Talking with Tan Yue didn’t take long, but to avoid making the cameraman wait, Rao Linchang quickly changed his clothes and headed out without even drying his hair.

Inside the room, the smart cameras didn’t capture the same quality as the professional cameras the photographers used, so the viewers had only a rough idea of Rao Linchang’s appearance. They saw his freshly showered, pale skin, his slim chest revealed by the loosely fastened bathrobe, his rosy cheeks, and his alluring legs.

Now, under the professional camera’s lens, the viewers could see Rao Linchang’s beauty in full detail—he really was a natural beauty!

That porcelain-white, flawless skin!

Those exquisitely beautiful features!

Those eyes with a lingering, hook-like allure!

Those half-dry, tousled strands of hair!

He was simply the pinnacle of pure, ethereal beauty!

The comment section exploded with praise from beauty enthusiasts, as if celebrating a festival.

But as always, where there are compliments, there are also criticisms.

However, the criticisms were not too harsh this time, as they had already witnessed the fighting power of Fei Rongchang’s fans.

Many of the repeatedly defeated haters were too intimidated to continue fighting and could only occasionally make passive-aggressive comments.

The less harsh comments were usually overlooked by the fanbase, so for now, Rao Linchang’s live stream remained relatively peaceful.

As Rao Linchang came downstairs, the few people chatting in the living room suddenly turned to look at him.

Song Linxuan, who had been bored, suddenly focused intently on Rao Linchang, as if he had never seen a handsome man before.

Rao Linchang chose to ignore his leering gaze and smiled as he approached everyone. “Sorry for delaying everyone’s progress.”

As he said this, Rao Linchang’s eyes glanced fleetingly at Lian Xi.

But Lian Xi didn’t look at him. Instead, he bit his lip, appearing fragile and sad as he leaned towards heis partner.

To be honest, if Rao Linchang didn’t know Lian Xi’s true nature so well, he might have been moved by his pitiful appearance and felt a surge of protective instinct.

However, now, he could only chuckle.

After the chuckle, his sharp eyes noticed that one of the other couple’s expressions was already showing a hint of righteous indignation.

Rao Linchang chuckled again.

Here it comes.

The white lotus’s devoted admirer, though late, had arrived.

At the same time, Rao Linchang had to admire Lian Xi’s skill. In such a short time, her superb white lotus performance had already earned her a new hater.

Impressive, really impressive.

“It’s okay, you weren’t gone for long.” Ming Nan, seeing no response from Changchang, took the initiative to speak.

Although he still felt awkward, he remembered that Changchang had pulled him back when he almost got bumped by Song Linxuan, and he had forgotten to say thank you because he was too nervous.

So, at this moment, he felt he should help Changchang save face.

Rao Linchang understood Ming Nan’s intention. Although he didn’t care if anyone paid attention to him, an 18th-tier star, he still gave Ming Nan a grateful glance.

Then, as if being subjected to punishment, he sat down beside Song Linxuan, waiting for the director team to cue the next step in the process.

However, the director team didn’t seem to have any intention of speaking, just gave Shi Guang a look. Shi Guang, then, awkwardly pointed to the small blackboard in the corner of the living room.

“Look, there’s a little note about the house rules.” Although Shi Guang wasn’t socially anxious, reading lines in front of celebrities still made him a little awkward.

So, he couldn’t help but blush after speaking.

Tong Kaiyi glanced at his slightly red eyes, quickly withdrawing his gaze.

And this scene, which could easily have been spotted by netizens with magnifying glasses looking for sugar, was missed because the main camera focused on the house rules.

【Director, can you please stop wasting camera shots? I’ve memorized the house rules by heart. One, send text and image messages to the couple guests every night and inject some romantic sand; two, each person has an opportunity for an anonymous question each night; three, age, occupation, and current residence information will not be disclosed in the first phase. So, can we move on to the next step now? I’m eager to see the spicy stuff!!!】

【Look at how anxious the ladies upstairs are, typing up a storm in a minute! So, Director, I advise you not to be clueless! Just get to the good stuff directly!!!】

【Huh? Wait, am I watching a serious love show?】

【Hahaha, you’ve startled the newbies, old babies (laughing and crying)】

【clears throat (pretends to be serious) Newbies, don’t worry, this show is very serious. It’s just a little game on a water bed and a bit of Landlord in the romantic room.】

【Oh, okay, so, can we fast forward? I mean no harm, I just want to learn how to play Landlord (innocently puts hands in pockets)】

Behind the monitor, the director watched with satisfaction as the viewers expressed their impatience in the barrage of comments.

