Chapter 81 - My Costar And I Are Under The Spotlight

Both of their agencies call Director Chen and the 'Crimson Promise' producers to smooth over things after the last minute announcement of their TV appearance.

This season of 'Missing Piece of Love' is being filmed in Shanghai, which is only a short two-hour speed rail ride away -- that means they can still film a few of their scheduled scenes in the morning before leaving for the studio.

Yao Shen is too anxious about putting their plan in practice, not to mention the role he'll have to play later during the actual filming of the tv show.

Boss Huang even calls him on the car to the train station.

"This is a great opportunity to dispel some of the more intense rumors about you and Xin Hulei," he says. "The three of you are going to be the star guests who will play the role of mentors to the contestants so don't pay him much attention, keep you distance but be natural," Boss Huang says, his raspy voice staticky in Yao Shen's ear. 

"I understand, Boss," Yao Shen says, rolling his eyes as he follows Bi Jialu inside their cabin on the train. "I'll keep my distance."

Boss Huang of course has no idea of the real purpose behind this impromptu tv appearance. He wholly believes this is a lucky promotion opportunity for the drama, and is happy to go along with it.

Yao Shen has no idea how the public will react to what is going to happen when they tune in for tonight's episode, but he finds that doesn't much care.

Soon enough something bigger will come along, and everyone will move on, as they always do.

"What's on your mind, laoshi?" Bi Jialu asks, extending him a sticky rice cake.

Yao Shen shakes his head. He's too apprehensive to eat, and he'd much rather be sitting with Xin Hulei, but they're still being kept on a short leash so they need to keep up appearances.

Just as he's looking listlessly at the landscape flying by through the window, his phone vibrates in his pocket.

[Xin Hulei: wish you were here, Liansi is being annoying]

[Naughty Ghost: Bi Jialu is a delight like always]

[Naughty Ghost: but I wish you were here too]

[Xin Hulei: She wants me to go on a date with the contestant who wins the show]

Yao Shen smirks down at his mobile. Xin Hulei wants to make him jealous, and he's not even being subtle about it.

Yao Shen supposes he can humor him.

[Naughty Ghost: then I'll do the same, we'll make it a threesome ;3]

[Xin Hulei: no]

That single word has such an aggressive aura that Yao Shen can almost see Xin Hulei's displeased frown through the screen.

"What is laoshi laughing at?" Bi Jialu asks, glancing at him over the folded pages of her novel. "Any funny new memes about you?"

Yao Shen locks his screen. "No," he says, and leaves it at that for the rest of the trip.

---

They're ushered from the train station into a car towards the studio, and once there are immediately escorted to the makeup department to be fussed over.

It's been a long time since Yao Shen has seen himself styled in a contemporary look, he almost doesn't recognize his reflection.

The artfully tousled locks, the reddened lips and sultry eyes make him look like a different person.

"I think our contestants are going to wish Yao laoshi was the prize today" one of the makeup artists says, applying the final touches on Yao Shen's face. 

Yao Shen laughs politely at the compliment, but wonders what will the contestants think when they see Xin Hulei, then?

While he waits to go on stage in the dressing room, he goes over the 'script' for the show.

Six girls are going to be competing for the affections of a former boyband survival contestant. He didn't make it into the final lineup, but his looks and laid back personality attracted attention and he got some opportunities in the entertainment cycle afterwards.

Even so, Yao Shen knows full well that neither he, nor any of the six contestants, are really looking for 'love'. The most they hope to get is some exposure, and perhaps a few acting opportunities, depending on how convincingly they manage to portray their non existent romantic aspirations.

If everything had gone according to plan, Yao Shen would have joined a reality show with much the same purpose.

He respects the hustle, and wishes them all good luck in their future endeavors -- because, he, Xin Hulei and (unfortunately) Tan Liansi, are about to steal the show.

---

Yao Shen sees Xin Hulei for the first time when he's already sitting in his assigned seat on the opposite side of the stage from the six contestants.

They've decided to go with the cold, unapproachable bad boy look for him, with black pants and a leather jacket with an abnormal amount of chains and belts. His long hair is slicked away from his forehead, making his dark eyes look even more opaque than usual.

Yao Shen has to make a real effort not to ogle him when he takes his seat between him and Tan Liansi.

Seconds later, the host enters the stage and approaches the cameras with a plastic smile. 

"Welcome everyone, to today's episode of 'Missing Piece of Love!' Today we have three special guests, the main cast of the much awaited drama 'Crimson Promise' the live action adaption of the popular novel, 'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you'!"

The host gestures towards the three of them as the crowd cheers, Yao Shen waves and bows towards the cameras and the audience, overly conscious of his own fake smile.

After them, the host introduces the contestants and the bachelor of the day -- Yao Shen can't say he's paying any attention.

His eyes keep drifting towards the public, trying to find a familiar hateful figure among them, but the stage lighting blinds him.

Soon, the first game starts, and the three of them are called into action.

Each of them gets to 'mentor' two contestants, and advise them on how to behave, and what to say to win over the bachelor in the 'dates' the show sets up for them.

Yao Shen isn't looking forward to making a fool of himself live, but they need to keep up appearances until the bachelor chooses the winner, when the audiences are highest, and it's too late for the transmission to be cut.

---

The two girls Yao Shen is responsible for mentoring are nice enough, although it's clear they wish he wasn't there.

Ling Long is a pretty girl with a short bob haircut and a personality the host described as 'fiery'.

The other contestant is called Song Wen and is supposedly shy, introverted and interested in painting.

Realistically, both of them would rather have all the attention focused on themselves, instead of dividing the stage with three actors who are already gainfully employed.

Keeping that in mind, Yao Shen tries to make his smiles look sincere and his praises for both of them sound genuine.

"Laoshi is too kind," Ling Long says, eager to get on with their segment. "We're happy to hear laoshi's suggestions to make a good first impression."

The first 'date' will consist of a round of speed-dating, in which each contestant gets two minutes to talk with the bachelor and try to introduce themselves in the most exciting way possible.

One contestant will be eliminated in this round, and it's Yao Shen's role as a 'mentor' to ensure that both of his contestants do well, until eventually one of them is selected by the bachelor.

"The two of you have such great personalities already, I'm sure if you're yourselves it will be great," Yao Shen says, his smile straining his lips.

Although she smiles, Song Wen's eyes looks at Yao Shen as if she would like nothing better than to flay him alive.

"Is that what laoshi did?" she asks, through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean?" Yao Shen asks, utterly confused by her question.

Ling Long lets out a completely fake laugh and covers her mouth with the back of her hand. "Don't be shy, laoshi, we look forward to learning from your expertise. After all, if Yao laoshi managed to find his one true love, we'd like to learn from him."

Yao Shen steps away from them with an awkward laugh. "I didn't-"

He looks around in the hope of being queued by someone from the production, but no one has any reaction beyond staring at him as the camera's keep rolling.

Smiling just as woodenly as Ling Long, Song Wen lets out a fake laugh of her own. "That's true, I'm sure laoshi has valuable knowledge to share with two girls inexperienced in romantic matters like us."

She sounds like she's reciting a script, and a terrible realization dawns on Yao Shen. 

No matter how many strings Tan Liansi managed to pull, and how powerful her and Xin Hulei's agency is -- 'Missing Piece of Love' was still very accommodating in short notice.

They didn't think much of it because they were more focused in exposing the criminals. 

But it's obvious now that the show was only quick to make room for them because they wanted to milk the recent internet gossip about Yao Shen and Xin Hulei's relationship.