Chapter 11 – She Has Eyes That Know How to Love

No matter what, she had to stay in character.

Jiang Qi had no choice but to brace himself. One bite of chocolate, one sip of iced Americano, he faced the camera and forced what he thought was a flawless smile.

Of course…

His cracks were visible to everyone.

【………………】

【Bro, what kind of scene is this supposed to be?】

【That chocolate cost a hundred points! Even if it tastes horrible, swallow it with a smile—otherwise you just look too pitiful.】

【Jiang Wan: You’re about to dilute the iced Americano into water! Hurry up and drink it before the ice melts!】

【Has anyone actually eaten that chocolate? Is it really that bad?】

【Let me speak in defense of that chocolate brand—it’s 90% dark chocolate. For people like us who drink black coffee, it’s okay. But if you can’t handle bitterness, the 60% version is better.】

【So Jiang Qi bought the wrong one? Hahaha】

Everyone figured Jiang Qi bought the wrong chocolate.

What else could it be? Spending a fortune on something you don’t like—why?

After the laughter died down, it was time for the suitor selection round.

There wasn’t much hesitation.

Jiang Wan might not be his usual type, but Shi Lan definitely wasn’t. She was too quiet.

Because Shang Gunan liked to talk. He could chat with passing dogs, whether they responded or not was a different matter.

More importantly, Shang Gunan liked to stir the pot.

He handed the rose bouquet to Jiang Wan, then turned to look at his “rival” Jiang Qi with eyes curved in a smile.

Full of provocation.

Everyone: “!?”

Compared to Jiang Qi, Shang Gunan’s reasons made much more sense.

He took the initiative to bring up his earlier impolite behavior toward Jiang Wan, admitted fault, and sincerely apologized. He hoped they could have a chance to get to know each other better.

The choice was now in Jiang Wan’s hands.

Without hesitation, she chose Shang Gunan.

Yes, at least Shang Gunan apologized. He seemed sincere and looked like he genuinely wanted to interact with her.

Jiang Qi, on the other hand…

Jiang Wan couldn’t understand the strange nonsense he said, nor could she figure out what kind of mischief he was brewing inside.

If she couldn’t handle him, she’d just avoid him.

Seeing Jiang Wan once again not choose him, Jiang Qi’s arrogant face quickly showed disappointment.

Then he forced a casual nod and pretended like it didn’t matter at all: “It’s fine, all good.”

【Totally unbiased viewer here, but it looked like Jiang Qi was grinding his teeth when he said OK.】

【Look closely—after Jiang Qi got his rose bouquet rejected, his hands and feet started twitching.】

Xie Zhiyi chose Shi Lan.

His reason was simple—she was quiet and calm.

New pairs were now formed.

Jiang Qi and Song Yanyan were automatically grouped together. A twist of fate, but it made a lot of fans happy.

The tour bus drove smoothly.

Jiang Wan turned to look toward the back seat—at Song Yanyan.

Song Yanyan was gazing out the window, lips pursed. She no longer looked as cheerful and bubbly as when she first arrived. Instead, she gave off a subtle sense of sadness and hadn’t noticed Jiang Wan watching her.

Jiang Qi, however, did notice.

He crossed his arms, lifted his chin arrogantly, thinking Jiang Wan wanted to say something to him.

But Jiang Wan only glanced at him briefly before locking her eyes on Song Yanyan.

Soon, Song Yanyan felt Jiang Wan’s gaze.

She turned around, her lovely, deer-like eyes slightly confused, and met Jiang Wan’s gaze.

Jiang Wan immediately smiled at her.

She said, “Just saying, your double-braids today are adorable! Totally suits you—super cute!”

She looked just like the main character in a shoujo manga that Jiang Wan loved!

Song Yanyan froze slightly, her brows furrowed tighter.

She didn’t get why Jiang Wan would suddenly say something like that. Did Jiang Wan think a few sweet words could sway her?

Keep dreaming!

Just as Song Yanyan was wondering how to politely and distantly respond, Jiang Wan had already turned away, giving her no chance to reply.

Song Yanyan: “???”

Wait, you just say your piece and that’s it?

What kind of person is this!

They soon arrived at the filming location.

The director announced the rules for this segment.

The guests would now act out couple scenarios in their current pairings.

There would be fifty audience members scoring their performances, voting for “Best Male Lead” and “Best Female Lead,” with rewards for the winners.

【Shi Lan… Our girl has been set up】

【There are six people here. Only one has never acted before—guess who? Not hard!】

【First acting gig and it’s a romance? Interesting.】

【…Honestly, if they didn’t say “couple,” I’d almost forget this was a dating show】

【Well, what can you do! They’re all relationship newbies, so the show has to give them time.】

【They’ve only been playing small games to help everyone bond—a slow burn, like frogs in warm water】

【Gotta hand it to the production team. If they had started with steamy dating scenes like a regular show, it would’ve been unbearably awkward】

【They’re already playing couples—can real romance be far behind? Hehehe】

Each of the three pairs had to draw a key word for their skit.

