This episode of the variety show had quite an unexpected shooting location. It was set at a pier on the coast of City A. The production team had reserved the area in advance, so what was typically a bustling beach was now sparsely populated, with only a few director and camera crew members setting up equipment.
The gathering time was in the evening, and as Gu Qingtong stepped out of the car, she was amazed by the scene before her. The T-shaped pier extended from the shore into the sea, with numerous small boats moored nearby. The entire pier was brightly lit, and looking out towards the still partially illuminated dark blue sea, one could see faint glimmers of starlight amid the ebb and flow of the tide. Aside from the slightly bothersome sea breeze, everything felt quite pleasant.
Knowing that the shoot would take place by the sea, Gu Qingtong’s outfit for today was a pure white sundress with the hem falling just below her calf. She leaned forward, one hand securing the bodice while the other lifted the hem as she got out of the car. The curves of her collarbones and shoulders were unusually round and glistening, and a hint of blush shone through her snow-white shoulders. Even in such a simple outfit, her inherent beauty couldn’t be concealed.
As she stepped out of the car, a gentle gust of sea breeze caused the light fabric to float gracefully behind her, accentuating her exquisite figure. Her long hair was loosely gathered with a satin ribbon, and a few strands cascaded down with a charming and slightly mischievous quality, revealing a girl’s playful and cunning side.
Her makeup had been adjusted to give her a youthful and fresh look, a stark contrast to the cool and glamorous appearance she showcased during the live broadcast yesterday. Gu Qingtong’s beauty was incredibly versatile; even though her natural features were striking and bold, she effortlessly incorporated an uncommon sense of girlish sweetness.
With each smile or expression, she seemed to naturally bring out a sense of warmth that made the audience feel closer to her, almost as if they were sharing inside jokes. The show’s assistants and crew members who caught a glimpse of Gu Qingtong from a distance were momentarily captivated. She had a charm that was more refreshing than the sea breeze, radiating the essence of summer.
Is this how a beauty works her magic?
Although her style was a natural, pure, and youthful look, the level of astonishment achieved through styling was always directly proportional to the time and effort put into it. It was far from the effortless appearance it seemed. Gu Qingtong had not forgotten the first rule of pursuing someone: to dress in a way that outshone everyone else, ensuring that only she caught Yan Chi’s eye!
However, despite her glamorous appearance, it was impossible to completely ignore the cold. While it wasn’t as severe as freezing to the point of brain freeze and breathlessness as she did on the snowy mountain last time, Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but shiver a bit in the sea breeze and wrapped her bare arms around herself.
In an instant, the ethereal and otherworldly aura she had cultivated vanished. Just then, someone suddenly briskly walked up to her, startling Gu Qingtong. As she raised her head, she met a pair of eyes filled with reproach – it was Chu Yu.
“Can you two be more careful in the future? Being so careless can easily lead to getting caught on camera! The fact that you managed to get away with it this time is all thanks to your good luck!”
Chu Yu launched into a tirade against Gu Qingtong, expressing her concern. Ever since she became embroiled with Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi, she had given up resisting and developed a sense of duty to protect her own interests in the situation. This is why she had taken the initiative to stop Bai Jin from alerting the others about the room. She thought everything was fine, but how could these two be so reckless? When she saw the news about the paparazzi’s discovery in the morning, she felt a sudden dread, especially after hearing the inside scoop she had risked so much to get being exposed like this.
But when she raised her head and saw that the entire nation’s netizens had learned about it so easily, Chu Yu nearly had a heart attack. Who was she working so hard for? Just thinking about Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi’s audacity to leave the door open, Chu Yu felt that it was hopeless, and they were doomed.
Gu Qingtong was already a bit cheeky with her antics, but this Teacher Yan seemed to be completely bewitched by her, acting as if she were madly in love. Was she really that smitten with her? She didn’t know, but their actions later brought about a miraculous resurrection. Not only did they resolve the issue, but they also boosted Gu Qingtong’s popularity and reputation.
As a result, when Chu Yu saw Gu Qingtong, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed, and her previous resolution not to get involved in other people’s gossip flew out the window.
