(The Room of Questionable Schemes - Sometime Later)
The air hung thick with the aroma of stale pizza, desperation, and shattered dreams. Monitors cast an eerie glow on stacks of takeout boxes threatening imminent collapse. This wasn't just an office; it was a monument to caffeine-fueled ambition teetering on the brink of total structural failure.
At the epicenter of this glorious mess, Bai Luqi, the Shy Girl™ turned reluctant Design Lead, dramatically swirled her lukewarm cola in a plastic cup as if contemplating the meaninglessness of existence.
Bai Luqi (Sighing with the weight of a thousand rejected plotlines):
"You guys! I was this close!" (Holds fingers barely apart). "I almost had my classic 'Accidentally Bump Into Rich, Cold CEO in Elevator' moment! Destiny was calling! But NOOOO, Chief Su had to get himself CEO-napped, forcing us into this... this fieldwork hell! My protagonist arc is ruined!"
Lu Yan, hunched over blueprints scrawled on the back of ramen packet instructions, snapped his pencil tip with unnecessary force. Hang Mu, polishing a game controller with intense focus, paused. Their eyes met across the debris-strewn table, a silent communication passing between them.
Lu Yan & Hang Mu (Whispering in perfect, synchronized disdain):
"...Why are we always stuck on missions with the CEO-Drama Queen?"
Their combined gaze landed squarely on Bai Luqi, who was now subtly practicing a 'surprised but charming' expression, clearly preparing for her hypothetical elevator meet-cute.
Suddenly, SLAM! Hang Mu slapped a thick, official-looking envelope onto the table. Three laminated ID cards slid out, catching the flickering desk lamp's glow. "Couple Reborn - Production Staff."
Hang Mu (A slow, predatory grin spreading across his face):
"Staff credentials acquired via... persuasion. They think they're filming a heartwarming reality show. Let's introduce a surprise genre shift: Revenge Thriller."
Lu Yan smirked, a rare and dangerous sight, but the smirk froze halfway. His hand drifted unconsciously to his pocket, pulling out a crumpled, ridiculously fancy invitation card – embossed, gold-leafed, smelling faintly of expensive perfume and impending doom.
A beat of silence.
Lu Yan (Muttering, eyes distant):
"Right... The 'Innovate Corp Appreciation Gala'... I remember now..."
(Flashback: Yesterday - Outside Innovate Corp HQ)
(Sound of screeching tires, dramatic orchestral swell)
Lu Yan, clutching a package containing a vital server component (or possibly just bulk-ordered instant noodles), had accidentally wandered too close to the glass fortress of Innovate Corp. And there she was. Su Meili. Standing at the entrance like a dark empress carved from obsidian and ambition, radiating an aura of 'kneel or be deleted.' The way her power suit caught the light... stunning.
He froze. Breath caught in his throat. A flicker of forgotten admiration sparked...
"YOU IDIOT! I GAVE YOU TEN MINUTES! ARE YOU DECORATING THE SERVER ROOM WITH FAIRY LIGHTS?! GET IT DONE OR YOUR BONUS BECOMES A BAG OF REGRET!"
Her voice, amplified by sheer fury, cracked across the plaza like a whip. The admiration shattered. Fear, cold and familiar, flooded back. Lu Yan didn't just walk away; he bolted, package clutched to his chest like a shield.
(Back to the Present: The Room of Schemes)
Lu Yan shuddered visibly.
Lu Yan (Voice tight):
"...Confirmed. Residual trauma levels: critical. She's not just a boss; she's a walking HR violation wrapped in couture. Revenge Plot: Fully Engaged. I'm in."
All three slapped their new fake IDs onto the table in unison. A pact sealed in mutual desire for vengeance (and possibly snacks).
Then—
Crunch. Crunch.
A soft, rhythmic sound emanated from beneath the table.
Dandan, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk hoarding for winter, peered out, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Dandan (Whispering conspiratorially):
"Heh heh heh... Revenge chips. Stolen directly from the HR department's 'Emergency Morale Stash'. Taste like... victory."
He crammed another chip into his mouth, giggling like the adorable hacker gremlin mastermind he was.
