Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 18
The white figure gradually coalesced into a round shape, rolling through the air toward her.
Whoosh, whoosh!
It was a plump, pure white puppy, like a little snowball.
Its two ears were incredibly soft, bouncing up and down with each running motion.
The puppy skidded to a stop in front of Ye Zhuoyan, nearly toppling over from the sudden halt.
Ye Zhuoyan couldn’t help but laugh at its silly, adorable antics.
The puppy barked excitedly, wanting to lick her but hesitating, so it wagged its tail like a propeller instead whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Ye Zhuoyan crouched down and stroked the puppy’s head. It happily nuzzled against her hand, barking, “Woof, woof!”
Instead of her date, she had been greeted by a puppy.
She drew circles in the air with her hand, and the puppy spun in circles, thoroughly enjoying itself. It panted with its tiny pink tongue out, huffing and puffing.
A ridiculous thought suddenly crossed Ye Zhuoyan’s mind for some inexplicable reason, the puppy reminded her of Wen Huiyun.
She quickly dismissed the strange notion.
Ruffling the puppy’s head, she asked, “What’s your name? Where did you come from?”
A shadow fell in front of her.
Someone approached.
“It doesn’t have a name yet. You can give it one.”
Ye Zhuoyan looked up.
After retrieving the gift box, Mi Tao opened it to find several handmade soaps inside, each with different scents and benefits mugwort, lithospermum, bitter gourd, marigold, and more.
The translucent squares were embedded with petals or leaves, exuding an elegant charm.
There was also an invitation letter inside.
『Date: XX/XX, 8:30 AM. Jinyuan Teahouse. Awaiting your presence. [Address enclosed]』
Mi Tao picked up a mugwort soap and sniffed it. Unlike the usual bitter scent of mugwort, this one carried a refreshing herbal aroma with a hint of floral sweetness.
This would feel amazing to bathe with!
Since it was getting late and the trip to the city would take some time, she needed to leave soon.
She wondered if Zhuoyan-jie and Yining-jie had already left.
Mi Tao knocked on the double room’s door, but there was no answer. She smiled looks like everyone had already headed out for their dates!
Time to go downstairs!
Creak, the door opened.
“Ahhh!” A loud yawn sounded, followed by a lazy voice asking, “Who is it?”
Mi Tao had already descended two steps when she suddenly turned back, her mouth forming a little “O.”
“Yining-jie? Aren’t you going on your date?”
Jiang Yining leaned against the wall like a boneless snake, eyelids drooping. “No one picked me. I got left behind.”
Mi Tao clapped a hand over her mouth.
Oh no, this was awkward.
But then another thought struck her.
She glanced toward the alpha lounge across the way.
Did that mean one of the alpha guests’ gifts hadn’t been chosen?
In other words, today, one alpha would be staying behind at Love Villa with Yining-jie.
Jiang Yining smirked mischievously, wrapping her arms around Mi Tao’s shoulders from behind.
“Hey, today I’ll find out for our sisters just who has such terrible taste.”
She gave Mi Tao a little push. “You should get going. Don’t be late.”
Waving, she called out, “Bye~ Have a sweet, romantic date!”
When Mi Tao reached the front door, the living room was completely empty.
She turned back one last time, peeking to see which alpha had stayed behind.
After waiting a few seconds with no movement upstairs, she finally closed the door and left.
Mi Tao’s car entered a bustling market area, only to suddenly find itself surrounded by a tranquil bamboo grove.
Ah, so this was the “secluded” meaning hinted at in the gift.
Liang Yuan was already waiting outside the bamboo grove. He opened the car door for her, shielding her head as he helped her out.
Strolling leisurely along the winding bamboo path, they arrived at the bamboo pavilion.
Liang Yuan said, “I knew it was you, Little Peach.”
Mi Tao tilted her head, eyes sparkling. “Huh? How did you know?”
“Because you’d definitely choose me.”
“Hahaha, that’s true!”
On the uniquely shaped wooden table, a complete tea set was arranged.
Liang Yuan sat on a floor cushion and asked, “Do you like tea?”
Mi Tao answered honestly, “Not really. I prefer cola!”
“Then this pot of clove tea I’m brewing today is just right. Cola hurts your stomach, but clove tea nourishes it.”
Mi Tao leaned over the table, watching intently as Liang Yuan ground the tea leaves and brewed the tea. Though she didn’t understand much, every movement Liang Yuan made was graceful.
“Whether it nourishes my stomach or my intestines, I’ll drink any tea you make, sis.”
