A kiss.
Song Yushi unconsciously touched her lips, as if the cool sensation of the ring was still there. She lifted her eyes slightly; a soft light encircled the makeup mirror, enveloping her.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Xiao Nan pushed the door open and poked her head in. “Boss, it’s almost time to go on.”
Song Yushi nodded. “Come in and rest for a bit.”
“Alright!” Xiao Nan came in. Although Song Yushi seemed cold, Xiao Nan knew that her boss was the easiest to talk to, the most dedicated, and the most considerate of her employees.
“If I said I’m not going to record now, would Sister Ming kill me?” Song Yushi said nonchalantly.
Xiao Nan: “…”
The reversal came so fast she was caught off guard.
Xiao Nan hurried to the makeup table and earnestly persuaded, “Didn’t Sister Ming say so? You have a gap in your schedule while waiting for a script, and this talent show just happened to invite you to be a mentor. You can earn money, get exposure, and even take on students. Just think, in the future, half of the entertainment industry will be your students. How cool is that?”
Xiao Nan said a lot, all of which Song Yushi had heard before.
It wasn’t that she wanted to irresponsibly back out of a variety show she had already accepted. It was one thing to accept it, but another to feel a bit uncomfortable right before going on. She murmured, “These trainees are like we were before, they’re going to debut as a group. I… wasn’t a good idol.”
Xiao Nan’s eyes widened. “When you were in the group, you were an all-rounder in singing and dancing, the captain of the team, and you even occasionally wrote lyrics and composed music. Your professional skills were top-notch!”
“I dated within the group.”
“Uh…” Xiao Nan faltered for a moment, then said sincerely, “Boss, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this saying.”
“…What?”
“An idol absolutely cannot date during their rising period. Dating will definitely lead to a flop.” Xiao Nan said righteously, then her tone shifted. “Unless it’s with a teammate. Keeping it within the group is the coolest thing!”
Song Yushi: “…………”
You guys are the definition of a double standard!
Song Yushi’s messy mood was stirred up by Xiao Nan and calmed down quite a bit. Once her mood stabilized, she couldn’t help but give Xiao Nan a couple more glances, suspecting that all that specious reasoning had been taught to her by Qi Ke.
The talent show Song Yushi had joined featured 66 trainees from different companies. Over the course of the show’s three months, they would practice and perform, with the audience voting for eliminations.
There were only six debut spots. Those with high popularity would stay, while those with low popularity would be eliminated.
Song Yushi was the dance mentor.
This recording was for the trainees’ first appearance and initial stage evaluation. It started in the evening and didn’t end until three or four in the morning. Staying up late was a basic skill in the entertainment industry, but such high-intensity work was still a bit exhausting.
The host still had to announce the next mission, so the mentors left the stage first.
Xiao Nan had fallen asleep on the sofa in the dressing room. Song Yushi hesitated for a moment and decided to take a nap before heading back. Who would have known that just as she finished removing her makeup and was about to go wash her face, she would be cornered by trainees.
A trainee, still in her stage makeup and looking endearingly naive, said, “Teacher Song, I like you so much! Can you give me an autograph!”
Encountering fans in the industry was normal. Song Yushi calmly took the photo from her hand, uncapped the marker, and prepared to sign… wait, why was there someone else in this photo?
And that person was Qi Ke?
The young girl looked at her eagerly, as innocent as a 200-jin fool. “What’s wrong, Teacher Song?”
What’s wrong?
Song Yushi’s face darkened, thinking, Are you sure you didn’t give me the wrong photo!
The young girl also realized it and smiled sheepishly. “I really like you and Teacher Qi. Your lo… sisterly bond is so enviable, ooh ooh ooh!”
Song Yushi: “…”
Love, you were about to say love, weren’t you!
Song Yushi quickly signed her name and handed the photo back to her. The young girl jumped up happily. “Great! When Teacher Qi comes as a guest star, I’ll have her complete the signature on this photo!”
Song Yushi: “?”
Does anyone in this entertainment industry exist who isn’t a Qi Yu CP fan?
“Teacher Song!” Another surprised voice came from behind her, and another trainee walked over quickly. “I was too nervous on stage just now, I forgot to tell you how much I like you!”
Song Yushi returned a smile.
“Hey, Xuanxuan, why did you use this photo for Teacher Song’s autograph?” The newly arrived trainee glanced reproachfully at her classmate.
