Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 41

The re-brewed coffee seemed even more fragrant than before, its rich, creamy aroma filling the entire room with a blend of sweetness and bitterness.

Though the two flavors clashed sharply, the scent that reached Chu Xiyue’s nostrils made her close her eyes in contentment, savoring the exquisite sensation on her palate.

This peaceful moment was soon shattered by a commotion outside. Chu Xiyue heard someone knocking on the door. When she opened it, she saw Director Yang’s assistant standing there, smiling warmly.

“Teacher Su, Teacher Chu, Director Yang needs you both. Are you free to come now?”

Chu Xiyue had opened the door wide, revealing the room’s interior at a glance. It was clear the two women were no longer occupied, so they had no choice but to follow the assistant.

For some reason, even though filming had wrapped, Chu Xiyue still felt a subtle nervousness whenever Director Yang summoned her, as if she were being called to the principal’s office back in school. But today, Director Yang had called them over not for any particular reason, but simply to discuss future plans with both of them present.

To put it bluntly, it was about the subsequent promotional plans. Su Yan had already known this beforehand and showed no surprise or objection.

“Right, that’s about it. You’re both familiar with the process after working in the industry for so long. During the promotional period, try not to miss any events. You can handle the variety show appearances yourselves—I’m not your manager, so I won’t interfere with your schedules. That’s all for now. See you at the wrap party!”

Director Yang didn’t say much more. She simply outlined the general plan, knowing the two actresses understood what to do next. It seemed this “business couple” wouldn’t be disbanding anytime soon. Chu Xiyue felt a sense of relief, but also a subtle surge of excitement, which she quickly suppressed.

The wrap party arrived swiftly as everyone anticipated it.

On that day, nearly everyone attended except for those with unavoidable conflicts. After three months of filming, the impending farewell brought a bittersweet sense of reluctance. The atmosphere on set had always been excellent. Although Director Yang was strict, she was never unreasonable or prone to pointless yelling. The actors generally held her in high regard.

Especially because the director was a woman, the crew lacked the usual toxic atmosphere. This alone made many actresses eager to join Director Yang’s projects.

Chu Xiyue was well-liked on set, and many people came to toast her. While the crew had gathered socially before, they had never drunk alcohol. Tonight, with their impending separation, they were indulging more freely. Chu Xiyue accepted nearly every toast, quickly becoming lightheaded.

Since she had already started, Chu Xiyue couldn’t show favoritism. Those who hadn’t yet toasted her were still waiting. She clutched the pen she had used to order earlier, the black marker contrasting sharply against her pale fingers, making her skin appear even more snow-white.

Two faint blushes had already bloomed on her cheeks. Though her eyes still sparkled with determination, it was clear she was pushing herself beyond her limits.

Unlike Chu Xiyue, the social butterfly, Su Yan maintained a low profile on set. Though she wasn’t aloof, she was reserved and quiet. Now, sitting still, she resembled an unyielding iceberg, radiating a frosty aura that deterred most from approaching her. So far, aside from the obligatory two formal toasts, Su Yan had remained seated in her place.

As the previous guest finished toasting and the next one stepped forward with a glass, a hand suddenly reached out in front of the young woman.

The woman blinked in surprise, and Chu Xiyue glanced at her as well. Slightly tipsy, her eyes were veiled in a shimmering, watery mist—barely perceptible, yet deep brown irises reflected the silhouettes of both women.

“Wen Ye, would you like to have a drink with me?” Su Yan’s calm voice called out the young woman’s name. Instead of directly blocking the toast for Chu Xiyue, she subtly asked Wen Ye if she would join her for a drink, leaving the actress both flattered and slightly flustered. Wen Ye quickly replied:

“Yes, yes, I’d be honored, Teacher Su!”

Wen Ye handed over her cocktail, and Su Yan clinked glasses with her, tilting her head back to drain the glass in one bold gulp. After finishing, she pressed her thumb against the young woman’s forehead, leaving a playful “stamp”:

“Keep going.”

Feeling her cheeks flush, Wen Ye bowed repeatedly, murmuring thanks as she retreated.

Su Yan continued to handle the subsequent toasts in much the same way. Chu Xiyue quickly noticed the pattern, realizing Su Yan was shielding her from the alcohol. She leaned forward, tilting her head to study Su Yan intently, who raised an eyebrow at her scrutiny.

“What is it?” Su Yan asked.

Chu Xiyue simply smiled, offering no reply.

After a moment, as if fearing Su Yan might genuinely grow impatient, she made a heart shape with her hands in front of Su Yan’s face.

