Lu Ren felt a hundred thousand grass-mud horses stampeding through his mind.
Never mind Huang Ying’s face, which was as black as the bottom of a pot—right now, he was completely dumbfounded, so much so that he even forgot to get off Yin Beilin.
Seeing Yin Beilin and Lu Ren in such a state, Huang Ying felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.
“If you two insist on getting together, fine!” She slammed the door shut, her patience finally snapping. “But how could you do this kind of thing in a place like this?”
“Please, can’t you two show some restraint?!” Huang Ying pointed at Lu Ren’s red dress, gritting her teeth. “A famous actor doing a cross-dressing play in the crew? Do you think that’s going to sound good if it gets out?!”
Cross-dressing… play…?
Lu Ren’s ears instantly turned scorching hot!
“No!!” Lu Ren hurriedly tried to get down from Yin Beilin. “Um, Ying-jie, let me explain, this outfit was required by the crew… uh…”
…Yin Beilin wouldn’t let him down.
His calf was easily held fast by one of Yin Beilin’s hands.
Lu Ren had been sitting almost entirely in the crook of Yin Beilin’s arm. When he moved, the suddenness startled him, and he instinctively grabbed Yin Beilin’s shoulder.
The next second, the male lead chuckled softly.
“You’re wearing high heels,” Yin Beilin said, his tone leisurely yet leaving no room for argument. “It’s probably better if I put you down.”
Huang Ying: “…”
Lu Ren’s face flushed red again. Before he could even say it wasn’t necessary—Yin Beilin’s other hand had already slipped under the crook of his leg, leaning down to lift him and set him on his feet.
Only after confirming he was standing steadily did Yin Beilin let go.
The lingering warmth of Yin Beilin’s palm seemed to remain on his calf, cool and refreshing.
Now, it wasn’t just his ears burning; Lu Ren’s entire face felt like it was running a high fever.
Lu Ren, a straight man who had never been held by another man like this, was crimson-faced and stammering, not knowing what to say.
After hesitating for two seconds, just as he was about to squeeze out a “thank you,” Lu Ren couldn’t help but curse, “Holy shit!”
His ankle had been grasped by Yin Beilin’s long, slender hand.
“Bro… Bro, I can do it myself…”
He barely managed to get those two words out.
In that same position, Yin Beilin had already finished tying the straps of his black single-band high heels.
Lu Ren: “…”
Across from them, Huang Ying’s expression was nothing short of spectacular.
Lu Ren, the straight man, lowered his head in shame, feeling like his face was hot enough to fry a pancake.
Among everyone there, only Yin Beilin remained perfectly composed.
As he stood up, he even helped Lu Ren smooth out his clothes.
Lu Ren: “…”
…*What the hell is happening?*
Lu Ren’s mind was a complete blur. *Could it be that I didn’t transmigrate into The Emperor’s Journey, but into some fanfic set in the same world?*
While Lu Ren was spiraling, Huang Ying, who was standing across from him, wasn’t doing much better.
She glanced at Lu Ren, who looked utterly mortified, as if they’d just been caught in a scandalous tryst. Then she looked at Yin Beilin, who remained completely unruffled.
She took a deep breath.
She managed to stay calm for exactly one second before the image of Yin Beilin kneeling to put on Lu Ren’s shoes flashed through her mind again.
Huang Ying’s face went numb. She took a second, deeper breath.
It took three full deep breaths before she finally regained her composure.
“Yin Beilin, Luo Jiuge is still outside visiting the set, and the reporters are waiting. Since you’re ready, get out here. Now.”
“As for you, Mr. Lu—” Huang Ying’s face darkened. “Please change out of that dress immediately.”
Being singled out made Lu Ren’s face flush an even deeper shade of red.
Seeing him like that, Huang Ying’s fury simmered, but she couldn’t bring herself to blame him. Even a blind person could see that Yin Beilin was the one who had caused all this trouble.
*Unbelievable.*
“Yin Beilin has a change of clothes,” Huang Ying said, her tone stiff. “Get ready in his dressing room before you come out. Don’t let anyone else see you in that dress and get the wrong idea.”
Meanwhile,
Luo Jiuge was waiting in the reception room. A staff member from the *Blade* crew thoughtfully brought her some tea.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Luo Jiuge’s face. She tucked her hair behind her ear and stood up, composing her expression before gracefully walking over to open the door.
But the person outside wasn’t who she had expected.
It was a young girl.
