Jian You dropped Yun Chu off at the entrance of a commercial building.
Chen Jing was waiting for her. When she saw Yun Chu get out of the car, speaking to the person inside with a radiant smile, her heart skipped a beat.
No way, she thought. She’d long heard that 18th-tier celebrities who were too obscure to get any work could only resort to dating. Yun Chu couldn’t have gotten into a relationship the night before starting a dating show, could she?!
If word of this got out, would she even be able to do the show?
A straight girl queerbaiting… that deserved to be struck by lightning!
As soon as the car drove away, Chen Jing immediately went up to her and demanded, “Who was that? Who dropped you off? Where’s your own car?”
Yun Chu pressed her lips together, hiding her smile. “No one.”
“Stop lying!” Chen Jing pulled her inside, shooting her a sideways glance. “If it was no one, why are you smiling like you’re lovesick, as if you’re falling in love for the first time all over again? Spit it out!”
“But I’ve never been in a relationship in the first place!” The heating in the mall was on full blast. Yun Chu pulled off her scarf and linked her arm with Chen Jing’s. “But really, it was no one special. It was Teacher Jian.”
“Teacher Jian?” Chen Jing didn’t register it at first.
“Jian You.”
“Huh? How did you and her…?”
“Teacher Jian and I are fated to meet! You’d never guess, but she actually lives next door to my grandma! If I had known earlier-“
Yun Chu was vexed. If she had known earlier, she would have definitely stayed at her grandma’s all the time to make her face known to Jian You. Why would she even need a dating show? She could have just gone straight to her door!
“Such a coincidence exists?” Chen Jing was just as vexed as she was. “If we had known earlier and built a connection, wouldn’t you have your pick of film roles?”
Yun Chu couldn’t agree more. “Exactly!”
The two exchanged a look and sighed in unison, each with their own regrets and their own schemes.
Chen Jing suggested, “How about this: on the dating show, you focus solely on Jian You.”
Yun Chu was caught off guard. “Huh?”
But the more Chen Jing thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. “This show has a huge national audience, and the observation guests all have their own fanbases. You just need to show your face; there’s no need to date a non-celebrity. But if it’s Jian You, then you should definitely go for it.”
After all, Jian You’s position in the industry was solid. She had resources, good scripts, and fame. Even if Yun Chu couldn’t act in one of her films, riding her coattails and creating some CP buzz would be a surefire win!
Yun Chu muttered, “I’m pretty much a non-celebrity myself.”
Chen Jing was momentarily speechless.
That was true. She could go out without a mask or hat and take the subway or a taxi as she pleased. On the few occasions she was about to be recognized, a passerby would gasp in surprise, “Aren’t you… aren’t you… aren’t you that one person!”
Yun Chu would smile. “Yes, yes, I am.”
The passerby: “Chen Shuangxu!”
Yun Chu: “…” My ass you are.
Chen Shuangxu, an award-winning A-list actress, was Jian You’s go-to leading lady. Because Yun Chu bore a slight resemblance to her, Chen Jing had once wanted to ride her coattails by promoting Yun Chu with the moniker “Little Chen Shuangxu,” an idea Yun Chu had flatly rejected.
Chen Jing forcibly changed the subject. “You won’t be a non-celebrity for much longer!”
Yun Chu was curious. “How so?”
Chen Jing’s face was alight with excitement. “They’ve set a release date for The You I First Met!”
Yun Chu was momentarily confused. “What’s that?”
Before Chen Jing could answer, she remembered.
It was the first show she’d landed after signing with Mangosteen Entertainment, an urban drama about family and education. She played the supporting character’s youngest daughter, a high school girl who suffers a mental breakdown from years of domestic abuse and commits suicide by jumping off a building after spending the happiest summer of her life with the person she likes.
The role was a true test of her acting skills, and the director was notoriously demanding. Yun Chu had spent a full three months getting into character before joining the cast. Although she didn’t have many scenes, the director had been full of praise for every single take.
Unfortunately, due to various reviews, background issues, and policy changes, the show’s release had been delayed indefinitely.
“Why so suddenly?” Yun Chu wondered.
