Chapter Forty-Two: The Spiritual Bond Between Them Is Real

Early in the morning, the production crew of "Celebrity Diary" arrived at the door, ready to begin filming the fourth episode. The edited version of the first episode had already aired; though it had previously been livestreamed, the ratings remained high. Some viewers who had watched the livestream tuned in again for the edited version, while devoted fans of each celebrity meticulously calculated the screen time their favorite received in the final cut. Even more viewers were drawn in by the recent controversy surrounding Bai Chenxi, who had trended online with negative press for several days—these onlookers tuned in just to see the drama unfold.

Beyond the occasional casual viewer, the bulk of the show’s popularity was fueled by dedicated fans and gossip enthusiasts. "Celebrity Diary" included the full, unedited footage of the controversial moments involving Bai Chenxi that had circulated online, allowing many spectators and former detractors to finally see the truth for themselves. However, in the preview for the next episode, the show’s editors once again highlighted ambiguous scenes that could easily be misunderstood. As expected, Bai Chenxi was subjected to another round of online criticism. Yet, there was little she could do; after all, the production team needed high viewership. As long as there’s controversy, there’s traffic. They had assured her that everything would be explained clearly in the main episode, so Bai Chenxi was content to wait for the moment when public opinion would reverse. As for those who could never be convinced, Bai Chenxi simply didn’t care.

That day, Bai Chenxi rose especially early. And for what purpose? Lin Yue had insisted she “welcome his arrival,” so she was determined to make a spectacle for him.

On the plane, Lin Yue, resting, suddenly shivered and pulled his blanket tighter around him. The moment he got off the plane, he saw a large crowd gathered ahead. He glanced behind him—was there another celebrity on this flight? There were so many fans—it certainly couldn’t be for him, since his return was supposed to be a secret.

Adjusting his sunglasses, Lin Yue prepared to walk forward, when suddenly someone shouted, “It’s Lin Yue! I see him!” Almost instantly, a throng of fans surged toward him. Lin Yue thought to himself: How could these fans possibly know which flight I was on?

His question was soon answered. Striding confidently through the crowd came Bai Chenxi, followed closely by a cameraman. Lin Yue was dumbfounded, especially as Bai Chenxi called out boldly, “Well? Surprised? Didn’t expect this, did you?”

Drawing closer, Lin Yue whispered under his breath, “What are you up to this time?”

Bai Chenxi maintained her bright smile. “What could I possibly be up to? I came here especially to welcome you!”

Lin Yue nearly gritted his teeth. “Didn’t you say it was inconvenient? And yet you’ve made such a spectacle?”

“Isn’t this exactly the kind of welcome that befits your status?” Bai Chenxi’s grin grew sly. “Oh, I almost forgot to mention—I’m filming a reality show right now. It’s live, too!”

Lin Yue’s expression was hidden behind his mask, but his tone said it all: “Bai Chenxi, you really are something.”

Their words clashed like swords, but to onlookers, it seemed as though the two old friends were simply catching up enthusiastically after a long separation.

Bai Chenxi called out in a clear voice, “Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace?”

Lin Yue coughed. “Yes, let us depart.”

[Emperor Li: I treated you as my crown prince, but you dare covet my throne.]
[Narrator: Nothing more to say, @EmperorLi @Wang Ye Hong, the crown prince seeks usurpation.]
[As they say, a crown prince who doesn’t wish to be emperor is not a good prince.]

The television drama "Rivers and Beauties" had launched both Lin Yue and Bai Chenxi into stardom, with Lin Yue playing the role of the crown prince. The celebrated actor Wang Ye Hong was both director and the cunning, masterful Emperor Li—the prince’s father. Seeing Lin Yue refer to himself as “the emperor,” netizens couldn't resist teasing, and even Wang Ye Hong posted on social media:

I am Wang Ye Hong V: Alas! What am I to do now that my son dreams of usurping the throne?

Top comment: Just give him a good beating.

Later, Lin Yue replied: Father, I was wrong. My loyalty to you is as clear as heaven and earth, as bright as the sun and moon (a thousand words omitted here).

But in the car at that moment, Lin Yue knew nothing of this. He was still puzzling over what new mischief Bai Chenxi might be planning.

Lin Yue: Bai Chenxi, what are you plotting now?

Bai Chenxi: The producers asked me to invite a few friends from the industry over to my house today. But do I have any friends? You just happened to come back, so you’ll do perfectly—a friend in need!

Lin Yue: Oh! Now you think of me. Did I ever agree to this? You just make decisions for me.

Bai Chenxi: Then get out of the car now. I won’t stop you.

The smile she flashed made Lin Yue’s scalp tingle.

Lin Yue: Why not invite Chu Muyun? Wouldn’t that be great—another chance to show off your romance.

Bai Chenxi sent an eye-roll emoji: He’s not here, and besides, who’s showing off? There’s nothing between us, don’t make things up.

Lin Yue stopped texting and turned to look at her. “You don’t even realize how red your face is right now.”

[These two aren’t looking too good, are they? Not saying a word.]
[Has it occurred to anyone that they might be texting each other?]

[Chatting face-to-face on their phones, huh.]
[Wow! Lin Yue looked at Bai Chenxi, and she blushed!]
[My Lingxi couple is giving us sweet moments again!]

The livestream chat was instantly flooded with excitement at the sudden resurgence of the Lingxi couple. Both had risen to fame through "Rivers and Beauties"—their first drama—and their fanbases overlapped heavily. They worked at the same agency, had always maintained a close relationship, and unlike many other stars, hadn’t cut ties after the show ended. Their fans had always shipped them as a real-life couple, and with the popularity of the drama, the two were recognized as an iconic on-screen pairing. Some fans even edited together countless fan videos, which Bai Chenxi would sometimes watch. If she was moved to tears, she’d send them to Lin Yue as well.

Lin Yue always acted annoyed: “Look at me dying for your sake—so dramatic, it ruins the scene.”

This would often leave Bai Chenxi ignoring him for ages.

Their fans had no idea about these exchanges; all they knew was that the two got along famously and so wholeheartedly championed them as a real-life couple. That is, until Chu Muyun appeared. After that, their couple fandom suffered a huge blow—many couldn’t accept it and left, while the rest were nearly forced to become “just friends” supporters instead.

Now that the two were interacting again, excitement was inevitable. Even if it was like searching for sweetness among shards of glass, a little sugar was better than none—no one dared complain.

As the comments scrolled by, Bai Chenxi finally broke the silence. “What should we eat?”

Lin Yue replied helplessly, “Is food all you ever think about?”

“What else would you do when inviting friends over?” Bai Chenxi asked, bewildered. Wasn’t the whole point of inviting friends to eat together, not to clean the house?

“What do you want to eat?”

Bai Chenxi looked at Lin Yue. “Let’s say it together—let’s test our rapport!”

“Hotpot.”

At that, the two exchanged a smile. For a gathering, hotpot was the obvious choice.