She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Magnolia — “You smell like her perfume…”

During the summer break of her sophomore year in college, at an outdoor filming location for a variety show in S-City, the sun blazed fiercely. The heat was suffocating.

Lu Shuyu had been moving equipment for half the day. Her legs felt weak, and she almost sat down on an equipment case nearby when a male camera operator barked at her: “Hey!”

She looked up, confused. The operator glared at her impatiently. “Don’t you know women aren’t allowed to sit on equipment cases?”

As he spoke, a man sitting on an equipment case just a few feet away turned his head, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

…

The heat made everyone irritable. Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but raise her voice: “Why not women? What makes men so noble?”

She had taken this temporary job specifically to learn about variety show production. No pay and grueling labor weren’t issues for her—as long as she gained experience, it was a win. But she could not accept such blatant discrimination.

“It’s the rule!” The man became even more impatient. He reached out to push her while shouting to the nearby staff, “Who let this woman in here anyway!”

Smack—

A crisp sound rang out as Lu Shuyu slapped the man’s hand away. He hadn’t expected her to have much strength; caught off guard, he nearly stumbled.

After a moment of shock, his face flushed with rage. He was about to explode when he caught sight of someone. Instantly, he swapped his anger for a respectful, fawning expression: “PD Song? What brings you here?”

Lu Shuyu turned and saw Song Yi for the first time.

“Since we aren’t allowed to sit on the equipment cases right now,” Song Yi said with a gentle expression, lightly taking Lu Shuyu’s hand, “let’s go rest in the tent. It’s cooler there.”

That was Lu Shuyu’s first hands-on experience with variety filming. Meeting Song Yi that day was something she always considered the luckiest moment of her career.

After a short rest, Song Yi took her along to complete the rest of the shoot. Lu Shuyu didn’t know much yet and couldn’t help with technical tasks, so she observed and learned quietly, filling a notebook with rapid notes without causing any trouble.

When recording ended, Song Yi asked to see her notebook. After flipping through a few pages, she smiled with slight surprise. “Your handwriting is lovely, and your ideas are very unique.”

To Lu Shuyu’s surprise and delight, Song Yi paid her for the day and exchanged contact information. “For the next week, follow me directly. I’ll take you through the whole process. I hope it helps you.”

From then on, Lu Shuyu began calling Song Yi “Teacher.” During that week, she gave her absolute all—hardworking and focused—showing Song Yi everything she was capable of.

Back then, she was a twenty-year-old sophomore with ambition written in her eyes. Song Yi saw only something to admire and even encourage. A week later, their mentor-student relationship was officially established.

The teacher gave everything she knew; the student learned with all her heart. They completed projects together and earned opportunities as partners. The dual-PD credit on Extreme Speed was something Song Yi had fought to get for Lu Shuyu.

They had known each other for six years and collaborated for six years. They were mentor and student, friends, and the most harmonious of partners. For Lu Shuyu, Song Yi was like a lighthouse in her career—a bright presence always just ahead, guiding the way.

That was why she had never imagined a day would come when Song Yi would leave.

“Shuyu?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in her ear.

Lu Shuyu finally snapped out of it. She looked up and thought for a moment she was hallucinating. “Teacher Xia?”

A flash of green light passed by, followed by an icy chill against her cheek. She pulled back slightly to see a bottle of Green Apple Sparkling Water.

“Why are you sitting here?” Xia Leshuang asked as Lu Shuyu took the drink.

Lu Shuyu looked around and realized she was sitting on a stone bollard at the hospital entrance. Only now did she realize how hot it actually was.

“I don’t know…” She stood up. “I must have spaced out.”

The two found a shaded bench to sit on. The cap was already loose; Lu Shuyu gulped down half the bottle and let out a long sigh of relief. “Much better. Thank you,” she added.

Xia Leshuang shook her head. “You’re welcome, PD Lu.”

There were many things Xia Leshuang wanted to ask, but she didn’t know how to start. She had sprinted all the way here only to find Lu Shuyu sitting on a stone post like she’d lost her soul. In this heat, she hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Fortunately, there was an automated vending machine by the entrance. By the time she bought the soda and returned, the person on the stone post hadn’t moved an inch. She’d had to call her name three times to get a reaction.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Chen Qian—just a few short lines. Only then did Xia Leshuang understand what had happened.

