Forced Cohabitation After a Hit Romance Variety Show with My Rival Actress - Chapter 24

The master bedroom featured a round bed draped with vibrant crimson bedding.

Returning to her room to sleep, Chi Yu still found the color too glaring.

After a long day of filming for the variety show, exhaustion quickly overwhelmed her.

Lying on the soft, spacious bed, she fell asleep almost instantly this time.

A faint jasmine fragrance lingered around her nose.

Before she knew it, she had drifted into a deep slumber.

Water sports were physically demanding. Chi Yu slept fitfully, half-dreaming, constantly aware of the delicate, lingering jasmine scent in her nostrils. It was as if jasmine blossoms were swaying faintly, blooming throughout the night.

She felt a gentle caress on her hair, but she was too tired to fully awaken. With her eyes still closed, she nuzzled her cheek against the warm skin beneath her, sinking back into sleep.

In the moment before she drifted off, she had a fleeting sense that she had truly traveled to another dimension.

In that realm, she seemed to be back in the private room of Jin Hongjin’s newly opened bar. Overwhelmed by alcohol, her limbs felt heavy, and her eyelids refused to lift. Through the haze, she thought she saw a figure enter the room.

They, too, carried the faint, elegant fragrance of jasmine. Had that person gently stroked her cheek that night?

The sensation was eerily similar to what she felt tonight—almost identical…

But how could that be? Was it Gu Yuan? No, it couldn’t be, could it?

The night passed quietly.

When Chi Yu woke up groggily, she felt that the night’s fatigue hadn’t been washed away by sleep; instead, her muscles and bones ached even more.

After a moment of disorientation, her consciousness returned, and she heard voices near the door.

She vaguely caught snippets like “Sorry to bother you,” “You’re too kind,” “We still need individual shots after today’s schedule,” and “Thank you for your hard work, Teacher.”

Chi Yu decided to linger in bed a while longer. She pressed her fingers against the corner of the blanket, opened her drowsy, deer-like eyes, and peeked through the gap toward the door.

Her vision was angled, revealing Gu Yuan’s slender and graceful figure standing in the doorway.

A young woman from the film crew, her face flushed, gazed at Gu Yuan as she casually spoke, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Um… Teacher Gu Yuan, could you please remove the towel covering the camera?”

Gu Yuan was still arranging her hair while Chi Yu lay sleeping.

From Chi Yu’s perspective, the two women looked like a newlywed couple on their honeymoon.

In the morning, Gu Yuan woke up and smiled at the attendant by the door, casually gathering her hair into a bun.

Gu Yuan’s hair was exceptionally fine—soft, lustrous, and well-hydrated. She quickly and effortlessly arranged it into a neat bun, then lowered her hand and smiled at the staff member by the door. “Mm, good morning.”

“By the way, when did Xiao Chi cover the camera?”

Xiao Chi again…

Weren’t we just talking about being a couple last night? So you’ve already decided we’re rivals, huh?

Chi Yu pretended to be asleep under the covers, subconsciously clutching the corner of the blanket.

The young staff member, who had never seen such a beautiful woman grooming herself, blushed crimson. “Um… yes, Teacher Gu Yuan. Teacher Chi Yu covered the camera last night when Teacher Gu Yuan went to shower. Teacher Chi Yu really cares about Teacher Gu Yuan! Even though the live chat went wild, we didn’t rush to remove the cover. We wanted to protect the artists’ privacy, you know? Hehe…”

The girl scratched the back of her head as she finished speaking.

Gu Yuan maintained her smile. “Cares about me? Mm, thank you.”

“……”

Chi Yu lay under the covers, feigning death. She was immensely grateful she had covered the camera last night. If she hadn’t, Ruan Feiyu would have likely faced the most brutal online backlash of her career.

Gu Yuan’s fans were notoriously ruthless.

They could easily take down ten opponents at once.

Her assistant, Kuang Baibai, had delicately hinted at the state of her social media feed, but even those veiled remarks painted a devastating picture.

The young staff member at the door exchanged a few more words with Gu Yuan.

“Sister Gu Yuan, could you please tell Chi Yu that after we announce the heart-fluttering text messages and group assignments this morning, there will be a supermarket trip. The guests need to prepare their own meals, so they’ll have to come back to cook.”

“Oh, and as I mentioned earlier, after all the activities today, we’ll be filming individual interviews with each guest. Please make sure to set aside time for that.”

