Diao Zhiyu's new job was the 007 role previously held by Fang Qingxian - the Royal Casino theme at Secret Cinema on Mengzi Road. This London-born immersive theater was built in a warehouse-like two-story structure, originally featuring four hours of immersive theater plus film performances. After arriving in China, due to actors struggling to adapt, many players on review platforms felt there were too many audiences and tight schedules. When Diao Zhiyu applied, the film portion had been removed on-site, the ending became level-based, and most NPCs had been replaced with domestic actors.
It's said the main reason Fang Qingxian left was... his poor English proficiency.
Diao Zhiyu, with her dance background, hid thirty Spade A playing cards in her pocket. After distributing them all, she blended into the crowd as part of the song and dance performance, following the black female actress in tap dancing.
For this, she had undergone intensive training for a week. Roughly speaking, the two hadn't seen each other for over ten days. To watch Diao Zhiyu tap dance, Hu Xiu invited Zhao Xiaorou to experience 007 together. Zhao Xiaorou attended in formal attire with Ma Liang, but they got separated right after entering, with Zhao only managing to hold onto Hu Xiu while going up the escalator.
The two got lost in the smoke-filled scene, peering into every small theater with song and dance performances, but never spotted Diao Zhiyu in her sequined tailcoat distributing Spade A cards. Eventually suffocated by the thin air, they sat in the casino playing Texas Hold'em for an hour.
Whenever Hu Xiu received a quest card, her mission mode activated. Seeing MI6 and the business cards and letters in the document folder excited her, completely forgetting about watching Diao Zhiyu dance. She spent the entire time looking for ground crew wearing golden flowers to complete missions.
The blonde, blue-eyed NPC was surrounded by players in multiple layers. It was Hu Xiu who managed to lure the NPC out using her standard British accent - demonstrating how important it is to master a foreign language.
All four emerged somewhat bewildered. Diao Zhiyu had danced until her calves cramped, yet never saw her girlfriend throughout; Hu Xiu got her rib flare corrected by being squeezed in the revelry of 500 players;
Zhao Xiaorou didn't buy the 3,000 yuan VIP ticket for the casino, gambled away all her money, only to find the drama's finale was in the 6,000 yuan VIP room which she couldn't afford; Ma Liang didn't understand what was fun about it - the girls dressed like they had fallen into an interdimensional spider cave, and none of them paid him any attention.
Leaning against the flower bed at Jiuguang, watching the saxophone performance across the street, the four held cups of hot milk tea, observing the passing crowds.
Diao Zhiyu removed her makeup, pulling a wet wipe from her pocket to wipe her face. The moment she removed the wipe, she caught the attention of passing young girls.
Zhao Xiaorou said if 007 could control the number of players, she'd consider coming again next time. Playing Texas Hold'em with dozens of people gave her a competitive exhaustion she hadn't felt in ages.
Diao Zhiyu gulped down large mouthfuls of taro balls: "This 4,000-square-meter factory venue is essentially a big party - how can it be lively without enough people?"
"Did you distribute the thirty playing cards quickly?"
"Originally it was fine, but in sessions with many repeat players, they disappeared fast."
"Were they repeat players coming for you again?"
"This place doesn't emphasize individual actors, it focuses on overall atmosphere. That's why I quite like it here - not so much strong interaction with players. Guiding players is exhausting."
"Just say you're afraid Hu Xiu will check on you."
Hu Xiu didn't respond, thinking about how empty Escape Rooms and immersive theaters felt without Li Ai playing together."Forget it, with Li Ai on crutches, running up and down would definitely be inconvenient. It's normal for him not to come."
Zhao Xiaorou brushed the ash off her skirt, her Snow White cosplay makeup still intact, yet smoking with such intensity it gave off stepmother vibes. The bitten poisoned apple seemed ready to be offered to someone else.
Ma Liang thoughtfully took the empty milk tea cup away to discard it. Zhao Xiaorou quickly lit her second and third cigarettes. Hu Xiu frowned: "Jing'an Temple is right next door. If you want to offer incense, go there—don't burn yourself out here..."
Zhao Xiaorou didn't respond, still pondering the plot of 007. Mid-thought, she seemed to remember something: "Diao Zhiyu, that movie of yours—once it's done, it's just done? No follow-up? Don't big stars need to participate in promotions? What about the confidentiality agreement? When will you give me a chance to book a private screening?"
"Just a small film, the kind that gets screened at festivals," Diao Zhiyu said with a laugh. "It won't have a public release—probably wouldn't pass censorship anyway."
Zhao Xiaorou and Hu Xiu were stunned: "Huh?"
"There's a lot of bloody and violent scenes, plus R-rated content."
"Who?"
"Me..."
"Huh?" Zhao Xiaorou glanced at Hu Xiu. "What kind of stuff? You didn't mention there were bed scenes?"
