After the texts were sent, the production team handed the male contestants their next mission card: [Gentlemen, tomorrow morning, please wake up early and head to the living room. On the coffee table, you will find a selection of gifts. Choose one, and you will go on a date with the person who prepared it.]
Chen Han remained calm and composed. Mu Fu hadn’t mentioned a word about this all day—she was good at keeping secrets. Meanwhile, the other two guys were eagerly guessing what kind of gifts their favorite contestants might have prepared.
On the women’s side, Cheng Cixin asked, “Have you all prepared your gifts? When are we supposed to drop them off?”
Ding Minqi grinned. “Yep! Let’s drop them off soon. The production team said we should place them before bed. If we wait until morning, the guys might wake up earlier than us, haha.” That was very likely. Mu Fu nodded. She was ready, too—it was time to place the gifts.
What they didn’t know was that after they left, the production team added an extra box among their gifts. Now, there were four gifts on the table.
……
Day 7 in the Love Cabin.
The sun was shining, the weather was perfect for a day out. The contestants were up early, getting ready for their dates.
Han Jin stared at the table. “Wait… why are there four boxes? Did someone prepare two gifts?”
Kang Jiadong shook his head. “Probably not. Maybe a fourth female contestant has joined.”
Oh? Han Jin looked intrigued, his eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. By now, both of them were used to Chen Han’s silence. After spending a week together, they had learned that he wasn’t one to share his thoughts easily.
Chen Han’s presence was so cold and distant that the others rarely dared to get too close—they were afraid they’d freeze just from standing near him. But when it came to Mu Fu, he was surprisingly talkative—and even a little proactive.
The guys carefully opened the four boxes, revealing: a lipstick and a scented fragrance, a wristwatch, a cute collectible figurine, and a stylish denim jacket—perfect for this season, neither too warm nor too cool.
Just then, a staff member spoke up. “The extra gift belongs to a new female contestant. Each of you can only pick one gift. The contestant whose gift remains unchosen will have to stay in the house today and won’t go on a date.”
So there was a new contestant after all. But leaving the last girl alone in the house? That seemed a little cruel.
The moment Chen Han spotted the lipstick, he had a feeling it belonged to Mu Fu. To confirm his hunch, he picked up the fragrance bottle and took a light sniff. It smelled just like her. Now, he was certain—this was Mu Fu’s gift.
Han Jin asked, “Who’s picking first?”
Kang Jiadong suggested, “Let’s decide with rock-paper-scissors.”
Chen Han nodded silently, showing no objections.
They played a quick round. Kang Jiadong won first, so he got to pick first. In the second round, Chen Han beat Han Jin, so he went second. That left Han Jin to pick last, choosing between the remaining two gifts.
Kang Jiadong examined the options carefully before selecting the figurine. He guessed it was from Ding Minqi, since they both liked the same anime character.
When it was Chen Han’s turn, he didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and took the box with the fragrance—no second thoughts.
Now, only the wristwatch and the denim jacket remained. Han Jin hesitated. Both seemed like something Cheng Cixin would pick, making his decision even harder.
After thinking it over, he finally settled on the denim jacket. He remembered that Cheng Cixin had worn a similar one before—so the odds were high that she had picked this one.
This time, the female contestants were the ones waiting in the cars while the men brought over their chosen gifts. Unlike the others, who sat there nervously, Mu Fu felt completely at ease. She knew Chen Han would recognize which gift was hers.
A sudden knock on the car window startled her. She quickly rolled it down. Her pupils contracted slightly as Chen Han’s ethereal, impossibly handsome face appeared before her—so unexpectedly close that her breath caught in her throat. Her heart slammed against her chest, its wild rhythm completely out of control. The heat rising from her own body flushed her cheeks a deep shade of red. She really wanted to do something to him.
Trying to suppress the rush of emotions, she shyly whispered, “You’re here.”
Chen Han’s lips curled into a soft smile. “Mm. Did you guess it would be me?”
“Of course. Mine was way too obvious. I knew you’d figure it out.”
He chuckled, a deep, melodic sound that slipped into her ears and sent shivers through her body.
