"What? Really? We're getting a new guest?" Shen Xuanzuan's eyes lit up with curiosity as she leaned forward excitedly.
"Huh?" Lin Ruijiao blinked, visibly surprised. She didn't recall any of this happening in her previous life—where did this 'special guest' come from? Her mind buzzed with uncertainty, a faint unease taking root. She could only hope that whoever was about to arrive wouldn't upset the delicate balance she'd worked so hard to maintain. The atmosphere here had finally settled into something warm, even sweet.
Everyone was paired up with their crushes or potential partners. The CPs were at least halfway believable, and things were relatively peaceful. If someone came in and disrupted that...
Contestants gradually trickled into the courtyard after breakfast, enjoying casual conversation and subtly trying to impress their respective interests. Still, the main topic of discussion kept circling back to the mysterious new guest.
[Wait, seriously? A new contestant?!]
[LMAO our poor Jiao-Jiao, what now? I live for her confused reactions though!]
[HAHAHA same! That moment she blanked out was golden. Things were finally peaceful and now… chaos incoming~]
[+1 hahaha. Can't wait for the drama. This guest might wreck the whole lineup!]
[Jiao-Jiao hang in there! We're always on your side!!]
The morning sun bathed the courtyard in a gentle golden glow, clouds drifting lazily overhead. The air was fresh, and the entire setting felt idyllic—perfect for romance.
But peace rarely lasts long in shows like this.
Soon, the "special guest" strolled in, rolling a suitcase behind her.
A cool, graceful figure came into view. She wore a simple but elegant long dress, her long black hair flowing like ink down her back. Slender though she was, her presence was commanding—impossible to ignore.
Lin Ruijiao froze.
That face. That posture. That aura.
No one else could be that familiar—no one but Ye Ruihuan.
Gasps rose around her as the other guests stood to greet the newcomer. After all, who didn't know Ye Ruihuan?
And yet Lin Ruijiao remained motionless in the center of the courtyard, her expression equal parts stunned and unwilling.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded:
[HOLY—Ye Ruihuan?! XX Network really pulled out all the stops, huh?!]
[Wait wait wait, isn't Ye Ruihuan the one who swore off variety shows? Called them "low-brow" and everything??]
[They did NOT just put her in the same show as our Jiao-Jiao… XX Network, are you trying to start a war?!]
[AAAAHHH!! My goddess Ye Ruihuan is finally back! On a dating show though??]
[Are you kidding me?! Jiao-Jiao and Ruihuan in the same house? Is HuaRui Entertainment trying to stir the pot?!]
[LOOK, even if some people don't know Lin Ruijiao, everyone knows Ye Ruihuan. That's her power.]
[Ugh, stop acting like being older is some kind of flex. Jiao-Jiao just debuted, let her breathe. And don't tempt her—she'll slap back harder.]
[Y'all sure it's not Ruihuan who's about to get slapped?]
[Watch and see. Jiao-Jiao won't give her the time of day.]
[Pfft, as if Ye Ruihuan would bother with nobodies like Lin Ruijiao.]
In seconds, the fanbases had declared open war. Viewership spiked. The chat feed scrolled so fast you could barely read it, a frenzy of digital crossfire.
Still frozen, Lin Ruijiao's face twisted into a complicated mix of emotions. But then something shifted—she caught herself, her expression smoothing out just slightly.
Ye Ruihuan walked in at an unhurried pace, sunglasses covering her eyes. But the smile playing at her lips deepened with every step. Oh, the bunny's face when she saw me—how entertaining.
Stopping in front of Lin Ruijiao, Ye Ruihuan removed her sunglasses, revealing a face that was as radiant and refined as ever. Her voice was soft, smooth, and painfully familiar.
"Ruijiao. Long time no see."
The air tensed.
Guests who knew of their rocky history looked on in disbelief. That smile? That gentle tone? This wasn't the ice queen of the tabloids. And since when did the two of them greet each other?
[WHAT IS HAPPENING?! Did Ye Ruihuan just smile? Did she seriously just say "long time no see"?]
[She looks stunning, holy—someone tell me this isn't a dream.]
[Okay but real talk, what kind of hidden backer does Lin Ruijiao have? For even Ye Ruihuan to play nice?!]
[Don't drag Ruijiao into this nonsense. She said before—she doesn't have a sugar daddy.]
[Yeah! More likely Ye Ruihuan is trying to ride Jiao-Jiao's rising popularity for PR.]
[Pfft, you think Lin Ruijiao is on Ye Ruihuan's level? Please.]
[Wait wait, no one else heard how soft "Ruijiao" sounded? That was... spicy.]
