The sensation Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi caused at the music festival quickly became a trending topic. Although Fang Yi had told them to be moderate with their fan service, she naturally wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like this to break into the mainstream. Marketing posts flooded social media, drawing in casual observers to the “Gu Group.”
As soon as Zhou Shichen got home, she criticized Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi, who had ordered Maocai takeout: “How could you two sneak off to a music festival behind my back?”
“You’re back?” Lin Yi picked out a few bean sprouts and said, “We were filming a show today. Getting spotted by passersby was an accident.”
Zhou Shichen changed into her slippers and took a deep breath. “It smells so good!”
Lin Yi pointed to an insulated container. “Yours is over there.”
She glanced behind Zhou Shichen and saw only Yan Qi hanging up clothes. “Yuanyuan isn’t back?”
Across from her, Xu Shuyan tossed a half-eaten shrimp ball into Lin Yi’s bowl. “It’s spicy. You eat it.”
“Didn’t we order mild?” Lin Yi took a bite naturally. “I told you to order something else, but you wouldn’t. You should eat more steamed buns!”
“Yuanyuan was still dancing when I left,” Zhou Shichen said. “I guess she wants to make her final performance the best it can be, so she has no regrets.”
Lin Yi nodded thoughtfully.
Xu Shuyan lowered her eyes and, just before Lin Yi could speak again, suddenly said, “We’re joining the film set on Monday. Have you finished memorizing your lines?”
Sure enough, the moment she was questioned, Lin Yi’s attention was immediately diverted. “Of course I’ve finished! Didn’t you see how hard I was working at the company the other day? I didn’t even work this hard for my college entrance exams!”
Chen Yuan’s departure from the group did have an impact, but it wasn’t as significant as the outside world claimed.
First, the Gu Group had been around for a long time. The solo fans and group fans were all steadfast. The group fans might be sad, but at least four members were still together. They’d be emotional for a few days but wouldn’t un-stan. Second, the group’s manager had long known this day would come and had prepared several contingency plans, and the PR team they hired was top-notch in the industry. Third, The Notes members were also doing well individually. After compensating for the loss of group activities, their individual activities were unaffected.
Even the director of the movie Chen Yuan had auditioned for still thought highly of her and didn’t give up on her because of this, saying he would wait for her to rest and recover before she joined the set.
The urban sweet romance drama that Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan had a guest role in had just started filming last week. They were scheduled to join the set next Monday for a five-day shoot. They were supposed to stay in the hotel arranged by the production team, but fearing sasaeng fans, they openly checked in at the hotel lobby and then slipped out the back to stay at a B&B they had booked in advance.
The B&B wasn’t large. It was an open-plan loft with a living room downstairs and a double bed up a flight of stairs. A projector screen was mounted on the wall opposite the bed.
“A double bed is so cramped.” Lin Yi came down the stairs and asked their assistant, “Is anyone staying in the room next door? Should we book another one?”
Xu Shuyan pushed her suitcase against the wall. “Sure. You can go stay next door.”
“Why shouldn’t you be the one to go?” Lin Yi plopped down on the sofa. “I just touched the bed, so that bed’s surname is now Lin! I’m sitting on the sofa now, so this sofa’s surname is now Lin too!”
Xu Shuyan was speechless. “Are you a child or what?”
Lin Yi was used to being bratty with Xu Shuyan. She stuck out her tongue. “What are you going to do about it?”
Xu Shuyan ground her teeth, then turned and pushed the assistant towards the door. “You can head back first. Xiao Yi and I have some things to take care of. We know how to book a room, so we won’t trouble you. Bye.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door was slammed shut with a bang.
Lin Yi was startled. Seeing Xu Shuyan walk towards her, she leaned back nonchalantly. “What are you doing, Xu Shuyan?” She glanced up at the bed. “But if you act cute with me, I might let you stay in the Lin family bed.”
Xu Shuyan: “…”
She said resentfully, “You really have no principles.”
Lin Yi hummed lazily and closed her eyes again. “What time is the night shoot tonight?”
“Ten p.m.,” Xu Shuyan said.
