The Unnamed Firework

In the glittering, cutthroat world of the entertainment industry, I, Xu Wanning (Hứa Vãn Ninh), was little more than a nameless speck. My agent, driven by a desperate need for exposure, shoved me into the biggest dating reality show of the season, Heartbeat Misaligned, intending for me to serve as mere background noise. My only mission was to lie low, complete my contract, and wait for my insignificant role to fade into oblivion.

I had mentally prepared for a vacation of invisibility. Yet, on the very first day of filming, during a seemingly innocent ice-breaking game, my carefully constructed anonymity was utterly shattered.

I lost the game.

“What note did you put down for your ex-boyfriend?” someone playfully asked.

The question caught me completely off guard. My mind, exhausted and lacking its usual self-control, blurted out the single, cryptic acronym: “ATM.”

The word hung in the air, a venomous, three-letter declaration. Immediate regret flooded me. This show was live-streamed; no amount of post-production magic could erase my reckless confession. “Acting recklessly based on my obscurity,” I cursed internally. “I’ll say anything now.”

The good news? For the first time, my name, Xu Wanning, rocketed up the hot search rankings. The bad news? The entire internet was now on a relentless, ground-up manhunt, determined to excavate the ex-boyfriend who had inspired such bitter resentment.

The comment section of the dating show’s livestream was instantly swamped by gossip-hungry netizens:

• “ATM? Did I hear that right? Is it the ‘ATM’ I think it is?”

• “Xu Wanning? Never heard of her, but this is practically a confession of having a Sugar Daddy.”

• “Definitely not a Sugar Daddy. If she had one, she wouldn’t be this irrelevant.”

• “Everyone, I just did a quick sweep of the entertainment circle, and there’s no one whose name starts with ‘A’ in the running. Honestly, could this not even be initials?”

In a blink, the hashtags #XuWanningATM, #XuWanningHasASugarDaddy, and #XuWanningExBoyfriendWorthCryingFor dominated the top three spots. I felt the raw, terrifying power of the hot search for the first time. Even my handful of loyal (and probably bored) fans started a celebratory giveaway, congratulating me for finally getting a name in the industry.

This whole spectacle was bound to pass. If I just kept silent, the topic would eventually drown in the daily torrent of celebrity news. But the universe, it seemed, had other plans for me.

That very evening, the newly crowned Film Emperor, Su Cixuan (Tô Tất An), posted an unexpected Weibo update that set the entire network ablaze.

He clarified the acronym. “ATM,” he wrote, “stands for ‘Always There Man,’ meaning I am the shining beacon in her life.”

The internet exploded. I, too, felt like I was losing my mind. This clumsy attempt at a confession, a move both bold and utterly transparent, immediately shifted the entire focus toward me and Su Cixuan.

• “Huh? I surf the internet 5G-speed, and I didn’t even know they knew each other! Can someone grab a microscope and help me dig up their dating history?”

• “Forget it. Their Weibo accounts look exactly like marketing accounts, posting only ads every day. How can you dig anything up?”

• “He really made me cry to death. Manipulating myself with my own hand, LOL.”

• “No way? Why do I feel like this is a little sweet? It’s expired candy, but can I still eat it?”

Whether people could still eat the ‘expired candy’ was not my concern. I only knew that the production team was absolutely eager to feast.

The next morning, I awoke to a chilling realization: Su Cixuan was in the Heartbeat Misaligned villa. He came.

My first instinct was to flee. Our breakup years ago was anything but amicable. I had even thrown down a toxic ultimatum: “Where you are, I won’t be. Where I am, you’d better disappear.”

As I tried to stealthily make my escape, the director’s voice immediately boomed, “Ms. Xu, please don’t go! We all have to greet the new guest and get acquainted.”

How ridiculous. The entire internet knew he was my bitter, resentful ex. What was there left to “get acquainted” with? Was I supposed to stand in front of millions of viewers and declare, “You must always believe in the light!”?

