Chapter 66: Lifesaving Grace Part 1

Yan Muyu didn’t reply to Qiu Chao.

When she fell silent, the three women on the other side did the same.

A long stream of comments scrolled through the live chat. Some viewers had no idea what these people were talking about.

Others thought they understood but weren’t quite sure.

【What the heck? Why don’t I get any of this?!】

【What kind of coded conversation is this…?】

【I think I get it… is it what I’m thinking?】

【No way, is Xi Xi bi?】

【Ugh, I’m too embarrassed to type it out. You know… that thing!】

【LMAO, Li Xi would totally use one for sure—she’s a real lesbian, right? Liu Song… uh… she’s still just a baby in my eyes.】

【If Sister Xi went full lesbian, she’d be the most sought-after top for sure.】

In the end, it was Qiu Siyuan who stepped in to smooth things over.

Yan Muyu had just overheard her talking to the director about separate plans for the evening. Now Qiu Siyuan pulled up a stool and sat down. Yan Muyu asked her, “No way, this is so childish?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Are we really doing Truth or Dare?”

The rain showed no signs of stopping, and the whole house felt damp with moisture.

Qiu Siyuan was dressed even more heavily than before, her face as pale as paper. The hand she stretched out clutched a stack of files, flipping through them casually.

She hadn’t shown her neck once, bundled up tight. Standing next to Yan Muyu, she looked like she was in a completely different season.

Qiu Siyuan said, “Is it that childish? I remember you used to love playing it.”

Yan Muyu kept applying pine oil to the lanterns. Liu Song came over, her face flushed red, and asked Yan Muyu if they were really doing that.

Yan Muyu replied, “Just kidding.”

Liu Song’s face turned even redder. Yan Muyu added, “But we actually do have one. Have you tried it? If not, give it a go yourself.”

Qiu Siyuan didn’t need to ask to know what “it” was. Put Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao together, and things were bound to get wild. The director had even felt the need to cut in before it spiraled out of control.

Xi Xi coughed. Yan Muyu looked up innocently. “Sister Xi, you okay? Liu Song, take her to see a doctor.”

With that, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

Qiu Siyuan said, “Cut the jokes and get back to work.”

Yan Muyu asked, “Won’t you let me see the schedule at least?”

Qiu Siyuan replied, “Does Truth or Dare need a schedule?”

Yan Muyu pressed, “Do we have a spinner?”

She glanced over at Ding Yingxue, who was carrying firewood their way. “I remember we used to play Drum Pass Flower back in the day.”

Qiu Siyuan said, “Everything’s gloomier with you around. Teaming up with you in games guarantees a loss. I don’t want to reminisce.”

Her raspy voice held no mercy. Yan Muyu let out a “hey” and waved the oil-dipped brush in her hand.

【LMAO, she’s so savage.】

【Looked it up—their high school got merged a while back.】

【Why’s Director Qiu bundled up like that? The more she wears, the more I wanna see her without it.】

【Watching Yan Muyu play mahjong already feels unlucky. How’s she so trash at it?】

【All I can say is, good thing she’s rich, or she’d have gone bankrupt by now.】

【Makes our Sister Qiu look like she’s good at everything. Why’d she have to fall for Yan Muyu of all people?!】

【Be grateful—she’s way better than Xi Xi’s ex-husband…】

【Men, GTFO!】

Yan Muyu muttered, “Give me some face at least.”

Qiu Siyuan had someone bring in a table from the main hall. She didn’t mind the live stream capturing the staff rearranging things as she said, “Back then, losers had to drink as punishment. You loved that.”

Li Xi sat off to the side, tuning her qin strings. No one knew exactly what had gone down between her and Liu Song, but her earlier spat with Xi Xi hadn’t seemed all that heated.

At least when Xi Xi pulled Liu Song away, Li Xi didn’t flip out again.

Her hair looked short at first glance, but there was a single strand dyed the same blue as Liu Song’s, sticking out.

