I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

Xiao Chen smiled slightly, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile appearing particularly radiant in the darkness.

"Of course, I'm taking you to pay off your debts."

Xiao Chen casually tossed out those words.

Chen Chichi was taken aback.

"Pay back debts? Pay back what debts? Who do I owe money to?"

Xiao Chen patted his shoulder, his tone as gentle as a boy next door.

"Last night's Hainan Rendez-Vous cost a total of 800 points, which have all been charged to your account."

"Now, you're the biggest debtor in the Mushroom House."

One sentence, like a bolt from the blue.

Chen Chichi was instantly wide awake, and froze on the bed.

He stared wide-eyed at the smiling boy in front of him.

Now I finally understand what those sympathetic looks everyone gave me last night meant.

"Xiao Chen! You're so mean!"

Chen Chichi's wailing instantly shattered the morning tranquility of the Mushroom House.

Chen Chichi felt his head buzzing.

The impeccably handsome face of Xiao Chen before him now seemed more terrifying to him than Sadako from The Ring.

"Eight...eight hundred points?"

His voice was trembling.

This number felt like a mountain, crashing down on his mind.

Xiao Chen was very satisfied with his expression, nodded, and smiled gently as always.

"Yes, eight hundred. It could have been more expensive."

"I saw you were enjoying your meal, so I got a discount from the production team."

Chen Chichi wanted to cry.

Discount?

Are you going to break my bones?!

He struggled, attempting a final act of resistance.

"No, Brother Chen, this isn't fair!"

"We all ate together, why should I be blamed for it all?"

Xiao Chen extended his index finger and gently shook it.

"Brother Chichi, you can't say that."

"Look, Sister Mei and Brother Rong barely touched their food, and Reba only had a few bites."

"Eighty percent of the food on that table last night ended up in your stomach."

"And you ordered the food yourself."

His voice paused, a hint of innocence in his tone.

"I was originally going to pay for it myself, but you were enjoying your meal so much, how could I steal your thunder?"

"This is your first highlight moment on the show - 'God of Cookery' Chen Hehe."

In short, he blocked all of Chen Chichi's escape routes.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yes, he was spineless last night and got carried away by the delicious food.

Now, karma has caught up with them.

Xiao Chen said no more, turned around and took out a set of equipment from behind the door with smooth and effortless movements.

A hat with a searchlight, a pair of thick rubber gloves, a long pair of iron pliers, and a huge black garbage bag.

He gently tucked the entire set of items into Chen Chichi's arms.

"Let's go, Brother Chichi, time is precious."

Chen Chichi was completely stunned as he held the cold "instrument of torture".

He looked at Xiao Chen's handsome tracksuit, then at the trash-collecting outfit in his arms.

A tremendous sense of humiliation and absurdity overwhelmed me.

"Are we really... really going to pick up trash?"

"Otherwise what?"

Xiao Chen asked in return, his eyes as clear as those of an innocent child.

"Paying back debts is a matter of course. The program stipulates that picking up one pound of trash can offset ten points."

"Try your best tonight and try to pay off the debt before dawn."

After saying that, he opened the door and made a "please" gesture.

Chen Chichi was on the verge of tears, and was "escorted" out of the warm Mushroom House by Xiao Chen, who kept turning back to look at her.

The sea breeze at four in the morning, carrying a salty, damp chill, made him shiver.

The distant waves roared, like a dirge for his tragic fate.

Xiao Chen led him to an empty beach and pointed to the vast coastline.

"Brother Chichi, this beach is yours tonight."

He patted Chen Chichi on the shoulder, his tone full of encouragement.

"Keep it up, I believe in you."

After saying that, Xiao Chen turned around and walked towards the warmly lit mushroom house without looking back.

That dashing figure, in Chen Chichi's eyes, was simply the embodiment of the devil.

"Xiao Chen! You're not human!"

The piercing shouts echoed on the beach, but apart from the sound of the waves, no one answered.

Xiao Chen simply waved his hand, and his figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.

He returned to his room, took off his coat, and crawled back into his warm bed, as if nothing had happened.

Chen Chichi was left alone, wearing a headlamp and holding pliers in the cold wind at four in the morning.

Facing the endless beach, littered with countless plastic bottles, packaging bags, and tattered fishing nets...

He really cried.

……

10:00 AM.

Warm sunlight streamed through the windows into the Mushroom House's living room.

On the dining table, a pot of steaming seafood porridge is emitting an enticing aroma.

The congee contains fresh shrimp, scallops, and crab meat, cooked until smooth and soft, and sprinkled with bright green scallions.

Mei Yanfang, dressed in comfortable home clothes, held a bowl and took a satisfied sip of porridge.

"Ah Chen's cooking skills are getting better and better. This porridge is even better than that of a five-star hotel."

Leslie Cheung, standing to the side, smiled and nodded. He had a refined and elegant demeanor, and even while eating breakfast, his movements exuded a composed and noble air.

"Yes, with Ah Chen here, we made the right choice coming here."

Dilraba and Stephen Chow, who had just woken up, also sat at the table, enjoying their meal.

He ate his porridge while speaking in his uniquely nonsensical tone.

"Hey, Chen, aren't you tired getting up so early to make porridge?"

"If it weren't for you, I would definitely have slept until noon."

Xiao Chen, dressed in a simple white T-shirt, sat opposite them, his face glowing handsomely in the morning light.

He simply smiled upon hearing this, his voice clear and melodious.

"We need to eat breakfast and take good care of our older siblings' stomachs."

"Besides, Dilraba is still growing and can't be starved."

When he speaks, his eyes naturally meet the other person's, conveying an innate sincerity that makes people feel like they are bathed in a spring breeze.

After finishing a bowl of porridge, Dilraba wiped her mouth and looked around curiously.

"Huh? Where's Chichi-ge?"

"Isn't this his favorite food? How could he resist getting up from this fragrant porridge?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of dragging footsteps came from the doorway.

Everyone looked over.

Chen Chichi moved in like a walking corpse.

His hair was disheveled, like a bird's nest, with a few strands of dry grass stuck to it. His face was full of exhaustion.

His dark circles were so heavy they looked like he was wearing smoky makeup. His designer T-shirt was now covered in mud and unidentified stains, and gave off a faint fishy smell.

The whole person is simply "miserable".

"puff--"

Stephen Chow almost spat out his porridge. He pointed at Chen Chichi and laughed so hard he was shaking.

"Hey! Chichi, what...did you fall into some cesspool?"

Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung were also stunned, and then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Good heavens, Chichi, where have you been exploring?"