During her school years, Chu Yueyi had read countless play scripts, even memorizing classic works by heart. She had some ulterior motives when selecting scripts to perform, but never imagined her choices would be interpreted by others with hidden agendas.
At home, several open suitcases filled with daily necessities for the film crew's shooting period were placed in the living room. Chu Yueyi packed her things and neatly arranged the full suitcases, finally breathing a sigh of relief after the busy preparation.
This wasn't her first time preparing to join a film crew, but this time her heart felt unusually chaotic.
The day before joining the crew, "Heart-Fluttering Promise" would conduct its final recording, officially ending her and Shi Guanghua's on-screen relationship in the show.
She actually didn't know what the future would hold.
People accumulate beautiful memories through frequent interactions, and then rely on these precious fragments to resist unknown pain and setbacks. If they overcome hardships together, they can accompany each other for life.
Some people's memory fragments are warm enough and powerful, even able to support them across cold glaciers and snow fields; some people's memory fragments are beautiful but fragile, perhaps fading and shattering over time.
After Chu Yueyi joined the crew, she would inevitably be unable to see Shi Guanghua for a long time. Months of separation would change many things. Their relationship might be good now, but it could fade without frequent meetings.
She could be certain of her own thoughts, but couldn't read the other's mind.
But life is often like this, at most one can have a clear conscience.
Thinking of this, Chu Yueyi opened her wardrobe and took out a piece of clothing. The dress was covered with a dust bag, having been carefully stored all along.
The next day, the twelfth episode of "Heart-Fluttering Promise" began recording. The filming location turned out to be the lakeside restaurant from the first episode - they had come full circle back to this place. The lake surface was sparkling and calm, and except for some slight changes in the color of plants on the shore, the scenery remained largely unchanged from before.
When Chu Yueyi arrived at the lakeside restaurant again, she looked at the familiar surroundings, her mood different from the first time.
Back then, she had never participated in any variety shows before, was extremely unfamiliar with the guest stars and staff, and walked towards the restaurant with forced composure, treating it only as a performance. Now, she was recording the last episode, very familiar with the director and others, and had more complex emotions towards her partner.
Outside the van, staff members were waiting with microphones for Chu Yueyi to get out. As they watched her take small steps out of the car door and saw clearly the dress she was wearing today, their expressions froze in surprise.
Chu Yueyi noticed the unexpected look in their eyes and took the initiative to greet them softly, smiling, "Good morning."
"Good morning." The directors finally came to their senses and began to set up the sound equipment for Chu Yueyi. They casually mentioned, "Mr. Shi is already here."
Chu Yueyi was stunned: "So early? Isn't it still a long time before the scheduled time?"
"Yeah, he came very early and has been wandering by the lake."
"Then I'll go take a look."
"Hey, hey, we're almost done setting up..."
Chu Yueyi was about to hurry off but was pulled back by the staff members to properly put on the recording equipment. Once everything was ready, she dashed off, leaving behind the marveling directors.
The female director commented: "Shi Guanghua's aimless wandering by the lake for so long wasn't in vain."
Shi Guanghua had arrived extremely early today. He seemed inexplicably anxious and had been pacing back and forth by the lake, not interacting much with others. Since it was the final recording, everyone was more or less feeling a bit sentimental, and for once could understand the reason for Shi Guanghua's unusual behavior.
Others, watching Chu Yueyi's retreating figure, sighed: "Who wouldn't say it's real?"
On the lakeside path, a gentle breeze blew. Shi Guanghua stood alone on the shore, gazing at the tranquil lake surface, motionless, as if he could never get enough of the beautiful scenery before him.
Not far away, the cameraman quietly watched over the male guest, but the latter had been pacing silently the whole time, not saying a word, lost in thought.
When Chu Yueyi arrived, what she saw was Shi Guanghua standing silently on the path, alone like a thousand-year-old weathered statue. The distant lake water surged with broken, shimmering light under the sun, finally adding streaks of warm color to his lonely figure.
He looked very solitary, with a hint of melancholy.
