Chapter 47: Awkward Atmosphere Part 2

She flicked up her eyelids and glanced at Qiu Chao. “Your chilled watermelon—eat it tomorrow.”

With that, she stood and headed inside, her shadow stretching long across the yard. Qiu Chao, in a daze, stepped forward to stomp on it.

She didn’t notice a bamboo knot on the ground—one that Ding Yingxue had sawed off earlier while making Bamboo Tube Rice.

Qiu Chao let out a sharp yelp as she tumbled down.

Yan Muyu whipped her head around. “Oh? You don’t need to bow so deeply just to show your gratitude.”

【Someone come saw off Yan Muyu’s mouth for me.】

【Some people talk a big game but run faster than anyone.】

【Damn, turns out girls can scoop up other girls like that too?】

【My jaw just dropped.】

【Is this the legendary top?】

【Qiu Chao, the way you’re hanging onto Yan Muyu’s neck is way too practiced…】

Qiu Chao’s cry and the thud of her fall drew everyone inside rushing out.

Ding Yingxue and Xi Xi, who was clutching a spatula, hurried over. “What happened? Did you fall?”

Yan Muyu, still holding Qiu Chao, kicked at the bamboo knot on the ground. “Stepped on this, huh?”

Qiu Chao’s knee burned with pain, and so did her hand. She didn’t say a word, but in the camera’s view, with her eyes turning red, she looked utterly pitiful.

Ding Yingxue said, “Sorry, it must be because I forgot to sweep it up.”

Yan Muyu asked the off-screen staff, “Where’s the first aid kit?”

Xi Xi replied, “There’s one under the table in the hall.”

Yan Muyu carried Qiu Chao through the door. Even the view of her back as she stepped over the threshold carried a wild confidence.

In the livestream feed, blended with the natural light, she gave off an unparalleled sense of security—yet Qiu Chao’s limp, dangling hand created a jarringly contradictory vibe.

【I’ve sinned; my mind just went there.】

【Qiu Chao really seems so delicate. I never thought she was this fragile before—I’ve seen her in movie behind-the-scenes doing her own stunt work, super independent.】

【This is the fierce woman who does her own action scenes. Now I’m wondering if she’s a power bottom.】

【How exactly did she fall? When’s the replay? I need to savor it.】

【My brain’s just looping Yan Muyu picking her up… my legs are a little weak too…】

【She might laugh it off, but she was nervous for real. Turns out girls can hold each other like that too.】

【Fun fact: Yan Muyu was number one in kayaking back in college. No issues with her strength.】

【Don’t remind me—you see how she bikes up and down every day without breaking a sweat, while Liu Song’s wiped out.】

【Don’t drag our baby like that; she’s still young!】

Qiu Chao was carried inside just like that, her face buried in Yan Muyu’s neck. In that moment, her heart pounded right up to her throat.

It had been a long time since Qiu Chao felt this nervous.

Even when winning international awards, Mai Chen would say she looked too nonchalant, like it was a shoo-in.

But feelings didn’t come with guarantees. For Qiu Chao, falling for Yan Muyu was a thorny path full of hidden dangers.

Like the sight that greeted her the moment she entered—Xuan Zhelu.

She was leaning over the loft railing, looking down.

That was another thorn.

Liu Song came downstairs carrying the first aid kit, with Xuan Zhelu following behind.

Yan Muyu first removed Qiu Chao’s shoe and checked her leg. She noticed scrapes on Qiu Chao’s arm too and let out a sigh of exasperation.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Qiu Chao said, “You’re not going to yell at me for not watching where I was going?”

The words left Yan Muyu speechless for a moment.

It took her half a day to squeeze out, “Am I that kind of person in your mind?”

【Hahaha, that’s exactly what I was thinking!】

【And she really is kinda mean!!】

【Who made you two at each other’s throats before?】

【But Yan Muyu’s always been good to Qiu Chao, right? Complaining about how tiring it is biking people around, but still doing it every day.】

Qiu Chao even hummed in agreement.

