In the end, it was a staff member who rescued Meng Ying.
A staff member knocked hurriedly, their voice coming through the not-so-thick door panel: “Teacher Song? Is Teacher Qi with you? The director needs to see you about something.”
Song Yushi reacted quickly: “Coming.”
She stood up, pulled Qi Ke’s hand, and started walking out. She paused, then said to Meng Ying, still worried, “You wait here first. It probably won’t take long. We’ll take you back when we’re done.”
Meng Ying gave a less-than-standard salute and agreed crisply, “Alrighty!”
Her shattered worldview could be said to have recovered quite quickly.
All the stage performances had just ended, and the audience had just left. The trainees were in the playback room backstage, waiting to be called one by one into the empty venue for interviews. The mentors, on the other hand, were there to pre-record some VCRs for the trainees that would be broadcast on debut night.
Song Yushi finished recording first. She didn’t leave, but waited for Qi Ke just off-camera.
Qi Ke’s mentor stage today was a song and dance performance. She wore a gray plaid short skirt and a white off-the-shoulder top. Her earrings, studded with diamonds, swayed gently, glinting in the camera’s light. Her clean and beautiful aura was outstanding.
“I remember our Captain once told you all to enjoy the stage, to enjoy your time as trainees. Look how fast time flies. You’re about to debut, to go to bigger and better stages, to face more cheers, and at the same time, to face more malice and speculation. When that time comes, remember—”
Qi Ke leaned forward slightly, her gaze on the camera serious. “You are not alone; you have your teammates. It is you, as a group, who will go to bigger and better stages, who will welcome the cheers and applause, who will endure the malice and speculation. It is you who will cheer each other on, stand on the awards stage together, and walk into the future together.”
“I’ve said my piece.”
Qi Ke stood up, bowed slightly to the staff, and looked up—her Captain was standing just out of the camera’s view, watching her, her eyes filled with a smile and love.
From subtle to intense.
Written in the late summer evening breeze.
Qi Ke smiled too.
She suddenly wanted to add another sentence: See, my Captain and I are about to walk into the future together, for the next fifty years.
In the lounge, Meng Ying was indeed obediently waiting for the Captain and the main vocal.
After all, she couldn’t drive. At this hour, with the fans just having left, both taxis and private cars were hiking up their prices. She wasn’t in a hurry, so only a fool would be a sucker. She hugged a small throw pillow and wailed in the group chat with Chengzhi and Zhong Yi about the clues she should have noticed all these years.
WeChat Group – 【We’re Getting Rich Today】
Chengzhi: I should have noticed it sooner too. Tell me, how could I have believed that a young miss like Qi Ke slept on that tiny bed in the Captain’s room for three years?
Meng Ying: The world is going to the dogs.
Zhong Yi: People aren’t what they used to be.
Chengzhi: We were all in the same group, working diligently as idols, but she just had to take the road less traveled and climb into the Captain’s bed.
Meng Ying: Tsk tsk tsk.
Zhong Yi: Tsk tsk tsk.
Meng Ying: And do you guys remember that time? In Iceland, Qi Ke actually booked the entire amusement park just to take the Captain on the carousel?!
Chengzhi: Haha, and we almost walked our legs off during the day just to get on the rides.
Zhong Yi: So what if she’s rich!
Qi Ke: Mmm, being rich is amazing.
Chengzhi & Meng Ying & Zhong Yi: …The sun is quite nice tonight.
Qi Ke: 【Are you crazy.jpg】 Can’t you pick a group I’m not in to talk bad about people?
Chengzhi: We weren’t talking bad about you.
Qi Ke: ?
Meng Ying: We’re recapping your and the Captain’s love story. Not allowed to gossip? Why be a celebrity if you don’t want people to gossip? If you have the guts, quit the industry with me! 【Should I lock the door to the lounge?】
Chengzhi: May you be safe.
Zhong Yi: Please leave the firepot restaurant to me in your will. I’ll take good care of it.
