After Being Bitten By Top-Tier O, Flop A Went Viral - Chapter 7

7: The Instinct of the Marked One

After signing the contract, Qin Que’s life returned to normal. With no recent work commitments, she went to bed early, woke up early, exercised regularly, and occasionally helped out at her family’s appliance store.

Apart from Yan Qing, who visited her dreams punctually every night, everything was peaceful and uneventful.

She had already kissed the dream version of Yan Qing in countless different scenarios, and her self-assessment had escalated from “pervert” to “hopeless pervert.”

She even mustered the courage to consult Dr. Zhao again.

The doctor said this was completely normal, indicating her craving for Yan Qing’s pheromones, and it would fade once the mark completely dissipated. At the same time, the doctor asked why she hadn’t dreamed of anything more intimate.

How would she know?

Before she could even answer, the doctor sent her a sympathetic emoji along with a message:

Young people these days, so innocent.

Qin Que felt like she was being insulted but couldn’t pinpoint how.

Two weeks later, the official Weibo account of Destined made an announcement, revealing the broadcast date and the first pair of guests:

The renowned rapper Jin Shuo and top idol Yan Yuzhen.

As soon as the post went live, fans and netizens swarmed the comments section, creating a lively uproar.

Comment 1: As expected of you, Destined. I, the ultimate drama lover, hereby crown you my digital godmother.

Comment 2: Oh my god, oh my god! I had to check the calendar—what year is it again?

Comment 3: Hahahahaha, the instant noodle wives are real! I knew it, I knew it! I’ve been starving for three years—three years! Do you know how I’ve suffered these past three years?!

Comment 4: Can this bloodsucking leech just die already? What did our Yuzhen do to deserve being forced into a fake relationship with this dead-faced nobody?

Comment 5: Hey, commenter above, let’s be real. Anyone with eyes can see who’s clinging to whom. Tell your “sister” to keep her hands to herself and stop draping herself all over people.

Though Qin Que had heard of both celebrities, the storm of comments left her utterly bewildered. She decided to ask Wu Feng for clarification.

Before Wu Feng could reply, Bai Tuantuan from the group chat let out a screech:

Que Que, how do you not know about the instant noodle wives?!

Qin Que felt this remark carried the same undertones as Dr. Zhao’s “innocent” comment.

Bai Tuantuan sent her a link to a Weibo article titled Those Years I Ate Instant Noodles.

Qin Que read it carefully and finally understood the backstory.

Jin Shuo and Yan Yuzhen had both risen to fame three years ago through the hit survival show Become an Idol!. Back then, they were teammates and even roommates. Jin Shuo was a beta, while Yan Yuzhen was an omega. Their dynamic—cool girl meets sweet girl—along with their electrifying performances and off-stage chemistry, had amassed a massive fanbase.

The nickname “instant noodle wives” came from a small anecdote: One night, after training late and missing dinner, Jin Shuo had no choice but to cook her stockpile of instant noodles. Just as they were ready, Yan Yuzhen burst into the room, pale and trembling, and begged, “Shuo Shuo, give me a bite—I’m starving to death!”

Jin Shuo handed over the noodles, only to watch the petite omega devour all three packs she had left. In the end, Jin Shuo had to drink the broth straight from the pot to stave off hunger.

If this isn’t love, what is?

However, their CP journey didn’t last. After the show, their careers took different paths. Yan Yuzhen remained her usual self, often mentioning Jin Shuo and hugging her whenever they met.

But Jin Shuo began avoiding topics related to Yan Yuzhen, even skipping events where Yan Yuzhen was present. To date, they hadn’t appeared together in over a year.

Seems like there’s quite a story there.

Qin Que closed the article. She wasn’t one for gossip, so she didn’t feel the excitement others might. Instead, she was worried about something else.

During this time, she had caught up on the first two seasons of Destined and noticed that the audience rated the guests’ performances in real time. To ensure fairness, the production team usually balanced the guests’ popularity.

For example, in the last season, the amateur participant had been paired with a Grammy-winning singer.

Yan Yuzhen was a national idol, and Jin Shuo was also quite well-known.

As for Qin Que? She was practically a nobody compared to them.

If the show aimed to balance popularity, her partner would undoubtedly be a household name.

A certain woman’s dazzling smile flashed through Qin Que’s mind—those indigo-blue eyes narrowing as they studied her with amusement.

She shuddered.

Surely… not.

