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

An extremely handsome face appeared before everyone.

Ling Yan's face wasn't conventionally handsome; rather, it possessed a destructive beauty. Beneath his raven-feather-like, tousled hair were eyes so black the pupils were almost invisible. With each tremor of his eyelashes, a small black mole adorned the corner of his eye, making his entire face both exquisite and alluring.

Perhaps unaccustomed to exposing his face in front of so many people, his shoulders were stiff, his lips were tightly pursed, and his jawline was taut and sharp yet fragile.

Wow, why didn't you say you were this good-looking sooner!

No wonder the fourth male lead always has such long bangs and wears such ugly glasses; looking like that is indeed quite dangerous.

So handsome... no... so beautiful... no... so handsome...

Okay, to those of you who shipped the fourth male lead and the fourth female lead, I admit you were right.

He's really unique; his demeanor and looks are like a gender-swapped version of Tomie!

[It really is! The contradictory beauty and danger she exudes is the epitome of Gothic beauty.]

Not only the viewers in the live stream, but also the guests who had spent a lot of time with Ling Yan were shocked.

"Ling Yan, you... why do you look like this?" Jiang Meng was dumbfounded.

The other girls couldn't help but exclaim, "If I had known Ling Yan was this handsome, I would have given you my letter on the first day!"

Joking aside, what I said is true.

The male guests are all handsome in their own way, but Ling Yan's style is indeed rare.

The men reacted in different ways, but none of them looked too good.

They didn't care whether Ling Yan was handsome or ugly, but even Bai Nianchu cast a glance at him and lingered for quite a while... This really hit a nerve with them.

So what if she's a little better looking?

Who does a man who looks like that want to seduce?

Instead of showing his full face at first, he deliberately dragged it out for so long to pique people's curiosity before revealing it, and even acted like he was being coerced. What else could this be but playing hard to get?

You really underestimated him!

Several men gritted their teeth inwardly.

On the surface, he appears to be a clean-cut medical student, but in reality, he has the demeanor of a brothel owner and is so scheming that it's disgusting.

The other male guests' cold, piercing gazes were almost tangible, but Ling Yan seemed completely oblivious, his eyes only fixed on the person sitting next to him.

When Ling Yan first tied his bangs up and put his hands down, he had no idea where to look. But gradually, his gaze moved upwards. He had only intended to steal a glance, but his eyes met Bai Nianchu's.

Ling Yan trembled in shock, his neck and face instantly flushing red, like a big cat that had been caught spying on its owner, somewhat at a loss, but more than anything, a surge of joy and excitement welling up from his heart.

she is looking at me.

She really was watching me the whole time.

Ling Yan's reason told him: You've been looking long enough, you should look away. But his body just wouldn't react.

It wasn't until Bai Nianchu lowered her eyelids and looked away that Ling Yan turned back, slowly relaxing his tense shoulders and limbs, trying to calm his rapidly beating heart.

This means "satisfied"...right?

She likes my face.

Ling Yan pursed his lips, feeling as if fireworks were exploding in his head.

"So," Jiang Meng babbled, "Ling Yan, do you wear glasses because you're nearsighted, or is it just for decoration? Or for style?"

Ling Yan's flushed ears slowly returned to normal: "Yes, both."

He was indifferent to everyone except Bai Nianchu.

"Alright, stop teasing our youngest son." Su Yi'an chuckled and changed the subject, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"It's time for Nianchu."

This intricate game is finally coming to an end, and finally... the moment they've been waiting for has arrived.

Under the intense gazes of everyone, Bai Nianchu opened the note and read out the task requirements in her clear voice, word by word: "Give a hug to one person present."

"..."

The crowd remained silent, but the thoughts and undercurrents of competition beneath the surface were growing rapidly.

The show didn't explicitly specify the gender of the person to hug, meaning that if Bai Nianchu chooses a girl, it most likely means she hasn't yet been moved by any male guest. If she chooses a boy, even if she's not smitten, she definitely has some feelings for him.

