After Entering a Romance Reality Show Disguised as a Man to Win Over All the Female Leads - Chapter 12

On the bullet chat, Seven’s fans were instantly displeased.

The camera following him was the one originally assigned to both He Huaiting and Seven. However, since He Huaiting and the other two were in the kitchen being filmed by the cameraman for Rong Yu and Mu Shuiqing, those who liked He Huaiting had moved to the other sub-stream. The fans remaining in this stream were almost exclusively Seven’s.

Even though people were gradually trickling in to see Mu Shuiqing, most were still there for Seven. For a moment, the screen was a battlefield of vitriol directed at Mu Shuiqing.

【Mu Shuiqing, you little b*tch, get lost!】

【Ugh, I’ve disliked her for a long time. Can she just leave? Let our Oppa shine alone.】

Seven sat there, gritting his teeth in private. As a singer who considered himself a blend of talent and top-tier visuals, Seven was incredibly proud—especially since his fans bragged about his “peerless beauty” every single day.

He hadn’t expected that on his first day of Heartbeat Moments, He Huaiting and Mu Shuiqing would call him ugly. Now, even after being “kicked out” of the kitchen, Mu Shuiqing had the nerve to say it again. Unable to hold back, he spoke with a fake, mocking smile: “Miss Mu is such a great beauty, so how did you get kicked out too?”

Mu Shuiqing didn’t respond immediately. She lowered her eyes and stared at Seven, who was sitting on the corridor railing. Her crimson pupils made a chill run down his neck for no reason.

Finally, she looked away and spoke softly: “Rongrong was afraid I’d get tired, so she told me to come out and rest for a bit.”

She spoke slowly, but her tone was gentle, perfectly neutralizing her usually stiff voice. Her attitude when mentioning Rong Yu was a stark contrast to how she treated Seven. With her elegant features and a few stray hairs framing her face, she looked like a tender, devoted “girl next door.”

The fans who were attacking her suddenly found their anger dissipating. The barrage of hate slowed to a crawl. Only Seven felt a sudden throb of unease, a premonition of something bad.

Sure enough.

The next second, the seemingly calm and gentle Mu Shuiqing tilted her head, her face a mask of pure, innocent confusion: “But you’ve refused to help with anything from the very beginning. You and I are not the same; please don’t use the word ‘too’ with me.”

Seven’s smile faltered. “When did I do nothing?”

“In the haunted house, you hid behind others. During vegetable prep, you just held the greens without moving—I washed everything. For the cooking, you wouldn’t even step through the door.” Mu Shuiqing stated this expressionlessly, her face essentially saying: Do I need to say more?

The chat went even quieter. A few die-hard fans tried to make excuses:

【Guys aren’t usually good at cooking anyway…】

【We’re just here to see Wenwen. He can do whatever he wants, even nothing.】

But the “passerby” viewers who had just joined weren’t having it:

【What kind of logic is that? If he doesn’t want to do anything, go film a travel Vlog! Don’t slack off during a group activity… I hate people like this in group projects. I can’t believe a star I liked is acting like this. I’m actually disgusted.】

【Guys aren’t ‘good’ at it, but girls are? Based on what? Is there a gene for cooking ability now?】

As the fans began to bicker, the tension between Seven and Mu Shuiqing reached a breaking point. Mu Shuiqing didn’t care about the cameras and spoke her mind bluntly. Seven felt as if he’d been slapped in public. He finally dropped the act, his face darkening as he hissed through his teeth: “Me? Cook? For you people? You’re not worthy. Even if I just sit here and do nothing, the people in this chat are only here to see me!”

The moment those words left his mouth, even the fans who were defending him went silent.

【…?】

【???】

【Wenzai, what are you saying??】

Realizing what he had just said, Seven instantly shut his mouth, his face turning a ghostly, terrified white.

Mu Shuiqing looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on the top of his head for a moment. Reversing her previous aggression, she silently pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket, took one out, unfolded it, refolded it, and handed it to Seven. In a spot hidden from the camera, the four corners of the tissue twitched violently as a faint gold talisman appeared and quickly vanished.

Mu Shuiqing’s voice returned to its previous calm: “I see. You should rest then.”

Seven looked awful, his panic evident as he looked at her with suspicion. Yet, as if possessed, he reached out and took the tissue.

