Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 71

February 6th, Lantern FestivalLove and Nest 4 makes a heartwarming return~~~

Eight guests reunite at the Love Nest Villa, embarking on a romantic journey toward their final picks!

Tonight at 8:30 PM, tune in to Orange Video and let love warm your heart~

A flood of bullet comments dominates the pink-bubble-filled promotional video:

【Finally here! I’ve been surviving on behind-the-scenes clips during the holidays.】
【Ahhh the final picks are coming! How many couples do you think will make it this season?】
【No idea, but Taozi and Liang Yuan are definitely not happening~】
【Wen Ye (confirmed)】
【But for the third date, Ye Zhuoyan chose Cheng Xiaoming T_T】
【Taking my sweet baby Rufeng away~】
【Taking my badass Sister Jiang away~】
【Surely no one likes Ke Yuxin, right?】
【Nope】
【I fast-forward every time Ke’s on screen.】
【!!!】
【All WenYe shippers, gather here! (grabs your head)】
【Check Ye Zhuoyan’s Weibo! NOW!!!】

WenYe shippers, solo fans, and curious onlookers swarm in.

@DancerYeZhuoyan:
“Though we’ve faced some bumps, wishing everyone good fortune in the new year.
Thankfully, I have you @ComfortEats.”
[Photo attached: Ye Zhuoyan holding a bandaged arm, with visible scars near the wrist.]

Comments skyrocket in real-time:

【Holy crap! Whose arm is this?! Wen Huiyun’s?!!】
【The bandage runs from wrist to elbow, how long is that wound?!】
【Ahhhhhhhh Goddess Ye, what happened to you?! Are you okay?! Please be okay QAQ Yunbao, you too!!! I cry easily, and I’m already bawling T皿T】 【Jeez, even through the screen, that commenter is way too loud .】

The doors of Love Nest Villa swing open.

The couplets and paper-cuttings the guests put up before leaving are still there, joyfully welcoming them back.

A bright red lantern hangs festively in the entryway, and a long red carpet is laid over the front steps.

The director, dressed in a Tang-style jacket with copper coin patterns on red fabric, greets each returning guest with New Year’s blessings.

“Huiyun, Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Director.”

Wen Huiyun and Ye Zhuoyan still arrive separately she arrives first, while Ye Zhuoyan will come later.

In the living room, a bamboo frame is set up, covered in lanterns.

A long table holds brushes, inkstones, and a stack of red stationery.

Wen Huiyun grins curiously oh, they’re up to something again.

“Huiyun, were you injured?”

Ye Zhuoyan’s Weibo post had already stirred up buzz online, and most viewers of the show were aware naturally, so was the director.

Wen Huiyun wears a loose down jacket with sleeves long enough to cover half her hands.

And her scars.

“Just a minor injury. Thanks for your concern.”

She smiles and drags her suitcase upstairs.

At the top of the stairs, two people stand.

Cheng Xiaoming’s impatient voice: “I said no.”

Ke Yuxin: “Ming-jie, it’s just a small gift. It’s bad luck to reject someone during the New Year. Just take it.”

Wen Huiyun steps up, annoyed: “Just because you give something doesn’t mean they have to take it. Who do you think you are? Move.”

Ke Yuxin turns, startled. Cheng Xiaoming seizes the chance to slip away, who knows why this Ke girl keeps clinging to her.

Ke Yuxin immediately puts on a pitiful act. “Huiyun-jie, why are you being so mean? Can’t we talk nicely?”

Wen Huiyun pulled up her chat history with Ke Yuxin and read aloud:

“Cheng Xiaoming treated me to Western food. This place has terrible taste nowhere near as good as yours.”

This was a message Ke Yuxin had sent to Wen Huiyun after joining the dating show and completing an assistant task with Cheng Xiaoming.

Ke Yuxin’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Cheng Xiaoming’s face darkened.

Wen Huiyun showed the chat interface to Cheng Xiaoming. “Ming-jie, you were right. Some gifts shouldn’t be accepted. You treated her with respect, but she stabbed you in the back. And this is just what she sent to me, who knows what she’s said to others.”

Cheng Xiaoming’s gaze turned icy as she shot Ke Yuxin a glare. Without another word, she strode back to her room, her steps sharp with anger.

Ke Yuxin gritted her teeth, her face flushing red. “Wen Huiyun, you!”

Wen Huiyun didn’t even spare her a glance.

One more look, and she might’ve grabbed Ke Yuxin by the neck and thrown her off the second floor.

