Chapter 27: Twists Upon Twists

After running out of the room, Lin Qingyue waited for a long time, but Yan Chuanzhou did not follow. Her heart sank into a state of utter despair.

Memories of the look in Yan Chuanzhou’s eyes when he gazed at Jiang Chiyu flooded her mind—a look of tender affection she had never once seen him bestow upon her. Jealousy surged through her like a tidal wave, and the flames of envy burned fiercely within her heart.

She tightened her grip on her phone, dialed a number, and spoke into the receiver with a cold, sharp tone: "The recording starts tomorrow. You may do whatever you wish; I will no longer stand in your way."

A wild laugh echoed from the other end, laced with an eerie, sinister undertone. The person readily agreed: "Good."

Meanwhile, in the director's studio, an unexpected guest arrived.

The staff members were busy preparing the props for the drawing of lots. When one of them looked up and saw Jiang Chiyu standing in the doorway, they scrambled in a panic to hide the items.

Faced with the investor's wife, the director’s attitude toward Jiang Chiyu did a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. He approached her with fawning deference: "Ms. Jiang, is there something you need?"

Seeing through the director’s petty schemes and assuming Yan Chuanzhou had already spoken to them, Jiang Chiyu raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile: "I’m curious about the rules for tomorrow's partner selection. Would you mind disclosing them in advance?"

The person standing before him was Yan Chuanzhou’s wife—how could it be inconvenient? Though he looked hesitant, the director ultimately bowed to the power of capital. He stammered, "Of course, it’s no problem. We plan to form the pairings by drawing lots."

Jiang Chiyu knew immediately that this had to be Yan Chuanzhou’s clever idea. A drawing of lots might look fair, but if someone wanted to rig it, it would be effortless and difficult to detect. She had to admit, Yan Chuanzhou’s move to pull the rug out from under everyone was quite effective.

It was just a pity he had run into Jiang Chiyu, the ever-victorious general.

Maintaining a harmless, innocent facade, Jiang Chiyu pressed on: "A simple draw is far too dull. Why don't you add something more exciting, Director?"

Since things had come to this, the director, a man who knew how to read the room, was tempted. "How would you like to play, Ms. Jiang?"

Seeing the director waver, Jiang Chiyu continued: "Since there are three groups, have nine slips of paper prepared separately for both men and women. Write the name of the same person on three of them, and then proceed with the draw."

The director’s expression changed. He sensed this was no simple request. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "If your suggestion is followed, all three male guests could potentially draw the same female guest. How would we handle the pairing then?"

"If a multi-to-one situation arises, we won't pair them up. Let the guests who failed to reach a mutual match freely pursue the partners they want."

"But what if there is a female guest who nobody draws?"

"As I said before, she can freely pursue the partner she wishes to pair with."

The director was clearly indecisive after hearing Jiang Chiyu’s suggestion. He had already promised to cater to the two big shots of the Yan family; changing plans at the eleventh hour might invite their wrath. Failing the show was a minor matter, but offending the Yan family was a true catastrophe.

After some thought, the director flatly rejected her: "Ms. Jiang, I’m afraid that won’t work. The audience certainly won't buy it, and since this is different from typical dating shows, I cannot take that risk."

Jiang Chiyu was not at all surprised by the refusal. The smile on her lips remained as she coaxed him: "You surely want to create a unique dating show that catches the audience’s eye, don't you? If you follow my plan, there will be no shortage of hype and highlights. Why cling to outdated formats? Besides, human emotions are inherently multifaceted. Since they are here to record a show, the more brilliant and exceptional it is, the better. And the more people involved, the more lively it will be, right?"

The director’s principles did not hold out for long. After listening to Jiang Chiyu, he agreed immediately. A businessman knows how to weigh the pros and cons.

As it happened, Jiang Chiyu’s method catered to everyone’s wishes. He could still use behind-the-scenes manipulation to ensure Yan Chuanzhou and Jiang Chiyu paired up, but the size of the group would depend on the luck of the other two male guests.

Perhaps it would only be Yan Chuanzhou and Jiang Chiyu.
Perhaps there would be three.
Perhaps, even four.
Who could say for sure?

The next day, during filming, the production team announced that partners would be chosen via a draw. As soon as the rules were revealed, many netizens began to chime in.

[This is going to be a total chaos! If Yan Chuanzhou and Jiang Chiyu end up in the same group, it’s going to be so entertaining.]
[My "Jiang-Feng-Wei-Chi" pairing must not be broken! It absolutely must not! God help us!]
[With only three female guests, surely Yan Chuanzhou’s luck can't be that bad? I’m terrified he’ll draw Sister Jiang; the dating show will turn into a battlefield.]

But the results were not quite what people hoped for.

Yan Chuanzhou was the first to draw. His expression was calm, but inside, he was already celebrating the outcome.

Back in the interview room:
[Production Team: Who will be Actor Yan’s heart-throb guest this time?]
Yan Chuanzhou: Let's not say just yet. Everyone, wait and see.
[Production Team: Haha, understood. It seems Actor Yan is bringing us a different experience this time. Please reveal your slip.]

Yan Chuanzhou didn't even glance at it; he unfolded the slip and displayed it generously to the camera. The netizens watching behind their screens could no longer sit still.

[Wait, wait, what is that?! Did I see that right? It actually says "Jiang Chiyu"!!!]
[It’s over, it’s over. This sweet dating show is about to turn into a bloody, life-or-death battlefield.]
[Wait! Something’s not right! Actor Yan has been smiling the whole time. Did he foresee the result? Or is he rejoicing too early?]

Seeing the screen flooded with netizen comments, the director felt a rush of joy. As expected, real couples are the best to watch! Once this husband and wife team took action, it really was extraordinary!

Having anticipated this situation, the production team asked the question on the audience's minds.

[Production Team: Actor Yan, you didn't even look at the slip? You look very happy—did you get what you wished for?]
Yan Chuanzhou: Yes. I knew I would draw Jiang Chiyu. My heart-throb guest is Jiang Chiyu.

This definitive answer set the entire pond ablaze. Some were delighted, others were devastated.

[This is a massive bucket of dog blood! Yan Chuanzhou actually likes Jiang Chiyu! Then what about him defending Lin卿yue all that time? What’s going on?]
[Damn, if Sister Jiang says she likes Actor Yan later, then I’m just a pawn in their game. This show is absolutely brilliant!]
[The "Jiang-Feng-Wei-Chi" pairing is finished. My beloved CP! How could this happen! I refuse to accept it!]

Yet, the plot twisted and twisted again.
There is nothing you can't imagine that the production team can't execute.

The outsider fans were crying on the sidelines, while Wei Feng finished his draw with a look of calm indifference.

[Production Team: I wonder if Brother Wei’s heart-throb guest has changed this time?]
Wei Feng: My answer has remained unchanged the whole time.
[Production Team: But Actor Yan just drew Ms. Jiang’s slip. What does Brother Wei plan to do next?]