“…Have fun tonight!”
Amidst the deafening cheers in the stadium, the lift on the stage slowly descended, followed by a spotlight until it reached the darkness. Qi Ke maintained her bow, staring blankly at the tips of her shoes as she caught her breath.
The lift stopped.
Someone handed her a bottle of water.
“For the group interview later, you know what you should and shouldn’t say, right?” Her manager, Sister Ming, had just rushed over from out of town, looking travel-worn and not even having taken off her mask.
“I know.” Qi Ke twisted open the cap and took a sip of water.
After taking a couple of steps, she turned her head. Her exquisite eye makeup glittered as she smiled. “But what shouldn’t I say?”
Sister Ming: “…” A headache. All she felt was a headache.
Qi Ke knew when to quit. “Alright. Isn’t it just about pretending I don’t know Song Yushi took a red-eye flight to listen to me sing? My acting skills are average, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“I’d be thanking the heavens if you just didn’t say anything reckless.”
Hearing this, the corners of Qi Ke’s lips twitched.
She was silent for a moment, then, just as she was about to push the door open, she suddenly asked, “She really came?”
Before Sister Ming could answer Qi Ke’s question, she was surrounded by a crowd of reporters. Microphones were desperately shoved towards her. A staff member helped take some of the load, and only after she was ready did he say, “You can begin asking questions now.”
“Besides Song Yushi, are you still in contact with your other former teammates?”
“A netizen said, ‘If no one mentioned it, I wouldn’t even know you came from a girl group.’ What are your thoughts on this?”
“The song you just sang, 《Next Summer》, Song Yushi also sang at her fan meeting last month. Was this planned? People are saying you two are doing delayed fan service. What do you have to say about that?”
Qi Ke: “…”
What the hell could she say? It was for business.
As the former golden girl for shipping within the girl group Sweet Day, Qi Ke had countless CPs back in the day. Only her relationship with the captain, Song Yushi, was average. Not only were their CP fans pitifully few, but they were also frequently dragged out and mocked with, “You must have strong teeth to stomach that.”
The CP fans had long become zen: We’ve said it’s suicide; ask again and it’s a forced pairing.
They were mocked all the way until the group disbanded, and most of the CP fans had left. Who would have thought that two years after the girl group’s disbandment, someone would do some digging into their old group variety shows and, after a deep dive, start shipping Qi Ke and Song Yushi.
The blogger declared: “Qi Yu is real! Sisters, come ship them with me!”
In an instant, those who loved drama, those who shipped whatever was sweet, and the CP fans doing sit-ups in the ashes all jumped into the pit, contributing their own meager traffic to get Qi Yu a prime spot on the CP Super Topic charts.
At the same time, the managers of the two artists, who were still at the same company, were summoned and told to have them do fan service to stir up hype. Paired activities were quickly arranged.
The solo stans of both sides were displeased. While cursing Mangosteen Entertainment to go bankrupt, they fought online.
Song Yushi’s fans listed her achievements: “Song Yushi, TOP of Sweet Day, peaked at debut, the undisputed C-position and captain. She doesn’t sell fake romance or force CPs. After graduating from the girl group, she transitioned to acting and won the Hundred Flowers Best Actress award for her role as Lin Yao in 《The Distant Evening Bell》. Her popularity is in a league of its own, a world away from a certain third-rate singer. Stop your clout-chasing.”
“How many times do we have to say it? Our girl doesn’t do poverty alleviation. Mangosteen Entertainment, I advise you to take the fans’ demands seriously, arrange her schedule reasonably, and do something normal for once!”
Qi Ke’s fans fought back: “Who doesn’t know that Qi Ke is beautiful and kind, with amazing connections in the entertainment industry? Seniors who work with her praise her, peers who work with her become best friends, and juniors bow and call her Teacher. A certain someone plays the cold and aloof persona, does the slap in the face hurt now? Also, before you brag about professional skills, first count how many times Qi Ke has padded your idol’s vocals!”
“Have Keke’s fans forgotten that your idol has uncoordinated limbs, and our great beauty had to teach her how to dance hand-in-hand late into the night?”
CP fans: Wow, more material to ship.
Onlookers: #SoloStansAreTheBestShippers, crunch, crunch. Mangosteen Entertainment, if I were you, I’d release the video of the hand-in-hand dance practice. Crunch, crunch, this drama is delicious.
With solo stans fighting for their rights, CP fans shipping like crazy, and the public eating it all up, the company was even more reluctant to let the hype die down. The fan service had to continue.
“Yushi sang 《Next Summer》 too? Well, the marketing accounts can start a poll. Call it ‘Qi Ke’s version of 《Next Summer》 vs. Song Yushi’s version of 《Next Summer》, who performed better?’ How about that? KPIs met, right?”
The media present: “…”
Song Yushi, watching the live interview in the lounge: “…”
Qi Ke, once listed by entertainment reporters as the “Hardest Person to Interview,” was as unpredictable as ever, reminding Song Yushi of the fear of being dominated by her during their group interviews.
Her eyelids were heavy, fighting to stay open. Song Yushi took a sip of coffee and asked, “Can I go now?”