Yan Qing was still at the peak of her career. Acting was far more lucrative than variety shows, and she had never appeared on any reality programs, let alone a dating show.

Was this her way of repaying me?

Qin Que quickly dismissed the narcissistic thought.

The show would start filming in a week, and all guests would be announced beforehand. She’d find out soon enough.

The next day, Destined’s Weibo announced the second pair of guests:

Award-winning director Dai Yuchen and actress Nie Sijun.

This time, the comments were surprisingly harmonious. Nie Sijun’s fans wept tears of joy, while their CP fans celebrated wildly.

Dai Yuchen and Nie Sijun were widely regarded as the entertainment industry’s golden couple. She was the white moonlight in many moviegoers’ hearts, while he came from a prestigious family and was a rising talent. When their relationship went public, the entire industry rejoiced. After marriage, Nie Sijun rarely appeared in public but frequently posted sweet daily life updates on Weibo, referring to Dai Yuchen as “Mr. Dai.” Many followed her posts, calling it their dream marriage.

Qin Que browsed Nie Sijun’s Weibo. Over the past five years, she had posted almost exclusively about Dai Yuchen, rarely mentioning herself.

After reading a couple of entries, Qin Que couldn’t understand the gushing comments about how sweet it all was. To her, Dai Yuchen had simply made breakfast for his wife, then sulked because she didn’t eat it right away. Nie Sijun had to coax him for ages before he cheered up. Where was the sweetness in that?

Perhaps she was biased. She had once been a fan of Nie Sijun’s films, but after marriage, the actress hadn’t produced any high-quality work. Qin Que found it regrettable.

So she asked Bai Tuantuan about it.

The latter sent her a “better not say” meme.

Que Que, it’s normal if you don’t get it. This is a very old-school flavor—think The Domineering Director and His Little Wife.

Qin Que: “…”

On the third day, Qin Que woke up at 5 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep. She spent the morning in a daze, waiting until noon.

The previous announcements had been posted at 12 p.m.

At 11:50, Qin Que stared at the Weibo page, restless.

At 11:55, she tried to distract herself by pacing around the room. When she checked her phone again, it was only 11:57.

At 11:59, for the first time in her life, her heart pounded so hard it hurt—and she wasn’t even exercising.

At 12:00 sharp!

Qin Que refreshed the page the moment the clock changed.

A new post appeared.

Her fingers trembled as she scrolled down.

Only to see… herself.

The long-awaited final pair of guests is here! They are: the newly debuted actress Qin Que, who desperately needs to improve her dating skills, and… to be announced.

The production team had added an explanation below:

Due to the special nature of this guest’s identity, we’ve decided to keep the suspense until filming begins.

The comments section was as baffled as Qin Que.

Comment 1: How big of a star is this? Even Huang Xiao was announced early last season.

Comment 2: They probably haven’t even finalized it yet. Compared to the first two pairs, Qin Que’s practically a nobody. Even Bo Sen Entertainment would struggle to find someone who could carry her.

Comment 3: Place your bets! I’ve set up a poll on Weibo listing Bo Sen’s top ten artists. No backing out!

Comment 4: Might as well cross out Lü Lu and Yan Qing. Lü Lu’s already publicly dating Xu Zheng, and the latter… if you believe Yan Qing would join a dating show, you might as well believe I’m Empress Wu Zetian.

Comment 5: Has anyone seen my Qing Qing? If you spot her, tie her up and drag her back to the film set. Stop playing around—Mom wants to watch movies!

Clutching her chest, which had tightened and then dropped like a stone, Qin Que had the sudden urge to create a burner account and storm the comments section to berate the production team for toying with her emotions.

After the announcement, Qin Que received messages from many friends and family. Even Wen Tong, who was busy braving snowstorms abroad, sent her a “???”, warning her not to get eaten alive on the show.

After a long pause, Qin Que replied: “Rest assured, I’ll be fine.”

Bai Tuantuan bombarded her with clips from dating shows, hoping to cram her into a love expert through sheer exposure.

Qin Que studied them dutifully but felt utterly out of her depth.

Wu Feng, knowing her too well, gave up entirely and simply told her to stay healthy and avoid getting sick before filming. Even if she got roasted, the show’s exposure would be worth it.

The strongest reaction came from Qin Que’s two mothers.

They usually didn’t interfere with her work, but this time, they video-called her immediately.

“Yuan Yuan! Are you dating someone?!” Li Guo’s face filled the screen the moment the call connected. Qin Que could practically see the sparkles in her eyes.

