Since this pre-broadcast live stream was being recorded at Huayan’s studio, Gu Qingtong didn’t have to worry about getting there. She comfortably slept through the entire journey, led by Yan Chi and Xiao Jun.
As Yan Chi had assured her, there were no kiss marks left on Gu Qingtong’s body from the previous day. However, the scenes described so easily in fanfiction were a different story when acted out in real life. The multiple instances only added to the feeling that her waist might break, making Gu Qingtong truly understand what it meant to have aching back and weak legs.
These sensations didn’t dissipate; whether sitting or lying down, she couldn’t find the usual comfort. But Gu Qingtong only showed her delicate side to those close to her. Once she and Yan Chi entered separate dressing rooms, she switched to work mode, patiently waiting for the makeup artists and staff to prepare her.
She was a different person compared to the tearful, spoiled girl seeking comfort from Yan Chi. While getting her makeup done, Gu Qingtong, with nothing else to do, opened her fan club’s chat to see if any fan sites had posted pictures of her. She saw that her fans were on high alert, only then realizing she had once again made it to the trending list for negative reasons.
Clearly, Yan Chi had already discreetly dealt with their trending topic, leaving only traces that could be found by searching Gu Qingtong’s name. Though Gu Qingtong had gotten used to being bashed on trending topics since rising to fame, she was still amazed at the media’s ability to make something out of nothing. She had only glanced resentfully at Yan Chi’s back for a second when no one was looking, yet this moment had been captured and turned into multiple stories.
Gu Qingtong looked at the serious speculation about their supposedly forced partnership leading to mutual annoyance and found their imagination overly rich. If they knew her resentment was due to her aching back and legs, they might choke on their own words. Fortunately, the general public had become more discerning, no longer being led by a single picture with fabricated content. Most people were waiting for tonight’s live stream to see the true state of their relationship.
Seeing this, Gu Qingtong’s eyes twinkled slightly while getting her makeup done. In the past, she would maintain a polite distance from Yan Chi on such shows to avoid exposing their relationship. But now, she felt an inexplicable urge to show more closeness with Yan Chi during the live broadcast. This urge partly stemmed from the recent malicious speculation and a touch of pettiness.
While Gu Qingtong could act distant with Yan Chi, the rumors suggesting they had finally grown tired of each other stirred something in her.
She felt awkward and quite unhappy about it. The more they tried to find evidence that she and Yan Chi were not close, the more she wanted to do the opposite. She wanted to show their closeness to spite the media who fabricated stories.
However, the most crucial change came after she came out in the crew. For the first time, Gu Qingtong felt that being open wasn’t such a scary thing. From the day she married Yan Chi, she had hidden everything well. Apart from not wanting to affect their careers, it was also because she knew deep down that she and Yan Chi were worlds apart. Almost no one believed they could stand together. Even though it started as a business marriage, her pride and determination didn’t want her to become a burden to Yan Chi.
However, under everyone’s witness and blessings, Gu Qingtong’s worries gradually faded. She seemed to have gained courage. The desire to let the world know Yan Chi was her lover and to stand by her side openly grew stronger, filling Gu Qingtong’s heart with warmth. Should she take this step?
This made Gu Qingtong, who usually preferred staying in her comfort zone when faced with dilemmas, hesitant for the first time. Their relationship was just a step away from being publicly acknowledged. Even Yan Chi noticed Gu Qingtong’s inner conflict.
These thoughts made her mind a jumble until she was led into the studio after finishing her makeup. She hadn’t sorted out her thoughts. Finally, she decided not to impose any restrictions on herself anymore. She would follow her heart and let things happen naturally.
Though her mind was a bit unclear, Gu Qingtong vaguely remembered that the program initially planned to have her and Yan Chi rest in the lounge after makeup. Seeing herself directly sent to the studio, she felt puzzled. She asked and found out that time was running short, and the planned video recording in the lounge was canceled.
Upon entering the room, Gu Qingtong instinctively glanced around, obviously looking for Yan Chi. Unexpectedly, Yan Chi, who usually arrived early to wait for her, was later than her this time, making Gu Qingtong the first to arrive.
She had long developed the habit of searching for Yan Chi in a crowd. Every time she appeared on a show or entered a set with Yan Chi, she would subconsciously do it. Seeing Yan Chi’s familiar face instantly filled her heart with a sense of security.