“Hmm… that’s about it. Once I’ve informed you, the props team should have finished setting up the venue, and all staff will be leaving the villa. We’re counting on you to relay the information, Sister Gu Yuan.”

“Cooking,” “grocery shopping,” “handling all three meals herself.”

Just hearing these words made Chi Yu feel like today was her day to shine. Her sisters had always teased her about her cooking skills—or lack thereof—and she’d even managed to make the Director of the show throw up after eating her instant noodles. She had no idea how she’d pulled that off, but it felt like quite an accomplishment.

Still huddled under the covers, she slowly closed her eyes again.

Click. The wooden door closed once more. Chi Yu could hear the sound of the towel covering the camera being removed, followed by the soft rustling of fabric.

…

With her eyes still closed, Chi Yu burrowed deeper under the covers.

Sunlight streamed onto the bed, creating a small, rounded bulge in the pristine white duvet. The shape looked thin and frail.

“Stop pretending to be asleep.”

Gu Yuan glanced at the small bulge as she passed the bed, seemingly able to discern the outline of Chi Yu’s sleeping body beneath the covers. She turned her gaze away and casually remarked as she walked from the bedside toward the balcony.

“You heard what the staff said earlier, right? If you did, you should get up now.”

…

Chi Yu paused before slowly crawling out of bed.

She hadn’t washed up, having slept so deeply that her hair was a tangled mess, giving her an almost abstract appearance.

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the balcony window, illuminating Chi Yu’s cheek.

With her fair skin and defined features, Chi Yu’s face seemed to glow in the sunlight. The fine, downy hairs on her cheek added a touch of everyday beauty to the scene.

Chi Yu squinted, gazing vaguely at the camera.

Of course, they turned it on again.

Unbeknownst to her, the Live Chat was exploding with activity as viewers watched her wake up.

Aww, Chi Yu’s awake! This morning scene is just too beautiful.

The sunlight is perfect! You look like a manga heroine, still half-asleep.

OMG, those tiny hairs on her face! Is her skin really this flawless? She’s like a sweet peach come to life!

Wait, am I the only one who noticed Best Actress passing by and telling her not to pretend to be asleep? This is major sugar!

Hold on, I just found an even bigger clue! Did they… did they sleep in the same bed last night?!

Frog Fun, you’re right! Chi Yu woke up on the balcony side of the big bed this morning, but there were definitely signs someone had slept on the other side too!

My sisters are truly eagle-eyed! Look at Chi Yu’s pillow—there’s definitely a sleeping imprint on it!

This is so sweet I’m going crazy! One says “Don’t pretend to be asleep,” and the other immediately gets up! And they slept in the same bed! This… this… I’m swooning from the sweetness! Don’t catch me!

As the subjects of the camera’s gaze, neither Chi Yu nor Gu Yuan could see the live chat’s frenzy. Gu Yuan stood by the balcony’s wrought-iron railing, her hands resting on the cool metal. She turned slightly, letting the morning sun bathe her face and body, while a gentle breeze lifted her thick, lustrous hair.

The tips of her hair danced in the air, framing her swan-like neck. Her long lashes fluttered against her closed eyelids.

She seemed to be taking a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air of the city.

It was this very scene that suddenly reminded Chi Yu of the profile picture that netizen had used.

In the photo, Gu Yuan was just like this, bathed in the sun’s golden light. The radiant sunlight traced the curves of her profile, her long hair tossed by the wind, a few strands dancing across her nose—utterly captivating, just like the Gu Yuan who had appeared before Chi Yu that morning.

Yet the scene before her now was even more breathtaking.

With her eyes simply closed and face tilted upward, basking in the caress of sunlight and gentle breeze, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Truly, she was Gu Yuan.

Chi Yu didn’t know why Gu Yuan had turned slightly to the side, but the angle offered her the perfect view.

She froze for a few seconds, and the live chat froze with her.

Then:

Ahhh! Gu Yuan! So beautiful! The goddess is glowing!

I can’t even imagine how stunned Chi Yu must be seeing this in person. I’m just seeing a corner of the scene through the camera, and I’m already breathless with awe!

Chi Yu is so lucky! Not only did she get to share a suite with the Best Actress, but she also gets to see the goddess’s morning look! Waaah, I’m so jealous!

Chi Yu is beautiful too, and Gu Yuan is devastatingly gorgeous. The two of them together are such a feast for the eyes!

I’m back! Help me up, I can still ship them!

Is the person upstairs delirious? Gu Yuan and Chi Yu are rivals, aren’t they? They’re both competing for Ruan Feiyu (though Ruan Feiyu clearly has a crush on Chi Yu, who doesn’t seem to reciprocate).

