The guests on the island were unaware that they were being live-streamed. Meanwhile, news about Bai Jin’s incident had started to circulate. Although it hadn’t hit the top trending topics yet, it had attracted numerous people to join in the gossip.
After all, it was the first time a “live-streaming incident” had occurred, unexpectedly revealing such explosive material. The show’s ratings soared, and even netizens themselves were eager to explore the gossip behind it, wondering why Bai Jin had resorted to secretly filming with such a meaningful look.
The fans of Yan Chi didn’t expect such a follow-up. They went on to expose the entire process and evidence, proving the undeniable connection between the self-media studio and Bai Jin’s company. The evidence was quite convincing.
Within less than ten minutes of posting the lengthy article, the whistleblower princess who initially exposed the news unexpectedly deleted her Weibo account and vanished.
Guilty conscience was written all over their faces.
If it were just related to Bai Jin’s company, people wouldn’t have directed their criticism towards her like this.
However……capturing her in what seemed like a case of secret filming suddenly made the two issues delicate.
Facing such a situation, Bai Jin’s studio couldn’t get in touch with Bai Jin, which was naturally quite urgent. They urgently went to find the production team, insisting that they come out with a rumor-like clarification, stating that this was simply a special shooting task arranged for Bai Jin.
They even went as far as to make bold threats, claiming that if the production team didn’t clarify, they would have Bai Jin terminate her contract and withdraw from “Love Game” immediately, making it impossible for the variety show to proceed.
Director Bu received a rather impolite message from the other party’s manager and couldn’t help but find it absurd.
How arrogant can you be? Threatening to terminate the contract is truly laughable.
However, as a cultural figure, a polite response was still given:
“Are you serious? You should know that I am affiliated with Hua Yan, and this variety show is also Hua Yan’s project, right? If Bai Jin hasn’t done those things, it’s okay, but if she has truly offended Yan Chi, then good luck to you.”
“As for the breach of contract and withdrawal, I welcome it. Not only can it expose your guilt to the netizens, bringing unprecedented popularity to our variety show, but we can also get the breach of contract compensation. Is there any loss for us?”
Implicit in the words is the suggestion that Bai Jin’s presence in this variety show may be unnecessary or even disruptive.
Director Bu guessed it right. After all, Hua Yan was initially established to serve Yan Chi, only gaining its current status after riding on the wave of success.
Hua Yan’s boss has an inseparable connection with Yan Chi, and she might even be Yan Chi herself. It is impossible not to investigate this matter. In fact, even if Bai Jin had not been caught in the act of secretly filming, Hua Yan still held a card in their hand. It was the group of internet users that Bai Jin’s company had previously bought to spread rumors.
Now is an opportunity to bring this matter to a close. Initially, these internet users were accustomed to spreading rumors and manipulating public opinion online, but this time, faced with the possibility of receiving a legal letter, they were too frightened to make a sound. When they saw the chance to shift blame and with some pressure from Hua Yan, they immediately came forward.
As a result, while netizens were enjoying the spectacle, they didn’t wait for Bai Jin’s team to clarify the situation. Instead, they first saw apologies and statements from the internet users who had spread rumors initially. These internet users released their previous chat records and transaction records, claiming they only acted upon receiving money from Bai Jin’s side, which was for the purpose of promoting the rumors.
Even beforehand, they didn’t know they were spreading rumors; even the text was provided by the other party. Those texts, upon closer inspection, turned out to be the vicious speculations suggesting that Yan Chi and Gu Qingtong were in a kept relationship. It was only then that everyone realized the manipulative tactics of the self-proclaimed whistleblower marketing account, which had been steering public opinion from the beginning with the intention of tarnishing others’ reputations!
From Bai Jin’s initial act of secretly filming to the later revelation of invasive privacy disclosures, and even the rumors, it was all orchestrated by her. The more they dug into it, the more her malicious intentions were exposed.
This final revelation completely ignited the heat around this incident, propelling #BaiJinLivestreamAccident# to the top of the trending topics. Although neither the production team nor Bai Jin’s studio has responded yet, the public, based on the series of interconnected evidence, has seemingly already found Bai Jin guilty.
[Isn’t this just jealousy? They couldn’t stand Silent Gaze having more popularity, so they wanted to mess with them… Otherwise, I can’t understand such perverse behavior.]
[I didn’t notice she was like this while watching the show. If today’s livestream didn’t expose it, who knows how long Bai Jin would have secretly kept an eye on Teacher Yan and Tongtong.]