(Inside the surprisingly sleek HSE Limited 'Executive Lounge' - aka, the corner with the least stained couch)
Su Yu eyed the meal tray placed before him with deep suspicion. It was beautiful. A gleaming golden cloche covered fragrant, steaming dishes. It had appeared "thoughtfully," placed "anonymously" by a "well-wisher." Alarm bells didn't just ring in Su Yu's head; they performed a full orchestral symphony of paranoia.
He tapped a finger rhythmically on the table, his expression deadly serious.
Su Yu (Internal Monologue):
"Okay. Option A: A genuine gesture of goodwill from my adoring, if slightly terrifying, new Boss-Mom. Option B: Elaborately poisoned 'Last Supper' orchestrated by a rival company, my estranged wife, or possibly those interns seeking revenge for the 'promotion'. Probability leans heavily towards poison."
Just as he formulated Escape Plan Delta (involving feigning sudden narcolepsy and rolling under the couch), a small figure zipped over, backpack bouncing. Dandan, Master of Stealth and Snacks.
Dandan (Eyes wide with faux innocence):
"Boss! Look! Your fame precedes you! Someone sent a 'Secret Admirer Love Bento'! How romantic!"
Su Yu turned, a slow, calculating smile spreading across his face. It didn't quite reach his eyes.
Su Yu (Voice dripping with fake warmth):
"Is that so? Such an honor! Agent Dandan, my most trusted confidante, surely you deserve the first taste of such a prestigious offering?"
Before Dandan could process the sudden promotion to 'Official Food Taster', Su Yu expertly scooped up small portions from every single dish – the glistening meat, the artfully arranged vegetables, even a spoonful of the soup that shimmered with faint, possibly toxic, iridescence – and presented them to Dandan with the regal air of an emperor testing for poison.
Dandan, whose loyalty to Su Yu bordered on the cultish (mostly fueled by snacks and gadget access), opened his mouth obediently. Gobble. Swallow.
Su Yu watched Dandan's face intently, scrutinizing every twitch, every blink, like a hawk observing its prey... or perhaps a chemist observing a volatile reaction.
Dandan blinked, smacked his lips, then casually reached into his spider-shaped backpack, pulled out a small, unlabeled pill bottle, and popped a tiny white pill.
Su Yu (Eyebrow raised):
"...Is that standard issue now? Are you carrying a portable pharmacy?"
Dandan (Grinning, giving a thumbs-up):
"Rule #1 of working for you, Boss: Always Be Prepared! Universal Antidote - covers everything from cheap cyanide to experimental truth serums. You never know!"
Su Yu leaned back slightly. Okay. No immediate convulsions. No foaming at the mouth. Food likely safe... and apparently, delicious. He cautiously took a bite. Not bad.
Still, old habits die hard.
Su Yu (Snapping playfully, pushing Dandan towards the door):
"Enough poison-testing for one day. Counteract it with something green. Go fetch yourself a salad, kale kid. Doctor's orders... well, CEO's orders."
(Outside the building – Inside a white van that screams 'Unmarked Surveillance Vehicle or Extremely Enthusiastic Plumbing Service')
Dandan stumbled out onto the pavement, clutching the salad money Su Yu had thrust upon him.
Dandan (Muttering under his breath, adjusting his backpack):
"Salad... hmph. Fine. Just be ready, Boss. Your 'surprise medical check-up' is about to commence..."
He shot a conspiratorial glance across the street towards the van.
Inside, crammed together in uncomfortable proximity, sat the "Special Medical Response Team." The air thick with cheap disinfectant wipes and simmering resentment.
Lu Yan: A vision in a crisp white nurse's uniform. Disturbingly, tragically beautiful. The uniform fit him perfectly, accentuating a grace that seemed fundamentally unfair.
Bai Luqi: Wrestling with a nurse skirt clearly designed for someone two sizes smaller and significantly less prone to existential rage. Her expression was thunderous.
Hang Mu: Impeccably dressed as a stern, handsome doctor, clipboard held firmly, radiating an aura of cold professionalism (mostly fueled by sheer annoyance at the situation).
Bai Luqi (Whining, poking Lu Yan's cheek aggressively):
"IT'S NOT FAIR! HOW ARE YOU PRETTIER THAN ME?! I AM AN ACTUAL WOMAN! THIS UNIFORM IS GIVING ME A RASH!"
Hang Mu (Without looking up from his clipboard, stating it like a universal truth):
"Genetic lottery. Lu Yan possesses superior aesthetic metrics. Accept reality."