"Fighting, jumping off bridges... and a little of what you mentioned. But it's not that vulgar. The overall tone of the story is quite gray, and the narrative is fragmented—it'll depend on the editing."
Diao Zhiyu blushed slightly: "The footage on the monitor looked quite... artistic."
Hu Xiu jumped up: "Diao Zhiyu, why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"I thought you knew... It's a story about unrequited love, so there's bound to be some restricted content..."
Diao Zhiyu seemed to be teasing Hu Xiu on purpose, then straightened up and crossed his legs: "Isn't this what acting is all about? It's not like anything really happened. Ning Zechen and Lin Qiumei had physical contact too!"
Already sour-hearted and unsettled, she remained calm, quietly biting her straw. In the lamplight, the post-rain air and their entangled gazes felt like a damp, intimate fusion.
The silence pressured Diao Zhiyu to stand up, his dark eyes growing increasingly guilty: "I really thought you wouldn't mind much. The female lead was like an older sister to me, treated me well. She's a well-known actress in the industry—nothing would ever happen between us."
Hu Xiu still didn't speak, watching Diao Zhiuwander around her helplessly. Zhao Xiaorou finished her last cigarette, her eyebrows lifting with amusement: "Actors experiencing different lives—I guess that's what it means."
On the way home, Hu Xiu remained silent, her heart aching with the unmistakable sting of jealousy.
Diao Zhiyu followed behind, waiting for her to scold him, looking utterly remorseful and pitiful.
As they entered, he said, "I feel like you might not want to see me right now. I'll go home first. I have rehearsal tomorrow at 4 a.m.—it might disturb your sleep."
She grabbed his hand, feigning nonchalance: "What's the big deal? Do you think I'm that narrow-minded?"
But once inside, she showed him no warmth, dawdling as she went to shower. She emerged in pajamas and sat at the desk reading translation materials, even reciting them aloud.
Diao Zhiyu, freshly showered and wearing MUJI pajamas, sat beside her, his eyes anxious and scattered: "I really didn't mean to keep it from you. I was just afraid you'd overthink it. When Zhao Xiaorou asked earlier, I figured you'd find out eventually when the film was released, so I told her.""Tell me what's written in the script."
"Confidentiality agreement..."
"Then, recreate those beautiful scenes you mentioned with me."
Diao Zhiyu's eyes grew more panicked: "Let's not..."
"What are you afraid of..." Hu Xiu now felt her acting had reached divine levels: "What was the setting? What camera angles did they use?"
"Stop messing around..."
"I'm not messing around..." Hu Xiu wore an oversized plain black T-shirt that revealed her collarbones above and her legs below, her waist appearing graspable within the loose fabric. She had applied orchid-scented lotion, and when she rested her foot on Diao Zhiyu's leg, her cold ankle brushed against his fingers: "Come on..."
The warmth in Diao Zhiyu's eyes cooled as he quickly got into character. It was indeed different from Qin Xiaoyi's approach - he resembled a beast targeting its prey, his ominous expression drawing closer and making her feel feverish all over.
He led her to the bed, his fingers sliding upward from her knees. A barely perceptible coldness hid in his dark eyes, somewhat frightening.
He leaned in to smell her, his nose hovering millimeters from her skin, his hand slipping under the T-shirt to grip her waist before tracing the inward curve upward with fierce intensity.
She recalled the art films common in the nineties - specific color grading, fragmented editing, a rock music-like atmosphere, the screen radiating an aloof arrogance that felt unattainable.
Yet Diao Zhiyu's delivery felt different, emitting a new aura.
For instance, when passion was halfway peaked, he'd suddenly thread fingers through her hair, draw a circle on his palm before presenting it to her, hesitate for a few seconds before smiling and transferring the motion to circle over her chest. His fingers moved lightly - not quite teasing, merely conveying intention.
Slight head shakes seemed like restraint, his expression not solemn but carrying the shyness, conflict, and... cuteness unique to young men.
This acting style genuinely made her ache.
When he held her tightly, his collarbone pressed against her chest. By her ear, she heard Diao Zhiyu whisper mischievously that the camera would stop here, the rest being too implicit, so he'd cut directly to off-scene.
After speaking, he guided her hand to his chest. Hu Xiu, burning with discomfort, still pushed him away, pursing her lips to say: "Just act until the scene ends. You should sleep, I need to prepare for the next meeting."
She had never seen Diao Zhiyu so shocked, sitting on the bed as if he'd seen a ghost: "Huh? It's over just like that?"
He even pointed between his legs.
"I'm serious. There's still the big meeting to prepare for. Playing around has wasted most of the day, I'm panicking now. Don't come closer, I just wanted to know how far the acting went."
