After everyone had arrived, the director asked the female guests to return to their rooms and write a letter to their preferred partners, in order to determine the next day's dating combinations.
Those who received multiple letters could choose back, while those who received none would have to stay in the cabin the next day.
Following her company's instructions, Zhao Yingxin wrote her letter to Jing Luan.
Li Ying had been interested in the younger brother, Luo Yuqi, from the moment she first saw him, so her letter was naturally addressed to him.
Lin Jing and Qi Jia both wrote to Shen Xingzhi.
Qiao Nuan had originally intended to write to Shen Xingzhi as well, as generating buzz with a movie star would benefit her career. However, considering that she wouldn't be the only female guest interested in him, and her chances of being chosen were uncertain, she ultimately wrote to Ye Chuanci.
After the director announced the results, the camera panned to Shen Jianxi's face. The director held his breath, afraid the spoiled young lady might lose her temper due to embarrassment.
Facing the camera, Shen Jianxi smiled generously, "In that case, I'll prepare dinner for everyone in the cabin tomorrow!" She then turned to the director, "Director, can I apply to use my hotel experience card? To soothe my wounded little heart."
The director exhaled a sigh of relief and chuckled, "Of course! This was a prize you won. What about Teacher Shen? Is Teacher Shen willing to use it?"
Shen Xingzhi looked at the young lady indulgently and nodded, "Yes, I have no objections."
Things were settled.
After Shen Xingzhi made his counter-selection, Shen Jianxi and Lin Jing were ultimately the ones who would stay in the cabin the next day.
...
As they got into the car prepared by the production team for the two of them, Shen Jianxi relaxed.
There were still cameras in the car, so Shen Xingzhi didn't make any overt moves. He casually draped his jacket between them and then, under the fabric, quietly took her hand.
Shen Jianxi maintained her pose, looking out the window, but her earlobes turned red in his line of sight.
They maintained this position until the car stopped at the hotel entrance, only releasing their hands when someone opened the car door.
The production team had also installed cameras in the hotel rooms, with the exception of the bathrooms.
Shen Xingzhi was fully aware of this.
Upon entering the bedroom, he casually tossed his jacket over the camera.
As soon as they placed their bags on the floor, Shen Xingzhi pulled her into his embrace and lowered his head, intending to kiss her longed-for red lips.
"Ca-camera." The young lady wasn't quite so bold. She glanced at the constantly running camera and shyly lowered her head to avoid him.
"It's fine, I've already blocked it."
"But it can still record audio!"
Shen Jianxi placed her hand between them, unwilling to yield.
Their previous conversation had been whispered into each other's ears, and the camera couldn't capture it clearly, but any other sounds might be different.
Shen Xingzhi let out a low chuckle, released his arm, took her slender wrist, and pulled her into the bathroom, then turned on the shower.
The sound of the water masked everything.
77: "Beep! Favorability +6, Shen Xingzhi's current favorability is 71."
...
When the camera was uncovered again, the girl's expression was a little unnatural, and the man looked content. Both had changed into their pajamas.
Although the hotel had a swimming pool and hot springs, Shen Jianxi's status meant they couldn't enjoy them.
They lay on lounge chairs by the poolside, gazing at the stars.
The indoor lights spilled onto the water, creating shimmering ripples.
The starry sky was dazzling, and Shen Jianxi felt a momentary trance.
She couldn't remember how long it had been since she last quietly and intently observed the scenery; her mind instantly relaxed.
Watching her, 77 felt a mix of emotions, both relieved and sad. Thinking of her plan, it felt an intense urge to stop her.
But it knew how long its owner had prepared for this, and how much she wanted to achieve it, so it could only suppress that impulse.
Since it couldn't stop her, it might as well accompany her in completing it properly.
Counting the days, it wouldn't be long.
Shen Jianxi and 77 were lost in their own thoughts. Looking at the girl, Shen Xingzhi suddenly felt a pang of panic and unease.
Driven by this emotion, he abruptly sat up and tightly grasped her arm.
"What's wrong?" Shen Jianxi asked, a little confused, not understanding his sudden outburst.
Feeling the cool temperature of her skin under his palm, Shen Xingzhi's anxious heart settled, but the sensation lingered.
His face was a little pale, and he managed a weak smile, "It's nothing, I was just worried you'd be cold. Shall we go inside? It's getting late."
Glancing at her phone, it was only a little past nine o'clock. Shen Jianxi's expression was a little odd, "Alright, if Teacher Shen is tired, we can go back and rest."
They walked one after the other. Looking at the tall figure in front of her, she mused to herself, was this the gap due to age? Did older people just sleep earlier?
Sensing her thoughts, 77 felt speechless. The sadness that had just arisen faded considerably.
With such a simple-minded owner, there was nothing to do but dote on her; what else could it do?
...
Since returning to the room, Shen Xingzhi had been rather silent, merely staring at Shen Jianxi no matter what she did, until he finally stopped when he annoyed her.
For the sake of the show's effect, the production team had initially assigned them a room with only one bed.
Lying on the bed, the camera had already been covered with a towel.
Shen Jianxi found it hard to sleep and was staring at the ceiling when a hand beside her suddenly took hers.
Sensing the man's unease, she didn't struggle but instead intertwined their fingers into a full grasp.
Her response indeed provided Shen Xingzhi with some comfort, and his tense nerves relaxed somewhat.
He was surprisingly well-behaved, much to Shen Jianxi's surprise, merely holding her hand quietly without any further action.
Sleepiness gradually washed over her. Just as she was about to drift off, she heard a soft voice beside her, "If one day you leave, then I'll kill you and kill myself. We'll be together forever, okay?"
Hearing this, Shen Jianxi's spirits lifted. She pretended to turn over, pulled her hand out, and muttered with her back to him, "If you want to die, die yourself."
A soft chuckle came from behind her. The man said nothing more and closed his eyes contentedly.
His breathing gradually evened out, but Shen Jianxi couldn't sleep. She stared ahead in a daze, all traces of sleep gone. This familiar insomnia gave her an urge to eliminate him.