Chapter 2944: You

The show 'Fashion Darling' has been filmed up to the third episode.

Last week they sent away three people, the atmosphere in the island cottage visibly tightened, especially the lowest‑ranked contestants, who wished they could carve the two words 'effort' onto their foreheads; at dawn, before the sky was fully light, someone was already practicing catwalk in the living room, and before the cameraman even started work, they had already walked back and forth in front of the camera several times.

The danmaku welcomed this.

: This is right, a competition‑type show should have some tension.

: Can't some people learn this attitude from others?

: LOL, some people are probably still sleeping.

Some people are indeed still sleeping.

Male dormitory area, Room 102 of the double occupancy,

The curtains were drawn tight, only a slit of sunlight leaked in and fell on the sofa armrest.

The person curled up on the sofa was lying askew, head resting on the sofa armrest; the posture looked uncomfortable at a glance, but he slept without any mental burden.

The phone screen on the bedside table lit up and dimmed again; the idle game's notification sound was hummed vaguely in his sleep, then he turned over, buried his face in the sofa cushion, and continued sleeping.

In the living room, the live stream had already started.

Min Heng didn't come downstairs until 8:40; as soon as he went down, he flashed his signature warm smile at the camera: 'Morning, I got up late, I got up late.'

: Here he comes, here he comes.

: Heng Heng looks great today, his condition is excellent!

: He's been second for two episodes straight, Heng Heng, keep pushing—let's aim for first this episode!

: The first‑place Gu Chenzhou probably already went to the gym; this person just got up?

: How can they be the same? Our Heng Heng is the popularity king, high EQ and good at handling things, while that icy aloof Gu Chenzhou—what else can he do besides taking photos?

The contestants in the living room all greeted him; Min Heng has a good personality, everyone enjoys playing with him, and his few jokes loosened the stiff atmosphere.

"Min Heng, I heard your photo set from last episode was praised by Teacher Qi—treat us, treat us!"

A mid‑ranked contestant squeezed out a smile: "Exactly, exactly—treat us!"

Min Heng laughed and waved his hand: "Alright, let me off for now—let me have a bite of food."

He went to the dining hall, grabbed breakfast, ate a few bites, then suddenly stood up and headed for the small kitchen.

The cameraman immediately followed.

: What's he doing in the kitchen? Isn't he full yet?

:???

Min Heng smiled at the camera, a mix of helplessness and indulgence: "I'll get something to eat for Jin Chen—he stayed up all night gaming again, so he's definitely hungry right now."

: Ahhh, it's Zhai Ge again.

: Min Heng is really great, taking such good care of his roommate.

: If this isn't true love, I'd twist my head off.

: Can't some people show a bit of self‑reliance, or just quit voluntarily?

: I'm done—constantly needing someone to wait on me.

Min Heng didn't glance at the danmaku, head down, focused on cooking the pasta, and also put two slices of sauced bread on a small tray before heading upstairs.

As he carried the noodles upstairs, he told the camera: "He's actually easy to please—just a bit lazy; once you get used to him, it's fine."

: Just get used to him??

: How does that sound…?

: KSWL, but I keep feeling it's a bit… weird, why?

He pushed open the door of Room 102; the room was dim, the curtains still drawn.

The camera entered and focused on the person on the sofa.

Jin Chen was awakened by the sound of the door opening; his eyelids twitched, then he slowly opened his eyes.

In the dim light, he slightly turned his head, eyes half‑open, gazing over; his dark pupils still held the heaviness of sleep, and his lazy stare carried an indescribable aggressiveness.

His striking features looked especially aggressive in this light and shadow, his brow bone and jawline appearing as if carved.

He wore a crumpled black shirt, the collar gaping to reveal pallid, almost sickly skin, his lips lacking color; yet this very look made his face appear both decadent and dangerous.

Min Heng met those eyes and smiled slightly: "Awake? I made you some noodles—eat them while hot."