“Who knows? Anyway, it’s been scheduled for the prime-time slot at eight tomorrow night.” Chen Jing looked at Yun Chu with gratification, as if gazing at a rising star. “By the way, the actor who played opposite you sent someone to ask if you two want to create some CP buzz while the show is airing.”
Yun Chu said, “Sister Jing, you know me.”
Chen Jing understood. “Men can get lost.”
Yun Chu: “Mhm.”
Yun Chu had never been on a variety show before, so she didn’t have any official promotional photos. The production team arranged for a studio to take some for her. As a graduate of the film academy, she was a natural in front of the camera. The whole shoot went smoothly, and they wrapped up before three in the afternoon.
Her flight was in the evening, so Yun Chu planned to go home and get some more sleep.
Before she left, Chen Jing stood by the car window, looking at her with an expression of grave importance. She squeezed Yun Chu’s hand tightly. “Remember what I said. Win over Jian You!”
Yun Chu squeezed back. “Don’t worry!”
Chen Jing squeezed again. “You can do it!”
Yun Chu: “If I succeed, can I take a year off?”
Chen Jing: “Driver, you can go now. Be careful on the road.”
Yun Chu: “…Haha.”
@JIAN0812JianYouFanPage: 1214. Departing from PVG | Long time no see, Director Jian is beautiful today as always~ Have a smooth recording!
In the video, Jian You was pushing a suitcase through a crowd. She wore a black mask that revealed a pair of beautiful eyes. Her eye makeup was exquisite, but her gaze was somewhat cold, and she paid no mind to the fans who had come to see her off.
Someone offered her a bouquet of flowers, and amid the noisy clamor, Jian You said, “Thank you, but no.”
The comment section exploded over this sentence.
【Sister! Sister is so hot! Men, stay away from my sister!】
【My wife is so pretty wuwuwu】
【How can you let the princess carry such a big suitcase by herself [angry]@JianYouStudio, doesn’t she even have an assistant? @LittleTricksforLoveOfficial, where are the staff???】
【Jian You, as a director, might be the only guest on Little Tricks for Love with her own fan page…】
【LMAO, I remember there’s an actress among the guests too, right? Who was it again?】
【Don’t know her, don’t care about non-celebrities】
【Looked her up. Her name is Yun Chu. No notable works, more of a nobody than a non-celebrity. I better not see her shamelessly chasing my sister on the show. If she does, I’ll just assume she’s trying to ride her coattails.】
【Actually, it’s pretty good that she’s on this show. We never get to see Director Jian in behind-the-scenes diaries or movie bloopers, let alone on her Weibo, which she never updates. On this show, we can see what she’s like in private. I’m so looking forward to it!】
【But can sister please not date anyone… T T】
Yun Chu came across this video on her way to the airport. Her drowsy eyes grew wider and more awake as she scrolled through the comments. She took a screenshot and sent it to Zhou Zhitao: “When are you coming back to the country? My fan page manager.”
Zhou Zhitao: “…What exactly does this false prosperity bring you?”
Yun Chu: It satisfies my vanity ^ ^
Taozi: I admire your honesty
Yun Chu: Thanks
Switching out of the chat window, she scrolled through her contact list for a moment before tapping on Jian You’s profile picture. As expected, Jian You didn’t post on her Moments much either. Scrolling down, all she saw were promotional posts for her work, with a self-comment in the comment section: Thank you all for your support.
Yun Chu liked it.
She typed: Teacher Jian, have you arrived?
Then she added a cute sticker of a kitten rolling around.
It got dark early in the winter. The road to the airport was wide with little traffic, and streetlights illuminated the entire way. Outside the car window, beyond the brightly lit road, she could see fields swaying in the dim light outside the guardrails, receding rapidly into the distance.
Jian You was probably busy. She hadn’t replied by the time Yun Chu boarded the plane. The flight lasted two hours, heading north of the north. As soon as the plane came to a stop, Yun Chu immediately turned on her phone and saw that Jian You had replied half an hour ago: Yes, I’ve arrived.
Yun Chu: Has anyone else arrived?
Jian You: No
Yun Chu: Oh, they’re probably coming tomorrow then.
Jian You: It’s just me
Yun Chu: I’m getting off the plane now!