Lu Yan's face darkened instantly. He yanked the ridiculously small nurse's cap lower on his forehead, his lips thinning into a white line. Ghosts of past humiliations flickered behind his eyes.
(Flashback: Village Dust and Teenage Cruelty)
(Sound of mocking laughter)
A younger, ganglier Lu Yan stands miserably as a teenage Su Meili triumphantly ties the ribbons on a frilly pink sundress she's forced him into.
Su Meili (Giggling, circling him):
"Aww, Lu Yan! You look so cute! Like the little sister I always wanted! We should put bows in your hair!"
Lu Yan (Voice trembling with suppressed fury, then and now):
"Damn you, Su Meili... Damn you straight to pixelated hell..."
(Back to the Van: Present Day)
Lu Yan gripped the handle of a fake plastic syringe filled with… possibly water, possibly saline, possibly expired soda. His knuckles were white. His gaze, fixed on the HSE building, was cold enough to freeze helium.
Lu Yan (Muttering through clenched teeth):
"Su Yu... Su Meili... Payback time."
Behind him, Bai Luqi adjusted her foam chest inserts (labeled 'Emergency Flotation Devices') with a sigh.
Bai Luqi:
"If paparazzi get a shot of this... we're going to be trending on Weibo for all the wrong reasons. #CrossdressingRevengeSquad?"
Hang Mu calmly reviewed the top sheet on his clipboard. Title: "OPERATION: SEDATE AND ABDUCT THE CEO (CODE NAME: NAPTIME FOR CHIEF SU)".
(Outside HSE HQ – The Alarm)
Just as Dandan reached the corner health food store (muttering about the injustice of kale), a piercing alarm shrieked from the HSE building.
BEEP! BEEP! WOOOOOOP! BEEP!
Smoke (suspiciously purple and smelling faintly of burnt popcorn – a Dandan special effect) began billowing from a second-floor window.
Inside the van, the "medics" exchanged sharp glances.
Hang Mu (Voice cool, authoritative):
"Showtime."
WHAM! Van doors burst open. Lu Yan, Hang Mu, and Bai Luqi charged towards the building, pushing stretchers and carrying medical bags that clattered suspiciously (likely filled with snacks), their faces masks of heroic urgency.
Their entrance was pure, unadulterated telenovela drama.
(Inside HSE – Chaos and Opportunity)
Lu Yan, gliding through the panicked throng in his nurse uniform, caused a minor stampede. Several male employees, momentarily forgetting the 'fire', collided with each other, their eyes glued to the ethereal 'nurse'.
Hang Mu, the 'handsome doctor', elicited similar reactions from the female staff, causing at least two HR representatives to swoon dramatically (or possibly trip over power cords).
Bai Luqi, ignored amidst the hormonal chaos, growled under her breath.
Bai Luqi (Muttering):
"Pathetic! All of them! Focused on looks when there's perfectly good looting to be done!"
Papers swirled in the smoky air. Laptops were abandoned mid-sentence. Confidential documents lay scattered like tragic confetti.
Amidst the glorious panic, the 'medics' moved with purpose... towards Su Yu's office, yes, but also towards... opportunities.
They feigned checking pulses while subtly scanning desks for abandoned valuables.
A box of limited-edition strawberry Pocky vanished into Lu Yan's oversized medical bag.
Bai Luqi managed to stuff three family-sized bags of chips down the front of her uniform.
Hang Mu, with surprising dexterity, pocketed a rare, imported energy drink he'd been eyeing for weeks.
The 'medical supplies' grew heavier with every step.
(Inside Su Yu's Office – The Haze)
Su Yu sat at his desk, blinking sluggishly. The world swam. Why did the motivational poster on his wall seem to be... melting? Voices echoed strangely.
Su Yu (Internal Monologue, thoughts thick as molasses):
"Okay... definitely not the food... Dandan would be... convulsing... more... gracefully... So... air? What's that smell...? Burnt... caramel...? Spicy...?"
His eyes drifted towards the air vent, where faint wisps of purple smoke curled lazily.
A final, dazed thought surfaced before consciousness abandoned ship.
Su Yu (Last Thought):
"Those... treacherous... snack-stealing... interns... Drugged... the... air..."
