Her Rose on Camera - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Caring
The highly anticipated travel variety show Traveling with Besties was finally scheduled to premiere on the first working day after New Year’s Day, just as gossip-hungry viewers had hoped.
Unlike the others who had moved into the hotel rented by the production team days ago, Tang Tang arrived in a rush just before filming began.
“Tang Tang-jie, we’re almost at the filming location. Once we get inside, please try not to start anything with Su Qian or the other guests,” Dong Yu said from the backseat, helping Tang Tang touch up her makeup while voicing her concerns.
Her own artist was known for being straightforward and spoiled. Offending the queen of variety shows Su Qian was already bad enough—never mind the fact that some of the influencers also had beef with Tang Tang.
To Dong Yu, Tang Tang was like a helpless little lamb about to be thrown into a den of wolves—one misstep and she’d be ripped apart by vicious on-screen personalities.
“It’s not that dramatic,” Tang Tang replied casually. She took her compact suitcase, glanced once in the rearview mirror to check her makeup, then opened the door and waved to the reluctant Dong Yu. “You worry too much. Even if I do get bullied, we still have Sister Shen Jia, don’t we?”
Besides, wasn’t Su Qian on the show too? She didn’t believe Su Qian would just stand by and watch her get picked on.
Maybe it was the confidence of someone who knew they were favored—Tang Tang pulled her nearly empty suitcase into the hotel lobby and spotted a few other guests already lounging on the sofas, chatting.
So everyone’s here already. She noticed Tian Qingqing glancing her way and reflexively shrank back into the two-seater sofa beside her.
Whatever. This was a two-seater—what was Tian Qingqing going to do, perch on the armrest and make small talk?
Brilliant move.
Tang Tang was feeling quite smug as she crossed her legs, but as she turned her head, her eyes met those of Su Qian, who was reclining lazily on the sofa with her sunglasses on, eyes closed and resting.
Speak of the devil.
The smug expression on Tang Tang’s face instantly cracked, the cracks spreading until she was wearing a full-on bitter gourd expression.
She sniffled internally. First day of the variety show and she was already stuck next to her nemesis. Was it too late to run? Asking for a friend—urgently.
“Am I that scary? Why are you running away?” came a voice above her.
Just as she was about to sneak off, Su Qian opened her eyes and caught her red-handed, slinging an arm casually over her shoulder. Those deep brown eyes looked down at her with a half-smile.
Gulping guiltily, Tang Tang watched Su Qian point toward a blinking red light on the nearby camera. Her tone was calm but commanding. “Sit down. The cameras are rolling.”
“I—I wasn’t running because of the camera! I just didn’t have a place to sit!” Tang Tang insisted, awkwardly perching on the edge of the couch and stubbornly defending herself. “Besides, so what if there are cameras? I walk straight and sit upright—I’ve got nothing to be afraid of!”
She braced herself for Su Qian’s comeback, but instead, all she got was a quiet chuckle above her.
That chuckle carried a hint of disdain, a dash of resignation, and—most frustratingly—more than a little indulgence.
Deflated, Tang Tang slumped into her seat, fiddling with her phone while she waited for the director to arrive.
Not long after, the hotel intercom crackled to life. Director Li Lei’s voice echoed throughout the building.
“Welcome, everyone, to the filming of this travel variety show. To help everyone get to know each other, we’ve arranged an icebreaker banquet three hours from now. Each guest’s room key has been left at the hotel front desk. Please change into your formalwear and head to the rooftop ballroom.”
“So that means formalwear has been arranged already?” asked a twin-tailed girl in a red dress. She glanced around at the others and, without hesitation, wheeled her suitcase into the elevator. “Then I’ll head up first! Oh right, I’m Lu Piaopiao—just call me Piaopiao.”
“Sorry about her. She’s a bit impulsive—I’ll go up and talk to her now!”
Following her was a tall woman in professional attire. Tang Tang recognized her—Gu Anran, a rising actress who had recently made a name for herself in a workplace drama.
With them leading the way, the rest of the guests began collecting their keys and heading to their rooms, leaving just three standing awkwardly in the lobby: Tang Tang, Su Qian, and Tian Qingqing.
“Tang Tang, I just wanted to say…” Tian Qingqing finally saw her chance to speak and desperately tried to make her presence known. She cheerfully grabbed the remaining keys and exclaimed, “1003, 1004, 1005—Tang Tang, Su Qian, we’re neighbors!”
