Chapter 14: Cut This Part

Ivy held Kate's phone, her eyes puzzled as she asked, "Why is everyone looking at me?"

"Oh, it's nothing! You're just too adorable, everyone couldn't resist sneaking another look," the behind-the-scenes coordinator said, smoothly reassuring Ivy while recording with professional ease.

"Absolutely," another crew member chimed in.

Ivy, already used to being called "cute" since she was young, took it as nothing unusual. She wore a practical outfit for the outing—a cool, multi-pocketed pair of pants—where she instinctively stowed away the phone she was holding, forgetting that it wasn't her own.

Kate noticed her phone disappear into Ivy's pocket but chose to remain silent.

The flower arrangement coordinator could barely contain her delight, nearly trembling with excitement. Whether friendship or sisterhood, this casual dynamic between the two was her idea of romance, and each moment was sweeter than the last.

Ivy bounded up to stand behind Kate, cheerfully announcing, "I'll push the swing for you! My mom used to push me when I was little, and I loved it!"

Without giving Kate a chance to respond, Ivy gave the swing a sudden push, nearly startling Kate out of her composed demeanor. Her pupils narrowed slightly like a startled cat, caught off guard by the playfulness.

Singing softly, Ivy chanted, "Swing, swing, to Grandma's house we go… She'll call me her good little child, a candy here, a fruit there…"

Her voice trailed off as she tried to remember the next lines.

Kate added quietly, "A sweet here, a treat there, Grandma cooks up a fish to share."

"You know it too!" Ivy's eyes crinkled with delight. "I thought only kids from the South knew that song."

"My grandmother's from the South," Kate replied offhandedly.

"Then one day we should invite her to our home!" Ivy exclaimed enthusiastically, before catching herself, her thoughts drifting briefly to her brother.

The crew members hadn't realized Ivy was from a southern town, and with her height and vivacious personality, she didn't quite fit the image of a petite, delicate girl from the South. Yet, here she was, nearly as tall as Kate herself, who officially measured at 5'6".

But what surprised them even more was how, on this very first "date," Ivy had met Kate's family—almost as if they were already set on a family arrangement! If Kate had been a male guest, they could practically imagine a baby arriving by the season's end!

Unbothered by Ivy's warmth, Kate seemed unfazed by her enthusiasm, merely replying, "Alright."

The crew exchanged astonished glances at Kate's casual agreement. Could they truly understand what was unfolding here?

Kate reached behind and gently held Ivy's hand. "That's enough swinging."

"Are you not enjoying it?" Ivy asked, suddenly cautious.

"Come and sit here with me," Kate said instead.

"Alright." Ivy massaged her wrist, mumbling playfully, "That was a serious workout for me!"

Every camera on set was primed to capture these spontaneous, charming moments as part of their "Rookie's First Romance" chronicle.

**

The greenhouse was cozy and inviting, with a faint floral fragrance drifting in the air. They sat together in serene companionship, surrounded by blossoms, with two delightful dessert towers filled with seasonal sweets.

Ivy took a small bite of one dessert and blurted out, "Did they steal your grandmother's flowers for these?"

Kate inhaled deeply and almost raised her hand, as though barely refraining from giving her a light tap.

Ivy hadn't noticed, oblivious to anything except her own thoughts.

"Oh, that's right!" Ivy cried, wiping her hands and pulling out the phone from her pocket.

The crew assumed she'd finally noticed that Kate's phone had ended up in her pocket. But instead, Ivy frowned in confusion. "Why isn't the face recognition working?"

The video coordinator thought, Could it be that it needs your companion's face to unlock it?

"What do you need the phone for?" Kate asked.

"These sweets have such high calories—I should check in with my manager," Ivy whispered conspiratorially, "otherwise, she'll be reciting calorie counts in my ear like a mantra!"

After a pause, Kate asked, "And who is your manager?"

"My manager, Lee," Ivy replied earnestly to the camera, "is a dedicated professional who gives me sound and reliable advice, especially when it comes to managing my public image. I respect her very much."

Kate finally inquired, "And why have you never called me by my first name…" sister?

The last word seemed to catch in her throat, refusing to leave her lips.

Ivy looked embarrassed. "So, you'd prefer I use your first name? But won't the audience think it's too familiar of me?"

"Forget it," Kate murmured, almost adding, "just cut this—"

Before she could finish, Ivy's solution sprang forth, "How about I call you 'Senior' on the show, and just Kate when we're back in the room?"

The video director, calm on the outside, felt his mind surge with excitement. Cut it? Impossible! He could already imagine viewers flooded with comments like: "I don't get it, but I'm obsessed."

Kate's face barely flickered, but a faint stiffness betrayed her. She grabbed a remote and pressed a button, lowering a screen from above, putting a quiet end to the topic.

A nature documentary appeared, following a mother snow leopard and her cubs on their journey for food across the frosty mountain.

The cubs were hidden in the rocks, sleeping peacefully with tiny, pink tongues poking out.

Ivy cooed in delight, mimicking the cub's sleepy expression, "It's so cute~"

The child-like sweetness was almost maternal in its fondness.

Kate turned to her. "You like snow leopards?"

"I love cats," Ivy replied with a singsong voice, resting her head softly on Kate's shoulder as if she were back home, gently rubbing against her shoulder, "I love cats~" she repeated, her voice even softer.