Discussions about whether the Qi Yu CP had truly met a bad ending spawned eight hundred threads in a certain online group, with all sides, hidden behind anonymous accounts, arguing incessantly.
The solo stans said it had been a bad ending for ages, and anyone still shipping them was heartless. The rabid shippers howled that a bad ending proved it had been real! Just having shipped them was a win! The CP fans listed evidence of their love, and in the end, ignoring what everyone else said, their thousands of words converged into a single phrase: So sweet, so sweet! So perfect, so perfect!
The solo stans from both sides: …
Hey! We’re in the middle of an argument! Can you please be serious!
Qi Ke also lurked on various forums under an anonymous account, occasionally replying to posts, shipping her own relationship, and leaving other CPs with no room to breathe. Finally, she logged into Weibo and posted a photo.
A selfie.
Location: Song Yushi’s home.
Subtle yet obvious, a little thought she couldn’t hide.
Two days ago, the pre-release single from Qi Ke’s new album, 《Her》, went online. The company’s promotion was excellent, and since Qi Ke was already a well-known pop singer, it easily went viral. In just a few days, her Weibo followers increased by five million.
This was her first Weibo post since releasing the song, and new fans rushed to be the first to comment.
【So pretty! I absolutely love this hair color! Idols should dye their hair!!!】
【Was this taken at home? Aww, the pretty sister’s home is so clean and beautiful. Can I apply to be a potted plant at your place!】
【My daughter posted on Weibo! I’m your new mama!】
The old fans were more composed. After frantically admiring her beauty, they immediately discovered the key detail.
【That painting in the background looks so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere. Where was it?】
【In one of Song Yushi’s selfies.】
【You guys still look at Song Yushi’s selfies?】
【What’s wrong with looking? Isn’t it posted for people to see? That terrible selfie angle makes her face look twice as big as it really is, I’m speechless. Not as pretty as Keke.】
【Why is my baby at Song Yushi’s house? Run! Don’t let her bewitch you!】
【Sisters, don’t worry. Judging by Keke’s hair color, this selfie was taken at least two months ago. What does that mean? It means after posting her last photo from the archives, she’s saying goodbye to Song Yushi.】
The CP fans, arriving late to the party: …
The sweet moments had all been dug up, so… they might as well casually enjoy them.
But in this battle over whether they had a bad ending or not, the most tormented person wasn’t Qi Ke, who was secretly trying to show off their affection, nor Sister Ming, who was afraid of their relationship being discovered, nor even Song Yushi, who was terrified she’d have to dance if they were exposed. It was—the President of the Lin Corporation.
President Lin had lived for the better part of her life. She was a woman who liked women, noble and aloof, a dedicated workaholic who meant what she said. Her only pleasure was shipping CPs. Unfortunately, her taste wasn’t great; every pair she shipped ended badly. Every day, she ate glass shards until her eyes welled with tears, yet she had to maintain her noble and aloof facade to the outside world. The bitterness in her heart was immense.
Later, her CP-shipping career took a turn when she discovered Qi Yu.
Reuniting after a long separation, a broken mirror made whole, the younger main vocalist and the older captain—they were a perfect match from top to bottom, inside and out. President Lin, whose heart had been thoroughly broken, had only intended to be a heartless, rabid shipper, but then—her CP kissed right in front of her!
They kissed with such focus, such sensuality, that she wished she could instantly transform into the Civil Affairs Bureau and have them register their marriage on the spot.
President Lin decided to buy a villa and move into the Qi Yu Super Topic. While her vice president was droning on during a meeting, she re-savored all the previous sweet moments. But who would have known that the moment she opened the Super Topic, her screen would be flooded with “Bad Ending.”
【Actually, a bad ending is fine. It proves it was real. Besides, given their status in the industry, they do need to avoid arousing suspicion.】
【Certain fans of dead CPs should stop making a scene in our Super Topic. So what if they divorced? You have to get divorced to remarry. Even your own idols are shipping our CP, so face reality! If only one CP in Sweet Day is real, it has to be Qi Yu!】
【Sigh, I hope Qi Yu doesn’t become my greatest regret. Watching the fan meeting video really feels like I’ve gone through a breakup. Little Captain, she’s looking at you, please look back at her, wuwuwu.】
President Lin: …
She knew the truth! She knew the whole truth! Your CP is real! Stop crying! For all you know, they’re being all sweet and affectionate in bed right now!
