Chapter 40: A Sweet Date

“Asking what you’re wearing on the date?” Fu Li asked as soon as he entered the room.

Gu Chuan, who was handling work remotely on his phone, looked up and asked, “She’s asking?”

Though not naming anyone specifically, it was clear who was being referred to.

Leaning casually against the wall, Fu Li seemed to recall something amusing and a faint smile appeared on his lips as he said, “Lu Yu asked.”

Gu Chuan raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t curious about why Lu Yu, whom he didn’t know well, would ask such a personal question. He simply replied, “Black.”

Once Jiang Mi had the answer, she began choosing her outfit for the date, completely unaware that the barrage of comments on the live stream was already bursting with laughter.

[Hahaha, I’m dying of laughter. I didn’t expect Honey to bring espionage and alliances into the dating show!]

[Jiang Mi is really a treasure. She’s so funny!]

[Haha, but I’m curious about the director’s last expression. It didn’t seem like a simple comment about Jiang Mi but rather like there was some kind of scheme involved.]

[Oh, honey, you don’t understand. The show’s schemes are just amazing perks for us viewers! Just enjoy it!]

[These two must be headed for a mutual pursuit!]

[It’s only the second episode of the dating show, and you two are already so entangled and throwing away the key. Is this really okay?]

After changing into her outfit, Jiang Mi came downstairs, ready for her date with Gu Chuan.

In the living room on the first floor, all the dating show guests were present. Gu Chuan was leaning against a pillar, waiting for Jiang Mi to come down.

When Jiang Mi, dressed in a flowing white gown, descended the stairs, everyone felt as though they were seeing a fairy.

As the saying goes, the simpler something is, the more it highlights a person’s beauty.

The pure white dress, with no excessive adornments or decorations, simply showcased her slender waist and hips with its minimalist cut.

The simplicity only accentuated Jiang Mi’s beauty.

When Jiang Mi saw Gu Chuan, her eyes immediately brightened, and she smiled, “Gu Chuan, have you been waiting long?”

Her voice was soft, as if genuinely concerned about whether he had been waiting downstairs for a long time.

Gu Chuan’s usually stern expression softened slightly. “Not long.”

He extended his hand to Jiang Mi, who gracefully took his arm.

The two of them, standing together, were tall and handsome, perfectly matched.

Lu Yu looked at Jiang Mi and Gu Chuan with starry eyes and cheered them on, “Honey, Big Brother Gu, you two are dressed like a couple. You look so sweet together. Aw, it’s so sweet!”

Cheng Lin also complimented them on how well they matched but couldn’t help adding, “Honey, I also want to go on a date with you, but I can’t beat Gu Chuan. But I’ll try my best!”

Jiang Mi smiled warmly, “You can always just give up.”

The others remembered Cheng Lin’s impressive martial arts skills and Gu Chuan’s financial prowess, which seemed even more formidable.

[Haha, Cheng Lin, you can compete with Gu Chuan in terms of spending money. It’s much easier to win in that area than in martial arts.]

Jiang Mi gave Gu Chuan a meaningful look, and just as he caught her gaze, Jiang Mi, feeling caught, decided to test him openly, “In that regard, Cheng Lin can’t compete with you, right?”

Gu Chuan suddenly pulled back his arm.

Jiang Mi was surprised, thinking Gu Chuan might be too petty, refusing to let her hold his arm just because of a test. It seemed excessive.

But the next moment, his warm and large hand gently enclosed her small one.

Jiang Mi bit her lip, struggling to hide her smile, “Ahem, let’s head out quickly.”

Gu Chuan agreed, “Okay.”

The two of them walked out hand in hand, while the others cheered and clapped. Only Bai Ruoruo and Shen Mingxuan couldn’t muster a smile.

Bai Ruoruo was naturally resentful. Not only did Jiang Mi and Gu Chuan win the competition, but her assistant had also been sent to the police station.

She had just checked online during a break and saw that everyone was criticizing her for being scheming and malicious.

Bai Ruoruo was livid, and seeing Jiang Mi dressed beautifully and going on a date with Gu Chuan made her even more furious!

