Chapter 14: Turn Around, Let Me Carry You

“She went to Room A to call them for dinner. I came to Room B.”

“Mm.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. Let’s eat.”

Gu Chuan was the first to stride out of the room. Jiang Mi, still completely clueless, trailed after him.

Meanwhile, the audience comments pieced everything together:

• “Haha, this is such a classic jealous couple dynamic. They’re adorable!”
• “So, Gu Chuan was just sulking because Jiang Mi kept talking to Fu Li?”
• “Jealous King lives up to his reputation!”

When they reached the dining area and Jiang Mi spotted Lu Yu, realization dawned on her. She leaned in close to Gu Chuan, her voice soft and teasing, “Big brother, Lu Yu’s right over there. Why don’t you go have a chat with her?”

Gu Chuan replied flatly, “No. Sit down and eat.”

Jiang Mi let out a soft laugh. “If you won’t go, I will. Not only will we have dinner together, but we’ll also share a bed tonight.”

Gu Chuan: “…”

Jiang Mi settled into her seat, and Lu Yu, glancing up nervously, whispered, “Mimi, did you say something bad about me to Gu Chuan?”

“Of course not! What are you thinking?” Jiang Mi said with a chuckle.

Lu Yu looked on the verge of tears. “But I feel like the way he looks at me is absolutely terrifying.”

Jiang Mi couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t hit women.”

Lu Yu’s eyes widened in horror. That only made it scarier!

Soon, all the guests were gathered at the table. Faced with a feast of delicious dishes, Jiang Mi’s appetite surged. She picked up her knife and fork and began devouring a succulent steak.

Watching her eat with such gusto, Lu Yu couldn’t help but join in, momentarily forgetting her fear. However, it was already past 9 p.m.—technically a late-night snack. Lu Yu hesitated, conscious of her figure. After nibbling on a small piece of steak, she regretfully put down her fork and turned to commiserate with Jiang Mi.

But when she turned, she was met with a shocking sight.

Jiang Mi had already polished off her steak and moved on to pasta, then pizza, and then cake…

Lu Yu wasn’t just stunned—she was floored.

Actually, everyone at the table was floored.

A young actress, eating so heartily late at night—was this a moral lapse or a rebellion against societal expectations?

[Comment Section Eruption]

• “Is Jiang Mi intentionally playing the foodie card?”
• “Pfft, female celebs playing foodies is the dumbest move. It always backfires.”
• “If she dares to say she doesn’t gain weight no matter how much she eats, I’ll lose it.”

Right on cue, Bai Ruanruan, the perennial soft-spoken sweetheart, chimed in, “Mimi, I’m so jealous you can eat so much at night and not gain weight.”

What sounded like a compliment was actually a subtle attempt to stir up trouble.

In the past, actresses who flaunted their eating habits on variety shows while claiming they didn’t gain weight often got exposed for fake-eating, leading to public backlash.

However, Jiang Mi, elegantly spearing a strawberry with her fork, smiled and denied it outright. “Of course, you’ll gain weight if you eat too much. But if you do, you can just exercise it off.”

This unexpected response left Bai Ruanruan momentarily speechless. She stuck to her original plan and followed up, “I’m just not as disciplined. If I overeat, I gain weight. I’ve had to give up so many delicious foods to maintain my figure.”

Shen Mingxuan, ever the gentleman, leaned in to comfort her. “Ruanruan, you’re not fat at all. If anything, I think you’re too skinny. Come on, be good and eat a little more.”

A shy blush crept across Bai Ruanruan’s face as she accepted his reassurance.

As if frozen in time, Bai Ruanruan’s smile stiffened on her face.

“It’s not about being bad; it’s about being lazy. If you push yourself to exercise, weight gain won’t be an issue.”

With that, Jiang Mi rolled up her sleeves, proudly flexing her biceps for everyone to see.

Halfway through her demonstration, her gaze unexpectedly collided with Gu Chuan’s amused dark eyes.

Jiang Mi’s heart skipped a beat as she glanced down, belatedly realizing that her arms were soft, fair, and delicate—nothing close to muscular.

Darn it!

This wasn’t her original body!

Quickly putting her arm down, she flipped her hair in an exaggeratedly coquettish manner. Shooting a secret glare at Gu Chuan, she straightened up and solemnly proclaimed, “Eat when you want to eat, drink when you want to drink. Live life to the fullest.”

The 2G internet surfer Gu Chuan suddenly thought of a trending phrase: 奶凶奶凶 (adorably fierce).

Like a precious, pampered ragdoll cat whose inattentive owner had provoked it, Jiang Mi scratched back with soft, tiny paws.

[Audience Commentary]

• “Hahaha, Jiang Mi, don’t think we didn’t see your failed attempt to show off.”
• “What’s the point of life if you can’t eat and drink to your heart’s content?”
• “I’m done for. Jiang Mi and Gu Chuan are definitely real. Even from a distance, their gazes are dripping with sugar!”

After Jiang Mi’s sharp retort, Bai Ruanruan backed down and quietly finished her meal without causing further trouble. The director then urged everyone to head to their private rooms for the “heartthrob interviews.”

“Next, the guests will record their first impressions of who they were most attracted to when they first met.”

[Audience Reaction]

• “Ahhh, the most exciting part is here!”
• “This is going to be intense—I can’t wait!”

However, the director’s next words caught everyone off guard.

“That concludes today’s livestream. See you all tomorrow at 10 a.m.!”

[Audience Uproar]

• “What?! You’re not streaming the interviews? I was waiting to see if Jiang Mi would choose Gu Chuan or Shen Mingxuan!”
• “The suspense! They’re really making us wait?”
• “I smell scheming here. This is the kind of chaos they love to stir up!”

The director, with an air of feigned humility, added, “Of course, we still need to edit the main show. Some suspense is necessary. But don’t worry, the interviews will be revealed at an appropriate time before the full episode airs!”

[Audience Predictions]

• “Calling it now—midseason, when some couples are heating up, the show will drop these interviews to stir drama. Ultimate chaos incoming!”

---

Jiang Mi exited the interview room, her expression visibly sour. Being manipulated by the system’s programming was something she deeply resented.

Her mood darkened further when she lifted her gaze and saw Gu Chuan’s striking side profile.

Frustrated, she called out, “Stop right there!”

Gu Chuan stood with one hand casually in his pocket, leaning against the wall. His tall and upright posture resembled a towering pine tree.

At the sound of her voice, he turned his head, his gaze meeting hers.

“I wasn’t planning on leaving.”

“Come here.”

Gu Chuan strode over, stopping two steps away from her. His eyes lowered slightly, quietly observing the girl in front of him.

From afar, he had only noticed that she seemed upset. Up close, he could clearly see the redness at the corners of her eyes. Even the tiny mole beneath her eye seemed to have lost its usual vibrance.

A faint furrow appeared on his brow as he softly began, “You…”

“Turn around,” Jiang Mi cut him off, her red lips pressed into a pout, her tone imperious.

The words of concern hovering on Gu Chuan’s lips were swallowed back. His thin lips tightened as he fixed her with a sharp gaze. “Is this an order, Miss?”

The title Miss seemed like a private code between them—a forbidden switch only they could activate.

And just like that, the dim little mole under her eye seemed to regain its vitality, coming alive with charm and allure.

Jiang Mi lifted her delicate chin, her voice playfully domineering. “Yes. I’m ordering you to turn around, crouch down, and carry me on your back.”