She Wants to Divorce Me

Chapter 47

"This cat takes after its owner."

A clear laugh came from behind as the last two guests finally appeared in everyone's view. With seaweed-like long hair and large sunglasses covering half her face, the one in front wore only a thin windbreaker, seemingly impervious to winter's chill. She opened her arms, walking towards Ji Yaoguang, and embraced her, asking with a laugh, "Surprised? Unexpected? Exciting?"

Ji Yaoguang frowned slightly, rolled her eyes, and pushed Bian Yuting away, feigning confusion as she asked, "Aren't you cold?" This person didn't have a robust constitution, yet chose style over warmth in such conditions—truly perplexing.

"Hug me, and I won't be cold," Bian Yuting winked at Ji Yaoguang, acting coy. Catching sight of Chang Yu's indifferent face from the corner of her eye, she immediately straightened her expression. Having played in the entertainment circle for a while, most people here had heard something about her. With a smile curling her lips, she introduced herself, "Bian Yuting."

Who didn't know about the Bian family's young lady? She called herself a manager, but who didn't treat her like a big star? Those seeking to approach this young lady were either after her beauty or the power behind her. In today's society, it's hard for a lone artist to make it big; many rely on promotion and money to build their reputation. Bian Yuting didn't come to the inn alone; a silent woman followed behind her. Calling her a woman seemed inappropriate—her youthful face looked no older than twenty. Her appearance might not stand out in the beauty-filled entertainment circle, but her obsidian-like eyes shone with a clear light that made people want to look twice.

"Jiang Yusheng?" Bo Yu was the first to call out her name. He excitedly walked up to Jiang Yusheng, gesticulating as he spoke, "You're here too? Did your mentor let you leave school?" He and Jiang Yusheng were classmates, but fortune seemed to favor only Bo Yu. Though his achievements in various aspects weren't as impressive as Jiang Yusheng's, he had entered the public eye early on, while Jiang Yusheng remained obscure, playing insignificant roles in various film sets. However, she wasn't entirely unfortunate; her mentor's favoritism would make things much easier for her in terms of networking after graduation.

Jiang Yusheng lowered her eyes, her smile slightly shy.

Ji Yaoguang smiled knowingly and whispered in Bian Yuting's ear, "New flame?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Bian Yuting denied quietly, "She's so-and-so's student, given to me to mentor. I'm not interested in bean sprouts. Don't you know, I like Chang Yu's type?"

"Give it up," Ji Yaoguang glared at Bian Yuting with disgust. Didn't she know her childhood friend's ways by now? Many of her words should be taken with a grain of salt. Who was it that said earlier that one could only admire Chang Yu's type from afar? She tilted her head; Chang Yu was lost in thought, while An Muyu standing opposite her was staring unabashedly at Chang Yu. Ji Yaoguang casually took a step, blocking An Muyu's line of sight, then turned her scrutinizing gaze towards the other two people.

Among the eight guests, only three were male. The circle was small; though they had interacted before, it was limited to mere nodding acquaintances. Bo Yu was slightly more familiar, while Sun Shaogong and Jiang Zhaozhi were just faces and names she could match, along with some anecdotes widely circulated on Weibo.

Take Sun Shaogong, for instance. He was a late bloomer, only becoming widely known last year for playing a passionate second male lead in a popular time-travel drama. Afterwards, netizens dug up his story—he was said to have married young, with his wife passing away shortly after. After a period of depression, he poured all his energy into acting. Many in the circle expressed admiration for him, with one female celebrity even publicly proposing. Needless to say, he rejected her mercilessly. As for Jiang Zhaozhi, he was known for his "old cadre" persona, occasionally joking on Weibo about entering greasy middle age, with his goji berry thermos being an inseparable accessory.

With all eight guests present, the staff put away the playing cards used for fun. When Zhao Beiting appeared, the entire place fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Zhao Beiting's face wasn't fierce; in fact, it could be described as somewhat "delicate." This doesn't mean he looked like a frail woman, but rather that he exuded a delicate, sensitive, and refined aura, consistent with his filming style. "Why have you all gone quiet?" Zhao Beiting asked, looking down at Siren gracefully stepping at his feet, then asked, "Is this a stray cat from the inn?"

