RL – Chapter 44

In the end, Lin Yi chose the rose gold watch as Chen Yuan’s wedding gift.

It was a midsummer day in August, and the sun scorched the entirety of S City. Heat rose from the river, and on the roads shaded by large trees, even the cicadas were too lazy to chirp. Fragmented sunlight filtered through the dense, lush canopy, spilling into the car, its warmth instantly evaporated by the air conditioning.

While waiting at a red light, Lin Yi took a photo of the gift box on the passenger seat and sent it to Xu Shuyan. “Just picked it up,” she wrote.

She was about to type another message when the light turned green. The car in front of her pulled away, and she stepped on the gas. Just as she passed the intersection, her phone rang. She put on her Bluetooth headset. “Hello?”

“You actually went to pick it up yourself?” Xu Shuyan’s voice came from the other end, dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t they have couriers in a first-tier city?”

Lin Yi chuckled dryly. “How would a courier convey my sincerity?”

Xu Shuyan chuckled back. “No matter how precious your sincerity is, Yuanyuan will never know. You were too busy shopping to check Weibo, I take it? Yuanyuan was photographed trying on wedding dresses today. It’s trending.”

Lin Yi’s smile froze.

She cursed inwardly. She never should have answered Xu Shuyan’s call. No, she should have blocked Xu Shuyan’s number and WeChat altogether. Xu Shuyan always had a way of pouring cold water on her enthusiasm.

Ever since the summer tour ended, The Notes’ comeback period had been winding down. Individual opportunities began pouring in, and the members were once again flying all over the world for various engagements.

Lin Yi, however, was preparing her first solo album. She had temporarily turned down less important jobs to stay in S City and focus on her music. Xu Shuyan had accepted a role in a travel variety show and was currently enjoying the moonlight in the Western Hemisphere.

The two hadn’t seen each other in nearly a week, and their lack of interaction on Weibo had sent their CP fans into a panic. They resorted to analyzing the livestream of the final concert, writing lengthy theses on the state of their relationship that garnered tens of thousands of reposts and eventually landed on the homepage of Lin Yi’s side account.

She glanced at one and saw the headline: “Lin Yi Confessed, But Xu Shuyan’s Ignorance of Her Own Feelings Led to Their Current Situation.” Her heart sank. After that, she stopped reading the analyses and started finding everything about Xu Shuyan irritating.

Not going to play along, are we?

Fine, don’t! See if I care!

The car turned a corner, and Lin Yi composed herself. “Let it trend, then. I wonder if Yuanyuan will try on any of those dresses you wore last time. I recommended them to her.”

Sure enough, the breathing on the other end hitched. “…You could ask her.”

As if Lin Yi would bring that kind of trouble on herself. She irritably asked if Xu Shuyan had anything else to say; if not, she was hanging up. “Hey,” Xu Shuyan said quickly. “I bought a wedding gift for Yuanyuan.”

Lin Yi was instantly on guard. “What did you get?”

“What’s with that tone?” Xu Shuyan tutted. “Didn’t we agree not to compete over this?”

Lin Yi faltered. “Habit.”

Xu Shuyan said nothing.

Lin Yi was sharp. “You’re rolling your eyes at me, aren’t you?”

“Glad you know,” Xu Shuyan admitted readily, then changed the subject before Lin Yi could retort. “I went to the Royal Auction in Washington.”

The car slowly pulled into a high-end residential complex. Lin Yi’s eyes widened slightly. “You mean the one we saw advertised in that magazine? The one with that Jade and Pearl Necklace I had my eye on?”

Xu Shuyan hummed in affirmation.

Lin Yi clicked her tongue. “And you have the nerve to give me a hard time, Xu Shuyan? I just drove across the city to pick up her gift. You flew to the Northern Hemisphere to bid on one at an auction. What did you get?”

Xu Shuyan retorted, “Why should I tell you?”

Lin Yi was momentarily speechless, then replied with righteous indignation, “Because I’m curious!”

Xu Shuyan said coolly, “The fans are also quite curious about our relationship.”

“You saw that analysis too, didn’t you?” Lin Yi backed into a parking space and killed the engine. She pulled out the key, grabbed her bag, and fumed, “It’s all wrong! Me, pining for you with unrequited love? Is that even possible?”

“And it said I was a straight girl leading on a lesbian with no sense of decency,” Xu Shuyan added, her voice laced with amusement. “Is that possible?”

“Impossible. You’re gayer than a spiral staircase.” Lin Yi watched the elevator numbers climb, then lowered her gaze to her toes. After a moment, noticing Xu Shuyan still hadn’t hung up, she asked, “When are you coming back?”