“Chen Qian asked me to check how PD Song is doing.”

With an icy soda in her system, Lu Shuyu felt much clearer. “She woke up right as we got to the hospital. Hua Hua is with her while she gets checked out.” She paused, then added, “Let that man come. They’re legally married; he has an obligation.”

Xia Leshuang relayed the message. After putting her phone away, she heard a soft laugh from the person beside her, tinged with helplessness and bitterness.

“Teacher Xia,” Lu Shuyu said, “it looks like I might be the only ‘Mother Bird’ left soon. Are you scared?”

Xia Leshuang looked over. In those amber eyes, she saw tension, uncertainty, doubt, and expectation. Lu Shuyu was afraid; she was asking the question to herself as much as to Xia.

“I’m not afraid.” Xia Leshuang smiled, a bright expression that was incredibly reassuring. “And you aren’t either, PD Lu. You won’t be alone.”

In the spring afternoon, they sat hidden in the shade—peaceful and beautiful.

“Alright~” Lu Shuyu’s eyebrows rose with irrepressible joy. “Teacher Xia really is full of a sense of security~”

Her tone lifted, regaining its usual vitality. She was no longer a hollow shell. Xia Leshuang breathed a sigh of relief and finally dared to ask, “Why didn’t you go inside?”

Lu Shuyu pondered for a moment before saying, “I think… Teacher doesn’t want to see me. At least, that’s how it felt when she woke up.”

She let out a long sigh and looked up at the clear sky. “I know her. She’s gentle on the outside but stubborn and serious on the inside. Once she decides on something, she goes for it without looking back. When she wants something, she works hard for it. Right after graduating college, Teacher got married, and then…” Lu Shuyu lowered her head, her voice softening. “She lost a child. It was due to work overload. They say she was listless for a long time after that.”

She gave a bitter smile. “It’s been twelve years… it feels like a cycle.”

In an instant, Xia Leshuang understood. Song Yi loved children. Song Yi would keep this child, who felt like a gift from fate. Therefore, Song Yi’s withdrawal from the shoot wasn’t just possible—it was a 100% certainty.

“PD Lu,” Xia Leshuang said, “maybe once PD Song is recovered, she can come back?”

Song Yi must have known about the pregnancy before coming to T-City. Despite that, she had still come to participate. At the very least, it showed she didn’t want to give up on her work.

It was like a sudden realization. Lu Shuyu stepped out of her mental dead end and saw a ray of light. “You’re right.”

Childbirth is a hurdle, but not an impassable one—especially for Song Yi, who was incredibly dedicated to her career. “Teacher Xia, thank you for the reminder!”

The final weight on her heart dissipated. Lu Shuyu laughed freely, looking as bright as the morning sun. “You’re right. I believe in Teacher!”

…

Song Yi finished her check-up but needed to be observed overnight. She would return to B-City the next day. This was the news Chi Shan brought back from the hospital after returning to the inn.

Lu Shuyu didn’t go back to the hospital. She simply sent a message: Teacher, take good care of yourself. I believe in you. There was no reply; she was likely resting.

The guests arrived at the inn one after another, and Xia Leshuang joined them to film her entrance. The six of them noisily divided the rooms. Without needing help from the scriptwriters, they organized a game themselves, providing plenty of good footage.

Lu Shuyu left the control room. It was already past 9:00 PM. As she was about to head back, Luo Han called out: “PD Lu, want some midnight snacks?”

Zhong Wen added, “We’re making them ourselves. Join us, PD Lu.” She pouted, looking aggrieved. “You stood us up last time.”

Lu Shuyu had only found out later that they hadn’t used her card, so she felt she owed them. She laughed helplessly. “Alright. Need some help?”

“No,” He Wenyin refused immediately. “Just wait to eat, PD Lu~”

The inn didn’t provide ingredients, nor did the production team; they only had some instant “junk food.” But junk food is always delicious.

