With this announcement, almost everyone was left in a state of bewilderment. Even though logic suggested that a confession-themed challenge made sense after two seasons of getting to know each other, they couldn’t help but feel that the director and the production team had something else up their sleeves. After all, “Love Game” was fundamentally about stars acting as CPs1Couple Pairing and didn’t require them to genuinely become a couple like in other dating shows. Its essence was entertainment, and no one would really take a “confession” seriously. They were all well aware of the program’s nature.
As expected, the director immediately added: “First of all, the production team will send all of you to a small island by the sea. Only the CPs whose ‘heartbeat points’ are full can leave the island together and obtain clues about the confession location. All the guests who complete the CP confession task will receive a special offshoot episode of the show, featuring a honeymoon trip in Europe provided by the production team.
Heartbeat points can be accumulated through any actions that express affection, other than the confession. Therefore, all of you need to interact in front of the camera for us to calculate the points accurately.”
Everyone understood right away that the production team was once again forcing them into various interactions.
“Then, what’s the criteria for calculating these heartbeat points? Like, how many points will holding hands add?”
A guest asked a question that everyone was curious about.
“Whether it can earn points, and how many points, the interpretation is entirely up to the program team, after all, it’s difficult to measure feelings and affection with data.
But rest assured, our program team will definitely score fairly.”
Director Bu just replied like that, leaving the guests in confusion, so they had to figure things out on their own. “Of course, the accumulation of heartbeat points here is not limited to the cp you’re paired with. You can earn points with anyone, which means this task supports free pairings. We’ll only look at the total heartbeat points of each pair. If someone has multiple cp pairs with growing heartbeat points, we’ll only consider the first pair that reaches the required points.” Hearing these rules, the happiest person was undoubtedly Gu Qingtong. In this episode of the variety show, she had the perfect excuse to interact freely with Yan Chi and subtly hint at her feelings. After all, it was a task from the program, and if they didn’t interact, they might risk breaking the “official couple” pairing! That was simply unacceptable! Gu Qingtong felt that, for the first time, the program team, which never tired of pranking the participants, was surprisingly gentle.
It’s like this episode’s theme was tailor-made for her!
At this point, she still seemed quite naive. After patiently answering the guests’ questions, the ferry to take them to the island arrived. Director Bu took out eight bracelet-like items.
“Since it’s the Confession Day event and we don’t want to disrupt the island’s romantic atmosphere, none of the staff will be on the island. All the footage for this episode will be captured by fixed cameras and GoPros given to each of you. In return, the guests cannot bring any personal items, including cell phones, to the island. Although the island is not dangerous, just in case of any special circumstances, we’ve prepared emergency contact bracelets for everyone.”
The setting of an island where not even the staff would be present was indeed a first.
Even their cell phones had to be handed over, and they were given emergency contact bracelets. For a moment, it felt like they were stranded on a deserted island waiting for a rescue party.
This rule caught everyone off guard. There was simply no opportunity to sneak in or carry a spare phone. They had to obediently hand over their devices.
When Gu Qingtong turned in her phone, she felt a bit reluctant to part with the handbook she had compiled about chasing after an elder sister. She had planned to take it to the island as a reference, but now she could only rely on her memory for the parts she had memorized.
As for the emergency contact bracelets, they didn’t seem particularly special. Everyone assumed the production team provided them for safety, along with the other equipment.
The small island was a forty-minute ferry ride from the shore, and a glowing point on the sea’s surface was visible from afar. As they approached, the full view of the island became clear. Despite its intimidating name, the island had abundant sandy beaches and lush vegetation, presenting a beautiful natural landscape.
Since the 13142Internet slang that means for a lifetime or forever-minute countdown began the moment the guests set foot on the island, everyone on the boat restrained themselves to some extent. They were all pondering who their target for conquest would be and what actions to take to accumulate “heart-beat points.”
Perhaps it was because several male guests had their romantic histories known by the original female guests. Even Chu Yu, who was considered the most straightforward woman on “Love Game,” had become somewhat less straightforward due to her curiosity and gossip. As a result, the three male guests immediately considered cooperating with the new guest Yun Mingxuan. She appeared exceptionally innocent and naive, making her the most suitable choice among the female guests.
