I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

People gradually appeared.

Jiang Yunyou came downstairs with a huge yawn, a tuft of hair sticking up stubbornly on his head, perfectly embodying the image of someone who had just been "forced to turn on".

Han Jingxue came downstairs, having changed into a light blue knee-length dress. Her long hair was draped smoothly over her shoulders, and her expression remained as aloof as ever.

Shen Yihuai was already sitting on the single sofa in the living room. When he saw her come downstairs, his gaze was fixed on her and did not look away.

Fang Yutong and Yu Shize came downstairs together. Fang Yutong affectionately linked arms with Yu Shize, and the two were talking quietly with smiles on their faces.

Shu Zi was the last to come down. Her hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she still looked a bit dazed and lazy from just waking up. She plopped down on the sofa, leaning against the backrest, her eyes half-open.

Gu Yan sat on the single sofa next to her, glanced at her, and said nothing. He simply reached out and took away the glass of cold water next to her, replacing it with a warm one.

Everyone is here.

Director Liu stood in the center of the living room and held up the task card.

"Just wanted to let everyone know that there are no group tasks this afternoon."

"No mission?!" Jiang Yunyou instantly snapped out of his daze, his eyes widening in shock.

Director Liu nodded: "Yes, no. Everyone is free to do as they please this afternoon. You can rest, go out for a walk, or prepare anything you want."

"What about tomorrow? There's always tomorrow, right?"

Director Liu opened the task card and cleared his throat:

Tomorrow is the last day of the first episode of "For Your Heart's Desire," so tomorrow's theme is—

He paused, then looked around at everyone:

"Heart, Movement, Etiquette, Objects."

The living room fell silent for a moment.

"The rules are simple: Each guest should prepare a gift for the person they are most grateful to during these seven days, or the person who touched their heart the most."

"The form of the gift is not limited; it can be something you brought from outside, or something you prepared yourself while you were here."

"You can give it to the same person or to different people. There are no restrictions. It's all up to your heart."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yutong turned her head to look at Yu Shize beside her, a gentle smile curving her lips, her voice soft:

"Shize, who are you planning to give this to?"

Yu Shize looked at her, a smile spreading across his eyes. He reached out and gently pinched her fingertips, which were resting on her knees. "Guess."

Fang Yutong gave him a reproachful look, her voice rising slightly at the end: "How could I possibly have guessed that?"

[Pinching fingers! Pinching fingers again!]

This couple is so sweet right now, it's making me sick of it!

Shu Zi sat on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand, watching Fang Yutong and Yu Shize across from her, their "honeyed" relationship, and her lips twitched involuntarily.

She turned her head, leaned closer to Gu Yan, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of resentment, "Hey, who are you planning to send this to?"

Gu Yan held his water glass, took a slow sip, and without even lifting his eyelids, said, "You'll find out tomorrow."

Shu Zi: "...Would it take a piece of flesh for you to say something now?"

Gu Yan turned his head to the side, glanced at her, and a half-smile appeared on his lips, but he didn't say anything.

Shu Zi glared at him, waiting for a full ten seconds, and seeing that he truly had a "I'd rather die than tell" attitude, she angrily turned back and gave a heavy "humph":

"Fine, don't tell me then, who cares to know?"

Gu Yan remained silent, but the upward curve of his lips could not be suppressed.

Gu Yan is so tight-lipped! I'm so worried!

[Shu Zi: I'm panicking, I'm panicking, but I won't admit it.]

[Gu Yan's smile! He was definitely doing it on purpose! He just loves seeing Shu Zi get worked up!]

Director Liu clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back:

"Alright, time's up. You're free to prepare this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow morning, we'll reveal your dream gifts right here."

Jiang Yunyou raised his hand: "Director Liu, is there a price limit for the gifts? For example, how much can they not exceed?"

Director Liu: "No, it's up to me."

Jiang Yunyou slapped his thigh: "Fine! I'll get the expensive one then!"

Su Yanhuan, standing nearby, casually remarked, "With that little balance in your account, what expensive things can you buy? Bubble gum?"

Jiang Yunyou: "...Su Yanhuan! Can't you give me any face?!"

Su Yanhuan: "Respect is earned by oneself, not given by others."

Huan, the King of Finishing Moves, is never absent.

[Jiang Yunyou: I hate it!]

After Director Liu finished speaking, he left, and the crowd dispersed, each with their own thoughts.

Shu Zi didn't rush back to her room. Instead, she strolled to the garden outside the villa, found a bench in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras, sat down, and took out her phone.

She opened Fang Zhizi's WeChat chat window, hovered her finger above the screen, typed a few words, deleted them, typed again, and deleted again.

After going back and forth three or four times, I finally gritted my teeth and sent it out:

"Little Gardenia, could you please bring that dark blue paint tube from the art studio table to the production team?"

Less than three seconds after the message was sent, Fang Zhizi's replies came pouring in:

"????????????"

"Sister Zizi??? Which painting tube are you talking about???"

"Is it that tube containing 'Cats'??? Are you sure???"

"Didn't you say you'd take that painting with you to your grave and never give it away???"

"Your account has been hacked??? Who are you??? Give me back my sister Zizi!!!"

Shu Zi: "..."

Looking at that string of question marks and exclamation marks that were enough to make one's soul tremble, she could almost picture Fang Zhizi's expression at that moment.

Eyes wide open like copper bells, mouth big enough to fit an egg, and maybe even pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Something like this: ∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll)

Shu Zi typed with a blank expression:

"Am I not the real me, or am I a ghost? (⩌⤚⩌)"

"Hurry up and bring it over!"

Fang Zhizi replied instantly:

"...The tone confirms it's him/her."

"But what exactly are you trying to do, Zizi???"

"You're going to give that painting away???"

"Who is it for???"

Shu Zi's lips twitched as she looked at the barrage of questions Zhi Zi had sent again on the screen.

News about Fang Zhizi is still popping up:

"Sister Zizi, have you thought this through??? If you give that painting away, you won't be able to get it back!!!"

"Are you really willing to give it up? Are you really willing to give it up? Are you really willing to give it up???"

"Sis! Answer me! Even just one word will do!!!"

Shu Zi stared at those messages for several seconds.

Then she typed two words:

"Shut up."

After sending it, she added another sentence:

"Send it over quickly, I'll send you the address."

Fang Zhizi remained silent for a long time.

It went on for so long that Shu Zi thought her phone had run out of battery.

Then Fang Zhizi posted a message:

"...Sister Zizi, did you lose your brain from participating in this dating reality show??? Being love-struck is a disease, you need to get it treated, sis!!!"

Shuzi:

"Fang, Zhi, Zi! If you say another word, I'll tell Sister Wen about how you broke Sister Wen's foundation and tried to glue it back together!!!"

Fang Zhizi:

"...I was wrong.gif"

"Mic is muted.jpg"

"Packed immediately, delivered at lightning speed.gif"

Shu Zi stared at the three incredibly cowardly emojis and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She turned off her phone, put it back in her pocket, got up, and instead of going back to the villa, slowly strolled out along the path behind the garden gate.