Thank You for the Invitation, I Successfully Held Hands with the Best Actress - Chapter 9

She recoiled in fright, falling back onto the floor with a thud.

 

 

Ning Yu: “You… you’re awake?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan’s voice was hoarse as she spoke, “If I hadn’t woken up, what exactly was Miss Ning planning to do next?”

 

 

Ning Yu: “I wasn’t planning anything, I’m innocent.”

 

 

“Seeing is believing, yet Miss Ning still insists on making excuses.”

 

 

Ning Yu felt utterly tongue-tied. She had kissed Mu Qiuyan to administer medicine, but she couldn’t explain that—because the origin and nature of that medicine would only lead to endless questions.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan: “Mint… is this the scent of your pheromones?”

 

 

Ning Yu froze for a moment before quickly composing herself. “Yes, this is my pheromone. I wonder if the verification you mentioned is complete now?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan propped herself up slowly, sitting upright on the bed. The scorching, hellish heat that had consumed her earlier had completely dissipated, replaced by a light, refreshing sensation.

 

 

“The verification is complete. You’re definitely not the person I’m looking for.”

 

 

She stepped barefoot onto the floor, and Ning Yu slid a pair of slippers to her feet, carefully helping her put them on. “Let me carry you back to your room.”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan neither agreed nor refused. Observing her expression and sensing no lingering anger, Ning Yu mustered the courage to gently lift her into her arms.

 

 

The woman in her arms felt as light as a feather. Having witnessed Mu Qiuyan trembling in pain earlier, Ning Yu now saw her as fragile as a bullied kitten.

 

 

At nine in the evening, all the cameras in the villa were turned off. No one noticed that, in the quiet of the night, two figures were pressed close together, their atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

 

 

Ning Yu’s room was on the first floor. Carrying Mu Qiuyan, they walked down the long corridor, ascended the winding staircase, and stopped before a door on the third floor labeled “Witch.”

 

 

“Don’t you dare breathe a word about tonight,” Mu Qiuyan said before stepping inside and slamming the door shut.

 

 

Ning Yu rubbed the tip of her nose and trudged back downstairs.

 

 

The whole way, she wanted to ask Mu Qiuyan what that chronic condition of hers really was. But seeing the sorrowful expression hidden in the woman’s face as she nestled in her arms, Ning Yu couldn’t bring herself to pry.

 

 

Whatever it was, it was her own business.

 

 

Why should you care so much?

 

 

She knocked her own head lightly, as if trying to dispel the faint, ambiguous emotions swirling inside her.

 

 

Before she could reach the first floor, however, Ning Yu suddenly noticed a door on the second floor swing open.

 

 

Guiltily, she crouched down and ducked into a dark corner.

 

 

Footsteps echoed from one end of the hallway to the other.

 

 

Curious, she peeked around the corner—only to see Li Yifan walking away from her, heading toward his own room at the other end of the corridor.

 

 

Her heart skipped a beat as she realized the door that had just opened belonged to Gao Mi.

 

 

The two of them? Something shady going on?

 

 

Gao Mi, nicknamed the “Fake Socialite of the Capital,” lived up to her reputation.

 

 

Her collection of luxury brand bags were all rented secondhand. The labels she flaunted—heiress to a conglomerate, monthly allowance in the millions, owner of a penthouse with a rooftop pool in downtown Kyoto, and a prestigious university graduate—were all fabricated, except for her actual degree.

 

 

The original novel mentioned that before joining the dating show, she had thoroughly researched every guest’s background. Her goal was clear: to hook Ming Jue, the billionaire golden bachelor.

 

 

Thus, she was essentially a roadblock in the two female leads’ path to romance.

 

 

 

It was the powerful kind.

 

 

Ning Yu arrived at the cottage a bit late, so she didn’t know that Gao Mi had coincidentally entered with Li Yifan that day.

 

 

Rewind five hours earlier.

 

 

A woman in a short dress, carrying a Dior bag, walked in. Smiling with her eyes crinkled, she stuck out her tongue and said, “It’s so hot today,” before cheerfully waving at the camera. “Hello, viewers! I’m Gao Mi. It’s my first time on TV, so I’m a little nervous.”

 

 

She had a cute, youthful round face, and her crescent-moon eyes when she smiled made her instantly likable.

 

 

Her genuine and unaffected demeanor won over a lot of goodwill.

 

 

[Hey there, beauty! I love watching pretty girls.]

 

 

[You’re the first guest to arrive, and you’ve already set the bar high for looks. If the others can’t keep up, I might just stop watching.]

 

 

[Gao Mi—what a lovely name. Can I call you Mimi?]

 

 

[Head-to-toe luxury brands, and that’s a Ferrari keychain on her bag, right? Cue the jealousy—another rich kid, huh?]

 

 

[Jealous haters, scram. No room for wealth envy here.]

 

 

[You’re all ogling the beauty, but am I the only one checking out the hottie behind her?]

 

 

[Beauty and a hunk—what a feast for the eyes. This dating show’s cast is stacked. I’m staying put.]

 

 

Following her in were two tall men, each lugging a suitcase, their movements slightly sluggish.