Chu Yueyi lightened her footsteps. She signaled to the cameraman nearby, not disturbing Shi Guanghua, and quietly approached him, casually striking up a conversation: "Hey, handsome, want to add me on WeChat?"
Hearing the familiar female voice, Shi Guanghua reflexively turned around. When he clearly saw her dress, a flash of disbelief crossed his eyes, followed immediately by an irrepressible joy on his face. He even had to use his fist to cover his wildly upturned mouth corners to avoid grinning outright.
Seeing him take two steps back in overwhelming joy, Chu Yueyi couldn't help but mutter: "That happy to be hit on?"
Shi Guanghua was now trying to manage his expression but still couldn't control the slight curve of his lips. He said softly, "Your dress..."
Chu Yueyi was wearing a light-colored dress with a dreamy gauze texture and court-style puff sleeves. This was one of the performance costumes Shi Guanghua had given her when they performed "Two-Faced Muse."
As is well known, celebrities' clothes are usually one-time use, discarded after appearing on camera, but she had deliberately worn this one today.
Chu Yueyi awkwardly averted her gaze, feigning composure: "What? Doesn't it look good? Maybe the person who bought it just has poor taste."
Hearing her speak so stiffly, Shi Guanghua, who had been feeling low while standing alone on the shore, now felt his heart melting. He found her adorable no matter how he looked at her and hurriedly said earnestly, "It looks good, very good."
Faced with the compliment, Chu Yueyi let out a cold laugh: "Hmph, men, always praising those who hit on them?"
"..."
Shi Guanghua found it hard to describe his current feelings. The person he liked was wearing the clothes he had chosen, standing confidently in front of him. He felt as if the whole world had suddenly brightened. He unconsciously reached out his hand and asked, "May I hold your hand?"
He actually wanted to do more than just hold hands, but some things couldn't be done yet.
Chu Yueyi felt her face heat up at his directness. She looked at his long-fingered hand and muttered, "Hmph, men, always so forward with those who hit on them?"
Shi Guanghua: "... Is this a continuation of the play performance? Shall we act out something else?"
She had suddenly set up this pick-up scenario and fabricated various charges against him.
Chu Yueyi was a bit sensitive to the suggestion of "acting out something else," fearing another direct hit from him. She quickly reached out and held his hand, meekly saying, "I was just joking."
Chu Yueyi felt it wasn't good to stimulate Shi Guanghua further. After performing the kissing scene, his line delivery had become particularly fierce, often veering towards some strange topics.
The two walked hand in hand along the lakeside, enjoying the warm sunlight and the enchanting lake scenery.
Recalling the scene when she arrived, Chu Yueyi curiously asked, "Why did you come so early today? And wander by the lake alone?"
Shi Guanghua: "Thinking about things."
Chu Yueyi: "What things?"
Shi Guanghua: "Thinking about you."
Chu Yueyi: "So cheesy, bleh bleh bleh."
Shi Guanghua stopped in his tracks. He turned back to glance at her with a restrained and stifled look, shocked that such a heartless person existed in this world, yet truly at a loss for what to do with her.
This was the last episode recording, wasn't it natural for him to think about her?
She actually responded like that.
Chu Yueyi felt a bit guilty under his gaze, her voice gradually becoming smaller as she dryly asked, "What were you thinking about me?"
Shi Guanghua said flatly, "Thinking that after winning you over, you've lost your novelty, and now you're planning to abandon me?"
Chu Yueyi: "?"
This was truly a critical hit. It should be noted that throughout their recording, they had never used definitive words to define their relationship!
In the show, they never made promises or explicitly expressed words like "like" or "love," remaining in a long-term state of ambiguity and uncertainty. Even though the show was positioned as a dating reality show, they both avoided certain sensitive phrases.
The two might have had a strange tacit understanding that before their feelings were stable, using words that exceeded their relationship would seem less than solemn, so they simply didn't use them at all.
But he had spoken first.
