Chapter 30: A Smile Harder to Suppress than an AK

At this moment in the livestream chat:

“This is killing me, only the boss truly knows how to stir things up!”
“The disdain and that hint of mockery on Miss Ji’s face just now, absolutely hilarious!”
“Is it really that good? Let me see for myself~”
“Jay, don’t do it~~”
“I’m dying here, who else gets it? The cool, noble, elegant Miss Ji is just as wild behind the wheel as anyone!”
“Huh? The newcomer wants to turn the tables on the lady CEO? No way, no way. Young people need more sleep, less dreaming!”
“I swear, that look in her eyes could kill me! I’m in love, I’m in love!”
...

After putting on his clothes, Lin Yu quickly washed up, grabbed his breakfast from the table, and headed downstairs.

In the first-floor lounge, the other artists had already finished eating and were seated on the sofa, waiting for Lin Jia to announce today’s activities.

Seeing Lin Yu come down, Lin Jia spoke up, “Today’s program: mixed-gender teams will work together in interactive tasks. The available projects are: fishing, hunting, and planting. Teams will be formed by drawing lots. The last team will face a harsh punishment.”

“You may begin drawing lots for your teams now.”

Once again, they used the same method: two boxes, one for men and one for women, each with eight names written on slips of paper.

Lin Yu opened his slip and saw Ji Ya’s name. He felt numb all over. Honestly, was the production team deliberately trying to make them an odd couple? Fine, if this is the game, he’d play along!

Surprisingly, all eight participants ended up drawing perfectly matched partners.

Really now—wasn’t this all rigged? Everything was clearly set up in advance!

The four teams were decided: Qiu Shishang/Xu Mengbai, Wang Fei/Bai Yichu, Lin Yu/Ji Ya, Si Shaozhe/Lin Yunyue.

Si Shaozhe, finding Lin Yunyue approaching to join him, subtly scooted away, visibly displeased. Being paired with an unknown rookie, how was he supposed to attract camera time?

Director Lin Jia wasn’t having any of his attitude and immediately explained the rules.

“Before we begin today’s main activities, let’s play a game to help the teams bond.”

“The game is called ‘Face-to-Face Quick Pass.’”

“You’ll sit opposite each other on either side of the prop and use your chins to press buttons as quickly as possible; whoever’s slower will get hit in the face with flour.”

“The one who gets floured has to drink a special bitter melon juice as punishment. Your teammate can choose to share the penalty with you.”

“Now, do you want to draw lots for the order or vote by raising hands?”

Wang Fei eyed the prop as it was wheeled in—a simple device, almost like a seesaw. When one side was pressed down, a plate in the center would spring up, sending flour flying toward the other side.

“Hey, what happened to the promised romance? Now if the girl loses, where’s the love in that…”

“I’ll go first!!” Lin Yu volunteered, not to grab attention, but because the lady CEO had just publicly mocked him, leaving him embarrassed in front of the cameras. He couldn’t let that go unavenged!

“Thanks to the production team for giving me a chance to shower the CEO’s face!”

At first, everyone was a bit stiff and awkward, not interacting much, but Lin Yu’s joke broke the ice. The others burst into laughter, Ji Ya gritted her teeth, barely holding back from retaliating then and there. Outwardly serene, she secretly pinched Lin Yu’s waist hard when no one was looking.

The comments were exploding with laughter.

“No one lives up to the name ‘Dog Yu’—every word has a hidden meaning!”
“I could totally ship this CP, honestly. The others barely interact, but these two as bickering partners? Hilarious!”
“Dog Yu, even if you’re about to spray my goddess in the face, I… I don’t mind seeing it. Instantly following!”
“Brilliant, 10/10! What other show could give me dreams like this? It’s too entertaining!”
“Shower the CEO’s face—can someone clarify, with what? Milk?”
“Obvious pro up there, your profile picture is your kid, right? Do you fight your son for food at home?”
“??? This livestream is getting dirtier by the minute. Someone call the police!”
...

Despite Lin Yu’s self-nomination, the majority ruled, and in the end, lots were drawn. The first team to play was Wang Fei and Bai Yichu. They sat face to face and placed their chins on the device.

If the flour mound hadn’t been between them, the audience in the chat would have seen Wang Fei’s heart practically melting as he gazed at Bai Yichu. Meanwhile, Bai Yichu’s expression remained cool and emotionless.

“Ready, set, go!”

The rest stood around the table, six pairs of eyes watching them intently, waiting to see who would get floured.

Lin Yu quickly noticed something: although the game was about pressing down with their chins to trigger the flour, he realized there was a loophole. Their breathing seemed enough to disturb the flour at the center, and if one could make the other laugh, both might end up hit.

He immediately had a mischievous idea and whispered his plan to Ji Ya. Despite being a lady, Ji Ya was just as playful. In no time, the two little devils had struck a deal.

It might not be the most honorable plan, but sometimes you have to be ruthless to win.

Ji Ya turned to get ready, while Lin Yu stood casually between the participants, watching from the corner of his eye as Ji Ya completed her preparations.

Their eyes met. Ji Ya winked at Lin Yu to signal all was set. She gave a sly grin, and then, placing her hand in her armpit, she rubbed up and down and made a loud fart noise with her mouth.

Wang Fei, the prince of love songs with a notoriously weak sense of humor, instantly started shaking with suppressed laughter, his face turning red from the effort.

Opposite him, Bai Yichu kept her expression cool, but inside, she was panicking. She watched his increasingly bizarre face and struggled to keep it together. Finally, a puff of breath escaped her nose and sent a sprinkle of flour onto Wang Fei’s face.

His expression already twisted, Wang Fei now looked as if he’d donned a clown mask.

Seeing this, Bai Yichu couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a wide smile. With a soft snort, she blew the rest of the flour directly at Wang Fei.

The two broke down instantly—especially Wang Fei, who was utterly enchanted by Bai Yichu’s springlike laughter and toppled backward, chair and all.

Lin Yu put on a helpful act and went to assist Wang Fei, but the corners of his mouth, harder to control than an AK rifle, betrayed his schadenfreude.

Bai Yichu couldn’t suppress her smile anymore. She tried hard to regain her cool image, pretending to look for tissues just to avoid the camera.

Surely… the camera won’t catch her losing her composure, right?