167: Chapter 167 The Top Star Chooses a Small Private Room

Six o'clock sharp.

The wall clock in the living room chimed once.

Jiang Rumu looked down at her phone.

The chat box was still stuck on last night.

Jiang Rumu: "Don't be late tomorrow."

Below it, it was empty.

There was no reply.

She placed her phone face down on her lap.

On the coffee table, there were seven welcome gift boxes; six had been unpacked, and one remained on the far edge.

Xiao Chai had already circled that gift box for the fifth time.

It sniffed the corner of the box, then nudged the ribbon with its nose.

The lid shifted slightly.

Jiang Rumu reached out and grabbed it by the back of its neck.

"If you unpack that again, you're sleeping in the yard tonight."

Xiao Chai sat down immediately, its tail still wagging.

Xiao Qian was lying at Jiang Rumu's feet, ignoring it.

The live stream had 23 million concurrent viewers.

The screen was covered in comments.

[Who exactly is the seventh person?]

[I've been squatting here since four o'clock, Production Team, you'd better give me Li Li.]

[Li Li, Li Li, Li Li, Li Li.]

[Jiang Rumu is here, does it make sense for Li Li not to come?]

[Waiting online for a 'Li Li in Mumu' moment.]

Wen Tang leaned against the sofa armrest and counted the gift boxes again.

"It's already six o'clock, and the last person still hasn't arrived."

Cen Ye pulled his legs back.

"They wouldn't actually stand us up, right? Being absent on the first day? Their ego is even bigger than mine."

Han Xubai pushed up his glasses.

"It's the evening rush hour in Pengcheng; it's not strange to be late. It's quite common to be stuck in traffic until you start questioning your career path."

Cen Ye turned his head.

"Can you even find a way to teach law while talking about traffic jams?"

"I can. If the car in front cuts in maliciously and the driver behind has an emotional breakdown, it easily leads to traffic disputes."

"Just shut up, it's even more congested listening to you."

Fang Ruowei sat on the single sofa, her phone screen facing down on her lap.

"Should we choose our rooms first? It'll be convenient for the last person to take what's left when they arrive."

That was a polite way to put it.

But she had already looked at that large suite on the third floor three times.

Wen Tang stood up immediately.

"I went up to look around just now, why don't we all go take a look?"

No one objected.

The six of them went upstairs.

There were four rooms on the second floor.

Two double rooms, both with bathrooms.

One single room with a bathroom.

Another single room without a bathroom; you'd have to use the public bathroom downstairs at night.

Cen Ye stood at the door of the room without a bathroom and looked for two seconds.

"This room is a bit of a test for one's bladder."

Han Xubai followed up.

"It also tests your ability to walk at night."

"Don't act like an intellectual. Isn't it just going downstairs to the bathroom in the middle of the night?"

"Exactly."

Wen Tang didn't engage with their banter and led everyone to the third floor.

The third-floor door opened.

A large suite.

Walk-in closet.

Terrace.

Private bathroom.

Fang Ruowei stopped at the door, her hands behind her back.

"Wow."

This "wow" was much more natural than when she first entered the house.

Wen Tang also looked inside.

Big.

The Production Team was really generous.

Back in the living room, everyone sat down again.

Wen Tang spoke first.

"Seven people, seven beds. If the last person to arrive is a guy, and he arrives late, that single room without a bathroom should be left for him. What does everyone think?"

As soon as she finished speaking, "It's a guy."

Two voices sounded at the same time.

Jiang Rumu.

Yin Ruoying.

The living room was quiet for three seconds.

Wen Tang's hand was still resting on the back of the sofa, frozen.

Fang Ruowei still had a smile on her face, but her fingers tapped on her knees twice.

Cen Ye looked at Jiang Rumu, then at Yin Ruoying.

Han Xubai picked up his water glass but didn't drink.

Wen Tang spoke first.

"You both know?"

Yin Ruoying twisted the bottle cap.

"I have sources."

Jiang Rumu stroked Xiao Qian's ears.

