Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Fighting for Privileges Fighting for Extra Date Privileges…
[Du Yanting to Qiao Wanshu]: "You have a strong learning ability. Today you hit the mark three times, which really impressed me. I'll take you to try more activities when I have the chance."
[He Shengnian to Qiao Wanshu]: "You look a little tired today. Go to bed early."
[You Zhi to Xu Qinghu]: "Perhaps it's too early to say much now. We also lack the time to truly get to know each other, but I believe it will come soon."
[He Shengnian actually didn't send it to Xu Qinghu. How tragic.]
[Sure enough, how could a man who likes Qiao Wanshu be attracted to someone who is just a show-off?]
[I knew everyone except You Zhi would send it to Qiao Qiao. This is even better than reading a sweet story. This is the script for a heroine!]
[It would be great if You Zhi could also send it to Qiao Qiao, so that all the men in the dating show can be caught in one fell swoop.]
[From Qiao Wanshu's perspective, if this isn't a heartthrob, then what is? The competition will definitely get more intense.]
[Am I the only one who feels sorry for the other female guests? If they're just going to be heartthrobs, then what's the point of their existence?]
All the messages sent by the female guests were also made public.
[Wen Ruoxi to Gu Jingchen]: "While walking by the lake, I felt so relaxed. I had a strong thought: I wish I could draw you a picture. I wonder if I'll have the chance in the future."
[Ruan Xiaoyu to You Zhi]: "Actually, I like roses too, but you gave me daisies."
[Zhong Zining to He Shengnian]: "I don't know what you did today, but I hope you're happy."
[Qiao Wanshu to Du Yanting]: "You're a little different today than you were before. I believe that as we spend more time together, I'll get to know you better and better."
[Xu Qinghu to He Shengnian]: "You say you don't believe in destiny, and neither do I. I believe in the green cicada, dormant underground for years, enduring the passage of time and being reborn. I believe in the butterfly's endless struggle to emerge from its cocoon. I believe in the mysterious connection between people, but I don't believe in the so-called fate."
[Oh my god, compared to the male guests, it seems like every female guest's message is so much more informative and thoughtful.]
[Men's thinking is completely different from women's. What touched me most was Xu Qinghu's message. Not only did she send it to He Shengnian, but her words were also meaningful.]
Compared to Xu Qinghu, Qiao Wanshu's message was too bland. I had an indescribable feeling.
[Perhaps because it was so immersive, Ruan Xiaoyu's text message was also very sad. She likes roses, but is destined to only get daisies.]
[Do we even have to compare text messages? Xu Qinghu was rejected but still tried to make a name for herself in front of He Shengnian. Isn't that just being a jerk?]
[She posted so much content, just to get He Shengnian's attention.]
[Can you guys, Qiao Wanshu's brainless fans, please get lost? What does Xu Qinghu texting He Shengnian have to do with you? Can you please stop trying to make a name for yourself here?]
[You're licking rich people like this, do you really think you're Qiao Wanshu? Quickly open your original camera and see how ugly you look.]
I don't know what He Shengnian thought when he saw the text, but I'm a little sad. If Xu Qinghu had participated in other dating shows, the result would not have been like this.
After watching the live stream for several days, I've already seen that Qiao Wanshu isn't that simple, and the other male guests aren't pushovers either. This dating show has long since gone sour.
After sending the text message, everyone waited by their phones.
After reading Wen Ruoxi's text message, Gu Jingchen waited for five minutes but did not receive another text message, so he was sure that Qiao Wanshu had sent it to someone else.
He lowered his eyelashes and walked to the balcony to breathe fresh air.
He Shengnian, who lived in the same room with him, also looked at his phone for a few seconds.
He received two text messages and could only identify the sender of one of them, but there was no expression on his face, as if he didn't care at all about the content of Xu Qinghu's text message.
You Zhi, who lived opposite, also received a text message, but Qi Song received nothing. He cursed and collapsed on the bed.
