Before Going on a Variety Show, the Actress Lost Her Memory - Chapter 20

Life’s greatest sorrows are separation and death. As the dubbing session concluded, tears welled up in the eyes of everyone present.

Those who had experienced such losses were particularly moved, Yu Wenyu among them, her eyes glistening with tears.

Fang Wenxia and Li Yan emerged from the recording booth.

Li Yan clasped his hands together, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “I’m afraid I made a fool of myself,” he said. “I was feeling a bit sentimental today, haha.”

Su Junwan quickly shook her head, her eyes still red from crying. “No, no, it was absolutely wonderful! Especially Teacher Fang—that choked sob you did brought tears to my eyes instantly.”

Xiao Huili glanced at Su Junwan but remained silent, knowing exactly why Su Junwan was crying.

Fang Wenxia turned to Su Junwan, drawn to the girl’s captivating almond-shaped eyes, now brimming with a heartbreaking vulnerability. For some reason, a sense of familiarity washed over her, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it. She simply patted the girl’s hand and said, “Good girl.”

Xi Xiuyun and Yu Wenyu weren’t particularly outgoing, so Shang Lin quickly changed the subject to lighten the mood.

“I wonder how the show will tally the scores,” he said. “Your performances were so powerful, I bet they’ll be trending on social media later.”

Shang Lin was right. The dubbing segment had indeed gone viral, pulling everyone back to memories from five years ago.

The director announced that the final rankings would be revealed after all performances were completed, and the second round of drawing lots began.

Yu Wenyu hoped to perform early, knowing the pressure would only mount the longer she waited.

But fate had other plans. Su Junwan and Xiao Huili were chosen as the second act.

Given their backgrounds—Su Junwan in film and television, Xiao Huili in music—they had little collaborative history.

There had been a few joint interviews, variety show appearances, and occasional duet performances at galas.

With such a mixed bag of options, neither of them could predict what the audience would choose.

However, Xiao Huili, a renowned pop diva, would be foolish to pass up the chance to sing.

Su Junwan felt certain the audience would request a duet and frantically searched her memory for songs they had performed together.

Though not a professional singer, she had recorded a few theme songs and considered herself passable.

As Su Junwan focused intently on recalling her past performances, the production team announced that the most requested segment wasn’t a song collaboration.

Instead, it was the cookie-eating game they had played together on a variety show two years prior.

Why is a game more captivating to the audience than Xiao Huili’s singing?

Su Junwan reacted with a look of shock, immediately turning to Xiao Huili.

Xiao Huili showed no surprise, but her lips curled into a pleased smile.

Xi Xiuyun sensed an odd tension between the two women, but she generally avoided meddling in others’ affairs.

However, Xi Xiuyun glanced discreetly at Yu Wenyu and, as expected, found her wearing a “gossip-hungry” expression.

Xi Xiuyun understood the situation and resolved to investigate the matter further.

“What’s with Su Junwan’s expression? She looks so reluctant! What’s wrong with this game?”

“Hahaha, that’s so cruel! You can replay the game, but you can never re-enact it! Hahaha!”

“Wait, can a fan explain what happened?”

“I’ll explain! They had only recently gone public when they played this game. Su Junwan was incredibly shy, visibly turning as red as a lobster.

Seeing Su Junwan’s embarrassment, Xiao Huili deliberately didn’t bite off the biscuit, eating it very slowly.

That mischievous look and sly smile went viral! Were you guys even at the table back then?”

“Then Su Junwan couldn’t take it anymore and ate the biscuit herself.

Just as she was about to bite it in half, Xiao Huili seized the opportunity and kissed her.

But the editing back then was so unfair! They cut to a wide shot, making it all blurry.

We never really knew how far the kiss went, but this video is a must-watch for anyone in the fandom, hahaha!”

“I’m seriously so excited, hahaha!”

At that moment, Su Junwan wished she had never agreed to be on this variety show.

It wasn’t the kiss itself that bothered her, but the fact that she and Xiao Huili had already divorced, though they hadn’t announced it yet.

She had only agreed to the show after signing a confidentiality agreement with Xiao Huili. Now, with their divorce still under wraps, kissing on camera would look ridiculous.

Su Junwan stole a glance at Xiao Huili’s reaction—nothing.

Xiao Huili’s acting is even better than mine, Su Junwan thought with a cold laugh.

The others present had their own thoughts, but the production team quickly prepared the props, leaving Su Junwan with no choice but to participate.

