Forced Cohabitation After a Hit Romance Variety Show with My Rival Actress - Chapter 23

Lu Wenrui’s frantic cries still echoed at the door, seeping through the crack and piercing Chi Yu’s ears.

At that moment, Chi Yu couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling.

Her knees, still kneeling, were beginning to feel numb. She wondered if she had bumped them when she fell into the water, or if the sudden immersion had caused the numbness.

But the most unnerving thing was the unexpected guest outside the door.

At least it’s just Lu Wenrui, she thought, letting out a sigh of relief.

Just as she relaxed, another voice called out from the doorway: “Hao Hao, are you in there? It’s Feiyu.”

“……”

Ruan Feiyu too?

Chi Yu instinctively glanced up at Gu Yuan, only to see Gu Yuan’s eyes barely flicker upward in response.

Her long lashes trembled slightly, but her expression remained remarkably composed.

A drop of water slid from the damp strands of hair at her temple, tracing a glistening path down her porcelain cheek.

She was too calm, as if Chi Yu weren’t kneeling on top of her at that very moment.

What truly shattered Chi Yu’s composure was the fact that her hand was resting on something indescribably soft.

Numb from shock, Chi Yu remained blissfully unaware of how utterly compromising her position was.

Originally, she had planned to simply play dead in the bathtub, hoping the two people at the door would eventually leave if she remained silent.

But her optimism proved naive.

Lu Wenrui’s boisterous voice rang out from the doorway: “What are you two doing in there? Why won’t you open the door? It’s not just us—Tianyin Eonni and President Lin are here too! We all want to take a shower before bed!”

“Don’t worry! We took off our mics before coming up. Who wears a mic in the shower anyway? Right?”

“……”

Numb. Utterly numb.

There weren’t just two people at the door—there were four.

All six guests from their reality show had gathered—right outside their bedroom door.

The bathroom fell silent, the swirling steam seeming to acquire a voice of its own.

A low hum mingled with the sound of water trickling from the faucet.

The droplets rolling down the bathroom mirror sounded almost audible.

In that moment, the entire space seemed extraordinarily still, as if the slightest sound would be amplified a thousandfold.

Everything had happened so suddenly. Who could have imagined that recording a variety show would lead to such a profound life-altering trial?

The commotion at the door continued. Chi Yu, snapping out of her daze, raised a hand, heedless of the water droplets cascading down, and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

“Shhh—”

“Don’t speak.”

Gu Yuan’s long eyebrows lifted slightly, her expression unreadable. She remained so still that it was impossible to tell if she even intended to speak.

Before Chi Yu could lower her hand, a fresh wave of commotion erupted at the door.

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on? We saw them come up here, so why aren’t they in the room now?”

“Yeah, I messaged them in the group chat, but no reply.”

“It’s probably nothing, but could they be in danger? After all, we’re in B Country.”

“Hao Hao, Hao Hao, are you in there?” Ruan Feiyu’s voice rose eight octaves, her tone tinged with panic. “It’s Feiyu! If you’re in there, please open the door!”

Ruan Feiyu waited for a response, then tried the doorknob. The latch clicked open with a crisp clack.

The door wasn’t locked.

Ruan Feiyu called out, “Hao Hao, the door’s unlocked! We’re coming in, okay?”

With that, she pushed the door open.

The hinges creaked as the door swung inward.

The four of them filed into the room.

Lu Wenrui, who had been panting from running up the stairs moments earlier, was now completely composed. She strode around the room, pulled back the bed curtains, and exclaimed loudly, “Wow, this room is perfect for a date!”

“Look at these curtains, this round bed—and roses on the nightstand! Is this a honeymoon suite or what?”

She continued to gush, while Ruan Feiyu’s face darkened.

Lin Yihan leaned against the TV cabinet as he entered. Li Tianyin glanced at him before turning to sit on the sofa across the room.

It was only then that Lu Wenrui noticed something was off between the two. She looked around curiously, left and right. “Hey? Weren’t you guys here to use the shower? Why didn’t you bring any toiletries?”

Transforming into Sherlock Wenrui, she circled around Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan. “I knew you two were acting strange! And you kept denying it!”

“I clearly heard arguing and other suspicious noises from the front yard earlier. Come clean—did you two secretly hit it off?”