Luckily, he had long understood the preferences of the new audience and had roped in Runcheng Dad early on, turning the show into something that adults love to watch under the guise of charity work. Otherwise, how would he be able to cater to the demanding tastes of these netizens?

But the variety show had just begun, how could he satisfy the audience on the first day? He would continue to dangle the carrot in front of them.

So, he gave a forced smile, resembling a chrysanthemum, and then proceeded to move the program forward, “Alright, it’s almost lunchtime now. Everyone can divide tasks and start cooking.”

“Buy groceries and cook by ourselves?” Tong Kaiyi spoke up.

“Yes,” the director nodded.

“……..”

Tong Kaiyi, whose culinary skills had yet to be illuminated, fell into silence.

Shi Guang understood his silence and suggested, “How about this? We’ll send two groups who can’t cook to buy ingredients, while those who can cook can rest at home.”

Lian Xi, who had deliberately learned many recipes to showcase his cooking skills on the love show, chimed in softly, “Let’s stay home. I can make some simple home-cooked dishes.”

His couple guest, Xiao Zhe, nodded in agreement, “Okay.”

Jie Rui was skilled in cooking, but out of respect for Ming Nan’s preference and the rule of pairs, he opted to ask, “Do you want to stay at home or go shopping at the supermarket?”

“I… I can do either,” Ming Nan restrained the urge to bury his head, blushing as he nodded.

Jie Rui glanced at the slightly flushed face of Ming Nan, his lips involuntarily curling up before quickly returning to a neutral expression. He then turned to Rao Linchang and asked, “We’re open to either option. What do you think, Xiao Chang?”

Rao Linchang, a kitchen expert, naturally wouldn’t choose to stay back and cook, but because he had the lowest seniority among them, he tactfully didn’t speak first to make a choice.

However, with Jie Rui offering him a chance to choose, he promptly said, “Then let’s go shopping for groceries with Teacher Tong.”

Casually, he glanced at Song Linxuan and asked, “Is that okay?”

At this point, Song Linxuan understood the need to show gentlemanly courtesy, so he nodded gently, “I’m fine with either, I’ll follow your lead.”

Internally rolling his eyes at the situation, Rao Linchang put on a smile and took out a stack of sticky notes and a pen from the coffee table storage box, saying, “Let’s each list the dishes you want to eat and the items we need to buy. It wouldn’t be good if we accidentally buy the wrong things later.”

Ming Nan and Jie Rui started listing the dishes they wanted, keeping it simple with just two dishes and necessary items before wrapping up.

Rao Linchang quickly noted everything down and then turned to Lian Xi and Xiao Zhe, his voice soft yet pointed, like a vibrant red rose, “Xi Ge, what would you like to eat?”

Biting his lip, Lian Xirou appeared apprehensive, afraid of saying something wrong that might upset Linchang, “I’ll just have a vegetable salad, if it’s too much trouble, Xiao Chang doesn’t have to buy it. I’m fine with anything, not picky.”

Rao Linchang easily saw through his intentions, knowing he was pretending to be submissive to provoke his fans to criticize him.

Hmph!

He wasn’t going to play along, so he deliberately said, “Just a vegetable salad won’t do. We’ll be playing games in the afternoon, so let’s get some spare ribs and lotus roots for Xi Ge to make soup.”

【Hilarious, the soup pun is unforgettable!】

【RLC, are you shameless! My Lian Xi is too scared to make requests because of your scolding, and you still want to mock him! Can’t you have some moral standards as a person!】

【The commenter above, did you score full marks in moral, ethical, and legal studies? If not, who gave you the right to judge others with your morally barren standards? [Torpedo for the uneducated student]】

【So annoying, always talking about moral standards! What’s it to you? Is moral standards your mother?】

【Moral Standards: Please stay away from me! I don’t have such an unlucky daughter!】

In reality, Lian Xi preferred Rao Linchang’s snarky remarks because only then did his act of self-pity have meaning.

He just didn’t believe it! With so many fans! He couldn’t even make Rao Linchang smell bad!

Once Rao Linchang’s reputation soured, he was certain the company and Fang Mo would not want to promote a tarnished vase like him!

As long as he persisted until the company gave up on Rao Linchang, or even hid him away, then his position as the top idol in the entertainment industry would be unshakeable!

By then, everyone’s attention would naturally return to him.

He remained the immensely popular heartthrob, while Rao Linchang was nothing but a piece of dirt under his feet!

“Okay, let’s listen to Changchang,” Lian Xi smiled, slightly squinting his eyes, perfectly balancing the look of being wronged yet strong.

It was a portrayal that would make anyone feel sorry for him.

This immediately set off a storm among the fans.