 

 

Gao Mi clasped her hands together apologetically and bowed. “Thank you, brothers! The suitcases must be heavy—let me take them.”

 

 

The man on the left, wearing a white striped shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, blushed. “No problem, it’s nothing. Helping a beauty is an honor.”

 

 

A closer look would reveal his lingering gaze on Gao Mi, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

 

 

[This is getting interesting. So interesting.]

 

 

[I love their subtle tension. Glasses guy’s little expressions—he’s totally into Mimi, isn’t he?]

 

 

[As someone who’s been around, be careful with the glasses-wearing type. They’ve got that ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ vibe—seemingly tender but total players.]

 

 

[That’s just stereotyping. I think he’s great.]

 

 

[You can have Glasses Guy—I’ll take the suited gentleman on the right. He’s way too handsome.]

 

 

The man on the right had slicked-back hair and a sharp suit, his features deep and striking. A mix of maturity and boyish charm gave him an oddly captivating presence.

 

 

But soon, everyone heard him pant slightly as he said, “Your suitcase is way too heavy. Next time, carry it yourself.”

 

 

He even wiped the sweat from his forehead for emphasis.

 

 

[LMAO, what a blunt thing to say. The contrast is killing me.]

 

 

[Guy on the right is so hot—too bad he opened his mouth.]

 

 

[That suitcase doesn’t even look that heavy. What kind of grown man can’t lift one? Speaks volumes—must be weak.]

 

 

The slicked-back hottie, Xu Yi, clearly embarrassed Gao Mi with his remark. She pouted awkwardly.

 

 

“Sorry! I couldn’t carry it either. I should’ve packed lighter,” she said, trying to play it off with cuteness.

 

 

Xu Yi: “Yeah, it’s not like we’re moving. Why bring so much stuff?”

 

 

He set the suitcase down beside her, walked further in, and flopped onto the beanbag chair at the far right of the living room, closing his eyes to rest.

 

 

 

Gao Mi stood there awkwardly, left behind.

 

 

The others: “…Uh, is he really that weak?”

 

 

It was common for reality shows to have all sorts of eccentric participants, so everyone understood.

 

 

Xu Yi seemed like the type who’d end up alone. Those who had initially pegged him as a potential rising star now lamented their poor judgment.

 

 

If Ning Yu had been present, she wouldn’t have been surprised at all.

 

 

According to the original novel’s description, Xu Yi’s subsequent actions would only become more suffocating. His role in the show was the “conversation killer”—his EQ plummeted below the passing line, completely lacking social awareness. He always managed to say the most awkward things at the worst possible moments, instantly freezing the atmosphere, just like earlier.

 

 

That’s why during the carrot incident, she hadn’t been as outraged as Zhu Wen—this was exactly the kind of thing a socially oblivious PhD like Xu Yi would do.

 

 

Setting Xu Yi aside, Gao Mi and Li Yifan had already chosen their rooms, with Li Yifan thoughtfully helping with the luggage.

 

 

Carrying things—such a straightforward and reasonable way to show off.

 

 

Right in front of the cameras, the two began whispering about their plans for the next day’s date.

 

 

But they stood close enough that the audience couldn’t make out their scheming.

 

 

Gao Mi: “As we agreed, you have to help me get closer to Ming Jue.”

 

 

Li Yifan: “Whether you succeed or not depends more on your own skills. If she doesn’t like you, no amount of chasing will get you into that wealthy family.”

 

 

Gao Mi rolled her eyes at him off-camera. “Remember, I was the one who got you on this show. Watch out or I might leak your ex-wife’s secrets, you bastard.”

 

 

Li Yifan adjusted his crisp suit and leaned back leisurely on the sofa. “Which rich boyfriend gave you that bag? You’ve got so many wealthy, devoted alphas wrapped around your finger—any one of them would be a good catch. Why obsess over Ming Jue?”

 

 

“She already has someone she likes, as you well know. The famous Mu Qiuyan, award-winning actress. She’s in a completely different league from a fake socialite like you. They were even college classmates—proximity favors her. What chance do you have?”

 

 

Gao Mi gritted her teeth in anger. “Why can’t it be me? If they really had feelings for each other, they would’ve gotten together long ago. Why wait until now?”

 

 

“None of those alphas I’ve dated can compare to the Ming family’s fortune. Ming Jue is the heir to Ming Corporation. If I marry into that family, I’ll be a genuine wealthy matriarch—which would benefit you too, cousin.”

 

 

Upon closer inspection, their facial features did share some resemblance, though it was easy to overlook.

 

 

Li Yifan held back and didn’t respond further.

 

 

Gao Mi: “I’ll have someone get me tomorrow’s schedule early. I’ll fill you in on the details tonight in my room.”

 

 

“Tomorrow is a full day of dating opportunities. I can’t miss this chance—it’s crucial for taking my relationship with Ming Jue to the next level. I’ve prepared so much for this day. Don’t you dare disappoint me.”

 

 

“What about Mu Qiuyan? Ming Jue already said she wants the producers to pair her with Mu Qiuyan for any dates.”

