Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 5

Wen Huiyun walked into the third-floor activity hall where all the other guests had already gathered.

At the center was an open space, surrounded by a slightly elevated stage.

A circle of buzzers stood in order on the stage.

Wen Huiyun took an empty spot, and the AI prompted her to test her microphone and buzzer.

The AI announced: “This is an individual competition, Happy Buzzer Round!”

“One point for each correct answer, no points for wrong answers. There are 18 questions in total.”

“The scores from this round are extremely important, so please take it seriously!”

Everyone’s expressions turned serious, bracing themselves for the challenge.

Based on Wen Huiyun’s experience watching variety shows, the first competition’s ranking often played a decisive role like granting priority selection rights.

She had to win.

Her hand hovered over the yellow buzzer, ready to press it at any moment.

“The competition begins!”

“First question: What number is ‘Lidong’ (Start of Winter) in the 24 solar terms? Three, two, one buzz in!”

A flurry of buzzers sounded: Ding! Dong! Ding!

AI: “Wen Huiyun, please answer.”

“Nineteenth.”

“Correct! One point!”

Mi Tao remarked, “You’re really fast with that buzzer.”

Wen Huiyun smiled. “Thanks for the compliment.”

At first, the atmosphere was harmonious everyone took turns answering.

“Which historical literary figure created the ‘Yi’an Style’?”

Ye Zhuoyan buzzed in: “Li Qingzhao.”

“What kind of water can be used to rinse for periodontitis?”

Liang Yuan answered: “Ginger-infused hot water.”

“How are the spot and futures markets in finance categorized?”

Cheng Xiaoming buzzed in: “Delivery time.”

“Who painted ‘Barge Haulers on the Volga’?”

Jiang Yining answered: “Ilya Repin.”

Comments flooded the screen outside:

[You can guess the guests’ professions from their answers.]

[Mi Tao’s is hard to figure out.]

[Come on, sisters, type your guesses in the chat!]

Halfway through, the atmosphere grew strange.

“Which food is known as the ‘King of Anti-Cancer’?”

Multiple guests buzzed in at once.

“Wen Huiyun, please answer!”

“Garlic.”

“Correct! One point!”

“What percentage of the human body is water?”

“Wen Huiyun, please answer!”

“Two-thirds.”

“Correct! One point!”

“Which dish is the most representative of Anhui cuisine?”

“Wen Huiyun, please answer!”

“Stinky mandarin fish.”

“Correct! One point!”

Wen Huiyun: Ding! Dong! Ding!

The other guests: Staring in disbelief.

Their eyes seemed to say, How is Wen Huiyun so fast?!

[Wen Huiyun truly lives up to her title, ‘Hand Goddess’, who can match that speed?!]

[Hand Goddess could drive with her hands and wouldn’t need censoring, it’s too fast to see anyway, lol!]

[You guys are insane, getting hyped over a buzzer round!]

Wen Huiyun answered question after question effortlessly, as if plucking them from thin air.

This was the hand speed she had honed for twenty years before transmigrating in the culinary world, the fastest blade reigns supreme.

She had trained relentlessly with her father since age six, and by her teens, she could slice tofu into hair-thin strands that no chef in the district could rival!

The title of Young Master Chef wasn’t earned easily.

The buzzer round ended in a landslide victory.

AI: “The competition is over. Announcing the results.”

“First place: Wen Huiyun, 7 points. Second place: Liang Yuan, 4 points. Third place: Mi Tao, 3 points.”

“Fourth place: Ye Zhuoyan, 2 points. Cheng Xiaoming and Jiang Yining tie for fifth with 1 point each.”

With the rankings out, some were delighted others, not so much.

Ye Zhuoyan basically knew all the answers, but her reaction speed simply couldn’t match the other guests.

Cheng Xiaoming’s expression darkened.

Beside her, Jiang Yining admired her aurora pink manicure while fanning the flames: “Putting on such a refined alpha act in public while gossiping about omegas behind their backs not so clever after all.”

Cheng Xiaoming shot Jiang Yining a glare, growing even angrier.

She was tied for last place with Jiang Yining!

Cheng Xiaoming muttered in a low voice, “Just an off day.”

Jiang Yining lifted her eyelids, shimmering with glittery eyeshadow. “Well, you didn’t know who painted ‘Barge Haulers on the Volga’ either.”

“Sophistry.”

“Since some people already think I lack omega virtues, why should I bother with reason?”

With that, Jiang Yining curled her red lips into a smirk and arched a perfectly shaped brow at Cheng Xiaoming.

Fuming but restrained by her upbringing and the surrounding cameras, Cheng Xiaoming forced a polite smile.

AI Announcement: “Please direct your attention to the main screen!”

The massive LED display opposite the stage suddenly lit up.

At its center appeared a square composed of six numbered tiles (1 through 6).

AI: “Each tile hides renovation materials for your love nest, higher numbers indicate greater difficulty.”

“This episode’s renovation projects will be randomly assigned through these tiles.”

Wen Huiyun’s first thought: Thank goodness I won first place.

Her second thought: Oh no, does this mean Ye Zhuoyan might get stuck with a difficult property?

She immediately raised her hand: “Can volunteers swap assignments?”

AI: “Against the rules! Now let’s welcome our champion, Wen Huiyun!”

“Please tap Tile #1 to reveal your ‘Romantic Retreat’!”

As Wen Huiyun passed Ye Zhuoyan’s podium, she stole a glance.

Ye Zhuoyan stood tall, calmly focused on the screen, disadvantaged but undaunted.

Wen Huiyun marveled inwardly: The quintessential female lead unshaken by setbacks, the aloof flower atop the mountain.