She immediately got into action, bombarding the bewildered Gu Qingtong with a series of criticisms. Although Gu Qingtong didn’t quite grasp what she meant, when faced with a reprimand that resembled something her grandparent might do, the DNA of a younger generation stood strong within her. She quickly conceded, saying: “I… I will be more careful next time.”
“You still expect there to be a next time?!”
In that moment, Chu Yu felt like she had traveled back in time to the first occasion when she and Gu Qingtong eavesdropped on someone in the corner. Clearly, she hadn’t made a mistake in her judgment; Gu Qingtong was indeed a purebred airhead. Yan Chi’s initial wariness and distance toward Gu Qingtong had long since faded away, and now, she carried no psychological burden.
After all, Yan Chi was someone she didn’t dare to confront directly, so she took advantage of Yan Chi’s absence to speak freely with Gu Qingtong. Gu Qingtong stood before Chu Yu and had no idea why she was subjecting herself to Chu Yu’s scolding. It felt like she had gone back to her student days when her teacher scolded her every day.
Finally, when Wen Ziyao and Deng Dongjun approached from a distance, Gu Qingtong felt like she had been saved from Chu Yu’s clutches.
But when Deng Dongjun saw Gu Qingtong, his eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he couldn’t wait to ask: “Qingtong! Tell me honestly, what’s going on between you and Yan Chi? It’s not because of the task I gave you to sleep in the same bed, right? Your friend hasn’t been very considerate; they didn’t even give me a heads-up. Is it fair to me, who pulled the strings?”
After all, people within the entertainment industry knew much more than the general audience, and Deng Dongjun, being one of Yan Chi’s fans, was aware of the situation. Anyone whom Yan Chi princess-carried couldn’t be that simple, so his inner gossip spirit ignited.
Gu Qingtong hadn’t said anything yet, but Chu Yu quickly and excitedly retorted: “You’re eating your popcorn without the full set! Didn’t we say it was because of Gu Qingtong’s foot injury? And what kind of friend are you? You don’t care about her foot injury; you’re just interested in gossip. Do you have the nerve to ask?”
She sounded just like a protective mother hen, although, of course, Chu Yu wouldn’t admit that Gu Qingtong was her chick. She only wanted to protect the gossip.
Deng Dongjun, who had initially been curious, was now feeling embarrassed, as Chu Yu’s words reminded him of Gu Qingtong’s injured foot. His earlier curiosity about gossip quickly faded.
“Sorry, Qingtong, I completely forgot about your foot. How is it now?”
Seeing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but snort and step back, hiding her true motives. Compared to her, who dealt in solid evidence, the others were merely indulging in gossip.
Gu Qingtong showed them her white satin sandals that matched her dress, saying: “It’s okay. I’m wearing sandals at the seaside, so it won’t look strange.”
While everyone was engrossed in conversation, Bai Jin stood alone in the distance, looking at the lights. The smiling face that was usually present was now devoid of expression.
She was, of course, angry about the morning’s trending results. There was a perfect opportunity before her. She hoped that, this time, things wouldn’t turn out like the last time when she was played.
However, they had this perfect excuse of having foot injuries. Bai Jin even wondered if Yan Chi had known she was being photographed all along. She might have planned to use this incident to boost Gu Qingtong’s fame. That’s probably why they were able to capture and publish the photos so easily.
Regardless of how it all happened, Bai Jin knew that she was being played again. To be honest, Bai Jin didn’t have a strong liking for Gu Qingtong. She just enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, especially when she had a rival like Yan Chi to compete with. The thought alone was quite exciting, wasn’t it?
But Bai Jin was someone who couldn’t stand others, outperforming her. The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and she would stop at nothing to regain the upper hand.
Bai Jin was often seen as both inexperienced and playful, and she couldn’t handle losing. Trying to expose the intimate relationship between the two had become less likely.
If it weren’t for the fact that she had already dragged her former teammate, Yun Mingxuan, into this love reality show battle, Bai Jin might have even considered quitting after her recent emotional explosion.
