@HalfLoveLetterYZYY1105x0813: |20220610| TV Drama Sweet Orange Wraps Filming| Congratulations to actors @TheNotes-XuShuyan, @TheNotes-LinYi on wrapping up! Looking forward to the drama’s broadcast!
Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan’s final scene was also at night. When filming wrapped, crew members presented them with flowers. They were surrounded, turning to smile at each other. The warm color palette, frozen in the camera’s lens, became another beautiful memory for CP fans to cherish.
Aside from the comments screaming about how well they matched, many more reposted with a tag: #XuShuyanLinYi0621Happy3rdDebutAnniversary#
“In the blink of an eye, it’s been three years since our debut.” Lin Yi was scrolling through Weibo in the nanny van on the way back, watching as fans on her timeline changed their profile pictures to celebrate the third anniversary. “Time flies so fast.”
After the wrap party, Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan didn’t return to the guesthouse. They got directly into the company’s nanny van for the overnight drive back to S City.
Xu Shuyan hadn’t slept well the previous night and had been busy all day. At the moment, she was wearing a steam eye mask, sitting beside Lin Yi with her eyes closed to rest. Naturally, she wasn’t asleep, so she hummed in agreement. “The plan for the third anniversary was sent to the group chat. Did you see it?”
“You didn’t?”
“Haven’t had the chance yet.”
“Oh.” Lin Yi, suspecting nothing, enthusiastically relayed the details to her. “It’s a small-scale musical birthday party to give back to the fans. The audience will be selected by the company from active fans, nine hundred spots in total, with airfare and accommodation included.”
Xu Shuyan commented, “That’s quite thoughtful.”
Lin Yi deeply agreed, then fell into a melancholic mood. They had only been a group for three years, and they were already down one member. Even if they held an anniversary concert to give back to the fans, it would still be a regret for them this summer.
As she was lost in thought, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. “Don’t sigh.”
The pads of the fingers were warm against her pulse.
Lin Yi blinked. As if possessed, she didn’t push Xu Shuyan away. She turned her head to look out the car window. The streetlights, like shifting moonlight, cast fragmented beams inside. She watched for a while before slowly pulling her gaze back.
For some reason, she recalled the dream from that night, when a little Xu Shuyan had said something to her through gritted teeth.
What was it again?
[The Gu Group has only been out for three years. Thinking back to how their debut showcase had no audience, and now every show is sold out, it’s really emotional. Although Chen Yuan leaving the group is kind of a downer, stanning the Gu Group as a career-focused fan is so satisfying.]
[In these three years, the Gu Group’s awards include but are not limited to: Best Idol Group of the Year, Most Influential Group of the Year, Best Single of the Year, Top of the Ten Best Albums of the Year, and a Golden Melody Award. Their endorsements range from being global ambassadors for top-tier luxury brands to down-to-earth yogurt ads you see everywhere. They’re blossoming in fashion, variety, and film. If you’re going to stan a group, stan the Gu Group!!!]
[Ahhh! I just got the notification that I can go to the live event! The third-anniversary concert!]
[Damn.]
[This is the best birthday present I’ve ever received QAQ!]
[So the Gu Group has been leaving early and coming back late recently to prepare for the concert?]
[Definitely!]
But that wasn’t the whole story.
The anniversary concert was certainly important, but it was mainly for relaxation. They had even hired a professional host to manage the event, so the four members of the Gu Group only needed to prepare their solo songs in private. With summer vacation approaching and tickets for the first stop of the summer tour sold, the entire Gu Group team began preparing for the concert series.
They trained day and night, sweating profusely. Mineral water bottles were emptied one by one, crushed, and thrown into the trash. Amidst the fast-paced drum beats, the sound of sneakers hitting the floor echoed.
Along with Yan Qi’s voice counting the beats, the cicadas in the trees outside chirped of summer.
After finishing a song and dance routine, the BGM switched to a soothing track for them to rest. Zhou Shichen, with her naturally good stamina, ignored the “No Sugar” warning posted on the door and casually unwrapped a piece of candy, popping it into her mouth. She was immediately sanctioned by a glare from Yan Qi.
“Aiyo~!” Zhou Shichen clutched her forehead and leaned against the barre. “I think my low blood sugar is acting up.”
Yan Qi: “…Don’t let it happen again.”
Xu Shuyan caught a glimpse of Lin Yi slipping out with her phone. She wanted to call out to her but decided against it, fearing it would be too conspicuous. She glanced at Chen Yuan, who, after the dance, was leaning against the window, sipping water and zoning out.
As long as she’s not going to find Chen Yuan, it’s fine, she thought distractedly.