"It's all the fault of the production team," he gritted his teeth, "They knew who I wanted to date, but they still deliberately set so many rules."
You Zhi lowered his eyelashes and did not respond.
Although he sent flowers to Xu Qinghu and expressed his thoughts implicitly, he still did not receive her text message.
He knew in his heart that these were useless. They were too superficial.
I feel so bad for You Zhi. Why don't he also like Qiao Qiao? Qiao Qiao is so outstanding. Even if she doesn't end up with him, he won't suffer any loss.
[Compared to that, Xu Qinghu is not even as good as Qiao Qiao.]
[Would you like to read what you are saying?]
[It feels like they're just some brainless bots who treat the audience like idiots. Has the capital behind Qiao Wanshu lost its salt?]
Although everyone was emotionally agitated by the text message, today's date was over and the cabin fell into silence again.
It was not until the first ray of sunlight in the early morning shone into the garden that Gu Jingchen opened his eyes and tiptoed to the bathroom to wash up.
Little did she know that He Shengnian had also woken up. Seeing him couldn't wait to change his clothes and go downstairs, she didn't follow him, but went to the third floor to work out.
Qiao Wanshu originally thought that he was the first one to get up, but he was still a little surprised when he saw Gu Jingchen busy in the kitchen.
"How come you got up earlier than me?"
"I'm used to it," Gu Jingchen smiled at her and said softly, "Would you like to have a sandwich or something else in the morning?"
"Let's steam some snacks," Qiao Wanshu said, "I remember there are some semi-finished breakfasts in the refrigerator."
"Okay," Gu Jingchen stopped her from getting something from the refrigerator. "The freezer is very cold. I'll get it."
Qiao Wanshu didn't fight with him for it, but just smiled at him.
Seeing her eyes slightly curved, Gu Jingchen's mouth corners also lifted, "If you don't have any plans today, let's go to the nearby wetland park to play."
Qiao Wanshu's smile faded. "Forget it. The production team should have other arrangements."
Gu Jingchen didn't notice her alienation from him and continued, "If not, do you want to go with me? I heard you can feed water birds there."
He looked into Qiao Wanshu's eyes, with obvious expectation in them.
"Sure," Qiao Wanshu turned around, "I'll boil a few more eggs."
"Okay," Gu Jingchen took out the steamer and continued to work in a good mood.
When Xu Qinghu walked to the kitchen door, he saw a warm scene of the two of them getting along.
She didn't leave them alone, but asked, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Gu Jingchen and Qiao Wanshu turned around at the same time and saw that she was wearing a sports suit and a baseball cap on her head, as if she had just come back from outside.
Gu Jingchen was stunned for a moment, "Did you go out for a run?"
"Yeah." She was wearing a short-sleeved top, revealing her white arms. She looked very slender, but not lonely. Instead, she exuded a healthy and lustrous luster.
Of course, this was not the reason why they were stunned. It was not only Xu Qinghu's face that was beautiful, but also her straight and slender legs. She was slender and graceful, with a well-proportioned figure. Just standing there, she was graceful and elegant, and she brightened up the room.
Although beauty is not everything, sometimes the impact of beauty on people cannot be described in words.
Even Qiao Wanshu couldn't help but marvel at her beauty.
"No thanks." She refused subconsciously.
"Can you help me make soy milk?" Gu Jingchen spoke at the same time as her. He never wanted to embarrass girls.
Qiao Wanshu turned around and looked at Gu Jingchen. The man smiled and said, "Let Hulu help us make soy milk."
Qiao Wanshu lowered her eyelashes. "Sure, I forgot I made the soy milk."
"Then I'll wash my hands first." Xu Qinghu walked to the sink, washed his hands, took out the soybeans soaked in the basin, and asked Gu Jingchen sideways: "Are there any purple sweet potatoes in the refrigerator? I want to add some purple sweet potatoes and red dates."
"Yes," Gu Jingchen stopped what he was doing, "I'll get it out."