Ke Yuxin chased after her, following her into the alpha lounge.

“Wen Huiyun, what’s your problem? How could you backstab me like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose your secret.”

BANG!

Wen Huiyun slammed the door shut.

Leaving the trash outside.

Gu Rufeng was hanging clothes in the wardrobe when she looked up. “Happy New Year, Huiyun. Why the temper?”

Wen Huiyun kept it short. “Ke Yuxin.”

“Ah. I talked to Liang Yuan earlier Ke Yuxin is someone I’d rather avoid.”

“Liang Yuan?”

Wen Huiyun unpacked her toiletries, recalling her conversation with Liang Yuan before the break. “She knows about Mi Tao’s background now. She wouldn’t be thinking of crawling back, would she?”

Gu Rufeng: “Liang Yuan was the first to arrive, and I was second. She pulled me aside to chat as soon as she saw me.”

“Anyway, I got the feeling she was deliberately badmouthing Ke Yuxin to me. She also mentioned how she used to give Mi Tao spa treatments and how much Mi Tao liked her.”

Wen Huiyun: “…”

Too many things wrong to even comment.

Wen Huiyun hung her down jacket on the back of the door. Gu Rufeng noticed the bandage on her arm and asked,

“How’d you get hurt so badly?”

“Ye Zhuoyan posted on Weibo after Little New Year. You called me that night to ask if I got home safe. Did something happen after we left?”

Since they were roommates, it was better to be upfront.

Wen Huiyun said, “After the ‘Jieyou Eatery’ team dinner for Little New Year, Zhuoyan and I were attacked by thugs on Old Street. Luckily, a passerby stepped in, or it would’ve been worse than just a slash on the arm.”

“My god, did you report it to the police?”

Wen Huiyun nodded.

Gu Rufeng hesitated, then lowered her voice. “Cheng Xiaoming got hurt too, but she’s recovering well.”

“Both of you must’ve hit some bad luck. You should go burn some incense when you have time ward off the bad energy.”

Wen Huiyun: “You believe in that?”

Gu Rufeng laughed. “For good luck.”

Wen Huiyun checked her phone Ye Zhuoyan had texted that she’d arrived at the residence. She hurried downstairs to help with her luggage.

“Yanyan.”

Wen Huiyun took her bag.

The director chuckled. “Ah, looks like our alphas are all very eager!”

All?

Ye Zhuoyan tugged her hand. “Let’s go.”

Wen Huiyun glanced around and only then noticed Jiang Yining had just arrived.

Jiang Yining sat at the end of the circular sofa, rummaging through her bag.

Next to her was Cheng Xiaoming, holding a suitcase with a dazzling gradient purple and hot pink lip print definitely not Cheng Xiaoming’s usual style.

Jiang Yining pulled out something that looked like a pill case and handed it to Cheng Xiaoming, saying something to her. Surprisingly, Cheng Xiaoming, usually the domineering CEO type, lowered her head and nodded repeatedly.

Wen Huiyun gave a sudden shiver.

Today had been full of odd occurrences she needed some time to digest it all.

There was a special event for the Lantern Festival.

Wen Huiyun made yuanxiao (sweet dumplings) for all the guests except Ke Yuxin.

There were all kinds of fillings, a colorful variety~

For the sweet tooth, there were traditional peanut and sesame fillings, as well as modern fruit and jam options.

For the savory lovers, there were spicy beef and preserved vegetable with salted meat.

And even colorful fermented glutinous rice balls.

Gu Rufeng and Mi Tao exchanged yuanxiao with different flavors.

Liang Yuan kept glancing at Mi Tao, seemingly wanting to strike up a conversation, but ultimately said nothing.

Cheng Xiaoming asked Jiang Yining if there were any flavors she didn’t like, he’d eat them for her. Jiang Yining declined.

Ke Yuxin was still in the kitchen, making her own yuanxiao.

Ye Zhuoyan sat beside Wen Huiyun.

She whispered, “Remember the Sansheng Bridge we visited last time?”

Wen Huiyun bit the tip of her chopsticks and thought for half a second, looking puzzled: ?

Ye Zhuoyan poked her thigh under the tablecloth. “Didn’t bring any yogurt jelly.”

Oh!

Now Wen Huiyun knew what she was talking about.

That day, the two of them had gone to the lake behind the mansion. Ye Zhuoyan had asked her for jelly, and when Wen Huiyun said she didn’t have any, she kissed her instead.

Ahem.

