The next day was Christmas.
The live stream for the Little Tricks for Love press conference was set for twelve o’clock. The moment it started, the stream was immediately flooded with fans, and a barrage of comments scrolled rapidly across the screen.
【Ahhh, a fresh Director Jian!】
【Xiao Yun Chu! Mommy’s good girl hasn’t posted on Weibo for Christmas yet! Today’s look is so cute, remember to post a selfie!】
【Beauties [drooling] so many beauties [drooling]】
【Why are they all eating hot pot? It’s making me hungry, but I just love watching pretty ladies eat!】
【The beauties are all prettier than in their photos!】
【A very appetizing live stream】
“Hello everyone,” The self-introductions went from left to right. The first to speak was Wen Xi, who had specially worn a Hanfu with her hair in a bun, a jade hairpin with dangling beads swaying gently. “My name is Wen Xi. My favorite thing to eat is-” She picked up a piece of mutton and said, “My favorite is instant-boiled mutton.”
“I’m Meng Zhaozhao.” Meng Zhaozhao stuck to her business-like style, looking sharp and efficient. “My favorite is…”
She hesitated, and Wen Xi chimed in, “Tripe.”
Meng Zhaozhao smiled. “Right.”
【Damn, I’m shipping it.】
【I’m stanning this CP!】
【Meng Zhaozhao’s smile is so sweet, hehehe】
【Wen Xi remembers so clearly. Who would believe she doesn’t care?】
“I’m Pei Wan.” Pei Wan nodded at the camera. She pondered for a moment, following the others’ rhythm. “The shrimp paste here is good.”
【President Pei is so cool! President Pei, can you be nicer to xxx!】
【President Pei, please get our xxx a regular spot on a variety show.】
【Now appearing is [50 million album sales][God of domestic solo artists][Sole spokesperson for a top luxury blue-blood brand] Top Star Zhou’s boss, Pei Wan!】
【…Some fans need to get a grip. Is this the place for you to brag?】
“I’m Zhu Wan’er!” Zhu Wan’er introduced herself while adding ingredients to the pot. Her chopsticks extended and tapped Wen Xi’s. “It’s not cooked yet, you can’t eat it now.”
Wen Xi had no choice but to withdraw her chopsticks, looking aggrieved. “When will it be ready?”
Zhu Wan’er: “Wait another two minutes. It’ll be ready when it floats.”
Wen Xi: “Sister Wan’er, you’re amazing!”
【…………I’m shipping this too.】
【LMAO, Wen Xi is staring eagerly at Zhu Wan’er, and Meng Zhaozhao’s face has gone dark.】
【She’s jealous, definitely jealous!】
【I say, have you guys noticed two people being very unusual? Sitting opposite each other without saying a word, but eating very seriously. I’m talking about you! Yun Chu and Jian You! You’ve got something to hide!】
【Can the shippers stop imagining things? It’s not their turn yet, how are they supposed to talk?】
【Jian You is talking.】
“Hello everyone, I’m Jian You.” Jian You gave the camera a slight smile. She thought for a moment, then said, “I like the yams in hot pot.”
Everyone looked at Yun Chu.
Yun Chu hadn’t expected Jian You’s introduction to be so quick. She swallowed the potato slice she had just put in her mouth whole, and it was so hot she lost control of her expression. She mumbled a greeting to the camera, “He-hello, ev’wyone!”
【Hahahahahahahahahahahaha】
【#Yun Chu, the comedian#】
【I’m fucking dying laughing, how can she be so cute ahhh】
【Yun Chu’s head is so round, I love it.】
【Jian You gave Yun Chu a surprised look, hahahaha. Is she thinking, ‘Why is this person so weird?’]】
【Sorry, my shipper brain is on. All I see is a look full of: She’s so cute.】
【CP fans, that’s enough.】
Jian You opened a can of coke and handed it to Yun Chu. Yun Chu gulped down a few mouthfuls, finally managing to suppress the spiciness. She patted her chest and smiled sheepishly at the camera. “I’m Yun Chu. My favorite thing to eat is…” She thought for a moment and said, “Actually, I love everything in hot pot. You don’t have to pick a favorite, right?”