Ever since he uttered that sentence, Seven had been terrified, his heart racing. For an entertainer, image is everything. Maintaining the “cool guy” persona set by his company was his manager’s sole requirement. As long as he didn’t break character, he could do whatever he wanted. But those words just now had completely shattered his persona.

Even Seven didn’t know why he had suddenly become so irritable. Ever since he first saw Mu Shuiqing, he had felt flustered, impatient, and a strong sense of rejection. Even if she hadn’t called him ugly yesterday, he had felt extremely uncomfortable the moment he saw her—like… like seeing someone he had hated since childhood.

But the moment he took the tissue, that irritability vanished. It was replaced by a wave of fear—fear that he had ruined his career, fear that his fans would leave. His hands shook as he took the tissue.

What confused him more was Mu Shuiqing’s attitude. He thought she would kick him while he was down, mocking him for exposing his true self. Instead, she was calmer than when they first met, acting as if they were just chatting about lunch.

Strangely, from the moment he held that tissue, his agitation and his fear both felt as though they were behind an invisible wall, separating him from the intense emotions. He felt unnervingly calm.

The clearer his head became, the more he feared the words he had spoken.

Mu Shuiqing spoke again, her voice clear like a silver bell, shattering his chaotic thoughts: “I know you were just kidding. It’s okay.”

“R-Right… I was kidding…” Seven forced a smile for the camera, looking at Mu Shuiqing with a complex mix of guilt. “…I’m sorry.”

Mu Shuiqing lowered her eyes, turned around, and sat back on the railing, staring intently at the kitchen door. “It’s fine.”

With both parties silent, a weird peace settled over the chat. The fans who were ready to “white-wash” his behavior didn’t dare speak. The passersby who were going to defend Mu Shuiqing were baffled by her offering a tissue. This sub-stream briefly became the quietest one in the show.

Inside the kitchen, Rong Yu and He Huaiting were in a much more “lively” situation. The tentacle on the cutting board was still twitching. Rong Yu had cleaned the fish and shrimp and was marinating them in a basin.

He Huaiting, wanting to help, took a knife to the tentacle. The moment the cold blade entered the flesh, the peeled limb buckled violently. A large glob of thick, milky-white mucus sprayed out from the incision, hitting He Huaiting square in the chest.

She jumped back, but some had already landed on her tank top. Rong Yu grabbed a tissue to wipe it, only to see the fabric where the liquid landed begin to emit wisps of white smoke. The high acidity instantly melted several finger-wide holes into the material.

Rong Yu froze. “…Are you sure this ingredient is actually edible?”

He Huaiting thought of her previous experiences and said flatly, “It’s fine once it’s cooked.”

Rong Yu put down the tissue, grabbed a cup, tossed in a handful of salt and some water, then took a square cloth to soak in the saline. She carefully began dabbing away the corrosive liquid from He Huaiting’s chest.

Unlike Rong Yu, who was wearing layers, He Huaiting was dressed very lightly in just a tight tank top. Afraid the liquid would reach her skin, Rong Yu leaned in close, her movements incredibly gentle.

Once the mess was cleaned, she realized with a start that they were much too close. He Huaiting’s warm breath was brushing against her forehead. From her lowered perspective, it looked as if she were burying her head in the other woman’s chest.

Rong Yu immediately scrambled back, but she forgot the cabinets were behind her. She bumped into them, unable to escape He Huaiting’s aura.

“Careful.”

He Huaiting reached out to support Rong Yu’s lower back. Her hands were different from most girls’; her fingers were stronger, her joints more defined. She easily caught Rong Yu and pulled her away from the cabinet.

They were back to zero distance. Rong Yu suspected she was doing this on purpose.

But when she looked up, He Huaiting’s face held no extra emotion. She still had that aloof, high-cold expression, looking indifferently at the tentacle on the board.

Rong Yu shifted sideways to create space and looked at He Huaiting’s ruined shirt. She glanced at her own layers: “Um, if you don’t mind…”

He Huaiting turned to her, a silent question in her eyes.

“You can wear my sweater for now,” Rong Yu said, her heart thumping. Seeing those golden, predator-like eyes fixed on her, she felt her face heat up and added quickly: “I have a shirt on underneath.”