Just as everyone was relaxing and preparing to disembark and enjoy their island vacation, on the other side, the reality TV show “Love Game” suddenly opened a live broadcasting channel on its official website.
Yes, the guests who had surrendered their phones couldn’t see it, but this island segment of the show was a secret live broadcast!
Moreover, the hand bracelet was a crucial element for both live broadcasting and determining the “heart-beat” score. While love couldn’t be quantified, heartbeats could serve as a reference. The bracelet could measure each person’s heart rate, and if the heart rate exceeded a certain value, the bracelet’s camera and microphone would automatically start working and even link to the live broadcast feed. The entire nation could watch!
Clearly, the show’s producers were planning something big.
The viewers of “Love Game” were aware that there would be filming tonight. Although they hadn’t received any prior notice of the live broadcast, some persistent fans were still waiting in the show’s official live streaming room. To their surprise, they actually managed to access the feed.
When they looked closer, they found that the black screen, which was still without any visuals, displayed a row of prominent red text:
“Attention: This live broadcast is a secret one that none of the guests are aware of. There may be unexpected broadcasting issues, so please don’t be surprised if the screen suddenly goes black.”
Of course, there was a several-minute delay in the broadcast, giving the production team ample time to censor any content that needed to be removed. This allowed them to be daring and unapologetic about what they broadcast.
This hidden camera live broadcast was a first in Chinese variety shows. No production team had ever attempted it before, and it certainly got the audience excited and buzzing.
[What the heck? Is the production team this intense?! I’ve only seen this in foreign drama reality shows before. This is too explosive!]
[Even someone like me who hasn’t watched this show is now intrigued. I want to watch the live broadcast and catch up on the show. Is it good?]
[It’s great to watch! Remember to invest in ‘Silent Gaze.’ They’re so real, I’m addicted every day.]
In just a moment, the live streaming room, which hadn’t been promoted or advertised in advance, was flooded with numerous viewers. People were calling their friends to join and watch the unexpected exposure of the behind-the-scenes reality of the dating show, with the potential for broadcasting accidents. It sounded too thrilling to miss!
As it was a weekend night, many people had the time to join in and enjoy the excitement. After a brief period, the live broadcast showed a change in the screen, displaying two rows of numbers, presenting the real-time heart rates of the eight participants. At that moment, all the heart rates were in green and constantly changing.
Below the notice, there was also the rule for the heartbeat value. It said that only interactions of affection between the participants counted, and only when the heartbeat value was full could they escape the hellish solitary island. The source and determination of the heartbeat value were based on heart rate. When the heart rate exceeded 100, the live broadcast would switch to that participant’s screen.
[Wow! This episode is like a heart rate challenge! It feels super sweet, even if it’s all for the mission. I don’t care!]
[“Silent Gaze” is going to be forced into action again. I was worried they might avoid each other because of today’s rumors.]
[Eight numbers?! Did a new participant join this episode? Let me see who it is!]
At that moment, one of the numbers in the middle suddenly turned red, shooting up to 128.
As the screen suddenly brightened, the name “Deng Dongjun” was added in front of the number.
“OMG! There’s a giant spider hanging in the bushes! Help!”
The terrified voice of Deng Dongjun echoed in the live broadcast room. The screen was split into two, with one side showing the footage and sound captured by the wristband, and the other side showing the footage from the nearest fixed camera.
The footage from the wristband was shaky, and it wasn’t until everyone saw the side view that they suddenly realized Deng Dongjun had been scared, screaming and running away.
[Hahaha, I’ve even taken off my pants. Is this what you call heart throbbing?!]
[Wow, why did the production team suddenly zoom in on the spider! It scared me, it’s really huge!]
That’s right, as soon as everyone landed on the island, they realized that this small island was truly in its natural state. It was not the vacation paradise everyone had imagined.
Apart from the two lonely tents and the bonfire on the beach, there were cameras everywhere, and drones in the sky that were filming. In areas covered by vegetation, it was pitch black, making people reluctant to approach. The only places truly illuminated were the small areas around the bonfire and oil lamps.
After the eight people landed on the island, they felt like they had returned to a primitive state. At that moment, everyone couldn’t help but feel speechless about the production team. Was there any connection between this and the atmosphere of heart throbbing?
