The Cold and Distant Actress is Too Obsessive - Chapter 5

Xu Youyan’s face flushed so deeply it seemed as if blood might drip from it. Her demeanor was so innocent that Bo Zhoucheng was momentarily transported back to the early days of their relationship, when Xu Youyan had carried herself in the same way though she would soon become the more assertive one.

Bo Zhoucheng let out a soft sigh and released her hand.
Has she grown weary of even my touch now?

It was an inexplicable sense of crisis, unsettling and unsettlingly vague. Yet, Xu Youyan had agreed to participate in the dating show. After all, she loved variety shows eating, drinking, and having fun without the pressure of filming dramas. Her previous agency had been relentless, constantly pushing her into outdated, cliché-ridden romantic plots that felt a century behind the times.

Surprisingly, Peng Ding agreed almost immediately.
“I thought you’d make me keep filming dramas,” Xu Youyan remarked, glancing around the company. A decade had passed, but not much had changed except Peng Ding’s office had grown a bit larger.

“It’s time for you to transition. Sticking to idol dramas is pointless now,” Peng Ding replied, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Xu Youyan’s popularity had plummeted during the years she faced online harassment. Fortunately, she had persevered, gradually shifting her focus releasing her own music and taking on supporting roles that challenged her acting skills. Slowly but surely, her popularity began to recover.

“Well, I’ll be going then,” Xu Youyan said, eager to leave. There wasn’t much to discuss with her agent; sometimes, saying too much only invited mistakes.

Just as she was about to slip away, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and added, “Xu Youyan, perhaps going public with Bo Zhoucheng wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Your popularity is slipping fast. With her by your side, it might help stabilize things.”

Xu Youyan froze mid-step.
Deep down, she knew it was true. Ten years had passed, and her star power had inevitably faded. She wasn’t like Bo Zhoucheng, an evergreen in the entertainment industry, with iconic roles spanning genres: the ethereal, moonlit fairy in wuxia dramas, the valiant female general in blockbuster films. Each character was a cherished memory for countless fans.

“That’s our business to figure out,” she replied, her pride refusing to let her accept Bo Zhoucheng’s help. At the very least, she didn’t want to be accused of leeching off Bo Zhoucheng’s fame. After all, they had once been rivals.

The filming location for the variety show was a scenic campsite, where azure skies met the sparkling sea in the distance, and the cries of seagulls filled the air. Xu Youyan stepped out of her van and boarded the shuttle bus.

Her eyes immediately landed on Bo Zhoucheng, seated in the front row. The other guests had settled further back no one dared encroach on the front seats, given the vast disparity in status. Doing so would only invite criticism.

Xu Youyan took the seat beside Bo Zhoucheng.
Almost instantly, a chorus of “Hello, Teacher Xu!” echoed through the bus. Xu Youyan wished she could dig a castle with her toes out of sheer embarrassment. In the past, she had been the one addressing others as “Teacher” on set. Now, the tables had turned, and she was the one being called “Teacher.”
Ten years really do make a difference in seniority.

“Hello, everyone,” Xu Youyan replied with an awkward smile.
Who would have thought she’d become a veteran in the entertainment industry? In her mind, she was still twenty.

Just as she was lamenting internally, a man approached. Dressed in a sharp suit, he wore a gold Rolex that practically blinded anyone who looked at it. He wasn’t a celebrity but a civilian participant after all, dating shows always needed a few non-celebrities.

“Hello, Youyan. I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time and have watched many of your dramas,” he said warmly.

“Hello,” Xu Youyan replied politely.

Xu Youyan didn’t reach out her hand. Not to mention the seething vat of jealousy beside her, if she really shook hands, she estimated her fans would flip tables and curse that man for ten blocks.

“My name is Mo Tian.”

The man gave a simple, honest smile, his eyes full of infatuation.

Xu Youyan was very beautiful at least in the entertainment industry, she could earn the label of a “pretty face,” which in a way was also an affirmation of her beauty.

Her skin was pale and cool-toned, and when she looked at people, there was always a touch of innocence in her gaze, inexplicably evoking a desire to protect her.

There was once a widely circulated quote about Xu Youyan:

Even in the apocalypse, when your food is running out, looking into those eyes would make you share a portion.

The man chattered on, and Xu Youyan had no choice but to brace herself and deal with it.

But just then, she felt someone grab her wrist. It was a blind spot for the cameras, and Bo Zhoucheng pretended to casually lean closer.

“I’m feeling dizzy, Xu Youyan. Can I lean on you for a while?”

This cold voice interrupted Mo Tian’s conversation. He stopped, and Xu Youyan shook her head at him.

“Please take a seat in the back for now. Teacher Bo is feeling dizzy.”

Mo Tian could only retreat in disappointment. For a moment, Xu Youyan genuinely thought Bo Zhoucheng was dizzy as she leaned in.

“Should I get you some medicine?”

“Motion sickness is no joke.”

Bo Zhoucheng felt a bit puzzled. Xu Youyan should know she never gets motion sickness. But now, the caring tone made her feel very pleased, so she didn’t dwell on it.

“No need, just let me lean on you.”

Bo Zhoucheng’s perfume carried a faint chill. After just a few whiffs, Xu Youyan couldn’t help but recall the few times they had kissed.

Her gaze fell on the other’s lips.

With such good kissing skills, how many kissing scenes had she acted in?

But in reality, Bo Zhoucheng rarely took on intimate roles. She was very selective about her characters not the type of actress who would take any role out of obsession, but only those she genuinely liked.

Early in her career, there were rumors in the industry that Bo Zhoucheng came from a very influential family. Many producers who tried to leverage their power over her hit a wall.

One even ended up in the hospital.

“Are you still nervous today?”

Bo Zhoucheng practically pressed herself against Xu Youyan, pretending to be a weak woman suffering from motion sickness, making it impossible to know how to react.

“Not nervous at all.”

Xu Youyan didn’t catch on at first, but after speaking, she remembered what the other was referring to.

Her face immediately flushed.

But as the saying goes, a person lives for their pride. She had been bullied by Bo Zhoucheng before, and now it was time to get back at her, to taste what it was like to be the white moonlight in the hearts of millions.

“You’re lying, Yanyan. Your ears are red.”

Bo Zhoucheng laughed.

At first, she had doubted many times, wondering if Xu Youyan had some kind of illness, like a split personality or something. But now, seeing the other’s shy expression, Bo Zhoucheng was certain this was her Yanyan.

Though she didn’t know why the other had been so unsteady lately, as a lover, she ought to be understanding.

Not long after, the bus arrived at the final destination, where the production crew was waiting.

At first glance, there were five brightly colored tents ahead.

But the tents were of different sizes. The director sat lazily in a camping chair, watching everyone.

“Now, let’s have everyone briefly introduce themselves.”

In the center of the campsite, several chairs were arranged around a roaring bonfire, with sponsor-provided milk placed on the table.

Xu Youyan helped Bo Zhoucheng sit down on one of the chairs.

“The tents come in different sizes, Yan Yan. Do you know what that means?”

Bo Zhoucheng picked up an orange from the table, her pale, slender fingers beginning to peel it.

“I don’t know, but if we end up in one of those small tents, we’ll have to hold each other just to have enough space to sleep.”

Xu Youyan shook her head, but her words struck a chord with Bo Zhoucheng.

It seems I’ll have to lose the game on purpose later.

Bo Zhoucheng’s eyes shifted thoughtfully as she finished peeling the orange and handed it to Xu Youyan.