NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64 - This time, make sure to remember me, okay?
Su QingYao’s lips parted slightly, like a rose caught in the throes of hesitation, her gaze holding an indescribable emotion that seemed to veil its deeper meaning.
Finally, her expression softened into a faint smile. “Shall we get to know each other again? Do I have the honor?”
Her words sounded like they were meant to appease Meng YaoEr, leaving no one doubting that they had known each other before.
Meng YaoEr tilted her head in curiosity, her eyes full of wonder as she stared at Su QingYao for a long while. Then, she broke into a radiant smile. “Sister QingQing, I’m Meng YaoEr. This time, make sure to remember me, okay?”
Su QingYao nodded lightly, as if following protocol, and introduced herself with calm poise, “I’m Su QingYao.”
There was a wild glint in Meng YaoEr’s eyes as she spoke with a tone of innocent sweetness, “Since we know each other now, can we start dating?”
The boldness of her words dropped like a bombshell, leaving everyone stunned.
Those who had been chatting or spectating fell silent instinctively.
Tang Yuan leaned closer to Jiang Zi, inching away from the brewing chaos.
Meng YaoEr was at it again—latching onto beautiful women like a starving ghost unable to resist.
“QingQing, let’s date. What’s so great about liking men? There isn’t a single decent man on this show.”
Her words carried clearly to Deng PeiLuo, who had just descended the stairs.
Without knowing the context, he felt inexplicably attacked and hastily defended himself. “What do you mean? Right here, I think I’m quite decent!”
His statement instantly drew all eyes toward him.
Standing half a step behind him, Du ShuHuai, skilled in reading the room, sensed the awkwardness and tugged at Deng PeiLuo’s sleeve.
Deng PeiLuo wasn’t slow to catch on. Realizing he had inadvertently waded into uncharted territory, he quickly tried to backpedal. “What I meant was… whether men are good or bad, those who don’t like men wouldn’t fancy any of them, good or bad.”
His convoluted explanation somehow made the atmosphere even more peculiar.
The crowd’s attention shifted subtly back to Su QingYao.
Indeed, Meng YaoEr had openly confessed to Su QingYao, but what was Su QingYao’s orientation?
There had never been rumors suggesting Su QingYao might be into women.
Su QingYao had always been laser-focused on her career, with no gossip about romantic entanglements with men or women.
Su QingYao, regaining her composure, maintained her serene and composed smile. Her gaze toward Meng YaoEr was as if she were looking at a mischievous child. “We’re not suitable for dating.”
Meng YaoEr pressed on urgently. “How would you know if you don’t give it a try? What if it turns out we’re a perfect match?”
【Classic Meng YaoEr! Didn’t she say the exact same thing to Jiang Tang before?】
【Between Qi HongQiao and Meng YaoEr, I honestly can’t handle either. I’m losing it, LOL!】
【Meng YaoEr, I know you want to, but you’d better stop targeting my wife!】
【Why does their vibe feel so off? Could they have known each other before?】
【Even though my QingYao hasn’t announced any dating news, she shouldn’t be into women, right?】
At this moment, the director stepped in.
“Now that all the participants have arrived, I believe you’ve had a chance to get acquainted. Tomorrow, we’ll begin a new round of mutual selection. To ensure enough time for the game, the mutual selection will take place right after breakfast.”
“The rules remain the same as before. I’ll give a brief overview: Step one, men and women will separate into two rooms. Those wanting to pick someone of the same gender must also stay apart from their crush to write down their chosen person and participate in an interview. If mutual selection fails, they can choose face-to-face during the confession stage.”
“The punishment for failed mutual selection this time is becoming the group’s food procurement officer. You’ll have to gather all the ingredients from the menu on foot. It’s a tough physical challenge, so I hope everyone succeeds in choosing their ideal match.”
“As for tomorrow’s game, we’ll introduce it after the mutual selection is over.”
“That’s all for now. You have half a day left—enjoy yourselves.”
Two new female participants had joined, yet Meng YaoEr’s sudden confession to Su QingYao meant the numbers remained balanced in a certain sense.
Realizing this, the male participants silently prayed for Su QingYao to reject Meng YaoEr—and for Meng YaoEr not to lose her mind and switch to their camp to pick another woman, like Jiang Zi had done last time.
Although punishment tasks were broadcast live, viewers tuned in to datingshows primarily to watch people fall in love. The punishment streams, sparsely attended, mainly attracted diehard fans, resulting in limited exposure.
Aside from the physical labor, the most painful aspect was the lack of screen time. After all, wasn’t everyone on the show to gain popularity and fame?
The variety drama Qin Yan‘s Tale had executed a stellar promotional campaign. Though the official CPs had been fractured, Jiang Tang’s unconventional pairings had brought overwhelming traffic to the show, causing viewership to skyrocket tenfold within three days.
Tang Yuan glanced at the time—it was only 3 p.m.
“Sister, shall we take a walk outside and grab some dinner?”
This was a small town on the outskirts of Dragon City. Unlike the city’s gleaming skyscrapers and bustling streets, this area boasted lush greenery and quaint villas. The hotel, built to reflect the local charm, contrasted sharply with the urban hustle and bustle. The roadsides were lined with vegetable fields and open meadows.
Thanks to the city’s economic development, the local residents lived comfortably.
Most of the people in this area were locals, and the small eateries were known for their authentic regional flavors.
Tang Yuan, having never been here before, was eager to explore the place, finding it fresh and intriguing.
Walking side by side along the roadside, Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi enjoyed the bright sunlight. Jiang Zi held a yellow umbrella adorned with cartoon ducks, tilting it slightly to shield Tang Yuan’s face from the direct sunlight.
However, this position made it harder for Jiang Zi to see the road clearly, as the umbrella was a bit low for her.
The height, though, was perfect for Tang Yuan, who clung to Jiang Zi’s arm. “Sister, why don’t we put the umbrella away? I’ve already applied sunscreen.”
Jiang Zi adjusted the umbrella slightly higher, improving her field of vision.
The wind picked up, making Tang Yuan’s dress flutter dramatically.
She squinted against the sun, took the initiative, and grabbed the umbrella handle. She pressed the button to close it and folded the umbrella up.
Beep beep!
Just as Tang Yuan looked down to tidy the umbrella, a speeding car raced past her, brushing the hem of her dress that had been lifted by the wind. The force of the impact made her stagger.
Jiang Zi’s pupils constricted in shock. Her mind hadn’t caught up, but her hand instinctively yanked Tang Yuan back with such force that Tang Yuan was flung into her arms.
The car didn’t stop and quickly vanished from sight.
Jiang Zi’s face turned pale, cold sweat breaking out over her body. Her blood seemed to freeze as her heart pounded wildly. The scene of Tang Yuan lying in a pool of blood flashed vividly in her mind.
Jiang Zi clutched Tang Yuan tightly, her entire body trembling as her hands turned icy cold.
Tang Yuan struggled to look up from her embrace, “Sister?”