She took out her anger indiscriminately on the other guests, wondering if they were all fools. The spotlight was entirely on Jiang Mi and Gu Chuan, and now they were smiling and congratulating the two. It was utterly infuriating!

When Shen Mingxuan saw this scene, he felt a deep, instinctive panic.

Jiang Mi’s performance was too obvious. When they went to the amusement park for a date, she had worn a casual tracksuit, no makeup, and had been indifferent.

Now, in front of Gu Chuan, she had meticulously chosen her date outfit, done her makeup, and looked radiant, especially with her genuine and joyful smile that was impossible to fake!

He feared that this dazzling, vibrant Jiang Mi no longer had feelings for him.

No, it couldn’t be. Jiang Mi loved him the most, and that would never change.

Jiang Mi had always been clingy with him. When she heard he was injured, she would brave the heavy rain to care for him, and when she knew he was eating poorly on set, she would personally bring him meals…

Jiang Mi had given so much for him; she must be deeply in love.

It was just that he had previously misunderstood Jiang Mi because of Bai Ruoruo, which hurt Jiang Mi’s feelings. That’s why she was now deliberately cold and pretending to like another man. Her goal was to provoke and anger him. Well, Jiang Mi had succeeded!

He cared about Jiang Mi and wanted to win her back!

And Bai Ruoruo noticed, from the corner of her eye, that her once pure and beautiful face now carried too much resentment and gloom, no longer resembling the innocent and soft Bai Ruoruo in his mind.

……..

……..

……..

Outside, a car sponsored by the show was waiting. Gu Chuan opened the door for Jiang Mi, who gracefully got in.

Their actions were smooth and natural, as if they had done it countless times before.

When Gu Chuan started the car, the navigation system displayed their destination: a dessert shop.

Jiang Mi, seeing this, deliberately widened her eyes and feigned surprise.

“Wow, our destination is a dessert shop? I thought it was going to be another amusement park!”

Gu Chuan glanced at her with suspicion. “You didn’t know?”

Jiang Mi’s deliberately cheerful smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned as she elongated her voice, “Of course, I didn’t know where we were going. Are you doubting me, Gu Chuan?”

Her voice had lost some of its coldness and nobility, becoming rather sweet and delicate, like a feather brushing against Gu Chuan’s heart.

Gu Chuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice low, “No.”

Jiang Mi was satisfied.

Meanwhile, the live chat was in hysterics.

[Hahaha, it’s like you’re teasing and I’m laughing. It’s so sweet and pampering.]

[But seriously, Gu Chuan is a bit of a typical guy. He almost ruined Honey’s act with his “you didn’t know” comment.]

[He’s a typical guy, but he has no principles at all. Honey’s little act made him compromise without a second thought.]

The journey from the suburbs to the city center was a bit long, taking about 40 minutes.

After playing horse-riding games all morning, Jiang Mi was a bit tired. However, with Gu Chuan by her side, she felt particularly secure and relaxed.

Leaning against the passenger seat, she unknowingly fell asleep.

Noticing this, Gu Chuan played some soothing background music and draped his coat over Jiang Mi’s chest.

When they arrived at the destination, Jiang Mi woke up from her nap. She instinctively looked over at Gu Chuan, her gaze catching the suit jacket covering her.

A sweet smile spread across Jiang Mi’s lips as she looked at Gu Chuan and said sincerely, “Thank you for the coat.”

At the dessert shop, after parking, the two of them went inside together.

The show’s production team had already coordinated with the shop, so the staff immediately took them to the back kitchen where they would make cakes. They warmly asked, “Do either of you know how to make desserts?”

The shop owner was merely asking out of courtesy, as someone like Gu Chuan, who looked so noble, probably hadn’t even set foot in a kitchen.

He was about to say it was okay if they didn’t know and he would teach them, but before he could, Gu Chuan calmly said, “I do.”

Both the shop owner and the live stream viewers felt like they were hearing things.

Gu Chuan actually said he could make desserts?

The image did not seem to match at all!

Looking at the tall, handsome, and imposing man, it was hard to connect him with the sweet-smelling desserts.

Immediately, a barrage of question marks appeared in the live chat.

