The director’s reminder finally made Song Yushi remember that her and Qi Ke’s every move was being recorded by the cameras. Before leaving, the director thoughtfully said, “We’ll turn the cameras back on in half an hour. You two take a moment. Remember, pink bubbles!”
Song Yushi thought the director looked like a pink bubble.
Then she silently and firmly resolved in her heart to never take on a reality show again!
Over there, Qi Ke nodded solemnly. “Director, don’t worry, I always cooperate with your work. I guarantee I’ll make all the pink bubbles pop up and float to the sky, making the audience think they’re watching a romance variety show. No,” she then corrected herself, “a post-marriage variety show!”
Director: “…” That’s not really necessary.
In short, it would have been better if Qi Ke hadn’t made any promises. Once she did, the director felt even less confident and had to look at Song Yushi for help.
Song Yushi forced a reasonably sweet smile, took Qi Ke’s wrist, and said, “Don’t worry, Director. Acting, I’m a professional at it.”
The director nodded in sudden realization.
Right, right, the Hundred Flowers Best Actress… wait, why is it acting?
“Besides, my feelings for Qi Ke don’t need any acting at all.” Song Yushi naturally patched up the bug.
The director was completely satisfied. He nodded and happily went back to work.
Listening to the director’s footsteps fade away, Song Yushi let go of Qi Ke, her expression turning blank again. She unconsciously drank her water, preparing for Qi Ke’s long-winded speech.
But, Qi Ke was silent.
Song Yushi glanced sideways in surprise and saw Qi Ke holding the little bear health-preserving teapot, looking at her. When she saw Song Yushi look over, Qi Ke asked, “Want more?”
Song Yushi: “…No more.”
Qi Ke nodded and remained silent.
Song Yushi gave her a few more strange looks. Even after finishing the water in her cup, she couldn’t figure it out. Instead, her thoughts strayed further, reminding her of the “transmigrating into a book” and “soul transmigration” tropes Zhong Yi often read about. She was horrified. Had Qi Ke’s soul been replaced by someone else’s?
Song Yushi looked at Qi Ke again.
Qi Ke was still sitting there, being very, very good. She was as well-behaved as a class monitor sitting bolt upright in an elementary school classroom. Her posture was perfect, and the message in her eyes was clear—I’m being good, praise me, praise me.
Okay, no soul transmigration.
Song Yushi put down her cup. After some consideration, just as she was about to speak, Qi Ke beat her to it: “Don’t feel pressured.”
Song Yushi was slightly stunned.
“If you don’t want to act, it’s okay. Just be yourself.” Qi Ke refilled her cup with water. “It’s a reality show, after all. You don’t need to act; you’re already very likable.”
“I…”
“I want you to be relaxed when you’re with me.”
“You…”
“Don’t feel pressured. Don’t mind me, don’t mind the cameras. At worst, they can just edit it out.” Qi Ke took a sip of water and smiled at her. “After all, I have connections.”
When she smiled, her eyes danced, full of uninhibited spirit, no different from before.
But, something also seemed different.
The old Qi Ke didn’t really care what others thought. She had the ability to make people like her, calling everyone “sister this” and “sister that,” able to capture many people’s affection and attention, so it was normal for her to be spoiled and willful.
She liked to make decisions on her own and never liked to ask for others’ opinions. Even if she did ask, it would be a full suite of coaxing, threatening, and bribing, leaving you with no choice but to compromise. She acted with impunity, relying on her likability.
And her own affection was direct and passionate, charging forward recklessly, not allowing you to refuse.
But now Qi Ke was saying, don’t mind me, don’t feel pressured.
The cameras turned on one by one, their red lights blinking as work resumed. Song Yushi watched Qi Ke walk into the kitchen and seriously plan today’s menu, shook her head, and thought, Hmm, maybe she really was replaced by another soul?
The ingredients were limited, so the menu was planned quickly.
Sweet and sour pork tenderloin, hot and sour shredded potatoes, cola chicken wings, and tomato egg drop soup.
Three dishes and one soup, all set.
Originally, Song Yushi and Qi Ke wanted to continue their roommate rule: the one who cooks doesn’t wash the dishes, and the one who washes the dishes doesn’t cook. But the director couldn’t take it anymore and sent a staff member over again with a reminder: “Teacher Qi, Teacher Song, one of you is in the kitchen and the other is in the living room, without even any eye contact. This is very difficult for us!”
Song Yushi made an “OK” gesture, indicating she understood.
