OFCC – Chapter 96

Although the viewers in the livestream were all cursing and complaining, miraculously, after a few minutes, the number of viewers in Mu Yanxi’s stream had not decreased but instead increased.

Nearly twenty minutes had passed since the nine o’clock start of 《Heart Fluttering Again》. Despite the other four pairs of guests showcasing all their talents, they failed to steal many viewers away.

The number of viewers in Mu Yanxi’s individual stream alone accounted for half of the total viewership, and it was still growing rapidly.

Among this group of viewers, many were the same people who had guided the production team into making that disastrous variety show last year. Their rebellious spirit seemed innate; they just wanted to see how long Mu Yanxi could possibly sleep.

Time ticked by, second by second. With the sound of a closing door, the viewers in the bullet comments instantly became alert, and a graceful figure finally appeared on screen.

The newcomer was tall, dressed in a cream-white cotton house dress, with a head of soft, wavy hair cascading down her back.

Completely different from the stern and cold president who usually appeared before the public, her slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes were tinged with a smile as she looked at the person on the bed, and her entire aura became extremely gentle.

It was Yi Wulan.

Under the high-definition camera, no flaw could escape the lens. For example, the domineering president with a noble bloodline next door, despite creating the atmosphere of having just showered, couldn’t hide the powder on his face from the viewers’ sharp eyes.

But Yi Wulan was different. Her face, bare of makeup yet still flawless, would stand out even in the entertainment industry, not to mention the added bonus of her identity as the President of Rongjia Group. She was a true embodiment of beauty, talent, and power.

When Yi Wulan’s gaze swept lightly over the camera, the frantically scrolling bullet comments paused for a moment, then instantly erupted:

【Ahhh, is that President Yi? A living, breathing domineering president!】

【I knew the person that little vase, the looks-obsessed dog, fell for wouldn’t be bad.】

【I really want to call my sisters who are enduring the greasy president next door just to see a real president. One look and you’re hooked!】

【I missed President Yi’s previous news appearances. I never thought I’d see her in my lifetime. President Yi, I’m a loyal fan of the holographic tech!】

【To be honest, I’m starting to get jealous of Mu Yanxi.】

【Since this is a slow-life variety show, is it too much to ask for President Yi and the little vase to stay in bed all day?】

Yi Wulan wasn’t looking at her phone, so she couldn’t see these comments. For her, recording this variety show was just to make Mu Yanxi happy. Aside from not being able to do anything intimate in front of the camera, nothing else was different.

As Yi Wulan sat on the edge of the bed, the show’s technical staff finally found their conscience and zoomed the camera in a bit. The audience could finally see not just a luxurious king-sized bed, but a small corner of it.

Yi Wulan had already called Mu Yanxi once when she went to wash up. Seeing that she was unwilling to wake up, she had opened the curtains, letting the sunlight stream in.

At this moment, Mu Yanxi seemed unable to bear the light and had buried half her face in the quilt. The exposed half revealed long, slender eyelashes and skin so delicate it looked like it could be broken by a puff of air. Even though her hair was a mess, it didn’t diminish her beauty in the slightest.

Without her on-camera makeup, Mu Yanxi’s striking features appeared even more youthful, completely different from her usual feisty and dramatic self. Her brow was slightly furrowed due to the glaring sunlight, making the viewers see a hint of grievance.

The people who had just been jealous of Mu Yanxi shamelessly switched sides in that instant:

【WTF WTF, the production team finally had a conscience and zoomed in?】

【As expected, only when President Yi appears do we get a chance to see the little vase’s sleeping face (lights a cigarette)】

【Is that really Mu Yanxi’s bare face? I always thought it was makeup. How is it better than my photoshopped pictures? (bites handkerchief)】

【I have no other dreams for my next life, just let me look like that.】

Having been teased too much by Mu Yanxi last night, Yi Wulan knew she was quite tired. Normally, she would have indulged Mu Yanxi and let her sleep in.

But today was for recording the show, and the livestream had been on for nearly half an hour. Yi Wulan herself didn’t mind, but considering Mu Yanxi’s status as an artist, she couldn’t let her sleep on.

She sat on the edge of the bed, bent over slightly, and tried to pull away the quilt covering Mu Yanxi’s mouth, calling out in a low voice, “Time to get up?”

