Chapter 43

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Chapter 43: Title

The semi-enclosed rink was bordered by waist-high walls.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Liu Tian didn’t approach immediately. He decelerated instead, waiting for Song Yutian to glide alongside him.

"Must we go?" Liu Tian’s eyes resembled a forsaken puppy’s.

Song Yutian returned a look that said, You know better.

Pursing his lips, Liu Tian murmured dejectedly, "Fine."

They skated together to the entrance area and halted.

An Xin waved at Song Yutian first before addressing Liu Tian, "Good to see you again."

"Xinxin. Brother Yuanzhuo," Liu Tian acknowledged.

Qin Yuanzhuo gave a slight nod, "Liu Tian, Yutian. Shall we talk outside?"

Minutes later, having changed back into street shoes and returned their skating gear, the four settled on benches outside the rink.

Liu Tian broke the silence first. "Xinxin, did you ditch Brother Yueli?"

An Xin rolled her eyes. "Even idiots could tell I swapped with Yao Yao."

"Who’s you calling an idiot?" Liu Tian shot back.

As their squabble threatened to escalate, Qin Yuanzhuo interjected, "Yueli and Yao Yao have partnered several times before. They’re more familiar."

Liu Tian pressed, "Then Brother Yuanzhuo, you’re here to…?"

Though anticipating the answer, he still regarded Qin Yuanzhuo with faint hope.

"We came to propose switching partners," Qin Yuanzhuo stated.

Liu Tian’s eyes dimmed instantly, "I see."

An Xin added hastily, "Don’t blame me! Brother Yuanzhuo initiated this."

Qin Yuanzhuo turned to Song Yutian, "Yutian, Yao Yao kept mentioning you during our morning session. Seeing you here gave me the idea to collaborate."

He awaited her response with questioning eyes.

"Agreed," Song Yutian replied succinctly.

Qin Yuanzhuo smiled with anticipated satisfaction, "Thank you for your gracious consideration."

"Just like that?" Liu Tian cut in. "You’re accepting without hesitation?"

Song Yutian turned to him. "Remember the rule? Proposed partner swaps can’t be refused."

"You could’ve pretended to want me around," Liu Tian grumbled.

An Xin countered, "You’re one to talk! Don’t you want to team up with me?"

"Who abandoned whom for Brother Yueli first?" Liu Tian retorted.

Qin Yuanzhuo interrupted their bickering, "Let’s exchange armbands."

The four removed their sleeve tags and replaced them with new ones.

As the regrouped pairs prepared to separate, Liu Tian turned lingeringly to Song Yutian, "I’ll win you back somehow. Wait for me, okay?"

Song Yutian merely smiled in response.

Spectators who’d been invested in the pair collectively lamented:

[Waaah! This bad ending came too abruptly! They barely had any time together!]

[Yutian, you must agree with him! Just say yes, I’ll wait for you!]

[Yutian, how could you be so cruel! How can you bear to reject Liu Tian?]

[Tell me you’ll switch back! I really loved that pairing earlier!]

After the two groups separated, Qin Yuanzhuo politely asked Song Yutian, "Yutian, where would you like to go?"

Song Yutian wanted to ask, Do you know how to ice skate?

But after a moment’s consideration, she kept the question to herself.

Based on her current understanding of Qin Yuanzhuo, regardless of his answer, skating with him wouldn’t be a relaxed or enjoyable experience.

So Song Yutian replied, "Let’s go wherever you’d prefer."

Qin Yuanzhuo smiled faintly, "There’s a bookstore on the second floor with great ambiance. Shall we visit it?"

Song Yutian nodded, "Alright."

.

Five minutes later, Song Yutian and Qin Yuanzhuo entered the bookstore.

As they walked, Qin Yuanzhuo inquired, "Yutian, have you read anything noteworthy recently? I’d welcome a recommendation."

Song Yutian considered briefly, "I haven’t finished any complete books lately. Nothing worth recommending."

Qin Yuanzhuo said, "I see. For years, I’ve maintained a habit of reading each morning before starting other tasks. It helps center my mind for the day."

Song Yutian asked, "Don’t you actors… Isn’t filming exhausting? Don’t you need to rise early for makeup and styling?"