Viewers in the chat had asked about it, but since it hadn’t been caught on camera much, discussion was limited.

From this angle, her back was perfectly visible.

It wasn’t clear if it was an extension— just a small lock, styled super trendy, like a soft spine growing out from Li Xi herself.

It swayed gently as she tuned the strings, adding to the immersive rainy-day vibe.

Yan Muyu said, “I like drinking, sure, but that doesn’t mean I like losing, okay?”

She sighed. “I don’t even drink like I used to.”

Qiu Siyuan replied, “I remember you fudged your ID age, right? You were seventeen but put eighteen.”

Yan Muyu shot back, “Hey, no fair—don’t out me like that in front of everyone!”

Qiu Siyuan asked, “Why not drink? Scared of trouble?”

A flashy ring adorned her finger, but it looked rough, like it’d been through fire—unburned proof of real feelings.

Yan Muyu said, “Don’t you know what I’m like when I’m wasted?”

She sighed again. “My brother says he’d rather I go on a shopping spree blackout than act like nothing’s wrong. That’s scarier.”

The rain mixed with voices and ambient sounds, filtering into the viewers’ ears. Li Xi finished tuning and plucked out a tune on impulse.

She didn’t care that the director and boss were nearby; that’s just how she was—ethereal looks, wild at heart.

Liu Song was a precious gem that had appeared in her life at the wrong time. Li Xi had once held her close, but she couldn’t keep her safe.

This trip was about fulfilling a dream, not the obsessive love the audience imagined.

Qiu Siyuan said, “Yeah, terrifying. Total blackout. The worst part? I couldn’t even tell you were drunk.”

Yan Muyu groaned. “Drop it. Are you gonna show me the schedule or not? If not, I’m off to roast some chicken.”

Time dragged on with their back-and-forth. Ding Yingxue finished framing another fish lamp.

Pei Wan was helping her paste the paper when she accidentally bumped into Li Xi, nearly falling. Li Xi steadied her.

Ding Yingxue glanced at Li Xi’s hand on Pei Wan’s wrist and, for some reason, flashed back to a scene from her childhood.

She’d thought about it that way before.

But her family never skimped on Pei Wan’s allowance, so she couldn’t be that kind of person.

Dating a woman that much older?

Even that cheating guy from before didn’t have the right to marry Pei Wan, in Ding Yingxue’s eyes.

Families keep secrets too. Would she and her sister end up in separate homes, fading into distant relatives?

Li Xi noticed Ding Yingxue’s look and quietly let go. She nodded back at Pei Wan’s thanks with a casual “no problem.”

With only one camera angle right now, most viewers missed it, but a few caught the moment.

The last flying guest had made fish lamps. This time, Li Xi was tasked with a new folk song for the Fish Lantern Festival and was still getting into it.

Yan Muyu finally got the files from Qiu Siyuan—and sure enough, Drum Pass Flower was listed.

She asked, “You gonna join in?”

Qiu Siyuan shook her head. “That’d cost you double my pay.”

【Totally unexpected answer.】

【LOL Yan Muyu’s stunned.】

【Is Director Qiu that broke?】

【I thought someone said she wasn’t. Wore designer stuff in school too.】

【More curious about that person she posts about on Insta every year…】

【November post? With a pic, right? Looked like a beauty’s back view.】

【How do they all have such stories? Makes my life feel boring AF. Damn it!】

Yan Muyu said, “You’re robbing me blind. Planning another trip somewhere kids shouldn’t go?”

Qiu Siyuan laughed. “Good thing you didn’t blurt it out, or post-production couldn’t even bleep it.”

She added, “I’m sitting this out. You all play. I’ve got closing procedures to prep. Busy getting death threats from fans about the show’s safety.”

Yan Muyu said, “Oh. “Yeah, safety’s low. But no worries—sky-high insurance.”

Qiu Siyuan remarked, “You really don’t fear the backlash.”

