Chapter 274

Zhang Lexuan's voice carried from afar.

"Next we will begin the fourth segment. After the stages of mutual admiration, love at first sight, and love at second sight, it's time for destiny bound across three lives, so we'll call this fourth segment 'Three Lives, One Destiny.'"

"In this segment, the female participants will come out one by one, introduce themselves, choose the male they favor, and go to his side. The male participants must stand a bit apart; some may be so charismatic that they attract more than one female. When this segment ends, if a male has not been favored by any female, sorry, you will leave this matchmaking event, and the remaining participants will proceed to the final segment."

Undoubtedly, many male participants will be eliminated in this segment, since there are still more boys than girls; even with one‑on‑one choices, some boys will still leave, not to mention the possibility Zhang Lexuan mentioned of multiple girls choosing one boy.

Seeing that the participants understood her words, Zhang Lexuan gave a slight smile.

"Then let's begin. Girl number one, you're up first."

Girl number one, whom Tang Wulin happens to know, is a member of the Tang Sect, Xiao Xiao.

Tang Wulin looked at her curiously, ready to see how she would choose.

She rode her massive cauldron toward the boys, then stopped in front of a person who was both unexpected and yet reasonable.

Wang Dong.

Tang Wulin blinked in surprise, then smiled and cast a blessingful gaze at the two.

He still liked Wang Dong, so seeing this guy liked by someone made him genuinely happy for him.

But to his surprise, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, instead of being pleased by his blessing, shot him a fierce glare.

Tang Wulin's smile froze on his face.

He recalled what Wang Dong had said to him before.

Could it be… that… no way?

The subsequent development confirmed his suspicion: Jiang Nannan, who was in position five, also chose Wang Dong.

Now Tang Wulin felt like crying without tears.

If Xiao Xiao's choice of Wang Dong might be due to affection, Jiang Nannan's could not be; as far as Tang Wulin knows, this beautiful senior has no romantic feelings for Wang Dong.

In other words, they chose Wang Dong because—

"Girl number seven, it's your turn."

Just as Tang Wulin had figured out Xiao Xiao's and Jiang Nannan's motives, Zhang Lexuan's voice reached his ears.

His attention instantly shifted away from Wang Dong and the others.

At worst they'll beat him up later; it's no big deal. Right now the most important thing is how Huo Yutong will choose.

With Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan as precedents, even if she picks Wang Dong, no one will say a word.

In full view of everyone, Huo Yutong did not introduce herself; she stepped down from a lotus leaf and walked slowly toward the boys. Everyone's expression turned oddly strange.

Her movements inevitably reminded people of Tang Wulin's earlier behavior—could it be that they're a couple? Even the way they crossed the river was identical.

Some less observant people even began to suspect that the two might share the same soul bone.

Fortunately, the sharp‑eyed could see the difference: where Huo Yutong walked, a thin layer of floating ice was gradually melting—a phenomenon Tang Wulin didn't have at that moment.

Clearly, she was walking on the ice by controlling the ice element, which differed from Tang Wulin's method.

Huo Yutong quickly reached the front of the male participants; when she passed Wang Dong, her steps faltered, making Tang Wulin's heart tremble.

Fortunately she eventually passed Wang Dong, came to Tang Wulin's side, a thin sheet of ice formed beneath her feet, and she stood silently beside him.

Tang Wulin was overjoyed, immediately reaching out to take her hand.

"Thank you!"

Huo Yutong's body stiffened; instinctively she tightened her hand, trying to break free, but found she couldn't, so she turned her face away from Tang Wulin, refusing to look at him.

Tang Wulin didn't lose heart; he had heard from Wang Dong how Huo Yutong treated any boy who made advances on her over the past year and a half. If she truly didn't want him, she wouldn't have stopped there, so managing to hold her hand was already a big step forward.

After two years, grasping her delicate, bone‑like hand again, Tang Wulin felt immense happiness.

Zhang Lexuan gave a slight smile.

"Congratulations, Tang Wulin. Now, please welcome our next female participant."

Perhaps because Tang Wulin's attitude was too obvious, or perhaps because he knew he couldn't win Huo Yutong, in any case, although Tang Wulin is outstanding, no one else chose him besides Huo Yutong.

While the remaining female participants continued to pick their preferred partners, Tang Wulin kept chatting with Huo Yutong, but she, though letting him hold her hand, never responded to his words.

Soon the fourth segment 'Three Lives, One Destiny' ended, and the fifth segment, the final one, was about to begin.

"Next we will conduct the final segment. After destiny binds three lives, naturally comes a hundred‑year union, so the name of this last segment is 'Hundred‑Year Union.'"

"In the 'Hundred‑Year Union' segment, after the first four segments give priority to the female participants, the final decision flips to the male participants. The males can ultimately choose the female they wish. If the girl you choose is the one who previously chose you and there's no other competitor, congratulations. But if a competitor appears, we'll enter the 'snatching bride' stage. Among all five segments, 'Hundred‑Year Union' has the most variables and is the crucial moment to showcase everyone's strength and charm, so please be prepared."

Bei Bei finished speaking, and Zhang Lexuan continued: "The rules for the 'snatching bride' stage are as follows: if a male selects a girl who did not choose him, that girl has the right to challenge him. If the challenge succeeds, the male loses his chance to choose and is eliminated immediately; only by winning can he choose. Of course, if you can gain sympathy or the girl you chose spares you, you may choose again. If the newly chosen girl has already selected another male, we first ask that male's willingness; if he also chose her, the two males will duel, the loser is eliminated, and the winner gets another chance to profess to that girl."

"If multiple girls choose the same male, and that male picks one of them, the other two girls may also issue a challenge. Here I must emphasize that during challenges we will use various methods to keep the levels as balanced as possible."

"It sounds complicated, but once this segment starts everyone will understand quickly. Bei Bei and I will control the 'snatching bride' stage, and we'll proceed in order of the girls' numbers."

(End of Chapter)