[SHUT UP WITH THE SHIPS! This is a warzone, not your playground.]
Lin Ruijiao swallowed hard. "Mm. Hello, Ruihuan," she said, nodding stiffly.
To her fans, the tension was unmistakable—she was clearly uncomfortable.
[See? Our Jiao-Jiao didn't want to engage. Don't let Ruihuan steal the spotlight with fake friendliness.]
[Right?! Our Jiao is so mature, still being polite despite all the drama.]
[Wait… that "Ruihuan" sounded kinda intimate though?]
[+1 to the above. This CP feels dangerous but... weirdly compelling?]
[No. Absolutely not. Stop romanticizing a rivalry. It's not cute.]
For a long second, the two women locked eyes. The tension was electric, the silence deafening. Everyone held their breath. Their past feud had once trended online—it wasn't just gossip.
For Lin Ruijiao, joining this show was routine. But Ye Ruihuan? Her arrival changed the game entirely.
She wasn't just a star. She was an icon—beloved even by people who barely followed entertainment. Her face was a household staple. Films, dramas, commercials—she was everywhere.
And now, here.
Under the weight of everyone's gaze, Lin Ruijiao stepped aside, just slightly.
"Welcome," she said.
Ye Ruihuan's smile faded just a little. She walked into the house without another word.
The fans weren't done.
[EXCUSE ME?! Did Lin Ruijiao just block our Ruihuan's path? Who does she think she is?!]
[Blocked what?! She literally stepped aside and said welcome—what more do you want?!]
The barrage of live comments was in chaos. Every single detail became a point of contention between the two fandoms.
Lin Ruijiao trailed behind the others, the last to enter the house. Her mind was dazed, as if stunned by the unexpected arrival.
She had imagined the new guest might be a man or a woman, someone famous or someone obscure—but never, not even once, did she think it would be Ye Ruihuan. This was a dating show, for heaven's sake. Had Ye Ruihuan lost her mind? Wasn't she the one who always looked down on this kind of program?
Now, Lin Ruijiao had no idea how to react.
Since Ye Ruihuan's arrival, the atmosphere among the cast had shifted dramatically. The cheerful, relaxed vibe was replaced by something heavy and subdued. The others scrambled to welcome her with flattering smiles, but soon fell completely silent.
Ye Ruihuan swept her gaze over everyone, her tongue brushing lightly over her lips. She spoke slowly, her voice calm and measured."I'm not sure if everyone here knows me, so let me introduce myself. I'm Ye Ruihuan, an actress."
"We know you, Sister Ye," the others nodded eagerly.
Was it just Lin Ruijiao's imagination, or did even their breathing seem more cautious now?
"What's wrong? There's no need to be so stiff," Ye Ruihuan said lightly, her smile perfectly placed, neither too warm nor too distant.
Still, no one said a word.
"…Well, how about everyone else introduces themselves too?" Lin Ruijiao offered helplessly, trying to ease the tension. "Sister Ye might not know who you all are."
Ye Ruihuan turned to look at Lin Ruijiao, her face unreadable. In truth, she already knew every single detail about the people seated in front of her.
"Hello, Sister Ye. I'm Shen Xuanxuan. I really love your films," Shen Xuanxuan said with a radiant smile. "Would you sign something for me later?"
One by one, the cast introduced themselves.
Ye Ruihuan gave a faint, almost indifferent nod. "Mm. I know you. I've watched this show before. It's interesting."
That alone brought an even greater pressure upon the room. Ye Ruihuan's presence was overwhelming—no one dared to speak freely anymore. A dating show was supposed to be lighthearted, but this now felt like a corporate boardroom. Lin Ruijiao silently sighed. All her efforts to keep the energy up earlier? Completely wasted.
How were they supposed to fall in love like this? How were fans supposed to ship anyone?
[Why did Ye Ruihuan even come? Just to show off and put Ruijiao in her place? This is exhausting.]
[I love her movies, sure, but this is a dating show. What is she thinking?]
[Exactly. Isn't she always mocking variety shows like this? What's she doing here?]
[This was supposed to be fun. Now it feels like a press conference.]
[Ruijiao can't even smooth things over. All the good vibes she worked so hard to create—gone.]
Public opinion soured rapidly. Ye Ruihuan's neutral favorability took another hit.
In a hurry to move things along, the producers announced the next segment. A staff member handed out the mission cards—it was a team puzzle game. Four groups. First to finish gets a reward.
Pairs quickly formed. In the end, only Lin Ruijiao and Ye Ruihuan were left. Silence descended on the room again. Even the sound of their breathing seemed too loud. Not even the crew dared to speak to break the tension.
"Looks like it's just the two of us left," Lin Ruijiao said with a faint smile, turning toward Ye Ruihuan.
