Chinese entertainment: Top stars have no holidays

Chapter 100 Sister Xue, Who Came to My Door

Over the past two weeks, Li Yitong herself has felt that she has become somewhat awkward.

She herself was almost unrecognizable, so anxious and confused.

She felt she had been tricked, but had no proof.

During the early days of filming "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", she and Jiang Bai were definitely the most compatible pair on set.

Upon joining the film crew, they quickly became acquainted.

In their spare time, they would get together to discuss the script, refine the lines, and analyze the characters' emotions. After work, they would occasionally chat about interesting things that happened during filming and share their daily hobbies. They got along very relaxed and comfortable with each other.

Unbeknownst to her, Li Yitong had already let down her guard around this colleague, and a quiet affection for her had quietly grown in her heart without her even realizing it.

At first, she only thought it was an appreciation of outstanding colleagues and an affirmation of top-notch professional attitude, and never thought about it as a romantic relationship.

She kept telling herself that it was normal for co-stars to develop feelings for each other in the entertainment industry, and that it was just an illusion caused by getting too immersed in the role and empathizing with the character.

Once filming wraps up and you're no longer in the role, this lingering feeling will naturally fade away.

But as filming progressed and she watched Jiang Bai and Chen Duling grow closer and become inseparable, she could no longer maintain the facade of inner peace she had been trying to maintain.

She found it hard to accept that another girl in the crew was close to Jiang Bai.

The bitterness and awkwardness surging in my heart could no longer be suppressed.

Jiang Bai, in particular, always liked to tease Chen Duling on purpose on set.

A few lighthearted teasing words were enough to make the slow-to-warm-up and shy Chen Duling's ears turn red instantly, her eyes slightly irritated, and her soft rebuttal was incredibly charming.

During breaks from filming, the two often get together to chat, joke, and talk about their gaming experiences after finishing work the previous day, reviewing their results.

After work, they would always team up to play games together, showing great teamwork and getting along well.

She couldn't get a word in edgewise about any of these things; she didn't understand anything about minion waves, Garen, Zac, or Ziggs.

The casual chats and on-set interactions that were originally just between her and Jiang Bai have now all been replaced by someone else.

Every time Li Yitong saw the two laughing and joking in the corner, her heart felt like it was being gently blocked by something.

A mix of emotions—bitterness, awkwardness, and disappointment—were intertwined.

She strongly suspected that she had been set up, and that Jiang Bai was doing this on purpose to manipulate her emotions.

Li Yitong kept telling herself rationally.

She and Jiang Bai were just co-stars and colleagues, and there was nothing special between them. It was his freedom to spend time with whomever he wanted, play games with, or get close to anyone. She couldn't overthink it, or she would fall into a trap.

But emotions are never controlled by reason.

The more you restrain yourself, the more you care.

The more I try to convince myself to stay calm, the stronger the awkwardness in my heart becomes.

So, she began to subconsciously distance herself from Jiang Bai.

I no longer approach him to strike up a conversation, no longer initiate discussions with him, and no longer chat with him in my spare time.

When we meet, we simply nod politely and maintain a proper distance from each other as colleagues.

She tried to use this deliberate distance to cool down the feelings that were quietly growing in her heart, to force herself back to her senses, to correct her role as a colleague, and to stop this inappropriate attraction.

The more distant they became, the more she cared.

The more you restrain yourself, the clearer your feelings of liking someone become.

She clearly sensed that she had truly fallen for him.

It wasn't a misperception from being immersed in the role; it was a complete attraction to the person "Jiang Bai."

I admire his focus and dedication when filming, his gentle and insightful nature, his witty and composed personality, and his confidence stemming from his exceptional talent.

She tossed and turned countless times at night, struggling with her inner turmoil.

She knew all too well that relationships in the entertainment industry were the most ephemeral, fragile, and difficult to maintain.

Developing feelings for someone during filming is too taboo. If not handled properly, it can not only be embarrassing and awkward, but also affect the filming schedule of the entire series and cause unnecessary public opinion storms.

Especially after experiencing the uproar online following Lu Han's official announcement of her scandal, it served as a wake-up call for her.

Reason repeatedly advised her to cut her losses, stop there, quietly hide her feelings, finish filming the series peacefully, and then leave the production team separately without any further developments—that would be the best ending.

But the emotions in my heart were screaming wildly, refusing to compromise.

She was unwilling to deliberately distance herself from him and become like strangers.

I am unwilling to let this rare feeling of excitement fade away because of my own timidity.

In just half a month, Li Yitong was torn between herself, suppressing her feelings, and struggling with fear and hesitation.

Watching the distance between herself and Jiang Bai grow further and further, and seeing the awkward atmosphere gradually growing between them, she finally figured it out tonight.

If you like something, you like it. There's no need to hide it or deliberately avoid it.

At the very least, she should be honest about her feelings.

Just as evening was falling, the crew members were chatting idly when they mentioned that Jiang Bai had already finished filming "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Two custom-made OSTs.

