When the live broadcast room opened again, the guests were sitting on the sofa having a discussion.
Wen Xin: “I just took a stroll around the Task Hall. The big screen there is turned on, but it’s completely blank.”
Ming Qiuqiu: “There’s a refrigerator in the kitchen, but it isn’t plugged in. The sticky note on it says the electricity bill hasn’t been paid.”
Shi Yi, who arrived late: “There are a few bicycles next to the cabin, but they’re locked. It says on them that coins are required to use them, or they can be purchased from the Sweet Mall.”
Fang Yanhang: “I walked around and couldn’t find any food.”
Xie Yixing: “There’s a vegetable patch behind the house growing cabbages, but it says ‘For Farmer Use Only’.”
Gu Zhan added last, “There’s no cell phone signal. A small note indicates that the Sweet Cabin is not yet connected to the internet.”
The guests: “…” Very well, justified and well-founded.
Wen Xin leaned back on the sofa, looking completely devoid of the will to live. “Am I really here for a dating variety show?”
Fang Yanhang: “Why didn’t the director just call it Love Money Island??”
Xie Yixing chimed in quietly, “Maybe he thought it was too straightforward?”
Fang Yanhang: “…” You hit the nail on the head, bro.
—
The viewers entering the live broadcast room had first admired a wave of beautiful scenery, frantically praising Feilou Entertainment. The lavender flower sea in the back was just too beautiful, and there was even a swing hanging there. Just imagine, at dusk, wearing a long dress, two people—one sitting and one pushing—swinging out towards the sea of flowers—
Then they snapped back to reality and heard the guests’ summary.
Fans: “…” Did I hear that right? Why does it sound so miserable?
[Pfft, sorry, I couldn’t hold it in. Hahahahaha it really is miserable, but I just want to laugh]
[Love Island’s official Weibo just posted the official announcement. It has an introduction to the rules, you’ll understand once you read it]
[To summarize, blame the production team’s director for being too awesome /dog head, everything requires money everywhere 23333]
[The house leaks wind from all sides, my Male God is so pitiful… beautifully done, director!]
[He can’t even use his phone, Fang Fang is so pitiful… beautifully done, director!]
Netizens: Geez, are you guys haters or fans?
[Fans! But I like these rules! It’s just like a massive live-action holographic online game. I can watch them develop, watch them decorate their home little by little, date other guests, and even go pray to Yue Lao to form a new home, working hard together for their little family… Developing slowly from nothing to something is what makes it highly anticipated!]
[Yi, I’m much simpler. I just want to see the men stressed out and overwhelmed—the time to test the men has arrived. Now your girlfriends not only need clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics, they also have houses in urgent need of upgrading]
[I want to see the Male Gods bow down for money, hug the Goddesses’ thighs and act spoiled, saying, “Sister, I don’t want to work hard anymore”]
“…”
In short, the director did a beautiful job. No matter how you looked at it, the upcoming events were going to be very interesting to watch.
If you aren’t proactive about making money, there’s a problem with your mindset. Seeing that everyone was silent, Gu Zhan pondered for a moment before saying concisely, “Our most pressing matter right now is making money.”
“Ways to make money: 1. Go to the exchange market and utilize our professions; 2. Explore the island to find treasure chests; 3. Participate in games; 4. Compete for the Sweetest CP; 5. Complete fan tasks issued by Teacher Chen.”
“We can go to the mall together after doing 1 and 2. 4 is not urgent. The easiest way to make money is 5.”
“Are there any tasks issued right now?” He looked at Auntie Chen.
Teacher Chen Hongmei: “Nope.” Tasks wouldn’t be selected until the end of this live broadcast.
Seeing the disappointed expressions on everyone’s faces, Auntie Chen smiled cheerfully. “But I do know that there are games here.”
Guests: ? Games?
Like performing a magic trick, Teacher Chen pulled out a spinning wheel. “Daily Games.”
The spinning wheel was evenly divided into seven small sections. Each section had the name and rules of a game written on it: Truth or Dare / Fans’ Rapid-Fire Q&A / You Act, I Guess / Song Solitaire / Just Got to Frame You / Of Course.
【Truth or Dare】: Whoever it lands on must choose Truth or Dare.