THUD.
His head hit the desk, narrowly missing his 'World's Okayest Boss' mug.
(Enter the 'Rescue' Team)
Smoke swirled dramatically around their ankles. Alarms blared a symphony of panic. Employees stared, mouths agape, at the unfolding scene.
Lu Yan and Hang Mu burst into Su Yu's office with the coordinated grace of a SWAT team storming a highly dangerous bakery.
Hang Mu expertly scooped up the unconscious Su Yu, draping him over the stretcher with practiced ease.
Lu Yan efficiently placed a fake oxygen mask (still in its plastic wrapping) over Su Yu's face.
Bai Luqi, meanwhile, performed a rapid sweep of the office, shoving Su Yu's personal stash of emergency chocolate bars, a half-eaten cheesecake, and a novelty singing fish into her already bulging medical bag.
From the doorway, they exchanged brief, knowing glances with other 'panicked' employees who were also taking advantage of the chaos:
Intern #1 loading crates of instant ramen onto a rolling chair.
HR Manager stuffing premium ice cream bars into her briefcase.
IT Guy casually unplugging several high-end monitors.
It wasn't just an evacuation; it was a corporate looting frenzy disguised as an emergency.
Hang Mu gave a curt nod.
Lu Yan remained impassive.
Bai Luqi offered a thumbs-up.
(Back to the Van – Escape)
They bundled the unconscious Su Yu into the back of the van, slamming the doors shut.
Everyone (Panting, adrenaline high, bags clinking with stolen goods):
"Mission Accomplished!"
The van screeched away from the curb, leaving behind a scene of manufactured chaos and bewildered (real) emergency services arriving. Inside, the van smelled faintly of smoke, disinfectant, and a truly astonishing quantity of pilfered snacks.
(The Next Day - In Utter Darkness)
(Sound of a soft, mechanical click)
A disembodied voice whispered, dripping with manufactured drama:
"Lights... Camera... Annihilation!"
(Theme music swells – dramatic, slightly sinister, with overly sweet undertones)
A silken web, a love spun from lies,
Beneath the smiles, betrayal complies.
Two hearts entwined, a dangerous game,
In this cruel spotlight, who bears the blame?
Reborn for ratings, a fractured ideal,
Will truth shatter cages, or secrets conceal?
Stage lights, hot and blinding, assaulted Su Yu's senses. He groaned internally, consciousness clawing its way back through a thick fog. His head throbbed.
A booming, overly cheerful voice echoed around him:
HOST: "AND WELCOME BACK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TO THE MOST ANTICIPATED, MOST EXPLOSIVE REALITY SHOW OF THE DECADE—COUPLE REBORN: LOVE OR LIE!"
(Sound of canned applause mixed with genuine, bloodthirsty cheers)
HOST: "SIX COUPLES! THREE BRUTAL STAGES OF SURVIVAL! WILL TRUE LOVE PREVAIL... OR WILL DECEIT TEAR THEM APART?! PLACE YOUR BETS NOW!"
Su Yu's eyebrows twitched violently. "Survival show? Love test? Reality TV?! What dimension of hell did those interns transport me to?!"
He forced his eyes open. Blinding spotlights. A massive, cheering audience. Giant screens flashing the cheesy "LOVE OR LIE" logo. Fake cherry blossom petals drifted down like mocking snowflakes. The sheer, unadulterated tackiness made him want to projectile vomit.
Then, the real horror dawned.
He tried to sit up. Nothing.
Tried to lift a finger. Futile.
Tried to wiggle his toes. Impossible.
His body was completely, utterly paralyzed. Limp as overcooked spaghetti.
Su Yu (Internal scream echoing in the void of his skull):
"PARALYZED?! WHAT DID THEY DO TO ME?! THAT SMOKE! IT WASN'T JUST KNOCKOUT GAS; IT WAS SOME KIND OF HELLISH MUSCLE RELAXANT! THOSE INTERN TRAITORS!"
Panic clawed at him, cold and sharp. He was trapped, helpless, on display.
Just as his mind threatened to implode from sheer terror—
He felt it. Something soft. Warm. Pressing against his side.
A delicate fragrance – cherry blossoms, mint, and something sharp, metallic, like unsheathed ambition – invaded his nostrils.
Someone was lying next to him. Pressed intimately against his paralyzed form.
