Chapter Eighty-One: The Plot Thickens Once More

Seeing Shen Jin approaching, Lu Wenchuan deliberately glanced at Sang Yijia’s reaction. Noticing that she didn’t spare even a glance in that direction, he wasn’t particularly surprised. After raising an eyebrow, Lu Wenchuan withdrew his gaze.

Just then, the elevator arrived.

Lan Qing pulled her suitcase forward. “Jiajia, what a coincidence.”

“Are you going to the fifteenth floor too?” Lan Qing wanted to probe, since the program team hadn’t explained anything, only handed out room cards and asked them to gather downstairs in half an hour.

Sang Yijia turned and looked at her. “Yes, the fifteenth floor.”

“Our room is 1508. How about yours?” Sang Yijia knew exactly what Lan Qing wanted to find out, so she simply laid everything out, sparing her from further questions.

Lan Qing’s lips twitched uncontrollably. “1518. Quite a coincidence.”

“We must be right across from each other,” Sang Yijia replied after a brief thought.

[What a fateful encounter.]
[Last time, at the country inn, Sang Yijia’s room was right above Shen Jin’s.]
[This is truly a marvelous coincidence.]

After entering the elevator, Sang Yijia purposefully stood to the side. Lu Wenchuan took his place next to her, Lan Qing stood beside him, and Shen Jin was on the other side.

With this arrangement, if they formed a circle, Sang Yijia and Shen Jin would end up together again.

Sang Yijia had deliberately chosen the edge, wanting to avoid standing next to Shen Jin, but hadn’t expected Lan Qing to move over.

Lu Wenchuan stood between the two women, staring straight ahead at the elevator doors.

[Why does the atmosphere feel so awkward?]
[Just watching this, I could dig myself a hole to hide in.]

For a few seconds, the elevator was silent; no one spoke or tried to break the quiet.

A soft chime announced their arrival.

Yan Ningsi and Bian He stood in front of the elevator doors, greeting the four of them. “Surprised? Didn’t expect this, did you?”

Sang Yijia nodded, considering it a pleasant surprise.

Lu Wenchuan showed no reaction at all.

Yan Ningsi shrugged, somewhat disappointed. “I’ve already received the afternoon’s task.”

“No need to gather downstairs later,” she said, waving the card in her hand with a bright smile. “I’ve seen the task—it’s quite interesting.”

“What is it?” Lan Qing asked, dragging her suitcase along and looking at the carpeted hallway. Previously, she’d thought this arrangement was ideal, but now, knowing Shen Jin could easily visit Sang Yijia without making a sound, she wasn’t so sure.

Not even a whisper of footsteps could be heard!

Yan Ningsi narrowed her eyes and grinned mischievously. “I’ll tell you once you’ve settled your luggage. There’s no hurry now.”

Shen Jin looked to Bian He, who shrugged helplessly and nodded toward Yan Ningsi. “She won’t show me.”

“I know nothing,” Yan Ningsi said with a sly wave. “What’s the rush? You’ll find out soon enough.”

Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan exchanged a glance, then silently wheeled their suitcases up to room 1508. Then, glancing across the hall, they saw room 1518—just as expected.

Lan Qing and Shen Jin followed, both taking it in at a glance.

Shen Jin clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, though too softly for anyone to notice.

“You really are fated,” Yan Ningsi remarked, glancing over. “Last time, Jiajia’s room was right above Shen Jin’s. Now you’re face-to-face.”

Lu Wenchuan shot her a look, causing Yan Ningsi to instantly fall silent and hide behind Bian He.

“Just a joke,” Bian He said with a smile, trying to ease the tension as Lu Wenchuan’s expression turned cold.

A beep sounded as the door unlocked.

Everyone’s attention shifted toward the source of the noise.

Lan Qing saw that Sang Yijia truly didn’t care about Shen Jin at all, which left her feeling uneasy. If not for Sang Yijia’s relentless pursuit, how could her and Shen Jin’s relationship have been so evident? Yet the moment she realized Sang Yijia had truly moved on, Lan Qing felt even more unsettled, and she couldn’t quite understand why.

“I’ll head in first.” As the door opened, Sang Yijia remembered what would happen next in the plot: a small competition testing each pair’s coordination and tacit understanding.

On the show, Lan Qing and Shen Jin naturally worked best together, earning the highest score. The original Sang Yijia grew more agitated at this result, scheming how to cause trouble for the female lead, Lan Qing.

In the end, after learning that Shen Jin and Lan Qing had won a luxury couple’s spa, jealousy consumed her. Secretly, she bribed a hotel staff member to lock Lan Qing in the changing room, planning to “accidentally” bump into Shen Jin and create a fateful encounter.

Unfortunately, her plan failed. Lan Qing had already guessed what she was up to and turned the tables on her.

Sang Yijia sighed deeply to herself. After this plot point, the original character would resort to hiring someone to kidnap the female lead and sell her overseas.

The crucial plot was approaching—a chance to change her fate—but Sang Yijia felt no happiness, only a heavy sense of dread.

The story’s original trajectory didn’t seem so simple or easy to escape.

“See you in a bit,” Lu Wenchuan called after her as she entered, glancing at Yan Ningsi as a gesture of courtesy.

Yan Ningsi’s eyes widened with surprise. She tugged at Bian He’s sleeve. “Brother Lu actually spoke to me! That’s rare!”

Bian He pulled his sleeve back. “You’re overthinking it. He was just being polite.”

Yan Ningsi snorted.

Meanwhile, Shen Jin and Lan Qing—who should have been the focus—were both gritting their teeth as they watched Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan walk away.

Shen Jin wondered what was so special about Lu Wenchuan. Sang Yijia wouldn’t even look at him now. This woman could change her heart at a moment’s notice without a trace of sentiment.

But…

As Shen Jin recalled Sang Yijia’s graceful figure, he licked his lips unconsciously. The kind of beauty who could say no—that was the most intriguing. Conquering her would bring a sense of accomplishment.

Lan Qing watched Sang Yijia for a moment, then noticed Shen Jin’s gaze fixed on her silhouette. Alarm bells rang in her mind, and she quickly said, “Shen Jin, let’s go in.”

“Alright,” Shen Jin replied, regaining his composure. After all, Lan Qing was the one who mattered most. Sang Yijia was just a wildflower by the roadside, a little treat before or after a meal—nothing of importance.

Yan Ningsi watched both pairs enter, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. When she saw the camera on her, she raised her lips in a smile and waved the task card. “Curious about the task? Not telling you.”

[Ahhhh, what’s the task?]
[I’m so curious!]
[Honestly, today’s episode feels a bit bland.]
[A little boring, actually.]
[If nothing interesting happens soon, I’m not watching anymore.]

Inside the suite, Lu Wenchuan gave up the room with the private bathroom. Sang Yijia carried her suitcase to her room, with the camera crew following for a quick shot.

[The room is quite spacious.]
[Of course it looks nice—they’re filming here.]

Suddenly, Sang Yijia’s phone began to ring.

“Excuse me, I have to take this call.” She saw it was her agent, Mo Yani. Frowning, she switched off her mic and stepped aside.

(#^.^#) Four chapters—aren’t they substantial?
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(End of this chapter)