Volume 1 Chapter 22: Song Jingmian’s Stunning Beauty
Noticing the man’s somewhat dejected tone, Song Jingmian quickly turned around.
“What’s wrong?”
She could probably guess why he was acting this way.
He simply kept nuzzling against her neck like an obedient child, not saying a word.
“You know I’m about to go record a variety show, don’t you?” she asked bluntly.
He still didn’t speak, only tightening his grip around her waist. After a long while, he finally gave a slight nod.
“I don’t want you to go,” he murmured, his voice low and pitiful.
Song Jingmian’s heart softened completely. She turned and hugged him, leaning into his embrace. “It’ll only take about two days. When I come back, I’ll have plenty of time to spend with you.”
He fell silent again.
“Alright,” Song Jingmian said with a hint of amusement, teasing him, “Are you a love-struck fool? So clingy?”
“Love-struck fool?” he repeated softly, as if not fully understanding the meaning of the term.
Song Jingmian chuckled. “It means someone who thinks about love all day and nothing else.”
The man pondered for a moment before replying, “If that’s the definition, then I guess I am a love-struck fool.”
Song Jingmian: “…”
No need to be so honest.
Since it was confirmed that she would be recording the variety show first, Song Jingmian had been cramming on variety shows lately.
The program team hadn’t announced the guests yet—it wasn’t time.
But two days later, she was surprised to find that among the regular guests was Bai Sisi.
Bai Sisi had just signed with a talent agency this year. Relying on her family’s resources, she had landed leading roles in a few low-budget web dramas and a supporting role in a high-budget web series.
Song Jingmian had watched them—her acting wasn’t great, but her marketing was impressive. Over the past year, she had become a rising star, gaining quite a bit of popularity.
Thinking about Bai Sisi’s cringe-inducing acting skills, Song Jingmian couldn’t help but sigh.
Truly, acting skills are only visible to fans. Were they afraid their fans would be so embarrassed they’d dig out a luxurious villa, so they’re being considerate and protecting them?
After the production team of Let’s Travel released the information about the regular guests, the comment section exploded with excitement.
The main guests this time included the power couple, actor Guo Yuxuan and actress Xiao Nan, the rising star Pucheng, the talented actor Cheng Ju, the new rising starlet Song Mingyan, and then there were her and Bai Sisi.
This lineup was something netizens hadn’t expected. Aside from the two of them, everyone else either had significant influence in the entertainment industry or was currently at the peak of their popularity.
To be precise, aside from her, since she had been sidelined for so many years, times had changed, and it was unclear how many people still remembered her.
【Holy crap!!! I really didn’t expect this lineup! There were rumors that the power couple would join this season, but I thought it was fake!!】
【Ahhhh finally seeing my baby Sisi’s variety show debut! Taking my girl home with me!】
【Holy crap!!! I love this lineup! It’s absolutely amazing! (screaming) (twisting) (darkness) (crawling) (writhing) (hoarse)】
【Production team, you’re really killing it! You even invited the participants from last season’s voting poll. Being so responsive to the audience, are you trying to get yourself killed?】
【If you don’t make money with this, who will?!】
【By the way, who is this Song Jingmian at the end? Never heard of her.】
【Upstairs, this lady played the second female lead in Home. She was a goddess back then!!】
…
Perhaps due to last year’s highlights, this year’s lineup announcement received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
After all, there aren’t many production teams left that actually listen to the audience and carefully select their guests.
After settling things with Bo Jingci, she had to rush to City A to film the variety show.
Before leaving, Bo Jingci was reluctant to let her go. Song Jingmian knew that despite his cold and aloof exterior, he was actually clingy toward her, as if he couldn’t survive even half a second without her.
“Mianmian…”
Perhaps influenced by the mood of parting, Song Jingmian also felt a bit reluctant. But work came first. She stood on her tiptoes and patted his head, comforting him, “Be good and wait for me at home.”
Each episode only required two or three days of filming, and there were twelve episodes in total. Although the production team was using a live-streaming format, they would later edit some clips to air as bonus content.
