Romance Variety Show: The aloof and beautiful fourth female lead is always coveted.

Today it's Ye Siyao and Lin Zhao's turn to cook dinner.

After the guests got to know each other, they no longer frantically scrambled around the kitchen like they had on the first night, and all very considerately left the space to the two chefs.

Midway through, apart from Jiang Meng peeking in to hand over a water cup, everyone else gathered in the living room to play a game of pulling wooden sticks.

Because it was an open kitchen, very close to the living room, Ye Siyao and Lin Zhao could hear other people's laughter from time to time.

"Looks like they're having a good time," Ye Siyao said to Lin Zhao while washing vegetables.

Of the four male guests, she had the best impression of Lin Zhao and was most looking forward to having some alone time with him.

"Hmm." Lin Zhao didn't even look up, focusing on the cooking in front of her.

Ye Siyao glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but she wasn't discouraged. Instead, she changed the subject.

"Today, Nianchu, Yi'an, Lingyan, and I went shopping. I forgot to ask you what you needed." She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her profile appearing exceptionally soft under the light. "Let's go together next time we have time."

Lin Zhao paused, his fingers tightening slightly as he gripped the cleaver.

His gaze fell on Ye Siyao, his long eyelashes casting a half-inch shadow under his eyes.

Ye Siyao understood; this meant he was interested in her new topic.

I just don't know who I'm interested in.

Is it her, or... Bai Nianchu?

Ye Siyao spoke softly and gently, first picking out some details of her and Su Yi'an's shopping, and seeing that Lin Zhao's expression remained unchanged, she then mentioned the subtle changes in the atmosphere between the other two people—Bai Nianchu and Ling Yan.

"The two of them seem to have gotten a little closer," Ye Siyao said. "Maybe it's because they're close in age and have found common ground to talk about."

As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately felt a sharp gaze sweep across her face, carrying an almost tangible sense of oppression that made her heart tighten.

It's like judging whether she's lying.

Ye Siyao swallowed the words she was about to say and avoided Lin Zhao's gaze by pretending to process the ingredients.

The atmosphere between the two of them quietly turned icy.

As for who Lin Zhao cares about, Ye Siyao already has the answer in her heart.

*

After dinner, Lin Zhao, who had a video conference and several work calls, finally had some free time and went to the balcony to enjoy the breeze.

Others may not be able to tell, but only he knows how out of sorts he is today.

Ye Siyao's words kept replaying in his mind.

"Perhaps it's because we're close in age, we found common ground in our conversation."

Age, similar, or close.

Lin Zhao's brows furrowed involuntarily.

Ling Yan is 22 years old, making him the youngest of the four male guests.

He is already 26 years old this year, three years older than Bai Nianchu.

A generation gap of three years, could he really be...?

wrong.

He doesn't like Bai Nianchu at all, so why should he think about the generation gap?

A surge of irritation rose in Lin Zhao's heart, and he subconsciously reached into his coat pocket. He rarely touched cigarettes, only lighting one when he was feeling down. As his fingertips touched the cigarette pack, he remembered the production team's rule against smoking in front of the camera and pulled his hand away.

Lin Zhao went downstairs with a sullen face.

As they walked downstairs, they happened to run into Bai Nianchu, who had just finished showering and was carrying a mug, as if she was going downstairs to get water.

Bai Nianchu, wearing a nightgown, looked very different from her usual self.

The silk fabric shimmered with a soft sheen, and the neckline was slightly open, revealing the collarbone and a small patch of delicate skin. The hem of the skirt just covered the knees, allowing glimpses of two slender calves as the wearer moved.

Very white, very fine, and...

Lin Zhao smelled a scent of jasmine mixed with a strange, cool fragrance.

It smells good.

Is it the scent of the shower gel, or her natural fragrance?

The stairwell wasn't very wide, and when Lin Zhao ran into Bai Nianchu, she almost instinctively took a deep breath.

He inhaled deeply the light yet unique cool fragrance into his chest and abdomen...

Lin Zhao was bewitched and moved closer to the fragrance, his gaze involuntarily following the figure.

However, when Bai Nianchu saw him, she stopped in her tracks.

A rare look of confusion appeared on her bright, moon-like face. The next second, she turned and left.

Lin Zhao: "?"

What do you mean? Aren't you going to get some water?

Seeing him made me lose my appetite for water.

A surge of ignored anger rose from his chest, making Lin Zhao's throat tighten. But beneath the inexplicable resentment lay a bitterness and helplessness that he himself hadn't noticed.

How could Bai Nianchu ignore him, neglect him, and treat him like a stranger?

Anger turned into irritability, and Lin Zhao disliked this feeling of going astray.

He was used to keeping familiar things under his control, regardless of whether they belonged to him or not. Bai Nianchu's change was like a kite string that suddenly broke in his hand; he couldn't predict which direction it would drift, nor could he stop the kite with its broken string.

"...Wait, read it aloud."

The words of urging him to stay came out of his mouth.

Lin Zhao even instinctively called out the nickname she used to call Bai Nianchu when they were children.

That was the name Bai Nianchu used for him before she fell in love with him or pursued him relentlessly; it was when they were childhood sweethearts.

She would call him "Zhaozhao," and he would call her "Niannian."

Zhao Zhao's wish came true, and she never forgot it.

They used to have a very close relationship.

Bai Nianchu heard this, but her steps did not falter at all.

But the rapid breathing behind her grew closer and closer, and her wrist was suddenly grabbed—Lin Zhao's palm was incredibly hot, and his burning body temperature seared through her skin. The force was great, like a shackle tightening around her wrist.

Bai Nianchu stopped in his tracks because of this.

"What is it?" She turned her head slightly, her eyes cold and sharp.

Even the system, which hadn't appeared for a long time, couldn't help but show itself. Taking advantage of the fact that no one except its host could see, touch, or get close to it, it used its round, tennis ball-like body to smash the man's face with all its might.

[What a scoundrel! What a bad man! Who does he think he is, putting on that resentful face?!]

Bai Nianchu glanced up and realized the system was right.

Lin Zhao's current appearance—with her brows furrowed, lips tightly pressed together, and eyes filled with intense anger and resentment—truly resembles that of a resentful husband.

His face practically screamed, "I'm unhappy, come and comfort me."

If it were the original owner, she might have been heartbroken beyond measure and hastily gave away her whole heart.

But she is not.

This arrogant attitude, where even showing weakness carries a sense of dominance, will only annoy her.

It didn't stir up the slightest ripple in Bai Nianchu's heart.

"What exactly is going on?" she asked coldly.

Lin Zhao was stung by the aloofness in her eyes and the coldness in her tone, and a subtle pain rose in her heart.

"...Why are you avoiding me?"

These words rolled out of Lin Zhao's throat, as hoarse as a rusty piece of iron.

Bai Nianchu remained silent, looking at him with a subtle, almost mocking gaze, as if he were a fool, her eyes filled with nonchalant sarcasm.

Before she could even speak.

Suddenly, a suppressed angry voice came from the side.

"Lin Zhao, what are you doing!"