[Ah, Ah, Ah, please don’t let Bai Jin continue filming on the island, okay? Just the thought of her being with Silent Gaze makes my heart ache.]
Bai Jin sat back in her place, intending to stay out of it and continue observing the farce of the others with a cold eye. At this moment, with a belly full of bad intentions, she seemed completely unaware that her image had already collapsed outside.
Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi, having concluded their private time from earlier, reappeared in front of the campfire. All eyes were now focused on the two of them.
Someone couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh~,” and everyone’s gaze towards the two became even more ambiguous.
“How was it? Was it exciting to be alone in the small grove?” Deng Dongjun, seemingly unwilling to let go of his curiosity about the relationship between the two, asked with eagerness.
“Absolutely! We did everything; my heartbeat points must have increased by at least five!” Gu Qingtong said with a deliberate tone, proudly showing off and even casting a glance at Yun Mingxuan, who was sitting alone on a reef.
After speaking, her gaze shifted, staring at Chu Yu, who was sitting alone on a rock, and desperately signaling her with her eyes.
Chu Yu looked at Gu Qingtong’s gaze with disdain. Although she didn’t know what she was up to, she was sure it couldn’t be anything good.
Apparently, Chu Yu, like Yan Yijia, had gradually been molded into the shape of Gu Qingtong’s whimsical personality. Although she complained about not wanting to help, in reality, she couldn’t help but worry about her.
“Sister Chu Yu, long time no see; I’ve missed you so much—let’s catch up!” Gu Qingtong said, spreading her arms like a big bird and rushing towards Chu Yu’s rock. After sitting down and noticing there was still space next to her, she motioned for Yan Chi to come over.
Now the truth came to light. It turned out that Gu Qingtong was still holding a grudge about Yun Mingxuan forcibly sitting on their rock that time, and now she had just taken the opportunity to come back and change seats.
Suddenly, anyone could see this possessiveness. Chu Yu knew she was being used, but being involved with these two, she immediately remembered the previous incident of being forced to be a third wheel.
Consciously, she stood up and headed towards the empty rock where Yun Mingxuan was staying. “It’s too crowded here. If you want to sit, just sit. I’ll go over there!”
Gu Qingtong was naturally delighted. As she sat down, she said with some hesitation, “Hey! This doesn’t seem right…”
She successfully earned a disdainful look from Chu Yu. As a result, the seating arrangement for the game changed instantly. Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi sat on a separate rock, with some distance between them, while Yun Mingxuan sat on another rock.
Yun Mingxuan saw Chu Yu suddenly change seats to sit next to her. Although she wasn’t happy about how easily Chu Yu agreed to change positions, she could only give her a gentle smile.
Yun Mingxuan’s intentions, how could Chu Yu not be aware? Because she often targeted Silent Gaze, although Chu Yu didn’t want to admit it, she had a faint dislike for her. Chu Yu hadn’t realized she was falling into the “you just spoil her” state like Yan Yijia, feeling it was all quite inexplicable. Why was she so concerned about their affairs?
In the recent five rounds, Yun Mingxuan was chosen twice. However, as Yan Chi wasn’t here, she didn’t have any desire to perform and chose to penalize herself with alcohol directly. She even deliberately took a few more sips, making her face, which was already prone to flush due to alcohol, look even more like she was slightly intoxicated.
Her idea was simple; after all, behaviors after drinking are bolder and more unrestrained, allowing her to “express her feelings” more freely. Male guests noticed her change and kindly asked if she was drunk.
Yun Mingxuan took advantage of the opportunity and said: “I don’t have a good tolerance for alcohol; it seems I’m a bit dizzy. It’s okay; I’ll take a break, and I’ll be fine.”
While saying this, she looked towards Gu Yan’s direction1Implying Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi, trying to portray a blurry-eyed expression, almost making herself sober with the intensity of the glare. In just a moment, she saw that Gu Qingtong not only didn’t sit still but leaned against Yan Chi’s body, resting her head on Yan Chi’s shoulder.
When their eyes met, Gu Qingtong, without a care in the world, innocently tilted her head and pressed it against Yan Chi’s neck once again.
Gu Qingtong’s current attitude was no different from that of a little kid showing off a toy everywhere. It seemed as if, after lifting the restrictions of avoiding the camera, she started to dance around her partner’s face.
I can do this; can you?
Ignoring you! Gu Qingtong was fully engaged in her playful competition with Yun Mingxuan, completely oblivious to the increasingly profound gaze cast her way by Yan Chi.