“Don’t record this part,” Luo Han said, covering a few cameras. “We don’t want people saying we’re a bad influence on the kids.”

“The variety isn’t great,” Jiang Fei lamented. “I remember there’s a convenience store in the old city. I’ll make a run.”

Lu Shuyu was about to offer to go along when someone walked through the door. “Shuyu.”

It was Min Wutong.

“President Min.” The guests were startled. Min Wutong waved them off. “Keep doing what you’re doing. I have some business with your PD Lu.”

The guests hadn’t heard about Song Yi’s incident yet, so they were confused by Min Wutong’s sudden appearance—except for Xia Leshuang.

Tang Jiahe quickly pulled Jiang Fei away. “Then Fei-Fei and I will head to the convenience store.”

The two left quickly. Lu Shuyu led Min Wutong outside. “Let’s talk in the courtyard.”

The door closed softly. The people inside could only see their silhouettes through the window; they couldn’t hear what was being said.

A magnolia tree was planted in the courtyard, its flowers in full bloom. The two stood under the tree against the spring night, looking like a painting.

Zhong Wen whispered in awe, “This looks like a movie still…”

“What’s with President Min showing up so suddenly?” He Wenyin wondered.

“Whatever it is,” Zhong Wen pouted, “it’s definitely not some ‘lovers’ game’.”

Luo Han nudged her. “You haven’t given up on that yet!”

“I haven’t!” Zhong Wen walked over to Xia Leshuang with a serious face. “Besides, PD Lu and President Min are just rumors at best. There’s no proof they’re actually together.”

Her words were pointed. Xia Leshuang looked over and somehow read a clear message in those eyes: Go for it, I’m rooting for you.

…

Xia Leshuang gave a polite smile. Zhong Wen could see through her feelings—perhaps because when you like someone, your sense for rivals is at its sharpest. However, Xia Leshuang didn’t quite understand why Zhong Wen was so eager to “assist” her.

Still, even if Lu Shuyu and Min Wutong weren’t a couple…

Xia Leshuang’s heart skipped a beat. An uncontrollable joy bubbled up, but it quickly turned bitter. The current her was too far from Lu Shuyu. She wasn’t worthy.

Compared to this reality, she found the possibility of Lu Shuyu having a partner easier to accept. That way, she could stay by her side as a friend and colleague, occasionally drawing close, occasionally feeling the other’s happiness. That small satisfaction would be enough.

He Wenyin shook her head. “They look serious. I feel like something happened.”

“Huh?” Zhong Wen was startled, her “shipper heart” instantly replaced by professional worry. “Is there a problem with the show?”

Afraid they would scare themselves, Xia Leshuang explained, “No, it’s just that PD Song has some business. But wait for PD Lu’s notification for the details. There’s nothing wrong with the show; PD Lu is here.”

…

Under the magnolia tree, a gentle night breeze blew. Lu Shuyu stood on her tiptoes and plucked a petal from Min Wutong’s head. It was white and soft. She examined it and smiled. “The magnolias here are pure white.” She fiddled with the petal in her palm as she spoke.

Min Wutong didn’t know why she was doing it, assuming she just liked them. As more petals drifted down, Min caught a few and dropped them into Lu Shuyu’s hand.

Lu Shuyu chuckled and asked, “Did you come because of Teacher?”

Min Wutong sat on a swing behind her. “Yes. I came straight from the hospital.”

Lu Shuyu sat down too, remaining silent.

Min Wutong continued, “Her condition is stable. She’s going back first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t be sad; it’s just a temporary break. She’ll be back soon.”

Her intent to comfort was obvious, which surprised Lu Shuyu. “So President Min came just for me?”

“Yes. What, are you touched?” Min Wutong rolled her eyes.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Lu Shuyu laughed. “With a big backer like you personally overseeing things, my heart is steady as a rock. Not a single flutter~”

Min Wutong looked over in surprise. Using the light strip on the swing, she gave Lu Shuyu a good look, then shook her head and said, almost with relief, “You’ve grown up.”