Everyone's hearts felt like they were being suspended in mid-air by a giant hook, filled with unease and anticipation.

I'm both afraid of being disappointed and hopeful that the person will be me.

No one spoke up, nor were they willing to force Bai Nianchu to make a choice immediately.

After a long pause, the accompanying director broke the silence: "Ahem... Mr. Bai, what is your choice?"

Bai Nianchu raised her eyes and glanced around indifferently.

Her eyes were calm and unwavering, devoid of any warmth, yet those whose gaze swept over them couldn't help but straighten their backs, striving to capture her attention with their best facial expressions and posture.

[I can't take it anymore, is this some kind of imperial concubine selection ceremony?]

[The male guests are one thing, but why are the girls secretly fixing their hair and touching up their makeup? (facepalm)]

That's quite competitive.

This is undoubtedly the most agonizing stage.

Bai Nianchu's gaze lingered on everyone, regardless of gender.

But in the end, it landed beside him.

Someone they hadn't expected, yet who was somewhat anticipated...

"Ling Yan, I choose him."

The warmth in Su Yi'an's eyes vanished instantly, her smile freezing on her lips; Lin Zhao's face turned as cold as ice, and even a deep breath couldn't suppress the tightness in her chest; Xu Muyang was like a dog drenched in a downpour, his eyes filled with disappointment, a layer of moisture quickly welling up in his eyes but he forced it back; Chen Yuze's brows furrowed, and a low-pressure atmosphere enveloped his entire being.

Most of them knew that Bai Nianchu had sent several letters to Ling Yan.

But she maintained a distant relationship with everyone, leading them to believe...

I cannot think about it too much, I dare not ponder it too deeply.

The male guests all felt very uncomfortable, bittersweet, and incredulous.

Only Ling Yan...

He was so happy he was practically going crazy.

He learned to be sad before he learned to love when he was very young.

He was abandoned and raised in an orphanage. Later, as he grew older and communication became more advanced, he learned the truth about his parents' divorce and their remarriages. He originally thought that getting into a prestigious university and gaining recognition would bring him back to his parents' love, but instead, he was met only with his father's cold messages asking for money, and... his mother telling him not to bother his family and his new life.

Is love a luxury?

Ling Yan thought, yes.

His mentor once said, "Love is a very precious thing. It requires time and effort, and time and effort are both very precious. Not everyone is worth your effort."

Ling Yan said, "I am not worthy."

My mentor said, "You deserve it, you just haven't met the person who deserves your love and who will love you back."

Ling Yan: "What if we can't wait?"

Mentor: "Then just keep waiting. Love is like a seed; once it's planted, there's no other way but time and a long wait. Good and bad luck are constant; past misfortunes become nutrients for this seed. As long as you wait patiently, it will grow."

Ling Yan believed it.

His mentor was the kindest person to him besides the orphanage director, and Ling Yan was willing to believe what she said.

*

The feeling of being embraced by someone leaning in is strange.

The soft touch of the fabric felt like a spring breeze, the delicate feel against the skin like a summer spring, followed by a slowly penetrating warmth, like autumn leaves falling softly on the skin, and finally, the scent—cold as a winter night, elegant as jasmine, a scent unique to Bai Nianchu.

Skin to skin, the gaps between bones are decreasing.

Ling Yan felt a strange sense of fullness in his mind.

The emptiness inside his body seemed to be gently filled by something, his breathing became blurred like distant tides, his feet could no longer feel the ground, and his heart felt light and airy.

Ling Yan opened his arms and awkwardly hugged her back after she hugged him.

The muscles gradually relax, and the shoulders and spine slowly bend...

This is a gesture of complete trust, like a ship that has finally found its harbor.

Bai Nianchu asked softly, "Are you in a better mood today?"

Ling Yan closed his eyes: "Mmm."

"The seed... has sprouted."

This statement might seem strange to others, but not to Bai Nianchu.

They remained in an embracing position.

"What kind of flower is it?" she asked.

Ling Yan remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"It's jasmine."