Love Contract with the Queen Actress - Chapter 36

The morning breeze drifted across the island.

Though the New Year had just passed, the tropical island’s temperature was pleasantly mild. By the time they woke up, the sunlight was already so abundant that even bare skin didn’t feel cold.

On the sandy beach stood a large, pitch-black pot.

Steam rose from beneath the thick wooden lid, bubbling enthusiastically at the edges.

Shen Wu’s face was smudged with soot, yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty. If anything, the contrast added a striking, unconventional charm to her usual demeanor.

She fiddled with the firewood in her hands, feeding the roaring flames stick by stick.

The lid could barely contain the boiling contents inside, rattling against the pot’s edge.

Xiao Zhi squatted nearby, her eyes brimming with admiration, directed partly at Shen Wu and partly at the cameras.

Because the campsite, though not particularly spacious, was already packed with an overwhelming number of cameras set up by the production crew.

For instance, right now, Xiao Zhi could see a camera hidden in the bushes, its indicator light blinking faintly, aimed directly at her face.

A dating show meant that every little thing would be magnified endlessly once broadcast.

Xiao Zhi leaned further into her performance, her expression one of pure rapture. “Sister Wu, you’re just too perfect.”

“I never knew breakfast cooked with love could smell so… divine.”

As she spoke, she leaned closer, taking a deep, exaggerated sniff.

Her expression froze mid-rapture. Her body swayed, and she nearly fainted on the spot.

Su Yuchen walked stiffly past the pot, arms laden with firewood.

A moment later, Xiao Zhi seemed to regain her senses. She shook her head, pressing a hand to her temple. “Ugh… what just happened?”

Shen Wu added another stick to the fire, poking at the flames with a long branch to stoke them higher.

Only after finishing did she look up, smiling. “You seemed to black out for a few seconds.”

“…”

“Ugh…” Xiao Zhi massaged her temples, forcing herself back into position by the pot. “Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night. That must be it. I’m usually in great health, something like this wouldn’t normally make me dizzy…”

Of course it wouldn’t. Otherwise, how could she have mustered the energy to wake up an hour early, apply a flawless no-makeup makeup look, pinpoint the hidden cameras, and put on that adoring expression before taking a deep breath of whatever was in that pot…

Liu Ruomeng trudged over from the washroom, yawning. Half-asleep and irritable, she wore a don’t-talk-to-me expression as she plopped onto a large rock, staring blankly at the steaming pot.

She wasn’t really awake yet, just angry.

Her gaze had simply landed on the first thing in sight.

But Xiao Zhi caught the movement out of the corner of her eye, and a sense of urgency flared within her.

“Ah, I’m fine, I’ll be okay soon.”

As if afraid someone might snatch her moment, Xiao Zhi quickly shook off her daze.

“Sister Wu’s breakfast must be delicious. I’m sure after eating her lovingly made meal, I’ll be full of energy and never faint again.”

“Haha,” Xiao Zhi smoothed her long, straight black hair, deliberately ignoring the strange wafting scent, and smiled brightly. “I didn’t sleep well last night, but with Sister Wuwu’s delicious cooking, I’ll be revived in an instant!”

The air carried an indescribable, faint odor that made one’s scalp tingle just from catching a whiff.

Fu Monan had also finished freshening up and emerged radiant. At this moment, she had returned to her usual harmless, gentle demeanor, yet she still made her way toward Su Yuchen.

Su Yuchen, initially stiff with hesitation, wondered whether she should warn Xiao Zhi. But then it occurred to her, Shen Wu’s cooking couldn’t possibly be that inedible, right? Last time, she hadn’t gotten to try it. If it wasn’t burnt this time, maybe it would be worth a taste.

It was just food, nothing to make a fuss about.

Most importantly, it was made by Shen Wu.

Just then, Xiao Zhi, now quoting Socrates with enthusiasm, addressed the pot eagerly, “I wonder if I might have the honor of tasting the first bite of this exquisite dish?”

Before Fu Monan could reach her side, Su Yuchen set down the firewood and hurried over to the pot.

