12 012 (Three-in-one)

"How is that possible?"

Ning Yuxuan stroked the bookmark in her hand and glanced at Cen Meng indifferently.

"It's nothing." Ning Yuxuan closed the book, her tone calm. "It's just that I happen to have an identical book, which a friend of mine sent back to me from England. I think it's a bit of a coincidence."

Cen Meng instinctively retorted, "How...how could that be?"

The book in her hand was a gift from Gu Yunhao.

The first season of "Dear Mom" ​​became a huge hit after it aired, and the popularity of the guests increased significantly, as did their resources.

At that time, Cen Meng had just secured a spot on this variety show and knew that she would be appearing on the show with two award-winning actresses.

Cen Meng knew very well that this variety show was an excellent opportunity for her career to reach new heights, especially with a guest like Ning Yuxuan, who had an arrogant and unlikable personality, serving as a comparison for her.

So after securing the spot, she immediately began preparations, working on building her persona—a talented woman in the entertainment industry from a scholarly family.

For this reason, she specially renovated the villa that Gu Yunhao had given her, turning one of the rooms into a library and collecting various Chinese and foreign classics to put in it.

Then she coaxed Gu Yunhao, asking him if he could help her find some rare books, such as unique copies or limited editions.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yunhao actually had connections and gave her this special commemorative edition novel, of which only eight copies exist worldwide.

Gu Yunhao didn't tell Cen Meng how he obtained it, and Cen Meng didn't ask in detail either, thinking that it was normal for an established wealthy family like the Gu family to have connections in the literary circle.

When Ning Yuxuan mentioned it, Cen Meng's first reaction was that it was impossible.

Although Ning Fei is wealthy, she is the most despised actress in the literary circle. Where did Ning Yuxuan get the connections to obtain such a rare book?

However, Ning Yuxuan's tone was calm and unhurried, not like she was just talking nonsense to show off, but rather she had a confident and composed air about her.

Furthermore, given that Gu Yunhao and Ning Yuxuan were once boyfriend and girlfriend, Cen Meng was also somewhat unsure.

Could it be that... Gu Yunhao also gave Ning Yuxuan a copy?

Cen Meng didn't immediately refute Ning Yuxuan, but her fans became even more agitated.

When Cen Meng and her mother were voted at the bottom, many fans were dissatisfied, and some even posted comments saying there was something fishy going on.

When Cen Meng took out the book, the fans were overjoyed and couldn't wait to start praising it in the live stream.

Now that Ning Yuxuan has the audacity to claim that she also has it, fans immediately began to mock her.

How afraid is Ning Yuxuan of being outshone? Cen Meng mentioned she had this book, and she immediately followed suit, saying she had one too?

[Exactly! If you want to be a top student, you have to consider whether you have the ability, right? Mengmeng's book is a special edition, the kind with only a handful in the whole country. Where did Ning Yuxuan get it?]

[Haha, that's hilarious! Ning Yuxuan clearly doesn't know how valuable this book is. She tried to pretend, but ended up making a fool of herself.]

Cen Meng's fans launched a barrage of sarcastic remarks in the live stream, making ordinary viewers who had a good impression of Ning Yuxuan afraid to speak up. Only a few casual viewers who were just watching the drama continued to comment.

Looking at it again, I don't think Ning Yuxuan's tone is just making things up.

[Hmm? What's going on here? This show is starting to get interesting.]

Within seconds, Cen Meng had figured out the key to it.

In any case, having taken out the book first has given me a head start.

Even if Ning Yuxuan really did have one, so what?

If you can't produce it immediately, it's just empty talk, and you're still in an invincible position.

Even if Ning Yuxuan were to prove one day that she also has a copy, she would still be questioned as a mere imitator, a poor copyist.

Thinking of this, Cen Meng's unease disappeared, and a confident smile returned to her face.

"Yu Xuan," Cen Meng said, "you mean you also have the same book? Where is it now?"

Ning Yuxuan admired the exquisite book cover in her hand and answered lightly, "It's right here in my hand."

Cen Meng's upturned lips stiffened for a moment.

She had considered all the possibilities, but she overlooked one—

The book that Gu Yunhao gave her was one he got from Ning Yuxuan.

Cen Meng's mind was racing, but she still maintained a smile on her face.

She quickly composed herself.

As long as she doesn't budge and remains convinced that the book is hers, what can Ning Yuxuan do to her?

“Yu Xuan, I don’t understand what you mean.” Cen Meng looked confused. “I personally went to England and got this book from Ms. Yi Xin. If you really like it, I can lend it to you, but you can’t turn the tables and say it’s yours.”

Cen Meng's eyes were filled with surprise and doubt, and even a trace of pity, as if she was certain that Ning Yuxuan was lying.

The production team never expected that a simple gift-giving and voting segment would lead to such a dramatic turn of events.