Today, Gu Qingtong was more proactive than ever before, and Yan Chi could clearly sense her childish, jealous, and boastful attitude. Whether it was her possessive little tantrums or the various demands she made, everything seemed to tug at Yan Chi’s heartstrings.
Yan Chi knew that eventually, she would be irresistibly drawn in by Gu Qingtong’s persistent teasing. The palpitations and excitement of their Silent Gaze finally brought the temporarily cut-off live broadcast back.
As the audience witnessed the long-awaited visual, they were almost moved to tears. Seeing Gu Qingtong leaning against Yan Chi’s neck, they could hardly keep up with the pace of the duo’s new moves.
In the barrage of comments, there was no time to condemn Bai Jin; when a CP2Couple Pairing is sweetening the moment, nothing else matters—let’s indulge in the sweetness!
[I declare to everyone that from now on, I am officially Director Bu’s loyal follower. If it weren’t for the rules he forcefully established, there wouldn’t be the current glory of Silent Gaze!]
[Perhaps someone noticed that they changed seats? Earlier, Silent Gaze and Yun Mingxuan were sitting together, but now sister Chu Yu changed seats with them!]
Soon, LieWen HuKe noticed that Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi were sitting alone, leading to their affectionate behavior.
[Sister Chu! You understand us; you’ve done a fantastic job!]
The barrage was filled with expressions of “Hurry and say Thanks to sister Chu”. Chu Yu had always been appreciated for her support for Silent Gaze, and now, her clever maneuvering was acknowledged by the viewers. Yun Mingxuan, however, hadn’t seen Gu Qingtong’s earlier explanation to the live audience.
The reason for the shock was also because Gu Qingtong suddenly changed from her previous unfamiliar demeanor to openly sticking to Yan Chi. Obviously, this was beyond Yun Mingxuan’s plan. Upon second thought, she immediately understood—Gu Qingtong was doing this to provoke her! Since the betrayal incident, their relationship had not been harmonious; it could be described as a turbulent situation. However, due to the success in the talent show and the benefits from fan support, Yun Mingxuan had always been one step ahead of Gu Qingtong in the entertainment industry. The only area where she fell short was in gaining admission to the prestigious China Film Academy that Gu Qingtong had achieved through hard work.
Now, with Gu Qingtong boldly showcasing her affection, Yun Mingxuan couldn’t help but feel infuriated.
What’s so impressive about her? She’s just a step ahead in variety shows, earning the privilege to form a CP with Yan Chi. Yun Mingxuan consoled herself inwardly.
“Qingtong is really proactive in accumulating these heartbeat points. The rest of us, except for the challenges we draw from this truth or dare game, haven’t made any other moves,” she said intentionally, hoping to make Gu Qingtong feel embarrassed. However, Gu Qingtong responded proudly: “Well, then Teacher Yan and I are going for the top spot again, aiming to have a luxurious breakfast off the island tomorrow morning. I don’t know if you all can endure this little island, but I can’t stay here for even a moment.” As she spoke, she extended her arms and gave Yan Chi a bear hug, hanging onto her completely. Gu Qingtong had indeed stirred up the atmosphere; everyone began eagerly anticipating the truth or dare card draw, abandoning their previous reservations and engaging in pre-arranged interactions. After all, everyone was an actor, and unlike Yan Chi and Gu Qingtong, they didn’t have the burden of fearing exposure and hidden marriages at the beginning of the show.
When it came to sweet talk, it was skillfully executed, full of affectionate gestures. However, by observing the fluctuations in heart rate, it was easy to tell whether it was genuine or not. Without exception, it’s all acting, without the slightest fluctuation or variation.
These actions wouldn’t contribute to the accumulation of heartbeat points, but the contestants were unaware of the production team’s strategy. They believed that such interactions alone could build up their scores.
Despite the enthusiastic interactions, the game was not over. When the bottle pointed to Yan Chi for the first time, she also reached for a card.
“Truth or dare: Choose anyone on the field and confess the words you’ve been keeping hidden in your heart.”
Yan Chi, upon seeing the card, fell into a moment of silence. The most important words she had been concealing in her heart for Gu Qingtong…..
At some point, those words had occupied the most significant place in her heart.
She knew clearly that she couldn’t speak. Even now… she still couldn’t.
“I’ll take a drink penalty” she said calmly, about to discard the card into the pile of used cards.
