Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 43

At that moment, Su Yan had just landed on the other side of the ocean. Hearing the familiar voice, she couldn’t help but smile, her footsteps growing lighter as she walked.

“Then wait there. I’m going to check when I get back.”

Chu Xiyue huffed softly, about to reply, but the text and voice message in the chat box sounded like a petulant, affectionate tease. After a moment’s hesitation, she canceled the voice message and deleted the text, deciding not to continue the conversation.

The brief vacation seemed to vanish in an instant, passing far more quickly than her workdays. Chu Xiyue swiftly transitioned back into full work mode, juggling endorsements and travel schedules. Before long, the edited version of the dating show finally premiered.

Heartbeat Acceleration had already been immensely popular in its early episodes. This season’s guests were either A-list celebrities or natural crowd-pullers, breaking previous viewership records during the live broadcasts. Now, the CP fans had amplified the hype with their enthusiastic promotion.

Amidst the eager anticipation of the hungry audience, the first half of the season finally went live.

Heartbeat Acceleration 3 was edited into two parts. The first part focused on the ambiguous period of the relationships, while the second part covered the official coupling and follow-up interviews. Chu Xiyue had received notice from the Production Team some time ago, instructing her to start filming daily life vlogs for inclusion in the final cut, both as promotional material for the show and to give viewers a glimpse into the guests’ lives.

The Production Team had given them a generous deadline of one month, and only half of that time had passed. Chu Xiyue had already compiled enough footage and sent a batch over.

Today also happened to be the day Su Yan returned from abroad, landing in B City. As the host, Chu Xiyue had no other commitments and volunteered to pick her up from the airport, bringing a small camera and selfie stick along.

At 10:30 AM, Chu Xiyue spotted Su Yan’s striking figure emerging from the airport exit like a living work of art. Since Su Yan’s travel schedule had been publicly announced, many fans had traveled from out of town to greet her. The crowd outside was already a sea of people, and security guards struggled to maintain order, shouting repeatedly to keep the crowd back.

“Who’s that up ahead? Why are so many people crowding around?” Two girls with suitcases, not in a rush to catch their flight, stood on tiptoe, peering into the crowd with leisurely curiosity. “It looks like a celebrity! Wait here, I’ll go see if I can snap a photo!”

“It’s probably Su Yan. I heard she’s returning from overseas today, and this is the flight landing at Chaoyang Airport. But… did I just see Chu Xiyue?”

The other girl wasn’t a fan of celebrities, but she loved a good spectacle. Hearing the name “Chu Xiyue” immediately triggered her radar, and she began scanning the crowd. Chu Xiyue, disguised in a hat, mask, and sunglasses, had even chosen plain, unremarkable clothes to avoid attention. Yet, a few sharp eyes still landed on her, and she instinctively took two steps back.

People are remarkably adept at spotting celebrities hidden in crowds. Chu Xiyue’s figure and aura stood out starkly against the surrounding crowd. Just as she retreated, someone shouted her name.

Chu Xiyue turned and fled, drawing the crowd’s attention away from Su Yan.

Perhaps the week-long vacation had made her a bit disoriented. Chu Xiyue hadn’t anticipated being recognized despite her full disguise. After half an hour, the two managed to shake off their pursuers and rendezvous with Su Yan in another parking lot.

By then, Chu Xiyue’s hair was disheveled, and she was panting heavily from the chase. Su Yan fared slightly better, as security had intervened to stop the people chasing her. Chu Xiyue deliberately drove in circles, finding a suitable spot before stopping. As Su Yan approached the car, she saw Chu Xiyue had already turned on the camera and was filming herself. Su Yan gently tapped on the car window without making a sound.

“I’m filming a vlog for Heartbeat,” Chu Xiyue mouthed, her peach-blossom eyes sparkling alluringly. “Can you be in it?”

The Heartbeat production team had already sent out the requirements to everyone, and Su Yan was aware of the vlog concept. After all, the two had been the top vote-getters on the show’s “Heartbeat Acceleration” rankings. Now, with anticipation at its peak, failing to provide some after-sales content would have been a disservice to the audience.

Su Yan had originally agreed to participate in the dating show, knowing this segment would be included. She now faced the camera with grace, waving casually.

As Chu Xiyue leaned closer, Su Yan caught a faint, elegant fragrance. Even with her eyes closed, she recognized it as her own unique scent, a fragrance she had personally crafted.

Seeing this scent on another person didn’t feel like an intrusion. Instead, a subtle impulse stirred within Su Yan—a desire to lift a strand of Chu Xiyue’s raven hair and inhale its deeper secrets.

