Yun Chu had been a good girl since she was little.
Although she’d never been a class officer, she was always the teacher’s favorite student. She was never late or left early, always finished her homework on time, and had a strong resistance to the ambiguous flirtations of adolescence. No matter how many love letters she received or how many people tried to woo her, she would righteously refuse them, saying, “I need to focus on my studies.”
Someone once asked her, “What are you studying so hard for? If you don’t date now, you won’t get the chance later!”
Yun Chu would face the direction of the national theater, her eyes shining. “My dream is to dedicate myself to our country’s performing arts and shine on stage! Trivial matters like love and romance will not stand in the way of my ideals!”
The pursuer: “…Damn.”
Her grandmother was also gratified. “The future of theater rests on your shoulders!”
Although she never did end up contributing to the theater world, Yun Chu remained single. Her parents often asked about it, and Yun Chu would brush them off. “There’s no one I like.”
Her mom said, “What kind of person do you like? Highly educated? Handsome? Over 1.8 meters tall? Good family background? Mom has them all right here!”
Yun Chu said, “I like women.”
Her mom was silent for a moment, then opened another notebook. “What kind of girl do you like? Cute? Mature? Tall or short? Curvy or slim? Any educational requirements? Any family background requirements? You’ve had so many female friends growing up, haven’t you met anyone you like?”
Before Yun Chu could even speak, her mom gasped. “You don’t like Taozi, do you? She’s as straight as an arrow! A bent person loving a straight one is a dead end!”
Yun Chu was exasperated. “I don’t like her!”
Her mom: “Good, that’s a relief.”
She continued flipping through her notebook. “Then Mommy will introduce you to some people. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
Yun Chu refused. “I want to focus on my career.”
Her mom: “Aren’t you just lazing around at home?”
Yun Chu: “Where did you learn that phrase! Can’t I focus on my restaurant career?!”
Her mom: “Fine, fine, whatever you say.”
And so, Yun Chu’s restaurant business flourished. A second branch in Bei City was already on the agenda, yet she still hadn’t dated. Yun Chu’s mother was getting anxious—how could she let her best years go by without falling in love? Just as she was preparing to resume her matchmaking efforts, she heard the news that Yun Chu was going on a dating show.
A dating show was great. You could make money and fall in love at the same time. The merchant’s profit-seeking nature was revealed as her parents spammed a dozen thumbs-up emojis in the family group chat, eagerly waiting for Yun Chu to bring a girlfriend home.
But Yun Chu was discouraged. “I’ll do my best.”
At the time, she wasn’t sure she could make Jian You remember her, nor was she confident she could make Jian You fall in love with her. She was tempted to propose a new plan to the production team—forget the messy ensemble, just let them cultivate their feelings one-on-one. But she felt it would be too obvious, so she gave up the idea.
Fortunately, her gamble paid off. She and Jian You were now dating, and her experienced parents had seen through it at a glance.
So, after resting at home for a night, Yun Chu faced a three-way interrogation at the breakfast table.
Her mom, her dad, and her family dog.
A tuft of hair sticking up, Yun Chu took a sip of milk before sensing that something was off about the atmosphere. “…What are you guys doing?”
Her mom slammed the table. “Spill it! Who are you dating?!”
Her dad slammed the table in unison. “Is it someone you met on the dating show? If not, then why are you still on a dating show being all ambiguous with Jian You? I’ll beat you to death!”
Her family dog also slammed its paws on the table and panted, “Woof woof woof!”
Yun Chu, with a straw in her mouth, wanted to cry. Her status in the family was now lower than a dog’s. Even the dog could bark orders at her. She took a deep breath, wanting to resist, but felt that showing off her relationship was more important. She suppressed her rebellious urge, tried her best not to look too smug, and stated calmly, “I’m dating Teacher Jian.”
Her mom: “Whoa!”
Her dad: “Whoa!”
Her family dog: “Woof woof!”
“I told you so!” Her mom started slamming the table again. “A talent like Jian You must have very, very high standards. It’s only natural that she’d fall for our darling! Your dad’s good-for-nothing friends didn’t believe it! Heh!”
“Exactly!” Her dad chimed in. “Saying our Xiao Chu isn’t Jian You’s type. Heh, she’s so her type!”
Yun Chu: “…”
What on earth had her parents been talking about with other people while she was away?!
Her dad took a sip of soy milk and exchanged a look with his wife. “But I was also brainwashed by some of the talk. When I was watching the show, I also thought it was a forced relationship.”
His wife: “Mhm, mhm, but it was still pretty sweet.”
