Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 23

Su Yan’s poorly concealed feelings were effortlessly seen through by the woman herself.

Having spent the entire day at the villa without breaking a sweat or getting dirty, Su Yan hadn’t changed her clothes. Her loose, casual top couldn’t hide her figure’s natural elegance.

This woman possessed a striking, almost feral beauty. Her untamed brows and naturally deep-toned lips accentuated the depth of her features without exaggeration, creating a natural allure that surpassed any makeup. Both regal and fierce, she appeared aloof when unsmiling, yet her laughter shattered the image of an untouchable ice queen, revealing a mischievous and vibrant spirit.

The Pear Orchid Award was a prestigious international honor, notoriously difficult to win.

Su Yan, however, had earned the title of Best Actress at such a young age, proving her exceptional talent.

While not the most conventionally stunning beauty, her features were perfectly suited for the screen. Every gesture and movement effortlessly exuded a captivating aura, like a sip of exquisite wine that leaves you craving more—rich, intoxicating, and utterly irresistible.

Chu Xiyue was the fox unable to resist temptation, drawn step by step toward the luscious, dripping grapes before her, yet unwilling to make the first move.

Otherwise, she’d feel like she was being too eager and perverted.

No way! she thought. I’m just curious about other girls’ abs!

Even if it weren’t Su Yan standing before her, but another female classmate she was on “okay” terms with, Chu Xiyue was certain she wouldn’t be able to suppress her curiosity.

As someone who had been clear about her sexuality since childhood, her curiosity about girls was practically ingrained in her bones. And then, as Chu Xiyue fell silent, Su Yan’s deep, warm voice reminded her:

“Little one, you only get one chance. Touch or not?”

“Touch!”

The word burst out of Chu Xiyue’s mouth before she could fully process the difference between “looking” and “touching.” But the words were already out, her instinctive reaction faster than her brain. The arrow had already left the bow, leaving no turning back.

Su Yan seemed to have anticipated this answer. She opened the door, hooked her little finger, and gestured for Chu Xiyue to follow her inside.

Seeing Chu Xiyue still standing there, Su Yan’s voice took on a teasing tone:

“What’s wrong, Teacher Chu? You wouldn’t want to stand at the doorway—”

Imagining the scene if someone were to see them, Chu Xiyue needed no further prompting. With a bang, she slammed the door shut and rushed inside like a whirlwind.

Chu Xiyue noticed that Su Yan’s room was lit, but the light was very dim.

The hazy glow easily created an intimate atmosphere. Compared to the flickering lights of the home bar downstairs, the warm room seemed even more alluring. As soon as Chu Xiyue stepped inside, her icy fingertips were grasped by Su Yan, who cupped her hand, using the warmth of her own palm to warm Chu Xiyue’s hand.

Su Yan possessed a striking, radiant beauty. Without her usual deliberate smile, she looked as serious as a doctor preparing for surgery, rather than someone about to fulfill a promise to feel abs.

Body heat gradually transferred from one palm to the other. The warmth spread quickly, leaving Chu Xiyue little time to react as her fingers warmed from their initial coolness. But that didn’t seem to be enough.

Su Yan took Chu Xiyue’s hand again, lifted it to her lips, and gently breathed on it. Though there was no physical contact, a tingling sensation inexplicably spread from the fingertips, like tiny electric currents creeping across the palm.

From the tips of her fingers to the roots of her ears, Chu Xiyue’s body grew uncontrollably warmer, as if an invisible heater had been switched on. Finally, having completed her preparations, Su Yan took Chu Xiyue’s hand and prepared to touch her.

The hem of Su Yan’s garment lifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white skin. Su Yan, who had been in control from the start, suddenly released her grip. Her coffee-colored eyes, filled with tenderness, offered Chu Xiyue the most intimate experience.

In that moment, the initiative shifted to Chu Xiyue’s hands.

However, Chu Xiyue was merely a “king” in words. When it came to action, she always hesitated, perhaps because she had known her sexual orientation since childhood. Though she was only attracted to beautiful women, she rarely engaged in excessive physical intimacy with members of the same s3x. Casual gestures like holding hands or linking arms were natural, but anything beyond that…

Especially with Su Yan.

To be honest, Su Yan’s face and figure were exactly Chu Xiyue’s type. From their first encounter, if they hadn’t clashed immediately and Chu Xiyue hadn’t disliked Su Yan’s aloof and haughty demeanor, she might have admired her even more.

In the dim light, the woman’s slender, snow-white waist shimmered faintly, waiting for Chu Xiyue to lift the veil of mystery. Her gaze seemed to urge her on, yet held a faint smile, leaving Chu Xiyue uncertain whether it was a genuine invitation or deliberate teasing.

