Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 19

Chi Yi had agreed, but Cheng Yixin certainly did not.

Game segments inevitably involved interaction with those on stage. As a non-celebrity, Chi Yi didn’t know the script; if she were included, the final edit might attract unwanted attention from obsessive fans, bringing unnecessary trouble into her life.

Furthermore, the production team’s exploitative intentions were practically slapping her in the face.

Cheng Yixin pulled Chi Yi behind her and skillfully bantered with the host, tactfully declining the suggestion for Chi Yi to participate in the games.

“Yixin is quite protective, isn’t she?” the host teased with a laugh, and the topic finally moved on.

During the “Scavenger Hunt,” thanks to Cheng Yixin being the first to succeed, her team gained a significant lead and secured first place for that round. If they won the next game, they would take home the final prize.

The rules for the second game were: the men would be blindfolded while carrying the women on their backs, guided only by the women’s verbal instructions to navigate an obstacle course to the finish line.

Based on the cast hierarchy, Cheng Yixin was paired with the second male lead, Li Huang. When the host announced the pairings, Li Huang acted reluctant. “Whoa—I’m carrying Yixin? I’m afraid I won’t be able to lift her.”

He had a playful look on his face, but knowing him as she did, Cheng Yixin knew he was mostly telling the truth. It wasn’t a matter of her weight; it was that Li Huang, in her eyes, looked like he suffered from “kidney deficiency”—he appeared tall and sturdy, but in reality, any scene that required physical exertion during filming had to be faked through clever camera angles. No matter how much of a “dominant CEO” he acted on screen, it couldn’t hide the fact that he was a weakling who couldn’t lift a girl.

Her poor impression of him stemmed mainly from the fact that he had tried to harass her shortly after they joined the production, asking to “rehearse lines” late at night. Cheng Yixin understood the subtext immediately and rejected him, after which he promptly headed to another actress’s room. In short, he was a “disgusting man”—a diva with a messy private life who maintained a public persona of a “sunny, wholesome boy.”

The host, however, played along and encouraged Li Huang.

The game began. Cheng Yixin kept her arms bent, bracing her elbows against Li Huang’s back to minimize contact. Her entire body language screamed, “Don’t touch me.”

Li Huang smirked and reached back to steady her, intentionally placing his hands high on her thighs to grope her. In the next second, shielded from the camera’s view, Cheng Yixin gripped his wrist with brute force, her nails digging into his skin like blades ready to sink in.

She kept a smile on her face, but the look she gave him was cold and full of warning.

Having been rebuffed, Li Huang pretended nothing had happened and kept his wandering hands in check.

“President Chi, have a latte.” Siwen handed a freshly delivered cup to Chi Yi.

Chi Yi’s expression was icy, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her sharp gaze was locked onto Cheng Yixin and Li Huang. She didn’t take the coffee; instead, she asked, “Who is that man?”

Siwen followed her gaze. Cheng Yixin was currently on the back of a male actor, waiting at the starting line.

“He looks familiar.” Siwen thought for a moment, recalling her research for the show. “That’s Li Huang. He’s been in a few idol dramas and is quite popular lately.”

“He doesn’t look like a good person,” Chi Yi evaluated coldly.

Siwen watched the atmosphere on stage; everything seemed normal, and “Teacher Cheng” appeared to be enjoying the game. She figured President Chi was simply seeing rivals everywhere through her “lover’s eyes.”

The game started. Li Huang stumbled along with Cheng Yixin on his back. It was unclear if it was because he was blindfolded or if he was just physically weak. Fortunately, both sides of the course were lined with soft mats to prevent accidents.

As the groups raced toward the finish line, an “accident” occurred in Cheng Yixin’s group.

Cheng Yixin felt the world spin. Li Huang, lacking the strength to hold her, gave up without the slightest hesitation. He practically threw her onto the mats. Even with the padding, the fall left her seeing stars. The hosts and guests rushed over with worried expressions.

As everyone scrambled to help her up, Chi Yi was faster than anyone. Instead of circling around to the stairs, she sprinted to the front of the stage, braced her hands, and vaulted directly onto the half-man-high platform.

Her movements were crisp and decisive. In the few steps it took to reach Cheng Yixin, she had already stripped off her blazer. She crouched down and draped the jacket over Cheng Yixin’s waist.

Cheng Yixin was wearing a short skirt; without the jacket, she would have been at risk of a wardrobe malfunction despite her safety shorts.

“I’m so sorry, my hands slipped! I lost my strength,” Li Huang laughed, trying to save face as he climbed up from the mats. “Yixin, are you okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

“Li Huang, you’re too careless! You need to protect the ladies. Thank goodness for the mats,” one of the older actors scolded lightly.