Gu Qingtong was never afraid of bugs and such. While everyone else was stepping back, she curiously looked up. Following the direction pointed out by Deng Dongjun towards the spider, it was indeed palm-sized, black and yellow, resembling a large wasp, crawling in the bushes.
The color pattern was a bit crazy, causing some to lose their cool, but Gu Qingtong could only think, “Just this?” She visibly withdrew her gaze, feeling that Deng Dongjun was being too exaggerated.
After the heartbeat segment, the screen on the bracelet disappeared, freezing on the perspective of the fixed camera. It would remain like that until the next heart rate participant appeared.
Gu Qingtong, with a curious expression, went to look around, and her somewhat weak appearance coincidentally came into view, and happened to be captured on camera. Users in the barrage couldn’t help but laugh:
[Turns out Tong Mei isn’t afraid of this. I hope she gets scared again and jumps into Teacher Yan’s arms!]
[The new hairstyle of female Goose3Chinese slang that is a playful or colloquial way to refer to females, often used in a lighthearted or humorous context. looks so good! It’s truly a miracle, Mom kisses!]
Just as the barrage was eagerly asking who the eighth new participant was, Yun Mingxuan’s figure finally appeared on the screen. In an instant, a storm of discussions erupted, and fans of Yan Chi and some fans who knew about past events were left in shock.
[Uh-oh, Teacher Yan is in trouble this episode. Soon everyone will be able to enjoy the classic operation of Yun Mingxuan tying her up.]
[Wait a minute, why do I vaguely remember that Gu Qingtong and Yun Mingxuan once had a big clash?]
The live broadcast started too suddenly. Although Yun Mingxuan’s fans and online warriors weren’t fully prepared, some people who were halfway through their popcorn seized the opportunity to stir the waters:
[I remember Yun Mingxuan saying on a talent show that Gu Qingtong bullied her and even had her shelved4In this context, means set aside or postponed. Not actively promoting them by her previous company, right?
But now that Gu Qingtong is popular, no one brings up this matter. Indeed, the internet has no memory.]
Not bringing it up would have been better; as soon as it was mentioned, fans of Gu Qingtong exploded:
[Are there still people who don’t know that five years ago, Yun Mingxuan spread rumors about Gu Qingtong bullying her, and the company shelved her? The court even ruled her guilty of defamation!?]
During this period, many die-hard fans who have been following Gu Qingtong have been enlightened about her experiences before her debut. Even now, if you scroll through Gu Qingtong’s Weibo, you can find traces of those past incidents.
All of this can be attributed to her refusal, at the beginning of her career, to accept the company’s suggestion of creating a completely new stage name and identity for herself. She insisted on using her previous name and Weibo handle because she had nothing to hide.
So, when controversies arose in the past, Yun Mingxuan’s fans targeted her, but Gu Qingtong’s fans didn’t retaliate. This was partly because the incident was ancient history, and Gu Qingtong and Yun Mingxuan had long ceased any interaction.
At this point, with the other side deliberately trying to criticize and discredit her, they naturally had to bring up the reversal of the past that had not been widely known. As soon as Yun Mingxuan’s assistant and manager entered the live broadcast, they witnessed the truth, which had been ignored before, being dug up again with the help of fans who suddenly seemed well-informed about the situation. They were almost stunned: How did Gu Qingtong suddenly gain so many fans who knew the inside story and were helping to clarify it?! Wasn’t she overwhelmed by Yun’s fans on Weibo not long ago?
Recently, they only saw Gu Qingtong also marketing with Yun Mingxuan, and they felt a sense of disdain seeing her using the same old tactics that had been played out. They had no idea that she had perfectly transformed her popularity into an active fan base, gaining followers in almost every episode and every event.
Gu Qingtong was no longer the obscure artist from the past who had no fans, no one caring about the truth, and no one helping to clarify things. Faced with this situation, Yun Mingxuan’s team had to urgently deploy their own online army, attempting to steer the direction of the barrage in a different direction.
The old affair made it challenging for a direct confrontation in the barrage, especially without the ability to provide crucial evidence. Consequently, many onlookers were bewildered by the entanglement of the two, adopting a wait-and-see attitude towards the truth, and getting ready to observe their performances during the live broadcast.
The participants, on the other hand, were oblivious to the ongoing live stream, merely gazing at the beach surrounded by cameras and being aware that the countdown for confession had begun. It was time to start working for points.
