Qi Ke was silent for a moment. She turned on the exhaust fan to air out the room before denying, “No.”
Zhou Er was even more surprised: “You’re somewhat famous now, and your family is rich, so you don’t lack resources. Do you really need to ride the coattails of a CP?”
“Why do you care?” Qi Ke couldn’t be bothered to explain. She remembered something else. “By the way, Meng Ying from our group was already screwed over by your company. You should stop bullying her.”
Zhou Er was stunned for a moment, then retorted, “Did she tell you I was bullying her?”
Qi Ke said irritably, “Look at you, just look at you. You’ve been this bossy since we were kids. She didn’t tell me. I have eyes, I can see for myself.”
Zhou Er said, “Oh.” She smoked elegantly, her red lips glistening. Her voice was gentle, but her words were blunt: “You don’t know a damn thing.”
Qi Ke: “…” Whatever.
The guest stars arrived in the afternoon, so they had to prepare dinner. The production team made a last-minute suggestion: each group would make three dishes, enough for twelve people, and they would all eat together in the courtyard.
The snow had stopped, the sky was clear, and a bright moon hung high. Although it was a bit cold, it had a certain elegance.
Only Song Yushi, who was sensitive to the cold, wrapped herself in a down jacket and sat listlessly with Qi Ke. From time to time, she would pick up food for Qi Ke, thoughtfully reminding her with phrases like, “Eat more,” “This is your favorite,” and “If you like it, I’ll make it again next time,” ruthlessly feeding everyone a dose of public affection.
The couple across from them exchanged a look: “…” Who are the real couple here?
When they were almost done eating, someone suggested playing a game—the familiar Truth or Dare. But this version was simpler and more direct. Starting with the person who suggested it, they would count off to determine odd and even numbers, then draw lots to decide which was truth and which was dare.
After they finished counting, the director’s team brought over two slips of paper. The proposer was an odd number, and he drew first. It was truth.
Odd numbers got truth, even numbers got dare.
Qi Ke was an even number, Song Yushi was an odd number.
The cold wind blew outside, sweeping snowflakes from the grass into the air. Song Yushi wasn’t very interested in the game. Her juice was finished, so she picked up the cup in front of Qi Ke and started drinking from it. Only after a few sips did she realize it was actually alcohol.
It was quite good.
Song Yushi thought, so she took a couple more sips.
The game progressed quickly. Amid a round of jeers, Song Yushi’s phone suddenly rang.
The table instantly fell silent.
Song Yushi froze for a moment. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. The caller ID read: Qi Ke.
Song Yushi subconsciously looked at Qi Ke, who was sitting right next to her. Qi Ke had her own phone to her ear and lifted her chin, signaling for her to answer.
Hesitantly, Song Yushi slid her finger to answer the call.
She stared at Qi Ke without blinking.
Qi Ke looked back at her. Two or three seconds after the call connected, Qi Ke slowly began to speak, “We, who are ordinary, will also return to an ordinary world…” but she was singing.
Qi Ke’s singing voice was very distinctive, clear and bright, echoing in the vast expanse of the snowy winter night.
“Once walked with you through Madison Garden / Took a big detour outside the Anywhere Door / You asked me where the most beautiful place in the world is / The answer is by your side.”
The song came to an end. Qi Ke smiled at Song Yushi, then immediately turned to the others and spread her hands. “That’s good enough, right?”
Someone jeered, “Hey, your dare was to call someone you like. You must really like your captain, huh.”
Qi Ke laughed heartily. “Got a problem with that?”
“Tsk tsk, you just don’t want to lose face in front of the person you like, right?” someone said, trying to smooth things over. “Next, next! Yushi, truth.”
Song Yushi still hadn’t recovered. Her alcohol-soaked brain sluggishly put down the phone. She dazedly drew a card from the outstretched hand and flipped it over: What are you most afraid of (at least three things).
Song Yushi was silent.
After a long while, she spoke in a low voice, “I’m most afraid of mice.”
“Afraid of not getting a role I like.”
“Afraid of…” She sniffled softly, her tone laced with a small, imperceptible sense of grievance, “Qi Ke not answering my calls.”
Song Yushi’s voice grew quieter and quieter until it was almost inaudible. Only Qi Ke, who was closest to her, heard it clearly.
Qi Ke hastily turned her face away, her eyes suddenly stinging. It felt as if someone was pricking her heart with a tiny needle, a slow ache spreading through her chest in the biting wind.
The game continued, passing to the next person.
Song Yushi also continued to sneak small sips of Qi Ke’s alcohol until a hand reached out from the side and took her cup away. She froze for a second, then glared up. Qi Ke had turned off her mic and said helplessly, “You’ll get drunk if you drink any more.”
Song Yushi blinked, not understanding, looking incredibly cute.
Ugh, fine.
Qi Ke thought, She’s already drunk, completely tipsy.
Her little face was flushed, like rouge dissolving in water.
She propped her chin on her hand and looked at Qi Ke, the lines of her profile clean and beautiful. Qi Ke couldn’t resist reaching out and poking her cheek, creating a small dimple.
Having had a drink, Song Yushi’s reactions were slow. It took her a while to lower her eyes and stare at Qi Ke’s finger. Her thin lips parted slightly, her words a bit slurred: “Move it.”
The moment the words left her mouth, the hand supporting her chin slipped, losing its anchor, and her face was caught squarely in Qi Ke’s hands.
Song Yushi: “…”
Qi Ke: “…” You made the first move.
After a brief standoff, Song Yushi pulled back. She stood up and mumbled, “I should head back now,” but then dizzily went the wrong way two or three times. Helpless, Qi Ke went over to support her. “It’s this way. Should I walk you up?”
Song Yushi hummed a low “mhm.”
Qi Ke couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong. All she knew was that she had been dragged into the bathroom by a surprisingly strong, drunken Song Yushi. By the time she realized what was happening, pleasantly warm water was pouring down from above, drenching her from head to toe.
The culprit leaned against the wall without a hint of guilt. Her water-soaked shirt clung to her skin, revealing every curve in a silent invitation.
She stared straight at Qi Ke, a glint of light in her eyes.
For some reason, Qi Ke suddenly remembered their first kiss, when she had flirtatiously teased her aloof captain.
Song Yushi had been drunk then, too, and the atmosphere had been just as ambiguous.
Qi Ke’s heart pounded like a drum.
She licked her dry lips. Just as she was about to speak, she was shocked into silence—
Song Yushi tilted her head up and captured her lips.
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