Seriously? They arranged that too?
Tang Tang glared at the camera, silently cursing the production team for creating drama.
Well, they were neighbors now—surely Su Qian would react somehow?
Tang Tang snuck a glance at her, only to find that the supposedly jealous woman was too busy laughing at a video on her phone.
So that cat video was more interesting than her, huh?
Tang Tang’s heart filled with petty jealousy, practically bubbling over.
“Well, that’s quite a coincidence. Qingqing, why don’t you stop by my room later?” Tang Tang said loudly, biting down on the words “room” and “visit” as she watched Su Qian’s reaction.
Getting no response, she clenched her teeth and went all in. “Oh, Qingqing, I brought two gowns. Want to wear matching ones?”
“You’re not mad at me anymore?” Tian Qingqing asked, a little overwhelmed as she was sandwiched between Su Qian and Tang Tang in the elevator. “I knew you were the nicest to me, Tang Tang.”
“Why would I be mad?” Tang Tang replied with a pointed look at Su Qian. “Someone was clearly trying to stir the pot. I wouldn’t be mad at you.”
As the two continued chatting, Su Qian—who had been absorbed in a video—finally looked up, her expression changing rapidly.
She had only paused at the video of a kitten fighting with its owner because it reminded her of Tang Tang. How had her adorable little wife suddenly cozied up to someone else?
Annoyed, she shoved her phone into her pocket with enough force to startle Tian Qingqing.
“Did I scare you?” Su Qian turned toward her, narrowing her eyes. “Do I owe you an apology?”
“N-no, not at all,” Tian Qingqing stammered, despite being half a head taller. “I just… have a naturally timid personality. It’s not your fault, Su Qian-jie.”
Not jealous, huh? Yet she’s getting mad over nothing.
From her corner, Tang Tang smirked triumphantly and lowered her head, pretending to sulk. “Don’t go overboard, Su Qian.”
She tried to sound annoyed, but the giddy lilt at the end of her words betrayed her.
She really is too cute.
Su Qian narrowed her eyes again, thinking back to the kitten in the video and imagining Tang Tang as a puffed-up little ragdoll cat. Just like that, all her earlier irritation vanished.
“Tang Tang, you should watch yourself. Just because she’s timid doesn’t mean I’m to blame.”
Su Qian crossed her arms, putting on her usual aloof attitude. If this little dummy wanted to act, then fine—she’d act right alongside her.
She’s even arguing with me now. Doesn’t know how to save face at all!
Tang Tang’s cheeks flushed red. She had expected Su Qian to joke and defuse the situation, but she hadn’t anticipated this serious retort.
Stomping her feet in frustration, she realized she had no chance of winning an argument with that woman.
“Tang Tang, Su Qian-jie, don’t fight because of me,” Tian Qingqing said with a headache. She honestly couldn’t remember why she had thought joining this show was a good idea.
For the romance? For the low pay?
She sighed. Next time she made a decision, she was definitely checking her horoscope.
These two were clearly entangled romantically and now she, the outsider, had been roped into their flirt-fest. Even a love guru would be annoyed.
“Who’s fighting?” Tang Tang snapped. “I’m just sick of certain people’s arrogant attitudes!”
Since they were already mid-argument, resolving things now would feel anticlimactic. She glared at Su Qian, grabbed Tian Qingqing, and marched out of the elevator. “Let’s go, Qingqing. No need to talk to childish people like her!”
The elevator doors shut behind them with a loud slam.
Su Qian rubbed her aching nose, her elegant face full of confusion.
Did they… just have a falling-out?
She replayed the entire conversation in her head and honestly couldn’t figure out what she did wrong.
Tang Tang had been the one acting like a little bantam rooster, and she was just going along with the roleplay—how did she end up making her mad?
Su Qian didn’t get it, but she was annoyed.
Her heels clicked sharply against the hotel floor as she dragged her suitcase out of the elevator. As she passed by Tang Tang’s room, she overheard her laying down the law inside.
“Qingqing, let’s get something straight. During the show’s airing, we’re going to clear things up, okay? You know how scary that woman Su Qian can be!”
Tang Tang’s voice was so cutely serious that Su Qian forgave her for calling her “that woman.” She adjusted her sunglasses, the corners of her lips curving with amusement.
“You little brat… Let’s see how long you can keep this up.”