The Movie Queen And Her Rival Just Went Public! - Chapter 68

Chapter 68

The skill cards held by the four couples had not been made public. When the other three pairs of guests on the field heard about their skill, they exchanged glances.

Su Cancan didn’t care much for the competition and had no desire to dominate, so she hadn’t bothered to ask about the cards. But as soon as Viky revealed hers, Cancan immediately looked back at Youyou and Zhouzhou.

If Viky wanted to settle a personal score, spending all thirty seconds pelting her would be one thing, but that was logically impossible. The cameras were rolling, and the rules stated that hitting the offensive side earned no points. Unless Viky was foolish enough to invite a public backlash by targeting Su Cancan exclusively, she would inevitably aim some water balloons at Youyou and Zhouzhou.

Seeing the tension, Youyou whispered, “It’s okay.”

Though she was the youngest among the eight, her mind was sharp. She immediately sensed the worry and apology in Su Cancan’s eyes. She wasn’t afraid. Protecting a “peerless love” was a grand mission, and besides, they were facing water balloons, not bullets.

The staff member on the megaphone announced: “Viky’s side is using a skill card: Time Freeze. The skill will take effect in five seconds.”

Just as Youyou and Su Cancan were sharing a lingering look, Youyou’s round eyes lit up, and she raised her hand. “I want to use a skill card too!”

She pulled a specially made card from her swimsuit pocket. “I’m using our card: Effect Halved.”

She held the card out and read it with the seriousness of a student in morning recitation: “Skill effect: Can reduce the effectiveness of the opponent’s card by half.”

“Youyou’s side is using ‘Effect Halved.’ With both cards in play, Viky’s ‘Time Freeze’ is reduced from thirty seconds to fifteen. Effect begins in five seconds!” the staff reported.

Viky had thought her card would make her invincible in this round; she never expected Youyou to have a direct counter. Under the gaze of the crowd, there was no room for regret. As the countdown ended, she picked up a water balloon.

Having had a moment to prepare, Su Cancan’s team of four had already coordinated their positions. They stood in a staggered formation, one behind the other.

Shen Luoyan took the lead. Given her status, Viky wouldn’t dare throw at her. Su Cancan stood to Shen Luoyan’s back right, mostly obscured. Zhouzhou was to the back left, and little Youyou was protected at the very rear.

Fifteen.The staff began the countdown.

Viky threw the first ball. Her target was Zhouzhou, but in her eagerness to hit, she threw too hard, and the balloon sailed past the group and burst on the beach behind them.

Fourteen. Miky, her expression unreadable, sent a balloon flying. She had adjusted her strength and aim. This one headed straight for Shen Luoyan, bursting on her right collarbone and splashing onto Su Cancan.

Thirteen. Colorful balloons flew in rapid succession, the splashing water creating a faint, temporary rainbow in the afternoon light.

Three. Only one balloon remained.

Up to this point, fearing the PR nightmare of hitting Shen Luoyan too hard, they had focused their attacks elsewhere. Zhouzhou was now soaked, water dripping from her hair. Shen Luoyan had been hit a few times, her swimsuit damp but not disheveled. Su Cancan, on the far right, only had a few dark spots from splashes.

Viky was indignant. Why is Su Cancan shielded and loved by everyone? Even the cold Shen Luoyan is willing to be her human shield?

Fine, be proud. But flowers in a greenhouse eventually have to face the wind and rain. Viky gripped the final balloon, her eyes seemingly piercing through time to see the scene one second in the future. Her hand trembled with an obsession that had taken root in her heart, pushing her to throw.

One.

The fifteen-second countdown ended. Their side’s twenty balloons were exhausted. The game resumed normal speed.

Viky was certain that once Su Cancan was hit, she would use all her acting skills to play the part of an accidental, timid girl who made a mistake—even though she was secretly ecstatic. She anticipated the landing point, wondering where the “goddess” would be stained.

The scene played out in real-time. The plump water balloon drew closer and closer. But just as the staff finished the count, something unexpected happened.

A dark shadow moved rapidly to the right, interposing itself between the balloon and Su Cancan.

Almost! Su Cancan was almost as pathetic as me! Viky thought. Fine, if you want to play the hero, you can take it for her. Viky’s state was near-manic.

“Impossible.”