Shang Gunan gestured for Jiang Wan to go pick.

Jiang Wan looked conflicted: “I’ve got terrible luck.”

Shang Gunan replied, “It’s fine. I’m not a pro anyway. The audience won’t blame me for bad acting.”

Translation: You better pull your weight.

【Shang Gunan, please, I beg you—talk less, haha】

【Jiang Wan: We’re in this together! Shang Gunan: Nah, you’re on your own!】

Jiang Wan resisted the urge to roll her eyes and reached into the box.

Sure enough.

Her luck was as terrible as ever. No miracle.

Song Yanyan and Jiang Qi drew: Conflict and Reversal

Xie Zhiyi and Shi Lan got: Cold War and Reconciliation

As for Jiang Wan and Shang Gunan…

They drew: Sweetness and Cuteness

Jiang Wan slowly looked up at the sky.

She didn’t want to speak. Her fate was tragic.

【I thought you were being humble, Jiang Wan—but your luck really is that bad】

【I’m dying—those other two pairs got such fitting prompts for their personalities, and these two pulled the worst one possible】

【Sweetness? Them? I can’t picture it at all!】

【Jiang Wan, are you checking to see if the sky is falling? Stop looking! Time to prepare for your cutesy scene!】

【This is gonna be so cringe, omg!!!】

Staring at their nightmare of a keyword, even Shang Gunan stopped grinning and began to look serious.

He thought this part would be easy.

Just act out some typical couple scenarios. He wasn’t a professional actor, but he’d been in plenty of music videos and cameo roles—he had some experience.

If he acted badly, no one would mind.

But if it turned out cringey… that was a different story.

Meanwhile—

Shi Lan wasn’t thrilled about acting either. After all, she was the only one here who had never filmed even a second of any show.

But—

When she saw the keyword Jiang Wan drew, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fine, she’d act.

As long as she didn’t have to portray someone in the honeymoon phase.

She’d never been in love, and never acted that either.

She simply didn’t know how.

The production gave them two hours.

Time to write the skit based on their keywords, rehearse, then draw lots to determine the performance order. The audience would vote afterward.

In a rare moment of silence and focus, Jiang Wan sat in a corner with pen and paper, lost in thought. Shang Gunan dragged over a stool and sat beside her.

He patted her on the shoulder, trying to “comfort” her: “It’s fine. If we’re too awkward, we might go viral.”

【Shang Gunan… you sure have a unique way of comforting people】

【Shang Gunan: A good attitude makes a great man!】

【If I were Jiang Wan, I’d want to punch him LOL】

But Jiang Wan grabbed his hand from her shoulder and gently tilted her head, pressing her cheek into his palm.

She had eyes that knew how to love.

Warm and soulful, slowly rising to meet his gaze.

She looked at Shang Gunan and said with a voice full of emotion, trembling slightly, “Finally… finally I can be with you. Please don’t leave me again, okay?”

In that blink of an eye—

Tears rolled down her cheeks, one after another, dripping into his palm.

She didn’t sob loudly, but anyone could see that her tears were from happiness.

Just one line.

Yet it felt like she’d crossed a lifetime of pain to finally reach love.

With her expression and delivery, anyone watching could instantly imagine a bittersweet love story that finally came full circle.

The comment section exploded.

【Ahhh!!! Jiang Wan just slipped into character like that?! So sudden!】

【But she did so well… instantly in character】

【Her tears are killing me! I don’t even know the story, but I’m crying and laughing right along with her!!!】

【People say all sorts of things about Jiang Wan—rumors about her personality, her private life—but no one’s ever said she wasn’t pretty, and no one’s ever questioned her acting chops】

【Girl, with those looks and that talent, can you please land a decent script?! I want to see you shine!】

Her burning tears fell into his palm.

Shang Gunan’s mind went completely blank.

In that moment of being stared at by her—

It felt real.

Like he was truly loved.

His whole body froze, unable to speak. His instincts took over as he reached out his other hand to wipe her tears.

But—

Just as his hand was about to touch her cheek, Jiang Wan suddenly jumped up, tears still on her face, now replaced by a bright, excited expression as she looked around: “Does this count as acting cute? Director——!!!”

Shang Gunan: “……”

He pursed his lips, awkwardly retracted his raised hand, and gently touched his chest, chuckling quietly to himself.

As expected, it wasn’t a false alarm.

This heart… was truly beating wildly for her.