Volume One, Chapter 82: Live Broadcast

A week later, the Warmhearted Food Time Machine program at the Magic City Television Station sent Yu Mo a formal invitation.

Yu Mo arrived at the rooftop of the station, where several helicopters were parked. Cameramen were already filming, and she noticed staff members glancing at their phones, watching the live broadcast. She took out her own phone, searched for Director Zhang Zheng’s Warmhearted Food Time Machine, and saw the live feed. Yu Mo felt a bit disgruntled that Zhang Zheng hadn’t told her the show would be live, but considering the ten million appearance fee and the reward for first place, she let it go. It was just a live broadcast, after all. She wasn’t someone who needed to hide.

Today, she wore a red long dress, her wavy hair tucked behind her ears, and she had applied heavy makeup on purpose. Her starry eyes shimmered with allure, captivating anyone who glanced her way. Director Zhang Zheng, seeing Yu Mo’s breathtaking beauty, grinned so widely his eyes nearly disappeared. His plump frame leaned toward the cameraman in a covert gesture, urging more shots of Yu Mo.

With features like a classic painting, bright eyes and dazzling teeth, Yu Mo seemed like a fairy who had stepped out of an ancient scroll. Tall and slender, with a waist like fine silk, every movement exuded natural grace and elegance, a blend of grandeur and charm.

Handing her suitcase to an assistant, she learned the filming location was Coconut Island. Amid the roar of helicopter blades, the wind whipped Yu Mo’s curls around her exquisite face.

After her, Tang Xinyan boarded the helicopter. Tang Xinyan wore a small dress and looked nervous in front of the live camera, fingers tightly gripping the lace-trimmed hem. Her long lashes drooped like tiny brushes, shielding her clear, watery eyes. She was delicate and intelligent, radiating innocence and youth, her petite figure and twin low ponytails making her resemble a doll in a glass case.

Another woman with gentle features joined them, also participating in the show. The assistant told Yu Mo her name was Lin Yue, and Yu Mo quietly committed the name to memory.

The girls appeared one after another, and four beauties boarded the helicopter together. The live chat instantly exploded.

“That woman is the Crown Prince’s fiancée, right? What? Isn’t Yu Mo the girlfriend the Crown Prince announced in Magic City recently? Both of them are on the same show, and they seem to get along!”

“Yu Mo and the Crown Prince are a perfect match. She’s the real deal, I declare myself one of the first Mo fans—count me in!”

“Count me too! I’m obsessed with Mo Mo’s looks, never seen anyone so beautiful—even as a woman, I’m in love.”

“Yu Mo is just the third party between the Crown Prince and his fiancée. Look at her—she’s got that seductive vibe, born for this.”

“Yu Mo, the vixen! Seducing the Crown Prince, wrecking the engagement between the eldest Fu and Lin Hua—shameless! Boycott her online!”

Faced with both praise and insults from netizens, Yu Mo glanced at her phone and then put it away. She understood the nature of the internet: it could make or break a person. If she couldn’t handle the pressure, she wouldn’t have come to this show.

Chu Xirui appeared next. She had been excited to see Yu Mo’s name on the list, but was disappointed they weren’t on the same helicopter. The last female guest was Xie Mengqi, and Yu Mo groaned inwardly at her arrival. She couldn’t understand why Xie Mengqi hadn’t been arrested by Zhuang Zhizhi, and instead showed up for the TV program.

Xie Mengqi shot Yu Mo a provocative glance from afar before handing three large suitcases to her assistant and boarding the helicopter. Chu Xirui, meanwhile, traveled light, bringing only a small mini suitcase.

Chu Xirui looked at Xie Mengqi’s three large suitcases, unimpressed, and didn’t hesitate to call her out, completely unafraid of the live camera.

“Miss Xie, you could fit three grown people in those suitcases. Are you going on vacation? Did you bring your whole house?”

Xie Mengqi, dressed in a mini dress with long legs in black stockings stretched out, took up two seats. Chu Xirui kicked at Xie Mengqi’s foot.

“Hey, move over. Didn’t your mother teach you to be courteous to others?”

Xie Mengqi clenched her teeth, glanced at the camera, and managed not to lose her temper.

On the other side, five male participants appeared. First was Su Beican, who had come because he heard Chu Xirui would be participating. Chu Xirui had originally brought her second brother, Chu Muxing, who doted on his sister and would do anything for her happiness.

Su Beican stood beside Chu Muxing, and the two boarded the helicopter together. Su Beican had short golden hair and striking features, exuding a wild and rebellious aura. Chu Muxing was a bit taller, his long legs even more impressive than Su Beican’s, with a smooth jawline and cold, noble black eyes flecked with starlight, hiding a dangerous chill that made people want to keep looking.

At this point, girls and women in the live chat were mesmerized, tears of emotion streaming from their mouths.

“Su Beican is my dream wolf-boy—no one else can have him!”

“I prefer Chu Muxing’s ascetic vibe—the more untouchable, the more I’m obsessed. Mwah~”

“I’m not picky—kids choose, I want both!”

“Hold on, there are three more guys. Don’t decide too soon.”

Next came Mu Shaozhou, still in his signature black suit with gold trim, his cold presence intimidating those around him. He strode onto the helicopter, and as he turned, his gaze naturally swept toward the one Yu Mo boarded.

Lin Xing appeared, prompting Yu Mo to resist rolling her eyes. He was indeed in the same show as her. Remembering his creations in the cooking class, Yu Mo felt nervous—if the director knew he specialized in questionable cuisine, would he have invited him?

Lin Xing’s defiant eyes quickly scanned Yu Mo’s group before following Mu Shaozhou onto the helicopter. The last male guest was Yu Wenbai, whom Yu Mo didn’t know well, only aware he was a low-profile actor whose name was unfamiliar to most.

With ten male and female guests assembled, Director Zhang Zheng gave the order, and four helicopters soared toward the airport.

On the way, Yu Mo received the program rules from Director Zhang. She flipped through them and realized cooking would be done in male-female pairs. She frowned.

How had a culinary show turned into a dating reality? Whatever happened to the promised cooking competition?

Three hours later, Yu Mo arrived at Coconut Island Airport. More helicopters took the participants to the filming site—a standalone villa by the sea.

The director, holding a blue microphone, began explaining the rules and requirements.

“It’s late, almost dinner time. Each of you must prepare a dish, then vote for each other. Whoever gets the most votes can choose their room first and also pick a room for the person with the fewest votes. Let’s begin.”

The group surveyed the villa: three floors, with luxury suites on top, ordinary suites on the second, and only two storage rooms on the ground floor.

No one wanted to stay in a storage room, Yu Mo thought, and she headed to the kitchen’s large refrigerator to find ingredients for her dish.

As she reached for a vegetable, a cool, pale hand snatched it away.