Song Yushi’s eyes lit up. Was this a solo stan?
“This one is just average. Mine is the god-tier picture!” As she spoke, the new trainee magically produced a photo from her pocket. “Teacher Song, please sign this one!”
Song Yushi: “…”
So why would you carry a photo of me and Qi Ke around with you!
In the photo, Song Yushi was looking at the camera while Qi Ke was looking at her, a perfect illustration of the line from the ultimate ship anthem, 《Unforgettable》: “They say they turn every meeting into a feast of love, that a single glance can last for an eternity.”
Song Yushi shuddered inwardly.
“Swish, swish, swish.”
Song Yushi quickly signed her name, handed the photo back, and resolutely walked back to the dressing room amidst the trainees’ reluctant farewells. The sound of the door closing was a bit loud. Xiao Nan sat up from the sofa, rubbing her eyes. “Boss, is it over?”
Song Yushi stared at Xiao Nan and said slowly, “Xiao Nan.”
“Huh?”
“Qi Yu…”
“Is real!”
“…”
The news that Qi Ke would be a guest star on this show had been circulating since before the recording began. Fans, while chanting “no official announcement, no hype,” were also discussing in fan-only groups that if she didn’t go, they would team up to kill Sister Ming.
Fans said: Being a mentor on a talent show is great. She can showcase her professional skills and promote her songs, so why not?
Besides, Song Yushi was already a regular mentor. Qi Ke’s schedule was too busy to be a regular, so why not a guest appearance?
A discussion within the group raised a question: If Qi Ke goes, is it still a talent show? With the trainees’ CPs, wouldn’t it just be another dating variety show?
Fans: …
Get lost!
Even Song Yushi didn’t know if Qi Ke would actually come as a guest star. Apparently, Sister Ming was still negotiating with the production team. After all, her CP with Song Yushi was incredibly popular, and they were from the same group, so her appearance fee was very high.
For the new episode of 《30 Days of Cohabitation Life》, Qi Ke couldn’t be there because she was filming a music video abroad. She asked Chengzhi to fill in for her and warned her over the phone: “If you two get a CP Super Topic…”
Chengzhi promised, “I’ll tear it down myself!”
Qi Ke: “Not bad, good sister.”
Chengzhi: “What do you mean, good sister? Isn’t this purely a monetary relationship? When are you sending the money?”
Qi Ke spat, “Vulgar!”
Chengzhi found it hard to disagree. “Indeed.”
It was a miracle. In this episode, Song Yushi and Chengzhi worked together harmoniously and communicated normally, but they just lacked CP chemistry. It only made people see that the two were really good friends.
Audience: “This must be the legendary bestie line. I ship this too.”
On the day the recording for 《30 Days of Cohabitation Life》 ended, the trailer for the talent show was also released. At the same time, it was officially announced that Qi Ke would record one episode as a guest mentor, using her professional knowledge to guide the trainees on music-related issues.
Originally, this had nothing to do with Song Yushi. Apart from the CP fans celebrating that the little couple would be meeting again, casual viewers and solo stans didn’t care about it.
Until 13:14 the next afternoon, when the talent show’s official Weibo account posted a video.
The video seemed to be quite old. The quality wasn’t clear, and the scene was simple—a standard practice room, a wall-to-wall mirror, warm-up barres surrounding the room, and two people.
Qi Ke and Song Yushi.
The two were dressed simply in white T-shirts and black pants, their long hair tied back. Sweat soaked their clothes. Qi Ke ran her fingers across her forehead, sending beads of sweat flying into the air.
She was panting, hands on her knees, her voice a little unclear without a microphone. “I really tried my best, Captain! This move is too hard.”
At the end, she simply lay down on the floor. “Wuwuwu, I really can’t do it.”
Song Yushi wasn’t the type to sweat easily, but after a long training session, her hair was also a mess, not much better than Qi Ke’s. She didn’t move, just said, “You can do it.”
Qi Ke: “I can’t.”
Song Yushi: “You can.”
Qi Ke: “I can’t.”
Song Yushi glanced at her faintly and said something shocking: “A woman can’t say she can’t do it.”
Qi Ke: “…”
Qi Ke quickly scrambled up, looked at the camera, then at Song Yushi, and lowered her voice. “Captain! We’re recording! Can we stop driving the car that isn’t going to kindergarten?”