"Okay," Xu Qinghu raised his eyes and smiled at him, "Thank you for your help."
Gu Jingchen smiled back, "Why are you being so polite to me?"
He seemed polite, but his attitude towards Xu Qinghu was mixed with a hint of familiarity, which made Qiao Wanshu unconsciously observe how they got along.
Xu Qinghu raised his hand to take the purple sweet potato from Gu Jingchen's hand, but the man stepped back and said helplessly, "The food in the refrigerator is very cold. I can take care of it."
"Okay," Xu Qinghu blinked at him and said in a pleasant voice, "Thank you for your hard work."
Gu Jingchen couldn't help but look at her twice more, "I told you not to be polite to me."
"It's already hard work," Xu Qinghu seemed not to notice Qiao Wanshu standing in the kitchen. "You get up so early to cook, I must recognize your hard work."
Gu Jingchen chuckled, "You say that, do you want me to help you cook next time?"
When these words came out, not only the audience was stunned, but Qiao Wanshu also frowned.
Gu Jingchen's affection for her was obvious, but he was so close to Xu Qinghu in front of her, which made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
It was as if something that clearly belonged to him was snatched away by Xu Qinghu.
[My dear old swan, what is Xu Qinghu doing? She didn't say she wanted to help in the kitchen last night.]
[Damn! Gu Jingchen and Qiao Qiao are enough in the kitchen. Xu Qinghu, get out now!]
[She probably knows she has no chance with He Shengnian, so she wants to win over Gu Jingchen. After all, he's the most gentleman among all the male guests and wouldn't reject her explicitly with words. Don't be too cunning.]
[I'm vomiting! How is Xu Qinghu's behavior any different from a mistress? Get out of here now!]
[She's such an eyesore! Can the production crew please kick her out? The sight of her makes me sick!]
The comments were almost all condemning and cursing Xu Qinghu, wishing she would disappear immediately.
Some people also spoke up for Xu Qinghu. Qiao Wanshu and Gu Jingchen hadn't confirmed their feelings yet, so what was wrong with Xu Qinghu contacting Gu Jingchen? Besides, Xu Qinghu only came to help and didn't do anything excessive, so why was he being scolded by them?
But Qiao Wanshu has a huge fan base, and such remarks were quickly drowned out by the ocean of public opinion.
"You don't have to help me cook," Xu Qinghu poured the soybeans into the soy milk maker. "Of course, it's okay if you insist on helping me." She blinked at Gu Jingchen, with obvious sarcasm in her words.
Gu Jingchen was about to say something when Qiao Wanshu said calmly, "Do you need to cook anything else?"
"Let me see," Gu Jingchen opened the refrigerator again and turned back to ask her: "Do you want to stir-fry some vegetables?"
Qiao Wanshu was not very good at cooking, so he did not respond immediately after hearing this.
Xu Qinghu said: "Sure, I'll do it."
Gu Jingchen took the vegetables to the sink to wash them, and Xu Qinghu reminded him at the right time: "Prepare some more ingredients."
Gu Jingchen started preparing what she needed without any hesitation.
Qiao Wanshu stood there, looking at Gu Jingchen who was busy and serious, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.
[Qiao Qiao must be angry.]
[Can Gu Jingchen figure out who he likes? If he likes Qiao Qiao, he shouldn't get too close to Xu Qinghu. Doesn't he know the proper boundaries between the opposite sex?]
[It seems that Gu Jingchen didn't think too much about it and just wanted to make breakfast as soon as possible. It was Xu Qinghu who insisted on talking to him.]
The more I look at Xu Qinghu, the more I hate her. Who the hell is she? She's trying to steal Qiao Qiao's man. Go die, that green tea bitch!
[Xu Qinghu is doing all this in vain. If Qiao Qiao just beckons, Gu Jingchen will immediately return to her side. Could Xu Qinghu please have some self-awareness?]
