Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
âLetâs start with those who got short sticks, shall we? Iâll go first.â Lu Shiâs gaze flicked toward Xia Xin, making it abundantly clear that she was his target for
the moment.
âSo, what do yâall wanna know about me?â Lu Shi inquired, eyes filled with anticipation.
Everyone remained silent. Slightly puzzled, Lu Shiâs eyes settled on Xia Xin,
âLadies, Ms. Xia, Ms. Zhou, and Ms. Tian, got anything youâre curious about? Since I got the short stick, I have to tell the truth. Iâm an open book right now.â
Xia Xin stayed quiet, displaying no interest in Lu Shiâs true confessions. Zhou Lian also refrained from speaking, her furrowed brow indicating a similar lack of interest. Tian Mei, on the other hand, was clearly thrilled. She chirped, âWell then, Lu Shi, what type of girl do you like? Is there anyone here youâve got your eye on? Who is it?â
Lu Shi smiled approvingly at Tian Meiâs question, but said, âSweetheart, thatâs three questions you got there. How âbout I answer two of âem for ya? I fancy girls who are gentle and cute. Yes, thereâs someone here that I like.â
Hearing that, Tian Meiâs cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of red. She thought Lu Shi was admitting that he liked her. If Lu Shi could read her mind, he would probably laugh in disbelief. Tian Mei was anything but gentle and cute; one had to wonder where she got her delusions.
âOh my, youâre quite straightforward, arenât ya, Lu Shi?â Tian Mei giggled.
The rest of the people present didnât quite know what to say. It was evident that Lu Shi wasnât talking about Tian Mei; she was a far cry from gentle and cute. Tian Mei had cultivated this persona of a naive, innocent little miss, but no one was buying it. Xia Xin couldnât care less about deciphering who Lu Shi was attracted toâit was irrelevant to her.
âIâve answered, now itâs your turn, ladies,â Lu Shi said, grinning at Xia Xin and Zhou Lian. âWho wants to go first?âbendern/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIâll go,â Xia Xin said curtly. She wasnât fond of the game and wanted it over with as quickly as possible.
âAlright then, Xia Xin, among the three gentlemen here, is there anyone who tickles your fancy?â Lu Shi questioned.
âYes,â Xia Xin answered without hesitation. She was thinking of Jing MO, although she kept that part to herself.
Lu Shiâs lips curled into a pleased smile, convinced that Xia Xinâs affection was directed towards him.
âYour turn, Zhou Lian,â Lu Shi turned his attention to Zhou Lian, noticeably less intrigued.
âAmong the three men here, is there anyone who catches your eye?â Lu Shi asked.
âNo,â Zhou Lian replied curtly.
For a moment, Lu Shi wondered if he had misheard. âZhou Lian didnât like me?â
Lu Shi looked at Zhou Lian, who turned her face away, clearly uninterested in engaging with him.
âYouâll get a penalty if you lied.â Lu Shi warned.
Once upon a time, Zhou Lian had been Lu Shiâs girlfriend. He still vividly remembered her despondent state after their breakup, as if she couldnât go on without him. He didnât expect her to have moved on so quickly.
âProve it,â Zhou Lian retorted. âThe burden of proof lies on the accuser.â
Lu Shi smirked. He didnât believe that Zhou Lian had moved on; he assumed she was just playing hard to get.
âJust a little reminder, no harm done,â Lu Shi concluded. [Does anyone else find Lu Shi acting strange tonight?]
[A little. Did Zhou Lianâs ânoâ bother him?]
[Or does he like Zhou Lian?]
[Possible. There were rumors about them, you know.]
[Those werenât rumors. My cousin works at a hospital. He heard Zhou Lian once slit her wrists over him. She was rushed to the hospital.]
[Really? Her company had announced she was sick. Never thought it was an attempted suicide.]
[After that, she changed. Became a workaholic. No longer that pure, innocent girl.]
The director glanced at the screen, intrigued by the chatter. He hadnât expected such intricate dynamics between the two. He couldnât help but wonder about Lu Shiâs relationship with Tian Mei. Lu Shi had even put in a good word for her to join this show, citing her as a promising internet sensation.
âAdd an audience Q&A segment,â the director ordered his staff.
The staff wrote the directorâs instructions on a whiteboard and held it up for everyone to see. Of them all, Lu Shi seemed the most pleased with this development..