The Second Fall - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Just Be Her Little Dog

To block a potential love rival, Lan Cixing did not hesitate to impersonate another Alpha.

She banked on the fact that her mask and hat were worn properly and that Feng Shi, having debuted late, might not be intimately familiar with Yu Mingsong’s actual appearance. She took the gamble.

It actually worked. Feng Shi’s brow furrowed tightly as she stared relentlessly into Lan Cixing’s grey-blue eyes, trying to force her to back down with a glare.

Lan Cixing was, after all, a trained professional bodyguard; she wasn’t about to lose in a battle of “aura” to a delicate-looking Beta. She flicked her eyelids up, sweeping a cold gaze across Feng Shi that froze the other woman’s attempt to step forward again.

“Is it really appropriate to record a show while wearing a mask?” The biggest suspicion was, naturally, the mask itself. Yu Mingsong was a celebrity, not a private citizen; she had no reason to hide her face. Even if she were a non-celebrity, the other groups had to show their faces. Why come to a variety show otherwise?

However, who else could it be? This Alpha stood so close to Rong Yushu, acted with such intimacy, and was used by Rong Yushu as a physical shield. Who could it be if not Yu Mingsong?

Feng Shi couldn’t solve the puzzle in that moment. She narrowed her eyes and voiced her doubt.

“Severe flu. Special permission from the crew,” Lan Cixing blurted out a random excuse.

“…” A logical enough reason. It was more plausible that Yu Mingsong would insist on filming while sick rather than breaching her contract and leaving the show short-handed.

Feng Shi felt something was off, but since she couldn’t recognize the person in front of her, she could only treat her as her rival—the most “reckless” among Rong Yushu’s many celebrity suitors. Aside from Yu Mingsong, which star dared to pursue Rong Yushu so publicly? The Rong family was not to be trifled with, and Rong Yushu herself was difficult to approach; aggressive tactics usually backfired. Feng Shi understood this logic well.

“Feng Shi, has someone arrived?” The standoff reached a stalemate until a voice drifted from the shadows.

Feng Shi’s partner, Bian Zhi, had arrived.

“It’s Teacher Rong’s group! Teacher Rong! I’m your fan, can I have a signed photo?”

Bian Zhi was a famous model. Her follower count wasn’t in the tens of millions yet, but she was well-known in the modeling world. She had an enviable figure and a striking face. Taller than the average Omega, she actually stood a few centimeters taller than Lan Cixing, though her presence was somewhat suppressed by Lan Cixing’s sharper aura.

Upon seeing Rong Yushu, Bian Zhi’s eyes lit up. Fans of Rong Yushu were most easily found in places where there was no direct professional competition. Lan Cixing, used to this, shifted half a step to make room. However, she didn’t lower her guard just because Bian Zhi was an Omega. Back when she followed Rong Yushu, she had seen plenty of Omegas making moves on her. Betas too—Feng Shi was living proof.

As she moved aside, Lan Cixing’s mood dipped slightly. But in the next second, Rong Yushu let go of her arm. Rong Yushu actually stepped forward, seemingly intending to give Bian Zhi the signed photo. Lan Cixing retreated to the side of the two, perfectly blocking Feng Shi’s line of sight.

“I’ll give it to you when we get back.” Rong Yushu glanced at Bian Zhi for a fleeting second, her fox-eyes narrowing with her usual unreadable mockery. Suddenly, she leaned her weight against Lan Cixing’s shoulder, giving Lan Cixing a start.

From Bian Zhi’s high angle, she couldn’t see Lan Cixing’s shock or Rong Yushu’s mockery; she could only catch a glimpse of alluring charm, leaving her heart full of joy. After showering Rong Yushu with compliments, Bian Zhi finally stopped and gave Lan Cixing a direct look.

Their gazes met. Lan Cixing didn’t hide her hostility, though it wasn’t as overt as it had been with Feng Shi. This look made Bian Zhi pause. She blinked, took a step back, and quietly pulled on Feng Shi’s sleeve.

“I agree to swap partners. Let’s go propose it tonight.”