She crouched beside it, her slender, tall frame curling into a small bundle, bathed in the island’s bright morning light, glowing like a little fluffy ball.

It looked utterly charming.

At this moment, Su Yuchen wore an expression that practically screamed, “Hungry, food,” her large eyes brimming with anticipation as she gazed at Shen Wu.

Like an adorable little animal waiting to be fed.

Su Yuchen obediently crouched there, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with starlight.

Shen Wu pinched Su Yuchen’s cheek, unsurprisingly leaving a black smudge on that fair little face. “You’re hungry too?”

“Mhm.” Su Yuchen nodded, still crouching, her eyes fixed on Shen Wu.

Shen Wu smiled. “Hungry? Here to eat my cooking?”

“Mhm.” Su Yuchen nodded again, the two black fingerprints still on her face.

The two stunning beauties crouched there, radiant and dazzling under the island sun, a feast for the eyes, except for the fact that their back-and-forth conversation treated everyone else like air.

Xiao Zhi frowned, her eyes darting between the two, realizing that all her earlier praises seemed far less effective than Su Yuchen’s puppy-like crouch.

She cleared her throat. “Ahem, I’m hungry too, you know.”

She emphasized her own hunger, hoping to awaken Shen Wu’s “conscience.”

But Shen Wu, clearly a chef blinded by beauty, kept her eyes on Su Yuchen. “It’ll be ready soon. How much do you want?”

Su Yuchen beamed, revealing two little dimples. “A big bowl.”

She was naturally immune to weight gain. While other female stars meticulously counted calories, she could devour carbs without a second thought, boasting a metabolism any actress would envy. Even after indulging in feasts, she remained slender, her delicate face showing no signs of extra weight.

The only catch was that she wasn’t fond of greasy food, strictly adhering to a disciplined, almost extreme, health-conscious diet.

Shen Wu raised her hand to pat Su Yuchen’s hair but stopped when she saw the soot-blackened palm.

“Alright, I’ll serve you a big bowl.”

“…”

Xiao Zhi, standing to the side: “…”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she blurted out, “But I was here first! Didn’t we agree I’d get the first taste?”

Shen Wu: “…”

Su Yuchen: “It’s fine if Xiao Zhi eats first. I can have mine later.”

She was naturally quite easygoing, and it really didn’t matter who ate first or last. But Shen Wu slightly raised an eyebrow, her gaze settling on Xiao Zhi.

“You want to go first?”

Hearing this, Xiao Zhi nodded vigorously, her long, straight black hair swaying like a waterfall. “Mhm, I was here first, so it’s only fair.”

As they spoke, the others gradually gathered around.

There happened to be six stones neatly arranged around the large pot, one for each person, just enough.

Liu Ruomeng seemed to have woken up too. She sniffed at the pot and frowned. “What’s that smell?”

She had just woken up, and no sooner had her words faded than her stomach let out a loud growl.

Xiao Zhi shot her a sidelong glance, afraid she’d snatch away her hard-earned privilege of tasting first. “What else could it be? Just the usual stench from the coastline not being cleaned up in time on this island. Totally normal. Don’t ruin the reputation of Sister Wu’s breakfast for me.”

What did reputation have to do with anything?

If only Liu Ruomeng were fully awake, she would’ve rolled her eyes hard.

Liu Ruomeng mumbled dazedly, “I don’t know why, but I have this bad feeling.”

Xiao Zhi snorted. “Jealousy.”

“You’re just blatantly jealous.”

“…”

Fu Monan watched their little squabble before turning her attention to Su Yuchen, who sat on a stone with a bowl cradled in her hands. The ends of her long hair fluttered lightly in the sea breeze, her almond-shaped eyes filled with anticipation.

Those eyes were so much like her aunt’s, just a shame they weren’t on the face they belonged to.

“Is something wrong?”

Even Su Yuchen, slow as she was, eventually noticed the lingering gaze and turned to look at Fu Monan.