Liang Yuan looked up at her with a warm, affectionate smile, lightly tapping Mi Tao’s nose with her index finger. Mi Tao giggled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
Liang Yuan murmured, “So this is what ‘peach blossoms in full bloom’ looks like.”
Mi Tao widened her eyes in confusion. “Sis Liang Yuan, are you talking about me?”
Liang Yuan dipped her fingertip into the teacup’s surface like a dragonfly skimming water, then beckoned Mi Tao to look. Reflected in the tea was Mi Tao’s youthful, radiant face.
A face as lovely as peach blossoms, bathed in the spring breeze.
“The answer is right here.”
Flowers nurture the soul more than tea ever could.
The scene shifted to the remaining guests at the Love Residence.
Jiang Yining had taken a nap and slept until the sun was high in the sky before groggily crawling out of bed.
With no activities scheduled for the day and no need to visit the renovation site, what better time to binge-watch shows while lounging around?
Humming a tune, Jiang Yining brushed her teeth, washed her face, and tried on several outfits before settling on a midriff-baring set she liked.
Holding up her phone, she admired her charming reflection in the mirror and snapped a rapid series of nine selfies.
Breakfast?
It was already 11 a.m.
Some bread would do.
She played a VR game in the living room, the newly released Parkour Master.
Just as she was getting into it, noises came from upstairs.
Footsteps soon descended the staircase.
“What are you doing?”
Jiang Yining removed her VR headset to see a tall figure approaching.
Polished handmade leather shoes, a tailored navy-blue suit, a stern face framed by silver-gray shoulder-length hair.
Two words: aloof.
Jiang Yining burst into laughter, tilting her chin up.
“It’s you! That gift box was so ugly it was almost impressive. Cheng Xiaoming, how did you manage that?”
“?”
Cheng Xiaoming glanced around.
Then turned to Jiang Yining.
“Are you talking to me?”
A VR headset flew through the air, which Cheng Xiaoming caught.
Jiang Yining jutted her chin. “Put it on and play with me. Best of three. Loser cooks.”
Cheng Xiaoming eyed the headset and scoffed.
“Would I play such games? Childish.”
Half an hour later.
Cheng Xiaoming’s face was flushed, his voice low. “One more round.”
Jiang Yining sprawled on the sofa.
“I won all three. The third round wasn’t even necessary. I went easy on you. Time to cook, CEO Cheng~”
Cheng Xiaoming sat motionless.
“…”
Jiang Yining fluttered her lashes.
“Go on~”
Cheng Xiaoming turned his face away.
In a barely audible voice, he muttered, “I don’t know how to cook.”
“Tsk, what a shame.”
Jiang Yining sighed dramatically before heading to the kitchen, throwing him a reassuring wink over her shoulder.
“I’ll whip up something nice for CEO Cheng~”
Ten minutes later, Chef Jiang arrived with her masterpiece.
A! SELF-HEATING! HOT POT!
Orange-red oil swirls floated atop the deep crimson broth.
A clump of indistinguishable ingredients stuck together, completely unmixed.
“……”
Cheng Xiaoming’s face showed no worldly desires.
Jiang Yining handed her disposable chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. “Speechless with delight?”
Accustomed to gourmet food and unable to handle spice, Cheng Xiaoming covered her face in agony, peeking through her fingers.
Utterly disappointed.
Stay away from Jiang Yining if you value your happiness.
The sun hung high in the sky.
The autumn air was crisp and refreshing.
“What made you think of coming here?”
Ye Zhuoyan asked.
Wen Huiyun held the puppy in her arms, Ye Zhuoyan had just named it Feifei because its ears flew up when it ran.
“There are lots of cats here. You’ll see them as soon as we enter the shelter.”
Seeing Ye Zhuoyan show up for their date, Wen Huiyun breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Since she had used a blind-box approach for the date invitation different from the original novel’s plot, she hadn’t been sure Ye Zhuoyan would pick her.
Fortunately, Ye Zhuoyan had come. Wen Huiyun hoped they could have a wonderful date and that she could earn more favorability points from the female lead.
In the shelter’s open yard, volunteers were bathing stray dogs.
At some point, they had already grown familiar with Wen Huiyun and called out, “Want to lend a hand?”
Ye Zhuoyan hesitated, eyeing the dirty water and fur-shaking dogs.
Then two hands reached over her shoulders. Holding her breath, she felt a waterproof apron gently draped over her.
A warm breath brushed against the back of her ear.
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