But a contract was signed, and the money was in my account. I had a responsibility to act professional. Reluctantly, I dragged my feet down the stairs and strategically positioned myself in a camera blind spot, prepared to play dead.

Su Cixuan walked in, dressed casually in a charcoal-blue street-brand T-shirt and black sweatpants. That face, enough to drive nations crazy, instantly sent the live chat into a screaming frenzy.

• “Honestly, Mr. Su’s looks are truly peak. No wonder he’s certified by the big screen.”

• “The spring of the CP fans is here! Do you understand? Su Cixuan and Jiang Xin in the same frame! I finally get to ship a real couple!”

• “Wait, wasn’t he an item with Xu Wanning? Back off! Back off! Can he just back off, please?”

• “Mr. Su must be here for our Xin Bao (Heart Treasure). Their drama was too successful, after all.”

• “Xu Wanning, you nameless minor star, don’t try to latch onto my husband anymore!”

• “She probably dumped him before because he wasn’t famous. Now that he’s the Film Emperor, she’s pulling out the ‘ATM’ note to stir up heat.”

It was then I realized the true meaning of: The more famous you are, the more gossip you attract. Just yesterday, I was in this show with barely a decent shot, not even a mention in the comments. I was diligently fulfilling my role as background fodder, only to have my mouth move faster than my brain. Now, the current me was regretting it immensely. After all, who truly wants to participate in a dating show with their ex?

Lost in my daze, Jiang Xin (Tưởng Tâm) walked up to Su Cixuan. She smiled as she greeted him. They seemed quite familiar, and the comments did not disappoint, rolling out like an avalanche, ecstatic about the two being in the same frame. Jiang Xin’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

• “Can’t deny, beautiful men and women are a feast for the eyes. I’m already imagining how gorgeous their kids would be.”

• “But Su Cixuan was the one who clarified things for Xu Wanning last night. I feel like he came here for Xu Wanning.”

• “The girl in front, don’t ruin the mood! No one wants to see a nameless minor star’s love story.”

Alright, so a minor star doesn’t deserve love. I wasn’t even planning to greet Su Cixuan, afraid the netizens would accuse me of latching onto his fame.

But the next second, Su Cixuan’s gaze pierced through everyone and landed directly on me. Just as he was about to say something, I abruptly raised my hand. “I need to use the restroom.” I was determined not to give the netizens any more ammunition to curse me with.

But the netizens refused to accept my narrative:

• “Uh, what’s with her attitude? The minor star finally got to latch on, and now she’s using avoidance tactics to get more hot searches?”

• “Compared to our Xin Bao, she’s so tactless!”

• “Can I say this softly? Didn’t anyone notice? When Sister Xu left, Mr. Su’s eyes darkened instantly.”

• “Sister, if your eyesight is bad, donate it! Don’t say things I don’t like to hear!”

When I returned, the production team decided to host a temporary game: “You Talk, I Guess.” The team with the highest tacit understanding would get a private date the next day.

“How ridiculous,” I thought, immediately resigning myself. If I could lie still and blend in, why would I run out in the heat to be a prominent target?

But the draw results were announced, and I was paired with Su Cixuan.

In a flash of lightning-quick movement, just before the camera could focus on me, I secretly swapped my draw paper with Jiang Xin’s.

Jiang Xin froze. Su Cixuan’s face darkened even further.

• “Haha, Sister Xu, do you think we didn’t see that clumsy move?”

• “Mr. Su, does she think I’m blind?”

• “Jiang Xin, what’s going on? Am I part of your little game?”

Ultimately, I was forced to team up with Su Cixuan.

The game rules were simple: each team member takes turns guessing five keywords per round. The highest-ranked team gets priority in choosing a date partner (or keeping the current partner). The last-ranked team, and those not chosen, would have to clean the villa.

• “Clean the villa? Wait, is there such a good thing in this world?” I thought gleefully. I was absolutely determined not to let myself down. I would snatch that last place!

