Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 6

The “Special Attention” tag on Chu Xiyue’s phone had been Su Yan’s idea, claiming it would make it easier to contact her in emergencies. Unable to resist, Chu Xiyue had reluctantly changed Su Yan’s contact name to this.

Outwardly, she appears as pure and refined as the moonlit breeze, so aloof and wooden. But peel back that facade, and you’ll find a mischievousness lurking beneath—a perfect fit.

Just seeing that contact name made Chu Xiyue’s mood brighten, the earlier annoyance vanishing like smoke.

Su Yan sent her a link to the official Weibo announcement for Heartbeat 3, followed by two terse words:

“Promote.”

Her stinginess with words was enough to make Chu Xiyue grind her teeth in frustration.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Xiyue logged in to her official account, found Su Yan’s post in the trending section, followed her, and reposted it using standard promotional language.

After completing this routine with practiced efficiency, Chu Xiyue immediately switched to her personal account and reopened Su Yan’s Weibo.

Despite not frequently trending or having any scandalous gossip to entertain the masses, Su Yan’s Weibo still boasted over seventy million followers—surpassing Chu Xiyue’s own numbers. After all, she was a rising young actress who had already won international acclaim.

Chu Xiyue had assumed Su Yan’s Weibo would be filled with mundane commercial ads, but as she scrolled down, she discovered Su Yan posted a monthly life summary. Though the photos were infrequent, their quality was exceptional. Selfies were rare, mostly taken from Su Yan’s perspective.

The woman had long legs, a slender waist, and a perfectly sculpted figure. Perhaps due to some distant European ancestry, she possessed a subtle mixed-race allure, with deep-set, striking features that still aligned with Asian beauty standards. A natural photogenic muse and living mannequin, she exuded cinematic grandeur with every pose.

Chu Xiyue casually browsed Su Yan’s Weibo. When she refreshed the page, the post from just minutes earlier had already garnered over ten thousand comments, mostly effusive praise and declarations of “wife.”

Clicking on the related hashtag led to the “Heartbeat 3” supertopic, surprisingly active with a substantial following. Their names were prominently displayed, accompanied by concise fan edits. Incredibly, the two already had a CP name: “Zhaomu Xiyan.”

Some fans were even speculating that Meng Qin harbored feelings for Su Yan, while Lu Rujin was now interested in Chu Xiyue, betting that this season’s love triangle would be terrifying. After only a brief glance, Chu Xiyue was struck by the netizens’ boundless imagination. When social media algorithms began recommending fan edits of her and Su Yan, she quickly exited the app.

The half-hour break flew by, and everyone quickly gathered on the first floor, sitting around the spacious marble dining table to discuss what to have for dinner.

In the end, Zhao Fei, Yao Tian, and Meng Qin, the three with the best cooking skills, prepared the meal. With limited ingredients in the kitchen, they couldn’t get too creative, so they settled on grilled steaks with fruits and vegetables for each person. After dinner, the other three who hadn’t cooked took over to clean the kitchen while discussing plans to go grocery shopping the next day to restock the refrigerator.

After all, they were staying here for seven days, and the current supplies were definitely not enough.

Dinner ended around 7 PM. According to modern young people’s schedules, going to bed before midnight was considered early. Yao Tian suggested they head to the small bar they had initially renovated for some drinks and board games to liven things up.

The production team had provided a comprehensive selection of board games and card games for team-building activities. However, given Lu Rujin’s insistence on avoiding anything too mentally taxing, Zhao Fei chose the simplest and most suitable icebreaker game: Truth or Dare.

He even found the lie detector device stored with the card box.

A few minutes later, everyone was wearing realistic, fluffy cat ears that were said to twitch in response to their heartbeats. Lu Rujin’s ears started twitching wildly the moment she put them on, her face contorted in distress.

“Oh no! I’m already getting nervous!” she wailed.

The group began rolling dice. After one round, Chu Xiyue rolled the highest number, while Lu Rujin rolled the lowest. Chu Xiyue drew a card and read the question aloud. As Lu Rujin answered, the cat ears on her head trembled violently.

Chu Xiyue deliberately maintained a stern expression, declaring in a robotic tone, “Liar! Invalid answer! Time for a dare!”

Lu Rujin let out a shriek. The dare on the card required her to drink a shot of high-proof liquor. Lu Rujin, who had a notoriously low alcohol tolerance, scrunched up her face like a bitter melon, squirming in protest.

