Bian Li’s live broadcast of eating continued for several days, and the mysterious “X” user kept sending gifts daily without fail—one aircraft carrier each day.
And it was always on time. Almost as if planned, whenever Bian Li started her live broadcast at a fixed time, it didn’t take long before the mysterious “X” appeared.
This was the highest level of gift-giving on the platform. Each aircraft carrier, valued at 1 billion love points, translated to 100,000 RMB in real money. A true RMB player.
After the platform’s share, Bian Li could still take home half of that amount.
On Raccoon Live, the reward system displayed rankings for fan levels, with the top three earning diamond crowns.
Naturally, everyone in the live broadcast room quickly noticed X’s account, still using the default avatar but adorned with a glittering golden crown—giving off a slightly perverted vibe.
Despite this, X remained remarkably quiet. Unlike other fans who sent gifts, acted cute, and begged Bian Li to call out their names loudly, X’s routine was consistent: an aircraft carrier at the start of the broadcast, some fairy sticks sprinkled at the end, and then disappearing without any fuss.
Bian Li thanked him daily, until one day…
He threw over 20 aircraft carriers in a single stream.
The entire screen lit up in dazzling gold. Bian Li was nearly blinded by it, her appetite for eating almost entirely replaced by shock.
The system notifications kept popping up, announcing her skyrocketing admiration and financial value. Her stream was even featured on Raccoon Live’s homepage, where the ticker repeatedly scrolled her achievements.
Bian Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Thank you for the gifts, mysterious X. I’m really happy you enjoy watching my broadcasts every day, but there’s no need to spend so much money. It’s way too expensive.”
Just as her words landed, X threw another aircraft carrier.
“…”
Bian Li squinted at the screen, noticing that, for the first time, X had left a message: “I’ll be busy for the next few days. Consider this an advance payment.”
His words carried a distinct coldness.
The fans in the live broadcast room exploded with excitement, wildly speculating about the identity of this mysterious boss. However, Raccoon Live wasn’t short of wealthy users, so curiosity quickly turned into a casual acceptance of X’s presence.
Now, the first thing fans did upon entering the live room wasn’t to check out Bian Li—it was to wait for the arrival of mysterious X.
Unknowingly, X had become the prelude to Bian Li’s eating broadcasts.
This day, however, X’s message created an uproar in the comments.
“Aoaoao, the big boss has appeared!”
“Before you leave, don’t forget to make up for the next few days of my laughter.”
“Brother Cha, we’ll miss you when you’re gone.”
“It’s fine. If you leave, we’ll protect Fei Fei!”
Bian Li stared at the barrage of heated messages. Were these people her fans or X’s fans?
Later, X’s absence confirmed he wasn’t joking. For several days, there was no sign of him.
At first, Bian Li felt a bit off without the golden light gracing her streams. Luckily, her eating broadcasts had been adjusted to a weekly schedule.
The reason? Simple. Gemini’s new album recording was officially on the agenda.
—
After more than a year since their debut, Gemini’s activity schedule remained relatively sparse compared to other industry idol groups. With only two comebacks so far, their window periods between releases were notably long.
However, the company’s approach to positioning them had always been precise, adapting their image as they matured.
The concept was straightforward: girls exhibit different types of beauty at various stages. Their debut theme revolved around daisies, emphasizing freshness and charm that uplifted anyone who saw them.
For this comeback, they challenged themselves with a new concept and style. Yiqian even invested heavily to bring in a professional dance team from the United States to choreograph for Gemini.
The title track was co-written by Yiqian’s top-tier creators.
Since their debut, Gemini’s style leaned heavily into dream pop, characterized by breathy and echo-like vocals that alternated to form an airy aesthetic paired with ethereal melodies.
This time, they aimed to capture the feeling of blooming petals—akin to the growth of youth, where hazy boundaries marked the journey to maturity.
This line feels intangible and light, resting gently in the palm of your hand—just like the vibe of their new song.
Following the company’s creative direction and development plans, the Gemini production team settled on cherry blossoms as the theme. They even created a simulated stereogram for the new album. The album title was decided quickly: Cherry Blossom.
