Acting Out of Character (GL) - Chapter 16

“Black Cat Detective.”

“Transformers.”

“A Cornered Dog Jumping Over a Wall.”

Song Ruyu: “??”

Chen Ge pointed to her own right palm.

Chen Ge: “I know this one, the Buddha’s Palm.”

Song Ruyu: “…”

It wasn’t just Song Ruyu; everyone on the crew was stunned into silence.

Chen Ge had guessed every single one correctly, even when Song Ruyu was just making random, nonsensical gestures. It was as if she had a cheat code. Even with Song Ruyu sabotaging the game and refusing to cooperate with her movements, Chen Ge managed to get four in a row through sheer individual effort.

She even guessed the final one right at the buzzer.

“The ‘Ge-Song’ CP answered five correctly in total!” The director’s team announced the tally.

Luo Jingyi didn’t quite understand and cast a backward glance at Feng Yunxin. Since the next group was currently filming their turn, Feng Yunxin walked over to her side.

Luo Jingyi: “What does the ‘Ge-Song’ CP mean?”

“Ge-Song. It’s a CP name formed by taking one character from each of their names, Chen Ge and Song Ruyu.” (Note: ‘Gesong’ also means ‘to praise/extol’ in Chinese.)

“I see.”

Luo Jingyi instinctively began pairing her own name with Chen Ge’s in her mind. ‘Chen-Jing’ CP? (沉靜 – meaning ‘quiet/calm’). It sounded quite elegant. Luo Jingyi, who had zero concept of how modern fan circles named their ships, came up with a CP name that felt comfortable to her, but one that she’d never have a chance to use—and even if she did, it would likely be mocked for being old-fashioned.

Since these groups of guests were strangers who had only known each other for a few days, their chemistry during Charades was a bit lacking. None of the subsequent groups managed to break Chen Ge’s record.

Chen Ge and Song Ruyu took first place, while Dong Shenghong and Ren Yan came in last. The losers were required to drink a large glass of pure lemon juice.

Dong Shenghong looked at the lemon juice, his features scrunching together in dread; he didn’t dare take a single sip. Initially, Ren Yan was acting like a timid little quail, looking shocked and shy. “Oh dear, we actually came in last. It feels like we need to work even harder!”

Seeing her partner bring the glass to his lips multiple times without actually drinking a drop, Ren Yan grew more impatient the more she watched.

“What are you dawdling for? Give it to me!” Ren Yan dropped her delicate act entirely, snatched the lemon water, tilted her head back, and downed it in one go.

Everyone: “??”

Who even are you?!

The first-place winners also received a reward: a whole case of the sponsor’s yogurt to be split between them. Chen Ge looked at the cilantro-flavored yogurt and fell into a state of self-doubt. Was all that desperate struggling really worth it?

The first round of games was entirely for the sake of filling time and providing more material for the editors. The second round, however, was purely for providing “sugar.” Regardless of whether any audience members would actually ship them once this unlucky variety show aired—or if anyone would even watch it at all—they just had to put their heads down and produce the fan service.

In the second round, the partners each gripped the edge of a paper cup with their teeth. They had to relay water into a designated container; whichever team transferred the most water within the time limit won.

Only two pairs competed in this specific game: Chen Ge & Song Ruyu against Sun Ruibin & Yin Yin.

The winning team would get two cases of cilantro yogurt—terrifying in its own right—but the losers had it worse: they had to drink a “dark potion” made of lemon juice, wasabi, and vinegar mixed together. Compared to a dark beverage that might actually cause a chemical reaction in the stomach, the sponsor’s yogurt was something they could at least endure without fear for their lives.

Song Ruyu (Complaining): “Why do we have to play such a difficult game while the ‘uncles and aunties’ get to play ‘Look This Way’? It’s unfair!”

Uncles and aunties… Was Song Ruyu referring to the groups with Dong Shenghong and Luo Jingyi? Chen Ge really wanted to smack her head. Those people were only a few years older than her, yet she was calling them uncles and aunties. She had played the game like a fool earlier, and now she was randomly dissing other people’s ages.

Chen Ge ignored her and went to grab a cup.