“No!” Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan denied it in unison. After their denial, they exchanged glances before looking away.

“……”

The awkwardness was palpable, but Lu Wenrui couldn’t dwell on it now. She scanned the room before her gaze suddenly landed on the bathroom door.

“Hey? Someone’s in the bathroom!”

A single water droplet slid down the frosted glass of the bathroom door the moment everyone’s eyes turned toward it.

“Could they be in there?”

Chi Yu never imagined the others would simply walk in. In her memory, she had closed the door, just hadn’t locked it.

She had been too careless, completely underestimating how quickly things could spiral out of control.

The voices outside were so clear, each word seeping through the crack under the door, growing closer with every passing moment.

Separated from the others by only a thin door, she felt utterly vulnerable.

A constant, irrational fear that the door would be wrenched open at any moment sent her heart racing to 188 beats per minute.

The voices outside persisted, and Chi Yu kept her finger pressed against her lips.

She glanced at Gu Yuan, who returned her gaze with unnerving calm.

Gu Yuan’s eyes were as still as an autumn moon reflected in a tranquil lake, undisturbed by even the slightest ripple.

Yet Chi Yu was kneeling on Gu Yuan’s lap, the water around them swirling gently, causing the rose petals in the bathtub to sway softly.

The two were pressed so close together that, viewed from a distance, the scene bordered on the overtly erotic.

Gu Yuan gently stretched her slender, swan-like neck, then tilted her chin slightly, her gaze sweeping down to Chi Yu’s small face.

“Hand,” she said, her voice low and commanding.

With that single word, Chi Yu suddenly realized her hand, still submerged in the bathwater, had been gripping something…

It was a patch of smooth, supple skin, as soft as silk.

As if jolted by electricity, she yanked her hand away, the abrupt movement sending a splash of water cascading over the tub’s edge and onto the floor with a loud splash.

Simultaneously, Chi Yu removed her hand from that soft spot and clamped it over Gu Yuan’s mouth.

Her intention was to silence Gu Yuan, but her racing heart had made her forget her usual habits of extreme sports and taekwondo training. Though her muscles weren’t visibly pronounced, her arms were surprisingly strong. When she clamped her hand over Gu Yuan’s mouth, she nearly slammed the slender, delicate body against the tub’s wall.

Gu Yuan let out a muffled groan.

“Mmm…”

“……”

Outside the bathroom, several people simultaneously looked up at the door.

The air suddenly went still.

“……”

After a long moment, Lu Wenrui said hesitantly, “I told you someone was in there…”

“Ah, could they really be in the bathroom?”

The muffled groan had sounded somewhat suggestive, but it could also have been the sound someone might make if they fainted in the bathroom.

Ruan Feiyu burst in from the balcony, nearly tearing down the sheer curtain at the doorway in her haste.

She strode to the bathroom door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

Tap, tap, tap.

The knocks echoed hollowly in the steamy bathroom, but there was no response.

Ruan Feiyu took another deep breath and called out, “Hao Hao, Yuanyuan, are you in there?”

“……”

Silence stretched for several more seconds.

No one spoke, either inside or outside the bathroom.

Ruan Feiyu raised her voice. “You’re in there, right? You’re in there, aren’t you?”

“……”

Lu Wenrui instinctively sensed something was off about Ruan Feiyu’s tone and glanced at her.

But Ruan Feiyu was beyond caring about appearances. “If you’re in there, why aren’t you opening the door?”

Panic gripped Ruan Feiyu. Everyone in their circle knew how passionately Gu Yuan and Chi Yu had been involved. She feared the very thing she’d been dreading was happening.

What are those two doing in the bathroom together?

What else could they be doing? They wouldn’t be… in the bathroom…

At this thought, she dared not imagine how likely such a scenario was. After all, Gu Yuan was undeniably stunning, and Chi Yu… Chi Yu had always been one for games.

That muffled groan—its meaning was unmistakable!

Growing anxious, she began pounding on the door.

“Open up! Open the door!”

Her frantic behavior puzzled the others outside the bathroom. Lu Wenrui quickly tried to calm her down. “What’s wrong? Feifei, why are you suddenly so worked up? There’s no need to panic. We just came to use the shower. If they’re in there, they’ll come out when they’re ready.”