Fu Monan sat right beside her. When Su Yuchen met her eyes, she seemed momentarily dazed, as if snapping out of a trance.

“Huh?”

Fu Monan’s distracted state only confused Su Yuchen further. She instinctively touched her face. “Is there something on my face?”

Unbeknownst to her, her face was already smudged like a little kitten’s.

Just like Shen Wu’s.

“Ah,” Fu Monan came back to herself and smiled. “There is a little something, but it doesn’t matter. Yuchen is still very pretty.”

Embarrassed, Su Yuchen lowered her head and wiped her face, sure enough, her fingertips came away black.

“…”

She looked up at Shen Wu, who stood behind the steaming pot, grinning at her.

Bright eyes, red lips, peach-blossom eyes shimmering with mischief. Across her high nose bridge and flawless face was a streak of soot, identical to the smudge on Su Yuchen’s face.

No explanation needed, Shen Wu was clearly up to no good.

Even her smile was teasing, though perhaps Fu Monan’s presence made it seem a bit more deliberate.

Kuang Gong’s light eyes drifted from the pot back to Shen Wu’s face, her expression inscrutable, if examined closely, it might even seem enigmatic.

But before she could react, Liu Ruomeng, sitting beside her, suddenly burst into laughter. “Haha! I just remembered I’m not hungry. I think I’ll just-”

Perhaps it was the heightened vigilance of a small animal, but after spending so much time with the cat, Liu Ruomeng seemed to have developed a similar wariness. She stood up, ready to leave.

Originally, Kuang Gong had also intended to stand, but her eyes suddenly flickered, and she grabbed Liu Ruomeng, yanking her back down onto the seat.

“You haven’t even eaten breakfast yet. Where do you think you’re going?”

Liu Ruomeng sniffed the air, convinced that the faint, elusive odor was emanating from the pot. She pursed her lips, hesitating to speak.

Kuang Gong gave her no chance. “Weren’t you the one who said you were starving? Last night, you kept talking in your sleep about only eating instant noodles and still being hungry. Now that there’s food, why are you trying to run away?”

“…”

Liu Ruomeng fell silent for a moment, then cast a pleading glance at Su Yuchen for help. But Su Yuchen was too busy staring at Shen Wu, holding a bowl in her hands, her eyes completely oblivious to anyone else.

“…”

Liu Ruomeng cursed Su Yuchen inwardly for being blinded by beauty, utterly shameless!

Her gaze swept over Kuang Gong’s cold yet strikingly elegant face. She opened her mouth slightly but made no sound.

Only then did Kuang Gong turn her attention back.

“Let’s eat.”

Xiao Zhi, who had been waiting impatiently for ages, eagerly rubbed her hands together and leaned in toward the large matte-black pot.

“Well then, I won’t hold back, I’ll be the first to taste Sister Wu’s amazing cooking!”

Unable to contain her excitement, she reached for the wooden lid.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted it.

From the dark abyss of the pot, an indescribably bizarre stench erupted. The air around the rim seemed to warp, as if she had just uncovered a cursed abyss of dark magic, sucking the light from everyone’s eyes.

“…”

The group fell into stunned silence.

Xiao Zhi, still gripping the lid, was the closest. With a thud, she collapsed to the ground again, her dazed eyes spinning like mosquito-repellent coils.

She had fainted under the very culinary masterpiece she had just praised.

The scene was dead silent.

Shen Wu stirred the pot with a long wooden spoon, smiling warmly.

“Let’s eat.”

The apocalyptic stench surged forth, assaulting everyone’s senses.

Tears welled up in Liu Ruomeng’s eyes. “Can… can this thing even be eaten?”

Su Yuchen nodded. “It should be edible.”

But with Xiao Zhi already unconscious, her words carried little weight.

Fu Monan covered her mouth. Accustomed to a life of luxury, she was utterly unprepared for such an olfactory assault. Trembling, she shrank closer to Su Yuchen, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Shen Wu frowned briefly before suddenly breaking into a smile.