Not getting a response, Song Ruyu chased after her and hung her arms around Chen Ge’s neck, draped her entire body weight onto her. “Why are you ignoring me? Pretending not to hear?”

Luo Jingyi’s gaze drifted over.

Fortunately, Chen Ge had a stable lower body and stood firm; otherwise, Song Ruyu’s mindless pounce would have sent them both face-planting onto the floor.

“Stand up properly,” Chen Ge said, annoyed.

Song Ruyu giggled, insisting on hanging off her. “We’re a CP, after all. Did you forget what Sister Si said before we joined the cast? She told me to guide you. I’m willing to guide you, so you have to be obedient and listen.”

Chen Ge shoved a cup directly into Song Ruyu’s mouth. “You scoop the water and pass it to me. I’ll pour it into the container.”

Song Ruyu snorted through her nose. “Why so fierce!”

Chen Ge (Sternly): “Even if it’s just a game, play it properly. I don’t want to lose.”

Song Ruyu arched an eyebrow. “Ooh, so competitive? They say people who are competitive in games are also ‘strong’ in that other area. Are you?”

Chen Ge: “…”

Someone please give me a pair of ears that haven’t heard this filth.

The groups were filmed separately for their different games. Luo Jingyi was on the other side of the room, facing Qian Yu with an inflatable hammer in her hand, occasionally tapping it against her own waist. She could see Chen Ge and Song Ruyu huddled together earlier, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying now.

It looked like Song Ruyu was teasing Chen Ge, seemingly intent on baiting some kind of reaction out of her. Luo Jingyi felt troubled on Chen Ge’s behalf. The child clearly has someone she likes, yet because of work arrangements, she’s forced to do ‘business’ with this brain-dead girl. It really is hard on her.

As the water relay began, Song Ruyu gestured at their height difference. “You’re so much taller than me. You need to squat down a bit so I can pour the water to you.”

Chen Ge: “Then let’s swap. I’ll pour and you’ll catch.”

“No way, I’m afraid you’ll drench my face.”

“…”

“Besides, if you squat down to match my height, don’t you think it’s really ‘moe’?”

Chen Ge (Puzzled): “Where is the moe point?”

The assistant director happened to walk by and agreed with Song Ruyu. “In movies and dramas, when the male lead is too tall, doesn’t he do a split to accommodate the female lead? That’s a moe point! Come on, let’s start! Ready—”

Chen Ge, who was 1.72m and had never had her height accommodated, prepared to hold a steady horse stance. She did plenty of squats in her daily life, so her lower body was stable. As long as Song Ruyu put in some effort and didn’t dawdle, she could hold the stance until the end.

The race began. Song Ruyu and Yin Yin scooped water simultaneously and ran back to their partners. The crew cheered to create a tense atmosphere.

Song Ruyu was like a panicked duck, the cup wobbling in her mouth as she stumbled toward Chen Ge. Chen Ge, biting her cup, felt her brows furrow. What is she doing? Why is she wobbling so much? If she weren’t there in person, she’d think Song Ruyu was trying to navigate the deck of a ship in a storm.

“Steady, steady!” Chen Ge reminded her through gritted teeth.

Song Ruyu reached her and stood on her tiptoes to pour the water. She tilted her head, and the entire cup of water splashed directly onto Chen Ge’s face. Not a single drop made it into the cup.

Chen Ge: “…”

Song Ruyu grabbed the cup with her hand and giggled, tugging at Chen Ge. “Oh! Sorry, Chen Ge, I didn’t do it on purpose!”

If there weren’t so many cameras filming, Chen Ge might have actually punched her. The assistant director was also laughing. “Hahaha, okay! This bit by Xiao Song was well-designed. Great hook!”

Chen Ge: “…”

Song Ruyu gave a flirtatious laugh and tapped the assistant director’s arm with a small pink fist. “Of course I have hooks!”

If she hadn’t signed a contract and taken the money, Chen Ge would have walked out. This was just a show designed to make people look like fools.

Chen Ge’s face was burning. After a moment of silence, she thought of her unpaid rent and her dream of continuing to act. She clenched her teeth, then slowly relaxed them.

“Excuse me, could I have a tissue?” Chen Ge asked the assistant director. She took the paper and looked down to wipe the water from her face.

