The next day, Yu Shuman stayed in the villa to rest. The exhaustion from filming, combined with the travel fatigue and Qin Ran's endless demands from the previous night, had completely drained her energy. She was too tired to even move and spent the entire day nestled in bed.
Qin Ran took it upon herself to bring lunch to the room, setting up a small table on the bed so they could eat together. Thankfully, Qin Ran exercised restraint after that first day, ensuring Yu Shuman didn't end up too exhausted to even lift a finger. They continued to enjoy their time on the tropical island, making the most of the well-developed resort.
At one point, Yu Shuman expressed interest in visiting the public beach to see the crowds, but she quickly reconsidered after seeing the masses of people swarming the area. Despite being abroad, there were still a large number of fellow Chinese tourists. Since it was the Spring Festival, many people had chosen this time to travel and relax after a long year of hard work.
Though domestic tourist spots were likely packed, the cold weather prompted many to seek out warm foreign destinations, with tropical beaches being a popular choice. The allure of the beautiful waters brought a surge of tourists, and it wasn't long before Yu Shuman was recognized by one of her fans, even with her oversized sunhat, sunglasses, and a traditional local outfit.
"Ah! Is that Sister Manman?!" a fan called out.
Yu Shuman instinctively turned her head, realizing her mistake too late. She and Qin Ran were casually walking down the local shopping street, Yu Shuman holding an ice cream cone with three scoops in one hand and a spoon in the other. That slight turn of her head was all it took for the fans to recognize her, and before she knew it, they were approaching, visibly excited.
One of the girls hesitantly asked, "Sister Manman, could I... could I take a picture with you? I really love you! Your role as the long princess was incredible. I fell in love with you from the very first scene."
With her fan so enthusiastic, it would have been rude to refuse. Besides, Yu Shuman had always been kind to her supporters. She took off her sunglasses and clipped them to her shirt. "Really? Thank you for your support. Would you like to take a photo?"
The fan's seriousness in response was both endearing and amusing. "Yes, really! I'm a huge fan! I've reached level 11 in your super chat!" she exclaimed.
Qin Ran, standing nearby, couldn't help but think: Wow, that's impressive.
The fan eagerly handed her phone to her friend to take the picture. As soon as Qin Ran heard the word "photo," her ears perked up. She immediately inched closer, ensuring that she'd be in the frame. That way, when the fan posted the photo in the super chat later, everyone would see that Yu Shuman wasn't there alone—she was with Qin Ran.
After the photo, the fan expressed her love for Yu Shuman once more. While checking the picture, she suddenly noticed Qin Ran and, looking a bit embarrassed, greeted her. "Hi, um, hello, President Qin..."
Her demeanor toward Qin Ran was noticeably different from her enthusiastic approach to Yu Shuman, reflecting how unfamiliar she was with her. Qin Ran awkwardly scratched her nose and replied, "Hi."
The fan glanced between the two women and then made a quick observation: they really seemed close. While Yu Shuman smiled warmly, Qin Ran's social anxiety kicked in, and she stood a step behind Yu Shuman, simply watching their interaction. Perhaps sensing Qin Ran's odd energy, the fan hurriedly said her goodbyes and left with her friend.
After they walked away, Yu Shuman turned to Qin Ran, chuckling. "Xiao Ran, you scared her."
Qin Ran looked confused. "But I didn't do anything."
Yu Shuman laughed, scooping a spoonful of ice cream and popping it into Qin Ran's mouth. "Let's keep shopping."
Before leaving, the fan had asked if she could post the picture online. If Yu Shuman didn't want her whereabouts known, she promised she wouldn't share anything. Yu Shuman, being considerate, asked Qin Ran for her opinion since Qin Ran, as a big-time CEO, also needed to maintain some privacy.
Qin Ran, however, was unfazed and just nodded.