Not seeing Yan Chi, she felt a bit disappointed and only after a while did she focus on the live broadcast equipment in front of her. It was then she realized the live broadcast had probably started before she entered the studio.
Unbeknownst to Gu Qingtong, the program had arranged a hidden camera in the lounge as a surprise. Although they didn’t announce it to avoid leaks and maintain authenticity, they had started the live stream early on their channel, pretending to test the equipment in an empty room.
Later, time indeed became tight, and even the cameras in the lounge were left on without being retrieved. The live broadcast feed that was connected to the lounge cameras was hastily switched directly to the studio. The production crew felt relieved and much lighter afterward. After arriving in the studio, they completely forgot about the cameras and live feed in the lounge.
Gu Qingtong, still a bit dazed, sat down and nearly forgot about her sore waist and legs. She almost cried out in front of the audience but managed to hold back. Instead, she discreetly reached under the table, rubbing her sore waist. Now was not the time to focus on her aching body.
As her gaze lowered, she noticed the tablet displaying the live broadcast and realized the live chat was already bustling with activity. The viewers, who had been waiting in the live chat, had clearly witnessed her looking around for Yan Chi.
This was the first appearance of “Silent Gaze” since they joined the production crew, and it thrilled fans of all three sides. Long before Gu Qingtong realized the live broadcast had started, the live chat was already filled with messages:
[I bet 50 cents that Tongtong is looking for Teacher Yan. That disappointed look when she didn’t see her is just so cute!]
[Teacher Yan, your wife is waiting for you! Hurry up!]
[I’ve been waiting in the fandom for three months. Some marketing accounts think a single picture can make me leave? Think again!]
These were the first messages that caught Gu Qingtong’s eye. Instead of feeling worried about being exposed, she felt a bit of sweetness from the bottom of her heart. It turned out that Yan Chi had already become a part of her habits. No wonder, despite thinking she had hidden all her feelings in the crew, they were easily exposed to everyone.
Since these habits couldn’t be changed or hidden for now, she might as well let things be. Originally, “Silent Gaze” fans expected her to say the classic CP1Couple Pairing disclaimer:
“I am just a partner/senior/colleague with Teacher Yan. Please don’t misunderstand…”
But instead, they saw Gu Qingtong smile lightly, as if realizing something significant:
[Hey, hey, why didn’t Tong Mei deny it? Things are changing, everyone!]
[I should be happy, but why do I feel a bit uncomfortable, like a pig not used to eating fine grains?]
“Today, all my lines were preemptively said by various marketing accounts. It’s tiring to hear them, so I won’t repeat them,” Gu Qingtong said, smiling as she looked at the joking comments in the live chat.
Although her smile remained bright and sweet, the slight exposure of her small tiger teeth revealed a rare bit of mischief aimed at those marketing accounts.
[Haha, she nailed it! Just for watching Silent Gaze slap the paparazzi and media in the face, I need to binge this episode!]
Noticing Gu Qingtong was reading the live chat, her dedicated fans quickly took over the chat, outnumbering even the CP fans. The number of fans and comments had doubled compared to when she was on “Love Game.” Clearly, the promotional photos and audition videos for “Bai Mei Sheng” were well-received, attracting many new fans for Gu Qingtong.
Regardless of when fans joined the fandom, they couldn’t help but see Gu Qingtong as their beloved daughter or little sister:
[Ahhh, it’s been so long, Tong Mei! Mom missed you so much. It’s like you vanished after joining the crew, you didn’t even post selfies, sob sob.]
The reason Gu Qingtong, who used to post a selfie at least once a week, had been absent for so long was because she was still traumatized from the time she accidentally revealed Yan Chi in a selfie. Unable to disclose the real reason, she instinctively borrowed Yan Chi’s name once again when she didn’t see her around:
“It’s because I’ve been in the same crew as Teacher Yan and Director Yuan, diligently learning from my seniors, immersing myself in the script, and honing my acting skills. That’s why I’ve been surfing the internet less.”
No wonder Gu Qingtong kept using this excuse after her previous mishap; it was just too effective. After all, Yan Chi was known for her aloof image, and no one would suspect or verify her claims.
As Yan Chi entered the studio, she heard her name being mentioned by Gu Qingtong. Using her and the script as an excuse again… she hasn’t even fully recovered from her sore waist and has already forgotten the pain?
Her cool voice suddenly interjected, deliberately responding to Gu Qingtong, “Indeed, hasn’t she been learning all along?”