“Mom, it’s not real dating. It’s just a show…” Qin Que spent a good while convincing her mother that she wasn’t actually in a relationship and that the dating show was just a more realistic acting gig.

“Oh…” Li Guo sighed dramatically, muttering, “And here I thought you’d finally wised up.”

Both she and her wife, Qin Yue, were betas. They had grown up together, attended the same schools, fallen in love in high school, and married right after college. By 21, they had Qin Que, and they remained deeply in love to this day, reigning as the ultimate couple in their social circle.

Li Guo, forever youthful and vivacious thanks to her wife’s pampering, often passed as Qin Que’s older sister. To her, love was the best thing in the world. Unlike parents who opposed early dating, she had been thrilled when Qin Que received cookies from a female classmate at age five.

Unfortunately, despite being the product of their love, Qin Que was utterly clueless about romance.

Well-behaved since childhood, she had never been one to throw tantrums. At school, she was the teacher’s pet, beloved by most classmates. Every time seats were reassigned, her deskmates would wail at being separated from her.

Yet, despite all this, Qin Que showed zero interest in dating. Over the years, she had turned down countless suitors, and her romantic experience remained firmly at zero.

When Li Guo asked why, she had blinked innocently and said, “Being friends is nice. We can hang out. Why do we need to date?”

No matter how much Li Guo tried to explain, Qin Que never seemed to grasp it.

Now, Li Guo was genuinely worried her daughter would end up alone.

“Even if it’s fake, some couples end up together for real,” Qin Yue chimed in, comforting her wife before discreetly winking at Qin Que. “Try your best, okay?”

Qin Que: “…”

How was she supposed to try?!

But she knew her second mother was a devoted wife. The usually logical woman became utterly unreasonable when it came to Li Guo.

“I’ll do my best,” she murmured.

Even if she had no idea how, at least it would make her mother happy for now.

“Really?!” Li Guo perked up instantly, gazing at her eagerly. “Do you know how to date?”

“Uh…” Qin Que hesitated. “Like you and Second Mom?”

“Good, progress.” Qin Yue nodded approvingly. “Summarize it for us.”

“Okay. First, pay attention to your partner’s needs and do your best to fulfill them. Second, provide emotional support—make them happy. Third, give them a sense of security, be their rock.” As a straight-A student, Qin Que’s summarization skills were impeccable. Plus, having been raised on their love story, she could recite these principles in her sleep.

“See, you do get it!” Li Guo beamed. “And be romantic! Surprise them! Don’t be like your Second Mom—she’s as dense as a brick.”

“Got it.” Qin Que watched Qin Yue wipe her forehead sheepishly and wisely ended the conversation. “Mom, Second Mom, I’ll hang up now. Talk later.”

After the call, Qin Que set down her phone and sighed.

Filming hadn’t even started, and she already felt more pressure than before her college entrance exams.

A few days later, Qin Que boarded a flight to the filming location. Wu Feng stayed behind to handle company matters, and since the show didn’t allow guests to bring entourages, only Bai Tuantuan accompanied her to drop her off before staying nearby on standby.

Three hours later, the plane landed at Fengcheng International Airport. Qin Que was driven directly to the Destined production team’s vehicle.

Waiting for her was a chatty woman in her thirties, dressed in a multi-pocketed jacket and cargo pants—like an engineer.

“Miss Qin, hello. I’m Pei Shu, the assistant director of Destined.” She shook Qin Que’s hand politely and invited them into the car.

But Qin Que noticed her gaze held a hint of curiosity.

The production team must have researched all the guests in advance. Was there something noteworthy about her?

Qin Que gazed out the window at the clear autumn sky. Now that she was here, her nervousness had faded.

The car drove to the outskirts of the city, where buildings grew shorter, interspersed with lush farmland.

This was Qin Que’s first time in Fengcheng. The inland city was clearly less developed than Yuncheng, but the air quality was noticeably better.

The car finally stopped in front of a dilapidated gate.

“Fengcheng No. 1 High School.”

Qin Que read the faded words on the sign.

It was a school.

The three got out of the car. Pei Shu said, “Filming starts here. Assistants aren’t allowed further, and for the sake of the show, phone usage will be restricted once we begin. If you have any work to hand over, now’s the time.”

Then she walked toward the school gate, giving them space to talk.

“Que Que, take care of yourself in there!” Bai Tuantuan, a city girl through and through, had likely never seen such a rundown school. Her eyes brimmed with concern.

