Chapter 5

Bai Siyi and the other three female guests were sitting on the couch in the living room, all looking down at their phones, chatting with their matched online dating partners.

To be honest, the most thrilling part of online dating, besides meeting in person, is when you’ve just added each other and don’t yet know anything about the other person.

Xi Mo replied to a message and smiled, saying, “I’m already 30, and the production team actually found me someone who’s 20. Director Liu really knows me well.”

She really liked younger men, but she wasn’t sure about the other person’s personality or looks.

Xi Mo was intrigued, but the female celebrity Qiu Bo seemed less interested, replying to messages sluggishly. Like Bai Siyi, she was just there to bring traffic to the show. As a lesbian, how could she date a man online?

Qiu Bo glanced at Bai Siyi, who looked a bit conflicted, and raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

Bai Siyi sighed lightly. “I don’t know how to reply.”

Qiu Bo became curious, walked over to Bai Siyi’s side, and asked, “How old is he? What does he do? Did you introduce yourselves?”

Bai Siyi hesitated a moment before saying, “He said he works at a construction site, moving bricks.”

Qiu Bo: “…”

Qiu Bo widened her eyes in surprise. Other dating shows featured luxury cars and designer brands, where the guests were constantly competing in terms of wealth. But here, the men were either assembly line workers or construction laborers.

However, Qiu Bo quickly remembered this was Director Liu’s online dating show!

It was touted as the most realistic online dating show, and now it made more sense. After all, how many people in real life would end up dating a top-tier dreamboat online? Plus, in the first season, Director Liu had invited assembly line workers.

Qiu Bo comforted Bai Siyi, “It’s okay. If he’s not suitable, you can just let the light kill the fantasy when you meet in person.”

At the mention of this, Bai Siyi grew even more melancholic. When she signed the contract, Director Liu had told him that unless it was during the confession segment at the end of the show, she couldn’t reject anyone.

So, if Bai Siyi wanted to end things prematurely and “kill the fantasy,” she would need the other person to reject her. She didn’t have any agency in the matter.

Because Bai Siyi hadn’t responded to the message yet, Huo Xingming, who was determined to create a “bad ending,” grew more confident.

It worked! As long as he had enough debt, any girl who was already in debt would never fall for him!

Piupiustar: 【Why isn’t my little sister replying to my messages? Could it be that you don’t like me?】

Bai Siyi glanced at the text and furrowed his brows again.

The live stream audience had the same expression as Bai Siyi:

【Hiss, this male guest is a bit greasy.】

【Yeah, always calling her ‘little sister’… But just thinking that Xiao Bai is a guy, and the other person doesn’t know, makes it suddenly so satisfying.】

【I’m suddenly excited! I wonder if Xiao Bai will tell him his real gender when they meet on the eighth day!】

—

Bai Siyi typed: 【No, how could I dislike my older brother? Even though you’re obsessed with female streamers, in debt for millions, without a stable job, and don’t have five social insurances and a housing fund, I really don’t mind at all! With just that, we’re truly a match made in heaven! Cat smile.jpg】

Qiu Bo looked at Bai Siyi’s reply and then, with an admiring gaze, said, “You really are something!”

To keep the conversation going and even sweetly calling him “older brother,” Qiu Bo started to see Bai Siyi in a new light. If it were her, she probably would have immediately bought dish soap to wash off the greasiness.

Bai Siyi, feeling a bit embarrassed under Qiu Bo’s gaze, didn’t want to be this way!

But there was nothing he could do! During the online chat, he couldn’t block the other person, and he had to find a way to make them dislike him.

The problem was, Bai Siyi didn’t understand. He thought his remarks sounded quite sarcastic, to the point where any normal person would frown and shake their head. How come the other person wasn’t angry?

Meanwhile, Huo Xingming, who didn’t notice Bai Siyi’s sarcasm and didn’t even fully understand “^[1]“Five insurances and one fund” is a mandatory social security system in China that includes pension, medical, unemployment, work injury, and maternity insurance, along with a housing … Continue readingfive insurances and one fund,” went to ^[2]Baidu is a Chinese multinational technology company that specializes in Internet services and artificial intelligence. It is best known for its search engine, which is the most popular in China, … Continue readingBaidu to check the meaning of “match made in heaven.”

Although he could communicate smoothly, he didn’t really understand many complex Chinese expressions and idioms.

As he looked at the definition of “match made in heaven” on Baidu, he shook his head. “Oh, my god, this is bad. I miscalculated. Not only does she not dislike me, but she’s going to fall in love with me.”

The staff: “…”

Huo Xingming didn’t know how to respond to the other person’s “confession.” They had just added each other, exchanged only a few messages, and she was already saying “match made in heaven.” He was worried that if they kept chatting, she would end up wanting to be with him forever, which would make achieving a bad ending a lot harder.

He tried to change the topic.

Piupiustar: 【What were you doing just now? Took you so long to reply. Soybean smile.jpg】

When Huo Xingming sent this message, he deliberately explained to the camera, “I heard that this soybean smile emoji is really off-putting. I hope she understands what I mean by doing this.”