However, she was stopped: “Hey, even if you can’t complete it, you still have to tell everyone,” Deng Dongjun intervened, taking the card and revealing its contents to everyone.
It was evidently a rather easy task. Why did Yan Chi refuse to answer?
This question lingered in everyone’s mind. Even Gu Qingtong looked at Yan Chi with a hint of confusion. She firmly believed that Yan Chi would choose her as the subject for any task. Still, this also meant that, even in this truth or dare challenge, Yan Chi was unwilling to share her “true words” with her.
What were Yan Chi’s “true words”?
Gu Qingtong’s mind went blank, and as she looked into Yan Chi’s eyes, her expression became increasingly puzzled. What could be buried deep….in her heart? Suddenly, she remembered the phrase buried deep in her own heart: “I like you.”
As if slicing through the fog in her mind, the confusion in Gu Qingtong’s eyes dissipated in an instant, replaced by a sense of urgency. Could there be a possibility that Yan Chi also liked her?
This question had been lingering in Gu Qingtong’s mind since she began to realize her girlish infatuation. Despite her poor memory, she could recall every small detail of her interactions with Yan Chi. Gu Qingtong carefully collected every gentle and indulgent gesture Yan Chi showed her on ordinary days, focusing intently on those moments.
Repeatedly, she cautiously speculated in her heart whether this could be evidence that Yan Chi also liked her. However, while these answers could make her heart race, they couldn’t convince her completely. After all, everyone who falls in love learns, above all, to be timid. As long as there’s even a one percent hesitation or retreat in the heart, all the assumptions about Yan Chi possibly liking her will collapse.
At this moment, faced with the phrase buried deep in her heart that she couldn’t bring herself to say, Gu Qingtong couldn’t control her thoughts from drifting towards that possibility. It was as if, for the first time, she had glimpsed a bit of Yan Chi’s true feelings, and she couldn’t help but resonate with it.
Watching Yan Chi effortlessly open the can she was holding, tilt her head back slightly, and take a few sips, Gu Qingtong could only force herself to be more patient.
Whether she truly likes me or not, I’ll know that answer in just 18 hours….right?
Yan Chi doesn’t usually drink alcohol, and now, having taken a few sips as a punishment, she put the can down. Although the two had clearly avoided interaction and revelation, their heart rates simultaneously rose again, leaving the audience of the livestream completely bewildered.
Just as this segment was about to continue, Yun Mingxuan, who had been on the side the whole time, suddenly raised her face, which had just turned red from drinking, and looked at everyone, saying: “I want to answer that truth or dare question. Even though it wasn’t the question I drew, I need it. More accurately, I need an opportunity like this to force myself to be honest. I hope you can make an exception and let me answer one round.”
Deng Dongjun, being a kind-hearted person, agreed, allowing her to continue.
The livestream audience, still focused on the heart-rate monitor displaying Gu Qingtong’s perspective, witnessed Yun Mingxuan calmly saying: “Teacher Yan, I have something to say that might not have another chance. Although I’ve been your fan for so long…”
[Wait, with such emotional words, there should be some fluctuation in the heart rate! Why is it getting calmer?]
[If it weren’t for this heart rate reading, I would have thought it was a genuine fan expressing deep feelings. But now, it seems rather dull.]
Yun Mingxuan’s fans also joined the livestream, and a couple of them jumped in to defend her:
[…Are we getting criticized for this? Mingxuan’s heart rate has never been high from the start, okay? It’s just that she’s not easily excited. Stop spreading rumors about a beautiful girl.]
Her prepared script was, of course, memorized in advance, conveying that even though she’s a fan of Yan Chi, in her heart, she already considers her as an intimate elder and family. She hopes Yan Chi can forgive her abrupt feelings and thoughts. It was all for the sake of continuing to build the character.
In order to recite every word perfectly, she concentrated on the material she had written down, mechanically reciting it without a trace of excitement. Once or twice, people could understand, but when this awkward impromptu essay unfolded so suddenly, even the other guests started to feel a bit uncomfortable. For a moment, everyone fell into a silence, ignoring her.
Perhaps it was because Yun Mingxuan was performing her scripted essay right next to her, it was getting a bit annoying.
Suddenly, Chu Yu spoke up:
“Don’t you know that our ‘Love Game’ is a show about creating CP, not a fan-chasing star program? If you really want to compete for the heart rate points with her, I would at least respect you for being bold and straightforward. On one hand, you say you don’t want to compete with Gu Qingtong for a ‘CP,’ but on the other hand, you don’t miss any chance to seek attention. In short, who is your target, Bai Jin or Yan Chi?”