Chu Xiyue took a deep breath.

Adhering to the principle of “if you can see it, see it; if you can touch it, touch it,” Chu Xiyue finally managed to carefully lift the corner of Su Yan’s shirt with her pinky finger, revealing her smooth, toned abdomen.

Su Yan had been able to work as a part-time runway model not only because of her above-average height among women, but also due to her perfect waist-to-hip ratio. Her abdomen was completely free of excess fat, yet she didn’t appear overly slender or fragile. Her physique was remarkably athletic without seeming exaggerated, and her thin abdominal muscles became more pronounced with even a slight flex.

As if sensing Chu Xiyue’s hesitation, Su Yan gripped her wrist, giving her no chance to withdraw. With no other option, Chu Xiyue could only follow Su Yan’s lead, slowly placing her fingers over those beautifully defined muscle contours.

The skin felt warm and soft, yet the underlying muscles tensed slightly under pressure, creating a striking contrast.

“How does it feel?” Su Yan asked casually, but their proximity was so close that her breath brushed Chu Xiyue’s ear. In that moment, the five-centimeter height difference between them became pronounced, making Chu Xiyue feel as if she were being looked down upon from above.

Just a slight tilt of her head would bring Chu Xiyue face-to-face with the woman’s deep, dark eyes, their gentle waves almost drowning her in their warmth.

Chu Xiyue didn’t want to answer right now, but under that unwavering gaze, she felt utterly exposed. In the end, she couldn’t escape, and with a sigh of resignation, she nodded.

“It’s… okay, I guess. Not exactly the best to touch.”

Seeing the woman’s barely concealed smugness, Chu Xiyue resolved to get her abs back in shape.

Su Yan’s shoulders twitched, and though she lowered her head slightly and spoke in a low voice, Chu Xiyue could clearly hear that she was laughing.

Then:

“Since it’s not exactly the best to touch, Miss Chu, perhaps you could temporarily remove your hand?”

Chu Xiyue: “!!”

Even as she spoke, the warmth of Su Yan’s skin still lingered on her fingertips. Only then did Chu Xiyue realize that while she’d been saying those words, her hand had remained pressed against the woman’s abdomen, as if unwilling to let go. She jerked her hand back as if burned, even tucking it behind her back.

A wave of regret washed over her.

Why do I always act so foolish around her?

This was utterly humiliating. Her mind raced, and she realized her only option was to stubbornly maintain her composure. After all, Su Yan was straight, so she probably wouldn’t mind such casual physical contact, right?

Chu Xiyue had plenty of female friends growing up. She knew that straight women often had a relaxed attitude toward physical affection, with close friends even sharing cheek kisses or brief lip touches.

Though she couldn’t imagine Su Yan ever behaving that way with another woman.

After a quick mental brainstorm, Miss Chu swiftly changed the subject:

“What did the people who touched your abs before say?”

“Before?” Su Yan’s thin lips parted slightly, her expression shadowed by the dim light. “Why would I let just anyone touch my abs?”

Chu Xiyue, thinking she’d been misunderstood, clarified:

“I meant other female friends…”

“There are no others, not even female ones.”

Su Yan interrupted her mid-sentence, a rare display of rudeness. Chu Xiyue felt her heart race under the intense gaze of those deep, slightly mixed-race eyes. This is cheating! she thought, fighting the urge to look away. After a moment of watching her flustered expression, Su Yan finally smiled.

“It seems Miss Chu has forgotten our current relationship.”

“Until the official end of filming, perhaps we should address each other as ‘girlfriend’.”

So, wasn’t this intimacy perfectly reasonable?

Even after leaving the room, washing up, and lying in bed, Chu Xiyue could still feel the lingering warmth on her fingertips. That familiar body temperature had etched itself into her mind, refusing to fade with distance, still pulsing in her heart.

This isn’t a good sign, Chu Xiyue thought.

She pressed her fingers against her temples in frustration, finally getting out of bed to do some push-ups. The physical exertion managed to suppress her restless thoughts, but when she returned to bed, she still felt agitated.

As a result, she barely slept a wink all night.

The next morning, she was woken up at eight o’clock. The dark circles under her eyes, the result of only two or three hours of sleep, proved impossible to conceal. Only a heavier layer of concealer and foundation managed to barely cover them.

Today was the final day of filming for the dating show. Viewers had already flooded the live stream since early morning. The production team hadn’t provided breakfast, but someone had already taken the initiative to prepare it in the dining hall. As Chu Xiyue descended the stairs, she was greeted by the steaming aroma of soy milk. To her surprise, it was Meng Qin who had taken charge.

