With the menu in hand, the two groups, Rao Linchang and Tong Kaiyi’s, set off for the mall down the mountain.

Since Director Gao didn’t restrict what vehicles the guests could use, Song Linxuan suggested, “Let’s take one car. My car is parked right over in the lot.”

Tong Kaiyi didn’t mind and glanced at Shi Guang.

Shi Guang had no objections to Rao Linchang, so he naturally nodded, “Sure.”

“Then you all wait here. I’ll go get the car and pick you up along with Changchang,” Song Linxuan said, casting a deliberate glance at Rao Linchang, as if trying to make her fall for him.

But Rao Linchang just discreetly rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and gave a fake smile, saying, “Mm, thanks for the trouble.”

While the other three waited for the car, Rao Linchang’s personal cameraman suddenly waved at him.

Following the cameraman’s gesture, Rao Linchang looked behind him and saw Pao Pao staring at him with a pained expression.

His heart sank, thinking Oh no, oh no, here we go—my ears aren’t going to survive this.

Resigned to his fate, he stepped out of the frame and walked over to Pao Pao.

“What’s up? Has my time finally come?” he whispered, looking like a kid caught doing something wrong by a parent.

Pao Pao handed the phone directly to Rao Linchang, speaking at lightning speed, “Sister Mo said Yan-ge lost his temper at the company and even took it up with the boss! He insists you must publicly apologize to Xi-ge via video, or he won’t be able to manage his artists anymore. Sister Mo didn’t back down either; she told the boss she could take on the extra workload and manage Yan-ge’s artists herself. The two of them got into a huge argument, and in the end, the company held an emergency meeting. They decided that instead of apologizing, you’ll just be used as a comparison to Xi-ge in the dating show. That way, you won’t have to apologize, and you can keep playing your usual role.”

Rao Linchang chuckled, “Sacrificing me to highlight their precious white lotus? The company sure knows how to make choices. What did Sister Mo say?”

“Sister Mo… said it’s fine,” Pao Pao swallowed nervously, “She said you’re already working the controversial, love-hate angle anyway.”

Rao Linchang wasn’t surprised by Fang Mo’s decision, but he knew she wasn’t someone who would take a loss without compensation, so he asked, “What’s the benefit?”

“The benefit is that Yan-ge gave up two endorsement deals to Sister Mo,” Pao Pao replied.

“Got it, thanks.” Rao Linchang handed the phone back to Pao Pao, “Anything else? Did Sister Mo not curse me out?”

“Oh, she did,” Pao Pao nervously clutched the phone, mimicking Fang Mo’s scolding tone: “Rao Linchang, you little punk! If you don’t straighten up and stay in your lane as a D-list actor, I swear I’ll pull out all your teeth and feed them to the dogs! …Chang-ge, I—I swear that wasn’t me talking.”

“I know, don’t worry. You nailed Sister Mo’s vibe perfectly.” Rao Linchang laughed, patting Pao Pao on the shoulder. “Just make sure to tell her this for me: dogs only eat bones, not teeth.”

Pao Pao: “………”

Seeing that Song Linxuan hadn’t returned yet, Pao Pao tugged on Rao Linchang’s sleeve and whispered, “Chang-ge, are you really gonna take that comparison script? You’ll get roasted alive by the netizens!”

Rao Linchang raised an eyebrow: “Huh?”

He laughed again. “You little thing, do you have some misunderstanding about me? When have I not been roasted by netizens?”

“Today!” Pao Pao said as he pulled out his phone, always keeping an eye on Chang-ge’s livestream activity. “Look! Out of nowhere, a bunch of incredibly aggressive bots showed up. They’re either giving you tips or helping you clap back at people! And they even started a fan club for you on Weibo! In just two hours, it already has over 20,000 members!”

Rao Linchang leaned in to take a look, and sure enough, the livestream comments were flooded with messages saying how much they missed him.

One person even wrote: Where’s my baby? Where’s my absolutely gorgeous baby Changchang?!

He immediately gave a man on the subway staring at his phone reaction. “Who bought these bots? Was it Sister Mo? Has she finally lost it again?”

“It wasn’t Sister Mo. She said she was about to buy them when someone else already started the fight for you,” Pao Pao replied.

Rao Linchang blinked in confusion.

If it wasn’t Sister Mo… then he had a pretty good idea of who it was.

After all, the boss of Xigua Video had the last name Tan.

Realizing this, a smile started to tug at the corner of Rao Linchang’s mouth. But then he reconsidered—Tan Yue protecting his platform’s reputation by standing up for his supposed “husband” made perfect sense.

So that almost-smile quickly faded, and in a calm voice, he said, “I get it.”

After thinking for a moment, he forced a small smile at Pao Pao. “Alright, stop worrying about me. The comparison script is just Sister Mo’s stalling tactic—she’d never let me take a hit. And do you really think your Chang-ge is someone who can be easily manipulated? So drop that bitter look and give me a smile.”

