The little girl was bundled warmly on top, her white wool hoodie soft and fluffy, but she wore only a thin short skirt below, exposing her slender, pale legs. Her knees were slightly bent, the shallow groove forming an elegant curve.
He Yunxing’s gaze swept over her casually, then politely looked away.
The elevator hadn’t arrived yet, and Ning Xuechu broke the silence with a curious question. “Where are you going?”
Bian Li cleared her throat softly. “I’m going out to buy some food.”
Ning Xuechu smiled. “The supermarket in the community? What a coincidence—the three of us are going there too.”
Bian Li blinked, processing his words. After a pause, she asked hesitantly, “All three of you?”
Normally, it made sense for girls to go to the supermarket in groups, but three men? It seemed unusual. Still, she shrugged it off. Perhaps they just had a good camaraderie.
Ning Xuechu snapped his fingers and grinned. “Yep! It’s rare for us to have time to relax. Since we’re heading the same way, Brother Ning will take you to the supermarket today!” His tone was teasing, almost like he was speaking to a child.
Bian Li shook her head earnestly. “Brother Ning, I have money, really.”
Ning Xuechu waved her off dismissively. “Oh, this isn’t about money! It’s about the bond between senior brothers and junior sisters. Don’t be shy!”
Bian Li puffed her cheeks in frustration. He’s not taking the hint! She had no intention of being polite after he ate two of her skewers yesterday!
While she was still trying to think of a way to decline politely, the elevator chimed, arriving at the first floor.
The three men stepped out one after another, and Ning Xuechu turned back to wave at her. “Hey, why are you still standing there? Come on!”
Bian Li glanced at the floor indicator on the screen, momentarily confused. Then she snapped out of it and hurried after them. “Oh, I’m coming!”
As they walked to the supermarket, Ning Xuechu bombarded her with questions, his tone lively and curious.
The late autumn evening darkened quickly. The setting sun painted the horizon in fading hues, and the shadows of the four figures stretched long on the pavement.
Bian Li busied herself answering Ning Xuechu’s incessant chatter, but every so often, her steps would deliberately land on the shadow of his head, squashing it with her shoe.
At the back of the group, He Yunxing silently observed her subtle antics, the corners of his lips curling ever so slightly.
When they arrived at the supermarket, Bian Li quickly excused herself, eager to part ways. Boys and girls naturally had different preferences, and she didn’t want to linger near them any longer than necessary.
Before she left, however, Ning Xuechu grabbed her wrist lightly. “Don’t run off too far! Let your brothers pay for you later.”
Bian Li nodded absentmindedly, her only goal to escape. “Okay, okay… sure.”
She darted away, her figure disappearing into the aisles.
He Xuyi watched her leave and asked Ning Xuechu softly, “Since when have you been so enthusiastic?”
Ning Xuechu shrugged casually. “She’s chubby and cute—she reminds me of my sister.”
He Xuyi quirked an eyebrow. Ning Xuechu’s sister was three years old, a tiny child with no distinct features yet. Apart from her pale complexion, she bore little resemblance to Bian Li.
He Yunxing, leaning lazily on the shopping cart handle, spoke slowly, his tone faintly amused. “Fei Fei?”
Ning Xuechu nodded without hesitation. “Yeah, it’s Bian Li’s nickname—her fans came up with it. I thought it was too perfect when I heard it.”
He Yunxing lowered his gaze, his slender fingers tapping idly on the cart handle.
Although the supermarket was located within the community, it was surprisingly spacious, with a well-stocked inventory. The property management ensured it catered to the needs of the wealthy residents.
Still, the aisles were nearly empty, with only a few other customers browsing.
He Yunxing didn’t particularly enjoy outings like this. But Ning Xuechu’s relentless chatter had been impossible to endure, and to shut him up, He Yunxing had begrudgingly agreed to come along.
They didn’t need much; their dormitory stays were infrequent compared to their time at the company. Even so, they unanimously decided to stock up on essentials like beer and water.
Bian Li bought some bread from the bakery area, picked up three rows of yogurt, and strolled leisurely toward the checkout area.
She thought she was moving fast enough, but Ning Xuechu somehow moved even faster.
Spotting the three tall figures ahead, Bian Li curled her lips. Nevertheless, she quickened her pace, not wanting to keep them waiting.
“What did you buy?” Ning Xuechu asked, pointing at the large bag in her hands.