Xu Shuyan asked, “Miss me?”

“Bullshit!” Lin Yi scoffed as she stepped out of the elevator. “I’m just curious what on earth you bought for Yuanyuan! And hey, that Jade and Pearl Necklace I liked-someone bought it, right?”

“Of course,” Xu Shuyan said. “It was the main event of the auction.”

Lin Yi tutted. “The starting bid was six million.”

She asked curiously, “So what did the Jade and Pearl Necklace end up selling for?”

Xu Shuyan thought for a moment. “Twenty-six million.”

Lin Yi sucked in a sharp breath and slammed her apartment’s security door shut. “What kind of tycoon bought it? Did you see them? What did they look like? Describe a truly rich person to me!”

“Very beautiful,” Xu Shuyan said.

“Was it a rich, beautiful woman?” Lin Yi’s eyes lit up. “I knew it! Someone with such good taste had to be a gorgeous woman!”

Xu Shuyan hummed in agreement. “But the bidder’s information is confidential, so I don’t know her name.”

“I’d love to meet her,” Lin Yi said, disappointed.

Xu Shuyan was silent for a moment before replying ambiguously, “Maybe you’ll have the chance someday.”

“You think so?” Lin Yi flopped onto the sofa, opening a food delivery app while she talked. She was scrolling through it when she suddenly shot up. “I left the watch I bought for Yuanyuan in the car!”

Xu Shuyan: “?”

Lin Yi slapped her forehead and immediately shifted the blame to Xu Shuyan. “This is all your fault for distracting me! You made me forget something so important. I’m hanging up, bye!”

---

Washington.

Outside the window, neon lights flickered against the night sky. Inside, there was only silence. Xu Shuyan glanced from her phone, where the call had been abruptly ended, to the exquisitely wrapped gift box on her nightstand.

She shrugged and sent Lin Yi a message: Stop trying to blame me.

Just before she went to sleep, Lin Yi finally replied with a speechless emoji of herself, accompanied by three words: Nyah, nyah, nyah.

Xu Shuyan: “…”

She decided not to argue with the idiot.

The trending topic about Chen Yuan’s appearance at the bridal shop had clearly been bought by someone with an agenda. It stayed on the trending list for a full twenty-four hours, attracting countless clicks and sparking a new round of discussion.

Lin Yi asked Sister Fang about it. Sister Fang glanced at it and said, “It was probably the work of a rival actress of the same caliber.”

Chen Yuan was still young, yet she had landed the lead role in a major film by a heavyweight director. Countless people were green with envy. Her rivals wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to create drama, doing everything in their power to sabotage her project. At the slightest provocation, they would get her on the trending list for something negative. The company was used to it by now; they just treated it as free advertising.

Unfortunately for them, the director was set on Chen Yuan. In fact, right after this trending topic, he used the film’s official Weibo account to announce her as the female lead.

For a while, the internet was once again abuzz with discussion.

Lin Yi felt relieved. Sister Fang then asked about her new album, telling her to be bold and go all out. She could request any lyricist or composer she wanted, and the company would give her its full support.

“This is your first solo album, a new beginning. You have to get off to a good start,” Sister Fang said. “And let me tell you a little secret. I was going to wait until it was confirmed to tell you, so as not to get your hopes up for nothing.”

“What is it? What is it?” Lin Yi pressed.

“My team and I are in talks for a dual endorsement for you and Yanyan with a certain national mineral water brand. It’s basically a done deal. We’re signing the contract tonight.”

“For me and Xu Shuyan?”

“That’s right,” Sister Fang said. “Your CP is so popular, your commercial value has naturally skyrocketed. Once the endorsement is announced, all three fanbases will make the data look incredible.”

Lin Yi mumbled a sullen “oh.”

Still basking in the joy of securing the endorsement, Sister Fang didn’t notice Lin Yi’s mood. “Yanyan is arriving in S City tonight,” she said. “You two haven’t interacted much this week, and the fans are starting to speculate. Why don’t you go out for a meal together when she gets back?”

Lin Yi sat up straight. “Xu Shuyan is coming back tonight?”

The schedule for the variety show Xu Shuyan was filming was unpredictable, so her flight had been changed repeatedly. Lin Yi hadn’t been paying close attention and didn’t realize it had been moved to today. She glanced at the time. “After a flight of more than ten hours, she’ll be exhausted. Where would Xu Shuyan find the energy to go out to eat with me?”

“That’s true,” Sister Fang conceded. She was in a hurry to leave. “Well, you two figure it out,” she said before hanging up.