Her clear voice fell gently on the ear, carrying a unique tenderness.

The bullet comments instantly went wild:

【Ahhh I’m dead, thank you President Yi for letting me know that domineering presidents don’t just use that breathy voice.】

【So gentle, so heart-melting. I wish I were the one lying there.】

【I’m begging Rongjia’s holographic butler to release a President Yi wake-up call service!】

Mu Yanxi clutched the quilt tightly. Feeling someone trying to pull it away, she seemed to react, murmuring drowsily, “I don’t want it anymore, I really don’t.”

The bedroom was already quiet, and the camera’s microphone was excellent. Even though it was just a muffled whisper, it was transmitted clearly to every viewer’s ears. The bullet comments were instantly flooded with question marks:

【No way, no way, is that really the little vase’s voice?】

【I’m different, I only care about what she means by ‘don’t want it’. It’s what I’m thinking, right? Right?】

【So she was worked over last night, which is why she couldn’t get up on time this morning?】

【Daddy reluctantly forgives you.】

However, Yi Wulan didn’t stop what she was doing. She finally managed to pull the quilt from Mu Yanxi’s grasp and even reached out to pull up Mu Yanxi’s slipping collar just before her pajamas were exposed.

Then she coaxed again, “You have to record the show today, did you forget?”

Mu Yanxi: …

So why were you so excessive last night?

And why are you able to get up so early this morning?

With a pained expression, Mu Yanxi closed her eyes and snuggled towards Yi Wulan. Her arms habitually went to hook around Yi Wulan’s neck as she wheedled in a sticky voice, “Good sister, just say you have a project today, and we’ll join a day late.”

The livestream had already started; there was no backing out. Yi Wulan leaned her body to accommodate her, letting the little ancestor who didn’t even want to open her eyes hang onto her, but she mercilessly rejected the proposal, “No.”

Mindful of the camera, Yi Wulan’s voice was a few degrees colder than before, trying to give Mu Yanxi a hint.

But how could Mu Yanxi, who could fall asleep at any moment, notice such a detail?

Her mind was solely focused on skipping work.

Seeing that Yi Wulan wouldn’t even grant her this, she brought out her killer move.

She planted several placating kisses on Yi Wulan’s lips, finally opening her eyes slowly. Her eyes were still misty as she asked, “Yi Wulan, can I postpone now?”

Yi Wulan: …

Yi Wulan fell silent for a moment, then still heartlessly refused, “You can’t.”

Mu Yanxi’s little face visibly fell.

At the same time, the bullet comments exploded:

【I finally know why I don’t have a president for a partner. It’s because I don’t know how to act cute!】

【Damn, where did the little vase learn this routine? Who could resist this?】

【Even as a straight woman, my knees went weak hearing that. Agree to it, agree to it! I’ll just consider my membership fee wasted, sob sob sob.】

Seeing that she couldn’t escape the recording, Mu Yanxi pushed Yi Wulan away in a huff, turned over, and buried herself in the quilt again like an ostrich.

If the soft approach didn’t work, she would resist with force.

She was simply not getting out of bed.

Now, even Yi Wulan found the situation a bit difficult.

The production staff in the background were also waiting anxiously, seriously considering activating Plan B.

Rongjia Entertainment wasn’t without married artists. Wasn’t there a recently announced married movie emperor?

It was unclear when it started, but whenever Mu Yanxi caused trouble that couldn’t be suppressed, the first person Rongjia Entertainment thought of was that movie emperor.

The production staff even started calling the movie emperor’s manager.

Just as Yi Wulan was seriously considering pulling out of the variety show, Mu Yanxi seemed to finally give in. She turned around, glared fiercely at Yi Wulan, and accused, “You’re not even trying to coax me anymore. Are you really looking for a chance to divorce me?”

Although her expression was fierce, her voice couldn’t help but carry the stickiness of someone who had just woken up. It had no intimidating power at all and sounded more like she was acting cute in a different way.

Yi Wulan: …

In the past, when Yi Wulan wanted to wake Mu Yanxi up, she would indeed coax her for a long time, even dressing her in the process. But today, because of the camera… Yi Wulan didn’t know what kind of persona Mu Yanxi wanted to project.

