Song Yushi and Qi Ke hadn’t slept well the night before. They started catching up on sleep as soon as they got to the VIP lounge, continued sleeping on the plane, and didn’t wake up until their assistants woke them when the plane landed at Winter City Airport.
Chen Sheng had gotten a bit more familiar with Qi Ke and asked in a low voice, “What were you two up to last night? You’re so sleepy.”
Qi Ke: “…” If I dared to say it, would you dare to listen?
Chen Sheng’s teammate, however, was more perceptive. He slung an arm around Chen Sheng’s shoulder and squeezed out through his teeth, “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re a mute.”
Chen Sheng froze and covered his mouth.
Qi Ke smiled but said nothing.
There were still many fans at the airport to greet them. The organizers, having learned their lesson, sent two cars to pick them up. They went directly through the VIP channel and were taken to the rehearsal venue at the stadium.
Qi Ke posted on Weibo to update her fans on their schedule and also leaked a spoiler about the performance she and Song Yushi were going to do.
It was a ballad from Sweet Day’s second album.
【It’s Encountering Winter!!!! My youth is back!!!】
Song Yushi didn’t know if her fans’ youth was back or not. All she knew was that for the past two years, aside from performing on New Year’s Eve, she had been filming. Her fundamentals weren’t lost, but she felt a bit rusty on stage, which forced her to communicate more with Qi Ke during rehearsal.
Qi Ke: “Chengzhi’s part and your part are connected, don’t forget.”
Song Yushi: “Mm.”
Qi Ke: “Oh, and Zhong Yi’s part, the rap has been changed. Don’t sing it as a rap.”
Song Yushi: “Mm.”
“Hey—” Qi Ke helplessly put down her lyric book and waved a hand in front of Song Yushi. “Why are you so distracted? Still sleepy?”
Song Yushi shook her head. “No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Have you seen a certain post?”
“You’ve started surfing the internet?” Qi Ke was surprised.
“Occasionally.”
They sat cross-legged on the edge of the stage. A popular singer-dancer was currently rehearsing, the background music deafeningly loud, the drumbeat clear. Song Yushi said something else, but Qi Ke couldn’t hear clearly and leaned closer.
Song Yushi directly handed her the phone.
The post was titled 《Sweet Day, as an idol group, where are the stage performances for your stage fans?》, and it had over two hundred pages of replies.
【Thoughts after watching former Sweet Day captain Song Yushi’s New Year’s Eve performance. After a year focused on acting, is her stage presence really gone? As a stage-performance stan, I’m heartbroken. Isn’t being an idol good enough? Why did she have to go into acting? She films for half a year with no news, and all her fans have left! Song Yushi, say something, Song Yushi!】
【But still, isn’t this how transitions are? I saw her new movie, and she acted quite well (not a fan, not trying to hype her up)】
【The all-rounder captain is just this?】
【Sigh, I used to really like the captain’s performances, but there are so few stages for idols in the domestic entertainment industry anyway. Now her career focus has shifted, and she’s developing well, so there’s no need to mock her!】
Qi Ke scrolled down further. Fans and haters were split about fifty-fifty, each with their own opinions, and it eventually escalated into a huge flame war. Fans posted fancams of flawless performances, while haters threw out all sorts of out-of-context clips. The argument was out of control.
The rehearsal on stage came to a temporary halt. A handheld microphone that hadn’t been turned off made a piercing sound as someone moved, making the vast stadium seem extremely quiet in contrast.
The hurried footsteps of the staff could be heard.
Song Yushi flipped through the lyrics, waiting for Qi Ke to give her opinion. After waiting for a long time, she looked up—Qi Ke was furiously tapping on the keyboard, muttering indignantly, “Fucking bullshit!”
Song Yushi: “…”
Don’t use someone else’s phone to curse people out in the replies!
Fortunately, after typing, Qi Ke suddenly remembered that this might be an old post, and bumping it would be like digging up a grave. She forced herself to hold back. She deleted the text and handed the phone back to Song Yushi.
Someone started singing on stage again, drowning out Qi Ke’s voice.