But she couldn’t say it.
President Lin: heartlikedead_ashes.jpg
Just as sorrow began to well up inside her, her vice president stopped speaking and said something to her. President Lin replied absentmindedly, “I’ll go with your suggestion. I have no objections.”
The moment she said it, the entire room fell silent.
President Lin’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up and met her vice president’s sparkling eyes. “So I can go on the business trip with you? Should we go to the Maldives or the Aegean Sea?”
President Lin: “…”
I didn’t say that! Don’t you come near me!
The others in the meeting: “…”
Could you please not talk about a business trip as if it’s a honeymoon!?
At six-thirty that evening, at the Yunzhou City Gymnasium, it was still half an hour before the start of the third public performance stage—the themed assessment. The plaza outside was filled with cheering fans, their banners fluttering in the twilight.
Qi Ke had just left the recording studio. Fully disguised despite the summer heat, she even deliberately altered her walk as she moved through Song Yushi’s fans, using her proof of support to collect a large pile of slogan banners, photo cards, and round fans.
On the fan, Song Yushi was wearing an orange dress, making a large V-sign in front of her face with a charming wink.
After collecting everything, Qi Ke quickly slipped into a low-key black Cadillac parked outside the venue. Ignoring her assistant’s slightly speechless expression, Qi Ke spread her haul out on the seat, took a picture, and sent it to Song Yushi.
But by accident, she sent it to the Sweet Day group chat.
The Sweet Day group chat had been lively these past few days. Meng Ying’s hotpot restaurant had opened, and she would occasionally send coupons in the group, “threatening” the others to come eat at her restaurant soon so she could ride on their popularity, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to once she became irrelevant.
Chengzhi, lying like a salted fish: I’m already irrelevant. Remember to flip me over.
Meng Ying: 【Flipping, flipping, flip-flip.gif】There, you won’t be irrelevant now.
Zhong Yi: An intellectual wasteland.
Meng Ying: ?
Qi Ke: [Image of support goods]
Qi Ke: I got them all. Praise me, praise me.
The group chat: ……
After a long moment, Meng Ying hesitantly typed out a few words: You’re amazing?
Zhong Yi: Hahahahahahaha!!!
Chengzhi: Hahahahahahaha!!!
Meng Ying: ?
Qi Ke: …
Damn it, she’d only just realized she sent it to the wrong chat.
But Main Vocalist Qi, who would never admit her mistake even if beaten to death, smoothly went along with it: @Zhong Yi @Chengzhi You two praise me as well.
Zhong Yi: [You can’t threaten a nationally first-class protected piece of trash.jpg]
Chengzhi: [You can’t threaten a nationally super-class protected piece of trash.jpg]
Qi Ke: Zhong Yi is so impressive now. Female lead in a major film, with a good script, a good director, and a good crew. You’re aiming to become a Best Actress, aren’t you?
Zhong Yi: [How embarrassing.jpg]
Qi Ke: This movie is sponsored by my family’s food company and co-produced by my family’s entertainment company.
Zhong Yi: Wow! How did you get so much of the Captain’s support merch! Oh my god! Is this level of beauty even real? Where can I get one of these fairy sisters! I’m so envious, sob sob sob! You managed to get all this, you’re so amazing!
Qi Ke: [How embarrassing.jpg]
Chengzhi: Useless!
Qi Ke: Chengzhi, I heard you have a friend on the 《Awakening of Insects》 crew.
Chengzhi: Damn! In my entire life, I’ve never seen anyone as skilled at getting support merch as our great Main Vocalist. These must be hard to get, right? Hey, hey, hey, that slogan banner looks like it’s out of print! You’re amazing!
Meng Ying: …
She was under the illusion that her teammates’ souls had been swapped.
Song Yushi: .
Qi Ke: @Song Yushi Captain, are you about to go on?
Song Yushi: Mm.
