Chapter 27: Seriously Anti-Social

Xu Zhaozhao forced a faint smile.

[Here it comes, the roast-master mode is activating. She’s going to go against the Best Actor!]

As expected, she immediately quipped, "If one person can't get by on a hundred, will twelve people really be okay with twelve hundred?"

The group was stunned.

[Xu Zhaozhao is right. If you pool the money, the total is higher, but there are more people too—won't it still not be enough?]

[Not necessarily. People like Song Qing and Sun Yu, who only eat plain food, are very cheap to maintain. They can share their savings with others.]

[But wouldn't that be unfair? It’s like Song Qing and the others slog through the dating show spending only forty or fifty, just to subsidize the other guests who didn't have enough?]

[I also think it’s unfair. Everyone gets a hundred; those who run out first get eliminated. If everyone manages to last until the end, what was the point of giving out the hundred in the first place?]

[How is it meaningless? Elimination isn't the goal—don't forget, this is a dating show. Isn't fostering cooperation and bringing everyone closer also a goal?]

The comment section split into two factions, even more heated than the discussion among the guests.

Being contradicted by Xu Zhaozhao, Ke Hao felt a flicker of annoyance. No matter how humble he acted, he was still an up-and-coming Best Actor with his own sense of pride. Others, even if not overly respectful, were at least polite to him. Only Xu Zhaozhao—whether out of stupidity or low emotional intelligence—always had a sharp, unforgiving tongue.

His proposal was clearly for everyone's benefit. He hadn’t wasted his time at the market today. While Chen Sisi was busy spending money on entertainment, he had been studying the market. Upon returning, he suggested pooling everyone's funds to buy bulk staples like rice, flour, and oil to cook their own meals. This way, with about two-thirds of the money, everyone could make it to the end of the show.

As a Best Actor, he had nothing to lose even if he were eliminated now; he didn't lack exposure. But for the others, every extra minute on the show meant more exposure. This was a virtuous deed for everyone, so why was Xu Zhaozhao being so cynical?

However, no matter how angry Ke Hao was, his composure as a Best Actor wouldn't allow him to lash out at her.

"I’m just making a suggestion for everyone to discuss; it’s not mandatory. Do as you please, Zhaozhao."

Xu Zhaozhao nodded. "Fine, then I won't participate." She looked at the others, "Anything else?"

"Xu Zhaozhao, what kind of attitude is that?" Chen Sisi stood up for Ke Hao. "The Best Actor isn't doing this for himself, but for everyone. How ungrateful!"

The other guests wore varied expressions. Generally, they felt Ke Hao’s suggestion was for the greater good. Although it sacrificed some fairness, having everyone remain on the show without being eliminated was certainly a good thing. Everyone knew that, on a dating show, finding romance wasn't actually the most important thing. They were here to expand their network and gain enough face time to find job opportunities.

[Chen Sisi, anyone else can slander Xu Zhaozhao, but I won't allow you to talk about her like that.]

[Exactly! She’s your hard-working assistant! Without her rebellious spirit, where would you get the chance to stand up for the Best Actor?]

[Haha, let's not get too deep into the 'wage slave' perspective, everyone.]

Xu Zhaozhao looked at the glaring Chen Sisi. "And what about your attitude?"

"If it's mandatory, why bother discussing it with me?"

"If it's not mandatory, I've stated my opinion—what right do you have to reject it?"

Chen Sisi snapped, "With such a good deal in front of you, you wouldn't want to join?"

"It’s clearly because you spent too much today and don't have enough left to show your face, so you're afraid we'll talk about you, that's why you're not joining."

"Is that so? How much did Xu Zhaozhao spend at the market?" Luo Chengfeng asked Shen Mu, who was beside him.

Shen Mu ignored him, showing no intention of answering. Luo Chengfeng touched his nose, feeling awkward. He had been lucky enough to room with the "Little Prince of Music," Zhan Wang, and they had hit it off, but the third person... he glanced at Shen Mu.

