Got a Happy Ending With My Ex’s Sister? (GL) - Chapter 23: Sweetness

Chapter 23: Sweetness

Shi Huan was like a big balloon, first puffed up with anger, ready to confront Tao Ziyan. But before she even got there, she was set ablaze, now floating dreamily as she stared at Tang Yiqiu nearby.

“Teacher Tang…” Her voice caught, sounding aggrieved, yet her eyes sparkled. “What did you mean by that Weibo post?”

“Exactly what it says,” Tang Yiqiu replied, tilting her chin. “Weren’t you going downstairs? The elevator’s about to close if you don’t go.”

Shi Huan shook her head immediately, a far cry from the stubborn mule she’d been moments ago, startling Wen Jing beside her.

The elevator, unused, closed automatically and descended. Wen Jing, worried someone might come up and snap a photo that’d stir trouble, tugged Shi Huan’s sleeve. “Huanhuan, thank Teacher Tang first, then let’s head back. Sister Li’s waiting for your call.”

Shi Huan couldn’t move, dazedly muttering a “thank you” while still staring at Tang Yiqiu. As Tang Yiqiu turned to walk to her room, Shi Huan followed closely behind.

Wen Jing didn’t know what to do, so she called Liang Junli to report the situation. Liang Junli sighed in relief. “As long as she’s not going to find Tao Ziyan, it’s all good. Let her be with whoever she wants for now. Keep an eye on the door, don’t let paparazzi snap anything. Forget it, let me talk to her.”

Wen Jing hurriedly handed the phone to Shi Huan, who hesitated to take it. Tang Yiqiu, opening her door, said, “Your manager’s looking for you.” Shi Huan grabbed the phone and said, “Hello.”

“Huanhuan, I won’t scold you. This would upset anyone. Just listen to me now, don’t go anywhere. I’ll handle this for sure this time.”

“I got it.” Shi Huan hung up, looking at Tang Yiqiu. Noticing the door was still open, she rushed over. “Teacher Tang, I’m done with the call.”

Tang Yiqiu didn’t shoo her away, so Shi Huan kept walking inside. The room was warm with the AC on. Shi Huan shivered—she’d been so mad she forgot to change out of her pajamas.

If she’d been photographed like this, gossip accounts would probably call her a shrew yelling in the streets. Even with recordings or videos, the media would bash her for days.

Tang Yiqiu’s room was a deluxe suite, fully equipped and spotless. Tang Yiqiu took off her coat, heading to the kitchen, then glanced at her. “What do you want to eat?”

Shi Huan’s mood was a rollercoaster, up and down. She’d expected a scolding, not a meal. She rubbed her stomach. “I’ll eat whatever you make.”

Tang Yiqiu hummed, tinkering in the kitchen. Shi Huan craned her neck to see, unsure what she was making, but a savory aroma wafted out. When she walked over, Tang Yiqiu brought out two bowls of noodles.

Simple vegetarian noodles with an egg and a few greens. Shi Huan grabbed a bowl, dramatically sniffed it, and eagerly took a bite, only to burn her tongue. “It’s really good.”

Tang Yiqiu slid a glass of water to her, eating slowly and gracefully, the opposite of Shi Huan, and not saying a word the whole time.

The silence was almost too much. Shi Huan glanced at her with every bite, feeling both happy and uneasy.

Logically, with Tang Yiqiu’s Weibo post causing a storm online, them eating noodles here seemed… inappropriate, right?

Shi Huan thought this but didn’t dare say it. She finished her noodles and asked, “Teacher Tang, are you mad?”

Tang Yiqiu was wiping her mouth with a tissue.

Shi Huan was sure of it now. “I’m sorry for causing trouble. I was just so mad earlier, that’s why I wanted to confront Tao Ziyan.”

Tang Yiqiu asked coldly, “What were you going to do with her?”

Shi Huan mumbled, “I was… going to deal with Tao Ziyan. She smeared me online, fine, but she also insulted you. I couldn’t stand it.”

“How do you know she smeared you and insulted me?”

