Whoever Falls in Love First is the Dog - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: As an Actor, Why Did You Choose to Join This Romance Reality Show?

Happy times always pass quickly. In the blink of an eye, a week had gone by, and Shen Mengke dragged her suitcase back to Jiangcheng, ready to record a new variety show.

By now, Shen Mengke had already done her makeup and was sitting in the interview room.

She had heard rumors online about this upcoming show—something about a brand-new format, combining a travel show with a dating reality show, featuring some so-called fresh highlights. In short, it had been in preparation for a long time. Yet even as a cast member about to participate, Shen Mengke still didn’t know much about it: who else was joining, what the recording schedule was like—everything was kept secret by the production team.

Although Shen Mengke hadn’t done many variety shows before, she wasn’t clueless. Not sharing even basic information with the guests clearly signaled a lack of sincerity in cooperation. She didn’t understand why they insisted on forcing her to join this show.

She was a bit unhappy, but the contract had already been signed. All she could do now was accept it and sit down for the interview.

The moment the camera pointed at her, Shen Mengke displayed the professionalism of an actor. Her earlier listlessness vanished instantly. With a smile at the corners of her lips and a glint in her eyes, she looked lively and full of energy.

Please introduce yourself.

The questions began.

Shen Mengke composed herself and answered seriously, “My name is Shen Mengke, I’m an actor, 27 years old.”

As an actor, why did you decide to participate in this dating show?

Hearing the question, Shen Mengke couldn’t help frowning. “You guys invited me.”

Everyone behind the camera fell into silence. Outside the room, Fan Shi sighed—she knew that once Shen Mengke was displeased, she wouldn’t cooperate enthusiastically.

“Fan-jie, this…”

“I’ll talk to her.”

The recording paused, and Fan Shi entered the room. The moment Shen Mengke saw her, she curled her lips into a smile.

“Mengke…”

Shen Mengke laughed. “Just kidding. Let’s re-record.”

Without giving Fan Shi a chance to speak, she had already adjusted herself. Fan Shi glanced at her, then had no choice but to leave the room.

Ever since Fan Shi had taken the liberty of signing her up for this variety show, Shen Mengke had been keeping her distance—perhaps not just from Fan Shi, but from the entire company. From their week in Mingcheng to her return to Jiangcheng, she avoided face-to-face contact as much as possible. In the past, she used to share everything with Fan Shi. Frankly, there were hardly any secrets between them.

That’s why Fan Shi could sharply sense Shen Mengke’s growing detachment—yet there was nothing she could do. The contract was nearing its end, and soon, Shen Mengke would be free from their control.

Although Shen Mengke wasn’t a top-tier celebrity, the production team treated her decently once she stepped onto the set—speaking kindly and gently. This made Shen Mengke develop a bit of goodwill toward this unfamiliar team.

Looking into the camera, she smiled. “Just kidding. That part won’t make it into the final cut, right?”

“I’ve been filming nonstop recently and was feeling a bit tired. I heard this show involves travel too, so I thought it’d be a great way to relax. Plus, I might get to meet some amazing senior artists and peers—opportunities like this, to learn up close, are pretty rare.”

Is there anyone in particular you’d like to meet on the show?

“Yuan Yushan!” she blurted out, then smiled. “You guys won’t tell me who else is in the show, so I’ll just let my imagination run wild.”

As she spoke, she gently furrowed her brows—like she was playfully scolding the crew, or maybe teasing them.

One had to admit, if she weren’t an actor, Shen Mengke’s face alone could carry her through any camera lens. She could’ve chosen an easier path in life.

People were always willing to fight for a face like hers.

If there’s a team-based segment in the show, what’s your ideal teammate like?

“Teaming up… well, that depends on the task. If it’s a game, I’d want someone really smart—I’m not a fan of using my brain. If it’s hands-on stuff, then someone strong would be great—I’m also not into physical activity.”

She laughed. “Just to clarify, I said I don’t like it, not that I can’t do it!”

Putting her hands together, she swayed a little. “I’ll give my best effort, no matter what it is.”

The people behind the camera chuckled. Shen Mengke’s survival instinct was strong. And rightfully so—under today’s intense online scrutiny, even a minor detail could be blown out of proportion, making many celebrities reluctant to join variety shows at all.

Shen Mengke blinked and smiled sweetly.

All the questions were harmless, focusing solely on the show, and Shen Mengke answered them with grace and poise.

After all, it was a collaboration—and who doesn’t like a win-win?

“Alright, Shen-laoshi, you can head to the house now.”

As soon as the interview ended, a staff member came to guide her.

The show revolved around travel and romance. They’d visit five different places during filming, with the cast living together for three days and two nights at each location.

The first stop was the production team’s base—Jiangcheng.

They had rented a courtyard near Bihai Lake. Shen Mengke had checked it out the day before—the scenery was stunning. Every spring, crowds would come for day trips, and art students would visit to paint landscapes.

In summer, the mountains behind the house bloomed with colorful flowers. Under direct sunlight, the colors became even more vivid. From afar, it looked like a freshly painted oil painting—so fresh it seemed like touching it would stain your fingers with pigment.