Bian Zhi had heard the rumors before coming. The partner by Rong Yushu’s side had to be Yu Mingsong. Bian Zhi had heard the name but never met her. When she watched her work, she was usually distracted by the character’s styling and hadn’t memorized Yu Mingsong’s face. Now that they were face-to-face, Bian Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She did indeed like taller Alphas, especially one with “Yu Mingsong’s” sharp, cold temperament.

“Fine.” Feng Shi breathed a sigh of relief.

However, both were wearing mics. Their “whispers” were heard loud and clear by Lan Cixing.

“We have no intention of swapping partners.” Before Rong Yushu could react, Lan Cixing couldn’t hold back. Her tone was colder than it had been when she first met the real Yu Mingsong.

Feng Shi was the “certified” suitor mentioned by Yu Mingsong—the one who had caused trouble at the Rong house. A high-level threat. Lan Cixing hoped Rong Yushu would stay paired with Yu Mingsong for the rest of the seven episodes. At least Yu Mingsong was Rong Jinhuai’s lover; she could never get intimate with Rong Yushu.

For a moment, Lan Cixing was sharing a brain with Rong Jinhuai. This was exactly why Rong Jinhuai had sent Yu Mingsong to this show.

Hearing Lan Cixing’s words, Feng Shi actually laughed. She stopped obsessing over the person’s identity and only wanted to drive her away from Rong Yushu as quickly as possible.

“Whether a challenge can be opened isn’t up to you. I earned points and did tasks specifically for this. Bian Zhi, let’s go.”

Feng Shi didn’t waste any more time. She led Bian Zhi and turned into the cave. Feng Shi had used connections to get onto this show. She had received parts of the script in advance and knew the daily game flow. Tonight, besides room selection, there was a major “Partner Swap Challenge.” It cost points to open, and the challenged party was not allowed to refuse. Moreover, the rules favored the one spending the points.

The crew actually hoped to swap pairings frequently in the first four episodes to observe chemistry, making it easier to lock in “CP” pairings for marketing in the final four episodes. Feng Shi assumed no one else had the script. She and Bian Zhi moved like the wind; she had studied the cave map and was intimately familiar with it. As long as she found the “treasure chest” first, she would be the winner tonight.

Seeing Feng Shi dive into the cave, Lan Cixing immediately realized her plan and the crew’s upcoming arrangements. Panicking, she grabbed Rong Yushu—who was currently hanging on her like a decorative ornament—and tried to rush into the cave.

They had barely arrived as the second group. Any later and more people would arrive. There were bound to be many branching paths in the cave; they didn’t have time for trial and error. Lan Cixing didn’t want Feng Shi to become Rong Yushu’s partner, and her competitive streak was ignited. Her foot was already halfway out.

Suddenly, her body was yanked back. The sudden suspension made her heart leap into her throat. Falling back into Rong Yushu’s arms, Lan Cixing’s heart didn’t calm; it beat even faster.

“What’s the rush?” Rong Yushu was currently holding her by the waist, half-bent and half-cradled, circling her in her arms. She imprisoned her in an uncomfortable, tight grip so she couldn’t escape. A whisper brushed against Lan Cixing’s ear, instantly setting her entire body on fire.

“Can’t let her be your partner,” Lan Cixing said, not even realizing her instinctive concealment. She didn’t give a reason, only her conclusion. Normally, she would have been scolded for this.

But Rong Yushu let it slide and went along with her. She simply cupped half of Lan Cixing’s face again, covering one of her ears, adding a hazy echo to her next words.

“But, my dear cub,” Rong Yushu truly seemed to be speaking directly into Lan Cixing’s heart. Her voice was muffled and hot, and not quite clear. It made it impossible for Lan Cixing to judge the distance between them. It felt as if Rong Yushu had already licked her earlobe, yet also as if they were ten meters apart.

“You aren’t my partner anyway.” Rong Yushu wasn’t afraid of swapping partners. Nor did she want Lan Cixing to be a guest on this stupid show. She would pay Lan Cixing her salary herself. The treatment she offered was better than anything the crew could provide.

Lan Cixing only needed to stay by her side and be her little dog.

“You are… my·person.” Rong Yushu spoke one word at a time, helping Lan Cixing remember this fact.

