Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 76

Blanched Vegetable Restaurant.

The owner packed the dishes and carried them out from the kitchen, reminding his wife, “That’ll be eighty-four yuan in total, including four yuan for the takeout fee.”But the boss lady didn’t respond.” She stood with her back to him, motionless, her eyes gleaming.

“Hey, why aren’t you answering me?”

The owner stepped out of the kitchen and stood beside his wife. “Ahem.”

By the money tree at the entrance of the shop, Wen Huiyun was holding Ye Zhuoyan’s slender hand.

Her fingers were fair and delicate, and around the base of her ring finger was a small golden ring.

The boss lady clasped her hands together, whispering dreamily, “So romantic.””

The owner placed the takeout bag on the table and craned his neck for a closer look. “That ring is the fried squid ring from Granny’s stall.”The boss lady laughed.” “Yeah, every year, Granny teaches a few tourists to give squid rings as gifts.”

In the blink of an eye, Ye Zhuoyan’s finger was adorned with a squid ring by Wen Huiyun.

Golden, crispy, and delicious.

Ye Zhuoyan lowered her gaze, flexing her ring finger slightly. The squid ring swayed gently with her movement.

“And then?” Ye Zhuoyan’s lively eyes rested on Wen Huiyun’s face.

Passersby glanced their way.

Ye Zhuoyan’s wrist was held by Wen Huiyun, her fingers relaxed like pristine white orchids.

Wen Huiyun slowly leaned closer to her ring finger, extending her tongue to touch the squid ring, her taste buds brushing against the base of the finger.

Ye Zhuoyan’s dark pupils reflected the pink tip of her tongue.

Ye Zhuoyan raised her ring finger, lifting the squid ring slightly.

Wen Huiyun parted her lips, gently catching the squid ring with her teeth and biting off a corner with a crisp crunch.

Her lips grazed the base of the finger, and her teeth lightly tapped against the pad of Ye Zhuoyan’s finger.

Chewing the squid, Wen Huiyun mumbled, “Eat it.”

She asked Ye Zhuoyan, “Want some? Just a bite.”

Ye Zhuoyan glanced at her, then at the squid ring missing a corner, and said, “Okay.”

Then she slipped it off, her fair fingers sliding out of the golden ring.

She placed it on Wen Huiyun’s ring finger.

Wen Huiyun hadn’t expected Ye Zhuoyan to turn the tables on her like this.

Ye Zhuoyan brought her hand to her lips, kissed it, then licked the squid ring, slowly biting down.

Where her tongue touched, it left a damp trail.

Wen Huiyun said, “You can’t eat all of it.”

Fried food had too many calories.

Ye Zhuoyan parted her lips slightly, red lips against white teeth. “Gone.”

Wen Huiyun sealed the remaining bag of squid rings. No more for her.

The owner handed them their food. “Wishing you happiness! That’ll be eighty-four yuan!”

Wen Huiyun: “Thanks, I’ll scan the payment now.”

Carrying the food back to the RV.

Ye Zhuoyan slipped her arm through Wen Huiyun’s.

“Wen Huiyun, was that a proposal rehearsal just now?”

A few children ran past, chasing soap bubbles.

The bubbles refracted colorful light as they floated past Wen Huiyun.

“Yeah.”

After days of travel, they finally arrived at the Mingyue Gorge scenic area.

Deep forests echoed with birdsong, lush and verdant.

Ye Zhuoyan, who had just switched driving duties with Wen Huiyun, gazed at the scenery ahead and said, “I wonder if they’ve arrived yet.”

Wen Huiyun: “Today’s the last day of the deadline. They should be here.”

Mingyue Gorge was renowned for its beauty home to A City’s famous Bluebird Waterfall and Moonlit Pool. Downstream, the valley opened into a wide, flat expanse, drawing countless campers every year. The tourism department had even established a dedicated camping park here.

In the distance, they spotted the camping flag of Love and Nest 4.