“That New Entertainment whatever account—didn’t their post confirm it? If Tao Ziyan hadn’t paid them, how could they have those photos?”

“Do you have proof?” Tang Yiqiu raised an eyebrow. “Proof that Tao Ziyan took the photos and bribed the blogger?”

Shi Huan wasn’t convinced. “It’s obvious to anyone with eyes!”

“Are there people with eyes online? If there were, would they still be cursing you?”

That shut Shi Huan up. Being scolded like this didn’t feel great, but Tang Yiqiu was right. Everything needed evidence. Without proof, confronting someone, even if you’re right, looks wrong.

Tao Ziyan’s call wasn’t about talking—it was baiting Shi Huan’s temper, hoping she’d lash out so they could keep smearing her.

Shi Huan felt a chill. “I’m not going. I won’t fight her.”

“Why not now?”

The stern tone, with no hint of softening, weighed heavily on Shi Huan. She said hoarsely, “Because you posted on Weibo.”

“What if I hadn’t posted?” Tang Yiqiu’s deep eyes locked onto her.

If she hadn’t posted, Shi Huan would’ve gone to fight, ready to take a thousand hits to deal eight hundred back, or even go down together.

“Childish,” Tang Yiqiu said, seeing through her thoughts. “You think you’d just get to hit her? Would she let you?”

Shi Huan pouted.

Tang Yiqiu continued, “If you win, fine. But what if you lose?”

“If I lose, I keep fighting until I win. Unless she kills me—then she’s a murderer, and the police will take her down.”

Clearly talking nonsense, Tang Yiqiu’s face grew colder. Shi Huan quickly covered her mouth, scared of upsetting her, and mumbled, “So I just sit there and do nothing? I can’t stand her clinging to you, or her fans saying you like her. They curse me, I can take it, but saying you two are a couple? No way.”

Shi Huan’s eyes reddened. “Because I like you.”

Always saying “like” so shamelessly, yet so earnestly, it was impossible to argue. Tang Yiqiu swallowed the scolding she’d meant to give, saying softly, “And you think that makes you right?”

“I think it does!” Shi Huan pulled out her phone cautiously. “You… you said ‘this one, I admit.’ Does that mean…”

“I meant I posted that Weibo.”

“Oh.” Shi Huan looked again. “I don’t think so. You’re clearly saying you ‘admit me,’ like, you know, liking me.”

“Think what you want.”

As they spoke, Chang Qing burst in, panting. “Yiqiu, why’d you come back? I’ve been looking for you forever.”

Seeing Shi Huan, she bit her lip, subtly gesturing at her phone, signaling Ye Rong’s call—likely bad news.

Tang Yiqiu stood, took the phone, and glanced at the kitchen. “There’s more noodles in there. Go eat.”

“Wow, eating noodles? Did the great actress Tang cook herself? So chic,” Ye Rong’s voice dripped with sarcasm over the phone. “I’m slaving away at the company, running your team day and night, fighting here and there, while you’re chilling.”

Tang Yiqiu lowered the volume, standing by the window. “What’s the situation now?”

“What do you think?” Ye Rong said coldly, practically grinding her teeth. “You want to clap back, fine, but cursing someone online? Calling them a ‘random lesbian’? You’ve really opened my eyes!”

Tang Yiqiu frowned, displeased. “I just threw back what they called me. What’s the problem?”

Ye Rong gritted her teeth. “Big problem! They’re just loudmouth trolls. Who are you? You’re a top actress. You’re stooping to their level? What about your class, your image?”

Tang Yiqiu said coldly, “I don’t have an image.”

“Fine, fine, no image! Now you do—you’re a lesbian!” Ye Rong gasped. “How do we clean this up? Can you prove they framed you? They’ve got photos!”

“I have photos too,” Tang Yiqiu said. “Have Chang Qing get the hotpot place’s surveillance. That’ll show who took the pictures.”

Ye Rong paused, realizing this, then asked coldly, “If you knew there was surveillance, why post on Weibo? What are you thinking, Tang Yiqiu? What’s your plan?”