Thinking of this, Bai Jin looked at the voice message that Yun Mingxuan had sent her, and played it aloud:
“This morning, when I saw the hot search, I thought Teacher Yan was really with someone else. Although it hurt me, I hesitated for a long time and was about to quit the reality show. After all, I can’t intrude on her personal life, no matter how much I like her. But then I received the denial message just as I was about to tell you, so I might still have a chance. After all, Gu Qingtong has always said on the show that she and Yan Chi aren’t close, just colleagues from different generations.”
Both of them knew that the other wasn’t a saint, and when Bai Jin saw Yun Mingxuan acting all innocent in front of her, she couldn’t help but find it amusing. She had nothing but disdain for Yun Mingxuan.
As former teammates, Bai Jin knew better than anyone that Yun Mingxuan was a blood-sucking opportunist, moving from one target to another. However, Yun Mingxuan had a previous public image as a long-time fan of Yan Chi, and she had participated in multiple coordinated marketing campaigns. Being a fan provided her with a sort of get-out-of-jail-free card. In this era of marketing, even though Yan Chi’s fans detested Yun Mingxuan, the two of them had their own audience, fans who enjoyed the idol x actress CP1Couple Pairing, and the fantasy of a fan’s unrequited love turning into a real CP relationship. During the filming of the reality show, Gu Qingtong actively maintained a safe distance from Yan Chi in front of the cameras. It was safe to assume that after this recent dating rumor, she would be even more cautious and treading carefully.
It can be said that Yun Mingxuan’s sudden appearance on this episode of the reality show would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the “Silent Gaze” CP. Bai Jin had a fresh memory of her former teammate Yun Mingxuan, knowing that she had the ability to disrupt the game. Everyone knew about Gu Qingtong and Yun Mingxuan’s strained relationship. This time, Bai Jin was eager to see them engage in a more intense conflict. After Bai Jin finished playing Yun Mingxuan’s voice message, a voice from the shadows spoke behind her: “Having fun? Found someone to film me and Gu Qingtong?”
It was only then that Bai Jin realized that Yan Chi had been standing there for who knows how long. She gritted her teeth and said: “Hearing Miss Yan say that, I thought you had caught the person who was secretly filming on the spot. The complete video has been leaked now. Do you really have the face to come here and flaunt it? After all, netizens are so gullible these days; if you don’t confront them with the complete video, they won’t admit it, right?”
“What’s the rush? The real show is just beginning. You can try to struggle a bit; otherwise, it won’t be as interesting.”
As she spoke, Yan Chi’s gaze landed on Bai Jin’s phone. Bai Jin was stunned, realizing that Yan Chi was not just talking to her but was also referring to Yun Mingxuan. She knew Yun Mingxuan was coming? Bai Jin was initially surprised, but then she immediately understood. Yun Mingxuan belonged to Hua Yan, and Director Bu would probably have to consult her about any guests, right? How could she not know? So why did they agree to let Yun Mingxuan come….could it be because of her past conflict with Gu Qingtong? Had Yan Chi been holding a grudge all this time? Bai Jin believed that Yan Chi’s idea of exposing Yun Mingxuan’s secrets was highly unlikely to happen.
After all, Yun Mingxuan appeared flawless in front of anyone, as if she had permanently affixed the white lotus mask. Not to mention, this was a reality show filled with cameras everywhere.
But now that she thought about it, it might be the first time Yun Mingxuan and Gu Qingtong appeared together in this reality show. The fact that Gu Qingtong’s father was a complete loser made Bai Jin chuckle. Five years ago, when Yun Mingxuan spread rumors about him, he thought he had won the lawsuit. But in reality, the case dragged on for too long, and nobody cared, allowing Yun Mingxuan’s new company to overshadow him.
But what did the truth matter anyway? It all came down to who had a louder voice and could dominate mainstream society. Five years ago, they couldn’t win, and now, who knew how many tricks Yun Mingxuan had up her sleeve? Bai Jin sneered inwardly.
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As the shooting time approached, everyone gathered. They all knew that a guest was being parachuted in, and even this guest could freely decide the groups they joined. So, everyone was curious about this new addition.
However, this curiosity didn’t include Gu Qingtong. She was lost in a world of her own, imagining countless romantic scenes with a teenage girl’s heart pounding. Her heart was racing, and she felt like her previous enthusiasm for reality show shooting had lost its appeal. After all, it wasn’t very convenient to pursue Yan Chi when surrounded by so many cameras and an audience.
