Song Yushi liked to kiss Qi Ke.
The temperature of her thin lips was scalding. Mixed with the sultry evening wind, in the dusk of a humid summer, a fine layer of sweat formed on her back. Their lips and teeth intertwined, exchanging fervent breaths.
Everything passed between them was affection.
She had never kissed anyone else; her kissing skills had progressed from inexperienced to proficient all thanks to Qi Ke. She was familiar with every sensitive inch of her. In the deserted alley, as the setting sun vanished inch by inch and the light grew dim, the heat became even more intense.
The kiss ended.
Song Yushi, panting, took a step back. The long alley was too narrow to retreat to a safe distance, so she simply stopped moving. She stared at the little bear pin on Qi Ke’s chest for a while, then slowly lowered her head.
Her forehead rested against Qi Ke’s shoulder.
Qi Ke placed her hand on the back of Song Yushi’s head, stroking it gently.
Moving it down, she pinched the nape of Song Yushi’s neck.
It was fair and tender.
It felt very good to the touch.
Song Yushi was ticklish and dodged away, unable to stop herself from laughing.
Qi Ke kissed her hair and also laughed softly, “So ticklish?”
Song Yushi hummed a low “mm.”
The two enjoyed this rare moment of peace until the streetlights outside the long alley became conspicuous, their light spilling in along the winding bluestone slabs, and the phone in her pocket began to clamor again.
Qi Ke said, “Should we go back?”
Song Yushi straightened up and answered the phone first.
On the other end of the line was the show’s director. Although the two had told the follow PD they were splitting up while running, they had dawdled for so long without returning that the director had gotten anxious: “We’ve already started dinner over here!”
The director’s voice was full of vigor, and Qi Ke heard it loud and clear. She chimed in, “See you at the top, Director.”
Song Yushi: “?”
Director: “?”
Just get here already!!!
Afraid of being mobbed by fans again, the production team quickly created a shortcut guide based on their location. Song Yushi and Qi Ke followed the map and soon took a side path to the villa area.
Some fans were waiting at the entrance of the residential complex. Seeing them arrive, they immediately greeted them.
“Keke! The ones chasing you just now weren’t fans! Don’t misunderstand! We’re very well-behaved!”
“Sister, Sister! Keep it up, Sister!”
“The temperature changes a lot between day and night, dress warmly!”
“We love you!”
The fans were well-behaved, not pushing or crowding, and followed the two from a respectful distance. Song Yushi and Qi Ke didn’t rush off; they accepted all the letters and flowers until their arms were full. As they entered the complex, they turned back at the same time, bowed to the fans, and waved, “Go home early!”
Not long after, several delivery drivers arrived at the entrance of the villa area at the same time and shouted, “Any fans of Song Yushi and Qi Ke here!”
Solo stans: ???
If you’re a CP fan, just be a CP fan. What’s with pretending to be a simple dual stan?
The CP fans waved: “Here, here!”
The delivery driver looked at the order slip: “Oh, oh, the milk tea and cake are a treat for the fans from Song Yushi and Qi Ke. Come and get them. Aren’t you the ones holding the banners and stuff over there?”
Solo stans: !!!
We are!!!
The fans lined up one by one to receive the milk tea and cake. There was also a small note on the milk tea cups, all with the same message written on them: “Go home early, rest well, thank you for loving me.”
For a moment, it was quiet at the entrance of the complex.
A fan suddenly started to cry.
This is what being a fan is like, isn’t it? Hopelessly and piously chasing a beam of light. You gain strength and hope from that person, like experiencing an unrequited love that ends without a resolution, never expecting her to respond.
But she saw you, she responded, she said thank you.
Whether it’s being a fan or being in love, it’s only meaningful when the effort is mutual.
When Song Yushi and Qi Ke arrived at the filming location, the other two pairs of guests were already eating. Although they had all been thoroughly tormented by the mischievous kids, with hotpot and barbecue served, they had all regained their spirits.
Seats had long been saved for the two of them. Seeing them arrive, the others quickly beckoned them to sit down.
