[Having a baby my ass! Whoever makes my daughter have a baby, I’ll kill their whole family!]
[I’m telling you, have the Yan Zhi You Yi CP fans been kicked in the head by a donkey? How can you ship such obvious fake candy? Lin Yi’s solo fans should worry about their own houses collapsing! It’s probably just my sister being beautiful and kind, helping a colleague shop for baby products.]
[Secret marriage? When did same-sex marriage become legal? I’m just asking, when did it become legal?]
[Holy shit! Someone released an audio recording from the scene!]
The solo fans, who were in the middle of a heated argument with the CP fans: “???”
A big fan soothed the smaller fans: “Don’t listen to their nonsense. Audio recordings can be edited and synthesized. As long as we work hard, we can definitely find the original video!”
[Holy crap! The original video is out too! Yan Zhi You Yi, don’t kill me with this sweetness!]
The big fan: “???”
The subject of the video was a two- or three-month-old infant being placed on an electronic scale by its parents to be weighed. The parents were filming to record this moment of growth, while Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi’s voices served as the background audio.
“Is size M too big for the diapers?” That was Lin Yi asking.
“It is a bit. She looks so tiny, size S should be about right.” That was Xu Shuyan’s reply.
“This baby bottle is so cute, let’s buy one!”
“You get it.”
“Such tiny clothes, such a pretty style, so pink and soft… Xu Shuyan-”
“Buy it.”
“Xu Shuyan, what do you want to buy? I’ll make the decision for you here!”
“I think you sound all milky and cute when you talk, like you haven’t grown any teeth yet. How about I buy you a pacifier too? Come over and pick one you like. It’s on me.”
“…Get lost!”
After watching the video, everyone fell silent. Although the video showed an infant with chubby legs being weighed, what appeared in their minds was the image of Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan flirting and bickering while browsing a baby store.
[As one of Lin Yi’s girlfriend fans, I feel like I’ve been cheated on…]
[I’m telling you, the point isn’t the secret marriage and baby. That’s obviously a joke. What shocks me the most is how lovey-dovey they are, you know? I always thought my girl was enduring humiliation and doing fanservice with her colleague to make money, but I never expected her to be enjoying it. Haha, Yan Zhi You Yi can’t be real, can they?]
[My defenses are broken, they’re really broken. If you really like her that much… what right do you have to like her so much! I’ve already cursed her out on Weibo, how am I supposed to accept that she’s one of us now?]
[Xu Shuyan, Lin Yi doesn’t need a pacifier. She has you, and that’s enough.]
[Drooling. Elaborate, please.]
[This little couple’s acting skills have improved recently! Standing together in front of the camera like they don’t even know each other, and then being all sticky and lovey-dovey off-camera, is that it?!]
Of course, this all came later and won’t be discussed for now.
After Xu Shuyan said she wanted to buy her a pacifier, Lin Yi hesitated for a moment with the pacifier in her hand before putting it back. She carefully sidled up to Xu Shuyan, touched her shoulder, and said in a tiny voice, “I don’t need one.”
“Oh?” Xu Shuyan raised an eyebrow.
“I have you.” Lin Yi was too embarrassed to look at her. She pretended to be engrossed in the baby clothes in front of her, then quickly glanced to the side and added, “Having you is enough.”
Now it was Xu Shuyan’s turn to blush.
She thought to herself that it was fine when Lin Yi didn’t say sweet things, but the moment she did, she tested the waters of R-18 territory. In broad daylight, she was making her think of certain amorous images. She blurted out, “You already made it all swollen, and you have the nerve to say that.”
Lin Yi stuck her tongue out at her. “It was tasty.”
Xu Shuyan shot her a look.
Lin Yi, addicted to teasing her, leaned in and said, “I want more.”
“Lin Yi-” Xu Shuyan reached out and poked her on the forehead with her index finger. “It’s the middle of the day and we’re outside. Have you no shame? And I’m still in a cold war with you, you know?”
“What cold war?” Lin Yi seized the opportunity to grab her finger, wrapping it aggrievedly in her palm. “You jumped to conclusions and stamped your judgment on me without even listening to my explanation. I didn’t even get a chance to clear my name!”