The number of viewers in the live stream continued to increase, as netizens' desire to watch the excitement was awakened, and they all waited for the next development.

The on-site staff immediately contacted the director in the monitoring room and received the order to continue the live broadcast.

The director even cut to other guests a few times to create a tense atmosphere.

Jiang Ning'an looked anxious, as if she wanted to step forward and say something, but Qin Man stopped her.

Qin Man gave Jiang Ning'an a look: Don't rush, let's see what's going on.

She knew her daughter's personality well and knew that Jiang Ning'an wanted to speak up for Ning Yuxuan.

In fact, Qin Man had been in the entertainment industry for many years and had long noticed that Cen Meng's expression and tone were deliberate, and things were probably not that simple.

However, they haven't figured out the whole story yet, and speaking up for Ning Yuxuan rashly might backfire.

Furthermore, although Qin Man preferred Ning Yuxuan to Cen Meng, as a mother, she did not want her daughter to get involved in this mess.

Ning Fei, on the other hand, frowned and looked serious, as if she was thinking about something.

She recognized the book in her daughter's hand; it was a birthday gift from her friend Zheng Xinmei.

If the book Cen Meng took out really was her daughter's, then what kind of connection between Cen Meng and her daughter is there that she doesn't know about?

Ning Fei had never met Cen Meng before, nor had she ever heard the name from her daughter. At this moment, she was filled with questions and worries about her daughter.

Seeing her daughter's calm and composed expression, as if she had been prepared, Ning Fei didn't rush to speak.

As expected, Ning Yuxuan only twitched the corners of her mouth when she heard Cen Meng's question.

"You said you picked up the book yourself. But did you know that Ms. Yi Xin wrote her message on the book at a private book club? There were only Ms. Yi Xin's friends and invited guests present, and no media."

Ning Yuxuan casually uttered these words while stroking the spine of the book in her hand.

Her gentle and persuasive tone, without a trace of aggression, compels listeners to her words.

Not only was Cen Meng speechless for a moment, but many people in the live broadcast room were also stunned.

[It sounds like this book really does belong to Ning Yuxuan, right? Otherwise, how would she know so much about it?]

[Yes, Cen Meng couldn't even refute it. Doesn't that further prove that Ning Yuxuan is the original owner of the book?]

Cen Meng's fans retaliated fiercely.

[Mengmeng simply didn't bother exposing Ning Yuxuan; she's too kind!]

Knowing about the book club doesn't prove the book belongs to Ning Yuxuan! Who knows if she heard it from someone else, or if she just made it up?

[Exactly! Anyone can say what they want, so how can it be used as evidence? I could make up something like that myself.]

“I… of course I know what you’re saying!” Cen Meng was worried about exposing that she was lying, so she subconsciously followed Ning Yuxuan’s train of thought and answered.

After a pause, Cen Meng realized that this meant she was actually admitting that Ning Yuxuan was telling the truth.

After realizing what was happening, Cen Meng immediately said, "Ning Yuxuan, what are you trying to prove by saying all this? This book is indeed mine. No matter what you say, I personally received it and gave it to my mother! Are you trying to say that I stole the book from you?"

The atmosphere at the scene changed abruptly after these words were spoken.

Before this, even when the two were at odds, they were outwardly communicating in a "calm and peaceful" manner.

Once Cen Meng raised this question, the conflict could no longer be resolved in a dignified manner.

“I didn’t say you stole it.” Ning Yuxuan looked at Cen Meng coolly. “I just said that this book originally belonged to me.”

Cen Meng said sternly, "You're saying this book is yours? Your name isn't on it. You just happen to know about the book club, how dare you say that?"

Her tone was agitated, a stark contrast to Ning Yuxuan's composure.

After saying that, Cen Meng realized this and began to regret it.

She only wanted to embarrass Ning Yuxuan, but she didn't intend to make things so ugly during the live stream. In fact, she almost lost control of her emotions because of Ning Yuxuan's few words.

Even if one wins in the end, it will be inconsistent with the image one has always presented in public, which is not good for public opinion.

Cen Meng took a deep breath and exhaled: "Yu Xuan, it's okay, I know you didn't mean it..."

Before she could finish her polite remark, Ning Yuxuan suddenly smiled and asked, "Say that sentence again?"

Cen Meng was slightly taken aback: "I said, I know you're not..."

Ning Yuxuan: "The previous sentence."

Cen Meng: "..."

As if realizing something, Cen Meng's expression changed.

“You said… but my name isn’t written in the book.” Ning Yuxuan slowly opened the book, the bookmark perfectly positioned on the page she had been looking at for so long.

"Then look, what is this?" She held up the book in her hand.

Cen Meng vaguely guessed what was going on, but her gaze still unconsciously drifted over.

The photographer, standing at the forefront of the spectacle, immediately raised his macro lens and gave Ning Yuxuan's book a close-up shot.

