Doubts Rise
1240 Words
The market was finally starting to quiet down. Lin Xuan walked over to Lu Wan and Lu Ye, her tone sincere as she said, “Thank you, really, for just now.”
Lu Wan waved it off with an easy smile. “Don’t thank me. If it had been anyone else, I would’ve done the same.”
Lu Ye, however, kept his usual cold face, his voice carrying that signature aloof edge. “When you see trash like that, don’t you know how to say ‘get lost’? Even if you don’t, you’d better learn.”
Lin Xuan blinked in surprise, not sure how to respond, when Lu Wan smacked her younger brother’s arm with a sharp glare. “Don’t teach her bad habits.”
Lu Ye shot his sister a look full of outrage, jaw tight, but in the end he swallowed it. The cameras were right there, after all. He gave a low cough, then turned toward the lens with forced coolness.
“To my underage fans—don’t repeat bad words. But if you ever run into something like that, don’t just stand there. Worst case, run first.”
The livestream chat erupted with laughter:
[Hahaha, Lu Ye’s ‘cool guy’ act is falling apart! Isn’t he basically a kid himself?!]
[Cold and aloof on stage, puppy off stage—he’s so real, I love it!]
[Mouth says tough guy, heart says softie. Classic sibling banter!]
Lin Xuan couldn’t hold back her laughter, her eyes curving into crescents. A warmth settled quietly in her chest.
…
Not far away, Lin Yi had already handed back the money that Zhao Ming, the husband from the celebrity couple team, had fronted for the ribs. Their eyes met briefly—Lin Yi’s expression calm, Zhao Ming’s lips curling faintly. It lasted no more than a few seconds, but beneath it was the silent exchange of businessmen, part test, part acknowledgment.
Zhao Ming knew this much: in Lin Yi’s eyes, he had made himself useful today. That alone made joining this show worthwhile.
In his heart, he saw his wife’s intentions clearly. She wanted to leverage the spotlight, magnify their marital cracks, and use public pressure to leave him. He didn’t care. He hadn’t come here for her. His target from the start had been Lin Yi.
For Lin Yi’s trust, for the chance to trade benefits, Zhao Ming was willing to lower himself, to play the fool, even to take the brunt of internet scorn. His wife? Irrelevant. His public image? Disposable.
What he wanted was profit.
And Lin Yi understood that all too well. Cold as he was, apart from Lin Xuan, he judged people solely by their value. Zhao Ming had diverted cameras away, bought him time to comfort his sister, and handled errands neatly. For now, he was useful. And usefulness was enough to earn him favor. Whether that value lasted—that was another matter entirely.
…
Back at the villa, the production team gave their next task: every family had to cook their own dinner.
The kitchen quickly turned lively.
The sibling duo. Lu Ye, almost comically out of place in an apron, displayed knife skills that were sharp and precise. The camera zoomed in on his fluid motions, and the livestream chat exploded:
[What the—this guy’s a hidden gem!]
[He can sing, dance, and cook? His persona is too perfect!]
[Cold prince on stage, warm chef at home—the contrast is killing me!]
The father-son team was a different scene altogether. The teenage son moved like a little grown-up, washing, chopping, and stir-frying with practiced ease. His father, however, fumbled beside him, not knowing where to step in.
Watching his son’s capable hands, the father suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. In all those years he’d been absent, his son had already grown up on his own.
The mother-daughter duo. The little girl clumsily washed leafy greens, face serious but tiny hands sneaking bites whenever she could. Her mother alternated between sighing and chuckling at her antics.
The chat softened instantly:
[This little girl is so sweet my heart just melted.]
[Yang Rong’s “villain” image is shattered. She’s such a gentle mom in real life!]
[She’s not a villain—she’s just that good at acting. Look at her here, pure warmth!]
The celebrity couple. Their kitchen, however, was chaos of another kind. The actress wife darted between three pans, hairline damp with sweat, multitasking to exhaustion. Meanwhile, Zhao Ming leaned casually against the doorway, hands in pockets, offering the occasional instruction:
“The heat’s a little high on that one—careful it doesn’t burn.”
The camera cut, and viewers erupted:
[Wow, standing there giving orders while your wife does everything?]
[She’s working herself to death, and you’re basically a backseat driver.]
[Every other family is pitching in. He’s the only one acting like a guest.]
…
The Lin siblings’ kitchen.
Lin Xuan stood at the sink, clumsily rinsing and chopping vegetables, her knife strokes uneven. Lin Yi didn’t rush her, as long as she wasn’t hurting herself. He even picked up a piece of diced ham and held it up to her lips. “Taste. Good?”
Her eyes curved, smile bright as she bit into it. “Good!”
Lin Yi said nothing, but his hand ruffled her hair gently, gaze soft in a way that made the air feel heavier, more intimate.
The camera lingered. The chat went wild:
[This is not a family show—it’s a dating show!]
[They look more like a couple than the actual couples on here!]
[This sweetness is illegal, I swear!]
When it came time to cook, Lin Yi paused, glancing at her. “Out.”
Lin Xuan blinked. “But I haven’t finished helping yet.”
His tone was firm, brooking no argument. “The smoke will ruin your skin.” He picked a few oranges from the counter, pressing them into her hands. “Go sit in the living room and peel these. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
Like coaxing a child.
She shot him a mock glare, but still obediently carried the fruit to the couch. The cameras caught her sitting there, carefully peeling the oranges into segments, but her gaze kept drifting back toward the kitchen. Her lips curved into a smile she couldn’t hide.
The livestream chat lit up again:
[This level of spoiling is outrageous!]
[Sister peeling oranges while brother cooks—what a domestic vibe!]
[This is literally a romance show, not family TV!]
[Wait—nobody’s talking about how he called her “sweetheart” basically? The way he said ‘be good’ was TOO gentle. I’m screaming!!]
…
But beneath the sweetness, a shadow crept in.
Some netizens dug up footage from the first day of filming—Lin Xuan and Lin Yi together in the study, flipping through scripts.
The accusations came fast:
[Caught red-handed—total nepotism!]
[She’s stealing roles from others by using her brother’s pull.]
[Please, how does a rookie land this show without a powerful backer?]
The chat fractured. Some viewers adored the sibling bond; others accused Lin Xuan of riding her brother’s coattails.
And just like that, the warmth of the evening simmered under a growing tension.
For the first time, the sweetness on screen felt like it might not be enough to drown out the whispers of doubt.
- Writer