While Yi Wulan was in a dilemma, the viewers who heard Mu Yanxi’s words clearly also began to question:

【Damn, I thought the little vase wouldn’t put on a show like the other four couples, but she’s acting too?】

【Even though President Yi’s back was blocking the view, I was so afraid they’d kiss and get the stream shut down.】

【I don’t care if she’s acting, I just want more— (shouting)】

A few seconds later, Yi Wulan looked at Mu Yanxi’s still-insistent expression and picked up the robe from the foot of the bed. “Arms out.”

The corners of Mu Yanxi’s eyes drooped, and she urged impatiently, “Mhm, mhm, hurry up.”

Her expression towards Yi Wulan grew more and more impatient. Even her fingertips, hooked around Yi Wulan’s neck, threaded through her thick hair and tapped lightly on Yi Wulan’s skin, urging her on.

What was there to hesitate about?

Isn’t this how they usually were?

Could it be that because she didn’t let Yi Wulan kiss her neck last night, Yi Wulan was holding a grudge until now?

Yi Wulan shouldn’t… be that petty, right?

A hint of laughter crept into Yi Wulan’s voice as she emphasized again, “Be careful when you get out of bed later, don’t expose yourself in front of the camera.”

Mu Yanxi’s brain hadn’t caught up yet. She snuggled bonelessly in Yi Wulan’s arms again, not forgetting to instruct, “Ah, I know. Also, when the broadcast starts, just show your face, and then you can go to the study and work on your things.”

Yi Wulan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why?”

Mu Yanxi said matter-of-factly, “Don’t think I don’t know the show gave the other guests two appearance fees. But they only gave me one. Do they think I’m easy to fool?”

The bullet comments started scrolling like crazy again:

【I’ve finally found a trait I share with the little vase: being frugal and managing the household.】

【@Rongjia Entertainment, did you hear your boss’s wife?】

【She lives in the biggest mansion in Yuncheng, and her family owns a bank with endless money, but somehow her penny-pinching side seems so real.】

【How can I marry a girl like this (crying loudly)】

Mu Yanxi didn’t wait for Yi Wulan’s reply and continued to throw her tantrum, “Anyway, once the show starts recording, you just listen to me. The production team might give other guests a hard time, but they won’t dare to trouble you.”

Acting up so blatantly.

Completely unaware that the recording had already begun.

It was too late for Yi Wulan to stop her, so she had to spell it out more clearly: “It’s nine-forty. The live recording has been on for over half an hour.”

Yi Wulan deliberately slowed down and emphasized the words ‘has been on,’ and this time, Mu Yanxi finally understood.

Her ears heard it clearly, but her brain couldn’t quite believe it. Her face was a mask of bewilderment as she stammered, “But… it’s just us here?”

Yi Wulan smoothed Mu Yanxi’s messy hair. “The director’s team asked you about the recording location yesterday so they could set up cameras, did you forget?”

Mu Yanxi’s gaze stiffly swept around the bedroom, and she saw the cameras she hadn’t noticed before.

Then her eyes slowly moved back to Yi Wulan’s face, filled with disbelief.

The director’s team was just confirming the filming location, right? She never opened the door to let them in.

No… wait!

She didn’t open the door, but that didn’t mean no one came in after she and Yi Wulan went to the Bai family’s house last night. She didn’t even have to ask to guess that it was that dog Gu Yan who had brought the production team over.

Their new home was equipped with a holographic butler, and any outsiders who entered would have their access restricted. Not only was there surveillance with no blind spots, but an alarm would sound if an outsider touched anything they shouldn’t.

Take the production team wanting to install cameras, for example. As long as Yi Wulan on the other end of the surveillance didn’t agree, forget installing cameras, even dropping a piece of tissue paper would trigger an alarm.

The staff who came to install the cameras yesterday had indeed wished they could cover their own curious eyes. Being watched by the homeowner on-site and being watched via surveillance were two completely different experiences.

The mere thought of their every move being monitored by Yi Wulan was enough to make them work more than three times faster for the sake of their salaries and bonuses.

Mu Yanxi then remembered how Yi Wulan had specifically pushed her into the media room yesterday and hadn’t agreed to let her return to the bedroom in the middle of it…

Bit by bit, the memories pieced together into a single truth—so, it turned out she was the only one who didn’t know the broadcast had already started?

Just as Mu Yanxi was having a bit of an existential crisis, Yi Wulan asked considerately, “So, are you getting up now?”