On the inside of the page Ning Yuxuan had turned to, there was a handwritten passage in blue pen—

May we all love someone steadfastly until death.

by Yu Xuan.

Judging from the color of the ink, it must have been written a month or two ago.

...

The live stream was silent for a few seconds, then the comments section sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

【No way? I'm dumbfounded... What's going on?】

Wow, this is irrefutable proof, so this book really is Ning Yuxuan's?

[Help! My embarrassing moment of feeling sorry for others has struck again... Cen Meng showed off her stuff for ages, only to find out it belonged to someone else?]

Cen Meng was dumbfounded.

When she received the book, she carefully examined the title page and the last page, and also flipped through the whole book, but found nothing special.

In addition, the book was very new, and Cen Meng never expected that someone would write such two lines on a page.

In her panic, she instinctively looked around and noticed that the expressions of the people around her had become subtle.

Not only Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei, but even the staff seemed to look at her with disdain.

Cen Meng couldn't imagine how so many netizens in the live stream were thinking of her.

"I don't know how this happened..." Cen Meng blurted out, "This book, this book is clearly mine..."

He could only speak halfway through when he felt guilty and couldn't continue.

Ning Yuxuan finished speaking for her: "Did you personally go to England and get it at Teacher Yi Xin's book club?"

Cen Meng: "I..."

"Oh, right." Ning Yuxuan seemed to suddenly remember something and added casually, "The guests who attend that day, in addition to receiving Teacher Yi Xin's new book, will also receive a set of special gifts from the teacher. I have my set on my bookshelf at home. If you really like it, I can lend it to you to take a look."

The last sentence was what Cen Meng had just said, and Ning Yuxuan returned it verbatim.

Cen Meng's face grew increasingly pale, and her lips trembled as she was unable to speak.

What she had previously tried to refute Ning Yuxuan's words has now become a boomerang pointing back at herself.

Cen Meng's reaction undoubtedly proved who was telling the truth.

The live stream, which had just been taken over by Cen Meng's fans, has completely changed direction.

[Haha, I knew Cen Meng's book-loving persona was prone to backfiring, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly, and this is only the first episode!]

[Cen Meng's fans bragged about it for so long, making it seem like she was really something, but it turns out she just stole Ning Yuxuan's stuff to show off.]

[It seems Ning Yuxuan is really low-key. If it weren't for Cen Meng, no one would know she has a limited edition of Yi Xin's new book. That's what it means to have connections in the literary world!]

[Speaking of which, how exactly did this book end up with Cen Meng after Ning Yuxuan? Was it really stolen?]

...

In despair, Cen Meng took a deep breath.

Now that things have come to this, the original plan to use Yi Xin's books to create a persona for herself is completely impossible to continue.

Continuing to argue about the ownership of the book will only confirm that she "stole" from Ning Yuxuan. She needs to find a way to pretend to be a victim and gain public sympathy.

Cen Meng closed her eyes and thought, and an idea gradually took shape in her mind.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at Ning Yuxuan with a pitiful expression: "Yuxuan, I'm sorry... Actually, this book was a gift from my boyfriend. He's not in the entertainment industry and keeps a low profile, so he asked me to say that I got it myself."

Cen Meng's eyes were filled with sadness and confusion, like a perfect victim: "I'm sorry, I really don't know how things turned out this way, my boyfriend... you..."

She choked up, her voice trembling with tears: "I'm sorry, I lost control of my emotions."

After saying that, Cen Meng suddenly stood up, covered her mouth, and ran to the restroom on the first floor in full view of everyone.

The restroom is a private area, so the photographer couldn't chase after her and could only capture a glimpse of Cen Meng running away.

Cen Meng's actions were as if she had suffered a great injustice and had nowhere to confide in.

Most netizens remained unconvinced, mocking Cen Meng for trying to gain sympathy through tears when she was in the wrong.

I hate people like Cen Meng the most; they cry when they can't win an argument.

[That's right, it's only right to apologize when you've made a mistake, why are you crying?]

However, Cen Meng's tears did indeed win the sympathy of some viewers and made her fans feel even more sorry for her.

[I said that's enough, it's just a book, why are you making it sound like Cen Meng has broken some kind of divine law?]

[That's right, Cen Meng may have made a mistake, but it doesn't warrant death. Who can say they've never been vain?]

Soon, the two groups of people in the live stream started arguing.

Some fans even picked up on clues from Cen Meng's words and took the opportunity to speak up for her.

Don't rush to scold Cen Meng; maybe she really doesn't know!

[Yeah, don't you guys find it strange? How did Ning Yuxuan's book end up in Cen Meng's boyfriend's hands? What's their relationship?]

[I bet five cents the story will take a turn; Cen Meng's boyfriend is the key!]

...

