Mu Fu slept through the entire movie. When Chen Han gently woke her, she was still half-dreaming, her mind lingering in the hazy scenes of her slumber.
“Huh? It’s over already?” she murmured groggily. Then, realizing what had happened, she sat up in embarrassment. “Oh no, I’m so sorry! I really wanted to watch the movie with you, but I got too sleepy. I thought I’d just rest my eyes for a second… I didn’t even notice when I dozed off.” Her gaze flickered to the screen, now showing ending credits and advertisements, confirming she’d missed the entire film.
A wave of guilt washed over her. They had come to watch a movie together, yet she’d slept through the whole thing. Would Chen Han think she wasn’t taking this seriously? Would he feel ignored or upset?
Chen Han could tell exactly what she was thinking from the look on her face. This silly little bunny—so pure, so transparent, and just a bit clueless. She was like a mirror, her emotions laid bare for all to see.
Chen Han smiled softly. “Yeah, it’s over. Lucky for you, you didn’t miss much. The movie wasn’t that great.” Then, as if reading her mind, he added, “But if you really want to watch it, I’ll take you to see it again next time.”
Truthfully, the movie had been quite good. The plot wasn’t overly dramatic, and there had been some interesting moments. But he knew saying so would only make Mu Fu feel worse. And just as he’d hoped, her guilt instantly faded.
Chen Han stood up. “Let’s head out. The staff needs to clean the theater.”
Mu Fu quickly got to her feet, her embarrassment lingering. The cleaning crew had already started tidying up the row ahead of them. As they made their way out, she turned to him seriously. “Next time, if I fall asleep, wake me up.”
Like that was ever going to happen. Chen Han smirked to himself. His left shoulder was sore, and his left hand was numb. She had been resting against him the entire time, and he hadn’t dared to move, afraid of waking her. Even now, he carefully stretched his fingers, the movements subtle—he didn’t want her to notice.
What he didn’t realize was that the entire moment had been captured on film. The cameras had recorded everything—from his gentle care inside the theater to the way he secretly stretched his arm behind her back afterward.
When the footage aired, viewers went crazy.
“Chen Han is TOO CUTE!”
“Omg, I can’t take this! This is adorable!!”
Fans completely melted at his tenderness. They imagined themselves in Mu Fu’s place—with a boyfriend so gentle, so handsome, and so considerate. How could anyone not fall in love?
For the CP fans, it was a celebration. Their favorite couple had just blessed them with more sweet moments!
Mu Fu’s “envy points” skyrocketed.
As for dinner, Chen Han once again took the lead. After confirming Mu Fu’s preferences, he chose a restaurant he frequented, a place he knew served good food.
Meanwhile, Kang Jiadong and Ding Minqi were having a wonderful time. They spent the day exploring one of Hang City’s famous scenic spots, a perfect location for photos. Kang Jiadong had come prepared, bringing a camera. He was the photographer, and Ding Minqi only needed to focus on looking stunning.
Taking photos of the girl he liked was something Kang Jiadong genuinely enjoyed. Luckily, his photography skills weren’t bad, so Ding Minqi didn’t complain too much. Since it was a weekday, the scenic spot wasn’t crowded, an ideal time to visit.
On the other side of town, Han Jin had invited Qi Yali to go ice skating. For two people just beginning to develop feelings, an ice rink was an excellent choice. If one person wasn’t skilled, the other could help, hand-in-hand—a perfect excuse for physical contact. And if neither was skilled, even better—they’d have to hold onto each other to stay upright.
Qi Yali accepted Han Jin’s invitation. Over the past few days in the love house, she had observed that, on paper, Kang Jiadong was the most compatible with her in terms of age, profession, and background. But she hadn’t had many opportunities to interact with him.
As for Han Jin? He was younger, sure. But a younger guy wasn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. Besides, there was no harm in getting to know him better.
And Chen Han… after observing him carefully these past few days, she had figured him out. His type was girls like Mu Fu—sweet, soft-spoken, and obedient. She was not his type at all.
