Chapter 71: Reality: Love Variety Show

Chapter 71: Reality: Love Variety Show

After taking promotional photos for the show, Yan Qiling stumbled upon Lin Yongjian, who was tidying up his appearance in the makeup room.

They met each other's gaze through the mirror. The man's exquisite peach blossom eyes shimmered like water, breathtakingly radiant.

Lin Yongjian froze at first, then jumped up with a face full of delight, ignoring the makeup artist behind him:

"Teacher Yan!"

Yan Qiling cast a glance at him, his seemingly gentle gaze imbued with a cool scrutiny.

This man had a resolute facial structure, but his thick eyebrows arched upward, and his eyes were triangular with distinct eyelids that emphasized a cutesy vibe when he smiled. The contrast between his smiling and non-smiling expressions could create a significant age gap.

He could transform from a stern, late-twenties corporate elite to a fresh-faced, puppy-like college graduate in an instant.

From an adorable perspective, this face was indeed very approachable.

Given his public image as a humorless, domineering CEO, his agent, Meiya, often advised him to minimize smiling during events to maintain an aloof demeanor.

However, Lin Yongjian didn't listen to her much in private. Right now, no one could stop him from getting up and approaching Yan Qiling to get friendly.

Yan Qiling also smiled at him, appearing completely at ease:

"You're also here as a resident mentor?"

There were four mentor positions in this reality show, with three resident mentors and one guest mentor.

If a high-profile mentor was available, an extra spot might be added temporarily, but Yan Qiling hadn't received any notification about that. Hence, it was clear that Lin Yongjian was one of the regular mentors on the show.

Ding Tai hadn't mentioned this to him beforehand, even though Tuan Mi had already informed Ding Tai about the incident with the brand.

...No, that wasn't right.

Ding Tai had done it on purpose.

Despite the cooling emotions in his heart, Yan Qiling maintained his gentle facade. Without waiting for a response, he sat down in front of the vanity table to fix his hair again.

Lin Yongjian followed closely, his eyes fixed on Yan Qiling's face without blinking. Suddenly, something seemed to dawn on him, and a look of regret quickly appeared on his face.

"Sorry, Mr. Yan, about the magazine incident last time. I didn't mean to intrude; I didn't realize..."

The man meticulously grooming himself didn't look at him:

"No problem."

Lin Yongjian surveyed the surroundings, noticing that everyone was engrossed in their tasks. The makeup artist, overhearing their conversation, tactfully moved away. He lowered his voice to explain:

"Mr. Yan, I passed out on set without knowing why. Meiya said I was unconscious for two hours and ended up with injuries all over."

"I really didn't mean to stand you up... That endorsement is important to me too, and I had even asked the director for permission in advance."

Yan Qiling picked up on unexpected information, but he still checked his hair one last time before turning back, his voice soft:

"...Do you have a train ticket?"

Lin Yongjian looked perplexed:

"What train ticket?"

Yan Qiling cast a polite smile, lowering his gaze.

"It's alright, I just think this isn't the place to discuss such matters. What if it gets recorded?"

He patted the man on the shoulder and stood up.

"Take care and don't overexert yourself."

Then, he brushed past the young man and headed for the recording studio – he still had several entrance scenes to film.

Lin Yongjian watched his retreating figure, his expression fading.

He recalled the magazine preview he had acquired, feeling rather frustrated.

Initially, the issue wasn't significant since he genuinely was injured. The brand later showed understanding, even offering to pay for a new setup and a reshoot with Yan Qiling if the initial scene couldn't be salvaged.

But then, an unknown amateur somehow appeared...

Rumor had it that Yan Qiling himself had brought this person along...

He recalled the moment he met Yan Qiling's gaze in the mirror, those eyes so pure they seemed devoid of desire.

Lin Yongjian felt a slight tightening in his chest.

Those vacant yet pristine eyes.

When tainted with desire, they would likely be more captivating than one could imagine.

-

This reality dating show revolved around three former couples now living together and rekindling their relationships. The television network, having purchased the rights, decided that guest commentary would attract more viewers during localization, hence the careful selection of mentors.

The seasoned and sharp-tongued talk show hostess Jing Zi was responsible for the main analysis.

The young heartthrob Lin Yongjian was tasked with commenting on male behavior and deciphering male psychology.

The adorable sweetheart Meng ZhiZhi offered insights on female behavior and female psychology.

As for the guest panelists, their role was flexible; they would provide commentary based on their observations and offer an outsider's perspective.

Their job was to watch hours of footage and then comment on what they saw.

Yan Qiling had never appeared on variety shows and didn't usually watch television programs. Most of the time, he was clueless about the "memes" that Mirror and Dream Squeak often referred to.

Nonetheless, he maintained a pleasant, professional demeanor throughout, deciding to fulfill his role as a handsome ornament to the best of his abilities.

That was until Lin Yongjian started frequently involving him in the conversation.

In the original recording, the junior participant, who had sent a lengthy apology message to his ex-girlfriend, ended up confessing his love to an even younger girl that same night, much to the astonishment of the mentors.

Dream Squeak slammed the table with her fairy wand, indignant:

"Oh, I'm so furious! Our senior must be heartbroken. I'd beat him up a hundred times on her behalf!"