【So cute so cute so cute】
【Got it. So she loves the whole fish pond.】
【That’s some enterprise-level comprehension.】
【Which little fish in her pond is Jian You? I’m scooping her up, thanks.】
【Press conferences are so casual these days. The You I First Met‘s live stream was also a hot pot meal. This is the second time I’ve seen Yun Chu eat it this week. How does she eat with such gusto?】
【I’m gonna order some takeout and come back.】
This was meant to be a simple press conference. The schedule was relaxed: eat hot pot during the live stream, occasionally answer questions from the comments and the production team, and just eat and drink while waiting for the main show to go live.
“Just eating is boring. How about we play a game?” Wen Xi suggested.
“What should we play?” Meng Zhaozhao responded.
“How about the King’s Game?” Wen Xi said. “Aren’t we having one-on-one dates tomorrow? Whoever draws the King card can assign two people to date tomorrow. But everyone only gets one chance to assign.”
Pei Wan asked, “What if you don’t draw the King card?”
Wen Xi: “Then I guess she’s just unlucky.”
Pei Wan: “…”
【Dying laughing, first time seeing President Pei get shut down.】
【Wen Xi is so cute too. Her and Yun Chu putting their little heads together to shuffle the cards is double the cuteness!】
【Stumbled into the live stream. How come there are no men in this romance show?】
【Because soft, sweet-smelling girls also like soft, sweet-smelling girls. Men, get out of the world of beauties [fist]】
After shuffling the cards with Wen Xi, Yun Chu placed them on the table and prayed softly, “Let me get the King, let me get the King, let me-” She drew a card and shot up from her seat. “I’m the King!”
“Ah- I’m so jealous!” Wen Xi whined enviously. “Let me touch you, to get some of your good luck.”
Jian You glanced at the hand touching Yun Chu.
Then she looked away.
Yun Chu propped her hands on the table, scanned the room, and after a moment of thought, said, “Number 6 has to wake up Number 3 tomorrow morning, and it has to be in a very, very gentle way.”
Pei Wan: “…”
Meng Zhaozhao: “…”
【You can literally see President Pei’s face stiffen hahahahahahahahahaha】
【Meng Zhaozhao: Can I refuse this perk?】
【Yun Chu, you’re ruthless!】
Yun Chu waved at the staff. “Make a note of that for those two, okay? I want to see it in the show!”
The staff member made an OK gesture.
Meng Zhaozhao slammed her card down. “I have to draw the King this round!”
Wen Xi also declared, “If I get it, I’m definitely doing something big. Waking someone up is nothing!”
Zhu Wan’er: “The quail eggs are ready.”
Wen Xi: “Coming, coming.”
The second round of the game began.
Yun Chu managed to sneak a bite of shrimp paste before drawing a card. She wasn’t so lucky this time, only drawing the number 3. Then, she heard Wen Xi beside her let out a loud laugh. “It’s my turn!”
Meng Zhaozhao tapped her chopsticks. “Mind your image.”
“Oh.” Only then did Wen Xi remember she was wearing a gentle Hanfu and had to maintain the persona of a well-bred lady. She cleared her throat, sat down, and gave the camera a graceful smile.
【…………The internet has a memory.】
【I screen-recorded it.】
【Wen Xi, do something big!】
“Time for something big.” Wen Xi rested her chin on her hand, her eyes circling the people present. After a moment, she announced a number first. “Number 5 and- and Number 3.”
Yun Chu’s heart leaped into her throat.
“How about this: Number 5 will sing a love song to Number 3. You have to look into their eyes and sing with deep emotion. If it’s not emotional enough, it doesn’t count.” Wen Xi asked, “Who are Number 5 and Number 3?”
Yun Chu slammed her card down and stood up in resignation. “Who’s singing me a love song? Bring it on.”
Two or three seconds later, Jian You placed her card on the table.
Yun Chu: “!”
【!!!】
【This has to be rigged, right? It’s on purpose, isn’t it? How can it be such a coincidence?】
【It’s a live stream, how could they cheat? You try cheating and show me how.】
【This is fate! Hehe!】
【So curious what song she’ll sing.】
There was karaoke equipment on hand. A staff member immediately handed Jian You a microphone and asked, “What song will you sing?”
She chose “Writing a Poem for You.”