Mu Yanxi: …

For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the bedroom. It was utterly silent.

So quiet it was as if she had already died.

Mu Yanxi’s arms were still stiffly hooked around Yi Wulan’s neck, maintaining their previous intimate posture, but the fingers peeking out from between Yi Wulan’s hair were visibly trembling.

The gossiping netizens who were watching the show finally figured out the whole story from their conversation and immediately burst out laughing:

【Ahahahahahaha I’m asking, who else could it be!】

【So for the past half hour, the little vase had no idea the show had started recording?】

【If this happened to any other celebrity, I’d suspect they were acting, but with the little vase, it’s surprisingly plausible.】

【Keep going! Hug her, kiss her! I just want to see you act cute! This membership was worth it.】

【Help, so your usual cold and annoying demeanor was all an act?】

【I declare that I’m shipping a real couple! Who said arranged business marriages have no true love?】

【I just want to see how the little vase gets out of this.】

And so, under everyone’s expectant gaze, Mu Yanxi stiffly moved her hands.

Little by little, she slowly retracted them.

And then she returned to her initial state of hiding in the quilt.

As if she had never woken up.

As if none of this had ever happened.

She just wasn’t awake yet, what could she have done wrong?

Help!

Mu Yanxi adhered to the fine principle that as long as she played dead, no one could witness her social death.

This time, no matter how Yi Wulan pulled at the quilt, she didn’t respond.

If she didn’t know Yi Wulan’s character, she would have suspected that Yi Wulan and the production team had conspired to prank her.

Mu Yanxi clutched the quilt tightly, refusing to stick her head out, and said to Yi Wulan in a muffled voice, “No postponement. I’m quitting the show directly.”

You deal with it.

“Really not recording?” Yi Wulan tugged gently at the quilt again. “I’ll block the camera for you, don’t suffocate.”

Sensing the seriousness in Yi Wulan’s tone, Mu Yanxi began to hesitate again.

She had joined this variety show precisely to show off her love with Yi Wulan, wishing she could let all the Yin Fengxias, Wang Fengxias, and Zhang Fengxias of the world know that Yi Wulan belonged to her, Mu Yanxi, wishing she could announce their relationship to the world.

Although today had gotten off to a rocky start, and although her persona and idol image were shattered all over the floor, Mu Yanxi had to admit that when she found out the livestream had already started, she felt a little thrill of joy.

She found a way to save face: “If we quit suddenly, it’ll be hard for the production team to find a replacement, right? That seems a bit bad, we’d owe them.”

Yi Wulan didn’t say anything, letting her decide, being very cooperative.

Even though that little bit of embarrassment had already vanished due to the opportunity to show affection, Mu Yanxi still had to put on an act. She abruptly threw off the quilt and shot a noble and cold glance in the direction of the camera: “What’s all the fuss about? Don’t you know variety shows have scripts?”

To escape this socially fatal scene, Teacher Mu even dared to say that variety shows have scripts, but the viewers weren’t buying it at all:

【Hahaha, I’d believe you if it were any other show, but Heart Fluttering Again‘s secrets were all exposed last season. You think those celebrities’ careers crashed for nothing?】

【I was about to ask if you’re not afraid of breaching your contract, but then I remembered this is a Rongjia production.】

【Rongjia Entertainment: Yes, there really is a script between us (crying loudly)】

This incident later trended. Both Rongjia Entertainment and the official Weibo account of 《Heart Fluttering Again》 cheekily replied under the hashtag: 【Teacher Mu is right, there really is a script between us (crying loudly)】

This trending topic even successfully climbed to the top of the entertainment charts with the hashtag: #EffectiveWorkplaceSycophancy#, which drew explosive laughter from many passersby and successfully attracted a large wave of traffic to 《Heart Fluttering Again》.

But none of this had anything to do with Mu Yanxi, the person in the live broadcast.

After saying that, relying on the fact that she couldn’t see the viewers’ teasing in the bullet comments, she confidently turned the page on this socially fatal scene, then raised her chin smugly at Yi Wulan, adding defensively, “You cooperated pretty well just now.”

Yi Wulan: …

Yi Wulan wasn’t good at lying, so she simply didn’t reply.

Mu Yanxi, in a rather good mood, threw back the covers with a flourish and got out of bed.