After sending it, she felt it was a bit cold, so Song Yushi added: After the self-introductions, the mentors will take their seats at the mentors’ table. After a performance ends, the host will cue us to give a brief critique. After all the performances are over, we’ll announce each group’s live score in order. After the announcements, we leave. After leaving, we record a message for the trainees.
She sent the long paragraph directly to the group chat.
Zhong Yi: Goodness me.
Chengzhi: Goodness me.
Captain, oh Captain, you’re truly wrapped around that vexing little imp Qi Ke’s finger.
Meng Ying was still out of the loop: Captain, you don’t have to be so detailed. It’s weird, like you’re reporting your itinerary to your wife. @Captain Can I come watch the mentor collaboration stage? I really love the vocal performances.
Song Yushi: You can. I’ll pick you up before the recording.
Meng Ying: Love you, love you, love you.
Zhong Yi & Chengzhi: …
Meng Ying always managed to brush right past the correct answer!
Meanwhile, Qi Ke: …
Love you, my foot!
Just as Song Yushi had reported the schedule to Qi Ke, the public performance proceeded in an orderly fashion. The signal in the venue was poor, but Song Yushi had enough composure to watch the entire show in the noisy arena, her critiques sharp and professional.
After the live scores were announced, Song Yushi handed the microphone back to a staff member and exited the stage amid the shouts of her fans.
The light-up signs stood out in the crowd.
Song Yushi waved and walked into the dimness with the other mentors, where their assistants were already waiting. Xiao Nan handed Song Yushi a cup of milk tea and whispered, “Teacher Qi bought it.”
Song Yushi took it and had a sip.
The sweetness was just right.
Mango coconut with mini taro balls.
Song Yushi asked as she walked, “Is she here?”
“She is.” Xiao Nan led Song Yushi to the room where she would record her message for the trainees. “She bought milk tea for all your fans outside, in your name.”
Song Yushi paused for a moment, then smiled. She took a bite of the soft mango; it was delightfully sweet.
Xiao Nan had never seen Song Yushi like this off-stage. She couldn’t help but smile, her spirits soaring from shipping a CP that had become real. Without thinking, she said, “Boss.”
“Hmm?” Song Yushi was in a good mood.
“Does it feel good to be in love?”
Song Yushi bit her straw, trying to suppress her smile, but failed. A faint joy spread in her eyes. She hummed in agreement. “It’s very good.”
Xiao Nan: Wuwuwu, say no more, I’m in love too!!!
She had already written the message for the trainees, so she just needed to read from the script. During editing, the mentors’ words would be interspersed and paired with sentimental background music, creating another tear-jerking moment.
Song Yushi was a professional actress with excellent line delivery, so she finished the recording in a single take.
After finishing up with the staff, Song Yushi picked up her jacket from the sofa, slowly draped it over her shoulders, and opened the door. The performance had ended, but outside, fans who were reluctant to leave were still shouting their idols’ names. It was noisy but heartwarming, which in contrast made the inside of the venue feel silent and still.
And some sounds were particularly clear.
“Teacher Qi, I didn’t expect to see you here. Do you remember me? I pursued you before.” It was the rap mentor. He had cornered Qi Ke and was enthusiastically helping her recall, “But I was young and too impulsive back then. I forgot you were still an idol. It’s different now. You’ve transitioned in your career. We can date now!”
Qi Ke: “…”
You’ve got some nerve, bro.
Just as she was about to retort, she looked up and saw Song Yushi appear at the corner, watching her with a blank expression. Qi Ke immediately shrank back, her survival instinct kicking in: This has nothing to do with me!
But Song Yushi smiled.
“Don’t be afraid. You’ve transitioned your career, and you’re not that young anymore. Your fans will allow you to date…”
“Excuse me,” Song Yushi said lazily, leaning against the wall.
The rap mentor jumped in surprise and whipped his head around. Seeing it was Song Yushi, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s Teacher Song. Are you done with the recording? You know Teacher Qi, right? No need for an introduction from me, haha.”
Song Yushi slowly shook her head. “I know her. But it seems you don’t?”
The rap mentor was taken aback. “What?”
“Allow me to introduce you.” Song Yushi lifted her chin. “Qi Ke. My girlfriend.”
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