She continued stirring the pot, the wooden spoon churning up and down. From behind the billowing steam, Shen Wu’s smiling face peered out, the mist before her seemingly forming floating green skulls.

Apart from Su Yuchen, who eagerly held out her bowl in anticipation, everyone else was frozen in horrified silence.

The group: “…”

Liu Ruomeng struggled desperately. “I don’t want to eat it! I don’t want to eat it! I still want to live, let me live!”

Kuang Gong’s grip was like an iron shackle, holding Liu Ruomeng firmly in place.

Fu Monan’s lips twitched uncontrollably as Shen Wu asked sweetly, “So, who wants to be the first to try?”

The volunteer who had initially stepped forward had already passed out. Fu Monan glanced at Su Yuchen, who was eager to give it a try, gritted her teeth, and extended her bowl first. “I’ll go.”

Truthfully, she didn’t want Su Yuchen to go first. Though she couldn’t quite explain why, she just felt she should be the first one.

And so, her bowl was extended, and a wooden ladle scooped out a small portion of an unidentifiable liquid, or perhaps it was porridge.

The bowl was filled with floating and sinking vegetable leaves, their original forms now unrecognizable. The carrot cubes, which were harder to cook, still faintly retained their original color. There seemed to be onions, chili peppers, and unyielding Sichuan peppercorns bobbing up and down. Besides that, there were also thick, gelatinous lumps resembling starch blocks.

It was unclear why there were starch lumps in the porridge. Fu Monan held the bowl up to her lips, hesitating whether to take a sip.

The onlookers felt the moment carried a certain solemnity.

Liu Ruomeng had even forgotten to struggle, her legs seemingly weak as she slumped down beside Kuang Gong.

She didn’t even notice how tightly she was pressed against Kuang Gong, perhaps a little too tightly.

Kuang Gong showed no reaction on her face but simply pulled her into an embrace.

The camera lens shifted slightly.

Behind the monitors, the production team gasped. “Oh my god, they’re hugging already.”

“Wait, isn’t the next part supposed to be a competition to decide who gets to go to the hot springs at the summit?”

“But speaking of which, is Shen Wu’s porridge really that bad? It’s just porridge, right?”

As they spoke, the camera zoomed in and out, focusing first on the pot in front of Shen Wu, then cutting to Fu Monan, whose face was twitching.

Fu Monan felt her sense of smell had completely shut down. The initial pungency had faded, but she still couldn’t help questioning the starch lumps. “Um, why are there starch lumps in the porridge?”

Shen Wu stirred the wooden ladle and fished out one of the lumps. “This?”

Fu Monan’s eye twitched involuntarily. “Yeah,” she replied softly. “Did the production team provide you with starch?”

“Not exactly.”

Shen Wu replied nonchalantly, “Oh, that? That’s just a whole potato. Must’ve dissolved while cooking.”

“……”

Fu Monan held the bowl as if it weighed a thousand pounds, unsure whether it was worth risking her life to sample this potential poison.

The director stroked his chin. “Turning a whole potato into a starch lump through boiling, that takes real skill.”

Someone nearby chimed in, “No kidding. It’s less like cooking and more like alchemy.”

“Turning potatoes into potato starch usually requires multiple steps, but Shen Wu managed it in one go. A true alchemist.”

The director rubbed his chin again. “So… is this pot of stuff even edible?”

Another crew member couldn’t help but remind him, “One person’s already collapsed on the ground.”

“Should we stop filming and call medical assistance?”

After all, lives were at stake.

“Xiao Cheng,” the director tapped the table. “If it’s serious, get someone to check on her. Make sure it’s not food poisoning.”

Xiao Cheng scratched his head. “But Director, she didn’t even eat it. She just took a whiff and passed out…”

The director: “……The camera had zoomed in on Xiao Zhi, whose eyes were spinning like mosquito coils. Before the production team could decide whether to halt filming for emergency medical aid, she suddenly sprang up from the ground.

She sat there, tossing aside the pot lid in her hand and instead running both hands through her long, straight black hair, looking relieved. “Thank goodness, thank goodness, it’s all still here. No bald spots.”