The director waved at them. “Zhuoyan, Huiyun, park over here!”

The production team cordoned off an area within the camping park, separating it from other visitors.

The space was divided into a parking zone, living area, and activity section.

Wen Huiyun got out of the car to check the distance and helped Ye Zhuoyan reverse into the spot.

The director said, “Come get your tent from me. Yours is pink, don’t grab the wrong one.”

Another car had arrived, even earlier than theirs.

“Purple,” Ye Zhuoyan remarked.

The car door was plastered with stickers some adorned with nail art gems, others featuring celebrity headshots, the kind sold at stationery stores near elementary schools.

“Pretty ugly, right?” someone suddenly said.

Ye Zhuoyan looked up to see Cheng Xiaoming walking over from behind the car, pulling a suitcase.

Ye Zhuoyan rubbed her fingertip over one of the celebrity stickers. “I never said that.”

There was no way Cheng Xiaoming had put those stickers there. That left only one possibility.

A head popped out from the car window: “Cheng Xiaoming, if your taste is this bad, go back and study properly. Don’t corrupt Yan Yan, okay?”

Of course, there was another untouchable deity inside the car.

Who would dare say Jiang Yining’s stickers weren’t stylish?

Jiang Yining: “I only collect the hottest alpha celebrities in recent years. Name one who isn’t better-looking than you.”

Cheng Xiaoming: “Let me ask you which one is richer than me? If I said I’d invest hundreds of millions in a film, do you think those alpha celebrities you mentioned would come begging me?”

Ye Zhuoyan quickly interjected, “Ming-jie, maybe consider investing in me first.”

Cheng Xiaoming turned to Ye Zhuoyan with a smile. “I will. Don’t worry, Zhuoyan.”

“I think later on, you could consider filming a food and travel vlog with Wen Huiyun.”

Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! Ming-jie truly is a gold-tier investor such sharp insight.”

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

Another voice came from inside the car: “Gold-tier investor, come help move the table!”

Cheng Xiaoming pushed the car door open. “Coming.”

Ye Zhuoyan pressed her lips together and walked away.

Her earlier comment about investment had been a joke, but Cheng Xiaoming’s suggestion was solid.

Investing in films.

Ye Zhuoyan suddenly remembered her agent’s advice when she first joined the dating show to get close to Cheng Xiaoming.

A sense of destiny washed over her.

If the system hadn’t brought Wen Huiyun into her life, she would’ve undoubtedly tried every means to get close to Cheng Xiaoming to escape the Wen family and build her career.

Ye Zhuoyan smiled faintly. Thankfully, the system had given her Wen Huiyun.

So she wouldn’t have to chase after someone she didn’t like for the sake of reality.

Cheng Xiaoming and Jiang Yining carried the folding table out of the car and into the living area.

Ye Zhuoyan’s gaze shifted to Jiang Yining. Knowing Jiang Yining was also from another world, her impression of her had changed somewhat.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly how, but perhaps she felt a little closer because of Wen Huiyun.

Though mostly, she was jealous.

She knew jealousy was wrong.

But she was jealous anyway.

Just a little.

From behind: “What are you talking about?”

Ye Zhuoyan turned. “How do you walk so quietly?”

Wen Huiyun glanced into the distance Cheng Xiaoming’s tall figure was bickering with Jiang Yining.

“Every time you talk to Cheng Xiaoming, I get nervous.”

Wen Huiyun couldn’t tell Ye Zhuoyan about the original novel’s plot.

The reason for her nervousness? In the original story, Ye Zhuoyan and Cheng Xiaoming were the main couple. =_=

Ye Zhuoyan was puzzled. “Why? Because she always picks me?”

“If anything, I should be the one nervous about you talking to her.”

Lowering her voice, Ye Zhuoyan whispered into Wen Huiyun’s ear, “You haven’t been in this world long, so you wouldn’t understand.”

“Not all alphas here are into omegas. Some alphas swing both ways, and some just prefer other alphas.”

