When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 53: Chi Mo 7

Zhou Wenwen: "I never knew there were so many divorced people around me until I got divorced myself. After that, almost every man I was introduced to was also divorced. The first thing they’d ask is how long I’ve been divorced and how many kids I have."

"Who the kids are with, whether I’m still in contact with my ex-husband, and so on."

Lin Meng: "Same here. That’s why I eventually started hating it when people tried to set me up. It feels like after a divorce, all these things are laid bare, and the conversations become much more... blunt."

Shi Lei and Xiang Zhe gave a wry smile. "It’s about the same for us. But you ladies haven’t said what kind of partner you’re looking for."

Gao Jing: "As long as he has good character and can handle his own affairs without making me worry, that’s enough. After all, I’m very busy myself. I really don’t want to worry about someone else’s problems anymore."

Zhou Wenwen: "Something similar for me. The key is that we have to get along, he can’t be a male chauvinist, and he has to be loyal in a marriage."

Lin Meng was even more direct. "Leads a clean life, has no bad habits, can support himself, and doesn’t cause me any trouble. That’s it."

’When you really think about it,’ Tan You felt that the women’s standards weren’t high at all. But the world was just that twisted: good people were easily let down, while those with no moral compass tended to live well. It was quite sad, she had to admit.

Shi Lei and Xiang Zhe also shared their ideal types, leaving only Xu Jike. Xu Jike was a slick, sophisticated man. Seeing everyone looking at him, he smiled. "Me... I haven’t really thought about it, but I believe in first impressions."

"So-called ’love at first sight’ is almost always just lust," Gao Jing didn’t pull any punches with Xu Jike. The key thing was, she felt that someone like him was definitely not good enough for Chi Mo.

Xu Jike feigned surrender. "You’re really something else."

Gao Jing beamed. "I’m not targeting you. It’s a popular saying online. Of course, if you think about it, it’s not wrong. The first thing you see when you meet someone is their appearance. When it comes to their inner qualities and character, that’s something you only learn over a long period of time."

Tan You was secretly pleased. She winked at Gao Jing, and Gao Jing smiled back, thinking this Chi Mo girl was quite clever. She’d seen right away that someone was unreliable and had spoken up first, nipping any potential flirtation in the bud.

Almost everyone who came on the variety show was sharp and perceptive; they could all read people and their intentions. Of course, everyone could see that Xu Jike was interested in Chi Mo, but they also saw that she wasn’t interested in him, so naturally, no one tried to tease them or egg it on.

They were all adults. Everyone knew how to act with a sense of propriety.

The main purpose of dinner was for everyone to meet, followed by a drawing of lots designed to build intimacy. The person who drew a name had to prepare a gift for that person to help them get to know each other.

Who each person drew was to be kept a secret for now; they would exchange gifts when they recorded at the second location. Because Chi Mo was the youngest, everyone consciously let her draw first.

Tan You mentally pinged the Beauty System. "Which one is Xu Jike’s?"

The Beauty System was capable of that much, at least. "Second row, second one."

Tan You understood. As long as she knew which one was Xu Jike, she could pick any of the others. So, Tan You chose the first one in the front row. When she saw the photo, she smiled slightly. It was Zhou Wenwen, the woman she admired.

Because Tan You was rarely expressive, no one could read anything from her face. The drawing soon ended, and it was time for everyone to part ways for the night. Before they left, a director reminded them about their 8 AM flight the next morning and told them not to be late.

「The next day」 The cast set off for the first stop of the variety show: the Ice and Snow World. Tan You had never been, but she was very much looking forward to it.

’I’ll just treat this as an all-expenses-paid trip.’ As for the show itself, she figured that after hearing her conditions for a partner, no male guest would be interested in her. That was for the best. She could relax and have fun.

On the way back, the female guests naturally stuck together. Away from the cameras, they spoke much more freely.

Gao Jing was the most direct. "That Xu Jike is obviously not right for you. I saw how his eyes were fixed on you the whole time."

Lin Meng had her own method of reading people. "Exactly. He’s clearly only interested in your looks. We can’t have someone who’s only after your pretty face."

Zhou Wenwen said, "Momo has her own thoughts on the matter. She herself doesn’t even prioritize looks. Besides, she’s so beautiful, even I, as a woman, can’t help but stare, let alone the men."

Tan You: "He might be after my beauty, but I’m not after anything of his. Besides, a man like him is obviously very shrewd. A mature, shrewd man will either see right through you or bleed you dry."

"I don’t have much substance to begin with; I’d rather not be seen through and then bled dry. ’Don’t give yourself away so easily.’ I understand that principle."

Gao Jing: "He’s a lawyer. How could he not be shrewd?"

Tan You said matter-of-factly, "He might be brilliant in his profession, but so what? Ultimately, it comes down to whether I like him or not. If I don’t, then no matter how outstanding he is, to me, he’s just another male guest."

Zhou Wenwen: "True. But from what I can tell, he doesn’t seem like the type to give up easily."

Tan You shrugged. "Then let him. That’s his business, not mine."

Gao Jing praised her, "That’s how you should be—decisive and firm. The only worry is if he keeps coming on to you. I have a feeling you won’t have much peace for the next few months."

Tan You: "That’s his problem. We’re all adults, we’ll all maintain a certain level of decorum. This is my room. Good night, everyone."

After saying goodbye to the other female guests, Tan You entered the room the production team had arranged for her. ’Looks like I’ve handled things pretty well so far,’ she thought. ’At least everyone can see my attitude toward Xu Jike. They shouldn’t be able to edit this into some ambiguous, romantic scene, right?’

As for how Xu Jike would act from now on, that was his own business. Tan You had already made her stance perfectly clear.

Meanwhile, the directing team was having a bit of a headache. They were conflicted about Tan You. They loved her stunning beauty but lamented how little she spoke on the show. Yet, even when she was just sitting there in silence, it was hard for anyone to look away from her.

An editor was struggling. "Male Guest Number One is obviously into Chi Mo; you don’t even need post-production to see that. But how do we cut Chi Mo’s parts? She’s too cold."

A staff member chimed in, "She’s such a gorgeous woman. Why do we have to pair her up with a male guest? Personally, I don’t think any of them are good enough for her. Let’s just let her shine on her own."

The editor sighed, "At this point, letting her shine on her own is our only option. Her gaze is cold and flat no matter who she’s looking at. Too composed."

The director made the final call. "Our show’s main theme is making friends. We’re not required to have successful pairings. Let’s not inject so much melodrama. Our theme is ’warm and healing,’ about letting people open up amidst beautiful scenery."

The editor breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good to hear. That makes editing much easier."

While the directing team was busy with editing, Tan You was sleeping soundly in her room. She had none of the self-consciousness that often comes with being a great beauty. Chi Mo was a girl who loved makeup, but Tan You was not.