On this side, Shi Guang had finished predicting the fortunes for the three people, while on the other side, Jie Rui and the others had brought the prepared dishes to the table.

Before everyone could sit down, the main camera first panned over the table, showcasing a spread of dishes that were visually appealing and smelled delicious.

【Wow! The dishes look great! Who cooked them? I was just watching Shi Guang and the others with the fortune-telling.】

【The beef with lettuce and lemon chicken feet were cooked by Ming Nan. The fancy-looking dishes were made by Lian Xi. The lotus root rib soup and perch were cooked by Jie Rui, and the pan-fried tofu and garlic okra were made by Xiao Zhe.】

【Is Ming Nan a professional cook? His dishes look so professional just from the ingredients!】

【What are those fancy dishes? Are they edible?】

【Whether they’re edible or not, it’s still better than someone who doesn’t even step into the kitchen!】

【I’m not a fan of anyone. Stop being passive-aggressive with me, you!】

【Haha, are you dumb? Your troll sister hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already rushing to get scolded.】

【……..】

“Meal’s ready,” Jie Rui said as he placed the dishes and walked into the living room to call Rao Linchang and the others.

“Coming!” Rao Linchang, already hungry with his stomach rumbling, rushed over at the mention of food.

Noticing there was no rice on the table, Rao Linchang washed his hands and went to the kitchen to scoop some rice.

After serving himself a generous bowl, he looked up and asked the people in the kitchen, “Does anyone else need rice?”

“No, thank you,” Xiao Zhe replied as he washed his hands and walked out of the kitchen, not even glancing at Rao Linchang.

Rao Linchang huffed internally.

Who asked you!

“Changchang, if it’s not too much trouble, could you serve me a bowl of rice?” Shi Guang approached Rao Linchang with a pair of chopsticks, speaking in a warm tone.

“It’s no trouble at all. I’m happy to serve Master Shi Guang,” Rao Linchang said with a smile as he filled a bowl of rice for Shi Guang.

“Thank you,” Shi Guang said as he took the bowl and headed to his seat.

Just as Rao Linchang was about to put down his spoon and start eating, he heard a soft, gentle voice behind him, “Changchang, you don’t need to serve me. I don’t eat rice.”

Rao Linchang turned around, his eyes smiling, “I know. Lian Xi-gege is on a diet.”

“It’s not about losing weight, it’s about managing my figure,” Lian Xi said with a smile. “Otherwise, I won’t look good on camera when filming.”

The intention behind his words was to jab at Rao Linchang for not getting roles and to subtly remind him that Lian Xi had helped him during the last shoot.

Rao Linchang understood the implication but wasn’t about to fall for the white lotus’s trap!

So, with a smile, he picked up his rice and provocatively adjusted his hair in front of the camera. “True, but it seems like my face doesn’t have such problems at all.”

He turned his head back and gave Lian Xi a radiant smile. “Don’t you think so, Xi-ge?”

【Ahhhhh, family, who gets it?! When he suddenly leaned closer to the camera, I thought he was going to leap out of the screen and kiss me!!! furiously bangs the table】

【I get it! Honestly, I even puckered my lips!】

【You guys are showing too much respect for Changchang! (quietly wiping lipstick stains and drool off the screen)】

【Hahaha, the person upstairs really understands respect (laughing and crying)】

【Doesn’t anyone think this beautiful little devil is being so pretentious?】

【I do think so, which is why I love him even more!!】

【He really! I’m crying! How can he be so stunning no matter how he retorts!】

【Ahhhh, I really want to kiss the mole on Changchang’s nose (screaming) (twisting) (dark crawling)】

Lian Xi: “……..”

So annoying!

After cursing silently, Lian Xi maintained a fake smile on his face. “Changchang, enjoy it while you can. In a few years, when you start taking on roles and joining projects, you’ll know just how challenging self-management for an actor can be.”

【What a fool! Who does he look down on? Why doesn’t he wait a few years before taking on roles?】

【Hahaha, he’s upset! What’s the matter? Did our Lian Xi say something wrong? Rao Linchang, didn’t you only take on a role after two years in the industry?】

【Still relying on our Lian Xi to get you into the group!】

【You keep running your mouth, but if you really had any sense, you’d take that comment straight to Tianhua Entertainment’s official channels and see if they sue you for slander!】

【Sister upstairs, calm down. Fans are with the artist, fans are with the artist. For the sake of these people who can’t even muster a normal brain, let’s show some kindness and forgive them.】

【Enough with the insults. Idiot children are at least angels from heaven. These people are just a pile of dung… I’m off to cry for a bit.】

【Retreat from the rebuttal! [Deep-sea torpedo to clear the air]】

Rao Linchang tilted his head, looking puzzled. “But isn’t self-management supposed to be a basic professional ethic for an actor? Why is Lian Xi-gege complaining about it?”