Figure it out?

“Figure it out” means no fanservice.

Lin Yi put her phone back in her locker and threw herself back into the recording studio, continuing her discussion about the new album’s concept with the producer and listening to demos that were available for purchase online.

Xu Shuyan’s return, however, gave the CP fans a renewed sense of hope. They tearfully declared that the little couple had finally ended their long-distance separation and must now spend three days and three nights together to make up for lost time. But on the night Xu Shuyan landed, Lin Yi didn’t leave work at all.

[???]

[What kind of blood feud is going on with Yan Zhi You Yi now??? Can they not even breathe the same air anymore?]

[No way… They didn’t actually break up, did they?]

[I admit it, I’m panicking… Lin Yi? What are you doing? You’re not leaving work? You’d rather work overtime than go back because you know your ex-girlfriend is back at the dorm, is that it?]

[Yan Zhi You Yi is getting more and more interesting.]

[Lin Yi: You made me sleep alone all this time, Xu Shuyan! Go sleep in a cold bed by yourself!]

[Numbing yourself with intense work after a breakup… I used to do the same thing. Something really seems off with our Yan Zhi You Yi.]

[HOLY SHIT??? XU SHUYAN WENT TO THE COMPANY WITH A LATE-NIGHT SNACK!]

[??? That vixen Lin Yi is toxic! My daughter flew for over ten hours and should be resting, and now she’s running over to bring her a snack??? Don’t take it too far!]

---

It wasn’t until five in the morning, when Lin Yi finally emerged from the recording studio, that she learned Xu Shuyan had come by. Her assistant explained that Xu Shuyan had seen her working and told them not to disturb her. She had waited for a while before leaving the late-night snack and going home.

“Teacher Xu brought tiramisu. I put it in the fridge,” the assistant said. “Do you want to have some?”

Lin Yi yawned. Her brain felt rusty after working all night, and she slowly processed the fact that Xu Shuyan had come to bring her a snack after a flight that lasted more than ten hours.

What did that mean?

She certainly didn’t believe Xu Shuyan had genuinely wanted to bring her a snack. That left only one possibility. Lin Yi stared blankly at the clock on the sofa, its hands ticking with slow precision. Could it be, she thought, that Xu Shuyan wants to play along again?

So she only does it when she feels like it?

“Later,” Lin Yi said. “I’m going to get some sleep first.”

She dragged her heavy feet toward the break room, pausing at the door. “Xu Shuyan came by… the CP fans must be going wild again, right?”

“Of course,” the assistant said. “The Super Topic ranking is shooting straight up again.”

Lin Yi gave a resentful tug at the corner of her mouth.

When she woke up, she didn’t eat the tiramisu Xu Shuyan had brought her.

The fanservice had tied her and Xu Shuyan together, she thought. They were a community of shared interests, and even if their pairing was forced, they had to make it seem sweet for the audience. Still, she felt annoyed. She was annoyed that Xu Shuyan was the one calling the shots.

But her annoyance didn’t change the fact that Xu Shuyan’s gesture had revived the previously subdued fandom. The next day, when news broke that Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi were about to get a dual endorsement, the mood turned joyous and harmonious once more.

The news, of course, had been leaked by Sweet Melon Entertainment. With the contract signed, the deal was set in stone. They would build anticipation with some self-promotion before the official announcement to generate buzz for the brand and boost their artists’ value.

And so, while the three fanbases commented “We won’t believe it until it’s official” under the marketing accounts’ posts, they were also posting in their private groups: “Get your accounts ready to boost the numbers. We absolutely cannot lose to Xu Shuyan’s/Lin Yi’s fans! And keep an eye on the CP fans for any biased behavior!”

Meanwhile, Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan headed to the studio to shoot the commercial.

The mineral water commercial was sporty, fresh, and cute. The script was just a series of short skits, making it easy to film. The production team was highly organized, and they wrapped in less than a day.

“Thank you for your hard work.” Lin Yi bowed to the staff. She twisted open a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, and stretched languidly. “Finally, I can get some rest.”

Xu Shuyan glanced at her. “Haven’t you had enough yet?”

“I’m thirsty~” A camera was filming them for behind-the-scenes content, and the fanservice DNA ingrained in Lin Yi’s very bones took over. She couldn’t stop the sing-song tone from creeping into her voice. Realizing what she’d done, she quickly lowered her eyes and changed the subject. “What’s for dinner?”

“What do you want to eat?” Xu Shuyan asked.