The staff exchanged silent glances, and the editor hesitated before saying, “Shouldn’t she?”

After all, this smile emoji did seem pretty sarcastic.

Most Loves Macho Man replied quickly: 【I was picking up bottles to make money. Soybean smile.jpg】

Bai Siyi casually picked up a water bottle from the table, walked into the yard, took a photo of the bottle, and sent it to Piupiustar, continuing his sarcastic remarks.

Most Loves Macho Man: 【Although I’m better than you, with a stable salary in a clothing factory and more prospects, paying five insurances and one fund every month, last month I took a loan of 5,000 yuan to buy an album for my older brother to help with sales, and I spent 3,000 yuan on his photo cards. So now my loan has increased again. After thinking it over, I should earn some extra income on the side, picking up bottles sounds great. Brother, am I ambitious? Soybean smile.jpg】

Huo Xingming: “…”

Huo Xingming scratched his head, feeling like something was off with this conversation, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. The key issue was, why was he using the soybean emoji?

And all his attention was on picking up bottles!

The live stream audience was unsure whether to laugh or be shocked:

【Wow, his monthly income is 4,000 yuan, and he’s spending 8,000? I can tell now, Xiao Bai is definitely doing this on purpose.】

【Based on experience, Xiao Bai is deliberately trying to gross him out because she’s not interested. If the other person is perceptive, they should get the hint.】

【Ambitious, ambitious, Xiao Bai, you’re beautiful, you’re right. Cat heart.jpg】

—

Huo Xingming didn’t notice Bai Siyi’s sarcasm and was once again shocked. “OMG! She’d rather pick up bottles and take out loans to support her idol? She really loves him.”

This was pure, unadulterated fan obsession. Huo Xingming, having grown up without ever encountering such a person, was truly amazed.

Piupiustar: 【Little sister, you’re amazing, so ambitious!】

Piupiustar: 【I’m also working on a construction site. I’ll take a photo and send it to you later.】

Huo Xingming immediately got up and went outside, with the staff quickly following him.

As he walked, Huo Xingming said, “I kinda regret telling her I’m working on a construction site. Are there any construction sites nearby?”

After walking for a while, he sighed again. “Ugh, I should’ve said I sell breakfast. No, wait, then I’d have to open my stall… Never mind, never mind, I’ll just stick with saying I’m laying tiles on the construction site.”

The staff: “…”

Huo Xingming was somewhat familiar with the area, since he often returned here during summer vacations when he was a child. He walked into a park and suddenly stopped. The artificial lake in the park was under renovation, and workers were breaking apart the edges of the lake, re-plastering the borders with cement and applying tiles.

Huo Xingming turned and walked toward the artificial lake.

Bai Siyi looked at Piupiustar’s reply and asked in surprise: 【Are you working on a construction site right now? Can you still use your phone there?】

Bai Siyi furrowed his brow and looked at the live stream camera. “Although… isn’t it a bit inappropriate to use your phone while working on a construction site? It seems kind of dangerous.”

The key issue was!!!

Bai Siyi’s face was full of confusion. How come Piupiustar still wasn’t angry?

As a man, if my online lover told me “I’m better than you, I have a better future,” I’d be furious! If I were you, I’d probably cry out of anger!

Live Stream Comments:

【Help! I’m really going to laugh myself to death! Every time Xiao Bai tries to end the conversation, the other person unexpectedly responds! Crying laughing.jpg】

【This guy really doesn’t have much emotional intelligence. It’s like he doesn’t get Xiao Bai’s sarcasm at all, dog shaking head.jpg.】

【Haha, Xiao Bai’s expressions have been the same since he added the guy. It’s so funny!】

—

Huo Xingming arrived at the artificial lake and took a picture of the cement and sand all over the ground, sending it to “Most Loves Macho Man.”

Piupiustar: 【Image of the site.jpg, Look, I’m working! Even though this job is dirty, exhausting, and doesn’t pay much, it’s the only job I can do right now. No choice, a million really isn’t easy to pay back. Little sister, please don’t look down on me. I’m waiting for you to help me pay off the debt. Soybean smile.jpg】

To be honest, Bai Siyi didn’t want to continue chatting with this Piupiustar anymore.

He had given Piupiustar that nickname.

Piupiustar was just too talkative!

He could keep the conversation going no matter what—he was shameless!

The live stream viewers didn’t know what was happening on Huo Xingming’s side, but looking at the chat records, they found it hilarious.

Live Stream Comments:

【Ahem, why does it feel like everyone’s insulting the male guest? Does no one think this is funny? Dog trying to hold in laughter.jpg】

【Hahahahahaha, I also find this funny, and I wonder if the male guest is doing this on purpose? Since Xiao Bai is being so sarcastic, is the guy starting to be sarcastic too?】

【Emmmmm, if the male guest is acting this way on purpose to mess with Xiao Bai, then when they meet on the eighth day, Xiao Bai should definitely make the first move and block him!】