The camera focused on Song Ying.
The filming location was in Ningcheng, where the ultraviolet rays were strong, so she wore sunglasses. Her oversized long-sleeved white shirt was tucked into her waist, paired with light blue slim-fit jeans and sneakers. Her slender waist and curvy hips, along with her long, slender, and straight legs, were accentuated.
Simple, elegant, yet showcasing her figure to its fullest advantage.
[Putting aside her personality, Song Ying’s figure and looks are still top-tier among female celebrities.]
[One of the few child stars who didn’t just age well but became even more stunning. She could be the masterpiece of Nuwa’s graduation project.]
[Her legs aren’t just legs—they’re the spring waters of the Seine, absolutely killing me.]
Before netizens could finish gushing over her, the camera cut to the side.
The man who followed Song Ying out of the car also wore sunglasses, but his floral shirt, unshaven face, and burly build gave off a vibe that was, to put it mildly, hard to describe.
At that moment, the man was saying something to Song Ying before retrieving her luggage from the trunk.
“Is this ‘hunk’ really Song Ying’s boyfriend?”
Zhou Ruoyu couldn’t help but laugh, nudging Jiang Yuyao with her elbow and giving her a gleeful look. “This level of handsomeness is truly something your Shen, the film emperor, can’t compete with.”
Jiang Yuyao’s anxious heart finally settled at that moment.
Originally, based on the blurred photo of Song Ying’s boyfriend, she thought he must be decent-looking—at the very least, those drowsy fox-like eyes seemed to pierce through the screen and into one’s heart.
But now, seeing him in person, she realized the netizens were right.
Blindly praising him was just stubborn denial.
However, as a seasoned actress, even if she was overjoyed inside, Jiang Yuyao kept her composure and even kindly reminded Zhou Ruoyu.
“Ruoyu, you shouldn’t say things like that. Beauty is subjective, and there’s no single standard for it.”
“But shouldn’t the standard for ugliness be the same?” Zhou Ruoyu hissed through gritted teeth. “I can’t just lie with my eyes wide open, can I?”
She thought that by not mouthing the words, the audience wouldn’t hear, but her thinly veiled mockery still clearly reached the netizens’ ears.
[Zhou Ruoyu may pride herself on being outspoken, but attacking someone’s appearance is a bit too much, isn’t it?]
[Are you a Song Ying fan? If the idol is blind, are the fans blind too?]
[Ruoyu is just speaking for all of us online, okay? If Song Ying hadn’t bragged about her boyfriend being handsome and even dared to compare him to Shen, the film emperor, would everyone be criticizing his looks?]
[Exactly. Just compare him to Da Meng. Knowing one’s limits is a virtue, and isn’t that quite endearing?]
Da Meng was Sweet Bean’s boyfriend. True to his name, he was burly and average-looking—the kind of ordinary person you’d lose in a crowd.
The two gained popularity through their couple videos not because of their looks but because of their fun personalities. Combined with their charming interactions on the show, even though Da Meng wasn’t conventionally attractive, many people still liked him.
With this comparison, even Song Ying’s fans who had initially defended her fell silent.
If anyone was to blame, it was their idol for blowing things out of proportion.
There was no way to salvage it now.
As they spoke, the group had already reached the entrance. As usual, they welcomed the new guests.
“Hello, Song Ying. Welcome to you and your boyfriend.”
Jiang Yuyao walked at the front, greeting Song Ying proactively. Her smiling gaze fell on the man beside her, appearing both poised and gracious.
But she was waiting for Song Ying to embarrass herself.
“Um, sorry, I’m a staff member, not Miss Song’s boyfriend,” the man beside her quickly clarified, waving his hands.Jiang Yuyao: ?
Zhou Ruoyu: ?
The camera pans across the expressions of each guest—some astonished, some shocked, and others like Sweet Bean, who let out a sigh of relief—whew, she’s been a fan of Song Ying since childhood!
The reactions online were much the same.
【Ugh, all just scripted drama!】
【The show’s producers are teasing us again】
【I knew it—there’s no way a beauty like her could be that blind】
In the control room, the Director was quite pleased with the effect.
According to the original plan, Song Ying was supposed to appear with her boyfriend, but the moment he saw Song Ying’s partner, years of experience in the industry told him he had to build up the suspense!