【Fans’ Rapid-Fire Q&A】: A buzzer-beater game. Each person gets thirty seconds. The more fan questions you answer within 30 seconds, the more gold coins you get.
【You Act, I Guess】: Teams of two, testing your chemistry; one person acts it out and the other guesses.
【Song Solitaire】: A robot sets a theme, and the guests sing a song containing that theme. If the robot successfully recognizes it, you gain one gold coin.
【Just Got to Frame You】: Everyone wears a card on their head. Without knowing what’s on your own card, you must avoid doing the action written on it. Failing deducts one gold coin. The guest who successfully frames you gains one gold coin.
【Of Course】: A one-on-one duel. No matter what question the opponent asks, you must answer “Of course.” The guest who breaks first loses.
Every single one was a classic mini-game that frequently appeared on variety shows.
Shi Yi skimmed past Truth or Dare and Fans’ Rapid-Fire Q&A. These two games were not very friendly to her. What if a netizen asked her what her surname was? Should she answer it or not? It was still safer to play Just Got to Frame You and Of Course.
The fans instantly became energized.
[Ahhhhh I’m begging for Truth or Dare, a dating variety show without Truth or Dare is an incomplete dating variety show!]
[Rapid-Fire Q&A, Rapid-Fire Q&A! I have so many questions to ask]
[Let’s do You Act, I Guess, build some chemistry.]
[Plus one for Truth or Dare, ask my Male God to call his ex-girlfriend! Yi, I’m so evil]
[…To be honest, this child wants that too]
Teacher Chen Hongmei looked at the people on the sofa. “Who’s going to spin?” Fang Yanhang asked, “Which game makes the most money?”
“Participants in every game get a guaranteed base of five gold coins, the rest depends on winning or losing.”
“…Can we play all seven?”
Teacher Chen Hongmei was amused by him. “You can, but only one game rewards gold coins.”
“Never mind then.”
Fang Yanhang’s reaction was incredibly realistic. “Teacher Chen, you can just pick one at random.”
The others had no objections either. Celebrities needed to be open and magnanimous. The more afraid they were of dares, the less they could say it, otherwise it was basically self-destruction… If there wasn’t something fishy going on, why wouldn’t they dare to make a call?
Teacher Chen: “Then I’ll spin.”
The spinning wheel began to move, and the eyes of both the guests and the fans were glued to it.
Fans: Truth or dare, truth or dare, truth or dare!
Shi Yi: Just got to frame you, just got to frame you, just got to frame you!
The spinning wheel slowed down, passing Just Got to Frame You, wobbling as it seemed about to stop on Truth or Dare.
Shi Yi was startled and switched her prayer: Of course, of course, of course, of course! Seeing that it wasn’t quite working, she added more weight: Daddy1, please love me just this once. I am willing to sacrifice your son’s gaming luck for a whole year!
“…” The spinning wheel spun for dear life, crossed that boundary line, and stopped on the Of Course section.
Fans: Disappointed. Sigh, what’s so fun about ‘Of Course’?
Shi Yi: Thank you, Daddy.
Gu Zhan looked at Shi Yi. This familiar chill down his spine—did you just make a wish on me again?
Shi Yi remained perfectly composed.
“Alright then, today’s game is Of Course. Let me repeat the rules: Two guests ask each other questions, and the other party must answer ‘Of course.’ Whoever breaks first loses.” As Teacher Chen Hongmei spoke, she pressed a button. The carpet opposite the sofa suddenly rose with a series of clicks, forming a small stage.
She handed each guest five chips. “Guests can choose to go on stage and battle. The winner stays on stage to defend their title, while the loser steps down. Winning a round earns one gold coin. The guests off-stage can participate in a prize-winning guessing game; every time a bet is successful, they can divide up the loser’s gold coins.”
The chips represented gold coins.
“Who wants to go up and try first?”
Wen Xin: “Oh my, we’re taking this so seriously?”
[I didn’t quite understand the rules]
[It’s fine, you’ll get it after one round is played]
[Rubbing my hands together, now that the stage is set up, this child has also gotten energized]
Gu Zhan withdrew his gaze, his tone steady and powerful. “I’ll do it.”
After all, he was a man who needed to support his family.