“I want to drink Coke too!” she shouted. “I haven’t had Coke in so long! I don’t get pimples from eating sugar! Why can’t I drink it!”
“You can drink it,” Yan Qi mused. “Just don’t let Xiao Yi see.”
“Afraid she’ll fight me for it?”
“No,” Yan Qi shook her head. “She’ll definitely come and tattle to me. What am I supposed to say then? Punish you with push-ups or make you run ten laps?”
Xu Shuyan held her forehead. “I won’t let her see!”
Zhou Shichen, standing nearby, laughed at Yan Qi. “You just spoil us. If Sister Li’s little spy assistant catches us, you’ll be the one doing push-ups.”
Yan Qi shot her a light glare. “Then you eat less.”
Xu Shuyan thought to herself that if Zhou Shichen could eat less sugar, she wouldn’t be Zhou Shichen. While thinking, she took the opportunity to sneak over to the vending machine and buy a can of Coke. As the can clattered down, she saw a figure move by the money tree near the window.
Judging by the color of the clothes, it was Lin Yi.
Xu Shuyan: “!”
No way.
Lin Yi couldn’t have predicted I was coming to buy Coke, so she’s deliberately squatting here to catch me in the act, right? …On second thought, given our relationship, it’s not impossible.
Her fingertips touched the Coke can. Warmed by the air, the cool condensation on its surface formed tiny droplets that slowly trickled down. Xu Shuyan pressed her lips to the rim and took a sip. The slightly spicy fizz instantly filled her mouth, relieving the summer heat and fatigue with a magical effect, leaving her with a single feeling of pure satisfaction.
As she drank, she stared at the money tree, thinking that to catch someone, you had to catch them red-handed. If Lin Yi was deliberately waiting for her, she would have jumped out by now, not remained silent.
…If she’s not here to catch me, then what is Lin Yi doing, acting all sneaky?
Xu Shuyan hesitated for a moment. By the time she realized it, she was already walking toward the corner where Lin Yi was hiding. She frowned in annoyance, wondering if Lin Yi had a magnet on her. Otherwise, why did she always find herself involuntarily drawn closer?
While she was hesitating, Lin Yi, on the other side, was like someone with a guilty conscience afraid of a knock at the door. She flipped through the magazine in her hands while warily watching for anyone approaching.
Mainly Xu Shuyan-
Discovering that she was picking out a wedding gift for Chen Yuan three months in advance.
It wasn’t that she was afraid of Xu Shuyan mocking her for being so devoted, nor was she afraid of competing with her over who gave the better gift. But from the bottom of her heart, she felt this was something she had to hide from Xu Shuyan. Xu Shuyan could not find out.
They usually trained, ate, and slept together, so she only had time during breaks to look through fashion magazines for new products.
And so, just as she was using the sunlight from the window to flip through the magazine with a rustling sound, a shadow suddenly fell over her. She muttered, “Why did it get so cloudy? It’s not going to rain, is it?” as she looked up. Upon seeing the source of the shadow, she screamed, “Ah- ah- ah-!!!”
The very innocent, Coke-drinking Xu Shuyan: “…”
You could always trust the lung capacity of a main vocal.
She didn’t know what shady business Lin Yi was up to, but she was, in fact, secretly drinking Coke. If this attracted company staff, wouldn’t she be written up and mocked at the annual meeting?
Thus, Lin Yi’s lung capacity showcase lasted only three seconds before Xu Shuyan clamped a hand over her mouth. She hissed, “What are you screaming for!”
Lin Yi: “Mmph mmph mmph!”
Xu Shuyan shifted her squatting position and warned Lin Yi in a low voice, “I’m letting you go. No more screaming, okay?”
Xu Shuyan had expected that once she let go, even if Lin Yi didn’t rattle off insults at her like a machine gun, she would at least make a few sarcastic remarks. To her surprise, Lin Yi just hastily hid what was in her hands behind her back and feigned composure. “What are you doing here? Are you- are you drinking Coke?”
“The Captain allowed it,” Xu Shuyan said without batting an eye. “I don’t get pimples from drinking it anyway.”
“I don’t either!” Lin Yi said indignantly. “It’s just that carbohydrates make you gain weight easily! What’s wrong with having one can once in a while! Let me have a sip.”
With that, she reached for the Coke in Xu Shuyan’s hand. Xu Shuyan pulled back. “You can have some.”
Lin Yi rolled her eyes. “But?”
Xu Shuyan held out her other hand. “What are you hiding? Let me see.”
Lin Yi had a “knew it” expression on her face. She bit her lower lip, glanced longingly at the Coke, and said, “I don’t want it anymore!”