Mirror said half-jokingly:

"No matter the age, men remain boys at heart, right? So naturally, the younger ones are preferred. Don't you agree, Yongjian?"

Lin Yongjian raised an eyebrow, composedly glancing at Yan Qiling beside him:

"Not necessarily. I have great appreciation for mature guests, like Teacher Yan and Teacher Mirror, for instance."

Smiling professionally, Yan Qiling remained silent.

The mirror teased, "You're mainly here to appreciate Teacher Yan, aren't you? I seem like an afterthought."

Yan Qiling was compelled to respond, "It seems that Teacher Lin is quite nostalgic."

The mirror, catching on to the jest, erupted in hearty laughter, and thus the matter was glossed over with a casual brush-off. However, thereafter, the unfolding circumstances began to spiral increasingly beyond control.

Dream Squeak analyzed that her "affinity" mainly relied on the object being attractive. Then, she deliberately held up her face cutely towards Lin Yongjian and, in a high-pitched voice, playfully asked if he would consider her as his girlfriend. However, Lin Yongjian rejected her mercilessly.

Undeterred, she repeated her words to Yan Qiling using the same playful approach, clearly aiming to lighten the atmosphere with humor.

However, before Yan Qiling could speak, Lin Yongjian had already placed his name tag in front of Yan Qiling, saying calmly and composedly:

"Professor Yan is already taken, and I'm acting as his shield. Any attempts at wooing him will be futile."

In the mirror and through their laughter, Yan Qiling and Qiling exchanged glances, both sensing a hint of doubt: Was Lin Yongjian planning to create a romantic pairing with this model?

Looking at the name tag before him, Yan Qiling didn't expect that this was just the beginning.

The warm-hearted man in the video offered water to his ex-girlfriend, while Lin Yongjian handed a glass to Yan Qiling, asking,

"Teacher Yan, is it enough?"

Yan Qiling smiled. "More than enough, and I must thank Yongjian for showing me where the water dispenser is."

In the video, the senior went on a date with her sweetheart, causing the junior to feel jealous and deliberately ignore them.

Lin Yongjian commented calmly,

"Such actions are meaningless. When I like someone, I always take the initiative."

Suddenly, he lifted his gaze and turned his head slightly to look at Yan Qiling beside him, offering a subtle smile. It wasn't the bright smile from the dressing room but one that held a sense of determination and control.

His smile quickly faded, and he resumed his cold, domineering demeanor.

Yan Qiling, utterly impressed by the man's acting skills, replied with a subtle smile, "..."

In the recording studio, similar incidents unfolded repeatedly. Meng ZhiZhi playfully teased, "Why bother watching any dating show when you can just watch the two of you?"

Noticing Yan Qiling's evasion, the mirror tactfully steered the conversation away from sensitive topics. She was an outgoing person with a sharp tongue, often outpacing Lin Yongjian in making astonishing remarks to divert attention. Amidst their witty banter, the intense mentor critique segment drew to a close.

After the shooting ended, Meng ZhiZhi rushed to add Yan Qiling on WeChat, only to be intercepted by Tuan Mi, who was watching from the sidelines.

Although technically concluded, there was still a segment where mentors would evaluate each other and cast votes for the "most reliable mentor."

Once Lin Yongjian left, Yan Qiling entered the small black room and cast his vote for the mirror, speaking candidly, "Teacher Mirror's critiques were insightful and brilliant, revealing the depths of human nature. Love is an area I've had limited exposure to, and participating in this event has been a growth experience for me. If I'm fortunate enough to enter the dating phase, the knowledge I've gained today will surely come in handy."

Upon exiting, he found Lin Yongjian, who should have already left, standing in the studio, waiting for him.

Lin Yongjian approached hastily, his slightly deep blue eyes revealing a hint of vulnerability, a stark contrast to his stage persona.

"Teacher Yan, do you find me annoying today? For variety shows, more interaction usually makes it more interesting. You probably don't know how many times the director was guiding me through my earpiece today... He seemed pleased... Have I upset you?"

Yan Qiling didn't answer directly but politely replied,

"It's good as long as I could be of help to the production team."

He started to leave with Tuan Mi, and Lin Yongjian followed closely behind.

"Teacher Yan, I'm truly sorry about the endorsement issue. When you have some free time, I'd like to come to your place in a few days to apologize in person."

Yan Qiling declined gently.

"I haven't taken that matter to heart. Besides, I'll be busy with promotional activities for quite some time, so I likely won't have any spare time."

"That's alright. Just give me a call when you're resting, I'll be in Guang City these few days. Please, Teacher Yan, let me make it up to you properly."

Yan Qiling gave him a faint smile, not responding further. Then, under Tuan Mi's escort, he exited the studio.

Outside, the place was teeming with Lin Yongjian's devoted fans. The moment they caught sight of him behind the glass door, they erupted into an ecstatic frenzy.

Aware that he couldn't follow, Lin Yongjian could only watch helplessly as the unassuming man whisked his assistant away through the throngs of people.

A hint of frustration flashed across his eyes. He reached for his phone and dialed Ding Tai's number.