Chapter 69
The show officially announced everyone’s initial pick choices.
Although many had already speculated, most were still genuinely shocked… Fang Huai received unanimous votes.
All five other guests had sent their first text messages to him.
It was expected that Yin Wanyue would choose him. Lin Huan and Feng Lang picking Fang Huai wasn’t surprising either. As for Duan Yang, it made some sense—Fang Huai had deliberately left him the more comfortable inner room.
But Ye Yuyuan… Why did his message go to Fang Huai?
Livestream Chat:
[This show has officially turned from a dating reality show into a male lead power-fantasy drama…]
[Isn’t it standard for someone to get all the votes on the first day? Season 2 and Season 4 were the same, you’re all overreacting.]
[Wait, did my baby send his message to Lin Huan?! I’m so jealous 55555]
[Makes sense. If I were a straight guy, I’d pick Lin Huan too—she’s delicate, clean, gentle, and beautiful. Yin Wanyue is stunning too, but her beauty is too bold.]
[So… did President Ye’s finger slip???!]
The other votes made sense, but this one was baffling.
It was obvious to everyone throughout the day that Fang Huai and Ye Yuyuan didn’t get along. In the voting interface, Ye Yuyuan had arrows pointing toward multiple people—except for Fang Huai, where the vote count was the lowest.
That afternoon, an anonymous user on a gossip forum claimed to be an employee at Ptah. They recounted how, during a break, they had been watching a video of Fang Huai when Ye Yuyuan happened to walk by—his expression had visibly darkened. This only fueled the theory that Ye Yuyuan disliked Fang Huai.
So the text message made no sense.
Most people, however, were hesitant to believe a single message over what they had witnessed with their own eyes. Some speculated that the production team manipulated the votes to create a dramatic moment on the first day. Maybe they even coaxed Ye Yuyuan into sending his message that way.
But that theory didn’t quite hold up either—Ye Yuyuan wasn’t here for money, so he had no reason to play along. And yet, there was no better explanation.
As for the actual content of the messages, the production team displayed them one by one:
“Baby, I was so happy to see you today. It felt like a dream. I hope you’re always happy.”
Clearly from Yin Wanyue.
“Thanks for the room.”
Likely from Duan Yang.
“It was really nice meeting you. I hope we can cook together more in the future! www”
Based on their dinner conversation, this was probably Lin Huan. Seems like she really did change her pick.
“Good night.”
Too short to tell who sent it.
As for the last message… Whether intentionally or not, the production team chose not to reveal it, leaving the audience hanging. And with that, the day’s livestream ended.
Most viewers felt it had ended too soon but had no choice but to log out and wait for tomorrow at 8 PM when the show resumed.
*
In just sixteen hours, Heartbeat Signal had skyrocketed in popularity. By midnight, it was officially the number one trending topic.
Meanwhile, inside the Signal House, the cameras were finally turned off—it was now the guests’ private rest time.
But not everyone was sleeping peacefully.
On the balcony of Duan Yang and Feng Lang’s room, a young man sat lazily on the windowsill, long legs stretched out. The cigarette between his fingers flickered dimly as he stared into the vast night, deep in thought.
“Have a drink? Let’s talk.”
Feng Lang leaned against the doorframe, holding a glass of liquor in his hand.
Duan Yang nodded absentmindedly. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Is he really…?”
“Yeah.” Feng Lang replied simply.
*
In the girls’ room, Lin Huan exhaled in relief after checking her messages. Meanwhile, Yin Wanyue lay on her bed, casually applying a face mask.
And in another room…
Fang Huai was curled up under his blanket. At first, he had been listening carefully for any sound from Ye Yuyuan’s side of the room, but before long, sleepiness overtook him.
He didn’t notice that a small snowman had been placed on his windowsill.
In the corner of the room, Ye Yuyuan sat silently, staring at his phone. After a long moment, he finally locked the screen and let out a quiet sigh.
His slender fingertips were slightly reddened—as if from the cold.
He listened quietly. Only when the younger man’s breathing evened out did he finally stand up, walk over to Fang Huai’s bed…
…and gently tuck in his blanket.
*
The Next Day
The snow had started falling last night, much heavier than the light flurry from the night before. By morning, the world outside had transformed into a blanket of white. The moment Fang Huai opened his eyes, he was met with the sight of a snow-covered landscape.
A thick layer of snow had piled up on the eaves, resembling the icing on a candy house, sparkling under the soft morning light. His bed was close to the window, and on the windowsill sat a small snowman—a carrot for a nose and a big, cheerful smile.
Fang Huai immediately popped out from under his blanket.
It snowed!
His hometown was even farther south than Nan City, and snow was a rare sight—maybe once every few years, and even then, it was usually just a light dusting, like the one two days ago. His excitement bubbled up instantly as he looked at the tiny snowman on his windowsill. Hesitating for a moment, he reached out and gently touched its nose.
Who left this here?
Before he could figure it out, a snowball suddenly smacked against his window from below.