This is all so confusing! All three of them are so enigmatic. I can’t even tell who’s whose ex-girlfriend anymore.

The fact that the Best Actress has an ex-girlfriend is shocking enough! I spent all night researching, but there’s no trace of any rumors. Even the top paparazzi are posting question marks on Weibo, wondering if they missed some major scoop. They’ve been tailing Gu Yuan for over two years, through three or four different agencies, and all they’ve found is that she goes to work and goes home. Is this “reasonable embrace” just a gimmick from the show?

I’m starting to think so too. But Gu Yuan, Chi Yu, and Ruan Feiyu together? That’s a real-life Shura field!

It’s a dating reality show, after all. Just keep watching and see who ends up with whom!

I’m rooting for Gu Yuan and Xiao Chi to get together! The way they hugged? I’m obsessed!

Snap out of it! My sister and Chi Yu are rivals! We’ll never approve of this match!

The live chat erupted in a frenzy, jolting Chi Yu out of her initial daze.

She shook her head, got out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and went to the bathroom to change.

As she changed, she noticed a bathtub filled with rose petals. The water hadn’t been turned on yet, and the petals floated gently on the surface.

“…”

Flashes of last night’s events flickered through her mind, momentarily distracting her. She wondered which was more fragrant: the rose petals or Gu Yuan’s jasmine-scented skin.

In the bedroom, the sound of the master bedroom door opening and closing snapped Chi Yu back to reality.

She held up the hem of her shirt with one hand, her back glowing softly in the bathroom’s gentle light. She quickly pulled on her white sleeveless T-shirt, changed into a knee-length khaki denim skirt, casually tied her hair into a high ponytail, and stepped out of the bathroom.

Upon exiting, she discovered that Gu Yuan was no longer in the room, leaving behind only a faint, refreshing fragrance—the scent of jasmine.

It was a pleasant aroma, one that had permeated her dreams countless times the previous night.

Chi Yu sniffed the air, put on a matching baseball cap, pulled on white socks, slipped into khaki wide-leg boots, and hurried out the door and downstairs.

This morning was the critical moment when the “heartbeat text” would be revealed.

Everyone was already waiting in the dining room. Some were seated around the round table, while others were still tidying up their things. Chi Yu realized she was the last one to come downstairs.

She quickly smiled apologetically at everyone. “I’m so sorry for being late.”

“I’ll take care of the cooking today. Sisters, I’ll look after you all.”

None of the sisters showed any impatience. In fact, they had always been naturally fond of Chi Yu, a girl with a pure, refreshing aura. And now she had offered to cook.

That was the key.

Lu Wenrui leaned over the table with a cheerful grin, studying Chi Yu’s outfit. “Aiyo, you look so cute today!”

Chi Yu smiled politely. “Xiao Rui-jie, you look lovely too.”

Lu Wenrui was still holding her large straw hat, decorated with two golden sunflowers, which perfectly complemented her floral dress, making her look incredibly adorable and lively.

With her doll-like face and sweet demeanor, she grinned mischievously. “Hao Hao, darling, I want to eat mala tang.”

“……”

Li Tianyin, who had just finished putting on her combat boots, walked over and sat down. “This is B Country. Where are we going to find mala tang?”

Lu Wenrui stomped her foot. “I want spicy hot pot!”

“Reality shows are tough enough as it is,” she continued. “Isn’t it nice to eat something our managers usually forbid? Tianyin Eonni, don’t you understand our suffering?”

Li Tianyin shook her head and waved Chi Yu over. “Don’t listen to her. The supermarket might not have everything we need. We’ll just make do with what we find.”

Lin Yihan followed closely behind, still wearing her flowy shirt tucked into wide-legged white linen pants.

“You forgot your bag,” he said, holding up a small black crossbody bag.

Li Tianyin, who had already sat down, glanced back at Lin Yihan. For some reason, she seemed to frown slightly before dryly uttering, “Thank you,” and hanging the bag over the back of her chair.

Ruan Feiyu, sitting across from Chi Yu, stared intently at her with her meticulously made-up eyes. She was dressed in her usual pastel pink, her pale pink dress adorned with fluffy pom-poms.

The round table was set up exactly as it had been on the first day, though this time there were no special colored or textured tableware.

The electronic settling device in the center of the table appeared to be fully calibrated, its baby camera still blinking with a blue signal light.