Xu Shuyan asked, “Are you saying I was being unreasonable?”
Lin Yi: “I-”
Xu Shuyan nodded. “Yes, I was being unreasonable.”
Lin Yi’s eyes widened slightly. “Did you look in a mirror?”
Xu Shuyan: “?”
Lin Yi said, “Pretend I didn’t say that.”
Xu Shuyan lowered her eyes and stared at the tips of Lin Yi’s shoes for a moment. The index finger hidden in Lin Yi’s palm twitched, and only then did she say softly, “I just want more of your special affection.”
Lin Yi’s eyes flickered. “Xu Shuyan…”
“I hope you can love me a little more.” Xu Shuyan looked up, her long, thick lashes trembling slightly. “And I hope you can be more certain, choose me, and only me. So,”
She shifted uneasily. “So that’s why I reacted so strongly. I know I shouldn’t have, but, but I couldn’t control myself at the time.”
She said, aggrieved, “Just coax me a little. If you coax me, I’ll be fine.”
Lin Yi’s heart melted into a puddle. She thought that if she were to kiss Xu Shuyan right now, no one should blame her for being impulsive or call her lovesick. It was just that Xu Shuyan, at this very moment, was too pitiful and lovely, making one want to cherish her in an embrace and give her everything.
Fortunately, the noise of the baby store brought Lin Yi back to her senses. She swallowed, then grabbed Xu Shuyan’s hand and pulled her toward the restroom. “Come with me.”
The heat wasn’t on in the restroom, and the draft from the window vent blew straight at the door, bringing a biting chill. She turned, closed the door, and cupped Xu Shuyan’s face to kiss her. She had so, so many things she wanted to say to Xu Shuyan, but in the second or two that their eyes met, all of it became null and void.
Only kissing.
Only exchanging saliva and breath.
Only by clinging to Xu Shuyan’s lips and teeth, leaving her mark on Xu Shuyan’s body, stamping her claim to confirm that this person belonged to her, and she to this person, could she control the affection that was about to overflow.
Her fingertips traced the contour of her face back to cup the nape of her neck, where the delicate, smooth skin grew scorching hot. She stumbled slightly and Xu Shuyan steadied her by the waist, deepening the kiss.
In that moment, an absurd thought occurred to Lin Yi.
She thought that she and Xu Shuyan were fugitive lovers, unacknowledged by society and unblessed by the world. Their love was a crime, and they were the culprits, bearing the same charge, carefully hiding the evidence, terrified of being discovered.
And what if they were discovered?
Would it be curses? Or accusations? Would it be gloating? Or would their crimes be listed for public display?
But every one of these crimes was proof of their love.
“I’m sorry, Xu Shuyan.” Lin Yi kissed Xu Shuyan’s lips, again and again, from light to heavy, brushing over a watery sheen. In the quiet room, the distinct, wet sounds were clear. The rest of her words were swallowed by the kiss, hidden in every breath and heartbeat.
She said, “I’ll give you my special affection. I’ll love you more. Please don’t be sad anymore in the future, okay?”
Zhou Shichen seriously suspected that Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan had been secretly kissing, and she snuck into Lin Yi’s room to “question” her while she was changing.
Lin Yi felt guilty but acted tough. “Do you have any proof!”
Zhou Shichen pointed at her lips, heartbroken. “You kissed your lipstick right off and didn’t even know to reapply it!”
Lin Yi quickly checked herself in the mirror.
Her lipstick was indeed almost gone, making her lips look pale. She pulled out the shade she had worn today and, while reapplying it, said, “Uh, I’ll be more careful next time!”
“Aren’t you two afraid of getting caught?” Zhou Shichen sat on the edge of the bed. “If that happens, two houses will collapse at once. Who is our group’s manager supposed to complain to then!”
“It won’t happen.” The dusty rose lipstick spread across her lips. She reassured Zhou Shichen, “We kissed in the restroom. It’s normal for girls to go to the restroom together! We’re besties! We should go to the restroom together sometime!”