Unable to control herself, Mu Fu instinctively leaned closer to the car door, pressing her hands against the window frame as she buried her face in the space between her arms. Her entire body felt tingly and weak, overwhelmed by the moment. She couldn’t let him see her like this.
Chen Han’s gaze softened as he took in her delicate, bashful expression. He couldn’t resist—he reached out and gently wrapped his hand around hers, which was still gripping the window edge. His thumb brushed against her skin, lingering for a moment. Her hands were small, soft, and impossibly smooth, each finger perfectly shaped, making it impossible for him not to want to hold them.
Mu Fu didn’t pull away. Instead, she lowered her head even further, as if she wanted to disappear into the seat.
Chen Han exhaled quietly, forcing himself to let go after a moment. Not now. Too many eyes were watching. And besides, they still had a date to go on.
Chen Han slid into the driver’s seat and turned his head slightly, his voice warm and gentle. “So, where are we headed today?”
“You’ll find out. Just follow the GPS,” Mu Fu teased.
“Alright then,” he chuckled, his voice carrying a trace of amusement.
When they finally arrived, Chen Han realized she had brought him to a DIY craft shop, where people could make handmade soaps and ceramics. Mu Fu had specifically chosen this place—not just for the fun of it, but because it gave her plenty of opportunities for “accidental” physical contact.
Since arriving at the Love Cabin, they had only held hands twice—and the second time had been just moments ago. That was unacceptable. So, Mu Fu had strategically planned this date. While making ceramics, she could sneakily touch his hands, and he wouldn’t suspect a thing. Hehe.
If Chen Han knew what was going through her mind, he would have protested his innocence on the spot. He had been holding back for her sake. After all, he was the one who had fallen for her at first sight—his emotions had surged in like a tidal wave, overwhelming and hard to suppress.
But to Mu Fu, he was still just a guy she had only known for a few days. At best, she had a slight fondness for him. That was why he had been carefully pacing himself, slowly giving her time to warm up to him. Taking advantage of her just wasn’t his style—he wouldn’t stoop to sneaky little tricks like that.
That said, he actually thought this DIY shop was a great choice. If Mu Fu struggled with the ceramics, he could step in and teach her. It seemed they were on the same wavelength.
Making soap turned out to be pretty simple. As long as they kept an eye on the temperature and stirred consistently, all they had to do after that was let it cool and set.
Chen Han made a deep red, rose-shaped soap, while Mu Fu crafted an adorable pastel pink soap in the shape of a cat’s paw. But now, they were moving on to the real challenge—ceramics.
Chen Han decided to make a small, elegant vase—something he could gift to Mu Fu. That way, she could keep it on her desk, put some flowers or greenery inside, and see his vase every time she worked.
Mu Fu had originally planned to make something similar, but she had overestimated her skills.
Seeing her struggle, Chen Han stepped in to guide her, hands-on. His hands rested gently on the backs of hers, guiding her through each step as he explained how much pressure to use and when. At the same time, he demonstrated the force needed, allowing Mu Fu to feel the difference through his grip.
With his patient instruction, Mu Fu eventually managed to make a simple cup—just barely. The moment she succeeded, a brilliant smile spread across her face, her joy uncontainable. Her smile was as radiant as a blooming rose.
When their pieces were finally fired and finished, they turned out surprisingly decent—for beginners, at least. Mu Fu carefully wrapped up her cup and soap, then held them out to Chen Han. “This is for you,” she said. “It might not be the best for drinking, but you can use it as a decorative piece. Oh, and the soap is yours too.” She looked expectantly at his vase and soap, clearly hinting at a trade.
Chen Han understood immediately. “I’ll give you mine too,” he said, handing over his vase and soap in return.
Mu Fu’s lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes shimmering with quiet happiness. The exchange felt like more than just a simple gift swap—it was almost like exchanging keepsakes.
Mu Fu carefully examined the vase Chen Han had made. It was delicate, smooth, and flawlessly shaped, its translucent white glaze gleaming under the light. Compared to it, her cup didn’t even come close.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, their friends’ double date was unfolding with plenty of excitement as well…
……
Outside the small villa, the three female contestants were already seated in their designated cars, waiting for the male contestants to arrive. One by one, the cars drove off with their respective pairs, until finally, only Cheng Cixin’s car remained—empty. She waited. And waited. Yet, no one came.