Pao Pao gave a helpless smile. “Chang-ge, you really need to be more mindful and stop stirring up—”

“Ah! Song Linxuan’s back. I’ll head over now!” Rao Linchang, like the wind, made his escape from Pao Pao’s nagging.

Seeing him dash away, Pao Pao could only close her mouth in resignation.

With a sigh, she finally understood why Sister Mo always felt like smacking him every day.

…

Song Linxuan really lived up to his superficial rich kid image, even showing up on the show in a flashy Cullinan.

The moment the luxury car’s emblem appeared in the livestream, the chat in Rao Linchang’s stream exploded with comments.

However, Rao Linchang remained unfazed, calmly opening the passenger door and getting in.

“Seatbelt,” Song Linxuan said, leaning over slightly as if to help Rao Linchang buckle it.

But Rao Linchang was quicker, grabbing the seatbelt himself. He gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and looked at Song Linxuan. “Do us a favor and focus on driving. We’re on a tight schedule.”

Song Linxuan’s mouth twitched, thinking to himself that this young artist really knows how to put on an act.

If it were another celebrity who saw him driving such a nice car, they would have flocked to him long ago.

Today, he had made an effort to be a gentleman, but this small-time artist actually dared to undermine him!

Song Linxuan sneered internally, just wait!

Let’s see how long you can keep up this act!

【?? What’s this fool showing off? It’s just a Cullinan. My baby Changchang could buy ten of those with a blink of her eye!】

【…Sister upstairs, is this something to brag about?】

【Brag away, it’s not like we can’t afford it! Just ten Cullinans [flexing wealth with deep-sea torpedo].】

【Here’s the scoop: a Cullinan costs at least seven hundred grand each, so ten would be seven million. Therefore, according to the gossip, Princess Changchang’s assets are worth seven billion!!!】

【What? Princess Changchang is a billionaire? [flexing wealth with deep-sea torpedo x2]】

【What? Princess Changchang is the world’s richest person? [flexing wealth with deep-sea torpedo x3]】

【What? Princess Changchang wants to offer 30 billion to marry me? [blushing and shyly agreeing]】

【What… Upstairs, you take that back! Let me have this dream! Otherwise, I’ll screenshot it and send it to the boss!】

【Offering 30 billion to marry Princess Changchang!!! Boss, if you disagree, come and fight!!! (If I ever pass away, remember to tell Changchang I love him!!!)】

【The boss is here. You can say it again. Smile.jpg】

【(Thud) (Knees make a dent in the floor) (It’s fine, I’m not hurt) (I love kneeling) Boss, do you see how perfectly I’m kneeling? Obedient.jpg】

【What do you mean? Is the water army’s boss the number one fan of Princess Changchang?】

【It could also be a fan of her boyfriend… (looking far off into the sky)】

【What! Even if you’re the boss, why do you still have to compete with us for a wife! I refuse!! [small landmine, retreat, retreat, retreat]】

…

The grocery shopping went smoothly, and the two pairs of couple guests quickly returned.

After bringing the groceries to the kitchen, the other two pairs of couples began to divide up the cooking duties.

Meanwhile, Rao Linchang and his group had no choice but to move to the living room and engage in awkward small talk.

However, since everyone was meeting for the first time and they couldn’t disclose their ages, professions, or other personal details at this stage, the four of them couldn’t come up with a common topic of conversation.

In the end.

To avoid the awkward silence, they decided to chat about zodiac signs.

He first asked Rao Linchang, “Changchang, what’s your zodiac sign?”

“I’m a Sagittarius,” Rao Linchang replied.

“Sagittarius?” Song Linxuan responded, “Then you and my Aries sign are a great match. No wonder you’re my couple guest.”

Rao Linchang: ?

Are you okay?

【What’s with these guys getting drunk over cooking?】

【Although, Baidu does say that Sagittarius and Aries are a good match…】

【Baidu also said I should make a will! So should I make one or not? Waiting online.jpg】

【…….Alright, Baidu’s advice really isn’t that reliable.】

Noticing the atmosphere suddenly becoming more awkward, Shi Guang quickly glanced at Tong Kaiyi.

Receiving the pleading look, Tong Kaiyi took the cue and asked, “Did you study zodiac signs specifically?”

“Not really, I just learned a bit about using zodiac signs to predict fortunes when I was bored before…” Shi Guang thought for a moment, “It’s similar to that kind of minor mysticism like Tarot cards.”

Tong Kaiyi seemed interested and continued, “How does it work?”

“It’s quite simple. Just wait a moment.” Shi Guang took some sticky notes and a pen from the coffee table and handed them to Tong Kaiyi, saying, “Here.”

Tong Kaiyi took the sticky notes and asked, “What’s this for?”

