Chapter 75

Jiang Sisi left soon after, leaving the six guests sitting on the sofa.

The production team instructed the female guests to return to their rooms and wait, while the male guests began preparing for their dates.

There wasn’t much to prepare, really—the script spelled everything out clearly.

Leng Xiang waited in her room for a while when Xiangxiang jumped onto her lap, curling up as a big fluffy ball. Leng Xiang stroked the cat’s fur and subconsciously thought of its owner.

Jiang Sisi.

The sense of powerlessness she’d felt toward Jiang Sisi on set resurfaced, leaving her confused once again.

Why had Jiang Sisi shown no sign of anything after all this time?

It had clearly been her standing by Leng Xiang’s bed last night, watching her. It had been her who reached out to touch her, only to suddenly pull her hand back.

What was she really thinking?

Leng Xiang frowned slightly, her fingers combing through Xiangxiang’s fur strand by strand. She didn’t control her strength properly, and Xiangxiang let out a “meow,” its fluffy tail swishing and smacking her right in the face.

Leng Xiang ended up with a mouthful of cat hair.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Someone suddenly knocked on the door. She stood and went to open it.

A staff member from the production team notified her that everything was ready, and she could head to the date location now.

…

Leng Xiang got into the vehicle arranged by the production team and headed to the destination.

In the car, she was still looking over the script when the cameraman aimed his lens at her. She quickly hid it behind her back.

Yesterday, she’d texted Qin Yang, but he hadn’t texted her back—instead, he’d texted Bai Rou.

Bai Rou hadn’t accepted Qin Yang’s invitation and forwarded the text to Yi Jing, who then sent it to Leng Xiang.

The production team primarily referenced the female guests’ choices, so the final pairings were Leng Xiang with Qin Yang, and Bai Rou with Yi Jing.

In this script, they were supposed to “accidentally” run into each other midway through the date. Qin Yang was to show just the right hint of regret while looking at Bai Rou, and Yi Jing was to gaze at Leng Xiang with affection.

In short, it was a classic love quadrangle script.

Meanwhile, Xu Xingche and Lu Rui’s storyline had them mutually attracted from the start, choosing each other and enjoying a sweet, lovey-dovey date.

The production team planned to turn this quadrangle into a dramatic abusive romance, paired with Xu Xingche and Lu Rui’s sugary sweetness, ensuring both appeal and buzz.

They had calculated it perfectly.

Qin Yang had chosen a DIY restaurant for the date. His claim yesterday during the livestream about having been a chef for years wasn’t a lie—he could cook savory dishes and whip up excellent desserts.

So, the production team’s arrangement was for Qin Yang to guide Leng Xiang in making a dessert.

Qin Yang waited at the entrance of the DIY restaurant, which had been cleared out in advance. Leng Xiang got out of the car a short distance away.

It was early spring, with pleasant sunshine. The cameraman in front of her snapped away wildly.

Another camera was set up behind, filming her back.

From afar, she spotted Qin Yang standing at the restaurant door, smiling at her—with a hint of wistful disappointment mixed in.

Male guests weren’t supposed to know who they’d be meeting ahead of time, so Qin Yang was meant to show a touch of letdown upon seeing Leng Xiang instead of Bai Rou.

He played it well.

Leng Xiang thought that if Jiang Sisi wanted to use him, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Why am I thinking about Jiang Sisi again?

After she approached, Qin Yang gentlemanly took her crossbody bag and held it for her.

Leng Xiang nodded and smiled at him, maintaining her aloof persona. Qin Yang opened the door to the DIY restaurant for her with an inviting gesture.

Leng Xiang smiled lightly again.

Acting in this kind of play was far easier than on Jiang Sisi’s set.

Leng Xiang’s cooking skills were maxed out, and Qin Yang had been a head chef. They coordinated seamlessly, making it seem less like a DIY session and more like Michelin chefs doing a demo.

Their finished product earned applause from the restaurant staff. The chef, a foreigner, gave them repeated thumbs-ups.

They exchanged smiles, their eyes full of feigned professional compliments.

Throughout the dessert-making, Qin Yang maintained a faint melancholy in his expression. But whenever he interacted or spoke with Leng Xiang, that melancholy faded, replaced by a sunny, honest grin.