Shen Xuanxuan gave her an apologetic look from nearby—Ye Ruihuan's aura was just too intimidating.
"…Mm." Ye Ruihuan's smile didn't change. Her eyes even softened, a hint of warmth flickering there.
As soon as Ye Ruihuan agreed, the entire room seemed to exhale at once. Everyone had been holding their breath, terrified she might lose her temper and walk out.
The game began. Under Ye Ruihuan's guidance, their group finished in record time.
Lin Ruijiao hadn't even figured out what the image on the puzzle was. She was still trying to make sense of the pieces when Ye Ruihuan, calm and focused, had already completed the challenge within minutes—earning them first place.
The other teams were dumbfounded. Was there even a point in continuing?
Ye Ruihuan's quiet smile was now tinged with confidence. She turned to the "little rabbit" beside her. If she was going to participate in this show, of course she'd come prepared. A little puzzle was nothing.
[That's our Sister Ye! Even puzzles can't beat her. I'm obsessed!!][Okay, but seriously—can y'all stop pretending this is impressive?][Ruijiao had to partner up with her just to keep things civil. Our girl's suffering out here!][No one else noticed how Ye Ruihuan smiled at Ruijiao? That was sweet. Like... really sweet.][CP fans, go away. Ruijiao hates Ye Ruihuan, thank you very much.][As if Ye Ruihuan would ever like Lin Ruijiao. That smile? Pure winner's confidence. She's gorgeous, though.]
Throughout the game, the cameras captured every expression and movement. But the spotlight remained on Ye Ruihuan and Lin Ruijiao. Just having them in the same frame was enough to steal the show—and spark another round of fan wars.
While everyone else was immersed in the activity, hashtags like #YeRuihuanJoinsDatingShow and #YeRuihuanLinRuijiaoCP shot up the trending list, landing firmly in the top eight.
The show's livestream room overflowed with viewers, crashing the servers. The production team had to open a second room—complete with dedicated cameras focused squarely on the two women.
Because Ye Ruihuan had joined at the last minute, there weren't enough rooms available. The prize for winning the puzzle challenge? Ye Ruihuan got to choose any female guest's room to share.
With all eyes on her, Ye Ruihuan slowly glanced around the room. Every female guest lowered her head, like students afraid of being called on in class. Only Lin Ruijiao remained calm.
Ye Ruihuan's lips curved ever so slightly. Her gaze locked on Lin Ruijiao."I choose her," she said, pointing at Lin Ruijiao—who just happened to be stifling a yawn.
The room fell silent. Even the staff didn't know how to react.
And the comment section exploded:
[What the hell? This has GOT to be a stunt by the network to hype things up. There's no way our Sister Ye would choose her.][Right?? This is 100% producer manipulation. Bet she sneaks off to a five-star hotel tonight.][Honestly, that'd be best. I don't want Ye Ruihuan pushing herself on Ruijiao.][Tsk. Don't flatter Lin Ruijiao. Sister Ye obviously just picked her to make things easier for everyone.][If it's so hard to be here, then why show up at all? She completely ruined the atmosphere Ruijiao worked so hard to create.][Please. Without Sister Ye, this show would be a complete flop. No one would watch. Let's be real.][Okay, but is no one gonna admit that the CP vibes are kind of... real?][Shut up already!!!][+10086]
Lin Ruijiao sat frozen in place, still dazed by the day's surreal turn of events. It all felt like a fever dream. Not only had Ye Ruihuan crashed the show, she'd been clinging to her side nonstop. And now, the two of them were going to live together? Was this some kind of international joke?
With cameras trained on their every move, even the slightest misstep could be catastrophic…
As the staff announced the results, Lin Ruijiao frowned ever so slightly. Her mind spun in frantic circles, trying to figure out what to do next.
But there were only two words in her heart: No solution. She'd just have to take things as they came. She was only here to ride the CP wave—how did filming this show become such an emotional gauntlet?
Letting out a quiet sigh, she glanced around. The other guests and crew members seemed unsure whether they should approach her for comfort.
After all, she was still standing there.
Ye Ruihuan—formidable, aloof, commanding an air of untouchable elegance—was enough to make anyone second-guess opening their mouth. Most people didn't even dare voice their opinions in her presence.
[Did you see that? Our Ruijiao just sighed!][Our Jiao Jiao has poured her heart into this show.][Sister Ye is already being magnanimous. Who are you to pull a face? Learn some respect for your seniors!!!][Get lost. What kind of "senior" is Ye Ruihuan? What has she ever done to help our Ruijiao?][As if Sister Ye actually chose you. The production team's just trying to generate buzz with this forced pairing.][Excuse me? You think you can latch onto our Jiao Jiao like that? Back off—she doesn't need clout chasers.]