This news gave Li Yitong, who had been struggling with this for a long time, a perfectly timed and flawless excuse.

As night deepened, the entire hotel fell completely silent, the corridors were deserted, and most of the film crew members had already gone to bed.

Li Yitong hesitated repeatedly in the room, mustered her courage again and again, and finally took a deep breath and walked out of the room.

She stopped outside Jiang Bai's door, raised her hand in mid-air, hesitated for a long time, and then gently knocked on the door.

And so, this is what Jiang Bai saw.

"I heard you've finished writing two OSTs for our drama?"

"I'm really curious, could I hear the full version first?"

"I'm the female lead, I should be entitled to some special privileges, right?"

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze slightly.

Jiang Bai looked at the uneasy look in her eyes and the relaxed demeanor she was trying to project, and instantly understood.

Looking at Li Yitong, who had taken the initiative to break the deadlock and come to him, Jiang Bai did not refuse. He simply nodded slightly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

He subconsciously glanced up and down the empty, quiet corridor, making sure there was no one around and no paparazzi in sight, before stepping aside and saying softly, "Come in."

As soon as the person entered the room, Jiang Bai gently closed the door behind him, walked to the French windows, and pulled the heavy blackout curtains shut completely.

For celebrities to be alone in a room late at night is already a major taboo in the entertainment industry, and it is the easiest place to breed unfounded rumors.

Who knows if there are paparazzi outside with telephoto lenses staking out the place?

If Li Yitong were to be photographed in her room, it would be like mud falling into her pants—even if it wasn't shit, it would still look like shit.

We just witnessed Lu Han announcing his relationship, which led to a mass exodus of fans.

Jiang Bai's vigilance was at an unprecedented level, allowing no room for the slightest negligence.

After drawing the curtains tightly to block out any possibility of outside prying eyes, Jiang Bai turned to face Li Yitong.

He didn't ask any further questions, nor did he deliberately mention the awkward distance between the two of them during this period.

He simply picked up where she left off, his tone relaxed and natural: "The arrangement isn't quite finished yet, but it's fine for simple singing and playing. Do you want to listen?"

After saying that, he bent down and picked up the guitar next to the sofa. He skillfully adjusted his posture, gently plucked the strings with his fingertips, tried two notes, looked up at Li Yitong who was standing quietly in front of him, and said softly, "Both of them are written to fit the plot. Listen to them and see if they fit our drama."

As Jiang Bai finished speaking, a gentle guitar melody flowed out.

The first thing to play was the prelude to "I Want to See You, I Want to See You, I Want to See You".

When love is left as a relic, etched into memories with regret, and longed for for centuries, that is what makes it unforgettable.

Jiang Bai has a clear and pure voice with a strong sense of empathy. She sings every lyric with deep emotion, which is a great advantage for an actor. She can express emotions through lines and tone of voice.

Li Yitong, who was standing still and listening quietly, was instantly drawn into the story.

The song ended, but the lingering melody still resonated.

Before Li Yitong could react, Jiang Bai's fingertips shifted the melody, and the rhythm gradually changed.

The prelude to "Exchange the Rest of Our Lives" slowly begins, adding a touch of regret and a sense of destiny.

Compared to the previous song's passionate and straightforward tone, this song's lyrics are more delicate; simply put, the lyrics are better written.

Coincidentally, the lyrics of this song are like Lin Beixing's inner monologue, a sense of relief and regret after countless cycles of time and space.

"Exchange our remaining lives, and we will find ourselves who are not who we are, experiencing both joy and sorrow. After the cloudy days, there will always be a clear sky to sustain us."

"If, after many twists and turns, the ending remains the same—unremarkable—then we can say we've done justice to this union and separation."

A gentle, deep voice, paired with delicate and soothing guitar melodies, flows slowly through the quiet room, touching the softest part of the heart.

At this moment, Li Yitong completely adopted Lin Beixing's perspective.

She suddenly understood the deeper meaning of the song and the core of Jiang Bai's creation with unparalleled clarity.

Lin Beixing travels through time and space time and time again, reversing fate time and time again, abandoning his originally stable life and venturing into the unknown cycle of reincarnation, all in order to exchange a fulfilling life for Zhang Wansen.

Redeem Zhang Wansen, who silently loved her his whole life, endured his whole life, and sacrificed his whole life.

All the temporal and spatial misalignments, all the regrets and missed opportunities, all the cyclical journeys, are all for the sake of exchanging a mutual fulfillment.

It is to make up for all the debts and regrets from the previous life.

This song is not just a simple OST for the drama; it is clearly Lin Beixing's most authentic inner monologue and the most accurate emotional annotation of the entire drama.

Li Yitong, who is already very good at empathizing with characters, felt her heart race wildly as she watched Jiang Bai's gentle and affectionate singing.

Her heart was pounding with excitement, completely overwhelming all her reason and restraint.

The feelings of affection that had been hidden deep in my heart and suppressed for so long finally burst forth at this moment, and could no longer be contained.