Their conversation drifted into casual territory, and after filming for a little longer, the camera was turned off. Lin Yi breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She checked her phone and saw their assistant had sent a flight itinerary to the group chat: “Flight to Y City on the twentieth.”

Chen Yuan’s wedding was set to take place in Y City, a romantic coastal city far to the south.

Lin Yi stared at it for a moment and sighed. “Time flies.”

Beside her, Xu Shuyan hummed in agreement. “So, what are we having for dinner?”

Lin Yi shot her a glare. “Is food all you ever think about?”

“Weren’t you the one who asked first?” Xu Shuyan said innocently.

Lin Yi: “Was I?”

Xu Shuyan: “Yes.”

Lin Yi: “I was just making small talk. I’m on a diet; I’m not eating dinner lately.”

Xu Shuyan: “…”

Whatever!

Lin Yi was dieting entirely so she could dress to the nines for Chen Yuan’s wedding. It wasn’t that she wanted to upstage the bride, but more to give herself a mental pep talk: Hmph! Look how beautiful I am. You have no idea what you’re missing!

As she was fuming inwardly, Xu Shuyan spoke up beside her. “You should probably eat something. Skipping meals is bad for your stomach.”

Lin Yi narrowed her eyes. “You-you’re being suspiciously attentive!”

Xu Shuyan stared at her and finished the phrase with a twist. “Suspiciously fond of you.”

Lin Yi’s heart skipped a beat. Something stirred restlessly inside her, only to be ruthlessly suppressed. She shot Xu Shuyan a look. “…The cameras are off. You don’t have to be so dedicated.”

“Oh,” Xu Shuyan said. “They’re off? All that effort for nothing.”

Lin Yi: “…”

Shibal, I almost fell for it. Of course it was just for show!

As time marched on, another heavy rain fell on S City, and the weather suddenly turned cool.

And finally, it was time for Chen Yuan’s wedding.

The night before the wedding, all the members of The Notes flew from S City International Airport to Y City. At the same time, numerous paparazzi had also infiltrated the city, hoping to capture any scrap of information about the event.

It was impossible to keep an outdoor wedding completely private, and quite a bit of information inevitably leaked.

The trending topics were once again dominated by The Notes.

#AllTheNotesMembersAttendChenYuansWedding# [Explosive]

#ChenYuanWeddingVenuePhotos# [Hot]

#ChenYuanWeddingPhotos# [Boiling]

#ChenYuanWeddingInvitation# [Hot]

#GroupSpirit# [Hot]

#GroupStans# [Boiling]

Some of these trending topics were bought by the company, some by rivals, and some simply trended organically from the sheer volume of searches. In any case, Weibo was abuzz, as was the wedding venue itself.

Lin Yi rarely attended weddings. The last one she could recall was her young boss’s, where the group had performed to liven up the atmosphere. They had even received a fee for their trouble, and the boss had given them a private room. They’d treated it more like a group dinner, so it hadn’t really felt like attending a wedding.

But this time, actually being at the wedding, Lin Yi felt as if she were in a dream.

The wedding was incredibly romantic.

You could tell it had been planned with great care for a long time. From the decorations to the ceremony, every detail must have been meticulously reviewed over and over to achieve such a level of perfection.

“I heard the groom planned the whole thing,” Xu Shuyan said, putting on her pearl earrings. She looked at Lin Yi, who was staring blankly into the mirror. “Doesn’t he design airplanes? He’s been a prodigy since he was a kid-skipped several grades, the kind of student Tsinghua and Peking University fight over. After he joined the research institute, he barely ever took a break. They gave him a six-month leave just to prepare for the wedding.”

Lin Yi appeared to be spacing out, but she heard every word Xu Shuyan said. The villa overlooked the sea, and from their window, they could see people bustling about on the beach in an orderly fashion.

There was no one else around, so she didn’t have to pretend to be cheerful. She listlessly pressed her forehead against the windowpane. “You certainly know a lot about him.”

“It’s hard not to,” Xu Shuyan said. “If you search for the research institute online, he’s one of the top names that comes up.”

Lin Yi murmured, “Then he must be a good person, right?”

“Whether he’s an exceptional person or not doesn’t matter to me,” Xu Shuyan said. “As long as he treats Yuanyuan well and doesn’t waste the sacrifices she made for him, that’s all that matters.”

“You still like Yuanyuan so much.” Lin Yi’s gaze returned from the window and fell upon Xu Shuyan.

Both she and Xu Shuyan had found excuses to turn down the role of bridesmaid, leaving them refreshingly free of duties. They had dressed as they pleased.