We stood opposite each other. This round, he spoke, I guessed.

Su Cixuan: “A movie I just finished filming.”

Me: “I don’t know. Pass!” Su Cixuan’s face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

Su Cixuan: “The color of the shirt I’m wearing today.”

Me: “I’m sorry, I’m colorblind. Pass!”

Su Cixuan: “This is simple! The name of the show, it’s right here in my room.”

Me: “I can’t read the characters. Pass!”

Su Cixuan (gritting his teeth): “In English, it’s ‘Apple.’ What is it in Chinese?”

Me: “I’ve never been abroad, I don’t know English. Pass!”

Su Cixuan (his face reflecting the loss of all hope in humanity): “What is our country’s name? Two characters.”

Me: “I know this one! The People’s Republic of China. Oh, wait, that’s seven characters. Sorry, my hearing is a little poor.”

The comments section exploded:

• “Hahaha! Sister Xu isn’t here to tell jokes, is she? I’m laughing my head off!”

• “Why do I feel like she’s deliberately avoiding Mr. Su?”

• “Sister Xu’s face screams ‘joyful.’ Mr. Su’s look of wanting to stab someone? How can he hide that?”

• “Save me! I really want to ship this couple!”

Thankfully, I was clever. This round, I did not disappoint and won the Unsynchronized Champion award with flying colors.

The next round: I spoke, Su Cixuan guessed. This was a setup for easy points, wasn’t it?

Su Cixuan shot me a glance, his eyes filled with a subtle, wounded look as if to say, “Don’t treat me like this.” I ignored him.

But the first keyword the production team flashed was clearly designed to stir up trouble: “ATM.”

It’s confirmed. The director is rotten to the core.

Now, the pressure was all on me. I absolutely couldn’t let Su Cixuan guess correctly. But how could I describe this keyword without causing a scandal? Anything I said would easily be spun by fans as me clinging to fame. As a nameless star, it was truly a struggle.

I opened my mouth, looked at Su Cixuan standing opposite me, and pursed my lips. “How should I describe this word?”

He raised an eyebrow. I glanced at him again. “This word is really hard to say.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. I sighed. “If it’s so hard, then let’s…”

Before the word “Pass” could leave my lips, Su Cixuan blurted out the answer: “ATM.”

The netizens went wild:

• “He guessed that right? What the heck? Sister Xu didn’t even say a word! I’m calling this Lover’s Tacit Understanding. Just one look is enough!”

• “Don’t stop me; I have to eat this expired candy!”

Keyword 2: “Toy”

The director strictly instructed me to follow the rules and not pass everything. “Easy enough,” I thought. “If he guesses this, I’ll wash my hair standing on my head.”

I stared at Su Cixuan. “This… is usually something adults like.” I deliberately said the opposite. It was intrinsically a children’s item, after all, and used to ‘coax’ people to be happy. Coaxing a child meant buying toys—a clear-cut answer.

As I expected, Su Cixuan’s expression was slightly unnatural. He looked at me again, still uncertain, but his ears were turning slightly red.

I continued, “Normally, you don’t use it every day, only on special occasions do you buy it.” Time was running out. I was internally cheering. If he guesses this, I’ll truly be possessed!

Su Cixuan swallowed hard, forcing the answer through his clenched teeth: “Toy.” His face was unbelievably flushed.

My smile instantly froze. The comments erupted. I hated myself for understanding too quickly.

• “No way, he guessed this too? So, do they use that ‘toy’ often?”

• “Didn’t Sister Xu say it’s used to coax people to be happy? Oh my god, I’m too stimulated!”

• “Is Sister Xu the proactive one in that aspect? Saying that really makes me curious! How proactive?”

Seeing the comments spiraling out of control, the director cleared his throat, signaling the next question.