"The Production Team notified me in advance."

The live stream comments exploded on the spot.

[They both spoke at the same time! At the same time!]

[What does Jiang Rumu knowing mean? It means she confirmed it!]

[Yin Ruoying knowing means the Company has news!]

[Don't hide it, is it Li Li?]

[Li Li in Mumu!]

[Li Li in Mumu!]

Fang Ruowei moved her phone to the side.

She didn't know.

No one had told her this information.

The idea of getting the large third-floor suite suddenly didn't feel as secure.

Cen Ye leaned toward Han Xubai.

"Lawyer Bai, did you notice?"

Han Xubai lowered his voice.

"Notice what?"

"This lineup is basically the entire Dating Reality Show cast moved over here."

Han Xubai lifted his chin, gesturing toward Jiang Rumu's side.

Cen Ye looked over.

Jiang Rumu was lifting Xiao Chai away from the leg of the coffee table.

Cen Ye's voice was even lower.

"Li Li?"

Han Xubai nodded.

"Highly likely."

"Why?"

"Boss Jiang usually doesn't volunteer information. She just took the initiative to say three words."

Cen Ye thought about it.

During the Dating Reality Show, Jiang Rumu was indeed sparing with her words.

If she could nod, she wouldn't say 'uh-huh'.

If she could say 'uh-huh', she wouldn't say more.

Those three words today already counted as an extended business interaction.

Cen Ye leaned back on the sofa.

"If it really is Brother Li, this show needs to raise my appearance fee."

Han Xubai raised his glass.

"How much are you worth right now?"

"More expensive than you."

"A lawyer's unit price is higher than a rapper's."

"You're a pro bono lawyer; your hourly wage is zero."

Han Xubai's glass stopped in mid-air.

He had tripped over his own persona.

In the living room, the topic returned to room allocation.

Yin Ruoying put down the water bottle and grabbed Jiang Rumu's arm directly.

"Mumu, why don't you take that big suite on the third floor?"

She moved closer to Jiang Rumu.

"I'll move a bed up there and stay with you, we can chat at night."

Jiang Rumu pulled her hand away.

"No need."

Yin Ruoying wasn't embarrassed.

"What's wrong? It's so big for one person, how empty."

"I'm not living on the third floor."

When this sentence came out, Wen Tang looked up.

Fang Ruowei also looked up.

Yin Ruoying turned her face.

Jiang Rumu's tone was very flat.

"I'm staying in the single room on the second floor that has a bathroom."

Wen Tang blinked.

"Sister Mumu, aren't you choosing the third floor?"

"No."

Jiang Rumu pressed Xiao Chai back to her feet.

"I have a habit of taking walks at night, and I often take the dogs out for a turn in the middle of the night. It's convenient to go downstairs from the second floor; I don't have to use the third-floor stairs and risk disturbing others."

The reason was complete.

Walking the dogs.

Middle of the night.

Going downstairs.

Not disturbing others.

Every word could pass censorship.

Wen Tang nodded first.

"True, there will be noise when taking dogs up and down the stairs."

Cen Ye followed, nodding.

"Reasonable."

Han Xubai didn't say anything.

From a legal perspective, this reason had no flaws.

The live stream comments, however, didn't intend to let it go.

[Walking the dogs? I believe it, really.]

[Dogs: We're just dog licenses.]

[The single room on the second floor with a bathroom, the room next door is empty.]

[What kind of high-end site selection is this?]

[Jiang Rumu, keep making it up, I love to listen.]

Fang Ruowei smiled and raised her hand.

"Then can I have the third floor? I sometimes have to live stream at night, and the third floor is a bit further away from everyone, so it won't affect anyone's rest."

After she finished, she added, "If everyone minds, I can stay on the second floor too."

No one minded.

The third floor was settled just like that.

The final arrangement was decided.

Third floor: Fang Ruowei, exclusive suite.

Second floor left double room: Cen Ye, Han Xubai.

Second floor right double room: Yin Ruoying, Wen Tang.

Second floor single room with bathroom: Jiang Rumu.

