Bian Li glanced down at her phone. The chat box at the top confirmed that the friend request had been accepted—direct and unreserved.
She raised her head to look at He Yunxing. “Alright…”
But since the cookies were already out, it would be awkward to put them back now.
Holding the box with both hands, Bian Li pushed it toward him. “Senior, please take these. They’re really delicious.”
She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curling at her lips. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled like water, fixed intently on him.
He Yunxing stayed silent for a moment, then reached out to take the box. “Alright,” he replied softly.
He didn’t linger. Once he left, Bian Li quickly set up for her food broadcast.
She hadn’t announced the stream in advance, but as soon as the live room opened, fans flooded in.
“Sister’s back! Are you ready for your comeback?”
“What’s on the menu today? Let me order takeout first!”
“First floor!”
“Basement!”
“Sewer!”
Bian Li waved at the camera. “I’m coming back soon. I’ll let you know the exact date, so make sure to come listen to the songs!”
As she spoke, she opened a box of bear-shaped cookies. “I’ll be eating these today. They’re from a fan, and I’ve been saving them for ages.”
The comments immediately started buzzing with brand discussions, sparking a mini promotion frenzy.
Whenever Bian Li did an eating show, it always ended up trending on Weibo. Her idol halo was so strong that fans would scramble to buy whatever she showcased.
She popped a cookie into her mouth, finishing it in two bites. Speaking through her mouthful, she mumbled, “How do you all know my schedule better than I do? Yes, I have a physical test tomorrow morning and midterms after that. Too many theoretical questions—I’m done for!”
The chat lit up with rows of “hahahaha,” the schadenfreude practically jumping off the screen.
“You’re laughing at me, huh? Don’t you have exams too? I hope you get yours back,” Bian Li muttered as she scanned the comments.
Right then, a golden flash lit up the live room. Special effects danced across the screen, even more elaborate than before.
It had been a while since she’d seen this kind of gift message. She actually felt a bit nostalgic.
Leaning closer to check, she wasn’t surprised.
It was him—Mysterious X.
As usual, he went big, gifting a massive aircraft carrier. Not just one, though. Ten.
“Brother Cha! You’re here again!”
“Live onlookers, assemble!”
“That’s right, if Brother Cha’s here, no one else matters!”
Bian Li paused mid-bite. “Dear X, you’re spending way too much. You really don’t have to do this.”
Her heart ached a little at the thought. The platform would take half of the money, so his contributions always felt bittersweet. She didn’t want him to waste so much.
She understood the feeling, though. Supporting someone you admire is like offering your most sincere heart to them, hoping they’ll acknowledge its warmth.
Thinking about it from her fans’ perspective made her feel both happy and a little sad. No matter what lay ahead, these people had always been there for her.
Bian Li’s tone grew serious. “I do these live streams to hang out with you all and do what I love. There’s no need to send such expensive gifts. Even simple things like fairy wands or donuts are more than enough.”
Mysterious X seemed to listen, stopping the grand gestures.
But then, he sent hundreds of bear-shaped donuts instead, one after another.
Bian Li: “…”
This time, Mysterious X wasn’t silent. He added a single line in bold red and gold letters: “Your cookies are sweet.”
—
The next morning, Bian Li’s class was scheduled for their physical test in the latter half of the morning, giving her some extra time to sleep in.
After a rare lazy morning, she headed to the underground garage to retrieve her long-neglected electric scooter.
With time to spare, she packed up her things, pulled on a cap, and casually covered her face. Then, hopping on her scooter, she set off for school.
The dormitory wasn’t too far from Shengdian, but not exactly close either. Bian Li just had to time it right. Too lazy to trouble her agent, she left on her own.
Bian Li’s major fell under the category of dance arts, and almost everyone in her class had signed contracts with agencies. Many had already debuted and were slowly becoming active in the public eye. Except for a few heading toward the performing arts, most were focusing on singing and dancing, aiming for idol stardom.
The idol industry in China wasn’t fully mature yet, but it was steadily moving in the right direction, holding great potential for the future.
This was why so many dream chasers were striving to break through while working relentlessly.
On most days, it was rare for everyone to gather because they each had their own schedules. If there was one time the class came together, it was now.
Physical fitness was a universal requirement for all universities, and they were no exception. Except for a few who genuinely couldn’t make it back and had applied for deferred tests, everyone else was gathered on the track field.
When a few of Bian Li’s classmates spotted her, they rushed over, eager to chat.
Bian Li’s college experience wasn’t like the others’. She had been scouted by Yi Qian as soon as she enrolled, and since then, she spent her time checking in at the company and practicing. She didn’t even get to live on campus.