The guests fell silent for a moment.
Wen Xin goaded Fang Yanhang, “President Fang, how about you go up and try the first round?”
Gu Zhan’s aura felt a bit off. It was better to trick someone else into going up to test the waters first.
Young Master Fang, who was suddenly upgraded to a ‘President’: “…” Try it then.
He had to go up eventually if he wanted to make money anyway.
Teacher Chen Hongmei looked at the remaining four people, including Shi Yi. “You can bet on who will win this game. If you guess correctly, you will proportionally split the loser’s gold coins with the winner.”
Shi Yi silently bet three chips on Gu Zhan. Ming Qiuqiu hesitated for a moment, then bet one gold coin on Gu Zhan. Xie Yixing also placed his on Gu Zhan’s side.
Wen Xin thought about it, then pushed one chip toward Fang Fang. “For the sake of friendship.”
Fang Fang: Thanks a lot.
[Hahahaha Fang Fang’s face has gone entirely black]
[Does my hubby have so little prestige?]
[That’s not it. It’s mainly because the Male God’s aura is too overwhelming. His tone was especially powerful, looking like he’s bound to win]
[Ah, my hubby is taking it seriously. Just watch him win for you guys to see]
[The way these two are looking at each other has that vibe. Fight, fight!]
Everyone waited with bated breath. Fang Fang’s opening remark was packed with impact: “Brother Gu, sorry about this. Do you still like your ex-girlfriend?”
Fans: !!!! Guests: !!!! Wen Xin instantly sat up straight. “President Fang is going ruthless.”
Shi Yi: …What does this have to do with me! Why are you cueing me!
Gu Zhan glanced at Shi Yi and raised an eyebrow. “Of course.” “I answered. Does this round count as my win?”
Fang Fang: “Of course not, you have to—” Fuck, Fang Yanhang realized it. “You tricked me!!”
Guests: Hahahahahaha.
Fans: [Looking at my hubby’s posture, I thought they were going to go back and forth for several rounds. I never expected him to crash and burn in the first round. Laughing till I cry]
[Hahahahahaha I generally don’t laugh unless I can’t hold it in]
Wen Xin looked at her lost chip. “You wasted my friendship.”
Young Master Fang felt he had no face to see anyone. He sat back down on the sofa, covering his eyes with one hand. “You guys hurry up and go, get revenge for me.”
“…”
Fang Yanhang’s failure was still very valuable, providing enough experience and inspiration for those who came after.
The several guests coincidentally all aimed their attacks at the ex-girlfriend, Shi Xixi.
Wen Xin: “Was it Shi Xixi who dumped you?”
Ming Qiuqiu: “Does Senior Gu still like Xixi?”
Xie Yixing: “Do you want to get back together with Shi Xixi?”
Fans’ faces were flushed, inexplicably excited. Who would have thought that Of Course could be so thrilling! Ahhhhhhhh hurry up and continue!
Gu Zhan: Of course. Not only did he want to, he was currently in the middle of doing it.
“…” Shi Yi closed her eyes, the tips of her ears growing hot.
Wen Xin, Ming Qiuqiu, and Xie Yixing were defeated in retreat.
Such humiliating defeats made the several guests consciously form a united front.
Wen Xin patted Shi Yi’s shoulder. “Our last hope rests on you.”
Ming Qiuqiu whispered, “But Senior Gu doesn’t show any tender, protective feelings for women at all, so Little Yi shouldn’t feel too much pressure.”
Wen Xin: “Oh right, don’t feel pressured. Just do your best.”
Fang Yanhang offered an idea: “I think you should just keep asking about his ex-girlfriend.”
Shi Yi: “…Mhm.”
Shi Yi stood up on the stage.
The group of people chatted below, offering ideas: “Ask him if it felt like a slap to the face when he saw his ex-girlfriend in the Maldives last time?”
“No, no, no, ask him if he got that helicopter dispatched over yet?”
“That’s ruthless, that’s ruthless.”
“You can also ask him if he thinks his love poems are well-written!”
Gu Zhan’s gaze landed on her, his eyes full of laughter. Come on, what do you want to ask me about Shi Xixi?
Translator’s note
- “Daddy” here refers to Heaven/God/luck ↩︎
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