Song Yushi also glanced at the camera. “Internal material.”
The video reached this point, and all the fans watching went crazy because Song Yushi’s line was bleeped out, leaving them completely in the dark about what kind of “car not going to kindergarten” she had driven.
【What is it that I, a Weibo VIP member, can’t listen to?? Unbleep it!!】
【Bleeping it out just makes me more curious about what she said!】
【Little Captain, secretly tell Mama, Mama promises not to tell anyone. 555, I’m so curious. I must have been a cat in my past life, because I died of curiosity!】
The video continued to play.
After Song Yushi’s invisible “car” managed to pull Qi Ke up, Qi Ke listlessly walked over to her captain, tilted her head, and leaned on her shoulder. “Then teach me one more time.”
Song Yushi: “Mm. Get up first.”
Qi Ke didn’t hurry to get up. She said again, “You have to praise me first, then I’ll have the motivation to continue.”
The camera was set up in the corner of the practice room, so it could only capture their backs and their blurry reflections in the mirror. Their expressions couldn’t be seen clearly, but everyone could feel Song Yushi’s urge to hit someone in that moment.
But the captain was the captain, after all. After a moment of silence, she spoke: “Your body is very flexible.”
Qi Ke: “?”
Song Yushi: “Hardworking and able to endure hardship?”
Qi Ke: “??”
Song Yushi: “Unafraid of authority!”
Qi Ke: “???”
Song Yushi: “You look…”
Qi Ke stood up straight. “I’m good now.”
Fans: Hahahahahaha Qi Ke: Captain, stop praising me, just push me instead hahahahahaha laughing my fucking ass off!
Song Yushi was very relieved that Qi Ke was “good now” just as she was running out of compliments. She continued to instruct her on the moves: “Your right hand needs to be raised to this position. Do it twenty times to build muscle memory.”
“There are two beats here, don’t just skip over them. It’s easy to spot in synchronized choreography.”
“After the third eight-count, you change formation. If you go too far forward, you’ll bump into Chengzhi.”
The entire video was only a little over three minutes long, but its content was so rich, its shippable moments so numerous, and its scenes so classic that it was enough for CP fans and onlookers to feast on for three days and three nights.
【Qi Ke! If you’d been this clingy with the Captain on camera back when you were in the group, if you two had been this lovey-dovey, would I have ever shipped the wrong couple? Would my ship have sunk? Would I be listening to 《Unforgettable》 and 《Not a Lover》 and crying my eyes out day and night?!】
【Click to watch the three-minute record of Qi Yu’s romance. Is this practicing dancing? You two are being so clingy, are you flirting?】
【Other teammates: Where are the main vocalist and the captain? Oh, they went off to be in love!】
【Am I the only one who cares that the captain said Keke’s body is flexible? A delicate and supple young main vocalist top x a super sweet, serious, contrastingly cute captain bottom. I’ve already imagined a 200,000-word smut fic.】
【To the person above, I have a friend who wants to buy your masterpiece before they die.】
A single video generated enough hype for the show’s premiere. Because the show had a wider audience, it went viral after trending on the hot search. At this peak of popularity, Song Yushi was entrusted with a heavy responsibility by Sister Ming—to do a livestream.
Song Yushi held the livestream proposal.
Sister Ming: “This wasn’t my decision. You didn’t have a birthday party for your birthday, and fans came to the studio to protest for their rights. That time we discussed it, a fan meeting or a livestream, you chose the livestream.”
“I know.” Song Yushi nodded. “So why does the livestream need a proposal?”
Sister Ming: “…”
“Uh, okay. You haven’t done a solo livestream in a long time, I was afraid you wouldn’t know what to say. It would be so awkward if there’s dead air.” Sister Ming patted Song Yushi’s shoulder. “See how thoughtful I am.”
Song Yushi: “Qi Ke’s idea, right?”
Sister Ming’s pupils trembled.
Song Yushi flipped through the proposal. It was called a proposal, but it was actually just a set of prompts—what she could answer, what she could pretend not to see, and some instructions on how to operate the livestream platform.
“That day…” Song Yushi closed the proposal and said casually, “She has a performance in Sydney?”
