SH – Chapter 12

【Whoa!】

【They look so good together from the back.】

【Are you guys okay? How can you tell they’re a good match just from their backs?】

【I knew this 18th-tier actress would try to get close to Jian You during the show!!! My god, showing her true colors on the very first day???】

【Meng Zhaozhao and Wen Xi look so good together just based on their faces. Shipping them, shipping them.】

【I just want to say, President Pei, I’m so available!】

【Actually, Yun Chu and President Pei look good together too. That whispering with lowered heads is killing me!】

【Zhu Wan’er is so cute!】

【Seriously? Why is the production team teasing us with GIFs? At least give us a Live Photo so I can hear their voices!】

As the recording continued into the afternoon, the guests went for their naps. A light rain began to fall, blanketing the village in tranquility. The director’s team gathered to review the footage, taking the opportunity to clip some GIFs for their official Weibo account.

Thanks to Jian You’s presence, combined with the fact that the other guests also had some degree of popularity, the post instantly surpassed a thousand retweets, likes, and comments.

Yun Chu saw it while scrolling.

The back-view photo that netizens were buzzing about was front and center. It was taken from a high angle, showing her fingertips hooking the strings of Jian You’s apron. Though their faces weren’t visible, the slow-motion GIF managed to evoke a certain romantic charm.

She watched it for a moment, then tossed her phone aside, flopped onto the bed, and covered her face.

Beauty really does cloud the mind! Beauty really does cloud the mind!

How could she have just blurted out that Jian You’s waist was slender? She hadn’t seen Jian You’s expression; all she remembered was stiffly untying the apron strings for her before turning and fleeing. From behind her, Jian You had said, “You too.”

—Your waist is slender too.

Yun Chu fished her phone back out and posted on Weibo using her alternate account: She complimented my slender waist [shy]

The more she thought about it, the shyer she became. Noticing the camera in the corner still diligently working, she let out a dazed “oh.” “I completely forgot about you. I’m going to take a nap now, so you have to close your eyes, okay!”

With that, she picked up a scarf and covered the camera lens.

---

Not far away, in the director team’s studio.

Jian You pulled her gaze away from one of the split-screen monitors. She stood up and said, “If the director needs any more help, you can come find me anytime.”

Having an international director help with the technical issues of a small variety show was certainly overkill, but Jian You didn’t have the habit of napping. She was idle anyway and had been curious to see the director’s studio, so she had wandered over.

She took off her Bluetooth earbuds and headed for the door. The director hurried after her. “Director Jian, I heard your new film is in the casting process?”

“Yes.” It was cold outside, so Jian You didn’t rush out. She looked up. “Does Director Zhang have an actor to recommend?”

Director Zhang rubbed his nose. “Well, there is one. She wants to audition for the female lead.”

Jian You’s new film didn’t have a title yet, but the synopsis and character bios were already circulating within the industry.

The film began with the protagonist’s childhood. A little girl, raised in the palm of everyone’s hand, was naturally lively and adorable. Then, at the age of seven, she suddenly discovered she had a half-sister from the same father.

Unlike her, the sister had a very difficult life. She had no princess room, no pretty dresses, and had been hardened by life at a young age, becoming cold and full of hostility. Her mother told her, “This is your sister. Even though we don’t live together, she’s still Dad’s child.”

The same blood flowed in their veins, a bond that should have made them closer than anyone else. She was curious about her sister.

But her sister ignored her.

The rich district versus the slums, the disparity in their lives, the experience of being looked down upon—the sister could only manage not to be jealous, but she couldn’t bring herself to be true sisters with her.

But the protagonist was like an angel. She would sneak away to find her sister, revealing her small face, her eyes curving into crescents as she whispered, “Sister.”

Just as the sister was finally beginning to accept her, a car accident took her life.

But the film didn’t end there. On the contrary, these scenes, filled with the most tension and conflict, were merely the backdrop. The film’s focus was on the protagonist’s entire life, a choice that baffled investors and producers.

Zhang Chenyao had also approached Jian You, urging her to focus on the conflict between the sisters and avoid making something too avant-garde, warning that audiences wouldn’t go for it.

But Jian You was firm. “This is what I want to film.”

Zhang Chenyao knew her personality. She was resolute and would never back down from something she had decided on, so he could only let her be.

Even though the project wasn’t seen as promising, there was no shortage of actors wanting to audition. Resumes flew like snowflakes into the casting director’s inbox. Other roles were easy enough to fill, but the female lead had to be personally chosen by Jian You.

Jian You said, “I already have someone in mind for the lead.”

Director Zhang was stunned. “You… you have someone?”

Who? Her go-to lead actress, Chen Shuangxu, had just taken on a TV series and a film, and her schedule was packed until next winter. He hadn’t heard anything about Jian You holding auditions anywhere. How could she have already decided?

Jian You pushed open the door and raised her umbrella, listening to the patter of rain on its surface. She glanced back at the top-right corner of the monitor.