To avoid the sasaengs, they had woken up early. It was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from S City to the film studio, and they hadn’t slept well in the car. Lin Yi was exhausted. She flopped onto the sofa and said, “I’m going to take a nap.”
Xu Shuyan gently kicked her foot. “Go sleep on the bed.”
Lin Yi’s voice was muffled. “Don’t want to move.”
Xu Shuyan: “…If you don’t go, I’m going to tickle you.”
Lin Yi was quiet for two seconds, feeling like Xu Shuyan might attack her at any moment. After a moment of internal struggle, she opened her eyes resentfully. “You’re so annoying!”
Xu Shuyan filled a kettle with water. “Likewise.”
@SpringDayFireworks1105x0813: |20220606 On Set| It’s actress Xu Shuyan and actress Lin Yi today! Their first scene is a night shoot, let’s cheer them on! [Image] [Image] [Image]
[Aaaah! Looking forward to actress Xu Shuyan and actress Lin Yi!]
[You’ve worked hard!]
[My two good daughters are going to be in a relationship in the drama!]
[How can they look so good even without makeup! Yanyan looks a little tired. Xiao Yi keeps holding onto Yanyan’s arm, she’s so clingy! Does she just love sticking to her that much!]
[LMAO, I just looked at the solo fan sites. They really struggled to crop the other person out. They didn’t post a single landscape photo…]
[Okay, the moms from both sides have worked hard too.]
After Xu Shuyan’s solo activities began, she mainly focused on a career as a musician, participating in music variety shows and serving as a mentor on competition shows. To increase her public recognition, she also took on a regular role in a popular variety show. So, compared to Lin Yi, who had some acting experience, she was a complete novice.
“Is the director going to yell at me?” Xu Shuyan pulled on the school uniform, flipping her long hair out from under the jacket. “The cameras will be rolling, and in front of so many people… how embarrassing!”
Lin Yi comforted her, “I already asked around before we came. This director isn’t nearly as scary as Sister Fang said!”
“Really?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“Right.”
The overly matter-of-fact tone made Lin Yi’s heart clench. She shot Xu Shuyan an embarrassed glare and muttered, “Believe it or not, I don’t care,” as she zipped her school uniform all the way up. She put on a pair of round glasses, hiding half her face in her collar, and asked Xu Shuyan, “Do I look like a stuffy class president?”
Xu Shuyan glanced at her. “You look like an idiot.”
Lin Yi: “…”
She announced, “Tonight, aside from running lines, I’m not going to say another word to you!”
Xu Shuyan lowered her head and smiled. She sighed. “Your old school uniform, wasn’t it this color too?”
Lin Yi kept her mouth tightly shut.
Xu Shuyan was silent for a moment, then continued talking to herself, “Yes, that’s right, it was this color. Blue and white stripes. It really tested one’s looks. Did you pass the test? I can’t remember.”
Lin Yi huffed loudly.
It seemed she was determined not to say another word to her.
After a short while, the production’s makeup artists came to do their makeup. The director of this drama was known for the high quality of his visuals and never used skin-smoothing filters lightly, so it was a test of both the actors’ skin condition and the makeup artists’ skills. Creating a natural-looking makeup that was also photogenic required considerable effort.
Xu Shuyan held an anti-swelling medication in her mouth, sipping it while tilting her face up for the makeup artist. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Lin Yi’s reflection in the mirror. Lin Yi’s bangs were clipped back, revealing her entire clean, small face. She looked obedient and cute, like a little Pomeranian being groomed.
The blue and white school uniform made her face look even more delicate and beautiful.
Lin Yi’s looks definitely passed the test, she thought.
Back then, Lin Yi was seventeen, her face full of collagen. She wore high twin ponytails, and her oversized school uniform hung loosely on her frame. The rolled-up sleeves revealed a sliver of her slender wrists, where a bracelet adorned with a small orange charm dangled and swayed as she walked.
It seemed not much was different from now.
No, there was a difference. Xu Shuyan lowered her eyes, her long, curled lashes trembling slightly. Back then, Lin Yi had nothing to do with her; she was just the girl next door who sang beautifully. But now-
“All done.” The makeup artist’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
Xu Shuyan snapped back to reality. “…Thank you for your hard work.”