“Enough,” Tang Yiqiu cut her off. “Yelling at me won’t help. If you’re mad, go hammer Tao Ziyan. Crush her.”

“Don’t change the subject!”

“Hanging up. Take your anger out on Tao Ziyan.”

“Fine, fine! Keep pissing me off!” Ye Rong’s teeth clicked with a laugh. “Damn it, watch me crush that wild chicken!”

Her voice carried a hint of excitement. Ye Rong was mad but kind of thrilled. Tang Yiqiu’s fame and backing had grown so much that few dared to shamelessly leech off her. This was the first time someone had the gall to stir trouble.

Chang Qing finished her noodles and went to the hotpot place for the surveillance. The owner initially refused, but after Chang Qing’s threats, he let her copy it and mentioned a waiter overheard Tao Ziyan talking with her assistant. Chang Qing recorded it and brought it back.

Online, the fight was raging. Some passersby fans said Tang Yiqiu broke her image by cursing, lacking a public figure’s decorum.

Tang Yiqiu’s fans called it realness—cursing was nothing; not slapping faces directly was generous. Tao Ziyan’s fans, unconvinced, called Tang Yiqiu a scumbag who betrayed Tao Ziyan twice and wanted her banned.

Chang Qing sent the video and recording to Ye Rong, clicking her tongue. “Tao Ziyan’s fans talk big, like they can ban anyone. Wonder who’ll get banned later.”

Wen Jing, feeling vindicated, said, “Tao Ziyan raises her fans like venomous bugs. You’ve seen the online trash-talkers, but not the real-life extremists. We’ve even dealt with people tailgating us.”

“Tailgating?” Tang Yiqiu frowned.

Shi Huan, who hadn’t slept all day, was wrapped in a blanket. Surrounded by everyone, she felt safe and started dozing. Hearing Tang Yiqiu’s voice, she squinted. “Yeah, her fans crashed into my car.”

She said it so casually, but thinking about it sent chills—escalating to life-threatening levels. How vile was that?

Tang Yiqiu urged, “Tell Ye Rong to hurry up.”

Ten minutes later, a new gossip account dropped a bombshell: a video with three GIFs. One showed the so-called “fan” photographing Tang Yiqiu and Tao Ziyan. Another had Tang Yiqiu ignoring Tao Ziyan coldly. The last showed Tao Ziyan talking to the “fan”—her assistant.

This was like rubbing Tao Ziyan’s face in the dirt. “Flirty behavior”? “Lovey-dovey”? “Tang Yiqiu dumped you twice for your stunning beauty”?

Tang Yiqiu’s fans were furious and energized, charging Tao Ziyan’s Weibo like they were sprinting for Olympic gold, hurling insults: “Wild lesbian, crawl out and apologize!” “A wild chicken’s just a chicken—don’t think leeching off my Sugar makes you a phoenix!” “You’re so good at riding hype, maybe you’re the real mistress!”

After cursing Tao Ziyan, fans turned on the gossip account. The account, just chasing clout, was stunned by the GIFs and quickly posted an apology, saying they only got the photos from fans. To show sincerity, they retweeted the GIFs, delighting the fans.

The fight raged half the night, pushing Tao Ziyan to the top of the hot search, but this time it was unique: #TaoZiyanWildLesbian#, nailing her to the pillar of shame.

The situation was mostly settled. Late at night, the cursing fans got sleepy, agreeing to return tomorrow. In the room, everyone was exhausted. Wen Jing and Chang Qing were barely awake; Shi Huan was out cold.

Wen Jing called her a few times, but Shi Huan didn’t stir, hugging a pillow and mumbling. Wen Jing hesitated. “Sorry, Actress Tang, our Huanhuan didn’t sleep all day. She might…”

Tang Yiqiu glanced at the person on the couch. “There’s a clean blanket in the guest room. I’ll grab it for her later. Come pick her up tomorrow, tomorrow morning.”

This meant Shi Huan could stay. Wen Jing felt it wasn’t quite right but didn’t want to disturb Shi Huan’s much-needed sleep.