And honestly, Chen Han was cold to her. Apart from basic politeness and the occasional necessary conversation, he barely interacted with the other women in the house. Mu Fu was the exception, the only one who received any special attention. To him, everyone else was the same. At this point, they weren’t even casual acquaintances.
Sure, a guy like him would be a rewarding challenge to win over, but… the process? Too much effort. Too much frustration. And she had no interest in making life harder for herself.
After changing into their skating shoes, they stepped onto the ice. The air inside was chillingly cold, with icy white mist rising from the rink. Qi Yali had dressed lightly, thinking the warm weather would suffice. She wore a casual short-sleeved top and long pants, but now, inside the rink, she felt a bit chilly. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
Han Jin noticed her movement. He turned to her and said, “You skate for a bit, I’ll be right back.”
Qi Yali nodded, assuming he was just stepping away for a moment.
At first, the cameraman thought he had simply gone to change shoes, but when Han Jin returned, he was carrying a jacket from a nearby clothing store. By then, Qi Yali had skated a few laps around the rink. She was now sitting by the railing at the entrance, waiting for him.
When she saw the jacket in his hands, she saw him in a new light. She hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful. She put on the jacket, and the warmth immediately spread through her body.
She looked at him with a soft smile and said, “Thank you, that was really thoughtful of you.”
After stepping onto the ice, Han Jin asked, “Do you know how to skate? I know a little, so if you need help, I can teach you.” The moment he finished speaking, he saw Qi Yali gliding effortlessly across the ice, as if she were walking on solid ground.
Han Jin immediately wished he could take back his words. It had been a long time since he had last skated, and his skills had clearly gotten rusty. Not long after stepping onto the ice, he lost his balance and fell flat on his face. The sight was so ridiculous that Qi Yali couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Despite Han Jin’s lack of skill, Qi Yali didn’t mind at all. Instead, she skated over to him, offering her hand to help him up. Patiently, she began teaching him how to skate properly. By the end of the evening, their connection had deepened, their interactions now marked by warmth and familiarity.
……
When Cheng Cixin returned, she finally learned what had transpired that day. Her voice was calm, but her eyes darkened. “So… you two went on a date?”
Ding Minqi felt a wave of guilt and instinctively looked away. She had seen Cheng Cixin leave early that morning, and Jiadong had mentioned Han Jin’s early departure. Naturally, she had assumed they went out together. But upon her return, seeing Cheng Cixin alone in her room, she had casually asked about her day with Han Jin—only to discover he’d gone out with Qi Yali.
Feeling uneasy, Ding Minqi said, “Yeah… today, the guy asked the girl out first.”
Cheng Cixin lowered her head slightly. Her hair fell forward, obscuring her face, making it difficult to discern her emotions. Even after Ding Minqi left, she remained motionless.
Later that evening, around 7 PM, Mu Fu and Chen Han returned. In the living room, Cheng Cixin was still reading her book, while Kang Jiadong was teaching Ding Minqi how to play the ukulele. The scene appeared harmonious, but the air around Cheng Cixin felt different. There was a strange, unsettling energy about her.
Mu Fu and Chen Han greeted them as they passed through the living room and went upstairs. As they walked by the dormitory where the two other male contestants stayed, Mu Fu knocked on the door—but received no answer.
That’s when it clicked. She finally understood why Cheng Cixin seemed so off. Han Jin hadn’t asked her out. Downstairs, Ding Minqi was with Kang Jiadong. Which meant the only person left for Han Jin’s date was… Qi Yali.
Mu Fu never expected Cheng Cixin to end up alone today. In her past life, the original Mu Fu had failed in this villa. But her downfall wasn’t entirely her fault—Cheng Cixin played a role in it too.
Back then, Chen Han’s interest in the original Mu Fu faded quickly. Once it was gone, he stopped seeing her as someone special—she was just another contestant, just another girl in the villa. He had treated Cheng Cixin the same way.