Yun Chu: “…”
She glanced at her dog. Seeing that the “criticism” of Yun Chu was over, the dog crawled out from under the table and rubbed against her leg. Yun Chu gave it a couple of rough pets. “You little snob!”
The peace didn’t last two seconds before her mother started worrying again. “Since you two are so in love and in the honeymoon phase, why not settle things sooner? What if Jian You runs off with someone else!”
Yun Chu was caught off guard. “Huh? Runs off with who?”
“How about we meet the parents first?” her dad suggested.
“Jian You has fame and money. Our family is in business, so we’re not as famous, but we can’t lose when it comes to money!” Boss Yun mentally calculated the family assets.
Yun Chu weakly raised her hand. “Don’t you think things are moving a little too fast? Don’t you want to hear how Teacher Jian and I started exchanging glances, developing feelings, falling for each other, and getting together like dry wood and a raging fire?”
“How did you exchange glances?”
“How did you develop feelings?”
“How did you fall for each other?”
“No need to talk about the dry wood and raging fire part.”
“…”
Yun Chu took a proper three-day break.
During that time, her long-shelved drama, Lend Me the Spring Light, was quietly released on a certain video app. Despite its bright-sounding name, the show was actually a crime drama. The innocent and romantic girl played by Yun Chu was actually the villain. Although her true nature was revealed to the audience early on, she continued to deceive the protagonist in the story. Her role wasn’t large, but the contrast was stark and extremely demanding of her acting skills.
The script was adapted from a popular crime novel on a certain forum. Because it was highly faithful to the original, and the main cast consisted of actors with excellent public appeal, the show received rave reviews upon its release.
【I stayed up all night reading the novel. Yun Chu’s character is actually the villain. I was totally fooled by her innocent smile.】
【If I were in that story, I’d be the first to die, for real.】
【But Yun Chu is so cute. Who would have thought that behind the scenes, she’s a cold-blooded killer… I was genuinely shocked when she licked the blood off her face without any expression.】
【Her acting is just too good. I feel like she’s going to dismember me in the next second.】
【Aaaah, no wonder Jian You cast her in her movie. The person Jian You has her eye on is truly outstanding!】
【What do you mean, ‘has her eye on’?】
【Don’t be so sensitive, they mean the actor she has her eye on!】
【Can we get more episodes? Waiting for one episode a day is torture.】
【Yun Chu, how many more surprises do you have in store for me?】
【Yun Chu’s acting + Jian You’s directing and script. A powerhouse combination. I want to see Sister right now!】
Riding this wave of popularity, Jian You’s studio officially announced the cast for Sister. As the female lead, Yun Chu was announced first, with a promo photo that had been taken long ago.
The location was the seaside. A girl in a sundress smiled brilliantly at the camera. Behind her was the endless sea, and above her was the dazzling light. The sea breeze lifted her hair, creating a fresh and atmospheric scene. The word “Sister” in a cursive script floated to her left, with four smaller words below it: Director Jian You.
【Wow wow wow! This promo photo is amazing!】
【Hey, there are footprints on the sand. They transition from the girl’s footprints to a little girl’s footprints, and at the end, there’s the silhouette of a very young girl. Is that the little girl who plays young Yun Chu?】
【There’s also candy scattered next to the little girl. Aww, I give this set of photos a perfect score!】
【Jian You is such a good photographer. Jian You should shoot your wedding photos in the future. I wouldn’t trust anyone else.】
【Jian You: Both the bride and the photographer.】
【Alright, Jia Jian Cheng Chu CP fans, I’ve caught you making the princess do manual labor again. Clear evidence of your bias!】
【Has anyone noticed that Jian You’s fans don’t even bother refuting the idea of Jia Jian Cheng Chu getting married anymore…】
【LMAO, they’ve been completely bamboozled.】
Yun Chu’s Weibo followers were also skyrocketing, and her CP Super Topic with Jian You was climbing the ranks in sync with Little Tricks for Love’s viewership, setting new records for the show.
Before returning to Yunzhou City, Yun Chu went out for a meal with Zhou Zhitao and was recognized by fans. The two of them had to duck through three streets but were still photographed, and the pictures ended up online. Yun Chu immediately issued a clarification that they were just best friends, attaching photos of them growing up together as proof. Unexpectedly, modern netizens weren’t picky and even started shipping them as a childhood-sweethearts-to-lovers pair.
Zhou Zhitao spammed “aaahhh” in their chat, saying that if Yun Chu dared to block her romantic prospects, she was done for!
Yun Chu: Heh. I’m the one who’s done for, okay!
Zhou Zhitao: ?