After they left, Tang Yiqiu grabbed the guest room blanket to cover Shi Huan. Just as she was about to tuck her in, Shi Huan’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller—Tao Ziyan.

Tao Ziyan’s frantic voice came through. “Shi Huan, you’re really not scared, huh? I’ve warned you enough! Don’t push me, or I’ll do anything!”

Getting no response, Tao Ziyan, thinking Shi Huan was scared, went further. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose Song Yixing and Tang Yiqiu’s relationship? Let’s see what the media writes then!”

“Writing that a famous director cheated with a rising star, and a certain Tao climbed up with her body—how’s that sound?” Tang Yiqiu said coldly.

Tao Ziyan, mid-sentence, bit her tongue, staring at the screen. “Tang… Tang Yiqiu? You’re together?”

Tang Yiqiu didn’t respond, but her icy aura traveled through the phone, leaving Tao Ziyan stunned. It was so late, and the two were still together, with Tang Yiqiu answering Shi Huan’s phone…

Tao Ziyan knew exactly what that meant.

Flustered, she hurriedly hung up.

Tang Yiqiu gave a soft scoff. As she turned off the phone, a notification popped up: Tao Ziyan’s studio had just issued a statement.

The statement claimed that Tao Ziyan was unaware of the photo incident, blaming it entirely on her assistant’s personal actions. The assistant had been fired, and they apologized to Tang Yiqiu, asking fans to stop attacking Tao Ziyan.

Tang Yiqiu leaned down to place the phone aside, then turned to look at the person sleeping on the couch. Shi Huan’s eyes were closed, her hands tightly clutching a pillow, one cheek puffed out as if she might blow a bubble any moment.

On a whim, Tang Yiqiu reached out to poke that bubble. But as her hand moved, Shi Huan suddenly hooked her arms around Tang Yiqiu’s neck, pulling her down. “Teacher Tang, I’m ready. Let’s kiss.”

Tang Yiqiu froze, her breathing quickening. She propped herself up on either side of Shi Huan, worried she was awake and would start fussing.

Luckily, Shi Huan was still asleep, mumbling and clinging tightly, not just wrapping her arms around Tang Yiqiu’s neck but also draping a leg over her.

“Let go, Shi Huan,” Tang Yiqiu said softly, their lips so close they nearly touched. Her breath grew warm.

“Mmm… no way,” the dreaming Shi Huan stubbornly muttered, as if ruling her own dream. She tilted her chin, moving haphazardly. “Just one kiss. I really like you, Teacher Tang.”

Her warm lips finally grazed Tang Yiqiu’s chin lightly. Shi Huan sighed contentedly. Tang Yiqiu pressed two fingers to Shi Huan’s forehead, gently pushing her back, and pulled up the blanket Shi Huan had kicked off.

“Good night.”

…

When Shi Huan woke, it was broad daylight. Realizing she was still in Tang Yiqiu’s room, she bolted upright, hugging the blanket and rolling around on the couch two or three times, bubbling with happiness.

Tang Yiqiu emerged from her bedroom and saw the scene: Shi Huan, clutching the pillow and blanket, tumbling off the couch, looking thrilled, like some kind of creep.

Caught in the act, Shi Huan wasn’t embarrassed. She climbed up with the blanket, grinning. “Teacher Tang, I slept under your blanket and used your pillow last night. Rounding up, we shared a bed.”

Tang Yiqiu closed the bedroom door and headed to the bathroom. “Those came from the guest room. I’ve never used them.”

“I don’t care.” Shi Huan slipped on slippers, following her, doing nothing but hugging the pillow and watching Tang Yiqiu brush her teeth and wash her face, utterly content.

Tang Yiqiu, mouth full of toothpaste foam, glanced at her, frowning again.

Shi Huan said, “When I was in school, I often read this line: the most romantic thing is waking up in the same room as the person you like, standing side by side brushing your teeth, letting the sunlight stream in, then going out together to face all the uncertainties of the future.”

Tang Yiqiu rinsed her mouth and pointed at the rare sunlight on the windowsill. “The sun’s streaming in. You can go now.”