Xu Shuyan was wearing a rose-pink, V-neck gown. The long skirt covered her calves, and her ten-centimeter heels revealed her long, slender ankles. Her makeup was light, and with her long hair worn down, she exuded an air of gentle nobility.

She was very beautiful.

Lin Yi averted her gaze. “Then why don’t you seem sad?” she asked.

Xu Shuyan didn’t answer.

Lin Yi thought that she herself didn’t feel as sad as she’d expected, either. But actually being at Chen Yuan’s wedding, watching the girl she once liked marry someone else, there was still a definite sense of loss.

That was why she felt it was unfair. When they were rivals for Chen Yuan’s affection, they had fought tooth and nail. Why did Xu Shuyan get to walk away completely unscathed?

“Let’s go,” Xu Shuyan said. “The ceremony is about to start.”

The wedding took place at sunset. Against the splendid colors of the twilight sky, twinkling lights illuminated the venue, making it look like a fairytale city from a dream. A pianist’s fingers danced over the black and white keys, and as the wedding march began to play, the groom took the bride’s arm and they stepped onto the red carpet.

Everyone held their breath.

Lin Yi watched for a moment, a tightness forming in her chest. Deciding it was better to look away, she shifted her gaze, searching for a place to let her mind go blank. Her eyes finally settled on Xu Shuyan’s face.

Xu Shuyan sat right beside her. The lights illuminated her face, tracing the clean, beautiful lines of her profile. Beneath her straight nose, her dusty-rose lips were small and red like tiny cherries, and her jawline was exquisitely defined. Her eyes reflected the happy couple on the red carpet.

She was perfectly calm, like a mere passerby.

After their debut, Lin Yi thought, Xu Shuyan had become very good at controlling her emotions. It was only when they bickered that she yapped like a little ruffled puppy, and even that was always within a controllable range.

She was very curious what an out-of-control Xu Shuyan would be like.

“Stop looking,” she said, tapping Xu Shuyan to pull her attention away. She lowered her voice. “Don’t think I can’t tell. You may look calm, but I bet you’re miserable inside.”

Everyone was focused on the ceremony; no one was paying any attention to the two of them.

Xu Shuyan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you know that, do you?”

Lin Yi poured herself a glass of wine and clinked it against Xu Shuyan’s empty one. She beckoned Xu Shuyan closer. As Xu Shuyan leaned in, Lin Yi brought her lips to Xu Shuyan’s ear, shielding her mouth with her hand so her voice was confined to the tiny space between them. “A toast to our love, which died of natural causes.”

She straightened up. “Bottoms up.”

With that, she drained her glass.

In the background, amid the brilliant lights, the newlyweds received God’s blessing and, under His guidance, exchanged their vows-for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, they would be together forever. Then, with everyone as their witness, they kissed.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Guests rose to their feet to congratulate the couple, offering one auspicious blessing after another. The atmosphere was electric, and when it was time for the bouquet toss, everyone surged to the front.

No one noticed Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi.

“This glass,” Lin Yi said, raising it again. She propped her chin on her hand and looked at Xu Shuyan, thinking for a moment. “This is to the three years that have passed so carelessly!”

After finishing it, she reached for the wine bottle again, but Xu Shuyan grabbed her by the wrist. “Stop drinking!”

“What right do you have to stop me!” Lin Yi shook her hand off, her voice rising. “I can’t even have a drink now? Xu Shuyan, if you try to stop me again, I’ll go down to the sea and shout insults about you!”

Xu Shuyan sighed in exasperation. “With your alcohol tolerance…”

“You know what happens, right?” Lin Yi whispered conspiratorially, her eyes darting around. “If I shout insults about you at the sea, they’ll get trapped in a message in a bottle, and then they’ll drift across the ocean, and you’ll be disgraced internationally!”

Xu Shuyan: “…”

What is this nonsense!

Just then, another cheer went up from the crowd; someone must have caught the bouquet. The wedding banquet officially began. Zhou Shichen and Yan Qi returned to their table. They both had complicated feelings about the wedding and had been visibly moved during the ceremony, their eyes still red-rimmed. It made Lin Yi’s own dejection seem less conspicuous.

“Sigh.” Zhou Shichen poured a glass of wine. She looked like she wanted to say something, but then stopped herself. “It’s all in the wine. Cheers.”

Yan Qi silently took a small sip.

Xu Shuyan barely touched her glass, only wetting her lips with the wine before setting it down. She kept a close eye on Lin Yi, who was still drinking steadily. Lin Yi couldn’t hold her liquor and was a terrible drunk; the slightest thing could set her off and cause a scene.

