Thank You for the Invitation, I Successfully Held Hands with the Best Actress - Chapter 28

His voice rang out clear and firm, reaching every viewer in the live stream—whether fans or casual observers—and for a moment, silence fell over them all.

 

 

Ning Yu stole a glance at Ming Jue, who stood not far away, glaring fixedly at Mu Qiuyan and Zhou Yi. The dark, oppressive aura around him and the murderous glint in his eyes were impossible to hide.

 

 

Zhou Yi’s manager broke out in a cold sweat and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Yi-ge, the show invited you as a special guest—a love observer—not to come here and date.”

 

 

A love observer, as the name suggested, was someone who tracked the progress of the show’s couples in real time and offered commentary, immersing themselves in the variety show while enjoying both the sweet moments and the drama.

 

 

Zhou Yi’s company had only agreed to his participation because they thought he’d just be a background presence, casually watching the live show. Who could have guessed he’d try to stir up trouble on his very first day?

 

 

But Zhou Yi seemed completely unaware of his role as an observer. He tilted his head and retorted, “If I’m not here to date on a dating show, then what am I supposed to do? Sit on the sidelines and watch everyone else get cozy? Besides, if it weren’t for Sister Mu, I wouldn’t have even come to First Heartbeat.”

 

 

Was he really being this blunt? Ning Yu lounged lazily on the sofa, her long, pale legs stretched out. She had already torn open a bag of chips and was munching on them loudly.

 

 

She shook her head inwardly in pity. What a brave, fearless young man, chasing love despite the icy reception. But Mu Qiuyan isn’t into your type. With people she’s not close to, her usual tactic is a polite nod before completely ignoring them.

 

 

No matter how persistent you are, she’ll remain unmoved.

 

 

Better give up sooner rather than—

 

 

“Mr. Zhou, you’re quite humorous. If you’d like to chat, we can talk over here.” Mu Qiuyan smiled gracefully and gestured toward the balcony—an area without close-up cameras or audio recording.

 

 

Zhou Yi’s manager, who had been terrified he might say something outrageous, finally relaxed. “Actress Mu, Zhou Yi just likes to joke around. Please don’t take it to heart. Take your time chatting, take your time.”

 

 

Zhou Yi rubbed his nose but didn’t argue further, obediently following Mu Qiuyan out of the room.

 

 

Ning Yu’s hand, still clutching the chip bag, froze. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the two chatting figures heading toward the balcony, her gaze practically burning holes into someone’s back.

 

 

What the hell? What’s going on?

 

 

Suddenly, the chips in her mouth lost their flavor. She stood up, half-leaning over the back of the sofa, craning her neck to get a better look at the balcony.

 

 

There, the handsome man and beautiful woman sat on the outdoor chairs, engrossed in lively conversation…

 

 

???

 

 

What happened to the aloof, untouchable fairy who kept everyone at arm’s length? What happened to the cold, detached persona who seemed uninterested in everything? Why is she suddenly so warm and friendly?

 

 

The other guests were equally puzzled. After a week in the Heartbeat House, they had gotten to know Mu Qiuyan a little better.

 

 

Whether it was her personality or something else, there always seemed to be a barrier between her and the others. At first, the audience thought it was just because they weren’t familiar yet—some, like the shy and soft-spoken Wen Mianmian, took time to warm up.

 

 

But later, they noticed that unless the show required all guests to be present, Mu Qiuyan was usually either busy with work outside or holed up alone in her room.

 

 

 

However, Zhu Wen and Wen Mianmian would occasionally seek her out for heart-to-heart talks, which she patiently listened to. As for Xu Yi, who tried to curry favor daily under the guise of being a fan, she simply ignored him with polite indifference.

 

 

Upon closer reflection, it turned out that Ning Yu actually had more conversations with Mu Qiuyan.

 

 

Over the course of their interactions, Ning Yu didn’t find Mu Qiuyan particularly aloof—rather, she leaned more toward being fierce. That bone-chilling glare of hers? Fierce. The way she glared when Ning Yu said something wrong and upset her? Fierce. And especially when she threw her around without hesitation? That was the fiercest of all.