“Nothing,” Chu Xiyue said. “Just… I find Teacher Su quite pleasing to the eye, actually.”

Su Yan swiftly caught the underlying implication in her words.

“So you didn’t find me pleasing to the eye before?”

Chu Xiyue remained silent, sitting demurely and staring at her. Su Yan hesitated, ultimately deciding not to argue with the drunk. She mentally calculated Chu Xiyue’s alcohol tolerance, resolving to prevent her from drinking so much next time.

Though she’s rather cute when she’s drunk, Su Yan thought.

However, this side of Chu Xiyue was rarely seen, and Su Yan had no intention of seeing it often. She waited beside the drunk until the wrap party ended, then escorted her back to her room. Su Yan booked a separate room nearby for herself before finally retiring for the night.

The next morning, Chu Xiyue woke up around 10 AM. As her head gradually cleared, she realized she had drunk quite a bit the night before and had been brought back by Su Yan.

Looking around, she saw no sign of anyone else. The bed showed no signs of having been slept in. After all, even a tidy person leaves some trace of having slept in a bed, especially when sharing it with someone.

Checking the date, Chu Xiyue realized it was the day her work had officially ended. There was a message on her phone from Su Yan, sent over three hours earlier, but Su Yan was already gone.

After getting out of bed and washing up, Chu Xiyue noticed a bottle of perfume on the table that appeared to have been used. She picked it up and sniffed it, immediately recognizing the familiar, cool, and elegant fragrance. A figure instantly materialized in her mind, as if the person were still standing beside her, tall and graceful.

Su Yan’s schedule had recently become hectic. Staying for the wrap party was already a significant favor to Director Yang. The company typically avoided overbooking her during filming, especially after she explicitly requested rest upon leaving the set, ensuring at least a week of downtime.

Scrolling through her chat history with Su Yan, Chu Xiyue saw which fashion week show Su Yan was attending. Given the time difference between China and the West, she checked Weibo and realized Su Yan was likely already on her red-eye flight.

After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Xiyue photographed the perfume and sent Su Yan a voice message:

“I think you left this at my place. Should I mail it to your home later?”

Assuming Su Yan was already airborne, Chu Xiyue didn’t expect an immediate reply. After tidying up, she received a call from her assistant informing her that the pre-arranged driver was waiting downstairs. Without delay, Chu Xiyue grabbed her suitcase and headed down.

Half a day later, after a series of transfers, she finally arrived in B City. Fortunately, her father was available and personally came to pick her up.

“Yueyue, you’ve lost weight? I saw your posts about the poor food on set. I had the housekeeper prepare a hot pot tonight. You need to replenish yourself properly.”

Her father, Mr. Tian, had always been considerate. Chu Xiyue’s meals on set had been bland, so he knew she’d crave something flavorful when she returned home. He instructed the housekeeper to prepare a rich, spicy beef tallow hot pot. Chu Xiyue’s eyes lit up at the mention, and she wished she could teleport back immediately.

But Mr. Tian quickly dropped another bombshell:

“I overheard your mother on the phone earlier. It sounded like she’s arranging a blind date for you.”

Chu Xiyue: “……”

She nearly spat out the water she was drinking. She couldn’t understand why Madam Chu was so fixated on finding her a partner—especially a marriage alliance prospect.

Despite this revelation, Mr. Tian’s car continued forward, showing no sign of stopping to let her escape. Chu Xiyue tapped her fingers on the leather sofa, studying her father’s handsome profile. She wondered if her parents were colluding to trick her, as this felt like a classic “hit you with a stick, then offer a sweet treat” tactic.

“Dad, when we get back, you need to say something to Mom for me. You’re not on her side, right?”

Since the generation of the old matriarch, the Chu family had been dominated by women, fostering a culture that valued daughters over sons. Mr. Tian held the lowest status in the household. Faced with his daughter’s questioning, he dared not claim to be on her side, nor could he evade the issue, especially with her fierce gaze fixed on him from the back seat. He had no choice but to reveal what he knew:

“I overheard your mother saying the girl is a bit older than you and quite pretty. But I haven’t seen any photos, so I can’t vouch for that.”

Chu Xiyue took a deep breath, unsure if Mr. Tian was deliberately missing the point or genuinely clueless. Was her concern really about the girl’s looks?

“Anyway, when we get back, just tell Mom this,” she said, pulling her hat lower, a hint of barely concealed weariness and impatience flickering across her delicate features. “Regardless of what she looks like—pretty or not—it has absolutely nothing to do with me. I’m not going on this blind date.”

“If she asks again, I’ll stay single forever.”