Chapter 144: Let’s Get Back Together

The day before the final declarations, while some were busy agonizing over potential heart-to-hearts, others completely cast aside the clutter in their minds and holed up in their small cabins, going nowhere.

Ye Fangfei and Xu Junze fell into the latter category.

Xu Junze had already sorted through his thoughts the night before, making him the guest with the lightest heart among the eight. He hadn't sought anyone out for a deep conversation because he knew the others were likely preoccupied. Eating, sleeping, and watching television whenever boredom struck—this was, without a doubt, the most comfortable day he had spent since joining the show.

No emotional turmoil, no camera anxiety, no social pressure, and no need to worry about work. It was like being on a company-sponsored vacation—absolutely fantastic! Or rather, a paid vacation: room, board, and entertainment were all covered, and he was even getting paid. Most importantly, he expected to gain a decent boost in popularity once the show concluded.

Although he hadn't managed to win back his ex-girlfriend and had spent the earlier days in a state of anxiety and emotional breakdown, he felt much better now that he had regained his footing. Looking back, it hadn't been so bad. After all that tossing and turning, he had inexplicably found a sense of peace. The heart that had once been unable to let go of Chu Yao now felt significantly lighter.

He had come back to life. It was time to focus on his career! He was determined to use his own strength to make Starlink MCN thrive. Not finding love wasn't the end of the world; he believed everyone he had met on this show would prove useful to him in the future.

As Xu Junze munched on snacks, he burst into uninhibited laughter at a comedy scene on TV, completely abandoning his usual composed image. The viewers in the livestream were bewildered:

[??? Has Xu Junze lost it?]
[Is his mental state okay?]
[He looks exactly like me when I’ve completely given up on life.]
[I used to think he was too serious and boring, but now I realize he's actually a bit of a goofball.]

Ye Fangfei’s vibe, however, was quite different.

With music playing in the background, she lay on the sofa, her legs resting comfortably on the cushions, her toes occasionally twitching to the rhythm of the melody. Whatever she was reading seemed to delight her, as she frequently broke into a soft, unintentional smile while staring at the pages. These glimpses caught the fans' attention, sparking intense curiosity and flooding the screen with requests to see the book cover.

Yielding to the audience's demands, the producer signaled the cameraman to zoom in on the book Ye Fangfei was holding so engrossed.

*The Amazing Jenny.*

The livestream chat erupted:
[Oh! This one! It’s romance!]
[Fei-bao, you’re acting suspicious. Didn't you say you never read those girly romances?]
[She’s smiling again! That’s definitely a "shipping" smile!]
[Fei-bao’s girlhood heart must have been activated by Lu Zhou!]
[As a veteran reader of over a decade, I’m an old lady who loves romance and often gets my heart fluttered, but it doesn't stop me from being numb to love in real life. Just for reference.]

While Ye Fangfei was lost in her world, someone gently tapped on the window facing the living room. The afternoon sun was intense, and the room would get stuffy if the windows were closed, so Ye Fangfei had kept them open for ventilation. Anyone passing by could clearly see her state if they were observant.

Distracted from her reading by the unexpected sound, Ye Fangfei lifted her gaze from the page toward the window. Lu Zhou was there, his hand resting on the frame, the golden sunset spilling over him. A bright smile graced his handsome face, and for a fleeting moment, a corner of Ye Fangfei’s heart seemed to collapse inward.

It was just like the scene she had been reading—a handsome hero appearing against the light to save a heroine in distress, causing her to fall completely in love. Well, in reality, she wasn't in distress, and Lu Zhou wasn't a hero saving a damsel; he had just happened to appear before her while standing with his back to the sun. Even so, the feeling was truly surreal.

"What is it?" Ye Fangfei asked, pulling herself together.

"Just passing by and saw you looking so relaxed, so I thought I'd say hello." Lu Zhou’s eyes fell on the book in her hands. "What are you reading? You’re smiling so happily."

At his question, Ye Fangfei instinctively covered the cover of the book, saying, "Nothing, just a random book I grabbed off the shelf."

"Random book?" Lu Zhou raised a handsome eyebrow.

For some reason, Ye Fangfei felt his expression was off, so she inexplicably added, "It’s not *that* kind of random book..."

"What kind of 'that kind' is that?" Lu Zhou, finding her reaction curious, teased her further.

Realizing she had fallen into a linguistic trap, Ye Fangfei sat up from the sofa. This time, she didn't hide the cover; she held it up for him to see. "It's just a normal book," she said, as if eager to clarify.

From that distance, Lu Zhou couldn't quite make out the text, so he probed with a smile, "Is it a romance?"

The word "romance" seemed to trigger a nerve, making Ye Fangfei feel inexplicably embarrassed.

"It's..." She tilted her chin upward, stubbornly defending her choice. "It's a classic! Not the kind you're thinking of."

"Oh~~~" Lu Zhou drew out the word with understanding, suppressing a laugh. "What I'm thinking of is actually a classic, too."

Feeling teased, Ye Fangfei grabbed a pillow and tossed it toward the window in annoyance. "You're so annoying, go away!"