After airing the room for ten minutes, Diao Zhiyu knelt on the sofa sticking his head out the window: "You never proactively give me your contact, see me at this window but won't come down, send Pei Zhen to make me anxious while I'm hesitating, and now you slam the brakes at the critical moment. Here I was enthusiastically teaching you, but you're the real master."
"What are you talking about..." Hu Xiu's keyboard clacked loudly: "Really, you should sleep. I'll probably be up until three tonight."After Diao Zhiyu had truly fallen asleep under the covers, she quietly searched online for actor anecdotes. A famous Hong Kong film actor, after being rejected by his female co-star whom he developed feelings for during filming, stopped socializing and never married, changing his sexual orientation. Another deeply connected golden couple from their youthful days drifted apart after the male actor starred in a gay romance film—the female lead visited the set daily, and when the film won major awards, the two were genuinely perceived as a couple, yet they quietly separated for unknown reasons. The industry has long circulated rumors about the intricate emotions between two male actors...
Looking at Diao Zhiyu’s clean-cut face, she shook her head vigorously at the mere thought of him caressing, entwining, or kissing someone else. This was the same boy who had struggled to break character after confessing his feelings to Lin Qiumei in a drama—how could he bear physical intimacy with others on set? Surely, those memories wouldn’t fade easily.
After all, even she had grown increasingly dependent on Diao Zhiyu, starting from... their accumulated meetings and embraces...
The air conditioner’s feeble night breeze sent a shiver through her. It had been so long since she’d been in a relationship; this episode served as a reminder that love was never the end of suffering.
During her unrequited crush, seeing Qin Xiaoyi haunted by an unforgettable on-screen persona was agony. Now, being with Diao Zhiyu, an actor, meant he could easily be swept into emotional turmoil with others.
Actors lead multiple lives—blessed with striking looks and rich personalities, their existence is inherently more extravagant. Even if this young man left her, he’d have countless opportunities to experience the world’s wonders.
In the past, she might have felt insecure, but now, gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she watched as the receding tide left behind glistening shells—treasures from this relationship. She gathered them and walked away, her pockets heavy, the journey worthwhile.
Encountering such a boy was probably a rare adventure in life. She slipped under the covers and pressed her icy hands against his chest; he drowsily grasped them and pulled her into his embrace without complaint. If it had been her ex, he’d have jerked away and scolded her.
With a pang of bitterness, she thought: seize the moment.
Zhao Xiaorou was also awake. During her livestream today, Ma Liang had accidentally appeared on screen, leading to screenshots being shared in the Elephant Group for gossip. She had a new boyfriend again—Zhao Xiaorou never seemed to have a gap between relationships.
That wasn’t what bothered her, though. It was a comment that read: “She’s always had a thing for the coffee shop owner on Yuyuan Road. The Christmas display was huge. I always thought she was the boss's wife. Rumor has it she co-owns the shop. If she has a new boyfriend now, does that mean she’s been stringing the owner along as a backup?”
She crumpled the cigarette pack and tossed it toward the trash bin. It missed and fell to the floor. She picked it up and threw it several times, failing each time, until she finally kicked the bin over in frustration.
Ma Liang appeared behind her. She closed the webpage and rummaged in the drawer for a fresh pack of cigarettes. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and murmured, “My darling, are you upset?”
“No...”
“Seeing Diao Zhiyu like that today, I could barely hold back my laughter but didn’t dare say anything. When I used to crash on his couch, he never kept his phone on loud—so many girls would message him, his phone was like a giant fishpond. Later, he started turning it off at night and only replying to everyone right before bed.”
“Oh?”
“Especially a few wealthy older women who loved messaging him late at night. They’d post selfies on social media pretending to be unmarried, but actually, those posts were only visible to a few actors from Snowpiercer.”"Don't ask how I know this—I have all these wealthy ladies on WeChat, but I can't even see Diao Zhiyu's photos in her moments."
That statement carried a lot of implications. Zhao Xiaorou only asked, "How did you add these women on WeChat?"
"Although I'm not particularly wealthy, I've always enjoyed working out. At the gym, whenever I see someone needing help with equipment, I lend a hand casually, so I've gotten to know all the members.
They often gather to discuss Snowpiercer—they don't play any other Live Action Role Playing Games, only grinding Snowpiercer specifically. There's one red-haired woman who's played it almost thirty times.
Apparently, she just really likes that suit—no matter who plays Qin Xiaoyi, she'll tip them when they wear it.
But Rou Rou, don't be jealous—I don't like any of these women. I can show you my phone; you're the only one in my heart."
"Got it..." Zhao Xiaorou thought to herself, probably because you're too mediocre anyway. She lit a cigarette and sat waiting for Li Ai's email—
He now consistently sent one business email with handover notes at 9 PM. Most of the work had shifted back to her, and waiting for this email to scrutinize whether it contained any emotional attachment or warm greetings, then mentally cursing if there weren't any, had become her nightly routine.