Xiao Nan looked troubled. “The company’s intention is for you to pick up Teacher Qi after she finishes work.”
Xiao Nan was Song Yushi’s assistant.
Song Yushi looked up, her gaze once again falling on Qi Ke. The TV was 70 inches, hanging on a pale pink wallpapered wall. The lighting for the group interview was bright, a deathly glare that allowed for no facial flaws.
Unfortunately for the lighting, Qi Ke was famous for being flawless from every angle.
She had just come off stage, her stage makeup glittering. Her black evening gown was elegant, revealing a slender neck and beautiful collarbones. When she turned to the side, her slim, fair back flashed by, her butterfly bones catching the eye.
Her long, slender fingers held the microphone as she skillfully dodged and weaved with the media, talking about everything but the topic at hand until the reporters were exasperated and finally ran out of things to say.
Qi Ke proactively cued the process: “Any more questions?”
The media: “…”
Qi Ke smiled sweetly. “Thank you.”
The media: “…” Just leave already!
Qi Ke: “If anyone has more questions, you can send me a private message. I’ll reply when I see it.”
The media: “…” Help! Next one!
Ignoring their ashen faces, Qi Ke returned the microphone and leisurely left the scene. Sister Ming wore a numb expression; she really shouldn’t have held out any hope for Qi Ke’s interview.
The moment Qi Ke stepped out the door, her image vanished. “I’m freezing to death, where’s my down jacket?”
Sister Ming glanced at her.
Qi Ke: “?”
Sister Ming sighed faintly. “I’m long past being the woman who could throw a coat over you when it gets cold.”
Qi Ke: “Speak human.”
Just as she finished speaking, a down jacket was tossed into her arms. Qi Ke caught it in a flurry, stunned for a second before looking up in the direction it came from.
Song Yushi was standing at the intersection of light and shadow, smiling at her.
What a beautiful smile.
Qi Ke thought.
Qi Ke put on the down jacket, stepped forward, and gave Song Yushi a big hug. She buried her face in the crook of Song Yushi’s neck and took a deep breath, the scent of Sicilian citrus and orange filling her senses. She lowered her voice and said, “You’ve worked hard.”
Song Yushi’s smile was sweet, but her tone was icy. “It’s all for work.”
Qi Ke chuckled lightly. “Who’s to say it isn’t?”
In the distance, a camera shutter clicked, capturing their loving moment in an “empty corner.” They didn’t hug for long before Song Yushi gently pushed Qi Ke away. “That’s enough. I’m tired.”
Qi Ke obediently let her go.
The photographers were all far away and couldn’t hear what they were saying. Song Yushi walked close to Qi Ke, saying, “I’m going back to the hotel to take off my makeup. I need to leave in a hurry.”
Qi Ke: “Where are you rushing off to so late at night?”
“I have something to do.”
“Meeting an old flame?” Qi Ke said nonchalantly, her tone laced with a hint of teasing laughter.
Song Yushi glanced at her. “Aren’t I doing that right now?”
Qi Ke: “…”
Sister Ming: “…” Do you two really need to be this dedicated to your business CP act in private?!
Song Yushi was surprised. “Sister Ming still doesn’t know?”
Sister Ming was completely bewildered. “Know what?”
She used to be Sweet Day’s manager. Back then, she had just started her career and was incredibly dedicated, working from dawn till dusk for the five young girls, ready to give her all. Logically, they shouldn’t have any secrets from her.
Yes, they definitely didn’t.
“Oh,” Qi Ke said lightly. “We dated before.”
Sister Ming: “…”
Sister Ming: “???”
Sister Ming: “!!!!!!!!”
Qi Ke ignored her on-the-spot explosion and continued chatting with Song Yushi. “So what are you in a hurry to do?”
Sister Ming: “…” How can they just keep talking?
Song Yushi: “Sleep.”
Sister Ming: “…” And you just keep answering her!
They walked into the corridor, leaving the cameras behind. Seeing the two of them still chatting idly, Sister Ming, after coughing up several liters of blood, cut in. “Explain this to me clearly!”
Song Yushi said to Qi Ke, “Your manager. You explain.”
Qi Ke: “…” What a great excuse to get out of talking.
“We just dated for a bit when we were in the group, and then we broke up.” Qi Ke rubbed her nose. The clacking of her high heels on the marble floor masked the emotion in her voice.
She shot a blaming look at Sister Ming. “This is all the Vice President’s fault. I told him I was naturally gay, and he still made me join a girl group.”
Sister Ming: “…”
He told you to join a girl group, not to get with the girl group!
Qi Ke was a naturally gifted performer with an innate vocal advantage. Coming from a wealthy family, entering the entertainment industry was a simple matter for her.
The Vice President of Mangosteen Entertainment was a good friend of her family and was genuinely worried for her. “The market for pure singers isn’t good right now, and it’s hard to make a name for yourself. Without traffic, no one will listen to you sing. Why not be the main vocalist in a girl group? You’ll get buzz, and people will pay for it.”