This scene was witnessed by Feng Yunxin. She also felt it had gone too far and was about to go over to say something when Luo Jingyi pulled her back. Luo Jingyi gave her a look, and Feng Yunxin stepped back.

As Chen Ge wiped her face, she took a deep breath to bury the anger in her eyes. Only then did she look up again, wearing a smile suitable for the camera. This industry wasn’t easy; before becoming famous, no one cared about their feelings. Chen Ge understood her place, why she was here, and what she wanted. She understood she was currently a “nobody,” so she could only swallow the unfairness.

She was aggrieved, yet resolute. Her eyes, full of hope, remained undimmed.

A parched place in Luo Jingyi’s heart was suddenly touched by a warm spring. It was a tingling, warm sensation—a feeling she had never experienced before.

Squeak! Qian Yu hit Luo Jingyi on the head with the inflatable hammer. The wisp of softness that had just risen in her heart was instantly knocked into oblivion.

She turned her head, her gaze sharp with murderous intent. Caught in her stare, Qian Yu was terrified. He shivered and shrunk back. “S-S-Sister Luo… you just lost…”

“Again.” Chen Ge had skillfully wiped her face. Her makeup wasn’t ruined; instead, she had a dewy, radiant look.

Yin Yin and Sun Ruibin had already filled their container halfway, while their own was still empty. Song Ruyu complained, “Chen Ge, you’re being too careless!”

She scooped another cup and hurried over. This time, Chen Ge was on guard. Song Ruyu mindlessly poured again, aiming straight for her face. Chen Ge nimbly stepped back; the water missed her face and fell steadily, a whole cup’s worth, into her own cup.

Song Ruyu: “?!”

The assistant director let out a “Wow!” He hadn’t expected Chen Ge to be so flexible while holding a horse stance. “Did we catch that move?!”

The cameraman: “Got it, got it!”

Because Chen Ge had pulled back, Song Ruyu lost her balance. With a yell, she lunged forward and slammed into a nearby table, looking completely disheveled.

The assistant director laughed again. “Brilliant, brilliant.”

Song Ruyu gritted her teeth in pain and shot a vicious glare at Chen Ge. Chen Ge poured the water into the container without looking at her.

You 18th-tier extra, how dare you make me look like a fool. Rage swept through Song Ruyu’s system. She immediately scooped another cup of water and charged at Chen Ge.

Chen Ge prepared to repeat her move—avoiding the splash while completing the game to create a good “effect” for the show. But Song Ruyu grabbed her, even stepping on her foot. Chen Ge winced in pain and looked at her with anger.

Song Ruyu’s mouth twitched. “Run! Go ahead and run again!”

Just as she was about to drench Chen Ge’s face once more, she felt a sudden force pull at the back of her neck. Someone had grabbed her collar.

Song Ruyu: “?”

Before she could react, the hand gave a sudden jerk. Song Ruyu tilted backward uncontrollably. Momentum carried the water from her cup straight onto her own nose and mouth.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

The cup hit the ground, mostly empty. Half the water had gone up Song Ruyu’s nose, and the other half into her mouth.

“Who was that?!” Song Ruyu screamed as she turned around, ready to have a fierce showdown with the person who had dared to handle her so roughly.

When she turned and saw only the other person’s chin, her arrogance was instantly cut in half.

Luo Jingyi stood before Song Ruyu, her cold “phoenix eyes” looking down. She was calm yet icy. She didn’t say a word, but she radiated an aura that crushed everything around her. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look, confused.

What’s happening? What’s wrong with Sister Luo? The atmosphere was terrifying. Feng Yunxin was dazed, the bread in her mouth nearly falling out. She had never seen Luo Jingyi do something so out of character.

Luo Jingyi pulled out the slip of paper Song Ruyu had drawn before the game. “Is this your number?”

Song Ruyu: “Y-yes… I’m Number 6.”

“No, you’re Number 9.” Luo Jingyi flipped the paper upside down. The 6 instantly became a 9.

Song Ruyu: “…?”

Luo Jingyi then pulled out her own slip with a “9” on it and flipped it to become a 6. She walked up to Chen Ge, placed the paper in her hand, and gave her a gentle smile:

“I’m actually your CP.”