The program organizers had gone to great lengths to encourage interaction and departure from the solitary island. The island was indeed quite dull, with a poor environment—besides being in its natural state, there was a lack of even basic amenities such as clean water and food supply.
If they don’t leave the island due to pairings, they would have to endure hunger and thirst here for almost a day. Who could endure that?
“Hey, the program team left Truth or Dare cards by the bonfire, along with some beer. Maybe we can liven up the atmosphere a bit.”
Yuxi, unwilling to give up, went to search for water and food, but unexpectedly found a set of cards and a box of beer.
The combination of a bonfire, beer, and the solitary island seemed to ignite everyone’s passion. Since no one knew where to start, they all gathered around the bonfire on the beach.
An old, worn-out bottle happened to be available for a spin in the middle.
The card’s cover had the rules written on it: “The person pointed to by the bottle mouth should draw a card and take on the challenge. If the challenge fails, they must accept the punishment of drinking.”
Gu Qingtong spotted a rock, adjusted her skirt, and carefully sat down. Hugging her knees, she waved to Yan Chi, inviting her to sit beside her.
Suddenly remembering the guide mentioning being considerate to her sister, she abruptly stopped and looked at the rock beneath her. It was cleaner than the sand but still not entirely pristine.
“Ah! Don’t sit yet, let me wipe it clean!” She didn’t have any tissues or fabric to wipe with, so she spread her fair hands and gently patted the dust and tiny grains of sand off the rock for Yan Chi, clumsily but attentively.
This scene, falling into Yan Chi’s eyes, made her family’s little friend, who clearly led a carefree and casual life, remember to cater to her cleanliness habits. Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. The heart, perhaps frosted over, seemed to be filled with the warmth of sunshine.
The viewers in the live broadcast room didn’t expect that the second participant to experience a heartthrob would be Yan Chi. Until the name “Yan Chi” appeared in front of the red number 105, there was a momentary pause in the barrage; everyone was waiting for Yan Chi to show up.
The next moment, the live broadcast screen changed, and due to the wrist-mounted camera’s perspective, everyone directly saw Gu Qingtong in front of Yan Chi. She appeared particularly serious as she used her hand to sweep the rocks.
After cleaning, she lifted her head, smiled at Yan Chi, a bit smug, with crescent-shaped eyes matching the new moon overhead tonight.
“Teacher Yan, all done!”
[Wuwu, what a cute obedient female goose! Girlfriend’s perspective, I’m crying. Let’s go home together, Tongtong!]
[Wait, so this is Teacher Yan’s heartbeat scene?! In my lifetime, I actually get to see that woman being moved! But Tongtong is so adorable, not to mention Teacher Yan, even I’m moved.]
[Look at Teacher Yan’s expression in the camera on the right, so calm and composed. In the face of heart rate measurement, even the restrained type can only be defeated. The heartthrob of ‘Silent Gaze’ can’t be hidden, hehe!]
Yan Chi sat beside Gu Qingtong, but she grasped her wrist and placed it on her own knee: “I actually brought wet wipes.”
“Oh, you should’ve said that earlier…”
Gu Qingtong suddenly felt that she had gotten her hands dirty with ash for nothing. Muttering to herself, her hand started itching, and Yan Chi delicately wiped it off. The two of them sat by the bonfire like this, looking down at their knees, where their hands were intertwined, casting a shadow of hands held together.
Itchy and tingling, besides the refreshing wet wipes, Yan Chi’s skin frequently brushed against the palm and fingertips. Almost every touch felt like a gentle sea breeze sweeping over the softest part of the heart.
“If what I said just now wasn’t said, wouldn’t there be no chance to use it on your hands?”
Hearing this, Gu Qingtong’s heart skipped a beat, missing half a rhythm. She was teased and left at a loss, only able to look blankly into Yan Chi’s eyes.
Even in front of the camera, she would instantly fall into heart palpitations because of a casually charming remark from the person she liked. Where was she teasing her? Clearly, every time she instantly succumbed, it was her own doing…
In the live broadcast, the audience saw another number light up, reaching 120. Unbelievably, this number belonged to Gu Qingtong. The live footage didn’t even need to change; everyone could see the slight tremor in Gu Qingtong’s eyes because of that sentence.