Qi Ke was troubled. “I’m gay. I can’t function properly when I see a pretty girl. Sometimes I even stop and stare at myself in the mirror for a long time. You don’t understand…”
The Vice President was adamant. When he shoved her into the practice room, he even threatened her, “I’m sending you to join a girl group, not to find a girlfriend. If you dare to get serious, I’ll skin you alive!”
To be honest, Qi Ke had managed to control herself at first.
After all, choosing a partner wasn’t about pouncing on any girl she saw. It depended on chemistry, right? And even if the chemistry was there, she had to consider the other person’s orientation. As far as she could tell, her four teammates were all straight as an arrow.
Until a certain celebration party. They got drunk in the large villa the company rented for them, and the scene became quite chaotic.
Their captain was drinking quietly in a corner, her eyes hazy and shimmering with moisture from the alcohol, looking utterly pitiful. On some strange impulse, Qi Ke lifted her chin, touched her moist lips, and moved closer. “Captain, if I were a man, I’d kiss you right now.”
Song Yushi looked at her quietly, her gaze making Qi Ke’s heart race. Just as she was about to pull away, Song Yushi kissed her.
Their teammates were all reveling. In this spot untouched by the lights, she and her usually cold captain were kissing. It was a kiss as light as a dragonfly touching water, yet it triggered a series of consequences.
Song Yushi was a good drunk. She didn’t deny it afterward and tacitly acknowledged their relationship.
It was the first relationship for both of them. Qi Ke was an armchair expert, full of theories but whose only practical application was leading people to bed. Song Yushi didn’t even have the theories and often forgot she even had a girlfriend.
Their relationship had to be kept secret, and they avoided each other so much that everyone thought they weren’t close.
Some troublemaker even created a side account named: Have Qi Ke and Song Yushi Met Today.
But even up to their disbandment, no one ever saw them get close.
As for how they broke up… Qi Ke wrapped her scarf tighter, thought for a moment, then decided it was better not to bring up unpleasant things.
Qi Ke went to say goodbye to the fans who were cheering for her outside the venue. By the time she got into the tour van, Song Yushi was already asleep, slumped against the leather seat.
The vehicle began to move slowly.
Sister Ming, unable to process the day’s news, had already left. The clueless Xiao Nan sat nervously across from Qi Ke, looking from Song Yushi to Qi Ke and back again.
Seeing Qi Ke staring intently at the sleeping Song Yushi, she couldn’t help but say, “My boss is just too tired.”
After Sweet Day disbanded, Song Yushi had established her own studio and become her own boss.
“What has she been busy with lately?”
Xiao Nan was an honest kid and started counting on her fingers for Qi Ke. “Last week she wrapped up her new drama, then immediately went to audition for another one. Then she flew to LA for a magazine cover shoot, and after that, she flew back without any rest to listen to your concert…”
Xiao Nan’s voice grew smaller. “Boss, you’re awake.”
Song Yushi rubbed her temples.
Qi Ke said, “She wasn’t asleep.”
Xiao Nan: “!!!”
Qi Ke leaned back and crossed her legs. “She just didn’t want to talk to me. If she wasn’t afraid you’d blab something I’m not supposed to know, she would’ve kept pretending until we got to the hotel.”
Xiao Nan: “…” Why, boss! And how did Teacher Qi know!
Xiao Nan didn’t dare to ask. Xiao Nan wanted to become invisible. Xiao Nan obediently shut her mouth.
Song Yushi said nothing.
Qi Ke pressed on relentlessly. “Next week, we’re going to film 《30 Days of Cohabitation Life》. You haven’t done a reality show in a long time. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, the house will be full of cameras. You’ll have to act 24/7. Don’t let your true colors show.”
“What true colors?”
The last time Song Yushi filmed a reality show was their final group variety show. The five girls were noisy and boisterous, still burdened by their idol image, refusing to be filmed here and there. The production crew were all company staff and indulged them, so Song Yushi had never suffered from malicious editing.
Qi Ke sighed with feigned gravity. “Your false feelings for me, of course.”
Song Yushi watched her performance with a completely placid heart. After a moment, she said slowly, “You know I won the Hundred Flowers Best Actress award last year, right?”
Qi Ke: “?”
Are we starting a competition?
She sat up straight. “And you’ve heard that my new album won the Most Popular Digital Album of the Year, right?”
Song Yushi: “…Yes.”
Qi Ke: “Congratulations.”
Song Yushi: “?”
Qi Ke: “Once we move in together, you won’t even have to buy my album. I’ll sing for you live.”
Song Yushi: “…” Thanks, but no thanks.
She forcefully dragged the conversation, which Qi Ke had derailed to outer space, back on topic. “What I meant was, my acting is very good. I won’t slip up. You should worry less.”
Qi Ke: “…”
Oh.
Song Yushi stopped talking to her. She turned her face to the window. The early morning city in winter looked hazy through the car window. The faint light from the streetlamps flashed by quickly, obscuring the streetscape but making the reflection inside clearer.
Qi Ke found a hair tie and tied up her long hair, the lines of her profile clean and beautiful.
She seemed to sense Song Yushi’s gaze and paused her movements. She looked over, and their eyes met in the reflection on the glass window.
Qi Ke was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “You’re getting engaged. Is that true or not?”
