Ling Shuangjiang stared intently at him, then smiled, pulled out a clean tissue, folded it, and raised her arm.
He was very close to Xie Wang, his long hair occasionally brushing against Xie Wang's arm, chest, and shoulder.
Xie Wang instinctively wanted to dodge, but couldn't bear to move.
A gentle touch landed on his forehead, and Ling Shuangjiang raised her hand to wipe it away: "Why are you sweating so much? Is your clothing not breathable?"
"Hmm, it's a bit stuffy." For some reason, Xie Wang's voice sounded somewhat aggrieved.
These clothes are really stuffy and uncomfortable to wear.
[Aaaaaah, I want to download this scene and watch it over and over again!]
[The gentle princess is wiping the knight's sweat!]
[I'm going to die, I can't take it anymore!]
[Can they be together? Please!]
The frost is just around the corner.
Xie Wang lowered his head discreetly and could see the red mole on Ling Shuangjiang's chest. Unconsciously, his gaze deliberately shifted elsewhere, and he recalled the mole on Ling Shuangjiang's back.
He always felt that Ling Shuangjiang's aura was sweet, just like the person herself.
He then remembered the peony in his bedroom.
That's true. Although peonies aren't as vulgar as tree peonies, they are sweet in their own way.
Ling Shuangjiang quietly observed Xie Wang's every move. Seeing his conflicted and nervous expression, she silently hid a smile and carefully put away the tissue.
"Alright, let's go."
"Um."
The task for the two was not difficult. With Xie Wang around, Ling Shuangjiang didn't need to use her brain at all and easily cracked the clues.
However, when the two followed the task card to the final level, they discovered that three guests had gathered there.
Chyi Yu greeted them, saying, "The last challenge was absolutely insane; I give up."
Xie Wang asked curiously, "What mission?"
Chyi Yu was both amused and exasperated: "He asked me to embroider a bird with thread."
[Haha, Chyi Yu looks so wronged.]
[It's really difficult; what normal person could do that?]
[Chyi Yu's task card has five black stars, presumably indicating the highest difficulty level.]
[I just glanced at Cheng Jia's; his is embroidered with peonies using thread.]
[What normal guest could do this task?!]
Sure enough, when it was Xie Wang and Ling Shuangjiang's turn to receive the task according to the instructions, it was still embroidery.
Xie Wangxiu embroidered willow trees, while Ling Shuangjiang embroidered fish.
Xie Wang had a headache: "I have no experience with embroidery, and even threading a needle is difficult."
Ling Shuangjiang glanced at the tools on the white table and said gently, "Then go and rest, wait for me for a while."
"You can?" Xie Wang frowned. "Don't prick your hand with the needle."
Ling Shuangjiang smiled and said, "Don't worry."
The reason the final challenge was entirely about embroidery was because it was a soft advertisement placed by the program team for a Sichuan embroidery brand.
Ling Shuangjiang moved very lightly and calmly.
After selecting the right colors of thread, he used a special pen to draw the outline of the fish and the distribution of color blocks on them before starting the embroidery.
He embroidered quickly on the fabric, his movements skillful and fluid, like a master craftsman with over a decade of experience.
Soon, Cheng Jia and Qi Yu curiously came over.
Xie Wang stood beside Ling Shuangjiang and asked in surprise, "You can embroider?"
“Yes, my ancestors were in the kesi (silk tapestry) craft. Although Shu embroidery and kesi are made differently, I know a little bit about it,” Ling Shuangjiang said.
"So your mother is a tailor?" Cheng Jia had been feeling annoyed for the past few days because Ling Shuangjiang had stolen his thunder. Now he finally found an outlet for his frustration and said sarcastically, "I can't believe the tailoring profession still exists in the 21st century."
[Is Cheng Jia sick? What's wrong with the tailor?]
Yes, as long as you work with your own hands, there's no shame in any profession.
[However, what exactly is the kesi (silk tapestry) mentioned during the Frost's Descent solar term?]
[I searched for "kesi" (silk tapestry), and the phrase "an inch of kesi is worth an inch of gold" originated from Baidu.]
[I know about kesi (silk tapestry). I majored in Classical Chinese, and my professor said that kesi was an ancient royal craft, a luxury item in our country, and its production process was extremely complex.]
[Kesi (silk tapestry) is an intangible cultural heritage, right? Very few people know how to make it now, and a single piece can sell for millions.]
