Chapter 32: The Greedy Deceiver Part 2

You’re the one who wanted to join this show! Now you’re being indirectly attacked, and you won’t even make a show of affection? You want to be completely humiliated?

Lian Mei found it amusing. She loved watching Xie Moluo feign affection.

She squeezed out the meat from the last crab leg, removed her disposable gloves, and drizzled sauce over the seafood with a spoon. The brown sauce spread over the orange-yellow meat, looking visually delicious.

Lian Mei placed the plate in front of Xie Moluo and smirked. “Your favorite seafood. Enough for you now.”

“Wow, Lian Mei, you started shelling all that meat as soon as you sat down. All that work, was it all for Moluo?” Zhang Xingyan asked, surprised.

Only then did Lian Mei look at the others. Her eyes held a doting warmth. “I’m allergic to seafood. I can’t eat it. But my Wife, she loves it.”

Lian Mei’s words directly confirmed that she’d been silently shelling seafood for Xie Moluo from the start. Compared to Wang Jianxi just stating her actions, this felt far more genuine.

This surprised the others present. It was hard to tell if Lian Mei truly loved Xie Moluo or not. If she did, why had she met with a Little Lover the night before? If she didn’t, her actions certainly seemed completely real…

Wang Jianxi kept a smile on her face but said nothing. Under the table, however, her hand was fiercely twisting her skirt.

That bitch Lian Mei! She specifically targeted me! She did that on purpose!

Lian Mei is definitely straight. Back in the group, I heard her talking about which male idol was handsome, crushing on some male celebrity. Everything about her screamed heterosexual. How could she suddenly marry a woman?

She must have seen me marry someone rich and decided to copy me. How despicable!

But then Wang Jianxi remembered that Father Xie and Mother Xie currently disapproved of their relationship, and she felt happy. Compared like that, she was still the winner.

Everyone around was speculating about Lian Mei. Only Xie Moluo, pursing her lips in a smile, picked up her chopsticks to eat the meat.

Since when was Lian Mei allergic to seafood? She used to eat it happily before?

Heh, building another persona for herself. Let’s see how she spins this later.

At that thought, Xie Moluo ate even more heartily. Besides, Lian Mei had peeled it all. Shouldn’t she diligently finish it to show it was her favorite?

Xie Moluo picked up the last piece of crab meat, tilted her head to smile at Lian Mei, and put it in her mouth. “Thank you. It’s really delicious.”

She meant to annoy Lian Mei. Unexpectedly, Lian Mei wasn’t annoyed at all. She even took a napkin from the table and carefully wiped Xie Moluo’s mouth, her voice gentle, as if coaxing a child.

“No more now. Crab meat is cooling and can upset your stomach if you eat too much.”

Xie Moluo’s eyes spaced out for a moment before she jolted back to awareness. She reached out and took the napkin from Lian Mei, avoiding her hand.

“I can do it myself.”

She’s really putting on an act. Just as I thought, she’s trying to use this show to clean up her image.

Lian Mei smiled, withdrew her hand, and looked back at the dinner table, her eyes subtly gleaming.

Xie Moluo lowered her eyes and quietly continued eating.

Most of these people were celebrities. Even Tang Su, the only non-celebrity, was a “civilian” with considerable internet buzz. Like the stars, she mostly ate low-calorie foods. The meat dishes covering the table were left mostly untouched, some not even sampled.

What a pity. Truly a pity.

Lian Mei sighed inwardly and then kept piling her bowl high with succulent, juicy meat dishes.

One bite, and she was in bliss, like a living Immortal!

Lian Mei accidentally lost control and ate even more than Zhao Chun, the tough-guy actor.

As the others turned their gazes toward Lian Mei, Xie Moluo poured her a cup of tea and placed it in front of her bowl, her other hand resting on Lian Mei’s forearm. “Have some tea. It’ll cut the grease.”

Lian Mei met Xie Moluo’s eyes, paused, put down her chopsticks, picked up the teacup, and drained it. Then she leaned against Xie Moluo, grabbed Xie Moluo’s hand, and placed it on her own stomach, deliberately trying to gross her out. “Honey, I skipped breakfast today. I was hungry, so I accidentally overate. Can you rub my tummy for me?”

Xie Moluo: “…”

Get your head off my shoulder! Don’t lean on me!

Lunch concluded as Lian Mei put down her chopsticks. Everyone went back to the sofa, waiting for the Production Team’s arrangements.

The Butler had actually instructed the Maids to quickly clear the table, and then, unnoticed by the group, he left the villa.

Everyone waited and waited, but no one from the Production Team came to assign tasks. The NPC Butler and the four Maids had also retreated. Now, only the eight guests were in the villa.

No phones, no computers. The singer Han Hao went to turn on the TV, and as soon as he did, a block of red text suddenly flashed on the screen, startling him badly.

“I— it scared me to death!” A choice expletive nearly burst from his lips. Luckily, Han Hao managed to hold his tongue in time. Otherwise, when this aired, he’d probably be attacked by his detractors for being uncouth.

