Chapter 27.1

Since the production team had reserved the entire venue, other fans who had learned about the filming location through private channels were forced to gather outside the shop. Seeing Wen Min being hugged by that person, they erupted into excited screams.

“Ahhh—”

“They’re hugging!!!”

“The ‘Si-Wen’ CP shippers are feasting today, ahhhh!!”

The coffee shop’s soundproofing was excellent. Wen Min could see the fans outside frantically and excitedly raising their phones to take photos, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. She stood frozen in place, caught off guard. Judging by the tone, it must be an acquaintance. Regardless of the specific relationship, a universal greeting was always the safest bet:

“How have you… been lately?”

She intended it as a polite pleasantry, but the person replied: “Not good!”

The voice was right next to her ear. Wen Min turned her head and happened to notice a tiny tattoo behind the person’s ear.

Thinking she had touched a sore spot, she asked worriedly, “What happened?”

Just as she was about to offer comfort, the person grabbed her shoulders, ended the hug, and looked playfully into Wen Min’s eyes, stating bluntly: “Because I couldn’t see you.”

“…”

What kind of cheesy pickup line is that? It’s giving me goosebumps.

It was only then that Wen Min saw her face clearly—it was Si Ying. The original host’s Alpha friend.

Si Ying smiled at her, making a harmless threat: “If I find someone I like, I won’t let you have them, okay?”

“Okay.”

Wen Min had thought Si Ying might be cut from the same cloth as the original host, but seeing her straightforward manner, it seemed she was just an uninhibited, goofy person. The original host’s scandalous past… she probably doesn’t know about it, right?

When they reached the round table for filming, Wen Min realized three people were already seated. She was the third-to-last to arrive. Fortunately, Yu Shu Tao had briefed her on their backgrounds earlier, so she came prepared.

Seeing Wen Min approach, they all stood up and greeted her politely: “Hello, Sister Wen Min.”

Their well-behaved, waiting manner formed a sharp contrast to Si Ying’s “wait-and-ambush” surprise, making Wen Min further appreciate Si Ying’s professional maturity. Back when Wen Min was a supporting actress, she also consciously kept quiet and tried to minimize her presence. Highlighting the lead was her primary role.

Thinking this, she felt she understood them well. She offered a friendly smile, like an approachable senior with no airs. “No need to be so formal, just call me Wen Min.”

A fair-looking Omega proactively shifted to the side. She was already sitting on the edge and had left the center seat empty; Wen Min was almost worried she would be pushed out of the frame. Wen Min took note of her actions and joked at the right moment: “Don’t go any further out, or your manager will cry.”

The group hadn’t expected the usually cold unauthorized copyFilm Queen to crack a joke, especially one so blunt. They couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Hahaha…”

“Thank you.” At these words, the Omega’s face flushed slightly as she moved back toward the center and introduced herself: “My name is Zhuang Huiyi.”

Wen Min praised her sincerely: “I’ve seen your stage performances, you’re very talented.” She had watched them on the way to the set.

Huiyi was an idol from a currently popular girl group—the top-ranked member in singing and dancing. She represented the group’s highest standard. Based on Wen Min’s experience in the industry, she expected someone like that to be very dominant in person, but Zhuang Huiyi turned out to be a “sweet bean” type. This contrast would likely attract many fans.

Zhuang Huiyi smiled slightly, two rosy circles appearing on her cheeks. “Thank you. I’ve seen your work as well.”

Then, a tall, thin boy proactively took over the conversation. “Hello, Sister Wen Min, I’m Jiang Yun.”

“Hello.”

According to Yu Shu Tao’s info, he was an idol who acted in romance dramas. He was the least famous among them but still had some renown in the industry. The boy had pale skin and incredibly long eyelashes; he looked like an Omega who Alphas would want to protect.

Si Ying walked back to the table, led Wen Min to the center seat, and sat her down. Everyone else followed suit. She glanced at Jiang Yun with a sharp look and teased Wen Min: “Don’t fall for him, okay? He’s not an Omega.” He was just a weak Alpha who looked like an Omega.

Wen Min smiled but didn’t speak. As soon as she sat down, a staff member walked up to her and handed her a drink menu. “What would you like to drink?”

Wen Min scanned it briefly and ordered a signature coffee. “This one, please.”

“One moment, please.”

