On the set of 《Awakening of Insects》.
Meng Ying had just finished a scene and ran over from the other side of the set. Panting, she took the hot cocoa from Zhou Er’s assistant, barely managing to warm up before the corner of her mouth twitched. “Teacher Zhou, what on earth did you want to see me about?”
Zhou Er, draped in a large red cloak, sat amidst the ice and snow with exquisite makeup, staring at Meng Ying without a word.
Meng Ying: “…” That stare was kind of scary.
But Zhou Er had a headache. In the twelve hours since receiving Qi Ke’s warning, this was the eighteenth time she had called Meng Ying over to confess, and—the eighteenth time she had given up.
Qi Ke was right. She was too proud and simply couldn’t bring herself to pursue someone.
After all, she wasn’t as thick-skinned as Qi Ke.
Qi Ke, who was rushing to the set in a Rolls-Royce, sneezed. She rubbed her nose, certain that Song Yushi was thinking of her.
Meanwhile, Zhou Er was still muttering about Qi Ke.
Even someone like Qi Ke, who loved to flirt casually, couldn’t bear to keep pestering Song Yushi when she thought she wasn’t liked back. It would have gotten ugly, so she just broke up with her. What more for someone like Zhou Er? If she were to be rejected, she might as well restart her life.
“Teacher Zhou—”
Meng Ying couldn’t take it anymore and raised her voice. She had swallowed the cold wind while running over, and her face was flushed red. She couldn’t help but cough twice.
Zhou Er snapped back to her senses. She shot to her feet, took off her large cloak, and draped it over Meng Ying. The cloak was too heavy, and Meng Ying, caught unprepared, was instantly crushed like a blade of grass.
Zhou Er: “…”
Meng Ying: “…”
This sudden show of concern was a bit heavy.
But just then—
Thump!
Something fell from above, hitting the ground. Someone screamed, but the sound was abruptly cut off as if their throat had been squeezed shut.
“Song Yushi!!!”
Before anyone could react, a shout filled with all her strength shattered the silence, followed by the sound of stumbling footsteps. Zhou Er saw Qi Ke staggering toward them.
The clamor of the set suddenly became clear.
“Teacher Song, are you okay? Teacher Song!!!”
“Quick, call a doctor!”
“What happened with the wire? Where’s the person in charge?”
“Damn! Where did Teacher Qi pop out from?!”
Zhou Er thought to herself that she had known Qi Ke since childhood. She knew there were very few things in this world that Qi Ke feared.
Qi Ke was a young lady from a wealthy family who got whatever she wanted. Even her desire to enter the entertainment industry was backed by a naturally good voice. She could drop into Sweet Day and charm everyone. The only one who didn’t express her approval, the captain, was eventually seduced into her bed.
A Qi Ke like that had the capital to be proud, the right to look down on everything.
But now, Zhou Er saw that she was afraid.
The scene being filmed was the female lead’s dream, in which she had superpowers and required wire work. However, due to the staff’s negligence, the wire harness, which had just been raised, suddenly slipped. Fortunately, it hadn’t been raised very high, so no major harm was done.
Song Yushi had only fainted for a moment. When she woke up, she heard Qi Ke roaring with anger, “…If anything happens to her, your entire damn crew can stop filming!!!”
Her head was buzzing, a mix of grievance and lingering fear. The tears she could have held back began to stream silently from the corners of her eyes after she heard that sentence.
Her heart and the tip of her nose tingled with a sour ache.
The assistant director stood by, speaking meekly, “Teacher Qi, please calm down. We’ll have the doctor give her a thorough check-up in a moment. It was… it was less than two meters. She should be fine.”
“Less than two meters? What? Should I be grateful?” Qi Ke laughed in anger. “Should I be grateful she didn’t fall ten meters and die on the spot?”
The assistant director fell silent.
This matter could be blown up or played down. After all, a quick check showed no real injuries, and given Song Yushi’s personality, she wouldn’t hold it against them.