The character Xu Shuyan played, Ruan Tang, was a taciturn transfer student who kept everyone at a distance with a cold expression. It was basically typecasting for Xu Shuyan.
Lin Yi, on the other hand, played Le Li, the “little sun” class president who was outwardly enthusiastic but secretly had ulterior motives. Although Lin Yi herself was also enthusiastic, her willingness dropped significantly if the object of her enthusiasm was Xu Shuyan.
This scene was about Ruan Tang being ostracized by her classmates. She gets intentionally tripped, injures her leg, and Le Li takes her to the school nurse’s office.
The nurse’s office was far from the academic building, situated by itself next to the sports field. During evening self-study, a single window was lit there. A string of bells hung at the entrance of the red brick building, chiming crisply when the wind blew.
“In a moment, we’ll do a walkthrough of the exterior shot, then we’ll film the interior. Don’t stop until I yell ‘cut’,” the director told Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi. “Got it?”
Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan nodded at the same time.
The director smiled. “I’ve seen your stage performances. Your expressiveness is very strong. Although I’ve seen people online telling me not to get my hopes up about your acting, I think CP chemistry is a very mysterious thing.”
Lin Yi’s eyes widened slightly. “…”
Can he just say that out loud?
“Some people can be hugging and kissing, but the audience just doesn’t get it.” The director spread his hands. “What’s the use of those two being beautiful if the audience doesn’t buy it?”
The director squinted and smiled. “But you two are great. You have natural CP chemistry, your auras match.”
Xu Shuyan pulled the stunned Lin Yi into a bow, poking her in the waist. Only then did Lin Yi react, saying along with her, “Thank you for the compliment, Director.”
The director grunted in acknowledgment. “Get ready. We’ll start shooting in five minutes.”
Once all departments were ready, they first filmed the shot of them entering the room before moving inside. The director sat behind the monitor, watching Lin Yi as Le Li help Xu Shuyan as Ruan Tang walk into the frame.
Xu Shuyan had wound makeup on her face, which was very conspicuous against her fair skin. She expressionlessly let Lin Yi help her sit on the bed, then immediately pulled her hand away.
Faced with the distance from the person she had a crush on, Le Li’s expression dimmed slightly. But she quickly recovered, squatting down and looking up at Ruan Tang. “The nurse isn’t here right now, and I don’t know when she’ll be back. Let me take a look at your injury first, okay?”
Xu Shuyan wanted to say yes.
She couldn’t bear to see Lin Yi like this, even if it was just for a scene. She couldn’t stand those puppy-dog eyes looking at her so pleadingly, as if to say, “It’s okay if you reject me. I’ll only be hurt for a little while. I’ll just lick my wounds, and I’ll be fine soon.”
But she was in character. She didn’t say yes, nor did she refuse. She just stared blankly out the window at the boundless night.
Her pant leg was gently rolled up.
Lin Yi’s fingertips brushed against her bare skin, sending a shiver through her. There was wound makeup on her knee as well. The makeup artist was a professional; the wound looked shockingly real. She heard Lin Yi suck in a sharp breath.
A fingertip touched the wound. Ruan Tang flinched, and Le Li asked, “Does it hurt?”
Does it hurt?
At this point in the script, to help the actors better understand the role, Ruan Tang’s inner thoughts were described in detail. Although Ruan Tang was staring blankly at the night, she could see her little class president in her peripheral vision and had heard what she said.
Growing up, she had suffered so much-cold shoulders at home, bullying at school-but no one had ever asked her if it hurt.
So gently, extending an olive branch of friendship.
She wanted to accept it. She was moved. Her heart was slowly opening up. Her trembling lips parted, about to speak, when the school nurse suddenly burst in and interrupted, “Which class are you from?”
“Cut!” The director stood up. “Let’s do the part where you touch the wound again from a different angle.”
The director was a perfectionist. This scene, which would be less than eight minutes in the drama, took a full two hours to finally wrap. Afterward, Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan filmed some individual shots, and by the time they finished work, it was already past three in the morning.
