Yun Chu froze on the spot.
In a daze, she seemed to have returned to that sweltering summer day. Jian You’s arm was wrapped around her waist in the dim, red light, slowly sliding down. The sound of fabric rubbing together was like a spark igniting a wildfire.
Jian You smells so good, she thought.
In the winter air, the perfume had settled into its base notes—a clean blend of cedar and vanilla. On that fair, delicate skin, the scent was as bewitching as opium. Yun Chu couldn’t help but turn her head and take a sniff of Jian You’s neck.
She keenly sensed Jian You’s breath catch.
Yun Chu’s heart skipped a beat. It’s over, she thought. Her superb acting skills were completely useless right now. Jian You didn’t even have to say a word; a simple hug was enough to expose her covetous thoughts for all to see, making her heart race and her face flush uncontrollably.
She cleared her throat and finally found her voice, laughing twice. “Teacher Jian, your perfume smells amazing.”
Jian You hummed in response, her voice trembling slightly.
The sound made Yun Chu’s ears tingle and her heart melt. Only then did she belatedly realize that Jian You was afraid of the dark and had been maliciously pranked because of it before.
Yun Chu had heard about this back in school. A boy who was pursuing Jian You had flown into a rage after being rejected. He deliberately flipped the circuit breaker when she was alone in the study hall and then gloated while sending her harassing messages.
Luckily, Jian You’s phone still had battery. She used its flashlight to find the boy in the utility room, cornered him, and slammed him against the wall. Without saying a single word, she beat him up fiercely.
The boy was shameless. He cried and yelled for security, claiming Jian You had hit him. But Jian You just pulled at the corner of her mouth, her eyes turning red. “I was just passing by. How can you make such baseless accusations?”
The boy’s eyes widened.
“Besides, do you really think I could win a fight against you?” Jian You sniffled. “If you’re trying to frame me, just say so. Why beat around the bush?”
Then she went on the offensive. “And another thing, you’re not a student at this school, are you? Why are you here? Did you cause the power outage just now? What are you up to?”
The security guard looked to his left: there was the directing department’s famous beauty and top student, Professor Zhang Chenyao’s personal disciple. He looked to his right: there was some non-student who had appeared out of nowhere, looking highly suspicious in the utility room.
The guard jabbed the boy in the waist with his electric baton.
While the guard was calling for backup, Jian You gave the boy a slight smile. “You shouldn’t offend a director who knows how to coach actors.”
The subsequent investigation revealed the boy was from the neighboring sports academy. He spread rumors online claiming Jian You had beaten him, but since the power had been cut, there was no surveillance footage. Almost no one believed him.
Even the upperclassman who told the story said, “Jian You might seem cold, but she’s actually quite gentle. Someone who likes her must have beaten him up for her.”
Of course, a few people did believe it, exclaiming, “Sister is so fierce, I love it!”
Thinking of this, Yun Chu raised a hand to pat Jian You’s back. “Teacher Jian, what were you doing just now?”
Jian You didn’t answer.
Yun Chu didn’t mind. She gently broke free from Jian You’s embrace, her palm sliding down Jian You’s arm until she could grasp her hand. She patted the back of it reassuringly.
Then she quickly bent down, picked up the flashlight, and pressed it into Jian You’s palm. She smiled at her. “The light is here.”
Jian You watched her in silence, her thumb feeling for the switch on the flashlight and turning the beam to its brightest setting.
She pressed her lips together, then hugged Yun Chu again.
Yun Chu: “!!!”
There’s light now, so why is she still hugging me? If this keeps up, I’m going to misunderstand! I’ll misunderstand that-
Jian You said, “Welcome.”
Yun Chu: “…”
Oh. She was proving that she wasn’t hugging her out of fear, but as a welcome.
After Jian You let her go, the show’s staff emerged to mic Yun Chu up and hand her a mission card. Jian You stood beside her, playing with the flashlight, tilting her head back to shine the beam into the deep night sky.
The sky was clear in the countryside. Stars were scattered across the dark blue expanse, twinkling.
After gazing at the stars for a moment, she looked back at the scene and found Yun Chu already chatting with a staff member. “Fairy lights? I love them! Isn’t it so romantic to hang them all over the courtyard?”