His acting was genuinely good.

Leng Xiang thought it was no wonder Jiang Sisi had wanted to lock him down for her drama the first time she saw him.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Wait, why am I thinking about Jiang Sisi again?

Qin Yang and Leng Xiang successfully completed the task and left the DIY restaurant carrying the mousse cake they’d made.

The ever-present camera lens followed them.

Per the script, the aloof beauty Leng Xiang grew even more fond of this sunny, rugged buzz-cut guy after their DIY dessert session. Her smiles gained a touch of gentleness, and her gaze on Qin Yang became more focused.

Leng Xiang felt her face stiffening from smiling.

Leng Xiang smiled and said, “Where are we going next?”

Qin Yang was still carrying her bag for her, the two maintaining a perfectly calibrated distance—not too close, not too far.

Qin Yang said, “Next, we’ll go for a meal. I’ve booked a restaurant.”

The cameraman trailing them flashed an OK sign. Leng Xiang’s smile faded instantly, Qin Yang dropped his grin, and they widened the gap between them to a full meter.

The cameraman filming the whole time: “…”

The cameraman chuckled dryly. “You two performed great just now.”

Leng Xiang said coolly, “Thanks for the compliment.”

Being on a variety show felt just like filming a drama.

No fun in it.

Qin Yang and Leng Xiang got into the car heading to the restaurant.

The restaurant wasn’t booked by Qin Yang, of course—it was all production team arrangements, complete with pre-placed sponsor ad boards.

When they arrived, Qin Yang and Leng Xiang stepped out, handing their DIY cake to the staff for safekeeping.

The cameras were set up again.

From a distance, Leng Xiang spotted Yi Jing and Bai Rou already seated inside through the glass walls.

Qin Yang saw them too.

Leng Xiang pretended to instinctively tug Qin Yang’s arm, drawing them closer.

She whispered, “Bai Rou and Yi Jing are in there. Should we join them?”

Qin Yang seemed to snap back to reality and smiled. “Sure, whatever works.”

And so, Leng Xiang and Qin Yang went inside.

Even though it was all scripted, they still had to pretend it was a coincidence. Yi Jing let out an exclamation of surprise, and Bai Rou stood to give Leng Xiang a cheek kiss and hug.

Bai Rou smiled warmly. “What a coincidence, running into you two here.”

Leng Xiang smiled too. “Mind if we share a table? Let’s eat together.”

Bai Rou: “Of course not!”

Leng Xiang smiled faintly on the surface while inwardly ranting like mad.

So fake.

She knew eight out of ten variety shows had scripts, but Love Diary took scripted perfection to another level.

The two-person date smoothly turned into a group of four—all actors.

At the table, the four chatted casually under the all-around glare of two cameras.

Bai Rou asked, “Where are you two headed next?”

Leng Xiang turned to Qin Yang beside her, but he was staring at Bai Rou.

Oh right, the script. She’d forgotten.

Leng Xiang thought it must be tough for Qin Yang—his script had to be even thicker than hers.

Qin Yang gazed at Bai Rou with a hint of affection, but Bai Rou pretended not to notice, chatting with Yi Jing beside her instead.

Yi Jing barely acknowledged Bai Rou. He held his knife and fork, gesturing at the steak on his plate.

He looked up and said, “We’re planning to stroll through the park this afternoon. Want to join?”

The other three froze.

That wasn’t in the script.

If they followed the script, the afternoon date would’ve involved swapping partners: Qin Yang with Bai Rou, Yi Jing with Leng Xiang.

The final CP pairings were set, but for the first episode’s recorded broadcast, they couldn’t be too rigid. Swapping dates would make for much better TV.

The production team had it all planned: let the quadrangle drama play out, then drop hints of the endgame CPs. If all went smoothly over twelve episodes, buzz was guaranteed.

Provided all guests and hosts cooperated.

And the park wasn’t even on the afternoon schedule—clearing a public park was tough, and filming there would’ve made sticking to the script impossible.

Leng Xiang and Qin Yang exchanged a glance; Bai Rou looked at Yi Jing.

All four broke character simultaneously.

Leng Xiang raised an eyebrow. “What are you up to?”

Yi Jing shrugged. “The production team’s pushing some love triangle drama. Why not have all four of us on screen together? That’d be way more interesting.”