Just as the water balloon was about to hit Shen Luoyan’s back, a fair hand grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side. With no human shield left, the balloon slammed into the sand and lost all its momentum.

Shen Luoyan, caught off guard and losing her balance, pitched forward, taking Su Cancan down with her. However, through a deliberate effort to control the fall, Su Cancan landed on her bottom while Shen Luoyan ended up hovering over her in a crouched, straddling position.

Viky couldn’t believe it. No one was hit. No one ended up like her! Instead, they had created an intimate moment that would surely gain them a massive wave of “CP fans” when it aired.

The coarse white sand grazed their skin. Su Cancan’s swimsuit covered her, so while she felt pain, the extent of the scrape wasn’t visible, but her supporting palms had several bloody scratches.

Su Cancan hissed in pain instinctively. Shen Luoyan immediately got up from over her and bent down to check her palms.

“Doctor!” The sight of the red blood on the fair skin stimulated Shen Luoyan’s nerves. She turned to look for help.

The stinging pain was brief. Su Cancan remained seated, her view filled by Shen Luoyan’s knees. What is this woman doing? She’s bleeding herself and still worrying about me.

Su Cancan frowned and shouted, “Pause the recording! Teacher Shen is injured and needs bandaging!” Her voice was loud enough to ensure everyone, including the culprit, heard.

Shen Luoyan had her back to the crowd, so no one saw her condition. At Su Cancan’s shout, the staff panicked. The show relied on her for revenue; if the “Money Goddess” was injured before it even aired, how would her hardcore fans react?

Viky hadn’t expected Shen Luoyan to sacrifice herself for Su Cancan. Given their positions, Shen Luoyan could have cushioned her fall using Su Cancan without getting a scratch. Viky looked down at the red blood snaking down Shen Luoyan’s knee; she had clearly used her core strength to take the brunt of the impact.

She cherishes this “delicate flower” that much?

The staff surrounded them, along with their friends. Viky watched as Miky stood coldly with her arms crossed, looking at the crowd before turning away. Miky muttered, “Greed for quick success.”

“What did you say? What right do you have to judge me!” Viky snapped.

Since the staff were preoccupied with the injuries, no one noticed the argument. Viky knew she hadn’t been careful enough. She spat out “Mind your own business” and walked to the rest area to start typing on her phone.

“Sister Cancan, are you okay?” Youyou asked. Su Cancan shook her head.

The medic poured hydrogen peroxide over Su Cancan’s scratches, the liquid bubbling into a thick foam. Meanwhile, Shen Luoyan was having her knee rinsed. The deep red blood mixed with the antiseptic, quickly forming a small red pool on the sand.

The sight was startling. The phantom pain seemed to travel from the scent to Su Cancan’s own knees. Her treated hand reached out involuntarily to stroke Shen Luoyan’s lower back. “Hold on, they have to clean the sand out of the wound so it heals better.”

Even through the thin clothes, Su Cancan could feel Shen Luoyan’s back transition from rigid to relaxed.

“Mm.” Shen Luoyan didn’t flinch as another bottle was emptied over her knee.

Su Cancan held her hand out for the medic with one hand while stroking Shen Luoyan with the other. “Zhouzhou, go find a towel or change your swimsuit. It’s getting cool; don’t catch a cold.”

“Oh, right!” Zhouzhou reacted a beat late. Just as she turned, a soft towel landed on her shoulders. Youyou had brought towels, looking after her girlfriend first before handing the others to Su Cancan and Shen Luoyan.

“Cancan!” A familiar voice called out. Through the gaps in the crowd, Su Cancan saw Liu Yimin rushing over.

“What happened? There’s blood?” Liu Yimin arrived, her eyes fixated on Shen Luoyan’s exposed, injured leg. “Where is your manager? Do they know? Should we go to the hospital? A scar on the knee means she can’t show her legs later.”

Liu Yimin’s frantic tone made the staff’s hearts race even faster. It was the planners’ fault for risky games; the props team’s fault for not clearing the site. Fear kept everyone silent as they shifted blame in their heads.

“Hey, who is your artist here? Why aren’t you worried about me first?” Su Cancan joked to lighten the mood. Liu Yimin had already checked her and seen no major injuries, which was why she focused on Shen Luoyan. She swatted Su Cancan on the hip.

“Ow!” “Where does it hurt? There?”