Then she sat on the bar stool, propped her chin on her hand, and watched Qi Ke cook with a look of deep affection.
How could Qi Ke withstand such a gaze? Her hand trembled, and she added too much salt. She quickly added water, but her hand trembled again, and she added too much water. She quickly added more salt, and then more water—
“Spare that pot of food, ahhh!!!” A frantic shout came from the director’s room: “Wasting food is shameful!!!”
The voice was so loud it echoed through the villa.
The couple group and the best friend group looked at each other, not understanding what was happening.
Qi Ke, with a salt spoon in her left hand and a bowl of water in her right, was caught in an awkward dilemma. Finally unable to bear it any longer, she turned around and pleaded, “Captain.”
The Captain, unmoved by the outside world, continued to gaze at her “lovingly.”
Qi Ke’s heart trembled. “Help me~~~”
The Captain spread her hands. “I’m on dish duty.”
Qi Ke: “No, no, no, you don’t have to do anything. Just don’t look at me like that.”
Song Yushi: “?”
Qi Ke: “It’s too seductive.”
Song Yushi slowly lowered her eyes and said unhurriedly, “Is that so?” She picked up the tablet on the table, opened her chat with Zhong Yi, where Zhong Yi’s last message read: “If she doesn’t behave, show her this.”
The previous message was a link—《allKe | When I Look at You》
Song Yushi pressed play and turned the screen towards Qi Ke.
And so, Qi Ke watched a live viewing of every “affectionate” gaze she had directed at her teammates during their group days. The emotion in her eyes was subtle yet present, full of charm, hinting at endless ambiguity, and brimming with sexual tension.
Qi Ke: “…………”
Did the person who made this video want her to die!!!
Qi Ke decisively put the salt back, poured out the water, and stared straight ahead. “Captain, just keep looking at me like that. I can still handle it.”
Song Yushi lowered her head, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.
Actually, she didn’t know why Zhong Yi had sent her this, and Qi Ke wasn’t misbehaving right now, but she just wanted to show it to Qi Ke, to see her reaction.
Yes, she just wanted to tease Qi Ke.
Captain Song didn’t like to tease people, but when the opportunity arose, she wanted to give it a try.
Having had her fun, Song Yushi stopped making things difficult for Qi Ke. She walked towards the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and said, “Let’s cook together.”
Qi Ke didn’t react for a moment. “Cook… cook what?!”
Song Yushi: “…” She had teased her too lightly.
The atmosphere in the kitchen was great, perfectly matching the director’s request for “pink bubbles.” The two cooks would occasionally feed each other a bite to taste the food.
Qi Ke was the better cook. Without the Captain’s intense gaze, she performed exceptionally well. Her sweet and sour pork tenderloin was delicious enough to get a direct pass to the finals of a cooking competition.
Song Yushi was a bit inferior. The taste of her dish could only be understood intuitively, not described in words.
Yet Song Yushi just had to ask, “You look a little pale. Does it not taste good?”
Qi Ke: “…”
This… this was too much of an acting test!
After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: “It’s delicious. It’s just that… it seems you added a bit too much vinegar.”
Song Yushi said, “Oh,” and added, “I thought that was soy sauce.”
Qi Ke: “…” Isn’t the difference between the two big enough?!
Song Yushi felt a little discouraged. The more she looked at her plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes, the less she liked it. She thought about destroying the evidence, but the director’s words, “Wasting food is shameful,” still echoed in her ears. It wouldn’t look good if those two scenes were edited together.
Qi Ke also saw her concern. “Just put it on the table. It’s a dish.”
Song Yushi looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “You’ll eat it?!”
Qi Ke: “…”
She swallowed. If she said she wouldn’t eat it now, would she lose her Captain?
The Captain’s eyes were sparkling. As if possessed, Qi Ke nodded. “If you made it, I’ll eat it.”
“So damn sweet—”
Another shout came from the director’s room in the villa: “Sweets are the f-ing best!!!”
Qi Ke and Song Yushi: “…”
Director, that last sentence was such a stiff transition!!!
It was unclear whether the director was overly concerned about the post-production editor who was sick at home or what, but he stared at Qi Ke and Song Yushi all day, sending someone with new tasks from time to time. In the end, Song Yushi seriously suggested to the director’s team, “Why don’t you write a script overnight?”
Qi Ke chimed in, “Preferably one with arguments, making up, and sweet, tender moments.”