Bai Rou nodded. “You’re right.”

The four turned to the two cameramen.

The cameramen hadn’t expected this turn. One grabbed his walkie-talkie, muttering into it. Soon, an assistant director rushed over, sweating profusely.

Assistant director: “What happened?”

Yi Jing said, “I don’t want to act anymore. It’s pointless.”

He didn’t mince words. “Being on a variety show feels like shooting a drama. Would Jiang Sisi approve of filming it this way?”

The assistant director forced a bitter smile. “We’ve already coordinated with Teacher Jiang…”

Yi Jing said, “She definitely wouldn’t approve.”

The assistant director was on the verge of meltdown. They’d finally gotten Jiang Sisi to relent, only for this big shot guest to stir trouble.

Assistant director: “So, what do you suggest…?”

Yi Jing might only dabble in entertainment, but his family was loaded with powerful connections. Piss him off, and the whole show could be in jeopardy.

Yi Jing: “I’ll quit the show. I’ll pay the penalty fee—you find someone else.”

Everyone present was stunned.

Yi Jing turned to leave.

The assistant director chased after him frantically.

They couldn’t just let him walk—no way. The livestream had ended just yesterday, and the cast was locked.

Yi Jing never cared about industry face. If he spilled the beans in some interview about why he’d quit Love Diary, it could be disastrous.

A show hyped on “authentic livestreaming” exposed as fully scripted? The audience would riot.

The assistant director pursued him while barking into his walkie-talkie, calling for backup to placate the young master.

Qin Yang watched the whole scene, his eyes tracking Yi Jing’s back.

Only after they were out of sight did he burst out laughing.

Qin Yang grinned. “Interesting.”

The show was interesting. The people were even more so.

…

Half an hour later, Gao Qin arrived with two assistant directors to escort Yi Jing back.

Gao Qin wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed inwardly.

What a mess for a simple variety shoot.

Yi Jing reluctantly agreed to continue filming, on the condition that the afternoon followed no script—they’d just wander as a group of four.

Gao Qin’s eyes darted as he quickly nodded in agreement.

At least they’d coaxed this ancestor into staying for now. They’d deal with the future after these two days of shooting.

The production team withdrew first, leaving the two cameramen to keep filming.

After Yi Jing’s stunt, no one dared micromanage them.

Leng Xiang asked curiously, “If the production team hadn’t stopped you, you’d really just quit?”

Yi Jing: “Yeah, I don’t need the money.”

Leng Xiang tsked.

Nine million, just like that. Yi Jing’s family really was loaded.

This incident actually boosted her opinion of him.

She’d never liked these drama-like variety shows either, only going along for the cash. Now that someone rebelled, she was all for it.

But they were celebrities, especially with Leng Xiang’s recent high visibility online—they couldn’t risk a real park outing.

Yi Jing munched on the complimentary ice cream from the restaurant, mumbling a bit unclearly, “So, where to this afternoon?”

Qin Yang didn’t quite catch what he said. He just stared at Yi Jing as he bit into the ice cream, a mysterious smile creeping onto his face.

Leng Xiang didn’t have any particular place in mind. The four of them were too conspicuous. Without the production team clearing the area in advance, they couldn’t go anywhere crowded.

Were they really going to waste the entire afternoon?

Bai Rou bit her lip thoughtfully for a moment before saying, “I do have a place in mind. I’ve always wanted to go there, and since it’s a weekday, it shouldn’t be too crowded. What do you all think?”

No one objected.

The production team’s van drove them around the city, eventually turning into a secluded alley.

Bai Rou led the three of them out of the car, with the cameraman trailing close behind.

The four of them stopped in front of a modest storefront. The sign above the door boldly displayed three characters.

Rock Climbing Gym.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Yi Jing: “…”

Qin Yang ran a hand over his buzz cut and flashed an interested smile.

Bai Rou happily pulled them inside.

…

Meanwhile, Xu Xingche and Lu Rui formed a pair and were in the midst of a “sweet and lovey-dovey” date.

Inside the Cat Cafe.

Xu Xingche had already downed his third cup of coffee there.

He teased the British Shorthair blue cat lounging by his hand. The cats in the cafe were all friendly. He watched as the little guy purred and rolled over under his touch, exposing its soft belly.

