SH – Chapter 14

Huh?

Yun Chu was caught completely off guard. “Is… is it good?”

Jian You’s expression was unreadable. She simply hummed in acknowledgment, then asked as if it were an afterthought, “You only fried this one egg?”

“Of course not, I fried six of them!”

“Oh.”

“But only this one was a success!”

“Oh…” Jian You suppressed the smile tugging at her lips and took a sip of soy milk. She really didn’t want to imagine what the failed eggs looked like. It was a good thing she had gone out to buy breakfast; otherwise, in this weather, getting to the hospital for food poisoning would be a transportation nightmare.

“Eat the buns and drink the soy milk while they’re hot,” she said.

Yun Chu picked up a bun and took a bite, but she still hadn’t given up on the kitchen. Her eyes darted around, from the bun in her hand to the plate on the kitchen counter, making it impossible for Jian You to ignore. She had no choice but to ask, “What is it?”

Yun Chu ventured, “My other eggs… should we bring them out too?”

Jian You was silent for a moment. “Yun Chu.”

“Hm?” Yun Chu propped her chin on her hand and looked over.

“It’s really nice that you could wake up early to make breakfast.”

“Mhm.” Yun Chu was so happy her eyes curved into crescents.

“You did a great job.”

“Mhm.”

“Don’t do it again.”

“Mhm… huh???”

The director team, who had finished their meeting and returned to observe in real-time, burst out laughing. They never would have imagined that Jian You, their industry’s famous “unattainable flower,” not only had a knack for variety shows but also such great CP chemistry! They were certain that once this episode aired, the buzz would be off the charts!

The director made a snap decision. “After filming ends today, we’ll work overtime on post-production. Let’s aim to air the first episode this year.”

The assistant director replied, “You got it!”

Meanwhile, back at the small courtyard, the other guests were also getting up one by one. Just as the production team had hoped, last night’s text messages had made everyone’s relationships a little delicate.

The production team’s group chat was buzzing with gossip again.

A: Ahhhh, Jian You chose Yun Chu, but Yun Chu didn’t even choose her, yet they can still act so naturally around each other. I even detected a bit of sweetness. As expected of someone from the film academy…

B: Why did Yun Chu choose Meng Zhaozhao? Did they even interact yesterday?

C: Did she fall for Meng Zhaozhao’s face?

B: What’s wrong with our Director Jian?!

A: I don’t think Jian You necessarily wanted to write to Yun Chu. It’s just that Yun Chu was the one she interacted with the most, and she had to choose someone, so she chose her.

B: Makes sense.

D: Meng Zhaozhao and Wen Xi were a pair yesterday. Not only did they not develop any feelings, but now they’re love rivals???

F: I’m going to invest in President Pei and Zhu Wan’er. They chose each other, I’m dying from the sweetness.

---

In the dining room, Meng Zhaozhao ate her bun, occasionally glancing at Yun Chu, who was discussing acting techniques with Jian You. She couldn’t for the life of her figure it out: Why on earth did Yun Chu send her a text?

The reason was that her chicken-feeding posture was good???

Ridiculous!

She’d never in her life heard such an absurd reason for someone to like her!

Wen Xi, sitting across from her, was eating quite happily. She had changed into casual clothes, her hair tied into two pigtails with a black lace ribbon. She hummed a song as she ate, the ends of the ribbon swishing back and forth.

Meng Zhaozhao: LostMyAppetite.jpg

She put down her bun and sighed. Wen Xi immediately asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Meng Zhaozhao said, “I’ve kind of lost my appetite.”

“So you’re not eating?”

“Yeah…”

“Then can I have your bun?”

“…Okay.”

Yun Chu felt no psychological burden for having caused someone distress. She and Jian You had common topics—acting, scripts—and as they chatted, she happened to mention that a show she was in was currently airing.

Zhu Wan’er let out a “wow.” “Which show is it?”

Yun Chu said, “It’s The You I First Met, which started airing yesterday. I’m just a minor character, though, and my scenes haven’t come up yet. But since we’re on the topic,” she looked directly at the camera and said, “let me do a little advertising! Don’t miss The You I First Met every night during primetime! And please look forward to my appearance!”

“The You I First Met?” Pei Wan leaned in. “Is that the one that was shelved for several years, starring Best Actor Xu?”

Yun Chu nodded. “Yes.”

Pei Wan said, “My company invested in it too.”

Yun Chu exclaimed, “So you’re my sponsor!”

Pei Wan replied, “…How did I suddenly become a generation older than you?”

Zhu Wan’er burst out laughing, “Hahahahahaha!”

The atmosphere in the courtyard was so harmonious that the production team felt bad about interrupting, but they had to stick to the schedule. Due to the weather, they couldn’t film separate dates in groups, so the team gave the guests two options.

1. Play games or work in the courtyard to build relationships.

2. The production team has found a private residence in the village, built in the style of the Republican era, to be used for filming this season’s promotional video.

Zhu Wan’er didn’t hesitate. “I choose 1.”

The production team added, “You have to find your own ingredients and cook your own meals.”

The guests: “…”

If you don’t want us to pick 1, just say so!

“Then let’s choose 2,” Pei Wan said. She had the natural air of a leader, speaking with an air of finality. “How about it?”

The production team said, “There’s one more condition for choosing 2.”