She immediately felt a bit forward. Everyone thought she was a man; asking a female guest to wear her clothes… it felt a bit like harassment. She wanted to take it back.

But He Huaiting spoke first: “Okay.”

She looked up at Rong Yu, her golden eyes like tulips dusted with gold powder—aloof yet profound. “Thank you.”

Rong Yu had been worried about He Huaiting being uncomfortable, but under that gaze, she felt like she was the one with the problem. Just being bathed in He Huaiting’s sight made her feel clumsy and restless. Rong Yu reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it up over her head.

Her movements were quick, but the friction pulled the underlying shirt up with it, revealing a slender, tight waist and a sexy “mermaid line.” Her flat stomach tightened with nervousness, rising and falling with her shallow breaths. Her pale, smooth skin glowed under the intense noon light, looking like a lush oil painting.

He Huaiting hadn’t thought much of it, but at this moment… she couldn’t help but stare at the exposed waist.

As the sweater came off, the shirt fell back down, covering the white skin once more. He Huaiting’s eyelid flickered, and she uncomfortably looked away.

For some reason, she suddenly thought of the Mermaid Princess she had encountered years ago in a deep-sea dungeon. The princess used ethereal, decadent songs to lure players disguised as sailors. In that world where sirens were the ultimate power, almost no one could escape her lure. Players would fall into the Abyss, searching for her, only to be torn to shreds by her monsters.

The monsters in that dungeon—the most powerful of their kind—were willing to be her captives in the underwater palace, offering the princess their highest loyalty and glory. Generations of players had left their bones to pave the temple floor.

Before she had cleaved the throne, she had locked eyes with that princess. Tens of thousands of sirens had roared to stop her. The frail mermaid, possessing no combat power but peerless beauty, could only vanish into ash under her cold blade. No player had ever guessed the key to breaking the dungeon lay beneath the throne guarded by the blue-tailed princess.

In her final moments, those blue eyes—darkened by the eerie depths—were still trying to seduce her. If that princess had been Rong Yu…

He Huaiting actually pondered the possibility, then felt surprised that she would even consider such a thing.

The chat was going wild:

【AHHH I saw Yubao’s tummy!】

【Okay, okay, hubby, stop stripping! Taking off clothes in public? Just wait until we get home tonight.】

【Holy crap, the mermaid line!! So sexy.】

【Why do I get ‘Female Alpha / Male Omega’ vibes?! He Huaiting is actually a bit taller than Rong Yu.】

【I’ve been wanting to say this! Pretty Boy x Cool Big Sister is the best ship!! Yubao is so submissive right now, pinned against the cabinets by his wife, hehehe.】

When Rong Yu handed over the sweater, He Huaiting pulled it on and reached behind her neck to shake out her long white hair. White usually represents purity, but on He Huaiting, it felt sharp and dangerous. She looked at Rong Yu like a silver leopard that had temporarily tucked away its claws.

“Thank you. It fits well.” Her voice was even colder than usual.

Cold, silent, yet responsive to her. This was the personality of the teenage Lian Langsheng. Even the aura was identical.

The same sweater looked like a “soft boy” outfit on Rong Yu, but on He Huaiting, it became “minimalist, high-fashion coldness.”

Rong Yu’s face heated up again. She turned away quickly to get back to cooking.

“Put this on.”

He Huaiting’s voice was right at her ear, her warm breath grazing the tip of her ear. Rong Yu’s heart skipped. She looked up to see He Huaiting holding an apron. She pulled it over Rong Yu’s head, then reached around her waist with both hands to grab the ties.

From a distance, it looked like He Huaiting was hugging her from behind.

This distance forced Rong Yu close to He Huaiting’s neck. She could see the faint blue veins beneath the skin, and lower down, the sweater that she herself had just been wearing.

Rong Yu felt like she was burning up. The chat was just as excited:

【AHHH why is it so hot in here?! Who’s getting ‘thirsty’? Oh, it’s me.】

【They’re flirting!! AHHH!】

【Does anyone remember Sister Shuiqing is just outside? One door away from a ‘Netorare’ scene! Are we part of their play?】

Once the apron was tied, Rong Yu went back to work. She made a platter of raw-marinated shrimp, a plate of crispy fried crab and fish fry, and grilled fish. Then, she divided the tentacle into three parts: one for raw marinating, one for deep frying, and one for a special technique. She sliced the tentacle into triangular pieces, arranged them on a slotted spoon to look like a milky-white flower, and poured boiling water over the center until the meat curled like petals, turning into a pink “peony.”