Wen Min then noticed one person hadn’t spoken at all. She looked at him, and he looked back, only reacting when their eyes met. He bowed slightly. “I’m Song Xi.”

“Hello.” He was also an actor, appearing to be the quiet type. With Si Ying around, the atmosphere wouldn’t get cold, and they began chatting about other things. Soon, the waiter placed the coffee on the table in front of Wen Min. She had just taken two sips when another artist arrived at the set.

A gentle, moving voice sounded behind Wen Min: “Hello, everyone.”

At that moment, everyone looked toward her. The cameraman locked onto the lens, giving her a full-body close-up. The woman wore an apricot floral dress and behaved very gently. Her eyes were dazzling—one glance was enough to last ten thousand years. She was like the legendary “school beauty” from one’s student days, someone who made hearts flutter while simultaneously making others feel inferior because of her brilliance.

Wen Min put down her cup, quickly stood up, turned around, and bowed very politely. “Hello.”

Si Ying reacted much more nimbly. To put it bluntly, she seemed better at creating highlights for the show. She walked quickly to the artist’s side, proactively extended her hand as if paying court, and smiled: “Hello.” This action made it seem like she had already stepped into her role in the dating show, proactively extending an olive branch to her person of interest, making Wen Min look a bit stiff and clumsy by comparison.

The other juniors stayed in their seats like Wen Min. Perhaps due to the hierarchy of fame, they didn’t dare to be as proactive as Si Ying in creating content. The more you say, the more you might get wrong; it was better to leave the “showmanship” to the experienced ones.

The woman smiled faintly. Her gaze skipped over Si Ying and landed meaningfully on Wen Min. Only then did she lightly shake Si Ying’s hand and introduce herself softly: “My name is Yin Rou.”

The smile in Si Ying’s eyes deepened. “I know.” Truthfully, anyone filming with someone of Wen Min’s stature wouldn’t have low commercial value; it would be hard not to know her. In the film industry, though Yin Rou was young, her seniority rivaled some veterans. She had won several heavy-weight awards and was highly recognized for her acting by both insiders and the public.

Si Ying made a “please” gesture, leading her to the seat next to hers. “Sit anywhere.”

Yin Rou looked at the others who didn’t dare to come forward. Her Read on BaiLianTales smile gave them a bit of courage to speak. “Hello, everyone.” The group looked at her with fascination, only reacting after a moment. “Hello.”

Yin Rou was not socially inept. There weren’t many empty seats left, mostly concentrated in the center. She felt it was inappropriate to sit right in the middle. Although Si Ying was enthusiastic, Wen Min didn’t seem to be ignoring her on purpose; she just seemed like a slow-burn type. Finally, Yin Rou sat down next to Wen Min and said, “Thank you.”

Si Ying didn’t show any dissatisfaction with this choice. She continued to lead the flow for Yin Rou: “Order whatever you like, the production team is paying.”

The waiter naturally handed the drink menu to Yin Rou.

“Okay.” Though she agreed, Yin Rou didn’t seem interested in looking at the menu. She looked at Wen Min’s coffee, offered a gentle smile, and reached out to pick up Wen Min’s cup. “Xiao Wen, is this one good?”

Hearing this, Si Ying shot Wen Min a look so complex she couldn’t immediately decipher its meaning. It seemed like she was teasing her, yet also happy that she had a chance to interact with the newcomer.

As Yin Rou leaned in, a faint plum blossom scent drifted into Wen Min’s nose. It smelled very soothing, reminiscent of the subtle fragrance in a mountain forest during early spring. Wen Min appeared calm on the surface, but her palms were actually sweating. She subtly moved back a bit to create distance. “It’s not bad.”

Hearing this, Yin Rou’s eyes curved. She glanced at the faint lip print Wen Min had left on the cup and smiled: “May I have a taste?”

Wen Min’s lips moved. Alphas and Omegas shouldn’t be so intimate. She wanted to refuse but couldn’t find a polite way to say it. “…”

Suddenly, a familiar, cool voice broke the awkwardness.

“I’m late.”

The moment the woman entered, the cameraman couldn’t wait to get close. The entire atmosphere changed. It [stolen content]became much hotter. Yin Rou frowned slightly, sizing up the newcomer. Off-camera, a flash of dissatisfaction at being interrupted passed through her beautiful eyes.

