—

Some feelings that had been hazy until now—all of them sprouted in that heartbeat.

Meanwhile, the other guests were meeting up with friends.

Hu Ying invited her good friend, a popular influencer named Tutu.

Tutu had blown up online in the past two years—a beauty blogger who'd recently been doing live commerce, with viewership dipping a little. Hu Ying was generous enough to invite her on the show.

For people like them in the self-media world, more exposure was always better.

'So? You've been filming for two days now, right? How are the guests in there? Anyone your type?'

Hu Ying couldn't hold it in for a second and cracked up a little.

Because Tutu had actually watched the live stream—she knew exactly what the guests were like and whether Hu Ying had a type. The moment they met, Tutu had asked: 'Did Pei Xu and Yan Zhi both make you scream like a groundhog?'

Best friends talked like this—wild and unrestrained. If the cameras weren't rolling, they could've gone all the way to NSFW territory.

The questions Tutu asked were all briefed by the Production Team just now. It felt a bit staged, but that's how Love Variety Shows worked—you couldn't really find a good friend to discuss genuine inner thoughts. Regular people wouldn't even dare go on camera, let alone tell the truth.

Hu Ying steadied herself and said, 'Honestly, all the guests this time are great. I like all four of the Blue Team Members.'

'Got a favorite?' Tutu asked.

Hu Ying nodded and smiled. 'Yeah.'

She wanted to play up the gap moe, so she acted shy—brushed back her hair, laughed with her head down, looking all pure and innocent.

Tutu couldn't stand it, holding back a laugh: 'If you like him, go for it... chase him. You're on a Love Variety Show—aren't you here to find a boyfriend?'

Then she started reciting the script she'd prepared long ago: 'After all these years, other people don't get you, but I do. You look wild on the outside, but inside you're actually super romantic—you think about dating all day long. If this round's guests are all decent, you really should take the initiative. They're all guys, after all.'

'But you know how Love Variety Shows work—sometimes CP fans have already picked their CP, and the one they pick isn't you. If you get close to them, or even show a little initiative, they'll trash you.'

'Not being proactive on a Love Variety Show is like having no professional ethics in the workplace,' Tutu said. 'As long as the show isn't over and nobody's in a relationship, you have the right to pursue actively. Don't be scared—when you meet someone you like, you go for it. That's what modern men and women should feel about dating.'

Hu Ying nodded. This chat was positive enough, right?

She turned to the crew member: 'Is this enough footage?'

The crew member was also struggling to hold it together: 'Should be about right.'

This segment was only going to air for about a minute or two anyway.

'Why don't you guys go grab a drink somewhere—my treat. Let me chat with my girl properly.'

Once the crew left, Tutu collapsed into her chair: 'Oh my god, I'm dead tired.'

Hu Ying said, 'I'm so mad—you looked way too good today. You completely outshone me three hundred and sixty degrees!'

Tutu laughed: 'I built my fame on this face. Bare-faced I could still crush you back and forth.'

'Take off those insanely dramatic fake lashes first!'

Tutu laughed twice: 'Okay okay, let's get to the real stuff. I couldn't reach you for two days, I've been dying of curiosity. What's your situation? How'd you not get a single message? Are the four Blue Team guys blind?'

'Right? I'm that gorgeous!' Hu Ying sat up straight. 'I can't believe it—I got zero votes.'

Mad as she was, she still needed to seriously analyze things with her bestie.

'Pei Xu—you know him, that's just his personality. I don't think he likes anyone. Whoever he sends a message to, he doesn't care—it's all just going through the motions. I crossed him off fast. I can take the initiative, but I won't throw myself at someone!'

'Yan Zhi... I've been pretty forward with him. You know me—people always chase me, I've never been the one to chase. Last time we were teamed up together, it felt pretty awkward. He's too much of a gentleman—if he doesn't like me, he won't be as blunt as Pei Xu. I need to keep observing. If he really doesn't have any interest in me, or if I notice he clearly likes someone else, I'll pull back. Love Variety Shows always have those one-sided pursuers, but I'm not gonna embarrass myself like that.'

'As for Huo Cheng, I feel like he might like Zhai Xingchen...'

'Isn't Zhai Xingchen a Blue Team Member?'

'Yeah, logically they can't be together, but you know how gay people are—internal resolution isn't unheard of.'

'What's Zhai Xingchen's attitude, then?'

Hu Ying smiled: 'He likes Duan Yihua, the oldest one in our group.'

Tutu went 'Wow': 'That hits my sweet spot! I love the younger puppy type.'

'He's not a fierce puppy—he's a soft puppy.'

Tutu thought for a moment: 'If the Blue Team can sort things out internally, the Red Team should be able to too, right? From what I know, you don't have such strict preferences, do you? If you meet someone cute, you'd be open to it?'