Qin Que smiled helplessly and took her suitcase. “It’s not prison. Don’t worry. And you—don’t skimp on food or lodging. Stay at a hotel in the city. This area’s too deserted.”

She transferred some money to Bai Tuantuan and ruffled her hair. “I’m heading in. See you in a few days.”

With her luggage in tow, Qin Que joined Pei Shu. “Director Pei, I’m ready.”

Pei Shu grinned. “You’re the calmest guest so far. The first two thought we were kidnapping them.”

As she spoke, she pulled a small white spherical device from her pocket. “This is a micro-follow camera. Your info’s already uploaded. Once activated, it’ll follow you wherever filming is required—except private spaces, of course. You can turn it off anytime, but I wouldn’t recommend it too often. It affects the audience’s experience.”

Next, she retrieved a phone from her cargo pants and handed it to Qin Que. “Once filming starts, you’ll use the show’s phone. It has an app to contact other guests and controls for the camera. Explore the rest yourself.” She pointed the camera at Qin Que. “Alright, rolling. Okay?”

Qin Que nodded. With a press of a button, the spherical device beeped, sprouted tiny wings like a clever little bird, and hovered beside her.

Simultaneously, on the Destined live-streaming page watched by millions, the previously black screen of the second livestream lit up, showing Qin Que and Pei Shu. The AI-controlled camera automatically selected the best angles.

The already frenetic barrage of comments grew even more chaotic.

Comment 1: Breaking news! The second livestream is Qin Que, but so far, it’s just her and Pei Shu. No sign of the mystery guest. Over!

Comment 2: LMAO, Jin Shuo’s expression when she double-checked this was the filming location—like a college student accidentally walking into a pyramid scheme.

Comment 3: Freshly minted Jin Shuo meme: Cold and Cautious.gif.

Comment 4: Gotta say, Qin Que’s really good-looking. That close-up just now made my heart skip.

Comment 5: Calm down. She’s asexual.

Comment 6: This filming location is something else. Only Destined could keep us guessing like this.

Comment 7: So who’s paired with Qin Que? Still not revealing? All this secrecy—I’ll believe it when I see which A-lister they’ve dug up.

Qin Que followed Pei Shu through the gate. Inside, the campus had everything—office buildings, classrooms, dormitories, a sports field, a cafeteria, and a convenience store. Aside from being older and shabbier, it wasn’t much different from her own high school. She even felt a sense of familiarity.

“This is the old campus of Fengcheng No. 1 High,” Pei Shu explained. “But it’s been abandoned due to urban planning. We’ll film here for ten days, and the games will revolve around school life.”

Qin Que nodded, recalling her own high school days—routine and exhausting, not much different from her current life.

Her teachers had once said she lacked the liveliness of her peers.

Pei Shu led her to an office in the administrative building, which had been converted into a temporary production hub. Staff members waited inside.

“Please power off your phone, seal it, and pack it in your luggage.” A staff member handed Qin Que a set of school uniforms—classic blue and white.

After changing in the dressing room, Qin Que found the uniform surprisingly well-fitted and more comfortable than real school attire. Staring at her bare-faced reflection, she almost felt like she’d traveled back in time.

“Hello, classmate. Here’s your assigned class.” The staff member was fully in character.

Qin Que accepted the slip with a wry smile. It read: “Class 1-1, third floor, Moral Education Building.”

“Class 1-1…”

Before Qin Que could even spot the classroom door, a loud crash from inside made her jump.

It sounded like a chair being kicked over, followed by a girl’s scream.

She rushed in. “What’s wrong?”

Then froze face-to-face with the two people inside.

The rundown classroom was cluttered with desks and chairs. A layer of dust coated the floor, and the blackboard read “Welcome, New Students.”

In the center of the room, two girls in identical uniforms stood in a pose Qin Que couldn’t quite comprehend.

The cute-faced girl crouched on a desk, one hand gripping the edge, the other clutching the collar of the girl in front of her.

The girl being grabbed wore a stoic expression, radiating unyielding resolve.

They were the first pair of guests—Yan Yuzhen and Jin Shuo.

Now, both stared at her. Yan Yuzhen’s frown deepened briefly before smoothing out, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

Jin Shuo, however, looked like she’d just been rescued.

Wait—was the scream from this cool girl?

Qin Que slowly backed away. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

Though the situation seemed intense, it clearly wasn’t her place to intervene.

