Did Assistant Xie Make the Trending Searches Today? - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Knowing How to Play

“Stop crying.” Jin Huaifeng stood to the side with his arms crossed, frowning slightly. “I told you, I don’t like your type.”

Lan Chi looked at him with watery eyes. “Then what type do you like? I’ll change.”

Jin Huaifeng scanned him from head to toe, his gaze lingering on Lan Chi’s small curls and emerald green eyes. “I like pure-blooded Chinese people.”

Lan Chi: “…”

Listen to that, are those even human words?

Damn, that’s too cruel!!! ‘Pure-blooded Chinese’—Lan Chi would have to be reincarnated once to have any hope of changing that.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lan Chi, who was previously just on the verge of tears, started bawling. It felt like all the water in his body was being cried out. Gasping for breath, with tears and snot flowing together, he pointed at Jin Huaifeng’s nose and accused: “You are a total moron!”

“Yes, yes, yes, I’m a moron. So hurry up and find someone suitable. Stop staring at me; we aren’t a match.”

This kid—why is he so stubborn? Why must he insist on hanging himself from my single, upright tree?

That punchable tone, my fists are clenching.

Hhhh, Brother Jin, how have you not been bagged in a burlap sack and beaten for talking like that?

“You… hic… you deserve, deserve to be single!”

“I’m single, I’m single.” Jin Huaifeng thought to himself: Master is single because Master doesn’t want to date, okay?

“Just let He-ting choose others every day, and never choose you. It’ll annoy you to death.”

“Fine, let He-ting every day—” Jin Huaifeng reflexively started to agree, then immediately reacted: “That won’t do!”

Tears scrambled down the corners of Lan Chi’s eyes as he shouted in a breakdown: “You really have fallen for He-ting!!!!”

A balloon that was being constantly inflated to its limit was poked by a tiny needle. Pop. It burst.

A strange silence fell between the two.

Jin Huaifeng was clearly stunned by Lan Chi’s words.

After the initial daze, he glanced sideways at Lan Chi with a look that said “Is your brain broken?”: “Like him? If I were insane, that might be slightly possible!”

“Alright, stop crying. If you cry any more, you’ll ruin your brain.”

Lan Chi slapped his hand away with a “pa,” covered his face, and ran off.

Jin Huaifeng let out a sigh.

Sigh, Lan Chi, that kid is a fool.

Just as Jin Huaifeng was about to push the door and enter, he turned his head and saw a delicate figure standing not far away.

Oh ho, a direct collision.

Jin Huaifeng, you better have some backbone. Don’t fall for He, I’m warning you, otherwise you’re waiting to get slapped in the face.

Slap him! Then it’ll be a ‘chasing the wife to the crematorium’ trope; I love to watch that!

His heart skipped a beat. He had to raise his voice to cover that sudden, baseless panic, asking hoarsely: “Where did you run off to just now!”

After speaking, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at his expression. The other person didn’t look angry or sad at all; instead, he looked… relieved?

Jin Huaifeng’s face cooled down at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Xie He-ting was beaming with joy, following along softly: “I came back to rest.”

Hehe, great. Jin Huaifeng doesn’t like him. That means if there are dates later, I can ask Jin Huaifeng. It’s absolutely safe!

Jin Huaifeng looked at that beautiful small face. His precarious expression turned completely black.

It has to be said that Orange TV’s casting was something special. While guests on other dating shows would be worried to death if they couldn’t get a date the first time, the guests of Love Signal had better mindsets one after another.

Even though the first date was a total failure and arguments were already breaking out on Weibo, these seven people weren’t affected at all. The sense of relaxation was at its peak.

At this moment, Xie He-ting’s gaze was glued to the screen playing a boring Orange TV drama, unable to look away.

Jin Huaifeng, dressed in sportswear bursting with pheromones, was boxing. Shen Ji’s athletic figure flickered in the azure pool.

Shi Jixing had found a quiet corner, cradling his beloved guitar and singing to himself.

After an emergency discussion with the director’s team, Mu Ying soon settled on a solution. Once it was confirmed feasible, he gathered all the guests together during dinner to announce the new rules.

I’m looking forward to it. This is a problem of the century—the seven guests currently have no ‘thick arrows’ (strong feelings) for each other, so how will the first date proceed?

It’s a complete test of the production team’s adaptability. Orange TV has been doing variety shows for so many years; they know the tricks.

Wow, the Man in Black has appeared. He’s coming up with props.

The prop was a small square box with a hole in the top, looking a bit like a lucky draw box.

Drawing lots? No way. Is this Orange TV’s solution? Is this a comedy show?

Even using my toes, I can guess it won’t be a simple draw. That’s too childish! How can the sacred first date be arranged so casually?

Heh.

“Since the mutual selection for the first date was a failure, we shall opt for a blind selection method. Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are in the hands of Heaven. Come, everyone, draw.”

Hello? Is everything okay?

“There are seven slips of paper inside. There are three pairs of matching patterns and one blank card. Those who draw the same pattern will be tomorrow’s date partners.”

Mu Ying tapped the box, his gaze scanning the group. “Alright, who goes first?”

Shen Ji smiled. “I suggest we respect the old and love the young. Let the youngest go first, alright?”

The other “olds” had no objection.

Thus, the drawing order was: Lan Chi, Shi Jixing, Wen Zhou, Xie He-ting, Jin Huaifeng, Zhou Yanrong, and Shen Ji.

Before drawing, Lan Chi rubbed his hands and hopped around, chanting something under his breath.

The guests were wearing mics; although the voice wasn’t loud, it was still captured perfectly by the camera.

“Please don’t let me draw that moron Jin Huaifeng, please don’t let me draw that moron Jin Huaifeng.”