Wen Huiyun shuddered, glancing at Cheng Xiaoming and then Jiang Yining, stammering, “Aren’t those two, perfectly fine together?”

Ye Zhuoyan smirked and nodded. “Mhm, so you do notice how well they seem to get along.”

Her hand darted behind Wen Huiyun at lightning speed, giving her butt a sharp smack.

“Don’t be scared just because Ming-jie talks to me.”

Wen Huiyun clutched her backside, ears flushing red. “Omegas shouldn’t act like this, Ye Zhuoyan.”

Ye Zhuoyan laughed. “Say that again where Yining can hear you.”

Jiang Yining: “I already heard. Wen Huiyun, I’m warning you, no gender discrimination! Wait, what exactly did you two do?”

Cheng Xiaoming leisurely assembled the grill. “I saw it. Zhuoyan spanked Huiyun’s.”

Wen Huiyun rushed over and stuffed an egg yolk pastry into her mouth. “Ming-jie, have some mercy with your words!”

Live comments flooded in:

[I saw it! Ye Zhuoyan spanked Wen Huiyun’s butt. I said it, where’s my egg yolk pastry?]
[HAHAHA never thought I’d see this side of Goddess Ye.]
[See how Yunbao is completely at Ye Zhuoyan’s mercy?]
[Team Ye Zhuoyan! Omegas do what we want, even spank alphas!]
[I’m an alpha, single, please spank me (ass already raised)]
[LMAO just get married already hhh]
[Ooooh, camping overnight? Any spicy highlights? Click click~]
[Wilderness story options: A. Lakeside B. Woods C. Inside the tent]
[Adult choice: Start at the lakeside, tumble into the woods, then crawl into the tent.]
[Want to see, hurry up and ***!]

The pink and purple tents were quickly claimed.

Soon after, Liang Yuan and Ke Yuxin arrived.

Not a single word passed between them after getting out of the car.

The producer greeted Ke Yuxin, who smiled and handed the tent she was given to Liang Yuan.

Ye Zhuoyan whispered, “Sister Liang’s got it rough.”

Wen Huiyun: “Whose fault is that? But we should remind her when necessary, don’t let Ke Yuxin scam her out of everything.”

Wen Huiyun sighed. Officer Ning had asked them to gather intel on A-Jie, but there was zero progress so far.

Especially with Ke Yuxin around just thinking about it gave her a headache.

Gu Rufeng and Mi Tao were the last to arrive.

Mi Tao cradled a scruffy little dog with tangled fur. “Found this little stray on the way! Super well-behaved!”

“George, say hi!”

The puppy wagged its tail: Woof woof!

Wen Huiyun grinned, scratching the pup’s head. “No wonder you two were late busy doing good deeds.”

The producer turned on her mic: “All guests are here! Everyone, gather up.”

“Rufeng and Taozi, take your tent first.”

Four groups, four tents.

The producer announced: “Four teams, tent-pitching speed race!”

“Tonight’s camping dinner, the order for picking ingredients depends on your ranking.”

“Race starts now, countdown!”

The producer’s timer clicked loudly, ratcheting up the tension.

Wen Huiyun thought: Outdoor survival? This is totally Jiang Yining’s forte.

A martial arts expert with multiple rebirths, wouldn’t she be a pro at setting up tents?

If not first place, they’d at least take second.

Ye Zhuoyan nudged her. “Huiyun, let’s hurry. I want that venison steak!”

Wen Huiyun grinned. “Piece of cake! Watch me!”

Mi Tao’s cheers rang out: “Xiao Fengzi, hurry up, we’re already two groups ahead!”

Wen Huiyun: ?

Did Gu Rufeng’s two-group lead include her and Ye Zhuoyan?

Wen Huiyun glanced at them their tent poles were already set up.

“Not bad, Rufeng! Didn’t know you were such a pro!” Wen Huiyun called out from a distance.