“Tch.” Shi Huan snapped out of her dreamy fantasy. “No romance! You don’t even play along. Fine, I get you—cold outside, warm inside. You’ve got me in your heart.”

Tang Yiqiu paused mid-brush, then said, “There’s a disposable toothbrush and towel in the cabinet.” Her tone grew icier. She left the bathroom, leaving Shi Huan to sort herself out.

Shi Huan didn’t cling, scampering over to stand where Tang Yiqiu had been, chuckling softly.

After washing up, Wen Jing came to fetch her. Shi Huan didn’t linger, following her out but not before checking the online battle on her phone.

Despite Tao Ziyan’s apology, Tang Yiqiu’s fans and passersby weren’t buying it, believing the assistant was just a scapegoat. The tearing intensified. Unable to withstand the pressure, Tao Ziyan’s studio issued a lawyer’s letter, threatening to sue those spreading malicious rumors.

But the next second, Tang Yiqiu’s studio posted a melon-eating emoji and a statement. It clearly stated that Tang Yiqiu and Shi Huan had a great relationship, urging people not to speculate maliciously and asking a certain someone to stop leeching off their hype. It even ended with, “I will definitely pursue legal responsibility for the ‘rumor-mongers.’”

That slap left Tao Ziyan gasping. Netizens cracked up, flooding Tao Ziyan’s studio Weibo with “hahaha,” joking that suing themselves was a new low.

Originally, Tang Yiqiu’s fans despised Shi Huan, but with Tao Ziyan as the new bottom, they declared, “My Sugar’s friend is my friend.” They began digging into the feud between Shi Huan and Tao Ziyan.

This led them to the film crew. Shi Huan lowered her voice, asking, “What did Sister Li say? Does she need me to do anything?”

Wen Jing replied, “Sister Li said no rush. We lost out before by releasing evidence too fast. It’s best to let netizens dig while we guide from the side. Once they pressure the company, and the company steps in, then we act.”

Online trends shifted unpredictably, so they couldn’t move rashly. As long as the company issued a statement, Shi Huan’s victim status would be solid, further slapping Tao Ziyan’s face.

Shi Huan nodded, understanding.

“Sister Li also said Tao Ziyan handed us a win. People weren’t used to you and Tang Yiqiu’s CP, but now they’re making content themselves. Quite a few are shipping it.” Wen Jing pulled out her phone, opening a topic that seemed odd.

As everyone fiercely vowed to pluck every “wild chicken feather” off Tao Ziyan, CP fans shouted, “I’m in!” and “It’s real!” They even started writing fanfiction.

These strange creatures, the CP fans, thrived on the chaos, churning out story after story. In their eyes, everything had a new spin.

[Was Tang Yiqiu drunk?

No! She was head over heels, dizzy with love!]

[Did Tang Yiqiu post the wrong Weibo?

No! She was announcing her relationship! She was confessing!]

[Are Tang Yiqiu and Shi Huan just friends?

No! Tang Yiqiu’s protecting her wife! They’re real!]

If Shi Huan didn’t know the full story, she’d be brainwashed. Following the CP fans’ logic, it almost made sense—Tang Yiqiu did seem to dote on her!

But she couldn’t show it. Poking her screen, she said, “Nonsense. Teacher Tang posted by mistake, and she cursed Tao Ziyan out of anger, right?”

While “indignantly” threatening to report them, her fingers swiftly saved every fanfiction post.

Wen Jing, witnessing it all: “…”

Why was she starting to suspect Shi Huan and Tang Yiqiu were actually real?

They got up late and arrived at the set when most were already there, huddled over phones. Seeing Shi Huan, they stuffed their phones away.

Puzzled, Shi Huan headed to the lounge, but Chen Ling approached, likely upset about the online mess affecting the film’s promotion. His face was grim as he began scolding.

“What are you all squatting here for? How’s the set dressing going? I asked for a café, not a bar! And the assistant director, where’s the storyboard script you sent?”