Later that night, while scrolling through the super chat, Qin Ran came across the fan's post:
[ I ran into Sister Manman today! She's even more beautiful in person than on screen. A stunning beauty who radiates light with every step! I can't believe how lucky I was to meet her. She was so nice, too! When I asked for a photo, she was the one who offered to take it with me. I almost fainted on the spot! I added a little censorship (mosaic) to myself because no filter could make me look as good as her. Btw, that's President Qin in the background—forgot to ask if I could post her, so I covered her face too. (Image attached)]
Qin Ran clicked on the image and saw that, as expected, both she and the fan had their faces obscured by cute bunny stickers, a nod to Yu Shuman's online persona. But while it was understandable to censor the fan's face, why had she censored Qin Ran's?
Qin Ran wanted people to see her! She wanted the world to know she and Yu Shuman were together, enjoying a romantic vacation. More importantly, she wanted to show how well they matched as a couple.
Instead, the comments were filled with adoration for Yu Shuman:
[Sister Manman is just so beautiful! Even without filters, she's stunning! I can't imagine how breathtaking she is in person.]
[Manman and President Qin are so close! They're even spending the holiday together abroad.]
[I wish I had a bestie like that. @mybestieforyears You need to admit you're a rich lady and take me abroad too!]
A few fans, curious about Yu Shuman's schedule, wondered if her filming had finished and if she was now on vacation. Another user chimed in with some insider info:
[Yes, someone from the crew said she worked overtime before the break to finish her scenes. She was so busy that they forgot to officially announce her wrap-up.]
Meanwhile, Qin Ran's presence barely warranted any discussion. Fans were focused on protecting Yu Shuman's career and image, not wanting Qin Ran to be dragged into any unnecessary drama. They cherished the pure friendship between the two and hoped it would remain untainted.
They were fiercely protective of the idea that every girl needs a best friend who stands by them like Qin Ran did for Yu Shuman. To them, it was a beautiful bond worth safeguarding. Unfortunately, they completely overlooked Qin Ran's inner thoughts: "This isn't just friendship! Come on, start shipping us!"
The fans probably wouldn't start shipping them unless Yu Shuman publicly announced their relationship one day. Qin Ran certainly wouldn't be the one to reveal it. Her social anxiety made that impossible, and besides, she always felt like the more undeserving one in their relationship. She wouldn't say a word unless Yu Shuman decided it was time.
Yu Shuman, however, had her own plans. She didn't intend to hide their relationship forever. While she knew that society still harbored prejudice against same-sex couples, she dreamed of the day when she and Qin Ran could stand together proudly and openly declare their love. She believed that day wasn't too far off.
After they returned home, Qin Ran's new semester began. It was the second half of her junior year, and with barely any classes left, she had plenty of free time. Meanwhile, Yu Shuman was as busy as ever, working non-stop. That was always the case after she finished filming a project. Every time Yu Shuman took on a role, she dedicated months to it, from pre-production training to filming. This latest project had taken her from June all the way through to mid-February.
During that time, she had largely disappeared from the public eye, except for occasional updates that reminded fans she hadn't left the industry. Such long absences were rare in the fast-paced world of entertainment, where many stars would rather opt for variety shows to maintain visibility.
Variety shows were quicker to film, had shorter broadcast cycles, and gave stars more opportunities to participate in other events. They were also great for fan engagement. But not Yu Shuman—her dedication to acting set her apart, even if it meant vanishing for long stretches.
Returning to the industry after such a break wasn't easy. The entertainment scene had introduced a wave of new faces, and at events, Yu Shuman would often encounter younger stars she didn't even recognize. After two years in the industry, she had already become a "senior," with younger stars respectfully greeting her as "Senior Yu."
Of course, her warm, older-sister aura played a big part in that. With her mature, nurturing vibe and striking features, many people naturally assumed she was older than she actually was.
One night, Qin Ran sat bolt upright in bed, suddenly remembering the censored photo: Wait, why did she cover me up too? I wanted to be in the picture!