“……”

Just as the chaos reached its peak, the bathroom door swung open. Through the swirling steam, Gu Yuan emerged in a terrycloth robe, pinching two spa cotton balls from her ears.

She raised an eyebrow, looking at the group with mild surprise. “You… what are you doing here?”

“……”

“Oh…”

“What a misunderstanding! They were just having a spa day…”

Lu Wenrui waved her hand awkwardly, forcing a strained grin. “We… we…”

She repeated “we” several times, unable to find the words to explain.

At that moment, Ruan Feiyu recklessly charged into the bathroom, startling Lu Wenrui, who trailed behind her, calling out, “Hey! Hey! Hey!”

The bathroom was filled with swirling mist and felt utterly empty. There were no large cabinets, allowing a clear view of the entire space at a glance. It was indeed empty, save for rose petals floating in the bathtub. There was no sign of Chi Yu.

“Where’s Hao Hao?”

Gu Yuan tightened the sash of her bathrobe and sat calmly on the edge of the bed. “Are you looking for Xiao Chi? She’s not here.”

Ruan Feiyu followed closely behind. “How could she not be here? Someone saw you both enter the room together!”

This was becoming aggressive, but Gu Yuan remained as composed as ever. A faint smile curved her lips as she leaned back against the bed, her gaze lifting to meet Ruan Feiyu’s flushed face.

“Shouldn’t you be asking her that question yourself?”

“……”

Seeing the situation escalating, Lu Wenrui rushed forward to smooth things over. “Oh, it’s perfectly normal for her not to be in the room! She probably just went for a walk. Someone saw Hao Hao enter, but no one was paying attention to whether anyone left. There wasn’t anyone guarding their door, right?”

Ruan Feiyu bit her lip, but she visibly relaxed.

Chi Yu wasn’t there, so Gu Yuan was bathing alone.

That means everything’s fine. The thing I was worried about didn’t happen.

“But where did Hao Hao go?”

Gu Yuan shifted her gaze to Ruan Feiyu. “She’s an adult now.”

Ruan Feiyu fell silent, her eyes reddening. She nodded slightly at Gu Yuan. “I’m sorry for disturbing you tonight.”

Seeing this, everyone realized the bath was off the table and stood up to leave.

Lin Yihan patted Li Tianyin’s shoulder and tilted his head slightly. Li Tianyin gave him a complicated look before turning and walking out first.

Lu Wenrui patted Ruan Feiyu’s back reassuringly. “Alright, alright, we should go now. Let’s not disturb Sister Yuanyuan’s rest…”

Hearing this, Ruan Feiyu, her eyes still red-rimmed, nodded apologetically at Gu Yuan again before turning to leave.

Everyone left the room, with Lin Yihan being the last to go. Before leaving, she politely apologized for the disturbance.

She first pressed down the latch on the inside of the door, then locked it from the outside.

The sound of their footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

The world suddenly fell silent.

The smile on Gu Yuan’s lips slowly faded as the others departed.

She stood up, ran her hand along the wrought-iron headboard, and then let her delicate, jade-like fingers drift down to brush against the roses. She pressed down on the upright blooms, forcing them to droop their heads.

When she returned to the bathroom, the steam had dissipated considerably.

The mist on the mirror had condensed into clusters of droplets, which trickled down the smooth surface with a soft rustling sound.

Gu Yuan wore only a bathrobe, its lapels revealing glimpses of her fair, spring-like complexion.

She sat on the edge of the bathtub, dipped her fingers into the water, and gently swirled them.

The water rippled with a splash, and Gu Yuan’s voice rang out.

“You can come out now. They’re all gone.”

“……”

No movement stirred in the water for a long moment. Gu Yuan sat on the edge of the tub for a while, her brow furrowing slightly. “Xiao Chi?”

No one answered.

Only the sound of a single drop of water falling onto the marble countertop—drip.

Gu Yuan turned her entire body toward the bathtub, leaning slightly forward. “Chi Yu?”

Still no response.

Gu Yuan’s hand almost reached into the water, her sleeve soaking through without her noticing. “Hao Hao? Hao Hao? Are you alright?”

Just as her hand sank into the water, a slender, long-fingered hand gripped her wrist.

Suddenly, a force pulled her downward.

Leaning over the narrow edge of the bathtub had already made Gu Yuan’s balance precarious, her center of gravity dangerously shifted forward.