She had made the trip not just because she knew Song Yi’s choice, but because she understood how much Song Yi meant to Lu Shuyu. When Song Yi first brought Lu Shuyu to her, Min Wutong had been surprised. It was rare to see such a pure and beautiful mentor-student bond. Song Yi’s total lack of reservation and Lu Shuyu’s admiration and trust were so clean it made people envious.

Because of Song Yi, Min Wutong had seen Lu Shuyu’s talent and wanted to train her into a top-tier producer. She had a plan for Lu Shuyu’s development and had discussed it with Song Yi several times. She just hadn’t expected this “accident.”

The time for Lu Shuyu to take the lead had come far too early, too heavily, and too suddenly. Forcing growth isn’t usually a good thing. But to her surprise, things were different than she expected.

“Shuyu,” Min Wutong sighed. “How did you grow up so quietly? It makes me feel a bit left behind.” She and Song Yi were the same age—classmates and longtime friends. They both instinctively viewed Lu Shuyu as a child. The feeling of a child suddenly becoming an adult was both happy and a little poignant.

“I can’t take it,” Lu Shuyu shoved her. “We aren’t even a decade apart. Don’t be like that; it’s gross.”

…

Min Wutong pursed her lips. Looking up, she saw the moon through the magnolia flowers, hanging cold and high. “But I really was worried.” She tilted her chin. “Look at that moon.”

As Lu Shuyu looked up, Min continued, “Is Song Yi a bit like the moon to you?”

Lu Shuyu shivered. Suddenly the moon looked weird. “President Min, do you really have something going on lately? You’re so—” She didn’t say the word “sappy”; she didn’t dare.

She shifted the topic: “Teacher is a lighthouse, a guide to me. But she isn’t the ‘only light in the darkness’ or an ‘unreachable moon’—nothing that extreme. We are all standing in the sunlight. Teacher is, you are, I am, and they are—”

Lu Shuyu looked toward the room and made eye contact with Xia Leshuang, who was slurping noodles. They stared at each other for a second, the noodles in Xia’s mouth nearly drying out.

The courtyard gate creaked open and shut. Tang Jiahe and Jiang Fei returned from their convenience store raid, carrying two large bags of food and looking like they were pulling a heist.

Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes full of vivid joy. “They are too. And Teacher is only leaving temporarily. I believe in her. So for now, I will guard the position and the show until she returns. We’ve gone over the T-City filming plan completely. Even without Teacher, the shoot will be successful. You don’t have to worry, President Min.”

Min Wutong laughed. “Truly a PD Lu. Everything is organized and under control. You’re becoming a backer for me now~”

A backer for the backer? Sounds pretty impressive.

Lu Shuyu mused, “It’s not impossible.” She then blinked and smiled. “Actually, there was an impact. When I first found out, the shock was huge. But fortunately, I had some ‘expert guidance,’ so most of that shock had dissipated before you arrived.”

Almost instantly, Min Wutong realized who this “expert” was. She shook her head and said sarcastically, “Fine~ looks like I’m redundant here~”

“No way~” Lu Shuyu pushed off with her feet, the swing swaying gently. “President Min is the big, big backer. How could you be redundant?”

The spring night breeze was soft. As the swing gained momentum, Min Wutong squinted comfortably. “Nice swinging. I forgive you.”

“President Min is truly magnanimous!”

The peace and comfort between the two could be felt even through the window.

“Why are they swinging now?” Jiang Fei asked, chewing on something.

Tang Jiahe laughed. “PD Lu and President Min really look like a good match.”

A flash of green entered her vision. Xia Leshuang heard Zhong Wen lean in and whisper: “Green Apple Sparkling Water matches you much better.”

Xia Leshuang: “…” “I thank you,” she replied helplessly.

“Oh, President Min is leaving?”

Just as Jiang Fei spoke, the other silhouette from the courtyard entered. “Is it good?”

Lu Shuyu sat down in front of them. Xia Leshuang met her eyes, nodded, and replied, “It’s not bad.”

The inn had instant noodles and vermicelli. Fearing they would get soggy, they hadn’t prepared a portion for Lu Shuyu. Jiang Fei and Tang Jiahe had basically cleared the convenience store’s shelf of ready-to-eat foods.

