Chapter 20 : Heartbeats by Bihai Lake

Shen Mengke blinked at Shu Yun.
She was unchanged, as if the years apart had never happened.
A pang of sorrow hit Shen Mengke, untraceable, which she chalked up to the joy of reunion.

“Hey, Sister Shu, you two know each other?”
Shi Shuiying leaned in, curious.
Shen Mengke didn’t register who “Sister Shu” was until Shu Yun spoke.
“We do.
Before her debut, we were friends.”
Shen Mengke turned to her.
Shu Yun’s gentle smile and soft gray eyes enveloped her, stirring her heart.
She pulled her hand back, dodging Shu Yun’s gaze.
A flicker of surprise crossed Shu Yun’s face, but she maintained her camera-ready poise.
Oblivious, Shi Shuiying chattered on, Liu Xiangqi chiming in occasionally, while Song Yian sat quietly.

The doorbell rang—another guest.
They stood to greet them, but Shu Yun grabbed Shen Mengke’s hand.
Shen Mengke looked back as Shu Yun mouthed, “Come with me.”
Hesitating, she let Shu Yun pull her upstairs to a bathroom—the only camera-free spot in the house.
Shu Yun locked the door.

“You…”
Shen Mengke faltered.
Shu Yun pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
She turned off her own mic, then reached behind Shen Mengke, grazing her waist to switch off her mic.
Her fingers lingered, and Shen Mengke froze, rigid.

“You’re avoiding me?” Shu Yun asked.
“No…”
Shen Mengke’s eyes welled up.
“You left for years, no word, and when you’re back, you don’t find me…”
“I still live in that same complex.
You know how bad the security is?
Drunks causing chaos every night!”
Her grievances poured out, and she turned away, ignoring Shu Yun.

She’d met Shu Yun at eighteen, her freshman year.
Shu Yun was at her peak then.
They shouldn’t have crossed paths.

Shu Yun was filming at the Film Academy when Shen Mengke, a lost freshman, stumbled into the set.
It was a minor mishap, but she ran into Shu Yun stepping out of her trailer.
That day was a mess—Shen Mengke, in a simple white tee and jeans, sweating under the 2 p.m. sun, rushing to class.
Shu Yun, flawless in makeup and a flowing dress, shaded by an assistant’s umbrella, spotted her.
She told the director Shen Mengke fit the film and invited her to audition.
Shen Mengke declined.
It was a rare chance—Shu Yun, the hottest, youngest Best Actress in the country.
But something in Shu Yun’s gaze felt off, not mentor-like but predatory, like a hunter eyeing prey.
That refusal cost Shen Mengke a shot at fame.

Shu Yun wasn’t deterred.
She added Shen Mengke’s contact, reaching out often.
Over time, Shen Mengke grew fond of the kind, gentle senior.
Shu Yun taught her much, even helping her sign with her current agency and find her apartment.
Shu Yun was her benefactor.
But their bond, less than three years old, ended when Shu Yun, citing illness, broke up with her.
It wasn’t amicable.
Only later, through a handwritten letter from abroad, did Shen Mengke learn of Shu Yun’s condition and the breakup’s necessity.
That letter erased her resentment.
Shu Yun had promised to return in three years, but Shen Mengke had lost count of how many “three years” had passed.
She’d almost forgotten her.

Shu Yun laughed.
“Liar.
That place’s security isn’t that bad.
Don’t guilt-trip me like that.”
She grabbed Shen Mengke’s shoulders, turning her back.
“Sorry, I should’ve come back sooner.
Got held up and didn’t find you first.
I chose the show to surprise you.”
“That’s no surprise!” Shen Mengke frowned, choking up.
She stepped forward, hugging Shu Yun.
“Sister… I waited so long.
Three years, then three more.
I thought I’d wait a decade, thirty years…”
“What, turn into an old hag?” Shu Yun teased, hugging back.
“Not happy to film this show with me?”
“Thrilled.
I’m losing it.” Shen Mengke sobbed.
“I’ve waited forever for this.”
“We’ll act together too.
I’ll get you that Best Actress award.”
Shen Mengke laughed, pulling back, wiping tears.
“Sister, you don’t know how bad I’ve been doing.”
“But I’m back now.
I’ve got you.”
Shen Mengke looked up, eyes shimmering with tears, radiant.
She smiled, shaking her head.
“No, I can do it myself.”

When they calmed down and returned downstairs, everyone had arrived.
Shen Mengke was stunned to see three unexpected faces: Chen Xingxing, Xu Shinian, and Shen Jinglei, whom she’d met briefly at Xu’s gathering.
She and Shu Yun greeted them, taking seats.
Shen Mengke naturally sat with Shu Yun.

Her gaze drifted to Shen Jinglei beside Xu Shinian.
Introduced as a freshly graduated host, this was her variety show debut.
Shen Mengke didn’t get why she’d choose this for her first gig, but their shared surname sparked an odd fondness.

A hand clasped hers.
She glanced over—Shu Yun smiled.
Shen Mengke wasn’t used to such intimacy on camera, but it was a dating show.
As long as it wasn’t with a man, it should be fine…

After introductions, Shen Mengke studied the group.
Eight women, no men.
A dating show should balance genders—were there sixteen guests total?
She was shocked.
Did the industry have that many men?

Before she could dwell, Tianyin, the host, announced the answer.
“Welcome to Journey of Heartbeats, sponsored by Maazi.
This season, we’ll visit five places, feeling the pulse of romance.”
The room quieted as Tianyin spoke.

“First stop: Bihai Lake, the ‘Eye of the World.’
Surrounded by mountains, its blue waters form an eye-like shape from above.
You’ll live together here for three days and two nights.”

Applause broke out, sparse at first, then fervent.
Shen Mengke clapped, glancing at Shen Jinglei beside Xu Shinian, clapping with extra zeal.

“You can now explore the house,” Tianyin continued.
“The villa has eight rooms: two on the first floor, three on the second, three on the third.
After touring, return to the living room for room assignments and the three-day schedule.”

Only then did Shen Mengke realize there were no men.
An all-female dating show was rare, even shocking, in a society with limited tolerance for same-s*x relationships.
Everyone else seemed to know, except her.
She glanced at the director, confused.
Why keep it from her?
Was there something that would’ve made her refuse to join?

She was closest to Shu Yun and Xu Shinian, but learning it was an all-female show changed her view of Shu Yun.
She didn’t know how it passed review, but now, she couldn’t casually get close to Shu Yun.
Her past with her wasn’t a secret she could hide.
She’d joined for the travel, not romance—especially since she had Chen Yanxing.

The thought of Chen Yanxing came unbidden.
They were just physical, no emotional ties, yet the “one-on-one” clause in their contract now felt ambiguously charged.

“Sister Shen, let’s go.”
Shi Shuiying linked arms with her, smiling.
Shen Mengke smiled back, standing to follow, subtly leaving Shu Yun behind—a first.

Everyone moved per the crew’s instructions, heading to the kitchen.
Shi Shuiying’s bubbly nature took over, abandoning Shen Mengke to gush over the kitchen with the others.

Unfamiliar with most, Shen Mengke lagged behind.
Xu Shinian soon joined her, walking at her side.