“We were just about to play a game.” The boyfriend from the couple group cued the proceedings: “Everyone tells a story about their first love. If you don’t want to tell one or can’t, you have to take a penalty drink.”
As soon as the words were out, the two from the boy band group simultaneously picked up their glasses and drained them.
Beer mixed with cola, the alcohol content wasn’t high.
Without even frowning, they drank it down cleanly and decisively.
The other two groups: “???”
Hey! Why are you jumping the gun? Are the love lives of boy band members really that barren?
Chen Sheng ignored the others’ incredulous gazes. With a serious expression, he said in a deep voice, “Our current profession is one that doesn’t allow for dating, so we don’t have first loves.”
His teammate Jiang Jing chimed in: “Unless it’s within the group.”
The couple group: “?”
Qi Yu: “??”
Chen Sheng: “???”
Something’s off with you.
The couple group were each other’s first love, so they weren’t afraid of making the other jealous. They skillfully showed off their affection, ruthlessly feeding everyone present a mouthful of dog food. After the two of them finished speaking, Jiang Jing poured a glass of alcohol for both Song Yushi and Qi Ke and said, “Don’t bother talking, just drink.”
Chen Sheng: “…”
You poured for the wrong people! Idiot!
Song Yushi and Qi Ke exchanged a glance and simultaneously pushed their glasses toward the center of the table.
Production team: “???!!!”
Fuck! No way, no way? It’s just a spontaneous game, how did it lead to two shocking revelations? Qi Ke and Song Yushi have both been in relationships? When? There hasn’t been a single rumor for so many years!!! What are the paparazzi even paid for? To think the news would break now!
The production team excitedly rubbed their hands together. The cameras focused on Song Yushi and Qi Ke, eagerly waiting for them to reveal the news themselves.
A love story!
The audience loves this kind of gossip the most!
Song Yushi stared at the drink in her glass and yielded to Qi Ke first: “You go first.”
Qi Ke hummed, the corners of her lips turning up. “Alright, I’ll go first.” She took a sip of cola and recalled, “She wasn’t very talkative. Once, I made her angry, and she sulked for several days, ignoring me. At first, I didn’t think much of it, since she was usually cool and distant anyway. But then suddenly, she would talk to everyone else, but deliberately skip over me.”
The female guest from the young couple group was straightforward: “How did you make him angry?”
Qi Ke glanced at Song Yushi, a teasing smile flashing in her eyes. She hummed and said, “Probably because I wasn’t careful about keeping my distance from others. They got jealous.”
The female guest muttered under her breath: “Feudal remnant!”
Song Yushi lowered her head, her hand under the table grasping Qi Ke’s and giving it a squeeze, thanking her for anonymously covering for her. Qi Ke’s expression didn’t change; she smiled brightly and continued, “Later, after everyone had left, I acted cute with her. I asked, ‘Are you angry?’ She said no. I was convinced she was angry. She couldn’t handle my pestering, her straight face broke, and she admitted she was angry.”
“And then?” Jiang Jing asked.
“And then—” Qi Ke drew out the word, piquing everyone’s curiosity. She grabbed Song Yushi’s hand in a reverse grip, her fingertips pressing against Song Yushi’s palm and scratching it lightly.
It tickled.
Just like the kiss in the corner of the practice room after everyone had left that day.
Qi Ke had pinned her captain in the corner, her fingertips like sparks that started a prairie fire wherever they touched. She was a master at acting cute, her repeated calls making one’s ears go soft: “Captain, Captain, let me kiss you, and you won’t be angry anymore, okay?”
The female guest covered her face, “Ahhh, so sweet!”
Her boyfriend asked: “If it was so sweet, and it’s still sweet to think about now, why did you break up?”
Jiang Jing: “Teacher Qi pinning her boyfriend for a kiss, isn’t that scene a bit strange? Is that how it works with a submissive guy and a dominant girl?”
Chen Sheng, who knew the whole truth: “Hehe!”