“What do you want to eat?” Xia Leshuang asked. “Mixed noodles, instant noodles? Vermicelli?”

The glass cabinet was behind her. Lu Shuyu leaned over, her amber eyes reflecting the colors of the cabinet. The distance between them closed instantly.

Lu Shuyu’s ponytail was a bit loose from the wind outside. A few strands of hair fell by her ear, bringing a faint scent. It was the scent of magnolia flowers.

And something else—a unique scent.

Xia Leshuang’s grip on her chopsticks tightened. She held her breath and slowly leaned back.

After choosing carefully, Lu Shuyu pointed to the third shelf. “The sesame paste vermicelli.” She turned her eyes, locking onto Xia Leshuang, who was looking down with a slight frown. She became curious. “Teacher Xia, do you have a problem with my sesame paste vermicelli?”

By then, Xia Leshuang had already pulled open the cabinet door. She smiled. “No, of course not.”

When she brought the vermicelli back, she glanced up and smiled. “I just thought there was a special scent on you, PD Lu.”

The smiling face was very close. Lu Shuyu realized they were standing a bit too near to each other. Several pairs of eyes were watching them. She scratched her neck and sat back down, then sniffed herself. After a moment, she realized.

“It’s probably President Min’s perfume. It blew onto me.”

“You have her perfume on you…” Zhong Wen suddenly sang.

“Pfft—” Luo Han burst out laughing. “That old song? Even Xiao Wen knows it?”

“It was a huge hit. It just… slipped out…” Zhong Wen blushed in embarrassment.

Jiang Fei leaned in and sniffed. “It smells a bit like L’Artisan Passage d’Enfer. It really suits President Min.”

“Really?” Lu Shuyu didn’t know much about perfume. She sniffed herself curiously. “It does smell quite nice.”

“I’ll help you prepare it,” Xia Leshuang stood up.

“Thank you, Teacher Xia.”

“What else do you want, PD Lu?” Jiang Fei began passionately recommending the convenience store food. Lu Shuyu accepted it all. “Thank you. I’m not a picky eater.”

“That’s great. No wonder you’re so healthy, PD Lu,” Zhong Wen said sincerely.

As actresses, the standards for physical appearance were always harsh. To get roles, they had to control their weight, often resorting to high-intensity dieting, followed by compensatory binge eating after filming. Their health took a toll.

Lu Shuyu sighed. She couldn’t break the physical beauty standards for actresses, so she couldn’t offer “chicken soup” platitudes. But she couldn’t agree with the status quo either—just as she had argued that women should be allowed to sit on equipment cases.

“Then I wish for all of you to become the top of the industry soon—” “Earn a hundred million and retire to take care of your health!”

The surprise from her first sentence faded. Tang Jiahe laughed. “I thought you were going to say you hope we gain enough power to change the industry.”

Lu Shuyu smiled. That was actually what she meant, but realizing it was difficult, she’d phrased it more diplomatically.

“It’s not impossible,” Luo Han said. “Our ‘Gold Group’ has already set off. Once we walk the Golden Path, I believe more people will follow.”

“Yeah!” “Well said, Sister Han!”

Lu Shuyu’s expression was tender. Looking at them, she truly felt like a mother bird. Seeing Xia Leshuang return, she gestured for her to sit, then raised a glass. “Then, for the great Golden Path—good luck!”

After a sip of soda, Luo Han sighed. “PD Lu, how about another ‘drink’ promise?”

Returning to the industry, they had much to say but few people to talk to. Every time the group chatted, the atmosphere was wonderful.

Lu Shuyu nearly spat out her soda. Xia Leshuang quickly handed her a tissue. She took it with a smile. “Thank you, Teacher Xia.”

“Alright!” She wiped her mouth and waved a hand. “After this recording, we’re definitely hanging out!”

“Sweet!” “Looking forward to it!”

Mentioning the recording, Lu Shuyu finally remembered her official business. “By the way, there’s something I should tell you.”

