Chapter 3

Zhou Jingyu lowered her head slightly, tucked her hair behind her ears, and said, "I think Chen Qinglin is the best of the three male guests. He doesn't talk much, he's very polite, and his looks are exactly what I like."

Yin Mu recalled Chen Qinglin's face and was unable to express an opinion. He said weakly, "I didn't pay much attention to his face. His hair was too prominent."

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Jingyu's face: "Yeah, the type of handsome guy with an aura."

“…” Yin Mu thought silently, okay, as long as you like it.

Zhou Jingyu pleaded earnestly again: "Yin Mu, can you help me when you have the chance?"

Yin Mu thought that being able to help others connect was also a good deed, so he agreed generously: "Of course, no problem."

The people in the kitchen couldn't hear their conversation, but the production crew thoughtfully opened a small window, so some netizens who were more interested in the two of them came over to watch and listened to the conversation throughout.

[Sure enough! Zhou Jingyu really likes Chen Qinglin.]

【Wan La, Jiang Nan Yu is about to be heartbroken.】

[I'm not happy with my career, nor am I happy with my love life. It's so miserable, like the rain in the south of the Yangtze River.]

[Yin Mu's hesitant look really made me laugh to death.]

【Hahahaha, it's like I saw me and my nemesis, my love-brained friend.】

…

Dinner was ready quickly. Yin Mu kept an eye on the situation in the kitchen. When he saw them starting to serve the dishes, he and Zhou Jingyu hurried over to help.

Zhang Yang brought out the last dish and asked everyone to take their seats.

Yin Mu pulled out a random chair and was about to sit down when Chen Qinglin happened to pull out the chair next to her. Thinking of Zhou Jingyu's words, she abruptly retracted her leg before taking a step forward and pulled Zhou Jingyu aside: "Jingyu, sit here."

Zhou Jingyu was standing and talking to Zheng Wei. When she turned around and saw the seat Yin Mu asked her to sit, she smiled gratefully: "Okay, thank you."

Yin Mu smiled and sat down next to Zhou Jingyu.

However, Jiang Nanyu also came over and asked Yin Mu directly: "Yin Mu, can we switch places?"

Yin Mu was still sitting still, stunned for a moment, and subconsciously glanced at Zhou Jingyu: "Ah? Switch with me?"

Jiang Nanyu raised the corner of his mouth and whispered, "Please."

Yin Mu sighed silently and stood up resignedly: "It's okay, you sit down."

Jiang Nanyu thanked him and sat down happily. Zhou Jingyu was talking to Chen Qinglin when she noticed his gaze drifting behind her. She turned her head and saw that the person next to her had changed to Jiang Nanyu. She was a little surprised, but she didn't show any displeasure and even smiled at Jiang Nanyu.

[How embarrassing! Jiangnanyu, ah Jiangnanyu, please be more careful.]

[Yin Mu is a good person to get along with. She is always there to help! ]

【Hahahaha, Zhou Jingyu has men on both sides.】

[I don't really like Zhou Jingyu. Why is she always like this to boys?]

[No, are you okay in front? Is being polite wrong?]

…

After everyone had taken their seats around the round table, Zheng Wei stood up, holding a glass of juice. She looked around and said with a smile, "I suggest we toast Chefs Zhang Yang and Jiang Nanyu and express our sincere gratitude. Without them, we'd probably be starving tonight."

Zhou Jingyu raised her glass in support: "That's right. Yin Mu and I can only sit and wait for food. I feel really ashamed."

Zhang Yang laughed: "It's a small matter. Besides, you and Yin Mu are responsible for washing the dishes, which is also a long way to go."

"That's right, washing dishes for so many people is not an easy task." Jiang Nanyu agreed, "If you two need help, just ask. I'll be happy to help you."

Zhou Jingyu smiled faintly: "Thank you in advance."

Jiangnan Yu promised without hesitation: "It's just a small favor, you're welcome."

Yin Mu didn't say anything. She didn't like saying such things. It was awkward whether she took it seriously or not.

No matter what little thoughts they had about each other, during dinner, everyone talked and laughed, chatting about everything from work to life, and the overall atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Yin Mu had nothing to say about the job he was ashamed to admit, so he simply adhered to the principle of silence, did not participate in the discussion, and just ate in silence. It was true that Zhang Yang and Jiang Nanyu were both good cooks and had made a huge contribution to their cause.

A heart full of gratitude, thank you for being there.

Yin Mu was thinking about all sorts of things, and his mouth was not idle either. He decided to feed himself first.

Perhaps she was so focused on eating that she attracted the attention of Zhang Yang, who was sitting across from her. He said, "Yin Mu, how long have you been hungry? You're a rare girl with such a large appetite."

Being called out unexpectedly, Yin Mu was stunned for two seconds, swallowed the food in her mouth, looked up at Zhang Yang, and saw that Zhang Yang still had a smile on his face. She couldn't tell whether he was joking or deliberately making fun of her.

However, no one would feel comfortable being told such things, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Yin Mu tried hard to convince himself that it was his first day after all, so he didn't want to offend anyone. He swallowed his anger and chose the most cowardly reply: "You guys cook so deliciously that I ate too much without realizing it."

Zhang Yang obviously took it seriously and advised her earnestly: "Then you have to exercise well. Girls will look ugly if they gain weight and boys won't like them."

Yin Mu was speechless for a moment. He suddenly felt so full that he couldn't eat anything. At the same time, he wanted to curse.

Before she could say anything, a hand reached out and pushed the plate of crispy pork she had grabbed two extra chopsticks of toward her. The other two girls said they didn't eat fried food and didn't touch the dish at all.