Many viewers speculated why Gu Chuan knew how to make desserts, with some suggesting he had a hidden soft side despite his tough exterior, and others thinking he was trying to win over Jiang Mi.

There were many theories, and everyone’s curiosity was piqued, with viewers urging the production team to ask about it.

The following director, who had been paying close attention to the live chat, immediately asked, “Gu Chuan, everyone is curious why a tough guy like you knows how to make such sweet desserts?”

Jiang Mi quickly spoke up, “Does Gu Chuan’s image not match with desserts? I think it does.”

The director was tempted to retort that Jiang Mi was biased, but before he could speak, Gu Chuan looked at Jiang Mi and said in a deep, sexy voice, “Because Miss likes to eat them.”

From the first episode of the dating show, a photo of Gu Chuan kneeling to put a crystal shoe on Jiang Mi had gone viral.

That was when many people learned that this handsome, manly, and imposing man was Jiang Mi’s personal bodyguard.

So hearing that Gu Chuan made desserts because he learned it for Jiang Mi, the live chat exploded with excitement.

Seeing Gu Chuan’s deep, dark eyes, Jiang Mi suddenly felt her heart racing unusually. “Ahem, ahem!”

The director, observing them up close, could feel the underlying meaning in Gu Chuan’s words. It was clear that Gu Chuan and Jiang Mi were feeding him dog food together.

Oh, how great to be in love!

Being in love is indeed amazing.

Or perhaps, those who are caught in the ambiguity of a budding romance are even more impressive.

Jiang Mi had traversed countless small worlds for her missions. Whether it was making desserts in a small dessert shop or in a five-star hotel’s patisserie, she could handle it all.

But right now, she was pretending to be clueless and shook her head, “I don’t know how, Gu Chuan-ge, I’ll have to rely on you to teach me.”

Every time Jiang Mi called Gu Chuan “Gu Chuan-ge,” her voice was soft and coquettish, intentionally stirring emotions in the man’s heart.

Gu Chuan unconsciously licked his thin lips and responded with a low “Mm.”

Jiang Mi’s eyes immediately crinkled into a bright smile, her peach blossom eyes seeming to capture the entire night sky’s starry light, dazzling and radiant.

At this moment, the dessert shop owner silently retreated without saying a word.

He regretted agreeing to the show’s collaboration so hastily. The pink bubbles between this young couple were sweeter than any of the desserts in his shop. It was as if the desserts were being overshadowed by their sweetness.

They were going to make snow ice cakes.

The preparation of snow ice cakes generally involves two steps.

The first step is to prepare the filling, which, since Jiang Mi had said she didn’t know how to make desserts, meant she would handle the simple tasks like cutting fruits, chocolates, and crisp layers.

The second step is making the outer dough. Gu Chuan rolled up his dark gold sleeves, and his well-defined hands, pressing into the milky white flour, created a striking contrast that was particularly appealing.

After completing the initial steps, the next part was kneading the dough.

Jiang Mi stood at the table, while Gu Chuan stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her as if enveloping her completely.

His well-defined hands covered her delicate ones, together kneading the dough.

The tactile sensation of his hands, hardened by years of martial arts training, against Jiang Mi’s soft, tender hands created a tingling sensation.

The air was filled with a subtle, brewing flirtation.

Even the live chat fell silent, captivated by the perfect and harmonious scene.

But then a comment appeared that immediately drew the attention of all the viewers:

[Although making desserts together is really sweet, I still think they belong in a more intimate setting than a quaint dessert shop. Does anyone else feel that way?]

[OMG, you just voiced my thoughts! I always felt that Gu Chuan and Jiang Mi have a strong sexual tension as a couple.]

[When they look at each other, the intensity of their gaze could fuel a thousand-word fanfiction. Ahh, it’s too perfect!]

[Yes, a sweet, fresh place really doesn’t suit them. Look at Gu Chuan’s robust frame and then at Honey’s alluring…]

[Wait, the production team just dropped a big surprise.]

“Is there another date location?”

Jiang Mi was both surprised and understanding. She had suspected the director wouldn’t reveal the date location easily, and now the surprise was revealed.

At this moment, Gu Chuan took the task card, glanced at it, and raised an eyebrow. “Couples Yoga.”