What a contrast to the bickering last-place pair.

Though Wen Huiyun found it odd, the original novel portrayed Cheng Xiaoming as unflappable, never one to spar with omegas on camera.

But given her transmigration had altered the storyline, such changes were inevitable.

The screen spun as Wen Huiyun tapped it, unveiling her assignment.

AI: “Wen Huiyun draws ‘The Forgotten Ground-Floor Shop’! Retrieve your key from the ‘Love Letters Mailbox’ behind the activity hall!”

“Second place Liang Yuan, please step forward!”

Key in hand, Wen Huiyun waited outside the activity hall, rules prohibited reentry.

When Ye Zhuoyan’s turn came, Wen Huiyun listened more intently than during her own selection.

AI: “Ye Zhuoyan draws ‘The Crumbling Green Residence Between Towers’.”

Between towers? Crumbling?

That sounded brutal!

Wen Huiyun folded her arms with a frown.

7:30 PM. Free time.

Cheng Xiaoming worked remotely in her room; Mi Tao also excused herself for unspecified business.

The remaining four chatted on the terrace over drinks.

Having only read about it before, Wen Huiyun now understood firsthand, Jiang Yining truly was a chatterbox.

She could effortlessly shift topics from “Last month my neighbor’s dog peed in the elevator, causing arguments between residents and property management” to “What would be a reasonable increase for medical insurance reimbursement rates, and what critical illness insurance would I recommend purchasing.”

Wen Huiyun rubbed her ears, if this continued, she’d grow calluses from listening.

She got up and headed to the kitchen, planning to make some snacks. Regarding the financial aid Ye Zhuoyan had mentioned, she needed to think carefully.

After Wen Huiyun left, Jiang Yining steered the conversation toward zodiac mysticism.

“I’m a Libra,” Jiang Yining said. “The hallmark of this sign is indecisiveness, but we’re also super stylish~”

Liang Yuan chimed in, “I’m a Taurus.”

Jiang Yining turned her gaze to Ye Zhuoyan. “Zhuoyan, what’s your zodiac sign?”

Ye Zhuoyan, hugging a white cushion on her lap, replied, “I don’t know.”

Jiang Yining enthusiastically offered, “Just tell me your birthday, no need for the year and I’ll figure it out for you.”

Ye Zhuoyan politely declined. “Thank you, but no need. I don’t believe in these things.”

“It’s fine if you don’t believe! Let’s just chat for fun.” Jiang Yining reached over and grabbed Ye Zhuoyan’s hand. Ye Zhuoyan stiffened slightly, instinctively trying to pull away, but Jiang Yining tightened her grip.

She shook Ye Zhuoyan’s hand playfully, cooing, “Little Zhuoyan, little Yanyan~ Just tell me, when’s your birthday?”

“……”

Ye Zhuoyan instinctively straightened her back, clutching the cushion tighter.

[Help, my secondhand embarrassment is acting up again.]

[I really dislike people like Jiang Yining. Ye Zhuoyan declined several times, if someone doesn’t want to share, stop prying. And she even grabbed her hand!]

[Pfft, as if your precious Ye is so high and mighty. It’s just a birthday, why make such a big deal out of keeping it secret?]

Jiang Yining persisted, “Don’t be shy! I’ll go first, I was born on October 10th. Now you! Tell me~!”

A voice suddenly came from above. “I believe in zodiac signs. Ask me instead. I’m April 3rd, an Aries.”

Jiang Yining looked up to see Wen Huiyun holding a plate of tri-colored snacks.

Ye Zhuoyan exhaled in relief and subtly scooted further away, still holding her cushion.

She glanced discreetly at Wen Huiyun, unsure whether this was a calculated move or an uncharacteristic act of kindness. Either way, it had saved her from an awkward situation.

She hated sharing personal information with people she wasn’t close to, especially on national television where millions could see.

Jiang Yining’s attention was successfully diverted. “Really?” she asked Wen Huiyun with a smile.

Of course, it wasn’t true.

April 3rd was the original host’s birthday, Wen Huiyun’s real birthday was in November.

“Of course it’s true,” Wen Huiyun said, deliberately positioning the plate in front of the camera to give viewers a close-up of the snacks.

Jiang Yining eyed the round, adorable treats in white, pale pink, and milky green. “What are these?”

“Tri-colored mochi I made, milk, strawberry, and matcha flavors. Try them and see how they taste.”

Jiang Yining popped a strawberry mochi into her mouth, her face lighting up with delight. “So delicious! It feels just like falling in love~”

Liang Yuan also praised the mochi enthusiastically.

Wen Huiyun handed Ye Zhuoyan a milk mochi wrapped separately in rice paper.

Ye Zhuoyan accepted it. “Thank you.”

She took a small bite. The mochi was delightfully chewy, its silky milk flavor soothing her lips and tongue like smooth satin.

Ye Zhuoyan was surprised, the texture was sweeter and more refined than any mochi she’d ever tasted.

Did Wen Huiyun really make this? Was she genuinely improving her culinary skills? The same Wen Huiyun who used to call cooking a lowly craft?

Could she really be changing a little?

Unbelievable.

[Tri-color mochi! I’m drooling.  These are drool dots]

[This is amazing, Wen Huiyun is personally serving Ye Zhuoyan again. What do you call this? Exclusive favor!]

[I hope they release a Wen Huiyun kitchen special. Upvote me so the officials see this.]

Wen Huiyun was packing mochi to deliver to Cheng Xiaoming and Mi Tao.

Suddenly, Xiao La popped up beside her:

“Congratulations on gaining +1 female lead affection points! Well done, keep it up!”

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