The crew wouldn’t just move Lan Cixing. She was the bodyguard Rong Yushu brought personally—the little lover she had used her wits to keep by her side. They could split Rong Yushu and Yu Mingsong, but they couldn’t split Rong Yushu and Lan Cixing.

Lan Cixing shuddered. The words “my person” slid into her mind along with the tremor, leaving a deep imprint. It felt as if Rong Yushu had truly made Lan Cixing hers with just a single sentence. Lan Cixing suddenly relaxed, her back leaning uncontrollably into Rong Yushu’s embrace.

Rong Yushu caught her little dog steadily. Meeting Lan Cixing’s watery eyes, she gave her a smile. The dazzling noon sun was blocked out. In Lan Cixing’s eyes, only Rong Yushu’s glowing hair remained. Just as golden, just as brilliant. It was as if Rong Yushu had replaced the sun itself.

“If she swaps partners with you, it will be very troublesome, right?”

Lan Cixing took off her ear-mic and whispered to Rong Yushu after they entered the cave. She had wanted to hug her, but Rong Yushu swatted her away for some reason.

“I never even cared about her,” Rong Yushu glanced at Lan Cixing, dropped that cold sentence, and walked two steps ahead.

Lan Cixing hurried to catch up, finally understanding. Only Rong Jinhuai and the Yu Mingsong who followed her were over-worried. In Rong Yushu’s heart, Feng Shi probably didn’t even rank. She might not even be considered a “suitor,” just a little pest who liked to harass her. Rong Yushu wasn’t the type to hide because of a pest. She would only have someone crush the pest the moment it showed its head.

“I was wrong.” Lan Cixing pulled on Rong Yushu’s sleeve and took her hand again. “Hold on tight, Sister, don’t fall.” It was as if Rong Yushu were a fragile porcelain vase that couldn’t survive without her.

Rong Yushu didn’t refuse much, resting her hand on Lan Cixing and leaning against her casually, trusting that Lan Cixing would catch her. Throughout the island filming, Lan Cixing acted like Rong Yushu’s old mother—cooking, pitching tents, carrying her, and holding her hand for fear she’d trip.

But who knew? In private, Lan Cixing had to call Rong Yushu “Mommy.”

No one noticed Rong Yushu’s fleeting smile either. It appeared only in her green eyes before being quickly buried by the firelight. Not even the four drone cameras following them caught it. But they caught every movement of how Rong Yushu clung to Lan Cixing with perfect clarity.

The director was used to it by now. At least the two had taken a wrong turn this time. The director was satisfied, hoping they would circle around inside for a while longer.

However, after a short while, Rong Yushu’s fingertip lightly tapped the back of Lan Cixing’s hand. Lan Cixing stopped.

“Dead end.” Rong Yushu’s fox-eyes darkened, the emerald hue deep as if competing with the dim path ahead.

“Then I’ll erase the markers.” Lan Cixing didn’t doubt Rong Yushu for a second, turning back to handle the markers they had left along the way.

Watching this, the director shouted for the drone to fly lower. How did they miss the markers Lan Cixing made?! These two were wickedly clever; they didn’t want the groups coming after them to have any shortcuts.

Fortunately, they moved fast and didn’t run into the third group when they retreated to change paths. But they didn’t see Feng Shi and Bian Zhi either. The director knew Feng Shi had used the back door and been given the answers, so it wasn’t surprising that her group “luckily” found the treasure point on their first try.

But seeing Lan Cixing ponder for a moment, consult with Rong Yushu, pick the right path, and arrive at the treasure point second… the director finally snapped.

“…Tell them their group partner isn’t here. The group isn’t complete, so it doesn’t count.” The director was fuming, not hesitating to change the rules on a whim. While this wasn’t originally in the rules, no one expected a group to turn into three people, with two of them ditching the third wheel to act alone!

The director righteously announced this rule, telling the two to wait at the cave entrance. They weren’t allowed to take the “treasure” and had to wait for Yu Mingsong to arrive before re-entering.

“Tsk.” Rong Yushu looked bored, glancing at the treasure chest. The so-called “treasure” was just a sponsor’s product. If they took it, they’d have to do a promotional segment for the camera. They probably also had to see who could eat more of it in a short time for points. So boring.