Fang Huai pushed open the window and looked down. Yin Wanyue stood there, bundled up in snow boots and earmuffs, calling out to him—
“Baby, wanna have a snowball fight?”
Fang Huai barely took a second to think before raising his brows and replying, “Sure. Wait for me.”
He bolted into the bathroom to wash up, threw on his clothes, and rushed out the door. Just as he stepped outside, he suddenly remembered something—he ran back in, carefully moved the little snowman inside to keep it out of the sun, and turned off the heater to stop it from melting.
Then, he stepped out again, wearing a puffer jacket, cargo pants, and snow boots. As he walked out of the small villa, the morning sun cast a golden glow behind him, making him look effortlessly handsome.
But before he could fully bask in his own coolness, a snowball smacked him straight in the face, slid down his jaw, and slipped into his collar.
Fang Huai: “…!”
Their eyes met. They squinted at each other.
And in the next second, chaos erupted.
Three minutes later, a crew member came over to remind them about the day’s filming schedule—but before he could say much, Yin Wanyue hit him with a snowball. Furious, he rolled up his sleeves and joined the battle.
Five minutes later, Lin Huan arrived to call them in for breakfast—only to be met with a barrage of three snowballs. She couldn’t even finish her sentence before she had to crouch down, shielding herself. Years of being patient and gentle were worn down in an instant. Hands shaking, she packed a snowball and smashed it directly into Yin Wanyue’s face.
Ten minutes later, Feng Lang walked out of the house—
By the time Ye Yuyuan stepped outside, the battlefield was in full mayhem. Snowballs whizzed through the air, everyone was involved—contestants and staff alike.
Ye Yuyuan: “…”
His gaze swept across the chaos until he immediately spotted Fang Huai in the mess. Stepping carefully through the snow, he approached and called out—
“Fang Huai, your scarf—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Fang Huai was completely immersed in the fight, crouched low with one leg bent as he packed a snowball. His nose was flushed red from the cold, his hat pulled low, revealing his sharp jawline and slightly parted lips. His light amber eyes gleamed, flicking toward Ye Yuyuan.
Ye Yuyuan sensed danger.
The next second, a snowball smacked against his neck.
Fang Huai had acted purely on instinct. By this point, the battle had reached the point of total anarchy—friend or foe, it didn’t matter anymore.
At exactly 8:00 AM, the cameras in the courtyard automatically turned on, recognizing the guests’ faces and locking onto the center of the action—
The eager viewers, who had been waiting with their hands hovering over the refresh button, immediately flocked to the livestream. Within two minutes, the number of live viewers skyrocketed to 200,000.
Livestream Chat:
[W-WHAT IS HAPPENING?!]
[Click to watch: REAL-LIFE BATTLE ROYALE?!]
[Holy shit, this is the most intense season of Heartbeat Signal yet! How did it escalate to a full-on melee so fast?!]
In the middle of the screen, contestants and crew were locked in a full-fledged war, snowballs flying everywhere.
But the highlight of the chaos?
Fang Huai vs. Ye Yuyuan.
Fang Huai tackled Ye Yuyuan into the snow, straddling him with his legs on either side. Then, with ruthless precision, he stuffed a snowball straight down Ye Yuyuan’s collar.
Ye Yuyuan: “…”
Audience: “…………”
Instinctively, Ye Yuyuan reached out to steady Fang Huai’s waist. One of his legs was bent, the other stretched out, leaning back slightly to accommodate Fang Huai’s movements. Meanwhile, the boy’s legs were firmly clamped around his waist.
Fang Huai, having just stuffed the snowball down Ye Yuyuan’s collar, noticed that the man beneath him wasn’t retaliating. He froze, gradually snapping back to reality.
Their eyes met.
“…S-Sorry,” Fang Huai stammered blankly, rubbing his nose. “I, uh—”
He was still sitting on Ye Yuyuan’s waist, one hand braced against his chest and abdomen, feeling the firm tension of the muscles beneath his palm. At first, Fang Huai hadn’t thought much of it—he used to play like this with Fang Jianguo when he was younger. It seemed normal. He had seen best friends do this in movies and shows, too.
But why did it suddenly feel… different here?
Ye Yuyuan remained silent, lips pressed into a thin line. A moment later, a faint flush crept up the side of his face.
His skin had a naturally cool undertone, making any change in color immediately noticeable—and, somehow, strangely attractive.
He averted his gaze, voice a little rough, “…Get up.”
Fang Huai panicked slightly, scrambling off of Ye Yuyuan in a clumsy mess.
His eyes lingered on the subtle flush on Ye Yuyuan’s cheek, and that strange, tingling sensation crawled up his spine again.
Ye Yuyuan’s posture was noticeably a little stiff as he walked back toward the villa. Fang Huai, still flustered, ended up moving just as awkwardly. The two of them looked like elementary school kids, staring in opposite directions the entire way—pointedly avoiding eye contact, acting as if nothing had happened.
Livestream Chat:
[I must be blind. Why does this feel… a little sweet??? Is this forbidden chemistry??!]
[You’re blind.]