Yun Chu: [Chat Screenshot]
The screenshot was of her chat history with Jian You.
Wifey: Xiao Liu said I’ve been cheated on
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: !
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: He’s talking nonsense!
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: He’s trying to drive a wedge between us! Don’t you know my relationship with Zhou Zhitao? We’re just normal best friends!
Wifey: Oh
Wifey: Then what am I
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: You’re my wifey
Wifey: You’re my wifey
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: Okay okay!
Wifey: Some people are shipping you and Zhou Zhitao
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: Modern netizens really aren’t picky
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: Some people are even shipping you with Wen Xi and Zhu Wan’er!
Wifey: Modern netizens really aren’t picky
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: You know who I love the most, right
Wifey: Not really
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: Then take a guess
Wifey: I’m guessing it’s your grandma’s neighbor
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: Wow! You’re so smart!
Wifey: What’s my reward
Xiao Chu Xiao Chu Will Never Admit Defeat: [Plane Ticket] One wifey
Wifey: Wait for me in bed
The long screenshot ended with “Wait for me in bed,” leaving Zhou Zhitao completely bewildered. She scrolled back to Yun Chu’s message and couldn’t help but send a sneering emoji. “Get lost with your roundabout way of showing off your relationship!”
Yun Chu: Hehehe
After all, Zhou Zhitao was a private citizen, so netizens were just shipping them casually. Once Yun Chu’s flight to Yunzhou City was announced, the CP fans were revived. “Our little long-distance couple! They’re finally going to see each other!”
【I’m telling you, Yun Chu is really famous now. Her schedule is nonstop. When she finally gets a break, she goes home to be with her parents. Only Director Jian is working every day, and she can’t even go home to hug her soft, fragrant wife. My heart aches for her.】
【Wifey is finally coming back! Tonight’s gonna be hehehe.】
【??? Yun Chu is going back to her company, okay? What does that have to do with Jian You?】
【Aren’t Yun Chu and Jian You neighbors? I say, stop being neighbors and just move in together.】
【She’s not neighbors with Yun Chu, she’s neighbors with Yun Chu’s grandma. Speaking of which, I saw a post the other day that said Yun Chu’s grandmother is the national first-class actress Ding Linping, and she’s best friends with Qu Yan of ‘Zhang of the North and Qu of the South.’ You guys know Qu Yan, right? She mentored 12 Best Actors and 13 Best Actresses. After retiring, she’s been focused on theater. Qu Yan probably watched Yun Chu grow up.】
【WTF???】
【Damn, Yun Chu’s background is that incredible?】
【LMAO, I used to think Yun Chu was punching above her weight, but now I realize she’s just been keeping a low profile. I thought she really couldn’t get any roles, but it turns out she can get whatever she wants, she just didn’t want to before…】
【Yun Chu is probably just picky about scripts. You can tell from the dramas she’s been in that they’re all high-quality productions.】
【It’s rare for a young person to have that kind of mindset.】
【But Yun Chu hasn’t been idle. Did you guys know she opened a restaurant in Yunzhou City? It was rated one of the top ten must-try restaurants in Yunzhou City by XX Reviews. You can’t get a table without a reservation.】
【??? Holy crap, Yun Chu opened First Encounter? I absolutely love the food at that place!!】
【It’s a restaurant even the locals go to.】
【Can I get a table because I’m a fan? I really want to try the signature dish T_T】
【Everyone… Yun Chu only graduated a year ago.】
【She’s already successful in both her career and love life.】
【Her grandma is Ding Linping, she grew up being watched over by Qu Yan, she’s Jian You’s girlfriend, and she runs a restaurant with rave reviews. Every TV drama she’s in has ratings several times higher than its competitors. Repost this Yun Chu, and you too can have your luck go up up up.】
【Reposting furiously.】
【By the way, what does Yun Chu’s family do? Has anyone dug it up?】
【Her parents are private citizens, I think. Her family is pretty protective of their privacy, and no one has leaked anything, so it’s hard to find out. But from what I’ve seen, Yun Chu occasionally mentions her parents on Weibo, and it seems like they have a great family atmosphere.】
【So incredibly envious.】
【As expected, such a beautiful and cute girl also likes beautiful girls.】
The flight from Bei City to Yunzhou City was two hours long, so Yun Chu simply took a nap. There were fans at the airport to greet her, orderly clearing a path for her to walk. They occasionally handed her letters and banners. Someone even shouted, “Xiao Chu, give us a spoiler for Little Tricks for Love! Who do you like?”
Yun Chu was wearing a mask, and her voice was muffled. “Isn’t it obvious who I like?”
