For once, Shen Wanwan shook her head.
“No charge.”
Those three calm words made everyone present turn to stare at her.
Noticing everyone’s reaction, Shen Wanwan laughed.
“Is your reaction really that exaggerated?”
“It is.”
Zhang Yiran looked up at the now-dark sky and joked, “I thought it was more likely to rain blood than for you to suddenly be this kind-hearted!”
Shen Wanwan smiled too.
“Mm. Just give me any prop card.”
The guests had no idea about the prerequisite for creating a Fusion Card.
Only the viewers in the livestream knew the truth, and the chat instantly understood.
[So that’s why Wanwan wanted them!]
[HAHAHA, I knew it! There’s no way Wanwan would pass up such an easy chance to make money!]
It was just a prop card.
Everyone had one.
And Shen Wanwan hadn’t even specified which card she wanted.
Zhang Yiran immediately nodded.
“Deal! No take-backs! Anyone who changes their mind is a puppy!”
The smile on Shen Wanwan’s lips widened.
“Sure.”
He quickly handed over his item card, then urged everyone else to do the same.
“Come on, hurry up and hand them over! Once you’ve paid, she can’t back out!”
The livestream audience was laughing themselves silly.
[This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone dig a hole for themselves! Zhang Yiran, you’re seriously too funny!]
[HAHAHA, actually Wanwan was probably the one worried they’d change their minds!]
[It’s a win-win for everyone this time! Hahaha!]
Soon, everyone came over and handed in their cards.
Qi Luozhou guessed she had a use for the prop cards, so he simply went along with it and handed his over as well.
Holding all seven cards, Shen Wanwan happily passed them to the director.
“Fuse a Designated Team Swap Card.
“Swap Zhang Song and Shao Yuye.”
The chat exploded.
[AHHHH! ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ has reunited at last!!]
[When Wanwan steps in, everything gets solved! Reliable little sister for the win!]
[Brother Ye, having a sister like this is truly your greatest blessing…]
For any other guest, collecting enough cards would have required endless scheming.
For her, it had been ridiculously easy.
The director looked both helpless and depressed as he reluctantly announced,
“Shen Wanwan has used the Team Swap Card! Next—
“Shen Wanwan and Shao Yuye are now a team!
“Zhang Song and Bai Ling are now a team!”
Everything happened so quickly that most people couldn’t process it.
Zhang Yiran stared with his mouth hanging open.
“So that’s why you’ve been so nice today! I thought the sun had risen in the west, but it turns out you were planning this all along!”
Shen Wanwan lowered her eyes and replied quietly, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
Zhang Yiran: …Damn it!
She’d managed to look cool again!
Everyone at the scene was smiling.
Everyone except Bai Ling.
She had a smile on her face too, but it was painfully stiff.
Although Zhang Song now seemed unusually well-behaved and spoke with impeccable manners, “Miss Bai Ling, please take good care of me from now on!”
“…”
Yet looking at the smile curling at the corners of his lips, Bai Ling couldn’t explain why…
She just had a feeling… the real hell… was only just beginning.
Shao Yuye swaggered back to Shen Wanwan’s side.
“Ha! I knew my little sister would come through!”
The gloomy mood he’d been carrying around all day finally disappeared.
Standing proudly beside Shen Wanwan with his back straight, he looked exactly like a peacock showing off its feathers, sending the livestream chat into another fit of laughter.
[Brother Ye, maybe tone it down a little? If you had a tail it’d probably be wagging all the way into the sky right now!]
[HAHAHA! Brother Ye: Little sister, save me. Wanwan: Already on it! There, finally fished you out!]
[I’m so happy! ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ is back together! I officially declare the sibling duo the strongest pairing!]
That concluded the day’s livestream.
#’Petty Revenge Duo’ Reunited# quickly shot to the top of the trending charts.
Everyone commented:
[This sibling bond where they always have each other’s backs… I’m totally shipping it!]
After the livestream ended, it was finally the guests’ own free time.
One by one, everyone lined up to use the hot shower in Shen Wanwan and Zhang Song’s room.
The island became much colder at night, but thanks to the newly installed fireplace, both rooms were pleasantly warm.
Shen Wanwan disliked noisy crowds, so she told everyone to queue up at Zhang Song’s room instead.
Although Shao Yuye and Zhang Song had switched teams, the equipment in the rooms hadn’t been changed.
After showering alone, Shen Wanwan spent a while reading the news.
Then her phone chimed.
A message from Qi Luozhou appeared.
[Are you in your room?]
She picked up her phone and replied: [Yes.]
Then she got up and walked toward the door.
Just as she reached it, someone knocked politely.
Three simple knocks.
No more, no less.
She opened the door.
The man who had just texted her was standing outside, smiling quietly.
The warm lights in the villa’s hallway outlined his figure with a soft golden glow, as though his entire silhouette had been brushed with light.
Their eyes met in silent understanding.
Neither of them spoke.
She stepped aside to let him in.
Qi Luozhou entered the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
Only after the door had shut did she ask, “What are you here for?”
Qi Luozhou smiled.
“Help me rehearse a script?”
Shen Wanwan glanced at his empty hands.
“Where’s the script?”