[Wow, Frost's Descent even has a hidden identity?]
In ten minutes, the simple fish embroidery was finished.
Ling Shuangjiang completely ignored Cheng Jia's sarcasm and raised her hand to Xie Wang: "Does this count as a success?"
Xie Wang: "Of course it counts."
Chyi Yu said admiringly, "I didn't expect Shuangjiang to be so good at everything. I guess you're the only one who can complete the task today."
Upon hearing this, Xie Wang's gaze became more wary, and he subtly took Ling Shuangjiang's hand, saying, "Let's go."
Ling Shuangjiang: "Okay."
On the way back, Xie Wang held Ling Shuangjiang's hand, his heart pounding.
He felt that Ling Shuangjiang's faint fragrance was addictive.
In the evening, the other guests gradually gathered at the castle's restaurant, and the director announced the winners of today's games: "Congratulations to Chen Ying and Shuangjiang!"
The guests applauded in response.
Ling Shuangjiang raised her eyes and met Chen Ying's gaze. She nodded to her.
After a long day of activities, the guests were all exhausted and took their seats to prepare dinner. During the meal, Xie Wang took good care of Ling Shuangjiang, helping him cut steak and peel the lobster, cutting the meat into small pieces. Bai Xinyu, with his sharp eyes, remarked that it really looked like he was taking care of a princess.
But as soon as Ling Shuangjiang looked at him, he became somewhat abnormal, restless, and serious.
After the meal, fruit and desserts were set on the table.
The director prompted, "You two, you can exercise your rights now. Who wants to go first?"
Ling Shuangjiang: "Ladies first."
Chen Ying thanked him, then mustered her courage and stood up to look at Xie Wang: "I would like to invite Xie Wang to dance with me on the dance floor."
This suggestion caused a moment of silence in the room.
Everyone here is shrewd; they all know that Xie Wang and Ling Shuangjiang have a good relationship and he has never chosen any of the female guests.
Now that Chen Ying is being so bold and proactive, I wonder how Xie Wang will react.
[Oh my god, I'm a little...]
[Although Chen Ying is very brave in pursuing love, I think she already has someone she likes.]
[Where does his heart belong? Didn't Xie Wang say he was straight?]
[But the fourth male lead belongs to the third male lead.]
[Who stamped it? Aren't they brothers?]
Xie Wang was peeling nuts for Ling Shuangjiang one by one when he heard this, and his expression showed a hint of confusion and resistance.
Chen Ying is a girl, and a direct refusal could easily hurt someone's self-esteem. Xie Wang quickly put together a logical and tactful reason for refusing her.
Seeing Xie Wang's stern expression, Ling Shuangjiang deliberately teased him, "What kind of dance do you want to do?"
Xie Wang frowned slightly: "I don't want to go."
Ling Shuangjiang raised an eyebrow: "Really?"
"Really." Xie Wang stood up and said to Chen Ying, "I'm sorry, I'm a terrible dancer. My friends all say I look like a monkey."
This answer caused the guests present to burst into laughter.
Even Chen Ying couldn't help but laugh.
The director then said, "You don't have to jump. Truth or Dare, choose one!"
Xie Wang didn't hesitate: "I choose dare."
Two minutes later, a mysterious cardboard box was placed in front of Xie Wang, allowing him to randomly draw a great adventure mission.
Xie Wang pulled out a blue label and handed it to the director.
The director spread out the paper and gave a strange smile: "I advise you to agree to dance with Chen Ying."
[Huh? Why do you say that?]
[What kind of mission is it? I'm so curious.]
[Announce it soon!]
Xie Wang asked, "What mission?"
The director smiled and showed the label to everyone: "Choose any person in the room to kiss."
Wow, that's amazing!
"Keep it up, Mr. Xie!"
"One more! One more!"
The audience and the live chat instantly became lively, with countless eyes fixed on Xie Wang, awaiting his choice.
Xie Wang's first reaction was that this task was unreasonable, and his expression was not very good.
Why would someone embark on such a grand adventure?
He glanced at her, his displeasure still lingering between his brows, and his eyes met Ling Shuangjiang's.
Throughout the day, Ling Shuangjiang's makeup and hair remained perfectly in place, and her delicate and gentle features radiated a captivating warmth under the bright crystal chandelier.