After finding out who her roommate was, Lin Ziyao felt Qin Yu give her a meaningful look. But the roommate assignments had been fixed by the production crew, and there was nothing Lin Ziyao could do to change that on her own.

She could only comfort herself with the thought that at least Qin Yu, her roommate, had agreed to play up their couple pairing.

The guests wheeled their suitcases back to their assigned rooms. When Lin Ziyao opened the door, she saw two single beds side by side. The bedding and pillows were brand-new sets provided by the show's sponsors.

Since it was a room for the female guests, everything was done in girlish pink. A vanity had also been thoughtfully placed inside, with space for the guests to set out the makeup they needed. Farther in, a huge floor-to-ceiling window connected the room to its balcony. Open the glass doors, and the entire villa garden came into view.

“This place is really nice.” Lin Ziyao turned around to see her roommate, Qin Yu, standing behind her with a suitcase.

Lin Ziyao couldn't help thinking of the task the system had mentioned. At the sound of Qin Yu's voice, she startled like a cat and took an almost imperceptible step back. “What are you doing?!”

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow, looking amused. She took a step toward Lin Ziyao, her tall frame a striking contrast to hers. “Why are you panicking? Weren't you the one who said we'd play up our couple pairing?”

“But this is our room. Aren't we supposed to have our own private space?” Backed out onto the balcony by Qin Yu, Lin Ziyao's mind raced. She only wanted Qin Yu's help so she could finish the system's task.

At Lin Ziyao's words, Qin Yu gestured with her eyes toward one corner of the room.

Following her gaze, Lin Ziyao spotted the camera in the room. She hadn't expected Director Chen, with his thick eyebrows and big, trustworthy-looking eyes, to install cameras in the guests' rooms to get footage, too.

With a camera pointed at them, Lin Ziyao couldn't come up with a reasonable excuse to stop Qin Yu. All she could do was watch as Qin Yu got closer and closer, backing her all the way from the room to the balcony until she had nowhere left to go.

Just as she closed her eyes, ready to face whatever happened next, Qin Yu asked calmly, “What are you thinking about?”

Huh? Lin Ziyao opened her eyes. They were on the balcony now, and Qin Yu had stopped advancing. The distance between them was back to normal.

There was too much to process. Lin Ziyao's brain started to short-circuit, and she stammered, “You... I... no...”

“There's no camera out here on the balcony, so it's easier to talk. Besides, you were blocking the door and wouldn't let me in.” Qin Yu leaned comfortably against the balcony railing.

Lin Ziyao thought it over. That did seem to be what had happened.

After a moment's thought, she spotted the flaw in Qin Yu's words. “Didn't you just say the thing about playing up our couple pairing out loud?”

“Relax. The camera isn't on yet, so this is just a rehearsal.”

“You!”

Seeing Lin Ziyao puff up like a cat with its fur on end, Qin Yu lost interest in teasing her and changed the subject. “I've already decided what kind of song I want. Don't forget, this is a deal between us!”

The bristling cat had nowhere to direct her anger, so she could only force a smile. “Go ahead. Tell me what you're looking for.”

Blue Star's vast civilization was home to countless excellent works, and the system's selection of redeemable rewards was just as extensive. If Qin Yu gave her some specific requirements, it would be much easier for Lin Ziyao to choose a piece. That was why she'd asked Qin Yu to tell her what she wanted.

“I want the new song to convey the conviction to chase your dreams,” Qin Yu said softly, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the villa.

Hearing Qin Yu's request, Lin Ziyao lowered her head, deep in thought. “Conviction?” she murmured.

But Qin Yu misunderstood her silence and thought her request was too difficult. “You don't have to give it to me right away. Just get it to me before filming wraps up this week.”

With that, Qin Yu got up and returned to the room to unpack, leaving Lin Ziyao alone on the balcony to think. But she'd misunderstood Lin Ziyao: the request wasn't too difficult. It was too broad.

For Lin Ziyao, it was the agony of having too many choices and not knowing which song to pick. She could only unpack while she thought it over.

Lin Ziyao hadn't brought much: just a few changes of clothes, and not even any makeup. She was done unpacking in no time. Glancing at the vanity in the room, she realized Qin Yu hadn't brought much makeup either—just face cream and body lotion.

Qin Yu checked the time. “We should head downstairs and get dinner ready.”

The guests had arrived at the villa close to four-thirty in the afternoon. After unpacking, Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu had each taken a short rest. Now the sky outside was nearing dusk, and it was time for the two cooks to prepare dinner.

As soon as Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu went downstairs, they saw Feng Qiqi and Dai Wen sitting in the living room watching TV. Feng Qiqi was snacking on the food the production crew had provided. She glanced at the two of them and said pitifully, “The head chefs are here! I'm starving.”

Aren't you still eating snacks?

Lin Ziyao silently grumbled to herself.

“Qiqi and I put all the groceries they brought back in the fridge.” This time, it was Dai Wen who spoke.

Qin Yu looked around. They were the only two there. “Where is everyone else?”

“Director Chen took the guys out to move some stuff. I heard they're getting things ready for tonight's activities.” As she spoke, Feng Qiqi popped another potato chip into her mouth.

“Qiqi, if you keep eating, you won't have room for dinner.” Dai Wen's professional instincts meant she always had to watch what she ate, and sometimes she couldn't help reminding the people around her, too.

“I'm not a model. I don't have to watch my figure.” Feng Qiqi, a pianist, could certainly say that.

“That's true. With a figure like yours, Qiqi, you'd still look great even if you put on a little weight.” Lin Ziyao said sincerely, speaking from her own sense of beauty.

Feng Qiqi turned her head and tossed the snack in her hand aside. “I'm not eating anymore!”

Straightforward-guy taste (✗) Fake-sweet tea talk (✓)

Leaving Feng Qiqi and Dai Wen in the living room, Lin Ziyao and Qin Yu headed to the villa's kitchen.

When they opened the fridge, they found all the vegetables and meat neatly arranged inside. The production crew had stocked plenty, too. They probably planned to use the villa as a temporary office while filming was on break.

Qin Yu found two aprons nearby and handed one to her. “Have you decided what to make?”

Lin Ziyao had been in charge of cooking at home even before her grandmother was hospitalized, so ordinary home cooking was no problem for her. She took out several packs of fresh vegetables and meat, tied on the apron Qin Yu handed her, and rolled up her sleeves. Her face filled with confidence. “I'll show you what I can do!”