Gu Rufeng laughed as she and Mi Tao spread out the tent. “I had a really great outdoor teacher. A master produces outstanding students.”

Actually, it was Jiang Yining who taught her.

The bickering champion team had changed hands.

By the end of the competition, Liang Yuan and Ke Yuxin had argued far more than Cheng Xiaoming and Jiang Yining.

So much so that when time ran out, their tent still wasn’t set up.

Each group could only choose three essential items, then receive a cooking kit from the production team, which included utensils, cookware, seasonings, and basic ingredients.

The venison steak Ye Zhuoyan wanted was snatched away~

She had to mooch some off Jiang Yining instead.

But Wen Huiyun’s roasted quail and pork chops were delicious!

“I’ve got a secret project,” Wen Huiyun said mysteriously.

Ye Zhuoyan leaned in. “Whisper it to me.”

Wen Huiyun whispered, “Lactic acid jelly.”

Ye Zhuoyan poked her, laughing. “Can’t you pick a different flavor?”

Nearby, Ke Yuxin kept nitpicking Liang Yuan’s cooking, saying it was inedible.

She ended up mooching food from Wen Huiyun’s side.

Ye Zhuoyan raised her hand and called the director over, reporting Ke Yuxin for breaking the rules.

Ke Yuxin glared hatefully at Ye Zhuoyan but had no choice but to go back and eat Liang Yuan’s grilled pork neck.

Grilling meat is tricky getting the heat just right is hard, and if done poorly, the meat can taste gamey. It’s understandable that Liang Yuan struggled, but it wasn’t inedible.

Ke Yuxin was just being dramatic.

The crew lit a bonfire in the activity area.

Cameras rolled.

The director faced the camera: “Hello, viewers at home!”

“Right now, we’re at Mingyuejian Camping Park.”

“Tonight, our eight guests will prepare individual performances for a small bonfire party.”

“After the show, please vote on Orange Video and Weibo for your favorite guest performance.”

Wen Huiyun didn’t have any special talents, so she pulled some fancy noodle tricks for everyone.

Bullet comments roasted:

[Hai Di Lao’s loss for not hiring Yunbao as their noodle-flipping master.]

Cheng Xiaoming didn’t have any talents either, so she performed a tune on a talking calculator.

Bullet comments roasted:

[Calculator: Thank you. Because of you, I’ve returned to zero.]

Jiang Yining performed a magic trick.

Mi Tao sang a song.

Liang Yuan played the harmonica.

Gu Rufeng and Ke Yuxin both played instruments.

All the guests’ performances were impressive.

Ye Zhuoyan’s solo dance votes soared far ahead.

The director announced the rankings of the eight guests and reminded them:

“These individual rankings will have a significant impact on the next activity, our final event.”

“Tonight’s performances end here. You can choose to sleep in the tents you set up or rest in the RVs.”

“Please enjoy the beauty of Mingyuejian and breathe deeply in this natural oxygen chamber.”

“Goodnight, girls!”

Wen Huiyun gave a thumbs-up. “You’re amazing, Yanyan. First place!”

Ye Zhuoyan smiled gently, about to say something, when boisterous laughter erupted from the other side.

“HAHAHAHAHA, play that calculator’s ‘zero’ sound for me again! How do you manage to be so deadpan while being hilarious? Who taught you to play music on a calculator?”

“You tell me to press it, and I just do? Where’s my dignity?”

“Hahaha, I’ve taken pictures of you drooling in your sleep. What dignity do you have left?”

“You! A hundred bucks, delete them or not?”

The two bickered their way into the tent.

Ye Zhuoyan raised an eyebrow at Wen Huiyun.

Wen Huiyun asked, “Now the question falls to us.”

“Lovely Ms. Ye Zhuoyan, would you prefer to sleep in the RV tonight, or in the tent?”

Ye Zhuoyan rested her chin on her hand, pondering seriously, “Hmm…”

Which one to choose?