Her large, bright eyes curved into a pure and sweet smile. “Teacher Luo, I’m a fan of yours. I just wanted to come and say hello.”
Beside her, a personal assistant also smiled at Luo Jiuge upon hearing this.
Luo Jiuge paused for only a moment. The next second, a faint smile touched her glamorous face. “I know. You’re Mengmeng, right?”
Rao Mengmeng immediately exclaimed in delight, “I’m so honored! Teacher Luo actually knows me!”
She beamed with a sweet smile.
Luo Jiuge’s smile remained faint. *How could she be my fan?* she scoffed inwardly. *I know exactly how bad my acting is.*
*She’s just trying to piggyback on the press photos from this set visit.*
The crew of *Blade* had already wrapped for the day. This newcomer had clearly just finished her makeup before heading over.
Her long, straight black hair framed her face with a few loose strands tucked behind her ear. Her makeup was a “no-makeup” look—natural and effortless, yet meticulously designed to contrast with her own glamorous style. She had clearly put a lot of thought into this “pure and elegant” persona.
Luo Jiuge shrugged inwardly.
…But it didn’t matter.
Rao Mengmeng probably didn’t know that she was also a guest on *Fantasy Couple*, but Luo Jiuge knew that Rao Mengmeng had been invited to the show. This visit was ostensibly a favor to Yin Beilin regarding the trending search about his “same-sex” chemistry, but Luo Jiuge had other motives for seeking him out this time.
The first episode of *Fantasy Couple* was set to film in a week. By warming up her chemistry with Yin Beilin ahead of time, she would be better positioned to create a buzz. The show’s producers would surely give her and Yin Beilin more screen time.
Luo Jiuge’s red lips curved into a smirk. She refused to believe otherwise. After so much close contact, even the most glacial of men like Yin Beilin would surely fall at her feet!
As Rao Mengmeng offered Luo Jiuge a series of half-hearted compliments, she was also discreetly sizing her up.
Luo Jiuge was a Best Actress winner, but her title was far from solid. Rao Mengmeng had seen her work and, frankly, considered her acting to be merely above average at best.
Luo Jiuge had only won the Golden Branch Award last year because the timing was perfect, the circumstances were favorable, and—most importantly—Yin Beilin was involved.
*After all, it was just one Best Actress award… and only from the Golden Branch…*
Rao Mengmeng curled her lip. *It’s just a minor domestic award. If Yin Beilin hadn’t won the Golden Lion Award overseas, the Golden Branch wouldn’t have ridden his coattails to grant Luo Jiuge the title.*
*What does that even count for?*
*She’s just pretty.*
Up close, however, Luo Jiuge was undeniably stunning. As a woman, Rao Mengmeng had to admit she was captivated by such beauty.
*But beauty is one thing,* Rao Mengmeng thought critically, *she lacks a certain spark.*
*If I had to say, Lu Ren in drag actually isn’t that much worse—*
*Pah!*
At the thought, Rao Mengmeng’s face turned a sickly shade of green.
*No matter how you look at it, Luo Jiuge is still far superior to Lu Ren!*
With this realization, Rao Mengmeng’s expression immediately softened, and she looked at Luo Jiuge with newfound sincerity.
Luo Jiuge, seeing Rao Mengmeng’s expression shift several times in just a few seconds, found herself rather puzzled.
Just then, there was another knock at the door.
Luo Jiuge and Rao Mengmeng both paused, their gazes instinctively drawn to the entrance.
*Creak—*
The door swung open, and Huang Ying walked in.
Luo Jiuge’s expression froze for a moment. The next second, her delicate brows twitched almost imperceptibly as she glanced at Huang Ying in slight surprise.
*…It felt like Huang Ying was suppressing some anger?*
Luo Jiuge didn’t dwell on her for long, though.
Yin Beilin had arrived.
At the sight of him, both Luo Jiuge’s and Rao Mengmeng’s eyes lit up in unison.
Luo Jiuge tilted her head, a charmingly playful pout on her lips as she teased, “Beilin, you really are a busy man. You sure keep us waiting.”
Yin Beilin nodded. “Sister Luo.”
Luo Jiuge’s smile stiffened slightly. “Mm,” she replied.
Rao Mengmeng chuckled inwardly. The next moment, she composed herself and stepped forward. Just as she was about to greet Yin Beilin with a smile—”Old Yin—”
The rest of the word *Master* choked in her throat.
Yin Beilin took two steps forward, and the person behind him finally came into view.