Meng Qin probably hadn’t slept well last night. Even with makeup, faint dark circles were visible beneath her eyes. Zhao Fei stood beside her, helping carry dishes, but despite their seemingly clear division of labor, an undeniable sense of distance lingered between them, impossible to conceal.

Chu Xiyue suddenly remembered that the results of today’s card selections would be revealed. No wonder the atmosphere felt so tense this early in the morning.

A few minutes later, the Production Team woke the remaining guests. Once everyone had finished breakfast, the Director jumped in:

“Today is the final day of the dating show, and the moment you’ll all be parting ways. Do you remember the cards you filled out before coming to the island? Now, the Production Team will reveal them one by one.”

Upon hearing the word “reveal,” the guests reacted with varied expressions. Lu Rujin’s beautiful eyebrows arched slightly, though she remained sprawled on the sofa, adopting a relaxed, spectator-like posture, her gaze shifting between the others.

As the Director spoke, a member of the Production Team brought out a small box—the familiar container for the two types of cards they had distributed earlier. The head director personally sorted through the cards and then placed two red-and-black dice on the table, instructing the guests to roll them to determine the order of the reveal.

Lu Rujin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, but before she could act, someone snatched the crimson die right in front of her. The delicate, translucent die was gripped tightly in a pale hand, then tossed upward, tumbling across the table before coming to rest.

Chu Xiyue’s signature peach-blossom eyes curved into a captivating yet sharp smile. “Jin Jin, are you nervous about your own card, or eager to see what everyone else got?”

Lu Rujin glanced at her, a rare bashful smile flickering across her face. She lowered her head to take a sip of water, hoping to conceal her expression.

The crimson die, corresponding to the “True Heartbeat Card,” rolled twice as it fell before settling on the number 4.

Assuming the assignments weren’t determined by the draw, among the guests present, who was your initial heartthrob?

The Production Team had arranged the guests by age, making Yao Tian the fourth guest. This question was a classic “death choice” scenario. As the first to face the spotlight, Yao Tian found herself under the intense scrutiny of multiple pairs of eyes, making her visibly nervous.

To make matters worse, the Director dragged out the reveal, as if deliberately savoring the suspense.

“Hurry up! Do you want me to help you?”

Among the group, Lu Rujin was the most impatient, itching to help the Director unravel the mystery right then and there. Seeing her barely concealed excitement, the Bullet Screen erupted with speculation, convinced that Yao Tian and Lu Rujin would definitely choose each other.

After all, their mutual affection had been glaringly obvious throughout the show. Lu Rujin, not a professional actress, clearly clung to Yao Tian, making their dynamic even more compelling to viewers.

Yet the outcome defied all expectations. When the Director flipped the card, Yao Tian had chosen Zhao Fei.

Zhao Fei, the chosen one, was visibly stunned.

Under the intense scrutiny of the group, Yao Tian couldn’t help but blush. She glanced guiltily at Lu Rujin before explaining her decision:

“Before I was well-known, I participated in a variety show where Sister Fei took special care of me. She might not remember, but part of the reason I signed up for this dating show was because of that.” She gazed at Zhao Fei with soft admiration, though without any romantic undertones. “Sister Fei is truly a wonderful person. I’ve only grown more convinced of that these past few days.”

“But right now, of course, I like Jin Jin more.”

After spending seven days together, their impressions of each other naturally shifted. Yao Tian’s gaze toward Lu Rujin was now filled with undisguised tenderness, while Lu Rujin, despite not being chosen by Yao Tian, showed no disappointment. Instead, she was deeply moved by Yao Tian’s sincere and heartfelt words.

Lu Rujin scooted closer, hooking her arm around Yao Tian’s. The two looked intimately close, but the tranquility was shattered the moment the dice were rolled again.

As if to deliberately prove a point, the next number rolled landed on Lu Rujin. When she revealed her card, Lu Rujin chose Chu Xiyue instead of Yao Tian. Before anyone could question her, Lu Rujin immediately raised her hands in surrender, confessing:

“I was momentarily bewitched by Sister Yueyue’s beauty! But now, my heart belongs to Big Sweetie!”

Yao Tian instantly performed a dramatic face change, shooting Lu Rujin a sharp glare.

I thought this would be a battlefield, but these two are just hilarious!

Yao Tian: I knew you were a restless little minx, always flitting about!

Help! Why haven’t either of them chosen each other, yet I still find them so cute?! Sweetie Rujin is killing it!

Director, I want to report her for cheating! How can she provoke someone and then immediately snuggle into their arms?!

Both Lu Rujin and Yao Tian had easygoing personalities. Even with Lu Rujin’s occasional “white-cut-black” moments, she never let it show on camera. Yao Tian, the “Queen of Ratings,” enjoyed an excellent reputation on set, particularly among the staff, who knew her for her remarkable tolerance.