“What’s wrong with just being easily nervous?!” she whined.

Her antics successfully broke the ice. The bullet screen erupted with laughter, and even Su Yan, known for her stoic demeanor, couldn’t help but crack a smile. Chu Xiyue, however, laughed mercilessly.

But the next moment, the girl deftly flipped over and landed in Yao Tian’s lap, unexpectedly wrapping her arms around Yao Tian’s neck and purring softly, “Then, Sister Tian, will you drink for me?”

“Then, Sister Tian Tian, will you drink for me?”

Bullet Screen: !!

Stared at by those beautiful eyes, Yao Tian subconsciously agreed. Two seconds later, she realized what she had just committed to and covered her face in embarrassment. Lu Rujin, having successfully executed her plan, wore a triumphant smile and immediately focused her efforts on teasing Chu Xiyue.

In truth, from the start of the show’s filming until now, it was clear that Chu Xiyue wasn’t as difficult to get along with as the rumors suggested. She could take a joke and easily blend into the group’s lively atmosphere.

As time passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively compared to when everyone had first arrived. Even the usually composed Zhao Fei couldn’t resist having an extra drink.

Everyone had already asked about their partners, and Lu Rujin and Yao Tian had even completed the “Truth or Dare” penalty of a princess carry. This time, the winner was Meng Qin. The woman brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Chu Xiyue with curious eyes:

“Actually, before coming here, I heard some rumors. I’m really curious, Chu Chu, what’s your purpose for joining this variety show? Is it because your ex is here?”

The question was posed with disarming frankness.

The bullet screen exploded with comments.

Holy sh1t! A newbie’s first time catching the live stream, and the show’s already asking such explosive questions?!

You’ve asked the question I’ve been dying to ask. Meng Qin, you’re the real MVP!

What a bold question! Chu fans are three seconds away from storming the battlefield!

Seriously, I’ve been eating this drama for ages. It started blowing up even before Chu Xiyue appeared on the show. So who exactly is Chu Xiyue’s ex? Why do none of these rumored partners seem like a match?

First, let’s rule out Su Yan.

Absolutely. Su Yan and Chu Xiyue’s acting was so obvious. Su Yan hates those flamboyant heiress types. There’s no way they ever dated.

From the moment the show premiered and gained traction, hardcore fans had been constantly outmaneuvered by casual viewers. Now, they finally saw an opportunity to strike back, silently upvoting comments insisting that the two couldn’t possibly be together.

Su Yan’s fans were even more eager for Chu Xiyue to reveal an ex, hoping to swiftly sever any lingering connection to their idol.

On set, Meng Qin’s question landed like a torpedo in an already turbulent lake, detonating with a deafening roar. Compared to this bombshell, all previous inquiries now seemed like mere skirmishes.

Yet at the epicenter of the storm, the female lead remained unfazed. Chu Xiyue leaned back casually in her chair, her lashes lowered, a crimson smile playing on her lips. The sharp question seemed to have no effect on her composure.

After a moment, Chu Xiyue replied, the jade beads on her wrist swaying gently with her movements:

“While the rumors about me online are quite entertaining, the truth is I’ve never been in a romantic relationship. I’ve disappointed everyone’s expectations, haven’t I?”

Her tone was nonchalantly languid, yet her firm voice carried a hidden edge—part explanation, part declaration. The moment the words left her lips, Lu Rujin’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

Chu Xiyue smiled and asked, “You don’t believe me?”

Lu Rujin hastily waved her hands. “No, no, not at all!”

It was unclear exactly when Chu Xiyue had become entangled in scandalous gossip. Amidst the public’s fervent chatter, truth and falsehood blurred. While it wouldn’t be fair to say people blindly followed the rumors, they certainly indulged in the momentary thrill of gossip.

Some had joked that she was born with the face of a heartbreaker, her features as vivid and striking as crimson flames, impossible to look away from. Even the most outrageous scandals seemed plausible when attached to this heiress.

Having boldly declared her orientation long ago, Chu Xiyue had been labeled as someone who “changed girlfriends as easily as clothes.” Young, beautiful women frequently appeared at her side, fueling endless speculation.

Unexpectedly… she’s so… pure?

Many viewers remained skeptical, but the lie detector’s unwavering readings seemed to corroborate Chu Xiyue’s claim.

