Before Going on a Variety Show, the Actress Lost Her Memory - Chapter 30

The long silence between them was finally broken by Yu Wenyu’s sigh. Yu Wenyu took a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Xi Xiuyun.

Xi Xiuyun swallowed hard, concealing her earlier panic and regaining her usual composure. She met Yu Wenyu’s gaze steadily.

Yu Wenyu raised her hand to Xi Xiuyun’s arm, leaning close to the woman’s ear. Her warm, moist breath brushed against Xi Xiuyun’s ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“…I want you,” Yu Wenyu whispered, gently nipping at Xi Xiuyun’s earlobe. The wet sensation made Xi Xiuyun’s breath catch slightly, but it was nothing compared to the shock of the words themselves.

Yu Wenyu saw the shock in Xi Xiuyun’s eyes. A faint smile curved her lips, but her gaze remained cold. I deliberately seduced you, she thought. What can you possibly do about it now?

“Let’s go back,” Xi Xiuyun said, steadying herself. Her thumbnail dug fiercely into the pad of her index finger. “If we stay any longer, the others will start to suspect something.”

By the time they returned to the private room, the mushroom hotpot was ready. The auntie had already ladled portions into bowls for them.

Yu Wenyu flashed a sweet smile at the auntie, thanking her warmly. “Thank you so much for serving us! We really appreciate it.”

Seeing that Yu Wenyu seemed less distressed than before, the aunt reminded her, “It’s okay, dear. You’re not from Yun City, so you should try the chili.”

The aunt’s warm, local dialect filled the private room with a sense of genuine human connection. Yu Wenyu’s smile brightened even more, and the aunt’s heart warmed at her charming demeanor.

Xi Xiuyun pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

“Why did they take so long?”

“Maybe touching up their makeup took a while.”

“The comments are clearly from fake fans. They’re not wearing any makeup today!”

“No makeup?! What kind of otherworldly beauty is this?”

“Is Nuwa here? We clay figures are about to riot!”

“……”

After the earlier incident, and knowing they needed to maintain their figures, the two women didn’t eat much more after returning and soon finished their meal.

Yu Wenyu sat in the passenger seat, her elbow resting on the car window, her wrist propping up her chin. She tilted her head slightly toward the window, watching the scenery blur past in reverse.

Her expression was serene and relaxed, her hair fluttering in the wind. With her forehead unobstructed by bangs, her features appeared even more refined and radiant.

“Do you want to go back and rest first, or should we stop by the supermarket to get ingredients? I’ll cook dinner for you tonight,” Xi Xiuyun asked, observing Yu Wenyu’s movements and inquiring about her plans.

Yu Wenyu should have been pleased by Xi Xiuyun’s thoughtfulness, but this time, detecting the cautious tone in Xi Xiuyun’s voice, she felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

They were wives, not business partners. Why did Xi Xiuyun always put herself in such a subservient position?

I’ll tear down that damn mask of hers sooner or later, Yu Wenyu thought, and see if she’ll agree to anything I ask.

Yu Wenyu turned to glare at Xi Xiuyun, her eyes narrowing as she considered something. “No,” she said finally, “I want ice cream, or milk tea with ice.”

She deliberately emphasized the word “ice,” and as expected, Xi Xiuyun’s eyebrows furrowed immediately.

Xi Xiuyun, ever perceptive, instantly understood the reason for Yu Wenyu’s anger. She lowered her lashes slightly, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

“No, you can’t have anything cold. You can have warm milk tea,” Xi Xiuyun said firmly, her tone softening slightly at the end.

Yu Wenyu knew Xi Xiuyun would never agree, but that was precisely what she wanted—for Xi Xiuyun to refuse.

“But I want it today! If you don’t let me have it, then we’ll…” Yu Wenyu’s words were cut short by the sharp look Xi Xiuyun shot her.

A cold glint flashed in Xi Xiuyun’s dark eyes. Her expression remained impassive, but the threat in her gaze was unmistakable—as if daring Yu Wenyu to utter those two words, Xi Xiuyun would immediately end the broadcast and take her away.

Yu Wenyu knew exactly what would happen after that.

She paused, ultimately refraining from saying the words. Huffing in frustration, she turned to stare out the car window, ignoring Xi Xiuyun.

“Wait, why are they suddenly fighting?”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen them argue. Holy crap, even a textbook romance has its fights?”

“Seriously, can you guys stop mythologizing them? They’re just people! It’s normal to have emotions. Being an actress is just a job.”

“Were the two words Yu Zai didn’t finish saying ‘divorce’?”

“Absolutely. Did you see the terrifying look in Xi Xiuyun’s eyes? This was just Yu Wenyu speaking in anger. If she actually proposed it, I wouldn’t be surprised if Xi Xiuyun drove the car off the overpass right then and there.”

“Damn, the more I ship them, the more uneasy I feel. Am I the only one who thinks their relationship seems kind of… twisted?”

“Even though this kind of dynamic hits my fetish, this isn’t a novel. Yu Wenyu feels completely like a caged canary.”

“Do you have any evidence? You’re all just spreading rumors. How did a little lovers’ quarrel escalate to this level?”

“As expected, you people who overanalyze everything can’t think about normal things.”

Yu Wenyu closed her eyes, knowing Xi Xiuyun would likely take her to the supermarket next, buy her favorite ingredients, and cook her a comforting meal. She’d even whip up a dessert resembling ice cream to cheer her up.

But Yu Wenyu didn’t want Xi Xiuyun’s constant indulgence. This wasn’t her fault; she had started the argument for no reason. Yet Xi Xiuyun was willing to swallow her pride and accommodate her again?