Shen Fu wore a halter dress that reached her knees, perfectly showcasing her neckline and shoulders. She had a great figure; her curves displayed feminine beauty to the fullest. It was an arrogant, overbearing beauty. Even if she stood still like a model without saying a word, she could make people yearn for her. Just one look could make someone a willing devotee.

Unlike when Wen Min saw her yesterday, she had highlights in her hair. Sharp silver-grey strands mixed with her natural black hair without looking gaudy; instead, it amplified the innate, untouchable nobility she radiated—like a flower on a high ridge that could only be viewed from afar.

She had heard the previous conversation. Pointing at the coffee in Yin Rou’s hand, she seemed to see only Wen Min. She looked at Wen Min, raised an eyebrow, and asked: “Yours?”

Wen Min felt herself falling into the depths of her gaze. Her throat felt dry, and her voice dropped an octave. “Mhm.”

Hearing this, Shen Fu snatched the coffee from Yin Rou’s hand and took several unceremonious sips. “Thanks.”

Before Yin Rou could react, Shen Fu made a move that left everyone speechless. She sat down next to Wen Min, which was also on the other side of Si Ying—the most conspicuous spot in the venue.

Even the cameraman hadn’t expected her to be so bold. In everyone’s eyes, the center spot belonged to either Wen Min or Si Ying. Their fame was roughly equal, and they should be the leads carrying the ratings. Now, the focus had been snatched by an unknown woman. Truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger. To be this “wild,” how big must her backing be?

The “backing” herself remained composed, ignoring the gazes of the others as if it were nothing. She placed the cup on the table and told the waiter: “It’s very good, I want a cup too.”

“Okay.”

“Wait.” The waiter stopped and turned around quickly, not daring to neglect her. “Do you need anything else?”

Shen Fu turned her head and looked at Yin Rou directly for the first time. The provocation ​bailiantales.com​in her eyes wasn’t obvious, but it was enough for Yin Rou to notice. She smiled: “Make it two cups. I’m sure Miss Yin will like this flavor too.”

Yin Rou’s smile became unnatural. “Mhm, thank you.” The moment the camera moved away from her face, her smile vanished.

Wen Min, beside her, was too nervous to look directly at Shen Fu, but she couldn’t help wanting to see her, so she restricted herself to tracing Shen Fu’s silhouette with her peripheral vision. She was actually the guest who joined at the last minute?!

Shen Fu didn’t notice Wen Min observing her secretly. She scanned the other guests and said succinctly: “Shen Fu.”

Everyone looked at each other. Seeing her “don’t-mess-with-me” attitude, even starting a conversation felt like a challenge. They could only offer a polite “Hello.” There was no further introduction; the group didn’t dare ask, and Shen Fu didn’t intend to say more. However, they all knew Shen Fu was the one on the hot search with Wen Min last night, and they began to wonder if there were some scandalous secrets between them.

The atmosphere became a bit awkward, except for Si Ying, who remained enthusiastic—even more excited than before. She leaned forward, resting one hand on her knee in a casual posture, and extended her other hand directly toward Shen Fu, smiling: “Si Ying.”

Seeing this, the others couldn’t help but gasp, ready to bail her out at any moment. Whether Shen Fu was naturally like this or it was a persona crafted by her agency, it seemed better not to talk to her easily, lest one become a tool to highlight her persona and end up in a cringeworthy situation.

Shen Fu looked at her indifferently with an arrogant air, leaving her hand hanging without any intention of shaking it. She gave a flat, “Mhm.”

Si Ying wasn’t annoyed; instead, a desire for conquest was ignited as she stared deeply at Shen Fu.

Just as the others were about to help say something, the waiter brought the coffee and placed it in front of each of them. “Your coffee, enjoy.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. To prevent the atmosphere from getting more stiff, the director began the official recording, using a megaphone to introduce the rules. “Everyone knows this is a dating show, right? Although there are seven of us…” She trailed off, looking at everyone as if keeping them in suspense, clearly wanting to increase interaction.

Si Ying was the first to grasp the director’s meaning. Her eyes burned with a desire to win. “But whoever grabs them gets them?”

Wen Min, with her “honest person” look, tilted her head in confusion and said quickly: “But our chances are equal?”

Yin Rou followed up, guessing: “Could there be a special reward for the person who ends up alone?”

While they were discussing fervently, Shen Fu suddenly said something that silenced the entire room: “It means we can have an open relationship.”

“…”