Zhou Shichen: “…Thanks for the offer. Politely decline.”
Lin Yi hummed lightly. “You’re playing pretty hard to get.”
After finishing her lipstick, she dusted on some loose powder, only to hear Zhou Shichen ask, “Xu Shuyan is way too easy to coax, isn’t she? A little kiss and she’s all better?”
Lin Yi’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Zhou Shichen in the mirror. “How did you know she was angry?”
Zhou Shichen chuckled smugly. “I told you, this sugar-detecting radar of mine is no joke. I can perfectly grasp any emotional fluctuations between you little lovebirds. Something was off between you two ever since you came back from taking your uncle’s call. I won’t ask what you fought about, but you’ve made up now, right?”
Lin Yi gave her a thumbs-up. “Amazing, Shichen. You should be an observer on a dating show.”
“Don’t change the subject.” Zhou Shichen manually pushed her thumb down. “How did you coax her? Give me the details. Was just kissing enough? Yanyan is way too easy!”
Lin Yi: “…Well.”
Zhou Shichen whined, “Tell me, please tell me!”
Lin Yi quickly backed away. “Don’t whine at me. If Xu Shuyan sees this, her jealousy jar will tip over again.”
Zhou Shichen: “Jealousy. I like it.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Helpless, she beckoned to Zhou Shichen. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
Five minutes later.
Lin Yi and Zhou Shichen came out of the room together. Xu Shuyan was amusing Tang Bao with a small rabbit doll. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, slightly displeased. “What took you so long?”
Remembering she had to avoid suspicion, she quickly added a name: “Shichen.”
Zhou Shichen: “…”
You said my name, but at least look at me!
“Where’s the Captain?” Lin Yi asked.
“Studying how to change diapers.” Xu Shuyan glanced at the closed bedroom door. “She was afraid the video would disturb Tang Bao, so she’s studying hard. Otherwise, if she doesn’t do a good job, Tang Bao will be uncomfortable.”
Lin Yi raised her voice. “Does that even need studying?”
She rolled up her sleeves. “I’ll do it!”
“You should probably wait for Yan Qi,” Zhou Shichen stopped her. “Don’t let her come out ready to practice after all that studying only to find you’ve already done it. She’d probably fall into a depression that lasts until next year.”
Lin Yi: “…Alright then.”
The heat was on in the room, so Xiao Tang Bao was just wearing a set of pink one-piece pajamas, her little feet bare as she kicked her legs. She seemed to really like Xu Shuyan, constantly giggling at her.
“This kid is so well-behaved.” Zhou Shichen poked Tang Bao’s cheek. “My mom said I was a terror when I was little. I’d sleep during the day and stay up at night, and I insisted on being held. Sitting wasn’t good enough; you had to be walking. My family lived in an alley back then, and before dawn, my mom and dad would take turns carrying me and walking in circles in the alley.”
“You were so clingy.” Lin Yi boasted, “I was very well-behaved as a baby. I didn’t cry or make a fuss. I ate when it was time to eat and slept when it was time to sleep, giving my parents space for their romance.”
She waited for Xu Shuyan to chime in, but she didn’t. Then she waited for Zhou Shichen to ask Xu Shuyan, but Zhou Shichen didn’t ask either. Getting anxious, she prompted, “What about you?”
Xu Shuyan had been squatting barefoot by the sofa for so long her legs were numb. Hearing Lin Yi’s cue, she paused for a second before recalling, “My parents were starting their business right after I was born, so I probably wasn’t fussy. My schedule should have been normal too.”
“Then the two of us non-fussy babies could have played together!” Lin Yi clapped her hands lightly, her happiness overflowing.
Zhou Shichen cleared her throat. “Are you trying to exclude me?”
Lin Yi quickly shook her shoulder. “I’m just kidding. Ask the Captain. Maybe she was on a reversed schedule like you. If you two had grown up together, you could have watched the sunrise together every day.”
Just as she finished speaking, Yan Qi walked out of the bedroom.
Lin Yi asked, “Captain! Were you a fussy baby when you were Tang Bao’s age?”