Just as Song Jingmian was about to leave with her suitcase, Bo Jingci noticed her eager expression, looking forward to filming the variety show, and he couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.
Then, seeing her turn away without hesitation, he frowned slightly, immediately took her hand in a domineering manner, pulled her into his arms, cupped her face with both hands, and kissed her lips almost possessively.
She whimpered a few times, unable to withstand his intense onslaught, and tried to break free. But Bo Jingci refused to let her have her way, instead sweeping over her with even more dominance, claiming every trace of her.
A long while later, he finally released her, his voice hoarse and strained. “You heartless little thing, aren’t you going to miss me at all?”
She was also panting slightly, her voice raspy from the kiss. “How could I not?”
“You could,” he said, gripping her chin again and leaning down to gently peck her lips. Unlike the earlier violence, this kiss was tender and lingering.
Compared to the ferocity of before, this kiss, filled with genuine affection, made it easier for her heart to soften. Song Jingmian felt as though she had melted into a puddle of water.
“Mianmian…” His voice was filled with reluctance, but he knew that if he didn’t let her go, their relationship would revert to its previous icy state.
Deep down, he was unwilling a thousand times over, but he had to respect her choices.
“Remember to miss me.”
Dazed from the kiss, Song Jingmian could only nod vaguely.
Upon arriving in City A, as soon as Song Jingmian stepped out of the car, she noticed several cameras set up around her.
Song Jingmian: “…”
Well, the production team really knew how to be unpredictable. They had already started filming the moment she stepped out of the car, and she hadn’t been notified beforehand.
It seemed everyone was in the same boat. The production team clearly wanted to stir things up. None of the guests had communicated privately beforehand, all to capture the awkward and dramatic moments of their first meeting.
Guessing the production team’s intentions, Song Jingmian sighed inwardly.
But outwardly, she remained calm and composed.
However, she wasn’t entirely sure if the live stream had already started. To be safe, she pulled her suitcase along and waved to the cameramen before walking up to the camera, her face filling the frame.
“Hello, everyone! I’m Song Jingmian.”
After saying this, she smiled warmly.
At best, she was still a newcomer with not many fans. Her Weibo account had just over a million followers, mostly accumulated during the filming of Home, so her fanbase wasn’t particularly active. The director also gave her relatively few shots.
In contrast, the other guests’ appearances were met with explosive popularity, their fans flooding the screen with comments until their faces were almost invisible. On her end, there were only a few scattered viewers, and the comments were sparse.
To make the livestream more intuitive, the program team opted for multiple camera angles running simultaneously. Viewers could see everyone’s situation, but they could also choose to focus on a specific person if they wished.
After the livestream ended, the footage would be edited together, with a bonus clip added.
However, some found it novel and decided to check out Song Jingmian’s segment.
Little did they expect that upon entering, they would be hit with a stunning visual impact.
She appeared to be bare-faced, with no beauty filters or effects applied to the livestream. Her skin looked flawless and delicate, so high-definition that even pores were visible.
Yet her complexion was surprisingly flawless. Without makeup, her skin was as fair as a peeled egg, and when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, seemingly sparkling with stars.
The corners of her eyes were slightly elongated, giving her smile a hint of allure, but a faint dimple at the corner of her mouth softened that charm, making her appear both innocent and captivating.
Most viewers had clicked in casually, never expecting to encounter such a stunning beauty.
Those who entered were left in awe, and the comments section exploded with excitement. In this internet era, to some extent, it truly is a world where “looks matter.”
Comments flooded the screen, dozens of times more than before, all from viewers who had come to admire the beauty.
【Ahhhhhh I just casually clicked and got hit with this visual feast!!! No warning at all, her smile went straight to my heart!!】
【Ahhhhhh she’s bare-faced, everyone, she’s bare-faced, can you believe it?!】
【One minute, I need all the information about this woman!!】
【Grandma!! I finally saw the fairy you always talked about!!】