The word “learning” carried a subtle undertone.
The viewers in the live chat, unaware of the context, didn’t react much. Only Gu Qingtong, startled by Yan Chi’s sudden appearance, blushed at the tips of her ears. This time, her bluff was caught red-handed by Yan Chi. Looking into her eyes, Gu Qingtong could almost feel her waist ache again.
This was the first live broadcast they participated in after confirming their feelings for each other. Their gaze, sticky and tender, was naturally different from when they had a secret crush. Just one look at each other seemed to be filled with hidden meanings.
Although the viewers couldn’t decipher these hidden meanings, the CP fans could sense the tension and excitement in the air, filling the chat with enthusiastic exclamations.
[No wonder they’ve starred in a same-sex film together; their relationship seems to have progressed significantly!]
Gu Qingtong knew that if she continued to look into Yan Chi’s eyes, her cheeks would inevitably turn red from Yan Chi’s inexplicable allure. At a critical moment, she noticed the big screen in front of her lighting up and immediately changed the topic:
“Huh? What’s on the screen? Is it today’s challenge and Q&A?”
Yan Chi knew the rules, which was why she arrived later than Gu Qingtong. This pre-warm-up live broadcast was for the honeymoon travel special. Various travel destinations and challenges needed to be decided through games and tasks, allowing the audience to see the process.
Director Bu, worried that the two might continue their forced cooperation in front of the camera, only informed Yan Chi of the rules, hoping for more interaction between them.
Gu Qingtong, unaware of the rules, looked at Yan Chi with the same confusion as the audience, despite being a guest herself.
“Mm, you can take a look first.”
Saying this, Yan Chi’s gaze fell on Gu Qingtong’s instinctively pressed-together knees. Instead of sitting down, she asked a nearby staff member for a blanket. Leaning down slightly, she carefully covered Gu Qingtong’s uncomfortable legs with the blanket.
Although Gu Qingtong was used to Yan Chi’s meticulous care, having so many viewers watching made her reflexively glance nervously at the camera, feeling a bit inexplicably shy.
“I can do it myself…” Gu Qingtong said, but Yan Chi showed no intention of letting her. So, she just pushed her chair back a bit to make it easier for Yan Chi to place the blanket over her legs.
“Th-thank you, Teacher Yan.”
The viewers, seeing Yan Chi’s practiced care for Gu Qingtong, were thrilled despite not being able to see the whole process beneath the table:
[This definitely isn’t the first time! Tong Mei only remembered to say she’d do it herself because of the camera. Before, she was super obedient, waiting for Teacher Yan to take care of her.]
[Did those marketing accounts that recklessly claimed they broke up see this? You tell me this sweet couple broke up??!]
[Wow, now that I think about it, when Tong Mei first sat down, her legs almost gave way. Her skirt seems a bit short, so her legs must be cold. But…Teacher Yan didn’t see it. How did she know?]
No one knew the truth. As Yan Chi covered Gu Qingtong with the blanket, she also discreetly massaged her waist under the table where the cameras couldn’t see. Gu Qingtong had removed her hand that was barely supporting her waist, but Yan Chi knew her waist was sore.
Yan Chi’s massage was gentle but effective, relieving Gu Qingtong’s discomfort that she couldn’t alleviate herself. Although Gu Qingtong had previously asked Yan Chi for help with massages, the relief was always temporary, and the soreness would return. Knowing they were filming, she couldn’t expect Yan Chi to continuously help her.
So, when Yan Chi pulled her hand back after adjusting the blanket, Gu Qingtong felt a wave of reluctant disappointment.
Yan Chi, however, had already considered her little wife’s situation. Due to Yan Chi’s negotiations, the filming in the rest area was cut, and the live broadcast only needed to last until the tasks were completed. The production team was unsure about the hidden camera plan, which was set before the two became close while filming “Bai Mei Sheng.” As Yan Chi pushed for an early end to the session, the team found it a relief, reducing the risk and workload for everyone.
Gu Qingtong finally understood the rules of this live broadcast as she looked at the challenges and questions on the big screen. It was a compatibility challenge with various questions, each having two or three options. They had three seconds to answer, and their answers would determine the customized aspects of their upcoming travel show. Only matching answers would be valid, customized according to the guests’ preferences. If they didn’t match, the audience would vote on the options via live chat, with the highest votes deciding the outcome.