Qi Ke glared angrily at the person on stage, took out her own phone, and opened her chat with Song Yushi.
A moment later, Song Yushi’s phone chimed.
Qi Ke: Did you forget about your fancam with tens of millions of views?
Qi Ke: You are the best, Sweet Day’s best captain!
Qi Ke: Don’t you dare doubt yourself. They’re all talking crap!
Song Yushi stared at the messages Qi Ke had sent her for a while, gave Qi Ke a strange look, and then slowly typed a reply.
Song Yushi: I’m not doubting myself.
Qi Ke was dumbfounded: Then why did you show me the post?
Song Yushi: If I don’t perform well during rehearsal in a bit, you don’t have to criticize me.
Qi Ke: ?
When did Song Yushi become so sensitive?
Song Yushi added unhurriedly: They’ve already done the scolding for you. You just need to point out my shortcomings.
Qi Ke: …
What kind of weird logic is that!!!
Qi Ke was thoroughly exasperated. Just then, the schedule cued them. She stood up and handed the microphone to Song Yushi. “Come on, let me see just how terrible you can be!”
Five minutes later.
Song Yushi’s voice was divine, her chemistry with Qi Ke was perfect, and her performance was simply flawless.
Qi Ke exclaimed in frustration, “Do you top students all feel like trash if you don’t get a perfect score?!?!”
Song Yushi frowned, looking unhappy. “There was one line just now that I didn’t sing well.”
Qi Ke: “…”
I feel like my feelings have been deceived.
Both Qi Ke and Song Yushi had high standards for their stage performances. This was especially true for Qi Ke, who had pursued a career as a singer-songwriter after her girl group days and had never left the stage. The post was right; there were few opportunities to perform in the domestic entertainment industry, and every chance was worth cherishing.
The two of them rehearsed until 4:30 in the morning before finishing.
The early morning temperature in Winter City was below zero. The loose snow crunched underfoot, the sleeping city was slowly awakening, and steam rose from the breakfast stalls on the street, dissipating in the biting wind.
Song Yushi had been very sleepy, but the cold wind woke her up.
Qi Ke suggested, “Want to eat something before we rest?”
Song Yushi nodded. There was no one on the street at this hour, so the two of them sat down at a stall and started eating. Two steamers of xiaolongbao and two bowls of soft tofu pudding—just the right amount.
Qi Ke called the owner over and had him deliver breakfast to the fansite masters who were still waiting outside.
She attached a note: Rest early. Thank you for your hard work. See you tonight.
Qi Ke had always doted on her fans.
Song Yushi was used to it. She finished eating, wiped her mouth, and paid the bill.
Qi Ke was pleasantly surprised. “You’re treating me?”
Song Yushi hummed in agreement without looking at her. “You’ve worked hard too.”
Qi Ke paused for a moment, then smiled.
【@SpringDayMilkyWay: |Lychee Fashion Gala| Off from rehearsal. Having breakfast together. Thanks to Sister and Keke for the breakfast! Hope the performance tonight goes well!】
Attached was a nine-photo grid.
【They’re so compatible, so compatible! If you told me they weren’t a couple, who would believe it?】
【I was just casually shipping them before and thought their pairing was too calculated for publicity, but now I’m a total convert. I’ve already moved the Civil Affairs Bureau here for them!!】
【Going back to sleep together, hehe.】
In the Super Topic, fans were shipping them to death, while the two main subjects of the shipping simply washed up and went to sleep. The organizers had booked them a suite with two double beds, providing enough of a safe distance for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Song Yushi was woken up by hunger.
It was just past noon. Her WeChat was flooded with messages. Song Yushi replied to Sister Fei and Xiao Nan one by one, handled some matters in her work group chat, and only then saw that Zhong Yi had @-mentioned her and Qi Ke in their five-person group chat.
【WeChat Group – We’re Getting Rich Today】
Zhong Yi: @Qi Ke @Song Yushi, I got to the stadium, but you guys left right as I arrived. Are you avoiding me on purpose?
Silence.
No one spoke in the WeChat group at five in the morning.