“The first stop of her overseas tour. I’m about to go to the company for a meeting, and I have to fly to Sydney tonight. I probably won’t be able to watch your livestream the whole time, so just follow this and figure it out yourself.” Sister Ming winked. “I have high hopes for you.”
Song Yushi tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She wasn’t that talkative. When she was in the group, because she was the captain and the official spokesperson, compared to her teammates’ teasing and wild talk, she was more reliable. But this reliability could seem a bit too serious in less formal interviews.
Later, a group fan specially edited a video called 《The Captain Who Spouts Nonsense with a Straight Face》. It was comedic and gained Song Yushi a wave of “interview fans.”
Her interview fans were very much looking forward to her livestream.
The night of the livestream.
Song Yushi had just finished coaching the trainees’ dance in the practice room. The livestream was set up in the dressing room. Xiao Nan had already registered the account for her and tested the camera. Seeing her arrive, she quickly made way. “Boss, you can do it!”
Song Yushi glanced at the time.
7:59 PM.
One minute to go.
The fans waiting on the livestream platform were also counting down the time and discussing in their group chats how Song Yushi had shown up during Qi Ke’s last livestream. They wondered if Qi Ke would show up tonight.
Soon, someone shattered the CP fan’s dream: “Keke has a performance tonight, I heard it’s about to start soon.”
CP Fan: “Damn! Angsty romance, missed connections due to fate, remember these tags for me!”
However, just as all the fans least expected it, the moment the livestream started, before they could even see what Song Yushi was wearing today, her face was blocked.
The bullet comments flooded the entire screen like a sudden downpour.
The entire livestream room was dumbfounded.
Two minutes later, a message scrolled across the livestream room.
Qi Ke: Livestream smoothly, I’m leaving.
Song Yushi: “…”
Xiao Nan: “…”
Livestream audience: “…”
This was a development they had not expected!
The quick-reacting fans had already started counting what Qi Ke had gifted. Those who were good at mental arithmetic were already wailing: “Qi Ke’s move was as fierce as a tiger, dropping millions just like that. How am I supposed to compete with her, wuwuwuwu!”
“Have you guys counted? How many zeros are there? I’m already dizzy from counting.”
“I’m still heartbroken about the half that goes to the platform!”
“Don’t be heartbroken, the Qi family has shares in this livestream platform, and it’s a majority stake. The wealth stays in the family.”
“Oh, that’s good then… good my ass! I’m really starting to hate the rich!!!”
“Uh, ahem.” Song Yushi sat up straight, her gaze wandering, landing on the “cheat sheet” Qi Ke had made for her. “Thank you Qi Ke for the deep-water torpedoes. Ol-old bro, not bad, if you like it, double-tap 666—”
Xiao Nan, off-screen: “!!!”
Boss! You read the wrong line! The part after that was a collection of classic quotes I compiled for you! It was for your reference, not for you to read aloud! Your persona is collapsing!
Song Yushi also frowned inwardly. What a mess. Qi Ke is really unreliable. She flipped the proposal over, cleared her throat, and planned to move on from what just happened.
【It’s too late to act serious now! I’ve already screen-recorded it!】
【Hahahahaha old bro 666, I’ve witnessed many memorable things this year, but only after hearing the Little Captain say this did I realize how little I’d seen before!】
【Laughing is useless, our Yushi has become a sand sculpture too, it’s all Qi Ke’s fault!】
Song Yushi gave a sweet smile to the camera.
A critical hit of beauty. All the fans’ resistance dropped to zero, their minds went blank for a moment: What just happened? How did I forget? She’s so beautiful, can I marry her?
Song Yushi had done her homework before the livestream, briefly watching all of her teammates’ previous streams.
Qi Ke’s style was full of wild talk and casual banter, Zhong Yi’s was friendly and relaxed, Chengzhi’s was gentle and answered every question, and Meng Ying’s was wildly imaginative with a divine thought process.
Each had her own style.
Song Yushi learned a little from here and a little from there, and the livestream actually went quite smoothly. She answered fans’ questions one by one, skipping the ones she didn’t want to answer. Half an hour passed without her realizing it.
Song Yushi placed her hand on her phone and patted it. “Alright, stop sending gifts. Mm… there have been quite a lot of gifts in the livestream room today. Stop sending them, be good.”
Fans: For some reason, I feel like when Yushi mentioned the gifts just now, there was a smile in her voice. It was very sweet, yes. But I have the illusion of being cuckolded.
