Chapter 113
While Qiu Chengye and Lai Bingxuan’s group was still stuck in endless bickering, Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing’s team had already reached the first restaurant.
A Hong Kong–style tea restaurant.
Inside, the staff from the Liancha program team were already waiting.
“Welcome, teachers, to our Hong Kong–style tea restaurant. The mission here is the Big Tacit Understanding Test—
Each of you will first circle the dishes you personally want to eat on the menu, then hand the menu back to us.
After that, you will order dishes for each other. If the dish you order for your partner matches exactly with what they themselves selected, the challenge will be considered a success!
To avoid cheating, you are not allowed to communicate at all during the entire process.”
As soon as the rules were announced, staff quickly separated Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing.
Menus were handed out, and each circled their preferred dishes before giving them back to the program team.
Now, the real test began.
When she received the menu again, Xie Mi looked at the dazzling variety of options and hesitated.
Come to think of it, she actually didn’t know much about Shen Yanqing’s preferences.
Or maybe… he was just easy to feed.
He wasn’t picky, ate whatever was available. No matter what snack she had, he’d always take a couple of bites with her. Even sunflower seeds, he could crack open happily.
Clearly a refined and elegant successful man, yet without the slightest bit of arrogance.
Thinking this, Xie Mi stole a glance at him.
As always, he was sitting in a lazy posture, casually circling items on his menu, looking completely unbothered.
Did he not even need to think?
Unwilling to fall behind, Xie Mi circled three of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
When in doubt, just pick the signatures—house specials never go wrong.
“Failed!”
The PD mercilessly announced the result.
Xie Mi froze as though facing a mortal enemy, her big white teeth no longer flashing.
“How could this be?”
[This game is really hard. There are so many dishes on the menu—guessing exactly what the other picked? Unless you’ve had ten-plus years of deep tacit understanding, that’s impossible.]
[Right, and it’s not like they’ve ever eaten at this Hong Kong-style restaurant before. Even guessing based on normal eating habits is tough.]
[Even the almighty Sister Xie lost. That means this really is difficult.]
[Wait wait—did I just catch feelings again? The only one who can stump the almighty Sister Xie is Mr. Shen himself!]
[Isn’t that a kind of sugar too?]
“Don’t worry.”
Shen Yanqing’s voice was like snow melting in early spring, the corners of his eyes and brows curved in a faint smile. “Take your time—we still have plenty of chances.”
Because no suggestive communication was allowed, staff immediately cut them off from speaking further.
But Xie Mi calmed down upon hearing his voice and began to think more seriously.
It was morning—breakfast time.
Then she should pick with that in mind.
Hong Kong-style wonton noodles, Hong Kong milk tea… maybe that combination.
She submitted the menu.
The PD took one look, then gave a knowing smile: “Failed!”
Xie Mi clutched her shattering little heart in agony.
“How could this be!”
[My Sister Xie has met her Waterloo.]
[Ahhh nooo, don’t tell me they’ll be stuck here forever!]
[How can anyone guess this? I’ve dated my boyfriend for three years and I still wouldn’t know. This is just cruel!]
Just then, shrieks erupted outside the restaurant.
Another team must have arrived.
“Teacher Xie, you’re still stuck on this task?”
Xu Shuangrong looked a little surprised, then gave a gentle smile. “Looks like we still have a chance.”
“Come on then.”
Xie Mi looked dead inside. “Let’s all rot in prison together.”
This game really was no different from doing time.
“Is it really that hard?” Yu Jinzhe’s handsome smile appeared. “Perfect. That means I can spend more time with big sis.”
Shen Yanqing cast him a faint glance, smiled without a word, and idly spun his pen between his fingers, looking utterly composed.
But only those present could feel it—the air was charged with the tension of an impending battlefield.
[Open fire right in front of them—Jinzhe little bro, you’re fearless.]
[Yes! This is the drama I came for!]
[Hey wait—weren’t some of you saying earlier that Yu Jinzhe liked Xu Shuangrong? Say something now.]
[Am I the only one who thinks what he just said would make Xu Shuangrong super awkward?]
[Awkward? No way. Rong Rong shines on her own. She always treated Yu Jinzhe as a little brother anyway.]
[Huh? Wasn’t it you guys who said Jince liked Xu Shuangrong and dragged Xie Mi in as collateral?]
[Honestly, even if the sky fell, Shuangrong’s fans would hold it up with their mouths.]
In this battlefield-like atmosphere, the “Rong-Yu” team also received the rules.
“The Big Tacit Understanding Test? That does sound tricky.”
Xu Shuangrong’s gentle smile showed no trace of being rattled by Yu Jinzhe’s earlier words. “Come on, Jinzhe. Let’s do our best.”
“Okay.”
Yu Jinzhe nodded obediently. Passing by Xie Mi, he suddenly paused. “I thought you and Mr. Shen were supposed to be really in sync. Guess not.”
His words carried a faint hint of schadenfreude.
Xie Mi’s expression stilled.
Right. To outsiders, she and Shen Yanqing did look in sync.
At some point, Shen Yanqing had been able to understand her with just a glance, as if she never even needed to speak. He would just naturally act in line with her thoughts.
But today, she realized—that tacit understanding was one-sided.
Shen Yanqing always understood her. But she didn’t understand him at all.
She instinctively looked his way—and found he was already looking at her.
There was no trace of disappointment in his eyes at their failure. Instead, they held the same familiar, warm smile, as if silently telling her:
It’s okay.
It’s just a game. So what if we lose?
Meanwhile, Yu Jinzhe was still chattering non-stop. Usually such a quiet boy, now suddenly excited, constantly trying to sow discord between her and Shen Yanqing.
Gathering herself, Xie Mi turned to him with a smile.
“Kid, let me give you an award.”
“What award?” Yu Jinzhe was intrigued.
“The Nobel Talk Nonstop Prize.”
Yu Jinzhe: “…”
[Hahahahaha! The Nobel Talk Nonstop Prize!]
[High EQ: Awarding him the Nobel Talk Nonstop Prize. Low EQ: You talk too damn much.]
[Oh my oh my—did you see that look in Sister Xie’s eyes? Could it be—the queen is back?]
Unlike earlier when she was frustrated and hesitant, Xie Mi was now suddenly confident again. With ease, she told the PD:
“Come on, let’s try again.”
She took the third menu in hand.
Xu Shuangrong and Yu Jinzhe didn’t rush into their own game, instead watching their side as if enjoying a show.
“Teacher Xie, this game really is tough.”
“If you and Mr. Shen can’t manage it, maybe next time you can try with me.”
More snide remarks.
But Xie Mi no longer paid them any attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Shen Yanqing.
Just like before, he circled the menu items without hesitation.
Seeing this, Xie Mi’s lips curved into a smile.
She understood now.