The cabin wasn't large, and from the sofa to the window, the pillow reached him easily. Lu Zhou laughed as he caught it, placed it on the windowsill, and said, "Alright, I won't disturb you anymore. I'm really going."

"Where are you going?" Ye Fangfei asked casually.

"To find Jia Yan," Lu Zhou replied honestly.

Ye Fangfei paused, then gave a soft "Oh."

"Remember to take your pillow back." Lu Zhou said nothing more and left.

Once his figure disappeared, Ye Fangfei finally set the book down, stood up to retrieve the pillow, and subconsciously glanced in the direction of Li Jiayan’s cabin. Returning to the sofa, she resumed her previous position, but she found it impossible to lose herself in the world of the book again. Every now and then, she would inadvertently look out the window.

When dinner time arrived, another knock sounded at the door. Ye Fangfei’s eyes flickered with a faint light as she rose to open it.

But when she opened the door, it was Zhang Chen standing there.

Ye Fangfei: "..."

"Want to grab dinner together?" Zhang Chen asked with a smile.

"I'm not hungry yet," she replied.

Zhang Chen looked slightly awkward. "Not hungry at dinner time? What did you have for lunch?"

"The usual. I didn't eat much, so my digestion is slow," Ye Fangfei answered.

"How about we go for a walk? It helps with digestion," Zhang Chen suggested.

Ye Fangfei looked at him for a moment and finally agreed. They walked to the beach, strolling aimlessly along the shoreline.

"It ends tomorrow," Zhang Chen started, hesitating before he spoke. "Have you thought about it seriously? Do you intend to change your mind?"

"No."

Ye Fangfei found a small seashell, bent down to pick it up, and instinctively held it to her ear. A faint smile touched the corners of her lips as she recalled the time Lu Zhou had been at the beach.

Zhang Chen: "..."

He knew she was answering his second question, though it seemed like she was responding to the first. Fine, he had expected as much. But he had to play the part to the end. Lu Zhou was right; they weren't rivals. The issue between him and Ye Fangfei wasn't about a third party at all.

Even so, Zhang Chen felt a deep sadness—not because he couldn't win her over, but because he was certain he would disappoint his father again upon returning home. His mother would surely lecture him about not even being able to handle one woman. And the big talk he’d made to his friends... he couldn't take that back either. It was so embarrassing.

The more Zhang Chen thought about it, the more dejected he became. Ye Fangfei noticed his melancholy and couldn't help but smile. "Why so sad? Are you reluctant to see the show end?"

Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow. "You look happy, like you can't wait for it to end."

Ye Fangfei laughed, tossing the small shell in her hand. "I *do* want it to end quickly."

Zhang Chen: "..."
Cameraman: "..."
Livestream Audience: "..."

"See, you don't understand my sadness at all," Zhang Chen kicked at the sand. A gust of wind blew, sending fine grains flying, almost blinding them. Ye Fangfei squinted and shielded her eyes.

In truth, she understood perfectly. His distress was merely about how to explain things to his family after the show. She faced the same problem, though the pressure from her family was likely different in intensity. To her, the end of the show felt like liberation, while to him, it felt like a mountain of stress. She didn't know what the others' motives were for joining the show, but for her and Zhang Chen, it had never been about romance from the start.

Zhang Chen’s family situation was a bit complex, so his anxiety was understandable. Ye Fangfei gently patted his shoulder, everything unspoken between them.

Livestream Chat:
[Zhang Chen, you're doomed.]
[I guessed the outcome.]
[Does this result even need guessing?]

They strolled along the beach until nightfall. On the way back, Zhang Chen asked, "Do you think if I had known a bit of music, we wouldn't have broken up back then?"

Ye Fangfei laughed in the darkness. "What do you think?"

Zhang Chen shook his head and hummed a tune as he walked back to his cabin.

Ye Fangfei called out from behind him, "You're off-key."

Zhang Chen: "..."

...

Meanwhile, in Li Jiayan’s cabin, she had ordered dinner, and she and Lu Zhou were sitting across from each other. Their conversation hadn't just begun; Lu Zhou had come to find her while the sunset still streaked the sky. At first, they both avoided sensitive topics, keeping the conversation light and exercising restraint. But the more distant their communication felt, the more anxious Li Jiayan became. She was sensitive and felt as if Lu Zhou was drifting away from her.

As they ate, Li Jiayan’s eyes suddenly welled up.

"Tell me..." Her voice choked with emotion. "This dinner... it shouldn't be the last one we have together, right?"

She said it with a smile, attempting to pass it off as a joke, but the moment the words left her lips, she couldn't hold back the tears. Lu Zhou looked up at her, a heavy feeling in his chest. He knew exactly what she was really asking.

"Jia Yan." Lu Zhou gripped his utensils, taking a silent breath. Just as he was about to continue, Li Jiayan interrupted.

"You don't have to answer. I know, that question goes against the show's rules." She gave herself an excuse to stop him. She was terrified of hearing an answer she didn't want. "Maybe it's just because it's almost over."