Shi Guang didn’t answer but turned to Rao Linchang and Song Linxuan, “Changchang and Lynx, do you want to give it a try?”

Although Rao Linchang wasn’t very convinced, he was always up for joining in, so he quickly replied, “Yes, let’s try it! How do we do it?”

Song Linxuan nodded as well, “Sure, let’s give it a go.”

Shi Guang then handed each of them paper and pens and said, “From now until I finish speaking, write down the first three words that come to your mind. Don’t hesitate.”

After he finished speaking, he fell silent and looked at Rao Linchang and the others.

Rao Linchang and the others were momentarily stunned before realizing they needed to write down their words. They quickly bent their heads and began writing.

Rao Linchang finished first and looked up at Shi Guang, “I’m done. What’s next?”

Shi Guang smiled, “Next, show me what you’ve written, and I’ll interpret it for you.”

“Oh, then Master Shigu, please take a look,” Rao Linchang said, handing over his completed note.

Shi Guang took a glance at the note, which had three simple words written on it—dog, food, home.

“So, Master Shi Guang, how is it?” Rao Linchang asked, resting his face in his hands as he looked at Shi Guang, “What’s my fortune today?”

“Hmm…” Shi Guang began interpreting Rao Linchang’s keywords: “A dog symbolizes loyalty, is associated with the color red, and represents love. Food, being split into left and right, signifies a solid and practical approach, representing career. Home, which is oriented up and down, indicates a free-spirited personality, representing wealth…”

After the interpretation, he looked up at Rao Linchang and said, “So, if you’re single, you might meet a suitor who is very loyal to you today.”

“If you’re in a relationship, there might be some petty arguments. However, because your partner is very loyal to you, these small disputes won’t affect your relationship. In fact, your partner might even find you endearing and want to continue teasing you…”

Shi Guang: ?

Did I interpret it incorrectly?

Rao Linchang also looked puzzled.

Why does this interpretation seem more and more like it’s about a dog?

【Hahaha, both Shi Guang and Changchang are so cute—one got confused while interpreting, and the other got more and more puzzled as they listened (laughing and crying).】

【Is this just bragging about oneself?】

【Rao Linchang’s suitor being a dog—this interpretation can be considered quite impressive for the guest!】

【As a high-end troll, I only criticize people, so for the things mentioned by the above two, I’ll have to send an intern troll to handle it. Eating sunflower seeds.jpg】

【Well, I’m here… What’s the name of your dog upstairs? Super fierce.jpg】

【Great criticism. Please proceed with the resignation paperwork.】

【QAQ I really can’t criticize people… (poke poke)】

【To the one who said “Old Wang selling melons, self-praising,” dare you show us your pitiful face so we can see just how damn cute you are?】

【A dog is way cuter than a pretentious white lotus. Anyone who disagrees must not have any (land). Smile.jpg】

【Just came from the next room with the white lotus. Seriously, watching him cook almost made me lose my appetite from the other day. Those who know cooking think it’s just cooking, but those who don’t might actually think he’s teaching everyone how to seduce men while cooking! Damn, I’m so disgusted!】

【No wonder the person upstairs can’t appreciate our Changchang’s cuteness—they’re used to seeing ugly, attention-seeking people. Alright, I’ll forgive them for 0.000001 seconds.】

【Idiot!】

【If you’re leaving, why leave a self-introduction? Which sister will pick it up and return it?】

【I’ll do it! (putting on gloves) (spraying with alcohol) (picking it up)】

Then—

The assistant monitoring the bullet screen for Lian Xi was overwhelmed by the flood of “Idiot!” comments.

Feeling helpless, he had no choice but to hire another batch of trolls!

Otherwise, when Lian Xi finds out that the live stream’s bullet screen was being overwhelmingly bombarded by Rao Linchang’s trolls, he would definitely be furious with him!

Meanwhile—

After a brief moment of confusion, Shi Guang continued interpreting Rao Linchang’s zodiac fortune: “Your career luck is very good today. You’ll be full of energy, though you might occasionally encounter some obstacles. But as long as you stay grounded, those obstacles will turn into stepping stones.”

“And as for your wealth…”

“Forget about the wealth part; I’m not really concerned about that,” Rao Linchang thought Shi Guang was somewhat insightful, so he worried that if the master revealed his actual financial situation, it would be quite embarrassing for him as a small-time celebrity. He quickly called for a stop.

He then asked, “So my overall fortune today is still good, right?”

“Yes,” Shi Guang nodded, “So you should continue to keep a positive attitude, as that will help maintain your good fortune.”

“Okay, thanks baby!” Rao Linchang gave Shi Guang a wink.

Shi Guang was stunned, then quickly looked down, pretending to organize the notes.

He felt a bit electrified and his cheeks warmed.

Even though he knew that he and Rao Linchang shared the same attribute and shouldn’t be so easily swayed,

…but he called me “baby”!

And he said it so sweetly!