The assistant dropped them off at the B&B’s entrance. “Tomorrow’s scenes are at two in the afternoon. I’ll come pick you up at twelve.”
Lin Yi was past the point of sleepiness and was now wide awake. After showering, she lay in bed but couldn’t fall asleep. Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, she thought about asking Xu Shuyan if they should really get another room. Otherwise, her tossing and turning would disturb Xu Shuyan.
While mulling it over, she searched for other B&Bs in the same building on a travel app. Before she could find a suitable one, Xu Shuyan came out.
Lin Yi sat up, resting her hands on the loft’s railing to look down at Xu Shuyan. “Xu Shuyan, are you sleepy? I’m not. How about I go book another room?”
Xu Shuyan, who was wiping her face, paused. “Now?”
Lin Yi’s voice was lazy. “Yeah.”
She tilted her head, resting it on her arm, which was draped over the railing. “I’m only doing this because I’m afraid of bothering you.”
“As if you don’t bother me enough already.” Xu Shuyan walked up the stairs, her slippers making soft tapping sounds on the wooden steps. She said flatly, “You have your insomnia, and I’ll have my sleep. It’s not a bother.”
Lin Yi fell back onto the bed. “Fine!”
She was wearing pajamas, and the camisole top was already short. Lying down so casually, she exposed a sliver of her waistline, like a sliver of moonlight on an ancient river-ethereal and untouchable.
Xu Shuyan averted her gaze. “…Can you please wear your clothes properly?”
“What do you mean?” Lin Yi was puzzled, tugging at her pajamas. “What part of this isn’t proper? Besides, I’m in bed. Why would I need to be dressed so neatly?”
Xu Shuyan couldn’t win the argument, so she decided to just ignore her.
But then she heard Lin Yi exclaim, “Xu Shuyan, wait.” She sat up and grabbed Xu Shuyan’s hand, turning her to face her. Her fingertip touched Xu Shuyan’s knee. “You didn’t wipe off all the makeup here.”
Her freshly washed skin was still warm, and the touch of the cool fingertip made Xu Shuyan freeze on the spot.
She let out a slow “Ah.” “I’ll go-”
“A wet wipe will do.” Lin Yi didn’t let go, pulling a wet wipe from the nightstand with one hand and dabbing it coolly against her knee. “It’s such a hassle to go back downstairs.”
She lowered her head, concentrating on wiping, and as the camisole strap swayed, a hint of her figure was visible through her long hair.
A small but full curve.
Swaying slightly.
Xu Shuyan’s mouth suddenly felt dry. She licked her lips, her gaze on Lin Yi growing so hot it was impossible to hide. She placed a hand on Lin Yi’s shoulder. Lin Yi looked up, her eyes full of innocence. “What?”
“…Are you done yet?” Xu Shuyan heard herself say.
“Done, done.” Lin Yi crumpled the wet wipe into a ball, tossed it into the trash can, and lay down. “Hurry up and sleep. If you don’t, the sun will be up.”
Xu Shuyan grunted a sullen “Oh.”
The B&B’s curtains weren’t very good at blocking light. By the time they finally turned off the lights and lay down, the first light of dawn was already showing outside. Afraid of disturbing Xu Shuyan’s sleep, Lin Yi just stared blankly while resting on her pillow, listening to Xu Shuyan’s steady breathing and watching the sky gradually brighten through the thin curtains.
She didn’t know how she finally fell asleep, but she had a very strange dream.
In the dream, she was in a cemetery in Mountain City, humming “Happy Birthday” as she cleaned her mother’s grave. She was skipping along the steps when someone suddenly blocked her path.
Whoa, this little girl is so short!
Whoa, this little girl is so pretty!
Whoa, it’s Xu Shuyan!
It was a mini-sized Xu Shuyan, who also seemed to recognize her. She frowned indignantly, put her hands on her hips, and berated her. Unfortunately, her voice was too crisp to have any real bite. “A good dog doesn’t block the path!”
“…”
She was keenly aware that she was living out a speechless emoji.