Soft. Very, very soft.
Su Yu (Mind shattering into a million panicked fragments):
"WHO IS THAT?! WHY ARE THEY TOUCHING ME?! PERSONAL SPACE VIOLATION! HR! SOMEONE CALL HR!"
(Meanwhile, the Host continues his spiel, oblivious to Su Yu's internal meltdown)
HOST: "Our brave couples are about to embark on THREE GRUELING CHALLENGES designed to test the very limits of their bonds!
STAGE ONE: THE SMART HOUSE OF SECRETS! Trapped together with dwindling supplies and rising tensions! Can they survive cohabitation?
STAGE TWO: DESERTED ISLAND DISASTER! Stranded, starving, surrounded by temptation! Will their love conquer the elements... or will they resort to cannibalism?
STAGE THREE: THE VILLAGE OF JUDGMENT! Stripped of luxury, forced into mundane chores! Can high-society love survive... laundry day?!
Secrets will spill! Tears will flow! Relationships will CRUMBLE! It's going to be JUICY, folks!"
Su Yu managed a shallow, shaky breath.
Su Yu (Internal monologue, teeth grinding):
"This isn't a reality show. This is psychological torture broadcast live for profit. I need my lawyer. I need my mother. I need... a weapon."
And then—
The Host's voice boomed again, introducing the "masterminds" behind the show's challenges:
HOST: "And let's give a big hand to our incredible Production Crew! Ensuring maximum drama, our Director of Emotional Manipulation—BAI LUQI!"
HOST: "Handling all technical difficulties and probably orchestrating them—LU YAN!"
HOST: "Our cruel Game Master and Chief Instigator of Suffering—HANG MU!"
HOST: "And overseeing all surveillance and ensuring no secret goes unexposed—our resident tech prodigy, DANDAN!"
Su Yu (Mind reeling):
"...My interns. My traitors. My Hounds of HSE. They didn't just kidnap me... they SOLD ME TO A REALITY SHOW! I'm surrounded by Judas!"
The main camera panned slowly across a giant screen, lingering on a close-up of Su Yu's 'sleeping' (read: paralyzed and internally screaming) face, nestled disturbingly close to the mysterious figure beside him. The audience cooed and shrieked with delight.
(Backstage Monitor Room)
Bai Luqi smirked, adjusting her headset, already planning camera angles for maximum emotional devastation.
Hang Mu calmly reviewed a list titled "Psychological Torment Challenges - Week 1".
Lu Yan stared blankly at a monitor displaying Su Yu's vitals, looking profoundly dead inside.
Dandan multi-tasked: remotely adjusting the 'love compatibility' scores on the main screen while expertly hacking into the show's snack vending machine via his tablet, a stolen bag of chips resting beside him.
(On Stage – The Reveal)
In the harsh glare of the stage lights, Su Yu's vision finally cleared enough to register details.
The first thing? Skin. Impossibly pale, smooth as porcelain. Dangerously close to his own cheek.
And the softness pressed against his side... it was... yielding. Warm.
Su Yu (Internal Combustion - Stage 2):
"P-Pale skin... S-Softness... Against... ME?! ABORT! ABORT MISSION!"
He strained against the paralysis, a silent scream trapped in his throat.
Then, a glint of cold metal.
A sword. A beautifully crafted, lethally sharp sword, reflecting the spotlights. Dangling casually in the air. Inches from his face.
And wielding it, with terrifying nonchalance...
...was the woman lying almost completely on top of him. Lounging against his paralyzed body as if he were nothing more than a particularly expensive, temporarily inanimate chaise lounge.
Long, ink-black hair cascaded around a face of glacial, breathtaking beauty. Pale fingers twirled the sword's hilt playfully.
She looked down at him, a slow, devastatingly beautiful, utterly terrifying smirk curving her lips.
Linling.
The "Ice Goddess." His supposed wife. The woman rumored to detest men. The walking, talking paradox of beauty and venom currently using him as furniture.
Linling (Voice a low, sultry purr, laced with unmistakable threat):
"Surprise, darling husband. Lucky you... getting to share a bed with me on national television."
"But don't get... confused." (Her eyes flashed dangerously.)
"Play the part. Act the loving husband..."