The sudden tug sent her tumbling into the water with a splash.

In an instant, the water surged over her head. Moments ago, only the tips of her hair had been wet from soaking in the tub; now she was completely submerged.

The warm water instantly unraveled her casually pinned-up hair, dark, glossy strands blooming like ink-black flowers amidst the sea of rose petals.

“Huff—”

Gu Yuan gripped the edge of the tub, barely managing to sit up, droplets clinging to her long lashes.

Her lips, already flushed, deepened to a vivid crimson in the heat.

Water dripped from her chin, trickling down her jade-like swan neck in shimmering rivulets.

Her gaze finally settled on the figure across from her.

Chi Yu emerged from the water, droplets still clinging to her hair and cheeks, only accentuating her porcelain-white skin. Her slightly pouty lips were a vivid crimson.

She smiled, tilting her head slightly, unbothered by the water dripping down her face. “Sister, didn’t you call me Xiao Chi earlier?”

Gu Yuan seemed to have calmed down. The violent heaving of her chest gradually subsided, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Her long hair, spread out in the water like ink-wash blossoms in full bloom, floated around her shoulders.

Mist hung thick in the air, the water rippling gently.

The current lifted the corner of Gu Yuan’s bathrobe, revealing glimpses of spring’s hidden allure.

Her gaze settled on Chi Yu’s face. “Why did you pull me down?”

Chi Yu couldn’t explain it. Ever since she had hidden underwater and heard Gu Yuan call her “Hao Hao,” her mood had inexplicably brightened.

But she merely smiled, her expression growing increasingly detached.

“Didn’t you deliberately make me fall into the bathtub earlier, Sister? Now I’m letting you experience the same feeling.”

After a moment’s pause, Gu Yuan’s lips curved into a smile. “Deliberately?”

She leaned forward, her bathrobe swirling in the water, hinting at the spring’s hidden allure beneath.

Chi Yu watched Gu Yuan’s advance with amusement, tilting her head and chuckling softly. “We’re even now.”

“Even?”

Gu Yuan braced herself against the bathtub’s edge and leaned forward, her body pressing closer.

She gazed deeply into Chi Yu’s eyes, her gaze tracing the delicate features of Chi Yu’s doe-like eyes and exquisite face.

Her gaze slid down Chi Yu’s high, elegant nose to her lips, now flushed crimson from the hot water. Gu Yuan recalled the cruel words those lips had once uttered:

Just playing around.

Sister, you’re not serious, are you?

Gu Yuan chuckled softly, then gripped Chi Yu’s chin, pulling her face close to her own.

Her lips parted slightly, and she whispered: “Between us, we’ll never be even.”

Chi Yu remained silent.

The luxurious suite featured a round bed draped in vibrant rose-red sheets.

It looked like a wedding night…

Chi Yu pinched the bridge of her nose and glanced back at the bathroom door.

The frosted glass door glowed with the warm light of the bathroom, and the sound of dripping water continued.

Gu Yuan hadn’t come out yet.

Beneath the large round bed lay a small, single-person floor mattress.

Compared to the grand bed, the floor mattress looked even smaller and narrower, its appearance slightly forlorn.

Chi Yu ruffled her freshly dried hair, skirted around the floor mattress, and climbed directly onto the bed.

She wasn’t going to sleep on the floor. Whoever wanted it could have it; she certainly wasn’t.

Lying on the soft bed, Chi Yu stretched languidly, her body arching like a cat.

“So tired!”

“Next time I go swimming, I can’t wear a swimsuit with such thin straps. This dating reality show is exhausting—even more tiring than filming a drama…”

“And… what a hassle. Why is there so much trouble?”

Rolling over on the plush bed, Chi Yu turned onto her side and gazed out the window, letting the moonlight bathe her arms and legs.

The stars twinkled outside, flickering in the brilliant Milky Way like a river of scattered diamonds.

The stargazing here was truly exceptional. There was no smog, no dark clouds. The island’s daytime sun blazed fiercely, and the nights were pure black, revealing a vast, ink-black canvas of stars.

To be honest, Chi Yu was exhausted after a full day of filming.

But at that moment, she couldn’t fall asleep.

Suddenly, the mattress behind her dipped slightly, forming a shallow curve.

A faint, elegant fragrance drifted in and out, teasing her senses.