With just one subtle furrow of Lin Ruijiao's brows, the audience had already launched into endless interpretations. Meanwhile, both fandoms were at each other's throats online. Unbeknownst to them, the two women in question remained completely in the dark.
Soon, it was lunchtime. In honor of Ye Ruihuan's arrival, the crew had prepared a lavish meal. Everyone else benefited from the spread, finding their seats for the feast.
Predictably, Ye Ruihuan took the center seat at the table. Though the guests usually sat in fixed positions during meals, today they all stepped aside politely to let her choose first.
Without a hint of hesitation, Ye Ruihuan claimed the prime spot. The main camera faced her directly. On her left and right were Lin Ruijiao and Shen Xuanxuan. The rest of the guests had chosen to sit as far away as possible. Typically, Lin Ruijiao and Shen Xuanxuan sat together—but now, thanks to Ye Ruihuan, that arrangement had been upended. Whether it was deliberate or not, no one could say.
Lin Ruijiao wore a neutral expression, while Ye Ruihuan's face carried a faint, unreadable smile. Oddly enough, she seemed to be echoing the internet's words about rehabilitating her image. Normally, Ye Ruihuan showed up at events with a cold face—never mind smiling.
"Let's eat, everyone," Ye Ruihuan said softly, smiling as she picked up a leaf of green vegetable and placed it in her bowl.
There were over a dozen signature dishes from all over the country, a rare treat. But despite the lavish spread, everyone looked like they'd lost their appetite. No one dared pick up their chopsticks first.
"Dig in!" Lin Ruijiao beamed at them, then promptly helped herself to a juicy slice of beef without the slightest hesitation.
Several people couldn't help swallowing nervously before finally starting to eat. But unlike before, the pace was noticeably slower. Everyone was careful and graceful, even the usually casual male guests chewing with polite restraint.
Despite the richness of the meal, everyone ate in anxious silence. The reason was clear: Ye Ruihuan. Even Jin Yan, who was usually the life of the party, stayed quiet today. This was Ye Ruihuan's stage now—everything revolved around her mood and presence.
Sensing the oppressive atmosphere, Ye Ruihuan suddenly said, "Why is no one talking?" Her voice was light, her smile undimmed, no sign of displeasure—but still, no one dared speak up.
"Speak not while eating, sleep not while talking," Lin Ruijiao answered calmly, quoting the old saying.
Silence returned like a curtain falling.
Ye Ruihuan sat at the head of the table, the cameras trained on her from all angles—yet none could see what was happening beneath.
Below the table, she gave a subtle tug at the hem of the person's shirt beside her. Her face betrayed nothing.
Lin Ruijiao quietly adjusted her clothes, completely ignoring the childish move. But in the next second, a soft, warm pressure touched the back of her hand.
Startled, Lin Ruijiao instinctively lowered her head—anyone watching would think she was simply staring into her bowl. She struggled to shake off Ye Ruihuan's hand. With all the staff and cameras present, what the hell was she thinking?
But no matter how much she tried, the other woman wouldn't let go. Lin Ruijiao's anxiety spiked. She turned slightly, casting a sharp side-eye—an unmistakable warning.
Ye Ruihuan met her glare with a sweet, unbothered smile. She showed no intention of backing down, fingers gently caressing the soft skin of Lin Ruijiao's hand, playful and lingering.
The delicate touch sent a shiver through Lin Ruijiao.
"Lin Ruijiao, what's wrong?" Ye Ruihuan asked, her smile deepening as if nothing was amiss. Her performance was flawless.
Lin Ruijiao couldn't help but begrudgingly admire her. Holding someone's hand in such a setting—especially when that person was supposedly your rival—and still acting so composed? That took some serious skill.
Ye Ruihuan wasn't afraid of getting caught. But Lin Ruijiao was.
At that moment, perhaps due to Ye Ruihuan's sudden question, a female guest nearby dropped her chopsticks. With an apologetic smile, she bent down to pick them up.
Even then, Ye Ruihuan didn't let go.
Panic crept up Lin Ruijiao's spine. Her heart pounded wildly, her breath lost its rhythm. She continued struggling, desperate to free her hand.
"N-Nothing," Lin Ruijiao murmured, forcing a smile as she set down her chopsticks. Pretending to adjust her clothes, she pinched Ye Ruihuan's hand—hard.
She felt the other woman jolt slightly, then finally, the warmth disappeared from her skin.
Lin Ruijiao slowly brought her hand up to rest on the table, returning to her meal. But her expression was visibly tenser than before.