The intro was “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” played on the piano, note by note. Jian You held the microphone and looked at Yun Chu. The basic skills from her time at the film academy were on full display as emotion brewed in her eyes. A faint, affectionate, and moving smile appeared. “Love is a strange thing / My whole body is starting to lose control…”
【Fuck! Oh fuck!】
【Writing a Poem for You, ahhh!】
【Why would she choose this song, my god, these lyrics! These lyrics are going to kill me with feels, ahh!】
【Writing a poem for you / Standing still for you / Doing the impossible for you… Doing the impossible for you, playing the lines of every love song for you QAQ With Sister looking at Yun Chu like that, how could Yun Chu not fall for her?】
【The absolute killer has to be the last line, damn.】
Jian You had a beautiful voice. Although she didn’t sing often, she clearly had some musical talent. Emotion triumphed over technique. She stared at Yun Chu without blinking and sang the last part: “I forgot to say, the most beautiful thing is your name.”
-I can forget anything, but the one thing I won’t forget is your name.
Yun Chu’s heart felt as if it had fallen into a black hole, endlessly falling and falling into the trap named Jian You.
If only time could stop at this very moment, she thought. The Christmas bells were ringing, the fire in the hearth was crackling, and outside the window was a painting of a snowy country scene.
And in the room, Jian You was singing a love song to her.
So affectionately.
As if Jian You truly, sincerely loved her.
【Forget Yun Chu, even I’m falling for her.】
【QAQ Jian You is so affectionate. She hasn’t actually fallen for Yun Chu, has she?】
【I’m buying stock in this ship.】
【Why isn’t the main show online yet!】
Due to time constraints, Jian You only sang through the first chorus before her task was considered complete. She returned the microphone to the staff and said, “If I draw the King this time, I’m going to play matchmaker.”
She drew a card. Commoner.
Jian You: “…”
“Haha, you didn’t get it!” Meng Zhaozhao said. “But if I get it, I’m going to randomly pair people up too!”
She drew a card. Also a commoner.
Meng Zhaozhao: “…”
Yun Chu: “Hehe, didn’t expect it to be me again.”
Wen Xi: “Ahhh, your luck is so good!”
Yun Chu toyed with the card in her hand and said, “Playing matchmaker, right? I’ll do it, I’ll do it. So, who will be the first lucky ‘little couple’ tomorrow? Number 2!”
Zhu Wan’er waved the card in her hand. “Here~~~”
“And Number 3!” Yun Chu said.
“Who is it? Who is it? Who’s Number 3?” Wen Xi looked around, very invested.
Jian You raised her hand. “Me.”
Yun Chu: “…”
【Yun Chu: My damn luck.】
【You could say she just handed her wife over to someone else.】
【I don’t think Zhu Wan’er and Jian You look too happy about it either.】
【No time to care who they’re dating. Family, the main show goes live in two minutes! This time I’ll definitely catch proof of Yun Chu throwing herself at Jian You!】
【Heh heh, I’ve already written the forum post. Just waiting for screenshots as proof.】
【Bring it on!】
【Why isn’t this game over yet?】
【How did Yun Chu get King again, is she cheating? Damn, how did she draw Jian You again, what kind of ill-fated connection is this…??? She’s asking Jian You the time and place of her first kiss! Hurry up and say it so I can hear!】
【The main show is live! I’m going in!】
【I immediately dragged the progress bar to the end to see who Yun Chu sent her text to.】
【Dying laughing, family. Yun Chu didn’t send her text to Jian You hahahahahahahahahahaha】
【???】
【How is this different from what Jian You’s fans were saying? Where’s the bootlicker? Where’s the clingy pursuer? Where’s the ‘climbed into Jian You’s bed for a role’? [As in, get climbing already]】
【I take back what I said about shipping Wen Xi and Meng Zhaozhao. It’s a total mess. Why did they both send their texts to Jian You!】
【It was in the preview! You must have shipped the wrong CP because you didn’t watch the preview!】
【?! She really didn’t send it to Jian You???】
【Why would she send it to Meng Zhaozhao? Just because she looked good feeding the chickens? What kind of ridiculous reason is that! What’s wrong with our Director Jian? I’m so pissed, so pissed, so pissed!】
【Someone’s getting worked up, but I won’t say who.】
【LMAO, Jian You sent hers to Yun Chu.】
【Absolutely love a good face-slapping plot.】
【So Jia Jian Cheng Chu really is a one-sided crush. I just didn’t expect it to be a Jian You → Yun Chu one-sided crush hahahahaha! Some fans are about to have a meltdown.】
【kswlkswl】
【Um, who was it that said they’d play basketball upside down / eat their computer / eat their TV / stew themselves in an iron pot?】
【…】
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