SWNOVELXO Chapter 49 - Cycling
The other pair that succeeded was also out of everyone’s expectations.
Ling Jun and Xiu LuZhou.
Ling Jun had abandoned Guan ZiAn and cast her eyes on the fresh-faced newcomer, and no one had anticipated that their mutual selection would actually work out.
Her reasoning was simple—since the show’s plotline had veered far off its intended course, why not stir the pot further? The more unpredictable the developments, the higher the buzz. At worst, if the person she chose didn’t pick her back, she could always retreat to teaming up with Guan ZiAn again.
But now, that wasn’t a concern.
Ling Jun cast her gaze toward Xiu LuZhou, standing not far away. He was young, but his features were sharply handsome, a certain ruggedness that unexpectedly triggered her competitive instincts.
Hearing the announcement, Xiu LuZhou instinctively glanced at Ling Jun—just in time to catch her tossing a playful wink his way. Flustered, he quickly looked away, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.
This result was just as surprising for him as it was for everyone else.
Guan ZiAn’s gaze flitted back and forth between the two, a faint trace of disappointment surfacing in his eyes.
“Ling Jun, you’ve caught the attention of two participants—Xiu LuZhou, with whom you’ve paired, and also Guan ZiAn.”
“Guan ZiAn, would you like to make your case? Should we play your interview video?”
Ling Jun’s leisurely gaze landed on Guan ZiAn, her eyes glimmering as if teasingly drawing him in. But Guan ZiAn knew better. Ling Jun thrived on novelty, and no interview video would sway her decision.
“I’ll give up,” Guan ZiAn said, shaking his head.
Ling Jun raised an eyebrow, surprised at how easily the young man she had strung along for two episodes gave up. Still, she had no promises to offer him this time, so she said nothing further.
【What the heck?! My ship is sinking this episode?! My goddess and her puppy dynamic, gone?! Nooo!】
【Ha! My favs, Qi HongQiao chose Meng YaoEr, and JieXin chose Deng PeiLuo. QiXin is officially disbanded!】
【Why though? They were clearly soulmates! How could they split? I’m going to make a scene!】
【It’s all just the show’s usual antics. The messier it gets, the better the buzz. It’s all scripted, don’t take it seriously.】
Meanwhile, Meng YaoEr had chosen Jiang Zi but was immediately rejected. She also turned down An ChuXing, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Qi HongQiao, however, chose Meng YaoEr, holding out hope for a mutual selection during their on-screen interaction.
The twist? Meng YaoEr had just casually revealed herself as a lesbian. Could sparks really fly between her and Qi HongQiao?
Qi HongQiao mentally prepared himself, maintaining a composed demeanor. His faint smile exuded the charm and poise of a mature man. “Go ahead and play my interview video. I look forward to partnering with Ms. Meng.”
After all, it was just a script. As long as they created a convincing CP for the cameras, the drama would land. It wasn’t like they were actually dating.
Meng YaoEr, chaotic as ever, seemed to shake off the earlier drama without a care. “Sure~ I’m excited! Let’s hear how Mr. Qi plans to compliment me.”
Qi HongQiao, a master of small talk, explained in the video why he chose Meng YaoEr instead of JieXin: “After two episodes with XinXin, it’s clear we have great chemistry. But today, I wanted to take a bold step, to give myself a new opportunity—and to let XinXin explore other possibilities. Who knows what new dynamics she might discover?”
Interestingly, JieXin hadn’t chosen him this round either, proving that their rapport was, in a way, mutual.
JieXin smiled warmly, soft as ever. “Brother Qi is right. He’s been so considerate these past two episodes—I felt bad always leaning on him.”
【Let’s face it, this is a variety show. How much more can the same pairs surprise us? Fresh pairings bring fresh sparks.】
【Thank goodness my Jiang Tang is genuinely sweet. No room for anyone to interfere there.】
JieXin, now partnered with Deng PeiLuo, who had originally picked Tang Yuan, managed to sidestep an awkward elimination since Tang Yuan didn’t even get to see Deng PeiLuo’s video before rejecting him outright. No one seemed to care much.
Resigned, Deng PeiLuo gave up on leveraging the show to promote his drama. “Fine, whatever. At least there’s exposure—it’s done its job.”
In her interview, JieXin repeatedly emphasized Deng PeiLuo’s handsomeness, his calm demeanor, and gentlemanly vibe. She figured he was worth a shot.
Deng PeiLuo, for his part, accepted readily. After all, teaming up was better than being sent to the farm plot to water plants—like Guan ZiAn and An ChuXing.
An ChuXing, ever silent, glanced from Meng YaoEr to Guan ZiAn. He wasn’t much of a talker—stoic and knife-wielding on-screen, taciturn and brooding off-screen.
What new guest spends their first-day watering plants?
Guan ZiAn looked at Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi before turning to the director. “Director, can An ChuXing and I team up?”
“Of course! You two can team up and head to the farm plot.”
【HAHAHAHAHAHA!】
【Director: “A candid question—do you two have any specific conditions for mutual selection?】
【The first episode will be filmed over seven days, but they clearly don’t have enough female guests.】
【Two days from now, during the mutual selection segment, we won’t seriously end up with two guys having to pair up, will we?】
Guang Zi’an fell silent at the reply, resigned to his assignment. He grabbed a long ladle and shovel, heading to the vegetable patch with An ChuXing.
Two acres of land awaited them, and they’d be working until sunset to finish the task.
As for the other mutually selected pairs, they joined the production team at the first game location.
“We’ll be competing today in the Coastal Cycling Romantic Half-Day Tour.”
Upon reaching the scenic coastal eco-trail, the director gathered everyone together.
“The route runs 30 kilometers from start to finish. For the safety of our guests, we’ve cleared the trail of tourists but stationed NPC staff along the way. When you pass them, they may trigger tasks at any moment. Complete the tasks as required to earn a rose.”
“Pay attention, the number of roses you collect will determine your ranking, which ties to your dinner and accommodation arrangements for tonight. No one will be left sleeping in a tent, but I doubt anyone here is particularly curious about the theme hotel, either.”
“Please reach the finish line by 7 PM. For every 10 minutes of delay, one rose will be deducted.”
“Best of luck to everyone!”
The trail hugged the coastline, offering a breathtaking view of the azure sea. The golden sunlight shimmered on the water, and a gentle breeze stirred rippling waves. Seagulls swooped low over the ocean, painting a vibrant, idyllic scene against the vast expanse.
Despite the relaxing ambiance, a competitive tension hung in the air.
Each pair shared a single bicycle.
Tang Yuan chose a pink bicycle with a plush pouch bear strapped to the front basket. Clearly, the bear’s pouch was intended for storing the roses they collected.
Brimming with excitement, Tang Yuan fiddled with the handlebars. “Sis, you sit at the back, and I’ll take you for a ride, okay?”
Jiang Zi’s hand rested lightly on the bike’s rear rack, but she didn’t speak.
Tang Yuan, undeterred, pouted playfully. “Trust me, okay? I’m a great cyclist! But if I get tired, you’ll switch with me, right? You can ride, can’t you?”
“Sure,” Jiang Zi replied, her eyes sparkling with a faint smile. She swung a leg over the seat and perched on the back, her feet resting lightly on the ground.
Satisfied, Tang Yuan cheerfully unfolded the side footrests for her.