Then, she took a bundle of noodles, cut them to size, dipped the ends in batter, and deep-fried them. The noodles bloomed like golden fireworks. She placed the blanched tentacle “peony” on top. It was a masterpiece.

The chat was stunned:

【???? Is this a state banquet?】

【Bro, I thought you were here for a dating show, but you’re here to flex your culinary skills.】

【I declare Yubao the winner. Is there any dish more impressive?】

【Yes, the one in Lin Mengxing’s kitchen—the dish of ‘Nothingness.’ They have zero progress.】

Indeed, Qin Wenhan and Lin Mengxing had made zero progress on the food. But they had made plenty of progress on arguing.

Qin Wenhan looked at the other groups working and sneered at Lin Mengxing: “As a woman, you can’t even cook.”

Lin Mengxing sneered back: “Who decided that gender determines a task? Women in your world have to be ‘virtuous wives’? Then what do men do—act as mascots?”

“I’ve never seen a woman as ‘unfeminine’ as you,” Qin Wenhan hissed.

“Oh ho~” Lin Mengxing laughed, narrowing her eyes. “Right, right. I’m not like a woman. You’re like a man, a mascot. You’re so handsome, it’d be a waste not to use that face. I’ve already found a plan: you go on Xianyu (a second-hand app) and list yourself as a ‘Rent-a-Boyfriend.’ 20 yuan an hour. If one person rents you for two hours, we have enough for lunch.”

Qin Wenhan’s veins were bulging. “Lin. Meng. Xing!”

At 1:00 PM, Host Zhang Yongan announced it was time to inspect the results.

Ten minutes later, the four pairs stood behind a ten-meter table. Each had their dishes covered by a large lid.

Zhang Yongan started with Lin Mengxing and Qin Wenhan. When the lid was lifted, the plate was completely empty. Lin Mengxing just smiled confidently.

Zhang Yongan looked at the empty plate and nodded soulfully: “Mmm! Excellent. The Emperor’s New Lunch.”

Then he moved to Rong Yu and the others. When the lids were lifted, five exquisite dishes were revealed. The “Fireworks Peony” stole the show.

“Let me tell everyone,” Zhang said to the camera, “these were all cooked by Rong Yu.”

Mu Shuiqing looked down shyly. “The two plates on the left were for me; I like seafood. The three octopus plates belong to He Huaiting. I don’t eat things that look… unappealing.”

He Huaiting raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Finally, He Jiao stepped forward and lifted her own lid. Inside were three dishes that smelled mouth-watering: “Steamed Bird’s Nest,” “Braised Rabbit,” and “Soft-shell Turtle Dog Meat.”

These ingredients were impossible to find in the wild.

He Jiao spoke calmly: “I made a deal with the villa owner. I provided them with several business strategies, and they helped me make this meal. This was cooked by the head chef of Qinghe Villa; I didn’t lift a finger.”

The chat was blown away. When they searched her background, they discovered she was the daughter of two financial geniuses—titans of the investment world.

Rong Yu, watching the chat turn into a praise-fest for He Jiao, felt a sense of pride. He Jiao’s background had shades of Lian Langsheng, who had reclaimed her family’s assets against all odds.

Suddenly, He Jiao turned and glared at her again.

“But these three dishes aren’t called by those names,” she said, pointing a slender finger at the plates. “This one is called ‘The Birds are Gone and the Grain is Exhausted.’ The other two are called ‘Culling the Rabbit and Cooking the Dog’ (referring to discarding a tool once the job is done).”

She smiled coldly at Rong Yu: “Miss Lin said she had no partner, so she didn’t cook. I have one, but it’s not Sheng Ming.”

Her light blue eyes locked onto Rong Yu. “These three dishes are for Mr. Rong.”

The entire scene froze.

【WTF WTF WTF, what is happening??】

【Let me tell you, sisters, there is a specific term for this—it’s a Battlefield of Jealousy.】