Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 2

Chu Xiyue nearly flipped the table.

Yao Xin, noticing her strange reaction, asked, puzzled, “You don’t know Su Yan? That’s odd. I remember you two met before, even appeared on the same talk show.”

Chu Xiyue took a deep breath. “I know her.”

More than just knowing her, they’d had a brief but unpleasant encounter during a break in filming. There was no real reason, no major incident—just a mutual dislike. Su Yan, who came from humble beginnings, despised Miss Chu’s carefree, privileged lifestyle, while Chu Xiyue’s flamboyant personality and sharp tongue often rubbed people the wrong way. Their brief interaction had been so strained that even basic civility proved impossible.

Naturally, no further collaborations followed, and they’d managed to avoid each other since.

But then Chu Xiyue suddenly remembered: their backstage clash hadn’t escalated into a public scandal, and Yao Xin wasn’t the type of manager who micromanaged every aspect of her artists’ lives. That’s why Yao Xin remained unaware of their feud.

Staring at the steaming bowl of pork rib noodles, Chu Xiyue suddenly lost her appetite. Her slender fingers tapped impatiently on the table.

“Besides her, are there any other candidates?”

“There’s another actress with about the same level of fame as you, but she already has someone she’s interested in on the show. As for the rest…”

Yao Xin didn’t finish her sentence, but Chu Xiyue understood immediately: the remaining candidates were likely not on par with her status. Yao Xin had previously advised her that strategic publicity stunts were a way to maintain popularity, but warned against foolishly offering herself up as a “bl00d bag” for others.

Moreover—

The subtitles in her mind, which had been dutifully counting down her remaining lifespan for hours, cast a crimson terror visible only to her. Yao Xin, unaware that her client was facing imminent death due to this bizarre phenomenon, continued her earnest persuasion:

“That’s Su Yan, you know! She won the Pear Orchid Award at just 26—do you realize what that means? There are barely any domestic actresses who have even been nominated! My dear girl, other young actresses would kill for this opportunity. If she hadn’t been taking a break for half a year to study abroad and wanted to regain her momentum, this chance would never have come our way.”

“Besides, Teacher Su is known for being easy to work with.”

Whether Su Yan was truly easy to work with, Chu Xiyue didn’t know. All she knew was that Yao Xin was so afraid she’d miss this opportunity that she even canceled her evening class, urging her to use the free time to meet Su Yan and get to know her a little before filming began.

She comforted Chu Xiyue, reminding her that blind dates were about marriage, while business was just work. Between forcing a CP and forcing a blind date, she should choose the lesser of two evils. Blind dates had always been Chu Xiyue’s biggest trigger, setting her off instantly. But now, faced with a life-or-death situation, such trivial concerns seemed utterly insignificant.

That evening, Chu Xiyue reluctantly arrived at the agreed-upon location: a restaurant-bar known for its discreet private rooms.

Staring at the door of the private room, Chu Xiyue stood at the entrance with the resolve of someone facing certain death. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts as she struggled to figure out how to begin the conversation. Having been pampered and spoiled since childhood, the young heiress had never needed to ask anyone for a favor. Yet she wasn’t naive enough to believe Su Yan would so quickly forget their unpleasant encounter from half a year ago.

Bl00d-red subtitles mercilessly counted down:

Remaining Life: 71 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes

Just as she was wrestling with her inner turmoil, the sound of high heels clicking down the corridor reached her ears. Simultaneously, the private room door suddenly creaked open a crack.

Chu Xiyue’s wrist was seized, and she was pulled inside. The door slammed shut, avoiding the notice of a passing waiter.

“Miss Chu, what’s on your mind?”

The woman before her possessed a voice as cool and refined as her appearance. Slightly deep, with a magnetic quality unique to mature women, it sounded even more authentic and captivating than the electronically enhanced version Chu Xiyue had heard on television.

Startled for a moment, Chu Xiyue raised her head, failing to notice a string of emerald-green grape vine lights dangling near the entrance, poised to snag her carefully styled hair. In the next instant, the woman’s crisp, cool fragrance unexpectedly invaded her personal space.

The first thing Chu Xiyue saw was a cascade of light brown hair, its gentle curls spilling over Su Yan’s shoulders. She glanced up slightly, meeting a pair of eyes as still and deep as the ocean.

Su Yan’s face remained as exquisitely sculpted as jade, her understated makeup making her skin appear even more translucent than before. Her long, thick lashes framed eyes that needed no embellishment; any further adornment would have seemed superfluous. If their previous encounter had presented Su Yan as a priceless porcelain artifact in a museum display, her private demeanor remained cool, but it was a gentle coolness, like the lingering chill of a February rain in the south.

A single glance was enough to draw one in completely.

