Everyone in the villa thought Yu Mo was cold and kept to himself, like he didn’t quite fit in.
But ever since Mu Fu showed up, Yu Mo had definitely changed. At the very least, he wasn’t acting the same way he did in her last life.
After Wu Qingyi realized there was no chance of getting back with Yu Mo, she tried to connect with the other guys, but none of them were a good match for her. In the end, she left the show alone.
In Mu Fu’s previous life, Xia Sihan probably gained the most from the show. Just like this time, all the male guests—except Yu Mo—had been interested in her. She ended up choosing Rong Yongxin.
But now, with Mu Fu fully involved in this round of the show, things had clearly shifted. From what Mu Fu could tell, Xia Sihan seemed way more into Xu Kangning this time. Talk about the butterfly effect!
Feng Ningran had gotten tangled up with Rong Yongxin for a bit, but once she saw how solid his connection with Xia Sihan was—and that there was no room for her—she gave up. She eventually paired up with the male backup guest who had been brought in to replace Mu Fu and Xu Kangning, and they left the show together.
Ding Binbing left alone. He had spent the whole show chasing after Xia Sihan, only to end up with nothing. The backup female guest had liked him, but his heart was always set on Xia Sihan, so he never gave her a chance. That female backup guest also left by herself.
So, in the last timeline, only two couples actually matched up.
Now that she had all her memories back, Mu Fu had a pretty good idea who had sent her that message last night. She was sure it had been from Yu Mo. And if the show was still on schedule, the male guests were probably choosing their date partners right about now.
The day before filming, the production team had asked Mu Fu to submit the name of a restaurant—one that brought back memories of a past relationship. She had submitted a small sushi place near her university. She had thought the production team might send her there with one of the male guests, but she hadn’t realized the men would be the ones choosing.
Given Yu Mo’s quiet personality, she wasn’t sure what he’d like. The restaurant had already been confirmed before filming, so it was too late to change it anyway. Still, she remembered that in the last life, he had chosen the restaurant recommended by the backup female guest—a quiet, elegant spot.
A few moments later, Mu Fu got a text message from the production team.
[Yu Mo has requested to be your next date partner. Your date is scheduled for this Saturday.]
Mu Fu looked at the name “Yu Mo” for a moment. She blinked, and then the corners of her lips turned up in a soft smile. Well, well… she hadn’t expected him to actually pick the sushi place she’d suggested.
There was something different about her now—a quiet confidence and charm she hadn’t had before. But just as quickly, she went back to her usual self. She wasn’t about to forget how to stay in character. It was just that the memories had come back so recently that she’d let her guard down for a moment. Luckily, no one seemed to notice.
From the bed next to hers, Feng Ningran called out, “Mu Fu, did you get a text too?”
“You mean the one about the date?” Mu Fu asked.
“So you did! Who’s your date?” Feng Ningran sounded really curious.
“Yu Mo,” Mu Fu replied with a slightly embarrassed smile. “What about you?”
Feng Ningran beamed. “Xu Kangning.” She hadn’t expected him to choose the restaurant she’d submitted.
Mu Fu felt a flicker of surprise—and a little guilt. After all, once she got involved, Feng Ningran’s crush would be going nowhere. She was planning to put Xu Kangning through some emotional turmoil. Honestly, it might be better if Feng Ningran found someone else to focus on. Still, she kept all of that to herself and just smiled, offering a warm congratulations.
In another room, Xia Sihan and Wu Qingyi had also gotten their messages.
Xia Sihan stared at her phone screen, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her expression didn’t give anything away; her emotions were hidden deep behind her gaze.
[Rong Yongxin has requested to be your next date. The date will take place this Saturday.]
As for Wu Qingyi, her date was naturally Ding Binbing. Seeing his name on the screen, her heart gave a happy little flutter. Just last night, she’d been thinking about getting to know him better—and now, here was her chance. But with the date scheduled for the day after tomorrow, she knew she needed to get ready. If she could build a little more connection with Ding Binbing in the meantime, the actual date would feel much more natural.
Meanwhile, the male contestants, after picking a place for their next outing, received the names of the women they’d be dating.
Yu Mo’s eyelashes lowered slightly as he stared at the name glowing on his screen, his eyes still and unwavering.
Perfect. He was going to get to spend time with his little cutie.
Everyone reacted differently when they saw the names.
Rong Yongxin was clearly happy. The moment he saw the name, he went straight to his closet and started carefully picking out an outfit for the date. He pulled out a sleek black suit—definitely custom-made. But then he paused. Is wearing a suit too much for grilled fish? When no clear answer came to him, he moved on to find another outfit.
Xu Kangning simply raised an eyebrow when he saw his match—Feng Ningran. He thought back for a moment. She does seem to like me, right? Well, that meant Saturday wouldn’t be boring after all. He wasn’t the kind of person who enjoyed wasting his weekend on dull people or pointless events. Feng Ningran, at least, was tolerable.