Qin Yuanzhuo hesitated before responding, "…Naturally, during shoots, I read while undergoing makeup preparations."

Song Yutian nodded, "Your stylists must be quite skilled then."

Qin Yuanzhuo fell silent again.

After a pause, he resumed, "There’s a rather compelling book I’ve been reading recently. Perhaps you’d find it interesting."

"What’s the title?" Song Yutian asked.

"The Moon and Sixpence," Qin Yuanzhuo replied. "The protagonist resonates with me deeply—we share similar perspectives."

Song Yutian glanced at him. "You strongly identify with his worldview, then?"

"Absolutely."

"And his views regarding women?"

Qin Yuanzhuo looked surprised. "Well… many of his attitudes do mirror my own. Have you read it?"

"Briefly, during some leisure time," Song Yutian answered.

Qin Yuanzhuo nodded. "The line that stays with me is: When sixpence littered the ground, he gazed at the moon instead. Sometimes, I feel I’m that moon-gazer."

Song Yutian suddenly chuckled.

"What’s amusing?" Qin Yuanzhuo asked, perplexed.

"Nothing," she said. "Perhaps my recollection differs slightly."

Qin Yuanzhuo furrowed his brows slightly, clearly uncomprehending.

"Shall we read here for a while?" he proposed again.

"Certainly."

Qin Yuanzhuo immediately selected a self-help book from a nearby shelf and began perusing it. Song Yutian idly scanned titles along the shelves but made no move to select a volume. It wasn’t due to dislike of reading—she simply preferred not to engage deeply with books during filming, particularly in this context. Reading required a tranquility she currently couldn’t afford.

After some time, Song Yutian remarked, "I believe I see others over there."

Qin Yuanzhuo looked up. "Hmm?"

Following her gaze, he spotted Su Moying and Gu Feng.

"Sister Yutian!" Su Moying called out upon recognizing them, waving enthusiastically.

As the pair approached, Qin Yuanzhuo inquired neutrally, "What brings you here?"

Su Moying answered, "Brother Gu Feng suggested visiting the bookstore. We didn’t expect to encounter Sister Yutian and Brother Yuanzhuo! Are you browsing too?"

Song Yutian smiled. "It seems fate keeps intertwining our paths."

Gu Feng snorted audibly.

Song Yutian clarified coolly, "I meant between Moying and myself."

Gu Feng’s expression darkened further.

Qin Yuanzhuo interjected, "Have you crossed paths with other teams earlier?"

Su Moying tilted her head thoughtfully. "We initially met Sister Yaoyao and Brother Yueli. More recently, we saw Sister Xi with Liu Tian."

"Recently?" Song Yutian echoed in mild surprise.

Su Moying nodded, "Yes, just a few minutes ago. Why?"

Song Yutian shook her head, "Nothing. I’m just surprised Liu Tian is paired with Sister Xi again."

This meant Liu Tian’s teammates had switched from herself to An Xin and Shen Xi, totaling three changes already.

Gu Feng snorted coldly again.

Song Yutian glanced at him in amusement. "What?"

Gu Feng finally spoke, "You seem to care a lot about Liu Tian."

Song Yutian frowned, "What?"

Gu Feng immediately said, "Nothing."

After a moment of silence, Qin Yuanzhuo remarked, "Seems everyone approves of your partnership. No one else wants to switch."

Su Moying blushed shyly at his words.

Gu Feng remained silent, and Su Moying spoke little, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Qin Yuanzhuo broke the silence, "Why don’t you two keep exploring? Yutian and I will leave first—we shouldn’t intrude. Right, Yutian?"

He smiled at Song Yutian as he spoke.

Song Yutian nodded indifferently.

She’d never cared much about this non-scoring segment—it made no difference which man became her teammate.

Even partnering with someone like Gong Yu would merely give her someone to tease while sparing other female contestants.

Yet witnessing this scene stirred an odd emotion in Gu Feng’s chest.

He’d been Song Yutian’s companion these past days, but now Qin Yuanzhuo stood beside her, receiving her apparent compliance.

Gu Feng couldn’t name this feeling, only recognizing the sudden flare of irritation in his heart.