 

 

The spots where she’d been hit would ache for days. Just thinking about it made Ning Yu’s sides throb faintly.

 

 

But what was going on with this Zhou Yi? The two didn’t seem particularly close before, yet their conversation was already nearing the total length of Ning Yu’s weekly chats with Mu Qiuyan.

 

 

Chat, chat, chat—what was there even to talk about?

 

 

Ning Yu couldn’t understand it. The cold-shoulder treatment she had expected from Mu Qiuyan never materialized. Both she and Zhou Yi had approached her as fans trying to strike up conversations, so why did Zhou Yi get the privilege of a private chat?

 

 

Xu Yi seemed to have the same thought. Hunched over with his legs curled up and hugging a couch pillow, he stared resentfully at the two.

 

 

It was almost comical—despite his tall and sturdy build, he managed to squeeze himself into a pitiful little ball.

 

 

Zhu Wen found the sight unbearable and flung a pillow at his face. “Rein in those eyes before they pop out of your skull. What’s the point of staring like that? If you want gossip, go sit closer. From this far, all you can do is imagine things.”

 

 

Xu Yi, Ming Jue, and Ning Yu: “…” Suddenly felt like they’d been shot in the knee.

 

 

Wen Mianmian was also sneaking glances, her face flushed. “I never thought Sister Mu would like the cute puppy type. Their visuals are so well-matched—it’s kind of shippable.”

 

 

Shippable? What was there to ship?

 

 

Ning Yu whipped her head around. “What’s so shippable? Look at how his tail keeps wagging—he’s just a big bad wolf in disguise.”

 

 

Mianmian, your taste is seriously questionable!

 

 

Ming Jue nodded in agreement, her expression dark.

 

 

Wen Mianmian: “Ah, but Zhou Yi is really handsome! He’s the hottest singer-dancer idol right now, a genius at composing and writing lyrics. Every solo album he releases wins a Gold Disc Award. So young and so talented—his future is limitless.” She clasped her hands together, her starry eyes twinkling as she listed Zhou Yi’s achievements.

 

 

Li Yifan, who had initially thought he was safe from gaining another rival, now also looked a little uneasy.

 

 

At that moment, all four alphas shared the same thought:

 

 

—This Zhou Yi guy is kind of annoying.

 

 

LMAO, “big bad wolf”—gotta admit, that’s spot-on.

 

 

Every alpha’s giving Zhou Yi the stink eye.

 

 

Did he know Mu Qiuyan before this? They seem pretty close.

 

 

Are they trying to push a CP? A top idol and an award-winning actress—that’s double the clout.

 

 

The audience in the comments was also puzzled, though a quiet anticipation was already brewing.

 

 

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi’s fans erupted in outrage at Ning Yu’s “big bad wolf” remark, flooding the chat with backlash until the screen was nearly blacked out.

 

 

How dare you insult Zhou Yi like that? Disgusting. You’re the real big bad wolf here!

 

 

Who even is this person? So vile with her words.

 

 

Some washed-up has-been, apparently. And she has the nerve to talk trash about Zhou Yi?

 

 

 

Ning Yu, who was trending a while back—I saw the rumors about her. She was involved with over a dozen omegas at the same time. What a top-tier scumbag alpha. She should just get kicked off the show already. It’s disgusting to watch.

 

 

…Uh, she’s always been like this. Calling her a “big-tailed wolf” doesn’t even scratch the surface of her real combat power. You’ll understand once you’ve seen more of her.

 

 

So many people are cursing her out—online isn’t enough, they even do it offline (doge). One yuan per minute, by the way.

 

 

Because the language was too inflammatory, the livestream chat was muted by the show’s staff for half an hour.

 

 

Fans, unwilling to back down, then flocked to Ning Yu’s fan hashtag to continue their tirade.