[Blind x1. The tension is obviously intense, like a standoff.]
[Take off your shipping goggles and look at this from a normal perspective. Not everyone can handle the arctic-level crumbs, alright? lights a cigarette]
[Okay, maybe they aren’t exactly a “couple,” but are they really as hostile as people say? I mean, who has a snowball fight with someone they genuinely hate? That’s weird.]
This unexpected snowball fight had caught the production team off guard—but the results were spectacular.
Before long, GIFs of the best moments flooded Weibo, spreading like wildfire.
One popular clip captured Lin Huan’s descent from patience to rage, finally snapping and joining the battle. Another showed Feng Lang getting hit by a snowball, standing frozen for a moment, and then dramatically removing his gloves like a medieval knight before picking up a snowball to duel.
Of course, this also included the GIF of Fang Huai tackling Ye Yuyuan into the snow and stuffing a snowball down his collar.
Some comedic netizens even juxtaposed this GIF with Ye Yuyuan’s composed demeanor at Davos and various international conferences, making the contrast even more hilarious and dramatic.
After the snowball fight, everyone calmed down, changed into dry clothes, had breakfast, and officially began the day’s schedule.
“Today is Date Day,” the director explained in a voiceover. “Yesterday’s draw determined that the date initiators are Fang Huai, Ye Yuyuan, and Feng Lang.”
The initiators had to plan their dates in advance, while the remaining three participants drew lots to decide whom they would be paired with.
Since both Fang Huai and Ye Yuyuan were date initiators, they naturally wouldn’t be paired together—most likely an intentional move by the production team. While the show was technically unscripted, they often engineered “rivalry” between certain participants to create more drama and tension.
After breakfast, the draw results were as follows: Fang Huai was paired with Yin Wanyue, Feng Lang with Duan Yang, and Ye Yuyuan with Lin Huan.
“…”
Yin Wanyue tossed aside her lot and cheerfully stepped next to Fang Huai. “Zai Zai, we must be destined!”
Ye Yuyuan: “…”
Expressionless, he absentmindedly crushed the straw in his hand and tossed it into the trash.
Feng Lang and Duan Yang had no strong opinions about their pairing—they weren’t here for romance anyway, just going through the motions. As Feng Lang passed Ye Yuyuan, he smirked maliciously and quipped, “I’m really curious now—just how badly can you mess up this perfect hand of cards?”
*
Twenty minutes later, three cars pulled out of the garage.
Each date had been pre-planned: Fang Huai chose to visit the aquarium, Ye Yuyuan planned a museum exhibition, and Feng Lang had something more elaborate in mind—though neither he nor Duan Yang seemed particularly enthusiastic about their pairing.
Ye Yuyuan gripped the steering wheel with one hand, absentmindedly tapping his index finger against it. His mind wandered, while Lin Huan sat stiffly in the back seat.
She wasn’t oblivious—she had initially been interested in Ye Yuyuan, but his rejection had been painfully clear. There was no point in making a fool of herself. Now, she just felt incredibly out of place… She thought to herself, If only I had been paired with Fang Huai instead.
Fang Huai’s personality actually suited her well. He wasn’t overly talkative, but he was considerate of others’ feelings.
As she mused over this, she glanced up and suddenly noticed the road sign ahead.
This wasn’t the way to the art museum—it was the route to the aquarium.
Lin Huan: “…”
“The exhibition at the museum got postponed,” Ye Yuyuan said, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. “Do you mind going to the aquarium instead?”
Lin Huan: “…I don’t mind. It’s up to you. Uh, when was the exhibition postponed?”
Ye Yuyuan replied indifferently, “Just now.”
Lin Huan: “…………”
Her suspicion immediately skyrocketed.
Ye Yuyuan’s intentions were obvious. But was he doing this for Yin Wanyue—or for Fang Huai?
*
Meanwhile, at the aquarium.
“I really, really like you,” Yin Wanyue said bluntly. “Ah, such a shame it’s only for a month.”
They stood inside the aquarium, surrounded by an endless sea of blue. It was a transparent tunnel, with water on all sides. Schools of colorful fish glided gracefully above and below them, their movements fluid and mesmerizing.
Her words were direct, and the live chat responded in kind.
[23333 Yin Wanyue is so straightforward! I love Zai Zai too!]
[Good thing it’s only a month, or I’d be drowning in jealousy.]
[The aquarium is so beautiful!]
Fang Huai said seriously, “You don’t like me in that way.”
Yin Wanyue shrugged. “Does it make a difference? …Alright.”
In truth, her feelings leaned more toward those of a “mom fan” or “big sister fan.” Besides, she hadn’t come on this reality show for romance in the first place.
With no emotional burdens between them, the two chatted as they strolled through the aquarium, making their atmosphere the most relaxed and enjoyable of all.
An hour later, Yin Wanyue went to the restroom.
Fang Huai remained where he was, waiting. His gaze drifted through the glass wall, watching the serene, rippling blue water. In that instant, his memories seemed to be pulled far, far away.
