Chapter 30: Wanting a Free Ride

Facing everyone's gazes, Shen Mu nodded calmly. "That's right, I caught them."

"Shen Mu, you’re incredible! How did you manage to catch so many fish?"

"Are there fish ponds nearby? How did I not notice them?"

"Great! We’ll have fish to eat tonight!"

The other guests began to chatter excitedly. Living in comfort under normal circumstances, they were suddenly hit with a strict budget of one hundred for ten days by the show’s producers. Between the immense pressure and a desperate craving for good food, the first thing they thought of upon seeing the fish was a decent meal.

To their surprise, after setting down his fishing rod, Shen Mu picked up the fish again and turned to leave.

"Shen Mu, where... where are you going?" Ke Hao quickly intercepted the self-assured man. He couldn't afford to be slow; if he were, Shen Mu would be gone with the fish.

Shen Mu replied, "The fishing gear was borrowed from Auntie Fu. The fish are a token of gratitude."

"You... are you planning to give all the fish to Auntie Fu?" Sun Yu looked at the four fish in his hands, astonished.

"Exactly," Shen Mu nodded. He and Xu Zhaozhao were already full, and he had no intention of eating fish twice in one day.

Luo Chengfeng chimed in, "Even if she lent you the gear, is it really worth four fish? Why don't you leave two for us to supplement our dinner?"

Shen Mu stared at him with a strange expression. "You want fish to supplement your meal?"

Luo Chengfeng nodded. "Yeah, with the pittance the production team gave us for living expenses, we have to pinch every penny." If they could have fish every day, that would be even better!

"Sure," Shen Mu nodded. "How much are you willing to pay? How many fish do you want to buy?"

"What?" Luo Chengfeng blinked, stunned. "You’re... charging us?"

Shen Mu looked surprised. "Did you expect to get my fish for free without paying?"

[Ha, I actually believe Shen Mu when he says he’s a corporate executive. This man definitely puts company interests first, always!]

[Do I have to reach an executive level to possess this kind of 'reject whoever I want' mental state?]

[Not necessarily. You could also just be in the period right before moving to the next company.]

Chen Sisi looked incredulous. "Shen Mu, we’re all guests on this dating show. We should be helping each other. How can you ask us for money?" She added, "Besides, didn't you grill fish for Xu Zhaozhao? Why can't you do the same for us?"

[Chen Sisi is actually right this time. We’re all guests here; we should be helping each other out.]

[Shen Mu is clearly playing favorites. He grilled fish for Xu Zhaozhao and is giving the rest to Auntie Fu—why isn't he charging them?]

[Did you forget? Xu Zhaozhao shared food with him yesterday, and Auntie Fu brought them egg pancakes and seaweed soup this morning!]

[If I recall correctly, Shen Mu never agreed to pool their money together. He’s trying to be self-sufficient. So what if he charges people who want his fish?]

"Because she shared her food with me yesterday," Shen Mu stated, simple and direct.

Chen Sisi was so frustrated she nearly fainted. She realized she couldn't go head-to-head with Shen Mu; every time she did, she ended up at a disadvantage. She couldn't help but glare at Xu Zhaozhao. It must be Xu Zhaozhao pulling the strings behind the scenes. She wasn't satisfied with the arrangements and, restricted by her contract from acting out, was using Shen Mu to make things difficult for her.

Xu Zhaozhao, receiving an inexplicable eye-roll from Chen Sisi, helplessly shrugged and turned to head back to her room. How Shen Mu handled the fish had nothing to do with her; she wanted no part of this.

"How about this then..." Ke Hao ignored the departing Xu Zhaozhao and continued to negotiate with Shen Mu. "We’ll treat you to dinner. Can you give us two fish in exchange?"

[Two fish for one dinner? Doesn't sound like a very good deal!]

[Shen Mu’s fish are huge. Asking for two, a single dinner is definitely not enough.]

[There’s no need to be so calculating. This is a dating show, not a wilderness survival challenge. Just let it slide.]

[For most guests, letting it slide works because it’s in their favor. But Shen Mu isn't part of their group; he’s an individual, and he has to consider his own survival.]

[Exactly. Stop with the moral kidnapping.]

"If you want to trade one dinner for two fish, that’s clearly not enough," Shen Mu shook his head.

"Then two dinners," Ke Hao proposed. "Two dinners for two fish. How about that?"

"One dinner," Shen Mu said, watching Xu Zhaozhao enter the house. "For both me and Xu Zhaozhao."

Hearing this, Xu Zhaozhao paused at the doorway. Everyone turned to look at her. The female guests’ eyes were filled with a hint of jealousy. She had stolen the spotlight the moment she arrived, and now, only on the second day of the show, she already had a loyal supporter. So what if she spent all her money? Shen Mu would always plan for her. She would never go hungry or suffer. Who wouldn't be envious and resentful of having someone like that by their side?

Chen Sisi, in particular, was fuming at how Shen Mu constantly prioritized Xu Zhaozhao.

[Haha, Chen Sisi is about to die of anger!]

[The supporting cast you hired yourself—you have to finish the performance even if you're crying.]

"Shen Mu, you seem so cold and distant, I never expected you to be so good to Xu Zhaozhao. You two..." Luo Chengfeng offered a suggestive smile.

Shen Mu wasn't bothered by the implication; he stood there calmly, waiting for Ke Hao's answer.

"Our supplies were bought with everyone's money," Ke Hao said. "Treating you both to dinner isn't a decision I can make alone. Allow me to consult with the others." He turned to the group.

Standing at the threshold, Xu Zhaozhao felt trapped. She frowned—why did Shen Mu have to involve her in everything? Was this just to make his 'white moonlight' jealous? Was she not clear enough? She had no interest in their boring romance games! *Shen Mu, don't use me as a shield. Anything you do or decide has nothing to do with me!*

Just then, Ke Hao collected the group's opinions. Ultimately, the desire for a good meal won out, and everyone agreed to use the pooled supplies to treat Shen Mu and Xu Zhaozhao to dinner.

Shen Mu removed two fish from the straw string and handed them to Ke Hao, then took the remaining two to Auntie Fu’s house.

Holding the heavy fish, Ke Hao wore a satisfied smile. "Everyone, how about one braised and one steamed?"

"Sounds great!" Song Qing was the first to agree. She supported every decision her senior brother made without question. However, a new problem arose: who would actually prepare the fish? They were all pampered, lacked life experience, and certainly didn't know how to process live fish.

"Xu Zhaozhao..." Chen Sisi dragged her into the fray. "You and Shen Mu had grilled fish at noon, so you must know how to handle live fish, right?"