Hu Ying leaned back against her chair: 'Let me tell you something really weird... for a split second, I thought maybe Zhai Xingchen I could...'

Tutu rested her chin on her hand, eyes wide.

'Do you want to top him or bottom for him?'

That's how best friends talked—raw and wild.

'Here's the weird part,' Hu Ying said: 'I think... either works.'

Ah.

Tutu said: 'You're just weaponizing your looks—a face-con plus a player. I'm actually hoping someone in there can tame you, so you stop terrorizing the world.'

Zhai Xingchen sneezed.

Yan Zhi immediately turned to look at him: 'Cold? There's a jacket in the car.'

'I'm fine,' Zhai Xingchen said.

'What dance did you just do?' Yan Zhi asked.

'Prince of Lanling?' Pei Xu spoke up. 'Guessing.'

Yan Zhi smiled: 'Because of the mask?'

Zhai Xingchen nodded: 'Prince of Lanling. We performed Prince of Lanling's Battle Array.'

'It was beautiful,' Yan Zhi said.

'This dance is a classic piece in classical dance.'

'Mainly because you danced it so well,' Yan Zhi said. 'You dancing is just beautiful. The first time I saw you, you were on stage dancing Flight, and it stunned me.'

Actually, it enchanted him.

Zhai Xingchen was blessed by the heavens—his body was too gorgeous.

Dance really is an amazing thing—it infinitely magnifies local beauty. Like normally they wouldn't observe how nice Zhai Xingchen's feet were, or what was special about his hands. But feet and hands are crucial body parts for dancers—the depth of a dancer's skill often shows in the arch of their instep and the expressiveness of their fingers. Like Zhai Xingchen on stage just now—when he stretched his hands out, they realized his hands were actually that beautiful, even his wrists were gorgeous, thin and pale. His feet were the same—beautiful, taut, showing a clean elegant arch when pointed. Impossible to look at closely and think about it carefully.

The three of them arrived at the restaurant they'd booked first.

'Niangjia Restaurant' was the priciest specialty restaurant near their Zhongwu Academy. Don't let the down-to-earth name fool you—the dishes were expensive and refined, but business was great. Regular students couldn't afford it, but Zhongwu Academy had too many rich kids, and too many rich people came to Zhongwu Academy to make friends. Basically full every day.

They went up to the fourth floor, which overlooked the entire Zhongwu Academy campus.

The Production Team had already set up cameras in their booked private room. A small room, but seven or eight cameras installed—truly 360-degree no-dead-angle filming. But Zhai Xingchen and the others were used to it, treating them like they didn't exist.

'How should we sit?' Yan Zhi said. 'Just sit anywhere.'

He said sit anywhere, but he hesitated a beat, looking at Zhai Xingchen.

'We can sit however, mainly for you,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'We need to look after the girl, right? You should sit next to your cousin, right? We'll sit across from her—easier to talk, less awkward.'

Yan Zhi: '...'

Today didn't seem to be his lucky day. Everything was going wrong.

But at least he could sit across from Zhai Xingchen.

That was okay, too.

Pei Xu sat down next to Zhai Xingchen.

The rain had stopped. Looking out the window, the lush green campus was shrouded in mist. Zhai Xingchen asked the Production Team to give Hu Ying a call.

Their phones had been returned, but they hadn't added each other's contact info—they could only relay messages through the Production Team.

Hu Ying said she'd be right there.

'My cousin's also on her way,' Yan Zhi said.

The three of them sat there for a while. Zhai Xingchen pulled out his phone, planning to go online.

He hadn't been online in a while. This whole afternoon he hadn't had time to check his phone. Now that he had it and could get online, he immediately searched for info about their show.

'Have you guys seen the online comments?' Zhai Xingchen laughed while searching: 'Hilarious. My classmates told me a lot of people are shipping me and Huo Cheng.'

The moment he said that, Yan Zhi and Pei Xu immediately looked at him.

Yan Zhi picked up his teacup, took a sip. His glasses glinted coldly. 'Really... I didn't know.'

This topic was actually sensitive—because if Zhai Xingchen said he liked Huo Cheng too, then he was done for.

But he really wanted to know what Zhai Xingchen thought.

Zhai Xingchen smiled at them: 'So don't you think it's funny? How are they randomly shipping us? Huo-ge and I, we're just good bros. Huo-ge's pretty straightforward—he doesn't have anyone he particularly likes yet, so he's using me as a shield. Tool guy, confirmed.'

He shook his head as he spoke.

Yan Zhi felt relieved inside, and smiled: 'Love Variety Shows are all like this—people ship randomly. Maybe someone's shipping us too.'

