group at the mall earlier, though Lu Rui had split it up later. Bai Rou seemed gentle and ladylike but had a bold personality, and she got along well with them.

Bai Rou glanced at the two and quietly stir-fried the vegetables.

Qin Yang took over chopping, thudding away on the cutting board.

Yi Jing sneaked a glance at Qin Yang, then at Bai Rou.

Bai Rou looked up and said to Qin Yang, “Shreds are fine.”

Qin Yang gave an OK sign.

Yi Jing tsked, turned away, and kept washing veggies.

Damn, this guy’s showing off. Too flashy to watch.

Dinner was finished in silence. Everyone sat down to eat, and after, they each took their afternoon shopping spoils back to their rooms to decorate.

The camera feeds split into three again, filming the three rooms separately.

Leng Xiang and Jiang Sisi hadn’t bought anything and returned empty-handed. Jiang Sisi fed the cat while Leng Xiang read her script and casually fed Xiangxiang some dried fish too.

While Jiang Sisi wasn’t paying attention, Leng Xiang held a piece of dried fish to her lips.

Jiang Sisi, focused on feeding the cat, bit into it absentmindedly.

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Leng Xiang: “Hahahahaha.”

The barrage was full of hahahahas, heads rolling everywhere.

Things were joyful on one side, but on the other, Bai Rou and Lu Rui argued unhappily over the room’s decor style.

Netizens commented objectively in the barrage.

“Honestly, from how they shopped separately this afternoon, you could predict this mess tonight.”

“Yeah, totally different styles, now it’s a mismatched mess hhhhh.”

“Why the catfight in a romance show? I don’t wanna see this.”

They said they didn’t want to watch, but the viewership for that camera feed spiked as netizens swarmed to eat the drama.

The only boys’ room had no issues. The three male guests had spent the afternoon following the girls and carrying stuff, buying no decor except Yi Jing’s black-and-white painting on the wall.

At nine that evening, the six guests received Jiang Sisi’s summons and gathered in a small room.

The small room had two sofas placed back-to-back in the center. The three male guests took one, the three female guests the other, facing away from each other, unable to see one another.

Jiang Sisi handed each a phone and casually plugged the sponsor.

After reciting the ad, Jiang Sisi smiled at the camera. “The live stream is almost over. After a full day together, I’m sure the guests have gotten to know each other. Now, each must choose the guest with the highest attraction score. The crew has loaded virtual numbers for opposite-sex guests on your phones. Text your choice to express your interest. No peeking.”

Qin Yang raised his hand. “Can we only text opposite-sex guests?”

Jiang Sisi smiled. “Per the rules, yes. Only opposite-sex numbers are saved. You can try texting Yi Jing—if he has the number and is willing to tell you.”

The barrage erupted in hahahahas again.

“Alright, I’ve decided the pairings: Yi Jing vs. Qin Yang, Leng Xiang vs. Jiang Sisi, and the rest 3P.”

“Ew you’re so dirty, but yeah, makes sense!!”

“Bro’s a genius, so true, love it!!”

“One het, one gay, three for 3P hahahaha!!”

Jiang Sisi said, “We’ll arrange the next dates based on your choices, so pick carefully. After texting, you can go to bed.”

The six couldn’t see each other, their expressions varied.

Leng Xiang just wanted the money and texted Qin Yang per the director’s instructions.

Bai Rou texted lightning-fast, as if she’d already decided.

Lu Rui’s gaze flicked between Leng Xiang and Bai Rou, then she typed her text.

The three guys on the other side texted just as quickly. Once everyone was done, they left the little black room and went to bed.

The live stream segment ended there, leaving netizens reluctant to part.

“I never thought I’d spend such a perfect Sunday at home watching a full day of live stream…”

“Me neither. First time sitting so long my back hurts. Time to exercise.”

“Sisters, we’ll flood the next live stream!!”

“Don’t forget Saturday’s replay!!”

“Can’t wait!”

“See you next time!”

…