For the first time in years, Yu Wenyu felt a rebellious urge against Xi Xiuyun. She refused to let this day end with another vague resolution.

“Stop the car. You go home. I’m going shopping,” Yu Wenyu said, turning to Xi Xiuyun. The seriousness in her eyes left no room for doubt.

Xi Xiuyun frowned. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, I said I want to go alone,” Yu Wenyu insisted, her tone firm. Their gazes locked in a tense standoff.

“That’s not happening. Either I come with you, or we go home now,” Xi Xiuyun said, struggling to maintain her composure, desperate to hide how close she was to losing control.

“If you don’t stop, I’ll jump out,” Yu Wenyu said, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the car door.

“Yu Wenyu! You’re being absolutely…” Xi Xiuyun, panicked by concern, slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt just as Yu Wenyu flung open the door and stormed out.

“Yes, I’m being unreasonable. What are you going to do about it?” Yu Wenyu knew Xi Xiuyun would always hold back at the last moment, no matter how angry she was, refusing to say a single harsh word to her.

Yu Wenyu scoffed, slammed the door shut, and stalked away.

Xi Xiuyun had only stopped temporarily and couldn’t leave the car there. She took a deep breath to suppress her emotions and turned to the cameraman.

“Please follow her and make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. I’ll find a parking spot and come find you both. If she refuses to tell you her location, don’t push it. Just don’t upset her. I’ll make it up to you handsomely after today.”

Xi Xiuyun spoke urgently and rapidly, then signaled for the cameraman to get out and chase after Yu Wenyu while she drove off to find parking.

The entire scene was being broadcast live, leaving viewers stunned by the sudden outburst.

“If this weren’t a reality show, I’d think we were watching a movie. This is so melodramatic!”

“Seriously? Even trashy novels don’t write plots this cliché anymore. And we’re seeing it in real life? Art really does imitate life, huh?”

“Fine, fine, fine! If I ever find out I’m just an NPC in some book, I’ll curse the author to hell for making me witness such a life-threatening scene.”

“What’s Yu Wenyu doing? She’s been acting so unreasonable all day.”

“Best Actress Xi is so considerate! She’s worried about Yu Wenyu’s safety and had the cameraman follow her, but she’s also afraid of upsetting her and doesn’t dare approach her directly. Meanwhile, Yu Wenyu… what is she even doing?”

“Whatever. Yu Zai must have her reasons for acting this way. Even if she’s being unreasonable, Xi Xiuyun is willing to indulge her. All you delusional fans trying to break up my OTP, just give up already!”

“Now I see where Yu Wenyu’s fans get their unreasonable behavior from—it’s just like their idol!”

The earlier ice cream incident had already drawn a crowd of onlookers, and now that this new drama had unfolded, the live chat was flooded with comments.

But Yu Wenyu, the person at the center of it all, remained oblivious. After getting out of the car, she realized Xi Xiuyun had ordered the cameraman to follow her, but her original intention had simply been to provoke Xi Xiuyun.

There was no need to make things difficult for the cameraman, nor any real desire to push Xi Xiuyun over the edge. Still, Yu Wenyu turned to the cameraman and said, “Don’t tell her where I am later. Just tell her I’m tired and will go back on my own.”

After speaking, Yu Wenyu turned to the camera and added, “You all too—don’t reveal my location in the comments, and absolutely no tagging her on Weibo.”

The cameraman stared blankly.

Just a moment ago, the viewers had been condemning Yu Wenyu. But when her stunning face filled their screens and she addressed them directly, they suddenly felt that everything she said was right.

“With a face like yours, anything you say is right.”

“I would never reveal that this place is the Century Building.”

“Am I just a part of your game?”

“Now I understand why Xi Xiuyun agrees to everything she wants. With a face like that, she could ask for the stars themselves.”

Meanwhile, Xi Xiuyun had been driving around for ages, desperately searching for a parking spot. By the time she finally parked, Yu Wenyu had vanished without a trace.

Now calm, Xi Xiuyun realized she’d been outmaneuvered. Instead of panicking, she transferred nearly all the funds the production team had given her to Yu Wenyu’s phone, keeping only enough for groceries.

Yu Wenyu’s phone buzzed with a notification. It was a transfer from Xi Xiuyun—judging by the amount, she’d sent every penny she could.

To prevent the guests from using their own money, the production team provided them with phones and forbade them from using their personal devices.

Xi Xiuyun’s intentions were clear. Outsiders might not understand, but Yu Wenyu and Xi Xiuyun knew each other so well that Yu Wenyu was certain Xiuyun had already figured out the reason behind her earlier actions.

Yu Wenyu felt mentally exhausted. Knowing each other too well could be a disadvantage. It seemed today’s plan had to end here. Now that Xiuyun had seen through her, nothing she said or did would anger her.

The failure of the plan wasn’t the biggest problem; it wouldn’t damage their relationship. The real issue was how Yu Wenyu would endure Xiuyun’s fury tonight after realizing she had been played.

Yu Wenyu looked up at the towering skyscrapers that blotted out the sky, suddenly feeling an urge to escape.

Maybe I should run back to the Yu Family and find Elder Sister, she thought. At least I could hide out for a while. But when she turned her head, she spotted the camera crew.

Yu Wenyu: ……

Camera crew: ……

Wait, what’s with that disappointed look?

I think I get more inspiration when I go to the library.

Posting early today because I have to go for that damn campus run and then a mandatory mental health counseling session. I really hate those counseling sessions!!

Also, guess what Yu Zai said in the bathroom!