"Or this little toy," (She lightly tapped his cheek with the flat of the blade) "...might just slip. Accidents happen, wouldn't you agree?"
She leaned closer, her breath ghosting against his ear, sending involuntary shivers down his paralyzed spine. Then, with agonizing slowness, she produced a small, crimson pill. She placed it gently on his tongue, her fingertip deliberately brushing against his lips as she withdrew her hand.
Linling (Mocking innocence dripping from every syllable):
"Oh, dear... How clumsy of me.
I almost forgot... you can't fight back right now, can you?"
(Meanwhile – Backstage Viewing Room)
The collective sound of a thousand male hearts shattering echoed through the room.
"WHO IS HE?! HOW DARE HE?!"
"GODDESS LINLING! NOOOOO!"
"I thought she was into women! My entire worldview is collapsing!"
"THIS IS A SCAM! A LIE! I DEMAND MY FANCLUB MEMBERSHIP FEE BACK!"
The female audience members, however, were captivated.
"Wait... who is that guy?"
"He's... ethereal? Like a fallen angel forced into a reality show?"
"Lu Siyan... the name sounds expensive..."
"He's prettier than half the idols debuting this year!"
"Look how helpless he looks... Poor thing... I want to protect him! (And maybe kidnap him.)"
(Back on Stage – Su Yu)
The pill dissolved instantly, sending a jolt of warmth through him. Sensation flooded back. Pins and needles erupted across his skin. He could move!
Freedom! Glorious—
Wait.
His moment of triumph evaporated as the full horror of the situation crashed down:
Linling. Was still. On top of him.
Every curve, every contour pressed against his body. Softness. Warmth. That infuriatingly alluring scent. Years – decades – of monk-like existence, of prioritizing spreadsheets over seduction, of sublimating all primal urges into corporate ambition...
His carefully constructed mental defenses didn't just crumble; they spontaneously combusted.
Su Yu's Brain: ERROR 404: LOGIC NOT FOUND. INITIATING SYSTEM OVERLOAD.
Su Yu's Soul (briefly glimpsing Nirvana):
(Sound of angelic choirs, golden light, fields of unlimited instant ramen, puppies made of clouds...)
"Is this... the afterlife? Have I finally achieved enlightenment through extreme proximity to terrifying beauty?!"
Linling observed his brief journey into 'blissful idiocy' with a flicker of disgust in her cold eyes. With swift, economical grace, she slid off him, tucking the sword discreetly beneath the ridiculously opulent prop bed they were lying on.
She rose, smoothed down her perfect attire, and stalked towards the en-suite bathroom set piece.
Linling (Whispering furiously to herself, scrubbing her hands mentally):
"Maintain composure, Linling... Strategic proximity is required...
"He's just a tool. A handsome, infuriatingly solid tool...
"Lure the fly into the web first... then digest him slowly."
SLAM! The bathroom door shut with violent finality. The sound of a faucet running at full blast echoed briefly.
Su Yu remained flat on his back, staring blankly at the fake cherry blossoms glued to the ceiling. His body was functional again, but his mind felt like scrambled eggs.
Su Yu (Internal Monologue, utterly broken):
"Okay. Okay. Reality show. Paralyzed. Sword-wielding fake wife. Traitorous interns. This is fine. This is just... Tuesday.
...If this is Tuesday... please, dear God of Second Chances... just let me go back to Monday."
Meanwhile,
The blinding glare of the stage lights mercifully dimmed. A soft, pink haze, smelling suspiciously like cheap bubblegum and betrayal, began to billow across the ostentatious set. Romantic? Perhaps. Or perhaps just a precursor to mild asphyxiation.
Su Yu, still feeling like a sack of sentient, paralyzed potatoes on the ridiculously plush bed, blinked as the mist thickened. Something wasn't right. The giant monitor dominating the stage, previously displaying saccharine hearts and the show's offensively cheerful logo, began to flicker erratically.
The Host's pre-recorded voice echoed, cheerful but suddenly... glitchy. Like a malfunctioning animatronic programmed for forced happiness.
HOST (Voice distorting): "And weeeelcome... bzzzt... back to Couple Reb-b-born: Love... crackle... or LIIIIIE! Where truuuue... pop... love is... static hiss... REBORN—"
CRACKLE-POP-BANG!