Chi Yu inexplicably perked up her ears, listening intently to the movements beside her.

There were soft rustling sounds behind her. She couldn’t tell if Gu Yuan had noticed the makeshift bed on the floor, but it was clear she intended to sleep on the bed.

…

Just like old times. Sister never loses out.

I bet she thinks the same about me.

After hesitating for a long time, Chi Yu finally propped herself up on her arm and turned her head.

The moment she turned, she saw Gu Yuan’s long hair spread across the pillow.

Her long, thick lashes drooped, catching the moonlight and casting a soft shadow across her eyelids.

Silky strands of hair cascaded down, and her porcelain skin glowed softly in the moonlight.

Gu Yuan was truly… breathtakingly beautiful, even at a glance.

Chi Yu had been about to say something, but the words caught in her throat. She didn’t know whether to remind Gu Yuan about the bed on the floor, or simply roll off the bed and sleep on the floor herself…

After countless mental battles, Chi Yu finally decided to lie back down and pretend to be asleep.

After all, just sharing a bed doesn’t mean anything.

Most importantly, she absolutely refused to sleep on the floor.

The moment she settled back down, Gu Yuan’s voice suddenly came from behind her: “Still awake?”

Chi Yu nearly jumped out of bed. Whether it was from being pressed so close together during the day or from their two rounds of soaking in the bathtub that evening, the carefully constructed facade of nonchalance she had maintained earlier seemed to shrink like a wool sweater left in the wash, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Fortunately, she managed to suppress the urge to turn around and look at Gu Yuan, clearing her throat softly.

“Cough, cough… Yeah, I’m going to sleep now.”

I’m such an idiot. Why did I even get up in the first place? Just looking for trouble.

After a moment, Gu Yuan seemed to roll over.

The faint, delicate scent of jasmine drifted over, teasing Chi Yu’s nostrils and nerves.

Finally, Gu Yuan spoke: “Did you send your heart-fluttering text?”

Silence.

Three seconds after Gu Yuan finished speaking, Chi Yu sat bolt upright.

This time, she really did bolt upright, but not to roll onto the floor. She slowly turned her head to look at Gu Yuan. “…I forgot.”

Local time in B Country: 11:57 PM.

Less than three minutes remained until the deadline for sending messages.

Chi Yu vaguely recalled the PD saying that not voting would be considered an automatic forfeit. An automatic forfeit wasn’t good news; it meant being left alone. If she ended up alone without a team, who knew what hellish trials the production team might devise for her? Just look at Ruan Feiyu’s Starry Sky Hammock as a cautionary tale.

After a moment of stunned silence, Chi Yu turned to grab her phone from the bedside table.

In her haste, she moved too abruptly, knocking the phone off the table and onto the floor.

The space between the bed and the bedside table was just wide enough for the phone to slip through, but reaching down to retrieve it proved surprisingly difficult.

This was a special phone provided by the production team, pre-loaded with contact information for all the guests. They had been using these phones to communicate throughout the filming period.

The special communication tool they used during filming was the Love’s Heartbeat exclusive app called XT.

Later, when the television broadcast aired, these communication logs would be edited and shown as part of the show.

At that moment, all six guests were in the same group chat.

Chi Yu had silenced her phone, unaware of the lively chatter erupting in the six-person group chat.

Lu Wenrui: dddd

Is everyone asleep?

Ruan Feiyu: We’re practically next door to each other. Are you sure you want to send XT messages?

Lu Wenrui: But there are others in the group too! Come on out and chat, everyone~! @Li Tianyin Tianyin Eonni, are you asleep?

Li Tianyin: 1

Lu Wenrui: Aiyo, still as aloof as ever~

Lin Yihan: 1

Lu Wenrui: ^=^

President Lin isn’t asleep either?

Li Tianyin: With your constant XT messages making our phones buzz twice, how could we possibly sleep?

Lu Wenrui sent a crying emoji, then asked, It’s almost midnight! Has everyone sent their heart-fluttering messages yet?

Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan both confirmed they had. Lu Wenrui grew even more gossipy: Oho, in our six-person group, it’s just us chatting right now. Where are the other two? @Gu Yuan @Chi Yu

After waiting a while with no response, Lu Wenrui sent a mischievous emoji.