Director’s team: “…”
Wake up, you two aren’t filming an idol drama!
The director’s team could only keep their complaints to themselves, but Song Yushi was much more direct. She turned her head and looked at Qi Ke with a smile. “I have a few more videos here.”
Qi Ke quickly covered her mouth, using her eyes to signal that she would stop talking nonsense.
Song Yushi smiled at the staff member.
The staff member was in a daze for a moment.
Even though I don’t know what happened, Song Yushi’s smile is so beautiful. A beauty’s smile is like a spring breeze, nothing more than this, right? Sob, sob, sob, damn, why is Teacher Qi glaring at me like I’m coveting her girlfriend? You’re getting too into character, hey, Teacher Qi!
The task assigned by the director’s team was to give Candy a bath.
Qi Ke and Song Yushi looked at Candy, who had grown strong and healthy thanks to the good food, and fell silent.
Five minutes later.
Candy bit Qi Ke’s pant leg.
Qi Ke looked at Song Yushi.
Song Yushi: “…”
Ten minutes later.
Candy rolled on the floor.
Qi Ke looked at Song Yushi.
Song Yushi: “…What are you looking at me for?”
Qi Ke: “In this house, you’re the boss.”
Song Yushi: “…”
What kind of divine plot development is this, suddenly becoming the head of the household?
Song Yushi stood up helplessly. “Let’s go.”
Then she led the way to the bathroom.
Qi Ke turned off her mic, squatted down, and took Candy’s little paws. “Guo’er, listen to Mama. You don’t have to be so good during your bath later. It’s best if you get our clothes all wet. The heating is strong anyway, so don’t be afraid Mama and Mommy will get sick. Listen to me, for the sake of family happiness, don’t be a good kid.”
Candy: “Woof!”
Qi Ke’s eyes lit up. “You agree?”
Candy: “Woof woof!”
Qi Ke: “So good.”
Candy: “Woof woof woof!”
—I may not be a real person, but you’re a real dog.
Of course, even without Qi Ke’s instructions, Candy wouldn’t be too well-behaved during his bath. Puppies this age either hate baths or love playing with water. Candy belonged to the latter category. Giving him a bath was like going to war. By the time it was finally over, he was blow-dried, but Song Yushi and Qi Ke were soaked to the bone and dazed.
Candy happily ran out of the bathroom, rolling on the clean floor, as happy as a 200-jin big fool.
Qi Ke and Song Yushi silently looked at each other.
“Shower?”
They said in unison.
“You first.”
Again, in unison.
“You go first,” Qi Ke said, standing up. She grabbed a towel to dry her wet hair and reached up to turn off the temporarily installed camera. “Call me when you’re done.”
Song Yushi didn’t refuse this time and nodded. “It won’t take long.”
Qi Ke turned back and looked at the equally soaked Song Yushi. Washed by the water, her features were even more defined, making her look even more beautiful. With her usual lack of expression, she looked like a pitifully beautiful ice queen.
The ice queen who once belonged only to her.
Qi Ke couldn’t help but raise her hand and touch the ends of Song Yushi’s hair.
Song Yushi froze slightly.
Without the cameras, the distance in her eyes naturally returned, yet it wavered under Qi Ke’s almost gentle touch. She subconsciously stepped back, but Qi Ke grabbed her wrist.
“Captain.” Qi Ke licked her lips, a fiery heat in her eyes. “That day on set, you asked me why I came back. I haven’t answered you yet.”
“…For the music festival?” Song Yushi said uncertainly.
“For you.”
“…”
“I just wanted to ask you. It might be stupid to ask now, and I think I already know the answer, but I still want to ask.” Qi Ke’s eyes reddened slightly. She took a step forward, a movement that should have been intimidating but instead seemed like a show of weakness. “You… tell me, when we were dating, did you like me?”
Song Yushi was stunned at first, then her eyes widened slightly, as if Qi Ke had asked the stupidest question in the world.
Qi Ke’s lips trembled slightly, but her voice was firm. “Tell me.”
Song Yushi laughed in exasperation and asked back, “Did you like me?”
“I’ve said it many times!” Qi Ke said, her eyes red. She repeated softly, “I’ve said it many times. And I’ve shown it with my actions. I said I only like you.”
Song Yushi said calmly, “You’ve also said it to many other people.”
Qi Ke was speechless.
Seeing this, Song Yushi gave a self-deprecating smile.
