Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 15

“What’s so interesting?” Chu Xiyue asked casually. But as soon as the words left her lips, she noticed Lu Rujin’s suddenly mischievous expression, and a sense of unease settled over her.

It felt like she’d been tricked into boarding a pirate ship, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was so strange.

Lu Rujin suddenly remembered the cameras were rolling. She crooked her little finger, signaling Chu Xiyue to follow her to a secluded corner for a private chat. Out of curiosity and politeness, Chu Xiyue removed her gloves and followed Lu Rujin to the quiet spot. Lu Rujin leaned close to her ear and whispered:

“Last night, when Zhao Fei and Meng Qin came back, the atmosphere felt off. Later, when the Director announced they’d be revealing today’s ‘Heartbeat Ranking’ for the dates… You weren’t there, so he couldn’t announce it and said they’d reveal it today instead. Zhao Fei immediately said he was tired and wanted to take a shower. Meng Qin followed him upstairs. Later that night, I saw Zhao Fei swimming alone in the pool, and then Su Yan joined him.”

“And then what happened?”

Chu Xiyue could roughly guess the earlier gossip. Meng Qin’s blatant one-sided affection for Su Yan was impossible to miss. As Meng Qin’s CP, Zhao Fei wasn’t blind; how could he not sense it?

Even just observing Su Yan’s attitude toward Meng Qin, Chu Xiyue doubted there would be any possibility of a relationship between them after the show. Moreover, as a renowned screenwriter, Meng Qin naturally had opportunities to interact with actors. The fact that she had to rely on the show to get close to Su Yan suggested their magnetic fields were fundamentally incompatible, making a romantic connection highly improbable.

Thinking this, Chu Xiyue felt a strange flicker of satisfaction, but she was even more curious about what happened next.

Just then, Lu Rujin ended her gossip with a sigh:

“I didn’t see what happened after that. What a pity.”

It wasn’t clear whether she was lamenting her own missed opportunity or Chu Xiyue’s failure to witness the chaotic drama firsthand.

Chu Xiyue studied Lu Rujin’s bright, pretty face. The girl’s delicate features were currently adorned with a smile that wasn’t off-putting, like a clever little fox spirit. Yet beneath that seemingly innocent facade, there seemed to lurk something far from harmless.

“Is that so?” Chu Xiyue replied meaningfully, turning to walk outside. Lu Rujin followed closely behind, positioning herself within the camera’s view. Clearly, she was now being more cautious about her words, avoiding the somewhat risky topic they had been discussing earlier.

“Sister Yueyue, since you woke up so early today, could you do me a favor? I made soy milk with the soy milk maker and I’m about to toast some bread. Could you keep an eye on the timer for me?”

Lu Rujin was only twenty years old, the youngest member of the current show. Her voice still retained the sweet, soft quality of a young girl, and her words always carried a hint of endearing coquettishness that made people feel protective.

Chu Xiyue showed no particular reaction, but she didn’t refuse. After all, she had slept well the previous night and felt refreshed this morning, so she readily took charge of making the soy milk and milk.

A few minutes later, Yao Tian woke up and came downstairs to help Lu Rujin prepare breakfast. With three people working together, making breakfast for six was a breeze. Lu Rujin always struggled with frying eggs, so Yao Tian simply took over that task. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lu Rujin threw her arms around Yao Tian’s neck and pretended to kiss her.

Though they didn’t actually kiss, Yao Tian couldn’t help but avert her gaze, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks and neck. Lu Rujin quickly withdrew, her demeanor remaining as cheerful as ever, yet Chu Xiyue inexplicably felt like she’d just swallowed a mouthful of dog food.

Despite hearing Lu Rujin’s gossip that morning, the breakfast itself was surprisingly pleasant. To Chu Xiyue, there were no obvious signs of underlying tension.

Heated fresh milk tasted richer and more fragrant than powdered milk, and the frozen xiaolongbao were surprisingly delicious. Chu Xiyue hadn’t eaten enough the night before, so she devoured her meal with gusto, like a hoarding hamster.

The bullet screen erupted with comments:

【Chuchu, oh Chuchu, you have no idea about the undercurrents brewing last night!】

【Did you guys notice? Zhao Fei maintained a calm facade, but he deliberately avoided Meng Qin’s gaze. Meng Qin still felt a bit guilty, secretly pushing Zhao Fei’s favorite dishes toward him.】

【The atmosphere was tense the moment they walked in yesterday. We didn’t see what happened afterward. I wonder if the full version will show it.】

【No matter what happens, Teacher Su remains as steady as a mountain.】

【Teacher Su is just being polite.】

Teacher Su’s perception of the outside world is zero. Her gaze hasn’t left Yueyue since she sat down. Zhaomu Xiyan is real!

Chu Xiyue ate slowly and gracefully, while the others seemed preoccupied with their own thoughts, which eventually led to everyone waiting for her to finish. The center of attention remained unhurried, accepting the wet wipe Su Yan offered and leisurely cleaning her hands.

The production team patiently waited until they were all ready before announcing today’s task.

“Starting today, we’ll be moving to a new location over the next three days. Once we arrive, we’ll reveal yesterday’s Heartbeat Ranking. The top-ranked couple will receive a one-time reward, so look forward to it!”

Lu Rujin blurted out, “What kind of reward could Heartbeat Acceleration possibly offer? It wouldn’t be something like a public kiss, would it…?”

Before she could finish, the Director made a zipping motion across his lips, signaling her to stop speculating. Lu Rujin had only spoken casually, but given the Heartbeat series’ history of bold stunts, it wouldn’t be surprising if they actually went through with it.

The girl’s eyes widened, and she quickly slapped her hand over her mouth. Yet her fox-like eyes gleamed with mischievous amusement, her gaze flitting between the faces of the others. A sly raise of her eyebrow, a subtle gesture, was transformed into pure vitality by her exquisite features.

“So, where are we going next?” Zhao Fei asked, finally posing a serious question.

The Director replied mysteriously, “It’s a secret, but I promise it’s a good place.”

With that, he gave them an hour to rest and regroup. Before they headed upstairs, he added, “You can bring your suitcases. Pack everything you can.”

Hearing this, Yao Tian clicked her tongue. “Sounds like they’re sending us to do hard labor.”

Lu Rujin chimed in, “Don’t even say that. The last time someone said that, the destination turned out to be some industrial park.”

The Director: “Hey! We’re a legitimate production team! We’re live!”

The two girls quickly reined themselves in, not daring to push their luck further. They hurried upstairs to pack. Chu Xiyue, who had originally packed for a seven-day stay, followed closely behind, her steps quick and purposeful.

Shortly after Chu Xiyue finished packing, a knock sounded on her door. Standing by the entrance, she heard the electronic voice of a delivery robot. Puzzled, since she hadn’t ordered any takeout, she noticed a message on the screen:

Please retrieve your mission cards.

Chu Xiyue pressed the door release button, and two cards inside the compartment came into view.

This is a Truth Choice Card, which will help you make effective judgments later. After two days of interaction, you can use this card to select your genuine impression of your partner. Before the program concludes, we will collect and compare your choice. Is the person you think you know truly who she is?

This is a True Heartbeat Card. Assuming you hadn’t been assigned a partner by lottery, among all the guests present, who would have been your initial heart’s desire?