With a decisive flick of her wrist, An Ning set the knife flat on the cutting board. The sound was soft—barely more than a click—but in the hushed kitchen, it sounded way too loud.
She wiped her damp fingers on a towel, unhurried, as though nothing about her choice was remarkable. Her tone was mild, almost self-reflective:
"I realise I might have accidentally hogged the spotlight for these few days. So I think it's only fair we give the audience a chance to see you guys."
The silence that followed wasn't the polite kind—it was jagged, sharp and bristling with unspoken disbelief
[OHHHH did she just call them out while sounding NICE?? 😂]
[Queen move. That's how you flip the script 👏👏]
[She's literally handing the knives to them lmaoo]
A chime rang in her mind.
[Script Divergence Detected - Luck +20]
The crowned melon bounced happily in her vision, its little crown bonding as though cheering her on.
Wu Shiyun blinked, clearly thrown off. Sun Qiaolian's practiced smile faltered before she tilted her head sweet toward the camera, already angling for sympathy. Han Yichen's lips curved in his usual lyrical calm, but his eyes flickered—just for a moment—toward the production staff hovering at the edge of the set.
An Ning only smiled, light and composed. "I believe in you guys. You'll do wonderfully. The kitchen's all yours."
She turned her head slightly toward the production crew. "And really, it isn't that hard. if you're not sure what to make, just borrow a phone from the staff. There are thousands of easy recipes online—you'll find something in minutes."
Her tone was mild, encouraging even, but the words left no escape. Not difficult. No excuse.
[She basically said 'Google it' 😂]
[Brooo she just implied cooking isn't rocket science 💀]
[The way she wrapped a knife in a compliment… queen behavior 👑]
[Lol now they HAVE to try, otherwise they look useless 🤣]
An Ning laid the towel neatly aside and stepped back from the counter, as if bowing out gracefully from a stage performance. The knives, the cutting boards, the gleaming counters—all handed over with a smile, leaving the others stiff under the studio lights.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. The cameras hummed, catching every flicker of hesitation, every uneasy glance. What had once looked like natural teamwork now felt exposed—there was no buffer, no "capable An Ning" to hide behind.
Sun Qiaolian was the first to recover. Her lashes swept down, then up again as she put on a gentle smile. "Then…I'll do the cooking today." She let out a small laugh, as though to soften her own nerves. "It might not taste good, but I'll try my best."
[Our Lian-lian is so hardworking 🥺]
[See?? She's really stepping up!]
[She looks so fragile but she's willing to cook for everyone 😭✨]
[Wait…does she even know how to chop an onion? 👀]
Wu Shiyun tilted her head, the glittering fabric of her dress catching the light. "It's not my turn today," she said smoothly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So I'll leave the stage to Qiaolian. It's better not to steal her spotlight."
[LMAO classic Shiyun 🤣]
[Queen just said "not my problem" in the politest way possible 😂]
[She came to slay, not sauté 💃✨]
Sun Qiaolian turned to Han Yichen, looking pitiful. Han Yichen hesitated for a while before saying, "I'll go find Shen Xiyu to help you. It is pair work, isn't it? He should be helping instead of leaving you alone."
[OHHH smooth deflection 😳]
[Bro just volunteered someone else 💀]
[He really said "not my job, go ask Xiyu" 😂]
[But he's not wrong tho…where IS Shen Xiyu?? 👀]
Her fingers twisted lightly at the hem of her sleeve, her voice dropping to a thread, as though it might break under the weight of expectation.
"Xiyu-ge isn't feeling very well," she murmured, her voice threaded with quiet concern. "Can you…help me with it instead?"
Han Yichen's brows drew faintly together, a pause stretching in the air before his expression smoothed into practiced calm. "Of course, I'll help you."
[Did he just hesitate?? 👀]
[Bro looked like he didn't wanna but then remembered the cameras 💀]
[Still…Yichen-ge is reliable 😍]
Sun Qiaolian's eyes softened with gratitude, her fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her smile trembling as though relief had only just found her.
Wu Shiyun gave a little flick of her wrist, the shimmer of her dress catching light as she turned away. "Then I'll leave the two of you to it," she said airily, already striding toward the living room.
An Ning followed at an unhurried pace. Without a backward glance at the counters and knives, she stepped out of the kitchen.
The air outside felt cooler, quieter—like shedding a heavy coat. Away from the bright lights and clattering knives, she finally exhaled, her steps stead as she sought a quieter corner.
Instead of the living room, however, she made her way down the hall to the cinema room—a quieter space tucked at the side of the villa. The heavy curtains muted the noise from the kitchen, the faint hum of a paused screen still glowing in the dark.
She closed the door softly behind her. At once, the crowned melon popped back into view.
"So tell me, what can you do for me?" An Ning asked, her tone calm but carrying a subtle edge that made it clear she wasn't someone to be underestimated.
"Host," the little melon piped up eagerly, "whenever you consume a melon, I can increase your luck."
An Ning arched a brow. "Increase my luck…how? Making people trip on banana peels?"
The melon wobbled indignantly, crown tilting. "N—no! Strategically consumed, melons help you avoid drama and influence small events in your favour."
"Man." An Ning tapped a finger against her arm, unimpressed. "So you're basically a gossiped-fueled fortune cookie."
"So does this mean someone has been siphoning my luck?" An Ning asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the floating melon. "Or rather, not me - siphoning the original An Ning's luck."
"O-of course n-not exactly that..it's complicated!" The melon wobbled so hard its crown nearly toppled off.
"So who's the world's favourite child? Let's me guess…Sun Qiaolian?" An Ning didn't cut him off before he could finish. "Does me transmigrating here have something to do with you guys?"
"W-well…" the little melon stammered, wobbling slightly. No one told him that his host was this sharp. "W-well…"
"Where is the original An Ning?" She continued asking, knowing that she couldn't an answer to her previous question.
"She…didn't want this second chance in life." The little melon replied sadly.
An Ning didn't say anything for a while as she recalled the fate of the original An Ning. This dating show had been just the tip of the iceberg, but this is the catalyst that sent the original An Ning spiralling down to no return.
While reading through the novel, An Ning did found it odd that whoever Sun Qiaolian disliked would inevitably removed from her life. Safe to say, her life is extremely smooth sailing - she seemed to get whatever she wanted, effortlessly.
Effortlessly.An Ning scoffed. Of course she got what she wanted—but only because it was carved from the bones of others.