Chapter Sixty-Four: Mutual “Assistance”

Sang Yijia paused for a moment and thought back to her high school days. Her own experience was dull and monotonous, nothing like the reckless freedom depicted in television dramas and novels.

“Not much, really,” Sang Yijia shook her head. “Most of high school was just classes and endless practice problems.”

“Is that so?” Lu Wenchuan had initially imagined Sang Yijia’s life to be vibrant and full. “I must have been overthinking it.”

“Hm?” Sang Yijia raised her eyebrows. “What did you think high school would be like?”

“Like the movies?”

Lu Wenchuan was silent for a while, then shook his head. “No, I just thought your high school days might have been enviable.”

“Not at all,” Sang Yijia shook her head. “Just the same as most people.”

She turned her head to gaze at the scenery flashing past the car window, murmuring, “No one is truly special.”

If anyone was, it would be those born with extraordinary gifts.

Like Lu Wenchuan.

But Sang Yijia said nothing.

The car fell silent again. No one took the initiative to speak, and for the rest of the journey, everyone remained quiet.

The trip from Qingyao Ancient Town to the five-star scenic area didn’t take long—a ninety-minute drive was more than enough.

The five-star scenic area was on the mountain, and since it was the holidays, many people had come. The road up the mountain was packed with private cars.

The production team made their way slowly to the summit.

Once they got out, the first thing that caught their eye was the splendid, golden hotel—one of Shengchuang Technology’s enterprises.

Lu Wenchuan had mentioned before that the activity’s reward was a double occupancy hot spring: a way to deepen the connection between two people and serve as a bit of advertising. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Sang Yijia glanced at the nearby promotional slogan: “Enjoy an emperor’s treatment.”

It just felt...

Sang Yijia found it hard to put into words.

Yan Ningsi got out and headed straight toward Sang Yijia. Lan Qing, left behind, watched as the two grew closer while she herself was pushed aside. She clenched her hands but could say nothing.

Shen Jin came over and naturally took Lan Qing’s hand, glancing at Sang Yijia and Yan Ningsi ahead. His gaze cooled slightly, but when he turned back to Lan Qing, it softened again. “Let’s go in and take a look.”

“Alright.” Lan Qing’s mood shifted as quickly as it came.

After all, this was a dating show, not one about two girls sticking together.

Lan Qing affectionately wrapped her arm around Shen Jin’s and held his hand, the two of them entering close together.

Lu Wenchuan and Bian He saw them. Bian He shrugged helplessly and shook his head. “Lu, maybe they should be a pair, and you and I should be a pair instead.”

“That way, none of us would be left out.”

Lu Wenchuan’s expression was cold. “No need.”

“...” Bian He was blatantly rejected.

[Laughing so hard I can’t breathe.]
[He’s really got guts!]
[But honestly...]
[Ahem, is this something we should be seeing or hearing?]
[Wow, why do I find this so exciting?]
[What now? I want to watch!]
[Me too.]
[Wouldn’t it be nice if the girls got close, then the guys got close...]
[Stop! I’m getting a nosebleed.]
[Wow, you’re all insane.]

Yan Ningsi linked arms with Sang Yijia. “I watched your livestream in the car—so entertaining.”

“I nearly died laughing at Lu’s reaction to eating green hawthorn.” Yan Ningsi still couldn’t help but burst out laughing, tears springing to her eyes.

She wiped them away and looked at Sang Yijia. “Jiajia, you know?”

“Lu really treats you differently.”

Sang Yijia could feel it. She squinted, glanced at Lu Wenchuan walking ahead, then turned back to Yan Ningsi. “Did we know each other before?”

“Hm?” Yan Ningsi didn’t know about the past, so she shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“But that’s something between you two. How could I possibly know? Still...”

Yan Ningsi glanced at the camera, then at the microphone pinned to her collar. She clicked her tongue, tiptoed closer to Sang Yijia’s ear, and whispered, “I think Lu is much better than Shen Jin.”

Sang Yijia’s expression faltered; she pressed her lips together.

“Just give it a little more time,” Yan Ningsi assumed Sang Yijia hadn’t fully let go of Shen Jin yet, while Shen Jin and Lan Qing were truly heating up—holding hands, feeding each other, even on camera. Watching it made Yan Ningsi shudder with goosebumps.

Sang Yijia said nothing more.

Yan Ningsi walked with her into the hotel lobby, where they met Lu Wenchuan and Bian He. Yan Ningsi waved at them and returned to Bian He’s side, then looked at Lu Wenchuan. “Lu, I brought your person back.”

“Mm.” Lu Wenchuan nodded and looked at Sang Yijia. “Next is room allocation.”

“The production team said there are three rooms: one suite, one double room, and one room with a double bed.”

If three unfamiliar celebrities were participating, such arrangements would hardly be appropriate.

Lu Wenchuan’s brows knitted slightly. If he hadn’t known Shen Jin tampered with the draw, who would Sang Yijia have ended up with? And what room would she get?

The more Lu Wenchuan thought about it, the tighter his brows became.

Sang Yijia assumed he didn’t want to draw the latter two rooms. She pressed her lips together, ignoring what Yan Ningsi had just said, and asked, “So are we drawing lots again this time, or is there a challenge to choose rooms?”

“Not sure yet,” Lu Wenchuan shook his head.

At that moment, Director Chen came over with a card. He’d just received a call: Shen Jin and Lan Qing must get the room with the double bed. That wasn’t hard to arrange, but...

Secretary Gao sent word too: Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan must share a room! From the sound of it, Secretary Gao wanted them in the double bed room as well!

That made things tricky.

Director Chen frowned, considering whether to just let fate decide.

But when he thought of President Wei behind Secretary Gao, and the sponsors backing Shen Jin and Lan Qing, cold sweat broke out on his back. “It’s really tough to make a show these days.”

Director Chen sighed heavily. The staff behind him clearly understood the situation. One of them suddenly had an idea and pulled Director Chen aside.

A moment later, Director Chen entered the frame again, holding the card. He cleared his throat and looked at the six people before him—three couples. His gaze lingered a moment on Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan, then shifted to Shen Jin and Lan Qing.

Director Chen had never expected that Lan Qing’s backers would need help as well.