Chapter 221 - 187: Rising Phase: 23

Words : 1150 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 221: Chapter 187: Rising Phase: 23 Liu Pinran’s gaze made Zhou Yun’s skin crawl, always feeling like he was up to no good. "Our drama is a huge hit, indeed, Xiao Yun’s trending status is not just for show, look, even Ning Yao’s new drama premiere was overshadowed by our show." He was clearly excited about this, "We’ve been top trending for twenty days straight, and we’ve had more than a dozen advertising sponsors approach us wanting to insert ads at the beginning and middle of the episodes." Zhou Yun just smiled. Liu Pinran: "I’ve always said, such a beautiful lady, how could any show you’re in not be popular?" Zhou Yun thought to himself: Could you be any more exaggerated? Have you forgotten how you treated me when we first met? "Xiao Yun, you’re still single, right?" Liu Pinran suddenly asked. Zhou Yun nodded in surprise and asked, "Director Liu, you’re not thinking of setting me up with someone, are you? I’m only twenty-three years old, I don’t go for blind dates." Liu Pinran burst out laughing, his laughter overly exaggerated. "Xiao Yun, how can you be so humorous? You’re doing so well now, of course, you can’t afford to date, dating would greatly impact your career." Liu Pinran laughed and then made a deliberate pause, "However, Xiao Yun, I do have a good idea." As soon as Zhou Yun heard the words "good idea," a bad premonition suddenly rose in his heart. "Director Liu, what good idea?" Zhou Yun asked cautiously. Liu Pinran said, "You and Xiao Gu are everyone’s favorite CP, I invited you out this time to discuss personally, about possibly furthering our collaboration?" "Collaboration?" An idea popped into Zhou Yun’s head, but instinctively, she didn’t want to believe she was right, "Director Liu, you’re not thinking about having me and Huaichun pretend to be a couple for publicity, are you?" Liu Pinran suddenly clapped his hands, very excited, raised his right hand, pointing at Zhou Yun, "Exactly, great minds think alike!" Zhou Yun, shocked, raised her hand, making a "wait" gesture, "Hold on, Director Liu, let’s not rush to great minds thinking alike. There’s really no need for us to fake a couple, right?" "How could there be no need? Do you know how many people want to see you two together?" Liu Pinran asked. Zhou Yun, pleadingly, looked towards Huaichun. Only to see Huaichun also had a stunned expression. "Director Liu, any popular drama’s CP fans remain after the show ends, it’s not surprising," Zhou Lan hurriedly interjected, she said, "You know, Xiao Yun and Xiao Gu are both very young, faking a relationship might not be beneficial for them, especially when male and female fanbases are at their peak." Liu Pinran remained eager, "I know that, but I’m not asking them to actually be in a relationship or to be a contractual couple, that would be too boring." Hearing Liu Pinran say this, Zhou Yun immediately felt relieved. She was really scared Liu Pinran was actually asking her to be in a real relationship with Huaichun, which startled her. If that was the case, she would have unequivocally refused. Liu Pinran explained, "This kind of CP setup is meant to ambiguously tease the fans’ emotions, my idea is, we can periodically market you two, but officially never acknowledge your relationship, letting the netizens guess and chatter about it. This way, you can maintain your popularity effectively, whenever they see one, they’ll think of the other, and also satisfy your CP fans." Zhou Yun, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but shake her head internally. Huaichun looked embarrassed. He had come with Liu Pinran, but he had no idea Liu Pinran was going to propose this. Huaichun felt embarrassed because, by doing this, it seemed like he and Liu Pinran had already agreed on this before coming, as if everything said was consented and agreed upon by Huaichun. However, Huaichun couldn’t outright reject it on the spot. Unlike Zhou Yun, even if Huaichun was popular, he was still under contract with Yuehai, and Liu Pinran, being a high-level executive at Yuehai, had a significant influence over his career. Thus, Huaichun couldn’t afford to publicly contradict Liu Pinran, all he could do was share an apologetic look with Zhou Yun. Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yun said to Liu Pinran, "Director Liu, this matter isn’t just up to me, I need to discuss it with the company." "Would you be willing to do it though?" Liu Pinran asked, "This matter ultimately needs the approval and willingness of the involved parties." "I... I really don’t feel keen on this," Zhou Yun candidly replied, "Given that you’re planning to cast Huaichun and I in ’Dark Sky’, if we fake a relationship, many might believe we’re actually a couple, which is a misconception I want to avoid." Liu Pinran’s smile faded. "Miss Zhou, are you looking down on our Xiao Gu?" Liu Pinran suddenly asked sharply. Zhou Yun helplessly stated, "Of course not, but I simply do not want to fake a relationship." Liu Pinran retorted sarcastically, "Didn’t Miss Zhou and Song Chi use to stir up quite the buzz?" Zhou Yun’s cheeks flushed red. A moment of irritated anger welled up, and she responded somewhat furiously, "Director Liu, Song Chi and I never went around pretending to be a couple; don’t talk nonsense." Seeing the atmosphere suddenly become tense between the two, Zhou Lan quickly intervened. "Director Liu, weren’t you here to discuss ’Dark Sky’ with Xiao Yun?" Liu Pinran shook his head with a light smile, "I came with full sincerity but didn’t expect to be treated casually. Miss Zhou seems to have become quite haughty now. Well, I guess our Xiao Gu really is out of her league." Suddenly, he got up, turned to Huaichun, "Xiao Gu, let’s go." Huaichun was stunned. Zhou Lan froze as well. Huaichun’s face showed a moment of hesitation and struggle; he gave Zhou Yun an apologetic glance before getting up to leave. Leaving Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan alone. Zhou Lan hesitated for a moment, ultimately deciding not to chase after them. She sighed softly and turned to Zhou Yun, "Xiao Yun, why did you have to respond so sharply just now?" Zhou Yun realized she had messed up. Even if she didn’t want to cooperate, she shouldn’t have lashed out at Liu Pinran. But just then, when she heard Liu Pinran’s insinuations about her and Song Chi, the fire in her heart couldn’t be contained, and it erupted. "Sister Lan, does this mean ’Dark Sky’ is off?" Zhou Yun asked with a self-mocking laugh. Zhou Lan patted Zhou Yun’s shoulder, "Today ended on a sour note, I’ll meet with Liu Pinran again another day. Although today’s discussion turned unpleasant, the advantages of pairing you with Huaichun are too clear, he won’t let go of a profitable opportunity."

Chapter 221 - 187: Rising Phase: 23

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