“What bald spots?”

Fu Monan, who was about to become the next Xiao Zhi, held up a bowl, hesitating several times before finally deciding not to drink from it.

Seeing Xiao Zhi’s actions, she couldn’t help but ask.

Xiao Zhi sighed while tenderly stroking her hair, “I just had a dream where some evil force was tearing at my hair. I went bald. I tried to wake up but felt trapped in a nightmare, couldn’t break free no matter what. Luckily, I gritted my teeth and pushed through, only to realize it was just a bad dream. Thank goodness, thank goodness.”

Fu Monan: “…”

“A… a nightmare?”

Just from smelling it, she had a nightmare?

Such potent power.

Finally, Fu Monan also lowered her hand.

“Is no one going to drink it?”

Su Yuchen obediently held out his bowl. “I’d like to try. Scoop me a bowl, please.”

For some reason, the others weren’t eating, so she couldn’t let Shen Wu’s cooking go unappreciated.

As she spoke, his large bowl was presented right in front of Shen Wu with both hands.

Perhaps sensing the others’ reactions, Shen Wu hesitated for the first time. “Forget it, maybe it’s better not to eat it.”

She was genuinely afraid that if Su Yuchen ate it, something might go wrong. They were on an island, getting her to a hospital for stomach pumping in time would be nearly impossible.

Su Yuchen insisted, “It’s fine, let me try.”

With that, he pushed the bowl even closer.

Shen Wu frowned, her usually bright eyes dimmed as her long lashes cast shadows over her gaze.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Going hungry is better than eating this.”

A wave of defeat washed over her. Shen Wu lowered her eyes, her mood visibly dampened, her grip on the long-handled wooden spoon slackening.

Just then, a slender, fair hand reached over and took the spoon’s handle from her.

“Huh?”

Shen Wu was startled for a second before seeing Su Yuchen take the spoon, scoop up a portion, and pour it into his own bowl.

The unidentifiable contents sloshed and swirled in the bowl.

Su Yuchen picked up a small spoon, scooped a bite, and brought it to his lips, eating slowly and deliberately.

After finishing one bite, she took another.

Meticulously and earnestly, she continued.

“…”

Everyone stared at Su Yuchen in astonishment. Xiao Zhi, who had just woken up, covered her mouth and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Be careful not to pass out.”

Naturally, there was no immediate response.

The small spoon, held between delicate fingers, lifted another bite to his rosy lips. Su Yuchen chewed carefully, swallowed, and then flashed a radiant smile at the group. “It’s not bad. Not exactly gourmet, but the flavor isn’t terrible.”

Disbelief was written all over their faces. One by one, they silently raised a thumb at Su Yuchen, all thinking the same word:

Warrior.

A true warrior, daring enough to eat Shen Wu’s magical concoction.

The director was deeply moved and instructed his team, “Let’s release this segment as today’s super teaser. Edit it and post it on Weibo.”

Not long after—

[Diamond] [Love or Marriage] Blue V: @ShenWu @SuYuchen @_Kg @XiaoMengTodaySoCute @XiaoZhiCecilia @FuMonan Today marks the official announcement date! Super behind-the-scenes footage takes you straight to the set, let’s witness their sweet romance!

A promotional video has been posted.

The three-and-a-half-minute video opens with the sunshine of an island paradise and a showcase of various sponsor products. The actual content begins at the two-and-a-half-minute mark, where a man narrates in an expressive, rhythmic tone:

[She is the lofty moon in the sky,]

His words transform into subtitles, appearing beside the figure slowly turning around.

The scene captures Shen Wu’s sudden glance in slow motion.

Her peach-blossom eyes flutter lightly, the shimmering light beneath her long lashes mesmerizing, but the moment is fleeting. Noticing the camera, she furrows her brows.

Then, a fair jade-like finger gave a push, and the camera tilted, the scene abruptly shifting downward.

Quickly cut to the next shot.

Narration with subtitles: [She is a dream chaser who works hard in silence,]

The scene fades in and out.