Pointed, but stopped there.

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Right. I watched the first three seasons of The Red and Blue Signal before. At first they really do ship randomly. Once the CP lines are clear, it gets better.'

'So what's your take on Huo-ge?' Pei Xu suddenly asked.

Yan Zhi glanced at Pei Xu, then looked at Zhai Xingchen, pressed his lips together, leaned back slightly against his chair.

'Huo-ge's a great guy. I think his charm hasn't fully come out yet. Last time I was on his team, we went to play hydroflight together. I don't know if you saw the live stream video online, but he was seriously cool... When Hu Ying gets here, I want to show him.'

Hu Ying looked so thirsty—surely she'd like this hormone-explosion type, right?

'Also, last night we drank a lot, right? Huo-ge came to my room, and we chatted for a long time.' Zhai Xingchen kept talking while searching for the video. 'Huo-ge's really good, really outstanding. If I were a Red Team Guest, I'd definitely give him a chance.'

'So you don't like him mainly because you're also a Blue Team Member?' Pei Xu asked.

Zhai Xingchen put down his phone: 'It's not that... mainly it's just...'

He glanced at the camera across from him as he spoke, looking a bit embarrassed, lowered his voice: 'I'm...'

He held up one finger, expression serious, mysterious.

'Aren't you guys?' he asked, surprised.

Yan Zhi coughed lightly.

Zhai Xingchen felt the topic was too weird, so he just pulled up the video of him playing with Huo Cheng to show Yan Zhi and Pei Xu.

He put his phone on the table, leaning forward slightly: 'Look.'

Yan Zhi sat across from him, leaning forward slightly. Zhai Xingchen turned to look at Pei Xu: 'You're not watching?'

'Just show Yan Zhi,' Pei Xu said. 'I've already seen it.'

'Right, forgot you've had your phone this whole time.' Zhai Xingchen turned his phone directly toward Yan Zhi's side, making it easier for him to watch.

Yan Zhi's fair, slender fingers held the phone. Though his eyes were on the screen, his mind was completely elsewhere.

Zhai Xingchen couldn't help explaining the situation when it got to the good parts, completely unaware of the psychological activities of the two people beside him.

What Yan Zhi felt more was the chill of shared fate.

His love rival had been PASSed like that—originally something worth celebrating. But the reason for being PASSed was incompatible attributes—that made it hard to be happy about.

Because he might also be PASSed for the same reason.

Alarm bells rang in Yan Zhi's heart.

Pei Xu, on the other hand, was more like: Oh, so between Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen, it was Huo Cheng being one-sided, not mutual.

By that logic, Yan Zhi was in the same situation.

His heart suddenly lightened. He actually felt a lot more comfortable.

Hu Ying arrived soon. Zhai Xingchen went downstairs to meet her, and Yan Zhi came down with him.

Hu Ying and Liu Si arrived almost at the same time. The four of them greeted each other downstairs and came up together.

Liu Si had met Zhai Xingchen before, so she was already used to his looks.

She was mainly stunned by Hu Ying's beauty.

Because Hu Ying was even more stunning than Zhai Xingchen. She'd tied her hair in a bun, fair and tall, androgynous but without any feminine air. Her whole body carried a crisp masculine scent—a beautiful person that everyone in the restaurant would glance at as she walked past.

She was like a walking Chanel ad—high-end, proud, little-Chanel vibes from the inside out.

This season of The Red and Blue Signal was truly a top-tier Love Variety Show lineup. Even idol dramas couldn't find such an outstanding group.

After they got to the private room, Liu Si saw Pei Xu.

If Hu Ying only made her appreciate him, then Pei Xu was the kind of man she was awed by at first sight.

He was so cold, so fair, with such noble bearing, distinct and handsome features. Maybe not as absolutely gorgeous as Hu Ying and Zhai Xingchen, but he perfectly hit her aesthetic point.

This was the kind of temperament and looks that only existed in romance novel male leads.

A total girl-killer!

'Hello, Pei Xu,' he said.

Ahhhh, that low voice, so charming.

Zhai Xingchen watched coldly from the sidelines.

Jinjiang male lead—naturally a women's sniper.

Female-channel novel male leads, of course they grow on girls' aesthetics.

Sigh, girls don't know about settling down. It's still guys like Huo Cheng with his humor and wit, or Yan Zhi with his gentle passion, who are really good.

An iceberg gong isn't easy to warm up.

Liu Si suddenly became much shyer, brushed back the hair by her ear: 'Hello, I'm Yan Zhi's cousin. My name is Liu Si.'

Liu Si was completely drawn to Pei Xu the whole time, her gaze subtly clinging to him. She didn't even notice her own cousin's low mood.

