Everything Ning Xiaoyu pulled out of her pocket— from the melon seeds, pecans, and goji berries at the beginning— completely shocked the audience. They never expected to still see jujube.

So, the variety of things she carried with her kept increasing?

To be honest, it was a great habit for a girl to carry jujube around. After all, every month, women had those few days. Eating a few jujube daily helped replenish blood and nourish the complexion. It had plenty of benefits.

Seeing Ning Xiaoyu silently eating jujube, the other guests had mixed thoughts. Xi Rui couldn’t help but lean over and ask, “Xiaoyu, do you have any more jujube?” She had already taken some of Ning Xiaoyu’s goji berries earlier and now wanted to take advantage of the jujube too.

Ning Xiaoyu didn’t bring many jujube. Generally, eating three or four a day was enough. There was no need to overconsume. Eating too many could even be counterproductive.

She glanced down at the small package of jujube in her hands and said, “There are five left.”

Xi Rui didn’t mind at all and immediately responded, “That’s enough!” In the end, she took three, and Shen Yueyue took two.

Meanwhile, not many people were paying attention to Ning Yuwei singing a love song. Instead, most of the audience was focused on the three female guests eating jujube.

The three of them happily enjoyed their snack while listening to the emotional love song.

【Hahahaha, first it was goji berries, now jujubes. What will Xiao Yu pull out next?】

【Xiao Yu: Let me show you a real treasure! Dog head.jpg】

【Xiao Yu: If it’s edible, I bring it. Side-eye.jpg】

【Watching this makes me want to eat jujube too. Xiao Yu is enjoying this way too much!】

【Never thought Xiao Yu would be into wellness. Following her health guru livestream now, hahaha.】

In fact, jujube and goji berry tea was more effective than just goji berry tea alone. However, since adding jujube made it unsuitable for Lu Jingdu, Ning Xiaoyu had only brewed plain goji berry tea earlier.

By the time she finished eating her jujube, Ning Yuwei and Xu Cheng had finished their love song duet.

Mu Jiajia enthusiastically clapped, and the other guests followed suit. However, when Ning Yuwei stepped down, her expression was far from pleasant.

When the other guests performed, Ning Xiaoyu just sat there doing nothing. But the moment Ning Yuwei went in front to sing, she started eating jujube? Was she using her song as background music for a snack break?

By the end, barely anyone was paying attention to her singing anymore as they were all distracted by Ning Xiaoyu!

So, was watching Ning Xiaoyu eat jujube really that entertaining?

If the audience could hear Ning Yuwei’s thoughts, they would have nodded with certainty— Absolutely!

Who wouldn’t love watching a hamster nibbling on pine nuts?

In their eyes, Ning Xiaoyu munching on jujube was just like a hamster gnawing on a seed— utterly adorable.

After the guests’ performances, it was time for the highly anticipated bonfire party. During the event, participants would hold hands and dance around the blazing fire, singing and celebrating together in a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

The staff added more wood to the bonfire and the flames instantly shot up.

Night had completely fallen. Against the dark sky, the blazing fire stood out vividly. Its bright red glow illuminated the surrounding guests.

The director cleared his throat and spoke into a megaphone, “Find a spot where you want to stand. In a moment, you’ll need to hold hands!”

Many guests began circling the bonfire, looking for a spot they liked.

Ning Xiaoyu also stood up from her seat. However, she didn’t feel like changing positions or deliberately choosing a partner. That was too much trouble. She simply stood where she was, letting fate decide her dance partners.

There was no need to ask questions. Just go with the flow.

Before she even noticed who was standing beside her, the overly excited voice of the love system rang in her ears, 〖The movie king is here!!!〗

Ning Xiaoyu: Hm?

The director’s amplified voice boomed again, “Hold hands! Are you all getting shy? Take each other’s hands! How else are you going to dance around the fire?”

Before Ning Xiaoyu could react, both her hands were already taken. One by Shen Yueyue and the other…… by Lu Jingdu.

Everyone faced the bonfire without looking at or talking to each other.

Lu Jingdu had her on his left and the assistant director on his right. Meanwhile, Ning Xiaoyu had Shen Yueyue on her left and Lu Jingdu on her right.

Her ears were filled with noise— mainly from the love system being too loud.

〖Love System: Wuuwuuwuu! Girl, you’re holding hands with the movie king! And he initiated it! This is the sweetest moment ever! Sugar overload!〗

Expressionless, Ning Xiaoyu said, “Calm down.”

〖Love System: I CAN’T! Wuuwuuwuu, let there be more romance!〗

Ning Xiaoyu was now convinced that whoever designed this love system must have been a hopeless romantic. Not just any romantic, but someone addicted to romance.

Otherwise, how else could they have created a system so obsessed with shipping couples and issuing ridiculous romance-related tasks?

Too bad for the system, though— it was bound to a host completely indifferent to romance.

Aside from the director, most of the staff had also joined in.

The director gave the command, “Alright! Start dancing!”

The firelight cast a warm glow on the youthful, beautiful faces surrounding it. Regardless of the guests’ real-life relationships, at this moment, the lively atmosphere of the bonfire party spread across every corner of the beach.

The guests energetically lifted their legs, performing simple dance steps— right leg up, then left leg up, then right leg up again— repeating the movements over and over.

Some guests, eager for screen time, flashed dazzling business smiles, radiating such festivity that they looked ready to perform on a national holiday gala.

Meanwhile, Ning Xiaoyu, who wanted to stay out of the spotlight, appeared a little stiff.