Meng Ying: …
Teammates? Group spirit? Be human, will you!
Qi Ke was just about to go on stage to record then, so she didn’t see the messages. By the time she looked again, the group chat was already buzzing. They were planning a team-building event in the next couple of days—a whole package deal of firepot, singing, getting a villa, and sleeping on the floor.
Qi Ke had no objection to firepot and singing, but—
Qi Ke: May I ask why we have to sleep on the floor?
Chengzhi: For the sentiment!
Zhong Yi: A trip down memory lane!
Meng Ying: To share weal and woe!
Qi Ke: Oh.
Qi Ke: I just think that when we’re sleeping on the floor, with me holding my fragrant and soft Captain, you three single dogs will look a bit pitiful. The scene might not be very pretty.
The three single dogs: “…”
The fragrant and soft Captain: “…”
And so, the team-building event was settled. Even so, it took a lot of effort to clear the same day in their schedules. They finally set the date for the day after tomorrow, meeting up first at Meng Ying’s firepot restaurant.
It was a weekday and not mealtime, so the firepot restaurant wasn’t crowded.
A few fans who liked Meng Ying did come by, lingering in the shop for a long time. They only left reluctantly after Meng Ying came downstairs to sign autographs and take photos with them. Meng Ying waved to them, “Come back whenever you’re craving firepot.”
Her footsteps paused, and Meng Ying turned around.
At a table by the window, a half-and-half pot was bubbling away. Zhou Er was leisurely ladling a bowl of soup from the tomato broth side, completely ignoring Meng Ying’s gaze.
Meng Ying leaned against a nearby pillar and reminded her, “We’re closing.”
“I’ll leave when I’m done eating.”
“When will you be done?”
“…I don’t know.”
“You’re a CEO. What do you hope to gain by hanging around my firepot restaurant every day?”
“You.”
“…”
Flirted with out of the blue, Meng Ying was stunned for a moment, then stomped her foot in annoyance. Ignoring her, she whispered to a waiter as she passed by, “Don’t add any more broth for her.”
The waiter: “…”
Won’t it burn if we don’t add broth?
Meng Ying: Let it burn!!!
The private room for their gathering was upstairs. Chengzhi and Zhong Yi arrived one after another, followed by Song Yushi. When asked where Qi Ke was, she said she was stuck in traffic. Meng Ying, adding shrimp paste to the pot, wondered, “There’s traffic at this hour?”
Song Yushi gave a vague “mhm.”
She was stuck downstairs.
Qi Ke looked at the half-and-half pot in front of her with a complicated expression. “You’re by yourself, why did you order so much food?”
Zhou Er sipped her soup and said nonchalantly, “I’m rich.”
Qi Ke: “…I remember you don’t eat spicy food.”
Zhou Er: “I do now.”
Qi Ke: “Is it really necessary?”
Zhou Er: “What do you think?”
Qi Ke: “You like her that much?”
Zhou Er’s movements paused. She picked up a piece of kelp and took a slow bite. The tip of her tongue stung with spiciness, and her voice was muffled in her throat: “Mhm.”
She wiped her hands impatiently. “Go on and do your thing. I’ll go back to the company after I finish eating.”
Qi Ke gave her a deep look.
Matters of the heart were like this. The onlookers see clearly, but those involved might not be blind; they just can’t control their descent.
When Qi Ke arrived at the private room, things were already lively inside. They were playing the timeless game of spin the bottle. The bottle tapped against the table—dong, dong, dong—and pointed right at Qi Ke.
Meng Ying banged on the table. “Qi Ke! Drink!”
Qi Ke was speechless. She walked over, grabbed Song Yushi’s hand, and in that motion, downed the alcohol in her cup. She then sat down and said, “Don’t make her drink.”
The three exchanged knowing glances, their catcalls incessant.
“Hey, hey—it’s only just begun and you’re already being protective? If she doesn’t drink, you drink for her?”