Zhao Fei seemed genuinely surprised to have been chosen. As a renowned television host with seven or eight years of experience, he had met Yao Tian, who had debuted early, about three or four years ago. He was touched that she still remembered such a minor incident. His gaze softened as he looked at her.

Next, Su Yan’s chosen guest was revealed. The other guests straightened up involuntarily, curious about the dating preferences of this rising film queen, who had maintained an almost spotless public image.

The director, knowing this was the peak moment of audience engagement, ruthlessly cut to a commercial break, infuriating viewers in the live stream who had been eagerly awaiting the reveal.

The other guests on set were treated no differently, forced to endure the full minute-plus of advertising alongside the audience. Under the director’s instructions, they even had to enthusiastically promote the sponsor’s products.

Due to the popularity of the previous two seasons, Heartbeat 3 had secured numerous sponsors. After each of the six guests had completed their mandatory product placements, the small card was finally revealed.

Everyone turned to look.

The moment the card was flipped, Chu Xiyue felt like she could hear her own heartbeat, pounding inexplicably loud. Even though she knew this was just part of the show’s routine, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but twitch upward when she saw Su Yan had chosen her. Like a golden retriever who had been properly comforted, her eyes radiated a warm, sunny smile.

Chu Xiyue’s emotions always became particularly evident in moments like these.

The next card revealed was Chu Xiyue’s, and as expected, she chose Su Yan as well. This immediately flooded the live stream’s bullet screen with comments from the couple’s fans.

Following them, Meng Qin predictably chose Su Yan. What surprised everyone was Zhao Fei’s choice: Meng Qin.

A wave of question marks flooded the bullet screen, but some viewers quickly offered explanations:

This actually makes sense. Zhao Fei has always been gentle and caring, and Meng Qin has that screenwriter vibe and looks great. It’s normal for him to be smitten at first sight. But I bet it’ll fall apart later.

Heh, after watching this episode, my impression of Meng Qin has plummeted.

I feel sorry for Zhao Fei. Even though there was a love triangle last season, at least the couples genuinely liked each other and were mutually interested. Even when they were separated, they eventually found their way back to each other. One pair is even married now. Meng Qin is just unilaterally pursuing Su Yan without considering anyone else’s feelings.

Zhao Fei didn’t offer any further explanation, simply brushing it off with a smile. The atmosphere turned slightly awkward, but the Director quickly steered the conversation toward drawing the next set of cards.

The next cards were the True Heartbeat Cards, which the contestants had chosen two days into filming to reveal their initial impressions of their partners. Now that the show was nearing its end, it was time to revisit and compare those initial impressions.

Each contestant would mark their received impression cards with a checkmark or an X, making for an interesting comparison.

After spending the past few days together, everyone realized they had harbored quite a few stereotypes about each other. Zhao Fei, though gentle and considerate, actually had a bit of a temper. Lu Rujin, the glamorous and sweet idol, secretly loved stirring up drama and watching the chaos unfold. Yao Tian, the workaholic “Iron Lady” on set, was actually a hardcore gamer, and she and Lu Rujin had quickly bonded over their shared passion.

As for Chu Xiyue, her impression of Su Yan had been completely overturned.

This woman was incredibly fastidious and narcissistic in private, yet surprisingly thoughtful and caring. Chu Xiyue wondered if Su Yan’s fans would abandon her if they ever saw her true colors.

Hmm… probably not. Chu Xiyue imagined the clickbait headlines: “Shocking! The aloof Goddess’s true personality revealed!” Fans would likely rejoice, declaring their idol approachable and down-to-earth. After all, actors are judged by their work. As long as they avoid committing any heinous crimes, even minor controversies can be reversed with a single hit drama.

As for Meng Qin, Su Yan didn’t really dislike her. After all, Su Yan had never shown her any special attitude, remaining consistently cold and distant, like an unmelting iceberg.

At that moment, Meng Qin sat with her eyes lowered, her thoughts hidden. Her neatly manicured nails pressed lightly into the sofa, leaving faint indentations.

With this segment concluded, the final act was about to begin. The production team had prepared an unused room where the guests would paint plaster dolls for each other as parting gifts.

The final segment also included a small mystery: the identity of the hidden straight woman among them, which had yet to be revealed.

At the Director’s signal, Chu Xiyue rose first, her steps light as she headed toward the room. As she entered, she saw six chibi-style plaster dolls lined up neatly, each representing their first game appearance. Their expressions varied, but lacking color, they appeared less lively.

The guests’ final task was to paint the plaster dolls for each other as parting gifts, adding color and personality to commemorate their time together.