Ji Yaoguang smiled, breaking the tense atmosphere: "No, it's domesticated."

"Your taste in cats is as terrible as your choice in scripts," Zhao Beiting said. If Li Ou had said this, it would have been full of anger and disappointment. But coming from Zhao Beiting, it sounded like friendly teasing, causing no discomfort.

Ji Yaoguang tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling as she said, "That's why I need Director Zhao's guidance."

Zhao Beiting coughed lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Ji Yaoguang's words. He slowly began, "Alright, let's get to the point. Everyone's here, so we can discuss the show's filming. You probably only had a vague idea when you arrived, so I'll explain the rules now. The cameramen will follow you until bedtime, filming everything. All you need to do is live in the inn. The production team will give each of you 100 in funds. How you make money with this over the next two weeks is up to you. Of course, the production team also has a way for you to earn funds."

"This inn is called 'Time Traveler's Inn,' taking the meaning of time. During the day, you'll live your own lives, but at night, the production team will have you draw lots to act out a historical story. You'll be given 30 to 50 in funds based on your performance. Acting is the most important criterion, but not the only one. Do you understand?"

"We understand," Bo Yu raised his hand and asked, "How will our accommodation be arranged? If the three men pair up, one will be left alone!"

"It's your life, so of course you decide. The inn provides four rooms," Zhao Beiting smiled faintly, "Alright, now go ahead and settle in and rest. We'll officially start filming tomorrow. As you know, this is a reality show type of variety program, and it will be broadcast simultaneously in Z University's prime time slot." The highlight of this reality show lies in conflicts and precarious situations. If it's mundane, just watching different faces busy with trivial household matters, anyone would get bored. Although each person doesn't have a script, they quickly find their own position in their minds.

It was a given that Ji Yaoguang and Chang Yu would share a room, but Bian Yuting deliberately teased her, linking arms with her and saying coyly, "Darling, we haven't seen each other for so long. We haven't slept together since graduating from elementary school. This is a good opportunity, how about we share a room?"

"Get lost!" She pushed away the face that had come close, her thin lips uttering a cold word.

Chang Yu spoke leisurely, "Hmm, that's not bad. I won't disturb your reunion."

"Yes, yes, you see, even Yu'er says so," Bian Yuting quickly chimed in.

Ji Yaoguang hurriedly returned to Chang Yu's side, firmly stating, "I have nothing to say to her. I don't know this person." She cast aside years of friendship without hesitation, completely disregarding Bian Yuting's deliberately pained expression. What a joke! For her, being separated from Chang Yu wasn't just a short month, but a full three years. She longed to cling to Chang Yu entirely. Now that they're in the same show, with a chance to be together, how could she possibly give that up? She shot a fierce glare at Bian Yuting, who had spoken out of turn. Her meaning was clear; even as childhood friends, if she continued to act up like this, she would cut ties completely.

An Muyu was the odd one out. Of course, no male guest would share a room with her to avoid suspicion. In the end, An Muyu enjoyed the highest treatment, while the three men had to make do sharing one room. The smile on her face dimmed slightly, and as she watched Chang Yu's retreating figure, she was enveloped by a sense of loss. She had already given up, so why come back? Could she really change nothing?

"Big sis, don't be sad. It's great to have a room all to yourself," Bo Yu, thinking An Muyu was upset about this, kindly consoled her, "Goddess Ji and Goddess Chang are a couple, so of course they'll stay together. And I've heard that Miss Bian has a bad temper, you might suffer if you stayed with her."

"Is that how you gossip behind people's backs?" An Muyu concealed her complex emotions and smiled gently behind her hand, "Isn't Jiang Yusheng your classmate? Are you just going to watch her walk into the fire?"

"Well, about that-" Bo Yu laughed it off. He was just talking nonsense; he wasn't really sure what kind of person Bian Yuting was. According to online descriptions, the worst evaluation was that she was a libertine rich girl playing around in the entertainment circle. "Casting couch" was a term they wouldn't actively mention, but one they were all too aware of. Bo Yu shuddered, suddenly turning to look at the two figures disappearing down the red wooden corridor, worry clouding his eyes.