Song Yushi knew Qi Ke had her reasons. That was just her personality. She liked to be friends with everyone, with no distance, able to form a CP with anyone. Today this one was the top ship, tomorrow that one was the trending ship, with their Super Topics taking turns at the top. Later, when the two of them got together, they were afraid of being found out and avoided suspicion even more fiercely. In the entire entertainment industry, only Song Yushi seemed unfamiliar with her.
She said she understood, but in reality, she still cared.
She said she didn’t care, but she would still get jealous.
Between the lines, Song Yushi believed she had expressed it, but it was always ignored. After all, in everyone’s eyes, she was the aloof Captain, objective and calm, methodical, with no superfluous emotions.
Now, Qi Ke was asking if she had ever liked her?
What a huge joke.
Song Yushi pulled her wrist free and looked into Qi Ke’s eyes. “I liked you.”
Qi Ke’s eyes lit up.
Song Yushi added, “That was before we broke up.”
Qi Ke: “Then why don’t you ask me why I broke up with you?”
Song Yushi: “Is there any point?”
Qi Ke: “Why wouldn’t there be?”
Song Yushi took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine. You tell me, what’s the point?”
If we’re going to hash this out, let’s get it all out in the open.
Qi Ke: “I thought you didn’t like me.”
Song Yushi: “…”
“I thought I had turned you gay, that you found it novel but didn’t actually like me. So I thought I might as well take advantage of the disbandment to let you go and give you freedom.” Water dripped from Qi Ke’s body, pattering softly on the floor. She stared at Song Yushi. “Since you liked me, why did you agree to break up?”
Song Yushi watched Qi Ke quietly. After a long moment, she shook her head. “It’s not important anymore.”
How ridiculous. The two of them—one said she liked the other and no one believed her, while the other never said it at all. They clearly liked each other, yet they missed two years.
She thought Qi Ke would keep pressing, but unexpectedly, Qi Ke nodded and said, “Yes, it’s not important anymore.”
Song Yushi was heart-weary. “Then you can go out, I’m going to wash…”
“Let’s get back together,” Qi Ke interrupted her.
Song Yushi was stunned.
Qi Ke continued, “I still like you. No,” she rephrased, “I’ve always liked you. That has never changed. Let’s get back together.”
Song Yushi didn’t hesitate. “I refuse.”
Qi Ke: “Why?”
Song Yushi let out a soft laugh. “Didn’t you let me go to give me freedom?”
Qi Ke readily replied, “I regret it.”
Song Yushi: “…”
Qi Ke: “To hell with the right track, to hell with giving you the right to choose. I’m so great, who the hell are you going to love if not me?”
Silence spread through the bathroom.
Water dripped, pitter-patter.
From outside the door came the sound of Candy playing happily. Perhaps because the two of them had been in the bathroom for a long time, the director’s team felt something was wrong and sent someone up. Anxious footsteps drew near.
Song Yushi shook her head. “No.”
“Yushi…”
“The me who liked you was too pathetic.” Song Yushi’s eyes gradually reddened. Her heart felt empty, as if a bitter wind was blowing through it. She murmured in a low voice, “Qi Ke, I don’t want to be so pathetic anymore. I don’t want to be muddle-headed again.”
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The staff member’s voice came from outside the door: “Teacher Qi? Teacher Song? Are you in there?”
Qi Ke came to her senses first. She replied, “Yes, coming!” and turned to leave. Her hand was on the doorknob when she paused again. “Captain.”
“…”
“This time, let it be my turn.”
“…”
“I’ll be the one who’s muddle-headed, I’ll be the one who’s pathetic, I’ll be the one who gets jealous.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It means—” Qi Ke turned her head and gave her a big smile. “I’m going to pursue you again, Captain.”
On the other side of the door, the staff member stood frozen in place, but the blazing fire of gossip rose in his eyes! He… he seemed to have heard some earth-shattering scoop!
Then, he realized he couldn’t tell anyone!
Ahhh, Teacher Qi, do you have any idea this door isn’t soundproof! Making someone hear gossip and then not be able to tell anyone will kill them from holding it in, you know!!!
It might have been an illusion, but Qi Ke felt a trace of resentment from the staff member who had come to call her out.
Qi Ke cleared her throat. “Teacher Song is taking a shower.”
Staff member: “…” Weren’t they giving the dog a bath?
Qi Ke added, “You understand. The battle was just too intense.”
Staff member: “?” I don’t understand!!!
