Chapter 9: Mistaken for a Rival in Love

[Oh my god, hahaha, the ex-girlfriend’s words are savage!]
[Randomly swinging the sword, one strike hits two, hahahahaha!]
[Is the love-brain about to change her persona? Talking like this is so rude, no wonder her ex doesn’t want her.]
...

Su Nian rebuked Li Ming’en on purpose, simply because she couldn’t stand the man’s repeated attempts at sword-selling.
But toward Song Wang, her tone was genuinely perplexed.

“Miss Su, isn’t your manner of speaking a little impolite?”
Yi Linglin, having been rejected by Song Wang, still managed to recover and speak up for him.
Su Nian cast her an admiring glance: the radiance of sainthood shines upon the earth.
But, she despised tea-drinking, especially “green tea” types.
She opened her mouth, ready to unleash some sharp words.
Before she could speak, Song Wang looked at her, gave a low chuckle, and nodded, “Alright, next time I’ll save your life.”
Su Nian: ?
[Holy shit, what is happening, why am I shipping this, who understands, these words are insanely doting!]
[If you tell me these two don’t have something going on (not evil, but feelings), I won’t believe it!]
[Absurd! The national first-love goddess isn’t good enough, he prefers the crazy, washed-up woman. Song Wang, what is this suicidal taste?]
...

The guests’ first meeting unfolded in this bizarre atmosphere.
Once all the guests had assembled, it was time for the exciting room selection segment.
The first floor housed the living room, kitchen, and media room—common areas for activities.
The second floor was the women’s dormitory; the third floor, the men’s dormitory.
Each room in the women’s dorm used a different design style.
The men’s dorm upstairs had rooms corresponding to the women’s styles.
Thus, the male and female guests would draw lots to determine their rooms.
Those who drew matching room styles would be paired up and enjoy a two-person candlelight dinner.
[Isn’t this just a dating show version of matching tiles, but with random pairing?]
[Alright, alright, the producers are playing this way? I’m all for it, hands and feet raised in support.]
[Wishing my Lingbao matches room style with Song Wang, so I can ship their secret crush turning sweet.]
...

Amidst everyone’s anticipation, staff from the program came over with the lottery tubes for the male and female guests.
Red and blue were the main colors; female guests drew from the red tube, male guests from the blue.
Su Nian stood at the back, indifferent, so the other women drew first, leaving her the last stick.
“I got the European-style room—”

“I got the Country-style room—”
...

The male and female guests reported their chosen rooms one after another.
Cui Mengya and the movie king Chu Tianhe both drew the European-style room.
Cui Mengya smiled politely at Chu Tianhe, who returned her a gentlemanly smile.
Summer Xingkong and Cen Zifan drew the Country-style room.
The cool Summer Xingkong looked skyward in exasperation: Who wants to share a candlelight dinner with a brat?
Cen Zifan couldn’t hide his excitement, stars sparkling in his eyes, sneaking glances at Summer Xingkong and blushing quietly.
Ahhh! I get to have a candlelight dinner with my goddess senior, sob, I’m so happy again, no wonder I lost ten pounds for this dating show.

After these two pairs matched successfully, all eyes shifted to Yi Linglin.
Yi Linglin’s expectant watery gaze turned toward Song Wang as she revealed her stick.
“I got the Chinese-style room.”
She hoped for a miracle, that fate would pair her with Song Wang in the same style room.
But Song Wang, whom Yi Linglin was desperately signaling with her eyes, showed no reaction at all.
He remained as inscrutable and cool as ever, his gaze fixed directly on Su Nian.
“Lucky draw, sea-view room.”
Su Nian assumed Song Wang was looking at her to ask about her draw.
She boldly displayed her own “sea-view room” stick.
This was the hidden “Supreme VIP Hundred Square Meter Sea-view Room” among the blind box rooms.
The instant Su Nian showed her stick, Li Ming’en’s expression grew odd.
He had also drawn the sea-view room.
An ex and her ex sharing a candlelight dinner? The candles might not survive; it could turn into a raging inferno.
Besides, he had just started dating the heiress Cui Mengya, now was the time to prove his loyalty.
He could not let Su Nian ruin his climb up the social ladder.
As Li Ming’en wracked his brain for ways to avoid the dinner—pretending to have diarrhea or feigning illness—Song Wang elbowed him.
Li Ming’en was surprised. Song Wang, who usually looked down on everyone, was initiating conversation?
After exchanging glances, Li Ming’en received a rare verbal “concern” from Song Wang.
“I heard you hurt your leg?”
Li Ming’en was flattered. He didn’t like Song Wang, but making connections with such a big shot was definitely something he wanted.
Besides, you don’t hit a smiling face—Song Wang was showing concern.
“It’s much better now.”
Song Wang: “They say after an injury, staying in a damp room can bring on rheumatism.”
“Want to switch?”

These words were whispered so only the two of them could hear.
Li Ming’en’s eyes lit up, hardly believing such good fortune could happen to him.
The next moment, Song Wang rammed him hard in the waist and abdomen.
His hand loosened, and his stick mixed with Song Wang’s as they both dropped.
“Sorry, my arm cramped.”
Song Wang said, utterly unapologetic, bent down to pick up the sticks, and handed one back to Li Ming’en.
“Song Wang, Li Ming’en, what are you two doing? Hurry up and show your sticks so everyone can go rest—we’re exhausted!”
Summer Xingkong had just finished her concert last night and rushed straight to the dating show site.
Her fatigue was obvious, barely masked by her irritation.
Song Wang, unhurried, revealed his “sea-view room” in the midst of Yi Linglin’s hopeful gaze.
“What a coincidence, I got lucky too.”
The stick was shown to everyone, but his words were meant for Su Nian.
Su Nian remained unmoved, nodded, and replied perfunctorily, “Oh, congratulations—”
So, in the end, Su Nian and Song Wang became a pair, Yi Linglin and Li Ming’en another.
Yi Linglin, unable to pair with her desired partner, was so aggrieved she nearly cried.
After the room assignments, the guests went upstairs to pack and rest, preparing for the evening’s candlelight dinner.

Su Nian had just entered her room, placed her suitcase down, and began unpacking a heap of training equipment, management books, and English originals.
Someone knocked at her door.
Su Nian got up to answer, only to find Yi Linglin standing at her door, looking embarrassed.
“Do you need something?”
Seeing Yi Linglin hesitate several times without speaking, Su Nian grew impatient.
Time is money, and Yi Linglin had wasted a full five minutes of hers.
As Su Nian’s annoyance grew, Yi Linglin finally spoke.
“Su Nian, could you let me have the date with Song Wang tonight?”
“Please—”
Yi Linglin bowed at a forty-five degree angle, startling Su Nian into stepping back.
Honestly, it didn’t matter to her who she ate this so-called candlelight dinner with.
But if she switched with Yi Linglin, wouldn’t that mean she’d have to dine with Li Ming’en, that idiot?
She would rather die than do that.
So, Su Nian answered her resolutely, “No!”
“Anyone but him.”