CH 43

At this moment, Qiu Hong shook his head regretfully and sighed, "Boring, boring. You two look like you have a lot of stories, yet your high school life seems so ordinary. Or is it that you're afraid to say, afraid that it will make your partner jealous?"

The director off-camera suddenly spoke up, "A reminder to the teachers, there are consequences for lying during the truth-telling segment."

Wen Li was speechless, "There's no need to lie. Why would we lie about this?"

Qiu Hong clicked his tongue. "You never know. Fans these days are formidable. They can dig up your underwear."

Wen Li, however, wasn't too concerned.

If there were any stories about her and Song Yan from high school, they would have already been exposed.

When it comes to things that happened before artists entered the industry, it's usually classmates and friends who leak information. Wen Li attended an art high school, which, despite being called an art high school, was actually a private school where wealthy people gathered. The school that Bai Sen and Song Yan attended was similar in nature, but their school placed more emphasis on academic subjects. Most students had already gone abroad before the university entrance examination and they only returned during holidays.

With various interests at stake, people in their circle preferred to keep their conversations private and rarely leaked information.

Tonight's heartfelt conversation segment didn't have a script. The guests could talk about whatever they wanted. These stars, who were busy with various schedules most of the time and rarely had a day off in a year, gathered together to chat just like ordinary people. It might feel to the audience, but it was also a way for them to relax without using their brains. That's why reality shows about daily life have become popular recently.

By ten o'clock in the evening, the final day of the journey in Rong City came to a close.

The director took the lead and said, "Thank you, teachers, for your hard work. Tomorrow, you can finally go home and have a good rest."

"Director Yan, you've also worked hard these past few days."

"You came up with so many tricks to deal with us. Director Yan, you've worked the hardest."

The director laughed heartily while chatting with the guests and instructing other crew members to pack up the equipment.

One camera in the middle was still running. It was usually the last one to be turned off and often captured interesting Easter eggs and behind-the-scenes moments. At this moment, the guests thought the cameras were off, so they continued the topic they were just discussing.

"We've talked about first love. How about first kiss?" Qiu Hong suggested, "Since we've finished recording and the cameras are off, we don't have to worry about the fans getting upset. Let's share, shall we?"

Among the four male guests, the other three had more refined personalities and appearances, while Qiu Hong was the most physically robust and rugged-looking. He often played rough characters in dramas, but he turned out to be the most gossip-loving and the most afraid of his wife among the four male guests.

"I'll say it in advance. Let's all be honest. On-screen first kisses don't count, except for Xiao Qi, who is the only non-actor here."

His wife, Chen Zitong, rolled her eyes, "You just want to dig up gossip about others. Otherwise, with your boring life, how could I not know about it?"

Qiu Hong winked at his wife, "Don't expose me, okay?"

Qi Sihan and Yan Zhen were the intern couple. They weren't afraid of making each other jealous, so they openly shared their experiences.

The answer, however, was quite dull because this couple hadn't ever been in a relationship.

Then the two of them exchanged sympathetic glances as if saying, "So, you're also a solo act."

The other pairs of guests expressed that this intern couple was really uninteresting.

The first kisses of the other two couples were not with each other either, but that was normal. It wasn't a movie, and it's not that coincidental. Moreover, before getting married, they must have already confessed their past to each other. So, they made a few jokes, but no one would genuinely get jealous over such a topic.

However, Wen Li suddenly remembered Lu Ming and Zheng Xue.

If this couple were here, they would probably proudly say, "Our first kiss was with each other."

Wen Li secretly glanced at Song Yan.

She and Song Yan weren't that shameless.

Some secrets were better kept to oneself, there was no need to tell others.

While she was lost in thought, Qiu Hong asked her, "Teacher Wen Li? What are you daydreaming about? Thinking about how to make up a story, haha?"

Another male guest, Ding Lebo, said, "Wen Li never had a relationship when she was in high school, so her first kiss was probably on-screen."

As soon as he said that, the other guests immediately understood.

"Well, that's boring."

But Wen Li frowned, showing a condescending expression and said defiantly, "Although I've never been in a relationship, I have had a first kiss."

"Hmm?" Qi Sihan immediately widened her eyes, "When?"