Keyword 3: “Shower Gel”

How should I mislead him this time? I thought for a moment and said, “A thing that slips and slides when you’re done using it.” My plan was for him to guess Soap.

He asked me, “Did we often use it together before?”

“Of course,” I said. Then I immediately realized: He’s baiting me!

I glared at him. “You’re not allowed to ask me back-questions!”

Su Cixuan chuckled. “Alright, I’ll guess.”

Once again, I was dumbfounded. He smiled openly. “Something we used together: Shower Gel.”

The comments exploded again:

• “Ha! Is this something I can listen to on this livestream?”

• “Note the keyword: Used Together. I’m sorry, I’ve started imagining the scene.”

• “Wuwuwu. Why did they break up? The atmosphere is like this! I really want to see them kiss!”

• “That minor star needs to get lost! Su Cixuan belongs to our Xin Bao!”

Though I might seem aloof and difficult on the outside, my heart was actually more agitated. This man is truly a walking contradiction! Can’t he see my firm resolve to avoid sharing the screen with him? I was furious.

I looked up, and Su Cixuan was curling his lips, wearing a smug smile, like a puppy who’d been petted by its owner.

Suddenly, I recalled that when we were both unknown, every time he made me angry, he would squat at my feet, hold my hand, and gently rub his soft head against my leg. “Don’t be mad anymore,” he would say. “Can I just pat your head?” When he looked up, his moist eyes made you feel like you were the only person in his world.

Facing his current gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

Before I could regain my composure, the next keyword appeared: “Little White Rabbit.”

This is too ridiculous! But as long as I misled him well enough, he definitely wouldn’t guess it.

I thought for a moment and opened my mouth: “An animal, three characters, very ferocious, with fangs.” I was saying the exact opposite of a “Little White Rabbit.” I even added, “It bites people, too!” Who wouldn’t guess some kind of beast?

Su Cixuan frowned in contemplation. I thought he would finally guess wrong. Instead, he looked at me with an impossibly gentle gaze and slowly stated the answer: “Little White Rabbit.”

You’re impossible! My emotional defense was about to collapse.

He lowered his head and smiled. “Little bunny, it turns out you still remember. I love that.”

In that instant, I froze, remembering. I once cosplayed a rabbit, lay on his chest, and pretended to bite him. “Little White Rabbit Transformation! Ferocious and bites, with fangs! Don’t provoke me! If you do, I’ll bite you, and don’t cry then!”

Remembering it now, I was utterly embarrassed. At the time, Su Cixuan stroked the black rabbit ears on my head, calmly lifted his shirt, pulled me into his arms, and said he couldn’t ask for anything better. In the end, I was the one who cried.

How does he remember all these tiny details? I’m doomed. Utterly doomed!

The comments were confused: “How did he guess that right? The production team must have leaked the answers!”

“Little White Rabbit? Let me think for a moment…”

“Everyone! Why do you understand everything? I’ve turned into a screaming chicken here!”

“Crawling, writhing, tearing apart, twisting, burrowing in the darkness, struggling forcefully, shouting, spasming, roaring! No one is allowed to burrow in the darkness anymore! Scream with me: Stretch out, fly up into the sunlight!”

“Scream: Stretch out, fly up into the sunlight!”

Is everyone’s mental state shattered by just this much? Mine wasn’t much better. With this bunch, what else could possibly be played?

The final word was “Fifth,” referring to a type of literature. I had just opened my mouth, intending to use the current internet trend of “dark burrowing literature” to mislead him.

Su Cixuan subtly curled his lips and even learned to press the answer button quickly. “Fifth.”

The comments were more shocked than I was. “It’s definitely a fix!” “No way! He guessed this too?”

Tacit understanding. This was true tacit understanding. No matter what nonsense you talk to him about, he can guess what you want to say. Everyone join me and ship the Sleepy Bamboo Couple!

I seriously suspected the show was rigged, or Su Cixuan had bribed the staff. Otherwise, how could he guess everything correctly? I immediately raised my hand. “Director, I have a question.”

