Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 4

Chu Xiyue and Su Yan had just stood up when Meng Qin’s gaze fell on their retreating figures, her lips pressed into a thin line.

This subtle gesture went unnoticed by most viewers, except for a few observant ones. Chu Xiyue led Su Yan through the chaotic, dazzling lights toward a hidden door in the corner. Pushing it open revealed a brightly lit, spacious interior.

The villa had three floors. The second floor housed their living quarters, with six spacious and comfortable single bedrooms. Silver-blue wallpaper accentuated the room’s expansive feel, while an artificial spring cascaded over a miniature rockery, its clear water trickling into a Taihu stone basin below with a crisp, melodious sound.

The overall design resembled a modern European estate, a testament to the production team’s lavish budget.

With such a pleasant environment, the guests’ moods naturally lifted.

Su Yan, accustomed to carrying her own luggage, effortlessly lifted her suitcase with one hand, showing no signs of strain. Whether it was her remarkable strength or the suitcase’s light weight, Chu Xiyue merely offered a helping hand, primarily acting as a guide.

The intermission was brief, lasting only fifteen minutes. During this time, the cameras stopped recording to grant the guests some privacy, but the bullet screen remained a frenzy of activity, mostly focused on Su Yan’s participation.

Unlike fading stars like Su Yan and Huang Shuo, who rely on past glories to stay relevant, Su Yan, at just 26, had already won international awards, proving her immense potential and substantial acclaim.

Rumor had it that Su Yan came from a small rural town. She worked her way through high school and college before officially entering the entertainment industry. She started as an extra on film sets, worked part-time as a print model, and even delivered food and tutored students. Her diverse resume stood in stark contrast to the glamorous image of most celebrities.

Su Yan first gained public attention at 20 with supporting roles. At 22, she starred in a spy thriller that earned her the Golden Award for Best Supporting Actress in China. From then on, her career trajectory soared, unstoppable, making her one of the hottest A-list actresses today.

Many dedicated actors avoid overexposure on variety shows to protect their public image and maintain audience immersion in their roles. Before today, even gossip blogs hadn’t dared to speculate about Su Yan joining such programs. Now, the trending searches must be exploding.

The rumored Su Yan was said to be aloof and reserved, only showing warmth when acting. But after their two previous encounters, Chu Xiyue suspected this wasn’t entirely true.

Chu Xiyue stood at the doorway, refraining from entering out of politeness. But Su Yan beckoned her with a flick of her finger, revealing her true nature in a place where no cameras were recording.

“Are you planning to just stand there and let the cameras film you?” Su Yan asked.

Chu Xiyue retorted, “The production team said we’re on break. The cameras should be off.”

“These shows usually have hidden cameras that could turn on at any moment.”

Chu Xiyue fell silent.

She felt that whatever this woman said would sound reasonable, so she simply stopped arguing and stepped inside.

The two rooms were similarly furnished, but watching Su Yan unpack her suitcase and neatly hang up her clothes, Chu Xiyue couldn’t deny that a beauty’s appearance remained pleasing to the eye, no matter the circumstances.

Chu Xiyue had always been drawn to beauty since childhood.

Her family had a very open-minded attitude. When she first realized she was attracted to the same s3x, her parents accepted it calmly. Madam Chu even arranged marriage prospects for her with other women—not just paying lip service to understanding, but genuinely encouraging her to get to know them. They said they could wait until the law passed to get married, no rush.

Madam Chu was perfect in every way, except for this one area where she seemed to have suddenly lost her mind, driving Chu Xiyue to flee into the entertainment industry overnight.

After all, late marriage was the norm in this circle. Many remained single well into their forties, at least publicly.

After calling Chu Xiyue in, Su Yan fell silent. Naturally, Chu Xiyue didn’t initiate conversation either, simply watching as the woman neatly sorted her belongings with practiced efficiency—clearly someone accustomed to handling her own affairs rather than relying on a personal assistant.

With five minutes remaining, Su Yan had nearly finished organizing. She took a garment from the rack, laid it on the bed, and gestured for Chu Xiyue to zip it up. Turning around, she noticed Chu Xiyue still standing frozen in place, her beautiful phoenix eyes arching slightly.

“So, Miss Chu has a penchant for watching others change clothes?”

“!”

Chu Xiyue had merely hesitated for a moment, but Su Yan’s sharp retort followed immediately, clearly prepared to tease her deliberately. Flustered, Chu Xiyue whipped her head away, slammed the door shut with a huff, and shouted back before it closed:

“Who’d want to watch that? I’m straight!”

Chu Xiyue had already mentally noted Su Yan as “presumptuous” in her mental notebook. Now, she underlined the entry with a thick, emphatic line.

This time, she didn’t wait for Su Yan and hurried downstairs alone.

The break was too short for the others to leave the lounge. When they saw Chu Xiyue return, Meng Qin’s eyes lit up, and she asked with a soft smile:

“Yueyue, you spent so much time alone with Teacher Su. What’s your first impression of her?”

Just then, the live stream started, and the Bullet Screen immediately flooded with comments:

Meng Qin’s eyes are practically sparkling with envy!

So excited! Are we about to witness another CP-breaking showdown like last season?