But Lin Yi disappointed her. Perhaps she only caused trouble for Xu Shuyan when she was drunk, because right now, she was being remarkably well-behaved.

She even started humming a song.

Xu Shuyan leaned closer and heard the girl’s voice, slightly hoarse and soaked in wine. The song was mournful, the kind that made your eyes sting just from listening. She sang, “Thank you for the special invitation / To come and witness your love / I keep reminding myself not to run away…”

Xu Shuyan’s expression darkened. Her tongue traced the line of her teeth. She raised her glass to her lips, and the wine flowed over her tongue, masking the bitter taste. “That’s enough, Lin Yi,” she said, exasperated.

Lin Yi looked at her blankly. The melody had been broken, but the lyrics continued to spill from her glistening lips. “…You look especially beautiful today… but it’s a pity this is your wedding with him / and I’m just a guest…”

“Will you get married?” The words slipped out of Xu Shuyan’s mouth.

It was too late to take them back. Lin Yi had clearly heard her. Her gaze slowly fixed on Xu Shuyan’s face, and she blinked slowly, the intensity of her stare making Xu Shuyan’s cheeks burn. She reached out to cover Lin Yi’s eyes. “Pretend I didn’t-“

“Who would I marry?” Lin Yi asked with a smile. “You?”

The hand Xu Shuyan held in front of Lin Yi’s eyes trembled slightly. Their small round table had been set for four, but Zhou Shichen and Yan Qi had gone off in search of food after a few drinks. No one heard Lin Yi’s nonsensical words, and no one saw the bomb they dropped into the calm waters of Xu Shuyan’s heart.

She hastily pulled her hand back. Her fingertips grazed the tablecloth, then paused. “Lin Yi.”

Lin Yi answered lazily.

Her long eyelashes caught the light. Her freckle makeup was delicate, and the blush on her fair cheeks, mixed with the flush from the alcohol, made her look like a ripe, juicy peach, sweet to the core.

Xu Shuyan unconsciously licked her lips. “I’ve decided… I’m not going to like Yuanyuan anymore.”

“Oh?” Lin Yi’s voice rose in disbelief. She raised her glass again, tilting her head back to smile at her. “Alright. A toast to you-the free-spirited and decisive Xu Shuyan!”

She tilted her head back and drained the glass.

She slammed the glass down on the table, making the lace-edged tablecloth flutter. Lin Yi wiped her mouth. “I’ve made a decision, too.”

“…What is it?” Xu Shuyan asked.

“Our fanservice act is over,” Lin Yi said. “Starting today, Yan Zhi You Yi has a bad ending.”

She had finally said it.

The thought had suddenly surfaced in Lin Yi’s alcohol-muddled mind, as if it had been lurking there for a long time, just waiting for the right moment. Spurred on by the alcohol, she felt a wave of relief wash over her now that the words were out.

This is good, she thought. She and Xu Shuyan had wanted to stop the act for a long time, but because of the company’s plans and Sister Fang’s strategy, the more they were pushed together, the more popular their ship became, and the harder it was to separate.

But the decision had to be made eventually, sooner or later. No one could be tied to someone else forever. Now that she was preparing her solo album, her schedule was starting to diverge from Xu Shuyan’s. They could completely untangle themselves before their next group comeback.

Yes, Xu Shuyan must be thinking the same thing.

The thought had barely settled when a hand seized her face, forcing her to turn toward Xu Shuyan. Xu Shuyan’s throat bobbed as she swallowed a mouthful of wine. Her eyes burned with an emotion Lin Yi couldn’t comprehend, an intensity that made her want to flee, but she was held fast in Xu Shuyan’s grip.

She frowned, trying to lean back. “Xu Shuyan, don’t-“

“Alright,” she heard Xu Shuyan say, each word deliberate. There was even a faint smile in her eyes, as if she were pleased that Lin Yi had been the one to suggest it.

Lin Yi felt a surge of inexplicable irritation. She slapped Xu Shuyan’s hand away. “That hurts!” she protested.

Xu Shuyan’s hand fell to her side. She said nothing.

Lin Yi stood frozen for a moment, then, feeling bored, reached for more wine. Suddenly, she gagged. Xu Shuyan jumped and immediately began patting her on the back. “Are you okay?”

Lin Yi covered her mouth and waved a dismissive hand.

“I told you not to drink!” Xu Shuyan’s anger flared. “You haven’t eaten all day, and you’re drinking on an empty stomach. Is this part of your heartbroken act? You’re going to give yourself an ulcer!”

“Mind your own business!” Lin Yi shook her hand off and stood up. “I’m going to the restroom.”