Yan Qi, holding a diaper, pondered the question for two seconds, then shook her head. “I never ask my parents about embarrassing stories like that. Let them be buried in time along with their memories.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Zhou Shichen: “…”
Yan Qi: “…”
Zhou Shichen changed the subject. “You’ve finished your research?”
Yan Qi unwrapped the diaper. “I’ve researched it thoroughly. All that’s left is to put it into practice.” She spoke to the camera facing the sofa, “Could you please tilt up a bit? Don’t film this part, mind her privacy.”
The camera obediently tilted up. Yan Qi’s movements were unhurried, her technique professional and efficient. In just a few swift motions, she was done, earning the admiring gazes and continuous applause of all her teammates.
Lin Yi: “The Captain is amazing!”
Xu Shuyan: “The Captain is amazing!”
Zhou Shichen: “The Captain is amazing!”
Xiao Tang Bao: “Goo goo ga ga!”
Yan Qi scanned the room and stated calmly, “No repeating. Each of you think of a new way to praise me.”
The three members of the Gu Group: “…”
Don’t be so demanding!
Yan Qi fastened the snaps on Xiao Tang Bao’s one-piece, then looked up. “Well?”
Zhou Shichen took out her phone and fiddled with it for a moment before spouting, “Oh my god! Are you searching for The Notes’ Captain, Yan Qi? The group’s visual! An all-around ACE! Excels in singing and dancing, can be cool or sweet, you won’t regret stanning her! Click on the Yan Qi Super Topic to see more!”
Yan Qi: “…I asked you to praise me, not to flood the comments.”
Lin Yi followed suit: “It’s so hard for Yan Qi to be the captain of The Notes. A bunch of little kids needing the captain’s care every day. Yan Qi is our baby too, why should she have to take care of you! …Uh, cut that part out.”
Yan Qi: “You only read the things that can’t be broadcast.”
She then looked at Xu Shuyan, encouraging her with her eyes. Didn’t Xu Shuyan want to do some fanservice with her? Here was her chance. If she laid on the compliments thick enough, their CP Super Topic would definitely rise at least one or two spots.
Xu Shuyan met her gaze and clapped. “Captain, you’re great.”
With. Ze. Ro. Emotion.
Yan Qi: “…”
She remembered that Xu Shuyan was nothing like this when she was doing fanservice with Lin Yi.
With the final task completed, this episode of their group variety show officially wrapped. Zhou Shichen reluctantly said goodbye to Xiao Tang Bao, holding her little hand and unwilling to let go. She only felt a little better after being told that Xiao Tang Bao lived just downstairs. “Big sister will come visit you, okay?”
Once all the equipment was dismantled and the staff had left, the four of them looked at each other and collapsed onto the rug by the coffee table.
Zhou Shichen cried out, “Taking care of a baby is so exhausting!”
Lin Yi empathized. “And Xiao Tang Bao is a relatively easy baby. If we had gotten a difficult one, I don’t think we would have made it out of here alive today!”
Zhou Shichen: “…I think I detect a bit of a hidden meaning there.”
Yan Qi, however, was regretful. “I learned some childcare techniques during the lunch break, and I didn’t even get to use them.” She asked Xu Shuyan, “Are we only filming this one episode? We don’t have to film tomorrow?”
Xu Shuyan stared at the ceiling and murmured, “Captain, if you want to take care of her, you can go straight to Tang Bao’s house downstairs.”
Lin Yi also chimed in, “I heard Tang Bao’s mom really likes you. If you go, her whole family will surely welcome you. How about filming a solo vlog?”
“Don’t bully the Captain so much!” Zhou Shichen stood up for Yan Qi.
Lin Yi snickered and turned her head to look at Xu Shuyan. They were lying close enough that she could reach out and touch her. When their eyes met, they were filled with each other.
Lin Yi couldn’t resist leaning over and giving Xu Shuyan a peck on the lips.
Zhou Shichen, who was about to sit up and condemn them, saw the whole thing and quickly covered her eyes. “Ew! You stinky couple! How are you kissing already! Can’t you wait until you’re back in your room!”