Of course, that didn’t mean they wanted to shirk responsibility. It was just that this great Buddha, Qi Ke, had descended from the heavens, and they were terrified she would shut down the entire production!!!
The set manager glanced at the assistant director: Director, remember at the last dinner party when you said all friendships between women in the entertainment industry were fake? What’s this situation now?
Assistant Director: Congratulations to the Qi Yu CP fans, you’re shipping the real deal.
Qi Ke was oblivious to the inner monologue of the director and staff. Seeing that Song Yushi still hadn’t woken up and the doctor hadn’t arrived, the fear in her heart grew. Her grip on Song Yushi’s hand tightened, and she broke out in a cold sweat from the tension.
“I’m telling you, it’s best if she’s fine. If something happens—” Qi Ke gritted her teeth, the lingering fear and rage lodging in her throat, causing a raw pain. “I’ll—”
“Don’t say it…”
Song Yushi’s lips moved, interrupting Qi Ke. She slowly opened her eyes, and Qi Ke’s figure came into focus, from a blur to perfect clarity. In the chaos, she was like a ray of light.
Qi Ke moved closer, pleasantly surprised. “You’re awake? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Song Yushi shook her head almost imperceptibly. “No…”
“How could you be fine?” Qi Ke was exasperated, but fearing Song Yushi might faint again, she softened her voice. “I saw everything.”
She saw everything.
She had taken a red-eye flight back, coming straight to the set without a moment’s rest, and the very first thing she saw was her little captain drifting down from mid-air.
In that instant, her blood ran cold. The air around her felt as if it had been sucked away, so suffocating that all she could hear was her own heartbeat.
Thump, thump.
The feeling was terrifying. The fear of completely losing Song Yushi still left her heart pounding.
Unable to pull her hand away from Qi Ke’s, Song Yushi gave up with a sigh. She smiled at the approaching director and said, “Director, I’m fine.”
“Yushi…”
“I trust the director will give me a satisfactory explanation, so it’s fine.”
The assistant director was taken aback for a moment, then he nodded. “Rest assured, we will definitely investigate this and hold the responsible parties accountable, giving you and your fans an explanation. You should rest for a bit, and we’ll go to the hospital for a full check-up later.”
Song Yushi nodded.
The assistant director left with the staff. Song Yushi leaned against the sofa, quietly watching Qi Ke, the tears at the corners of her eyes glistening in the light.
Qi Ke reflexively reached out to wipe them away.
Gently, like a warm breeze.
Song Yushi lowered her eyes, the words she wanted to say caught in her throat. In the end, she only managed one sentence: “That’s the director. If you’re so harsh with him, how will you get along when you join film crews in the future?”
In the past, whenever the captain lectured them, no one dared to talk back—except… Qi Ke.
She didn’t dare retort too loudly, only muttering, “It was their fault to begin with, and they had the nerve to say it was only two meters. Two meters!” As Qi Ke spoke, her heart clenched again. “You’re only 1.6 meters tall!”
Song Yushi: … Can we talk properly without bringing up my height?
“No one wants an accident to happen. Since it did, can you please not be so willful when handling it?”
Qi Ke looked at Song Yushi as if she were a stranger. “You’re calling me willful?”
“Am I wrong?”
“Do you have any idea how scared I was when I saw you fall!”
“…”
Song Yushi changed the subject. “Why are you here?”
Qi Ke: “Being willful, of course.”
Song Yushi: “…Qi Ke!”
“Eighteen hours ago, I was in Chicago, recording all night. Eighteen hours later, I show up here. If that’s not being willful, what is?”
“…I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Fine, then let’s not fight.”
Qi Ke fell silent. They glared at each other for a moment before realizing their hands were still clasped together. Song Yushi tried to pull her hand away, but Qi Ke tightened her grip.
Call her willful for all she cared; right now, she just didn’t want to let go of Song Yushi.