Hu Ying and Zhai Xingchen continued to be responsible for livening up the atmosphere. The two of them and Liu Si basically carried all the conversation at this dinner.

Liu Si noticed Pei Xu barely talked, was very cold, even somewhat antisocial.

But this type of man—the colder he was, the more attractive.

Eek eek. She really loved the cold gong type.

Four men and one woman ordered a pot of the restaurant's homemade wine. Only Pei Xu didn't touch a drop.

'He just got drunk last night, so we're not letting him drink today.'

Zhai Xingchen felt his fatherly 'doting on the baby' psychology toward Pei Xu growing stronger.

Because he'd noticed that Pei Xu looked cold on the surface, but in some ways was like an unopened child.

Hu Ying also said: 'Just use tea as a substitute.'

'Did you guys drink last night?' Liu Si asked.

'Eight of us, how much did we drink? Two bottles, right?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

'Way more than that. You forgot we also opened a bottle of red wine.'

'You guys mixed them?' Liu Si said. 'I heard that gets you drunk really easily.'

'Guess who among the eight of us has the best alcohol tolerance?' Hu Ying asked, smiling.

Liu Si pointed: 'You?'

Hu Ying said: 'Do I look like I can hold my liquor? But the best drinker among us isn't me—it's someone you'd never guess.'

'Definitely not my brother. His tolerance is average—not bad, not good.' Liu Si said.

Yan Zhi just smiled.

'It's Xingchen,' Pei Xu said quietly.

He rarely spoke, and when he did, his voice wasn't loud—that low, magnetic voice, very smooth, very quiet—making Liu Si steal another glance at him.

'I thought you got so drunk last night you didn't know anything,' Hu Ying said.

'I saw him drink quite a bit,' Pei Xu said.

Last night when they were all chatting together, Zhai Xingchen was initially in charge of pouring for everyone. When they saw one bottle wasn't enough and opened a second, the leftover from the first bottle was all slowly poured into Zhai Xingchen's own glass bit by bit.

At first he thought Zhai Xingchen didn't drink, because he was so well-behaved—in some sense, hadn't fully grown up yet.

'Really?' Liu Si covered her mouth and laughed, looking at Zhai Xingchen.

Zhai Xingchen smiled: 'It might be genetic. My alcohol tolerance has always been pretty good.'

'This whole pot's for you. Think you can finish it?' Hu Ying asked.

She was just joking, but she didn't expect Zhai Xingchen to actually pick up the pot and weigh it: 'That's over a jin, right? Can't finish it. Maybe most of it.'

'You really can't judge by appearances,' Hu Ying sighed.

Zhai Xingchen at this moment actually looked a bit gong—holding the wine, calm and composed, very masculine.

She liked men who could drink, and men who smoked. Most people couldn't accept either habit, but she could accept both. She felt people like that had flavor. She didn't like people who were too well-behaved and proper—a few flaws and she'd like them more.

'Does Xingchen smoke?' she asked.

Zhai Xingchen shook his head: 'No, my family doesn't let me either.'

'What about Pei Xu?' Liu Si asked.

Pei Xu said: 'Occasionally.'

Everyone looked at Yan Zhi. Yan Zhi said: 'When I'm in a bad mood.'

'These days few men don't smoke. Actually smoking has no benefits—best to quit if you can,' Liu Si said.

Hu Ying had been about to say she smoked—post-sex cigarettes—but hearing this, she swallowed the words back.

With a girl present, she should behave herself.

She liked sitting on top of someone, smoking a cigarette, slowly tilting her head back and exhaling—comfortable inside and out. Or after finishing, leaning against the headboard smoking one, zoning out.

None of that would make it on air.

She figured she was probably the worst of the bunch.

One Queen, three pure Asceticism gongs.

This was her home turf.

Liu Si the third wheel didn't count.

She was very satisfied with today's meal.

When they were about to leave, the rain started again. Twilight rose up, the campus streetlights almost completely hidden by leaves and mist, looking extremely bleak.

'Want me to drive you back?' Yan Zhi asked Liu Si.

Liu Si shook her head and said, 'I need to go back to the Dance School first. No need to see me off.'

Liu Si finally remembered her mission, smiling at Zhai Xingchen.

'Very nice to meet you, Zhai.'

'Same here. Let's meet up at school sometime,' Zhai Xingchen said.

'If we run into each other at school, don't pretend you don't know me,' Liu Si smiled. 'We can grab a meal sometime when we're free, bring my cousin along. Oh, I live in Changping Village.'

During dinner, Liu Si had mentioned running into him on her way home from school once.

Zhai Xingchen smiled and nodded: 'I'd love to invite you to my place sometime.'

Liu Si held her umbrella across the street, heading straight for Zhongwu Academy's South Gate, her figure graceful in the rain.