Finally, Ruan Feiyu spoke, as if having made up her mind. “Hao Hao, did you sleep well last night? I… I went to look for you, but you were out. Where did you go?”

The live chat erupted with excited speculation:

Wait, Chi Yu went out last night?

B Country isn’t as safe as our place. It’s best not to wander around at night.

Feifei is so obviously concerned about Hao Hao! The arrow pointing at her is practically neon!

I told you, this season of “Love’s Heartbeat” is going to be an epic love triangle: Gu Yuan, Ruan Feiyu, and that little flower Chi Yu.

So the real question is: where did Chi Yu go last night?

Where did she go…?

Chi Yu looked up and saw Gu Yuan sitting beside Ruan Feiyu.

Gu Yuan was still dressed in white, the delicate straps of her pleated dress emphasizing her slender shoulders. The fabric draped beautifully, swaying gently in the breeze from the window, tracing elegant curves around her slender calves and ankles.

She had casually pinned her hair up in a side bun, yet she looked stunningly beautiful.

“Hao Hao? Hao Hao?”

Ruan Feiyu’s face gradually came into focus before Chi Yu. “Hmm?”

Ruan Feiyu glanced away, pursed her lips, and turned back. “Okay, I was just asking where you went last night.”

Chi Yu hadn’t expected Ruan Feiyu to still be pressing the issue after so long. She couldn’t help but recall the scene from the previous night, when she had been holding her breath underwater.

It was a bit embarrassing, but she had no choice. After all, most of these people were in the entertainment industry, and there was no telling what rumors might spread. Protecting herself was essential.

Chi Yu paused for two seconds, then a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her deer-like eyes curved into crescents as she laughed. “Last night? I just went out for a walk. Why?”

Ruan Feiyu’s expression remained unchanged.

So Gu Yuan didn’t tell Chi Yu about what happened last night.

Ruan Feiyu let out a sigh of relief. “Nothing. I just noticed you hadn’t said anything in the group chat after you got back, so I was curious.”

Chi Yu nodded, her smile still radiating harmless innocence. “When I got back, I just went to bed.”

Ruan Feiyu smiled back, but her smile felt strained. “Right, you can’t text while you’re sleeping.”

But you can flirt on the balcony.

Neither Chi Yu nor Gu Yuan spoke. Their gazes met briefly in the air before they both looked away in perfect unison.

Live Chat: Wow, these three are really something to watch.

Huh? What’s so interesting?

Upstairs, you’re missing the point! In dating reality shows, the way people look at each other is crucial. Like just now, Gu Yuan and Chi Yu exchanged a brief glance right after Ruan Feiyu said that. What do you think those two were up to last night?

Exactly! They even blocked the cameras and muted the mics so we couldn’t hear anything. But right after “No texting after bedtime,” they looked at each other. That was loaded with meaning. strokes chin

OMG, sisters, you’re all Sherlock Holmes-level detectives! Take me with you!

Everyone’s focused on their glances, but don’t you realize the main event is about to start?

Oh yeah! They’re about to announce the results of the heart-fluttering text messages! excitedly rubs hands

Sure enough, as the live chat comments faded, the circular platform in the center of the dining table began to glow and rise.

The guests, who had been chatting casually, were startled by the sudden movement.

As everyone’s attention converged, two envelopes appeared on the elevator platform that had delivered the first Task Card.

One envelope was pink, adorned with large hearts and the show’s massive logo in three-dimensional lettering. Beside it, in smaller print, were the words: “Love’s Heartbeat SMS Results Revealed.”

Beneath the pink envelope lay a white one, labeled in small letters: “Grocery Shopping Funds.”

All eyes shifted back to the large pink envelope.

Inside lay the results of last night’s Love’s Heartbeat SMS votes—in other words, today’s team assignments.

The envelope remained motionless on the platform, untouched by any of the guests.

Meanwhile, the baby camera mounted on the elevator platform recorded every expression and movement without missing a beat.

“…”

Finally, Lu Wenrui couldn’t contain herself. “I’m just throwing out a possibility here,” she said. “What if not everyone paired up with someone who chose them back?”

“Would they be left out, or would there be a different task?”

No one on set could answer her question. During filming, the director’s team and camera crew were completely withdrawn from the villa to create a relaxed environment for the guests. However, this extreme relaxation sometimes led to frustrating situations, as there was no one available to clarify doubts or provide explanations.

Chi Yu was also curious. She knew she had voted for Gu Yuan, Ruan Feiyu had voted for herself, and Gu Yuan hadn’t sent a text message to abstain.