The live stream was in complete chaos, and the situation on-site wasn't much better.

No one expected this to happen. Cen Meng suddenly ran to the bathroom, perhaps to hide inside and cry.

After reviewing the live stream data, the director decided to continue the live stream, but would insert a commercial break first.

After the confrontation between Cen Meng and Ning Yuxuan began, the number of viewers in the live stream kept climbing. If the live stream were to be stopped at this point, it would be tantamount to handing over the popularity to others.

Since things seem to be under control, there's no need to cut off the live stream; a short advertisement will suffice.

The production team sent someone to the restroom to talk to Cen Meng, and Cen Meng's mother, Qiao Yazhen, went with them.

Only two groups of guests remained in the room.

Ning Fei walked to her daughter's side: "Xuanxuan, are you alright? If you're sad, tell Mom."

Even though her daughter had never told her the inside story, Ning Fei had guessed the general idea from the few words her daughter and Cen Meng had exchanged earlier.

The boyfriend Cen Meng mentioned is most likely Gu Yunhao.

No wonder... my daughter was so determined to break up this time.

And she, as a mother, was completely unaware of this, leaving her daughter to bear the pain of being betrayed alone.

Ning Fei felt both guilty and heartbroken.

Ning Yuxuan gave her mother a reassuring look and shook her head with a smile: "I'm fine, Mom."

She knew what Ning Fei was worried about.

But once she was out of the control of the plot, she no longer had any feelings for Gu Yunhao and only found him disgusting.

The fact that Gu Yunhao gave her book to Cen Meng only intensified her dislike for Gu Yunhao; it didn't make her feel sad or angry.

Seeing Ning Fei's still worried expression, Ning Yuxuan smiled and said, "Mom, are you hungry? Didn't the production team say we have to cook dinner ourselves? What would you like to eat?"

Ning Fei shook her head: "Mom isn't hungry."

Ning Yuxuan made an exaggerated face: "But your daughter's stomach is already growling with hunger!"

Ning Fei was finally amused: "Then I'll make your favorite dish, braised pork, how about that?"

"Okay!" Ning Yuxuan nodded. "I also want to eat chicken stew with mushrooms and garlic ribs!"

While the two chatted, Cen Meng, accompanied by a staff member, finally emerged from the restroom.

Her eyes were still a little red, as if she had just been crying.

Once the director saw that Cen Meng had calmed down, he instructed the staff to switch the live stream back to the actual location.

For the past few minutes, Cen Meng's fans have been trying to calm things down in the live chat.

The main point is that Cen Meng was also a victim; she was deceived and didn't know that the book actually belonged to Ning Yuxuan.

Most of the people speaking up for Ning Yuxuan in the live stream were casual viewers, just there to watch the show and have some fun, unlike die-hard fans who would constantly spam the chat.

After the advertisement ended, the number of comments mocking Cen Meng gradually decreased.

The staff announced that the next activity would be for the three groups of guests to go to a nearby supermarket to purchase ingredients for dinner.

The production team will provide funding for the guests, but it is very limited and they need to use it sparingly.

Shopping time is limited to twenty minutes, so the guests in each group need to split up to buy the ingredients they need within the allotted time.

As for how to divide the work, that's up to everyone to discuss and decide.

Another announcement was made: three special guest stars will be joining the recording tonight, representing three mother-daughter pairs.

The special guests will come directly to the villa to meet everyone after the shopping session, and then we will cook dinner together.

After hearing the rules, Ning Yuxuan leaned close to Ning Fei's ear and said, "I've decided, tonight we'll have braised pork and garlic ribs!"

Ning Fei whispered back with a smile, "What if we don't have enough money?"

Ning Yuxuan said with an air of seriousness, "Don't worry, your clever daughter has a brilliant plan."

Ning Fei chuckled.

I have no idea what kind of crazy idea my daughter has come up with this time.

Ning Fei didn't realize that a doting and indulgent smile had unconsciously returned to her face.

I remember when I was little, my daughter was just as close to me, always whispering all sorts of wonderful ideas in my ear—

"Mom, are you tired? When I grow up, I want to invent a flying bed that can stay by your side all the time, so you can rest when you're at work!"

"Mom, can you take me with you when you're acting? That way I can become one of the people on TV too!"

However, I don't know when it started, but my daughter stopped whispering in my ear and became increasingly taciturn in front of me.

Fortunately, her lively and adorable daughter is slowly returning.

Ning Fei looked at Ning Yuxuan and nodded gently, "Okay, then I'll listen to you."

No matter what "brilliant plan" her daughter had, she would simply cooperate.

After the rules were announced, the production team gave everyone ten minutes to discuss the division of labor after they went to the supermarket.

Cen Meng was the first to step forward: "Um, everyone... I have a suggestion."

After coming out of the restroom, Cen Meng's eyes were red and she didn't say much, seemingly deeply affected.