She looked up at Jiang Bai, who was focused on playing and singing, the warm yellow light falling on his well-defined profile.

It was as if he radiated a gentle yet dazzling light.

At this moment, the way she looked at Jiang Bai completely changed.

They couldn't hide their excitement; their emotions were so intense they were almost overflowing.

Finally, the last melody slowly faded away, its lingering sound dissipating in the quiet room.

Jiang Bai put down his guitar, gently raised his eyes, and was about to ask her how she felt.

The next instant, a slender figure suddenly pounced.

Li Yitong pounced on Jiang Bai like a tiger, throwing herself straight into his arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder, her grip tight, tinged with a hint of panic.

A touch of passion, a touch of do-or-die courage.

A warm, soft touch suddenly came close, and a faint fragrance lingered around his nose, causing Jiang Bai to flinch slightly.

The girl in his arms exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly, "It's so beautiful!"

"You are so talented. These two songs are so fitting; they are the very soul of our show."

"Especially 'Exchange of Lifetimes,' it's practically Lin Beixing's own monologue."

The warm breath tickled Jiang Bai's neck, making him feel a little itchy and restless.

After praising her, Li Yitong didn't loosen her embrace; instead, she hugged her even tighter.

After a two-second silence, she finally mustered all her courage and whispered, "Jiang Bai, I have something I want to tell you."

"I've been deliberately distancing myself from you and being cold to you lately. It's not that I hate you; it's just that there's something wrong with my mindset."

"I...I think I'm starting to like you a little bit."

The last sentence was spoken softly yet firmly, carrying a mixture of trepidation and anticipation.

After the confession, the room fell completely silent.

Li Yitong hugged him tightly, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest. She was so nervous her body was slightly burning, both anticipating his response and fearing an awkward rejection.

Jiang Bai sat on the sofa, motionless, only gazing quietly at the person in his arms.

His eyes were calm, without panic or surprise; his composure made Li Yitong somewhat regretful.

Jiang Bai remained silent for more than ten seconds, as if he was considering his words or sorting out his thoughts.

A few seconds later, he slowly raised his hand, steadily supporting her knees, and held her firmly in his arms like a sloth, then got up and walked step by step toward the bedroom.

As he walked, he said, "Liking something isn't something you say, it's something you do."

The sudden feeling of weightlessness threw Li Yitong, who was immersed in the nervousness of confessing her feelings, into a panic. She subconsciously exclaimed softly, "Eh, ah?"

She hurriedly raised her hand to his chest, her cheeks flushed, her eyes filled with panic, and quickly explained, "I...I didn't mean that!"

"I just wanted to tell you how I feel, I didn't mean anything else—"

Li Yitong's flustered explanation was both soft and embarrassed.

But her body was unusually honest; she didn't struggle too fiercely, nor did she resist or try to escape. She simply nestled gently in his arms, letting him carry her into the bedroom.

She felt a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and trepidation, her heart in turmoil.

Jiang Bai gently placed the person on the bed, and an intimate atmosphere slowly spread throughout the room.

Lowering his head, Jiang Bai precisely kissed Li Yitong's lips. She hadn't applied any lipstick or lip balm, but her lips still exuded a sweet fragrance.

While kissing her, Jiang Bai didn't stop what he was doing. Before Li Yitong could react, she was stripped naked and turned into a little lamb.

It was blindingly white.

Some things can be discussed later.

Jiang Bai looked at Li Yitong with burning eyes. She was too shy to meet his gaze and covered her face with her hands.

"You...you be gentle!"

After a tender moment, the soft bedding and the two of them lay quietly in each other's arms on the bed, the room so quiet that they could hear each other's heartbeats.

Li Yitong nestled in Jiang Bai's arms, her fingertips gently and unconsciously stroking his clothes.

After regaining her composure, she spoke softly, with a hint of cautious anticipation, and gently asked, "So—what is our relationship now?"

This sentence contained all her expectations and anxieties.

She was waiting for an answer, an answer that would put her mind at ease and bring her peace of mind.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai, who had been quietly holding her, paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He remained silent for a few seconds, making no attempt to hide anything, and for the first time seriously called her name.

"Tongtong, I'm sorry."

Actually, I have a girlfriend.

"What?!" Li Yitong jumped up, propping herself up on Jiang Bai's chest, ignoring the fact that her clothes were exposed, and said angrily, "You have a girlfriend and you still slept with me?!"

"Scumbag!"

Li Yitong was struck dumb, her eyes wide with shock.

As expected, her guess was correct.

She was used as a bait!

Or rather, the kind that walks right into a trap!

She encountered an absolute scumbag, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't defeat him.

Jiang Bai gave an awkward smile and forcefully pulled Li Yitong back to his chest.

"I've actually liked you for a long time."

"So I just don't want to lie to you."

Li Yitong couldn't accept this kind of thing. She barely managed to process Jiang Bai's words, her lips pursed, and tears were about to fall.

Seeing this, Jiang Bai simply shut Li Yitong up again.

Words are no match for actions!