After seeing Liu Si off, the four of them stood at the restaurant entrance.

'Let's find a designated driver,' Hu Ying said.

'Pei Xu didn't drink today,' Zhai Xingchen said.

Pei Xu nodded: 'Then I'll drive.'

Yan Zhi gave the car keys to Pei Xu. Pei Xu went to get the car. The three of them waited at the door. After Pei Xu drove the car over, Zhai Xingchen darted forward, opened the passenger door, and got in.

Yan Zhi: '...'

Pei Xu turned to glance at Zhai Xingchen.

Probably didn't expect Zhai Xingchen to take the initiative and sit in the passenger seat.

'Seatbelt,' he reminded softly.

Zhai Xingchen buckled up while calling out to Hu Ying and Yan Zhi: 'Get in the car.'

Hu Ying pressed her lips together, couldn't help smiling.

'Let's go. Get in,' she said to Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi had drunk the most today, his face all red. He was still wearing a white shirt, and maybe because of the alcohol, his usually Asceticism self had actually unbuttoned one button at the collar. Hu Ying glanced at his neck and saw it was all red.

Still carrying the smell of alcohol. Very sexy.

It was evening rush hour, tons of cars on the road. The Zhongwu Academy side was gridlocked, the rain getting heavier and heavier, the windows so fogged up you couldn't see anything outside. Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying were both quiet, the car way too quiet, so Zhai Xingchen asked, 'How do you turn the music on?'

Pei Xu helped him turn it on.

The song that came on was one of those viral hits from short videos lately, called 'Monica.'

'Oh, it's Liu Shuang's song! I've been loving his stuff lately,' Zhai Xingchen said.

Zhai Xingchen swayed with the intro and sang along: 'Black gave you eyes, black gave you light, black gave you long hair, and gave you a black heart too.'

His singing wasn't great—off-key the whole way through. Pei Xu glanced over and caught Zhai Xingchen turning to look at him with a smile. His gaze suddenly dodged away. He pressed his lips together and stared at the traffic ahead.

Like everything had shifted. He couldn't look Zhai Xingchen in the eye anymore.

Those beautiful eyes, with stars inside them.

Hu Ying's an influencer, way more familiar with these viral hits. She leaned forward from behind Zhai Xingchen, holding onto the seat back, singing along with him: 'You tore up my sweater, you stole my heart, you're stupid and smart, you're clumsy and quick, you forgot my last name, my first name!'

The car lit up at once. Only Yan Zhi lay there in the dark, watching Zhai Xingchen. Zhai Xingchen was so lively, trading lines back and forth with Hu Ying—vivid, alive, like he had endless energy.

Bright as light.

He reached up, rubbed his neck, then pulled open another button on his shirt. He rubbed too hard—his Adam's apple went red.

Cold rain blanketed all of South City. Two kilometers from the Red and Blue Cabin, a black Audi R8 sat parked outside a Flower Shop.

Huo Cheng walked in. He was too tall, the door a bit low, so he ducked slightly—and came face-to-face with a room full of fresh flowers.

'Hello, sir, are you here to buy flowers?' The shop girl came over with a smile.

Huo Cheng nodded.

He wasn't as good at romance as Yan Zhi. Didn't have a romantic bone in his body.

But no worries—his biggest strength was that he was a fast learner.

Yan Zhi sent flowers? He could send flowers too.

'I'll take some flowers,' Huo Cheng said. 'Three bouquets.'

One more than Yan Zhi.

'Who's the lucky recipient?'

'Someone I like. A guy.'

The shop girl blinked, then laughed. 'How about blue roses?'

'No roses,' Huo Cheng said. 'Nothing too obvious. Something pretty—more than friends, not quite lovers.'

He thought for a moment. 'Pink. Red. Something festive.'

One, it would set him apart from Yan Zhi. Two, he figured flowers should be pink and red—cheesy maybe, but that's what love's supposed to look like.

'Then how about this pink Lily? The meaning's lovely. And this pink Tulip...'

'What's this one?' Huo Cheng pointed at the closest one.

'This one's meaningful too—Everlasting Memory.'

Everlasting Memory.

Nice flower. Just the name alone sounds devoted.

'Then give me one of each of these three. Wrap 'em big.'

'Sure, no problem,' the girl said, beaming.

After wrapping them up, the girl carried them out to his car herself. 'Sir, I hope you get to send your special someone roses soon. Looking forward to your next visit.'

Huo Cheng cracked up—thought the girl was smooth. So pleased he tipped her big, then drove off with three giant bouquets, heading home in high spirits.

Coincidentally, the second he pulled up outside the Red and Blue Cabin, he spotted Zhai Xingchen—they'd just gotten back. Lin Qingning and Wen Nu were holding umbrellas to greet them. Everyone turned to look at Huo Cheng's car.