Hahaha, love and hate in a single instant!

Look, Brother Jin is performing a ‘face-change’ again. Brilliant! The Intangible Cultural Heritage successor of Sichuan Opera Face-Changing must be him!

Upstairs, you really know about cultural heritage. Just rubbing that trending element, eh?

Jin Huaifeng had a dark face, standing tall and cold with his arms crossed.

Already dead, don’t cue.

Soon, everyone had finished drawing. Wen Zhou poked his head out, trying to see what Zhou Yanrong had drawn. Zhou Yanrong pressed his card down with the back of his hand, signaling him to show his first. Seeing that Wen Zhou’s card was a cluster of blooming yellow chrysanthemums, Zhou Yanrong breathed a sigh of relief and flipped his hand: “Mine is Flame Red Lips.”

What kind of tacky thing is this? Such ugly draw cards, my eyes are dirty!

The production team’s draw cards were truly ugly—clashing colors with ‘Flame Red Lips,’ little chrysanthemums blooming in the wind, and what looked like a hand-drawn stick figure.

“I’m the stick figure. Who else?” Shi Jixing asked.

“Me!” Xie He-ting raised his hand high. Turning around, he found Jin Huaifeng staring at him with a grim gaze.

Lan Chi was asking everywhere who had the pentagram pattern. Jin Huaifeng expressionlessly crumpled his pentagram-patterned card into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket.

The bullet chat went crazy with laughter.

Hahahahaha, little darling Lan Chi, what kind of luck is this?

Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know if the next one is a surprise or a dog-blood drama.

If it’s truly based on luck, Lan Chi and Jin Huaifeng—I think you two should just be locked together.

Who’s to say it’s not intentional? Maybe Jin did it on purpose? Then secretly chose the same as Lan Chi to give him a surprise.

Forget it, the ‘shipper’ is crazy; the kid has already fallen into a demonic obsession.

Finally, the groupings came out.

Wen Zhou was the odd one out; tomorrow he would be responsible for logistics and staying behind at the villa.

The other three pairs of date partners were:

Jin Huaifeng x Lan Chi;

Xie He-ting x Shi Jixing;

Shen Ji x Zhou Yanrong.

“Alright, congratulations to everyone for matching your date partners with your exquisite luck. Next, I will announce the rules of the date.”

“One: The location of this date is decided by both parties. Key point: the location must be a place where one of the parties has had beautiful memories with an ex.”

“Two: After this date ends, you must send your impressions of the date partner via text message at 11:00 PM today, no less than three hundred words.”

“Three: To make the show more challenging, there will be some hidden tasks during this date. After triggering and successfully completing the tasks, you will be ranked according to the degree of completion. First place will be rewarded with a 500,000 yuan love fund. At the same time, points can be cashed out. Our love prize pool is now open. Regardless of whether you successfully hold hands in the end, guests can exchange points at the end of the recording.”

There was actually money to be had!

Xie He-ting’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Mu Ying.

That longing little gaze made Mu Ying laugh. “One point corresponds to 10,000 yuan. There is no cap on points.”

Wok!!! (Wow) So good! The production team is so generous!!

If you calculate it, it’s not that much. Orange TV must have already made a killing from the ratings we contribute.

One point for 10,000—the ‘2.08 million’ types (celebrities) wouldn’t care for it.

But why is He-he so happy? These ‘commoner’ guests should all be fairly well-off.

It must be because he gets to date Shi! Could it really be because of the points?

Xie He-ting was indeed incredibly happy because of the points.

Jiang Ye had said before that after he finished recording the variety show, he would give him 100,000. In the show, that was only ten points!

Completing tasks gives points, successfully holding hands gives points—a huge sum of money!

Originally, Xie He-ting intended to just drift through the three weeks, take the money happily, and find a way to quit.

Now, for the points, he had to work hard! He must successfully hold hands! Oh, wait—can he discuss faking a couple with Jin Huaifeng?

But Jin doesn’t seem to lack money… he should think about it carefully.

Jiang Ye really introduced him to a great job!

As long as he was hardworking enough, in two months he would have a large sum of money and could live well in this world!

Xie He-ting could barely suppress the corners of his mouth.

Jin Huaifeng stared at Xie He-ting, the expression on his face a colorful display.

Is he this happy just to date Shi Jixing?

I feel like I stood on the wrong ship. Look how happy He-he is knowing he gets to date Shi Jixing.

Could it be… is it possible… no way (gradually doubting life)

It’s 200%. Otherwise, how do you explain why Xie He-ting is secretly laughing out loud? Isn’t it obvious?

But they haven’t had any interaction before.

A “shipping expert” immediately jumped out: How can you say there’s no interaction! When He cried last time, Shi went to comfort him. In the gym, Shi played with the equipment with him. Just now, they fatefully drew the same pattern. How is that not shippable!

You’re truly hungry, eating such hard ‘candy’?

Unruly, terminal voice-fetishist singer x soft and cute idol trainee with a great voice. You don’t ship this??

That actually makes a lot of sense.

I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I feel Young Master Jin’s face is even darker than the last time Lan Chi called him a moron.

It was more than just a dark face.

Seeing Xie He-ting laughing foolishly, happy as can be, Jin almost crushed the object in his hand.

Shi Jixing looked at Xie He-ting’s happy smile and those sparkling, curved eyes. He truly couldn’t hold back and lightly patted Xie He-ting’s shoulder.

Xie He-ting turned to look at him.

Shi Jixing tilted his face slightly, somewhat shyly: “Are you this happy to go on a date with me?”

Xie He-ting was still in a daze.

Crack.

Jin Huaifeng expressionlessly placed the broken remote control on the table.

He turned and walked away.

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