As to whether there were any unfavorable rumors about Jiang Ran recently, Jiang Ran later got a bland answer from Fu Song that could not be called an answer.

Fu Song said: He doesn’t know either.

Of course, not knowing and not having are different.

Unfortunately, Fu Bo didn't understand this and kept yelling, "See, I told you it wasn't true!"

Jiang Ran put down the joystick coldly: "Shut up, five million."

Fu Bo: “…”

However, in the following days, Jiang Ran still stayed in the guest room of Fu's house and did not leave.

Of course, it wasn't because they were paid to be Fu Bo's playmate, but because they had promised the other contestants that they would treat everyone to ten meals. After much thought, the most suitable place to hold the banquet was Fu's house.

Fu Song's company is quite far away from here, so he doesn't usually live in the old house. Apart from the housekeeper and the servant robot, there are only Jiang Ran and Fu Bo in the whole mansion, and they can do whatever they want.

Over the past few days, Jiang Ran has been researching interstellar ingredients on the Star Network while experimenting with various sophisticated, simple, and easy-to-use kitchen appliances. Meanwhile, Fu Bo has been responsible for contacting other contestants, arranging meeting times, preparing the venue, and... even eating various experimental products.

Before the party even started, Fu Bo had gained some weight.

Jiang Ran frowned at him and said, "Will your brother mistakenly think that I'm angry and want to take revenge on you because of the way you look now?"

Fu Bo pinched the new belly he had grown: "It's just a little bit of fat, okay?"

Jiang Ran frowned and said nothing.

Fu Bo looked at her frown, his expression becoming increasingly depressed: "Okay, okay, then I'll..."

As he was speaking, a crisp "ding" sound came from the oven. It was the cheese and blueberry cake that Jiang Ran had just baked that was cooked.

"...Then I'd better finish this cake before I lose weight!" Fu Bo trotted forward excitedly, opened the oven, and took the cake out on a plate.

"You're hopeless."

Jiang Ran said, "If the branch doesn't break when you climb the tree in the next game, it will be a blessing from heaven."

Fu Bo didn't even raise his head, burying himself in the small cake. From time to time, he would make a "shashasha" sound because the freshly baked cake was too hot. After a long time, he said stickyly, "The end is worse than sifting ice and grinding it. There is no tree."

Fu Bo was so absorbed in eating that Jiang Ran ignored him.

Everything that needed to be prepared was almost complete. The main task these past few days had been to find substitutes for the raw ingredients that were hard to find, and then confirm the usage and dosage. He scooped up the last soup from the experiment and tasted it. It was delicious, and Jiang Ran felt it was acceptable.

At this point, Jiang Ran’s preparations were all completed.

"Natural vegetables are so expensive these days," Jiang Ran muttered. "A single head of greens costs 10 federal coins."

Fu Bo, who had never been in charge of the household, didn't know how expensive firewood and rice were. He had asked the housekeeper to take care of the food purchases. At this moment, he uttered a bewildered "Why not eat meat porridge?" "Is it expensive? Is it okay? It should be much cheaper than the wild beast meat?"

Jiang Ran looked at him for a long time and said, "Indeed, after all, I now have 5 million in liquid funds. This amount of food is certainly nothing."

Fu Bo: “…”

If he remembered correctly, the money for the ingredients was deducted from his account, right?

Everything was ready and the party started in full swing.

There were too many people that day, and it would have been crowded if they all stayed in the living room, so the housekeeper arranged for some of them to dine in the garden.

The people who were transferred away didn't have any objections. After all, the scenery in the garden was pleasant and there were isolation shields installed. Even though it was a hot day, they were not exposed to the sun.

Jiang Ran was so busy preparing meals for so many people at once that he felt overwhelmed. When he finally finished his work and had a break, he caught sight of Fu Bo happily enjoying his meal among the crowd, and his temper immediately flared up.

"Aren't you in charge of logistics?" Jiang Ran pulled his ear, "But why do you seem so idle?"

Fu Bo chewed the squirrel fish in his mouth, swallowed it, and said confidently, "I have work to do too! I have to input instructions to the robots, have them greet customers and arrange dishes, and also make lists to facilitate their shopping. It's not easy!"

Jiang Ran: “…”

Ren Xiayang, who was eating next to him, was happier than Fu Bo. Seeing Jiang Ran coming, she looked up from her busy schedule and asked, "Little Sister Jiang, when is our next gathering?"

He asked as he stuffed a piece of Dongpo pork elbow into his mouth, then uttered a muffled voice: "Every day has been waiting for me to worry about history! I've eaten all the sweet potatoes!"

Jiang Ran poured him a glass of water and counted the days on his fingers: "The next game will be in half a month. Why don't we just get together for ten consecutive days? We don't have to worry about which days to stop. Everyone can come if they can. If you have anything to do, just let Fu Bo know in advance."

Ren Xiayang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he clapped his hands excitedly: "That's great! I'm going to live in a happy dream for the next ten days!"

Jiang Ran was amused by him. Fu Bo heard the voice, raised his head and glanced at him, muttered "What a flatterer", and then suddenly gulped down a big mouthful of carrot and pork ribs soup.

There were indeed several fewer people at the party the next day, but Jiang Ran didn't care much.

