Forced Cohabitation After a Hit Romance Variety Show with My Rival Actress - Chapter 1

Downstairs at the steamed bun shop, towering stacks of bamboo steamers billowed with scalding steam, mingling with the bustling street scene—a vibrant tableau of everyday life.

In the small apartment, milk tea-colored walls were bathed in sunlight streaming through the window lattice, casting a grid-like pattern across the room.

Ding-a-ling.

The phone’s ringtone shattered the tranquility, finally waking Chi Yu from her drunken slumber.

The screen displayed the name “Scumbag Red.”

“Hello?”

The moment she spoke, Chi Yu felt as if she were hearing someone else’s voice.

A teasing voice came from the other end of the line: “Oh, look who’s finally awake! Still sleeping at noon, you big star? You were really drunk at my bar last night, weren’t you? Not just pretending?”

Chi Yu squinted, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight streaming through the window lattice.

Warm rays slipped through her fingers, making it hard to keep her eyes open.

“…You’d better not call to insult me, this nobody, before I’ve even woken up properly…”

“Hey, I’m not insulting you! Your first drama back in China went viral, didn’t it? Calling yourself a nobody is just being disingenuous.”

“Oh, remember Linda from last night? She kept pestering me for your contact information—you know, the one who was all over you.”

“……”

The reminder triggered fragmented memories in Chi Yu’s hazy mind.

Her friend’s bar opening night was a kaleidoscope of surreal lights, where fragrant bodies moved with unrestrained joy.

As a lesbian bar, Les Bar naturally catered to a queer clientele.

Chi Yu sat on a high stool at the bar, her fingers gently swirling the square glass she held by its rim.

A faint smile curved one corner of her lips, and in the dim, suggestive lighting, her deceptively innocent doe eyes shimmered with a watery sheen.

She had barely been there a few minutes when several people approached to flirt.

The most persistent was a blonde woman in a skin-tight sequined slip dress, who shoved her heavily perfumed business card down Chi Yu’s cleavage.

The woman had been eyeing Chi Yu for a while now, captivated by the sight of the young woman’s long, pale legs crossed, her slender ankles above beautifully defined insteps, and her feet clad in stiletto heels without platforms.

Her face was undeniably pure and sweet, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, the strands naturally wavy, soft, and fluffy, framing her fair cheeks.

Her doe-like eyes were bright and captivating, shimmering with a watery sheen. Her skin was porcelain-white, and her lips were slightly plump and pouty.

Yet when she raised an eyebrow, her gaze turned sultry, and her eyes flickered with an inexplicable allure.

Even without uttering a word, those naturally luminous doe-like eyes seemed enough to mesmerize anyone.

This bar, recently opened by a friend, was named “Obsession.”

The way the woman was looking at Chi Yu could indeed be described as obsessive.

As she tried to clink glasses, she pressed her body closer.

“Hi~ Call me Linda.”

Her bold approach drew envious glances from onlookers.

“She’s actually hitting on Chi Yu?”

“Chi Yu just returned to China and filmed her first drama. Even the supporting roles have gone viral. She’s really got guts!”

“That’s Linda, the ‘it girl’ of the lesbian scene. Her family’s loaded. Don’t let her innocent looks fool you—she’s a real heartbreaker!”

“I wouldn’t mind being played by someone as stunning as her.”

“She’s beautiful, comes from a wealthy family, and even got into the entertainment industry because of her looks. It’s truly enviable! Reincarnation must be a skill!”

“Chi Yu is practically part of the entertainment circle now. If it weren’t for Jin Hongjin’s bar opening tonight, she probably wouldn’t have bothered mingling. What a shame.”

“Damn it, someone beat me to it! I should have approached her earlier.”

“……”

The surrounding area buzzed with lively music, punctuated by hushed whispers.

Chi Yu smiled, pretending not to hear a word.

Her slender, pale fingers slipped into her neckline, retrieving a business card saturated with strong perfume.

She held the card delicately between her index and middle fingers, the tips of her beautifully manicured nails swaying slightly, releasing a wave of fragrance that nearly overwhelmed her senses.

“Oh~ I’m Chi Yu.”

Linda: “I know. I recognized you the moment I walked in. Tonight, you’re mine.”

So direct.

Chi Yu maintained her smile. “I’m not that famous yet.”

She had only acted in one drama since returning to China, and even that was a supporting role. With no second project lined up, she found herself in a lull. Her manager had suggested a variety show, but she hadn’t given it much thought.

Linda eyed Chi Yu playfully. “Miss Chi, you’re practically a sensation in this industry.”

Fueled by alcohol, she dared to say anything.

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly and lifted her wine glass. “I don’t entertain clients.”

“Hahaha—”

Linda laughed, her shoulders shaking. “Who could afford someone like you, Miss Chi?”

A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd, but it was quickly drowned out by the pounding music.

Chi Yu gripped the rim of her ice-cold glass and pressed it against Linda’s thigh.

“What a pity, beautiful lady. I have a proper job now.”

The icy glass made contact with the outer side of Linda’s honeyed thigh.

“Aiya~!”