The person who shouted was stunned. “Is-is it the person I think it is?”
Yun Chu’s eyes curved into a smile, but she didn’t say anything more. Once she was in the car with her assistant, she quickly switched to her burner account and opened the Super Topic. Sure enough, the CP fans were going crazy over her words.
【She said, ‘Isn’t it obvious who I like?’…】
【It’s so obvious. She likes Jian You, Jian You, sob sob sob.】
【Even though she didn’t send Jian You a text message, her eyes were screaming ‘I like you’! You can’t hide it in your eyes when you like someone!】
【She loves her so much.】
【Can they just get married on the spot? Stop making them go on dates with other people. Just the two of them. Show me them being in love during the next recording. I’m willing to pay.】
【Ready to transfer money.】
【I have to respect them for putting on such a good show. I’m destined to be a little fool for Jia Jian Cheng Chu’s love story.】
…
“Teacher Yun, we’ll go back to the company first and then switch cars to take you home,” the assistant said from the side. “Your current address must be kept secret, secret, and more secret. We absolutely cannot let any bad people have an opportunity.”
Yun Chu thought about it. “I’m not going back to my place. I’m going to Qingyao Alley.”
The assistant was surprised. “To see Teacher Jian?”
Yun Chu: “…My grandma lives there too.”
“Oh, oh.” The assistant quickly lowered her head. “Okay.”
Yun Chu: “Were you just shipping us?”
Assistant: “I was not!”
Yun Chu: “But your reaction just now was total CP-brain!”
The assistant felt guilty for a second. “…It must be because I’ve been overworked lately!”
Yun Chu drew out her words. “Is that so?”
Assistant: “Yes!”
Yun Chu: “It’s okay to ship us.”
Assistant: “Huh?”
Yun Chu: “The CP you’re shipping is real.”
Assistant: “???”
Yun Chu smiled and patted her hand, then closed her eyes to happily catch up on sleep. If it weren’t for the rule against dating during the filming of the dating show, she would have posted an official announcement on Weibo and shown off their love to the world.
For now, she could only show off to the people around her.
Assistant: “…”
Who was it that was shipping a CP right in front of the real person? Oh, it was the real person herself. Never mind then.
The car Yun Chu had left in the historic district had already been driven back to her apartment complex by her assistant. She spent the afternoon at the company reading scripts. Just as she was about to leave, she happened to run into Jiang Yu, who was getting off work. Jiang Yu naturally knew she was back, but she didn’t want to see her love-struck, happy face, so she had deliberately avoided her. But she really wanted to talk to her, so she orchestrated this chance encounter.
“Going home?” Jiang Yu asked. “Want me to give you a ride?”
“No need!” Yun Chu put on her mask and bucket hat. “I’m not going home.”
“Then where are you going?” Even though she knew the answer, Jiang Yu masochistically had to ask for a clear confirmation.
As expected, Yun Chu smiled, bumped her shoulder as if they were the best of friends, and winked. “Of course, I’m going to find my girlfriend.”
Jiang Yu said, “Oh.” Then, “You came back and didn’t even ask me for a meal. Friends before lovers, you know.”
“But I haven’t seen Teacher Jian in so long.” Yun Chu stepped into the elevator. “Do you know what they mean by ‘one day apart feels like three autumns’? Next time for sure, next time for sure.”
Jiang Yu smiled and said, “Alright.”
She turned her face away, looking at Yun Chu’s reflection in the elevator’s surface. The image was too blurry to make out her features. She thought to herself that she had known what “one day apart feels like three autumns” meant long before Yun Chu did.
The snow had stopped in January, but the wind was still bitingly cold, even more so in the underground parking garage. Yun Chu patted Jiang Yu’s shoulder and slipped into her car. The heater blasted warm air, restoring her body temperature. She sent a message to Jian You: “Reporting, Teacher Jian, your girlfriend is now on her way to your house!”
Jian You replied quickly: “I’m working overtime.”
Yun Chu: [Pouting.jpg]
Jian You: Be good
Yun Chu: I’m good, and then what
Jian You: Good little kids get a reward
Yun Chu: What kind of reward?
Jian You: Guess?
Yun Chu’s mind was already full of lewd thoughts, and Jian You’s “Guess?” sparked countless possibilities. Before she could even reply, her face was flushed red and her toes were curling in shy anticipation of what might happen that night.
Jian You: I’ll bring you something tasty to eat.
Yun Chu: …
Oh!
