Chapter 5: Arch-Nemesis, Worthless Ex

The viewers in the livestream paused for two seconds, then erupted into laughter.

“Oh my, I can't take it, my stomach hurts from laughing. How much must she hate her ex?”
“She purposely avoided our beloved En, chose the Question Mark guy, but he doesn’t even care about her.”
“Question Mark guy did well, stay away from clingy types, cherish your life.”
...

Su Nian wasn't as dramatic as the online audience and never wasted mental energy on herself.

Since the other party hung up on her, she simply chose another potential match.

With the show's permission, Su Nian picked from the remaining two heart cards.

Just as she was about to reach for the card with the crude self-portrait, her silent phone suddenly rang.

Su Nian glanced down: Question Mark guy?

Without any resentment, she picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

She accidentally triggered the speaker function when she did so.

Before she could say a word, a clear, magnetic male voice sounded.

“Sorry, I’m not used to my new phone and accidentally hung up on you.”

That voice, utterly captivating.

It was like the morning sun glittering on clear springs, cleansing the soul.

It was like a solitary piano in the night, accompanied by rich wine, teasing the heart into dreams.

Everyone, including Su Nian herself, felt their hearts and ears tingled by that alluring male voice.

“Question Mark guy’s voice is so good, I surrender, please let me see his face.”
“Ahhh, Question Mark guy, I want to talk about love with you.”
“You bunch of fangirls, you said he might be a frog, now you’d pounce on him without hesitation. Show some restraint, come on, Question Mark guy, let me kiss you and turn you into a prince.”
“Ex-girlfriend’s luck is insane. Even if his face isn’t great, with that voice, just turn the lights off at night!”
“I suspect the above is driving fast—straight onto the highway.”
...

The audience was utterly bewitched by Question Mark guy’s voice.

Su Nian, who had heard countless beautiful voices, couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her heart.

Fortunately, her self-control was strong, and she quickly remembered her task.

“It’s fine. If you hadn’t hung up, we wouldn’t have met.”

“Ha ha ha, what a line—‘If you hadn’t hung up, we wouldn’t have met.’ Su Nian’s opening is brutally blunt.”
“I bet Question Mark guy won’t be able to handle it.”
...

After Su Nian responded, she noticed the other side went silent.

Not sure if he’d hung up again, Su Nian tried, “Hello, are you still there?”

At her words, a low chuckle sounded from the other end.

It was like a little hook deliberately scratching at the heart, making Su Nian’s heart tremble.

“Long time no see, Little Su Nian—”

When those familiar words, accompanied by the static of the call, entered her ears, Su Nian’s eyes widened slightly.

Little Su Nian? No one had called her that in ages.

But she quickly remembered she was in the world of the novel, not reality.

If he called her that, he must be someone from the original’s past.

Yet, searching all the original’s memories, Su Nian found no clue.

She could only probe, “Who are you?”

Question Mark guy didn’t reveal himself immediately but teased, “We’ll meet very soon.”

After hanging up in a strangely abrupt manner, a heart icon suddenly lit up on Su Nian’s phone.

Alongside the heart appeared a message and two options.

Question Mark guy had sent her a first date invitation, and she could accept or refuse.

“What? Question Mark guy and the ex-girlfriend are old acquaintances?”
“Little Su Nian—just hearing that nickname sounds scandalous. Could Question Mark guy be the ex-girlfriend’s new flame? Did she cheat on Li Ming’en for Question Mark guy?”
“Here, take this pen and keep writing the story.”
“Why is Su Nian hesitating? Hit accept, let us see Question Mark guy in person!”
The viewers were frantic, wishing they could reach through the screen and force Su Nian’s hand onto the accept button.

But after a brief consideration, Su Nian chose to refuse.

Her reason was simple: they were strangers.

Aside from the possibility that he knew her, their conversation had contained no real exchange.

As for who he was, Su Nian wasn’t curious or concerned.

By refusing the date invitation, Su Nian had chosen a different path for the upcoming journey.

According to the show’s rules, after a call, if both sides are interested, a date invitation can be sent. If accepted, the two go to the date location for a face-to-face meeting. If refused, the guest takes the special car to the first station, L Island of Heartbeats.

“Season of Heartbeats” is a romance program, but unlike previous formats, it combines travel romance with challenge games, using the theme of moving love to encourage guests to deepen their understanding of one another through changing environments.

Will their chemistry warm up, or will their hearts accelerate?

That’s why the first station, L Island, is divided into two areas.

All initial guests are sent to Heartbeat Not Yet Island, where they live together in the Heartbeat Cabin for four days and three nights.

All external contact will be cut off then, and their entire social circle will revolve around the cabin.

Each night, guests can anonymously send a heart to someone they’ve interacted with that day. Successful mutual selections unlock a date trip to Heartbeat Acceleration Island the next day.

Those not chosen can stay on Heartbeat Not Yet Island, or use a heart to move to Heartbeat Acceleration Island to try again.

At the end of each stage, the hearts earned by each guest are tallied, and the top-ranked Heartbeat King receives a special privilege they can use at any time, which all must comply with.

Of course, each day the show also issues various chemistry challenge tasks, giving guests extra chances to earn hearts.

As the first to arrive on Heartbeat Not Yet Island, once Su Nian understood all the rules, her competitive spirit was ignited.

Her target: the Heartbeat King’s special privilege.

While Su Nian studied the rules, calculating how to maximize her heart count through challenges, an exaggerated female voice laced with mockery suddenly sounded behind her.

“Su Nian, am I seeing things, or is it really you?”

“Li Ming’en dumped you, and now you’re chasing him onto the show? Pathetic girl, have you learned nothing?”

The last sentence was loaded with disdain.

Upon hearing it, Su Nian snapped her phone shut, her expression cold, and turned to face Xia Xingkong, whose makeup was flawless and whose eyes were bright and bold, with a chilling smile.

“Xia Xingkong, did you eat crap this morning? Your mouth smells foul.”

Such a pungent insult thrown out, Xia Xingkong’s face darkened, about to lash out.

Su Nian quickly added, “Sorry—”

Xia Xingkong’s expression eased slightly, but Su Nian smiled and continued, “I insulted the crap. It’s more fragrant than you.”

“Su Nian!”

Xia Xingkong was not one to swallow insults. She tossed her designer handbag aside and rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.

“Romance show turned battle royale? Is this scripted or what, do these two care nothing for their image?”
“Allow me to introduce: Xia Xingkong, from a real estate dynasty, born with gold and diamonds, graduated from a world Top 10 university, debuted as the lead of a girl group, lives for the game, direct and fierce, exes by the truckload, no strings attached, known as the love genius whose personality is as fiery as her figure.”
“So the queen of the sea looks down on love addicts—it’s the natural snobbery chain?”
...

Xia Xingkong was ready to fight, and Su Nian wasn’t backing down either.

After all, the two were sworn enemies—original Su Nian despised Xia Xingkong for changing men faster than clothes, while Xia Xingkong scorned the original for clinging to Li Ming’en, the crooked tree, in a lovesick obsession.

Their battle was about to erupt, but a pair of newcomers to the Heartbeat Cabin interrupted the brewing storm.

They were none other than Su Nian’s scummy ex Li Ming’en and his first-choice match, Cui Mengya.