No way… Could someone already be head over heels in love without even sending a heart-fluttering message?

Ruan Feiyu: …

Didn’t we say we’d go for a walk? She’s not in her room either.

Lu Wenrui immediately jumped in to retort:  Who wanders around all night? No one could possibly stroll for that long. She must have returned to her room hours ago.

Lu Wenrui then sent several heart-eyed emojis:  If she’s back in her room and still not replying, what do you think Hao Hao is up to right now?

Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan simultaneously sent two speechless reaction images.

Ruan Feiyu, clearly even more exasperated, finally snapped:  What else could she be doing? Sleeping!

Lu Wenrui ignored her, spamming several mischievous emojis:  Is she experiencing an unforgettable, heart-pounding moment?   Is her face flushed, heart racing, hands trembling, breath catching, and fingers shaking slightly?

……

Chi Yu, her face flushed, heart racing, hands trembling, breath catching, and fingers shaking slightly, was struggling to reach her phone wedged in a narrow gap.

Her hair, draped over her shoulders, was slightly disheveled, strands brushing against her pale cheeks.

As Chi Yu frantically reached for her phone, Gu Yuan leaned back against the bed, propping herself up with one hand. The curve of her body was accentuated into a breathtaking silhouette.

The contrast was stark: one still and composed, the other agitated and hurried.

The difference was glaring.

Finally, Chi Yu managed to pry her phone out of the gap with two fingers. Crouching by the bed, she glanced up and caught sight of Gu Yuan’s profile…

How to put it? It was the kind of sight that would make anyone feel a little embarrassed.

But Chi Yu couldn’t afford to dwell on it. She forced a sheepish smile, her deer-like eyes curving into crescents, two dimples appearing at the corners of her lips. Yet everyone could tell her smile was perfunctory.

As expected, without pausing, she grabbed her phone and hurried to the balcony.

The moment she sat down, she checked the time: 11:59 PM.

Chi Yu: “……”

Might as well try anything at this point. I’ll just send something random first.

Unlocking her phone, she immediately launched the XT instant messaging app for Love’s Heartbeat. Without even looking at the screen, she tapped on a random profile picture.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard: Sister, you’re so cute! She hit send.

Deadline: 11:59:58 PM.

Whew…

Chi Yu stared at the final sent time, exhaling a long breath. But the breath caught in her throat.

Her doe-like eyes widened slightly, and she froze.

Then, from the room behind her, Gu Yuan’s phone chimed with a text message notification.

Ding-dong

Chi Yu wondered what expression Gu Yuan was wearing at that moment.

She pressed a hand to her forehead, her phone still open on the text message screen. The recipient was Gu Yuan, and the message read: Sister is so cute.

Each second stretched into an eternity, like torture.

Chi Yu silently counted for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Gu Yuan’s voice drifted slowly from the bed: “I know.”

“……”

On the balcony, Chi Yu leaned back in an iron chair, the program-provided phone lying on the iron side table beside her.

The phone screen remained lit, displaying the text message inbox.

There was only one “heartbeat” message in the inbox, sent by Ruan Feiyu.

Hao Hao, after much deliberation, I’ve decided to send you this message. I truly like you. Please go out with me.

“……”

Such a direct confession.

Yet Chi Yu showed no reaction. Her slender, pale fingers held a woman’s cigarette, and through the hazy smoke, she gazed at the brilliant starry sky.

Just then, Gu Yuan’s voice sounded beside her: “What are you doing here instead of sleeping?”

Before Chi Yu could reply, Gu Yuan had already snatched the delicate cigarette from between her fingers. A moment later, the extinguished stub lay in the rabbit-shaped ashtray.

“……”

Chi Yu hadn’t actually intended to smoke; she had merely been holding the cigarette while lost in thought. But explaining now would make her seem guilty, as if she were hiding something.

Previously, Gu Yuan had forbidden her from smoking, and she had complied. But after leaving Gu Yuan’s side, no one could control her anymore, leaving her free to indulge her whims.

Despite the extinguished cigarette, Chi Yu instinctively didn’t argue. She stubbornly retorted, “Nothing. Isn’t Sister Yuanyuan asleep yet?”

With that, Chi Yu turned to face Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan remained her usual self, looking most beautiful with her long hair cascading over her shoulders.

