As the online voting reached its most intense phase, Ning Xiaoyu was playing a handshake game with the dog.

“Left paw.”

The dog obediently raised its left paw.

“Good boy. Right paw.”

The dog obediently raised its right paw.

“Spin in a circle.”

The dog spun in place, its tail wagging happily.

“Give me a leg massage.”

【??? That’s quite the leap in command, isn’t it?】

【Border Collie: I may not be human, but you’re a real piece of work.】

【Salted Fish Queen: Never let go of any usable labor force, including dogs.】

【The salted fish queen is something else! Making a dog give her a leg massage!】

While Ning Xiaoyu was happily playing with the dog, the other guests were interacting with their fans.

“Our group’s photos are Number One and Number Two, but everyone should vote as they see fit.”

“Just vote for what you like.”

“What? You only like our group? Well, thank you! Thanks for all your support.”

Despite the other groups’ efforts to rally votes, Ning Xiaoyu’s group saw their two photos’ vote counts skyrocketing at an overwhelming speed.

【Family, let’s go!】

【Just vote, that’s all there is to it. Xiao Yu’s status must be upheld!】

【Vote for whichever one you want, since in the end, it’s the total of both that matters!】

【Damn it, why isn’t there a photo of the movie king as a boatman?】

【Charge, charge, charge!】

By the time Ning Xiaoyu and the dog were tired from playing, the final voting results were out.

Ning Xiaoyu and Lu Jingdu’s group secured first place with an absolute lead.

〖Love System: Wuuwuuwuu, the photo of you two in wedding attire while gazing at each other looks like you’re about to enter the bridal chamber! Having the movie king marry into the family doesn’t seem like a bad deal!〗

Lately, the love system had picked up quite a few trendy online phrases, and now it used them every chance it got.

Ning Xiaoyu ignored the love system. Seeing that the final results were out, she waved at the dog and left with the production crew to rest at the inn.

As she walked away, the Border Collie sat quietly at the restaurant entrance, watching her leave. This scene made the audience flood the chat with heartache.

【Never thought our salted fish queen had the potential to be a heartbreaker.】

【You flirted with the Border Collie but didn’t take it with you. You’re toying with the poor dog’s heart!】

【Xiao Yu! Stop right there! I won’t allow you to treat it like this! Take it with you!】

It was obvious that the dog already saw Ning Xiaoyu as a friend. However, it was a dog with an owner, so Ning Xiaoyu clearly couldn’t take it, nor would she.

At this moment, a peculiar comment suddenly appeared among the bullet chats.

【Xiao Yu already has her own puppy at home, she can’t take in any more.】

This comment was quickly buried under the flood of other messages.

However, a few sharp-eyed viewers noticed it immediately and responded, 【Xiao Yu has a dog? What breed?】

【Can’t take in any more? Yeah, properly raising a dog is a huge responsibility. If you don’t have time, you absolutely shouldn’t get one.】

【But Xiao Yu’s been away filming for so long. Is that okay? She hasn’t been home lately.】

【Xiao Yu, you have to take good care of your dog. After all, for most of a dog’s life, it’s just waiting.】

Meanwhile, the love system, which had posted the mysterious comment, remained silent, watching the discussion unfold with a smug, knowing smile.

Recently, the movie king had been living off its host. Saying Ning Xiaoyu had a puppy at home was definitely not wrong. But there was no need to worry, as Ning Xiaoyu would certainly take good care of her own puppy.

────ρя


After returning with Shen Yueyue to their room at the inn, Ning Xiaoyu quickly took a hot shower and got ready for bed. But just as she lay down, the ever-meddlesome love system chimed in again.

〖Love System: Girl, the quiet of the night is the perfect time to deepen your bond. Today, you and the movie king won first place twice, forging another layer of connection in your lives. As you spend more time together, aren’t your feelings growing more genuine and profound?

The movie king is staying right next door. At this time, you can:

A. Knock on his door and say goodnight face to face.

B. Bring him a warm glass of milk to help him sleep.

C. Dress up as a playful little wild cat and make sure he gets no sleep at all!〗

Staring at the three options, Ning Xiaoyu let out a speechless sigh.

“Love System, you’re really getting a bit inappropriate, you know that?”

The love system feigned innocence. 〖Girl, what are you saying? These are all completely normal options!〗

“Normal?”

Option c was normal? Had she been living under a rock?

The love system sighed. 〖These are just little games between couples. After all, even a plain life needs a bit of spice.〗

Ning Xiaoyu responded flatly, “He and I are not a couple, thanks.”

The love system secretly thought how if not now, then what about later? Who wouldn’t love a fiery little wild cat? Keeping the movie king up all night and making him think about the host— wouldn’t that deepen their bond even more?

Before Ning Xiaoyu could choose, the love system added, 〖If you pick option c, don’t worry about props. I can conjure cat ears and a tail for you.〗

Ning Xiaoyu: “……”

“Only above the neck can be shown. Any more than that, and you’re getting locked up.”