Huo Cheng got out, no umbrella, opened the trunk in the rain. 'Zhai Xingchen, grab some flowers for me!'

Zhai Xingchen called out an okay and ran over. Huo Cheng shoved the Everlasting Memory bouquet into his arms, took the other two himself, and they both sprinted through the rain to the porch.

Lin Qingning and the others set their umbrellas by the door. 'Huo-ge, you bought flowers?'

'Bought a few kinds. Pick whichever you like.'

Hu Ying took a bouquet from his arms, walking in. 'So pink, Huo-ge.'

Everyone burst out laughing.

Yan Zhi buying Baby's Breath and Chamomile—totally him. Huo Cheng, this rough guy, buying flowers this pink—also totally him.

You could tell at a glance he'd be the one to pick them.

Everyone gathered around the dining table sorting the three bouquets. Yan Zhi went straight back to his room. Pei Xu just stood off to the side, watching.

Before long, Duan Yihua was back too.

It was still early—no way they were all heading to bed yet. Hu Ying suggested they play a game together.

'What game?'

'How about Truth or Dare?' Hu Ying said.

'Whoa, going straight for something that intense?' Zhai Xingchen remembered watching Love Variety Shows before—Truth or Dare was always a bloodbath. Better save it for later, when the sparks would really fly. He could say this much: even horror movies hadn't made him this nervous-excited.

'How about a word-guessing game?' Lin Qingning said. 'Everyone should know that one, right?'

'Yeah, yeah. Simple and fun,' Zhai Xingchen said.

Everyone headed to the living room. Zhai Xingchen made two pots of fruit tea and asked, 'Where's Yan Zhi?'

'He probably drank too much today, went back to his room,' Hu Ying said.

'You guys drank again today?' Huo Cheng asked.

'A little,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'Hold on, I'll go ask if he wants to play.'

At a moment like this, leaving anyone out would be wrong.

He went to Yan Zhi's room, knocked once, and heard Yan Zhi say from inside, 'Come in.'

He pushed the door open. Yan Zhi was sitting in a chair.

'Not feeling well?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

Yan Zhi sat up straighter. 'A little.'

'We're playing a word-guessing game. Wanna join?' Zhai Xingchen said. 'If you're not feeling good, you don't have to. I'll let them know.'

Yan Zhi stood up. 'Let's go.'

Seeing Zhai Xingchen still watching him, he smiled softly and ruffled the back of his head.

Word-guessing is a two-person game. First step: split into pairs.

To keep it fair, they did a Lottery Draw—same numbers, same team.

Hu Ying wrote eight slips of paper, shuffled them, and drew first.

Huo Cheng and the others drew in turn.

Pei Xu and Yan Zhi picked last.

'I'm one,' Zhai Xingchen said with a loaded smile.

Hu Ying raised her hand. 'Who isn't one?'

Duan Yihua and Huo Cheng drew each other. Wen Nu and Lin Qingning drew each other. And somehow Pei Xu and Yan Zhi drew each other.

'They're done for!' Hu Ying shouted.

Zhai Xingchen burst out laughing. 'Looks like last place is theirs.'

The mood was so good—even Yan Zhi and Pei Xu cracked a rare smile.

'Don't underestimate us,' Pei Xu said.

Yan Zhi rolled up his sleeves and shook hands with Pei Xu.

'You two are hyped up—go first,' Huo Cheng said to Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying.

Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying hugged each other. The two liveliest people in the Red and Blue Cabin, teamed up—the energy was electric, they kicked things off with a bang. Their score was killer: eight out of ten.

Wen Nu and Lin Qingning didn't click as well. Wen Nu was shy, Lin Qingning couldn't loosen up—they only got five out of ten.

'Save Pei Xu and Yan Zhi for last—I bet their round'll be great.' Hu Ying directed: 'Duan-ge, Huo-ge, you're up.'

They did pretty well too. Mainly because Huo Cheng let loose—mooing like a cow one minute, flapping his arms like a swallow the next—cracking everyone up. They ended with eight out of ten too.

Finally, Pei Xu and Yan Zhi's turn.

He'd been laughing so hard he was sweating. Zhai Xingchen peeled off his jacket and sat down next to Hu Ying. 'The show's about to start.'

Hu Ying: 'Place your bets! How many do you think they'll get?'

'Five. No more than that,' Huo Cheng said.

'I'm guessing four,' Zhai Xingchen chimed in.

'Then I'll say three.'

'Two for me,' Wen Nu said.

Hu Ying bent over laughing, practically leaning on Zhai Xingchen's shoulder.