After studying Chi Yu for a few seconds, Gu Yuan settled into the iron leisure chair on the other side.

“I was asleep. Your text woke me up.”

“……”

The topic was awkward. Chi Yu scratched the skin between her eyebrows, then feigned ignorance. “Oh, if you’re awake, you can just go back to sleep.”

Gu Yuan tapped her fingers lightly. “Then why aren’t you asleep?”

“Is Sister Yuanyuan worried about me?” Chi Yu chuckled softly.

“It’s not about worry.” Gu Yuan adjusted her posture, crossing her long legs and resting her hands on her knees. She gazed up at the starry sky through her long lashes. “I just wanted to ask about your plans.”

Plans?

Chi Yu frowned slightly, glancing over. She was met with Gu Yuan’s stunning profile bathed in moonlight, the bridge of her nose illuminated with a shimmering blue halo.

“What do you mean?”

Gu Yuan continued to gaze at the brilliant starry river. “You’re here for a dating reality show.”

“Ah, right…”

Chi Yu paused to think, then nodded in agreement. “My manager worked so hard to get me this opportunity. She said it’s a hugely popular show, and it would be a waste to miss it.”

Gu Yuan lowered her long lashes slightly. “So, you’re here for work?”

“Of course. I came here for work from the start.”

Under the moonlight, the fragrance of jasmine seemed to intensify, its sweet aroma permeating the air.

Chi Yu leaned slightly closer to Gu Yuan. “Just another worker on a dating reality show.”

“…”

Gu Yuan chuckled softly. “Not for Feiyu?”

“Huh?” Chi Yu tilted her head, looking at Gu Yuan with a hint of confusion.

Gu Yuan merely lowered her lashes further, murmuring, “You two were trending from the very beginning, and you even came to the dating show together.”

Then, Gu Yuan met Chi Yu’s gaze. “Did you not expect me to participate either?”

“…”

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow, answering truthfully, “No.”

“If I hadn’t come, would you have ended up with Feiyu?”

Chi Yu smiled again. “That’s hard to say.”

“…”

So there was a chance.

This time, Gu Yuan remained silent, while Chi Yu grew more intrigued.

“Then, Sister Yuanyuan, are you here for work or to find a partner?”

The question Chi Yu had wanted to ask since Gu Yuan’s arrival finally slipped out.

Gu Yuan lowered her gaze slightly.

“Actually, after all these years, it’s time for a fresh start.”

“…”

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Oh?”

“So you really are here to find someone?”

Gu Yuan seemed to genuinely consider the question before looking up at Chi Yu. “There’s nothing wrong with that. People need to change. You haven’t exactly been idle since we broke up, have you?”

Chi Yu didn’t want to dwell on the past. She felt a vague restlessness, an inexplicable unease stirring within her.

“Heh, not too bad. Not too busy.”

She wasn’t lying. Amidst the chaotic sea of people, Gu Yuan was the only one who had ever truly touched her heart. The others? None had lasted even two days. They were tiresome, and she grew weary of them quickly.

In the end, they were all just casual flings, nothing substantial ever came of them.

Chi Yu suddenly felt the urge to light a cigarette. “So, who’s caught your eye?”

A long silence followed.

Gu Yuan didn’t offer a casual answer. Instead, she gazed steadily at Chi Yu.

Two pairs of strikingly beautiful eyes locked in the moonlight of this foreign land, the sheer curtains behind them billowing gently in the night breeze.

Then, Gu Yuan smiled softly, her slightly elongated willow-leaf eyes curving into a graceful arc.

“I’ve been wondering… if I just found someone to play around with, like you do, would that help pass the time?”

“……”

Find someone to play with? Or just anyone?

Aren’t you afraid of getting played yourself?

Gu Yuan leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on the wrought-iron coffee table. The distance between them narrowed. “Tell me,” she murmured, “who should I play with?”

“……”

The rich fragrance emanating from Gu Yuan’s body tugged at Chi Yu’s nerves. It was hard to imagine this aloof goddess descending from her pedestal.

But Chi Yu had always known that Gu Yuan wasn’t as refined and composed as she appeared. Only by provoking her would one discover the madness lurking beneath that calm, detached facade.

Today, Chi Yu felt an inexplicable urge to provoke her.

Where’s the fun without a little provocation? Why not?