“Because we need Song Ying’s boyfriend to help film a short clip, he’ll be arriving a little later~”
The Director’s voice echoed from the show’s loudspeaker nearby, the last word curling with a playful lilt.
After thanking the staff member who helped with her luggage, Song Ying took off her sunglasses, tossed her hair lightly, and extended her hand to Jiang Yuyao with a smile, her sparrow-like eyes lifting slightly.
“Thank you, Miss Jiang. It’s nice to see you again.”
Her radiant energy, confident smile, and skin as smooth as a peeled egg—Song Ying was in top form today.
She had only applied light makeup, yet her exquisite features once again struck Jiang Yuyao, as if transporting her back to the first time they met on set, when she had been utterly overshadowed by Song Ying’s beauty.
Most importantly, Song Ying seemed even more captivating now than she was back then.
It was an aura that radiated from within, something no amount of makeup could replicate.
The criticism online seemed to have left no mark on her at all.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit someone who’s smiling. Though Jiang Yuyao couldn’t muster a genuine smile in her heart, the corners of her lips curved into a practiced, professional grin.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Their hands met in a light shake, like two beasts of prey finally facing off head-on.
【Is it just me, or did I just sense a flurry of Sword Shadows in that moment?】
【It’s not just you! In this showdown between beauties, Song Ying—a newcomer—held her ground completely against Jiang Yuyao, who just won Best Actress!】
【I don’t care about awards; I’m just here for the beauty showdown. This round, Song Ying’s looks totally outshine Jiang Yuyao’s!】
Ever since Que Ge, debates about their looks had been endless, but whether on-screen or off, the two had never appeared side by side.
With different makeup, lighting, and editing, the arguments never reached a conclusion.
But now, things were different.
【Anyone with eyes can see Song Ying is prettier, right?】
#SongYingCelestialBeauty
The hashtag quickly climbed the trending charts, racing higher and higher.
On camera, after shaking hands with Jiang Yuyao, Song Ying extended the same courtesy to Zhou Ruoyu and Sweet Bean in turn.
Zhou Ruoyu was reluctant, pulling her hand back the moment they touched and even wiping it on her clothes behind her back, as if she’d touched something dirty.
Sweet Bean, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She clasped Song Ying’s hands tightly, shaking them uncontrollably with excitement, her eyes gleaming as she stared at her.
“Teacher Song, I’m Sweet Bean. I grew up watching your dramas, and you’re a million times more beautiful in person than on screen!”
“Mom, I’ve made it—I actually got to hold Teacher Song’s hand! It’s so soft and smooth… I don’t want to let go…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t resist stroking Song Ying’s hand again and again, almost like she was taking advantage of the moment.
Song Ying’s lips twitched slightly.Before she arrived, she had watched the replays and felt that the only normal girl who wasn’t overly affected was Sweet Bean.
After realizing she couldn’t fit into Jiang Yuyao and Zhou Ruoyu’s little clique, the girl didn’t force herself to suck up to them. When ignored, she didn’t deliberately try to draw attention to herself either. It seemed like she was just here on the show for a publicly funded vacation with her boyfriend.
She conveyed joy to the audience without being subservient or arrogant.
But now, this situation…
[LOL, Song Ying’s inner monologue: Help, where did this little pervert come from?]
[Sweety’s true colors are finally showing, hahaha. Men are all the same whether they’re handsome or ugly, only beautiful women are the real deal.]
[That’s exactly how I look when I see a beauty and can’t move my feet, okay?]
Of course, Sweet Bean wasn’t the only one stunned by Song Ying.
Among the male guests, especially Shen Linzhou, the look he gave Song Ying was somewhat meaningful.
Back when they were filming together, he had already taken a liking to Song Ying. After not seeing her for half a year, he hadn’t expected her to be even more captivating than before.
When Song Ying posted that Weibo update, his competitive drive as a man was instantly ignited.
Having been in the industry for ten years, the 29-year-old had already won two Best Actor awards. With his solid acting skills and exceptional looks, there had never been a female co-star who didn’t develop feelings for him.
Song Ying was the exception.
Shen Linzhou stood there, waiting for Song Ying to come over and shake his hand. Instead, Song Ying didn’t even glance at him, merely nodding in the direction of the male guests and saying, “Hello, teachers,” before moving on.
“Teacher Song Ying, let me take you to put your things away first?” Sweet Bean, upon seeing Song Ying, even forgot about her boyfriend.