Su Yan’s hand gently tugged Chu Xiyue forward, while her other soft palm swiftly moved to shield Chu Xiyue’s head from the dangling lights, pressing lightly against her hair. The movement was so light it was almost imperceptible, a fleeting touch that lingered only for an instant. As the unfamiliar, delicate fragrance enveloped her, Chu Xiyue found herself momentarily forgetting to breathe under the steady gaze of those coffee-colored eyes.

Even after Su Yan released her hand, Chu Xiyue could still feel the lingering warmth on her skin where she had been touched.

Her ears felt slightly flushed, likely from wearing too many layers and rushing here.

Just then, the subtitles in her mind suddenly refreshed:

Remaining Lifespan: 71 days, 10 hours

Lifespan Extension: 10 minutes

Huh?

Just touching her extended my lifespan?

Relieved by the updated subtitles, Chu Xiyue’s gaze softened as she looked at Su Yan. Perhaps I’ve misunderstood Miss Su Yan, she thought. Maybe she’s not as aloof and unapproachable as I initially believed.

This was a stark contrast to Chu Xiyue’s first impression of Su Yan.

During their first meeting, Chu Xiyue had sharply criticized Su Yan, calling her pretentious and saying she looked at everyone as if they owed her five hundred million yuan, making her utterly unapproachable.

Chu Xiyue, accustomed to being the dominant force, had always found it difficult to coexist with such a presence. Two tigers cannot share the same mountain, she thought.

But now…

When you need someone’s help, you have to act accordingly.

Chu Xiyue glanced around the small, elegant private room before settling into her seat. A faint smile began to bloom in her peach-blossom eyes, but it froze when she saw Su Yan tear open a wet wipe from the table. With a flick of her wrist, Su Yan wrapped a stray fluff she’d plucked from her hair in the wipe and tossed it into the trash. Then she opened a fresh wipe and meticulously cleaned each of her fingers.

Chu Xiyue: “……”

I almost forgot—Su Yan’s fans say she has a severe case of mysophobia.

Judging by this, it’s probably quite serious.

Chu Xiyue felt utterly humiliated, remembering how she had just held her breath.

She took a deep breath and cut straight to the chase:

“So, how do you plan to play up our CP?”

Despite having been in the industry for two years, Chu Xiyue had never actually starred in a particularly sweet idol drama. Her striking, refined features and commanding presence, standing at 1.7 meters tall, didn’t fit the mainstream idol drama mold. She was also notoriously picky and sharp-tongued, only accepting roles that piqued her interest, which gradually earned her a reputation as a demanding perfectionist.

Chu Xiyue had come prepared for a thorough discussion.

But as soon as she spoke, Su Yan’s deep, penetrating gaze fell upon her. The woman’s voice was as light as mist as she swiftly retrieved a neatly folded document from her bag and handed it to Chu Xiyue.

“Before we discuss this topic further, Miss Chu, please review this agreement.”

Five minutes later, Chu Xiyue stared at the terms of the agreement, her temples throbbing.

The clauses weren’t particularly lengthy, and the language was concise and straightforward. The initial sections, dealing with profit sharing and similar matters, were all standard.

But the latter half was downright bizarre.

Chu Xiyue finally couldn’t resist poking at a clause near the end of the contract and asking, “What does this mean: ‘If Party A requires it, Party B is obligated to provide Party A with elaborate compliments’?”

Do cooperation agreements even include such clauses?

In response, Su Yan smoothed a stray strand of hair that had fallen near her ear, her lips curving into a standardized smile that lacked genuine warmth. She uttered a few clipped words:

“Miss Chu, have you never heard of ’emotional value’?”

“Then what does this mean: ‘During the operational period, Party B must not engage in romantic relationships, spread rumors, or allow any negative scandals to surface’?”

Su Yan glanced at her and took a leisurely sip of tea.

“It means exactly what it says. Would Miss Chu be comfortable with her designated ‘rumored partner’ during this period two-timing her, making her look like the other woman? Besides, these are just standard precautions. Right now, it’s Miss Chu who needs these protections most.”

The unspoken implication was clear: Su Yan found Chu Xiyue too talkative.

Chu Xiyue felt a twinge of annoyance.

It’s not like I can control the rumors and exaggerated gossip people spread about me, she thought. The mouths are on their faces, not mine. What am I supposed to do?

In terms of career clout, Su Yan’s body of work far surpassed Chu Xiyue’s. However, as some industry veterans put it, Chu Xiyue seemed born for this life, perpetually at the center of public attention, riding the waves of trending topics year after year.

Once, she wore a pair of wool-lined sheepskin ankle boots at the airport. Shortly after the airport photos were released, the boots sold out completely for a full month. Whether it was variety shows, promotional events, or film sets, wherever she went, she inevitably drew all eyes.

Rumors and controversies were ultimately just idle chatter, producing no real consequences and causing little lasting harm to those being discussed. In fact, being the subject of negative attention was often preferable to being ignored altogether.

Su Yan entered the industry during college, focusing solely on her work. Yet even with her dedication, her public engagement still fell slightly short of Chu Xiyue’s, the queen of buzz. Thus, their mutual promotion could be considered a mutually beneficial arrangement, albeit a strained one.