Xu Shuyan was relentless. “Even if you don’t want it, you still have to show me.”
“Don’t go too far, Xu Shuyan!” Lin Yi shouted. “What I’m looking at is none of your business! It’s break time now, I can do whatever I want! Get out of my way, you’re blocking my sun!”
Xu Shuyan didn’t move. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Lin Yi.
The more she stared, the more guilty Lin Yi felt. She lowered her eyes, her gaze darting around rapidly. She thought, if Xu Shuyan won’t leave, then I will. As she tried to stand up, she realized her legs had gone numb from squatting for too long. She hopped in place a couple of times. “Ouch, ouch, my leg’s asleep~ Xu Shuyan!”
Xu Shuyan placed the Coke on a nearby table, stood up, and steadied her. “Your leg’s asleep?”
Lin Yi nodded furiously. “Mhm, mhm!”
She pouted, putting on a full display of pitifulness. “See how poor- Hey! Xu Shuyan, give it back! Xu Shuyan! I’ll fight you! Xu Shuyan, you… can you just pretend you didn’t see?”
Xu Shuyan, who had snatched the magazine while Lin Yi was distracted, stared at the cover photo of the two of them. She blinked as if in a dream, and after a moment, her expression turned complicated. “You were hiding here, secretly looking at a magazine of the two of us?”
Lin Yi: “…?”
She waved her hands. “No, let me explain, it’s not what you think!”
Xu Shuyan’s grip on the magazine tightened. She flipped through it, then silently hugged it to her chest, picked up the Coke can, and started walking toward the practice room. Halfway there, she turned back. “You just swore. You’re getting fined.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Damn it!
Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan’s joint magazine was the June issue, released at the beginning of the month. Recently, copies had been arriving in the hands of fans, and several rounds of high-definition photos had been released. Every picture made people ship them to death.
The cover photo was the one on the bed.
The alluring spring-like color palette, the unspoken tension in the atmosphere- it was the epitome of both ambiguity and innocence. It made Zhou Shichen’s face flush and her heart race. “As expected of a photographer from one of the top five magazines! This is absolutely stunning!”
She placed the magazine in front of Xu Shuyan. “Tell me the details of how you shot this.”
Xu Shuyan was distracted. “What’s up?”
Zhou Shichen hesitated. “Uh, I heard from our manager that they’re trying to get me the year-end cover, and it’ll probably be a snow scene too, so I wanted some experience.”
“It’s not like we haven’t shot magazines before.” Although Xu Shuyan’s mind was elsewhere, her intellect was still online. “You have more experience with magazine shoots than I do, right?”
Zhou Shichen: “…”
Annoyed, she slapped her palm on the floor. “Just tell me so I can have something to ship!”
Xu Shuyan: “?”
Why didn’t you just say so from the start!
But-
She flipped through the magazine in her hands. Interspersed with the photos on the inner pages were interviews with her and Lin Yi. She shook her head. “It’s been too long, I can’t remember clearly. There will probably be behind-the-scenes footage. I’ll send it to you then.”
Zhou Shichen clapped her hands. “Yay!”
She jumped up, full of energy, and went to high-five Yan Qi. “I feel like I can dance for another three hours!”
Xu Shuyan: “…”
In this life, what she envied most were easily satisfied CP fans.
She sat cross-legged on the floor, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at the magazine in front of her. The thought of Lin Yi secretly looking at a magazine of the two of them gave her a strange feeling.
Why look at it secretly?
…What is she thinking?
Did she find it embarrassing or was she shy? She flipped open the magazine with one hand, her eyes scanning the words on the page. The dense text swam before her eyes, but none of it registered in her mind.
It must be because she finds it embarrassing.
She probably hates being in the same magazine with me. Just like a solo fan, she’ll probably cut out her individual pictures to make a booklet. As for the other person, if she’s feeling polite, she’ll just throw it away. If not, she’ll stomp on it a few times before tossing it.
Lin Yi, she-
Huh?
Xu Shuyan’s unfocused gaze gradually sharpened, landing on a certain page in the magazine. It was an advertisement for a new luxury brand watch, priced at one hundred and twenty thousand yuan. It was rose gold, small and cute. Next to it, in small handwriting, was: Option 1.
It was Lin Yi’s handwriting.
Option for what?
Xu Shuyan felt like she had grasped a thread of this matter but couldn’t be sure. She turned another page. It was also an ad, this time for a luxury brand’s new autumn bag, priced at fifty-seven thousand yuan. It was also marked: Option 2.
She turned another page. It was a custom-made formal dress, priced at eighty-four thousand yuan, marked: Option 3.
Lin Yi was picking out a gift?