“PD Song won’t be participating in the T-City recording for health reasons. So for the next three days, I will be leading the shoot alone. But don’t worry, we’ve gone over the entire filming process. Everything is ready. It will go smoothly.”

“So that’s it,” the others realized.

“It’s okay,” Jiang Fei said quickly. “You’re our backbone, PD Lu. we aren’t worried.”

“But if you need anything from us,” Tang Jiahe added, “remember to tell us. Don’t carry it all yourself.”

“Exactly,” Luo Han nodded. “If there’s anything we can do, just say the word.”

“But is PD Song’s health alright?” He Wenyin asked.

Lu Shuyu shook her head. “She’s fine. She just needs some rest.” There was nothing to hide, but with the recording imminent, she decided not to disclose the pregnancy to avoid affecting the guests’ focus. She had made the same request of the staff.

“We believe in you, PD Lu.” Suddenly, Xia Leshuang spoke up.

Lu Shuyu looked over. Just like that night full of life, she fell into those pools of spring water—gentle, peaceful, and seemingly capable of absorbing all her unease and tension. She smiled, looking bright and relaxed.

“Alright! Thank you, teachers! Thank you, Teacher Xia! You’re so reliable~”

…

As the morning sun began to show its silhouette, the ink-wash Old City began to bustle. The moat flowed along its thousand-year-old path, reflecting the life of the city.

The sound of a rooster crowing came from a nearby yard. Lu Shuyu smiled. “Let’s go.”

The production team pushed open the gate of the guest inn.

Through the lens, the courtyard was covered in white magnolia petals, holding the mist of the quiet morning sun. The historical charm was so thick it made one hesitant to speak.

As planned, Chen Qian and the others stayed behind to film atmospheric B-roll, while Lu Shuyu and Chi Shan entered the inn for the wake-up call service. However, the moment they entered, the surprise shoot ended in failure.

The two sides stared at each other. Lu Shuyu took a deep breath, straightened her back, and waved. “Good morning, teachers~”

The production team’s sneakiness was obvious; the embarrassment and frustration of the failure were equally clear. Half of the guests looked half-awake and confused, while the other half suppressed laughter and greeted them back: “Good morning, teachers~”

They had bought extra rice balls at the convenience store yesterday and were heating them up for breakfast.

“How about,” Luo Han suggested sincerely, “we act it out for you?”

This surprise hadn’t been discussed beforehand. To keep it from the guests, no one had been left in the control room. Chen Qian had checked an hour ago, but in that short time, the entire group had woken up.

“No need, haha,” Lu Shuyu laughed. “We’re just here to witness your self-discipline.” She looked at Chi Shan, who chimed in: “Exactly. You teachers are great.”

Even though the shoot was a blunder, with some post-production editing, it could be turned into a “guests vs. production” talking point—viewers often loved seeing the crew fail.

Lu Shuyu checked the time. “Go ahead and eat. We start filming in an hour. Let’s meet in thirty minutes to go over the schedule.”

“Okay,” the six replied in unison.

Lu Shuyu scanned the group, her gaze finally landing on Xia Leshuang. She couldn’t help but smile. “Teacher Xia just woke up. You’re quite… cute.”

Chi Shan caught the vibe and zoomed in for a close-up of the stray hair sticking up from the top of Xia Leshuang’s head.

Lu Shuyu left after saying that, leaving Xia Leshuang looking blank. “What about me?”

Jiang Fei handed her a small mirror. “Shuangshuang’s cute stray hair! Certified by PD Lu herself!”

…

Xia Leshuang pressed her lips together. She really had woken up late today, just splashed some water on her face, and come downstairs. The reason she was late was an unpleasant dream. If she had a good dream, she usually woke up quickly, but a nightmare felt like falling into a bottomless pit, making it hard to wake up.

She touched the stray hair; every time she pressed it down, it popped back up. She scrunched her face. “Does this count as cute?”

“Of course!” Zhong Wen replied. “PD Lu was the first to notice and say it out loud!”

Before Xia Leshuang could feel any subtle emotions, Jiang Fei suddenly gasped. “Xiao Wen! Are you ‘shipping’ PD Lu and Shuangshuang?”