Wen Huiyun asked, “I remember now. So? Are we going again? Should we bring jelly this time?”

Ye Zhuoyan patted her under the table and gave her a look, you know the one.

“I heard we’re going to Sansheng Bridge tonight to float river lanterns.”

Wen Huiyun glanced at the bamboo shelves in the living room, filled with lanterns. “Those must be for that.”

At 8 p.m., the AI broadcast announced for the guests to gather, and the director led them to the lakeside by Sansheng Bridge.

The evening breeze was gentle, and the lakeside had been specially decorated with heart-shaped lanterns lining the path.

After dinner, the director had asked the guests to choose lanterns in the living room and write their Lantern Festival wishes to place inside.

Now it was time to release the lanterns.

Wen Huiyun and Ye Zhuoyan sat on the sandy shore by the bridge, each holding a layered lotus lantern.

“I want to see what you wrote.”

Ye Zhuoyan reached for the red prayer slip inside Wen Huiyun’s lantern.

“Hey!”

Protect the prayer slip at all costs! Wen Huiyun turned away, clutching her lantern. “Haven’t you heard? If you read it, it won’t come true.”

Ye Zhuoyan, embodying the boldness expected of an omega, said, “Then you can read mine.”

Wen Huiyun turned and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to.”

“Take a look.”

“No. Like I said, if you read it, it won’t!”

Ye Zhuoyan grinned triumphantly. “Hehe!”

“!” Wen Huiyun looked down she’d been tricked! While her eyes were closed, Ye Zhuoyan had snatched her prayer slip!

Ye Zhuoyan read it under the glow of the heart-shaped lanterns.

Wen Huiyun’s prayer slip said:

Make lots of money.

Marry a wife.

Decorate the nursery.

Wish for vanilla-flavored everything.

Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes curved into crescents.

Wen Huiyun: “Ms. Ye, you cheated.”

“Since you cheated, I get to see your prayer slip now.”

Ye Zhuoyan refused. “You’re the one who cheated. I offered it to you earlier, and you didn’t want it. Now you can’t have it, neener-neener ;P”

With quick reflexes, Ye Zhuoyan placed her lantern on the water and nudged it to drift away faster.

Wen Huiyun could only watch helplessly ahhh, her wife was bullying her!

Was there no justice in this world?!

“Huiyun, look over there.” Ye Zhuoyan tugged at her, nodding toward a small tree in the distance.

Ke Yuxin had asked Liang Yuan to accompany her, but Liang Yuan was being evasive and clearly reluctant.

Ye Zhuoyan linked arms with Wen Huiyun (the uninjured one) and leaned her head against her.

“Think Liang-jie got poisoned by Ke Yuxin during their third date?”

Wen Huiyun recalled what Gu Rufeng had said, along with her own experience, and replied, “Ninety percent chance she did.”

“It’s too late now.”

Ye Zhuoyan sighed, “But maybe it’s for the best. Sister Liang went too far with some things. I think Ke Yuxin stirring things up like this, letting Taozi see Liang Yuan for who she really is, was worth it.”

Wen Huiyun: “Right.”

Giving her wife a thumbs-up.

Liang Yuan left.

Only Ke Yuxin remained by the water, squatting to release a river lantern.

“Come here.” Ye Zhuoyan pulled Wen Huiyun into hiding behind some bushes.

She picked up a few small stones and took aim at Ke Yuxin’s river lantern.

Plop, plop!

The stones splashed into the water, knocking Ke Yuxin’s lantern over.

Ke Yuxin shrieked in frustration, “Who’s there?! Who’s over there?! Come out! I’ll catch you myself!”

Ye Zhuoyan threw a bigger one.

Splash!

It landed right by Ke Yuxin’s feet, drenching her in cold water.

Haha, soaked like a drowned rat!

“Just wait till I catch you. I’ll break your hands!” Ke Yuxin flailed angrily as she charged toward them.

Ye Zhuoyan grabbed Wen Huiyun’s hand, and the two dashed into the grove.

As they ran, Wen Huiyun couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Oh my god, her wife was just too adorable.

So adorable that she couldn’t resist pulling her close for a kiss.

After shaking off Ke Yuxin, Wen Huiyun took advantage of the trees’ cover, cupping Ye Zhuoyan’s chin and kissing her deeply.

Mmm, so good.

Suddenly, voices reached them: “Taotao, where did you go for the Spring Festival?”

Wen Huiyun broke the kiss, pressing close to Ye Zhuoyan as they hid behind a large tree.

It sounded like Liang Yuan.

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