The screen went haywire. Violent static washed over the Host's frozen, rictus grin. The audience gasped, a delicious thrill of something going wrong rippling through them.
Then, the screen wasn't showing the stage anymore. No smiling couples. No fake cherry blossoms. Just inky darkness, with stark, white words floating up like accusations from a digital Ouija board:
"LIES."
"DECEPTION."
"HIDDEN PASTS."
"FORGED AFFECTION."
"SECRETS WILL SURFACE."
A collective shiver ran through the studio. Then, the pictures started flashing. Rapid-fire. Each seemingly perfect couple, exposed. Their glossy veneers shattered live on air.
Couple #1: Chen Mo & Lian Xinya (The "High School Sweethearts" Who Clearly Peaked Then)
On Screen: Their nauseatingly cute promo shot.
Glitching Overlay: A grainy phone screen showing Lian Xinya's DMs: "Miss you, babe! 😉 He suspects nothing. See u tonight? <3"
Chen Mo (Boyfriend): Smile frozen, veins popping in his neck like overinflated balloons. Fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned white.
Lian Xinya (Girlfriend): Face still plastered with practiced sweetness, but her eyes darted frantically towards Chen Mo, calculating escape routes.
Chen Mo (Internal Monologue):
"KNEW IT! That 'wrong number' text asking 'U up?' WASN'T a wrong number! That lying, cheating—!"
Lian Xinya (Internal Monologue):
"Okay, okay, deep breaths. Plausible deniability. If he asks, it's deepfake AI. Totally deepfake. Blame the hackers. Yes. Flawless."
Couple #2: Xu Jie & Ning Rou (The "Stable 5-Year Marriage" Built on Shaky Ground)
On Screen: Their elegant wedding photo.
Glitching Overlay: An old newspaper clipping: "Local Businessman Xu Jie Announces Engagement to Eldest Miss Ning" (Plot twist: Ning Rou is the younger sister).
Xu Jie (Husband): Cold sweat dripped down his temples. Fingers drummed a frantic rhythm of pure terror on the armrest.
Ning Rou (Wife): Radiated a smile sweeter than arsenic, gripping his hand affectionately... while her perfectly manicured nails dug into his palm, drawing blood.
Ning Rou (Whispering sweetly, voice like poisoned honey):
"Darling... we have so much to discuss later. In private. With... props."
Xu Jie (Internal Monologue):
"My life just flashed before my eyes. It was short. And painful. Mostly involving her sister's lawyers. I am deceased."
Couple #3: Zhao Feng & Miya (The "Pure Childhood Friends" Zone)
On Screen: Them sharing an innocent ice cream cone.
Glitching Overlay: Grainy nightclub CCTV footage. Miya subtly tipping something from a tiny vial into Zhao Feng's drink while he's distracted.
Zhao Feng (Male Friend): Head immediately bowed, feigning a sudden, violent coughing fit. Cheeks flushed suspiciously red.
Miya (Female Friend): Eyes wide as dinner plates, face sheet-white, lower lip trembling like a terrified chihuahua.
Miya (Internal Monologue):
"No! Not the bar footage! He wasn't supposed to know it was me! He thought he just got really, really brave that night! Oh god, the kiss..."
Zhao Feng (Internal Monologue):
"SHE DRUGGED ME?! I blamed the bartender! I tipped him extra! I apologized for 'getting weird'! I've been living a lie fueled by spiked cocktails!"
Couple #4: Jian Hao & Qing Qing (The "Power Idol Couple" Selling Fantasy)
On Screen: Them waving flawlessly to adoring fans.
Glitching Overlay: A blurry paparazzi shot from a dark parking lot. Qing Qing slapping Jian Hao hard across the face, followed immediately by her collapsing into 'artful' tears as fans approached.
Jian Hao (Boy Idol): Face remained locked in its default setting: Vacant PR Smile 3.0. No flicker of emotion. Dead eyes staring straight ahead.
Qing Qing (Girl Idol): Pulled out a diamond-encrusted compact mirror and began meticulously reapplying her lip gloss, utterly unfazed.
Qing Qing (Internal Monologue):
"Tch. Amateurs. Scandals are just free publicity. A few crocodile tears for the camera later, spin a story about 'pressure,' and the simps will crucify him. Easy."
