Chapter 33: This Is an Individual Competition!

If it weren’t for the threat hidden beneath that smile—her hand pinching her own waist so tightly—Lin Yu might truly believe this woman was an angel. Seeing that she still refused to let go, Lin Yu admired the chaos unfolding within the production team, while she continued to squeeze her flesh, gritting his teeth and surreptitiously placing his hand on Ji Ya’s waist.

So, you’re pinching me? I’ll pinch you right back—consider it courtesy returned!

Ji Ya’s expression changed sharply, biting her silver teeth as she glared at him, her gaze full of silent menace. The pressure in her hand intensified, as if to say that if he didn’t release her soon, it would be his end.

Lin Yu broke out in a cold sweat, grimacing in pain but doing his utmost to endure. His pleading glance, seeking mercy, only met with endless ridicule from Ji Ya.

Ji Ya struggled to suppress the urge to laugh from the tickling, fighting to control her emotions and maintain composure before the camera.

Lin Yu realized Ji Ya was closer to breaking than he was, and a victorious smile crept onto his face.

He held a small mound of flour in his hand. As long as neither sprayed it and held out just a bit longer, their team would win. He could withstand the discomfort, and the young lady Ji, for the sake of her on-screen image, would likely endure as well.

Both exerted themselves in secret, each hoping the other would give in first and break the stalemate, so they could claim victory in their private duel.

For them, this wasn’t merely a competition organized by the production team—it was a test of wills between employer and employee.

As for the final pair, Qiu Shishang and Xu Mengbai exchanged a glance, and for a moment, neither spoke, awkwardly silent.

It seemed Ji Ya and Lin Yu’s matchup was destined to be a protracted battle.

Ji Ya’s patience finally wore thin—or rather, she reached her limit. She glared fiercely at Lin Yu and muttered, through clenched teeth, a sentence only he could hear.

“Are you planning to quit?”

Lin Yu paused for a moment, then flashed a mischievous grin. “I want to stay.”

Ji Ya was taken aback—why did it suddenly sound so suggestive?

Thinking this, her expression darkened even further.

Neither would let go, both locked in stubborn resistance.

The onlookers, cleaned up by the production team, watched their ongoing duel with shock and confusion.

Goodness, wasn’t this supposed to be a program competition? How did it suddenly turn into a personal contest between them?

Especially Qiu Shishang’s group—their thoughts were identical.

“Do we still get a chance to participate? Or should we just watch till the end?”

Wang Fei, determined to repay the slight, seized the moment and lunged at Lin Yu, grabbing and pinching his waist hard.

With an attack from both sides, Lin Yu’s face changed instantly.

Damn it, so much for brotherhood! All for the sake of a woman…

Honestly, can’t a man have some principles?

The other spectators, seeing how much fun they were having, joined the fray as well. The women disrupted Ji Ya; the men targeted Lin Yu.

It was truly a shower of chaos for everyone.

Watching Lin Yu and Ji Ya writhing uncomfortably, Bai Yichu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“How did the production team manage to invite two maggots as guests?”

She had planned to just watch from the sidelines, but seeing her boss made so disheveled by the new colleague, she couldn’t help herself.

With her witty comment, the crowd finally lost all composure, laughing uncontrollably and forming a riotous group.

Ji Ya, affected by the laughter all round, could no longer contain herself.

Lin Yu’s expression changed slightly—please, boss, don’t! We agreed to endure for three minutes!

He raised his hand and covered Ji Ya’s mouth. Ji Ya wanted to keep holding out, but once her mouth was covered—

It was like bearing immense pressure to keep from crying, but once someone comforts you, all restraint breaks and tears flood forth.

Ji Ya broke, opening her mouth, and the breath she’d been holding burst through Lin Yu’s fingers. Lin Yu felt a gust of air slip through his palm.

“…”

At this point, there was no room for regret.

Their game was over. Lin Yu looked speechlessly at the crowd behind him.

Then, before Ji Ya’s breath could touch the flour, he spun around and scattered it in a shower, sharing it among the crowd.

The artists: ???

Wait, what…?

This sudden and unannounced attack caught everyone off guard; the spectators stared at Lin Yu in disbelief, mouths agape as if to say, “You really have no honor!”

During the commotion, Bai Yichu pulled Xu Mengbai aside under Lin Jia’s umbrella, avoiding the second wave of attack.

Under the umbrella, the two watched the chaos with calm, elegant smiles.

Until… Lin Yu noticed them, then grabbed a handful of flour and hurled it their way.

Lin Jia, at the moment the flour reached them, casually moved the umbrella aside, and the two women were showered with flour, too surprised to even curse.

Seeing each other’s messy state, they couldn’t help but exchange a smile.

Bai Yichu, ever mindful of her screen image, quickly sought out a staff member to wipe off the dust. The other artists did much the same.

After the laughter came the frantic tidying.

Seeing their favorite idols so disheveled, the livestream audience was in hysterics.

“To be fair, this production team really knows how to stir things up!”

“I’m dying, Dog Yu is absolutely the comic relief.”

“I can’t take it anymore, folks—Dog Yu single-handedly became the thorn in everyone’s side and got targeted, hahahaha!”

“Say what you will, Dog Yu really made the show more entertaining, hahahaha!”

“Comic relief: Lin Yu! Absolutely hilarious!”

“Poor Miss Ji, thought she had a teammate, but it turned out to be a traitor!”

“Wait, is Lin Yu the only one who didn’t get sprayed?”

“Let’s all chip in to make Lin Yu spray himself in the mouth!”

“I’ll contribute a dime!”

“I’ll bring a rope!”

“….”

Once everyone had tidied up a bit, Lin Jia finally closed her umbrella and calmly announced,

“Two and a half minutes.”

The guests present seemed to have expected this outcome—clearly, victory belonged to their group.

It was only fitting.

Lin Jia continued, “Last group, please take the stage.”

Qiu Shishang and Xu Mengbai exchanged a glance, then slowly seated themselves on opposite sides.

Ji Ya grabbed Lin Yu, who was about to stand up. “Ahem.”

With just a single cough from the president, Lin Yu nearly jumped out of his skin.

Hmm… He’d underestimated Ji Ya; her authority was truly formidable…