But actually, she thought about a lot of things while she was in the bathroom.

Although the book incident caused her to lose face, it wasn't fatal.

Which celebrity doesn't have a few scandals?

Her situation could be a big deal or a small deal; as long as public opinion is guided properly, it's not beyond redress.

The most urgent thing now is to try my best to perform well in the upcoming program, and also...

Cen Meng silently touched her phone in her pocket.

It's not the right time yet. She'll find an opportunity to contact the marketing company once everyone starts preparing dinner.

She had already laid the groundwork by mentioning that the book was given to her by her "boyfriend".

With a little guidance, diverting public attention to their emotional entanglements, it's anyone's guess who will emerge victorious between her and Ning Yuxuan.

After calming herself down, Cen Meng shared her thoughts on the division of labor: "If we were to make a detailed list and assign tasks, ten minutes probably wouldn't be enough. I think it would be better if our three groups were each responsible for meat, vegetables, staple food, and seasonings, respectively?"

At this point, Cen Meng looked at the others and, seeing that no one objected, continued, "Of these items, buying vegetables is the most difficult. There are many kinds, and it's easy to make mistakes. It's also hard to control the quantity, so Mom and I will be in charge. Buying meat is relatively easier, so why don't we leave it to you, Yu Xuan, and Teacher Ning? As for the staple food and seasonings, Ning An and Teacher Qin will buy them."

After Cen Meng finished speaking, Jiang Ning'an frowned.

Regardless of whether buying vegetables is really easier than buying meat, the program team gave all three groups the same amount of money, but according to the prices in Beicheng, meat is obviously more expensive than vegetables.

With this allocation, Ning Yuxuan's group might be at a disadvantage.

Jiang Ning'an wanted to say something.

Ning Yuxuan nodded first: "Sure, I'm fine with anything."

Cen Meng was overjoyed: "Okay, thank you, Yu Xuan. I didn't expect you to agree with my idea. I thought you were..."

He stopped mid-sentence, leaving the audience to fill in the blanks themselves.

Cen Meng's fans immediately understood what she meant.

Mengmeng was probably worried that Ning Yuxuan held a grudge against her, but she was too embarrassed to say it directly.

[Waaaa, our Mengmeng is so pitiful. She's just expressing her thoughts normally, and she's still afraid of being treated differently by Ning Yuxuan.]

To Cen Meng's fans' surprise, the previous incident had damaged their public image, and immediately after they finished speaking, many viewers came forward to speak up for Ning Yuxuan.

What is Cen Meng pretending for? Doesn't she know what she did? How dare she subtly criticize others?

Isn't it normal to have prejudice against someone who steals to show off out of vanity?

[I'm not trying to be mean, but considering what just happened, Ning Yuxuan is already being very polite by not scolding Cen Meng, okay?]

The live stream chat was in complete chaos, but the actual event proceeded smoothly.

Seeing that Ning Yuxuan had already agreed, Jiang Ning'an didn't dare to object to Cen Meng's allocation.

Since no one objected to Cen Meng's statement, the division of labor was naturally settled.

The three groups of guests boarded a minibus together and headed to a nearby supermarket.

Ning Yuxuan, while seated, texted Ning Shiyue on her phone: "Bring me something over later."

Then I sent a list from a screenshot of a memo.

Ning Shiyue quickly replied: [Aren't you and Mom recording a show? How can I take care of it for you?]

Ning Yuxuan: [Stop pretending.]

Ning Yuxuan: [Remember to double-check your list so you don't buy the wrong things!]

Ning Shiyue: [...]

After a few minutes of silence on the other end, Ning Yuxuan guessed that he was struggling with whether or not to try again.

After a while, Ning Shiyue sent a "okay" cat emoji, seemingly resigned to his fate.

Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She often uses this emoji in the family group chat; I don't know when Ning Shiyue started using it too.

Ning Shiyue usually has a grumpy face, which doesn't match this cat emoji at all.

Hearing the laughter, Ning Fei looked over curiously: "What's making you so happy?"

Ning Yuxuan blinked: "Found a laborer."

Fifteen minutes later, the minibus stopped at the supermarket entrance, and the group entered the supermarket.

As per their previous assignment, Jiang Ning'an and Qin Man set off to buy staple food and seasonings.

Cen Meng and Qiao Yazhen went to the fruit and vegetable section and began busily selecting ingredients and calculating prices.

Both groups acted very quickly, fearing they wouldn't be able to buy everything they needed within the allotted time.

Only Ning Yuxuan pushed her shopping cart to the beverage section and leisurely began selecting her items.

She even had the leisure to pick up a few bottles of soda and compare them: "Mom, which flavor do you think we should buy? Orange, peach, or classic lemon?"

Ning Fei shook her head helplessly: "I don't drink these. You can buy whatever you like."

