39 ☪ Hot Romance 39
◎I Like It a Lot◎
“Strategist?…”
Qian Ya murmured lowly, her scrutinizing gaze falling on her.
“That’s your bestie, right?”
“My ol…”
As she lifted her eyes to meet Qian Ya’s sparkling gossip-mongering gaze, the words nearly slipped out of Song Chan’s mouth. Her breath hitched, and she felt the air around her solidify.
She paused for a moment, squeezed a smile onto her face, and lightly patted Qian Ya’s shoulder. With a natural tone, she sharply changed the subject.
“My ol… bestie!…”
“We’ve been playing together since we were kids…”
“Hahaha, you even saw through that. Qian Ya, you really understand me too well!”
The awkward smile faded as Song Chan blinked her eyes rapidly, afraid Qian Ya would notice something. Fortunately, Qian Ya didn’t pay it much mind and even seemed a bit disappointed.
Qian Ya sighed, looking exasperated as if disappointed Song Chan wasn’t living up to her potential. “From how panicked you looked earlier, I thought your strategist was a guy.”
“I thought that ancient singlehood flower of yours had finally bloomed. Turns out, the strategist is just your bestie…”
Song Chan let out a breath of relief, turned her back, and patted her own mouth. She silently cursed herself in her heart.
‘Lately, what’s wrong with me? That guy’s been teasing me so much that those two words almost slipped out too easily.’
With her back turned, acting as if she didn’t care, she fiddled with the hem of the gown in front of her and lightly responded to Qian Ya’s earlier words.
“A guy…? What guy? I’m busy to death every day—you know that. Where would I find time for a guy?”
“I get it. I understand.”
Qian Ya picked up the thread. “Us stans never talk about relationships.”
At that, Qian Ya suddenly realized something. “Speaking of which, Zhou Chiyu will be at the gala too. Aren’t you excited?”
Song Chan almost didn’t catch on at first. She replayed Qian Ya’s words in her mind before remembering that, in Qian Ya’s eyes, she was still Zhou Chiyu’s fan.
She nodded hurriedly. “Ah? Excited, excited. I like him the most.”
The forced smile stiffened at the corners of her mouth as Song Chan avoided Qian Ya’s gaze. Just then, she noticed a new email notification in her phone’s message bar.
Before even tapping it, she saw it was an invitation from the cast and crew of Fashion Gentleman in Paris. Song Chan’s body instinctively leaned back—she was utterly baffled.
Lately, with the official announcement of the charity gala, she’d received all sorts of weird collaboration offers: ads, variety shows, interviews.
Looking at the invitation in her inbox, Song Chan couldn’t help but furrow her brow slightly.
Could it be? Were drama crews approaching her to act now?
But she had no acting skills—her background wasn’t even in that field.
Beside her, Qian Ya stood with arms crossed, tilting her head up at a 45-degree angle toward the ceiling, lost in fantasy.
“But on gala night, Su Yicen will be there too, Chanchan. About you and him…”
Now, hearing Su Yicen’s name at the office triggered a conditioned reflex in Song Chan. Her mouth moved faster than her brain.
“There’s nothing between him and me. Just an ordinary work relationship.”
“No, the hot search said you and Su…”
Seeing Qian Ya about to press further, Song Chan waved her phone to cut her off.
“Little Ya, I just got an urgent email. I need to handle it now.”
She pointed at the neatly arranged gowns nearby and clasped her hands together pleadingly.
“So, contacting onlyU about returning these gowns—can I leave that to you?”
It was onlyU, after all! Qian Ya was thrilled inside, instantly forgetting her questions. She agreed readily.
“No problem! Go handle it. I’ll contact onlyU right away.”
Having handed off the gown returns to Qian Ya, Song Chan quickened her pace and practically jogged out of the dressing room—”escaping.”
Only when she returned to her office did she let out a long breath, her panic finally easing.
That near-slip of the title had been way too close. She’d almost let Qian Ya spot the flaw, but luckily, her quick thinking had defused it cleverly.
After taking a sip of water, Song Chan remembered why she’d rushed back.
She’d planned to reject it outright, but out of courtesy, she opened the invitation to take a look.
【Dear Teacher Song Chan,
The fashion romance idol drama Fashion Gentleman in Paris, produced by Chichuang Entertainment Culture Co., Ltd., will soon begin preparations for filming. With the protagonists’ emotional progression as the core, blending humorous and witty dialogue, current social hotspots, and fashion elements, the drama tells the tale of the leads’ loves, hates, and entanglements in career and romance.
Per the initial plans from the Fashion Gentleman in Paris production team, filming is tentatively set to start at the end of July this year, with locations in Hangbei and Paris. Male lead: Su Yicen; Male lead No. 2: Zhou Chiyu; Female lead: Li Shuning…
To better integrate the plot and surprise the audience, the production team recognizes Teacher Song Chan’s esteemed status in the fashion world. We hereby specially invite you to serve as the drama’s fashion consultant…】
After carefully reading the invitation, Song Chan’s mind blanked out briefly. Countless questions flooded her thoughts.
“Chichuang is Su Yicen’s company? He’s doing the male lead? Zhou Chiyu as his sidekick? And Li Shuning as the female lead?”