It wasn’t until almost seven that someone replied to Zhong Yi. Naturally, it was Zhong Yi’s official CP, Chengzhi: They’re probably still asleep, right?
Zhong Yi retracted a message.
Chengzhi: I saw it.
Zhong Yi: …
Chengzhi: Why are you so sensitive about whether they’re sleeping or not?
Zhong Yi: …Let’s talk privately.
No one knew what the two discussed privately. Half an hour passed before a new message appeared, from a different person.
Meng Ying: What are you two being so secretive about?
Zhong Yi: Nothing!
Chengzhi: Really, really nothing!
Meng Ying: …
That just makes it seem like there’s something going on!!!
The group fell silent again.
Song Yushi continued to scroll down. The latest message was from half an hour ago.
Qi Ke: @Zhong Yi I just woke up. Is rehearsal over? Where are you staying?
Song Yushi rolled over. The bed next to her was neat; it was already empty.
Zhong Yi: Just got back, I need to catch up on sleep. Is Yushi awake yet? Are you two in the same room?
Qi Ke: Mm.
Zhong Yi: I’ll just sleep for an hour, then I’ll find you guys when I wake up.
After the girl group disbanded, Zhong Yi’s career had also developed well. She juggled being a singer and an actress, had many loyal fans, and good resources. She was currently the busiest one in their group.
Song Yushi thought for a moment and sent a sticker in the group chat.
Song Yushi: good_morning.gif
The group was quiet for a second, then was instantly flooded with messages.
Chengzhi: dumbfounded_dog.jpg
Meng Ying: seeingaghostearlyinthemorning.gif
Chengzhi: uh_this.jpg
Meng Ying: shixian’s_confusion.jpg
Qi Ke: @Song Yushi Come out and eat.
Song Yushi: …
Chengzhi & Meng Ying: Okay, asexpectedof_you.jpg
Qi Ke had ordered food to be delivered to the room and was now in the living room, eating heartily. The TV was playing Song Yushi’s recently aired drama. It was the first confrontational scene between the highly intelligent female lead and the male lead, and she looked incredibly cool.
Seeing Song Yushi come out, she greeted her, “Morning.”
Song Yushi said expressionlessly, “Morning.”
Qi Ke: “…”
Why did she stop acting cute?
Qi Ke said, “By the way, we’re on the hot search. Did you see?”
Song Yushi paused squeezing her toothpaste. “What hot search?” The sound of her electric toothbrush vibrated in the bathroom as she mumbled, “The rehearsal?”
Qi Ke’s voice came from the living room: “It’s about the breakfast.”
Song Yushi said, “Oh,” and added, “That has nothing to do with me.”
But Qi Ke didn’t continue with that topic. It’s unclear what she saw, but she clicked her tongue. “Since when did Chengzhi start shipping CPs?”
As if by sudden inspiration, Song Yushi glanced at her phone on the sink counter.
【WeChat Group – We’re Getting Rich Today】
Chengzhi: 【Image】【Image】【Image】
Chengzhi: A divine fansite with divine photos. @Qi Ke @Song Yushi you two are too perfect together!
Meng Ying: ?
Song Yushi: ?
Qi Ke: If you’re going to ship, please keep it to your own circle. Don’t bring it in front of the actual people involved, thanks.
Chengzhi: 【Screenshot】
Screenshot content: 【@Song Yushi Come out and eat.】
Chengzhi: The actual people brought it in front of me and shoved the candy in my face, thanks. This is the action of the main subjects, please don’t blame the fans.
Song Yushi: When we were in the group, you and Qi Ke were also like this.
Chengzhi: ?
Meng Ying: ?
A moment of silence.
Song Yushi turned on the faucet. The water trickled through her long, fair fingers. She cupped a handful of water and splashed it on her face. Droplets slid across her skin, slowly dripping down her sharp jawline.
The phone screen lit up again.
It was a reply from Qi Ke.
In a nonchalant tone: Are you jealous?
Song Yushi: “…”
Why wait for updates? Get all chapters now and read the entire story on your schedule.