“Okay, thank you. But just call me Song Ying.”
“Calling you by your name feels too distant. How about I call you Sister Ying?”
“Either is fine.”
“Then let’s go, Sister Ying!”
Sweet Bean bounced along as she led Song Ying to the accommodation area. She had initially thought about helping Song Ying with her luggage, but Song Ying politely declined, “It’s fine, I can manage on my own.”
According to the show’s arrangements, the female guests shared one room, and the male guests another. Song Ying’s spot had already been assigned.
Watching Song Ying and Sweet Bean leave, Zhou Ruoyu curled her lips, “Yuyao, is that little internet celebrity deliberately trying to annoy you? She knows you and Song Ying don’t get along, yet she’s acting so enthusiastic. How scheming.”
“Ruoyu, don’t say that,” Jiang Yuyao replied calmly.
They had been careless before.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Zhou Ruoyu had been too harsh on Sweet Bean earlier, pushing her toward Song Ying.
In that case, why not try to win her over?
Wouldn’t she be flattered by the goodwill of a Best Actress winner?
“It’s too hot outside. Let’s go in too.” The male guests had already gone inside, so Jiang Yuyao prepared to enter as well.
Just then, another car engine roared, and soon, a vehicle stopped by the roadside not far from Jiang Yuyao.
Under the sunlight, the car door opened, and a tall figure stepped out from the back seat.
His chestnut short hair shimmered with golden highlights in the sun. Sunglasses covered half his face, but even with just the sharp nose, thin lips, and perfect jawline visible, it was enough to leave people in awe.
Beneath his cool, edgy jacket and jeans, he wore a simple white inner layer, with an accessory necklace hanging on his chest. His long legs and slender waist didn’t appear frail; in fact, the outline of muscles could faintly be seen beneath his clothes.
Sunny, arrogant, and brimming with wild vitality.
Zhou Ruoyu was the first to react, “Yuyao, that guy… is so cool!”As he spoke, the young man had already casually picked up the luggage from the trunk and walked over.
Jiang Yuyao almost instinctively moved forward. After watching for a moment, she couldn’t hold back her surprise just as he was about to reach her side.
“You… you’re Qin Shu? Long time no see!”
“?”
Qin Shu hadn’t expected anyone to recognize him. He paused and looked at Jiang Yuyao.
Taking off his sunglasses, his naturally captivating fox-like eyes, tempered by his unique aura, lost their seductive charm and instead took on a fierce, wolf-like wildness. He narrowed them slightly, scrutinizing her. “You are?”
His voice was slightly low, but not the traditionally mature, deep bass. It carried a magnetic quality tinged with youthful energy and a hint of rebellious flair.
Wild yet roguish, yet not at all annoying—truly unique.
[Holy shit, a top-tier hottie! Wild looks, wild voice—I’m instantly pregnant with 104 babies!]
[Baojuan, did his voice come with a price tag?]
[Breath-takingly handsome! Help, is this even a real person?]
[Yuyao seems to know this guy! As expected, beautiful women are surrounded by handsome men. Could this be a surprise from the show for Yuyao? Last week, they invited the childhood friend of actor Shen.]
However, not everyone was oblivious. Soon, someone mocked.
[Didn’t you see the guy doesn’t even recognize Jiang Yuyao? I think he might be Song Ying’s boyfriend!]
[Wake up, Song Ying fans! Isn’t her boyfriend filming a short? How could he get here so fast? Stop flattering yourselves.]
On camera, hearing the words “You are,” Jiang Yuyao’s expression stiffened slightly.
Over the past two years, she had risen to become a top-tier actress, starring in numerous dramas, and her advertisements were plastered everywhere. How could anyone not recognize her?
But she quickly composed herself, wearing a gentle and charming smile.
“I’m a friend of Lan Yan. We met last year at the Xu family.”
Qin Shu truly had no recollection of Jiang Yuyao. As for Xu Lanyan—the niece of his second uncle’s wife, the eldest daughter of the Xu family.
Ever since he returned to the country, his second uncle had been trying to set him up with Xu Lanyan. Just a few days ago, when he and Song Ying visited the old mansion, his second uncle had even criticized him for not marrying her.
Qin Shu’s expression suddenly turned cold, his voice growing even frostier.
“Sorry, no memory of it.”