Tonight, there was nothing but spreadsheets. Zhao Xiaorou listlessly tapped her calculator while staring at the tables when Ma Liang spoke up behind her: "Rou Rou, that male assistant frequently coming to your home isn't really appropriate, is it?"
He was referring to the assistant who had been with her for five years—a young man who worked as both driver and errand-runner without complaint, showing extremely high employee loyalty. Without turning around, Zhao Xiaorou asked, "What about him?"
"A male assistant spending all day ironing your clothes, even handling your underwear—that's not really proper.
Besides, I'm quite diligent too—I can handle these tasks as well. Find an opportunity to let him go."
"What do you mean..."
"He came by around nine. I told him not to come in the evenings anymore and to leave quickly after dropping things off during the day. After all, this is your private residence. And that scar on his face is rather unsettling..."
Zhao Xiaorou slammed her lighter onto the table with a bang: "You may be my boyfriend, but you're not my master. Do you know how long he's been with me?
He served time in prison. After getting out, nobody would hire him—I'm his only employer. He's never made a single mistake in his work. Even if everyone else betrayed me, he wouldn't.
When I went through my divorce, he was the one who firmly helped me preserve evidence, running errands across cities tirelessly without a single complaint. Who do you think you are to tell him not to come?
Ma Liang, let me make this clear—you can sleep on the couch or in the bed, but don't touch the people around me."
Her hand stung from the impact. Ma Liang walked over, smiling as he rubbed her head: "Darling, I was just asking. Why are you so angry? I was worried he might have inappropriate thoughts about you. What boyfriend wouldn't feel jealous? Now that you've explained it clearly, I understand. Calm down..."
Completely unaware that he had already exhausted Zhao Xiaorou's patience. She pushed him away: "Go take a shower first. I still have work to finish here."
She had no patience left to maintain appearances with Ma Liang. If she could still preserve her gentle, sexy image with previous boyfriends, now she'd probably fully embraced an irritable persona—constantly losing her temper at home. If Ma Liang ever leaked this to online gossip groups, her reputation would truly collapse.
After replying to Li Ai's email and processing payments, she grew increasingly agitated. She sent a message to Hu Xiu: "After you finish work tomorrow, let's grab dinner. I have some gossip."Accompanying the vice president and president to deliver reports, she spent the entire day discussing the accelerated nationwide rollout of medical insurance reimbursement, targeted assistance for specialized departments in impoverished counties with region-specific precision treatments. Through this, Hu Xiu gained a general understanding of her upcoming responsibilities.
For the next six months, she would inevitably be occupied with reports and business trips related to this area.
Administrative work and translation pulled her in opposite directions, though their content occasionally overlapped, giving her a rough grasp of medical knowledge. Yet most of the time, it felt like wandering through fog—without a professional background, she couldn't learn or retain much, forgetting things completely.
The only thing that stuck was Doctor Jin's words: "Infertility isn't a rare condition. If you have plans for children, try to make arrangements early." Such basic ethical knowledge, rooted in human nature, managed to imprint itself on her mind.
On the subway, she swayed with exhaustion, nearly dozing off against the seat. Diao Zhiyu messaged her: "Weekend's fully booked, probably can't meet. How about I come see you on a weekday?"
"Either way..."
"The director from last time referred me to a web drama team. They want me to audition next week for a romance idol drama. I likely won't get it, but just keeping you in the loop."
"It's fine, am I that petty?" Even as she said this, her heart leaped to her throat—fearing the very thing she dreaded had arrived.
"I can still tell if you're upset, though your acting's getting sharper, making it hard to read."
"Don't worry. Worst case, you can reenact all your scenes with the female lead with me."
Getting off at her stop, her temples throbbed: "Who knows, if he really becomes a star, I might get to brag a little."
The thought made her chuckle. If her dad heard, he'd rush over demanding she break up, warning her not to be taken advantage of by some showbiz guy.
Exiting through Gate 5, she bought cheese egg tarts at Lillian. Since Zhao Xiaorou's fallout with Li Ai, she'd been eating fewer sweets; based on Hu Xiu's understanding, that woman turned bitter when hungry. Sighing, she reflected that whether single or in love, attaining or lacking, emotions never sailed smoothly.
Approaching the hospital entrance, a passerby bumped into her, nearly toppling the tart box. When she looked up, a familiar figure caught her eye, their gazes locking.
No one wants to run into a past almost-lover when their current relationship feels slightly unsteady.
Even if the diluted moonlight mixed with the grimy warm yellow of streetlights made the scene seem like a perfect plot twist, she felt it shouldn't be happening.
Moreover, the way he looked at her was overly intense, as if he'd bottled up three months' worth of longing into a multiplied dose. Life truly was a silent trap.
Pei Zhen.
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