Rong Yushu closed her eyes and reached out. Lan Cixing familiarly picked her up in a princess carry, walked out of the cave, took a detour to the entrance, and grabbed the things they had left behind. Lan Cixing looked over the cave; it wasn’t big, but the paths inside were winding, clearly designed by the crew.

“Let’s make a deal.” Rong Yushu stood leaning against Lan Cixing for two minutes and couldn’t stand it anymore. It was noon, the sun at its peak. Even near the cave mouth in the shade with a fan, she was sweating and didn’t want to stay.

“I’ve already arrived. When Yu Mingsong gets here, she can walk in herself, and then our results will count. How about that?” Rong Yushu didn’t care about points and made it clear she couldn’t be bothered to wait for Yu Mingsong.

The director’s face turned black hearing this. But Rong Yushu was used to being haughty; she didn’t care if the crew agreed, leading Lan Cixing toward the crew’s rest area. Using Lan Cixing’s great sense of direction, they found a shortcut from memory.

By the time the drone reached the cave, Lan Cixing and Rong Yushu were already at the rest area. This couldn’t even be called “acting first, reporting later.” Rong Yushu turned on the air conditioning and comfortably curled up in her private lounge to shower and nap. Lan Cixing went to find a proper kitchen to make her lunch.

Yu Mingsong didn’t return until sunset. She was in a sorry state, covered in mud and even sporting some minor injuries. At that time, Rong Yushu was leaning in Lan Cixing’s arms being hand-fed. The other pairs hadn’t returned yet, so with only the two of them in the rest area and no cameras, they were being very bold.

Seeing Yu Mingsong like this, both stopped their movements in shock.

“What were you doing to end up with injuries?” After a second of shock, Rong Yushu lay back down. Lan Cixing, being kind-hearted, tossed some gauze and ointment to Yu Mingsong.

But no one helped her treat them, and no one even came forward to welcome her. It wasn’t the first day Yu Mingsong realized she had no status with Rong Yushu. And Lan Cixing, following Rong Yushu, naturally followed her lead.

“Don’t talk about it. Got screwed by the crew. It’s a good thing you didn’t do that challenge.” Yu Mingsong took only a second to soothe herself, looking for a spot near Lan Cixing to sit and treat her wounds. She didn’t even see an extra chair.

“The logistics area has some. You can ask them to bring you one.” Lan Cixing refused to budge.

Yu Mingsong silently called for a chair and began complaining to Rong Yushu about the crew’s challenges. Rong Yushu only listened with half an ear. What good could come from a crew that produces survival shows? Having someone end up in Yu Mingsong’s state was exactly what the director hoped for.

Lan Cixing listened in silence, her heart pounding with fear. She decided she would protect Rong Yushu even better for the rest of the show. If there was a challenge, she would do it. She didn’t want Rong Yushu to get hurt.

“I at least got fifth place. They said you guys arrived first but didn’t take the treasure. I was forced to eat two packs of those small crackers. Seeing as I was already fifth, I thought eating more was pointless, so I stopped.”

Yu Mingsong had already prepared to ask for leave for the afternoon and skip the night’s filming; she didn’t care about rankings or points. If these two ended up sleeping on the grass because their points were too low, that would be a sight to see.

“Doesn’t matter. They won’t actually make us sleep by the roadside.” Rong Yushu didn’t care, not even lifting an eyelid.

Yu Mingsong had arrived late, but within half an hour, the other guest groups returned. Lan Cixing slipped away a minute early, returning to her security post.

The round-faced bodyguard patrolling with her was full of envy. “Sister, you actually got to participate in the filming. It must have been fun, right? And there’s a bonus…”

“…Very tiring. I had to help pitch tents, cook, and do tasks, and I couldn’t even show my face.” Lan Cixing resumed her cold expression, finding it hard to tell her colleague her true feelings. “Walked a lot and had to carry things.” She feigned that she truly had been summoned by Rong Yushu for manual labor.

“Uh, forget it then… our shift only involves two patrols.” The round-faced girl was immediately discouraged. Those eavesdropping also cast sympathetic looks toward Lan Cixing.

On the return trip, the bodyguard team followed the logistics team and other crew members. But since they weren’t on the same boat as the planners and directors, the director failed to scold Lan Cixing, much to his displeasure.