 

 

But her hashtag and Weibo comments had long been flooded with hate. Given her infamous reputation in the “scumbag hall of fame,” she was frequently dragged back into the spotlight by netizens. They scoured the entire hashtag but couldn’t find a single living fan.

 

 

A one-sided hate fest was just shouting into the void—no one even bothered to respond.

 

 

Barefoot and unafraid of those wearing shoes, they had truly kicked an iron plate.

 

 

The balcony outside the cottage was laid with wooden flooring, potted plants lining the railing. Under a large parasol stood a simple white coffee table, decorated with a very romantic flair.

 

 

On the sofa chairs on either side of the coffee table, Mu Qiuyan and Zhou Yi sat facing each other.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan had tied her hair into a half-up ponytail today, giving her a sharper, more efficient look. Her dark brows were partially hidden beneath her bangs, her expression calm. Her clear, cool eyes remained indifferent, her tone devoid of warmth as she spoke, occasionally pursing her lips or shaking her head. The way she frowned in thought bore no resemblance to the “warmth” Ning Yu had described.

 

 

“I find this plotline completely unnecessary. Did Mr. Zhou discuss this with the director beforehand?” Mu Qiuyan handed over her phone, the screen filled with dense text—a large section of the script outline highlighted in yellow.

 

 

Zhou Yi didn’t answer her question. Instead, he said, “You don’t have to be so formal with me, Mu-jie. We’re about to start filming—you’re the female lead, I’m the male lead. We’ll be seeing each other all the time. Just call me Xiao Zhou.”

 

 

The corners of his lips curled up, his smile exuding a sunny, refreshing charm. Paired with his handsome and polished appearance, he came across as a bright, harmless young man—innocent and pure.

 

 

Ning Yu also had that kind of deceivingly sweet face—adorable and likable, her smile free of any shadow, like a naive young girl. Through her glistening eyes, one could clearly see their own reflection.

 

 

But what was the real her, hidden beneath that pretty facade?

 

 

“Mu-jie, Mu-jie, Mu Qiuyan, Best Actress Mu.” Zhou Yi waved a hand in front of her face, frowning slightly as if displeased.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan snapped back to attention. “Sorry, I zoned out for a second. Let’s get back to discussing the script.”

 

 

Zhou Yi: “That’s so sad. Here I am talking to you, and Mu-jie’s mind is wandering off to who-knows-who. And I even agreed to join this dating show with you for the sake of the program…”

 

 

Before he could finish, Mu Qiuyan cut him off, her tone icy and unyielding. “Watch your words, Mr. Zhou. Your reasons for joining this dating show have nothing to do with me, and I have no interest in knowing them. But if you interfere with my work, I’m afraid I won’t be able to collaborate with you.”

 

 

 

Zhou Yi shrugged. “Shipping couples is part of the job—it’s early promotion for our film. That’s exactly why I’m here.”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan replied coldly, “My agent must have told you countless times—I refuse to engage in fabricated romances. If Mr. Zhou insists on being this unreasonable, I won’t hesitate to inform Director Huang about withdrawing from the production.”

 

 

“Abandoning a halfway-filmed project? Aren’t you afraid people will accuse you of being a diva who breaks contracts?”

 

 

“The anti-shipping clause is clearly stipulated in our agreement,” Mu Qiuyan countered icily. “The production team breached the contract first. My withdrawal would be completely justified.”

 

 

The film After the Rain had been scheduled since early this year—a script carefully selected by her agency, with an acclaimed director and crew known for successful holiday blockbusters. Industry insiders had high expectations for this project, especially given its star-studded casting that resembled gods battling for supremacy.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan had fought through rigorous auditions and meticulous script analysis to finally secure the female lead role.

 

 

Yet just before filming began, she received last-minute script changes.

 

 

While adjustments during production were normal to improve narrative flow, this revised script was unrecognizable. The original female-centric story had been forcibly rewritten to include a male lead, with most of Mu Qiuyan’s scenes redistributed.

 

 

And Zhou Yi was this suddenly appearing new male lead.

 

 

Zhou Yi raised his hands in surrender. “My apologies, this is my fault. Let’s set aside the shipping discussion and focus on the script.”