Chu Xiyue cleared her throat.

“I think Teacher Su is quite different from what the rumors suggest. She’s actually very…”

The word “meticulous” nearly slipped out when the door swung open again. Su Yan, now changed into an exquisitely embroidered long dress, entered the room. Her casual outfit had been replaced by the elegant gown, and her light brown curls cascaded over her shoulders.

A loose-fitting women’s suit jacket draped perfectly over Su Yan’s bare shoulders, revealing a dark red slip dress beneath. The hem of the dress was adorned with faint, almost imperceptible rose patterns. In the dim light, the woman, wearing only lipstick, looked more striking than if she had been fully made up, resembling a vampire countess with an air of elegant danger.

Though there was ample space between them, Su Yan stood so close to Chu Xiyue that their skin nearly touched. The first thing that wafted over was her scent—like sandalwood dissolving into camellia fragrance, each breath drawing Chu Xiyue into an invisible, intoxicating embrace.

“Remarkably approachable,” Chu Xiyue finally managed to stammer out after a long, awkward pause. Fearing Meng Qin might ask more difficult questions, she quickly retreated to her seat.

One more word and her composure would crumble.

The Bullet Screen was still buzzing with surprise that Chu Xiyue had been paired with Su Yan. Someone couldn’t resist commenting:

Hahaha, Chu the Debater, who’s usually so sharp-tongued, sounds so stiff when she tries to compliment someone.

Su Yan was a bit rude just now. Madam Chu offered to walk her upstairs, and all she got was a curt “Mm.” So unenthusiastic.

Tsk tsk, as if Chu Xiyue is some paragon of politeness. This is the first time I’ve ever seen her actively welcome a newcomer.

Why are Chu Xiyue’s ears red? Is it hot in the room? Is she wearing too much?

If Chu Xiyue could see the bullet screen comments, she would vehemently deny that her ears were flushed because of Su Yan’s remark. She had never encountered such an arrogant person in her life, acting as if she were some rare treasure.

Hmph.

Fussy, obsessive about cleanliness, and two-faced—revealing her true nature would shatter the illusions of her fans who called her “Goddess.”

Fortunately, the director promptly announced the next activity, requiring them to move to a new location for a game called “Find Your One and Only.” The game involved a jigsaw puzzle: within a set time, they had to find their partner’s face among scattered pieces and assemble it on a board.

The game required teamwork. The pair would choose any pose, have their hands tied together, and one partner would be blindfolded while the other remained silent, unable to give instructions. The “couple” who completed the puzzle fastest would win a prize.

“The prize is something everyone will love,” the director said, his tone shifting, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. “And—before we began filming this episode, we secretly investigated everyone’s sexual orientation. Among our six guests, there’s a hidden straight woman. Over the next seven days, the straight woman must conceal her identity and avoid being discovered. At the final moment, we’ll hold a vote to identify her. Successful identification earns a hidden reward, while failure results in a penalty.”

“Of course, this segment won’t be broadcast live—and all participating celebrities have expressed their willingness to publicly disclose their sexual orientations.”

As soon as the director finished speaking, the bullet screen erupted again, with viewers frantically speculating about potential suspects and, naturally, some expressing skepticism.

What’s the point of straight women joining this variety show?

To the commenter above: Straight men are even acting in BL dramas for clout these days. It’s just a couple-themed variety show, don’t get too emotionally invested, okay? While some couples from the first two seasons became real, others were strangers the moment they left the villa. Who cares what happens behind closed doors?

Ahhh, Goddess Xu Yuan must be gay! I want to see her dating a beautiful woman!

As societal attitudes become increasingly open, some bold celebrities have publicly revealed their sexual orientations, but the vast majority remain shrouded in mystery. The audience is captivated by the show’s endless twists and turns, and viewership is steadily rising.

Meanwhile, the guests were already preparing. Chu Xiyue had watched the previous two seasons before arriving and knew that the Heartbeat series was notorious for its daring and uninhibited challenges, so she was mentally prepared.

After a quick test, they realized there were essentially only two ways to tie their hands together: either side-by-side or with one person standing behind the other, wrapping their arms around them to maintain mobility.

“Ah, Teacher Su,” Chu Xiyue said, still unsure how to address Su Yan. Calling her by her full name felt too distant, while “Sister Su” or “Sister Yan” made her sound too old, which was inappropriate. After much deliberation, she decided to stick with the respectful title she’d been using. Her tone remained nonchalant as she asked, “Would you rather be blind or mute? I don’t mind either way.”

Yao Tian, who was standing nearby practicing with props, couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the absurd question.

What kind of divine description is that?

Su Yan asked, “Is it up to me?”

Receiving Chu Xiyue’s affirmative reply, Su Yan picked up a deep black lace blindfold from the table. Before Chu Xiyue could react, she gently lifted a few strands of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

Though maintaining a respectful distance, Su Yan’s hands moved with unwavering precision. She deftly gathered Chu Xiyue’s cascading hair into a long braid, then slipped the blindfold over her head, letting it glide down inch by inch, accompanied by the rhythm of their close breaths.

Her movements were practiced and gentle, as if she had rehearsed this countless times.