Song Yushi was helpless against her and could only let her be. So, Qi Ke huffily waited for the doctor to arrive, huffily accompanied Song Yushi to the hospital for a more detailed examination after the initial check showed no major issues, and finally, huffily took Song Yushi back to her apartment.
Xiao Nan, who as the assistant couldn’t get a word in and felt she was the one who ought to be angry: “…”
Song Yushi felt she was perfectly fine—she could walk, run, and even jump if needed. But there’s a kind of “not fine” that happens when your ex-girlfriend decides you’re not fine. In one smooth motion, Qi Ke had her shoes off, lying down, and tucked under the covers. Song Yushi was being managed by Qi Ke, plain and simple.
Song Yushi glanced at Xiao Nan, who was hovering uncertainly at the bedroom door, and said helplessly, “You can go home and rest for now.”
As if granted amnesty, Xiao Nan quickly slipped away.
Qi Ke sat at the foot of the bed, still sulking.
Song Yushi stuck a foot out from under the covers and gently kicked her leg. And then—her little foot was grabbed.
Song Yushi: “…Let go.”
Qi Ke had initially thought Song Yushi was trying to kick her and had reflexively grabbed the “weapon.” Realizing her mistake, she was about to let go, but when Song Yushi spoke, her rebellious streak flared up, and she gripped it even tighter.
Song Yushi: “…”
“How childish can you be?”
“Mhm.”
“Are you a teenager?”
“A teenager seeing the person they like lying in bed wouldn’t be this calm.”
“…Who did you like when you were a teenager?”
“…”
The conversation had tumbled to this point, and Qi Ke was struck speechless by the question. She slowly turned her head to meet Song Yushi’s placid eyes, as if she had just imagined the question.
Qi Ke felt a pang of guilt. “I didn’t—I didn’t like anyone!”
Why on earth did she suddenly feel so guilty!
“Then how did you know you were gay?” Song Yushi’s sudden curiosity was unerringly precise.
“I was… just born this way!” Qi Ke found her reason and nodded. “I just never had any feelings for men, but I liked looking at pretty girls.”
Song Yushi slowly nodded and smiled.
A chill ran down Qi Ke’s back.
For some reason, she had a feeling that the truth behind that smile spelled more doom than good for her.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Song Yushi pulled her foot back, hiding it under the soft silk quilt. She closed her eyes. “Remember to turn off the light when you leave.”
Who said she was leaving!
When she looked at Song Yushi again, the other woman had her eyes peacefully closed, acting as if she didn’t exist.
“I really haven’t liked anyone else…”
Her explanation fell on deaf ears, sounding feeble. Qi Ke was still struggling.
“…Does Beyoncé count? But thinking about it, she’s just an idol, so that probably doesn’t count.”
“So there’s really no one else.”
“Don’t go to sleep! Wake up and listen to my explanation! Why do you misunderstand someone and not give them a chance to explain, Song Yushi!”
Song Yushi remained perfectly still, embodying the principle of “sit like a bell, stand like a pine, lie like a corpse.”
Qi Ke shifted closer to the head of the bed, propping her hand on the quilt and leaning in. “If you keep ignoring me, I’m going to kiss you.”
Song Yushi’s eyelashes trembled.
After a delay of only two or three seconds, hot breath was just centimeters away.
She tried to dodge, but couldn’t.
Qi Ke gently kissed the corner of her eye, then hugged her over the quilt, burying her face in the crook of her neck. A light nuzzle sent a shiver through her. “Even though I’m angry that you called me willful, but…” Qi Ke smiled. “Baby, it’s so, so good that you’re alive.”
The air was still for three seconds. Just as Qi Ke thought she could ride the delicate atmosphere to ask the questions she wanted to, and perhaps even push down her dear Captain for a passionate reconciliation, Song Yushi suddenly pushed her away.
“…If you don’t get up, I’ll be crushed to death.”
“?”
“Get out.”
“Song Yushi!”