Jian You had a bad feeling.

The production team announced, “Teacher Jian will be the one to film the promotional video.”

Jian You: “…”

Everyone turned to look at Jian You. Yun Chu blurted out, “That’ll cost extra!”

The production team: “???”

Jian You: “Mm.”

The production team: “…”

What was with this inexplicable sense of solidarity!

---

The filming location was simple: a room full of atmosphere, a bed with an ornate and beautiful headboard, and light-colored curtains hanging down. The fusion of Chinese and Western styles created a unique charm.

The theme of the promotional video was a pajama party. They would shoot the group photos first, then the pairs, and finally the individual shots.

The plan had been prepared in advance. Jian You gave it a quick look, offered the director team some suggestions based on the actual location, and then returned to the courtyard for makeup and a change of clothes. This kind of casual shoot wasn’t suitable for heavy makeup, but applying light makeup with precision and a natural look also required considerable skill.

Yun Chu finished her makeup first. She had woken up early, so after she was done, she curled up on the sofa to catch up on sleep. Jian You glanced at her as she passed by.

Yun Chu had already changed into her pajamas.

A pure white lace slip. The fabric felt very comfortable to the touch. Her short hair had been styled, revealing her entire clean, pretty face. Afraid of messing up her hair, she rested her cheek on her palm, curled up into a small ball. She looked very well-behaved and serene.

Jian You casually tossed her jacket over her.

It looked like a casual toss, but it landed gently. Yun Chu let out a soft hum, her small face burrowing into the jacket, which held back the chill of the wind and snow and carried Jian You’s scent.

It smelled nice.

Jian You was the director, so the on-site filming was under her command. Thinking about how Yun Chu had woken up early and made breakfast, she scheduled her individual shoot for last. Xiao Lan went to get her.

Yun Chu, wrapped in a down jacket, walked down the road, listening to Xiao Lan gush about what an amazing director Director Jian was. Her composition and mood were perfect, her sense of space and portraiture were absolutely incredible. Xiao Lan wished she could become Director Jian’s apprentice on the spot and said that when Director Jian started putting a team together for her new film, she would definitely apply.

“Oh, right, Teacher Yun,” Xiao Lan said, “Director Jian is casting for her new film. Since you have the advantage of proximity, why not audition?”

Of course, Yun Chu knew Jian You was preparing a new film—after all, she was the one investing in it—but she had never considered auditioning.

First, she had never acted in a movie and wasn’t sure she could hold up on the big screen. Second, taking advantage of her proximity would be too obvious, and it might make Jian You think she had ulterior motives for getting close. Third, she had an agency, and according to procedure, Chen Jing should be the one to contact the casting director.

Chen Jing hadn’t shown any intention of doing so, which made it clear she believed the film—which the industry was pessimistic about—would just be a flop, and she didn’t want Yun Chu to waste her time.

Yun Chu’s mind was racing with these thoughts. She gave a vague hum and said, “We’ll see.”

She stomped her feet and buried her face deeper into her scarf, asking, “Are we there yet? How much farther?”

“We’re here!” Xiao Lan said.

Just as she finished speaking, Yun Chu suddenly heard someone call her name on the wind. She looked up in a daze, following the sound, and realized that at some point they had arrived in front of a building. The second-floor window was open, and Jian You was standing inside.

She raised her camera. Click. The moment was frozen.

The ink-black village served as a silent backdrop, like a scene from a silent film. Yun Chu was the only spot of color.

---

After wrapping up for the night, Jian You posted on Weibo.

Jian You V: Back to my real job. [Image]

Although she rarely posted on Weibo, her immense popularity and large fanbase meant the post instantly surpassed ten thousand reposts, likes, and comments.

【Ahhhh, wifey, wifey! My wifey posted on Weibo!】

【LMAO, why is the picture of a display screen? Did she go to be a guest or a director!】

【Being the director shouldn’t come at this price…】

【Wifey, you’ve worked hard! @LittleTricksforLoveOfficialV Remember to give Director Jian two salaries, haha. The director’s fee should be at market rate!】

【Wait a minute!】

【Even though the display screen is blurry, it looks like a girl???】

【Holy shit, it really is!】

【Can anyone recognize who it is?】

【It’s just a random picture. Who’s on the screen probably isn’t important, otherwise it wouldn’t be so blurry.】

【It’s too blurry to see who it is. You can only tell that she’s lying horizontally on a bed, wearing a white lace slip. The angle is from the side of the bed, shot from above. Her arm is covering her face, and she’s wearing a bracelet on her wrist. It’s a very atmospheric picture, doesn’t seem like a random shot.】

【Hey everyone, don’t be so sensitive. As an industry insider, I can tell you that these dating shows are all scripted. If the director requires Director Jian to be nice to someone, and she does it, it doesn’t necessarily mean she actually likes her. It’s just professionalism.】

【Mhm, Director Jian is the most professional ㅠㅠㅠ】

Not long after, the official Little Tricks for Love Weibo account posted a set of promotional photos from the pajama shoot. The fans who claimed not to care immediately rushed to compare the pajamas. The six guests’ pajamas each had their own style—vibrant, pure yet seductive, sexy, fresh and cute, they had it all.

But the white lace slip—

Jian You’s fans: ??? Why is it this Yun Chu again!