Jian You shone the flashlight on the chicken coop and wiggled the beam. “Romantic?”
The hen: Cluck cluck cluck!
Yun Chu: “?”
She saw the chicken coop and sucked in a sharp breath. “…Wait! I didn’t walk onto the wrong set, did I? This is Little Tricks for Love, right?”
A staff member, finding her adorable, suppressed a laugh. “You’re in the right place.”
Yun Chu looked incredulous. “This is clearly X-Change!”
The director was also waiting nearby and explained, “Xiao Chu, your agent told us you like novelty and surprises and don’t need a script. Now, come pick a room!”
Yun Chu asked, “Which room is Teacher Jian’s?”
The flashlight beam hit a window.
It blinked twice like Morse code, then held steady.
Compared to Jian You’s casualness, Yun Chu was extremely cautious about picking a room. She even prayed to the heavens, the earth, and the Buddha, hoping to get the same room as Jian You. Her hand was just about to touch a room card when she suddenly paused. “Why are there five cards?”
The director said, “Teacher Jian has already picked.”
Yun Chu: “One room per person?”
Director: “Yep, our accommodations are great. We’ll do our best to give every guest maximum privacy.”
Jian You, standing to the side, said coolly, “Yes, and the rooms are full of cameras.”
Director: “…”
He gave a dry laugh. “Teacher Jian, it’s a reality show. This was all negotiated in the contract.” Afraid of offending Jian You, he nudged Yun Chu with his elbow. “Right, Yun Chu?”
Yun Chu: “…Yes.”
The room Yun Chu picked was on the second floor, directly above Jian You’s.
The decor was aristocratic, as if lifted straight from an oil painting. A dark red carpet lent an air of opulent dignity, and the patterns on the French glass chandelier bloomed into enchanting flowers in the light.
Yun Chu flopped onto the bed and stared at the chandelier for a while. Suddenly, she leaped up, padded barefoot across the carpet, and pushed open the window. Leaning out, she called down softly, “Teacher Jian- Teacher Jian-“
Light spilled from Jian You’s room, mingling with the fairy lights already hung in the courtyard. It brightly illuminated the snow outside the window, silent in the dark night.
Either she hadn’t heard, or she didn’t want to come out.
Yun Chu wasn’t the least bit discouraged. If Jian You didn’t come out, she’d just treat it as getting some fresh air. Just as she was thinking about grabbing her phone to take a picture of the starry sky for her social media, the window below creaked open.
Jian You looked up at her.
Yun Chu waved excitedly. “Teacher Jian!”
Jian You frowned slightly. “What is it?”
Yun Chu asked, “Are you hungry?”
Jian You glanced down at her watch. “It’s eleven.”
Yun Chu: “How about some supper?”
The wind was strong at night. The northwestern wind howled, whipping her long hair into her face and carrying her voice away. Jian You said, “Wait a moment,” and closed her window. Before Yun Chu could react, her phone, which was on the bed, started ringing.
It was a voice call from Jian You.
She said, “Come downstairs.”
Although they were in the countryside, the house’s amenities were no worse than in the city. The double-door refrigerator was fully stocked with fruits and vegetables. Jian You stood in front of it, picking out vegetables with her left hand while typing with her right: “How to make stir-fried pork with chili peppers?”
She hit search.
The internet was a bit slow. A message from her assistant popped up before the recipe: Director, I’ve booked your flight for 9:30 tomorrow morning. The car to take you to the airport has also been arranged!
Xiao Liu: [You can count on Xiao Liu.jpg]
Jian You took out the peppers and closed the refrigerator door. Hearing Yun Chu’s footsteps coming downstairs, she typed, “Okay, thank you for your hard work.”
Xiao Liu: It’s no trouble to work for my boss!
Jian You: I need you to work a little harder.
Xiao Liu: [Just say the word.gif]
Jian You: Cancel the flight.
Xiao Liu: …?
Jian You: And cancel the car.
Xiao Liu: Director…
Jian You: [Wishing you prosperity and good fortune: Hardship pay]
Xiao Liu: It’s no trouble to work for my boss!
