Episode 6
1092 Words
"I can't fulfill your wish, but a father can fulfill his son's wish."
Alex froze, closing his eyes as despair washed over him. "Dad!"
Miles couldn't contain his excitement.
"Yes, son!!"
The bizarre video clip had gone viral, spreading across social media like wildfire. It captured an absurd sequence: beginning with Emily's startling revelation, two renowned directors suddenly rushing into frame and chasing her frantically across the set, followed by Jason crawling at inhuman speed, and finally ending with his desperate cry: "Dad!"
Viewers were absolutely dumbfounded.
**@MomStillAlive:** What? WHAT? WHAT???
**@PerkyCockroach:** Well, it's official. The world has finally lost its mind.
**@MonkeyEscapedZoo:** How does Emily have Jason—literal superstar Jason—wrapped around her finger? I genuinely don't understand.
**@CabbageSoup:** We still don't know what Emily was about to say before she got cut off.
**@WordDuck:** Help! I was determined to boycott this show because of Emily, but now I'm dying to watch it BECAUSE of her. Who understands my conflict?
**@GrandmaSlapsHeroes:** Come watch it, girl! It's such a sweet, addictive dating show. Warms my heart even at midday.
**@HeavenlyDumplings:** There really are more villains than heroes in this world...
Emily's apparent madness had become so complete that even those who initially accused her of crafting a public persona were beginning to waver. They were starting to believe her eccentricity was genuine, not an act.
The icebreaker games continued on the show.
When Jessica's turn came, things finally returned to normal.
"I..." she said with apparent shyness, her gaze quickly darting toward someone before looking away, "have feelings for someone, and they're right here on set!"
Just as a romance show heroine should be!
Single-handedly steering the chaotic program back to its intended dating show format.
Director Brad and the entire crew bowed in gratitude.
"That was quick," Mike teased. "It's our first day filming, and everyone's just met. Surely it can't be love at first sight?"
Jessica bashfully lowered her head while Ethan, sitting across from her, watched with an amused smile.
The screen practically bubbled with pink hearts.
**@LoveMikeSister**
**@OMGShippingThem! Ethan+Jessica is the power couple we deserve!**
**@ShowMeEmilysReaction! I bet she can't keep up her act now!**
The director, never missing an opportunity for drama, cut to a close-up of Emily.
Emily was covering her mouth, shoulders shaking violently as she tried to suppress her laughter.
Viewers: ???
According to the original story, Ethan and Jessica hadn't yet developed feelings for each other at this stage. They'd joined the dating show together purely as a publicity stunt coordinated by their agency.
So all their flirtatious interactions on camera were simply performances.
Watching them act out their "romance" made it nearly impossible not to laugh.
Emily's reaction annoyed Ethan most of all. His expression darkened. "What's so funny?"
She wasn't jealous?
**@EthanProtectsHisWoman!**
**@YesCallHerOut! So satisfying!**
"Sorry," Emily said, folding down one finger. "My mouth has a touch of Parkinson's."
Ethan's eyes suddenly darkened.
She folded?
She actually folded?!
**@HowIsThisPossible: Emily stood firm through all those difficult challenges earlier, and now she folds?**
**@StopPretending: She's clearly into Ethan, why hide it?**
"Emily, this round's rule is that you don't need to fold a finger if there's someone you like here on set," Mike helpfully reminded her.
Viewers collectively facepalmed.
Emily remained unfazed. "Right, that's why I folded. Is there a problem?"
Mike faltered but persisted, "So you're saying there's no one here you like?"
"Who am I supposed to like?" Emily asked with a smile.
Mike paused, then quickly shook his head. "Never mind then."
In this round, everyone except Ethan folded a finger.
The chat exploded—some cursing Emily, others obsessing over their favorite couples.
Only Ethan remained silent, fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Next came Ethan's turn.
He spoke as if he'd prepared his answer long ago: "I came to this show specifically for one person."
At these words, Jessica shyly lowered her head again.
**@YouTwoAreKillingMe**
**@TurnedThisGameIntoALoveFest—AndILoveIt**
**@ShowOffToEmily! Make her jealous!**
No one seemed to notice that Ethan's gaze remained fixed on Emily as he spoke.
This time, Mike and Jason folded their fingers.
Jessica didn't fold, which surprised no one.
Kevin didn't fold either, which was unexpected—viewers immediately began speculating who he might have come for.
Emily didn't fold.
Ethan's tense expression relaxed slightly, his lips curving into a confident smile.
So she had come for him after all.
That explained her earlier behavior—just playing hard to get.
Emily's remaining upright finger wavered, bending slightly, then straightening, then bending again.
Ethan: ???
"I originally came for someone, but they're not here now. Does that count?" Emily asked.
She had come for Tyler, but Tyler wasn't here.
"Well..." Director Brad considered, "I suppose it counts. The question is whether you 'came for someone specifically,' regardless of whether they showed up or not."
"Great," Emily confidently kept her finger up.
Ethan's mouth twitched slightly.
Playing hard to get was getting old.
Next was Kevin's turn.
He pretended to think before smiling. "I've been in a hit-and-run."
A knockout blow.
"You bastard!" Emily, the victim, erupted in anger.
Everyone else silently folded a finger.
**@LaughingHysterically**
**@KevinIsTheReal MVP! No one else brings this unique energy**
**@Actually... I think Emily matches his energy**
**@TheyreBoathChaos**
The current standings: Jason and Mike with one finger left, Jessica and Ethan with two fingers, Kevin and Emily with three.
Emily's turn arrived.
"Let me say a few words," Emily somehow appeared in the center of the living room, now wearing a tour guide's portable microphone system.
Director Brad instinctively touched his waist. "???"
Where had his microphone gone?
"As everyone knows, I was stabbed on the street recently," Emily's voice crackled through the speaker.
"I want to share that experience with you all."
Everyone realized what was happening—she was about to play the sympathy card.
The comments instantly filled with [Sob Story], [Fishing for Sympathy], and [Reject the Redemption Arc].
"The situation was dangerous. A rain-slicked alley, completely deserted, an attacker lunging at me with a blade. I was defenseless," Emily choked back tears.
**@SoThatsWhyShesOnThisShow**
**@OhLookShesCrying! How tragic**
"In desperation..." Emily wiped away a tear, "I had no choice but to stab my automatic umbrella right into his—"
Director Brad: ?!!!
Though he wasn't sure what she was about to say, he had a terrible premonition!
Brad reacted with unprecedented speed, rushing to shut off the camera pointed at Emily, congratulating himself on his quick thinking.
But Emily's pitiful voice carried to another camera:
"—anus, and then I opened it."
- Writer