〖Love System: ??? What do you mean, locked up? It’s just cat ears and a tail!〗

Ignoring it, Ning Xiaoyu casually picked option a, then got up and put on her coat.

Seeing her getting ready to go out, Shen Yueyue, holding a set of fresh clothes, curiously asked, “Xiao Yu, you’re heading out?”

Ning Xiaoyu hummed in acknowledgment. “Just stepping out for a moment, I’ll be right back.”

Shen Yueyue nodded. “Take your room card with you— I’m about to shower.”

“Okay.”

With her room card in hand, Ning Xiaoyu stepped out.

All twelve guests shared rooms in pairs. Like her, Lu Jingdu also had a roommate.

Fortunately, she was lucky. When she knocked on the door, it was Lu Jingdu who answered and not his roommate.

Seeing her at the door, a flicker of surprise flashed in Lu Jingdu’s eyes.

Expressionless, Ning Xiaoyu looked at him and said, “Goodnight.”

If Lu Jingdu could send an emote right now, it would probably be ‘???’

He paused for two seconds, then responded in a deep, pleasant voice, “Goodnight.”

After exchanging goodnights, Ning Xiaoyu turned and left without hesitation.

Lu Jingdu raised an eyebrow and stepped out. “Is there something else?”

Without looking back, Ning Xiaoyu replied, “No. Goodnight.”

Coming all this way just to say good night— this kind of behavior would definitely seem strange to others.

It was no wonder Lu Jingdu had followed her out and asked if there was anything else.

If it were someone else, they might have suspected she was playing hard to get, deliberately acting distant after showing interest.

The love system sounded innocent as it chimed in, 〖Girl, if you had chosen option b or c, this wouldn’t seem strange at all! Whether it was bringing him milk or dressing up as a playful kitten, neither would be weird!〗

Ning Xiaoyu remained expressionless. “So it’s my fault?” Was it her fault for choosing option a?

The love system shrank back. 〖Not at all!〗

But even though its host didn’t pick option c, the outcome might still be the same.

Going to say goodnight and making the movie king lose sleep all night— that worked too, didn’t it?

Ning Xiaoyu didn’t care if the movie king lost sleep. She never concerned herself with romantic tension or mind games.

Pulling and pushing? Playing hot and cold?

Love was already complicated enough. Why make it harder?

If it was this much trouble, staying single was better.

Ning Xiaoyu fell asleep quickly, but just as the love system had expected, in the room next door, Lu Jingdu lay awake, unable to sleep.

It wasn’t until dawn that he finally drifted off.

────ρя


The three days in Jiangnan’s water town passed in a blur. On the last day, the guests all headed home together. As soon as the plane landed, Ning Xiaoyu informed the director, then separated from the group and took a taxi to the hospital to visit her father.

The last time she had been to the hospital, her father had shown some signs of consciousness and his condition was much better than before.

What about this time?

Would he finally open his eyes and speak to her?

After seven years without a conversation, she had almost forgotten what her father’s voice sounded like.

Before encountering the love system, she had occasionally thought that maybe this was just how things would be.

Perhaps, for a person in a vegetative state and their family, the end would be a kind of relief. But thanks to the compensation money, her father had managed to hold on.

After encountering the love system, she had felt a small flicker of hope.

Now, her father truly had a chance of waking up, yet she found herself feeling hesitant.

Perhaps, deep down, she was just a contradictory person.

After all, she had never been the kind of decisive, domineering female lead.

She had moments of uncertainty too.

Lost in thought, Ning Xiaoyu slowly walked toward the hospital room.

However, before she could reach the door, she spotted an unexpected figure standing just a few meters away— CEO Ning.

She had no idea when he had arrived.

At that moment, he stood silently by the window, gazing at the frail, aging man lying in the hospital bed.

Perhaps hearing her footsteps, CEO Ning turned around.

Seeing her, he smiled gently and said, “Hello, Xiaoyu.” Before she could react, he quickly added, “Or should I call you Cousin?”

Ning Xiaoyu wasn’t surprised in the slightest that CEO Ning had uncovered the truth about her and her father.

With his wealth and influence, and considering that the entire family had returned to the country because of her father, it had only been a matter of time before he found them.

Still, she hadn’t expected him to locate her father’s whereabouts so quickly.

Seeing that Ning Xiaoyu remained silent, CEO Ning extended a hand toward her with a warm expression. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Ning Xuchen. I’m six years older than you. Me and the family used to live in M Country, but from now on, we’ll be staying here in the motherland. Apart from me, you also have another older male cousin and an older female cousin. You’re the youngest in the family.”

The youngest?

For a moment, Ning Xiaoyu wasn’t sure what he meant by that.

In terms of age, she still had a biological sister, Ning Yuwei, who was two years younger than her.

Was Ning Xuchen unaware of Ning Yuwei’s existence, or was he deliberately ignoring her?