Linda giggled coyly, feigning annoyance as she retreated slightly, repeating, “You’re so annoying~”

Chi Yu: “If I’m so annoying, why are you leaning in?”

“Why would you want to join the entertainment industry out of the blue?” Linda pressed closer, her body almost touching Chi Yu’s. “Is there someone you care about in the industry?”

The curve of Chi Yu’s lips barely shifted, but inside, it felt as if someone had suddenly pricked the softest part of her heart with a fine needle.

Someone I care about in the entertainment industry…?

“Heh.”

Her smile slowly faded, and when she looked at Linda, the feigned enthusiasm in her eyes had vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

The bar’s kaleidoscopic lights swirled, occasionally illuminating Chi Yu’s fair cheeks.

As if her mood had been soured, her brows drooped listlessly, and her long lashes veiled the color in her deer-like eyes.

“So you’re a reporter? I don’t entertain paparazzi after work.”

She suddenly seemed unapproachable, as if the flirtatious Chi Yu from moments ago had been an act. This cold, aloof version was the real Chi Yu.

If she said she didn’t like something, she meant it. If she said she didn’t want something, she meant it.

It didn’t matter much to her anyway; she lacked nothing.

“……”

The smile on Linda’s face faltered, and the gazes around them grew pointed.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I… I…”

Chi Yu didn’t even glance at her. She flipped the card, saturated with heavy perfume, face down on the table, raised her glass, and drained it in one gulp. She then pressed the empty glass, with its lone circular ice cube, firmly onto the fragrant card.

The business card, now damp, mirrored the woman’s slightly disheveled expression.

Jin Hongjin stepped forward promptly and draped an arm around Chi Yu’s shoulder.

“Alright, alright, our ‘top girl’ has finished her ’rounds’ for today. Ladies, please come again soon! If our ‘top girl’ is in a good mood, she might even have another drink.”

As she spoke, laughter erupted amidst the lively, upbeat music.

Chi Yu shot her friend a sidelong glance, her eyelids lifting slightly.

“Mm, ‘Mama,’ that’s enough for today. This slave will retire now.”

Her words diffused the awkward tension.

“Alright, alright! You’ve already brought in a ton of business for my bar today. Can’t you see it’s packed? All thanks to you!”

As she spoke, Jin Hongjin dragged Chi Yu into a private room.

Inside, the liquor was neatly arranged, and several mutual friends were already singing karaoke. When they saw the two arrive, they laughed and demanded a penalty drink.

Jin Hongjin struck a heroic pose, hands on her hips. “Our ‘top star’ has been amazing today, earning her stripes! Whatever you want to drink, whatever you want to play, it’s all on the house!”

Amidst cheers from their friends, the group clinked glasses and reveled in the lively atmosphere.

Chi Yu couldn’t remember how much she drank or who she talked to the night before.

Someone had even mentioned that name she’d buried deep in her heart for so long. The mere mention of it stirred a strange feeling in her chest—indescribable, yet unsettling.

Someone had also made a bet, and after a round of uproarious laughter, the loser pulled out their phone and dialed a number.

After that, she couldn’t recall who pushed open the door or who entered the room.

Chi Yu only remembered the door to the private room being pushed open, revealing a slender, graceful figure silhouetted in the doorway, carrying a faint jasmine fragrance.

As the jasmine-scented figure approached, its features gradually sharpened, until even the delicate brush of its fragrant hair against her cheek felt vividly real.

But her eyelids grew heavy, blurring her vision until everything faded into a hazy blur.

“……”

“Oh, that Linda,” Jin Hongjin’s voice pulled Chi Yu back from her dazed state. “She’s absolutely smitten with you, crying her eyes out.”

“Why don’t you consider taking her in?”

Chi Yu grabbed her laptop from the side and opened it. “If you like her, you take her. Stop dragging me into this.”

“Aiyo, I couldn’t handle her!”

The friend on the other end of the line clicked his tongue twice. “Hey, Miss Chi Yu, when are you coming to my bar for a drink? I need to boost my sales.”

Chi Yu tilted her head, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder as she casually scrolled through Weibo. “My manager told me to avoid places like that from now on. Plus, he said he needs me for something today. No time.”

“No way! I already planned everything for our outing,” her friend exclaimed. “Seriously, why would you take a job? Don’t tell me you’re really joining the entertainment industry just to chase after that person…”

Chi Yu cut her off with a sharp “Tsk!” before she could finish.

She slammed her laptop shut. “How did I get home last night?”

“Last night?” Jin Hongjin asked tentatively. “You don’t remember?”

“Stop wasting time and just tell me.”

After a long pause, Jin Hongjin finally spoke. “Everyone got pretty drunk last night. Then, uh, someone used your phone to call a number… and asked your… your friend to come pick you up.”

“My friend?” Chi Yu asked, puzzled. She instinctively straightened her posture. “I only recently returned to the country. My family’s practically disowned me for wanting to join the entertainment industry, so I’ve only been hanging out with you guys, my ‘fox-and-dog’ friends. We were all together last night. Who else could it be? Which friend?”

Jin Hongjin chuckled nervously. “It was… it was… your ex-girlfriend.”

“The Best Actress, Gu Yuan.”