Throughout the game, Su Yan remained reserved, speaking little except when it was her turn. However, when Chu Xiyue revealed her “mother-to-grave solo” status—a major bombshell—Su Yan’s gaze flickered across her for a fleeting moment.

Chu Xiyue happened to glance up, her eyes meeting Su Yan’s deep, expressive gaze. The brief, intense connection felt almost like an illusion, as Su Yan quickly regained her composure, her expression returning to its usual serene detachment.

The game continued, and anti-fans in the audience seized the opportunity to stir up trouble:

The “Queen of Trending Topics” really knows how to hype things up. If the others here had half of Chu Xiyue’s skills, they’d be trending all year round!

Meng Qin’s probing questions had once again lowered the invisible barrier, and this time, Yao Tian emerged as the winner, while Su Yan lost.

As an actress who had been active in the drama industry for years, Yao Tian held both professional admiration and irrepressible curiosity toward Su Yan, her young and accomplished senior. Finally given the chance to ask questions, she seized it eagerly:

“Senior Su Yan entered the industry at twenty and has never participated in any variety shows before. Yet for her debut appearance, she chose a dating show. Would you be willing to share why?”

!!

After Meng Qin, another one who knows how to ask the right questions!

Seriously, I really want to know the answer.

So why did Su Yan come on this show? She’s always focused on her work and doesn’t need the publicity, right? I’m dying to know!

Instantly, all eyes in the audience and on set turned to Su Yan, the woman now the center of a heated discussion. Chu Xiyue couldn’t help but perk up her gossip-hungry ears, eager to uncover any secrets hidden beneath Su Yan’s two-faced facade.

When Su Yan wasn’t smiling, she resembled an unmelting, snow-capped mountain—cold, serene, and aloof. But the cat ears, now twitching nervously atop her head, shattered this elegant composure, imbuing her pale face with a hint of bewitching allure. The tranquil surface of the lake concealed a mysterious depth that begged to be explored.

After a moment, Su Yan calmly picked up the wine glass before her and drained the bubbly rum in one smooth motion.

Everyone gasped in surprise.

Lu Rujin was the first to react, excitedly slapping the table and shouting, “Truth or dare! Truth or dare! It’s Su Yan-jie’s turn for a dare!”

The game’s rules stipulated that those who couldn’t answer truthfully had to take a dare. Chu Xiyue noticed that Su Yan was remarkably compliant, preferring punishment to lying. Of course, it was also possible this was a calculated performance for publicity.

Suddenly, Chu Xiyue heard Yao Tian reading from a card, mentioning her name:

“Perform the ‘Heartbeat Challenge’ with the person closest to you. The loser faces a penalty; the one with the smaller heart rate fluctuation wins. Hmm, it’s basically the Pocky game.”

Lu Rujin, ever resourceful, rummaged through the snack cabinet and pulled out several boxes of Pocky in various flavors, offering them to Chu Xiyue and Su Yan to choose from. Meanwhile, Yao Tian set down the card and picked up the heart rate monitor.

The studio was equipped with everything imaginable. Chu Xiyue hadn’t expected watching a game would drag her into it. With no way to back out, she had to participate. Su Yan accepted the challenge with equal composure, turning to Chu Xiyue with polite formality and asking, “Teacher Chu, what flavor do you prefer?”

“…Strawberry, I guess.”

Chu Xiyue felt a little awkward at the question. Who asks someone about the flavor of their Pocky? she thought. This is clearly such a… suggestive game, like choosing… oneself. Truly, ignorance is bliss for a straight woman.

Still, straight women could be reassuring in their own way.

As she was thinking this, Chu Xiyue unwrapped the biscuit and leaned toward Su Yan. But before she could get close, a pair of slender, warm hands encircled her waist, then loosened halfway.

Jade-like fingertips tilted her chin upward, and Chu Xiyue found herself drawn back into the woman’s warm embrace. Her gaze was forcefully captured, locking eyes with Su Yan. The beauty’s face was so close that Chu Xiyue could clearly see each distinct lash. To be honest, Su Yan’s face was undeniably flawless, even without makeup. Her skin was as smooth and pale as jade, and the familiar cool fragrance enveloped Chu Xiyue once more.

In that chaotic moment, Chu Xiyue thought she caught a hint of lingering amusement in Su Yan’s eyes—a sweet, alluring seduction, like a devil’s temptation.

The next instant, Su Yan’s crimson lips parted slightly, and she took the Pocky from Chu Xiyue’s mouth.