"In high school."

"With whom?"

Wen Li pursed her lips, "That's not something I can say."

Everyone then looked at Song Yan, wanting to see his reaction.

But he didn't react at all, he was calm as ever, showing no signs of jealousy.

Qi Sihan bravely asked, "What about you, Teacher Song Yan?"

Song Yan replied, "Funny enough, it was also in high school for me."

Everyone was stunned.

Did they unintentionally stumble upon some explosive gossip?

Qiu Hong felt something was off as he thought more about it, "Wait a minute, if you two didn't have early relationships, how did you give away your first kiss?"

Wen Li pouted, "Brother Qiu, you're so nosy."

"Forget it, let's not ask anymore," Chen Zitong realized that Wen Li didn't want to say and tried to defuse the situation, "They didn't know each other in high school, so it definitely wasn't each other's first kiss. It would cause trouble if we keep asking."

Qiu Hong nodded as his wife spoke, "You're right. If they end up having a fight and their fans start blaming me, saying I asked too many details."

In the end, the guests chose to end this topic and went back to their hotel rooms to sleep, waiting for their flights home tomorrow.

The guests were done with their work, but the director was in a dilemma.

The cameras hadn't been turned off earlier, so this conversation was recorded. It could be used as a hidden gem, but even though it sounded exciting, it didn't feel right to release it.

None of these couples had given their first kiss to each other. Although it was realistic, their variety show focused on "real-life fairy tales" and the concept of being together forever. This realistic setup wouldn't fit well if it were revealed on the show. Many fans of these couples fans enjoyed their chemistry, so releasing this would touch a sensitive nerve.

After contemplating for a while, the director decided to delete this footage.

——

The material was deleted, but someone couldn't hold back and leaked the information.

In a well-known internet Q&A community app, in the entertainment section, there are often anonymous users claiming to be insiders who come out to expose information related to the entertainment industry.

Recently, the hottest question in the section was "Why do Wen Li and Song Yan have so many CP fans?" It asked why this couple, who lacked even the most basic business-like attitude, could stand out among various same-sex CPs in the entertainment industry.

Several popular answers from fans analyzed their popularity based on their popularity, visuals, and chemistry, providing insightful explanations.

After reading these answers, the original poster still felt confused.

「I admit there's a CP feeling, but their relationship doesn't seem good at all. 」

「Hahaha, if the original poster doesn't get it, they should just find another CP to ship. There are CPs everywhere, no need to obsess over this one.」

Later, Song Yan and Wen Li officially joined the show [In This World With You], and this question became popular again.

It appeared alongside the enduring question in the entertainment section:「What are some absolutely true revelations in the entertainment industry?」

This question has always received responses because the entertainment industry constantly produces various new scandals every day, some true and some false. Since the information is anonymous, people can choose to believe it or not.

One poster who consistently updates their response posted an update today.

「———— Separator ————

Today's update: The four couples on [In This World With You] talked about their first kisses (off-screen). This wasn't part of the script; it was the guests gossiping among themselves. As a result, among the four couples (excluding the fake couple), their first kisses weren't with each other. This segment has been deleted and won't be aired on the show. Those who treat this variety show as an idol drama need to wake up. Reality is not so perfect.」

「I don't know about Qiu Hong and Ding Lebo, but it's true that Song Yan and Wen Li kind of ruin the 'real-life fairy tale' concept...」

「Did Song Yan and Wen Li have any publicly known exes?」

「Not having publicly known exes doesn't mean they were each other's first loves. Are people really treating this variety show like an idol drama?」

「This revelation makes me feel uncomfortable. I thought Song Yan and Wen Li were each other's first loves before they got together.」

The poster replied:「You're overthinking it. They had their first kisses during their respective high school days.」

「Wow, so their most memorable relationships were from their high school days?」

「...It's a bit uncomfortable, even though it's realistic.」

A week later, the fourth episode of [In This World With You] was released, and as expected, that segment wasn't included. Even the parts where the other three couples extensively discussed their first loves were edited out.

It was a normal editing decision for the show and aligned with its focus. Later, this information was spread on Weibo, but it didn't cause much of a stir. Although most CP fans felt disappointed, they could still accept it. Salt Grain couple were already experienced adults when they first met, so how could they realistically expect each other to be their one and only true love?