Zhang Xingyan read the text aloud in her clear, precise Mandarin.

“Welcome, eight guests, to Sweet Home. You will spend a pleasant four days and three nights here. Recording began the moment you stepped through the villa’s main doors. Apart from being unable to leave the villa, you may move freely within. The second floor will officially open to you after 7:00 PM.”

“The Butler’s Gifts — Zhao Chun & Wu Shuyi: Gift #1; Han Hao & Zhang Xingyan: Gift #2; Tang Su & Wang Jianxi: Gift #3; Lian Mei & Xie Moluo: Gift #4.”

“Gifts may be exchanged before opening. You have one chance, and one chance only.”

“Good luck to you all.”

After Zhang Xingyan finished reading, Han Hao was puzzled. “From what the Production Team says, we just have to stay in this villa for four days and three nights? No tasks at all?”

Wu Shuyi laughed. “Maybe they’re afraid we’re all addicted to our phones and are giving us a digital detox.”

They all laughed.

Amidst the laughter, Xie Moluo noticed the bag next to Lian Mei. She suddenly said, “Did the Production Team bring in everyone’s luggage?”

The laughter abruptly ceased. Everyone stood up at once and began searching for their luggage.

“The Production Team said they’d handle our bags. Where did they put them?” Unable to find any suitcases anywhere, Tang Su furrowed her brow, displeased.

The only two people still on the sofa were Lian Mei and Xie Moluo. Spotting the bag in the corner near Lian Mei, Xie Moluo guessed the Production Team must have confiscated their luggage.

Xie Moluo whispered to Lian Mei, “You knew the Production Team was going to hold our luggage?”

Lian Mei tossed the bag containing their toiletries into Xie Moluo’s arms. “I figured as much. I brought the most important stuff.”

Xie Moluo immediately opened the bag. Inside were two towels, two electric toothbrushes, and a tube of toothpaste.

Xie Moluo let out a laugh, whether out of frustration or amusement, she wasn’t sure. “This is the most important stuff?”

Lian Mei nodded. “Oral hygiene is crucial.”

Bad teeth meant nothing would taste good.

Xie Moluo: “…”

When this show ends, I bet a toothpaste brand will want you as their spokesperson.

Just as the two were staring at each other speechlessly, Zhang Xingyan’s shriek came from the kitchen. “Oh my god! The fridge is empty! No food!”

“No way!”

Everyone rushed to the kitchen. The fridge was completely bare.

The group immediately turned the first floor upside down, searching everywhere. Not a single speck of food, not even a grain of rice on the floor.

Everyone’s expressions turned grim. No wonder there weren’t any task requirements, just a command to stay for four days and three nights. This season was villa survival!

Couldn’t leave the villa, and no food provided. How were they supposed to manage?

This show was going too far!

Only Lian Mei, leaning against Xie Moluo and rubbing her overstuffed belly, drawled lazily, “I heard humans can survive seven days without food. We only need to last four. We won’t die.”

Xie Moluo silently pushed Lian Mei’s head away. “But humans can’t survive three days without water. That’s life-threatening.”

Lian Mei smacked her lips. “Humans are so fragile.”

Everyone else: “…”

What are you, non-human?

Tang Su stepped forward and spoke calmly. “Since we’re meant to stay four days and three nights, the Production Team must have prepared food for us. If it’s not on the first floor, then it must be on the second. After all, if the entire villa had no food, this wouldn’t be a game anymore. The show can’t handle the consequences of guests having to go on a hunger strike.”

Tang Su reasoned unhurriedly, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Sister Tang, you’re right. The Production Team wouldn’t mistreat us. If they did, the show would be blasted into oblivion when it aired. So it looks like the food is on the second floor. But it doesn’t open until 7 PM. Do we have to wait until then?” Wang Jianxi hugged Tang Su’s arm as she spoke.

Screen time was something you earned. The more you could speak, the better, or your exposure would be very low. Otherwise, attending this show would be a complete waste.

Tang Su smiled and nodded. “Yes, don’t worry, everyone. When 7 PM hits, we’ll go upstairs to get the food.”

The others quickly responded, “Okay.”

The two on the sofa watched the sixsome chatting amicably by the kitchen door. Xie Moluo nudged Lian Mei with her elbow, a hint of schadenfreude in her voice. “The Wang Jianxi couple is stealing all the spotlight. Don’t cry about it.”

Lian Mei didn’t care at all about screen time. She leaned close to Xie Moluo’s ear and whispered mysteriously, “Want to make a bet?”

Xie Moluo tilted her head, puzzled. “Bet on what?”

Lian Mei smirked. “Bet on whether someone will withdraw from the show tonight.”

Xie Moluo: ?!!

“What do you get if you win, and what if you lose?”

Lian Mei propped her elbow on the sofa and rested her chin in her hand, smiling. “If I win, you and I share a bed tonight. If I lose, you get the bed and I sleep on the floor.”

Xie Moluo gave a cold snort and agreed.

I don’t believe it! Someone would actually withdraw midway through recording!