Just then, Tang Yiqiu passed by. Chen Ling turned to her. “Shoot today’s scene well. Your bed scene was off. If it’s not good, don’t get out of bed!”

“What?” Tang Yiqiu looked baffled.

The melon-eating crowd dispersed instantly, leaving Shi Huan, who’d reached the lounge door but stepped back out, blinking.

Chen Ling turned to Shi Huan. “You too. None of you are worry-free.”

Shi Huan, unfazed by the scolding, furrowed her brow, feigning fear. “If we don’t shoot well, do we really have to stay wrapped up together in bed, doing nothing?”

“What, you want to do something?”

Oh, she had plenty of ideas—she could do this and that. Shi Huan thought it but stayed serious in front of Chen Ling. She looked at Tang Yiqiu. “Teacher Tang, we’ve got to bring it later!”

Tang Yiqiu’s brow twitched, sensing trouble. “You…”

“You what!” Chen Ling snapped. “You’re the worst, acting all quiet but secretly stirring up trouble!”

Shi Huan trailed Chen Ling, echoing, “Stirring up trouble.”

But once Chen Ling left, her true colors showed. Her eyes sparkled, and she flashed Tang Yiqiu a dangerous grin.

“Teacher Tang, heh, I won’t hold back later.”

Tang Yiqiu’s left eyelid twitched hard—a bad omen.

…

That twitch carried through to filming.

The scene was Ji Yuan going on a blind date at a café and running into Qin Zhiyan, who shows possessive emotions for the first time, marking an emotional peak.

But shortly after “Action,” Shi Huan was called out. Chen Ling’s face was dark as coal. “Shi Huan, what’s going on? Your emotions are off from the start, eyes darting to the door. You don’t know Qin Zhiyan’s coming—it’s a chance encounter, got it?”

Shi Huan bowed in apology. She was too excited for the upcoming bed scene, glancing at the door the moment she started. She rubbed her face, quickly getting into character.

Ji Yuan’s parents were dead set against her being with Qin Zhiyan, setting her up with a female blind date. At the meeting, she coincidentally ran into Qin Zhiyan, there for an art exhibition talk, but neither spoke to the other, acting like strangers.

Shi Huan got up to go to the bathroom. Tang Yiqiu excused herself from her friends and followed. Shi Huan was washing her hands in front of the mirror.

“Are you on a blind date?” Tang Yiqiu leaned against the doorway, watching her, calm and emotionless as always.

Shi Huan gave a small hum. “My dad’s friend’s daughter. It’s weird, you know. I used to hide it, thinking I was the only freak in the world. Now that I’m open, I can just bump into someone like me anywhere.”

“You’re not a freak,” Tang Yiqiu said.

Shi Huan shook the water off her hands. Her eyes weren’t red—she was holding it together. She turned with a smile. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go. Someone’s waiting for me outside.”

Tang Yiqiu hummed and stepped aside slightly. Shi Huan paused, then hid her playful mood and walked toward the door. Just as she reached it, Tang Yiqiu suddenly pressed her hand against the door. “Wait.”

Shi Huan’s eyes flickered, her voice steady. “What?”

“How is she?”

So that’s what this was about. Shi Huan bit her lip and answered honestly. “Fashion designer, twenty-seven, funny, charming, supports my career. Overall, a great catch.”

“I’m done. Can I go now?”

Tang Yiqiu loosened her grip. Shi Huan pulled the door open, but as she stepped out, Tang Yiqiu grabbed her sleeve. The smell of alcohol on Tang Yiqiu hit her face. “Don’t go. I don’t think she’s that great.”

“That’s just your opinion!” Shi Huan tried to pull away, but Tang Yiqiu gripped her waist tightly.

Shi Huan was fed up with Qin Zhiyan like this—keeping her at a distance one moment, then getting handsy the next. “Let go, Qin Zhiyan!”

“Don’t go,” Tang Yiqiu repeated, pulling her close and leaning down to kiss her face.

The next second, Chen Ling yelled, “Cut! Stop, stop, stop! Tang Yiqiu, what’s going on? Why’d you close the distance so fast? What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid,” Tang Yiqiu said, standing straight, adjusting her emotions to continue.

