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The official Weibo account of the program team announced that the last three episodes of Heart’s Confession 2 would no longer be live-streamed and would instead be recorded. This news immediately set fans on fire, and the comment section under the post was flooded with reactions.

【What? Why isn’t it live-streamed??】

【No, I refuse, I want to watch the live broadcast!】

【I want the livestream, livestream, livestream!】

【Three days without a live broadcast? I’m going crazy】

【No, please, I want the livestream! It’s the final episode, why are they messing with things?!】

【Livestream, livestream, livestream!!】

Even though fans were furious and upset, the program team did not change the filming method back to live-streaming.

At 5:30 in the morning, a staff member knocked lightly on Wen Chi’s door. Soon, the sound of slippers shuffled from inside.

“Good morning, Teacher Wen.”

Inside, Wen Chi was dressed neatly. Although he looked sleepy, it was clear he had already been up for a while.

“Good morning. Do I need to take my luggage?” Wen Chi asked.

“Have you packed?”

Wen Chi glanced at the suitcase he had packed last night. “Yes, it’s packed.”

“We’ll help you take it later. Here’s your task card and fee.”

Wen Chi took the task card without looking at it immediately. It was still early and the whole house was quiet. He silently followed the staff out of the Heart’s Confession House.

Once in the car, Wen Chi yawned. The car’s lights were on, and he took out the task card to see what was written on it.

【Your task is: Use the budget provided by the production team to purchase ingredients and make dinner for your partner. No quantity limit.】

The short instructions left Wen Chi stunned. He hesitated, flipping the card over to check if he missed anything, but there was nothing else.

“You made me wake up at 5:30 a.m. just so I can cook dinner?” Wen Chi’s expression showed disbelief, like he was ready to throw a tantrum if this wasn’t true.

The staff member tried to suppress a laugh and nodded.

Wen Chi couldn’t believe it. “I had to wake up at 5 a.m. to buy ingredients and cook dinner…”

The staff member cleared his throat and explained, “Actually, the order in which everyone wakes up is determined by a lottery.”

“Who drew it?” Wen Chi’s eyes narrowed.

“Your assistant.”

Wen Chi: “…”

Thank you, Sangsang, really.

The production team’s car drove Wen Chi directly to the market. Even though it was only a little past six in the morning, the market was already bustling. Many vendors had set up their stalls, and there were also early risers with baskets or cloth bags coming to buy vegetables.

On the way to the market, Wen Chi had already searched online for a few simple, home-style dishes. After spending a few minutes, Wen Chi managed to buy all the ingredients he needed.

He thought that once he bought the ingredients, he would just head back to the cottage. However, halfway there, Wen Chi noticed that the route they were taking was different from the one they had used to come, at least it didn’t seem to be the same.

“Where are we going?” Wen Chi asked calmly.

“You’ll know when we get there. If you’re tired, you can sleep for a bit. It’ll take another hour.”

“I see.” Wen Chi nodded, slid down a little in his seat to find a more comfortable position, and leaned his head against the backrest to sleep.

When they were getting close, the staff woke Wen Chi up. “Teacher Wen, we’re almost there.”

Wen Chi wasn’t in a deep sleep, so he opened his eyes as soon as the staff called him. He turned his head to look out the window. The car had stopped in front of a self-built residential house.

Wen Chi got out of the car with a confused expression. Xiao Zou, carrying a camera, got out first to start filming. The grandparents in the small yard didn’t seem startled when they saw the group walk in. The grandmother quickly stood up and went inside the house. A few moments later, a middle-aged couple came out.

The woman, wearing an apron, looked a little awkward. “Hello.”

“Uh, hello, I’m Wen Chi, I’m here to…” Wen Chi, still a bit confused about the situation, turned to the staff. “What am I supposed to do here?”

The staff explained, “Teacher Wen, you will complete your task here today.”

“Here?” Wen Chi paused for a few seconds, then seemed to understand a little. “Am I using their kitchen?”

“Yes.”

Wen Chi rubbed his nose. Though he didn’t quite understand why the production team had driven him so far to cook in someone’s house, it seemed like the family had been informed in advance given their reactions.

“I understand now.” Wen Chi greeted the family, and when he introduced himself to the grandparents, he made sure to bend slightly at the waist, being very polite.

The staff returned to the car and stopped filming. Through the introductions, Wen Chi learned that this family’s last name was Zhang.

Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhang had just finished making breakfast in the kitchen. Aunt Zhang invited Wen Chi, Xiao Zou, and another cameraman to join them for breakfast. Wen Chi didn’t hesitate and sat down.

The two cameramen, who needed to film, politely declined Aunt Zhang’s offer.

It was the first time Wen Chi had eaten breakfast with cameras filming him. Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhang felt a bit stiff in their own home, but Grandpa and Grandma Zhang were completely used to it and were perfectly comfortable in front of the camera.

Wen Chi noticed and said, “Aunt Zhang, Uncle Zhang, don’t be so formal. Just pretend the cameras aren’t here.”

Uncle Zhang smiled wryly, “That’s easy to say, but we’re still not used to it.”

Wen Chi couldn’t do much about it. He couldn’t exactly ask Xiao Zou to go eat elsewhere while they filmed.

Yet time worked its magic, and as the breakfast went on, Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhang became more relaxed in front of the camera.

The ingredients Wen Chi bought were stored in the fridge by Aunt Zhang. She also took him to the rooftop garden, where he could pick any vegetables he needed.

Aunt Zhang asked, “What dishes are you planning to make?”

Wen Chi counted off on his fingers, “Garlic salt ribs, char siu shrimp with scrambled eggs, and blanched vegetables.”

Aunt Zhang nodded, “These dishes are simple and easy to make. The seasoning and tools you need are all in the kitchen.”