No one could have guessed the glamorous actress’s proudest asset had been bruised. Liu Yimin squeezed Su Cancan’s shoulder and looked for the person in charge.

“Two artists were injured. We can’t discuss liability now. Medical facilities here are limited. I demand we stop filming. Notify Teacher Shen’s staff, and I’m taking them to the hospital for an exam.”

Shen Luoyan’s injury was a bigger deal than losing a day of rental. The staff member couldn’t decide on his own, so he stepped aside to call his superiors.

“Yes, it was our lack of foresight.” “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Teacher Shen’s injury is more serious; the bleeding hasn’t stopped.”

The worker hung up, took a deep breath, and returned with a smile. “I am truly sorry. I will arrange a car to take them to the hospital immediately. We can discuss the details after the exam.”

Shen Luoyan stood up, forgetting for a moment how a knee wound affects standing. Her leg buckled, and she nearly fell back into the chair. Su Cancan reflexively stood up to catch her, but her bruised glutes gave her a sharp reminder, and she wobbled too.

Liu Yimin caught Su Cancan. “Youyou, please help Teacher Shen.” She then turned to the staff: “We brought our own car; it’s safer. Since your arrangements will take time, I’ll take them now.”

Liu Yimin handled the situation with the speed and authority of a pro. They were let through immediately. Shen Luoyan declined Youyou’s help once she was steady. Su Cancan was too embarrassed to accept “special help” for a butt injury—if fans caught that on camera, she’d never live it down.

They walked slowly to the parking lot, where Xiao Wu had the van ready.

“You’re something else. Is it worth it for this bit of money?” Liu Yimin scolded once they reached the van. But seeing Shen Luoyan’s leg and her stoic face, she swallowed the rest of her lecture.

“Get in, get in,” she opened the door. “Xiao Ke isn’t here, so you have two rows to yourselves. Cancan, if it hurts, use the back cushion. Xiao Wu, drive steadily. There are new masks in the box, Teacher Shen, help yourself.”

Su Cancan pouted. “You’re the most annoying.”

Shen Luoyan was usually very composed, rarely showing strong emotions since childhood. Aside from the anti-fan incident, most of her recent emotional shifts were tied to Su Cancan. She watched them bicker with a quiet, faint smile.

The front window rolled down. Xiao Wu said, “Sister Liu, it looks like fans are approaching.”

“Hurry up,” Liu Yimin urged. Being caught in swimsuits and towels would be a disaster. Su Cancan scrambled into the car, leaving the outer seat for Shen Luoyan.

“Xiao Wu, to Boya Hospital,” Liu Yimin directed. “Go via Yifeng Road to avoid the lights.”

The van sped away, leaving the crowd behind. The privacy film on the windows was a deep black, reflecting the passing scenery. Su Cancan rested her chin on her hand, but the rough gauze irritated her skin. She changed to a cute gesture, holding her chin with her fingers.

She looked at her reflection. Her features were deep, once leading people to think she was mixed race, but now they held a refined Eastern charm. She had gained a little weight during this month of healthy living, looking perfectly balanced compared to her usual “skin and bones” camera weight.

She moved on to critiquing her nails, realizing she needed a manicure. Then, in the reflection, she saw someone else.

Shen Luoyan was staring at her profile, unaware she was being watched. Su Cancan spun around to catch her, but Shen Luoyan was faster. Their gazes didn’t meet, but the positions reversed. Now Su Cancan was the one staring.

Su Cancan tried to find a trace of fluster on Shen Luoyan’s face but found nothing. Too cunning, she thought, until her eyes landed on the leg.

“Your leg…”

Back at the beach, the cleaning hadn’t even been finished. Blood was snaking down Shen Luoyan’s skin toward the floor of the car. It looked horrific, but Shen Luoyan’s nerves had been dulled by the repeated pain.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt,” Shen Luoyan said calmly.

Su Cancan felt a chill. The metallic scent reminded her of the anti-fan attack. She felt a wave of nausea.

“Uncomfortable?” Shen Luoyan asked. Su Cancan nodded, then shook her head. She handed Shen Luoyan some tissues. Shen Luoyan went to cover the wound.

“Don’t. Tissues have bacteria. Keep it open for now.”

Liu Yimin noticed the interaction through the mirror and tossed a bag of candy to Su Cancan. “Cancan has been sensitive to strong smells since the last incident. She can’t stay in this environment for long. It’s not personal, don’t be offended,” she explained to Shen Luoyan.