Before the director could speak, Su Cixuan also raised his hand. He curved his lips, looking like an attention-seeking package.

“It’s like this,” he explained. “Although she didn’t give any useful information on the first question, she looked at me several times, so I knew it definitely concerned me.”

The director and the comments section were silent for a few seconds before erupting:

• “Confirmed, everyone! This guy is really good at self-manipulation!”

• “Mr. Su is truly a beauty lacking a cerebral cortex, but his eyes are so clear, so clear they’re almost foolish! Clear evidence of dating!”

• “I’m not only eating this expired candy, but I’m also going to fabricate rumors that they’re getting back together!”

Thus, despite my miserable failure on all five questions, thanks to Su Cixuan guessing everything correctly, we became the team with the highest tacit understanding. My face was plastered with the word “PROTEST,” while Su Cixuan walked over to me, wagging his tail like a proud dog. “Next up is our time together.”

• “Is it just my illusion? Why does Sister Xu look like she’s saying, ‘Don’t come near me’?”

• “I noticed a long time ago. Some people said she was latching onto him, but it’s clearly Su Cixuan who’s latching onto Sister Xu!”

• “Exactly! That wounded look in his eyes never leaves Sister Xu. Sister Xu’s eyes say, ‘Keep your distance.’”

The date location was an amusement park. The production team certainly knew how to mess with people. Other guest pairs were present, just in different areas. The main theme was Chaos.

To maintain distance from Su Cixuan, I immediately headed for the roller coaster. Su Cixuan has a fear of heights; he would surely refuse to ride.

But just as my safety harness clicked into place, he sat down next to me. His face was gentle. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.”

The result was that the person who screamed hysterically, threatening to tear his throat, and who squeezed my hand until it was red, was him.

• “Hahaha, why are these two so funny? Everyone, please come into the livestream room!”

• “Sister Xu is clearly trying to pretend she doesn’t know him!”

• “The key point is that Sister Xu is giving Mr. Su the cold shoulder! Those who cursed her before, now apologize!”

• “Does a minor star’s life matter too?”

After we got off the ride, Su Cixuan still held my hand. I tried to pull it away, but he gripped it tighter, his face full of grievances. “Wuwu, I’m scared.”

This adorable contrast made me want to pat Mr. Su’s head. I recalled Su Cixuan’s previous interviews, where he was always cold and aloof. What happened?

• “What else happened? In front of the person he loves, everyone sheds their disguise. Mr. Su is actually a cute, mewing cat who is also a little foolish.”

• “Only next to Xu Wanning does he revert to his true self. This is the saying: a man is a boy until he dies.”

I was truly helpless and made an excuse to go to the restroom. When I returned, Su Cixuan was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw him approach from somewhere. He slipped a bunch of balloons into my hand.

I suddenly remembered a date we had at a park when we were in the toughest phase of our lives. To cheer me up, he had helped someone sell balloons. Based on his handsome face, he managed to sell quite a lot. In the end, he placed a huge bunch of balloons like this into my hand. That afternoon, his face was red from the sun, but I clearly remembered the image of that boy under the sunset, both sincere and dazzling.

“Do you like it?” Su Cixuan smiled brightly at me, snapping me back to reality.

My heart subconsciously fluttered. I quickly averted my gaze and awkwardly shook my head. “No.”

A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Su Cixuan’s face, but he quickly smiled again. “It’s okay if you don’t like it. So, what do you like now?”

I casually pointed at a passerby walking toward us. “I like that type now.”

Su Cixuan followed the direction of my finger, but for some reason, the person who came into view was Jiang Xin. Su Cixuan was silent. Jiang Xin was silent. I didn’t know what to say anymore. Only the comments were happy.

• “Ah, a story about two beautiful girls! I love it! Show me 100 episodes! If you don’t, I’ll riot!”

• “Got it! Ship the new couple! Green Tea CP, charge!”