“Captain, don’t listen to her! We don’t advocate for being henpecked!”
“If you get the Captain drunk, can’t you do whatever you want?”
Ugh, get these weird thoughts out of here!
Song Yushi was a lightweight and was afraid she wouldn’t last until the singing part. Ignoring her teammates’ teasing, she obediently started drinking Coke instead.
Meng Ying’s alcohol tolerance was also average. She clinked her Coke can with Song Yushi’s. “Cheers.”
The little beauty’s face was full of collagen, and her smile was full of energy. Song Yushi couldn’t resist and pinched her cheek. Meng Ying quickly leaned back and whispered, “If Qi Ke sees this, she’ll make me go bankrupt! It’s not easy running a small business!”
Song Yushi said thoughtfully, “…’The weather is turning cold, time for the Wang family to go bankrupt’?”
Meng Ying: “…”
Captain, it’s one thing for you to surf the internet, but don’t just throw memes around!
The firepot meal lasted nearly four hours. The five of them left through the back door of the restaurant, got into a Maybach, and headed straight for the villa Zhong Yi had rented in the suburbs. The villa was three stories high, with the third floor converted into an entertainment area. It was well soundproofed, so they could grab a mic and shout as loud as they wanted without anyone complaining.
In summer, the sky darkens slowly. Dusk was gradually swallowed by darkness. The air in the suburbs was fresh, and countless stars spilled down like pearls, covering the dark blue sky.
They sang one Sweet Day song after another.
Towards the end, Meng Ying started crying. She stood on the coffee table with the microphone and shouted, “We, Sweet Day, will be best friends for life!”
Chengzhi: “Mhm, mhm, mhm, you’re blocking my view of the lyrics!”
Zhong Yi: “If we’re best friends, then come listen to my dad jokes! I’ve never told one before!”
Qi Ke: “I’m best friends with you guys, but not with the Captain, okay? The Captain is my girlfriend.”
Her teammates: “Get lost!”
Qi Ke felt wronged and went whimpering to find her girlfriend.
Her girlfriend had a script reading tomorrow and needed to save her voice. After singing just two songs, she turned off the mic and sat quietly on a nearby sofa, reading the script. She had just turned the first page when someone grabbed her ankle.
Song Yushi flinched and tried to pull back.
But on second thought, she resisted the urge.
Qi Ke had originally come over, feeling wronged and seeking justice, but the moment she saw Song Yushi, she was immediately captivated by her beauty.
Her fingertips were like hooks of fire, tracing a path up from the ankle.
When they reached her waist, her hand was pressed down. Song Yushi, flipping through the script, gave her a casual glance. It was a look that was part feigned anger, part real annoyance—like a warning, yet also like an encouragement.
“Captain…”
Qi Ke leaned in and wrapped her arms around Song Yushi’s waist.
Only a few lights were on in the room. The colored lights were hazy, and only Song Yushi had turned on a floor lamp to read her script. The warm tone of the light was gentle, outlining an ambiguous boundary.
“Don’t mess around.” The Captain remained composed with someone in her lap.
“Just one kiss.” The great main vocal was relentless. She had stopped singing and was now focused solely on teasing.
Without looking away from her script, Song Yushi leaned over and gave Qi Ke a peck on the cheek, soft like jelly. Then she was pushed down. The script wasn’t bound properly and scattered messily all over the floor.
Song Yushi was caught off guard. The moment their lips met, she could feel the gossipy stares of her teammates. She hurriedly tried to push Qi Ke away. “Everyone’s watching.”
“Let them watch.” Qi Ke pinched Song Yushi’s chin and deepened the kiss.
Not far away, the Sweet Day trio simultaneously made a disgusted “Ewww” sound, covering their eyes with their hands in accordance with the principle of “see no evil.” Two seconds later, they all quietly spread their fingers.
And again, in unison: “Ewwwwwww!”
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