Chapter Three: An Unexpected Delight

“Yu Zhi, why do your words always carry three stings? Is that amusing to you?” Xia Shuang had long disliked Yu Zhi; she was well aware that Yu Zhi was nothing but a common woman everyone could exploit, yet she strutted around as if she were someone of importance. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Xia Shuang joined forces with Gu Qing to target Yu Zhi.

To Xia Shuang’s surprise, Yu Zhi looked at her for a moment and then laughed. “So it’s the Salt Fairy. Eat less salt; you seem to have too much free time.”

Xia Shuang’s expression shifted, quickly masking the dark shadow in her eyes. Just as she was about to retort with insults, staff members from the production team appeared, halting her words.

“Welcome, teachers, to the live broadcast of Zero Distance. Before your arrival, we gathered information from various channels and preliminarily divided you into three groups.”

Soon, each guest was handed a card. When Yu Zhi glanced at hers, she couldn’t help but curse her bad luck.

Among the three male guests, the one she least wanted to face was Shen Jiayu; yet fate had placed them in the same group.

Xia Shuang’s mouth was truly poisoned.

“Brother Jiayu, we’re in the same group. What a coincidence!” Xia Shuang had been displeased at first, but upon seeing her group partner, her annoyance quickly faded. Her eyes showed sincerity, but Shen Jiayu’s expression darkened.

Clenching the card tightly, he turned to the staff and questioned, “Why am I partnered with two women...?”

Yu Zhi, who had been chatting casually with Shi Hailing beside her, froze. A threesome?

Had the production team truly no boundaries now?

Were they trying to capitalize on her recent headlines to boost ratings? This was contrary to her original intention of participating in the show. Jiang Weicheng had miscalculated.

A flurry of thoughts swirled in her mind, but the staff continued speaking as if anticipating such reactions.

“Since there is one more female guest than male guests, the production team devised this little arrangement. Please rest assured, all activities are within permissible boundaries.”

Yu Zhi silently rubbed her forehead, unwilling to explain further. Perhaps others hadn’t imagined this, but the staff’s needless clarification caused knowing glances to sweep discreetly across the other guests.

Jiang Weicheng, this grand occasion truly unfolded as you wished...

“How long will this grouping last? If Teacher Shen is unwilling, perhaps Teacher Yu Zhi could be assigned to me?” Bai Fuyuan smiled gently and glanced at Yu Zhi before speaking.

---

Shen Jiayu was not only superfluous but also tactless. Xia Shuang couldn’t understand if his head hanging on his neck served any purpose beyond eating.

She looked at Shen Jiayu with apparent disdain. When he remained silent, her sulky expression gradually softened.

“The groupings will last for a day each time. During this period, guests can complete small tasks assigned by the production team to earn ‘intimacy points.’ The higher the points, the greater the chance to choose partners freely.”

The staff’s measured words sparked interest in everyone.

If given a choice, who would want to be manipulated continuously?

After coordination by the staff, everyone’s seating was rearranged.

Apart from Shen Jiayu sitting between Yu Zhi and Xia Shuang, everyone else sat in pairs. Yu Zhi was slightly disappointed that Gu Qing and Bai Fuyuan were not grouped together.

“To encourage interaction among guests, we now have a segment called ‘Reveal a Secret about Your Love Life!’”

“Upon arrival, each guest was asked to leave behind the most memorable phrase from their romantic relationships. Later, these will be played back by the guests themselves, and each guest will have one chance to question the speaker.”

As the staff explained, Yu Zhi was surprised; she hadn’t heard of this segment before. Yet, the phone in her hand left no room for doubt.

According to the game’s flow, Yu Zhi was the first to showcase. The phone, the latest model developed by Xingyue, was slim and exquisite. After a few taps, a phrase programmed by the production team was played aloud in a monotone electronic voice.

“Damn it, can my miserable little life endure so much? Don’t come in January—I can’t take it! I snap my fingers, and you obediently wear the necklace... keep your distance from me, but with her, it’s a dangerously thin line, right?”

From the first word spoken by the phone’s microphone, the perennial brightness of Yu Zhi’s smile cracked. Was Jiang Weicheng insane? How could something like this be broadcast?

Jiang Weicheng, who was the subject of Yu Zhi’s scolding, stared intently at the production team’s broadcast feed, ready to issue orders to manage any sudden outburst from Yu Zhi.

Unexpectedly, the safest segment turned into a fiasco...

“Who coordinated with the production team? Why wasn’t Yu Zhi’s information carefully verified? Now there’s a mistake—are you prepared to take responsibility?”

For days, Yu Zhi’s situation had been a constant source of stress. If he had any other choice, Jiang Weicheng wouldn’t have exposed this ticking bomb to the public.

A junior assistant who had gone to investigate returned quickly, hesitating and stumbling over words.

“Brother Jiang... this... is the production team’s swapped information... The data we sent did not include this content... It seems this was ordered by Director Ling. You know the situation between Sister Yu and Director Ling...”

---

Jiang Weicheng had never suffered so many heart attacks in his life as he had in these past two days. One wave of relentless surprises after another gave him a sinking feeling that the company was truly ready to discard him.

Those present at the scene all had different glimmers in their eyes.

The live broadcast camera remained silent, as the consequences triggered by Yu Zhi’s revelations continued to unfold...

“It’s clear that Teacher Yu is consistent inside and out. I really admire that.”

“Sister Yu speaks so straightforwardly—just the way Fuyuan likes.”

“Yu Zhi, you really have guts...”

The situation took a stranger turn. Yu Zhi decided to stop pretending. Whatever others had revealed was probably no different from her own; calling these people outspoken would be putting it mildly.

Leaning back with her hands behind her head, she said to those in front of her, “It’s just the honeymoon phase, normal stuff. Your turn!”

Gu Qing tossed her phone aside, impatiently saying, “Yu Zhi, we haven’t even asked you questions yet. Don’t think you can dodge the topic!”

Determined to make Yu Zhi lose face, Gu Qing showed no effort to hide her intentions. What did it matter if it was live? Everyone just wanted the truth. If there was an unexpected twist, they could blame it on curiosity and win a batch of fans who admired her for being genuine.

Yu Zhi didn’t quite understand where the hostility from these two young female guests came from. But she was no pushover and immediately replied, “Fine, ask away.”

“The person described in that incident earlier—isn’t it Teacher Shen Jiayu?” Gu Qing’s triumph was obvious to all. Yet, her heart and eyes were filled with the anticipation of Yu Zhi’s downfall. How could she care about the other party involved?

Shen Jiayu’s face turned ashen, and Xia Shuang beside him frowned at Gu Qing.

“Gu Qing, has Yu Zhi scared the sense out of you?”