While the three were cooking in the kitchen, the others also came downstairs one after another. The first one to come was He Shengnian. When he found that there were more than just Gu Jingchen and Qiao Wanshu in the kitchen, he was obviously surprised. He stood at the door, paused, and left.
Xu Qinghu cooked the dishes, brought the soy milk to the dining table, and left the kitchen to Qiao Wanshu and Gu Jingchen.
It seemed as if her appearance was really just to help them, and she would leave immediately after doing what she was supposed to do.
But it was precisely because of her calm and composed appearance that Qiao Wanshu felt inexplicably concerned.
It even made those who kept cursing her unable to vent their anger.
He could only keep repeating that she was scheming and hateful, but he couldn't find any evidence that she had actually intervened between the two of them.
[Was that cyberbullying? What did Xu Qinghu do wrong? Why was he cursed like that? This is horrible. Is the internet environment this bad now?]
[When I saw the comments section just now, I felt something was wrong. Is it wrong for Xu Qinghu to help?]
[I suspect someone is manipulating public opinion behind the scenes, trying to step on Xu Qinghu and praise Qiao Wanshu. If this is true, then Xu Qinghu is in danger.]
When will this world stop being so hostile to girls? Most of the people who watch dating shows are girls, right? Looking back at what you just said, is that something a woman could really say? What are you guys trying to do?
When passersby began to question, the people who had just wanted to kill Xu Qinghu suddenly became quiet again, as if the thousands of curses did not exist.
But if you just replay the live broadcast, you can see their malice towards Xu Qinghu.
Those shocking curses seemed to have a blood feud with Xu Qinghu.
Would an average viewer make such a comment?
A seed of doubt was planted in the hearts of many people.
"Breakfast was prepared so quickly today," Ruan Xiaoyu walked over to Xu Qinghu and held her hand, "Thank you for your hard work."
"You know I'm working hard, but why don't you go get the dishes and chopsticks?"
"Hehe," Ruan Xiaoyu laughed twice and quickly walked into the kitchen.
After everyone arrived, they started to eat breakfast. They first praised the steamed breakfast and then praised Xu Qinghu's cooking.
Qiao Wanshu looked at the smile on Xu Qinghu's lips, his eyelashes drooped slightly, and his face had a cold expression.
After dinner, Gu Jingchen asked the director if he had any other arrangements. If not, he had his own schedule.
"Of course," the director replied quickly, "Everyone, get ready. There's going to be an entertainment event in the cabin in half an hour to decide who gets the extra date privilege card."
"What?" Everyone was stunned. "We still have the right to extra dates?"
"Yes, there are, but there are only two, one for the male guest and one for the female guest. The person who receives the date invitation cannot refuse the other party's date."
"Oh my god," Ruan Xiaoyu opened her mouth slightly, "Isn't that fierce competition?"
Most of the male guests want to date Qiao Wanshu, so they will probably have a fight.
"What kind of entertainment activities are there?" Zhong Zining was more interested in the dating privilege card. "Is it difficult?"
The director didn't answer immediately, but asked everyone to wait for a moment while they went outside to set up the venue.
But everyone's heart was in turmoil, and they looked towards the grass in front of the cottage from time to time.
Soon, the director asked them to gather at the door.
The green grass has been decorated very romantically, and it looks no different from a wedding venue.
Ten people stood together, waiting for the director to announce the rules of the event.
He cleared his throat and spoke loudly, "The event is based on a points system and is divided into three parts. The first part tests the male guests' physical strength and the female guests' balance. I hope all the guests will give it their all. The second part tests the guests' ability to discern. I hope you can distinguish the person standing in front of you in a relatively chaotic moment. The third part tests the tacit understanding between the male and female guests."
When these words were spoken, no one understood the specific meaning.
He urged: "Director, don't keep us in suspense, just tell us directly."
"Okay, for the first activity, the male and female guests will be divided into two groups. Each of them will draw lots. Those who draw the same number will automatically form a team. The boys will hold the girls and do sit-ups. The team that lasts the longest and does the most squats wins, and each person gets one point."