Then, she squatted down.
Sure enough, mini Xu Shuyan’s frown deepened. She reached out a tiny finger and poked Lin Yi’s shoulder. “Don’t you get cocky, I’m telling you, I’ll be taller than you when I grow up!”
“Nonsense.” Lin Yi grabbed her finger, closing it in her palm. “You’re only two centimeters taller than me.”
“Two centimeters doesn’t count?” Mini Xu Shuyan clicked her tongue. “Lin Yi, you’re so weird. Why are you in my dream? Go away!”
Lin Yi was so annoyed she laughed. “This is my dream, okay? You go away!”
Mini Xu Shuyan’s IQ seemed to have dropped as well. She was fooled by her, her big eyes blinking with confusion as she clenched her little fists.
Lin Yi, now addicted to bullying a child, suppressed a laugh and mimicked her words, “A good dog doesn’t block the path!”
Mini Xu Shuyan’s pupils trembled. She hesitated for a moment and lifted her left foot slightly, as if to make way for her, only to regret it the next second.
She snapped her head up and looked at Lin Yi seriously.
Startled by her sudden seriousness, Lin Yi stammered, “Wh-what is it?”
Mini Xu Shuyan seemed to be holding something back. Her little fists were clenched so tightly her fingernails dug into her palms. She said, word by word, “I’m not a good little dog. I’ll hide what’s mine, and if anyone covets her, I’ll bite them to death!”
“Wh-what’s all this about biting people to death? At your age-”
Before she could finish, the mini Xu Shuyan in front of her suddenly grew larger and lunged at her. A rapid falling sensation washed over her, a sharp pain shot through her lips, and her leg twitched violently, jolting her awake.
Outside, the sky was bright. The sunlight streamed directly into the window, so harsh she had to close her eyes again.
“You’re awake?” Xu Shuyan’s voice came from beside her, tinged with confusion. “Did you have a nightmare?”
Lin Yi turned over, her back to the window, and slowly opened her eyes to meet Xu Shuyan’s calm gaze. The memory of the dream dissipated a little with the movement. “I dreamed about you,” she said in a low voice.
Xu Shuyan’s face darkened. “Is that why you looked so pained?”
“Huh?” Lin Yi looked up at her, her small face scrunched up. “I dreamed about you as a kid. You were tiny, and really fierce. Wow, like a yapping little… Ouch! Why did you hit my head!”
“You’re the one who’s like a yapping little dog!” Xu Shuyan retorted irritably. She got out of bed. “Hurry up and get ready to eat.”
Lin Yi rubbed her forehead. “…Oh.”
The scene they filmed in the afternoon was Ruan Tang’s first day after transferring and her first meeting with Le Li. Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan had, after all, crammed before coming, so aside from the occasional burst of laughter, every scene went smoothly.
Two days passed in a flash. Their scenes together were finished, and it was time to film the ensemble scenes.
It was Xu Shuyan’s first time on a film set, and she found everything novel. Sometimes she wouldn’t leave after her scenes were done, choosing instead to wander around the set. Sister Fang had instructed them to show their group spirit by always being seen together. Lin Yi figured that lying down in the B&B was the same as lying down in the break room, so she went along with whatever Xu Shuyan wanted.
Just then, Zhou Shichen, who had just finished her evening class, tagged her and Xu Shuyan in the group chat, asking if they were adjusting to the film set and if the director had yelled at them.
Lin Yi: [HandsOnHipsProudly.jpg]
Lin Yi: The director praised me!
Zhou Shichen: Wow!
Zhou Shichen: That amazing?
Lin Yi: [Smug]
Chen Yuan: [ThumbsUp]
Lin Yi: Yuanyuan!
Lin Yi: I haven’t seen you in the group chat lately.
Lin Yi: Don’t work yourself too hard.
Chen Yuan: I’m not.
Chen Yuan: By the way, how was that shop where you and Yanyan tried on wedding dresses? Can you recommend it to me?
Lin Yi thought she had already become desensitized, but seeing Chen Yuan’s words still made her heart ache. She closed her eyes for a moment, then typed, “Sure, I’ll find the contact info and send it to you when I get back.”
