Chapter 333: The Twelfth Day in the Entertainment World

Chapter 333: Day 12 in the Entertainment Industry World

This time, the show had four male and four female guests. Besides An Yi, who was a complete unknown, everyone else had some level of fame.

Even Ruan Bingxuan had gained a lot of fame from her earlier public spat with her company that blew up online.

Besides An Yi, Ruan Bingxuan, and Cang Xingjin, the other female guests included popular young actress Yu Tongxin, girl group visual Lin Yan, and former child star Hao Yangyang.

The male guests were hot singer Miao Bin and fresh-faced newcomer Bo Yangxia.

Once everyone had entered the villa, the production team announced the rules right on cue and handed each guest a small electronic wristband.

"This is a heart-rate wristband that'll monitor and display your heart rate in real time," the director's voice came through as a voice-over. "During the upcoming interactions, your heartbeat changes might reveal some unexpected stuff."

The guests had mixed reactions—some curious, some nervous.

But they were all industry veterans. Their expressions differed, and their heart rates varied, but all stayed surprisingly steady.

Next up was the self-introduction round.

When it was An Yi's turn, he stood up, gave a little nod to the camera and the other guests, and spoke in a gentle, clear voice: "Hello everyone, I'm An Yi, a newcomer trying to explore the path of music. Please look after me in the days ahead."

His intro was short, but that face plus that gentle smile sent the comments into a frenzy again.

"His voice is so nice too! I'm a sucker for the gentle type!"

"Exploring the path of music? Is he a singer? Never heard of him before!"

"Not debuting with that face is a crime against the entertainment industry!"

"From Sparkle Star Entertainment? Same company as Xingxing? How come he never got any gigs before?"

"His heart rate is still so steady! Bro, are you a robot?!"

"So hot, I'm drooling! I'm camping in this livestream!"

"Wait! I looked him up—he used to be an idol!"

"Holy crap! He's so young! Like, technically an adult... but is this even okay? What is the production team thinking? Everyone else is at least two or three years older! The oldest is thirteen years older than him!"

"Are the producers trying to get themselves canceled?"

"..."

When An Yi was introducing himself, Cang Xingjin's gaze unconsciously drifted to him.

No denying it—up close, An Yi was even more striking, and that pure, clean vibe was genuinely one of a kind.

But the second he thought about the possible "background" the guy might have, the little flutter in his chest quickly died down. His eyes went cold again, and his heart rate started jumping all over the place.

Ruan Bingxuan also looked over curiously. An Yi noticed her gaze and smiled at her.

Ruan Bingxuan's heart gave a little jump.

"??? Wasn't bro's heart rate all over the place just now? Why is it suddenly so high? He keeps sneaking looks at An Yi?"

"Isn't this supposed to be a het dating show... Xingxing, what are you doing? (pupils shaking.jpg)"

"Stay cool, bro! Where's your chill? It's just a pretty face! Remember An Yi's gender!"

"Doesn't that make it even more shippable?"

"Bro, what's going through your head? Your heart rate keeps spiking and dropping. Look away—check out the female guests!!"

"I don't buy it! The wristband must be glitching! Bro's been through way too much to get rattled!"

"Don't let this nobody leech off him! What is this? Already self-promoting? Coming on a dating show to pander?"

"Yeah, sure! It's all An Yi leeching, even though An Yi's heart rate hasn't budged, even though your so-called 'acting emperor' is all over the place—but yeah, it's definitely An Yi's fault! (eye roll) (eye roll)"

"Oh, so that's bro's amazing acting? No way, no way—is a rookie with zero awards really trying to go up against an acting emperor?"

"Sure, sure! You're totally right! Your bro's like a robot who can control his own heart rate! So impressive~"

"Sister Bingxuan's heart rate also spiked from An Yi's smile, oh... it's settled down now."

"An Yi smiled at Sister Bingxuan—does he like her?"

"Don't be ridiculous. One look means he's into her?"

"Marketing types shouldn't think one look means you're special, right? Seriously, constantly playing the victim is so annoying to watch!"

"Can these celebs' struggles even compare to us regular working folks'?"

"Then go get a job instead of watching a dating show?"

"..."

The comments were going at each other's throats, and the production team was loving it.

They sat behind the cameras, eyes locked on An Yi.

They'd originally picked him just for his looks, but who knew he had a knack for stirring up drama!

Should they lean into it?

----------

Meanwhile, at Yu Ziyun's law firm.

As the firm's managing partner, he was slammed every day.

Behind his desk, Yu Ziyun had just finished a meeting. He rubbed his tired forehead and instinctively grabbed his phone, hoping for a message from An Yi.

Lately, he'd been the one texting An Yi first—starting with asset stuff, then just casual everyday chat.

As an adult, he felt responsible for looking after a kid who'd just turned eighteen.

In Yu Ziyun's mind, they should... be friends by now, right?

But when he opened the app, the pinned chat had no new messages.

Yu Ziyun: "..."

He turned on his computer to get back to work. An annoying pop-up appeared, and just as he was about to close it, he spotted An Yi's face on a video site recommendation.

He clicked on it immediately. It was a highly popular livestream push—"Love Relativity" livestream in progress!

The stream loaded, and there was An Yi, sitting quietly on the couch with the heart-rate wristband on.

Yu Ziyun's fingers gripping the mouse tightened instantly, his knuckles turning slightly pale.

His face, usually so calm and composed as if he could handle anything, finally showed visible cracks for the first time.

A dating show? A heart rate monitor?

He looked at An Yi's face on the screen—flawless and delicate under the camera, wearing a gentle smile—at his serene detachment, and at the glances from the other guests, especially the acclaimed actor named Cang Xingjin...

An inexplicable, intense surge of bitterness and disapproval welled up in him, nearly breaking through the rationality he prided himself on.

How old was he? Just turned eighteen, right? And he's already rushing to... go on a show like this?

On live TV, with countless people judging him, and even... possibly being with those people...

Yu Ziyun's brows furrowed tightly, that nameless, growing unease weighing on him.

He felt An Yi was still too young, and his head should be on simpler things—like the music he loves, or school—rather than stepping into the messy, ambiguous reality TV world too early, dealing with people who might have ulterior motives.