He blurted out, "Don’t you want new teammates?"

Everyone froze—including Gu Feng himself.

[Did I hear that right? Gu Feng wants to switch?]

[Didn’t Mr. Gu always want Moying? What’s happening?]

[He’s just asking, but it feels so abrupt…]

[I’ve got a wild theory but won’t say it…]

[Same here! But my lips are sealed!]

Gu Feng clamped his mouth shut, frustration evident. Nearby staff approached to confirm, "Mr. Gu Feng, are you initiating a teammate takeover?"

Every swap required official validation to ensure rule compliance.

"No!" Gu Feng denied instantly.

He turned abruptly to Su Moying, "Moying. Let’s go."

Without waiting for a response, he strode away. Su Moying hurried after him, managing only a hurried wave goodbye.

Qin Yuanzhuo stared at their retreating figures, "What’s his problem?"

"Who knows?" Song Yutian replied.

Two hours later, the Chief Director announced via intercom: "Teammate takeover period has concluded."

Thirty minutes later, all contestants gathered in the villa hall.

"Final pairings are as follows," declared the director. "Song Yutian & Qin Yuanzhuo, Su Moying & Gu Feng, Wei Yao & Zhong Yueli, Shen Xi & Liu Tian, An Xin & Gong Yu."

"Regardless of your satisfaction, these teams will compete together through two Match Days of the next theme."

"Additionally, the first half of the competition concludes after this theme. The lowest-scoring two contestants will be eliminated post-match tomorrow."

"Current lowest scorers: Liu Tian and An Xin. You must improve urgently."

"High scorers shouldn’t relax—poor performance could jeopardize second-half standings despite being safe from elimination."

"No evening broadcast tonight. Recording equipment will shut down in five minutes—enjoy your rest."

"See you tomorrow!"

10 PM, third-floor villa room.

Wei Yao emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair, and gasped at the figure on the floor.

"Yutian! What are you doing?"

Song Yutian grinned up from her leg stretch, "Sorry! Just killing time with flexibility practice."

Though acting now consumed her life post-transmigration, she refused to abandon dance entirely—morning jogs were supplemented by stolen moments for basic training.

Wei Yao blinked, "No harm done! I never knew you danced!"

Song Yutian said vaguely, "I know a little, I learned it since elementary school."

Wei Yao thought for a moment, "Then Director Cheng’s new script would suit you well. Did you try out?"

"What?" Song Yutian asked.

"You didn’t know?" Wei Yao asked.

Seeing Song Yutian shake her head, Wei Yao looked surprised. "Director Cheng’s new dance-themed film. I thought every actress in the industry knew. This leading role is open for casting—practically everyone I know auditioned. I tried too, but my height didn’t fit."

Song Yutian’s heart skipped. "Has the audition closed?"

"Ends Wednesday afternoon—that’s tomorrow," Wei Yao recalled.

"Why? Want to go?"

Song Yutian’s heart sank. "Yes, but we’ve got tomorrow afternoon’s competition."

"True." Wei Yao sighed. "What a waste! Your age and looks fit perfectly, plus your dance background. How could your company not send you?"

Song Yutian shook her head. That company had likely abandoned the original host long ago, not to mention the original couldn’t dance.

The ironclad contract meant the program group wouldn’t release her during live broadcasts unless she paid penalties. This chance was lost.

"Wait!" Wei Yao suddenly exclaimed. "Ask your agent to negotiate! The role remains undecided. If other candidates disappoint, Director Cheng might make an exception."

"I’ll try," Song Yutian nodded.

Though chances were slim, such an opportunity deserved effort.

Next morning.

Contestants regrouped in the villa hall.

This marked their first competition with new team formations.

At 10 AM sharp, the director announced, "Good morning! Today’s theme is—Childhood Memories!"

"Our program group will take you back to childhood. Unlike previous rounds, today’s competition starts here with kindergarten entrance exams."

The word "exam" tightened contestants’ expressions.

"Screen, please!" Staff wheeled in an LCD display.

A photo appeared—a 4-5-year-old girl with twin braids.

Song Yutian’s eyes widened slightly.