• “You at the top, shipping everything is self-harm!”

• “You’re wrong. Shipping everything gives me full nourishment!”

Could I just say this was a misunderstanding?

After dinner, I knocked on Jiang Xin’s door. She opened it and blushed slightly when she saw it was me. I felt a bit awkward but still mustered the courage to ask if I could come in. She looked down the hall, seemingly checking for cameras. The production team had said the hallway cameras would be turned off at night, so she nodded softly. I stepped inside.

She invited me to sit on the sofa. As I sat, my eyes swept across the iPad on the chair. The screen was still on, prominently displaying a large title: After Transmigrating into the Female Lead of a Slash Fiction, My Stepmother and I Fell in Love.

My silence resonated throughout the room. Jiang Xin clearly saw it too. She quickly ran over and used her jacket to cover the screen, her voice a little flustered. “S-Sister, you didn’t see anything, right?”

What could I say? Of course, I had to nod. “Yes, I suffer from screen phobia and selective blindness under lights.” In reality, my toes were already scratching the floor to build a Barara Castle.

“That…” “That…” We both spoke at once. “You speak first,” “No, you speak first.” This useless tacit understanding increased once again.

Finally, she explained first. “I don’t like Su Cixuan. We just filmed a drama together; we have compatible personalities and can talk.”

“I didn’t mean that,” I quickly waved my hand.

She continued, “I just don’t want you to misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?” My CPU was burning out.

I was about to leave when Jiang Xin suddenly spoke up. “Can I call you Sister? Can we exchange contacts? I think you’re very interesting.”

In the end, I left the room in a daze. Before she closed the door, Jiang Xin gave me a sweet smile. “Good night, Sister.”

Before bed, the director instructed us to use the show’s phone to send a message to the guest who made our hearts flutter. I initially didn’t want to send one, but the director insisted it was a rule. I believed him as much as I believed I could fly. I scrolled up and down the list several times and finally chose a slightly foolish-looking guy, whose name I think was Shen Yan. I sent him a text: “Want to have breakfast together tomorrow?”

The question was pointless, as the show dictated everyone eat breakfast together. Before he could reply, I received another message. “I saw you didn’t eat anything this morning. I’ll make you scallion pancakes tomorrow, okay?”

One look and I knew it was from Su Cixuan. I immediately replied, “No need.”

He asked again, “Who did you message? Who do you like?”

“It’s definitely not you.”

“The fact that you replied to me instantly means you like me.”

“I replied to you quickly not because I like you, but because I’m holding my phone.”

On the other side, Shen Yan also messaged back: “Sure.” Immediately after, I got another notification from Jiang Xin: “Sister, if we play games tomorrow, can I sit next to you?”

I thought for a moment and replied, “Yes.” Mission accomplished. I ignored Su Cixuan and lay down to sleep.

But when I woke up the next morning, I saw countless unread messages.

“I smoked countless cigarettes and drank strong liquor until I wanted to vomit. I walked 99 steps toward you, yet you blocked my path. Who are you messaging? Women, you are playing with fire. Very well, I like your type. You not replying means your feelings for me are simply unspeakable.”

“Stepping onto the stage, adjusting my tie with a dignified demeanor, coughing into the mic. I am not a lick-dog. Listening to the applause, bowing, leaving with grace in my polished shoes.”

“Appearing with a rose in my mouth. Licking my wife is not shameful. Woof woof. Happy. I will still make you breakfast tomorrow. The main point is companionship. Are you asleep yet? Good night. See you in my dreams.”

He really said a lot. But when I went downstairs, I indeed saw Su Cixuan busy in the kitchen, along with a few other early risers, like Jiang Xin. I quickly looked away, but the comments were quick to catch it.

• “Look at the eyes of that nameless star, Xu Wanning. Why is she looking at our Xin Bao? Does anyone really think Su Cixuan came back to reconcile? I don’t believe it. Xin Bao is several times prettier than Xu Wanning.”