“Just some bread. I’ll share it with my sisters tonight,” Bian Li replied, eyeing their carts curiously, which were stacked with nothing but beer and mineral water.
Ning Xuechu raised his chin toward He Yunxing, who stood at the checkout counter. “Go on, give your things to Brother Yunxing. He’ll pay for it.”
Brother Yunxing?
Bian Li mentally scoffed. How did He Yunxing’s title get an extra word out of nowhere? She glanced toward him. He was waiting at the checkout area, looking at her with apparent ease.
Without a word, she walked over, lowered her head, and placed her items on the counter.
The supermarket had a user-friendly checkout system with electronic scanners. No need for a cashier; payments could be made with just a tap on a phone.
While waiting, Bian Li noticed a shelf of her favorite soft candies nearby. Her eyes lit up, and she instinctively reached for the boxes. The lower ones were easy to grab, but the upper ones proved more challenging.
She stretched her arm further, trying to snag another box when a voice spoke above her, calm yet distinct.
“Can’t reach?”
The voice carried a faint scent of grass and something refreshingly clean.
“Huh?” Bian Li turned in confusion, only to quickly realize the situation. “Oh… I can reach…”
Before she could finish, He Yunxing effortlessly grabbed a box from the top shelf and placed it on the counter. “Here,” he said curtly.
Bian Li hesitated, her lips parting slightly. “But…”
“What’s the problem?” His tone was lazy, almost teasing, with a subtle rasp that sent an unexplainable shiver down her spine.
She hesitated further, gathering the courage to meet his gaze. Embarrassed, she finally murmured, “Senior… You got the wrong one.”
He Yunxing raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the shelf, his eyes landing on a colorful, eye-catching suggestive package a few rows below. His lips curved in amusement.
“You want that?” he asked, his tone carrying a trace of mischief.
Realizing what he was referring to, Bian Li’s face turned crimson. She scrambled to clarify, “No! I meant the candies. You only grabbed one box…”
Ignoring her embarrassment, she quickly stretched up, grabbed a few more boxes, and dumped them on the counter, avoiding his gaze.
The bright supermarket lights shone on her flushed cheeks, highlighting the fine, soft hairs on her face.
He Yunxing watched her quietly, then said in a drawling voice, “Alright, junior. Senior knows his mistake.”
—
The Christmas single’s MV shoot was held in Yiqian Entertainment’s own greenhouse, a location frequently used for its annual promotional projects. The facility was spacious, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and cost millions to construct.
Today, both teams gathered for filming. In line with the warm, festive theme, the costume department had prepared matching white sweaters with red, diamond-patterned skirts.
Bian Li changed into her outfit quickly and sat in the rest area, chatting with her teammates.
“Fei Fei, the director said the main shot is assigned to you and He Yunxing. You two will be in the center,” Ruan Xiangyi informed her, flipping through the script.
“What?!” Bian Li’s face twisted in disbelief. “Can I refuse?”
Ruan Xiangyi smirked. “No.”
“But I’ve been practicing solo! There’s no need for this pairing!”
“That’s because He Yunxing skipped practice. It’s still your scene,” Ruan Xiangyi replied matter-of-factly.
Bian Li sighed. “Why me? You’re the captain. Why not you?”
Ruan Xiangyi tapped Bian Li’s forehead lightly. “I’m not tall enough to pair with him.”
That made Bian Li grin. “Sister, your eyes are finally open.”
Their banter was cut short when the greenhouse fell into an abrupt hush. Gasps of admiration rippled through the room, followed by intense whispers.
Bian Li glanced at her teammates curiously. “What’s happening?”
Ying Xuelai, sitting opposite her, described the scene casually. “Oh, everyone’s just losing their minds.”
—
During filming, Bian Li finally understood what Ying Xuelai meant.
He Yunxing, dressed in a white turtleneck sweater, radiated an air that was anything but warm and cozy. He seemed ethereal, almost untouchable, drawing every gaze like a magnet.
Although there was no physical contact between them during the shoot, their positions required subtle closeness.
Having skipped practice, He Yunxing appeared effortlessly composed, while Bian Li found herself fumbling. Her movements were awkward, her expressions mismatched. The director called for multiple retakes, visibly exasperated.
During yet another pause, He Yunxing turned to her, his gaze unreadable.
“Junior,” he said softly, tilting his head slightly.
“Are you so afraid of me?