Yan Muyu sighed and cleaned the scrapes on her wounds.

Her technique was surprisingly professional, prompting Xi Xi, standing nearby, to comment, “I thought we’d need to call a doctor.”

Yan Muyu asked, “Is there a team doctor?”

Xi Xi replied, “Aren’t you the boss?”

Yan Muyu said, “Do I look like a boss, running around all day?”

She chatted idly while tending to Qiu Chao’s wounds.

Stray hairs blew wild in the wind, but her brows furrowed tight—she was worried Qiu Chao might have injured a bone.

“Have the doctor check it later anyway. Can you walk?”

Qiu Chao hummed in response.

Pei Wan saw it wasn’t serious and went back to cooking. Xuan Zhelu, standing next to Liu Song, asked, “Are they always this close?”

Xuan Zhelu and Liu Song were fairly familiar beyond the gala—they’d even played mobile games together privately, something fans knew about since Liu Song had promoted her album and Xuan Zhelu reposted it.

Liu Song replied, “Are they?”

Out of nowhere, she recalled that first night when she’d pushed Yan Muyu into the kitchen to help.

There was always this indescribable tension between Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao—one that even someone as emotionally attuned as Liu Song struggled to put into words.

Xuan Zhelu watched Yan Muyu swab Qiu Chao’s palm with disinfectant, soothing her flinch.

She knew just how tempting Yan Muyu’s kindness was—like a poison wrapped in honey.

It was exactly what someone like Xuan Zhelu, a pampered young miss with everything money could buy, still craved.

Xuan Zhelu didn’t lack freedom, yet dating Yan Muyu had been pure joy.

Yan Muyu never half-assed her attention to people. Even on topics she didn’t care about, she’d respond thoughtfully every time.

That was rare.

Plenty had confessed to Xuan Zhelu—fellow elites, hot stars in the industry—but short interactions always revealed their flaws.

Yet Yan Muyu’s rejections only made Xuan Zhelu fall harder.

She was still so perfect.

How could Xuan Zhelu not want her?

Qiu Chao was nearly at her limit with this torment. The cotton swab didn’t feel like it was disinfecting her wound—it felt like poison sinking in.

It made her bite her lower lip, her whole body trembling.

Yan Muyu asked softly, “Does it hurt that much?”

Her voice had gentled, losing its earlier teasing edge. “I thought you were tougher than that.”

Their conversations always came with this oblivious-to-the-world filter.

Liu Song had stumbled into it several times—moments no ordinary person could wedge into.

That filter enveloped time itself, like a countdown ticking over these two women, every second stuffed with meaningful memories dressed up by circumstance.

Just like now—they’d clearly sunk into it again, neither noticing.

Before Qiu Chao could respond, Xuan Zhelu cut in. “Ah Yu, didn’t you say you hadn’t seen Teacher Qiu in years? You two seem awfully familiar.”

The sudden nickname even gave Liu Song pause.

Qiu Chao echoed, “Ah Yu?”

【This nickname is hilarious!】

【How many nicknames does Yan Muyu even have?】

【Ah Yu… like a flounder?】

【Kinda tracks.】

Xuan Zhelu let out an “oh” and played it casual. “Yan Muyu sounds like a wooden fish, so I call her that. She likes it too.”

Yan Muyu had Qiu Chao extend her hand so she could disinfect her palm.

The follow cam was the most oblivious of all, wedged in among these female stars, ignoring the chat calling them war reporters.

It was the prime spot for watching the drama.

Yan Muyu’s touch was gentle, her gaze focused—she didn’t even glance at Xuan Zhelu.

She said, “When have I ever said I liked it?”

Xuan Zhelu pressed, “See? You still remember that time.”

Yan Muyu fell silent.

Qiu Chao glanced at her and saw Yan Muyu’s eyes downcast—intently focused, or maybe evading.

That time?

What time?