Qingyao Alley was the same as always, with a hint of a misty, rainy southern town on an overcast day. As Yun Chu entered, she first glanced toward her grandmother’s house. The old lady rested early, so the courtyard was already dark. She whispered, “Good night, Grandma. I’ll come see you tomorrow!”
Wen Yi was back from her vacation. She had just finished walking Liuyue and had been told by Jian You that Yun Chu would be coming, so she had deliberately left the door unlocked.
A pot of pork rib soup was simmering in the courtyard.
Yun Chu took a deep breath. “It smells so good!”
Wen Yi poked her head out from the living room. “Xiao Chu, you’re here?”
Yun Chu closed the door. “Did you make pork rib soup?”
“Yes.” Wen Yi came out and said, “Xiao Jian called this afternoon. She said you like it and asked me to stew some for you.” She took Yun Chu’s bag, smiling. “Xiao Jian really cares about you.”
Instead of rushing inside, Yun Chu pulled up one of Jian You’s chairs and sat by the stove, grinning. “Of course, I’m her girlfriend!”
Wen Yi: “Huh???”
Yun Chu was also taken aback. “Didn’t Teacher Jian tell you?”
Even if Jian You hadn’t said anything, shouldn’t she know from surfing the internet!
Apparently, Jian You had never come out to Wen Yi, and Wen Yi, who didn’t spend much time online, was completely oblivious. She had assumed Yun Chu and Jian You had just gotten close because they were on a show together. Two girls being that close? They must be best friends!
In Wen Yi’s world, the concept of two women being in a romantic relationship didn’t exist.
Yun Chu silently sat down and sent a message to Jian You: “I think I just reshaped your housekeeper’s worldview. I came out to her.”
Jian You: Hahahahahahaha
Yun Chu counted eight “ha’s.” She had never seen such a lively Teacher Jian in their chats. She took a screenshot, saved it, and posted it to her Moments: Someone was amused. I won’t say who [Feeling pretty]
Zhou Zhitao: Get your public displays of affection out of my Moments.
Just after she posted, Wen Yi came out of the living room again. She looked at Yun Chu, wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything, simply took Yun Chu’s empty bowl, and went back inside. Yun Chu knew her worldview had just been shaken, so she didn’t deliberately try to talk to her. After eating her fill, she went upstairs to the second floor and took a shower.
She had intended to send Jian You a message saying she was going to sleep if she didn’t come back soon, but she ended up falling asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
The pillow was filled with Jian You’s scent, soft and fragrant like a sleeping potion. In her unconscious state, she fell into a sea of flowers. Jian You lay beside her, kissing her, from her forehead to her collarbone, trailing downwards, her kisses focused and sensual.
Unsatisfied, she pressed herself into Jian You’s embrace. There was no barrier between their heated bodies. She felt Jian You’s delicate touch and cried out in pleasure and joy, only to be jolted awake from the beautiful dream the moment Jian You bit her lip.
The ceiling in the bright room suddenly seemed very close. She felt a pang of pain somewhere and let out a soft hiss, only then realizing that Jian You was really kissing her.
Yun Chu murmured, “Teacher Jian…”
“You’re awake?” Jian You lifted her eyes. The corners of her eyes, flushed with passion, were an alluring red, like a ripe, juicy peach that promised to sweeten one’s heart with a single bite. She propped herself up on the bed, leaned in to kiss Yun Chu’s lips, her voice muffled in the kiss. “What were you dreaming about? You sounded so lovely.”
Yun Chu was still half in her dream and was now being thoroughly disoriented by the kiss. She answered subconsciously, “You.”
“Dreaming of me?” Jian You smiled. She was dressed elegantly today, her makeup light yet tasteful. When she smiled, she looked like a beauty who had stepped out of a painting, making one’s heart itch. Her fingers slipped under the covers, gliding up along the soft sheets as her kisses grew more intense. “What were you dreaming about me?”
Yun Chu thought Jian You was being a terrible bully. She had clearly heard her reactions in her sleep, yet here she was, playing dumb and asking what she had dreamed about. Feeling a little pouty, she turned her head away to avoid Jian You’s kiss.
Jian You turned her face back and leaned over her. “Why won’t you let me kiss you?”
“You’re bullying me.” Yun Chu looked at her with teary eyes. “You know exactly what I was dreaming about!”
Jian You chuckled, letting out a low “Mm.” “I know.”
“And now, I’m going to do what I did in your dream. You don’t mind, do you?” Though it was a question, her fingers authoritatively stopped Yun Chu’s struggles. Unhurriedly, she watched as Yun Chu blossomed beneath her.
Like a vibrant flower, blooming on a misty spring day.