Jian You: Just me
Yun Chu: ?
Yun Chu: The staff aren’t there either?
Jian You: Mmm, just me
Yun Chu: Teacher Jian, are you scared?
Jian You: …
Jian You: No
Yun Chu: Okay! I get it! I’ll be there right away!
Jian You: .
Jian You sat in the living room of the recording location, frowning at Yun Chu’s last message. She figured Yun Chu must have misunderstood something. She wasn’t scared; she was just expressing her profound skepticism toward the production team.
She had never filmed a variety show, but she had watched them.
What kind of dating show sets its recording location in the countryside? Was this a dating show or a reality show about personal transformation? She could overlook the chicken coop and the vegetable garden in the yard, and she could even overlook the cameras everywhere, but why wasn’t there even a follow PD?
Her name was written on the cover of a mission card in the living room. She opened it and saw that the font was lively and flashy, not at all serious.
It basically said hello, then asked her to blindly choose a room from the pictures on the card, and finally, it told her that the production team had prepared string lights and hoped she would decorate the small courtyard.
Jian You glanced at the string lights on the table.
A headache was coming on.
She switched out of her chat with Yun Chu and found her assistant, Xiao Liu: Book me a plane ticket home for tomorrow morning.
Xiao Liu: Roger that.
A moment later, Xiao Liu came to his senses: Director, aren’t you recording a variety show? If I remember correctly, the official recording doesn’t start until tomorrow, right?
Jian You: Mmm
Xiao Liu: Then…
Jian You: Do you want to find a new job?
Xiao Liu: Will a 9:30 ticket work for you?
Just then, the director’s voice came cautiously through her earpiece. “Director Jian, you see, Yun Chu will be here any minute. Would you like to… decorate the courtyard first? After all, there are no lights out there.”
Jian You furrowed her brow, trying to keep her tone even. “Why aren’t there any lights in the courtyard?”
The director said, “Everything here is designed to help the guests’ feelings for each other grow, so we’re giving them as many opportunities as possible. We picked you up when you arrived, so it’s up to you to pick up the next guest.”
Jian You let out an “oh.” “You really know how to play games.”
The director gave a dry laugh.
Jian You randomly picked a room. It was to the left of the living room, decorated in a very girly, pink style. The wooden window faced the courtyard, and wind whistled in through the cracks, making the bells on the dreamcatcher above the bed tinkle softly.
There were no lights in the courtyard, only the blinking red lights of the cameras, like prying eyes in the dark night.
Jian You stood hesitating on the threshold of the living room, holding the string lights in her left hand and a flashlight in her right. After who knows how long of mentally preparing herself, she finally took the first step.
But she didn’t expect to trip over something when she reached the center of the courtyard.
The flashlight in her hand rolled across the ground, its beam landing directly on the chicken coop. Clucking sounds came from the neatly brick-laid coop, and beady eyes looked curiously at Jian You.
Jian You: “…”
The hand hanging at her side clenched into a fist, her fingertips digging into her palm. Her expression unchanging, she slowly shuffled toward the light. As she was moving, she suddenly heard the gate being pushed open. Her heart jumped, and she looked toward the entrance.
The farmhouse courtyard was large, and it was dark, so she couldn’t see clearly. She could only faintly hear someone calling her name.
In a small voice: “Teacher Jian?”
In an instant, Jian You’s heart settled.
It was Yun Chu.
Yun Chu pushed her suitcase inside and saw Jian You standing there from a distance, silent as a wooden post. She waved at her. “Teacher Jian!”
Jian You just looked at her, not speaking, nor did she come forward to greet her.
Yun Chu didn’t mind. She had always been an optimist. If the mountain won’t come to her, she will go to the mountain. So she abandoned her suitcase and kicked through the snow in the yard as she ran straight for Jian You. “Teacher Jian!”
“Were you waiting for me?” she asked.
As she got closer, the faint light of the flashlight enveloped them both like a spotlight on a stage. Everywhere else was dark; only this one spot was dazzlingly bright.
Jian You looked at her in silence.
Yun Chu reached out and waved a hand in front of her face. “Teacher Jian?”
Jian You hugged her.