With everything finalized, Bian Li spent over a month in Yi Qian’s practice room. After recording the new song, the three group members dove into non-stop dance rehearsals.
The title track of the new album would need heavy promotion—on variety shows, during music stage recordings, and through fan votes.
To ensure they delivered the perfect performance, the three girls dedicated two-thirds of each day to the practice room.
Even Bian Li, who was usually carefree about eating, began strictly controlling her diet. In this industry, being thin is always the standard. Long straight shots during promotions leave no room for error. Tight discipline before their comeback would maximize the promotional impact.
After an intense round of training, Bian Li collapsed onto the floor, refusing to get up.
Ying Xuelai walked over to her. “Don’t lie on the ground. You’ll catch a cold.”
Bian Li groaned, unwilling to move. “No way. The practice room has heating, like floor heating. It’s super comfy.”
Ruan Xiangyi, amused, lay down foot-to-foot with Bian Li and let out a sigh of relief. “I guess I’ve been slacking on practice. Just a few days of this, and I’m exhausted.”
Having been busy with variety shows recently, Ruan Xiangyi hadn’t spent much time in the practice room, making it tough to adjust to the sudden intensity.
A naturally self-disciplined person, Ruan Xiangyi silently encouraged herself. She resolved to practice twice as hard—no matter how busy things got, she’d make time for dance practice in the future.
Seeing she couldn’t convince the two of them to move, Ying Xuelai simply sat down beside them.
Bian Li, still dazed, let her gaze wander to the posters on the practice room walls.
She’d noticed before that not just Gemini’s practice room, but also Ace’s, had posters of the company’s artists covering the walls.
Most were artistic photos, updated regularly. They featured both actors and idols, showcasing their latest projects. It seemed the company staff were quite diligent about keeping things fresh.
From her position on the floor, Bian Li could clearly see the promotional poster for Ace’s national tour concert. The design was dark and heavy metal-inspired, with He Yunxing taking center stage in the most eye-catching spot.
Noticing the dates printed on the poster, she muttered, “So Ace has been on tour lately. I wonder when we’ll get to do a national tour like that…”
Ruan Xiangyi’s ears perked up. “Why are you suddenly interested in them?”
“I saw their poster. It looks pretty cool, that’s all. Hehe.”
Ying Xuelai crossed her legs and leaned back on her hands. After hearing Bian Li, she also glanced at the practice room wall.
Bian Li flipped over lazily, resuming her original salted fish position. “No wonder Brother Ning hasn’t been posting on WeChat Moments recently. I guess he’s been too busy.”
During the dance practice for their Christmas single, Ning Xuechu had introduced He Xuyi to the three girls and helped them exchange WeChat contacts.
What he’d said at the time was, “If you want to get along with your junior sisters from the same company, you’ve gotta give them some face.”
Ruan Xiangyi let out a soft snort. It was faint, but Bian Li caught it immediately.
“Hey, Ruan Ruan, I haven’t asked you yet—do you know Brother He?” Bian Li had been curious for a while. After all, when they added each other on WeChat, she saw they were already friends.
“Drop it. I’m not close to him; only our parents know each other,” Ruan Xiangyi replied curtly, stopping there. Yet, she seemed a bit unwilling and kicked Bian Li lightly with her foot.
“Kick me if you want, but why aim for my butt?”
“I like it. What’s it to you?”
“Woman, you’re playing with fire again.”
“Go away.”
The two rolled into a playful scuffle, laughing and jostling. Ying Xuelai sat to the side, watching with a quiet chuckle.
Da Xiong entered, holding a stack of documents. His eyelid twitched the moment he saw the chaotic scene.
“Thank goodness there are no hidden cameras here,” he muttered to himself. His occupational habit kicked in again, always worried these troublemakers would end up in some scandal.
“Brother Xiong, you’re here!” Bian Li, still sprawled on the floor, greeted him lazily.
Da Xiong shot her a look of disdain. “I know practice is tough, but lying on the ground right after exercising isn’t good. You’ll get osteomalacia. Drink more hot water after training.”
“Drink more hot water…” Bian Li repeated, muttering under her breath. “Straight man.”