“Teacher Jian, I’m here!” Yun Chu had changed into a set of long-sleeved pajamas with a pink rabbit embroidered on the hem. She bounced over. “Are you going to cook?”
Jian You hummed in acknowledgment as she saw a new message from her studio assistant, Xiao Meng.
Xiao Meng: Director, Sister Jing from Mangosteen Entertainment had someone pass on a message today. She hopes you can take good care of Yun Chu. Yun Chu is a newcomer, and she’s always admired you.
Jian You glanced at Yun Chu.
Yun Chu was opening the package of peppers Jian You had taken out, wondering how to prepare them. Seeming to sense something, she paused and turned to meet Jian You’s gaze.
Then, she smiled at her.
She smiles a lot, Jian You thought. No matter the occasion, her smile is always radiant and beautiful. As she thought this, she slowly replied to Xiao Meng: “Got it.”
Jian You was a terrible cook.
Not only was the rice undercooked, but the pork in the stir-fry was also raw. In the end, the production team couldn’t bear to watch anymore and had the director’s crew cook a meal for them. The director sat at the table with them, looking worried. “How do you two usually manage meals?”
Jian You took a bite of rice. “A live-in housekeeper.”
“…” The director asked Yun Chu, “Do you have a live-in housekeeper too?”
“I don’t,” Yun Chu said. “When I’m filming, I eat the crew’s boxed lunches. When I’m not, I order takeout. Occasionally, I’ll eat at the company cafeteria.”
Director: “…Quite a lot of variety.”
Yun Chu wholeheartedly agreed. “It’s a must, or you get tired of the food easily. Are any of the guests on our show good cooks?”
The director thought for a moment. “Actually, yes.”
Yun Chu’s interest was piqued. “Who?”
The director explained, “Her name is Zhu Wan’er. She’s a magazine photographer and has her own photography studio. The studio where you had your official photos taken yesterday is hers. She’s also a foodie. I’ve had her cooking, and it was truly a feast for the senses…”
Yun Chu was listening intently. “Go on.”
Director: “…This isn’t a cooking show. You’ll see more surprises tomorrow.”
Yun Chu: “Oh.”
She turned to look at Jian You, who was eating quietly, seemingly paying no attention to their conversation. After the director left, Yun Chu put down her chopsticks. “Teacher Jian.”
Jian You looked up, her long lashes catching the light, looking beautiful and captivating.
Yun Chu’s heart skipped a beat. She swallowed and said, “I’ll do the dishes tonight. You go rest. I’ll do them for you tomorrow, too!”
Jian You stared at her and asked, “Do you really not understand how dating shows work?”
Yun Chu hesitated. “I have a… general idea?”
She had watched dating shows before coming, and while they were all basically the same formula, this was the first lesbian dating show, so she really wasn’t sure about the specific format.
Jian You, however, was patient. She put down her chopsticks and explained, “Tomorrow at noon, the entire cast will have lunch together. In the evening, you invite the person you’re interested in to have dinner with you.”
Yun Chu: “?”
Jian You’s expression was placid, her tone calm. “Were you just implying that you want to have dinner with me tomorrow?”
Yun Chu: “!!!”
She was caught completely off guard by Jian You’s directness. It took her a long moment to process it, and she quickly waved her hands. “Teacher Jian, I- I- I didn’t know.”
Jian You slowly propped her chin on her hand and looked at her. “So you’re saying you don’t want to have dinner with me?”
“…Huh?” Yun Chu blinked rapidly, her heart pounding with nervousness. She couldn’t stand Jian You looking at her like that—so direct and earnest, hitting her heart with pinpoint accuracy. Her brain shut down, the world spun, and she couldn’t utter a single word.
Jian You lowered her gaze. “I see.”
What do you see?
Jian You doesn’t see anything at all!
Yun Chu watched Jian You stand up and walk toward her room. But just as she was about to push the door open, she stopped. The light from the room spilled out, and she stood in that sliver of brightness, turning her head to look back at Yun Chu.
She said, “Yun Chu.”
Yun Chu: “Yes?”
She said, “But I’d quite like to have dinner with you.”
Yun Chu: “!!!”
Would you be fascinated about exchanging links?