What's Wrong with Spoiling You? [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 53

When not filming, Yun Bo would go bare-faced. Her natural beauty was quite different from her on-screen glamour. Before, she could roam freely without restrictions, but now the media could capture Yun Bo just by catching Tan Yun.

It wasn’t that Yun Bo feared being photographed, but rather she worried it might affect Tan Yun.

Tan Yun considered herself a public figure now and didn’t want to embarrass Yun Bo. After deliberating over her wardrobe for a long time, she finally picked out a white V-neck short-sleeved top that suited her. “Yun Bo, what do you think of this one? I think it looks nice.”

Yun Bo crossed her long legs and leaned back slightly, scrutinizing it carefully.

Thinking Yun Bo wasn’t satisfied with the outfit, Tan Yun turned to fetch another from the closet.

“You’re my girlfriend. Who are you dressing up so prettily for?”

“Huh?” Tan Yun hadn’t expected such praise. “You’re a big star now—paparazzi follow you everywhere. I can’t embarrass you.”

“Embarrass me?” That thought hadn’t crossed Yun Bo’s mind, and she felt a pang of jealousy. “So you’re dressing up for the paparazzi, huh?”

“No!” Tan Yun sat beside her, holding the top against herself. “I’m afraid your fans might say I’m not good enough for you.”

“Then who do you want to be with?” Yun Bo squeezed her hand. She had thought it would take Tan Yun longer to accept her status, but it had happened faster than expected.

“Of course I want to be with you! But I just want to become a better version of myself.” With that, she stood up to head to the bathroom and change.

Yun Bo tightened her grip and pulled Tan Yun back into her arms. “Change right here for me.”

“The curtains are open…” Tan Yun was flustered by such shameless words in broad daylight. She struggled slightly. “Just wait here. I’ll be out soon—it won’t take long.”

Yun Bo took the top from her hands. “This glass is specially treated—no one outside can see in.”

“How do you know that?”

“I noticed when Yan Jin sent Cheng Xiaoai off yesterday.” As she spoke, her hands grew restless, fiddling with the buttons on Tan Yun’s top. “Who was the one making a fuss yesterday? Now you’re unwilling.”

Tan Yun quickly shut her mouth, thinking, “I swear I’ll never say such things again.”

Though her words said one thing, her body was far more honest.

…

Downstairs, Tan Yun spotted a familiar woman in her line of sight.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly straightened her posture, her gaze turning fierce.

Youyou had just stepped out of the car and, meeting Tan Yun’s glare, was taken aback. She glanced at Yun Bo in confusion.

Tan Yun shot her another glare. Wow, this girl is really playing the victim.

“Why are you here?” Yun Bo’s tone wasn’t exactly warm, worried she might have scheduled something without her knowledge.

Youyou pulled a key from her bag. “The company was afraid you’d get photographed again, so they switched your car. Here’s the key.”

She handed it over but flinched under Tan Yun’s sharp stare.

As Youyou extended the key, Tan Yun swiftly snatched it from her grasp.

“Uh, Duanduan, just a heads-up—remember the contract we signed? It mentioned confidentiality…”

“I know my limits.”

Tan Yun pondered that since they had run into each other today, she might as well ask about the exact relationship between the two of them.

Better to nip it in the bud than to let it fester.

“Yun Bo, who is this sister? I don’t think I’ve seen her before?” Tan Yun deliberately spoke in an intimate tone, wanting to make Youyou aware of her current position.

Yun Bo was well aware of her little schemes. “My manager and assistant.”

Tan Yun let out a “hmph,” convinced that Youyou must be using work as an excuse to cling to Yun Bo. She immediately adopted the demeanor of the rightful partner. “Oh, so you’re the manager and assistant!”

Her words carried a hint of disdain, leaving Youyou utterly confused. Sensing a misunderstanding, Youyou quickly clarified, “Miss Tan, is there some misunderstanding between us?”

“No misunderstanding at all! How could there be?” Tan Yun put on a magnanimous front. “I should be thanking you for driving Yun Bo here personally every day.”

Realizing Tan Yun had mistaken her relationship with her boss, Youyou explained, “No need for thanks. It’s just that Duanduan encountered a suspicious person recently, so I was asked to drive her around.”

Tan Yun wasn’t buying it, and hearing her call Yun Bo “Duanduan” made her extremely uncomfortable. “And you driving back alone is safe?”

Youyou sighed. “You know Duanduan is a superstar, while I’m just an assistant. Who would bother with someone like me?”

Her reasoning was sound. Tan Yun glanced at Yun Bo standing nearby and coughed lightly, hoping she would explain whether this was indeed the case.

