Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 12

Chaoguang Amusement Park was vast, its architecture grand and immersive. Towering purple-gold clocks that pierced the sky and magical elements scattered throughout the park reminded visitors they were in a fantasy world, creating countless photo-worthy moments.

The two spent the entire day at the park. After a leisurely afternoon stroll, Chu Xiyue led Su Yan to experience the park’s most thrilling rides.

While the park was renowned for its adrenaline-pumping attractions, it also featured numerous story-driven rides themed around original IPs. Each zone boasted a distinct style, with corresponding variations in the rides. Since Su Yan had never been to an amusement park before, Chu Xiyue patiently explained each attraction, treating her with the same meticulous care one might show a child.

As the sun began to set, they finished taking all the couple photos together before leaving Chaoguang Amusement Park. Though the park’s food was decent for an occasional treat, it couldn’t compare to the quality of chain restaurants outside.

The weather was pleasant for early autumn, though the lingering heat of summer still clung to the city, leaving the evening air dry and stifling. They had chosen their dinner spot earlier that afternoon: B City’s most prestigious restaurant, which had topped the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’s first-class seating list for three consecutive years. Chu Xiyue was particularly eager to dine there, while Su Yan had never been picky about food.

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the group was surprisingly lacking in appetite after a full day of activities. They seemed a bit wilted, like roses withered by the sun, having lost some of their vitality but still retaining their vibrant, undiminished colors.

The restaurant specialized in fusion cuisine, primarily featuring local dishes. With the public’s tastes becoming increasingly discerning in recent years, this diverse menu had naturally gained popularity. The decor evoked a retro ambiance, with no private rooms, but the spacing between tables in the main hall provided ample privacy. Each seating area was semi-enclosed, with only a small opening for servers to deliver dishes.

A meticulously crafted artificial orange tree stood surrounded by a miniature rock garden and flowing water, its gentle rustling mingling with the soothing instrumental music. Amidst the swirling mist, patrons strolled beneath crimson lanterns, their figures passing in a steady stream.

Meng Qin and Zhao Fei walked in hand-in-hand through the main entrance, laughing and chatting like a genuine couple. As the only pair without established entertainment industry connections, their chemistry and appearance were remarkably impressive. Though their popularity lagged slightly behind the other two groups, the gap wasn’t significant.

After they sat down, Meng Qin smiled and adjusted Zhao Fei’s slightly slipping hairpin. As her gaze inadvertently lifted, she caught sight of a familiar figure. The person sat upright, their slender, elegant silhouette shrouded in the dim light, creating an ethereal beauty like a flower seen through mist.

Meng Qin’s eyes narrowed.

“Feifei, why don’t you order first? I’m going to touch up my makeup.”

“Sure,” Zhao Fei replied with a good-natured smile, unlocking the iPad and swiping through the menu. “After spending a whole day together, it seems Teacher Meng finally trusts me to know your tastes.”

Meng Qin’s lips curved into a smile as she pulled out her lip gloss and headed toward the restroom. She walked briskly, found a well-lit mirror, and quickly refreshed her lip color, filling out the curves of her graceful lips.

Then, she hurried back to the spot where she had seen the figure earlier.

Chu Xiyue had ordered her meal and then gone to the front desk to pay. When she returned, she saw someone sitting in her seat from a distance and initially thought she had mistaken the table.

But as she drew closer, her gaze locked onto the intruder. Even through the screen, viewers in the live stream could sense the rising tension in the air.

The wilted red rose regained its vibrant glory, its thorny stem bristling with renewed sharpness.

【This is getting intense! I didn’t expect the first love triangle of the season to erupt so quickly.】

【Hmm, is this scripted? Why are all three groups eating here, and why did Meng Qin have to barge in so cluelessly?】

【Not really. This restaurant is super popular in B City. It’s not surprising all three teams came to check it out.】

【Honestly, Meng Qin’s being a bit much. She just barged in to ruin their date and completely ignored her own CP.】

As the person at the center of the drama, Meng Qin remained oblivious to the Bullet Screen viewers’ heated debate. Before reaching Su Yan’s side, she instinctively slowed her pace, took a deep breath, and steadied her racing heartbeat.

Even after knowing Su Yan for years, Meng Qin still struggled to maintain her composure around her.

After Chu Xiyue left, Su Yan lowered her gaze, not reaching for her phone but browsing the menu on her iPad. She sat with elegant posture, a few carefully styled curls falling over the embroidered baseball jacket on her shoulders, revealing the graceful curve of her jawline and neck with each movement.

This beauty, her hazy silhouette outlined by the lamplight, lifted her head at the sound of movement. Her gaze, though, remained calm and unwavering.

Su Yan was often described as aloof, a sentiment Meng Qin deeply understood. Their interactions were rare; when Meng Qin first spotted Su Yan’s figure on the set of “Heartbeat Acceleration,” she almost thought she was hallucinating.

A woman who had always prioritized her work, almost never engaging in publicity stunts, was suddenly appearing on a variety show—and a dating show, no less! The news was explosive. The production team seized on this as their ultimate traffic magnet, and audiences devoured every update, keeping her every move trending daily.

Su Yan exuded a cold aura, yet she was never impolite. On the contrary, her manners were impeccable. For instance, upon seeing Meng Qin, she immediately greeted her with a smile, her voice like the crystalline chill of a mountain spring, yet gentle and comforting.

But no matter how much interaction they had, it seemed impossible to elicit any initiative from her. More than coldness, Meng Qin sensed in Su Yan an indescribable indifference, a casual detachment from all worldly concerns.

It felt as though no amount of effort could ever pry open that tightly closed door to her heart.

In the brief seconds since Meng Qin had approached, the formidable defenses she had built around herself had already begun to crumble. Under Su Yan’s calm and composed gaze, they were nearly stripped bare, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

Having already forced herself to approach, Meng Qin decided to find a topic to sit down first, seizing this rare opportunity to get close to Su Yan. Su Yan rarely showed interest in the lighthearted, artistic romance films that were Meng Qin’s specialty, and after the show ended, their paths might never cross again.

“Teacher Su, actually…”

“Teacher Meng.”

The topic Meng Qin had casually brought up was utterly vapid. Just as she was about to elaborate, a crisp voice suddenly interrupted her.

Chu Xiyue darted forward with fiery energy, her features as vibrant and flamboyant as a blooming flame flower:

“Teacher Meng, I’m not sure if you’ve carefully read the program’s rules. If you had, you’d realize that not only this seat, but also the person sitting across from you, should belong to me—at least for now.”