Lowering her lashes to suppress her surging thoughts, Su Yan’s profile appeared both serene and captivating. Chu Xiyue leaned closer, explaining to the camera:

“Teacher Su has just returned from abroad. As a gracious host, I’m here to welcome her.” Turning to Su Yan, she asked, “What would you like to eat today, Teacher Su?”

Chu Xiyue expected Su Yan to name a cuisine, but Su Yan took an unexpected turn:

“Just some simple home-cooked meals. Shall we go home and make them ourselves?”

The use of “we” and “home” was particularly suggestive. If this were a live broadcast, the audience in the chatroom would likely have gone wild with excitement.

Chu Xiyue couldn’t resist giving Su Yan’s wrist a gentle pinch. But Su Yan’s skin was naturally fair and delicate, and the pinch left a faint red mark that stood out against her pale wrist.

Immediately, Chu Xiyue froze, afraid to move again.

Su Yan considered her own intoxicating cooking skills. She doubted she could prepare anything presentable enough for the camera. But taking Chu Xiyue home seemed even more inappropriate.

Chu Linxiu and Mr. Tian were still at home. Her mother had been pressuring her to find a blind date. Bringing someone home now would only complicate things further.

After much deliberation, it seemed the only option was to cook at her own place.

Seeing Su Yan’s resolve, Chu Xiyue dropped her earlier pretense of politeness and became more casual:

“Alright, you’re in charge of buying groceries on the way. The rest is up to you—figure it out yourself.”

“The produce on the app isn’t as fresh as what you’d find at the market…”

Before Su Yan could finish, Chu Xiyue shot her a sharp glance. Su Yan simply smiled warmly and mimed zipping her lips shut.

Going to the market was out of the question. They had already been involved in a chaotic chase at the airport earlier, and a trip to the market would only invite more trouble. It seemed they wouldn’t be able to cook a proper meal today.

Su Yan quickly ordered groceries online while they were on the road: a portion of prawns, lettuce, chicken feet, and beef (Chu Xiyue’s requests), along with several vegetarian dishes. This should be just enough for the two of them.

They kept the camera running the entire way home. After turning it off briefly to freshen up, they switched it back on when the delivery arrived.

Once Su Yan had checked the order, she began peeling the prawns. Chu Xiyue, who couldn’t cook much else, at least knew how to wash rice and vegetables. She helped with the prep work, washing and chopping ingredients while also cooking a pot of rice. Then she settled down to watch Su Yan work her magic.

Su Yan, who had never showcased her culinary skills on the reality show, now displayed them without reservation. Chu Xiyue watched in awe as Su Yan’s knife skills proved astonishingly precise. She sliced the beef into thin strips along the grain, marinated them briefly, and then tossed them into a hot wok. The rich aroma filled the entire house.

Chu Xiyue had slept in late and hadn’t eaten a thing since morning. By now, she was ravenously hungry, her eyes gleaming at the tantalizing scent.

Su Yan, never one to shy away from effort, meticulously deveined the shrimp, cooked them in a separate pan, and drizzled them with garlic and chili oil. Enoki mushrooms, squeezed for their fresh juice, simmered alongside, creating a rich, golden broth that rivaled the finest restaurant chefs.

The final presentation filled the entire table with dishes. Chu Xiyue’s appetite surged at the sight, already anticipating enough leftovers for another meal.

Having grown accustomed to the refined dishes served in restaurants, this truly felt like authentic home cooking, yet it was beautifully arranged.

Chu Xiyue suddenly recalled that Su Yan had never fully showcased her culinary skills on the reality show. Any cooking she had done there was just casual fare for the group, nothing like this elaborate spread.

This woman really takes things seriously, Chu Xiyue thought. Her after-sales service is even more thorough than I expected.

Once they began eating, Chu Xiyue turned off the camera. Afterward, she proactively loaded the messy dishes into the dishwasher. When she returned, she found Su Yan sprawled on her sofa, no longer maintaining her usual upright posture. Her long hair cascaded down in loose, languid waves, exuding an air of relaxed ease.

Su Yan’s fingers danced over the remote control of her TV.

“Have you seen the latest episode of Beyond the Limit?”

Chu Xiyue paused, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “Not yet.”

“Want to watch it together?”

Beyond the Limit was a sports competition variety show they had both signed up for earlier. The name alone suggested it would be grueling, and the reality lived up to the expectation.

Participating in variety shows now, followed by editing, review, and production, would time perfectly with the film’s promotional period.

Chu Xiyue settled down beside her.