“No wonder you’ve been acting a bit weird.” She then looked at Xia Leshuang as if she’d discovered something amazing.

…

Xia Leshuang reacted instantly, waving her hands. “I’m not. She is the one shipping.”

She shifted the blame instantly. Zhong Wen pursed her lips, bearing the cross: “Yes, it’s me. I’m the one forcing it!”

But Jiang Fei’s gaze didn’t move; instead, she began to ponder with great interest. “Old classmates reuniting after nine years. No interaction back then, but they left deep impressions on each other, so fate gave them a second chance—” “This setting is actually quite ship-worthy…”

Xia Leshuang got goosebumps and buried her head in her rice ball, unable to look.

“Right, right?” Zhong Wen had found a kindred spirit and began promoting her “pairing.”

The others couldn’t take it anymore. Seeing Xia Leshuang’s embarrassed look, they called for a stop. “You two, really. Leshuang is right here.”

Jiang Fei sat up straight and apologized to Xia Leshuang, then winked at Zhong Wen, who signaled back that they would chat privately.

…

After leaving the guest dormitory, Lu Shuyu received a message from Min Wutong. She and Song Yi had landed in B-City, and everything was fine. After a quick reply, she checked her messages again; Song Yi still hadn’t sent anything new.

After a rehearsal, recording began.

The filming in T-City revolved around local history and culture. At the start, the guests drew lots to randomly select one of the six dynasties that had once used T-City as an ancient capital, then changed into the corresponding period costumes.

Luo Han was the first to enter. She gasped at the sight of the six traditional costumes. “So beautiful.” To provide variety, the production team had prepared both male and female outfits for each dynasty.

Tang Jiahe laughed. “We could just steal the men’s outfits and make them ours.”

Behind the lens, Lu Shuyu smiled and thought: You could steal them right now.

“Actually,” Xia Leshuang spoke up suddenly, “clothes are just clothes. When we wear them, they belong to us.”

The others paused, then nodded after a moment of silence. “True. That makes sense.”

“Then why don’t we wear them all?” Luo Han suggested. “Since we’re here anyway.”

Six pairs of eyes turned to Lu Shuyu. She gave a bright smile and replied, “No problem.”

The guests tied back their hair and applied light makeup. They didn’t use complex accessories but instead filmed a showcase by the moat. The costume changes attracted many onlookers.

After the showcase, they changed out of the cumbersome clothes, removed their makeup, and put on the loose and comfortable “Gold Group” uniforms to begin official recording.

“Today’s theme is an ‘Old City Treasure Hunt.’ There are six clues and six treasures hidden in this city waiting to be discovered. Teachers, please warm up and prepare for racing mode~”

With the experience from L-City, this recording went smoothly. The guests were much more familiar with each other, leading to natural interactions and chemistry that even the scriptwriters found impressive.

Shortly after recording began, Zhong Wen and Jiang Fei bumped into each other and formed the “Weakling Alliance.” They first tricked He Wenyin out of her clue, then playfully did the same to Tang Jiahe and Luo Han.

Only Xia Leshuang escaped by running at top speed.

“Can’t catch her…” Zhong Wen panted, complaining to the camera. “I just can’t catch her…”

In the end, the “Weakling Alliance” took first place with four treasures. He Wenyin, aided by her “Koi luck,” stumbled upon the treasure location despite missing a clue. Like Xia Leshuang, she won with her own treasure.

“We are the ‘Victims Alliance’ now,” Tang Jiahe said, linking arms with Luo Han. Both looked equally exhausted.

Jiang Fei and Zhong Wen, the “Weaklings,” shivered in their winning position but still dared to boast: “Sorry, Sister Han and Jiahe! But we’ll do it again next time!”

Before the victims could react, He Wenyin grabbed the back of Zhong Wen’s neck. “Little Wen, talking big, aren’t you?”

“Sorry, Sister,” Zhong Wen said pitifully. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Xia Leshuang laughed. “You two shouldn’t be the ‘Weakling Alliance.’ You should be the ‘Cute Deception’ group.” Everyone laughed.