Though he knew how to cook, it had been a long time since Wen Chi had done so, so he felt a little unsure.

“Is this for dinner?” Aunt Zhang asked again.

“Are you planning to rest? Or maybe take a walk?” Aunt Zhang asked.

Wen Chi looked a little embarrassed, “I’d like to take a nap. I woke up pretty early today.”

Aunt Zhang was amused by his expression. She really liked Wen Chi. “Sure, you can rest in the guest room. The blankets and pillows in there are new.”

“Thank you, Aunt Zhang.”

Aunt Zhang led Wen Chi to the guest room, which was spotless, and the bed was neatly made.

“Rest for a bit. I’ll come get you when it’s time for lunch,” Aunt Zhang said as she closed the door behind her.

The guest room had cameras installed, clearly arranged by the production team early in the morning.

Wen Chi’s phone had been “confiscated” by the production team, with the promise to return it in the evening. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling, feeling dazed. It was already around eight o’clock, but he had no idea what his boyfriend was doing at the moment. He probably was also at a resident’s house, just like him.

With nothing to do, sleepiness gradually crept in. Wen Chi lifted the blanket and covered himself, then waved at one of the cameras in the room. “I’m going to sleep now.”

Meanwhile, in the car parked nearby, several staff members were seated inside, surrounded by various equipment. On the computer screens, there were several live camera feeds from the cameras installed around Aunt Zhang’s house.

One of the staff members saw Wen Chi wave at the camera and then removed his microphone, unable to resist smiling. “Teacher Wen is just too cute.”

The man sitting next to him turned his head to look at him with a complex expression.

He blankly turned back to his work and contacted Xiao Zou and the other cameraman through his earpiece, asking them to gather some environmental footage.

There was a time limit for the task: dinner had to be completed before 6:30 p.m.

Wen Chi, worried that he might be out of practice, decided to ask Aunt Zhang for some help since the production team hadn’t said anything about not requesting assistance. He asked Aunt Zhang to keep an eye on him while he worked.

First, he made garlic salt ribs. He dried the surface moisture of the ribs with a paper towel and marinated them with seasonings. Wen Chi borrowed the oven, placed aluminum foil on the baking tray, and started cooking the ribs.

Aunt Zhang watched him, though she didn’t interfere. Even though Wen Chi had asked for her guidance, she noticed his actions were careful and precise. For example, when he arranged the ribs on the tray, he spread them out evenly so they would cook more uniformly.

For someone like Wen Chi, who knew how to cook, the task was relatively easy. However, for someone who couldn’t cook, it would be quite challenging.

Meanwhile, Jiang Siheng was sitting with a blank expression, holding a spatula and completely unsure of what to do next. Standing beside him was an elderly woman, who looked at him with a gaze that seemed to say, I can’t believe you don’t know how to cook.

“You’ve put in too much oil. It’s going to turn into fried meat,” the grandmother said, leaning on her cane, tapping it on the floor as she spoke.

“Should I pour some oil out?” Jiang Siheng asked.

The grandmother nodded.

Jiang Siheng carefully poured the excess oil into a bowl and continued listening to the grandmother’s cooking advice.

Ten minutes later.

“The water’s too much!” the grandmother exclaimed.

Jiang Siheng: “…”

The grandmother sighed. “If you’re going to finish this before 6:30, it’s going to be hard.”

Jiang Siheng replied, “There’s still time.”

The grandmother instructed Jiang Siheng to pour out half of the water and asked, “Who are you cooking for?”

“Uh…” Jiang Siheng paused for a second, “For a really good guy.”

The grandmother raised an eyebrow. “You two must have a good relationship.”

Jiang Siheng smiled. “Yes, very good.”

The kitchen went quiet for a moment, then the grandmother tapped her cane again. “The heat’s too high!”

Jiang Siheng: “…”

…

The time it took to cook dinner wasn’t short. Wen Chi placed the three finished dishes into the thermal containers provided by the production team, then put them into a lunch bag and handed them to the staff.

After thanking Aunt Zhang and her family, Wen Chi got back in the car and left.

The car windows were drawn shut, and guests weren’t allowed to open them. Without his phone and unable to see outside, Wen Chi had no idea how much time had passed or where he was being taken.

Only when a staff member spoke to him did he snap out of his daze.

He got out of the car and his gaze was immediately drawn to the magnificent building in front of him.

It was a grand manor with a harmonious blend of classical and modern styles. The ornate carvings on the gate were elegant and detailed. Walking inside, the spacious courtyard opened up to a magnificent garden. Flowerbeds filled with roses and climbers lined both sides, and a fountain shimmered in the center. The manor’s dazzling lights illuminated the flowing water, creating a sparkling effect.

Wen Chi walked through the courtyard, almost dazzled by the beauty of the architecture.

“Good evening, Mr. Wen. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said a tall and handsome man standing at the entrance of the manor’s main building. He wore a black tuxedo, white gloves, and had a polite and courteous demeanor.

Wen Chi paused, unsure how to respond. “…Hello?”

The man gave a slight smile. “Please, follow me.”

Though Wen Chi felt something was strange, he followed the man inside. The man led him into the main building and took the elevator to the fifth floor.

The fifth floor had many rooms, and as Wen Chi stepped onto the thick red carpet, the man stopped in front of one of the rooms. He opened the door, stepped aside, and smiled. “Mr. Wen, please come in.”

The room was warmly lit, with a faint scent of incense in the air. The dining table was set with a tablecloth, decorative flowers, and glass candlesticks, with two sets of dinnerware.

One of the seats was already occupied by a man, who turned to look at Wen Chi when he heard the door open.

The couple, who had not seen each other all day, finally reunited in the grand manor.