• “Perfect! How did Su Cixuan know our Xin Bao likes scallion pancakes?!”

• “Did you forget? They played lovers in the drama! It’s not acting; it’s real!”

• “So, the past is the past. Someone, please voluntarily keep your distance, okay?”

So, I voluntarily kept my distance. The show had already prepared breakfast. I settled at the edge of the table, automatically playing my background role.

But a young man brought a bowl of soy milk and a fried dough stick and sat next to me. I remembered him. It was the slightly foolish, straightforward guy I messaged last night: Shen Ye. He actually looked quite decent, though his reaction time was a bit slow.

“Good morning,” he greeted.

I nodded. “Good morning. Are you done eating?”

“Not yet. I waited for you to eat together.” In his hand were indeed two portions. I quickly reached out to take them.

But the hand that reached out first belonged to Su Cixuan. Shen Ye and I both looked over at him. In his hand was a plate of scallion pancakes. The aroma was truly captivating. But compared to eating the pancakes, Su Cixuan looked more interested in eating people.

“Try what I just made. It’s delicious.” His eyes were fixed on me.

Shen Ye, thinking he was talking to him, let out a cry and immediately grabbed a pancake. “You’re quite something! Not bad, truly delicious. Xu Wanning, want a bite?”

• “Hahaha, I’m laughing so hard I’m going to burst! Why is Mr. Shen so cute?”

• “Mr. Su hates men who don’t know how to keep their distance the most. Didn’t he notice Mr. Su wants to stab him?”

• “This guy’s reflexes are truly slow, but he’s too cute! I’m shipping this couple too!”

• “Why are you all shipping everything?”

• “Hehe, our philosophy is to water everything equally!”

Before I could accept the food from Shen Ye, Su Cixuan directly broke off a piece of the pancake and brought it straight to my mouth, preempting what I was about to say.

I blinked at him. He smiled. “Eat more. You’re so thin, it’s like you have no feeling of holding you.” Then, very naturally, he handed me a warm glass of honey water to warm my stomach.

• “Don’t eat food offered by strangers! Ah ah ah! I can be single, but the couples I ship must get married!”

• “The feeling of holding a stranger! Oh my god, this possessiveness from Su Cixuan!”

• “Shen Ye, why isn’t anyone helping me say something? Not reconciling is truly too rude!”

After breakfast, the production team announced that to increase the fun, they would display the text messages from all the guests from the night before on the big screen. Thinking of the stack of messages Su Cixuan sent, my head throbbed.

• “Ah, Xin Bao came downstairs and met Mr. Su this morning; they must have arranged it beforehand. They’re so sweet!”

• “Sweet what? They’re just talking normally. Please don’t upgrade the drama CP to real life.”

• “Hmph, just wait to be slapped in the face. They definitely messaged each other last night.”

I secretly watched the big screen, thinking that this production team’s sense of drama was truly top-notch. Soon, it was time to announce Su Cixuan’s messages. The screen was filled with “Crazy Literature,” plunging the room into silence for a long time. It wasn’t until the comments section slowly typed out the number “6” that the “comedic spirits” appeared.

• “Hahaha, I’m truly laughing until I’m rich! ‘Replying quickly is not because I like you, but because I’m playing with my phone.’ I learned that one!”

• “Hahaha, Su Cixuan’s image completely collapsed. The cold, aloof, ascetic man on the outside is a little dog with a wagging tail in front of Sister Xu.”

• “Jiang Xin fans, come out and face the pain! You can curse the overly zealous fans, but don’t scold us rational fans! We haven’t said anything! Even if Su Cixuan still has feelings for Xu Wanning, so what? Our Xin Bao wouldn’t care about a nameless minor star anyway.”

But the next message announced was from Jiang Xin. When the message Jiang Xin sent to me was shown, the comments were silent for a long time, then the A-team (Shipping A/A) occupied the screen. “Who doesn’t like watching two beautiful women together?”

