Chapter 18: Jealous of Girls Too? Beautiful, Darling

Xu Ruanruan’s words had a certain logic when carefully considered, and Gu Si, who had remained silent, uncharacteristically nodded in agreement.

“Why should Sheng Mingzhu, who hasn’t done anything, get to be Ning Qingyan’s CP? At least I washed vegetables,” he muttered.

Seeing Gu Si nodding along, Sheng Mingzhu panicked. She quickly stood up and said, “I just didn’t want to trouble you, little brother. Do you need anything else? I can help.”

Unexpectedly, she found herself vying for attention with another girl. Ning Qingyan’s thoughts: O—O…

“It’s okay, girls should be pampered. Sister, please sit down and wait a moment—it’ll be ready soon.”

Ning Qingyan glanced at Sheng Mingzhu, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and smiled brightly, her little tiger teeth shining white. Her beautiful peach blossom eyes curved into crescent moons.

Coupled with her indulgent tone toward Sheng Mingzhu, Gu Si inexplicably felt uncomfortable. His gaze toward Sheng Mingzhu grew increasingly critical and annoyed.

“She’s not good enough for my precious apprentice!”

Sheng Mingzhu froze, her face slightly red, a sense of guilt stirring in her heart. She immediately stood up to help Ning Qingyan serve the dishes and rice.

Seeing this, Xu Ruanruan couldn’t say much, though she was still unhappy. She had known Ning Qingyan first. Back then, when she called Ning Qingyan “brother,” he didn’t mind and even blushed while helping her with things.

Just because Sheng Mingzhu chose him, he now treats Sheng Mingzhu so well and so devotedly? If she hadn’t lowered her head and avoided greeting him back then, would he have chosen her instead?

Caught in her thoughts, Xu Ruanruan shook her head. He was just an extra in her story. She couldn’t have made the wrong choice. After all, Gu Si was the male lead in a “career-focused” novel without romantic pairings—not someone easily won over.

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Amidst rising smoke and the green hills, the long table was soon filled with the dishes prepared by the male and female guests.

Because the table was long enough, the dishes were divided into four areas for each CP team.

The director’s voice came through the guests’ earpieces:

“Each CP team will take turns tasting the dishes of other teams and then rate them. The team with the highest score will receive a mysterious prize and an initial persona bonus. The team with the lowest score will face a punishment chosen by the audience’s votes.”

Hearing this, Xu Ruanruan glanced at her team’s empty dish area, her guilt surging.

Gu Si, however, shamelessly showed no embarrassment, sticking close to Ning Qingyan like her shadow. To outsiders, it might seem they were a team.

With surprised looks from the other teams, Xu Ruanruan stood awkwardly beside Sheng Mingzhu, her face burning.

Live Comments from the Livestream:

• “Ning Qingyan washing the vegetables for Gu Si—’Idiot.’ So sweet!”
• “Husband Ning Qingyan, to other girls: Wash pig liver! To CP Sheng Mingzhu: Sister, sit tight. I’ll handle it!”
• “Seeing Huo Qi and Qiao Li, my secondhand embarrassment is kicking in again!”
• “The only watchable CPs are Ning-Sheng and Wen-Lin.”

After everyone tasted the dishes, it was clear which area had the most food consumed.

Ning Qingyan had cooked a lot, but with eight people tasting, it was barely enough. Her dishes were more than half gone after the tasting.

Green Tea System:

• “Gu Si’s favorability +1.”
• “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
• “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”

Hearing the system notifications, Ning Qingyan smiled, and the pain of her food being nearly gone disappeared. She had found three secret foodies.

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The rankings were quickly announced:

1. Ning Qingyan and Sheng Mingzhu
2. Wen Shijin and Lin Qingqing
3. Huo Qi and Qiao Li
4. Gu Si and Xu Ruanruan

The director revealed the rewards and punishments:

• First place: Ning Qingyan and Sheng Mingzhu each get a “forced date” card to use on any guest. The chosen guest cannot refuse, and the location, setting, and gifts are designed by the cardholder, with sponsorship from the show.
• Last place: Gu Si and Xu Ruanruan must eat “10x spicy hot chicken noodles,” as voted by the audience.

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The drone delivered two large packs of spicy noodles, which were soon prepared. The noodles, drenched in black-red sauce, emitted an intense, pungent spiciness.

Xu Ruanruan took a small bite, only to spit it out, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed, “I can’t… it’s too spicy!”

The director’s amused voice came through:

“If the princess can’t finish, the prince must step in. Since you spat your bite back, Gu Si must finish two full bowls. Do you forfeit the punishment?”

Xu Ruanruan hesitated, then tearfully said, “I forfeit.”