Chapter 4: The Roommate Agreement and Culinary Commencement

After learning who her roommate would be, Lin Ziyao felt Qin Yu’s meaningful gaze upon her. However, this arrangement was fixed by the production team, and Lin Ziyao alone couldn’t change it.

She could only console herself with the thought that, as her roommate, Qin Yu had at least agreed to their CP-pairing collaboration.

The guests pulled their suitcases back to their assigned rooms. As Lin Ziyao pushed open her door, her eyes fell upon two single beds arranged side-by-side, complete with brand-new bedding and pillows provided by the generous sponsors.

As this was the female guests’ room, everything was adorned in a delicate shade of girlish pink. A thoughtful touch, a dressing table, stood ready for the female guests to arrange their cosmetics. Further inside, a massive floor-to-ceiling window connected to a private balcony, offering a sweeping view of the entire villa’s garden once the doors were opened.

“The environment here is truly lovely,” Lin Ziyao heard Qin Yu say from behind her, turning to see her roommate approaching with her suitcase.

Lin Ziyao, suddenly recalling the task the system had mentioned, flinched like a startled cat at the sound of Qin Yu’s voice, subtly shifting a step backward. “What are you doing?!”

At this, Qin Yu raised an eyebrow, a look of intrigue playing on her face as she took a step closer to Lin Ziyao. Her tall stature created a striking contrast between them. “Why are you panicking? Didn’t you say we were going to fake a couple?”

“But this is our room! Shouldn’t we have our own private space?” Cornered by Qin Yu near the balcony, Lin Ziyao’s mind raced. All she wanted was to use Qin Yu to successfully complete her system task.

Hearing Lin Ziyao’s words, Qin Yu subtly gestured towards a corner of the room with her eyes.

Following her gaze, Lin Ziyao spotted a camera hidden in the room. She hadn’t expected Director Chen, with his seemingly honest appearance, to actually install cameras in the guests’ rooms to film footage.

Unable to find a reasonable excuse to stop Qin Yu with the camera watching, Lin Ziyao could only watch as the distance between them steadily closed. She retreated from the room all the way to the balcony, finding herself with nowhere left to go.

Just as she closed her eyes, bracing herself for whatever was about to happen, she heard Qin Yu ask in a casual tone, “What are you thinking about?”

Huh? Lin Ziyao opened her eyes. They were now on the balcony, and Qin Yu had stopped advancing. The distance between them had returned to a normal level.

Overwhelmed by too much information, her brain began to shut down, and her words came out in a stutter. “You… I… no…”

“There are no cameras out here on the balcony, making it easier to talk,” Qin Yu said, leaning comfortably against the railing. “And who told you to block the door, preventing me from entering?”

Lin Ziyao considered this, realizing it made sense.

After a moment of reflection, she found a flaw in Qin Yu’s words. “Didn’t you just talk about faking a couple out loud?”

“Don’t worry, the cameras aren’t on yet, so this was just a little rehearsal.”

“You!”

Seeing Lin Ziyao about to erupt, like a cat whose fur had been ruffled, Qin Yu lost interest in teasing and changed the subject. “I’ve already decided what kind of song I want. Don’t forget, this is our deal!”

The ruffled cat, now powerless, could only force a smile. “Please state your requirements.”

Blue Star civilization boasted a vast array of excellent works, and the system’s self-selected rewards offered numerous choices for exchange. If Qin Yu could provide detailed requirements, it would greatly simplify Lin Ziyao’s task of selecting a piece, which was precisely why Lin Ziyao had asked her to state her preferences.

“I want the new song to convey a sense of conviction in chasing one’s dreams,” Qin Yu said softly, stating her requirement, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the villa.

Hearing Qin Yu’s request, Lin Ziyao lowered her head in thought, murmuring, “A sense of conviction?”

However, this action led Qin Yu to misunderstand, assuming her request was too difficult. She quickly added, “You don’t have to give it to me immediately. By the end of this week’s filming will be fine.”

With that, Qin Yu rose and returned to the room to unpack her luggage, leaving Lin Ziyao alone on the balcony to ponder. However, Qin Yu had misunderstood Lin Ziyao’s meaning; the request wasn’t too difficult, but rather, too broad.

For Lin Ziyao, it was the agony of too many choices, unsure which song to pick. She could only slowly deliberate while she unpacked her own luggage.

Lin Ziyao hadn’t brought much luggage—just a few clothes and no cosmetics—so she finished unpacking quickly. She glanced at the dressing table in the room, surprised to see that Qin Yu hadn’t brought many cosmetics either, only face cream and body lotion.

Qin Yu checked the time. “We should go down and prepare dinner now.”

Since everyone had arrived at the villa close to 4:30 PM, and after tidying their rooms, both Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu had rested for a while. The sky outside was nearing dusk, making it time for the two appointed chefs to prepare dinner.

As Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu came downstairs, they saw Feng Qiqi and Dai Wen seated in the living room, watching television. Feng Qiqi, munching on snacks provided by the production team, cast a pitiful glance at the two descending women. “The great chefs are here! I’m practically starving to death!”

‘Aren’t you still eating snacks?’

Lin Ziyao muttered inwardly.

“Qiqi and I have already put all the ingredients they brought back into the fridge,” Dai Wen said, speaking up this time.

Qin Yu glanced around, seeing only the two of them. “Where are the others?” she asked.

“Director Chen called the boys out to move some things,” Feng Qiqi replied, popping another potato chip into her mouth. “Apparently, they’re preparing for tonight’s activity.”

“Qiqi, if you keep eating, you won’t have room for dinner.” Dai Wen’s professional discipline meant she always had to monitor her diet, and sometimes she couldn’t help but advise those around her.

“I’m not a model, I don’t need to manage my figure.” Feng Qiqi, a pianist, certainly had the right to say that.

“Indeed, with your figure, Sister Qiqi, a little extra weight would still look very pretty,” Lin Ziyao, standing nearby, remarked sincerely, based on her own aesthetic.

Feng Qiqi abruptly turned her head and tossed the snack in her hand. “I’m not eating anymore!”

‘Straight man’s aesthetic (X) Scheming flattery (√)’

Leaving Feng Qiqi and Dai Wen in the living room, Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu proceeded to the villa’s kitchen.

Upon opening the refrigerator, they found all the vegetables and meats neatly arranged. The production team had prepared a considerable amount, suggesting they likely intended to use the villa as a temporary office during breaks in filming.

Qin Yu found two aprons nearby and handed one to Lin Ziyao. “Have you thought about what dishes to make?”

Lin Ziyao had been responsible for cooking at home before her grandmother was hospitalized, so preparing common home-cooked meals was second nature to her. She pulled out several packages of fresh vegetables and meat, tied on the apron Qin Yu handed her, rolled up her sleeves, and declared with a face full of confidence, “I’ll show you what I can do!”