In any case, they were doing well now, and they only needed each other.

Wen Li was completely unaware of this. She only knew that recently, she had been using a different account to browse the Salt Grain fan page. Several familiar video editors' fans stopped using their usual historical material to write stories and started using modern-day footage of her and Song Yan to write campus love stories with their faces.

The titles looked quite melancholic.

「[Salt Grain Couple] Life is already so difficult, so let's have more sugar.」

Wen Li anxiously asked Song Yan if their agreement to get married had accidentally been leaked by someone.

Since Song Yan didn't usually go online, he was even more clueless than her.

This was probably the sorrow of the fans, the main character herself can't understand.

Wen Li used to rarely care about the CP fans. After all, the CP fans were capable and enjoyed entertaining themselves, so she didn't have to worry about them.

But recently, she gradually began to feel that as the main character, as the main source of sustenance for the fans, she couldn't neglect these kids. At the very least, she should give them some sugar from time to time. Otherwise, the kids would be too pitiful.

However, when it came to playing the cheesy couple act with Song Yan, she couldn't do it. She could only find a way to secretly comfort the CP fans.

So, in a recent offline business platform event, Wen Li wore the couple's wristwatch that Song Yan had given her. She had actually wanted to wear it when they went to Rong City, but the watch was expensive, limited edition, and since it was a gift from Song Yan, Wen Li couldn't bring herself to wear it. Song Yan probably hadn't officially announced his endorsement yet, so he didn't wear it either. The two watches were just sitting at home.

Wen Li's photos from the offline platform event were released not long after, and soon, a fashion blogger dug out all the brand styles from head to toe, from earrings to shoes, worn by Wen Li. Among them, the JL watch on her left wrist was listed.

「JL Dating Series Lunar Phase Wristwatch, official price 429,000.」

Instead of having the team actively release all the brand styles with close-ups, this kind of self-discovery by netizens followed by astonishment was the highest level of showing off.

But because the event photos were somewhat blurry, the custom "W" replacing the 12-hour mark on the dial wasn't clearly captured.

Wen Li decided that during the recording of the third episode of [For You To Debut] in a couple of days, she would continue to wear this watch, so they could definitely see it clearly.

Finally, on the morning of the recording day, Wen Li came to the studio by car. As soon as she got out of the car, she was surrounded by various cameras and phone lenses.

Then, she hypocritically raised the hand wearing the wristwatch and greeted the lenses.

After she entered the studio, the latest sneak peek of the third episode recording was released.

Entertainment Bro:「Today's latest frontline news, recording of [For You To Debut] witnessing the latest sneak peeks of our judge and the four mentors, let's see how they compare to the little brother you picked.」

「Yan Zhun is handsome.」

「Icy is still in all black as usual, hahaha.」

「Did the grudges from the first episode's script change pass? Wen Li and Xu Xingyue, these senior/junior sisters, are they even wearing matching watches?」

Entertainment Bro:「? I didn't notice until you mentioned it.」

「They're all from the JL Dating Series. This model is a couple's watch, but they are both wearing the women's version.」

「Just now, Xu Xingyue's fan site posted her outfit for today. This is the global limited edition of the JL Dating Series, with a price starting at a million.」

Then they posted a close-up photo of the watch, which was obviously a high-quality picture obtained from the artist's team. Ordinary candid shots wouldn't be so clear.

「? Is their company showing favoritism? Sister Wen Li is wearing a regular version worth only 400,000, while Xu Xingyue wears a limited edition worth over a million.」

「A 400,000 watch is considered regular? I truly am a poor person.」

「Don't compare the spending power of ordinary people with that of celebrities. A watch worth over 400,000 is indeed considered regular for a top-tier actress like Wen Li.」

「Xu Xingyue's fan site says it's her personal belonging.」

「Confused. Is their company being stingy like this? The configuration is not even on par with an idol?」

Wen Li was also confused.

She looked at the watch on Xu Xingyue's left wrist, which was almost identical to the one she had. If it wasn't for the fact that the watch on her hand was a gift from Song Yan, she would have really thought that she and Xu Xingyue had some telepathic connection, even buying the same style of watch.