Chapter 60: Wanwan Just Like You Part 1

Qiu Chao hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.

The audience hadn’t either. A sudden downpour had left Qiu Chao utterly exhausted.

The motorcycle ride back from the stream to the Little Mud House was captured through rain-blurred lenses. The humid air of the southern mountains had surged in with the summer storm.

The rain grew heavier by the minute. Yan Muyu was soaked to the bone, but she still made sure Qiu Chao huddled inside the raincoat.

The two-person raincoat was plenty big for two grown women. Amid the roar of the motorcycle’s engine, Qiu Chao’s arms wrapped around Yan Muyu’s waist. Her heart pounded in her throat, and her cheek pressed against Yan Muyu’s back felt scorching hot.

The raincoat was oversized—probably pulled from under the motorcycle seat.

Boss Hong might never have used it, or perhaps this out-of-towner was too thrifty to break it out. Yan Muyu had been surprised when she found it, hesitating before tearing open the packaging.

Off-camera, the assistants fretted over their well-being, terrified the rain would leave the guests with colds.

Or that the rough conditions would spark a tantrum.

But neither Yan Muyu nor Qiu Chao complained.

The pair seemed oddly, almost suspiciously calm.

Qiu Chao’s ears burned red. Yan Muyu fumbled awkwardly with the motorcycle seat, as if she’d forgotten how to open it.

When she finally yanked out the raincoat, she used too much force and ripped the zipper on the packaging.

The viewers couldn’t see what happened under the distant umbrellas.

They just knew the two were standing a bit too far apart now.

The two-person raincoat had only one hood. Yan Muyu figured it didn’t matter—she’d get wet anyway—and tried to drape it all over Qiu Chao.

Qiu Chao refused. In the end, they both wore it like a shared cloak. Yan Muyu donned her helmet and struggled to make out the road ahead.

The program crew’s staff trailed them anxiously. The Whale Entertainment team was on edge, stunned that someone like Qiu Siyuan would send such a bold representative.

The raincoat shielded them from the worst of the wind and rain. Qiu Chao nestled inside, the sharp plastic scent of the new coat mingling with the earthy smell from both their bodies. It was actually quite unpleasant.

But she was already aware of her own strange state—parched mouth, stars dancing in her vision.

Yan Muyu had kissed her.

Taken the initiative.

Sure, it stemmed from Qiu Chao’s own provocation, and sure, it was…

But it felt utterly different.

Because Yan Muyu’s reaction mirrored her own.

So abnormal.

They were both adults—why did a simple kiss leave them feeling so off-kilter?

Qiu Chao didn’t realize how tightly she clung to Yan Muyu, her grip tightening until even the driver felt her heart twist into a tangled mess. It was as if the rain had poured straight into her chest, fine and dense with shock and fluttering excitement.

A peculiar, bizarre sensation.

When they reached the courtyard gate, Yan Muyu nearly collided with someone dragging a suitcase.

The woman held a date-red umbrella. She wasn’t particularly tall, but she was dressed impeccably.

Her face needed no introduction—an old acquaintance.

Li Xi hadn’t recognized Yan Muyu at first. She watched the motorcyclist pull up and lift the passenger off the back.

The rider hadn’t even removed her helmet, her face pointed straight at Li Xi.

Li Xi: “?”

It was clear the newcomer had had a rough journey too. The next second, Liu Song dashed out.

“I’ve got a new umbrella!” she shouted, only to lock eyes with Yan Muyu through the helmet visor.

Liu Song: “What’s wrong with Sister Qiu?”

Yan Muyu: “Li Xi, can’t you lend a hand? You’re soaked anyway.”

Only then did Li Xi snap to attention.

【Long time no see, and Li Xi’s still so…】

【Liu Song looks so awkward!! I just noticed she called Li Xi by her full name—didn’t she used to say ‘sister’?】

【Which Xi-jie is it? Yeah, super awkward!!】

【Liu Song and Li Xi’s ride up cost an extra twenty—food budget looks grim.】

【Li Xi knows Yan Muyu?】

【Oh yeah, mentioned before!】

Li Xi finally reacted. She tossed her broken umbrella aside and helped Yan Muyu remove her helmet. Without pausing to shed the raincoat, Yan Muyu scooped up Qiu Chao and headed inside.