Chi Yu narrowed her eyes and finally lifted Gu Yuan’s chin. “How about Sister Yuanyuan and I play together? It’s not like that’s impossible, right?”

“With you?”

“Don’t want to?”

Gu Yuan’s eyelids flickered.

The hand that had been raised to push away Chi Yu’s restraint changed course, instead gripping Chi Yu’s wrist.

A faint smile curved Gu Yuan’s lips. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be rivals?”

Chi Yu leaned in closer. “Whether Sister wants to be rivals or partners, it’s up to you. But if you want to play with me, why not become partners?”

After a two-second pause, a flicker of emotion flashed through Gu Yuan’s eyes.

Gu Yuan smiled faintly. “If you want to play, let’s play.”

“After all, you’re an adult now. It’s not illegal to play with you.”

Chi Yu stared in silence.

For Gu Yuan, the Best Actress known for her icy demeanor, to say something like “It’s not illegal to play with you” left Chi Yu somewhat stunned.

But after only a few seconds, Chi Yu’s lips curved into a perfunctory smile.

“Alright, Sister Yuanyuan. During the Dating Reality Show, should we try playing the CP line? Or the rival line? We can switch it up?”

“Either works.”

Gu Yuan’s faint fragrance drew Chi Yu irresistibly closer.

But an iron coffee table separated them.

Chi Yu leaned forward, her shadow enveloping Gu Yuan’s slender frame.

They gazed at each other. Finally, Chi Yu asked softly, “Sister Yuanyuan, may I ask… who did you send your heart-fluttering text to?”

“……”

On the phone lying on the table, Chi Yu saw only one message in the inbox: Ruan Feiyu’s heart-fluttering confession.

This had been the source of her restless nights and the oppressive feeling in her chest.

That’s why she had come to the balcony, cigarette in hand, to think.

Now, Chi Yu truly wanted to know: Gu Yuan, who did you send your heart-fluttering text to?

“……”

Chi Yu tilted Gu Yuan’s chin upward, forcing her to meet her gaze at close range.

A faint scent of mint tobacco lingered on Chi Yu’s clothes, mingling with her natural fragrance—a rather pleasant combination.

Gu Yuan simply stared back, saying nothing.

At that moment, her eyebrows arched slightly, as if she were enduring the pain of Chi Yu’s grip.

Chi Yu didn’t loosen her hold; instead, she felt an urge to tighten it further, as if she could crush that delicate, beautiful jaw with a single squeeze.

But she forcefully suppressed the strange, surging impulse within her. A cold smile crept across her lips. “Sister, who has captured your heart this time?”

“Ruan Feiyu?”

“Or someone else?”

“……”

Gu Yuan’s brow remained gently furrowed. Though her hand gripped Chi Yu’s wrist, she exerted no force, as if she lacked the strength.

“I…”

She swallowed softly, her crimson lips parting slightly. “I’ve withdrawn.”

Chi Yu stared at her in silence.

After a moment, she finally released Gu Yuan’s chin, casually stroking her cheek.

“Good sister,” she purred. “Since we’ve decided to play the role of on-screen lovers, remember to send your heart-fluttering texts to me from now on.”

Chi Yu smiled faintly and gently withdrew her hand.

“Do you understand now?”

Gu Yuan seemed a little conflicted, her brow furrowing slightly. After a long pause, she nodded.

Only then did Chi Yu truly feel satisfied. She stood up, letting the night breeze ruffle her hair. “Well then, Sister Yuanyuan, it’s getting late. Shall we retire together?”

Gu Yuan remained silent, unsure whether this was some kind of invitation.

Chi Yu waved her hand dismissively and chuckled. “Don’t take it seriously. I was just joking.”

Straightening her back, she continued, “It really is late. If you’re not sleepy yet, you can stay up a bit longer. I’m going to bed now.”

Without another glance at Gu Yuan, Chi Yu turned and headed back to her bedroom, leaving Gu Yuan alone in the moonlight, her slender figure bathed in its glow.

Gu Yuan’s fair skin shimmered under the moon’s radiance as she watched Chi Yu’s retreating figure. Her bright eyes glistened with a watery mist, concealing emotions too complex to decipher.

Finally, a faint smile curved the corners of Gu Yuan’s crimson lips.

“It’s been a while. I look forward to working with you in the future.”