Su Yuchen struggling to assemble a camping stove is shown, the frustration evident in her eyes. But she grits her teeth, her delicate and pretty face flushing with determination as she continues wrestling with the stove.

Narration with subtitles: [She cooked a meal for her,]

The camera follows a large pitch-black iron pot, flames roaring beneath it. Shen Wu’s face is smudged with grime, yet she smiles, gazing at everyone from behind the pot emitting strange green smoke.

Narration with subtitles: [She warmed her through the seasons,]

A fleeting shot of Su Yuchen tucking Shen Wu in with a blanket, though the footage is marred by poor lighting and static snow from the tent’s ordinary recording equipment.

But that’s not all, the camera is suddenly noticed by Su Yuchen, who seems to spot the blinking indicator light. Flustered, she hurriedly covers the lens with fabric…

Narration with subtitles: [Are they destined soulmates, or just ships passing in the night?]

A slow-motion shot of Su Yuchen and Shen Wu brushing past each other, while Kuang Gong stands beside Shen Wu, chatting.

[If another “her” appears on this journey,]

The scene fades in and out, overlaying another clip: Kuang Gong brushes a stray lock of hair from Shen Wu’s face. “Silly, what are you spacing out for? Your hair’s in your mouth.”

Fu Monan, undeterred by the cold, bares her snow-white legs as she sits beside Su Yuchen. A spliced-in voiceover from another time plays: “Who will Yuchen send her heart-fluttering message to?”

“My heart-fluttering gift, I want to give it to Yuchen.”

[Where will the red thread of their love lead?]

Shen Wu, Su Yuchen, and Kuang Gong stand together on the shore, heads bowed as they work on something, appearing intimate and in perfect sync. The large pot bubbles with steam behind them. Liu Ruomeng frowns in their direction, while Fu Monan wipes at her eyes, as if brushing away tears.

The camera then cuts to Xiao Zhi collapsing with a thud, still clutching the wooden pot lid in her hand.

[The path of love is always elusive. Heart-fluttering tokens represent sincere affection, but how will they be exchanged?]

A rapid montage of each person holding their gifts. Su Yuchen shyly lowers her gaze. “Making a wish on a pumpkin really does come true.”

Fu Monan’s line is reused once more: “My heart-fluttering gift, I want to give it to Yuchen.”

“Yuchen, will you exchange gifts with me?”

[What choices will they make?]

Su Yuchen looks stunned. “You… want my pumpkin?”

Cut to the large pot, boiling violently with an ominous heat, filled with ingredients of indiscernible colors, shredded remnants of what might have once been vegetables.

The pot is digitally embellished with a glittering golden label: “Handmade by Shen Wu.”

Another cut: Su Yuchen makes a chopping motion with her hand. “No, that wishing pumpkin, I bisected it.”

Meanwhile, Shen Wu smiles, pressing a hand on the pumpkin. “In times of need, it can also serve as emergency rations.”

[Does the loss of a token signify the fading of love? How will their romance unfold? Where will the heart’s desires lead, and where will they stay? Tune in this Saturday at 20:00 for the simultaneous release of Love or Marriage Season 6, Island Serenade across major streaming platforms.]

Below, in tiny white text, a teasing line was added: Is it an island serenade or a battlefield of love?

After the official Love or Marriage blue-check account posted this promotional clip, the hype skyrocketed as expected.

The buzz surged wildly, but contrary to the production team’s intentions, while the show’s hashtag ranking jumped several spots, the focus of the discussions took an unexpected turn.

In no time, the hashtag #ShenWuCooking was trending on Weibo.

[I can’t even imagine… this “porridge” Shen Wu made, if we can even call it that, looks like it’s infused with some dark magic.]

[…Did she really turn Su Yuchen’s love token into a “love porridge” stockpile?]

[Can that… thing even be called love porridge? It looks downright sinister.]