Dressed in salted fish onesie, she moved her legs with minimal effort. Her half-hearted attempt at ‘performing’ was obvious. However, the fish head on her onesie bobbed up and down with her movements, unintentionally adding a layer of comedy to the scene.

〖LMAO, the salted fish has come to life!〗

〖The salted fish is flapping its fins!〗

〖It moved! The salted fish actually moved!〗

〖Ning Xiaoyu: Excuse me? Where’s your respect? Hahaha!〗

Viewers felt like they needed to praise the manufacturer of this onesie because they had truly outdone themselves.

That dead-fish-eyed expression on the hood was so lifelike. It was as if a meme had come to life.

With everyone singing and dancing, the bonfire party was a resounding success.

But the biggest winner of the night was undoubtedly Ning Xiaoyu. She gained the most new followers.

When she first joined the reality show, she hadn’t even hit 10,000 followers. She neither put effort into self-promotion nor bought fake followers, making her social media presence look unimpressive.

Yet, after trending on social media multiple times, her follower count had now surpassed 1 million.

However, after tonight, her follower count had skyrocketed past the 1.5 million mark.

Compared to top female celebrities with tens of millions of followers, that number might not seem impressive. But these were genuine fans with high engagement. If Ning Xiaoyu promoted a product, they would likely support her by making purchases.

Gaining a massive amount of followers overnight didn’t faze Ning Xiaoyu. However, the next morning, when she arrived at the living room of the Friendship House, she noticed a subtle difference.

Mu Jiajia’s gaze carried a certain meaning when she looked at her.

Ning Xiaoyu couldn’t be bothered to care. She used 4 friendship coins to buy herself a bowl of dumplings with thin wrappers and generous filling, along with a small dish of vinegar to dip them in.

Shen Yueyue had a bowl of century egg and lean meat congee.

The two of them casually chatted as they ate breakfast.

Suddenly, Shen Yueyue leaned in mysteriously and asked, “Did you notice anything?”

Ning Xiaoyu shook her head. “Notice what?”

Shen Yueyue lowered her voice, “Look at Mu Jiajia’s earrings.”

Ning Xiaoyu glanced up and finally realized what had been giving her that subtle sense of oddity.

Mu Jiajia’s earrings were shaped like a salted fish.

But what someone chose to wear was their own business. Ning Xiaoyu didn’t care and wasn’t interested in interfering.

Once the guests had finished their meals, the day’s activity announcement arrived.

The director smiled warmly. “You all looked like you had a great time at yesterday’s bonfire party. Unfortunately, there won’t be one tonight.”

Just as the guests were about to show signs of disappointment, the director quickly added, “However, today, we’ll be heading to a nearby scenic park. You can decide what activities you’d like to do there.”

The show 《Hi, My Friend》 allowed for a high degree of freedom. There was no script, and whatever variety show effects were achieved depended entirely on the guests’ abilities.

────ρя


The scenic park wasn’t far and only took about an hour by car.

As soon as they got off the vehicle, the director pointed to a nearby pavilion and said, “You’ll be spending the afternoon in that area. Don’t wander off alone.”

Although the previous incident with the obsessive fan had turned out relatively fine, it had still shaken the director.

No matter which guest had an accident, it would be a big deal.

So now, he made sure all the guests moved as a group. Not only did it create a lively atmosphere, but if anything happened, others could help immediately.

There were many retirees in the park. The pavilion was quite spacious, and some elderly men nearby were playing chess.

Ning Xiaoyu was just about to find a comfortable spot to lie down when the familiar voice of the love system rang in her ears, 〖Girl, the movie king has gone to play chess with a retired cadre. His chess skills are extraordinary and watching him play is a true delight. Now is your chance to show your affectionate and clingy side! You can:

A. Stand behind the movie king and cheer him on the entire time!

B. Wait for this round to end and challenge him to a match. Engage in a thrilling game of ‘love and war’!

C. Use another fun activity to lure him away and get him to join you!〗

Ning Xiaoyu glanced at the three options, but before she could decide, she saw Mu Jiajia picking a spacious spot and lying down comfortably.

Before she could react, the love system cried out in alarm, 〖Girl, she seems to be copying you! How could she do this?!〗

Although the love system was constantly frustrated that its host never acted according to its plans, that didn’t mean it would allow someone else to imitate her.

At this moment, not only had the love system noticed, but the audience had too. And audiences, after all, had sharp eyes.

【Mu Jiajia?】

【Is she copying Ning Xiaoyu?】

【You guys are hilarious. Who says only Ning Xiaoyu is allowed to lie down? Do you never lie down? This isn’t some exclusive right of hers.】

The love system fumed with indignation, but Ning Xiaoyu remained unfazed.

If Mu Jiajia wanted to copy her, so be it. It wasn’t like she could walk up and say, ‘Hey, you’re not allowed to lie here.’ She could, but there was absolutely no need to.

Ning Xiaoyu had no interest in chess or Go. They were too dull. So, picking options a or b was out of the question.

That left her with option c.

C, huh……

The love system instantly forgot about Mu Jiajia, looking forward to what Ning Xiaoyu would do.

What kind of fun activity would she choose to draw the movie king in?

Would they bask in the sun together? Crack melon seeds?

Or maybe even sip goji berry tea for health?

As the love system waited eagerly, it saw Ning Xiaoyu retrieve a fishing rod from who-knows-where, bait the hook with ease, and cast the line effortlessly into the water.

Then, she sat down in a chair, unmoving as a mountain, and started fishing at a leisurely pace.

Love System: This…… This……

Why didn’t this look anything like the sweet and romantic scene it had envisioned?