“Then this crew invites me to be the fashion consultant for this drama?”
For a split second, Song Chan felt like there was a glitch in the world. How else could it coincidentally link all of them together?
One was her secret husband, one was the idol everyone thought she liked, and one was a tricky celeb she had a minor beef with—potentially escalating.
Staring at the drama title on the invitation, Song Chan couldn’t help but complain. “And this title is just so cheesy.”
“A modern idol drama with a name straight out of early cringy internet era vibes…”
The only thing in the invitation that tempted Song Chan was the proposed compensation—high enough to make her heart waver.
As a fashion consultant, she could definitely handle it. But looking at the star-studded cast, she really didn’t want to go. Still, the money was too tempting; she couldn’t quite resist.
After all, the pay for a fashion consultant—who didn’t need to be on set daily—exceeded what she’d earn slaving away at ZE Fashion for two years.
After agonizing for a bit, Song Chan decided to table it. Once the charity gala was done, she’d ask Su Yicen first.
As she exited the email app, a Weibo notification popped up.
Rumors: Su Yicen and Li Shuning to Star in Fashion Gentleman in Paris#
Song Chan had just read the crew’s invitation, so this headline made her extra sensitive. She tapped in.
OrangeNotGrayCoconutGray: 【Internet special forces here, rushing wherever the gossip is~】
IKaied: 【Just saw another marketing account say Zhou Chiyu might join too, and they’re negotiating with Song Chan to be the fashion consultant.】
SoySauceOfTheWorld: 【Nothing else to say, but this title with Su Yicen’s face is like a gorgeous mixed-race baby named Wang Ergou—pure absurdity.】
SuYicenOffSiteGirlfriend: 【Marketing accounts, stop leading us on. Every drama mentions our bro. We only trust official announcements. Reject fan-baiting.】
LemonTreeUnderMeAndShu: 【Eating melon but not buying it. Looking forward to Li Shuning’s red carpet look at ZE Fashion 20th Anniversary Charity Night.】
The title featured two big names: a top traffic idol and a rising flower. Comments quickly surpassed 10k+.
Seeing her own name mentioned startled Song Chan a bit, but with fans controlling the narrative, netizens were used to marketing hype.
Most focused on the drama’s ridiculously cheesy name.
Seemed fine—no issues. The hype would die down soon.
As Song Chan exited the post, she saw the #ZE Fashion 20th Anniversary Charity Night# tag, which had been trending since PR started and still hung in the top ten.
With the event just two days away, the announced guests were star-studded, drawing half the Entertainment Circle. It sparked massive online buzz.
As the main person in charge, monitoring real-time trends was part of Song Chan’s daily routine. Checking topic discussions was her most nerve-wracking time.
Fortunately, today’s chatter stuck to the usual themes.
Greedy Cen Body Fan: 【Fam, who gets it? Chanyi Mianmian same-stage again! First public appearance post-CP teardown—way too spicy!~】
Another Bowl of Crispy Pork: 【No one shipping Su Yicen and Li Shuning’s CP? Neighboring accounts say they’re teaming for a new drama. Their visuals match so well (excited)】
BigHeadNoBrain: 【Just do a full CP stew: Su Yicen x Li Shuning, Zhou Chiyu x Song Chan. I ship Zhou Chiyu and Song Chan more! Boss lady and puppy boy—who doesn’t love that?!】
Chan Yi Mian Mian 99: 【Upstairs! Stop messing with ships! Chanyi Mianmian is the real deal!】
Song Chan knew #Chanyi Mianmian# would never be overlooked. Battle-hardened from countless CP wars, she could face any storm calmly now.
She skimmed the comments—mostly fan promos and CP squabbles.
Song Chan exited Weibo and lightly patted her forehead, ready to dive back into work. Just then, Qian Ya returned after handling the gowns.
“Chanchan, onlyU sent someone. They took the returns.”
“Mm.” Song Chan acknowledged.
Qian Ya asked again, “They sent a new batch of custom jewelry. Want to pick some?”
Song Chan pursed her lips. After scrolling hot searches, she felt utterly drained.
“I don’t wanna move. Tomorrow?”
“I knew it!”
Qian Ya patted Song Chan’s shoulder and held up her phone screen.
“Knew you’d be lazy. I took pics—pick away.”
onlyU’s jewelry wasn’t as famed as their gowns in fashion circles, but it was still high-end luxury.
To give other brands face, Song Chan picked just a ring and a pair of earrings.
“These two. Return the rest.”
“Hiss—” Qian Ya sucked in a breath at her choices.
Having helped Song Chan select throughout, Qian Ya knew she had two gown outfits and two jewelry sets for the event.
Now she had bags, rings, bracelets, earrings, hair accessories—everything but the key necklace.
Qian Ya scrolled to a diamond necklace photo. “Chanchan, look at this diamond necklace. Perfect for your red carpet gown.”
“Did you forget necklaces?”
Song Chan’s hand instinctively touched the sunflower pendant at her neck.
She had once promised Su Yicen she’d always wear it. He’d kept his promises to her, so she should honor this one too.
“onlyU’s gown is stunning enough. A diamond necklace would steal the show.”
“I’ll just wear this sunflower pendant. It’s great—I like it a lot.”