【The water army sisters! The barrage in Lian Xi’s live stream is all cursing our dear Changchang!】

【Just wait! Let’s see how the sisters blow up the happy home of this hypocrite!】

So, the water army immediately shifted their focus to Lian Xi’s live stream.

【Damn it, I don’t care about my merits today! I have to say this too! Rao Linchang, go to hell!】

【Don’t worry, that piece of crap Rao Linchang is definitely going to be speeding today!】

【Out of respect, I can only spare a fraction of a second to mourn.】

【Out of respect, just a friendly reminder to the stinky sisters, Changchang’s fan army has arrived~】

【…Damn it! So unlucky! [Stepping on the landmine to ward off bad luck]】

【What a load of nonsense】

【Tsk, can the director give the hypocrite a beauty filter? We’ve gotten used to Changchang’s flawless beauty, can’t handle this level of ugliness all of a sudden!!】

【True, from this angle, the hypocrite is showing her true colors, almost clinging to the guest. If no one was around, they might as well have gone to sleep next to her, right?】

【Oh my, the guest’s watch is a Patek Philippe! No wonder, she’s clearly looking for a wealthy sponsor daddy.】

【Get lost, upstairs! Our Lian Xi doesn’t grovel around like the trash next door, looking for a sugar daddy everywhere!】

【What? Your hypocrite even grovels? Is there a video? I have data! Let me take a look!】

【You’re an idiot! Get lost!】

【What’s wrong? Can’t the stinky sisters curse? Just those few phrases over and over? Why don’t you all line up and kneel down, I’ll generously teach you a few?】

【Sister upstairs, don’t bother teaching them. The stinky sisters are too dumb, you’re better off carving it on their tombstones.】

【Forget the tombstone, look at the small landmines they’re throwing. I’m afraid they can’t even afford a tombstone. Sad.jpg】

The barrage continued to overwhelm the stinky sisters with education. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhe, unable to stand Rao Linchang’s aggressive demeanor, started to deliberately make things difficult.

“Get me a steak,” Xiao Zhe said, “When you buy it, please get the boneless part from the end of the ribs. Also, get a portion of Italian pasta, capellini n.1… Oh, and get some black pepper sauce and asparagus, cherry tomatoes, thanks.”

Rao Linchang smiled sweetly, “Okay.”

Lian Xi chimed in, “Xiao Ge, you’re being a bit mean to Changchang, he doesn’t understand English.”

【Indeed, I heard that someone dropped out of high school.】

【Screenshotted, will come back and tag you when it’s time to slap you in the face.】

【Rao Dog’s fan army is sick? This is Xiao Zhe’s live stream!!!】

【Angry? Your dad is everywhere! Smug.jpg】

Xiao Zhe folded his long legs, pretending not to understand, “Hmm? Wasn’t I speaking in Chinese?”

After a pause, he then appeared to have a sudden realization, “Oh, you mean those English words.”

He turned his head, looking slightly apologetic at Rao Linchang, “Sorry Xiao Chang, I didn’t know you couldn’t understand English. Those words are actually quite simple, it’s just…”

Rao Linchang, rising from the sofa with a sticky note in hand, smiled and interrupted his rambling, “I understand, Uncle Xiao. I used to wash dishes at a French restaurant, so next time you can speak entirely in English. A mix of languages is even harder for me to comprehend.”

Xiao Zhe: “………”

Uncle… Xiao?

Wait a minute! Was he being mocked?

【Hahaha, can’t stop laughing, Changchang has outwitted Uncle Xiao (facepalm)】

【Seriously, I really admire Changchang’s personality, bold and ready to retort. I wouldn’t dare to do the same (from a socially anxious coward)】

【Joking aside! Would Princess Changchang be bothered by him? Who does he think he is? [Rewarding Princess Changchang with a deep-sea torpedo]】

【Learning English by washing dishes? Stop joking around!】

【Stop talking nonsense? I’ve learned everything from cleaning the floor. Why can’t Princess Changchang, an advanced dishwasher, learn it? Or do you have to use your dog-brained mind to question us superior beings?】

【Forget about learning, I just want to ask, is knowing two bird words really that impressive? What’s the big deal! Why does our great nation need to learn bird language? Is everything fine with your ancestors’ graves?】

【Exactly! Why does our great country need to learn bird language! If anyone wants to learn, learn on your own! I can’t even learn for a minute! (Eats up past exam papers) (Eats up listening materials) (Eats up high-frequency words) (Let out a burp)】

【Responding to the comment above—(transforms into an elixir of eternal life) (enters the alluring yet short-lived mouth of the ancestors) (helps awaken and dominate the earth)】

【Haha, the commenter above understands Changchang well! Thumbs up.jpg】