[Oh my God! Even Tong Mei is quickly falling for someone. Is this for real? Why are both of them experiencing accelerated heart rates!]
[Although we know it’s for today’s task, this live recording can easily pass as a real relationship disclosure.]
Who would have known that, in the next moment, Yun Mingxuan would sit down next to Yan Chi. She even chose the rocky surface that Gu Qingtong had meticulously cleaned. With a charming smile, she said: “No wonder ‘Silent Gaze’ has the highest discussion ratings. Although Qingtong and Teacher Yan are always forced to perform, they are almost always dedicated to doing it for the tasks. The game hasn’t even started, and they’ve already been privately accumulating heartbeat values.”
Bai Jin sat at a distance, coldly observing the situation over there, without expressing any opinions on the departure of her own “couple.”
In the live broadcast, when they saw Gu Qingtong quickly withdraw from the heartbeat state, fans of “Silent Gaze” were almost infuriated by the sudden intrusion of Yun Mingxuan.
[I’m having a heart attack, everyone. Does ‘Silent Gaze’ need her to remind them that they’re doing a task?!]
[She’s still sitting on the rock that Tongtong just worked so hard to clean for Teacher Yan, wuwu.]
The corners of Gu Qingtong’s raised mouth suddenly dropped.
I…I didn’t do it for the task! It’s because I like it!
Just at this moment, almost everyone gathered, and the game officially began. Starting with Deng Dongjun, he spun the bottle.
After the bottle spun for a few rounds, it finally swayed and was about to stop near the rock, but it was uncertain who among the three on the rock it would point to. Eventually, it landed in front of Yun Mingxuan, and she smiled: “The first one is me, not sure if the luck will be good or bad.”
As she spoke, she drew a card: “Truth or dare, choose someone present and expose a secret about that person.”
Sure enough, her gaze fixed on Yan Chi:
“I’m a fan of Teacher Yan, probably the person who knows her best here, so I’ll share a trivial little secret with everyone.”
“Teacher Yan may seem to have no likes or dislikes, but she once admitted in an interview that she’s afraid of thunder and lightning. Just thinking about Teacher Yan hiding under the covers during a thunderstorm makes her seem so adorable.”
Yun Mingxuan was quite confident. In order to play the role of a Yan Chi fan convincingly, she even did research by specifically choosing obscure interviews. Only then did she discover this special secret about Yan Chi that no one knew, a stark contrast to her personality. It was bound to leave a lasting impression on everyone. This not only solidified her fan persona but also bridged the gap between herself and Yan Chi.
Although Yun Mingxuan’s tone fluctuated, there was no hint of emotional disturbance in her heart.
After all, Yun Mingxuan didn’t have any feelings for Yan Chi, thinking that she seamlessly played the role perfectly. For the viewers who could see the changes in heart rate, it was just reciting lines and adopting a persona. It formed a stark contrast to the mutual heartbeats between Yan Chi and Gu Qingtong just moments ago.
Hearing her talk about being afraid of something, Gu Qingtong couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She had also seen this interview. However, after watching several interviews, she knew that Yan Chi almost never revealed her personal emotions and life. To avoid repeatedly dodging and awkward situations in interviews, Yan Chi would choose to answer such questions with the persona of the characters she portrayed in movies.
This was almost common knowledge among Yan Chi’s die-hard fans, so people don’t inquire about her personality and preferences in interviews. However, there are often newcomers who post screenshots of interviews, saying: “Wow, Teacher Yan is so cute, with such an interesting personality?” Then everyone will tell them it’s all fake.
The fear of thunder and lightning that Yun Mingxuan mentioned is actually a characteristic of the protagonist Wu Feng in “The Place Where the Wind Blows.”
Upon hearing Gu Qingtong’s laughter, Yun Mingxuan’s previously calm heart rate fluctuated for a moment. Reflexively, she wondered if she had said something wrong, feeling a sinking sensation. Thinking that Gu Qingtong might be laughing at her, she questioned how well she really understood Yan Chi.
Without showing any change in expression, she gently said: “What’s wrong? Does Qingtong also know a similar secret?”
“Oh, I’m not laughing about that. I’m just laughing because Teacher Yan fooled another person. Every time she’s in an interview, she’s just playing with people.”