However, the smug expression on her face didn’t last for more than a few seconds before her knee hit the hem of her nightgown, causing her to lose her balance and fall towards the floor.

Yi Wulan, who was sitting beside her, reacted quickly and caught her. “Are you okay?”

Mu Yanxi sucked in a sharp breath. Although the soreness in her body had disappeared, the muscle memory was still there. Her legs still couldn’t quite close properly, and she righteously placed the blame on Yi Wulan: “It’s all your fault from last night for always…”

Her words came to an abrupt halt.

Mu Yanxi slammed on the emergency brakes, finally remembering again that she was currently recording a variety show live.

Even without looking at the bullet comments, she could imagine what her legion of anti-fans were fantasizing about. A blush rapidly spread from the base of her neck all the way to her face.

Especially the delicate tips of her ears, half-hidden in her hair, they looked like they were about to drip blood.

Just as Mu Yanxi had imagined, the viewers watching the livestream, at the moment her words fell, all seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, frantically spamming the bullet comments:

【Always what? Say it!】

【First it was ‘don’t want it anymore,’ now it’s ‘last night.’ I’ve already imagined the whole story.】

【I have a friend with terminal cancer who went through great pains to crawl off the operating table, just to ask: what was Mu Yanxi ‘always’ subjected to last night?】

【Everyone here is a noble VIP user. What can’t we hear?】

【Don’t think we can’t see you blushing just because you’re hiding in President Yi’s arms.】

Mu Yanxi, who had been crashing and burning since waking up, finally got her brain working again and offered a forced, composed explanation for her words: “Always keeping me up discussing holographic products, which made me sleep poorly last night.”

The crowd of troublemakers in the bullet comments, who had just let Mu Yanxi shift the blame to the production team, weren’t about to let her off the hook so easily this time.

【Discussing holographic products at night? Do you take us for fools?】

【Be clear, where did you discuss holographic products, and what was the result of the discussion?】

【Did you all forget about Rongjia’s not-yet-fully-released home holographic theater… 4D imaging, you know what I mean?】

【Damn damn damn, so they were watching holographic movies last night? Then it’s understandable that the little vase’s legs are weak today after changing so many positions.】

【Ahhh I get what they were doing now, I’m begging Rongjia Group to release the home holographic theater quickly!】

【Respect, understand, bless (doge face)】

When Mu Yanxi picked up her phone from the bedside table and opened the livestream, these were the exact comments she saw. The hand holding the phone trembled, and she almost sent it flying.

They hadn’t watched a movie last night, but they had watched several before! Especially since many of the movies were for the purpose of learning, watching the film while familiarizing themselves with newly bought toys.

The things that happened while watching those movies flashed through Mu Yanxi’s mind one by one, and her face grew redder and redder.

She might as well just die.

The viewers in the bullet comments immediately caught this change with their sharp eyes:

【Damn… you really used holographic equipment to watch adult films?】

【Family, the case is really solved. Look how red the little vase’s face is.】

【If you’re really uncomfortable, you don’t have to force yourself. Why not just lie down and record today (smirk)】

【Don’t get out of bed today. I won’t go back on my word that I’m willing to watch you eat, drink, and sleep.】

That group of anti-fans had always bickered back and forth with Mu Yanxi. Now, seeing her speechless, they were gloating. Who knew that this little tattletale would turn her head to look at Yi Wulan: “Yi Wulan, can the livestream kick them out?”

The anti-fans: ?

Yi Wulan was tidying the messy quilt. She turned her head and replied, “Maybe?”

Hearing this, Mu Yanxi said through gritted teeth, “I don’t want those people to see me.”

Yi Wulan didn’t know what the bullet comments were saying, but out of her habit of indulging Mu Yanxi, she said, “Then I’ll ask for you?”

Getting an affirmative answer, Mu Yanxi instantly transformed into a triumphant little peacock, giving the camera opposite her an arrogant smile.

The frantically scrolling bullet comments fell silent for a moment, then erupted again:

【Damn… you can’t be so dramatic, you know?】

【Pass it on, Mu Yanxi is bullying honest people.】

【Pass it on, Mu Yanxi got caught watching porn and flew into a rage out of shame.】

【Pass it on, Mu Yanxi’s legs are so weak they’ve run away, but she still won’t admit it.】