When Ye Ruihuan met Lin Ruijiao's eyes with that gentle gaze, Lin Ruijiao found herself at a loss. She couldn't guess what the other woman was thinking.
That tenderness couldn't possibly be directed at her—it must be for Senior Dong Yulan. Instinctively, Lin Ruijiao turned away to look into the distance.
"Ruijiao, don't you want to know?" Ye Ruihuan's tone carried a trace of helplessness.
"Know what?" Unable to figure things out, Lin Ruijiao played dumb. There was too much meaning in Ye Ruihuan's gaze—something her instincts told her she didn't want to unravel.
"...It's nothing," Ye Ruihuan gave a bitter smile, finally turning her gaze away to the blue sky above.
The sun was growing harsh, soon rising directly above them. The heat began to press down. Their tea had long been finished. Lin Ruijiao's cheeks were flushed, her round eyes slightly dazed. She yawned. "It's so hot... I'm heading downstairs."
"Mm, I'll go too," Ye Ruihuan smiled. Lin Ruijiao, like a shy rabbit, looked adorably flustered.
Time passed faster than they'd realized—suddenly it was lunchtime. Lin Ruijiao stretched as she checked the clock, then began rummaging in the fridge. "Can you cook?" she asked hopefully.
"...No," Ye Ruihuan blinked, then quickly added, "But I can help."
"...Alright, I'm not that great either. If it tastes bad, don't blame me," Lin Ruijiao replied softly as she neatly took out ingredients.
"It won't be. I'm sure whatever you make will be delicious..." Ye Ruihuan beamed, delighted at the thought of tasting Lin Ruijiao's cooking.
Standing beside her, Ye Ruihuan looked completely out of place. She stared blankly at the ingredients, clearly unsure of what to do.
"Aren't you supposed to be helping? Why are you just standing there?" Lin Ruijiao gave her a puzzled look.
"...How do I do this?" Ye Ruihuan picked up a leafy green and stared at it.
"...You pick and wash them," Lin Ruijiao sighed and demonstrated how to do it, then glanced up at her.
Their eyes met. In that moment, time seemed to freeze. Eye to eye, Ye Ruihuan looked innocent and lost. Lin Ruijiao sighed, "Forget it. Go rest."
"Huh? I want to help. I can do this," Ye Ruihuan insisted, quickly copying her movements—surprisingly competently.
"...Not bad," Lin Ruijiao turned to another set of ingredients. "I'll leave this to you, then."
Watching her bustle around, Ye Ruihuan was reminded of that candlelit dinner in her dream—maybe Ruijiao had cooked that herself. What a shame...
She glanced up. Lin Ruijiao looked so focused, a soft glow seeming to halo her figure, making her fair skin appear even more delicate. She looked so soft... so lovable. A woman immersed in her work was truly beautiful.
While Lin Ruijiao moved busily, Ye Ruihuan quietly finished her task and simply watched her.
At some point, the distance between them disappeared. By the time Lin Ruijiao noticed, Ye Ruihuan had already slipped her arms around her from behind. She turned slightly—and met those warm, gentle phoenix eyes.
Their breaths mingled—intimate and close.
"...Why are you so close? Go take a break!" Lin Ruijiao blurted.
"I'm just trying to learn," Ye Ruihuan murmured in a tone so soft it sounded like a playful pout.
"...Learn what? You don't need to learn this. Go play or something. Don't get in my way." Lin Ruijiao dropped the steak into the pan with a sizzle like firecrackers. The aroma quickly spread.
"...Okay. But call me if you need anything," Ye Ruihuan replied, secretly delighted by the faint blush peeking through Lin Ruijiao's hair.
Soon, with Ye Ruihuan watching dreamily, Lin Ruijiao brought over the food. Thank goodness for the steak—about the only thing she could reliably make. She had once learned it for a special anniversary in her previous life. But it seemed all her cooking skills had been lost since then.
"Smells great, Ruijiao," Ye Ruihuan said with admiration.
"Mm. Here," Lin Ruijiao handed over a plate and sat opposite her.
"It's delicious," Ye Ruihuan said after one bite, her smile bright.
"...Mm." Lin Ruijiao looked at the slightly charred steak and stayed quiet. It didn't look great, honestly.
But across from her, Ye Ruihuan kept eating with gusto, one bite after another, her expression as warm and gentle as always. In the end, Lin Ruijiao only finished half. Ye Ruihuan must have gone mad. When had the ever-picky her become so easy to please?
Time ambled on. After lunch, the warmth of the weather made them both drowsy.
"Ruihuan, I'm going to take a nap," Lin Ruijiao said, putting down her phone.
"...Okay. I'm a little sleepy too. Let's nap together," Ye Ruihuan smiled.