• “A: The cold, proud, nameless goddess. B: The sweet, small, sunny flower. Oh my god, the Green Tea CP is rising! Rejecting female rivalry!”

• “Those fans who caused trouble and led the public opinion before, drag them all out for me!”

When it was my turn to announce my message, everyone was guessing whether I messaged one of the two. The result was that I messaged Shen Ye. “Shen Ye, sorry everyone, but a stranger like me is the big winner this round.”

• “Mr. Su’s heart is really cold. They never had a big fight. Jiang Xin, he really deserves a beating.”

This short segment quickly passed. That evening, the production team arranged for everyone to play Truth or Dare. I had just found a position on the outer edge to sit when Su Cixuan sat down next to me. Instinctively, I wanted to move away from him, but Jiang Xin sat down on my other side and gently said to me, “Sister, we agreed we’d sit close, okay?”

So, I was forced to sit between Su Cixuan and Jiang Xin. Ah, the show truly knows the hearts of the audience. Even if it’s a script, I accept it.

• “It doesn’t look like a script at all. Look at Sister Xu’s face; ‘I’m numb’ is written all over her forehead.”

• “Please watch the great show: ‘What to do when your ex-boyfriend loves you too much, and the hottest starlet insists on sticking close to you.’”

• “You at the top, don’t make me laugh, or you’ll have to take my final exam for me!”

I was tense throughout the process, afraid something like last time would happen. And Su Cixuan was always the variable. I could control my own mouth, but I couldn’t shut his up.

He lost and chose Truth. Someone asked, “Did you truly come here for one person?”

Su Cixuan raised an eyebrow. “What? Haven’t I made it clear enough?”

Oh my goodness, why is this guy so direct? A man this direct deserves a wife! He turned his head and looked at me. It seemed it still wasn’t enough. “I will try to be clearer later.”

Sister Xu, why don’t I just read out my ID card number for you all?

• “Everyone understands, right? Not getting back together is the most unbelievable thing!”

I immediately looked away, grabbing my beer and drinking it down to calm myself.

The next round, he lost again and still chose Truth. Someone asked, “Was the ATM thing real?” Right to the core.

Su Cixuan looked indifferent. “Of course, it’s real. I’m used to pampering her.”

“But isn’t ATM an Automated Teller Machine?”

He glanced at the questioner. “What is the TK for an Automated Teller Machine? Being uncultured is scary. Besides, if I don’t earn money for my wife to spend, what am I earning it for? Is there a problem with that note?” Then he tilted his head and asked back, “Or do you mean I don’t have a wife?”

• “Haha, Mr. Su’s three questions that pierce the soul are a bit too abrupt!”

• “Again! Do men like this still exist? Before I die, I must love someone like this. Wuwuwu. When will it be my turn to have a man who’s obsessed with me like this?”

I drank another bottle of beer. Unfortunately, I forgot I had a low alcohol tolerance.

So, I lost the next round. I chose Dare. Someone said, “Choose one person here and eat a cracker down to the very end.”

Why did they set up such a big dare? I was still numb. Su Cixuan already pulled me up.

As soon as I stood up, my head spun, and my legs wobbled. In the next second, a hand firmly gripped my waist. The heat of that hand was scorching my skin. A familiar scent engulfed me. My heart pounded in panic.

Before my consciousness fully returned, a large hand opened in front of me. A white peach flavored candy rested inside. His voice was low, soft, and captivating. “You know you have low blood sugar, yet you only ate a little bit tonight. It’s good. I always carry candy with me.”

Without waiting for my reaction, he directly unwrapped the candy and placed it straight into my mouth, blocking the words I was about to say.

I blinked at him. He smiled. Bold yet gentle. In that moment, the sweetness spread throughout my mouth.

• “Ah, I’m dead, truly dead! They have to get back together, right? Or clarify…”