Gu Qingtong waved her hand casually, saying something that seemed quite ordinary. It was only at the end of the sentence that there was a slight upward inflection, giving it a subtle tone of “No way, right? You wouldn’t not know, right?”
Yan Chi’s gaze changed instantly, staring intently at Gu Qingtong. Clearly, for the first time, Gu Qingtong voluntarily revealed that she knew something about Yan Chi, and it was even more….than Yan Chi had imagined.
Almost in an instant, Yan Chi recalled the fan account named “TT” that she had discovered earlier today, which had been lingering in her mind, and she occasionally revisited. If it was Gu Qingtong, it would be quite normal for her to know these things, right?
The guests and the production team were still unaware of what this meant, but Yan Chi’s fans in the live chat were already shocked:
[She’s right, Teacher Yan always answers interviews using the personality of her characters. If you believe it, you lose, haha.]
[Wow, as a fan of Yan, I didn’t know about this. How does Gu Qingtong know more than me? Looks like I need to catch up on the material!]
[Wait a minute! Look at Teacher Yan’s heart rate; it’s rising again. What have I done to deserve this? Seeing Teacher Yan’s heart flutter so many times in a day.]
After reading this chat message, everyone realized that Yan Chi’s subtle change was due to the sentence Gu Qingtong had just said. Although there was no visible reaction on her face, her heart rate had betrayed her.
[Does this mean…Teacher Yan didn’t know that Tongtong was secretly paying unusual attention to her before?! That’s why her heart suddenly races like this.]
[Well, I’ve noticed that when a couple does anything, faces turn red and hearts race—it’s normal, so don’t be surprised!]
Although Yun Mingxuan’s secret was a fake one, it was quickly passed over, and then it moved on to the next person.
After three rounds, the bottle stopped in front of Gu Qingtong for the first time.
“Dare, please choose someone present…and spend more than five rounds alone with them.”
Alone? Where could they go?
“It seems like the only place for privacy, besides the two tents, is that small grove over there. The spiders are too frightening,” explained Deng Dongjun, still with lingering fear.
She had checked beforehand; there were cameras inside the tents…..
Although Gu Qingtong knew she needed to finish the task early, this was a good opportunity.
But her heart couldn’t help but lean towards the option of the small grove—there it was pitch-black, naturally concealing, and nobody could see what might happen inside.
Today, after tasting a hint of jealousy from Yun Mingxuan for the first time, Gu Qingtong bit her lip. Somehow, a fire ignited in her heart, burning inch by inch. The usually passive her, for the first time, strongly wanted something to happen between her and Yan Chi during the variety show recording.
In a place hidden from everyone’s sight, she wanted to claim Yan Chi as her own. Gu Qingtong suddenly understood why, in the first episode of the variety show, after being bothered by Bai Jin, Yan Chi left those kiss marks on her neck.
A kind of inexplicable and somewhat pathological psychology, wanting to leave one’s mark on the other person. Just thinking about it, the breath that touched Gu Qingtong’s lips carried a slight warmth. Seeing Gu Qingtong’s heart rate inexplicably exceeding a hundred again, the audience was both amused and confused, and even the production team suspected if the two of them knew the truth about heart rates in advance.
“I’ll choose to pair up with Teacher Yan, and as for the location, let’s go to the small grove, closer and convenient to know if you’ve passed five rounds,” Gu Qingtong said, trying to make her reasoning sound plausible, but her heart was already painted with a vibrant hue.
Upon hearing this, Yan Chi and Bai Jin both looked at Gu Qingtong. Both of them had noticed the conspicuous cameras in the tent and understood why she didn’t want to choose that location.
After a moment, Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi got up and walked towards the concealed area of the small grove. The current live broadcast couldn’t switch to the “Silent Gaze” scene.
The audience was growing impatient, only able to watch the dim and mottled shadows on that side of the screen. Walking forward amidst the dappled tree shadows seemed to lead them into a completely different world. Gu Qingtong could even hear the bustling cheering from afar. It seemed like they had switched back to the scene with Yun Mingxuan.
In response to the cheers, Gu Qingtong suddenly turned around, gazing fervently at Yan Chi. She closed the microphone on her chest, tiptoed to hook onto Yan Chi’s collar, mimicking the same action. With each word, she asserted herself:
“Big sister, I want.”