Chu Xiyue desperately needed to prolong her life. Under the eaves, one must bow one’s head. When Su Yan subtly mocked her, she brushed it off with a vague response.

Besides, the final clause of the contract explicitly stated:

No romantic feelings are permitted during business hours.

“It seems we must clarify this final clause with Miss Chu,” Su Yan said, as if sensing Chu Xiyue’s displeasure. She leaned slightly closer, the bone structure of her half-profile resembling a smooth, snow-capped peak, pristine white and inviolably noble. The woman’s lips barely moved, her tone as detached as if she were discussing work, devoid of any extraneous emotion:

“I’m straight.”

As they drew closer, their fingertips accidentally brushed, causing Chu Xiyue’s “life extension” meter to slowly tick up to “11.” Chu Xiyue, who had known since her sexual awakening that she was as bent as a mosquito coil, gazed at the woman’s radiant face inches away. Driven by the rebellious streak buried deep within her, she parted her crimson lips and retorted:

“What a coincidence, Miss Su. You’re not exactly my type either.”

As the words left her mouth, Chu Xiyue felt Su Yan’s posture relax slightly, her previously rigid spine loosening a fraction. This infuriated Chu Xiyue, who mentally bared her teeth and claws in frustration.

This woman really thinks her looks make her special. Lesbians aren’t just desperate for anyone! What a delusional narcissist!

But to strike while the iron was hot, Chu Xiyue forced herself to extend her hand.

“Then, let’s call it a deal?”

“A deal.”

The rest of the meal was utterly dull. To be fair, the bistro’s food, while not particularly refined, tasted as good as many private chef restaurants. But for Chu Xiyue, preoccupied with her own thoughts, it tasted like chewing wax.

After finishing, they discovered it was raining outside. Chu Xiyue proactively scanned the QR code to pay, only to realize she’d been so distracted leaving the house that she hadn’t checked the weather forecast and hadn’t brought an umbrella.

Whether she hailed a taxi or called her driver, parking wasn’t allowed in front of the bistro. They’d have to go to the bus stop across the street, meaning a few hundred meters of rain-soaked dash. Chu Xiyue resigned herself to rolling up her pants and making a run for it. Just as she was about to bolt, a stray raindrop above her head was suddenly blocked. Looking up, she caught the familiar cold fragrance that had been lingering in the air all evening.

Soft and lingering.

Throughout the meal, Chu Xiyue kept a close eye on her “life-extending bl00d bar,” while the small private room forced her to inhale Su Yan’s perfume. Despite Miss Chu’s encyclopedic knowledge of designer fragrances, she couldn’t identify the brand during the entire meal.

The scent opened with a crisp, mint-like top note that gradually transitioned into the smooth warmth of sandalwood. Subtle floral undertones softened the neutral base, creating a gentle, lingering fragrance reminiscent of a rain-swept peach blossom grove in Jiangnan.

Noticing Chu Xiyue’s movements, Su Yan put on her sunglasses and dangled her car keys.

“Where do you live? I’ll drive you home.”

Chu Xiyue froze, instinctively replying, “I’ll have my driver pick me up.”

The words had barely left her lips when she caught a mischievous glint in Su Yan’s bright eyes.

“Oh? So Miss Chu is planning to get photographed by the paparazzi? Isn’t ‘going public’ a bit premature?”

With that, Su Yan glanced toward the distant platform where pedestrians were still moving about.

The restaurant was located just across the street from the bustling city center. Even late at night, the towering skyscrapers continued to shimmer tirelessly, their dazzling lights painting the silhouette of the sleepless district, all bathed in a misty rain.

Chu Xiyue glanced at the scene and bit her lip, wishing she could pinch her thigh as punishment for acting foolishly in every way that day. The sheer volume of shocks and information she had absorbed throughout the day had left her dazed. By the time she regained her composure, she had already climbed into Su Yan’s car, fully armed with her usual defenses.

Soon after, Su Yan dropped her off at her destination amidst the misty autumn rain.

Afraid Su Yan might say something cutting that could ruin everything, Chu Xiyue summoned the best acting performance of her life. She immediately pretended to fall asleep, her head tilted sideways and mostly hidden under a hat that covered half her face, as if she were utterly exhausted.

Su Yan didn’t have the habit of playing music while driving, so the entire journey remained eerily silent. When they reached the building, Chu Xiyue acted as if she were just waking up and thanked Su Yan.

Then, without looking back, she dashed upstairs.

Like a hamster with its cheek pouches stuffed with fruit, the woman, brimming with self-satisfaction from her harvest, walked too quickly. She failed to notice the complex emotions flickering in the eyes of the woman who had been coldly negotiating with her at the dining table, as she gazed at her retreating figure.

It was a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor, as if spring had swept away the winter’s chill. In that fleeting moment of closeness, all the ice melted away.