She wondered how the groups would be formed under these circumstances.

As the youngest member of the entertainment industry present, Chi Yu wisely remained silent, deferring to her senior colleagues who had yet to voice their opinions.

The room was quiet, each guest visibly inexperienced with dating reality shows.

The live chat erupted with impatience:

Aiya, stop just staring! Open the envelopes and see!

I’m dying of suspense! Stop making eye contact and take some action!

Hurry, hurry, open the envelopes!

But… knowing how shady the production team is, what if the first person to open an envelope gets punished?

Good point. It’s hard to say.

Finally, Li Tianyin, growing impatient, reached out and grabbed an envelope.

“If no one else will open them, I’ll do it.”

After taking the envelope, she discovered an even smaller recording device attached to it. The live broadcast camera now showed Li Tianyin holding the camera at a bizarre angle, pointing it upward at her chin.

The Rock Queen truly lives up to her title. Even from this unflattering angle, her beauty remains flawless.

Sister is so bold! Daring to grab the envelope first, unafraid of the production team’s traps.

Li Tianyin’s skin is amazing! Tsk tsk, I wonder who’ll be lucky enough to marry her someday.

The live chat erupted in gasps and sighs as they watched Li Tianyin brutally tear open the cute pink envelope, completely ignoring the camera. After dumping out the letter, she even shook the envelope vigorously.

Oh my god, stop shaking it! I’m getting a dizzying, swirling sensation like being flushed down a toilet!

No wonder she’s a rock star—her grip is insane! I was dizzy for three seconds from that shake.

Thank God the director cut to a wide shot. I’m alive again!

The director probably threw up and panicked, switching angles immediately.

Li Tianyin, the Goddess of Destruction!

As expected of Li Tianyin—a woman who can make the entire production crew gag with whatever she does!

Li Tianyin had no idea she had just “turbocharged” the audience and the production crew director. She pulled out the letter and unfolded it. “Love experiences require one-on-one, short-term interactions. Now that the first day of group activities is over, have you found the person who makes your heart race?”

“Try spending time alone with each other. You might discover that the right person is waiting for you too. On that day, you bravely sent your ‘Love’s Heartbeat’ text…”

As she read this, Li Tianyin’s impatience seemed to reach its limit. She brushed her bangs back, combing her short hair away from her forehead.

“Alright, too many words. I’m too lazy to read it all. Let’s just announce the results directly.”

“The matching pairs are—”

She paused, looking around at the puzzled and confused expressions on everyone’s faces.

Lu Wenrui urged her, “Tianyin Eonni, stop teasing us! Just tell us already!”

Ruan Feiyu was equally anxious, her eyes fixed on Li Tianyin. “Yes, Tianyin, announce the results!”

Ruan Feiyu felt a pang of embarrassment recalling her direct confession text from the previous night. But now wasn’t the time for blushing; she was far more concerned about Chi Yu’s final choice.

Would it be her?

Or—

Ruan Feiyu waited anxiously for the results. Li Tianyin announced, “Given the distribution of heart-fluttering texts, no pairs have been formed. Therefore, each guest who received a text now has the right to counter-select.”

“In other words, the guests who received texts can choose one person from among their senders to be their provisional partner for group activities…”

As Li Tianyin read this, the live chat erupted with excitement.

Haha, look at the guests’ shocked faces! Isn’t this standard procedure for dating reality shows? The first day is all about first impressions; it’s rare for any pairs to mutually select each other on the first day, which is why the counter-selection right exists!

I love seeing the wives’ wide-eyed, “never seen the world” expressions! Let’s see who manages to counter-select each other successfully later.

I’m betting a spicy noodle that this round of pairings will be wild!

Li Tianyin cleared her throat and continued, “Lin Yihan voted for Li Tianyin, Lu Wenrui voted for Li Tianyin, Li Tianyin abstained… Li Tianyin may now counter-select either Lin Yihan or Lu Wenrui.”

She glanced up and saw Lu Wenrui winking at her, even disregarding the camera’s gaze. Lu Wenrui rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, forming two tiny hearts with her hands.

“Tianyin Eonni, pick me! Pick me!”

The live chat erupted in laughter, with comments like “I knew Lu Wenrui would be so shameless.”

But no one expected the cold-faced CEO beside Li Tianyin to suddenly turn, lean her elbow on the table, and face Li Tianyin completely. With unwavering seriousness, she said, “Pick me.”

Then, without a flicker of emotion, Lin Yihan brought her hands together, forming a large, double-handed heart.

