Chapter 7 – What a Coincidence, None of Us Were Chosen

When she saw that there were actually two letters in her Love Mailbox, Jiang Wan was clearly stunned.

Huh…?

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

The system was surprised as well.

[Huh? How did you get Love Letters? And two of them?!]

According to the script, the original character didn’t receive a single Love Letter in the first round, felt extremely embarrassed, and was viciously mocked by netizens because of it.

In the following rounds, the same plot developments kept repeating.

So when Fu Siyue also joined the show, the original character relied on the fact that they knew each other, hoping Fu Siyue would choose her on camera to preserve some dignity for her.

But Fu Siyue didn’t play along. Instead, he chose the female lead, Qiao Zhiyi, according to his heart.

The original character then turned dark.

She couldn’t stand being completely ignored on a dating show, looking like a clown.

This blackening motivation was rather flimsy and could only be summed up in one sentence—

This damned pride!

Thankfully, Jiang Wan didn’t have that problem.

Rather than having to pick between two Love Letters and risk offending someone, she’d much rather be the one who was left unchosen.

However, after she opened the letters, all those worries vanished!

Looking at the eye Jiang Qi had drawn, Jiang Wan wanted to crumple the paper into a ball and throw it straight in the trash, but mindful of the cameras, she forcefully held back.

Was he insane?

Was this supposed to be a Love Letter? More like a challenge to a fight!

Without hesitation, Jiang Wan picked up the other envelope and opened it. The handwriting on it was neat and delicate:

[The Usachi plushie really is very cute.]

Jiang Wan: “…?”

Her hand holding the letter trembled slightly.

She couldn’t help glancing toward Song Yanyan not far away, her eyes filled with confusion.

The bullet comments were clearly convinced she had misunderstood something.

[Just now, Song Yanyan stared at the Usachi plushie hanging on Jiang Wan’s bag for a long time. Jiang Wan asked if she liked it, and she said she didn’t even know what Usachi was, then walked away.]

[This part was hilarious because Song Yanyan claimed she didn’t recognize it, but she actually said the name out loud, hahaha.]

[Could it be that Song Yanyan actually likes it? Is this the legendary tsundere?]

[No, no, no! The envelopes for male and female contestants are different colors! There’s no way Song Yanyan wrote this! Everyone, don’t let Jiang Wan lead you astray!]

[On Jiang Wan’s face were three parts shock, two parts terror, and…uh, one part delight? Jiang Wan, what exactly are you happy about?]

[Of all the guys here, the one most likely to know about Usachi is…]

[Yes, it’s our otaku brother, Xie Zhiyi! (adjusts tie) (speaks)]

Naturally.

The truth soon came out.

The production team announced the results.

Those who had mutual selections could form teams first in the next round. The only matched pair was—

Jiang Wan and Xie Zhiyi.

As for everyone else?

Shi Lan chose Shang Gubai, Shang Gubai chose Song Yanyan, and Song Yanyan chose Xie Zhiyi. Everyone formed perfect one-way arrows.

Jiang Wan, like the netizens watching, couldn’t figure out why Xie Zhiyi would choose her.

Was it just because they were both freelancers?

She hesitated. “Are you sure you want to pick me? You know I talk a lot, right?”

[Jiang Wan: Nervous chatterer, trembling jpg.]

[Even though they matched, she really doesn’t look that happy, hahahahaha!]

[Jiang Wan: I’m doomed! I must not talk! Someone give me medicine!]

But since they were already grouped together, trying to decline now would make her seem too pretentious.

So Jiang Wan quickly raised a hand and promised, “I’ll try my best to control myself and talk less…”

“No need.”

Xie Zhiyi interrupted her promise, frowning slightly as he explained, “I just don’t like people who constantly babble about trivial nonsense and expect me to respond. But…you’re different.”

Jiang Wan blinked.

She thought she understood.

Basically, Xie Zhiyi didn’t mind her talking.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Good.

After all, a living person can’t be suffocated by holding in words!

The bullet comments erupted in squeals.

[How is this different from a confession? Everyone else’s words are boring nonsense, but yours are different!!!]

[I get Xie Zhiyi. The first type of chatter demands the listener’s attention and responses, which is exhausting. But Jiang Wan’s kind of talking is actually providing emotional value.]

[Ahhhh, I don’t care anymore! I’m shipping them! This is killing me!]

But some viewers were disappointed.

[I really thought Movie King Xie would pick Yanyan…]

[+1 to the comment above. Someone like Movie King Xie, who likes quiet, would be a great match with someone sweet and gentle like Song Yanyan.]

[If you put it that way, Shi Lan talks even less. He should have paired with Shi Lan!]

[Anyone would be better than Jiang Wan, right?!]

[I have a bold theory… Didn’t they say Jiang Wan’s sugar daddy is super rich? Maybe Xie Zhiyi was forced into this?]

That idea was immediately refuted by other viewers.

[Wow, people will say any nonsense just to hate on Jiang Wan. Have you ever seen a sugar daddy spend money to force another man to date his own canary? Are you addicted to NTR or what?]

Xie Zhiyi’s fans stepped in as well.

[Does someone of Xie Zhiyi’s status even need to be threatened? Don’t be ridiculous.]

[Can you all stop obsessing over who Xie Zhiyi picks? He can pick whoever he wants!]

To show she meant well, Jiang Wan took the plushie off her bag. “I just bought it. If you don’t mind, I’ll give it to you.”

Xie Zhiyi didn’t decline and took it, softly thanking her.

The remaining four guests, having no mutual selections, were randomly divided into two teams by drawing lots.

Jiang Qi and Shi Lan were in one group, while Song Yanyan ended up paired with Shang Gubai.

Jiang Qi withdrew his deep gaze from Jiang Wan and Xie Zhiyi, only to meet Shi Lan’s searching look. His mouth moved faster than his brain.

He had to say something to distract Shi Lan.

He absolutely couldn’t let Shi Lan realize he had been secretly watching Jiang Wan.

So Jiang Qi cleared his throat, forced a dry laugh, and said, “What a coincidence. Neither of us got picked.”

The viewers in the livestream:

[Jiang Qi, what exactly are you happy about?]

[I hadn’t thought not being picked was that awkward, but the moment Jiang Qi said it out loud, my toes curled up in secondhand embarrassment.]

[He dares to say it, but I can’t even bear to hear it!]

[@Xie Zhiyi, is this the kind of person you hate? The ones who force conversation even when there’s nothing to say, and you can’t ignore them.]

[Hahaha, girl in the comments above, you’re too savage!]

Shi Lan’s lips twitched slightly. In the end, he couldn’t hold back and directly said: “If you don’t know what to say, then don’t say anything.”