“Wait!”

Jin Shuo seized the chance to free her collar from Yan Yuzhen’s grip and dashed to Qin Que’s side, grabbing her hand. “Hi, I’m Jin Shuo. You, you, you…”

The famously cold-faced rapper stammered before awkwardly blurting, “Who are you?”

The livestream comments exploded.

Comment 1: Jin Shuo: Thank you, thank you, thank you! My anonymous savior!

Comment 2: Qin Que’s like that one awkward person who stumbles into a party, screams, and becomes the life of it. Kinda cute, ngl.

Comment 3: Little Qin’s got a good heart. A few seconds later, and she’d have missed the real drama.

Comment 4: Did she think Yan Yuzhen was about to force a kiss on Jin Shuo?

Comment 5: Wasn’t she?

Comment 6: Wasn’t she?

“I know. Her name’s Qin Que. She’s an actress.”

Before Qin Que could reply, Yan Yuzhen introduced her. The omega idol leaped nimbly off the desk—nearly a meter high—landed gracefully, dusted her hands, and smiled as she snatched Qin Que’s hand from Jin Shuo. “I’m Yan Yuzhen. Can I call you Sister Qin?”

“Uh, nice to meet you both.” Qin Que could only smile politely.

“Sister Qin, who’s your partner?” Yan Yuzhen peeked behind her curiously.

“No idea. I came alone. Did you two arrive together?” Qin Que was also puzzled. The production team’s arrangements should’ve been consistent.

“Yeah,” Yan Yuzhen pouted, pointing at Jin Shuo accusingly. “She’s been avoiding me like the plague. It’s been so long, and she won’t even hug me!”

Jin Shuo shrank back without a word.

Since they were old acquaintances, Qin Que didn’t pry. She awkwardly changed the subject.

After introductions, the atmosphere grew chilly.

Both Yan Yuzhen and Jin Shuo were in their early twenties, leaving a slight generation gap with Qin Que. Their professions differed, and with two of them feuding, plus Qin Que’s presence preventing further antics, silence settled over the classroom.

With nothing else to do, Qin Que wandered around until she spotted a card on the podium bearing the Destined logo.

Mission Card:
Dear new students, please clean the classroom to welcome the new semester. Tools can be found in the storage room at the end of the hallway. Excellent performance will earn you school credits!

1. Sweep the floor.
2. Replace the lightbulbs.
3. Arrange the desks and chairs.
…

Qin Que: “…”

Of course the production team wouldn’t let them sit around chatting. They’d planned activities all along.

“Huh? How did we miss this?” Yan Yuzhen leaned in.

Jin Shuo gave her a hesitant glance, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

The three of them headed to the storage room. Jin Shuo led the charge toward the washroom with a mop on his shoulder, while Yan Yuzhen followed closely behind with a rag in hand.

Ah, the vigor of youth.

With a sigh, Qin Que fetched a new light bulb, carried a ladder back to the classroom, and began replacing it.

The ladder wasn’t very sturdy. As she worked on the bulb, she had to be careful not to fall, completely unaware that someone else had just entered the classroom.

That person’s face appeared in Live Broadcast Room No. 2, and for a moment, the barrage of comments—previously scrolling so fast they were practically a blur—came to an abrupt halt.

Yan Qing stood at the doorway, observing Qin Que as she changed the light bulb.

Even the unflattering school uniform couldn’t hide the alpha’s tall, well-built figure. Her delicate, docile face was slightly furrowed in concentration, her jaw taut, lending her a touch of handsome charm.

Up close, it became even more apparent—she truly was a beauty worth nurturing.

Yan Qing walked over, intending to greet her. But the moment she got closer, Qin Que, as if she had eyes on the back of her head, suddenly turned around and stared at her in shock.

The already precarious ladder let out an eerie creak before toppling over completely.

Qin Que wasn’t one to lose focus easily, but there were always exceptions.

When the faint, elusive scent of wine drifted into her nostrils, it was like a parched traveler stumbling upon a divine gift of sweet dew.

Every pore in her body relaxed in bliss.

It was the instinct of one who had been marked.

Then, her hair stood on end.

That was Qin Que’s rationality.

Or perhaps it should be called terror.

In any case, she completely forgot about the ladder, turning her head in a panic to meet that stunning face—one that had often appeared in her dreams lately.

And then, like a naughty child being punished, she was kicked straight out of the sky.

Plunging into a pool of intoxicating wine.