He didn't know what kind of background this Shen Mu had, but he was far too cold and reticent. Yet, despite a personality that could freeze people solid, his looks made him the second most popular guest among the women, right after the Best Actor.

Luo Chengfeng sighed inwardly. He had to rely on the contrast between his humor and his looks to attract fans, while someone like Shen Mu could just stand there with a cold face and attract countless followers. Why was there such a gap between people?

"Looking at all the stuff you bought, it seems you don't have much money left," Chen Sisi mocked. "If we pooled our money with yours, you’d be the one taking a huge advantage! After all, you only have thirty yuan left!"

Qiu Qianrou asked Chen Sisi curiously, "Sisi, how do you know she has that much left? Did you go through her bag?"

Chen Sisi hurriedly shook her head. "How could I just go through other people's things? I just noticed when I came back that she left the money on the table..."

[Is it possible that Xu Zhaozhao left it there on purpose for Chen Sisi to see?]

[Be confident—it definitely was.]

[They're from the same company, she's here to play a supporting role, yet they keep pretending not to know each other. That’s more exhausting than acting.]

[Chen Sisi: Exhausting, but happy.]

[Xu Zhaozhao: My goal is to help Chen Sisi win over the Best Actor.]

"Alright, stop arguing. I said this is just a suggestion, for everyone to deliberate, not mandatory." Ke Hao stopped Chen Sisi’s hostility. "Now, Zhaozhao isn't joining. Who else isn't?"

Everyone defaulted to Ke Hao's plan. Finally, Ke Hao's gaze landed on Shen Mu.

"Shen Mu, what is your decision?"

Chen Sisi looked at him with an unreadable expression. She hoped he wouldn't join either—it would be best if he were eliminated soon. She had never hated a man as much as him.

He was the man who dared to reject her!

Then, Shen Mu fulfilled her wish. "I won't join either."

"Fine." Ke Hao didn't push. Shen Mu was a loner; he hadn't expected him to agree anyway.

He said to those who agreed, "Then everyone, hand over your remaining money, and we'll manage it collectively..."

Chen Sisi beat Song Qing to it, placing her remaining 65 yuan in front of Ke Hao. "Best Actor Ke, here is all my money."

She thought that by being the first to show loyalty to the Best Actor, he would look at her with admiration. Little did she know, seeing her crumpled 65 yuan, Ke Hao recalled that she had bought tickets for the circus and tea at a teahouse despite knowing money was tight. Fortunately, he had treated her to both breakfast and lunch, otherwise, she wouldn't even have 50 yuan left.

What right did someone like her have to mock Xu Zhaozhao for being a big spender? It was the pot calling the kettle black.

The second was Song Qing, who handed over her 98 yuan.

Ke Hao looked at her in surprise. "Junior sister, didn't you eat anything?"

Song Qing explained how she and Sun Yu had bought cucumbers and broccoli from the villagers. "Cucumbers were two yuan for two, broccoli two yuan a head." Split with Sun Yu, it was two yuan each.

Sun Yu had originally only wanted to hand over 80 yuan, hoping to keep 18 as a reserve for emergencies. He never expected Song Qing to honestly hand over every cent without keeping a single one. If he continued to hide money now, it would look like he didn't trust the Best Actor. Reluctantly, Sun Yu had to hand over all his money as well.

The others handed over amounts of 90 or 80 yuan, and once collected, it totaled exactly 850 yuan.

After the calculation, a smile appeared on Ke Hao's face. "This money is enough!"

Early the next morning, he borrowed the village chief's small van again and drove to the market. Except for him, Chen Sisi, Xu Zhaozhao, and Shen Mu, no one else had been to the market yet. So this time, everyone went along, except for Xu Zhaozhao and Shen Mu, who didn't pool their money.

Since ten people couldn't fit into the small, battered van, the village chief kindly stopped his farm work and used his agricultural tricycle to take the rest to the market.

By the time Xu Zhaozhao got up when the sun was high, she saw only Shen Mu alone in the courtyard.

Xu Zhaozhao looked at him, puzzled. "What’s going on with you?"