Chapter 4: Is This a Dating Show or a Makeover Project?

Aside from Lexi, everyone else was sighing. And aside from Lexi, everyone drew their lots with trembling hands.

The host announced, "Alright, everyone has drawn. Now, let me reveal your partners. Cui Meiying..."

The host knew how to stir up excitement, aware that the male contestants all hoped to be paired with the goddess of the hourglass waist. Holding the slip picked by Cui Meiying, he circled among the men before finally stopping beside Huo Hongming.

"It's you," he began, but before he could finish the word, Huo Hongming leapt to his feet.

"Yes! Yes!"

"Hey, hey,"

Huo Hongming’s exuberance was almost impossible to contain—his shoulders were so broad that even the host found himself exhausted from trying to restrain him.

"Calm down, calm down. It’s not you," the host clarified.

"Come on," Huo Hongming grumbled, practically ready to swing a punch on the spot; fortunately, the host was quick enough to dodge.

Cui Meiying let out a heavy sigh of relief and gave the camera a sultry twist of her waist.

The camera crew knew exactly what to focus on, capturing her movements in a timely close-up.

[Is Meiying twisting her waist or what? She’s making my nosebleed more than ten pounds of sunflower seeds ever could.]

[Keep going, Meiying, don’t stop! I love watching.]

[Those who complain about Meiying exposing her waist regardless of the weather or occasion, just don’t watch. Not a single glance.]

[Aside from being argumentative, Huo Hongming really does look like a boxing champion. This is a live broadcast, and he still wants to hit the host.]

[Why do I actually feel for Huo Hongming? Honestly, the host is kind of asking for it. Who wouldn’t want to be paired with Meiying? It’s disappointing—he deserves a beating…]

Perhaps afraid of really getting punched, the host dropped the suspense and announced directly, "Cui Meiying and Deng Jiachao."

The male viewers were delighted:

[Deng Jiachao is ugly—Meiying would never be interested in him. That’s a relief for me, bro.]

The female viewers were less pleased:

[Beauty and the beast—my eyes are burning.]

The host continued, "Wang Sisi and Wang Zhuorui are a team, Gu Xiaomo and Gu Junhao are a team, and Lexi, you’re with Huo Hongming."

The disdain on Huo Hongming’s face was plain to see as he asked, "Is there any chance we can change partners?"

The host replied, "No."

[Hahaha, this is like forced pig breeding…]

"Alright, the teams are set. For the next three months, you’ll be traveling with your partner to six cities across Huaguo, climbing mountains and wading through rivers together. Except for sleeping, you’ll spend all your time as a pair. I—"

Huo Hongming groaned and grumbled relentlessly, which annoyed Lexi.

"What are you sighing for? You think I want to be in a team with you? If you don’t like it, break the contract, pay the penalty, and leave."

"Why don’t you leave?" Huo Hongming retorted. But no matter how unhappy he was, he wouldn’t let money slip through his fingers—getting on this show had been hard enough.

[Does Lexi just want to establish a fiery persona because she feels humiliated after being thrown out by the wealthy family? She probably wants us to think she’s a cool sister who left on her own terms.]

[This pair is already at each other’s throats—I’m in!]

"Alright, alright, you’ll need to work together going forward. Try to be tolerant of each other," the host interjected.

"I’ll continue with the program rules. First, you’ll spend three days and two nights in the picturesque Ancient Watersnake Town, a place named for its winding, serpent-like mountain valleys."

"The mountains here are full of hidden treasures, waiting for our guests to discover. The production team will only provide accommodation—everything else you eat or drink, you’ll have to earn yourselves."

"You must forage in the mountains for things you can sell in Watersnake Town. The money you earn will be your budget for daily life."

"But beware, you’ll need to be not only good at making money but also at saving it. After three days, the amount you have left will determine what sort of transportation you’ll take to your next destination."

[Is this really a dating show? Why does it feel more like a reformative boot camp?]

[I don’t know what’s valuable in the mountains, but I do know there are tons of mosquitoes. My Meiying’s waist is going to get eaten alive. It’s not her waist I’m worried about—I’m just worried about the mosquito bites burning my eyes.]

[You must be a devil. Still, now I kind of want to see it…]

The host announced, "Everyone, hand in your phones and wallets. We’ll give you backup phones. Once you have them, you can head to the dorm to drop off your luggage. We’ll meet here again in half an hour."

When Lexi handed over her phone, she noticed a hundred missed calls and fifty unread messages.

From Song Qi, her parents, and her uncle—she didn’t even need to read them to know what they were about.

Lexi powered off her phone, picked up her backup, grabbed her suitcase, and headed to the dormitory.

"Lexi!" Gu Xiaomo jogged to catch up with her.

"Lexi, do you have some misunderstanding about me?"

"You think it’s a misunderstanding?" Lexi already knew Gu Xiaomo’s type—coming over just to boost her own image in front of the viewers, disparage Lexi, and see if there were any advantages to be gained.

Gu Xiaomo caught Lexi’s hand with a look of remorse. "Lexi, I know that when you and your husband—no, your ex-husband—argued, I didn’t blindly take your side. But I was really thinking of you. He’s so exceptional. He treated your family so well. I was just being fair, but I didn’t expect it would upset you. I’m sorry."

Lexi withdrew her hand. No wonder she was known as the queen of web dramas—her performance of guilt was convincing.

"Your kindness is too much for me. I don’t accept your apology. Just don’t bother me."

[Gu Xiaomo, stop being so eager for someone who’s cold to you.]

[Lexi, you’re such a jerk.]

[How can someone like this exist? Lexi, get off the show.]

"You’re kidding," someone gasped as everyone arrived at the dormitory. The place was in an uproar.

"You’re kidding! We’re all in one room, and there are only two bunk beds? And they’re not even proper beds—just wooden planks! Where are the blankets? The pillows?"

Cui Meiying went to check the bathroom. "Not even a trash bin? What is this?"

Lexi was unfazed—she’d brought her own pillow. She checked the time. Fifteen minutes until the group was to reconvene. Every minute she could nap was precious.

Lexi pulled out her pillow and lay down.

Cui Meiying scoffed: Was she really someone who’d lived in luxury for years? She could sleep on a hard wooden board?

Gu Xiaomo was equally disdainful: Years in a wealthy family, and she hadn’t picked up a bit of refinement.

Wang Sisi decided to follow Lexi’s example. She didn’t have a pillow, so she folded a few pieces of clothing and lay down as well.

Cui Meiying had enjoyed a privileged life as an influencer these past few years. If her fan base hadn’t recently dwindled, she never would have come here to suffer for the sake of gaining new followers.

Cui Meiying turned on the charm for the camera. "Really, big brother? The crew isn’t even giving us blankets or pillows?"

The cameraman, nosebleed and all, nodded from behind the lens.

Gu Xiaomo noticed the cameraman, who kept wiping his nosebleed and never once shifted the camera away from Cui Meiying. Seizing her chance to steal the spotlight, she said, "Meiying, actually, the host already explained—that’s just how the show works. Don’t be upset. Try to rest. I brought a big blanket. I’ll lay it out for you."

"Thank you, Xiaomo," Cui Meiying replied.

"Xiaomo, you’re such a good person."