He smiled and scratched its belly before turning to look at his partner for the day.

The cameraman was filming Lu Rui, who smiled sweetly as she introduced the cats in the cafe to the lens.

Xu Xingche disinterestedly turned back around.

When he signed on for the show, he’d received the script and knew exactly what his role was.

It was pretty much like acting.

Speaking of acting, Leng Xiang’s figure suddenly popped into his mind. Then Jiang Sisi. Finally, it settled on a fluttering white skirt.

Yesterday afternoon while shopping at the mall, Lu Rui had said she wanted to check it out with Yi Jing and Qin Yang, so Bai Rou got paired with him instead.

Bai Rou had seemed completely unfazed, like she embodied her scripted persona but was even more vibrant than the script suggested.

He gave a genuine smile.

…

In the evening, Leng Xiang and her group returned to the Love Cottage. A little while later, Lu Rui and Xu Xingche came back too.

Jiang Sisi still hadn’t returned.

Her home was nearby, and with her busy work schedule, she didn’t need to stay at the Love Cottage when Love Diary wasn’t live.

That night, Xu Xingche and Bai Rou handled dinner. Xu Xingche wasn’t great in the kitchen, so Bai Rou took the lead while he assisted.

Bai Rou had enjoyed herself at the rock climbing gym that afternoon. Without the camera constantly on her, she was much more natural around Xu Xingche.

As Xu Xingche cracked an egg, he accidentally let some spill outside the bowl. Bai Rou laughed and lightly swatted him before crouching down to clean up the eggshell bits on the floor.

Her eyes lowered demurely, then she looked up at Xu Xingche.

He felt his heart rate pick up a bit.

After dinner, with no more filming scheduled, the guests chatted on the sofa for a while before heading to their rooms to rest.

With Jiang Sisi absent, Leng Xiang had an entire room to herself.

At 11:30 p.m.

Leng Xiang sat cross-legged on the bed reviewing her script. After a whole evening of it, she yawned. Xiangxiang was curled up asleep in her lap.

She was getting sleepy and felt a bit thirsty.

She tried to set Xiangxiang down, but the moment she moved, it woke up with a start, meowing and clinging to her arm with its fluffy paws.

Leng Xiang: “…”

She had no choice but to carry the big fluffy bundle downstairs in her slippers.

The downstairs was empty, the lights off, and the living room pitch black.

Leng Xiang’s footsteps sank silently into the thick carpet.

She didn’t plan to turn on the lights. One hand held Xiangxiang while the other gripped a cup. She filled it from the water dispenser in the living room and prepared to head back upstairs.

Xiangxiang was really heavy; she was starting to struggle.

Just then, the sound of keys turning in the front door’s lock echoed from the entryway.

Everyone on the production team had a key to the Love Cottage, so it wasn’t strange whoever came in.

The door cracked open, and moonlight spilled through the gap.

Leng Xiang made out the face of the person entering, and her breath hitched.

From morning till night that day, this person’s image had kept popping into her mind unbidden, impossible to shake.

Jiang Sisi stepped inside, bathed in moonlight.

Xiangxiang leaped from Leng Xiang’s arms and rubbed against Jiang Sisi’s leg.

Jiang Sisi casually closed the door. Noticing something brushing her ankle, she looked down and let out a short, soft laugh.

Leng Xiang was several meters away, but she heard it crystal clear.

Or maybe she hadn’t actually heard it—she just knew Jiang Sisi would laugh, so she “heard” it.

She knew every little quirk of Jiang Sisi’s, like her odd but endearing habit of putting shoes away one at a time when entering: first one in the cabinet, then the other, never both at once.

Her throat tightened as a wave of nervousness washed over her.

Jiang Sisi bent down and scooped Xiangxiang into her arms, laughing again. She reached out with one hand to flick on the living room light.

The moment the lights blazed on, Leng Xiang found it almost blinding.

Jiang Sisi looked up and spotted her immediately.

Leng Xiang keenly caught the flicker of panic in Jiang Sisi’s eyes—a panic that vanished in an instant.

Jiang Sisi smiled and asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Leng Xiang frowned.

What was she panicking about?

And why should she panic at all?