Jian Hao (Internal Monologue):
"Calculating odds... If I 'accidentally' trip her during the 'Trust Fall' challenge... Plausible deniability? High. Satisfaction? Immeasurable."
Couple #5: Shen Ye & Ruan Yue (The "Actress Marrying Into Wealth" Narrative)
On Screen: Them clinking champagne glasses at a gala.
Glitching Overlay: Leaked corporate emails. Subject: "Operation Honey Trap - Target: Ruan Yue." Sender: Shen Ye. Recipient: CEO of Rival Corp.
Shen Ye (Actress/Spy): Lazily examined her nails, giving a delicate, bored yawn. Zero reaction.
Ruan Yue (Businessman): Slowly adjusted his perfectly knotted tie, a dangerous, almost amused glint sparking in his cold eyes.
Ruan Yue (Internal Monologue):
"A spy? How utterly predictable. And frankly, a little flattering. The game just got interesting. Let's see whose web is stronger, little spider."
Shen Ye (Internal Monologue):
"He knew. Of course, he knew. That calculating monster probably finds corporate espionage a charming personality quirk. This might actually be fun."
Couple #6: Su Yu & Linling (The Ice Goddess and The Paralyzed CEO)
Their promo shot flickered onto the screen... then stayed blank. A few agonizing seconds of dead air ticked by. The audience held its breath.
Then... something flickered. Faint. Old. Like a half-remembered dream.
A blurry, rain-streaked photograph. Two small children.
One, recognizably Su Yu (though much smaller and decidedly less CEO-like), drenched, holding out a hand.
The other, a girl, huddled under a broken umbrella, her face obscured by shadows and rain.
Indistinguishable. Yet... familiar? A strange, melancholic tension filled the studio.
Linling, who had emerged silently from the bathroom set piece, towel draped over her shoulders, watched the screen coolly. Her face remained an unreadable mask, but her knuckles were white where she gripped the fluffy towel.
Su Yu, still flat on his back, felt his brain trying to reboot. Paralyzed. Sword threat. Fake wife. Reality TV. And now... a cryptic childhood photo triggering feelings he couldn't name?
Su Yu (Internal Monologue):
"Childhood pic? With who? Why?! And why does she look so CALM?! Is this part of the torture?! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" (A traitorous corner of his mind replayed the sensation of softness.) "Focus, Su Yu! Existential dread first, confusing physical sensations later!"
Linling (Internal Monologue):
"Tsk. So the hackers dug that deep? Annoying. I wanted his memories to return on my terms. Still... it doesn't matter. He's trapped now. Nowhere left to run."
(Meanwhile – The Internet Explodes)
Online forums, live chats, and social media platforms detonated simultaneously.
Uman@3: "WTF WAS THAT?! DID THE SHOW GET HACKED?!"
User2: "IS THIS REAL?! ARE THEY EXPOSING EVERYONE?!"
I_love_instant_noddles: "Forget dating show, this is THERAPY GONE WILD! I LIVE FOR THIS DRAMA!"
User4: "Psychological warfare! They're airing ALL the dirty laundry! MORE! GIVE US MORE!"
Fanatic07: "This isn't Couple Reborn; it's Couple Apocalypse! Burn hotter, dumpster fire, BURN!"
User6: "Okay but WHO was the girl in the last photo with CEO Lu Siyan?! Spill the tea, hackers!"
The stage lights flickered violently. Then, the Host's voice returned, but deeper now, distorted, dripping with malicious amusement.
DISTORTED VOICE: "Love is a fragile mask."
"Couples are careful constructs."
"And some secrets... refuse to stay buried."
"Welcome... to the real game."
The monitor flickered one last time, returning abruptly to the Host's blindingly cheerful, oblivious smile. The romantic music swelled again, jarringly cheerful. As if nothing had happened.
Su Yu, still lying there, feeling returning pins and needles mingle with existential dread, felt a genuine chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning.
Su Yu (Internal Monologue):
"Forget hell show. This is a goddamn nightmare curated by psychopaths. I need out. NOW."
(Far away, in a hidden, snack-filled control room)
Dandan, surrounded by empty chip bags, watched the chaos unfold on his monitors, a wicked grin plastered across his face.
Dandan (Muttering gleefully to himself):
"Phase One: Shatter the Illusion. Complete.
Heh heh. Time for Phase Two: Maximum Suffering."