A moment later, the fans realized: Oh, she was thinking of the gifts from Qi Ke… Qi Ke! Get over here! I want to fight you one-on-one!!!
“Boss, Boss.”
Xiao Nan answered a phone call, her expression not looking good. She was now calling out to her in a low voice from off-camera. Song Yushi looked up, subconsciously lowered her voice a little, and turned to the side. “Hm?”
Xiao Nan pointed to the phone in her hand. “There’s a call, it’s urgent.” After a pause, she added, “It’s from the hospital.”
Song Yushi’s heart sank.
The livestream comments were all asking what was wrong with her. Song Yushi forced a smile at the camera. “It’s nothing, just wait for me a moment, I’ll be right back.”
Half a minute later, Song Yushi returned. Her face was deathly pale, and she tried her best to keep her enunciation steady. “I’m sorry, today’s livestream might have to end here. I have something urgent to attend to right now, I’ll make it up to you all next time.”
No matter how calm she tried to be, a slight tremor escaped in the final syllable.
【Fuck? What happened? Yushi’s face turned completely white. I’ve been her fan for so many years and I’ve never seen her lose her composure like this. @Song Yushi Studio can you explain? Don’t let rumors fly, okay?】
【It must be a very urgent private matter. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so irresponsible as to abandon ten million fans and run off mid-stream.】
【I’m dizzy, I feel like Yushi was about to cry just now. What happened to my baby [crying emoji]】
【Someone saw Song Yushi at a private hospital in Yunzhou City!】
【It seems like Song Yushi’s childhood friend had a medical episode and was sent to the hospital. It’s pretty serious, she might not make it through the night.】
The online discussions spiraled out of control, with all sorts of speculations and rumors running rampant. Some people even made up ridiculous gossip like Song Yushi was actually pregnant and went to the hospital to give birth.
So when Qi Ke finished her performance and, without even removing her makeup, eagerly opened her phone to watch the livestream replay, what she saw instead were the trending topics about Song Yushi.
#Song Yushi Livestream#
#Song Yushi Livestream Unexpectedly Interrupted#
#Song Yushi Hospital#
Qi Ke: “Sister Ming—!!!”
Sister Ming burst through the dressing room door. Seeing the look on Qi Ke’s face, her initial thought of glossing over it was immediately buried. She said, “Alright, Ruan Xiangmeng had a heart attack. She was sent to the hospital. It’s very dangerous, she might not be saved.”
Qi Ke’s hand trembled.
She was silent for a moment. When she spoke again, she was already very calm. “I’m going back to China.”
Sister Ming had known she would say this and had even prepared her reasons to object. “I’ve already checked the flights. The earliest one is at 10:10 tomorrow morning. You rest first, we’ll go back tomorrow.”
“No.” Qi Ke slowly shook her head.
Sister Ming was stunned for a moment. “What?”
Qi Ke murmured as she scrolled through her contacts, “I have to go back right away.” She made a call. “Captain Chen, do you know whose plane is in Australia? Help me arrange it, I need to return to China.”
“Young Miss!” The voice of the Qi family’s pilot came from the other end of the line, clearly used to being disturbed by Qi Ke’s willfulness. “I’ve told you many times, even a private jet has to submit an application, wait in line…”
“Don’t give me that nonsense!” Qi Ke’s eyes were red as she enunciated each word, “I. Now. Fucking. Have to. Be by her side!”
“…”
An hour and a half later, Qi Ke was on a private jet flying to Yunzhou City International Airport.
Twelve hours later, Qi Ke appeared outside the ICU of a private hospital in Yunzhou City. She was travel-worn, yet she slowed her steps as she approached Song Yushi.
Song Yushi was sitting on a bench in the hallway. Hearing footsteps, she froze for a moment. She slowly moved her eyes, her gaze gradually lifting.
Song Yushi stared at her blankly, her expression haggard, her eyes filled with exhaustion. She looked like a lost kitten, and just one look from her was enough to melt one’s heart.
“I…” Qi Ke smiled at Song Yushi, but didn’t know where to start. After struggling for a moment, she feigned nonchalance. “Well, you know, my family owns this hospital. I came to do an inspection, and by the way, to see—”
Her voice stopped abruptly.
Song Yushi stood up, reached out her arms, and hugged her.
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