…

After finishing the wrap-up work, Lu Shuyu noticed it was only 4:30 PM. Thinking about the content for the next two days, she decided to schedule a temporary shoot.

At 7:00 PM, she headed to the guest dormitory with directors Chi and Chen and the head writer. The six guests were wearing comfortable loungewear. Seeing them enter, they teased, “Why aren’t you wearing something comfortable too~”

Lu Shuyu laughed. Chi Shan asked, “Are you planning to hold a pajama party?”

“Isn’t that what this is…?” Jiang Fei asked sheepishly. The notice they received was for a “temporary shoot like a small gathering,” so she’d assumed it was a casual pajama party. “It was my suggestion…” she took responsibility bravely.

“Pfft,” Chi Shan laughed. “Then…”

Lu Shuyu smiled and nodded. “Alright. Let’s go back.”

A gasp of surprise sounded behind her. She turned back and explained mischievously, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We’ll be right back.”

They returned in pajamas only to find several people wearing the same styles. Chi Shan shook her head. “This is a missed advertising spot. What a pity.”

Lu Shuyu rolled her eyes. “Teacher and I worked hard to get a show with no mid-roll ads. Don’t even think about ruining it.” While sponsors meant product placement, Gold only kept ads at the beginning and end of the episodes to ensure a comfortable viewing experience.

The guests sat on the floor around the wooden coffee table as they had the night before. Lu Shuyu sat down familiarly. Head writer Qingqing sat beside her, while Chi Shan and Chen Qian managed the cameras.

“Today’s temporary shoot,” Lu Shuyu said concisely, “is a small meeting. Since we’re discussing the filming for the next two days, we’re recording it as an ‘Easter Egg’ and extra content.”

The others nodded. Luo Han said, “Just tell us, PD Lu. We’ll follow the plan!”

Lu Shuyu smiled and winked. “This time, it’s not really a matter of following the plan.” She looked at Qingqing, who handed over two sets of documents.

“For the next two days, in addition to what you’ve heard, we’ve actually prepared an alternative plan.”

When she had scouted T-City, Lu Shuyu had a special idea, but she hadn’t found a smooth way to execute it, so she’d set it aside. During the official preparations for this trip, she had suddenly found a way to refine it, creating an alternative that didn’t require extra complications.

If not for the accident yesterday, she could have discussed it with Song Yi… But talking it over with the guests could add content to the show, killing two birds with one stone.

“So,” Tang Jiahe’s eyes widened, “you want us to participate in the planning, PD Lu?”

Lu Shuyu nodded with a smile. “If the production team is the soul of a variety show, then the guests are the flesh and blood. Since you have the capability, I think it would be great to brainstorm together.”

This was a realization she’d come to while recording Silence. Silence was quite different from Extreme Speed. First, the number of participants was vastly different. Second, the genre was different. A competitive race only cares about winning and skill, but Silence had downplayed the competition, focusing more on scenery and local culture.

Today’s recording also showed Lu Shuyu the chemistry that could exist between the guests. She had a hunch that the friendship and healthy competition among the group would become a major highlight of the show.

While she was thinking, the guests finished reading the alternative plan. They looked at the three covered objects behind Lu Shuyu. “So those are props.”

“So you want us to participate in the writing and then embark on an adventure together?” “I’m in,” Xia Leshuang was the first to nod.

Luo Han, Zhong Wen, and Jiang Fei followed. He Wenyin also nodded. “I think it’s more interesting than the original plan. If we feel that way, the audience will definitely look forward to it more.”

“Exactly,” Tang Jiahe nodded. “If we’re going to do it, we do it to the best of our ability. I choose the alternative plan too.”

The excitement on their faces was contagious. Lu Shuyu felt a tug at her heart. She sighed and smiled at Qingqing. “Qingqing, it’s going to be hard on you guys.”

Qingqing nudged her. “What are you saying?” The scriptwriters’ names were on the credits; Silence was their baby and their future report card. Having the chance to work harder for a better result was a lucky thing.

“Great!” Lu Shuyu clapped. “Let’s begin!”

With those words, Chi Shan stepped forward and pulled off the covers, revealing three large spinning wheels.