Even though she has been retired from acting for many years, Ning Fei still has high standards for her appearance, pays attention to maintaining her figure, and does not drink carbonated beverages.

Ning Yuxuan was leisurely choosing her drink, while the viewers in the live stream were getting anxious for her.

[Wasn't their group supposed to be in charge of buying meat? Why haven't they gone yet?]

[There are only fifteen minutes left, isn't Ning Yuxuan worried at all?]

[This group probably doesn't have enough money either, right? Prices in Beicheng are so high, and with so many people eating meat, does she even have enough money?]

[I'm so anxious! Is Ning Yuxuan some pampered young lady who's never lifted a finger and has no idea how much meat costs?]

Some impatient netizens even started criticizing.

[I'm fed up with Ning Yuxuan! Can't you get down to business? This concerns the meals of all the guests tonight. If you don't manage to buy meat, it won't just be her who suffers!]

[That's right, even if Ning Yuxuan herself isn't in a hurry, she can't let everyone else go hungry with her!]

It's a pity these comments can't be shown directly to the guests, otherwise the audience would love to immediately type them in bold and tell Ning Yuxuan to hurry up and buy meat.

The twenty minutes for purchasing flew by, and staff were waiting for everyone at the exit.

Cen Meng and Qiao Yazhen carefully selected and just managed to use up all the money given to them by the production team.

Jiang Ning'an and Qin Man's group also completed the task, and used the remaining money to buy some fruit.

Ning Yuxuan's shopping bag was filled with brightly colored soda bottles and beverage cans.

Jiang Ning'an looked at the shopping bag in Ning Yuxuan's hand, her face showing a mixture of desire and hesitation.

In the previous segment, her impression of Ning Yuxuan was that she was intelligent, quick-witted, and had a sharp mind.

So when Jiang Ning'an saw Ning Yuxuan readily agree to Cen Meng's suggestion, she assumed Ning Yuxuan had already come up with a solution, so she didn't say anything more.

But now... Jiang Ning'an regrets not objecting to Cen Meng's proposed division of labor.

However, since things had already come to this point, she couldn't very well offer hindsight criticisms and point out that Cen Meng's arrangements were unreasonable.

Qin Man was also somewhat surprised when she saw what Ning Yuxuan had bought, but she was a person who had seen a lot and did not show any dissatisfaction.

Qiao Yazhen hadn't said much on the show, so naturally she didn't offer any opinions at this point.

While everyone remained silent, Cen Meng was the only one to speak up: "Yu Xuan, why did you buy so much...soda and juice?"

The money allocated by the production team was already insufficient to buy enough meat for so many people.

Cen Meng suggested that Ning Yuxuan go buy meat in order to embarrass her, but what was she thinking, wasting money to buy drinks?

Ning Yuxuan glanced at Cen Meng: "Is there a rule that says we can't buy it?"

Cen Meng opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Never mind, when everyone realizes there's not enough meat, someone will naturally speak up for Ning Yuxuan.

I just had a conflict with Ning Yuxuan, there's no need for me to be the bad guy.

Cen Meng's fans in the live stream have taken this opportunity to attack Ning Yuxuan, with some saying that Ning Yuxuan's attitude was bad and others criticizing Ning Yuxuan's character.

[Mengmeng was just asking, did Ning Yuxuan really make such a fuss?]

[Ning Yuxuan is really a bad person. She didn't complete the task herself, and she doesn't want others to say anything about it.]

[How selfish Ning Yuxuan is! Who exactly likes her?]

However, the events of just now were still fresh in everyone's mind, and many people spoke up for Ning Yuxuan.

[Didn't Ning Yuxuan say she knew what she was doing? The camera just switched between the three groups of guests; who knows if Ning Yuxuan bought the ingredients when no one was filming?]

[I said Ning Yuxuan didn't really do anything to Cen Meng, she was just a little cold. Isn't it normal for Ning Yuxuan to feel resentful after what happened earlier?]

Speaking of which, Cen Meng hasn't properly apologized to Ning Yuxuan yet, has she? A perfunctory "I'm sorry" was all it took.

The live stream was filled with heated arguments, but the director was actually pleased to see the consistently high viewership.

The program proceeded as planned, and the group returned to the villa by minibus.

The staff announced that it was time for the special guest to make their appearance.

The guest in Cen Meng's group is a male actor named Guan Cheng, who has worked with Cen Meng on a TV series.

The two were paired up as a couple for a while when the TV series aired, and they were quite popular.

The production team originally invited Guan Cheng and Cen Meng to appear together to add some highlights to the show by leveraging their on-screen chemistry.

Who knew that Cen Meng would suddenly reveal her boyfriend today, making Guan Cheng's position somewhat awkward.

Guan Cheng rushed over directly from the scene after another program ended, and was unaware of what had just happened during the live broadcast.