It was massive, utterly shattering her usual image.

“……”

The live chat went wild:

Holy sh1t! I thought their conversation in the tent last night was just a joke! I never imagined the CEO would actually be throwing these direct pitches so often!

LOL, look at Lu Wenrui! She’s so scared she retracted her tiny hearts.

Lu Wenrui can’t compete with the CEO’s aura. Now it all depends on Tianyin’s choice!

Li Tianyin didn’t turn around, seemingly deliberately avoiding Lin Yihan’s gaze.

Yet Lin Yihan remained in the same posture, his eyes fixed on Li Tianyin’s face.

Everyone present, both on set and watching the live broadcast, marveled at the CEO’s decisive action. After a long hesitation, Lu Wenrui frantically waved her hand. “Don’t pick me, Tianyin Eonni! I wish you both happiness.”

“……”

Hahahaha, I’m dying of laughter! Ruirui really chickened out after all!

The CEO’s confession was a success! One guest withdrew their counter-selection, automatically closing the two-way selection process!

Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan, lock them down!

The live chat buzzed with excitement, but some viewers grew anxious.

Now that the CEO and Li Tianyin are a couple, what about the other guests?

Yeah, I’m dying to know how Gu Yuan’s votes were distributed!

And Ruan Feiyu! That love triangle was a total drama bomb!

True to form, after announcing her own choice, Li Tianyin resumed reading from the note.

“Ruan Feiyu voted for Chi Yu, Chi Yu voted for Gu Yuan, and Gu Yuan abstained. Therefore, both Gu Yuan and Chi Yu have the right to counter-select, choosing whether to accept the heart-fluttering messages they received and respond accordingly.”

“……”

“Huh?!”

Lu Wenrui’s straw hat fell from her hand in shock. “No way! Out of six people, only Feiyu and I didn’t receive any heart-fluttering messages?”

Her face fell into a mournful expression.

“We’re so pitiful! We’ll probably never get cast as the ‘万人迷’ (most popular) characters in dramas again.”

“……”

Live Chat: Pfft! Hahaha!

I pity you two for a minute.

Li Tianyin stiffened her neck, stubbornly refusing to glance at Lin Yihan beside her. She placed the letters on the table and pushed them toward the center.

“Alright, it’s your turn to make your counter-selections.”

Gu Yuan: “……”

Chi Yu: “……”

Now that the burden of counter-selection had been passed on, Li Tianyin unconsciously relaxed her tense shoulders.

Before Gu Yuan or Chi Yu could speak, Ruan Feiyu blurted out, “Hao Hao, would you choose me?”

Whoa! A direct confession! Is this dating reality show always this intense?!

She only asked Chi Yu, not Gu Yuan! Oh my god, is the ex-girlfriend going to be mad?!

These three are in a real love triangle! One chasing another, it’s so dramatic!

Chi Yu slowly lifted her gaze. The warm sunlight streaming through the window illuminated her cheek, casting delicate shadows from her long lashes beneath her deer-like eyes.

Her distinct, separated lashes framed her smiling, crescent-shaped eyes, making them shine even brighter. She extended her hand in Ruan Feiyu’s direction.

Ruan Feiyu visibly stiffened, but then Chi Yu’s hand shifted slightly to the side.

The slender, pale fingers formed a heart shape, pointing directly at Gu Yuan.

“After last night, I want to team up with Sister Gu Yuan,” Chi Yu said, tilting her head with a sweet smile. “Sister Gu Yuan, will you choose me?”

A tense silence hung in the air for several seconds. The other guests held their breath, listening intently, while Lu Wenrui leaned forward so eagerly she nearly pressed her face against the table.

Each person’s expression was a study in drama, especially Lu Wenrui’s, who couldn’t hide her burning, gossipy gaze.

It was as if everyone were silently asking, “Will she agree? Will she agree?”

The live chat erupted with speculation, but no one spoke with absolute certainty.

Some even claimed they had consulted Gu Yuan’s astrological chart and tarot cards, predicting that her “Red Phoenix Star” was stirring this year—though who it would be with remained a mystery.

Gu Yuan slowly raised her lashes, a faint smile curving her elegant, willow-leaf eyes.

The moment her gaze met Chi Yu’s, she instinctively tilted her chin upward. When she looked down through her long lashes, the natural allure in her eyes was unmistakable. Their gazes locked, entwined.

Her crimson lips parted slightly, first smiling, then speaking.

“Sure. We slept together last night, so we’re already familiar.”