No matter how hard the original Mu Fu tried, all she ever got from Chen Han was cold indifference. Time and time again, she had tried to win him over, only to be met with rejection. But what truly broke her—what made her finally give up—was when Cheng Cixin and Chen Han got together.
The original Mu Fu had no desire to be anyone’s “other woman.” Cheng Cixin had once been in her position too. But unlike Mu Fu—she never gave up.
Cheng Cixin had pursued Chen Han with tact and persistence. She clung to him relentlessly, and in the end, he was the one who gave in.
To Mu Fu, this only proved how capable and patient Cheng Cixin was—if she could win over the cold and aloof Chen Han, then getting Han Jin—who was much easier—should be a piece of cake.
But this time, things didn’t go as planned. What Mu Fu didn’t know was that Chen Han and Han Jin were completely different. Chen Han was hard to win over, but once he fell for someone, he would only have eyes for them. He would pay close attention to their every move and ignore all other attractive women. In other words, he was the loyal type.
In her previous life, Chen Han had only felt a slight attraction toward the original Mu Fu—nothing more than the kind of fleeting interest people sometimes feel when they meet someone intriguing. That kind of interest is fragile—it fades easily unless it is nurtured and deepened over time.
But in this lifetime, Mu Fu had managed to sustain that initial interest—without realizing it, she had deepened it from mere curiosity to genuine affection—and even love. And now, Chen Han’s devotion was showing. He had no interest in the other female contestants.
Han Jin, however, was a different story. When he first entered the villa, he had been drawn to Mu Fu’s youthful and charming appearance. At first, he felt a spark of attraction. But when Mu Fu showed no response, his interest shifted—that’s when he started paying attention to Cheng Cixin instead.
Over the past few days, things between Han Jin and Cheng Cixin had been going well. There was even a bit of flirtation between them. But recently, he had started hitting a wall with her. And that frustration had made him hesitate. That’s why, last night, he had decided to ask Qi Yali out instead.
By the time Han Jin and Qi Yali returned, it was nearly 9 PM. Cheng Cixin, who had been pretending to read on the couch, finally put her book down. She looked at the two of them and said in a mockingly sweet voice: “Why didn’t you stay out a little longer? I heard it’s really lively outside tonight.”
The temperature in the villa seemed to drop instantly. The atmosphere turned tense. Mu Fu turned to Chen Han, their eyes meeting for a few seconds. Then she shrugged. This was getting messy. Cheng Cixin, Han Jin, Qi Yali—this was a love triangle on the verge of exploding.
The tension in the room was suffocating. And Han Jin—the one feeling it the most—finally broke. He turned to Cheng Cixin and said, “Oh? I didn’t notice. Actually, I was going to ask you out last night, but you seemed busy, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Everyone watching internally winced. Dude, if you don’t know what to say, just keep quiet! How could he say something like that in front of the woman he just went on a date with? What was Qi Yali supposed to think?
Ding Minqi quickly stepped in, cutting off the conversation. “It’s been a long day. Yali must be tired—let her go rest first.” After spending the past two days with Qi Yali, Ding Minqi had grown quite fond of her. She found her smart, easygoing, and refreshingly down-to-earth.
Qi Yali, for her part, had no interest in staying there any longer. She wasn’t afraid of drama—she just found it a hassle to deal with. This was Han Jin’s mess to clean up, not hers. So, without a second thought, she headed upstairs.
The moment Qi Yali disappeared, Cheng Cixin turned to Han Jin, her voice calm but distant. “Let’s talk outside.” And with that, she walked straight to the door.
Han Jin gave everyone an awkward smile. “I’ll be back in a bit.” Without waiting for a response, he hurried after her.
Mu Fu had no idea what they talked about. All she knew was that when Cheng Cixin returned, her eyes were red—like she had been crying. Later, when the show aired, the audience finally learned the truth.
Axolotl Translations 
Leave a comment