"The man and woman with the same score in each project will receive a dating privilege card after the three projects are completed."
Doing squats while holding someone is not an easy task, but the male guests present did not back down. Instead, they looked at the girls behind them and cared more about who they would be in a group with.
"Who will come up and draw lots first?" asked the director.
Qiao Wanshu was about to say that she would go first, but someone spoke up before her, "I'll go first."
Qiao Wanshu subconsciously looked over and saw Xu Qinghu's face.
Qiao Wanshu's eyes moved slightly, but he did not compete with Xu Qinghu.
Drawing lots depends on luck, so it’s no big deal even if Xu Qinghu chooses first.
Xu Qinghu walked forward and reached for the lottery box. The familiar feeling of stagnation came again, almost making her faint on the spot.
But Xu Qinghu was prepared. She bit the tip of her tongue hard, and the pain made her wake up immediately. She got the wooden stick she wanted as quickly as possible and returned to her original position without changing her expression.
If it weren't for the taste of blood in her mouth, she would have thought it was just an illusion.
Xu Qinghu pursed his lips and silently swallowed the blood foam in his mouth.
After that, everyone came forward one after another and drew their own number.
"I'm 2," Ruan Xiaoyu looked at the man opposite her, "Who has the same number as me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Song rolled his eyes and said, "What bad luck!"
He didn't expect that his luck would be so bad that he would have to partner with other people again.
Ruan Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes, "Don't you want to team up with me?"
What she couldn't stand the most was people like Qi Song, who were rude and uncultured, and didn't know how to control his emotions in public. He was like a powder keg ready to explode.
"What?" Qi Song glanced at her, "I don't want to team up with you, are you going to give up the competition?"
"Don't give up the game!" The director immediately reminded: "If anyone gives up the game, there will be severe punishment."
Qi Song cursed under his breath and turned his head away without paying any attention to Ruan Xiaoyu.
Ruan Xiaoyu secretly clenched her fists, wishing she could hit him hard twice.
[The more I look at Qi Song, the less classy he seems. He's completely uncultured towards everyone except Qiao Wanshu.]
[I really don't know why he's still on the show. We need to replace him immediately.]
[Emm, I think Qi Song is more loyal. It is a very happy thing to be liked by him. I envy Qiao Wanshu.]
[I'm really impressed. Xu Qinghu hasn't even done anything yet, but he's already been scolded so harshly. Qi Song has been rude to me time and again, and then there's Meng Nu. Am I crazy, or is this world crazy?]
Xu Qinghu turned over the wooden stick in his hand, and there was the number "1" on it.
It was the number she remembered.
She remembered very clearly that in this part, Qiao Wanshu drew the same number as He Shengnian with his keen sixth sense.
The stick didn't look special, but there was a black mark on the side, and it was that mark that caught Qiao Wanshu's attention.
Xu Qinghu was not sure whether He Shengnian would draw the same number as her, but she had to act first.
Compared to other men who were more concerned about Qiao Wanshu's numbers, You Zhi walked to Xu Qinghu and said, "I..."
Before he could finish his words, Wen Ruoxi asked, "Who got the number 5? I am the number 5."
You Zhi looked at the number on the wooden stick and slowly raised his hand.
Wen Ruoxi looked at him in surprise, "Xiao You, it's you."
You Zhi smiled at her, "Yes, it's me."
He did not communicate with Xu Qinghu anymore, but walked to Wen Ruoxi.
"Qiao Qiao, what number are you?" Gu Jingchen couldn't help but ask.
Qiao Wanshu turned over the wooden stick and showed it to them, and there was the number "3" on it.
This number originally belonged to Xu Qinghu in the novel, but now she holds it in her hands.
Gu Jingchen's eyes changed slightly. He turned over the wooden stick in his hand and saw that the number on it matched hers. He was immediately surprised and said, "Great, we are a team."