Su Cancan popped a candy into her mouth and handed another to Shen Luoyan. “Are you mad?” She leaned in close to read Shen Luoyan’s face.

“No,” Shen Luoyan replied, her expression as cool as ever.

Su Cancan leaned over the front seat. “See? She’s not. We’re friends; she won’t get mad at me easily. Right?”

“Mm.” Shen Luoyan closed her fingers around the candy. She wanted to put it in her pocket, then realized the swimsuit didn’t have any. She decided to just keep holding it.

“Aren’t you going to eat it?” Su Cancan asked. “A model recommended these to me. They’re fruit-flavored and not too sweet. The fun part is the ‘mystery box’ aspect—twenty different flavors with the same packaging. You have to taste it to know.”

In the industry, no one dared to “force-feed” an endorsement to Shen Luoyan, especially something sweet which she was known to dislike. Su Cancan was the first. Liu Yimin watched through the mirror, expecting a refusal.

Crinkle, crinkle.

Shen Luoyan unwrapped the candy and popped it in her mouth without a second of hesitation. Liu Yimin’s jaw nearly dropped.

Su Cancan watched her intently. “What flavor?”

Shen Luoyan paused. “Peach.”

“Not bad! Peach is my second favorite after litchi… Wait.” Su Cancan tasted her own candy. “I’m eating peach. Yours can’t be peach.”

“I…” Shen Luoyan pushed the candy to her cheek. Beyond “sweet,” she couldn’t distinguish much.

“Tch,” Su Cancan sighed. “Advertising gimmicks. I thought there were no repeats. Just a marketing trick to get people to buy more. It’s good, but I’m not buying it again.”

Shen Luoyan dug her nails into her palm. “Maybe I tasted it wrong.”

“Then I definitely won’t buy it again,” Su Cancan said seriously. “A fruit candy should at least let you taste the fruit. If it fails that, it’s a failure of a candy.”

Liu Yimin turned away. The kid has grown up.

Boya Hospital was a private facility. When they arrived, staff were already waiting in the garage. They put on trench coats over their swimsuits and were whisked upstairs.

Su Cancan noticed Shen Luoyan became very tense once she put on Su Cancan’s spare coat. She didn’t ask until they were in the changing room for their CT scans.

“Do you think Shen Luoyan is a germaphobe?” Su Cancan whispered to Liu Yimin. “It’s just a coat, why was she so stiff?”

“Is she?” Liu Yimin replied distractedly, arranging for new clothes to be delivered.

“Yes! I told her before I don’t like physical contact, but she seems even more resistant than me. When I was comforting her today, she was so stiff…”

Su Cancan continued listing observations until the changing room door opened.

Shen Luoyan came out with the “dirty” clothes. “They have blood on them. Let me wash them before returning them.”

“No need, I’ll send them to the cleaners,” Liu Yimin said, reaching for them. Shen Luoyan hesitated, but eventually let go so they could proceed with the exams.

They split up. Shen Luoyan was taken for wound cleaning; Su Cancan was taken for a scan of her bruised glutes.

Afterward, the doctors gave their orders. Shen Luoyan needed rest and to avoid movement that would tear the stitches. Su Cancan was advised not to sit, but to lie face down, even while sleeping.

Xiao Wu arrived with new clothes. They changed and left quietly.

On the way back to the hotel, the “concern” from the production team hadn’t arrived, but two high-ranking trending topics had: Shen Luoyan Su Cancan Injured# and #Shen Luoyan Su Cancan CP Vibes.

Other negative tags about the production team and Viky were also rising: Viky Water Balloons, Viky Green Tea…

“Public opinion is very positive for you two,” the manager said over speakerphone. “I suggest not responding to the show yet. Just post a safety update for your fans.”

While the staff discussed strategy, Su Cancan browsed the “melon fields” on her phone. She accidentally clicked on the Viky Green Tea tag.

V&M Love You: Right, right, our little streamer should just be stepped on by big stars. Out of four couples, only ours is “malicious”? Keep spreading it, our 18th-tier star is about to crush everyone. To the haters: wait for the truth to slap you in the face! Also, where is the fan club? Protect our baby!

Su Cancan smiled. Fan, don’t be too arrogant.