When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 3

During the remaining half-month, Chi Jinqing was brought in by Qin Song to receive one-on-one acting coaching from a private tutor. Perhaps because the eighteen-year-old Chi Jinqing had not yet experienced the dark side of life, her absorption of knowledge was surprisingly fast.

Furthermore, she wasn’t the type to rely solely on basic techniques; she was more of an immersion-style actor, meaning she would put herself in the character’s shoes to perceive their joys and sorrows. Her emotions and actions were meticulously portrayed, but because her brain lacked theoretical knowledge and guidance, she struggled with how to express herself in some grander movements.

In many situations, Chi Jinqing’s mind couldn’t keep up with her body’s reflexes. After all, having acted for so many years, her physical reflexes were faster than her eighteen-year-old brain.

After being put through this for half a month, Chi Jinqing was finally sent to the variety show set.

This variety show was a live stream, not pre-recorded, so the cameras were already rolling before they made their appearance.

Since this was an entertainment program, everyone who came was involved in the entertainment industry—many were formerly popular stars now past their prime, some who weren’t particularly famous but hadn’t completely faded away, and a few new-generation idols brought in to draw traffic.

Chi Jinqing didn’t arrive late, but she wasn’t particularly early either. Three female celebrities were already there before her.

As soon as she arrived, the others stood up.

Because the program hadn’t announced which female celebrities would be attending when it started airing, those who were invited naturally didn’t know who else would be present.

All the participants in this episode were female celebrities, and what’s more, they were all lesbians who had already come out.

Facing Chi Jinqing, everyone showed a friendly expression, after all, this was a dating reality show.

“It’s actually Chi Jinqing.” “I didn’t expect it would be you.” “Jinqing!”

As Chi Jinqing’s feet touched the floor, the surrounding cameras immediately zoomed in, and the director’s team quickly came over and handed her a cute cat doll embroidered with her name.

“Sister Chi, this is your token.”

Facing the cameras, Chi Jinqing’s stiff legs felt unable to move. She could only nod with a rigid expression, gripping the doll tightly in her hand out of nervousness.

Qin Song, sitting nearby, pushed Chi Jinqing without changing his expression, urging her to pull herself together, not to be timid. The person she needed to portray now was the mature and steady twenty-six-year-old Chi Jinqing, someone who was used to the camera.

Chi Jinqing took a deep breath, forcing out a smile that looked close to tears: “Hello everyone, I am Chi Jinqing.”

The girl who rushed to the front was a newcomer who had just debuted, barely eighteen years old and full of vibrant enthusiasm. Seeing Chi Jinqing, she strode over, shouting: “Idol! I’ve finally met you in person!”

Chi Jinqing subconsciously wanted to step back, but as soon as her leg moved, she remembered what Qin Song had told her. Her smile froze for a moment. She managed to control her flared-up body hair and said in a nervous, slightly hoarse voice: “Hello.”

“C-c-can I hug you?”

The girl’s eyes were moist, and she was actually moved to tears. Her voice was as soft and sweet as she was.

“I’ve liked you for many years. I’ve been a fan since you debuted, Sister Qingqing. Can I hug you?”

She tentatively reached out, seeking a hug from the person she had adored since her early youth.

“You can.”

Chi Jinqing hesitated, let go of the handle of her suitcase, and quickly hugged the girl.

Although it only lasted for a few seconds, the girl’s tears immediately started to flow. She seemed to still be in a daze, looking at her hands. She stood stunned for a long time before finally finding her voice.

“Wuwuwu, I actually hugged my idol, this is truly unbelievable. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

Chi Jinqing awkwardly didn’t know where to put her hands, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Is it really that exaggerated?

She wasn’t a celebrity chaser and didn’t quite understand that feeling.

However, she genuinely received the girl’s undisguised affection for her.

Chi Jinqing took out a pack of wet wipes from a small pouch on her suitcase, pulled one out, and handed it over, saying softly with a hint of shyness: “Thank you for your support.”

“Wuwuwu!”

The girl took the wet wipe, gently dabbed the tears from the corners of her eyes, and still unable to contain her excitement, said: “Idol, I am your ‘Little Koi’ (Xiao Jinli). My name is Luo Wanshuang, you can call me Xiao Shuang.”

Chi Jinqing: “Mmm, yes, Xiao Shuang.”

Chi Jinqing knew her fans were called ‘Koi’ (Jinli). Apparently, it was because they thought ‘Kissing Candy’ wasn’t as nice to hear as ‘Koi’ and also said it was to counteract her bad luck, believing that a lucky name could bring good fortune to their idol.

Luo Wanshuang covered her mouth, screaming silently: “My idol called my name! Wuwu, my life is complete!”

Chi Jinqing stood frozen, unsure how to react. She looked behind her, only to see that Qin Song had already had the car driven away, showing absolutely no intention of staying to help her.

And her little assistant had already gone to join the staff behind the camera, quietly pumping her fist to cheer her on.

Chi Jinqing: “…”

Being twenty-six is tough.