The scarf covering the camera lens had been blown aside by a gust of wind, revealing a small, viewable corner.

Yun Chu was lying on her side on the bed.

Sleeping soundly.

---

In the north, winter rain never lasts long. The temperature dropped below zero, and the fine drizzle turned into light snow. By the time Yun Chu woke up, it had become a blizzard. The fierce northwesterly wind howled against the windows, making the room feel all the more warm and cozy.

She checked Weibo and saw that Jiang Yu had replied to her post with a series of ellipses, expressing her speechlessness.

Yun Chu sent back a sticker: 【People who don’t understand love should shut up.jpg】

The other guests were also awake, sitting in the living room and chatting idly. Jian You was on a single sofa, flipping through a thick, professional-looking book.

“You’re awake?” Zhu Wan’er greeted Yun Chu. “We were just discussing what to have for dinner.”

Wen Xi’s eyes curved into a smile. “Yeah, yeah, come on over.”

She was ecstatic. Getting paid, eating and drinking for free, and even getting to date at public expense—how could such a wonderful thing exist in this world, and how could she have been lucky enough to stumble upon it? Of course she was happy.

Meng Zhaozhao said, “According to the show’s rules, we can invite our ‘heartbeat guest’ to have dinner together.”

Pei Wan added, “Of course, the guest can also refuse.”

Zhu Wan’er said, “The task card I got from the treasure box today lets me invite someone to dinner regardless of their wishes.”

Wen Xi plopped down next to Zhu Wan’er. “Invite me, invite me.”

Zhu Wan’er tilted her head.

Meng Zhaozhao looked up.

Pei Wan glanced over.

Wen Xi said, “You’re a good cook!”

Zhu Wan’er replied, “…Fine.”

“What about you guys?” Pei Wan asked. “Who got the reward from your treasure box?”

Jian You raised her hand slightly. “I did.”

She glanced at the sky outside and said, “But the weather is too bad today, so I’m not planning on using this reward.” She then turned to Yun Chu. “We’ll just eat at home, how does that sound?”

Yun Chu’s eyes widened slightly.

Huh? Why was Jian You asking her? And in such a natural tone! It was as if they were a couple! With so many people watching, it was… it was so embarrassing!

Yun Chu blushed. “O-Okay.”

Wen Xi and Zhu Wan’er went to a separate house arranged by the production team for their date. Although the remaining four couldn’t cook, they were smart. They won a game against the production team, who then sent over a chef, and they all enjoyed a wonderful meal.

The snow made it impossible to go for a walk, and the four guests who had just arrived that morning were tired after a full day of filming. After cleaning up, they all returned to their own rooms to rest.

At the same time, it was time for the main event of the day—

Sending a text message to their “heartbeat guest.”

Yun Chu was conflicted.

She couldn’t be too obvious, or it would look like she had an agenda. What if Jian You became wary of her? So, she couldn’t send the text to Jian You today.

Since she couldn’t send it to Jian You, the choice was simple.

She’d just pick someone at random.

Meng Zhaozhao?

Not bad. Her chicken-feeding posture was good. She liked it.

She composed the text and hit send.

Meng Zhaozhao, upon receiving Yun Chu’s text: ???

Had she even spoken to Yun Chu?

---

Downstairs.

Jian You was also composing a text message.

She still had to write her script tonight, so she wanted to get this task over with quickly. She found Yun Chu, the person she had interacted with the most today, and typed: I’m glad we could complete the task together today. Good night.

After sending it, she put on her headphones and started writing her script, but she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at her phone as she wrote.

One glance, then another.

She typed distractedly, thinking, Yun Chu has been with me since last night. We’ve been practically tied together. Who else could she possibly send a text to?

…She must be thinking about the wording.

With that thought, she typed two more lines. Suddenly, her phone vibrated twice.

Her pinky finger on the keyboard lifted slightly. The corners of Jian You’s lips curved up. She saved the few words she had just written, closed the document, and only then did she slowly pick up her phone.

She knew it. Yun Chu would definitely send it to her—

Her smile froze, and her brow furrowed slightly.

There were indeed text messages, but they were from Meng Zhaozhao and Wen Xi. Both were short, but they both expressed their liking for her.

According to the rules, she couldn’t reply. Jian You opened her inbox and stared blankly at the two unread messages.

After a moment, she took out her personal phone and sent a message to the director: The task of texting our “heartbeat guest,” has everyone completed it? What’s the order for this?

The director replied instantly: There’s no order, all the guests have sent theirs!

Oh.

Jian You expressionlessly switched out of the chat and went to her chat with her assistant.

Xiao Meng: Director, Sister Jing from Mangosteen Entertainment had someone pass on a message today, hoping you’ll take good care of Yun Chu. Yun Chu is a newcomer, and she’s always really liked you.

She’s always really liked you.

Always.

Really liked you.

Jian You: “…”

This was Yun Chu’s “always really liked her”???