Lian Xi: “………”

Lian Xi was about to make a counterargument, but Rao Linchang was too lazy to listen. He walked up to Lian Xi, holding a steaming bowl of fragrant rice and waved it in front of him. “Lian Xi-gege, it’s time to eat. If you don’t eat soon, the rice will get cold.”

The young man’s lips were red, teeth white, and he had two sharp little tiger teeth showing when he smiled. Combined with the steaming heat rising from the rice, it created a dreamy atmosphere.

Lian Xi sighed inwardly at Rao Linchang’s cleverness but maintained his smile. “Alright, let’s eat.”

Before Rao Linchang took his seat with the rice, he glanced around at the already seated group.

It seemed someone had organized the seating arrangement: Team A was all seated in one row, while Team O was in the other, paired up in twos.

This meant that while eating, he would end up facing Song Linxuan and sitting next to Lian Xi.

…He sighed, thinking he should have taken less rice!

“Changchang, come and sit here,” Shi Guang patted the empty chair next to him, inviting Rao Linchang to take a seat.

Reluctantly, Rao Linchang put on a mask of resignation and sat down.

【Haha, Changchang baby vividly illustrates what it means to say ‘earning money is hard and eating is tough’!】

【Changchang’s expression is exactly like mine when I’m still editing design drafts at meal time: ‘Do I really have to be here, dealing with this?’ Furious keyboard smashing.jpg】

“The chefs have worked hard,” Shi Guang said, eager to start: “So I’ll dig in now!”

“Go ahead,” Lian Xi added: “These two dishes and the salad are made by me. The others are cooked by Nannan, Rui Ge, and Xiao Ge. Everyone should try them.”

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

Rao Linchang loved spicy food, but the beef with chili and lemon chicken feet were too far from him. He didn’t feel like getting up, so he simply took a bite of the bass fish from the middle of the table.

He didn’t know who made the perch, but he honestly said, “Hmm, this perch is really delicious.”

Seeing that Lian Xi didn’t mention anything about it and Jierui also didn’t claim credit, Ming Nan timidly said, “That perch was made by… Jie Rui.”

Upon hearing this,

Jie Rui looked up at Ming Nan.

【Damn! That sneaky look! My brother must be interested in this little bunny!】

【Bullshit!! Jie Rui doesn’t like little bunnies! Jie Rui is mine!!!】

【You’re in the wrong place, auntie! Our crab meat fans don’t allow toxic fans and such dirty stuff!!】

“Wow! So Jie Rui’s cooking is this amazing! I’m in for a treat today!” Upon hearing that Jie Rui was the cook, Rao Linchang sighed in relief, thinking it was good that he didn’t step on a landmine.

He then asked Ming Nan, “So which dishes did you make, Ming Nan?”

“These two that are a bit spicy…” Ming Nan noticed that Rao Linchang’s seat was a little far from his dishes and asked, “Would you like to try them, Changchang?”

“Sure!” Rao Linchang had been eyeing those spicy dishes for a while. Hearing Ming Nan offer, he promptly handed his bowl over, saying, “Then Ming Nan, could you serve me some?”

“Alright…” Ming Nan used the serving chopsticks to put some chicken feet and bamboo shoot beef into Rao Linchang’s bowl.

Rao Linchang took a bite of the beef and found it tender and delicious. His clear, bright eyes lit up as he said, “Wow! Ming Nan, this beef you cooked is also really tasty!”

【It does look pretty good, so is Ming Nan actually a chef in real life?】

【No way he’s a chef! He looks too clean and tidy to be one, doesn’t he?】

【… Well, not all chefs have to be greasy, right…?】

【I don’t mean to demean chefs, just that Ming Nan doesn’t seem like one. Maybe he’s just good at cooking as a hobby or has a talent for it… Alright, I don’t even know what I’m rambling about, just ignore me. Running away.jpg】

【Am I the only one who thinks Changchang looks both adorable and tasty while eating?】

【You’re not alone; I’m also enjoying Changchang’s eating appearance. Totally flaunting it.jpg】

Ming Nan felt a bit shy from the praise, but still blushed as he moved the beef closer to Rao Linchang, saying, “If you like it, Changchang… you can have more.”