While she was feeling helpless, two more cars pulled up. The doors of two similar cars opened. The first person to step out was an actress who had just made a comeback by playing a female villain, named Feng Yan, who was thirty years old this year. However, her acting was superb, and her personality was excellent; she was the kind of person who focused solely on acting.

And the last person to step out…

Chi Jinqing’s eyes instantly widened. Si Jiamo?!

How could Si Jiamo be here?

No, how could an A-list actress of her caliber come here?

Seeing Si Jiamo’s appearance, Chi Jinqing panicked subconsciously, but quickly regained her composure. She and Si Jiamo were only in a contract-based secret relationship. In all past public occasions, Si Jiamo had never shown any particularly familiar attitude toward her. So, Si Jiamo coming here must truly be for dating and finding a relationship, right?

Thinking about this, Chi Jinqing felt somewhat uncomfortable and glum inside.

For her, at this moment, she had just broken up with Si Jiamo, and in less than ‘two months,’ Si Jiamo was already going on a dating show. It made her feel a little uneasy.

Si Jiamo acted as if she hadn’t seen her, her expression habitually aloof. She pushed her suitcase up to everyone and introduced herself airily: “I am Si Jiamo.”

The other women, sensing Si Jiamo’s presence, greeted her with smiles, but their eyes flickered secretly. No one had expected the last person to arrive would be Si Jiamo.

There were six people in this episode, and now they were all present.

The location for this shoot was a guesthouse in the countryside. It was a very typical small guesthouse with only three rooms. Clearly, the first challenge was for them to choose someone they felt an affinity with to share a room.

The six people exchanged glances. Luo Wanshuang shyly but boldly stood next to Chi Jinqing, her cheeks flushed as she whispered: “Idol, let’s room together!”

Chi Jinqing subconsciously glanced at Si Jiamo. She saw Si Jiamo give her a deep, fleeting look, then turn away, seemingly indifferent to whether she chose Luo Wanshuang or not.

Feeling ignored, Chi Jinqing felt stifled. Although she didn’t particularly care who she shared a room with—after all, each room had two beds. Since this was just a variety show, it was impossible to force them, and their status was clear.

So, they were just roommates, not bed partners, and it made no difference to her who slept next to her. But she just didn’t want Si Jiamo to look at her with that kind of expression.

Chi Jinqing also withdrew her gaze, looking down at Luo Wanshuang, her eyes full of contemplation.

She wasn’t short, standing at a height of 177 cm. This usually wasn’t obvious in photoshoots because she had a baby face that made her look younger.

Luo Wanshuang was 160 cm tall and was wearing ten-centimeter heels, so she still looked petite next to the flat-shoed Chi Jinqing.

Chi Jinqing slightly lowered her eyes and tilted her head toward Luo Wanshuang. This picture looked exceptionally beautiful and instantly captured the attention of the viewers in the live stream.

Gui Yi: I’ve been wanting to say this from the start, is Chi Jinqing’s state not, right? Why does she seem so constrained ever since she got out of the car? It’s completely different from her previous poised self.

MoMo’s Little Ground Beef: It seems so, and her expression has been visibly flustered since Luo Wanshuang approached her. Is her new persona… an ordinary person?

Little Koi of Xiao Qingqing: No way, she’s completely normal. Our Qingqing is naturally a very shy person.

Yu Guan Er Chu: Shouldn’t we be surprised why Si Jiamo is here? She’s a dual-award-winning actress. Why would she need to participate in this kind of dating-like variety show?

I’m a Face-Lover: I don’t care, I love all the good-looking ones, they are all my wives!

Little Ground Beef: No way, my big sister?!!

Si Jiamo’s fans are called ‘Ground Beef and Eggplant’, because Si Jiamo loves this dish, so everyone tacitly accepted it.

When Si Jiamo came to participate in this variety show, her fans received no prior information. It was truly a sudden, unannounced appearance.

As soon as the news of her arrival at the variety show spread, a large number of fans instantly flooded the live stream. The official broadcaster then immediately released six different live streams, corresponding to the six people in the show, allowing viewers to choose whose feed they wanted to watch.

The matter of room assignments immediately drew heavy complaints.

MoMo’s Little Accessory: This is too much, they haven’t even gotten familiar with each other, and they have to live together? Can they change rooms later?

LuoLuo Cannot: Oh my god, LuoLuo, you are too forward, you’ve scared Qingqing!

Luo Bo Bo: Wuwuwu, LuoLuo, calm down, don’t be so aggressive! We know you’re too excited to see your idol, but being so impatient will scare people!

While fans were squabbling, bystanders began to speculate on who would end up rooming with whom.

The highest expectation was for Chi Jinqing and Luo Wanshuang to room together, after all, Chi Jinqing didn’t refuse when Luo Wanshuang asked for a hug. How could Chi Jinqing resist such a charming and proactive young person!

According to the show production’s subtle intentions, how could they allow these people to pair up so easily?

The director, wearing an apricot-colored baseball cap, picked up the megaphone and shouted: “Who ends up in a room will depend on luck and ability. Now, those who have found someone they feel an affinity with can give the other person the doll embroidered with their name. If the other person reciprocates by giving you their name-embroidered doll, you may live together.”