Her gaze naturally drifted toward the stack of documents in his hand.
“What’s that you’re holding?”
Da Xiong pulled one out and handed it to her. “You asked at the right time. It’s for you. Your school notified us—midterms and physical tests are coming up. You’ll need to prep and head back soon.”
Bian Li nodded, flipping through the document. It was filled with instructions and reminders.
She was still a junior at Shengdian Film Academy, a renowned star-making factory in the country. Many dreamed of getting in, and talent agencies often scouted from there. In short, getting into Shengdian was a stepping stone to fame.
Normally, students had to return to school multiple times a semester. But due to her packed schedule before debuting, the company had applied for an exemption from some requirements. Still, the final exams were strict—whatever score she got would be recorded as-is.
Every semester’s end saw her cramming and pulling all-nighters to prepare.
Ruan Xiangyi glanced over curiously. Unlike Bian Li, both she and Ying Xuelai had attended a dance academy. They weren’t from the same school and had already graduated nearly a year ago.
Bian Li half sat up, noticing another document in Da Xiong’s hand.
“What about that one? Who’s it for?” Her eyes caught the school emblem on the cover—it was the same as hers.
Da Xiong raised it slightly. “This one’s for Brother He. He’s been busy with Ace’s concert tour, so the company asked me to hold onto it until he’s back. He Yunxing is in the same school as you, remember?”
“Ha, hasn’t he graduated? He still has physical tests?”
He Yunxing had been a campus legend back when he studied at Shengdian. After debuting, he skyrocketed to fame, becoming a phenomenon. Even at Shengdian, where countless stars emerged, his popularity stood out.
When Bian Li entered as a freshman, He Yunxing had been a junior. But by then, he was already rarely seen on campus, busy building his career with Ace.
“Apparently, there’s still something he needs to complete. I don’t know the details, and I can’t just peek at his file,” Da Xiong said, deflecting. Growing impatient with her questions, he quickly changed the topic. “If you’re practicing late tonight, let me know. I’ll drive you back to the dorms.”
“We know, we know. Actually, the dorms aren’t far from the company. The three of us could just ride a shared yellow bike back.” Bian Li got up, stretching and preparing for another round of practice.
“Do you want to trend on the hot search tomorrow? A girl group braving the cold on shared bikes at midnight?”
Bian Li grinned, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling with mischief. “Wouldn’t that be even better?”
“There are too many paparazzi near the company, unlike your dorm area. Be careful.” Da Xiong waved dismissively as he left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
“Let’s run through the chorus again. The eight-beat moves still feel a bit messy,” Bian Li said as she headed toward the speaker.
Ruan Xiangyi and Ying Xuelai nodded in agreement.
Just as Bian Li leaned down to cue the music, her phone buzzed on the table.
She glanced at the caller ID, then quickly picked up. “Hello, Mom.”
The voice on the other end of the phone was gentle, “Baby, what are you doing?”
“Practicing. It’s not really convenient to talk right now.”
“It’s fine, I won’t take up too much of your time. Are you free next week? Pick a day to come home with your brother. Mom will make your favorite dishes and invite a couple of old classmates, some uncles and aunts you know.”
Bian Li felt a bit awkward. “Mom, I’m really busy next week, and the new album is about to drop. I probably can’t make it back.”
“I know you’re busy, but home is so close—it won’t even take you an hour. Just come back for dinner. I haven’t seen you in a while, and your father also says he misses you…”
Mother Bian was about to continue, but Bian Li quickly interrupted, “Okay, I should be able to come back on the two days of the midterm exams and physical tests, but I probably won’t stay long.”
“That’s good! Your favorite fat brother from when you were little will also be there. Are you happy?” Mother Bian’s tone brightened, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah, love you, love you. I have to go practice now.” Bian Li quickly wrapped up the conversation and hung up.
After the call ended, Bian Li kept thinking about the “fat brother” her mom had mentioned.
She frowned, her mind working. She searched her memories for a long time but couldn’t recall anyone by that description. There was no impression of him at all.
From what her mom said, he was probably some cute little fat kid.