The wedding was still bustling, with professional videographers capturing every moment. Lin Yi suppressed the nausea rising in her throat, grabbed her handbag, and went to say goodbye to the newlyweds. She explained that she wasn’t feeling well and had to leave early. “Are you okay?” Chen Yuan asked with concern. “Should I have the family doctor come take a look?”

“I’m fine. I just need to rest.” Lin Yi hesitated, then stepped forward and hugged Chen Yuan, who was now in her reception dress. Her fingers brushed over the intricate, delicate headpiece in Chen Yuan’s hair. “Congratulations,” she said.

Chen Yuan patted her head. “Thank you, sweetie.”

Lin Yi released her, nodded to the groom, and then departed with grace and composure.

Watching her stumble away, Xu Shuyan knew she was drunk. She hesitated for a moment, but she was too worried to stay behind and followed her out.

The wedding was a massive affair, and all the surrounding villas had been rented out for the guests. Chen Yuan had reserved one just for the four members of The Notes, setting it a little farther from the beach for some peace and quiet. It was a good thing Lin Yi had a decent sense of direction; she managed to find her way to the door even in her dizzy state.

Xu Shuyan’s heels were too high, slowing her down. By the time she reached the second floor, Lin Yi was already coming out of the bathroom.

Droplets of water clung to her face, trickling down her skin. She was standing barefoot on the cold floor, her pale, rounded toes tapping lightly. She looked at Xu Shuyan with a dazed, uncomprehending expression.

…Still drunk.

Xu Shuyan sighed and stepped forward, taking her by the wrist. “Don’t just stand there. Let me take off your makeup so you can get to bed.”

She started to pull Lin Yi toward the bedroom, but Lin Yi didn’t budge. Xu Shuyan made a questioning sound. Lin Yi twisted her hand around to grip Xu Shuyan’s wrist, while her other arm slid around Xu Shuyan’s waist. Xu Shuyan felt a slight weight on her shoulder.

Lin Yi was hugging her from behind.

“…Lin Yi?” Xu Shuyan turned her head to the side.

Lin Yi rested her chin on her shoulder. Tears welled in her eyes, then trembled and fell, landing on the fabric of Xu Shuyan’s dress and seeping through to her skin with a faint coolness. Xu Shuyan opened her mouth and repeated, “Lin Yi?”

“Don’t say my name!” Lin Yi sniffled, her voice faint and wavering, thick with grievance. “You were mean to me…”

Xu Shuyan froze. “When was I mean to you?”

Then she realized what Lin Yi meant and tutted. “Was I being mean? I was worried about you, okay?”

Lin Yi’s pouting paused for two seconds. She opened her eyes slightly. “Really?”

Xu Shuyan figured that since Lin Yi was drunk and not thinking straight, she might as well play along. She nodded seriously. “Yes. You know the saying, ‘caring leads to chaos,’ right?”

Lin Yi lowered her eyes, her words slurring. “I guess.”

Good.

“You asked me that on purpose… Are you saying I’m uncultured?”

“…”

How did she twist it into an argument about that?

“We went to the same school, same major,” Xu Shuyan said, raising her hand to cover Lin Yi’s on her waist. She laced their fingers together and asked distractedly, “Why would I think you’re uncultured?”

Lin Yi mumbled a sullen “oh.” “Xu Shuyan.”

“Yes?”

Lin Yi pulled her hand free, wrapped her arms around Xu Shuyan’s neck, and nuzzled her forehead against Xu Shuyan’s shoulder. “Carry me home,” she demanded.

Xu Shuyan thought she had misheard. “What?”

Lin Yi repeated, “Carry me home!”

Xu Shuyan found this absurd. “If by ‘home’ you mean the bedroom, you’re standing right in front of it. If you mean back to S City, are you trying to work me to death?”

“I don’t care!” Lin Yi said, trying to climb onto Xu Shuyan’s back. “I want you to carry me!” she insisted unreasonably.

“…”

“Xu Shuyan, waaaah!”

“Alright, alright.” Xu Shuyan was truly at her wit’s end. If anyone passed by and heard her crying like that, who knew what they would think. She sighed and crouched down. “Get on.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before Lin Yi threw herself onto her back.

Xu Shuyan muttered, “…Good thing I took off my heels. You would have crippled me.”

Lin Yi was dead drunk and paid her no mind. She just clung to her tightly, whining and directing her, “Xu Shuyan! Let’s go home! Let’s get away from this sad place! Go!”

Xu Shuyan: “…”

Go where?

