Chapter 226
The bus drove along the coastal highway.
Looking out, the deep blue sea shimmered under the sunlight, waves lapping against the rocks on the shore, creating a full summer atmosphere.
Half an hour later, the bus finally stopped at a seaside villa complex.
The villas faced the sea, with the beach right outside the door, offering an unobstructed and breathtaking ocean view.
“This is where all of you guests will stay for the next 28 days — Love-Detective Town!”
Director Niu excitedly gestured toward the villa complex behind him.
“That’s right. For this season, the production team spent a huge sum renting out the entire villa area. Besides the houses you’ll stay in, other villas have been transformed into small supermarkets, restaurants, merchandise shops, karaoke rooms, spa and massage centers — everything you could possibly need for leisure and fun!”
[Wow, what a big move!]
[Love-Detective really has money now. This season they rented both the water park and the villa complex — you can see the extravagance with your own eyes.]
[Compared to last season, even though they rented the entire manor, it was in the suburbs, a two-hour drive to the city, with no nearby restaurants or supermarkets. The rent probably wasn’t much higher either. This time, they really went all out.]
[The production team is really splurging this season.]
The guests naturally showed expressions of surprise.
“So that means we don’t have to cook for ourselves this time?” Liu Woxing asked.
Last time, because the villas were in the suburbs with no restaurants nearby, they had to cook for themselves. And since everyone’s cooking was disastrous, Liu Woxing ended up losing quite a bit of weight over the season — purely from hunger.
If this time they could go to restaurants, their quality of life would definitely improve.
“Yes, everyone can freely spend within the town according to your living allowance. You can go to restaurants or buy ingredients at the supermarket to cook yourself,” Director Niu said.
Xiao Jingxi noticed something odd. “Wait, we still need to buy our own ingredients if we cook?”
As someone with a negative living allowance of -9000, he wasn’t worried because during the last season, the villa’s refrigerator was always stocked with ingredients; cooking was as simple as taking and making.
But from what Director Niu said, this season they wouldn’t provide ingredients?
“That’s right. This season, all ingredients must be purchased by you. The production team will no longer provide them.”
Xiao Jingxi’s mouth twitched ever so slightly. “What about those without a living allowance?”
Xie Mi: “Enjoy the scenery.”
Xiao Jingxi: “?”
[Hahaha, Xie Mi, you’re savage!]
[Don’t worry, Xiao Jingxi doesn’t have money to mess with you.]
[But enjoying the scenery still costs money!]
“For those without living allowance, they can just mooch off someone, right? There’s always someone close to you, isn’t there?”
Director Niu smiled slyly. Clearly, he had anticipated this situation.
Wealthy guests would support those without money — and romance lines would naturally develop.
“Teachers, please bring your luggage. I’ll show you around Love-Detective Town!” The assistant director, wearing a red baseball cap, stood in front holding up a small flag like a tour guide.
So the group followed him in a grand procession, listening to his introduction of the various facilities.
“This is the daily goods supermarket, where you can buy fresh ingredients. Here is the convenience store, with all kinds of snacks and drinks. This is Love-Detective Square, also our activity area, where all recreational activities can take place…”
They walked to the largest villa in the center of the complex, and the assistant director stopped.
“This is where you’ll be staying!”
Countless cameras and drones began filming the entire villa at once.
It was also a three-story villa, but this one had a luxurious rooftop infinity pool. Beach chairs and a barbecue grill were set up by the pool, clearly designed for the guests’ relaxation.
The pool faced the sea, allowing guests to enjoy the stunning view while swimming — pure luxury.
[The pool is beautiful, but it reminds me of terrifying memories.]
[…Oh no, I remember now! Full black wetsuits… monkeys splashing… the chaotic pool competitions… I remember everything!!]
[Trust me, the pool looks luxurious now, but in a few days it’ll be trashed.]
[Haha, upstairs you know what I mean.]
The interior of the villa was also larger than last time.
Unlike the previous design with shared double rooms, this time there were eight independent rooms, each with varying levels of luxury — some vastly different from others.
“What’s the difference between this room and a prison? Even the maid’s room is bigger,” Lai Bingxuan frowned in disdain while opening a room on the first floor.
“This one’s even worse. No windows, can anyone live here?” Qiu Chengye held his nose and stepped back from another room. “There’s also a damp smell.”
“The upstairs rooms are much nicer,” Xu Shuangrong peeked from the staircase, kindly pointing out.
Compared to the first-floor rooms, the second-floor rooms were clearly more livable.
With floor-to-ceiling windows facing the back garden, guests could wake up to lush greenery every day. The rooms were larger, and some bathrooms even had private hot spring baths.
“This one’s not bad,” Xiao Jingxi looked around, nodding slightly in approval. “Facing the garden is quieter — better for practicing lines without interruption.”
“We think alike,” Xu Shuangrong smiled warmly. “There are three rooms on this floor. It would be great to stay together and exchange acting experiences. I’m about to join a crew for a challenging role, and my agent insisted I ask for your advice.”
Xiao Jingxi didn’t respond but gave Xu Shuangrong a meaningful glance.
He finally understood why he had been deceived by her before.
If he hadn’t known her true self, who could tell that this seemingly innocent appearance was all an act?
He simply could not accept a woman like that.
Xiao Jingxi turned and walked out of the room. Xu Shuangrong’s eyes flickered briefly before falling, looking a little lonely.
[Why are these two like this again? They seemed fine at the water park. I thought they had reconciled.]
[Take away Emperor Xiao, don’t even mention it. At the water park, they were just cooperating; they’ve long broken up.]
[Not sure what happened between them, but at the end of last season, Xiao Jingxi tore into Xu Shuangrong pretty badly. Yet Xu Shuangrong’s attitude toward him is the same as always. Weird.]
[Xiao Jingxi must be annoyed about the Xu Shuangrong-Lai Bingxuan situation.]
[This pair is truly doomed.]
The camera moved to the third-floor rooms.
There were only two rooms on the entire floor, occupying the whole level.
“Is this a suite?” Liu Woxing was slightly surprised. “It even has a separate walk-in closet — much fancier than the rooms downstairs.”
Not only that, but there was a large terrace facing the sea, a small living room with a sofa and TV, and a luxury bathroom bigger than the first-floor rooms.
It could easily be called a luxurious single-level apartment.
“This room’s great, I’ll take it!” Qiu Chengye immediately declared.
Shen Moqing raised an eyebrow. “Based on last season, room allocation won’t be this easy.”
“Last time, room allocation depended on how well each person completed their hidden tasks. This time…”
Xie Mi glanced at the assistant director standing at the doorway with a mysterious smile. “It might be even sneakier this time.”
