Chapter 14: The Return

Perfect Partner‘s first episode, two days of filming, wrapped smoothly.

The production team analyzed viewer sentiment and watch data: the first episode’s livestream peaked at 9 million concurrent viewers, with a low point of over 4 million. The show had undeniably blown up!

More importantly, word of mouth from the general public was strong, with lots of organic recommendations and massive topical buzz.

The return trip hadn’t originally been planned for streaming, but the team struck while the iron was hot and, with the guests’ consent, turned on the cameras as a final bonus. It was still early, so viewership was low.

They’d played games last night, and Gao Qi had brought out his own liquor.

Ning Ke had drunk too. This morning she’d woken early, rare for her, and was the first out the door. An Yu and two assistants wheeled six suitcases behind her, and the bullet comments started their passive-aggressive commentary again about the princess leaving with her maids.

The weather had warmed slightly, with a light drizzle falling.

No one was on the production van yet. Ning Ke rolled down the window to talk to Lin Yun.

Lin Yun: “We start the second episode after the New Year. How do you feel?”

Ning Ke: “No feelings. It is what it is.”

Lin Yun: “Hey? Could you give me a little face?”

Ning Ke: “No.”

Lin Yun: “I give up on you. Oh, Tao Zhi comes back in a few days. Want to pick him up together?”

Ning Ke: “Sure.”

While they were talking, Ning Ke saw Yan Yunzhi come out of the house.

She had a scarf draped over her left arm and was pushing a small suitcase with her right hand. She paused under the eaves to look at the sky. The drizzle wasn’t heavy, but she didn’t call for anyone—she just started walking with her case.

Ning Ke told Lin Yun she’d call back, then said to An Yu, “Go help her with her suitcase.”

An Yu: “Huh? Who? Teacher Yan?”

Ning Ke grabbed an umbrella, got out of the van, walked over, and shoved it at Yan Yunzhi, annoyed. “A fragile thing like you—are you allowed to get rained on?”

She jammed the umbrella handle into Yan Yunzhi’s hand and walked off toward the van with the drizzle on her own face.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t have time to call her back. An Yu came up, smiling. “Teacher Yan, I’ll take your suitcase.”

“Thank you.” Yan Yunzhi smiled at An Yu, opened the umbrella, and walked through the rain, elegant and upright.

The not-yet-awake viewers finally processed what had happened. Ning Ke’s fans, who’d been dozing, snapped awake:

“Wait, Ning Ke treats Yan Yunzhi SO differently.”

“So awkward, haha. She says one thing but does another!”

“Stop shipping it. She’s just respecting a senior.”

“Yan Yunzhi walks so slowly. But her posture is so graceful.”

Ning Ke also thought Yan Yunzhi was walking too slowly. She rolled down the window, glanced out, and looked away; a few seconds later, she looked out again. Only when Yan Yunzhi got close did she sit up straight.

“Wuwu, Little Ning is so cute. Like a little cat poking her head out.”

“So obedient—the moment she sees her sister, she sits up straight hahaha.”

“Seriously, are these two NOT dating?”

At that, the solo fans couldn’t take it anymore, but even their internal opinions split:

“This is our Little Ning being polite!”

“Ah, well. Our sister’s temper isn’t exactly new. Have you ever seen her polite to anyone?”

“Who’s ‘your sister’? Are you even a Ning fan?”

“Ha, how fast you are to strip fan status. I can recite every detail of her taking down reporters and anti-fans! Let me ask YOU: has she EVER been like this with anyone?”

The rabid solo fans: “…”

We’re shipping it… damn it.

–

The trip home went smoothly.

Sister Lu came out to greet them. “Oh my, you’re finally back!”

Yan Yunzhi handed her the umbrella. “It wasn’t so bad. Only three or four days.”

Sister Lu beamed at Ning Ke. “Miss Ning, thank you for taking care of Azhi these past few days.”

She’d been very relaxed lately—between housework and square dancing, she’d been glued to her phone watching clips, and had come across Perfect Partner footage more than once. She’d watched with a grin from ear to ear. This Miss Ning was a bit prickly, but she really did cherish her wife!

Ning Ke: “Thanks to me?”

Not at all. The only reason she’d thrown herself into the games so hard was that she simply wanted to win.

What did that have to do with Yan Yunzhi?

Ning Ke headed upstairs. “I’m skipping dinner tonight. No need to call me.”

Watching her retreating back, Yan Yunzhi curved her lips and said to Sister Lu, “We ate a little on the road. Make something she likes.”

“But she said she won’t eat?” Sister Lu paused, pointing upstairs. “Should I ask?”

Yan Yunzhi smiled and shook her head. “No need.”

Sister Lu didn’t press and went into the kitchen. She worked efficiently, and dinner was ready by 7.

But she looked at the table in a bind: cola chicken wings, crispy beef shreds, dry-pot cabbage—all things Yan Yunzhi had requested. If Ning Ke didn’t come down to eat, tonight’s food would go to waste.

Just as she was puzzling over it, she saw Ning Ke come downstairs. “Miss Ning, you’re down for dinner?”

“I’ll just grab some milk.” Ning Ke passed by the table, then couldn’t help slowing. “You made all this?”

Yan Yunzhi pulled out a chair for her. “Eat a little with me. Don’t waste it.”

Ning Ke: “I’ll get fat.”

Yan Yunzhi: “A little won’t hurt.”

Ning Ke: “Don’t say that.”

She took a deep breath and sat down, lacking all backbone.

To be fair, Yan Yunzhi was better suited to be a celebrity than Ning Ke—the woman could eat without gaining weight. What kind of infuriating physique was that?

Yan Yunzhi couldn’t help smiling, her eyes narrowing with mirth, clear and bright, reflecting Ning Ke’s image.

Sister Lu couldn’t help smiling at the scene either. She set out the utensils and slipped out quietly.

Ning Ke picked up two chicken wings onto her plate. “Lin Yun said she’s leaving the music editing to you?”

Yan Yunzhi hummed. “She didn’t think the original theme song was suitable. She wants me to prepare one, and handle the post-production music editing.”

Ning Ke: “That much? Can you handle it?”

Yan Yunzhi: “I should be able to.”

Ning Ke was starting to regret inviting her onto the show.

On top of appearing as a guest, Lin Yun had also asked Yan Yunzhi to be the music director. The compensation was six figures higher, but Yan Yunzhi didn’t need that money. Why go through the trouble?

She didn’t say these things out loud, nor did she raise any new topics.

The dinner was a battle of willpower. Ning Ke used all her self-control to stop at two wings. She put down her chopsticks. “Done. Going up.”

Yan Yunzhi noticed her secretly rubbing her belly and couldn’t hold back a smile. “Alright. Rest early.”

Back in her room, Ning Ke weighed herself first. Good, no weight gain.

But she’d eaten so much tonight, and it was all Yan Yunzhi’s fault.

Two hours later, she changed into a tank top and shorts, opened a workout video, and started doing aerobics.

The past few days of filming had worn her out. She was low on energy, so she had to force herself with motivation. She turned on a high-energy fast song, and by the end, she was shouting slogans:

“Keep going! Push!”

“Jump! I’m the most beautiful woman in the world!”

“Yan Yunzhi’s waist is THAT thin, remember? Look at you!”

By the final shout, Ning Ke had nothing left. Her legs gave out, and she simply gave up, kneeling on the yoga mat.

That was when she noticed the room door was open—somewhere along the way.

Yan Yunzhi stood at the doorway, watching her with barely concealed amusement. Who knew how long she’d been there.

Ning Ke: “…”

Had she… said something just now that she shouldn’t have?