Youyou also looked at Yun Bo expectantly, as she genuinely had no intention of clinging to her.

Yun Bo knew Tan Yun was jealous of Youyou, which filled her with satisfaction. “She’s right. We ran into a strange person the other day, and since I’ve been exhausted from filming, I asked her to drive me back to the hotel.”

“Oh, I see!” Tan Yun felt a bit embarrassed and softened her previously aggressive tone. “Well, then… thank you for taking care of Yun Bo these days.”

Youyou smiled. “The car is already here, parked in front of the Bentley.”

She added, “If you encounter any suspicious people on the road, remember to call me immediately so we can intercept any photos.”

Yun Bo nodded. It was getting late, and if they kept chatting like this, the whole day would be wasted.

Once in the car, Tan Yun couldn’t help but ask, “Yun Bo, why do they all call you Duanduan?”

Yun Bo couldn’t explain her reincarnation. “Yun Duan is my stage name. My real name is Yun Bo.”

Tan Yun’s question was actually simple—she didn’t want to address her so formally and wanted a special nickname of her own.

Usually sharp, Yun Bo didn’t catch on this time, assuming she was just jealous.

With the conversation at a dead end, Tan Yun didn’t know how to continue and dropped the topic. “So, where are we going later?”

“I looked it up before coming. The grand theater here is performing The Peony Pavilion today, and the reviews are good. I’ll take you to see it.”

Tan Yun had originally thought they would act like couples in TV dramas—first going to the movies, then strolling around an amusement park. But going to the opera wasn’t bad either; she had loved it since birth.

The grand theater was located on Republic Street, flanked by architecture styled after the Republic era. Passersby dressed in period clothing bustled about, while rickshaw pullers nearby called out their services with increasing enthusiasm.

Intrigued, Tan Yun quickly approached one to ask, “How much for a ride, young man?”

The rickshaw puller flicked the white towel draped over his shoulder. “Depends on where you’re headed, miss.”

Tan Yun pointed ahead at the grand theater. “We’re going there for the opera.”

“Twenty yuan for both of you.”

It was only a few minutes’ walk, so twenty yuan seemed steep. Just as Tan Yun was about to haggle, Yun Bo handed over the money, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and whispering in her ear, “I don’t want you talking to him too much.”

Tan Yun felt as if she’d been intoxicated. “Then I won’t say another word to him.”

“Good girl.” Yun Bo took the change from the rickshaw puller.

The young man eagerly pulled out his rickshaw and asked professionally, “Would you prefer slow, medium, or fast speed, ladies? No extra charge.”

“Slow!” Tan Yun didn’t want this intimate moment with Yun Bo to end too soon.

Having lived in the modern era for years now, Yun Bo had only ridden rickshaws for filming purposes—otherwise, she traveled in luxury cars.

Modern rickshaws had been improved, with far more padding than the old ones, so she could no longer experience the same jolting sensation.

The puller’s “slow” speed was indeed sluggish, almost like an ox-drawn cart.

Tan Yun found it underwhelming and complained, “I might as well walk.”

The puller grinned. “If you’d like, miss, I can take you around a couple of nearby streets.”

Now Tan Yun realized she’d been scammed. “What a rip-off! No wonder you don’t have many customers.”

The puller refused to admit it. “Listen, my rickshaw’s the best deal around. Look at the others—plenty go even slower than me.”

Before he could finish, they arrived at the theater entrance.

Yun Bo checked the tickets. “The show starts in an hour. Let’s grab something to eat.”

“Hey!” Tan Yun suddenly remembered a common trope from TV dramas. “Yun Bo, do they sell Yangchun noodles here?”

The rickshaw puller saw another opportunity. “I know this area well—I can take you to an authentic Yangchun noodle shop. I’m even friends with the owner.”

Tan Yun immediately linked arms with Yun Bo, clutching her wallet to prevent her from paying again. “No more rides with him—total scam.”

Nearby, a few vintage bicycles were parked. Though Tan Yun didn’t dare drive a car, she was skilled at cycling. She quickly dropped a few coins into the wooden box. “Hop on, Yun Bo! I’ll ride you!”

Yun Bo had carried her like this once before, though the setting had been different. Gazing at the distant white sails, a part of her heart caved in.

The surroundings blurred into a swirling vortex, rapidly receding behind them.

The familiar old street, the familiar jingle of bicycle bells weaving through the alleyways, the scent of tea wafting from the lanes—Tan Yun patted the bike seat in front of her and said, “Yun Bo, hurry up and hop on! My biking skills are top-notch!”