Yan Qi could already guess Zhou Shichen’s true thoughts and translated for her: “What she means is, ‘Do more, she loves to see it.’”
Lin Yi: “?”
Xu Shuyan: “?”
She hesitated for a second, then asked, “Really?”
Then there was silence. Zhou Shichen spread her fingers to peek through the gaps, and what she saw made her gasp-right before her eyes, Xu Shuyan was cupping Lin Yi’s face with one hand, kissing her with deep, devoted passion.
Zhou Shichen watched for a moment, then clutched her chest and fell back to the floor.
Yan Qi asked with concern, “What’s wrong with you?”
Zhou Shichen: “Don’t mind me, I’ve fainted from shipping.”
Yan Qi: “…”
She glanced at Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan, who were still kissing, and tutted.
Zhou Shichen was right. Stinky couple!
As expected, it drizzled the next day.
The winter rain fell fine and dense, mixed with tiny pellets of snow that tapped lightly on the surface of an open umbrella, slid down the sides, and were stepped on by hurried pedestrians, splashing up small puddles.
In mid-November, the second song from Lin Yi’s new album was officially released. It was a song about autumn, and its pop style and artistic yet unpretentious lyrics appealed to a wide audience, making it a hit with casual listeners who would add it to their playlists. Her fans were also good at boosting numbers and doing data, so it achieved remarkable results right after its release.
On the night of the release, a certain annual singing competition show officially announced that Lin Yi would be leading a team in the upcoming season. In the official promotional photos, Lin Yi made a peace sign at the camera, her smile radiant.
The moment this news was announced, it immediately caused a huge stir.
The fans were, of course, all pleasantly surprised, saying that not a single bit of news had leaked beforehand and that Lin Yi was making big moves in silence. They also said that Lin Yi was well-deserving of the role, that her skills were more than enough to hold her own as a mentor, and they hyped it up as a major achievement.
While the fans were happy, there were plenty of people who weren’t. Haters started threads in forums saying she was too young and just a traffic idol who couldn’t handle such a great responsibility, tearing her down from head to toe and even proclaiming that the show had forgotten its original purpose this season and was probably going to flop.
But they were questioned by actual casual netizens: “Huh? Are you talking about Lin Yi, the one who sang ‘Farewell to Summer’? Her new song is pretty good. Her fans recommended some of her performances to me, and her skills seem pretty solid, no?”
Hater: “You were watching autotuned videos!”
Netizen: “[Lin Yi Full Live Mic Performance – A Feast for the Eyes and Ears, Click to See the Skill of a Top Domestic Girl Group’s Main Vocal!] Is this one autotuned too?”
The hater got worked up: “You share Lin Yi’s videos so readily, stop pretending to be a casual fan! Put on some clothes!”
A passing Lin Yi fan scoffed: “I won’t say who needs to put on some clothes. My sister’s resources are just that good. Are you envious? Jealous? Bitter? No matter how bitter you are, it’s not going to be your idol’s turn!”
Then they replied to the netizen: “Thanks for the love. If you’re interested, you can follow Lin Yi! Today’s airport pictures are gorgeous too!”
The show was recorded in G City, where it was spring all year round. As soon as she got off the plane, Lin Yi changed into a dress, shedding her heavy down jacket. The sudden return to summer was a refreshing sight.
On the way to the hotel, Lin Yi opened a few letters from fans. Every sentence was filled with sincere emotion. After reading them, she carefully put them back in their envelopes, placed them in a bag, and told her assistant, “Keep these safe. We need to put them in the dorm when we get back.”
“Okay.” The assistant agreed. “I’ll bring the makeup artist to the hotel at seven tomorrow morning to do your makeup. At nine, we’ll go to the studio to record the post-show interview. The official recording starts at one-thirty in the afternoon. Let me know what you want for lunch, and I’ll prepare it for you in advance.”
Lin Yi waved her hand. “No need to go to all that trouble. I’ll just have a box lunch with the crew.”
The assistant hesitated, wanting to say something.
