After choosing a room and taking a break, Lin Jinran made a few touch - ups on her original makeup. She still wore the white dress from before.
The filming staff gently reminded her, "Ms. Lin, don't you want to change your clothes?"
This evening's dinner was the first public appearance for everyone. Makeup, styling, and clothing were extremely important as they would affect the impression scores from the opposite - sex guests.
"No, this one is quite nice." Lin Jinran took out a diamond necklace from the jewelry box and put it on.
In the mirror, she was dressed in a white dress with long hair cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth as congealed fat, and the dazzling diamond necklace hung on her delicate collarbone. She looked as gentle and elegant as a lotus flower.
She gently touched the diamond necklace. The cold sensation made her look at herself in the mirror and let out a soft sigh.
At the staff's prompt, Lin Jinran opened the door and came to the first - floor living room. It was empty with no one else around.
The dinner venue wasn't far away. She arrived in five minutes. The place was brightly lit, and faint laughter could be heard.
Some people had already arrived early.
Lin Jinran took a deep breath, stepped forward, crossed the threshold, and slowly appeared in front of everyone. She introduced herself with a generous smile, "Hello everyone, I'm Lin Jinran, also known as Pink Lychee."
"Hello, Lin Jinran. I'm He Jiao, also known as Sunflower." He Jiao stood up and sincerely sighed, "I still have to say that you're really good - looking and very distinctive. You're like the graceful and charming beauty that one can only yearn for in the misty rain of the southern water towns."
"Thank you. You're also very good - looking." Lin Jinran couldn't help but curve her lips and covered her mouth as she laughed.
"Hello, I'm Xie Yun, also known as Gladiolus." Then Xie Yun introduced himself. He looked elegant, with clean eyebrows and eyes, a gentle smile, and a mild tone.
"Hello, hello."
Lin Jinran scanned the room. So far, only two people were seated. Xie Yun and He Jiao were sitting next to each other, and the seats on both sides were empty. Naturally, she would sit next to He Jiao.
When she came to the empty seat next to He Jiao and was about to bend down to pull out the chair, Xie Yun stood up and pulled out the chair next to him. He said with a gentle smile, "Ms. Lin, would it be convenient for you to sit here?"
Lin Jinran was surprised and turned to look at him.
The bright light in the room shone on Xie Yun. The blush on his ears seemed to fade a bit. The pair of gentle eyes flashed with a hint of shy awkwardness.
He Jiao was equally surprised. As soon as she reacted, she immediately helped, "Jinran, since Teacher Xie is being so enthusiastic, you should go and sit there."
Rather than being polite, it was better to comply. Lin Jinran then sat next to Xie Yun, "Thank you, Teacher Xie."
Xie Yun waved his hands nervously, "Please don't be so polite. Just call me by my name."
"Shy and innocent Xie Yun looks so sweet and soft. I just want to give him a kiss. No wonder he grew up under my watch."
"I just came out of Su Qinian's live - broadcast room. The next guest to appear should be him. I'm so looking forward to the drama of two men vying for one woman. This is going to be great."
"He Jiao is amazing. She's the king of matchmaking. No wonder she's my big sister. Look at how happy she is. She's shipping Lin Jinran and Xie Yun's CP. I have reason to suspect that she came to this dating show not to date but to get a close - up view of the CP!"
"Lin Jinran, what do you like to do when you're not filming? For me, after I finish filming, I feel like I have free time, so I go to the gym to work out and kill time."
"Me? When I'm free, I stay at home to study scripts and polish my acting skills. Or I watch the TV shows I've acted in before to find and make up for my deficiencies."
"Wow, Lin Jinran, you're really dedicated. You put all your heart into acting."
"..."
Suddenly, a chill ran through her body. Lin Jinran couldn't help but shiver, as if a cold - glinting blade had stabbed into her chest without warning, causing indescribable pain.
"Isn't that Su Qinian?" He Jiao murmured absent - mindedly, pulling Lin Jinran back from the edge of the cliff.
Lin Jinran suddenly looked up at the door. She met the man's cold and heartless eyes. She was stunned and stared blankly at him, with an undeniable look of shock in her eyes.
Su Qinian casually undid the first button of his shirt, revealing his delicate collarbone. He shifted his gaze and landed on Xie Yun beside her. He let out a cold snort, and finally his gaze returned to the familiar face. He just stared quietly, looking very meaningful.
"Hello everyone, I'm Su Qinian, also known as Gardenia." After this simple introduction, Su Qinian took a long step, walked around the long table, came to the empty seat next to Lin Jinran, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Lin Jinran seemed to be startled and sat upright in her seat without moving.
"Wow, that action of undoing the shirt is so cool. Honey, can you show us more? This little bit is not enough... Drool."
"Hahaha, Lin Jinran is scared, right? Su Qinian: Didn't expect me to come back, did you?"
"The good show is officially on. Su Qinian is so handsome, and Lin Jinran is so beautiful. There must be some history between them, right?"
The restaurant was completely quiet. The scandal between Lin Jinran and Su Qinian had been making a lot of noise recently, so He Jiao and Xie Yun had naturally heard about it.
"Um... Hello, Teacher Su. I'm He Jiao." The sociable He Jiao was the first to break the strange atmosphere and introduced herself.
Xie Yun followed suit.
"Just call me Su Qinian. Everyone, don't be so reserved. Maybe we'll have a chance to cooperate in the future." Su Qinian softened his tone and said calmly.
"Su Qinian, why are you here?" Lin Jinran gently tugged at his shirt corner under the table and asked in a low voice.
She had thought about it for a long time by herself, but she never thought that Su Qinian would actually give up that S+ big - budget movie and come to this ordinary dating show instead.
Gardenia had always been him.
So he knew that she liked pearl milk tea. So he deliberately asked how she had been all these years.
Su Qinian didn't say a word. He turned his head and stared deeply at her.
During this long and silent eye - contact, many complex emotions flashed through his beautiful phoenix eyes. There was the joy of reunion, the anger of her running away, and the cherishing as if she were a precious treasure. All these emotions intertwined and melted into a sigh.
"If I didn't come, would you just run away with someone else?" Su Qinian glanced at Xie Yun meaningfully, "Lin Jinran, how dare you?"
How dare she hide from him and leave him again without saying goodbye.
Lin Jinran's heart trembled. The hand that was tugging at the man's shirt corner slipped weakly. Her glassy eyes were filled with tears, and she was silent.
She wrapped herself in a hard shell again and cowardly hid inside.
Su Qinian frowned. He wanted to say something, but due to the cameras, he swallowed back all the words on the tip of his tongue.
Where had that girl gone? The girl who wasn't afraid of the grade director and dared to freely express her views on puppy love at the grade meeting, the girl who was high - spirited and calm?
Why couldn't he see even a bit of her former self?
Killed by time, perhaps.