No! Everyone praised her for working hard and being dedicated today. She couldn’t let herself neglect her career just because she had feelings for Yan Chi! However, as she thought about this, she heard Director Bu speaking to everyone:
“I know you all are eager to know the task for this shoot, but our guest, who’s joining us today, hasn’t arrived yet. I can only give you a hint for now. The theme for this episode is “Confession Day.”
Gu Qingtong was now hypersensitive to phrases like this, so when she heard “Confession Day,” her eyes snapped open, and she looked towards Director Bu. They even made eye contact for a brief moment, which she quickly averted. What does this mean? Is the theme of this episode about confessing one’s feelings?! Her first instinct was that it aligned perfectly with her intentions.
This means…she could even enact a real-life drama and genuinely confess her feelings to Yan Chi on “Confession Day.” Countless thoughts fluttered through her mind, and she couldn’t contain the palpitations in her heart. She was already contemplating how to gradually convey her feelings to Yan Chi and eventually speak her heart out. Gu Qingtong was completely distracted, and she realized that she hadn’t heard the production team introduce the background and characteristics of the guest star.
It was only when the unforgettable figure of Yun Mingxuan approached from a distance that she snapped out of her daze. Yun Mingxuan greeted everyone with a gentle smile, and it was at that moment that Gu Qingtong turned to stone.
Huh? The new guest is Yun Mingxuan?! This was the most dramatic thing she’s ever experienced in her life! Director Bu seemed unaware of the complexities between the two, but Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but wonder: Is Yun Mingxuan out of her mind?
Did she think their little chaotic romance reality show wasn’t messy enough and decided to come and stir things up? The impact of the incident involving Gu Qingtong and Yun Mingxuan was confined to the talent show industry, and after five years, it had all but faded into obscurity. Only fans and those directly involved in the event remembered the details, while the general public remained oblivious. For example, in the current situation, apart from Gu Qingtong, Yan Chi, and Bai Jin, who fell into silence, the others were gradually realizing the connection.
Evidently, Yun Mingxuan was quite familiar to them, given her status as a popular figure with lead roles in dramas. Yun Mingxuan initially rejected participating in this reality show because she considered herself more prominent than the others.
She was dressed in a sylvan-style long dress, with her hair gently cascading over her shoulders, exuding the same pure and elegant style as always, appearing like a delicate white flower.
“…..I came to this reality show because it’s the first time Teacher Yan is participating in one. As her fan, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take a picture with her. However, Teacher Yan already has her CP, so I had no choice but to seek refuge with my little sister, Bai Jin.”
“Since I thought everyone’s CPs were so sweet and great, we didn’t change the original groupings. They just put Bai Jin and me together.”
Yun Mingxuan knew well in advance that Yan Chi had the privilege to reorganize the groups, so no matter how much she protested, it would be futile.
It would be better to establish a personal character and smoothly go with the flow to gain everyone’s favor. The moment she spoke these words, the goodwill of the other participants indeed increased.
“However, before joining all of you, I have some questions for Qingtong.”
Yun Mingxuan’s gaze suddenly locked onto Gu Qingtong, and she smiled leisurely: “You and Teacher Yan were initially paired up because you were both solo. In addition, you’ve mentioned multiple times on the show that you and Teacher Yan aren’t close, just in a mentor-student relationship. Qingtong, you wouldn’t mind if I occasionally spent time with Teacher Yan, right?”
“Qingtong, please don’t misunderstand me. I have no intention of taking away your CP. It’s just the mindset of a little fangirl. I really want to see what Teacher Yan is like in a reality show with my own eyes.”
As she spoke, her armor was fully loaded, leaving no room for refusal. After all, everyone knew that Gu Qingtong and Teacher Yan were only paired up because of the previous program’s rules. What right did they have to monopolize Teacher Yan? The precedent for these paired relationships was something that she, with her public character, had openly and honestly demanded.
Even though Yun Mingxuan’s words came across as gentle and polite, everyone in the room felt a strange tension. When everyone’s attention focused on the two of them, they realized that their styles had coincidentally overlapped this time, both sporting a pure and innocent look.