The staff member left again with a dazed look. Qi Ke sighed to herself. People’s psychological fortitude is so poor these days. Can’t they handle seeing a beautiful woman get soaked and her makeup ruined from bathing a dog?
Qi Ke went back to the bedroom, covered the camera, quickly wiped herself down, changed into a fluffy pajama set, and sat cross-legged on the bed to message her squad of strategists.
Group chat: 【Has the Little Captain Agreed to the Lead Singer Today】
The group name had the same ingenious effect as their Sweet Day group chat name, fully expressing the most urgent wish of its members.
Qi Ke: I asked her. She said she liked me.
Chengzhi replied instantly: When was this group created?
Zhong Yi: And then?
Qi Ke: …Why are you all here?
Chengzhi: The script is really too hard to memorize. There are so many lines. If my memory were that good, I would’ve gotten into Tsinghua or Peking University by now.
Zhong Yi: Getting my hair styled.
Chengzhi: You’re growing your hair long?
Then, for the next five minutes, Chengzhi and Zhong Yi, Sweet Day’s sweetest CP, had an in-depth discussion about hairstyles and colors, until Qi Ke, finally unable to bear it, reminded them to look at the group name. Only then did they reluctantly stop the conversation.
Qi Ke: I asked to get back together, but the Captain rejected me.
Chengzhi: If it were me, I’d reject you too. You clearly liked her a lot, but she was treated like air, and you even gave her the pretty excuse of “setting you free.” Do you think you’re filming an idol drama?
Zhong Yi: And that’s not all, she was constantly being “cuckolded”!
Chengzhi: A vast green prairie on her head. If I were in her shoes, I would have committed murder on stage long ago. I advise you not to let the Captain search for “allKe” on a certain site.
Zhong Yi: I already sent it to the Captain.
Chengzhi: …My condolences.
Zhong Yi: Where’s Qi Ke?
Qi Ke: Zhong Yi, please explain what you mean by “already sent it to the Captain.”
The group chat fell dead silent.
Qi Ke threw her phone onto the bed and flopped down dejectedly, staring into space. She took the opportunity to reflect on her actions when they were dating. As she reflected, Song Yushi’s well-hidden yet ever-present signs of affection became clear.
She rolled over, buried her face in the soft quilt, a sob suppressed in her throat.
How had she never noticed before?
Her little Captain had always indulged her, loving her in her own way, so calmly yet so intensely.
“Creek.”
The bedroom door was pushed open, followed by light footsteps.
Song Yushi’s voice came through: “Go take a shower.”
Qi Ke’s voice was muffled: “In a bit.”
Song Yushi didn’t say anything more.
But the sounds became clearer.
Song Yushi walked over, Song Yushi pulled out the vanity chair, Song Yushi opened a lipstick cap, Song Yushi… uh, the mattress dipped, Song Yushi sat down beside her.
Qi Ke turned her head and secretly opened one eye.
Song Yushi caught this little glance. “Still not going?”
Qi Ke decided to look openly. She was dressed in fluffy pajamas with a bunny-eared hood on her head, looking harmless and cute. She said in a small voice, “You heard everything I said in the bathroom just now, right?”
Song Yushi glanced at the covered camera and hummed in affirmation.
“You… you don’t have anything to say?”
Song Yushi was silent for a moment. “A lot of people are pursuing me.”
Qi Ke: “?”
Song Yushi blinked, everything left unsaid—A lot of people are pursuing her, so if Qi Ke wants to pursue her, then go ahead.
Qi Ke: “…”
Captain, you’ve changed! You weren’t like this before!
Song Yushi smiled.
No wonder Qi Ke loved to tease people. It really did feel good.
“Stop lying there. I’m going to uncover the camera,” Song Yushi said, making a move to get up.
But Qi Ke wasn’t done talking to her. She subconsciously grabbed the corner of her clothes. “Wait, I still have something to say—”
She pulled too hard. The unprepared Captain Song was not only pulled back but also fell right on top of Qi Ke without hesitation. The scent of shower gel and perfume mingled with their breaths.
Pressed against softness, adrenaline surged.
“Ahhhh, Teacher Qi, Teacher Song! Why is the bedroom camera off again! What on earth are you—”
The complaint came to an abrupt halt.
The staff member stood at the door, completely bewildered: “…………???”
Wait, didn’t Teacher Qi just say she was going to pursue Teacher Song? How long has it been, and they’re already rolling around together?
Teacher Song! Couldn’t you have held out for even just two more hours!!
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