“What is it?” Lin Yi asked.
The assistant hesitated for a moment, then said with difficulty, “Teacher Xu told me that you get leg cramps when you sleep at night and that you need to eat nutritious food. The crew’s box lunches, I’m afraid…”
“How could she tell people that!” Lin Yi said, abashed. “Fine, you can find a restaurant and order something.”
The assistant said, “Teacher Xu is really good to you.”
Lin Yi: “…”
She grumbled inwardly. Of course she is. I’m Xu Shuyan’s girlfriend. Who else would she be good to?
This little bit of smugness didn’t dissipate even after she showered and video-called Xu Shuyan. In fact, it grew even stronger when she saw Xu Shuyan on the screen. “Xu Shuyan, you really love me.”
Xu Shuyan was still at the company, wearing glasses and squinting at her. “What evidence have you dug up now?”
Lin Yi smiled without saying a word.
Xu Shuyan leaned closer. “You’ve showered?”
Lin Yi: “Mhm!”
Xu Shuyan said, “Who wears clothes after a shower!”
Lin Yi’s face turned red. “Xu Shuyan! Be serious! I-I always wear clothes after I shower, okay!”
Xu Shuyan retorted, “Did you wear any yesterday?”
Lin Yi: “…”
She said stubbornly, “I wore them after the first time I showered!”
Xu Shuyan recalled for a moment. “Mmm… you wore that battle robe of yours. Not much fabric to it, so it wasn’t much different from wearing nothing.”
At the mention of her battle robe, Lin Yi became proud again. “I told you, no one who sees my battle robe can remain unmoved! You’re the only one in the world who’s seen it, and you were definitely moved! Were you already plotting something against me back then?”
Xu Shuyan: “If that’s what you want to think.”
Lin Yi hummed twice and flopped onto her stomach on the bed, propping her phone against a pillow. She looked up at Xu Shuyan without speaking, just watching quietly until Xu Shuyan’s heart softened. She asked gently, “Are you under a lot of pressure?”
Lin Yi knew what she was asking and let out a long “Mmm.” “It’s alright.”
Xu Shuyan: “Hmm?”
“This is a really great opportunity. So many people are green with envy, hoping to get it. But since it’s been handed to me,” her gaze gradually became firm, “since it’s been handed to me, I’m going to catch it properly and show everyone who doubts me just how steadily I can hold on to it.”
“So there’s not much pressure, really. I’ll just do my best.”
“What do you think?” She bit her lower lip. Her face, fresh from the shower, was flushed, and her eyes were veiled with a layer of mist. “Xu Shuyan, do you think I can do it?”
Xu Shuyan put down her pen, wishing she could ruffle her hair. “Of course I think you can. You deserve such a great opportunity. Your talent, your insight, and the gifts this world has given you-you’ve earned it all.”
Lin Yi felt embarrassed. “You sound like one of my fans, with all your little phrases.”
“I am your fan. A toxic solo girlfriend fan,” Xu Shuyan said. “If anyone dares to get close to you, I’ll tear them to shreds, okay? Except for your teammate Xu Shuyan, of course.”
Lin Yi scoffed. “Oh really, a Lin Yi girlfriend fan, are you? I’ve unmasked you, I’ve caught you! You’re a Yan Zhi You Yi CP fan!”
The two were lovey-dovey for a while longer before ending the call. The suddenly dark screen reflected Lin Yi’s radiant smile, jolting her back to reality. She clutched her chest and rolled over on the bed.
Time for some self-reflection.
Was she too clingy with Xu Shuyan? This wouldn’t do! You have to maintain your own identity even when you’re in a relationship!
After reflecting for a while, she went back to looking at the schedule and script for tomorrow’s show. Before she knew it, it was past her bedtime. She couldn’t help but glance at her phone and saw a message Xu Shuyan had sent five minutes ago: “Good night, wife. Good night, my baby.”
Lin Yi: “!!!”
…It’s not that she wanted to fall so deep, but Xu Shuyan called her wife! And said good night to her! And called her baby!
She changed Xu Shuyan’s contact name to: Wife (mine)
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