Yan Muyu replied, “My family’s small. We can take it.”

She laughed, handing back the files. “If you’re out, then scram. Total buzzkill.”

Qiu Siyuan said, “Buzzkill? Chatting youth memories fits the vibe perfectly.”

Yan Muyu shot back quick, “My youth was all about you, wasn’t it?”

Qiu Siyuan gave a meaningful smile. “Not necessarily. You might’ve forgotten.”

Yan Muyu asked, “Forgot what?”

Qiu Siyuan said nothing more and walked out of frame.

~~~

Qiu Chao slept until evening. She felt much better and didn’t make Yan Muyu carry her downstairs. Instead, she had a bunch of messages from Mai Chen waiting.

Her real manager’s texts were pure rage: strings of question marks.

Key phrases like [you’re insane] [you trying to get fired?] [worth it?] [just leave already].

Qiu Chao couldn’t help but laugh.

She’d never felt this happy.

Never regretted her choices.

Yan Muyu had stirred up storms for years, untamable—almost making Qiu Chao entertain a ridiculous thought.

Only I can do it. Make her stop for good.

She needs me too.

Downstairs was lively. As Qiu Chao descended, she heard Yan Muyu talking to Ding Yingxue—something about her lantern’s color being too dark.

Even her pointers were gentle. Most people’s first impression wouldn’t link Yan Muyu with gentle; they just saw her as flighty.

Pulling off flighty without being annoying was actually pretty tough.

The male celebrities Qiu Chao worked with were sleazy and impossible to shake off. They thought highly of themselves, believing women were easily attainable, and offered no real respect. Their so-called affection was just empty words from flapping lips.

It was easy to tell whether someone truly respected you or not.

Just like now, as the show aired, viewers on the other side of the screen could sense Yan Muyu’s unique personal charm.

Even if her mouth was occasionally as sharp as ever.

“Your fans really like that ghastly color?” Yan Muyu asked.

“Young Boss Yan, can you be normal for once? How is it ghastly? I just used a pure shade!” Ding Yingxue retorted.

She muttered under her breath, “It’s my heartfelt gesture.”

Yan Muyu sighed. “Well, it’s different. I don’t have any fans.”

She reminded Ding Yingxue, “Apply some oil later, or it’ll smudge.”

The fish lantern was nearly finished and placed in an open spot in the hall. At first glance, it looked impressively majestic.

One could imagine how beautiful it would be with candles lit inside.

Beside it sat the smaller fish lanterns they had made that afternoon. Practice made perfect—they were clearly much prettier than the ones from before.

Everyone sat in a circle, with a crackling pile of firewood burning in the center.

The rain grew lighter, dripping from the eaves. The sky was dim and overcast, and distant birdsong echoed from the valley.

Just as Yan Muyu finished speaking, Qiu Chao chimed in. “I’m Little Yan’s fan.”

Everyone was busy with their own tasks. No one except the off-camera crew noticed Qiu Chao coming downstairs.

Yan Muyu jumped in fright and let out an “Ah!” She nearly leaped to her feet.

Ding Yingxue startled at her reaction and shrieked too.

【What are they doing?】

【Don’t make me laugh to death—they’re actually scared?】

【It’s because they were just telling ghost stories.】

【And the background music is Li Xi playing the piano—super spooky.】

【Is it really okay for Xi Xi and Pei Wan to cook together? Pei Wan doesn’t seem able to keep up with Xi Xi.】

“You scared me to death!” Yan Muyu exclaimed.

She took a deep breath, looking thoroughly rattled. She almost stepped right into the fire.

Qiu Chao blinked innocently. She had changed into fresh clothes, and her complexion looked much better than it had that morning. Tilting her head, she gazed at Yan Muyu.

“I didn’t scare you.”

Ding Yingxue took a deep breath and quietly moved to sit by Liu Song. “I’m never listening to Young Boss Yan tell ghost stories again. She can scare herself to death.”