Ding Binbing, on the other hand, had his usual gloomy expression. Since he arrived at the villa, no one had seen him look any other way—not even when he was with Xia Sihan. So when he saw the name on his phone, he wasn’t surprised. In fact, if the show hadn’t specifically said they couldn’t pick an ex, he would’ve gladly offered to be the last one chosen.
He felt confused. I don’t understand Sihan anymore. The Sihan in his memories had always been gentle and thoughtful. Her happiest moments had been when she was with him. Her eyes had never wandered; he was the only one in her world. Even after they broke up, they still met up from time to time. Her attitude toward him hadn’t changed—except now there was a lingering fear, a hesitation from the past. But as far as he could see, their dynamic wasn’t that different from when they were still together. The only difference was they no longer lived under the same roof or saw each other every day. To him, all that was missing was a single promise on his part.
But now? This woman, soaking up the attention of every male contestant—who was she? Xia Sihan still had that innocent face, but he knew her too well. He could see right through her little tricks. When did she become this person? he wondered. Or… have I never truly seen her for who she is? In a strange way, not being paired with her this time came as a relief. Until he figured things out, he didn’t want to get too close again. It would only mess with his head. He knew himself—when it came to Xia Sihan, he always went soft.
As all the contestants began getting ready for their Saturday dates, Yu Mo was doing the same. His wardrobe was minimal—simple colors, straightforward styles. That made it tricky to find the right outfit for the occasion. Should I reach out to a friend for advice? he wondered. Just then, his phone buzzed again. Another message from the production team.
[A male contestant has requested information about your ex. Please go to the first room in the basement alone. Avoid all other guests in the villa on your way there and remain completely silent. Do not let the man in the opposite room discover your identity. Once his questioning ends, do not leave. We will then bring in Mu Fu’s ex. You’ll be allowed to ask him five questions.]
Yu Mo’s eyes flickered with something unspoken. The emotionless look he usually wore softened just a tiny bit, coming to life.
Without a second thought, he followed the instructions and headed to the designated room. Inside, there was just a table, a chair, and a computer already on. A pair of headphones sat next to the keyboard. The production team clearly went to great lengths to keep both male guests from figuring out who the other person was.
Following the instructions on the screen, Yu Mo put on the headphones. A moment later, a message appeared in the chat window.
Stranger: Hello.
There was no name. The profile picture was just a generic system image.
Yu Mo: Hello.
Stranger: Can you tell me what Qingyi likes? Flowers, handbags… things like that?
Yu Mo didn’t bother guessing who was on the other end. Frankly, anything about Wu Qingyi didn’t really interest him. The only person he cared about… was his little sweetheart.
Yu Mo: She likes food.
That was true—Wu Qingyi used to visit all the trendy eateries just to satisfy her cravings.
Stranger: Thank you. And what kind of gifts does she usually appreciate?
Yu Mo: Jade pieces.
Stranger: Like bracelets or pendants?
Yu Mo: Either works.
Stranger: Got it. Thanks.
The exchange ended as quickly as it had started. Only two questions.
Moments later, the production team told Yu Mo that Mu Fu’s ex had now taken the seat in the other room. Yu Mo lowered his gaze, hiding the quiet storm brewing in his eyes. He was jealous of whoever was on the other side of that screen.
His slender fingers hovered over the keyboard before he began to type, echoing a question that had just been asked of him.
Yu Mo: What does she like?
The reply came fast.
Stranger: She has a sweet tooth—cakes, desserts, that sort of thing.
Yu Mo made a mental note of that. Mu Fu was so tiny he could easily pick her up. He’d have to feed her more, plump her up just a bit. She’d look even lovelier with a little more softness.
What he didn’t know was that Xu Kangning was intentionally messing with him. Back when Xu Kangning had been chasing Mu Fu, the one thing she hated most was sweets—because she was worried they’d make her gain weight.
Yu Mo continued his questions: What kind of behavior does she dislike in men?
The reply came quickly: Smoking. Drinking.
Good. He wouldn’t be making those mistakes.
Yu Mo: How long did you two date?
The reply: One week.
At that, the corners of Yu Mo’s lips curved upward ever so slightly. His eyes darkened with satisfaction.
Yu Mo: Why did you break up?
On the other side of the screen, Xu Kangning thought about the question. Why had they broken up? Now that he thought about it… he didn’t think they ever said a proper goodbye. There was a pause before a message finally came in.
Stranger: Because I lied to her.
Yu Mo: How long has it been since you broke up?
Stranger: Three years.
Reading that, the dark cloud of jealousy that had been simmering inside Yu Mo inexplicably lifted. His mood brightened. They only dated for a week. It ended ages ago. And the guy had lied to her. No chance of them getting back together. None.
With all five questions asked, the crew sent Yu Mo a message that he was free to go.
When Yu Mo returned, Ding Binbing still hadn’t come back. He must still be answering questions from the male contestant who was supposed to go on a date with his ex on Saturday.
Yu Mo decided to take a shower. The others would be returning soon, and they’d likely have to send out texts. He wanted to be in peak form before texting Mu Fu. To him, sending a message wasn’t just communication—it was a ritual. In his eyes, it carried as much weight as speaking to Mu Fu face to face.
Axolotl Translations 
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