From the upper floor, you could see Bihai Lake in the distance. The water was crystal clear and shimmering, breathtakingly beautiful.

Working in a place like this would surely put anyone in a good mood.

As Shen Mengke pulled her suitcase to the front gate, she greeted fans along the way.

She hadn’t expected this many fans to be waiting—especially since this schedule hadn’t been publicly announced.

“Jiejie, have fun!”

“Jiejie! The Little Butterflies will always protect you! Be happy!”

“Jiejie, don’t forget us while you’re enjoying yourself—remember to post on Weibo!”

“Jiejie! Stay happy! The Little Butterflies are always here!”

…

“Little Butterflies” was the name of Shen Mengke’s fanbase—derived from Zhuangzi’s Dream of the Butterfly and her own name, Mengke (dream).

The repeated calls and heartfelt concern made her eyes sting. She turned around and gave her fans a deep bow.

She hadn’t been on Weibo in ages. Even when she browsed online, she used an alt account, often filtering out anything related to herself.

Whether praise or insults—if she couldn’t see or hear it, it simply didn’t exist.

She had been running away from it all—but now…

1, 2, 3…

She held the bow for three seconds before rising, suppressing tears and waving at her fans.

That bow triggered a wave of screams—not just from her own fans, but from the crowd at large.

Amid the commotion, Shen Mengke turned and stepped into the courtyard.

The door was open. “Someone’s already here?” she muttered to herself.

No one answered. Only a few cameras silently tracked her movements.

Fine then. She shrugged and walked inside.

She had imagined their reunion countless times, but never thought she’d see Shu Yun again like this—so suddenly, so unprepared.

They reunited on camera. They reunited under the eyes of countless lenses. They reunited in a place where they couldn’t speak freely.

In such circumstances, shock far outweighed joy.

The feeling was… deeply uncomfortable.

Shen Mengke looked at the figure standing in the yard—long white dress, smooth black hair flowing down, swaying gently as she bent down, revealing a glimpse of her graceful back.

Upon hearing movement, the figure turned around, holding a small flower she had just picked. When she saw Shen Mengke, she smiled—silently.

In that moment, Shen Mengke felt the sunlight was too bright. Her vision blurred, and she couldn’t clearly see the person in front of her. She moved her lips, but no words came out.

Shu Yun walked toward her, stepping from the light into the shade, and stopped right in front of her. “Long time no see.”

Then, she tucked the yellow flower behind Shen Mengke’s ear. The petals trembled in her hair, syncing perfectly with the flutter of her lashes.

“You look beautiful,” she said.

The sunlight seemed to flood into Shen Mengke’s eyes. She blinked—and a single tear rolled down.

“I’m sorry.”

She turned around quickly, carefully wiping the corners of her eyes, worried the tears might ruin her freshly applied makeup.

Shu Yun took a tissue and gently moved her hand away, dabbing at her tears for her.

Through the blur, Shen Mengke gazed at that deeply familiar face. She hadn’t changed—still as gentle as ever.

Fortunately, Shen Mengke hadn’t lost control in front of the cameras. She got her makeup touched up and quickly regained composure.

Returning to the house, she found Shu Yun no longer in the yard. Laughter echoed from the living room.

Dragging her suitcase, Shen Mengke walked in. Four other suitcases sat by the door, all different in size and color. She quietly set hers beside them and changed into the provided slippers.

She tiptoed toward the living room and peeked inside.

Before she could clearly see the others, someone called her out.

“Where did this little mouse come from?” Shu Yun teased as she stood up. She walked over, took Shen Mengke’s hand, and led her into the room.

Still a little dazed, Shen Mengke followed.

The other three people stood up.

“Shen Mengke!” a young girl exclaimed. Shen Mengke turned to look. She didn’t recognize her.

The girl ran up excitedly, wanting to reach out but hesitated. Eyes wide, she said, “I’m Shi Shuiying, from the Film Academy too. I… I really like you…”

Shen Mengke smiled and extended her hand. “A junior.”

“Hello, senior.” Shi Shuiying grew even more excited as they shook hands. “You’re the reason I applied to the Film Academy. Back in high school, I saw your promotional video.”

“And…”

Shi Shuiying chattered on about her admiration. Shen Mengke listened, surprised—she had thought the only thing people knew about her were scandals.

“Can I call you Sister Shen?” Shi Shuiying asked.

“Of course.”

“Then… can we add each other on WeChat? Uh, it’s okay if not…” she added carefully, gauging Shen Mengke’s reaction. “I hope I’m not being a bother?”

“Not at all.”

As Shen Mengke reached for her phone, letting go of Shu Yun’s hand, Shu Yun interrupted, “There are cameras here. You can add her later.”

Then she took Shen Mengke’s hand again and led her to the sofa.

“Let me introduce everyone. This is Shen Mengke.”

“Mengke, this is Song Yi’an—an opera singer with the National Opera House. And this is Liu Xiangqi, an excellent host. As for me…”

Shu Yun tilted her head at Shen Mengke. “Do I still need to introduce myself to you?”