There is certainly a difference between getting together once and getting together for ten consecutive days. Everyone has their own things to do, so they will definitely choose the days when they are free. By missing some today and some tomorrow, the coming and going can be balanced.

However, unexpectedly, on the third day, fewer people came to the party, and those who did not come last time did not come this time either.

Is it really such a coincidence? Jiang Ran looked thoughtfully at the somewhat empty hall and went to Zeng Pei to inquire about the situation.

"Do you know what big things are happening these days?"

"Big news?" Zeng Pei put down the goblet in his hand, thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard of it."

Jiang Ran pointed to the endless dishes on the table and said, "But fewer people are coming."

"Maybe it's something personal?"

Zeng Pei said: "Autumn is coming soon, and it's really busy these days. My studio is also overwhelmed with orders. Isn't it better to postpone it for a day? If I have to rush the work, I definitely won't be able to come."

Jiang Ran asked: "Then why did you come here?"

Zeng Pei said matter-of-factly, "I would feel like I'm committing a crime if I ignore such delicious food."

Ren Xiayang, who was sitting next to him, had his mouth full of food and couldn't make any sound, so he could only nod desperately.

But on the fifth day, half of the party had already left.

Those who disappeared never appeared again, and those who are still talking and laughing now may disappear one day.

At this time, even Fu Bo noticed something was wrong.

He went to find Jiang Ran, holding the empty, half-finished list. "How come so many people are missing without me noticing? Just now, a few people told me they couldn't come tomorrow because they had something to do..."

Jiang Ran looked at Fu Bo, who realized it belatedly. Confusion was written all over his face, and it was obvious that he was truly clueless.

"Why don't you speak?" Fu Bo asked.

Jiang Ran came back to her senses. She thought for a moment before saying, "Autumn is coming soon. Maybe everyone is busy during this period."

"Oh." Fu Bo was not very satisfied with this answer and muttered softly, "How can you be so busy that you don't even have time to eat a meal?"

Jiang Ran didn't know the answer either.

So Jiang Ran didn't answer him.

By the eighth meal, the Fu family's garden was completely unusable.

The hall seemed empty even with a few dozen guests crammed in. If some of them were sent to the garden, it would seem like intentional isolation.

There were fewer people, but the dishes were not less. Unfortunately, Fu Bo had lost his appetite at that time.

He had gained a lot of weight recently and was often teased by Jiang Ran. Although he had plenty of delicious food and wine these days, he had lost visibly more weight.

Fu Bo asked, "There are still two parties left. Should we still hold it?"

"Let's do it." Jiang Ran said, "This is what we promised. It's our business. As for whether others come or not, that's their business."

Fu Bo was silent for a long time before nodding blankly.

A long time passed.

Fu Bo asked, "How could this happen?"

Jiang Ran said: "I don't know either."

Fu Bo stopped talking.

Jiang Ran asked: "I asked you last time if you had heard any news that was unfavorable to me."

Fu Bo nodded: "I really haven't heard of it."

"What about the production team? Have you heard any news that's unfavorable to the show or the competition?"

"No," Fu Bo still looked completely clueless. "If I had heard about it, I would definitely tell you and I wouldn't have asked those questions just now."

Jiang Ran nodded without saying anything.

It seemed as if the two of them had quietly become an isolated island at some unknown time.

The sea outside is full of waves, and the sea knows the shape of every wave that splashes up, but the isolated island is always lonely.

The sun is scorching high in the sky, and it is waiting for the judgment that will come at an unknown day.

During the last meal, Jiang Ran didn't have much hope, but he still cooked all the necessary dishes.

When all the dishes were placed on the table one by one, Fu Bo ran down from upstairs like a rooster with its feathers blown off.

"I know!" he cried. "I know why they stopped coming!"

"Go ahead." Jiang Ran was already prepared and just waited calmly for the verdict. "I'm listening."

"Fruit News Channel just broke the news that 'Back to Earth' has run out of funding, and the partner platforms have successively terminated their contracts. And... your dark past has also been brought up again."

"And what was the result? What was the result?"

“…The program team may be disbanding.”

You say maybe, but you think it's certain.

They both knew that if the news was even slightly unreliable... there wouldn't be only the two of them left at today's party.

"Damn it." Fu Bo said angrily, "Why did I only know this now!"

Jiang Ran said calmly, "Of course someone doesn't want you to know."

"What's the meaning?"

"……nothing."

Fu Bo felt that Jiang Ran's expression was a little strange. Just as he was about to ask, the computer in his hand suddenly played a real-time news.

[At 9:00 this morning, an explosion occurred on Jiujiang Road in Capital Star. 89 people were injured at the scene, but no one died. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Please continue to pay attention.]

"Jiujiang Road... that's the main road to my house, right?"

When Fu Bo saw the news, his face was filled with anticipation: "Could they be late because of traffic congestion?"

Jiang Ran was certainly not as naive as him, but he did not deny his guess either.

"Then let's wait a little longer." Jiang Ran said, "But now, perhaps we should discuss what to do next."

The author has something to say:

【Small Theater】

Fu Bo: Anyone who doesn't come to the party today will be on my Dark Shark list tomorrow :)

Jiang Ran: You better be careful not to be secretly attacked by others...