Li Jiayan wiped away her tears and smiled. "I don't know why, but everything feels like a dream. Suddenly, I feel so sad. I'm reluctant to leave everyone, reluctant to leave you..." As she spoke, her tears flowed uncontrollably. "Especially reluctant to leave you..."

She pouted, crying like a lost child.

"Parting is always sad," Lu Zhou said, wanting to hand her a tissue, but seeing none on the table, he stood up to get some from the living room.

Just then, Ye Fangfei, returning from her walk, happened to pass by Li Jiayan’s cabin. She glanced inside instinctively. The window was open, and the sight of Li Jiayan sitting at the table in tears caught her off guard. *What happened?*

Inside, Li Jiayan felt self-conscious about being filmed while crying. She brushed her bangs aside, turned her head slightly, and inadvertently noticed someone outside the window. At that moment, Lu Zhou returned with a box of tissues. Li Jiayan turned to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly pathetic.

Lu Zhou sighed, handed her a tissue, and comforted her, "Stop crying."

But Li Jiayan didn't take the tissue. Instead, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against him. Lu Zhou froze. "???"

Livestream Chat:
[(ΩДΩ)?!!!]
[Ahhh! No! Let go of him!]
[This... I don't know what to say.]
[When the ex cries, the current partner loses.]

Outside the window, Ye Fangfei had no intention of lingering, but having caught the scene, she felt a sharp prick in her heart. Her brow furrowed, then slowly relaxed. She turned away and headed straight to her own cabin.

Inside the room, Lu Zhou was trying to recall if this scene had happened before. Was his memory fuzzy, or...? As he pondered, Li Jiayan, still clutching his waist, spoke.

"Lu Zhou, I once thought I had completely let you go."

"But spending this time together, I realized I hadn't."

"To keep from hurting so much back then, I just kept busy, trying to push away the memories of you. After coming to this show, I realized it was all just self-deception."

"I can't forget you. I still clearly remember our happiness."

"After all these years, I thought we had both changed, that we wouldn't be each other's type anymore. But that's not true. I realized that being with you, I can still find those old feelings."

"Lu Zhou, can we get back together?"

She spoke through her tears, sounding incredibly sincere.

Behind the scenes, the producer cursed, "Shit!", and immediately ordered the staff to cut to another scene. The main draw of the show was Lu Zhou, and the question of whether or not they would reconcile was supposed to be saved for tomorrow! This was a disaster.

The livestream feed was cut at a crucial moment, causing the audience to erupt in rage:

[Is the production team human?!]
[Damn it! Switch it back!]
[It was just getting good, and now it's gone?!]
[They're doing this on purpose! The crew can go to hell!]
[Garbage show, are you writing a script on the fly?]
[Ahhh, let me hear what Lu Zhou says!]
[They probably can't reveal the answer early.]
[But Ye Fangfei and Zhang Chen revealed almost everything, why didn't they cut that?]
[Ye and Zhang have no suspense, no need to cut...]

Lu Zhou closed his eyes, trying to recall the memories of tonight from his previous life. He *did* have a conversation with Li Jiayan tonight, but... she hadn't acted like this. She had been much calmer, only asking questions she wanted definitive answers to.

*Things have changed.*

Events were shifting bit by bit. It must have started with the changes he made last night. He felt a sudden tremor of anxiety; Li Jiayan’s behavior was a major deviation, and it was all because of a small change he had made. He realized that reality was complex—even with foreknowledge, the ripple effects of his actions were uncontrollable variables.

Lu Zhou opened his eyes, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gently pushed her away. Just as he was about to speak, the director’s voice came over the intercom:

"Sorry to interrupt, you two."

"Even though you're free to arrange your own conversations, we emphasized this morning that you should avoid discussing topics strongly related to tomorrow's final decisions while the cameras are live. Even if one person brings it up, the other shouldn't give a direct answer, okay?"

"This counts as a spoiler, and we need to ensure tomorrow’s ratings, so please cooperate."

"I know you're anxious to know the other person's thoughts, but you can hint and probe—just keep it in check."

"We've cut the feed for a moment; we'll resume shortly."

"Alright, that’s all."

With the director’s interruption, the livestream resumed.

Lu Zhou: "..."
Li Jiayan: "..."

The mood was completely shattered. Lu Zhou even forgot what he was about to say. He looked down at Li Jiayan, who also looked stunned. He stepped back, released her shoulders, and handed her the tissues, breaking the awkward silence. "Wipe your face."

Li Jiayan took the tissues and wiped away her tears. She didn't really mind the interruption; in fact, she thought it was for the best. She hadn't expected a definite answer tonight anyway. She had conveyed what she needed to; she just wanted him to go back and think about it.

By tacit agreement, neither brought the topic up again. Lu Zhou didn't stay much longer and soon left.

The audience was bewildered:
[What does this mean?]
[What just happened?]
[Did he agree or not?]
[I'm guessing they were warned by the production team.]

...

*Thanks to "Spring Breeze Brings the Fragrance of Osmanthus" for the 2000 Qidian coin tip!*