rsvt_07

After lunch, the six of them sat on the sofa chatting. Cui Ran had cut up some fruit for everyone in the kitchen and set it out on the living room table.

Mu Qi sank into the sofa, one hand holding the schedule sheet the production team had given her, the other holding a piece of mango Cui Ran had cut.

The first day was set aside for the guests to get to know each other, with no special programming arranged.

'Zero Distance With You's schedule arrangement was simple.

If a guest developed feelings for someone, they could send that person's name to the production team the night before a date. If the match was successful, the next day both parties could go out and arrange their own date.

One nice thing about it: any expenses incurred by matched guests during their outing would be covered by the production team.

Of course, the date could only take place within Haicheng.

Guests wouldn't know who anyone else had chosen, but could decide for themselves whether to tell others.

But if no match was made, they'd have to stay at the house.

There was an exception, though: if someone failed to match multiple times, the production team would randomly assign them a pairing, to guarantee a minimum amount of screen time.

This was the show's main storyline; the side content consisted of small games and post-show interviews.

"Brother Cui Ran, I can't believe you actually came on this show." Lu Shutong took a bite of cantaloupe, looking at Cui Ran curiously.

"I just happened to have a gap in my schedule." Cui Ran was peeling an apple, his hands moving with practiced ease.

Mu Qi stared blankly at the unbroken apple peel in his hand.

"Originally I wasn't going to come, since the schedule clashed, I'm joining a production next month, but the show said they'd moved up filming." Seeing Mu Qi staring absently at the apple in his hand, Cui Ran held it out to her, but Mu Qi shook her head, indicating she was already full.

"No wonder they said they wanted to film early, it was because they didn't want to miss out on you." Lu Shutong took the apple Cui Ran handed over and bit into it.

Cui Ran let out a short laugh but didn't respond.

Sensing the atmosphere cooling, Mu Qi spoke up on her own, "Do you know Luo Xiangxun? You two seem pretty close."

"I know him, we grew up together." Lu Shutong poked the guy sitting beside her, who hadn't said a word, "When I found out he was going on this show, I almost thought he'd been possessed."

"So you both already knew ahead of time that you'd be on the show together," Mu He said.

"Yeah, he confirmed it early on and told me. Then when the production team reached out to me, I figured why not."

Su Zhizhi looked somewhat surprised, "So that's how it is. Didn't the two of you trend on Weibo a while back? I thought you were dating, so I was a bit startled when I first saw you just now."

"Dating is out of the question, how could I possibly date this block of ice." Lu Shutong glanced at Luo Xiangxun, "This show airing actually works out, it'll put the rumors to rest."

"Oh, but I am curious why you decided to come on the show." Lu Shutong asked.

Mu Qi's gaze also shifted to Luo Xiangxun.

Right.

He didn't seem like the type who'd be willing to go on a variety show at all.

Luo Xiangxun felt the curious gazes of the others turn toward him. He glanced around, parting his lips slightly, but before he could get a single word out, everyone's attention was pulled away by a sound from outside the garden.

Di Jing and Yu Ran'er had arrived faster than expected, the six people already inside the villa spotted them entering the courtyard through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The doorbell rang.

"Guests, guests!" Mu Qi stood up, ready to go answer the door.

"Mu Qi, you're acting way too much like you own the place." Su Zhizhi couldn't help laughing.

Cui Ran agreed, "Right? When I first walked in, I saw her drinking water in the kitchen, looking so natural about it, she even knew the first-floor windows had a button, like it was her own home."

Mu Qi asked, "Is that a compliment or something?"

"It means you're not nervous at all," Su Zhizhi said with a laugh.

Mu He and Luo Xiangxun headed straight through the open floor-to-ceiling window. Yu Ran'er, who had been taking selfies on the garden lawn and was close by, also came in through the window. Di Jing hadn't gone that way at first, walking along the path to the front door of the villa instead.

The moment Mu Qi opened the door, her eyes met his.

"Hello."

Mu Qi froze for a moment. The person in front of her was someone she saw almost every day.

On the billboard on the skyscraper across from her company.

The image on that billboard rose clearly in her mind right now, and with the real person standing before her, she felt a strange sense of unreality.

"Hello." But she quickly collected herself and let him in.

"Slippers are over there." Mu Qi pointed toward the slipper rack.

"Thanks."

Di Jing was wearing an oversized hoodie and a black baseball cap. He took off the cap, revealing chestnut-brown hair, and gave his head a light shake before running a hand through it, his posture relaxed and lazy. His lashes were thick and long, but there was a slightly dazed look in his eyes.

Probably because he'd just woken up.

Having seen him on billboards every day on her way to work, Mu Qi had already gotten used to Di Jing's good looks, it was the guitar slung across his back that caught her attention instead.

Right, he's a singer.

The watch ad had left such a deep impression that she'd nearly forgotten Di Jing was a singer, and a fairly popular one at that.

Mu Qi rarely listened to music, but she'd heard a few of Di Jing's songs before. Not that she'd gone looking for them herself, Wu Feifei was a fan of Di Jing, and back when Mu Qi had just started working, Wu Feifei had already become a fan. During their weekend video calls, Wu Feifei would hum his songs to her and recommend a few tracks.

But the songs she recommended were all so loud, Mu Qi gave up after sampling them. Wu Feifei had argued they were a source of energy, perfect for giving office workers a boost, but unfortunately Mu Qi just couldn't get into them.

There were probably some mellower songs too, but she couldn't be bothered to look them up.