Yun Mingxuan didn’t expect Chu Yu to point out her situation so bluntly, and she responded with a flurry of words. Her face turned red and white, and she couldn’t make any coherent points for a while. Every word Chu Yu said hit the hearts of the audience, and many agreed.
[Just to clarify, true fans of Yan Chi wouldn’t behave like this. Our ‘Station Sister’ is so shy in front of Teacher Yan that she doesn’t dare to say hello.]
[Finally, a guest dares to put someone in their place on the show. After tasting the sweetness of traffic, she’s been tied up for two years3Implies that despite the initial success, the person has been constrained or engaged in the activity for an extended period, possibly facing some challenges or drawbacks. I really admire it!]
[In society, it’s sister Chu. She’s not talkative, but she’s fierce and protects the best Silent Gaze. That’s for sure.]
“I… my target, of course, is Bai Jin.”
After saying this, Yun Mingxuan, although offering some explanations for her behavior, didn’t have the face to actively bring up Yan Chi again.
Chu Yu doesn’t care about whom she conquers; after firing back, she concealed her achievements and looked toward Gu Qingtong. Truly, she’s a good friend of hers, Gu Qingtong knew that Chu Yu wasn’t one to stir up trouble. She was even more moved by her friend’s intervention, making a gesture of gratitude, “Thanks, sister Chu—”
Cut it out, I don’t care.
Chu Yu thought this in her heart but still honestly withdrew her gaze, satisfied. As the night deepened, Gu Qingtong’s face turned slightly red from the warmth of the bonfire, and she seemed a bit tired. She gradually slid down on Yan Chi’s shoulder.
If it weren’t for Yan Chi supporting her head, she might have fallen directly onto her lap.
“Continue playing; I’ll take Gu Qingtong to the tent to sleep,” Yan Chi suddenly said.
Naturally, no one opposed.
Gu Qingtong was suddenly awakened by the voice. She hastily got up, emitting a puzzled “Huh?” sound. The next moment, Yan Chi directly caught her hand and held it in the palm of her hand. The two of them, naturally holding hands, appeared in front of everyone like the most ordinary couple in the world, doing what any couple in love would do.
Facing the gazes of the crowd, for the first time, Gu Qingtong didn’t retreat. She slowly clasped Yan Chi’s hand in return, wanting nothing more than this simple connection.
“Don’t resist; you just fell asleep in my hands,” Yan Chi said, then led Gu Qingtong towards the tent.
As Gu Qingtong turned her head, she could still feel the eyes of the crowd following her. Her face, which was not blushing before, was now completely flushed. She withdrew her gaze, and her eyes, filled with joy and shyness, sparkled as she looked at the intertwined hands of the two.
I really like her.
There were five beds in the tent, one for each of the five female contestants.
Gu Qingtong chose the two innermost beds and took one on the outer side for herself. She then looked up at Yan Chi with a playful and sly wink. Of course, she intended to keep Yan Chi securely on the innermost side!
Aware that there were cameras inside, Gu Qingtong had no intention of causing any further trouble. Besides, she was feeling tired and soon fell asleep after lying down.
Yan Chi lay beside her, eyes wide open, silently observing Gu Qingtong’s peaceful sleeping figure. She reached out her fingertips, peeling away the stray strands of hair stuck to Gu Qingtong’s face. Unable to resist, she touched her cheek, caressing it with a hint of lingering affection.
The noise outside seemed to persist, but it didn’t matter, at least not for now…
With this in mind, her fingertips trembled for a moment, and she quickly withdrew them. After a while, just as Yan Chi was about to close her eyes, she heard some faint rustling sounds beside her. The next moment, she felt a warm presence approaching.
Yan Chi was already aware but couldn’t resist opening her eyes. She saw Gu Qingtong, once again succumbing to that unknown habit of seeking refuge in Yan Chi’s embrace while asleep. From tonight onward, this wouldn’t be a secret known only to Yan Chi. It happened because Yan Chi’s heart-fluttering reaction triggered a change in the live broadcast camera.
Countless viewers witnessed the sight of the already sleeping Gu Qingtong, in an inexplicable manner, obediently snuggling into Yan Chi’s arms, emitting a contented and reassured hum, as if it was a natural occurrence that had happened countless times before.
Translator note:
I apologize for going MIA for several weeks, I’ll be posting extra chapters to make up for it and will try to get back to the regular schedule!