'Pei-ge, we're not fighting for steamed buns, we're fighting for pride,' Yan Zhi said to Pei Xu.

But they messed up the role assignment—Pei Xu was the one acting, Yan Zhi guessing.

Pei Xu was never gonna be good at acting. They had zero chemistry. In the end, true to everyone's expectations, they got four.

'Let's give a round of applause for Mr. Pei and Mr. Yan! Living up to expectations—last place!' Zhai Xingchen called out.

Hu Ying jumped up and clapped.

Unexpectedly, Pei Xu's competitive streak kicked in. 'This game's boring. How about something that takes brains?'

'If you wanna play the number-fill game, nobody here's gonna play with you,' Hu Ying said.

'How about guessing idioms from pictures?' Lin Qingning said.

'We can play, but just playing for nothing's no fun. We need penalties and rewards,' Hu Ying said.

'How about whoever loses handles tomorrow's dishes, trash, and grocery shopping?' Zhai Xingchen said.

'No point asking us—you gotta ask Pei Xu and Yan Zhi,' Huo Cheng said, grinning.

'Sure,' Yan Zhi said.

'So nobody accuses me of cheating—I'm putting it out there: I've played this game before, and I'm pretty good at it,' Pei Xu said coolly.

'Ugh, look at him showing off,' Hu Ying said.

Zhai Xingchen nudged her arm. Hu Ying turned to look at him, then realized she'd said something that needed bleeping. She laughed. 'Wanna play?'

'I'm down for anything,' Zhai Xingchen said.

'I'm gonna make Yan Zhi and Pei Xu scrub pots and wash dishes like good little boys!' Hu Ying said bitterly.

Those two definitely needed to be taken down a peg!

Half an hour later.

Everyone sat on the couch, staring at Pei Xu in stunned disbelief.

Hu Ying held the tablet, swiping the screen with a dead-inside look.

'1256789.'

Pei Xu didn't even pause. 'Careless and forgetful.'

'Next one's for Xingchen... 1=365.'

Zhai Xingchen looked like an eggplant after frost, pinching his lower lip. 'One equals three-six-five...'

What idiom is this?

'How does one equal three hundred sixty-five... one-three-six-five, missing two and four, um... one, one...'

Zhai Xingchen 'one'-ed for a while without getting it, then turned to look at Pei Xu.

Pei Xu had a smile at the corner of his mouth, like Zhai Xingchen's cluelessness was cute. His voice even carried a hint of something that sounded like indulgence: 'Should I answer?'

Zhai Xingchen sighed.

Lin Qingning and the others beside them looked equally lost.

'What idiom is this...'

'Can't figure it out...'

Pei Xu said coolly, 'A day feels like a year.'

'Ohhhhh!' Zhai Xingchen had a sudden realization.

How did he not think of it—one day feels like 365 days!

'Next one: 1, 1, 1, 1.'

Zhai Xingchen: 'Four ones, pick one out of four, forge ahead... Double Eleven... all ones...'

Seeing him spiral further off, Hu Ying turned straight to Pei Xu. 'Pei Xu.'

Pei Xu answered, 'One of a kind.'

Hu Ying looked at Zhai Xingchen. 'Four ones? I'd say four zeros.'

Zhai Xingchen's face went red.

Nothing they could do—Pei Xu was just on another level intellectually. The guy's been a math prodigy since childhood!

Pei Xu was incredible—crushed everyone, pulled off the ultimate comeback.

A smart man really is a bonus. He felt like everyone was looking at Pei Xu with way more warmth now.

'We got played,' Hu Ying said, mopping the floor. 'Why did two dumb beauties like us challenge Pei Xu to a brain game?'

Zhai Xingchen sighed. 'Next time we play a brain game, I'm definitely teaming up with Pei Xu.'

'Xingchen.'

Zhai Xingchen turned around and saw Yan Zhi, freshly showered, in pajamas, holding a charger.

'I'll go grocery shopping with you tomorrow,' Yan Zhi said. 'You already do enough cooking. Can't let you handle everything.'

'See it through to the end, then,' Huo Cheng said, grinning. 'Why not just do it for him? If you go with him, Xingchen still ends up doing the work.'

Yan Zhi glanced at Huo Cheng. 'I don't know how to pick groceries.'

'I'll go,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'I like picking my own stuff. I like wandering the supermarket.'

'Hu Ying doesn't have to go,' Yan Zhi added. 'She can sleep in tomorrow.'

'Losers take the penalty. We agreed the losers do chores. I'm not backing out,' Hu Ying said.

Zhai Xingchen knew exactly what Hu Ying was up to. Playing wingman, he said, 'Everyone go together. More fun.'

Yan Zhi had learned his lesson. Not daring to be too obvious, he nodded.