After a pause, she added, “The wedding dresses at that shop are all beautiful. You’ll definitely look gorgeous in one.”
Chen Yuan: [Cute]
Lin Yi stared at Chen Yuan’s profile picture for a while, then put her phone down on the table. She muttered about why Xu Shuyan wasn’t back yet and, after some thought, decided to go look for her.
She was feeling down, and she needed Xu Shuyan to see the group messages and be down with her.
Down enough to go eat with her-
Wait!
Lin Yi slammed on the brakes, dodging back around the corner. After a moment, she peeked her head out stealthily. She focused her eyes and her pupils widened slightly.
She wasn’t mistaken, was she?
At the end of the hallway, wasn’t that man laughing and chatting with Xu Shuyan the male lead of this drama, Luo Cheng? When did they meet? It couldn’t have been just now, right? How could she be laughing so flirtatiously with someone she just met?
Xu Shuyan had her back to her, so she couldn’t see her expression.
She couldn’t be smiling too, could she?
Lin Yi’s hand on the wall tightened slightly. On what grounds? she thought. Why is it that I’m still feeling bitter over Chen Yuan, while Xu Shuyan gets to laugh and chat happily with someone else?
This little mood of hers didn’t dissipate even after they returned to the B&B. In fact, it intensified when Xu Shuyan showed no intention of telling her about it. Xu Shuyan didn’t know what she was sulking about, and it felt strange to ask, so she just let her be.
As a result, when they got into bed, Lin Yi tossed and turned, unable to sleep. And not only could she not sleep, she deliberately turned over noisily to disturb Xu Shuyan.
Xu Shuyan couldn’t take it anymore. “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” That one sentence was the fuse. Lin Yi, not realizing how jealous she sounded, finally seized the opportunity to be sarcastic. “I should be asking you what you’re doing!”
Xu Shuyan was baffled. “What did I do?”
Lin Yi sat up. “I saw you talking to Luo Cheng today! You were standing… so close! My god, you were even laughing. When did you meet him?”
“Luo Cheng?” Xu Shuyan said, “Oh. You saw that?”
Lin Yi scoffed. “Stop pretending! I saw it with my own two eyes!”
Hearing her accusatory tone, Xu Shuyan laughed in exasperation. “When I met him and what we talked about is none of your business, is it? We’re just a fan-service CP. Don’t get too invested.”
“Who’s getting invested!” Lin Yi’s hackles rose. “I… I…” She blurted out, “Just keep your distance from people! I don’t want our group to have another collapsed house!”
Xu Shuyan: “…”
Lin Yi regretted it as soon as she said it. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Alright, I get it.” Uncharacteristically, Xu Shuyan didn’t argue with her. She pulled her down to lie beside her and was silent for a moment before speaking. “He asked for my contact information. Said he really likes me.”
Lin Yi shot up again. “Love at first sight is just lust! You can’t fall for a man’s tricks!”
“Don’t get so worked up.” Xu Shuyan tugged at her. “I don’t even like men, so how could I fall for his tricks? …Besides, I rejected him.”
“How did you reject him? He’s not going to hold a grudge and get revenge on you, is he?”
“I told him I’m an idol and can’t date. Our group just had one house collapse, so I asked him if he was trying to ruin me, or if this was some kind of hidden camera test.”
Luo Cheng was a tactful and smart person. Even though Xu Shuyan was smiling, her words were a clear rejection. If he couldn’t pick up on that, he wouldn’t have survived in the industry for so long. He just laughed it off and moved on.
Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down. After a moment, she said, “You should have told him you like girls. That would have been a more direct rejection!”
Xu Shuyan hummed in agreement. “I’ll try that next time.”
“Really?”
Lin Yi was delighted. She turned on her side and draped her leg over Xu Shuyan, not noticing how Xu Shuyan’s body had suddenly stiffened. She reached out and patted her on the head. “Yanyan is so well-behaved.”
Xu Shuyan: “…”
She pushed Lin Yi’s leg off and said, “Not well-behaved.”
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