Her hair was drenched, water dripping down her face. Her expression was stern—almost too much so. It startled Xi Xi, who had just emerged.

Mostly because Yan Muyu was carrying Qiu Chao while still draped in the raincoat. From a distance, in the gloomy evening rain, she looked far from glamorous—positively eerie.

Xi Xi: “What happened?”

She hurried over despite her words, helping Yan Muyu shrug off the raincoat while calling Pei Wan to assist.

Yan Muyu laid Qiu Chao on the recliner. She herself was sopping wet and still dripping, her clothes filthy. Anyone would think the two had brawled in the wilderness.

【They look so bedraggled.】

【Why do female stars look beautiful even when messy?】

【Did Qiu Chao catch a fever?】

【She’s grabbing Yan Muyu’s clothes even on the rocker—whimper.】

Yan Muyu: “Sudden rain hit us. Herding ducks in this is no joke—you did great out there.”

She sighed. Pei Wan brought over two cups of hot water. Qiu Chao seemed dazed, barely able to hold her own cup.

Yan Muyu helped her sip some. “I’ll take her to change first.”

Leaning down, she called to Qiu Chao: “Can you stand?”

Yan Muyu had sensed something off during the ride.

Qiu Chao’s arms around her waist had gone from firm to limp, soft as cotton. Yan Muyu had called her name several times before getting any response.

Pei Wan: “You two should shower. We’ve got plenty of hot water.”

Yan Muyu asked Qiu Chao again: “Shower, or change first?”

【Yan Muyu seems like a player, but her tone…】

【Thought she was a total scumbag, but maybe not so much…】

【Haha, Young Boss Yan’s delivered so many iconic moments—big sacrifice for the boss.】

【Qiu Chao’s this out of it and still so beautiful—I’m sinful.】

Qiu Chao still clutched the hem of Yan Muyu’s shirt. She felt feverish all over; even opening her eyes took effort.

She said nothing, just gazed at Yan Muyu for a moment before releasing her grip and reaching out as if to be picked up.

Xi Xi stared, dumbfounded.

Pei Wan smoothly took the cup from Yan Muyu’s hand.

Li Xi, who had followed Liu Song inside, watched the scene with keen interest.

【?????】

【Is this really my icy queen Qiuqiu?】

【Can we say she’s cute?】

【Pick her up already!!!】

Qiu Chao blinked, not in that deliberate way from before. She clearly wasn’t all there.

Her gaze was hazy, her expression stubbornly determined, as if she wouldn’t let go until Yan Muyu responded.

Yan Muyu: “Change or shower?”

Xi Xi snapped: “You’ll have to shower after changing anyway—you two reek! Get out!”

【Feisty sis is the best.】

【Xi Xi, my eternal big sis…】

【Am I the only one curious about Li Xi, Liu Song, and Xi Xi’s story??】

【Wah, Liu Song—which Xi do you love? Tell me!】

Xi Xi gave Yan Muyu a shove. She nearly stumbled but ultimately granted Qiu Chao’s wish, lifting her into her arms.

Yan Muyu: “Wait, no clothes for after the shower.”

Xi Xi: “What, we’re not people?”

【So argumentative.】

【Suspect Xi Xi’s the ETC reincarnated.】

Yan Muyu didn’t bother bickering with Xi Xi. She carried Qiu Chao off to bathe.

In the hall, the new guest met the others.

Pei Wan took over tea-brewing duties. Liu Song handed Li Xi a fresh towel and introduced her to Pei Wan: “This is Li Xi, my…”

The scene was electric—Ding Yingxue, fresh from her hot shower, approved wholeheartedly.

Bad weather had grounded the weekend outing plans, with forecasts of storms for the next couple days.

The program crew pivoted to an indoor version at the Little Mud House.

They’d wait for Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao to get sorted before announcing.

Everyone thought Xuan Zhelu had been the peak of dramatic flying guests for the variety show.

No one anticipated Li Xi, half-retired from the scene, in week two.

Besides the skyrocketing #QiuChaoSick tag, searches exploded around Liu Song and Li Xi.

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YourTalentShowRegretsUnresolved

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…

Today’s hot topic was inevitably the old CP of Li Xi and Liu Song.

Qiu Chao’s fans, no small force themselves, were digging into what happened off-camera between her and Yan Muyu.