Qiao Wanshu did not get the same number as He Shengnian, which means the male and female protagonists missed each other again.
At this moment, Xu Qinghu looked at her expression which was cold but a little impatient, and wondered why he was so stupid in the novel. Qiao Wanshu obviously had no good feelings towards Gu Jingchen, but he treated her as a strong rival. He thought he had snatched the treasure, but he turned out to be a stepping stone that was discarded by others.
She doesn't need to put much thought into Gu Jingchen, as Qiao Wanshu will soon get tired of him.
But she took the initiative to grab it, so this eldest lady who had never tasted defeat naturally had to fight with her, and in the process stepped on her to completely transform into a heroine, leading the family behind her to move up.
Qiao Wanshu is no pushover; she is a ladder carefully cultivated by a wealthy family.
Her life was never about love, but about a bird flying in the east wind.
Love is just an embellishment of her life, but that's all.
Every time he looked at her, Xu Qinghu thought that she was really beautiful. It was not her appearance that was outstanding, but the beauty in her bones. Perhaps that was what attracted men so much.
But she also really hated it.
He hated her so much that when he looked at her, he had to smile to hide the coldness in his eyes.
No matter how high a bird flies, there will come a time when it stops, and at that moment, she will wait quietly, waiting all the time.
Facing Gu Jingchen's happiness, Qiao Wanshu also smiled faintly, but his eyes were looking at Du Yanting not far away.
The man looked at the numbers in his hand, showing a bit of helplessness, and walked to Zhong Zining.
The only two people among the ten who did not announce their numbers were Xu Qinghu and He Shengnian, both of whom got the number "1".
This result was within Xu Qinghu's expectations.
She smiled and waved to He Shengnian, "What a coincidence."
He Shengnian nodded and walked to the position behind her.
"The draw is over," the director said loudly, holding the microphone. "Everyone, please get ready. The princess carry squat competition is about to begin. The countdown is now—"
Before he finished speaking, all the men bent down and picked up the girls in front of them.
"Sorry for the offense." He Shengnian lowered his eyes and looked at Xu Qinghu, speaking in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
Xu Qinghu shook his head and laughed, "It's just a game."
Looking into her clear and bright eyes, He Shengnian said nothing more. He simply reached out to hug her. Xu Qinghu placed her hands on his shoulders and was easily held in his arms.
Xu Qinghu was light in weight but not thin. On the contrary, because of his small frame, holding him in his arms felt like holding a ball of warm and soft jade, which made He Shengnian's body stiffen slightly and his movements pause for a few seconds.
But this man was so calm that he stood up immediately, supporting Xu Qinghu's weight with his arms, but his palms did not touch her body. He looked gentlemanly and polite.
[What a shame, Qiao Qiao didn't draw Du Yanting. I feel a bit disappointed.]
[Actually, Gu Jingchen isn't bad either, but after seeing her date with CEO Du, I immediately felt like something was missing from Gu Jingchen.]
[It was the hormonal attraction between men and women. Gu Jingchen was too gentle and elegant, and he seemed to be at a disadvantage in terms of momentum, and he was a little unable to suppress Qiao Wanshu.]
[That’s true, but I still like them.]
[Although Qiao Qiao and Gu Jingchen are a good match, I'm completely attracted to Xu Qinghu and He Shengnian. Don't you think they're a good match?]
[He Shengnian has such broad shoulders and long legs, and the way he holds Xu Qinghu looks so restrained, it makes one's heart itch.]
[I became their CP fan yesterday, but it's a pity that Mr. He doesn't like Hulu. I'm in tears.]
He Shengnian's movements were calm and smooth, and he felt very safe between the ups and downs. He showed no signs of being unable to hold Xu Qinghu, nor did he show any signs of heavy breathing. He seemed to be at ease.
Seeing that there were a lot of comments discussing them in the live broadcast room, the director asked the camera to zoom in and magnify the micro-expressions on the two people's faces.
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