Shi Huan gave her a deep look. She could tell—Tang Yiqiu’s movements were rushed, like she was terrified of the upcoming kiss scene.

Sure enough, minutes later, they stopped again. “Tang Yiqiu, what’s wrong with you? Your lips are touching, and you’re hesitating again?”

“Alright, alright, stop fixing your emotions. Your face is numb. Tang Yiqiu, step down. How did you handle kiss scenes before? I’m done with you!”

They shot five takes, each one stalling at the kiss. Chen Ling was so mad he wanted to bash her head in.

Tang Yiqiu rubbed her temples, looking tired.

After Chen Ling finished scolding, Shi Huan handed her a cup of water and leaned in close. “I’ve got a way to help you get through this. Wanna try it?”

Tang Yiqiu looked at her. “What way?”

“You agree to one condition, and I’ll tell you.”

“Forget it then.”

“Come on, try it.” Shi Huan grinned. “By the way, I had a dream last night. You kissed me, and your technique was amazing, totally swoon-worthy.”

Tang Yiqiu gave her a long look. “You’re imagining things.”

“Yeah, you won’t even kiss me on set, so how could you kiss me for real?” Shi Huan sighed, took a sip of tea, and nudged Tang Yiqiu with her elbow. “Seriously, think about it. My way will definitely help you!”

Her makeup today was bold, her red lips strikingly vivid. During the shoot, Tang Yiqiu had noticed them instantly at the doorway—they were impossible to miss.

Tang Yiqiu looked away. “We’ll see.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. You’ll find out soon.” Shi Huan crossed her arms. “My way will get you through, guaranteed.”

Ten minutes later, Shi Huan was pinned against the door again, keeping her resistant stance. When the clapperboard snapped and “Action” was called, Tang Yiqiu’s lips met hers. Just as it started to feel stiff, Shi Huan flicked her tongue.

Tang Yiqiu tasted sweetness in her mouth.

Her eyes widened in surprise. Shi Huan parted her lips slightly, letting her in. This time, Tang Yiqiu tasted it clearly—chocolate, sweet and rich, laced with a hint of white liquor. It was intoxicating. Tang Yiqiu gripped Shi Huan’s waist tightly, her eyes reddening with intensity. Shi Huan bit back, refusing to back down.

When they parted, both were flushed. Shi Huan’s eyes were misty, and she gritted her teeth. “Is that enough, Qin Zhiyan? Are you satisfied?”

“I gave up already. What more do you want from me?”

The words seemed to question Qin Zhiyan, or Tang Yiqiu, or maybe they pushed someone to the edge, helpless against all the prejudice.

As Shi Huan predicted, this take passed. Chen Ling, who hadn’t expected much, forgot to call “cut.”

The assistant director and script supervisor nearby had red eyes. The assistant director wiped her teary eyes with her sleeve, grabbing the screenwriter Shen’s arm. “Didn’t you say the changes made the emotions deeper? Why’s it still so heartbreaking?”

Screenwriter Shen swatted her hand away. “That’s just life.”

Chen Ling snapped back to reality. “Alright, this one’s good. If you’d done this earlier, we’d be done.”

Noticing Shi Huan’s lip was slightly cut, he waved at her. “Get a close-up later. Tang Yiqiu’s kiss scenes are like a wild horse—great one moment, then completely off the rails.”

Shi Huan licked her lips, defending Tang Yiqiu. “I think it’s fine, just really intense, like she hasn’t eaten meat in ages.”

“You think everything’s fine,” Chen Ling said, turning to Tang Yiqiu, who was wiping her mouth, her face still pale. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is this still not working for you? Didn’t you overcome your mental block?”

“What mental block?” Shi Huan’s ears perked up, catching the key phrase. “Teacher Tang, do you have a problem with kiss scenes?”

“No,” Tang Yiqiu denied, shaking her head.

The firmer the denial, the more suspicious it seemed. After filming so many scenes together, Shi Huan could easily sense when something was off.