Fortunately, Rong Yushu was finally willing to interact with Yu Mingsong. The director put aside the past and aimed the four cameras at the two of them again—only for Yu Mingsong to order them away.

“…” The director was mentally exhausted and collapsed into the planner’s arms. The planner… didn’t dare move.

Yu Mingsong took off her ear-mic. Rong Yushu casually stuffed her own mic into her palm. She had no choice. At least Yu Mingsong allowed the photographer to shoot them from afar. A top-tier star and a hot “CP” combo. Two stunning beauties leaning on the railing against the sea breeze in the sunset, whispering together. The promotional shot was secured. The director came back to life.

Yu Mingsong was careful to avoid letting the photographer capture her lip movements. “You should have heard it, right?” Yu Mingsong was here to gloat. “Your favorite little friend said you’re just her bed partner.” Even if Rong Yushu hadn’t heard, Yu Mingsong would deliberately and repeatedly bring it up in front of her.

Meeting Yu Mingsong’s smug eyes, Rong Yushu let out a puff of air. “Heh,” she laughed lightly.

Yu Mingsong shrank back for a second, then stood tall. She hadn’t said anything wrong. She had something on Rong Yushu. She didn’t believe Rong Yushu could do anything to her.

“Bed·partner, huh…” How could Rong Yushu not have heard Lan Cixing’s words? In fact, she had heard them quite clearly. The hazy expression on Lan Cixing’s face, the bitter light in her eyes—they remained in her heart. They gripped her, making it impossible for her to forgive this bitterness even now.

Rong Yushu’s gaze darkened, for a moment seemingly blocking the sun, making the setting sun sink into the sea and dim with it. Yu Mingsong felt a pang of guilt and wanted to offer some comfort.

“She wasn’t one last month.” But Rong Yushu didn’t even blink before her expression changed. The corners of her mouth curled up, matching her arched fox-eyes, lazy and composed. Her voice was like a song, without a trace of depression. The dull gloom from before became Yu Mingsong’s hallucination.

“Since she’s already said I’m her bed partner, I’ll have to work hard to live up to the name.” Rong Yushu drawled the words out. She gave Yu Mingsong a meaningful look. “I remember, Sister hasn’t looked for you in a long time, right?”

“It’s only been three months.” Yu Mingsong truly regretted it now. She regretted not bringing her e-cigarette. Now she couldn’t roll her eyes at Rong Yushu, nor could she ease her sorrows. Rong Yushu’s single sentence had left her unable to counter, her spirit sinking into the sea.

“Perform well.” Rong Yushu smiled with narrowed eyes and patted Yu Mingsong’s back. When she turned around, Yu Mingsong finally gave her a massive eye-roll.

Rong Jinhuai’s attitude wouldn’t be easily changed by Rong Yushu. That woman acted like a doting sister and maintained her persona well, but her actual understanding of Rong Yushu was probably less than her own. The Rong family was a mess. Yu Mingsong managed to fish a blade of grass out of her pocket to chew on, leaning on the railing to watch the sea.

Rong Yushu moved a couple of steps but didn’t leave, her back to the railing, waiting for the sea breeze to blur the camera. Only then did she dare lower her gaze, letting the light in her eyes flash briefly.

Yu Mingsong asked for leave from the crew citing her injuries. The crew, thinking Lan Cixing was there, agreed without informing everyone. This allowed Lan Cixing to keep her “Yu Mingsong” disguise firmly in place.

Lan Cixing followed Rong Yushu at a moderate distance, acting as if she were truly just her bodyguard. The guests who hadn’t seen her interact with Rong Yushu were unphased. It was normal for the Rong family princess to be surrounded by dozens of bodyguards. If anything, it would be weird if she didn’t bring one to a desert island.

Only Feng Shi stared at Lan Cixing’s mask, her gaze deep.

The evening recording soon began. Before the crew could announce the points rankings, Feng Shi stepped forward.

“Yu Mingsong. I officially challenge you with 50 points to swap partners with me.”

Lan Cixing, pretending to be Yu Mingsong, looked up in a daze. The other guest pairs finally fixed their eyes on her.

Wait, she’s not a bodyguard?

Support The Second Fall