Qi Ke didn’t answer their questions. She naturally moved the game along, letting Song Yushi talk about her and her first love. The production team continued to rub their hands together, waiting for the gossip, as if they could see amazing ratings and a guaranteed viral topic waving at them.
“I…” Song Yushi paused for a moment before saying, “I wasn’t very talkative when I was in a relationship.”
All the guests: “?”
What a familiar character profile!
Chen Sheng: “Hehe!”
Song Yushi smiled. “Once, during a performance abroad, she couldn’t make it because she was sick. After it was over, I went to call her. My phone was dead, so I used a pay phone at a convenience store.”
A coin was inserted, and a call traveled across the ocean along the telephone line.
Song Yushi didn’t speak, just quietly listened to the breathing on the other end.
Faint, scalding, Qi Ke’s breathing.
In the end, it was Qi Ke who spoke first. She was sick, her tone languid: “Captain, you called me, said ‘hello,’ and then went silent. Was it just to hear me breathe on this end?”
She teased, “Want me to make some sounds for you?”
The Captain was not thin-skinned. She hummed an “mm” without a change in expression, which surprised Qi Ke for a moment, before she said, “No.”
Qi Ke: “…”
They listened to each other’s breathing for a while longer like that. Song Yushi watched the countdown timer on the phone about to end, and right on time, she said, “I’m hanging up.”
“Wait,” Qi Ke called out.
9 seconds.
8 seconds.
7 seconds.
“Captain.”
“Hm?”
4 seconds.
3 seconds.
2 seconds.
“I miss you.”
The countdown hit zero.
The call disconnected automatically.
Song Yushi’s hand clutching the receiver tightened. Her reflection was cast on the glass window, illuminated brightly by the convenience store’s fluorescent lights. Outside, a light rain was falling on the foreign street scene, the wet asphalt road reflecting the light.
She stood there for a moment, then turned her head and blew a kiss to the receiver.
“I miss you too.”
The female guest: “What a divine romance! I forbid this, sob, get back together right now!”
Her boyfriend: “First love is always a bittersweet beauty.”
Jiang Jing: “Why do I remember there was an overseas performance that Teacher Qi missed because of appendicitis? Teacher Song isn’t talking about Teacher Qi, is she? Can a business couple really go this far for fanservice? They’re too good at this!”
Chen Sheng: “Hehehe!”
The game ended, and everyone ate for a while longer before dispersing one by one. The boy band group lost at rock-paper-scissors and were left to do the dishes. After everyone had left, Jiang Jing dragged Chen Sheng into a deserted corner of the kitchen.
Chen Sheng shook off his hand and rubbed his wrist. “What?”
“What was with your expression management at the dinner table just now?” Jiang Jing lectured him. “While listening to Teacher Qi’s and Teacher Song’s first love stories, you kept looking back and forth between them. When the show airs, they’ll force the CP fan label on you. Aren’t you afraid the solo stans will tear you apart?”
Chen Sheng said angrily, “Who’s a CP fan? I’m a toxic solo stan! Besides, with those big eyes of yours, can’t you see there’s something fishy going on between them?”
Jiang Jing hummed doubtfully. “I can see it, but isn’t that just how fanservice works? Aren’t we the same?”
Chen Sheng rolled his eyes: “The two of them are real!”
Jiang Jing was stunned for a moment, looking at Chen Sheng. Just as Chen Sheng thought he believed him and was about to vent his frustrations, Jiang Jing suddenly shook his head and remarked with emotion, “You, a toxic solo stan, have been converted into a CP fan. The seniors really know how to do fanservice. I need to learn from them.”
“Learn from your mom!” Chen Sheng was about to cough up blood. “I’m telling you, the two of them are really, really real!!!”
Jiang Jing clicked his tongue. “You’re really hooked.”
Chen Sheng: “…”
He wanted to switch teammates!!!
In Chinese, “he” (他) and “she” (她) are both pronounced “tā” but distinguished in writing, while spoken context clarifies gender, hence the misunderstanding.
Why wait for updates? Get all chapters now and read the entire story on your schedule.
