Chapter Thirteen: The Heroine, Lan Qing

Judging by the voice, it didn’t sound like the female lead, Lan Qing; it must be Yan Ningsi, the one carrying the lunch money. Seeing Bian He step outside, Sang Yijia, her curiosity piqued, glanced over a couple of times.

Lu Wenchuan noticed this. “Interested in Bian He?”

With both Bian He and Shen Jin having gone out, two sets of cameramen followed them, and the air inside suddenly felt fresher, as if the whole room had been unburdened.

Sang Yijia turned her gaze to him, knowing this wasn’t the right time to chat. “No, but I’m more interested in you.”

While reading the book, Sang Yijia had often wondered what kind of person could remain so calm, letting their lover pursue another man without batting an eye.

But now, seeing it firsthand, she felt things weren’t quite so simple. Could her arrival have changed something imperceptibly?

“Is that so?” Lu Wenchuan arched an eyebrow. “The feeling is mutual.”

Sang Yijia was puzzled. Seeing him rise to his feet, she did likewise. “Did we know each other before?”

“Take a guess.” Lu Wenchuan’s lips curved in a faint smile as he followed the others outside, curious.

Yan Ningsi had arrived with two large suitcases, both twenty-eight inches. Noticing Shen Jin and Bian He coming out, she waved enthusiastically. “Wow, it’s you two!”

“I definitely made the right call coming this time—so many handsome guys, just looking at you all is already satisfying.” Yan Ningsi was a singer of some repute, well-liked and talented, though no one quite knew why she had suddenly started appearing on reality shows. Some said she’d grown tired of singing, others claimed she wanted to earn more money, and still others believed she simply craved greater fame—rumors abounded.

But Sang Yijia knew the truth. Yan Ningsi was the youngest daughter of the Yan family, whimsical and unrestrained. On this very dating show, she developed feelings for Bian He. After her confession was rejected, she wasn’t discouraged, simply changing her approach and choosing to accompany him as a friend.

In the end, though, Yan Ningsi married someone else. Whether that was a good or bad outcome for her, Sang Yijia couldn’t say.

Lowering her gaze, she sensed someone moving past her.

“Let me help you.” Bian He stepped forward first, attempting to pick up a suitcase with one hand—only to find he couldn’t lift it.

“What did you pack?” Bian He looked up in surprise. “It’s so heavy.”

“Hehe,” Yan Ningsi laughed. “I heard the location for this shoot was unusual, so I brought all sorts of daily necessities.”

Seeing Shen Jin approach, she patted the remaining suitcase and smiled. “This one’s yours to handle.”

“Where’s Lan Qing?” Shen Jin’s first question was about her.

Yan Ningsi shook her head. “I don’t know. We arrived separately. But judging by the time, she should be here soon.”

She noticed two others standing by the door—one was Sang Yijia, whom she recognized from the official cast announcement, where she’d been listed first.

The other one was… Wait—Lu Wenchuan?

What was he doing here? She hadn’t seen his name in the official announcement. What was going on?

Yan Ningsi’s curiosity burned wildly—she wanted to rush over and ask immediately. But since the show was live, and she hadn’t revealed her own situation publicly, she could only pretend not to know Lu Wenchuan. Still, she found herself unable to look away from him.

Bian He finally managed to heft the suitcase over the threshold, and, noticing Yan Ningsi staring unwaveringly at Lu Wenchuan, teased her, “Is Mr. Lu handsome?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Yan Ningsi withdrew her gaze, raising her brows lightly. “Just thinking about the possibility of falling in love with one of you three handsome men later…”

She shivered with excitement. “The thought alone is thrilling.”

But it absolutely can’t be Lu Wenchuan, she added silently to herself.

As the guests gradually assembled, the livestream chat buzzed with comments.

“Adding Lan Qing, this lineup is quite pleasing to the eye. Of course, if Sang Yijia wasn’t here, it would be perfect.”

“I agree with the previous comment. Sang Yijia is just an eyesore, ruining the scene.”

“Have to say, Sisi is really adorable. She sings well, and she’s so pretty—I’m so envious.”

“Curious who Sisi will be paired with.”

“Did anyone else notice? Shen Jin seems to really care about Lan Qing—first thing he asked about was her.”

The barrage of comments quickly scrolled by, but this point did not escape the audience’s notice.

Lan Qing was the industry’s rising pure beauty—not only lovely and kind-hearted, but also a remarkable actress, popular with viewers across the board. Rumors had long circulated that Shen Jin had a special fondness for Lan Qing; both their fan bases were aware, neither opposing nor supporting the idea.

However, with Sang Yijia by Shen Jin’s side, Lan Qing’s fans were displeased, insisting again and again that Shen Jin should cut ties with Sang Yijia before pursuing Lan Qing.

And to everyone’s surprise, Shen Jin had reposted that very sentiment on Weibo and agreed to it!

Everyone in the industry knew Shen Jin liked Lan Qing, but as she hadn’t yet expressed her own stance, the public was eager to see what would happen next.

And so, the dating show had begun.

—

Shen Jin and Bian He busied themselves helping Yan Ningsi with her luggage, while Lu Wenchuan and Sang Yijia stood by the door.

Yan Ningsi glanced at them, then cocked her head at Sang Yijia. She’d heard a little about her, but being in the same circle, Yan Ningsi knew well enough that some rumors were true, others pure fabrication, and sometimes, the truth was stranger than fiction.

When it came to Sang Yijia, she remained half skeptical, half believing.

She was wondering how to break the silence when the sound of a car engine approached—Lan Qing must have arrived.

Sang Yijia’s gaze shifted past her, seeking the new arrival.

The female lead truly was different; the moment Lan Qing stepped out, all eyes were drawn to her. Sang Yijia couldn’t help wondering if Lu Wenchuan harbored any feelings for the protagonist—was that why, in the book, he’d allowed the original Sang Yijia to trail after them?

She tilted her head slightly in his direction, and was caught looking.

“Something the matter?” Lu Wenchuan glanced down at her, his expression mild, betraying no particular interest in Lan Qing.

Sang Yijia shook her head. “No.”

Now that everyone had arrived, the show could officially begin.

Yan Ningsi, seeing Lan Qing, walked over with a friendly greeting. “Lan Qing, can I call you Qingqing?”

“Mm.” Lan Qing nodded slightly, then raised her eyes to Sang Yijia. Her presence here didn’t surprise Lan Qing in the least.

From the moment she’d learned Shen Jin would be participating, Lan Qing had known Sang Yijia would inevitably follow.

“Yijia, long time no see,” Lan Qing said.

Meeting her gaze, Sang Yijia replied calmly, “Yes, it’s been a while.”

Their seemingly cordial relationship left not only Yan Ningsi puzzled, but the livestream viewers as well.

“What??”

“Since when were Lan Qing and Sang Yijia so close?”

“They know each other?”

“It’s all fake if they don’t know each other.”

“You don’t look well,” Sang Yijia observed, noticing Lan Qing’s pale face and furrowing her brow. In the book, there was no mention of Lan Qing starting the show while ill. If something happened, the viewers would surely blame her.

“Oh, you’re right,” Yan Ningsi nodded, but hadn’t reached her side yet.

Suddenly, Lan Qing collapsed.

Just then, Shen Jin came downstairs and witnessed the scene. “Lan Qing!”

“Sang Yijia, what did you do?!”