“It’s just that Yixin is a bit heavy. I told you I was afraid I couldn’t carry her. Plus, I injured my hand a couple of days ago. If I’d known, I’d have let someone else do it.” Li Huang continued to shift the blame, thinking his “joking” tone could cover up the fact that he was useless.

Cheng Yixin was reaching her limit. He kept bringing up her weight—did he think she weighed three hundred pounds? “I don’t even weigh a hundred pounds (50kg).”

“If it’s over seventy pounds, I can’t lift it,” Li Huang quipped, showing no shame for his lack of strength. “Maybe you should lose some more weight? I’ll try to be able to carry you next time!”

“…” She had never seen a male actor so thick-skinned. He was likely relying on the fact that this was a recorded show and his behavior could be edited out. Another item added to her list of “things that leave me speechless.”

The other actors and the hosts showed varying degrees of annoyance; the atmosphere became awkward.

“Are you okay?” Chi Yi, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“I’m fine, I didn’t get hurt.”

As soon as she spoke, Chi Yi ignored everyone else and swept Cheng Yixin up into a princess carry. With her back perfectly straight, she walked to a chair on the other side of the stage and placed her down gently.

Silence speaks louder than words. This was a stinging slap to the face for Li Huang, who claimed he couldn’t carry anything over seventy pounds.

Then, Chi Yi looked at Li Huang. Since she wasn’t wearing a microphone, her voice didn’t reach the audience.

“Is it that hard to admit you’re useless? You skinny dog.” Chi Yi shot him a freezing glare, her gaze heavy with an oppressive chill.

“Right, right! Thank you for the advice, Miss Chi. I’ll definitely work out and strive to become a ‘thick dog’!” Li Huang managed to laugh off the insult. That “humble” reaction would likely become a talking point once the show aired.

After the incident, the professional hosting team immediately took control, laughing off the tension and restoring the high-energy atmosphere. As if nothing had happened, Chi Yi returned to her seat. Her white V-neck shirt gave her an even more untouchable, regal air.

After a brief rest, Cheng Yixin rejoined the game with a new partner. Her mood improved significantly, but when she glanced toward the guest section, the seat was empty.

The show’s producer had led Chi Yi away to parts unknown.

“Yixin?” her blindfolded teammate prompted.

“Ah, right!” Cheng Yixin snapped back to reality. “Three more steps and then turn left. Watch out for the balloons!”

As soon as the recording ended, Cheng Yixin found Xiao Yu and asked immediately, “Where did Chi Yi go?”

“I don’t know. I saw her leave with the producer earlier.” Xiao Yu looked worried. “She wasn’t… kicked out, was she?”

Cheng Yixin frowned, already regretting inviting Chi Yi. Given the way she had snapped at Li Huang, Chi Yi would definitely be attacked by fans once the show aired. Those “brain-dead” fans wouldn’t care how rude Li Huang had been; every actress who worked with him ended up being flamed.

“Where’s my phone?” She felt her dress and remembered it had no pockets.

“It’s locked in the lounge locker,” Xiao Yu replied.

Too impatient to wait, Cheng Yixin said, “Call her and ask.”

“Okay.” Xiao Yu pulled out her phone. “Sister Xin, what’s President Chi’s number?”

“…You don’t have her number?”

“No,” Xiao Yu said blankly.

“…” Fine. Neither did she.

“This is so annoying.” On the way to the lounge, only their footsteps echoed in the empty corridor. Cheng Yixin muttered her frustration under her breath. “It’s all that disgusting guy’s fault.”

She had wanted Chi Yi to understand her work life, but this disaster happened on her very first visit. It seemed “civilians” really shouldn’t get involved in the entertainment industry; it was too easy to get dragged through the mud. Thinking about the potential online abuse Chi Yi might face made her even more irritated. She cursed Li Huang and his fans in her head.

She decided she’d have to get Li Wenjing to talk to the director and make sure that part where Chi Yi insulted him was cut.

She reached the lounge with her name on the door and shoved it open. She was about to head straight for the lockers when she saw two people sitting inside.

Siwen, Chi Yi’s assistant, was sitting on the sofa. She stood up immediately when she saw Cheng Yixin. “Teacher Cheng.”

“You… why are you here?” Cheng Yixin was surprised. She had assumed Chi Yi had left in a fit of anger.

Chi Yi turned her head. She was holding a cup of black tea, the steam rising elegantly. “I was just chatting with the producer. I decided to wait for you here.”

Just then, another person arrived at the door. Cheng Yixin turned to see the show’s producer, carrying a tray of fruit and snacks.