Chu Yueyi felt the blood rush from her feet to her head. She took a deep breath, rarely flustered, and stammered, "Brother, let's be reasonable here, I haven't... won you over yet, have I..."
Seeing her pupils constrict in fear, Shi Guanghua calmly said, "That's because you're not reaching out."
Chu Yueyi: "..."
Chu Yueyi was completely bewildered by his words. How could she reach out in her current situation?
Should she rashly agree, then tell him, "Sorry, but I'm too busy to spend time with you," before flying off to the film set the next day and isolating herself for work for several months? During which time she'd barely have a moment to reply to messages. Wouldn't that be the very definition of winning someone over only to abandon them?
Shi Guanghua wasn't a character to be conquered in a game. He shouldn't be treated so casually and neglectfully, especially during the fragile early stages of a relationship. Any genuine affection requires an investment of time and energy; otherwise, it seems cheap and frivolous.
Chu Yueyi pressed her lips together, remaining silent.
Noticing her hesitation and inner conflict, Shi Guanghua showed no signs of disappointment. He even seemed to guess her thoughts. Mimicking Chu Yueyi's recent tone, he said nonchalantly, "I'm just kidding."
Hearing him offer her a way out, Chu Yueyi said with a trembling voice, "This joke..." She couldn't bring herself to laugh.
Shi Guanghua glanced at her, saying pointedly, "I know you're too lazy to reach out. You prefer things to fall right into your hands."
Faced with his subtle dig, Chu Yueyi felt like dropping to her knees and pleading, "Mr. Shi, I beg you..." Please stop, please stop.
Hearing Chu Yueyi's pitiful plea, Shi Guanghua finally relented. He had known about her upcoming schedule and casually asked, "Is your flight tomorrow?"
They wouldn't be able to see each other for a while after tomorrow, which was why he had felt gloomy upon waking and hoped to see her earlier today.
Chu Yueyi answered honestly, "Yes, I'm joining the film crew tomorrow."
Shi Guanghua lowered his gaze, softly voicing his doubt, "You won't ignore my messages once you're on set, will you?"
Chu Yueyi patiently replied, "No, let's be reasonable. I've never done anything like that..."
Shi Guanghua's expression remained impassive as he said slowly, "Who knows? After all, you said you once completely lost contact during filming. Plus, you'll meet so many new male actors on set. I heard it's a female-led drama too."
Chu Yueyi: "..."
Shi Guanghua's current understanding of female-led dramas was based on Chu Yueyi's fictional story of forceful possession and confinement. His meaningful gaze seemed to say, "You're going to lock up someone else in your castle, aren't you?"
Even with her good temper, Chu Yueyi felt slightly annoyed by Shi Guanghua's repeated insinuations. She gave up and said, "I'll reply, I'll reply every day. How about I pin you to the top of my chat list? Will that do?"
Hearing her frustrated tone, Shi Guanghua calmly responded, "That works."
Seeing that he dared to agree, Chu Yueyi immediately took out her phone and pinned his chat to the top right in front of him, along with changing his WeChat nickname.
Shi Guanghua was quite satisfied with her pinning his chat, but when he saw the new nickname, he suddenly felt uncomfortable and looked at her with confusion and suspicion. "Wait, what kind of nickname is this..."
Chu Yueyi feigned innocence and asked, "What do you mean?"
Shi Guanghua hesitated, "Why did you change my name to... this..."
Chu Yueyi had pinned Shi Guanghua's chat to the top but changed his original nickname to "Hey, wifey".
Shi Guanghua couldn't understand where she got such a bold move from, always managing to catch him off guard with her counterattacks.
Chu Yueyi said seriously, "The idiom 'to play with and then abandon' refers to men toying with women's feelings before discarding them. It's a term for men's evil behavior towards women. Even if you want to accuse me of this, shouldn't you at least have been toyed with first?"
Since it was a term for men's evil behavior towards women, what was wrong with changing his nickname to "wifey"?
If she was going to take the blame, she might as well make the crime fit! Otherwise, wouldn't her reputation suffer for nothing?
Shi Guanghua: "...!"