In a sudden flash of insight, Xu Shuyan grabbed the magazine and shot to her feet. Just as she reached the door, she collided with Lin Yi, who was about to enter. Lin Yi let out a small cry and was about to speak when Xu Shuyan grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her out of the practice room.
“What are you doing!” Lin Yi tried to shake her off. “Xu Shuyan, what’s gotten into you now?”
“You were looking at the magazine to pick a gift?” Xu Shuyan asked directly. “You were looking at gifts for a girl, but no one in our group has a birthday coming up, and you don’t have any other friends. Are you picking a wedding gift for Chen Yuan?”
Lin Yi was dumbfounded. “It’s a shame you’re not a detective… Wait, who said I don’t have other friends?!”
Xu Shuyan ignored her diversion and repeated, word for word, “Are you picking a wedding gift for Chen Yuan?”
Seeing that she couldn’t bluff her way out, Lin Yi braced herself and admitted it, feeling a little embarrassed. “I… I wasn’t trying to get a head start, and I’m not competing with you. I just wanted to prepare in advance.”
Xu Shuyan cut her off. “Do you still like her?”
“Huh?” Lin Yi tilted her head. “What kind of question is that? Isn’t it obvious?”
Xu Shuyan said, “She’s getting married.”
Lin Yi sighed. “Yeah. She’s getting married. But you can’t just erase feelings. I’ve liked Yuanyuan for so many years, it’s become a habit. I can’t just quit.”
“And for something so important to Yuanyuan, I want to give her the best. Maybe-”
She pressed her lips together. “It can also be a kind of farewell.”
A farewell to the Chen Yuan she liked, a farewell to her youth, a farewell to her unspoken, secret crush. She wanted this sense of ceremony, so she was taking it very seriously.
In Xu Shuyan’s eyes, however, all she saw was lingering affection.
Lin Yi suddenly let out a sound of surprise. “You don’t like Yuanyuan anymore?”
Xu Shuyan stared at her. “…I do.”
For some reason, Lin Yi felt a void in her heart, but a smile appeared before that feeling could settle. She gently punched Xu Shuyan’s shoulder and wrapped an arm around her. “I knew it. We’re the same kind of person.”
Xu Shuyan shook off her hand and said coolly, “I wouldn’t secretly prepare a gift.”
“Hey, I already said I’m not competing with you!”
Lin Yi wanted to explain further, but Xu Shuyan just threw out a “Hurry up and get back to training” before entering the practice room.
Lin Yi looked at the closed door and shut her eyes.
“Missy!”
June twenty-first was The Notes’ third debut anniversary. Due to the turmoil of the past six months, they kept it as low-key as possible, without a grand celebration. They only invited active fans to a concert to sing, chat, and give out gifts.
At the concert, The Notes officially met their fans as a four-member group. Led by their captain, Yan Qi, they read a letter to their fans. At the end of the letter, Yan Qi held the mic stand, her tone firm yet gentle. “We hope The Notes can always be with you all. And in the days to come, we hope to continue meeting everyone. More importantly-”
She said, “We hope everyone can be happy.”
What is an idol?
As she bowed again and again, Lin Yi thought about how she once only wanted to be a singer, to sing her own songs in this complicated world, with a few listeners, who would disperse when the song ended.
Later, she joined a girl group. She learned about the role of an idol, she learned to dance, she even rapped. She and her teammates completed one stage after another. The cheers from below grew from a whisper to a roar. Someone held up a light board with her name and said they liked her. Someone sent a long letter thanking her for her companionship over the years. Someone said that when they saw her smile, the sky brightened.
She thought, being an idol is about shining again and again, to illuminate others, and to illuminate yourself.
Chen Yuan wasn’t a qualified idol, but she had once shone for others, and now she was still doing her best to contribute what she could.
After the music festival, The Notes turned down all other work to focus on preparing for their summer tour.
On July ninth, the first stop of the summer tour was held in B City.
These last six five-member concerts were still being live-streamed. Many casual viewers tuned in to watch the drama unfold, and the live stream at one point crashed. When it was restored, what they saw was the five members of the Gu Group standing together, playing a game of making dumplings against a festive red backdrop, creating a thick New Year’s atmosphere.
Haters: ???
[I came here to watch a train wreck, and you’re showing me one big happy family?]
[I thought after Chen Yuan screwed over her members so badly, I’d get to see some live drama like ostracizing someone.]
[We warned you long ago, the Gu Group’s bond is really strong. They walked this path from obscurity to stardom together. They understand each other best. If you come looking for drama, you’re bound to get your face slapped!]
[I love watching these face-slapping moments hahahaha!]