 

 

Gao Mi raised an eyebrow. “If she can rig the system, why can’t I? That annoying Mu Qiuyan can be paired with Ning Yu.”

 

 

“That scumbag alpha Ning Yu?”

 

 

 

Gao Mi: “Yeah, she’s not feeling well, but does that mean I should feel good?”

 

 

Li Yifan shook his head helplessly. “You’re really a bit crazy.”

 

 

“Settle old and new scores together.”

 

 

Ning Yu walked back to her room, puzzled, completely unaware of the undercurrents brewing for tomorrow’s date.

 

 

On the other side, Mu Qiuyan let herself sink into the soft silk quilt. She peeled off the damp scent patch from the back of her neck and tossed it aside.

 

 

Wrapping herself tighter in the blanket, she curled up in a somewhat self-destructive manner.

 

 

The lingering warmth on her lips refused to fade, and Ning Yu’s captivating face remained stubbornly in her mind. Flushing red, Mu Qiuyan patted her cheeks and sat up.

 

 

She dialed her manager, Jiang Yao.

 

 

Glandular Hypersensitivity Syndrome—a condition she was diagnosed with at the age of ten—was practically a “death sentence” because there was no cure.

 

 

The symptoms included glandular fever and constant, throbbing pain—an unusual kind of “growing pain” that subjected Mu Qiuyan to hellish agony for over a decade.

 

 

Medication provided minimal relief, and painkillers had long since lost their effectiveness. Every time an episode struck, she had no choice but to endure it through sheer willpower.

 

 

The only permanent cure was a mark from an alpha with an extremely high compatibility rate of pheromones.

 

 

—A lifelong one.

 

 

Once marked, that alpha’s pheromones would become Mu Qiuyan’s sole remedy, binding them together irrevocably.

 

 

The thought of such a permanent, once-in-a-lifetime bond unsettled her. She wasn’t sure she would ever meet someone worth committing to for life, yet the relentless pain left her perpetually depressed.

 

 

And as she grew older, the glandular pain only intensified.

 

 

This was the main reason she had chosen to join First Heartbeat.

 

 

The only people who knew about her condition were her parents and her manager, Jiang Yao.

 

 

So when Mu Qiuyan recounted her latest episode in the calmest tone she could muster, the woman on the other end of the line practically leapt out of bed, veins bulging in fury.

 

 

“You had an episode? What happened? Didn’t you just have one last month?”

 

 

Fortunately, Mu Qiuyan’s episodes weren’t frequent—they occurred every few months. For one to happen again so soon was unprecedented.

 

 

Jiang Yao’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot, her anger radiating coldly.

 

 

The situation didn’t look good.

 

 

“I’m coming to pick you up right now. Get your things ready.”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan: “What? I’m really fine. Since it happened now, it definitely won’t—”

 

 

“How can you be sure? I never should’ve let you agree to join that damn dating show!”

 

 

“Calm down. Don’t overreact—I’m really okay.”

 

 

Jiang Yao: “Was anyone with you when it happened?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan hesitated before finally admitting, “Ning Yu.”

 

 

Jiang Yao felt her breath hitch. “You mean that Ning Yu? The one who was all over the trending searches recently?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan: “…Yeah. Her.”She’d only heard about Ning Yu’s trending topic from Ming Jue, who had repeatedly warned her to stay away from her.”

 

 

“Did you tell her about your condition?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan fell silent. “No. I just asked her not to mention what happened today. She’ll probably keep her word.”

 

 

 

Jiang Yao grew even angrier. “I don’t believe a word of it! Didn’t I warn you repeatedly? That Ning Yu—you need to stay as far away from her as possible, the farther the better. Don’t even exchange half a sentence with her! How could you—?!”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan scratched her cheek, not daring to mention that she had pressed herself against Ning Yu to smell her pheromones.

 

 

“If it’s her, we have even more reason to leave. When we signed the contract, the production team promised the selection process would be extremely strict. And yet they invited Ning Yu—she’s nothing but trouble! This is clearly them screwing us over. What kind of person would do something like this?”

 

 

This wasn’t the first time Mu Qiuyan had experienced Jiang Yao’s sharp tongue.

 

 

“The contract didn’t explicitly state they couldn’t invite Ning Yu. When she had her scandal, the production team probably didn’t know. If we back out now, it would be a unilateral breach of contract, and we’d have to pay the penalty.”

 

 

“A million—the company can afford it,” Jiang Yao said uncharacteristically, though it pained her. “Why put up with this? Living under the same roof for thirty days—just thinking about it makes me furious. What if Ning Yu uses this as leverage to take liberties with you?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan replied calmly, “She’s a public figure. She wouldn’t dare misbehave on camera. Besides, she seems… different from the rumors.”

 

 

Jiang Yao scoffed. “Her? With a reputation that rotten, you think she cares about cameras? Don’t let her sweet talk fool you.”

 

 

“I know. Don’t underestimate me. If she tries anything, I’ll make sure she regrets it.” After all, she had trained in taekwondo for years and could handle herself.

 

 

Jiang Yao insisted, “No, I’m coming tomorrow. I’ll deal with Ning Yu myself!”

 

 

With that, she hung up.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan: ??? Deal with what?