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Chapter 8: From Now On, First Place Is Yours (Pushed Over)
The soft, pleading voice seemed to linger in the air, seductive and mesmerizing. But as Ning Qingyan busily used her tongs to grab food from the hot pot station, filling her bowl to the brim, Gu Si’s originally flushed, devilishly attractive phoenix eyes instantly cleared. The redness on his neck also faded completely.
“Damn it! Am I losing my mind? Could it be I’ve been single for too long? Or maybe… something’s wrong with me?”
Gu Si shook his head as if trying to dispel the sinful image from his mind. His narrow eyes flickered with complexity as he strode quickly towards Ning Qingyan, his long legs covering the distance in no time.
At 188 cm tall, Gu Si cast a giant shadow over Ning Qingyan. The scorching sunlight above her abruptly disappeared, replaced by a sudden chill.
A large, hot hand rested on the nape of her neck. His low, mischievous chuckle reached her ears, as he whispered hoarsely,
“Ning Qingyan, weren’t you complaining about your sore feet?”
Ning Qingyan: Her hands, which were still grabbing food, trembled slightly.
Live Stream Comments:
While the viewers were having the time of their lives, Ning Qingyan’s situation was far from ideal.
Gu Si’s hot palm pressed firmly against the back of her delicate neck. She felt a prickling unease. Under the blazing sun, she hugged her bowl of food tightly, her legs trembling slightly, but her voice rang out loud and clear:
“I was wrong!”
“And you’ll do it again!”
Seeing her defiant yet sheepish expression, Gu Si nearly burst out laughing.
He nudged her knee with his own, causing Ning Qingyan to stumble backward. Just as her bowl of food was about to spill, Gu Si swiftly caught it with one hand, using the other to grab her slender waist and steady her.
In mere seconds, her painstakingly filled bowl of food ended up in Gu Si’s hands. Smirking with a devilish air, Gu Si watched as Ning Qingyan’s eyes darted around. In one swift move, she wrapped her arms around his waist and used gravity to pull him down onto the grass.
Soft and fragrant, her whole body landed atop his. Her delicate fingers clutched the sensitive muscles at his waist, causing Gu Si to freeze. His eyes glazed over slightly, his grip loosening just enough for Ning Qingyan to reclaim her bowl of food.
Luckily, only the lighter vegetables at the top spilled out, scattering perfectly onto Gu Si’s face and hair.
Despite the absurd situation, Gu Si lay stiffly on the ground, unable to move. After a long moment, he sat up, brushing the greens off his face. His thin lips twitched as he glanced at Ning Qingyan, who was already happily stirring her hot pot, and his ears turned bright red.
Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s favorability +1.”
Triumphant, Ning Qingyan quickly dumped her bowl of meat and vegetables into her hot pot. She then grabbed her disposable chopsticks, licked them clean, and began stirring her pot with gusto.
Gu Si, known for his slight germaphobia when it came to food: “…?”
“You shameless scoundrel!”
Unable to contain himself, Gu Si yelled, his voice much louder than usual, masking his lingering embarrassment and the tingling at his waist.
As Wen Shijin and Huo Qi finally arrived, they witnessed the hilarious scene of Ning Qingyan winning her food battle, stirring her pot like her life depended on it, and Gu Si glaring at her with utter frustration.
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
Green Tea System: “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”
Gu Si, now seated beside Ning Qingyan, opened a soda with one hand and chugged it down. Finishing in one go, he crushed the can with a loud “crack,” as if venting his anger on the empty can instead of the cunning girl beside him.
Still hungry after the morning’s hike, Ning Qingyan couldn’t be bothered with Gu Si’s death stare. Memories of her past life’s struggles—when skipping meals had led to severe stomach issues and dulled her sense of taste—motivated her to enjoy every bite now.
The hot pot bubbled tantalizingly as she quickly prepared a roll of premium beef wrapped in crisp lettuce. But before she could enjoy it, Gu Si snatched it from her chopsticks and devoured it in two bites, leaving only half behind.
Staring at the remainder, Ning Qingyan felt her heart shatter.
The Green Tea System had assured her of Gu Si’s food-related germaphobia, which was why she hadn’t guarded against him. Yet now, watching him enjoy her carefully prepared dish, her faith wavered.
Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s favorability +1.”
Savoring the flavors, Gu Si’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction. Ignoring the lettuce still clinging to his head, he smirked and drawled, “Make a few more for me, will you?”
Fuming, Ning Qingyan shot him a glare. “Are you even human? Can’t you mix your own sauce and wrap your own food? You eat my meat and expect me to serve you too? Ridiculous! Today, Ning Qingyan would rather—”
Before she could finish, Gu Si leaned closer, his voice low and magnetic:
“I’ll give you first place from now on.”
Her unfinished rant got stuck in her throat. The anger in her peach blossom eyes faded, replaced by a bright sparkle. She stared at him, her voice softening unconsciously. “Really?”
Gu Si hesitated for a moment, then turned away with a feigned look of disdain. “I never lie.”
Realizing this meant unlimited premium hot pot ingredients in future challenges, Ning Qingyan’s eyes curved into crescents, her lips curling into a grin. “Deal!”
Watching her happily wrapping food for him, Gu Si’s lips curved slightly. His downcast gaze concealed the sly glint in his long, narrow eyes.
“I never lie… unless absolutely necessary.”