After a pause, he added, “But it… it might be a bit spicy.”

“That’s okay, I love spicy food,” Rao Linchang was happily tempted by the offer.

Lian Xi, annoyed by Rao Linchang’s constant talking and stealing the spotlight, didn’t say anything deliberately but kept a demure expression, focusing on eating.

Occasionally, when he made eye contact with Xiao Zhe, he would offer a small, tight-lipped smile.

He appeared to be strong and enduring, carrying an air of someone who had suffered but wasn’t willing to complain.

Xiao Zhe is a seasoned businessman who has thrived in the commercial world for over a decade. His greatest skill is understanding people’s hearts, and at his core, he is a very traditional masculine figure.

Currently, he is quite satisfied with Lian Xi.

Lian Xi has a good appearance, a gentle and obedient personality, and a fairly successful career.

Marriage is somewhat unappealing, but a casual relationship is acceptable.

Thus, Xiao Zhe doesn’t even need Lian Xi to voice any complaints before he sets his sights on Rao Linchang, whom he views as nothing more than flashy and lacking in manners.

“Does Xiao Chang cook at home?” Xiao Zhe asked.

Rao Linchang turned his head to look at Xiao Zhe, while subtly glancing at Lian Xi.

What kind of routine are these two performing?

Although he didn’t understand the situation, Rao Linchang swallowed his food and replied, “I don’t cook; I don’t know how to.”

“You don’t know how to cook?” Xiao Zhe smiled, speaking in a tone akin to an older brother lecturing a younger sibling, “How come you’re already grown up and still can’t cook? What do you eat when you’re home alone? Do you order takeout?”

“No, there’s a housekeeper who cooks,” Rao Linchang countered, “Does Uncle Xiao, who looks like a typical CEO, really come home and cook every day after work?”

Xiao Zhe: “……..”

A typical CEO… is that a compliment or an insult?

Xiao Zhe, who wasn’t very familiar with the slang of younger people, was momentarily taken aback. He then said, “When I’m not too busy, I cook myself. I prefer eating food I’ve cooked rather than someone else’s.”

He looked at Rao Linchang and added, “So, young people should learn to cook like Lian Xi and Ming Nan. Otherwise, life can become too monotonous.”

Heh.

After all that buildup, it turns out he was just here to praise the white lotus!

Suddenly receiving praise, Ming Nan’s fair face flushed red.

Although Ming Nan is very socially anxious, his ingrained politeness made him raise his head to thank Xiao Zhe. However, before he could speak, he noticed Jie Rui across from him gently shaking his head, likely signaling him to ignore their exchange.

Ming Nan hesitated for a couple of seconds and eventually lowered his head to continue eating, pretending he hadn’t heard.

Lian Xi, on the other hand, responded differently. He looked up with a playful laugh, “Xiao ge, don’t say that. Being able to cook isn’t really a big deal. It’s just that when I’m not working and feeling bored alone, I try to cook to occupy myself. If I had as many friends as Xiao Chang, I probably wouldn’t be stuck at home cooking.”

【Exactly! Who has so many sugar daddies and still foolishly cooks for themselves!】

【Your precious white lotus, of course.】

【Go away! My Lian Xi relies on himself! No sugar daddies here!】

【Don’t deny it, I saw him kissing an old man with a white beard the other day.】

【Spreading rumors without evidence?】

【What’s it to you? You can spread rumors, but I can’t? If you keep barking, I’ll just Photoshop a picture of your white lotus appearing at a hotel at night and post it on Weibo. Believe it or not?】

【As if anyone would believe you if you did. Disdain.jpg】

【As if we wouldn’t stir up trouble. Eye roll.jpg】

Rao Linchang rolled his eyes dramatically in his mind but maintained a polite smile on his face. “Xiao Ge has a point, but, well… if I were Xiao ge, I’d first reflect on why I can’t make friends.”

Lian Xi’s smile looked hurt. “Alright, it must be because I’m too boring.”

Seeing Lian Xi looking so hurt and forcing a smile, Xiao Zhe’s protective instincts flared up immediately.

However, he didn’t lash out right away. Instead, he shot Rao Linchang a stern glance.