He glanced back at Huo Cheng, thinking: Huo Cheng's so cocky, just tried to subtly provoke him, but he has no idea Zhai Xingchen already PASSed him.

Sigh. Poor rival.

Huo Cheng had been lying around in the living room, refusing to go to bed, just wanting to spend more time with Zhai Xingchen.

Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying were mopping, so he draped himself over the back of the couch and asked, 'Did everyone take the flowers I bought?'

'I took mine,' Hu Ying said.

'I'll grab mine in a bit,' Zhai Xingchen said.

'Let me bring them over for you. Out of the ones I bought, which do you like best?' Huo Cheng got up.

'I like them all. Each has its own beauty.'

Just like all the men in the Red and Blue Cabin.

'I'll bring you one of each then,' Huo Cheng said.

Saying that, he took three stems to Zhai Xingchen's room.

On Zhai Xingchen's desk, there was already a narrow-necked white vase with a bouquet of Yan Zhi's Baby's Breath in it.

Huo Cheng added his three flowers, stood there pressing his lips together for a moment, then suddenly reached out and flicked Yan Zhi's Baby's Breath.

Like poking his own love rival.

Boys stay boys till they die. When you're new to love, aren't we all just kindergartners?

After cleaning up, Zhai Xingchen went back to his room and took a shower first.

After his shower, someone came to find him.

It was Hu Ying.

After today, he and Hu Ying's relationship had taken a huge leap forward.

They were good sisters now.

Good bros with the Blue Team Guests, good sisters with the Red Team Guests. A tool person, ready to be moved wherever needed.

Zhai Xingchen discovered Hu Ying was a treasure too. On the surface, a fierce-tempered beauty—gorgeous, wild, untouchable—but once you got to know her, she was warm and simple.

The two hit it off, chatting deep into the night—pure nonsense.

But the better the friendship, the more you love talking nonsense.

After chatting, Hu Ying was a little reluctant to call it a night.

She felt this state with Zhai Xingchen—eighty percent friendship—was really good.

Even if there were moments of being smitten, when it came to actually dating seriously, how could she really go for Zhai Xingchen?

She categorized her fleeting flutter for Zhai Xingchen as 'opposites attract.'

Two people with different attributes—or different genders—when they first meet and the relationship isn't defined yet, the vibe between them is always subtle.

None of the other guests on The Red and Blue Signal clicked with her like Zhai Xingchen did. Some were too well-behaved, some too serious, some too proper, and the rest were all way too 'horny'—no way they could be friends.

It was deep into the night, but Yan Zhi's fan group was on fire.

Because Yan Zhi was Live Streaming himself playing King of Glory.

His style was always brutal, but tonight he was absolutely slaughtering everyone. Ferocious, savage, dominating from start to finish.

'Holy shit, Yan-ge is savage tonight!'

'Eek eek, Yan-ge looks so sexy when he's fierce. Yan-ge, mount me.'

'Big-dick femboy upstairs, can you put some pants on before coming out?'

Yan Zhi's fans had a lot of straight guys and gay guys. The chat was filthy. Every time Yan Zhi pulled off something amazing, a flood of people would beg to be mounted.

Amid the fans' blood-pumping screaming, Yan Zhi tossed his phone and walked straight out of his room.

He didn't knock, just walked straight into the suite next door. The moment he reached Zhai Xingchen's door, he heard Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying talking inside.

Whatever they were talking about, Hu Ying burst out laughing.

Yan Zhi froze, stood outside the door for a moment, then went back.

Back in his room, Yan Zhi felt a little relieved—thank god Hu Ying was there. Given the bloodthirsty mood he was in, who knows what he might have said if he'd seen Zhai Xingchen.

Everyone said he had incredible self-control. Only he knew that his Asceticism getup, his usual gentle disguise—all of it was just to cage the bloodthirsty beast inside him.

That madness and darkness—he only needed to let it out in the game.

It would scare Zhai Xingchen.

Maybe because today was so frustrating, the fire inside was burning even hotter. Yan Zhi lay in bed thinking about Zhai Xingchen, his body aching with it. He rubbed his neck on and off until his Adam's apple was red. He took off his glasses, a strand of hair falling over his forehead, his eyes full of something fierce.

In the deep of night, Pei Xu lay still in the darkness, not a single light on.

His phone played a song in the dark, singing:

'You must have never boiled over, to go mad over such a tacky love.'

Someone from the Production Team gasped: 'Oh, it's "Chen Yilun's Liberation West"!'

'What's special about this song?'

'It's Liu Shuang's song! You forgot—when they came back from dinner, Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying were singing "Monica"!'

'So?'

'They're all Liu Shuang's songs! Zhai Xingchen said back then that he really liked listening to him!'