As originally planned, he stepped forward to hug Cen Meng.

To maintain the couple's popularity, it's natural to act more intimately with the woman.

As soon as Guan Cheng approached Cen Meng, Cen Meng subconsciously took two steps back.

Guan Cheng stood frozen, his outstretched arms nowhere to go.

Cen Meng realized something was amiss and quickly raised her hand, wanting to give Guan Cheng a high five.

However, Guan Cheng quickly changed the hug to a handshake, and the two of them didn't match up.

...

Help! My toes are starting to get messed up, this is so embarrassing!

[It's true that it's better not to ship expired couples; these two clearly don't know each other at all.]

I already anticipated how awkward Cen Meng's group would be tonight; I'd rather watch the other two groups.

Finally, Cen Meng changed her gesture to a handshake. The two people's fingers intertwined briefly for a second, ending the awkward situation.

The second guest to appear was Pan Wenyan, a special guest from Jiang Ning'an's group, who played Master Caixin in "The Legend of Caixin".

"The Legend of Cai Xin" is the most popular TV series recently, and there are many viewers in the live broadcast room who watched the drama "Jiang Ning'an" and then started watching the variety show.

The moment Pan Wenyan appeared, the live stream chat immediately became lively.

[Ahhh, my master-disciple couple is getting some sweet moments again! It's actually the master himself!]

[Why wasn't it the Demon Lord? I refuse to accept this!]

[Remember how Ning Yuxuan was shipping Cai Xin and the Demon Lord just now? This is a bit awkward, hahaha]

[Oh yeah, haha, does that mean Ning Yuxuan will have to watch the rival couple show off their love right before her eyes?]

Pan Wenyan is four years older than Jiang Ning'an, and the two are roughly the same age. They got along very well during the months they spent filming together.

When the friends met, the two embraced generously, once again exciting the CP fans in the live stream.

Pan Wenyan then greeted the other guests and introduced himself.

Apart from Jiang Ning'an, Pan Wenyan was meeting the others for the first time, and he politely shook hands with them.

When he reached Ning Yuxuan, Pan Wenyan first bowed solemnly, then said in a teasing tone, "Sorry, Yuxuan, I heard you're a fan of the Demon Lord and Caixin's CP. Now that you've found out it's me, you don't mind, do you?"

Before Pan Wenyan arrived, he watched a short segment of the live stream, which happened to be the part where everyone was discussing the couple at the beginning.

He has an outgoing personality and is known for his comedic talent on various shows, so he naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to use it.

As expected, the staff around Pan Wenyan couldn't help but laugh after he finished speaking.

This is actually a difficult question to answer. It's hard to come up with a polite yet humorous response in a short amount of time, and being too serious is not interesting.

Amidst a barrage of "hahaha" comments, the director's camera timely switched to Ning Yuxuan.

Ning Yuxuan looked at Pan Wenyan calmly: "How's your cooking?"

Pan Wenyan was stunned for a moment, clearly not following Ning Yuxuan's train of thought.

Although he was puzzled, he answered truthfully: "It's not bad. I usually love food and often research recipes and such."

Ning Yuxuan gave Pan Wenyan an approving look and answered his earlier question: "Of course I don't mind, you're welcome to join us."

Pan Wenyan: "..."

He seemed to understand Ning Yuxuan's logic.

The comments section was filled with laughter.

[Hahaha, Ning Yuxuan, you're so calculating! You don't mind that someone else's cooking is good!]

[That makes sense! No matter how important shipping is, nothing's more important than eating! I support Ning Yuxuan; eating is paramount!]

[Haha, who would have thought that Pan Wenyan would escape Ning Yuxuan's pursuit because of his good cooking skills?]

[What a coincidence! Pan Wenyan arrived just when I needed to cook. Perfect timing!]

Finally, Ning Yuxuan's group's special guest appeared, and Ning Shiyue pushed open the door and walked in.

Even before the announcement of special guests, many viewers speculated that Ning Yuxuan's group's guest would be Ning Shiyue.

After all, he appeared in the pilot episode and is Ning Yuxuan's younger brother.

However, the audience was still very excited to see Ning Shiyue actually appear.

Wow, it really is Ning Shiyue! I've been waiting for this for so long!

[Great! I was immediately drawn to this family's atmosphere when I watched the preview, and I didn't expect them to be reunited so soon!]

[Haha, me too! My favorite part of the pilot episode was the scene where the siblings were bickering and their mom was watching the fun.]

[Look, what's that big bag Ning Shiyue is holding?]

As required by the production team, Guan Cheng and Pan Wenyan both brought the same gift when they came on stage.

Guan Cheng brought a pot of preserved flowers, while Pan Wenyan prepared a bottle of grapefruit-scented aromatherapy; both were beautifully packaged.

Ning Shiyue was carrying a semi-transparent white plastic bag. As the camera zoomed in, the audience could barely make out what was inside.