Tang Yiqiu nailed other scenes quickly, but kiss scenes always tripped her up. Shi Huan had thought maybe Tang Yiqiu didn’t want to kiss her, but now it seemed like something else. Could she really have a mental block?

Shi Huan latched onto the issue. “Tell me! I helped you get through the scene, and you promised to grant my wish!”

Tang Yiqiu headed to the rest area, annoyed by Shi Huan’s persistence. She turned and asked, “What brand of chocolate were you eating? Why’s your mouth so sweet?”

The question was a bit flirty, and Tang Yiqiu lowered her voice on purpose. Shi Huan was briefly thrown off but quickly recovered, walking alongside her. “You tell me first, then I’ll tell you.”

“Forget it then.”

“Tang Yiqiu! Why are you so boring?”

Shi Huan was furious, but getting mad didn’t help. She pulled out the chocolate to tempt Tang Yiqiu. “Smell this chocolate. Doesn’t it smell good? Just tell me, and I’ll give you a piece—no, lots of pieces. I’ll even tell you where to buy it. Deal?”

But Tang Yiqiu wouldn’t budge. Fed up with the pestering, she said, “Don’t believe everything you hear. Director Chen’s just nitpicking.”

Chen Ling, still nearby, turned and glared at her.

Tang Yiqiu coughed lightly and quickened her pace. No matter how Shi Huan tried to coax her, she wouldn’t give in. Shi Huan pursed her lips, slapped the chocolate into Tang Yiqiu’s hand, and gritted her teeth. “I’ll crack you open eventually!”

Shi Huan sounded confident. Tang Yiqiu raised an eyebrow, looking at the chocolate in her hand. Shi Huan had torn the wrapper, so Tang Yiqiu peeled back the foil and put it in her mouth. It wasn’t the same flavor as before, but it was still delicious.

Later, Shi Huan was called for a close-up. Tang Yiqiu had nearly finished the candy. She glanced at Wen Jing, who was holding some clothes, and asked, “Do you know what brand this chocolate is?”

Wen Jing looked confused but saw Tang Yiqiu’s serious expression. She studied it for a moment and shook her head. “No idea.”

Tang Yiqiu said, “It’s the one Shi Huan was eating today.”

“Huanhuan’s chocolate?” Wen Jing thought for a second. “I think it’s the same brand you gave her last time. She ordered a few boxes recently, but there are so many flavors, I don’t know which one she ate. When she’s done, I can ask her for you.”

“No need,” Tang Yiqiu said. “Don’t tell her.”

Wen Jing nodded, but then Tang Yiqiu suddenly asked, “How many boxes of chocolate did Shi Huan buy?”

“Yeah, she’s tried every flavor and even made a chart to track how sweet each one is. A few days ago, she ate so much her teeth hurt.”

“She loves chocolate that much?”

“Not really,” Wen Jing said. “Huanhuan loves spicy food—she can handle a lot of heat. Sweet stuff, not so much. She says it’s too cloying.”

She muttered, “It’s kind of weird, though. She didn’t use to eat much chocolate. Maybe to gain weight? But Director Chen said her figure’s already fine.”

Gaining weight wasn’t the reason.

Tang Yiqiu slipped the foil into her coat pocket. She had a sweet tooth and loved chocolate. With a little thought, she could guess—Shi Huan was taste-testing chocolates for her, to help with the kiss scene.

The realization didn’t feel good. Tang Yiqiu’s expression darkened. She glanced at the tablet in Wen Jing’s hands, noticing something odd on the screen.

“That…” Wen Jing looked embarrassed and turned off the screen. “Just some edits from C Station. I was watching to pass the time.” She wasn’t about to admit it was a fresh fan edit of Tang Yiqiu and Shi Huan’s chemistry.

Tang Yiqiu nodded, glancing at the title. “When Shi Huan’s done, tell her to come to my lounge.”

“Huh, for what?” Wen Jing asked instinctively, then felt she’d overstepped and started to apologize. But Tang Yiqiu said, “Just tell her it’s to grant her wish.”