This challenge seemed almost impossible; no matter how familiar they were, it was easy to fail with such a short response time. Previous reality shows with similar challenges often resulted in failure because the participants hadn’t developed enough understanding and compatibility.
The audience was eager to help customize the travel plans for Yan Chi and Gu Qingtong. Gu Qingtong stole a glance at Yan Chi, unsure of their level of mutual understanding.
“Three, two, one, favorite season,” the question began.
Between summer and winter, Gu Qingtong naturally preferred summer, disliking the cold that kept her from wearing dresses. But her main reason for choosing summer was Yan Chi’s health. Both said “summer” at the same time.
The initial questions were basic, ranging from seasons to locations, dietary preferences, and taste preferences. Almost instantly, Yan Chi would calmly state the answer, and Gu Qingtong would follow with the same response. They were well-acquainted with each other’s preferences; Gu Qingtong even used to think their habits were quite similar.
Growing up, Gu Qingtong had always been a bit of a pampered troublemaker with peculiar habits. Few people shared her quirks, making her feel quite at ease when she first married Yan Chi. However, during the compatibility challenge, Gu Qingtong realized the key to winning was one person knowing all about the other and responding with their partner’s preferences.
Suddenly, Gu Qingtong understood that what she considered similar habits were actually Yan Chi silently accommodating her. She had never noticed this before and felt a strong sense of guilt, realizing she had never truly understood Yan Chi. As they continued answering questions, Gu Qingtong anxiously glanced at Yan Chi’s profile.
Yan Chi answered without a moment’s thought, as if these preferences were ingrained in her mind. What Gu Qingtong didn’t know was that Yan Chi’s choices were not out of accommodation. In her previous life, Yan Chi had never experienced “liking” anything. Her first emotion of liking emerged because of Gu Qingtong. Since then, Yan Chi had repeatedly associated this feeling with everything Gu Qingtong liked.
Sensing Gu Qingtong’s anxious gaze, Yan Chi turned to meet her eyes, a hint of a smile in her usually calm eyes. This smile seemed to instantly soothe Gu Qingtong, calming her chaotic emotions. Their eye contact was noticed by both the staff and the audience. Despite this distraction, they continued answering the questions correctly.
Even as the questions moved from basic to more obscure ones, things that were hard to notice in daily life, they didn’t falter. Everyone realized it wasn’t just a coincidence; they genuinely knew each other’s habits inside out.
[What kind of destined couple is this?! I’m shocked. I’ve been best friends with someone for ten years, and we couldn’t succeed in this challenge.]
[Silent Gaze are amazing!! This is beyond just being close. I suggest they get married on the spot!]
[And look at Tong Mei’s expression, she seems surprised too. Yan Chi is smiling and comforting her, so gentle!]
The production team never expected the duo to perform the compatibility challenge flawlessly. No wonder Yan Chi had asked if there was a time limit for the live broadcast. The team initially thought it would take at least two hours for them to stumble through the challenge, with the audience voting to decide. Hence, they confidently replied that there was no time limit.
Yan Chi, as usual, effortlessly completed the challenge flawlessly.
“The challenge is over?” Yan Chi asked the production team, looking at the now darkened screen. “If there’s nothing else, can we call it a day?”
The production team was dumbfounded. They had only prepared mini-games for interaction with the audience in case of a failure in the compatibility challenge. They hadn’t anticipated a complete pass, let alone planned any further challenges.
“Uh…..we just need the audience to like the live stream to decide your travel budget, but if we end the live stream now, the likes might fall short,” one of the crew members stammered.
The production team was used to setting traps for others, never expecting Yan Chi to easily outmaneuver them if she wished.
“Then you don’t have to end the live stream,” Yan Chi said nonchalantly. “Just keep it running until the originally planned time. Whatever the likes amount to, that’s our budget. If it’s not enough, we can earn more during the actual recording.”
Yan Chi’s gaze then fell on Gu Qingtong. Gu Qingtong finally realized that Yan Chi wanted her to finish early so she wouldn’t have to endure her back and leg pain any longer.
“Well… okay then,” the crew agreed, seeing the sense in her suggestion. They decided to go along with it. However, since the studio staff still needed to pack up the equipment, they switched the camera back to the empty dressing room, letting it stream for another hour before shutting down.
After making these adjustments, the production team quickly tidied up the studio, happy to avoid overtime for once. They moved with extra speed and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Yan Chi and Gu Qingtong bid farewell to the audience and left the studio, one following the other.
