Chapter 16: Take Off Your Height-Increasing Insoles

Ren Xuan looked at the mess all over the floor — it was like inviting a whole bunch of ancestors over.

What could she do? Just indulge them, of course.

She called out Gu Lanyi and arranged for the crew members to come and clean up the aftermath, while also getting new bowls and chopsticks to replace the broken ones.

The tea was brewed in the hall. Without the leftover kitchen smells of food residue and grease, Gu Lanyi’s expression finally relaxed a bit.

But for some reason, her manager seemed quite sour-faced.

Gu Lanyi glanced at her phone without showing it, and her expression changed.

Ruan Li somehow produced a bottle and placed it on the center of the coffee table.

“Let’s play a game.”

Liang Kang, interested, asked, “What game?”

“Truth or Dare. We spin the bottle in turns, whoever it points to has to play.” Ruan Li raised her chin slightly.

“What’s the punishment?” Gu Lan asked.

Ruan Li pointed to the cocktail drinks brought by the show’s sponsor.

“Cocktails count as alcohol. This will be the punishment. If you don’t want to play, you have to drink three cups yourself.”

The cups Ruan Li took out were paper cups, and they were quite full.

If someone self-punished by drinking three cups, they probably wouldn’t last many rounds.

Most likely, everyone would pick either truth or dare.

After getting everyone’s consent, Ruan Li went first.

The bottle stopped, pointing at Gu Lanyi.

Gu Lanyi chose truth. Ruan Li deliberately asked, “Teacher Gu, what’s your relationship with Han Siya?”

She was clearly asking on purpose.

She didn’t know the relationship between Li Fan and Han Xuzhou, but both Gu Lanyi and Gu Lan had once made entertainment headlines with Han Xuzhou.

If they didn’t stir up some conflict, how would it be fun?

Sure enough, as soon as she asked, the bullet comments flooded the screen, and Gu Lan’s face darkened slightly.

[I’m really curious too — what’s the relationship between Yi Yi and Siya?]

[Even if there is a relationship, they won’t say it. Yi Yi always focuses on her career.]

[They even specially picked her up at the airport, went on dates, and spent a night at a hotel together. What kind of relationship is that, do we really need to say?]

Gu Lanyi didn’t answer immediately, seeming hesitant.

Her hesitation made it even more intriguing.

If she were truly innocent, she would answer immediately. Why hesitate?

“Friends,” she said.

Ruan Li didn’t seem satisfied. “That answer is too vague. Didn’t anything else happen between you two?”

Gu Lanyi said, “That’s question number three.”

She kept a strong air of mystery.

Ruan Li shrugged, “Alright then.”

Next was Gu Lan’s turn, and he pointed the bottle at Bai Xiaoxian.

Bai Xiaoxian chose dare. Gu Lan gave him a knowing look and glanced at Li Fan.

Then he said, “Choose any female guest and hug her for ten seconds.”

Bai Xiaoxian had just been intimate with her, so he understood what Gu Lan meant.

But thinking about how Li Fan almost slashed his wrist with a kitchen knife earlier, he knew this woman was not to be messed with.

After thinking for a moment, he chose Gu Lan.

Since they had already been involved, a hug for a few seconds didn’t matter.

But Gu Lan’s face darkened. “I refuse.”

Bai Xiaoxian was easygoing and said it was fine.

But his fans were not.

[What does Gu Lan mean? Wasn’t this his own idea? Can’t handle it?]

Then Bai Xiaoxian’s turn came again, pointing at Li Fan, and asked her: “Do you have someone you like?”

Bai Xiaoxian blushed slightly. With that shy, ambiguous look, anyone would think he liked Li Fan.

Ruan Li egged him on, “Oh, looks like there’s something going on.”

Li Fan smiled calmly, “Not at the moment.”

“Then you had someone before?” Ruan Li pressed.

Li Fan looked at her. “That’s question number two.”

Next was Liang Kang’s turn, also pointing at Li Fan, who still chose truth.

Liang Kang wore a mischievous grin and deliberately asked, “If you caught your husband cheating right in front of you, what would you say to her?”

This question was sharp.

Because in Liang Kang’s eyes, Han Xuzhou’s “cheating partners” were precisely Gu Lanyi and Gu Lan.

Liang Kang was pressing Li Fan’s sore spot.

Li Fan smiled, “You’re really pretty.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Liang Kang snorted, unimpressed.

Finally, it was Li Fan’s turn. She pointed at Ruan Li.

Ruan Li tilted her head, smiling, “I’ll choose dare. Truths are boring.”

Li Fan thought for a moment, then winked at her.

“You’re right. Let’s make it exciting — take off your height-increasing insoles.”

Now it wasn’t just Ruan Li who was stunned, but the other guests too.

Li Fan repeated slowly, “Take off your height-increasing insoles.”

[What?! What?!]

[Isn’t Ruan Li 166 cm? She wears height insoles?]

[Impossible. How does Li Fan know she’s wearing height insoles?]

Ruan Li’s face flushed. She stammered, “I don’t have height insoles.”

Li Fan raised an eyebrow, “You didn’t even take off your shoes, how do you know you don’t? If you’re scared, just drink.”

She smiled mischievously, “How about that? Exciting enough?”

Ruan Li was now in a tough spot. If she took off her shoes, she’d have to admit she had height cushions.

If she didn’t, she’d have to drink, which would prove she was guilty and couldn’t handle the game.

After inner struggle, she finally took off her shoes and pulled out the insoles.

Gu Lan laughed in disbelief, “Ruan Li, such thick height insoles — are they comfortable? So what’s your real height?”

Ruan Li bit her lip, “166 cm.”

Gu Lan pointed at Li Fan, “She’s 168 cm. Why don’t you two stand up and compare?”

“Stop it, I’m 160 cm, okay? I took off the insoles already. Can you stop asking now?” Ruan Li gave up and gave in.

Ruan Li’s fans fell silent. Their idol admitted it — what could they defend now?

The live stream was flooded with laughter comments, as if the mockery had solidified.

The hashtag #RuanLiHeightInsoles# quickly climbed in popularity and quietly made it onto the trending list.

Finally, it was Gu Lanyi’s turn. She pointed the bottle at Gu Lan.

Gu Lan chose dare.

Gu Lanyi said, “Call the top star friend on your WeChat by voice.”

Gu Lan slowly smiled, “I only have one starred friend.”

She took out her phone without hiding anything and opened WeChat.

The starred friends list indeed only had one person.

Gu Lanyi’s expression stiffened. She recognized the profile picture and name too well.

“XZ” was Han Xuzhou’s WeChat name, with a profile picture taken from the 60th floor of the Changyong Group building, overlooking the city at night.

Li Fan glanced briefly and looked away.

She didn’t have Han Xuzhou’s WeChat, but this name abbreviation was obvious. To say she didn’t feel anything was a lie.

Because this reminded her of the wedding night.

Back then, she still held onto illusions, hoping to add Han Xuzhou on WeChat, but he coldly refused.

He said, “Contact Assistant Chen if you need anything. Miss Li, don’t have any illusions you shouldn’t.”

That sentence was like a slap, hitting her face hard.

Even now, she remembered it clearly.