Yin Mu followed the slender hand and met Chen Qinglin's face.

Chen Qinglin had no expression on his face, and his tone was even, "Eat. You won't die if you're full."

Yin Mu: “…” There’s nothing wrong with what he said, but why does it sound weird?

【Chen Qinglin said it so coolly! 】

[I'm so pissed off! I really want to reach through the screen and punch Zhang Yang.]

[Yin Mu has such a good temper! I'd explode if it were me.]

[Is Zhang Yang crazy? He ate your rice? Cooking is such a big deal?]

[Yin Mu is already thin enough, so what if he eats more?]

…

Zhou Jingyu then responded, "Yes, it's a good thing to be able to eat. I'm just too tired today and don't have much of an appetite. Otherwise, I would have eaten a lot."

Jiang Nanyu immediately said, "You should eat more. You're too thin."

"No, I've gained two pounds recently and I'm planning to lose weight." Zhou Jingyu's tone was soft and gentle. She asked Zhang Yang, "Coach Zhang, can you tell me, do you have any tips on losing weight?"

"Of course." Zhang Yang raised his eyebrows complacently. "I've also taught many weight loss students. We can exchange ideas later."

"Okay, thank you." Zhou Jingyu smiled and turned her head to invite Yin Mu, "Yin Mu, we can lose weight together later. What kind of exercise do you like?"

Haha, I was actually stabbed in the back. Yin Mu gritted his teeth secretly, and saw Zheng Wei rolling her eyes out of the corner of his eye.

She suppressed her emotions and forced a smile: "I don't think it's necessary. I'm not interested in losing weight, and I don't like exercise."

[Oh my god, I'm so impressed. I actually thought Zhou Jingyu was a good person.]

[I'm so angry, Zhou Jingyu, what are you doing! Have you forgotten that Yin Mu helped you? ]

It's so hard to judge Zhou Jingyu. Could it be that she's giving up her position to Jiang Nanyu in revenge for Yin Mu?

[Granted, Zheng Wei and I rolled our eyes simultaneously.]

[I've finally figured it out. Zhou Jingyu isn't being gentle and polite; she's just casting a wide net!]

…

After dinner, Yin Mu and Zhou Jingyu stayed to clean up the dishes, while everyone else went to the living room.

Yin Mu was sure that he had seen another side of Zhou Jingyu, and he no longer dared to act recklessly, and his attitude towards her also became a little colder.

Zhou Jingyu didn't know whether she didn't notice it or was pretending not to notice it. She was still talking and laughing. Yin Mu couldn't help but admire her psychological quality.

The first day was like this. It was hard to imagine how the next ten days would go. Yin Mu sighed dejectedly and washed the dishes in his hands listlessly.

Zhou Jingyu finished her task, washed her hands, and said, "Yin Mu, after washing the dishes, please wipe the water off the countertop."

"Okay, got it."

"Then I'll go out first?"

"Yeah, okay."

Yin Mu finished the rest of the work slowly, put the bowls into the cupboard, and wiped the countertop twice before reluctantly leaving the kitchen, this temporary haven of peace.

Just as she came to the living room and sat down, the special correspondent of the program team arrived. She was a short girl with a round face. She looked young and had clear eyes. She was probably a college student who had just graduated two years ago.

The correspondent seemed a little nervous and introduced himself as Meng Meng. He was responsible for helping them convey the process and other miscellaneous tasks during the ten-day recording.

After Meng Meng finished speaking, she paused and continued, "Everyone is free to move around and chat freely tonight. There is only one task that must be completed. That is, everyone must write a sentence about the opposite-sex guest you most want to talk to on a heart-warming card and drop it in the mailbox in the living room upstairs before midnight."

She emphasized the word "opposite sex" and the commentators understood instantly.

【Hahahaha, what's with the accent! 】

[I'm dying of laughter. The production team is so scared after being bitten once.]

【Ahhh what's that?! Tell me now!】

[To make a long story short, in the first season, two men were deliberately tied together to promote homosexuality for the sake of popularity.]

[Huh? Playing this on a dating show? That's too shameless.]

…

Jiang Nanyu was the first to ask, "Where is the heart-thumping card?"

"We've already put it in your rooms in advance, so please keep an eye out for it when you get back."

Zheng Wei asked, "Will this affect tomorrow's groupings?"

Meng Meng shook her head: "I can't tell you that."

Zheng Wei suddenly felt bored: "Okay."

"Well, I wish you all a pleasant first night in the Heartbeat House. See you tomorrow."

After Meng Meng announced the mission, he left the villa. Everyone chatted in the living room for a while. Zhou Jingyu had the habit of going to bed early and getting up early, so she was the first to say that she wanted to go back to her room to rest. Yin Mu followed suit and said, "I'm a little tired too. I'm going upstairs to sleep first. You guys can chat slowly."

As soon as Zhou Jingyu left, Jiang Nanyu had no intention of staying any longer. She continued Yin Mu's words and said, "I'm going upstairs too. I don't know what the production crew has planned for tomorrow. It's better for us to go to bed early and get enough rest."

After he said this, everyone naturally dispersed and returned to their rooms.

Yin Mu went back upstairs and searched the room. Finally, she found a very delicate square iron box in a drawer that she had never opened. Inside the box was a stack of pink cards with heart-shaped prints and a pen. It seemed that several days' worth of cards had been reserved.

"It's quite ceremonial." Yin Mu muttered, took out a card and put it on the table, biting the tip of the pen as he thought about who to write this card to.

Jiang Nanyu is insignificant, but as for Zhang Yang and Chen Qinglin...she wants to write about both of them, so who should she choose?