"...You go ahead. I'll rest on the sofa," Lin Ruijiao hesitated before shooing her away.
"...Just kidding. Go ahead. I'm not tired," Ye Ruihuan's smile dimmed slightly.
"Alright, I'm going." Lin Ruijiao went upstairs without hesitation—locking the door behind her. No filming today. It was such a relief. After so many exhausting, unexpected events, she could finally rest.
Downstairs, Ye Ruihuan waited quietly, watching the clock tick.
Half an hour passed.
She stood, keys in hand—no one knew when she'd gotten them.
Each room had spare keys in the drawer. Assistant Li had carefully briefed her beforehand.
She pushed the door open softly, crept inside, and lay beside Lin Ruijiao, even her breathing slowed to match. Her gaze stayed on lin Ruijiao's face, gently tracing each feature. Ye Ruihuan's face was full of quiet affection, her eyes glowing with warmth, restrained but passionate.
Unable to resist, she moved closer, lying there with Lin Ruijiao felt so peaceful. So happy. She slowly closed her eyes, holding her wrist, drifting to sleep with a soft smile on her lips.
When Lin Ruijiao woke up, something felt off.
Ye Ruihuan was beside her—how did she get in? Didn't she lock the door?
She glanced at her. Ye Ruihuan slept peacefully, a soft smile on her lips, face gentle and serene. That refined jawline, those delicate features—so different from her usual boldness. A quiet beauty.
She couldn't help staring for a while before something clicked. She slowly pulled her hand from Ye Ruihuan's grasp and stared blankly at the ceiling. She hadn't noticed Ye Ruihuan open her eyes.
"Ruijiao, you're awake?" she said softly. Her voice was like spring water trickling through stone—clear, fresh, and bright.
"...Mm," Lin Ruijiao responded, still dazed.
"Ruijiao..." Ye Ruihuan called again, unable to stop herself.
"Mm?" Ruijiao finally turned to her, still looking blank.
Ye Ruihuan smiled and, after a long moment, said,"Ruijiao... I like you."
The room fell silent.
In the quiet room, Ye Ruihuan took a deep breath, finally voicing the feelings buried deep in her heart. Her heart was pounding wildly, her face flushed, and her eyes locked intently onto Lin Ruijiao, full of anticipation.
Lin Ruijiao turned to look at her in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief. Her already blank mind turned into a mess. For a long time, she didn't know how to respond, or what to say.
"...You like me? No way, are you serious?" Lin Ruijiao kept staring at the ceiling, trying to sort out her thoughts.
"...I am. Lin Ruijiao, I really like you."Ye Ruihuan tried to keep her voice steady and repeated it seriously. She felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest. Her gaze stayed fixed on Lin Ruijiao, not missing even the slightest shift in her expression.
"...I'm... emotionally indifferent. I can't fall in love..." Lin Ruijiao lied.Hadn't Ye Ruihuan always treated her like a substitute? Why this sudden confession...? Though, recently, she had been acting strange. Could it be... she joined the dating show for her?Lin Ruijiao quickly shook off those thoughts.
"..."
Ye Ruihuan's heartbeat gradually slowed. She hadn't expected a rejection to hurt this much—but she also wasn't surprised.Her smile faltered, filled with quiet resignation. Disappointment clouded her eyes.
Of course Lin Ruijiao would turn her down...After everything—her arrogance, her games—how could she expect to be liked in return?
Lin Ruijiao stood and left, saying nothing more, leaving Ye Ruihuan alone in the quiet room.
Out on the balcony, Lin Ruijiao closed her eyes and let the breeze graze her skin. It was soft, carrying the faint warmth of early evening. She never would've guessed—Ye Ruihuan liked her.
This life was already so different from the last. When had her attitude even changed?It was all a bit baffling...Still, Lin Ruijiao wasn't thinking much of it. The confession had surprised her, nothing more.
That flutter in her chest—so once-familiar—had been worn away in the previous lifetime. In this one, even with the tangled mess of emotions between them mostly unraveled, she felt... nothing.At best, Ye Ruihuan was a friend.A complicated, troublesome friend.
Lin Ruijiao turned her gaze to the calm, glittering sea. The clarity of it settled her thoughts.
No matter what happened next, the best thing she could do—for now—was keep things steady, just as before.
The day slipped by.At the edge of the sky, the sun hung low, a warm orange-red orb casting its glow across the world. The sea caught the colors like glass, shimmering in radiant waves. Sky met ocean in a blaze of fiery hues—stunning and surreal.
A boat slowly glided across the water.
The production crew was arriving sooner than she expected.
She smiled and lifted her hand, waving in their direction.
[Ahhh! It's our Jiaojiao! She's gorgeous!!]
[!!! Look! There she is!!]
[No way—were they really on the island together?! Is this real?!]