 

 

“This added scene might feel too abrupt,” Zhou Yi said smoothly, subtly sliding his chair closer until their heads nearly touched. “What about other parts? Any other concerns?”

 

 

Through the glass window, Ning Yu watched their decreasing personal space with rising irritation.

 

 

“They’re getting awfully close—what could they possibly be discussing?” Ning Yu nearly thought she’d spoken aloud until she noticed Zhu Wen kneeling on the adjacent sofa, munching snacks while observing the scene.

 

 

“We can’t hear anything from here,” Zhu Wen complained.

 

 

Ning Yu cleared her throat. “Since you’re so curious, why not go eavesdrop?”

 

 

Zhu Wen gestured at their concealed vantage point. “We deliberately chose this hidden spot. Marching over to spy would be too obvious.”

 

 

“The weather forecast predicts rain later,” Ning Yu suggested innocently. “Those potted flowers on the railing can’t get wet. Perhaps you could… move them inside one by one?”

 

 

Zhu Wen glanced upward. “That does sound perfectly reasonable…”

 

 

“Did you plan this excuse beforehand, Ning-jie?”

 

 

Ning Yu maintained righteous composure. “What excuse? I’m genuinely concerned about the flower buds. It’d be tragic if the rain damaged them before they bloom.”

 

 

Zhu Wen smirked. “Then why don’t you go? They’re clearly having a romantic moment—what if I interrupt? I refuse to be a third wheel.”

 

 

Romantic moment? Since when? Don’t misuse idioms!

 

 

 

On the other side, Ming Jue, who appeared perfectly composed with her legs crossed but whose high heels had been tapping incessantly, suddenly spoke up. “Ning Yu, you go. Since you’re so concerned about the potted plants, hurry up and bring them in. I checked the weather forecast—if we wait any longer, it’ll be too late.”

 

 

Ning Yu: … Talking nonsense with your eyes wide open. You haven’t touched your phone all this time. When exactly did you check the forecast for rain?

 

 

The other guests’ gazes instantly turned toward her, their anticipation practically overflowing.

 

 

Ning Yu: … Well, it’s not like any of you will be the ones getting scolded…

 

 

“Maybe I should go,” Xu Yi suddenly interjected, placing the two cushions he’d been holding behind him as he stood up with the solemn expression of someone about to deliver an academic lecture.

 

 

Seeing this, Ning Yu quickly stepped forward, pressing Xu Yi’s shoulders to make him sit back down.

 

 

“I’ll go. It should be me anyway. Do you even know which pots to move? No, you don’t. So why are you butting in?”

 

 

Hmm, hearing it firsthand would give a better grasp of the situation—and maybe even allow for some mischief if needed.

 

 

The highlighted sections in the script outline were all inconsistencies that arose from adding extra characters. Since most of these involved Zhou Yi’s scenes, the director suggested that Mu Qiuyan discuss them with him in detail.

 

 

Zhou Yi rested his chin on his hand, listening to Mu Qiuyan’s clear, pleasant voice as she explained. Beneath her thick, long lashes were eyes as gentle as spring water, her flawless skin so delicate it seemed one touch might bruise it. Her glossy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance that stirred restless thoughts.

 

 

Aside from nodding half-heartedly, his attention was entirely fixed on Mu Qiuyan’s every smile and frown.

 

 

Rumors in the industry claimed Mu Qiuyan was frigid, but he refused to believe it. If he could date an omega like her, they’d surely create beautiful memories together.

 

 

Unconsciously, Zhou Yi leaned closer, his hand at the edge of the table inching toward Mu Qiuyan’s right hand resting on the surface.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan’s frown deepened, her mind filled with cold laughter. Zhou Yi’s gaze was all too familiar—his intentions couldn’t be more obvious.

 

 

She tensed her right hand, ready to raise it—

 

 

When a sudden splash of water drenched Zhou Yi from head to toe, making him leap up in fury.

 

 

“What the hell?! Who did that?!”