After what felt like an eternity, she couldn’t hold back her frustration and asked a staff member what was going on. That was when the production team finally informed her—since no one had chosen her gift, she wouldn’t be going on a date today.
Cheng Cixin froze, struggling to process the words. She had woken up early, spent hours getting ready, carefully picking out her outfit and makeup—all for this? She simply couldn’t accept it.
“All three male contestants already have partners?” she asked.
The staff confirmed, “Yes.”
At that moment, she understood everything—there was a new female contestant. Fury surged within her. She yanked the car door open, stepped out, and slammed it shut with force. Her face darkened with anger as she stormed back toward the villa.
……
Kang Jiadong walked up to his designated car, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation. When he saw that the woman inside was Ding Minqi, relief washed over him. He had made the right choice.
Ding Minqi took him to a comic convention she had always wanted to attend but had never gone to alone—their day was filled with laughter and excitement.
……
The moment Han Jin stepped out of the villa, production staff immediately directed him to a car. But when he got inside, he noticed—it was completely empty.
Following the team’s instructions, he drove to a beautifully decorated restaurant. Before stepping out, he took a moment to adjust his suit, straightened his posture, and then walked through the grand entrance.
Inside, his date had been waiting for a while. She wore a deep burgundy dress, her hair styled in elegant waves that cascaded over her shoulders. Her presence was both refined and striking, exuding a mix of sophistication and allure.
Han Jin took one look at her and immediately knew—she was the new contestant. This also meant that the person left behind at the villa was likely Cheng Cixin. As for Kang Jiadong’s date—Han Jin still had no idea who it was.
He took a step forward and extended his right hand. “Hello, I’m Han Jin.”
The new female contestant reached out and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Qi Yali.” Her voice was pleasant and melodious, carrying a sense of maturity and sophistication. And indeed, she exuded an aura of intelligence, independence, and self-assurance.
“Have a seat,” Qi Yali said, motioning to the chair across from her with a slight wave of her hand. Her presence was undeniably commanding, the kind that belonged to someone accustomed to leadership. Without realizing it, Han Jin followed her instructions without hesitation.
He was the first to break the silence. “I wasn’t expecting a new contestant to join us.”
Qi Yali arched an eyebrow. “Are you not happy that I’m here? Do you already have someone you like?”
Han Jin immediately shook his head. “No, no—nothing like that.” Though even he wasn’t sure which part he was denying.
They spent some time introducing themselves. Qi Yali was 29 years old and a senior executive at a publicly traded company. It was clear that she came from a privileged background—after all, a woman with this level of confidence and presence was not raised without significant support and resources.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, with Han Jin taking the lead in introducing her to the dynamics of the house. By the time they finished their meal, both had thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.
……
When Ding Minqi and Kang Jiadong returned to the villa, they were surprised to find only Cheng Cixin inside. Curious, Ding Minqi asked, “Who did you go on a date with? You’re back so early.”
Cheng Cixin’s expression darkened. “I didn’t go on a date. I was here the whole time.”
A brief silence followed. Ding Minqi and Kang Jiadong exchanged glances. Kang Jiadong immediately pieced it together—Han Jin must have gone on a date with the new contestant.
But Ding Minqi was still in the dark. She had no idea there was an extra gift in the selection process, because Kang Jiadong had completely forgotten to mention it during their outing. She frowned. “What happened?”
Kang Jiadong hesitated for a second before saying, “It looks like a new female contestant has joined the show.”
“!!”
Ding Minqi didn’t know what to say. She wanted to comfort Cheng Cixin, but saying too much might come off as bragging. Sensing the awkwardness, Kang Jiadong stepped in.
“Why don’t you go put your things away first? You must be tired.”
Ding Minqi quickly nodded. “Yeah… Cixin, I’ll head up first.”
Cheng Cixin forced a small smile. “Alright, Sister Minqi, go ahead.”
As soon as they disappeared upstairs, Cheng Cixin picked up a book and started flipping through it absentmindedly. But it was obvious to anyone watching—her mind was elsewhere.
Axolotl Translations 
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