This year, though, she hadn't heard Wu Feifei bring up Di Jing at all, maybe because they could no longer relate to each other on the subject.

If Wu Feifei ever found out her friend was filming a show with Di Jing, she'd probably blow up her phone all night long.

Mu Qi sized Di Jing up on the sly.

Little did she know, Di Jing was sizing her up too, right at that moment.

She wore a simple, casual denim dress, her face was small, her hair pulled up into a high bun, baring the pale nape of her neck. Di Jing had always known her skin was fair, it looked like it would bruise at the slightest touch.

"I'm Di Jing."

"Hello, I'm Mu Qi."

"I know." Di Jing laughed, "Scum, Mu Qi."

The hand Mu Qi had been about to extend for a handshake snapped back instantly.

"Just a joke. Bailei Media, I know all about it." Di Jing caught her reaction and laughed, "Don't take it to heart."

If Yu Xiaochong had been there, he probably would've clicked his tongue in disapproval, he'd been told specifically not to use that joke on the girl.

But seeing Mu Qi, Di Jing suddenly felt a sudden urge to tease her, curious to see what her face would look like once she was flustered.

"Hahaha." Mu Qi let out three stiff, forced laughs.

She was reminded of a fashion show in Japan two years ago, where she'd been invited to walk as a model. It hadn't been some big-name fashion show, but she'd cherished the opportunity, she, a small-time influencer who'd only just started out, had actually been chosen. The show's theme had been cute and casual, and thanks to her cute face and petite frame, Mu Qi had been lucky enough to catch the organizers' eye.

When it was her turn to walk, the host would introduce the model coming out.

The moment she stepped out, her name rang through the venue, all eyes on her.

Such a glorious moment.

Bailei Media had been so moved by how hard she'd fought for this that they were nearly in tears.

But then, who would've guessed.

"Scum, Mu Qi."

Mu Qi had nearly tripped the moment she stepped onto the runway because of the host's slip of the tongue. Her ears burned red, but with so many eyes on her, she'd forced herself to stay composed and finish walking the full runway. A lot of people from her home country had been in the audience that day, most of them had probably heard it.

Judging by Di Jing's reaction just now.

He must have been there that day, at the fashion show.

But being called that again had left her a little annoyed, and she was just about to fire back at him.

"Hi, I'm Su Zhizhi." Seeing the two of them still frozen at the door, Su Zhizhi walked over.

Yu Ran'er's luggage turned out to be quite a lot, the whole group had just gone out to the car to help carry her suitcases in. One month, and she'd brought a full five suitcases.

Mu Qi shot Di Jing an annoyed glare, though it had zero effect, he didn't seem to notice at all, deep in conversation with Su Zhizhi. Mu Qi walked into the living room and was taken aback by the pile of luggage stacked there, not just suitcases, but all sorts of large and small bags besides.

"Di Jing!" Lu Shutong came running over, "Hi, I'm Lu Shutong."

"I know." Di Jing laughed, walking into the living room.

"Oh my god, you actually came on the show." Lu Shutong looked thrilled, "I'm a fan of yours, I listen to all your songs."

"Thanks." Di Jing's reply was brief.

"I heard you're releasing a new album this year, when's it coming out?"

"Still a ways off this year." Di Jing set his guitar down beside the sofa.

Lu Shutong deflated a little, "Ohh..."

Meanwhile, Yu Ran'er and Mu Qi introduced themselves to each other.

Mu Qi knew who Yu Ran'er was, last year's first-place winner on 'Vocal Vanguard'. The day she'd won, she'd even trended at the very top of Weibo. After her win, she'd caught KG's eye and signed with them, currently at the same company as Di Jing.

"Why'd you bring so much stuff?" Lu Shutong asked, "Isn't this a bit much?"

Yu Ran'er explained, "This is my first time filming a variety show, I didn't know what to bring, so I figured I'd just bring everything that might be useful."

"But it's only a month." Su Zhizhi glanced at the luggage, Yu Ran'er wasn't filming a show, she was moving house.

"It's fine, I'll go unpack now. Where's my room?"

"You're sharing a room with Mu Qi, on the first floor," Lu Shutong said.

"The first floor, huh..." Yu Ran'er walked over to Mu Qi's room and peeked inside, looking it over for a moment before turning back, "Can I take a look at the rooms on the second floor?"

A bad feeling crept in. Su Zhizhi and Lu Shutong exchanged a glance, and after silently agreeing, Su Zhizhi nodded, "Sure, go ahead."

With permission granted, Yu Ran'er headed upstairs.

Downstairs, the guys had all introduced themselves to each other.

"Seeing you in person for the first time feels kind of unreal." Mu He seemed pleased, he was the type who was especially cheerful, if a bit lacking in tact, "Brother Di Jing, Brother Cui Ran, you two are probably going to be the biggest draws on our show, the ratings are definitely going to blow up with you guys here."

"What do you mean, biggest draws?" Lu Shutong sounded a little put out, "We've got our idol drama queen right here too."

"No, not at all..." Su Zhizhi looked a bit shy, waving her hands repeatedly.

Hearing this, Mu He quickly tried to explain, "Oh, that's not what I meant, everyone's a big draw, everyone here is."

Di Jing glanced at Cui Ran, then quickly looked away.

Aside from the fact that it was just Luo Xiangxun's personality.

Di Jing and Cui Ran hadn't exchanged a single word since their initial introductions.

"Where's my room?"

"Upstairs, the two top-tier stars are sharing one room," Mu He said, pointing upstairs.

Di Jing frowned, "One room?"

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