“…”
“…”
Could you not ruin this perfect atmosphere for getting back together, Song Yushi!!!
Song Yushi had rented a suite in an apartment building outside the film studio—two bedrooms, two living rooms, and a study. Xiao Nan usually stayed in the spare bedroom, but with Qi Ke here, she had tactfully and quickly vacated it.
Qi Ke had been on a plane for over ten hours and had slept for nearly the entire flight. Now, after a shower, she wasn’t sleepy, so she leaned against the sofa and scrolled through Weibo.
“Song Yushi’s on-set accident” was trending at number one.
Following closely behind were “Qi Ke Loses Temper on Set,” “Qi Yu,” and “Domineering CEO Qi Ke.”
Never mind the first two, but what the hell was that last one?
Qi Ke clicked on it.
【Random Shipping Central: Okay, first, let’s praise their revolutionary sisterly bond. Second, I apologize for my previous reckless and baseless statement from before Sweet Day disbanded, claiming that Song Yushi and Qi Ke were the least close in the group. Finally, sisters, let’s ship the hell out of Domineering CEO Qi Ke and her Runaway Sweetheart Song Yushi!!!】
【When Qi Ke hugged Song Yushi, her whole body was trembling. She must have been really scared of losing her, right?】
【Just a passerby here, but even though the video is short, I was really moved. That feeling of ‘I’ll use everything I have to run to you,’ that intense fear of losing you, was so strong. Sigh, the two fanbases should really stop fighting. CP fans are just shipping their friendship, it’s not like we actually think they’re dating.】
【Exactly! We’re just shipping that CP vibe, that subtle ambiguity, those double standards, that ‘in the whole world, it has to be you’ feeling, ahhh! sobs】
【So are they dating?】
【They are.】
【…】
Just as Qi Ke was getting engrossed in her scrolling, a message arrived from Zhong Yi, who had sent it despite her busy schedule. In an instant, her fun was cut short, and Qi Ke was pulled back to reality.
【Did you ask?】
【…No.】
【Oh, right. Given what happened today, you probably couldn’t ask. Is the Captain okay? I messaged her, but she hasn’t replied.】
【She’s asleep.】
【??? You’re already sleeping together?】
【We had a fight.】
【?】
Qi Ke briefly recounted what had happened, and Zhong Yi replied with a string of ellipses.
【Did I do something wrong?】 In her desperation, Qi Ke sought any advice she could get, selectively ignoring the fact that Zhong Yi had been single since birth.
【Neither of you is wrong. It’s the world’s fault.】
【?】
【Okay, fine, you two have a communication problem, dear! You just state your opinion one-sidedly and refuse to listen. And the Captain, she disagrees with you and finds you a nuisance. So you’re both unhappy! Seriously, what on earth did you two even do when you were dating?】
【Well… the communication wasn’t great, but other things were.】
【Don’t be lewd!!!】
【Sorry.】
【And then what!!!】
Another detailed explanation followed.
【It’s really strange. When I said I was going to kiss her, she was very compliant, incredibly well-behaved. She just lay there and let me kiss her. But the moment I finished speaking, she ruthlessly told me to get lost. Why would she do that?】
Qi Ke couldn’t figure it out for the life of her, so anxious she felt like she was scratching at her own heart.
Zhong Yi was silent on the other end for a long time.
【Hey! Are you there!】
【Heh.】 Zhong Yi replied, simultaneously sending a link—【Qi Ke, Just How Many “Babies” Do You Have?】
【?】
She opened the link.
It was a video on a certain streaming site with over a million views. The video, five minutes and twenty-one seconds long, was a compilation of every person Qi Ke had called “Baby” since her debut. And that didn’t even count the times she’d said it in private; otherwise, five minutes wouldn’t have been nearly enough.
A bullet comment floated across the screen—
【Qi Ke: I’m not a player, I just want to give every girl a home.】
Qi Ke: “…………”
Slander! This was pure slander!
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