However, even though Yun Mingxuan was regarded as the representative of innocence and the “little white flower,” her facial features seemed pale and lacking in comparison to Gu Qingtong’s striking and vivid beauty. In particular, Yun Mingxuan’s innocence appeared dull and lifeless, nowhere near as lively and enchanting as the vibrant and charming innocence of Gu Qingtong.
It’s often said that beauty is relative, and nobody had expected the impact before they were side by side. In the style that Yun Mingxuan excelled at, Gu Qingtong could easily overshadow her.
Yun Mingxuan could read the expressions in the room, and in fact, she had struggled with the feeling that every time she stood beside Gu Qingtong in high school, everyone’s attention would inevitably be focused on Gu Qingtong’s face. This had left a shadow in her for the past five years, and she had avoided being on camera with Gu Qingtong.
Realizing her momentary lapse in controlling her expressions as she reminisced about the past, Yun Mingxuan quickly adjusted her demeanor and looked gently at Gu Qingtong. Fortunately, Gu Qingtong’s expression was even worse than hers, and she had all her emotions written on that beautiful face. Clearly, Gu Qingtong had known about Yun Mingxuan’s involvement in spreading rumors about her and Gu Shuyu from the very beginning.
Even though she had treated those two years of friendship as if they never happened, completely ignoring Yun Mingxuan, Gu Qingtong’s hand was clenched into a fist at her side. A strange emotion surged within her, sour and bitter, churning in her chest. She was experiencing the burn of jealousy and possessiveness for the first time, almost consumed by this unfamiliar feeling.
Her rational mind told her she shouldn’t care because Yun Mingxuan’s acting wouldn’t affect how much attention she got from Yan Chi. But the fire in her heart made her silent. More accurately, she felt jealous.
She envied how Yun Mingxuan could freely and openly express her affection for Yan Chi in front of everyone, unrestrained and without hesitation. Meanwhile, Gu Qingtong had to conceal her emotions, deliberately maintain a distance from Yan Chi, and couldn’t even muster the courage to meet her gaze when they were in front of the cameras. She didn’t want to agree, she definitely wouldn’t agree to let her love rival get close to the person she liked. Her stubbornness erupted at this moment.
Gu Qingtong pursed her lips and remained silent, lowering her gaze to her own toes. Her reaction was seen by everyone, and for a moment, a heavy silence hung in the air. No one dared to make a sound, and their thoughts were filled with uncertainty.
Just at that moment, Yan Chi, who was standing nearby, spoke up, saying: “If you want to come and talk to me, shouldn’t you be asking if I mind? Shouldn’t it be me you’re supposed to be concerned about?”
Her words were like a sudden awakening, reminding everyone of the potential misunderstanding. They had almost been fooled by Yun Mingxuan’s daily references to her fan image, making them naturally assume there was a lot of interaction between them.
Yun Mingxuan’s expression froze for a moment, but she quickly resumed her smile, saying: “Then, does Teacher Yan mind?”
“Mind,” Yan Chi replied casually, and she even averted her gaze as if she was addressing something she couldn’t care less about.
Upon hearing this, some people couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It was indeed…quite awkward.
“….I was too abrupt.”
Yun Mingxuan had previously pushed her luck by appearing with Yan Chi’s fans in other shows where she was paired with her. Though Yan Chi had largely ignored her, she had never outright and so decisively refused her like this.
Even Yun Mingxuan, who was usually good at controlling her expressions, had a hard time hiding her frustration.
Meanwhile, while still looking down at her own toes, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Gu Qingtong’s lips. Her eyes sparkled with a hidden delight she couldn’t conceal.
Yan Chi glanced at the side of Gu Qingtong’s face, her eyes thoughtful. Could it be that… she was feeling jealous?
Director Bu cleared his throat, trying to salvage the atmosphere: “Alright, let’s talk about the rules for this episode. It’s called ‘Confession Day,’ or to be more precise, the ‘Confession Countdown: 1314 Minutes2Chinese Internet slang that means a lifetime or forever.’ In this episode, there’s only one mission: after the 1314-minute countdown begins, you’ll need to confess your feelings to your CP at a designated location.”