Xiao Huili took the biscuit, bit one end, and slowly leaned closer to Su Junwan.

Su Junwan felt that cold, enveloping fragrance almost suffocating her, and her breath hitched slightly.

Su Junwan subtly adjusted her breathing and took the other end of the cookie.

Though rumors persisted that Su Junwan had bought her Best Actress award, she knew she had earned it through her own merit. Playing shy was second nature to her.

A delicate blush slowly crept up the woman’s tender earlobes, threatening to spread further down her neck.

Su Junwan “shyly” avoided Xiao Huili’s gaze, her lashes fluttering incessantly. But Xiao Huili deliberately slowed her pace, denying her any quick relief.

Su Junwan’s acting was impeccable, yet Xiao Huili, as the person involved, caught the cold indifference hidden deep within her eyes.

A sudden surge of irritation welled up in Xiao Huili’s heart. She longed to snatch the woman before her and drag her back home right then and there.

Su Junwan mechanically continued her performance, but the thought of the upcoming kiss still stirred ripples in her heart.

It had been three months since she and Xiao Huili separated. Completely letting go was impossible.

Yet Su Junwan despised her own wavering resolve.

For a fleeting moment, her focus drifted. Not only Xiao Huili noticed, but the live-streaming audience did too.

“What’s up with Su Junwan? She seems so distracted.”

“Maybe she’s just nervous about the kiss later.”

“Ugh, as someone in the industry, I’d advise fans not to get too invested. These two are divorced; they’re only doing this variety show for the money.”

“Is it really that easy to spread rumors these days? Watch out for a lawyer’s letter.”

“Whatever. Even if they’re divorced, isn’t that even more reason to ship them?”

“……”

In that brief moment of distraction, Xiao Huili had already moved much closer.

The part everyone had been eagerly anticipating was about to begin. Su Junwan closed her eyes, unwilling to reveal the foolish anticipation in her gaze.

Resigned, Su Junwan leaned forward, but the soft lips she remembered didn’t meet hers.

She hurriedly opened her eyes, only to find Xiao Huili waiting for her to open them.

Su Junwan didn’t miss the suppressed dissatisfaction in Xiao Huili’s eyes.

Almost the instant Su Junwan’s eyes opened, Xiao Huili’s kiss landed.

Unlike their fleeting kiss before, this time Su Junwan felt the cool, damp sensation on her lips as the cookie between them was swept away by Xiao Huili’s tongue.

But the man’s lips didn’t move away. A sudden, ominous premonition surged through Su Junwan’s heart.

The last time, she had frozen, and Xiao Huili had been the one to pull back. But this time, he showed no sign of retreating.

Su Junwan steeled her resolve. Fine, change the scene if you want. I surrender.

But the moment Su Junwan tried to pull away, Xiao Huili suddenly deepened the kiss.

Xiao Huili cupped Su Junwan’s face with one hand, while his other hand gripped her arm. Using the leverage, he pressed forward, tilting his head to block the camera’s view.

Caught off guard, Su Junwan’s teeth were easily pried open, and the invading tongue silenced her gasp of surprise.

The man’s tongue seized hers, tangling, sucking, and teasing with ruthless abandon.

Su Junwan barely registered what was happening before she tried to push Xiao Huili away, only to find her hands pinned firmly in place.

The realization that they were still live-streaming washed over her like a tidal wave of shame.

Her current, utterly defenseless state reminded Su Junwan of the night before her divorce, when she had been equally powerless to resist.

Su Junwan felt a surge of resentment. Why must I always be bullied by Xiao Huili?

She opened her mouth and bit down, using the opportunity to push Xiao Huili away.

Xiao Huili winced in pain, but Su Junwan’s push wasn’t forceful enough to make her look too disheveled.

Xiao Huili’s remaining rationality told her she couldn’t afford to act irrationally again, or she’d never be able to explain herself.

Fortunately, both their faces were flushed, so everyone assumed they were just embarrassed and didn’t notice Su Junwan’s push.

The live stream’s chat was in chaos:

“?????? Holy sh1t???? I don’t remember this scene being here before.”

“Did she just stick her tongue out?! Is Xiao Huili really that aggressive?”

“Is she angry? Their moods feel off. Is Xiao Huili upset that Su Junwan was distracted?”

“Mommy! This is a high-definition close-up! I’m screen recording this—I’m going to watch it on repeat!”

“She definitely stuck her tongue out! The way Xiao Huili’s jaw moved—it was unmistakable!”