Lin Yi refused to be put down on the bed, so Xu Shuyan had no choice but to carry her from the second floor down to the first, walking in circles around the living room. Her palms rested against the soft, yielding flesh of Lin Yi’s thighs. She looked down at her feet, counting the steps.

After a few moments, she suddenly asked, “Have you lost weight again?”

Lin Yi’s solo album had been rated an S-level project by the company. Once it was officially underway, funds were allocated and a dedicated team was assembled. Lin Yi was under immense pressure, often pulling all-nighters in the studio and eating very little, causing her weight to drop.

She was so small, she barely weighed anything.

Lin Yi hummed, her lips puckering slightly to brush against Xu Shuyan’s neck, right where her pulse throbbed. The touch of her breath felt tangible, sending a flush of heat up Xu Shuyan’s skin.

The tips of her ears began to burn.

“Are we home yet?” Lin Yi asked.

Xu Shuyan gave a dazed “ah” as she reached the top of the stairs. She hesitated between the two doors. To the left was Lin Yi’s room, which overlooked the sea. To the right was her own room, which faced the distant mountains.

She was Lin Yi’s ordinary teammate.

She was Lin Yi’s perfectly ordinary teammate, Xu Shuyan thought. The intimate gestures, the soulful gazes, the sweet interactions-it was all an act, a performance to show the world how in love they were, to fool everyone into believing they were close. And somewhere along the way, it seemed she had fooled herself as well.

The fluttering of her heart was fake, but it was also real.

The deep affection was a mistake, but it was real.

And the impulse to kiss her in these unguarded moments-that had always been real.

Like right now. She wanted to pluck this rose-this Lin Yi, who had only grown more brilliant and beautiful through hardship-and place her carefully within the curtains of her own bed, to be her rose for one night.

Blooming only for her.

A dark emotion grew wantonly in the flickering light. By the time she realized what she was doing, she had already placed Lin Yi on her own bed. The skirt of Lin Yi’s gown fanned out across the silk sheets, and she lay there, completely defenseless.

Just like a beautiful, delicate rose.

“Xu Shuyan…” Lin Yi turned her head to the side, calling her name in a low voice.

Xu Shuyan stared at her, saying nothing.

The alcohol fermented in her blood, spreading through her body. Even in bed, Lin Yi wouldn’t settle down. Her foot rested against Xu Shuyan’s knee, tapping restlessly. Her mind was a chaotic haze; she had long forgotten where she was. After teasing Xu Shuyan for a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes.

“Are we filming the group variety show?” Her voice was clear. “The episode Yuanyuan planned, right?”

Xu Shuyan froze.

Her head began to ache. “That’s enough. You’re in bed, just go to sleep!”

She grabbed the blanket to cover Lin Yi, but Lin Yi dodged away. She sat up, her eyes shining. “Isn’t it the episode Yuanyuan planned? The one where I drew the ‘Wish Granted’ card?”

…That was so long ago. Why was she still so fixated on it?

Xu Shuyan pushed her back down again, shattering her delusion. “We are not filming the group variety show. And even if we were, I was the one who drew the ‘Wish Granted’ card. You were supposed to grant my wish.”

Lin Yi stared blankly for a moment, then covered her face with her hands. “Waaah, the world is so unfair to me!”

Xu Shuyan: “…”

Why am I arguing so seriously with a drunk person!

“Yes, yes, we’re filming the show,” she said, leaning over and pulling Lin Yi’s hands away from her face. “You drew the ‘Wish Granted’ card. I’ll do whatever you say, okay?”

Lin Yi blinked. “Really?”

Xu Shuyan narrowed her eyes. “Were you just faking it?”

Lin Yi froze for a second, then covered her face again. “Waaah, why do you keep insulting my acting! My acting is ten thousand times better than Xu Shuyan’s, waaaah!”

Xu Shuyan: “…Don’t praise yourself by putting me down!”

Lin Yi’s fake crying was giving her a headache. She quickly surrendered. “Okay, okay, your acting is ten thousand times better than Xu Shuyan’s!”

Lin Yi immediately stopped crying. After a moment, she carefully parted her fingers, peeking at Xu Shuyan through the gaps. “Really?”

Xu Shuyan nodded. “Really.”

Lin Yi asked again, “So you’ll do anything I ask?”

Xu Shuyan nodded again. “Yes.”

She leaned closer to Lin Yi. “What is it you want?” she asked curiously.

Lin Yi looked at her.

All sorts of emotions churned in her liquid gaze. Just when Xu Shuyan thought she wouldn’t say anything else, Lin Yi’s lips parted.

“Can you give me a little kiss?” Lin Yi asked.

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