Qiu Chao shot Xuan Zhelu a look. She was beaming and didn’t make Yan Muyu explain. “I was at your place back then. You even painted me an oil painting.”

“My mom loves that painting. She thought you were a pro.”

【Damn! Yan Muyu painted that one?】

【Isn’t that Xuan Zhelu’s profile pic on Weibo? She’s obsessed.】

【It’s really pretty. Such an impressionist vibe—so warm and cozy.】

【Is this what Yan Muyu meant by “just messing around with painting”?】

【They seemed pretty sweet when they were dating.】

【But now Yan Muyu’s holding Qiu Chao’s hand, leaning close to Qiu Chao, while Xuan Zhelu stands off to the side… Looks like her chance is long gone.】

【Everyone says Yan Muyu only dates for four months. Why?】

【Relationships take work to maintain, you know? Passion fades and wears things down easy—not just love, friendships too.】

“You’re still keeping it?” Yan Muyu asked.

“Of course,” Xuan Zhelu replied. “I really like it.”

She gazed at Yan Muyu, her eyes locked on her in the camera shot with such obvious devotion that anyone could see exactly why she’d joined this show.

But Yan Muyu didn’t turn around. She tossed the cotton swab aside and stood up just as Pei Wan brought in the dishes. “I’ll go cook,” she said.

“I…” Qiu Chao started.

“You rest,” Yan Muyu cut in. “It’s not like I can’t cook. You think I’m still the same as before?”

Before.

Xuan Zhelu glanced at Qiu Chao again.

“Lulu Sis, can you help me set the bowls and chopsticks?” Liu Song asked.

Xuan Zhelu walked over.

Qiu Chao looked down at the cuts on her hand and foot, feeling a bit unlucky.

She kept getting the sense that Yan Muyu’s gaze was off—like Qiu Chao had fallen on purpose.

Qiu Chao’s heart was still racing, her mind replaying the feel of Yan Muyu scooping her up off the floor.

It was like the rush of climax.

Or the wild thrill of plummeting toward the ground, only to be tossed high again at the last second.

Qiu Chao sent Yan Muyu a message: I didn’t fall on purpose. I really didn’t see it.

Yan Muyu didn’t reply right away. Pei Wan had prepped ingredients for her, per the show’s rules—one dish per person—and now Yan Muyu had to cover Qiu Chao’s share too.

Thick smoke billowed from the kitchen, the door curtain swaying. Yan Muyu was clearly choking on the chili fumes. “Damn,” she muttered.

Xuan Zhelu couldn’t sit still and started to get up.

Liu Song pulled her back. “Just sit for a bit. We still need to go over the next couple days anyway.”

It was basically just introductions, since Xuan Zhelu hadn’t met Ding Yingxue or Pei Wan yet.

Qiu Chao sat down next to Xuan Zhelu. “We didn’t get to talk much earlier.”

She smiled, her eyes curving with a flirtatious charm that Xuan Zhelu didn’t have. “We met a few years ago.”

Xuan Zhelu murmured an acknowledgment.

“I know!” Ding Yingxue chimed in. “It was that historical drama, right? Wow, Sister Qiu, your guest spot was amazing. Too bad you got written out so early.”

Qiu Chao’s guest role back then had been a villain—in a flashback, no less.

Clips of her look were still floating around in fan edits.

Ding Yingxue muttered on, a little envious of getting scenes opposite Qiu Chao.

But Qiu Chao turned to Xuan Zhelu. “Has Little Yan painted a lot of oil paintings for you?”

“Just the one at my place,” Xuan Zhelu said.

“Oh.” Qiu Chao nodded. “She’s done tons for me—sketches, finished pieces, all kinds.”

Liu Song: …

Ding Yingxue: …

Pei Wan coughed lightly.

“Living together really is different, huh?” Xi Xi said. “Free model and all.”

【Why does Qiu Chao sound so smug?】

【Like a kid showing off.】

Xuan Zhelu smiled to herself. No illusion about it.

This woman was head over heels for Yan Muyu.