NOVEL NEXT Chapter 70 - Targeted by Meng Yao’er
【The Livestream Has Begun!】
【Yesterday afternoon, Jiang Tang’s livestream skipped her segments. When YaoYao and Meng Yao’er went out, the cameras didn’t follow either. I had nothing to watch!】
【What did Little Tang Yuan and Sister Jiang do last night? Her close-up showed dark circles under her eyes.】
【Do we even need to ask? Young people should really know their limits~】
“Everyone has gathered back in the living room. The rules for the mutual selection segment were introduced yesterday, so we won’t repeat them today. I trust you all already have someone in mind. Here’s wishing everyone a successful match! Please follow the designated staff to the corresponding rooms.”
Jiang Zi patted Tang Yuan’s head and followed the group of boys once more.
This time, however, Meng Yao’er tagged along.
Tang Yuan looked at her in surprise before shifting her gaze to Su Qingyao. The latter’s expression was calm, as if Meng Yao’er’s choice had nothing to do with her.
The boys, however, were filled with despair. They had just managed to get two girls, thinking it would balance the numbers. But Meng Yao’er joining them meant that no matter if her mutual selection succeeded or not, the ratio remained skewed.
Inside one of the small rooms, Ling Jun and Jie Xin sat together. Ling Jun openly inquired, “Xin Xin, who are you going to pick? Do you have someone in mind?”
“Me…” Jie Xin glanced at Du ShuHuai, who sat beside Tang Yuan. Her eyes flickered with light as she slowly shook her head. “I might go with LuoLuo. We’ve been getting along pretty well these past few days.”
Ling Jun raised a brow and smile knowingly. “Oh? So you’ve taken a liking to him?”
She pulled a lipstick and compact mirror from her pocket, reapplying the vibrant color on her lips until they looked full and luscious. Only then did she put away the mirror, satisfied.
Casually tossing her hair, she mused, “What’s with Meng Yao’er this time, though? Why did she head over there? Who’s caught her eye?”
Even as she spoke, her amused gaze lingered on Su Qingyao.
Before Su Qingyao’s arrival, Meng Yao’er had been relentlessly clinging to the couple Jiang Tang and Tang XiaoYuan. But after Su Qingyao showed up, her focus shifted entirely to her. It was obvious what she wanted—to woo Su Qingyao.
Noticing Ling Jun’s gaze, Su Qingyao simply returned a polite smile without engaging further. She always maintained an air of detachment, as if nothing could pull her into the fray.
Du ShuHuai, on the other hand, was much more at ease around Tang Yuan due to their familiarity. Usually, she was so reserved that she might as well have the words “cautious and restrained” tattooed on her forehead.
She sincerely sought advice. “Ah Yuan, who do you think I should choose?”
Tang Yuan patted her hand comfortingly. “Just follow your heart. Don’t worry; I don’t think you’ll be left without a match.”
After all, with such an unbalanced ratio, how could any of the girls end up alone?
But Du ShuHuai’s concern wasn’t about being unmatched. She was finally gaining some visibility in the public eye and feared picking the wrong person might result in backlash—being accused of stealing someone’s choice or trying to climb the social ladder as a minor celebrity.
Tang Yuan, however, didn’t think that far. She suddenly remembered Deng PeiLuo’s eagerness to get her to recommend a female contestant. “You could go with Deng PeiLuo. You’re already familiar with him, and although he’s a bit clumsy, he’s decent enough.”
Du ShuHuai had been a stunt double for Tang Yuan, so she had spent plenty of time acting alongside Deng PeiLuo. It wasn’t a bad suggestion.
After brief contemplation, she made her decision. Tang Yuan was right.
…
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the boys’ room was anything but calm.
With two girls there, it was both crowded and tense.
As the boys animatedly debated, their excitement palpable, Meng Yao’er distanced herself in disgust, plopping down on the sofa beside Jiang Zi.
Jiang Zi glanced at her, saw she wasn’t doing anything else, and chose to ignore her.
Meng Yao’er sighed in boredom. Watching Jiang Zi half-close her eyes in silence made her itch to stir the pot. “Aren’t you worried I’m here to pick Yuan Yuan, just like you?”
She only partially changed how she addressed Tang Yuan, an intentional provocation.
Jiang Zi didn’t even deem it worthy of a glance. “If you’re intent on humiliating yourself, go ahead.”
Meng Yao’er chuckled. “Forget it. I’ll have a wife of my own soon.”
Jiang Zi shot her a sidelong glance. “Think someone would actually want you?”
Meng Yao’er glared at her. “You’re just jealous of me.”
Propping her head on her hand, Jiang Zi closed her eyes entirely, feigning sleep. Jealous? Why would she envy someone as absurd as Meng Yao’er?
…
After submitting their choices and completing the interview session, everyone returned to the living room.
As soon as Meng Yao’er entered, she practically fluttered over like a butterfly, draping herself over Su Qingyao’s shoulders and pressing her chest against her arm.
“Qing Qing, did you pick me? You’re my first choice, you know. If you didn’t pick me, I’ll be heartbroken, and it’s really hard to cheer me up.”
Su Qingyao’s gaze flickered briefly before settling back to calmness. She neither avoided Meng Yao’er’s touch nor seemed affected.
Her voice was soft and melodic, as if whispering sweet nothings. “Miss Meng, I’ve said this before. We’re not suitable for each other.”
But her words were sharp enough to cut.
Meng Yao’er’s expression froze. She repeated the question in disbelief, her voice rising slightly. “So, you didn’t pick me?”
Su Qingyao raised a hand to push away the hands on her shoulders gently. When that failed, she glanced up with a faint smile at the corners of her eyes. “Miss Meng, you’re pressing against me.”
It was a polite reminder, but Meng Yao’er didn’t heed it. Instead, she stood abruptly, her furious gaze sweeping across the row of men.
“Who did Qing Qing pick?”
Her glare sent chills down their spines. Even An ZiChu, the most loyal of the “witch’s” followers, instinctively shook his head. It had nothing to do with him.
“Stop causing trouble,” Su Qingyao said softly.
“I’m not causing trouble.” Meng Yao’er fixed her with a defiant stare. “Are you going to tell me you don’t like girls? Or that because you’re eight years older than me, we’re incompatible?”
Su Qingyao paused, then parted her lips. “If you want to hear it…”
“I don’t want to hear it!” Meng Yao’er plopped back down beside her, her expression stormy, like a villainess on the verge of snapping. “I don’t want to hear your unpleasant lies.”
“I want to see who dares match with you. If I can’t have you, then no one else can. If you won’t date me, you’ll just have to accompany me to the market instead.”
…
【OMG, did she just threaten my wife?!】
【Our YaoYao isn’t even into girls, Meng Yao’er!】
【Meng Yao’er fans better start crowdfunding for a therapist. Stop unleashing her on innocent people!】
【My poor wife. She’s too beautiful for her own good, now even crazy people are after her.]
【I’m a bit twisted; why do I feel like there’s more to this than meets the eye? There’s some undercurrent between them, and as for Meng Yao’er, calling her “sister” when she’s younger? Hehe.】