The official discussion boards lit up with complaints about letting guests get drenched.

-This feels off!! Extreme weather should’ve been forecasted—Qiu Chao’s feverish now.

-Motorcycle in the rain sounds dangerous…

-Safety on this show is questionable.

-Program says medical team’s on-site.

-But Yan Muyu’s hand injury went to a clinic?? Their medical seems useless.

-Live’s not 24/7—how do you know she didn’t see a doc off-cam?

-They’re the only ones who haven’t bathed with the group.

-I swear they’ve hooked up… hard to describe the vibe!

My mind replayed Qiu Chao’s dazed expression—strangely vulnerable, nothing like her usual image…

Online buzz raged. In the cramped bathroom, Yan Muyu stripped off Qiu Chao’s clothes.

She wrinkled her nose in disgust: “You really stink. I can’t take it.”

Qiu Chao leaned against her, and both of their bodies felt feverish—far from normal.

Yan Muyu felt like she had caught a cold too. Her neck was itching now.

She leaned against the wall, with Qiu Chao leaning on her and meekly letting Yan Muyu do as she pleased.

The skirt was tricky to remove, and Yan Muyu couldn’t stand the damp, sweltering sensation any longer. She simply reached out and tugged at the water tank Ding Yingxue had prepared for them.

It came down like a torrent. With a whoosh, the warm water drenched them both from head to toe.

Yan Muyu felt refreshed, but Qiu Chao was utterly dazed.

Her sopping wet hair clung to her cheeks. Qiu Chao looked up at Yan Muyu in bewilderment, her eyes wide with innocence and pathos, which nearly made Yan Muyu burst out laughing.

“Very painful,” Qiu Chao murmured.

“Hm?” Yan Muyu replied.

She glanced at the water tank, deciding she should conserve it a bit. She asked Qiu Chao, “Are you sober now? Can you take off the skirt yourself?”

Her tone was mild, tinged with just a touch of complaint. “This skirt is really hard for me to get off you.”

Qiu Chao still struggled to keep her eyes open. She nestled into Yan Muyu’s arms, her voice thick with foggy confusion. “You can just tear it off.”

“I don’t have that kind of hobby,” Yan Muyu said.

Yan Muyu was already slumped against the wall, but Qiu Chao still wriggled deeper into her embrace, like a child who’d never known a hug and now demanded one in return.

“Why are you so clingy?” Yan Muyu asked.

She’d never noticed this side of her before.

“I’m not,” Qiu Chao insisted.

It was hard for her to think straight. Sharing a room with Yan Muyu always left Qiu Chao unusually tense.

Yan Muyu had no idea how anxious Qiu Chao had felt that day after asking Xia Yuanyuan to send away the girl in the fox mask and taking her place instead. She knew Yan Muyu blacked out after a certain amount of drinking and might completely forget about their night together when she was seventeen.

That year, there had been another reason too: Yan Muyu already had a “good friend.”

This time around, they weren’t even friends—just a one-night thing.

Sure enough, Yan Muyu knew how to flatter and please people.

But only if that person wasn’t her.

If she woke up and remembered, she’d turn hostile.

Yan Muyu let out a chuckle, too lazy to entertain Qiu Chao’s denial.

She grumbled under her breath but still gave Qiu Chao a proper bath. The process wasn’t exactly smooth, though.

Qiu Chao wasn’t cooperating.

The facilities here were rudimentary; they had to ration the water. Bathing in the rain meant the drops pattered endlessly on the shelter, echoing loudly in the cramped space.

Yan Muyu didn’t look like the nurturing type. Her sharp features seemed better suited to being pampered than doing the pampering—like some natural-born troublemaker.

Yet she was surprisingly experienced in this sort of thing, bested perhaps only by Yan Kai.

It was like how Lin Yumian, for all her years, still dreamed of romance. Yan Muyu had to shield her from smooth-talking young men, offering gentle reminders without bruising her heart.

Or like her little niece Yan Tianxing, whom Yan Muyu had practically raised.

The diaper-changing bit was an exaggeration, but she’d meticulously documented every milestone in Yan Tianxing’s growth.

She’d given her all, though she couldn’t protect her school days from every hardship.

Handling Qiu Chao now was child’s play.

But Qiu Chao wasn’t her mother or her niece. She was the one Yan Muyu had agreed to “try things out” with.