Uh...it looks like pork belly and ribs...

So, Ning Shiyue brought a bunch of ingredients as a gift? And it seems like they're all meat.

[I remember now, Ning Yuxuan didn't buy meat, she only bought drinks, right? Did she know Ning Shiyue would bring some?]

No wonder Ning Yuxuan wasn't in a hurry earlier; she had outside help!

Wait, something's not right. So it was all scripted? They actually knew who the mystery guest was all along?

The production team was wronged.

To make the guests' reactions more authentic, the fact that special guests will be joining the recording tonight is a secret from all three groups of guests.

Ning Shiyue was recording a program in another city this morning and only landed in Beicheng by plane two hours ago. Even the program team members were not sure if he would participate in tonight's recording, so they prepared a backup plan in advance.

They didn't know how Ning Yuxuan had predicted Ning Shiyue's arrival and even notified him to bring ingredients.

Cen Meng looked at the things Ning Shiyue brought with an incredulous expression.

She was secretly pleased when she saw Ning Yuxuan buy a lot of drinks.

If everyone else is not eating well because of Ning Yuxuan's willfulness, and you take the opportunity to turn the tide by cooking a few delicious dishes and generously sharing them with everyone, you will definitely win everyone's favor.

Seeing that her plan had failed, Cen Meng couldn't help but ask, "Yu Xuan... why did the production team only tell you who the special guest is? None of the rest of us know..."

Her expression was a mixture of surprise and grievance, and her questioning was very clever, as if she had already confirmed the fact that Ning Yuxuan had "cheated".

Ning Yuxuan didn't speak, but gently tapped her temple.

Cen Meng: "...What?"

Ning Yuxuan curved her lips into a smile and said indifferently, "Because I have a brain, I think things through before questioning others."

Cen Meng: "..."

[That makes sense. So many viewers guessed that the special guest was Ning Shiyue, it's not surprising that Ning Yuxuan guessed it too.]

[Pfft... Is Ning Yuxuan saying Cen Meng is brainless? That's a pretty sophisticated insult.]

[I just realized why Cen Meng's face turned green after hearing that, hahaha]

Comments from Cen Meng's fans:

[Cen Meng was just asking, how could Ning Yuxuan swear?]

However, as more and more passersby gathered, and given that Cen Meng's previous behavior had angered the public, her fans were no longer able to control the situation.

The audience rallied to defend Ning Yuxuan and retort.

[Who said Ning Yuxuan sweared? Which sentence contained profanity?]

Well, although Ning Yuxuan's words weren't very polite, it was Cen Meng who started by casually questioning others.

Cen Meng looked at Ning Yuxuan with a livid face, but because she was in the wrong, she couldn't lash out and could only swallow her anger.

At this moment, besides anger and resentment, she also felt deep confusion.

Several times when Ning Yuxuan and Gu Yunhao argued on the phone, Cen Meng was right next to Gu Yunhao listening.

On the phone, Ning Yuxuan was either crying incessantly like a wronged woman or rambling incoherently, completely unlike her sharp and eloquent self now!

Why did Ning Yuxuan suddenly seem like a completely different person?

Cen Mengxiang didn't understand.

After the three special guests finished their appearance, the staff announced that everyone could choose their own ingredients and prepare dinner according to their assigned groups.

Everyone else went to the kitchen, but Cen Meng made an excuse that her eyes weren't feeling well and went to find the staff member in charge of keeping everyone's phones.

"I'm so sorry, young man," Cen Meng said weakly. "I know the production team's rules state that artists can't have their phones except during outdoor scenes. But my eyes are a serious matter. If I don't contact a doctor immediately, I'm afraid..."

Cen Meng gently tugged at the staff member's sleeve, her eyes almost glistening with tears: "My own health is a small matter, but what if it gets worse and affects the recording of the entire program... I... I don't want to drag everyone down because of me..."

The person in charge of managing the guests' phones was a male intern, who couldn't stand the beautiful woman tugging at his sleeve, pleading with tears streaming down her face.

Moreover, Cen Meng's reasoning did indeed sound quite reasonable.

The intern looked around, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Well... after you've contacted the doctor, give me back my phone right away, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself."

Cen Meng smiled through her tears: "Yes, thank you, you're so kind to me."

The intern blushed deeply, took out Cen Meng's phone and handed it to her: "It's nothing, you can use it now."

Cen Meng took the phone, went into the bathroom, and closed the door.

There were no cameras in the bathroom, but Cen Meng still checked carefully, then carefully took off the microphone used for recording, turned it off, and covered it under a thick bath towel.

After doing all this, she hesitated for a moment before opening the social media app on her phone.

Cen Meng glanced at the trending topics list and her heart sank.

Her name and Ning Yuxuan's name were right next to each other in the top ten trending searches.