[Whether it’s the five-member Gu Group or the four-member Gu Group, they’re the best Gu Group!!!]
[I’ve noticed that the most emo ones this time aren’t Chen Yuan’s fans or the group fans, but the Yan Zhi You Yi CP fans! I’ve really lived to see it all. Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi have had so little interaction on this tour… Could the company have warned them not to date?]
[Damn it, doesn’t the company understand that dating someone else is being a disqualified idol, but dating a teammate is being a super-idol!!!]
The company was, of course, aware of the CP fans’ sentiments. Some CP fans even organized to protest on the company’s official Weibo, demanding normal interaction between teammates. Because of this, before the final concert, Sister Fang held a small video conference specifically with Lin Yi and Xu Shuyan.
During the meeting, Sister Fang sternly criticized their lack of professionalism, expressed her heartache over the turmoil their actions had caused in the CP fandom, and finally, in a display of both reward and punishment, she emphatically praised them for not being locked in with each other and being willing to have fan service moments with other teammates, contributing to the blossoming of all CPs within the group.
Lin Yi managed a smile for Sister Fang. “Thanks for the praise, Sister Fang. Does this mean a raise?”
Sister Fang: “Don’t even think about it.”
Lin Yi: “…”
She glanced sullenly at Xu Shuyan beside her.
In truth, she and Xu Shuyan hadn’t discussed it, nor had they deliberately avoided contact, but they always managed to miss each other. As a result, over five concerts, CP fans had to scrape for any sweet moments. They’d take anything they could get- a meaningful glance, an occasional touch- no different from people picking up scraps off the street.
Xu Shuyan was waiting to go to sleep, so she was the first to make a promise. “We’ll do proper fan service tomorrow.”
“Really?” Sister Fang questioned.
“Really!” Lin Yi said hurriedly. “Yanyan’s solo stage is the last to rehearse, she’s dead tired now. Hurry up and let her sleep!”
Sister Fang raised an eyebrow. “Starting already?”
Lin Yi: “?”
Sister Fang: “You don’t have to be so serious in front of me.”
Lin Yi: “I’m not, I didn’t, I…”
Before she could finish, Sister Fang ended the video call. Lin Yi blinked, looked at Xu Shuyan, and complained aggrievedly, “I was genuinely concerned about you, it wasn’t for show!”
Xu Shuyan pulled the covers over herself. “Save it for the stage.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Heavens! Is there a rule against caring for your former love rival turned ordinary teammate?!
Lin Yi sulked all night. During the concert, she was determined to feed the CP fans until they were full. During the interaction segments, she followed Xu Shuyan wherever she went, like a clingy little kitten. Unfortunately, for some reason, Xu Shuyan had completely forgotten Sister Fang’s criticism from the night before and rarely even spared her a glance.
And so, after The Notes’ final bow as five members, which marked the official end of the five-member Gu Group era, while group fans were crying, Chen Yuan’s fans were congratulating her on her graduation, and other fans were drooling over stage videos and photos, the Yan Zhi You Yi CP fans, in their emo state, came to a new conclusion.
“Xiao Yi must have confessed to Yanyan! And Yanyan didn’t accept! Oh my god, what kind of tragic romance is this? I’m crying. Xu Shuyan, don’t you love her? Say something, Xu Shuyan!”
“Xiao Yi looks like a rain-soaked puppy. Yan Zhi You Yi, I thought you two had already done it. Are you still in the ambiguous phase?”
“Is Yan Zhi You Yi going to have a bad end???”
At the celebration banquet, Lin Yi read these comments through gritted teeth. Finally, she slammed her phone on the table and, with her hand under the table, pinched Xu Shuyan. “You did that on purpose!”
Xu Shuyan let out a low yelp, feeling very wronged. “What?”
“Still playing dumb?” Lin Yi shoved her phone in front of her face. “Now the CP fans are all saying I’m suffering from unrequited love for you, that I’m still clinging to you after being rejected!”
Xu Shuyan slowly let out an “Oh.” “Is that so?”
Lin Yi got even angrier. “You just wait! When we get back, I’m going to tattle on you to Sister Fang. You’re getting fined, fined!”
Xu Shuyan shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
This attitude infuriated Lin Yi even more. Just as she was contemplating whether to get into a real fight with Xu Shuyan, she suddenly heard someone call her name. The voice was soft and gentle, and it softened her heart.
It was Chen Yuan.
Lin Yi quickly answered, and an envelope was pressed into her hand. The bright, glaring red stung her eyes. She heard Chen Yuan say, “This is an invitation to the wedding. The date is set for September twenty-first.”
“I hope you can all come to my wedding.”
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