Second floor single room without bathroom: Left for the late male guest.

Everyone accepted it.

Only Yin Ruoying twirled the water bottle in her palm for half a turn.

Walking dogs.

Taking dogs.

Living on the second floor.

Empty room next door.

She didn't expose it.

The comments exposed it for her.

[Yin Ruoying definitely understood.]

[Those who understand have already started holding back laughter.]

[Jiang Rumu: I'm not doing it for Li Li, I'm doing it for the dogs.]

[Xiao Chai and Xiao Qian: Please settle our wages.]

The six of them went upstairs to move their luggage.

Wen Tang opened her suitcase and hung a few pieces of clothing in the closet first.

Yin Ruoying was already done packing.

Her cosmetics were lined up in a row, and her clothes were hung by color.

She was sitting on the bed scrolling through her phone.

Wen Tang put a knitted cardigan on a hanger.

"Sister Ying, who do you think the seventh person is?"

Yin Ruoying didn't look up.

"Guess."

"Could it really be Li Li?"

Yin Ruoying swiped the screen.

"You're quite smart."

Wen Tang's hand paused.

"Then, Sister Mumu choosing the second floor, is it because..."

"You're overthinking it."

Yin Ruoying locked her screen and stood up.

"Jiang Rumu has her own reasons for everything she does."

Wen Tang softly said "Oh."

"I just feel that she's a bit different from before."

Yin Ruoying walked to the door and placed her hand on the doorknob.

"Everyone is different from before."

The door closed.

Wen Tang stood in front of the wardrobe, still holding the hanger in her hand.

She didn't speak again.

But she noted down this information.

After everyone finished packing, the six returned to the living room.

The Production Team staff entered from outside, holding instruction cards.

"Guests, next we will go over the living rules."

Xiao Chai was lying on the floor gnawing on a slipper.

The origin of the slipper was unknown.

The staff flipped to the first page.

"The Production Team has prepared dinner for tonight, at the restaurant outside. This is the only meal. Afterwards, the public food area can be used at any time."

Han Xubai raised his hand.

"What does the private food area mean?"

"You can purchase your own ingredients, label them with your name, and place them in the private area."

"How is stealing food handled?"

The staff member glanced at him.

"According to Lawyer Han's logic, it belongs to civil disputes, and the Production Team will not intervene."

Han Xubai nodded with satisfaction.

"Professional."

Cen Ye turned his head.

"Why are you asking this? Afraid I'll steal your yogurt?"

"I'm afraid you'll steal my yogurt."

"I don't drink yogurt."

"Then I'm relieved."

The staff member continued reading.

"Starting tomorrow, the Production Team will no longer provide main meals. Each person has a daily catering budget of 150 yuan. You can solve lunch on your own—you can go out to eat, order takeout, or cook it yourself. Dinner is handled by yourselves in the villa; you can use both public and private ingredients."

Cen Ye slapped his thigh.

"150? With the cost of living in Pengcheng, that's enough for two bowls of beef brisket noodles and a cup of lemon tea."

Fang Ruowei smiled and followed up.

"It's enough if you're thrifty; everyone can also cook together."

Han Xubai shook his head.

"Not enough. A lawyer's lunch budget is at least 300."

Cen Ye looked at him.

"You're a pro bono lawyer."

Han Xubai was silent for two seconds, then put down his glass.

"This is the third time today you've attacked my professional positioning."

"I'm helping you solidify your persona."

The living room became lively again.

Jiang Rumu didn't participate.

She picked up her phone again.

That message was still sitting there.

Jiang Rumu: "Don't be late tomorrow."

Below it, it was still empty.

She turned off the screen.

Xiao Chai ran to her feet with the slipper in its mouth, its tail wagging rapidly.

Jiang Rumu looked down at it.

"You're quite punctual."

Just as Jiang Rumu was preparing to take the two of them out for a walk, the doorbell rang.

Jiang Rumu, who had been stunned for a moment, saw the corners of her mouth lift slightly without her even realizing it.