[I remember someone saying before that Shen Wu seemed like the domestic type and her cooking must be heavenly. [crying-laughing emoji]]

[That was me, sis! I even told everyone that if Shen Wu cooked for me, I’d lick the pot clean. Now? Not a chance. [vegetable-dog emoji]]

[Honestly, that pot looks cursed, all black and ominous, like it could swallow the entire universe. One lick and you’d probably ascend to the heavens.]

[Hard to believe someone so stunning could produce something so terrifying. Wonder who ended up eating it.]

[I have to watch this episode. I need to see who braved Shen Wu’s absolutely-not-food-but-magic-ascension-potion.]

[Whoever eats it must be true love. I’d call it the power of love’s greatness.]

[Please don’t let it be Kuang Gong… NOOOO! I ship Wu-Xin-Yu-Yi!]

[From the preview, I’m already sensing a battlefield vibe, like a tangled web of she loves her, but she loves her, and she actually loves her drama!]

[The production team even added that tiny line at the end, not a battlefield of love, as if that’s not just begging for speculation.]

[Exactly! I can already smell the drama brewing.]

[This Saturday, don’t miss it. I’ve never been this obsessed with a variety show before, it’s only Monday, and I’m already counting down to Saturday.]

[Fellow office drone here, every day feels like this for us.]

Meanwhile, in Shen Wu’s personal fan hashtag, some were still posting food pics, but once the truth about her alchemy-level cooking was exposed, there was no going back.

The discussions raged on, but at this very moment, someone was deeply exasperated.

Fu Nan sat at her desk, phone in hand, and uttered her final words: “I won’t allow this to happen.”

Back in the show’s monitoring room, the director slurped his instant noodles with relish while scrolling through the Love or Marriage hashtag, chuckling at the comments between bites.

“Oh, this one’s wild.”

“This one’s even wilder, ha! But this one’s closest to the truth.”

“Yep, they’re exactly that unhinged,” the director said, taking another slurp. “Of course it’s a battlefield of love!”

When she came across a particularly outrageous yet eerily accurate guess on Weibo, she couldn’t resist giving it a like with her alt account before scrolling further down.

The room had been quiet, with only the sound of the director slurping noodles and the occasional muffled giggles breaking the silence.

Then, with a sharp “bang,” the wooden door was pushed open.

An assistant director rushed in, dragging a tablet behind him. “Chief director, we have a problem.”

The director, mid-slurp, nearly choked on his noodles. He coughed violently, rubbing his throat until his face turned red before finally managing to speak.

“Cough… What? What’s going on?”

The assistant director hesitated, looking troubled, then handed over the tablet.

“Better see for yourself.”

On the tablet was an open email with an audio attachment labeled: “Shen Wu.mp4.”

The chief director eyed the tablet suspiciously, glancing between it and the assistant director’s face before finally tapping the audio file.

Shen Wu’s voice crackled through the speakers, distorted by static and electronic noise.

“You know how it is, I’m so beautiful. What if someone even better comes along? What if one day you just… get tired of me? What if Kuang Gong can’t control herself…”

“What… what is this?”

The chief director was baffled. His eyes flicked to the email’s subject line: “Edit into the show.”

Then he noticed the sender: He Yunyun.

His expression turned downright strange as he set down his cup of instant noodles. “What’s the meaning of this?”

The assistant director sighed. “It’s from He Yunyun, the new commentator for this season of Love or Marriage. The one with powerful family connections.”

He paused before continuing.

“He Yunyun pressured the higher-ups to force us to edit this audio, who knows where she got it, into the show.”

“She also had the higher-ups issue instructions to emphasize any hints of chemistry between Kuang Gong and Shen Wu during editing. If necessary, we’re to splice scenes and dialogue to make it seem like there’s something romantic between them.”

The chief director wiped his mouth. “But from what I’ve seen, Shen Wu and Su Yuchen have way more natural chemistry. And those two aren’t just hinting at something, they’re actually together.”

The assistant nodded helplessly. “But Miss He Yunyun made it clear, as long as the final edit makes it look like Shen Wu and Su Yuchen have nothing going on, that’s all that matters.”