Jin Chen's gaze lingered on his face for a second, then shifted to the camera and away.

He sat up, straightened his back, said nothing, just reached out to take the bowl of noodles and glanced down at it.

The danmaku finally came alive.

: Holy shit holy shit holy shit!!

: That glance just now was deadly.

: Is it really reasonable to look like that?

: No, why does he look like that and still be so lazy?? What a waste!

: Although… that lethargic, sickly vibe is damn hot… (softly)

: LOL, his gaze at the camera just now looked like he was staring at something dirty.

: Min Heng made the noodles himself, and he's giving that expression??

Min Heng seemed already used to his state, smiling helplessly at the camera: "He probably pulled another all‑night gaming session last night; he's not in great shape, so please don't hold it against him."

Jin Chen picked up the fork, twirled a small mouthful of noodles, brought it to his mouth and chewed twice.

He paused about half a second, then swallowed it expressionlessly.

Very, extremely, especially awful.

Jin Chen glanced at the noodles in the bowl, then lowered his eyes, ate three or four more mouthfuls, and set the fork down.

He won't eat any more.

If he eats any more, he fears he'll vomit right then.

But if he doesn't eat now, he'll get hungry later and have to go downstairs to find food, which is more troublesome.

Weighing the two harms, he chose to eat a few bites to tide himself over, and if he's really hungry later, he'll just have some candy.

Jin Chen wore a cold face, cursing inwardly, then reached into his pocket—empty.

…Hiss, that pack of candy from yesterday seems to be finished.

His mood got even worse.

:??? That's all you're eating?

: Is that such a small appetite!! Or is it that he doesn't eat what Min Heng made?

: What a fellow, he really isn't pretending at all.

: No, he's just like this—what does Min Heng hope for? Is it just pure, pure big-sucker brotherly love?

Min Heng looked at the bowl with more than half the noodles left, his eyes dimmed slightly, but he still smiled, "Not to your taste? Want me to get you something else?"

Jin Chen lifted his gaze at him, his peach-blossom eyes showing no emotion, and lazily shook his head.

At that moment his phone rang—a group message from the Program Team.

Notice to all: today's activity will gather at 11 a. m. on the lawn; please all participants attend on time. Activity: Opalus Show Line matching challenge. Unofficial ranking, but it counts toward the overall performance evaluation. Please get ready.

Jin Chen stared at that message, his brows slightly furrowed.

The previous two times this kind of activity came up, he'd avoided them, saying it was an activity but actually just for the Program Team to cut material—no eliminations, no ranking, going or not was fine, anyway the Program Team didn't enforce it.

"……Tsk."

Jin Chen tossed his phone aside, picked up the game console thrown in the sofa corner, and slowly walked toward the bathroom.

Min Heng blinked: "What are you doing?"

"Washing up, then attending the activity."

Min Heng's expression froze for a moment; the previous two times he'd been asked to go, he refused—this time, how…?

He actually didn't want Jin Chen to participate in too many activities either; Jin Chen was like a time bomb—most of the time he had little presence, but his face was just too newsworthy.

"If you really aren't feeling well, should I talk to the Director Team?" Min Heng said with concerned tone and sincere expression, "Your complexion really looks bad; you didn't sleep well last night, did you?"

"No need.

Min Heng stood where he was, keeping a good smile, but his eyes sank as he pretended to tidy up, while his mind raced.

It doesn't matter; even if he participates, what could he do? He's just a lazy bum, incapable of producing anything good.

He consoled himself like that.

In the restroom, Jin Chen looked at himself in the mirror and thought he really hadn't slept well.

In the early morning he was singly notified that he must attend today's activity; at that moment he looked at his phone and thought he was having a nightmare.

Forget it.

Better to go early, just go through the motions, find a corner to hang out—no different from staying in the room before.

Thinking that, Jin Chen grabbed a towel and roughly wiped his face, then tousled his messy hair so it wouldn't look too much like a bird's nest.