With a perfectly serious face, he answered, “I forgot to bring it.”
Shen Wanwan clicked her tongue.
“What a terrible excuse.”
In the past, if someone had wasted even thirty seconds of her time with something like this, she would have thrown them right out.
But now… she found it amusing.
Looking at him with obvious interest, she teased, “Couldn’t you at least come up with a better excuse?
“You didn’t even bother trying to make it convincing.”
“…Do I have to come up with an excuse just to see you?”
He even had the nerve to play the victim first.
Shen Wanwan raised an eyebrow, her tone light.
“I’d say you’re lucky I didn’t make you file a report.”
Only after she spoke did she realize his gaze had been fixed on the hand she was resting on the bed.
Qi Luozhou had noticed long ago how unusually bare her hand was. Now, at last, he had the chance to ask.
“You’re not wearing the ring?”
“What do you mean, not wearing it?”
Shen Wanwan held up her slender, fair fingers in front of him.
There was clearly nothing on them, yet she gently tilted her hand beneath the light.
“It’s sparkling.
“Can’t you see it?”
Her long, delicate fingers were graceful and elegant.
Qi Luozhou stared at her rosy fingertips and said softly,
“They’re beautiful.”
It was impossible to tell whether he meant the nonexistent ring or her fingers.
Shen Wanwan laughed quietly and lowered her chin.
She simply tilted her head and looked at him in silence.
And he looked back at her the same way.
The room fell into a tender, intimate silence.
Without a word, his fingertips slowly advanced across hers, tapping lightly as they went, inch by inch, like an army steadily conquering territory, until they finally stopped in the center of her palm.
The barely-there contact sent an unfamiliar tingling sensation through her.
Her long lashes trembled as she watched him idly take her hand into his and play with it.
—What kind of strange hobby is this?
She chuckled. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Qi Luozhou suddenly produced a small cutout card.
Its center had been carefully cut into the shape of a ring.
A broad shadow fell across her hand, but the bright ring-shaped opening in the middle landed perfectly on her middle finger.
Shen Wanwan froze.
Her lashes lowered as she stared fixedly at the “ring” on her finger.
Over the years, she had seen countless treasures. She had worn priceless jewelry and every sort of luxurious accessory.
But they had all been just ornaments.
Something as unique as this…
This was the first time.
One day, she might forget that pink diamond.
She might forget every other expensive, dazzling piece she’d ever owned.
But she would never forget this ring.
…Because it was simply too unique.
Instinctively, she drew her hand back a little.
Qi Luozhou tightened his grip.
“Are you cold?”
Shen Wanwan didn’t answer. She simply shook her head.
His hands were warmer than hers.
As her fingertips rested against his palm, his warmth slowly seeped into them.
There was already a fireplace in the room, making it comfortably warm.
Yet somehow, the warmth from his hand felt… incredibly comforting.
Looking at the ring traced by light upon her finger, she felt her heart flutter.
Without letting it show, she took two slow, steady breaths.
Then, as though suddenly remembering something, she burst into laughter, completely ruining the atmosphere.
“Qi Luozhou.
“…Don’t tell me you grabbed the lamp first just for this?”
The room was quiet.
The man beside her wore the same easy smile he always did.
Just as Shen Wanwan turned her face away, she heard his low, husky voice.
“Yeah.”
His smile seemed casual, but his words carried unmistakable certainty.
“It was entirely for selfish reasons.
“The conditions here are rough, so I’ll have to trouble my little fiancée to make do with this.”
It was the first time he had admitted it outright.
Shen Wanwan had thought he’d keep pretending a while longer.
But there was no denying it.
His words pleased her completely.
Her mood instantly brightened.
She reached over, took the little cutout card from his hand, and tucked it away.
The corners of her lips curved upward.
“The craftsmanship is pretty mediocre… but I’ll reluctantly accept it.”
Qi Luozhou smiled cooperatively, his eyes curving.
“Thank you.”
She leaned in on her own and kissed him.
This time, she kissed his lips.
Unlike before, they were warm.
Her lips barely brushed against his before pulling away, but Qi Luozhou took the opportunity to draw her into his arms.
The distance between them disappeared in an instant.
His fingertips lightly brushed across her cheek.
The feather-light touch made her skin tingle.
Her body grew a little tense as she watched him gently tuck the loose strands of hair beside her face behind her ear.
As he did, his fingertips accidentally grazed her earlobe.
The spot immediately grew hot.
Shen Wanwan pushed at him.
He didn’t budge.
A shadow soon fell over her as his lips met hers, carrying a warmth as intense as fire.
He kissed her gently at first, then more deeply, lingering over her lips.
Shen Wanwan clutched at his clothes with both hands, letting him steal one soft kiss after another.
…Until she let her guard down.
By then, his lips were already damp, and his tongue deftly slipped past her parted teeth.
Unlike before, when he had patiently coaxed her into taking the initiative, this kiss was possessive, an unmistakable declaration that she was his.
Shen Wanwan let out two muffled sounds of protest, but every complaint was swallowed by his kiss.
Refusing to admit defeat, she pushed him away and pinched his lean waist.
Qi Luozhou laughed softly, catching her hand.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice had turned hoarse.
“When are we going to tell him about our relationship?”