After all, they were just young girls. Once the catching-up ended, they started taking photos together, posing in countless angles. Inevitably, gossip followed.
“Fei Fei, I’m so jealous of you. I saw the promotional video for your company’s Christmas single. Did you collaborate with Ace?”
Among the group were star-chasing girls, and Ace was practically a legend to them. And among legends, the myth of myths—Ace’s captain, He Yunxing.
He himself had graduated from Shengdian. As a senior, he was once the most celebrated figure on campus, a star in his own right.
The aura of glory around him remained elusive, tempting people to dig deeper.
Bian Li sat on a nearby set of steps, surrounded by her classmates. She knew exactly what they were fishing for, so she skillfully diverted the conversation. “Yes, there’s a collaboration. But don’t bother asking me. You’ll see for yourselves when it’s out.”
The full single wouldn’t drop until Christmas, but buzz had already started building among fans.
Bian Li had her reasons for stopping the conversation. She and He Yunxing had already trended on the hot search once; it wasn’t ideal to stir up more talk.
Realizing they wouldn’t get anything out of her, the group quickly changed the topic.
“It’s nice to have a good company,” someone remarked suddenly.
The girl, who had been sitting quietly on the sidelines, spoke in a light tone, yet it carried a distinct edge.
She curled her lips into a faint smile. “Since you’ve hyped it up so much, I guess I’ll have to cheer for you when the time comes.”
The atmosphere instantly cooled, a heavy awkwardness settling in the air.
In truth, only two people in the class were truly well-known: Bian Li and Zhen Xi. But the two barely acknowledged each other in passing and had no real relationship to speak of.
The two had completely different styles and were signed to different agencies. However, the real issue arose with the agency.
Zhen Xi had a strong personality and was resolute in her goals. What she wanted was to join the best entertainment company in the industry, and Yi Qian was her top choice.
She participated in Yi Qian’s auditions multiple times but was rejected each time. Left with no other option, she signed with another company that extended her an olive branch.
Bian Li’s story, however, couldn’t have been more different. She was scouted and directly signed with Yi Qian, enjoying a smooth journey that culminated in her debut after just two years of training.
Zhen Xi couldn’t accept this. Their already distant relationship as classmates grew even colder. Although she eventually debuted successfully, the bitterness in her heart never faded.
But what truly ignited her feelings of unfairness was Yi Qian’s so-called promotional video. Her rationality, which had barely held on, completely burned away.
To be precise, Zhen Xi’s rivalry was entirely one-sided. In their three years of college, the two rarely spoke to each other.
A girl tugged on Bian Li’s arm and whispered, “She’s acting like this today because someone hit a sore spot. Everyone knows she’s a big fan of He Yunxing.”
Bian Li, who was usually laid-back, wasn’t about to let herself be stepped on. With a light chuckle, she quipped, “Thanks for the compliment—our company really is that good.”
Zhen Xi’s expression stiffened, and she turned her head away.
The initial excitement among the group quickly fizzled out. Fortunately, it was time for their long-distance run, so most people became preoccupied with their own tasks.
Bian Li, who was used to intense singing and dancing practice, had built up solid endurance and physical strength. Long-distance or short-distance running? Both were a breeze for her, and she easily scored full marks.
After finishing those events, the rest of the assessments moved along quickly.
“Fei Fei, you’re trending on the hot search again.” While waiting for the next activity, a classmate suddenly held up her phone with a wide grin.
Bian Li raised her eyebrows, a little smug. “Really? Are they all singing my praises and blowing rainbow farts?”
She figured someone must’ve caught wind of her high scores and posted it online.
Her classmate, however, stared at her in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
Curious, Bian Li leaned in and immediately froze.
The trending posts weren’t about her scores at all—they were filled with pictures of her “hardship” commute on a small electric scooter.
With her hat pulled low against the wind, she zipped through the city streets.
The comparison to other celebrities’ luxurious nanny vans and agents’ chauffeured cars was stark. The difference in treatment couldn’t have been more obvious.
Scrolling through the fan reactions filled with laughter and teasing, Bian Li was momentarily speechless.
“…”
When the assessments finally ended, the group made plans for a dinner outing. With midterm exams the next day, everyone seemed eager to blow off some steam while they could.
Bian Li waved them off decisively. “I’m really not going.”
“Don’t be like that. Who knows when we’ll get the chance to hang out again?” A boy, trying to coax her, leaned in with a persuasive grin.
“I really can’t. I’ve already promised my mom I’d go home tonight,” Bian Li said firmly.
Hearing this, the boy didn’t push further.
She wasn’t lying. Bian’s mother had been reminding her nonstop to come home, even dropping hints about guests who were coming over.
After hearing it so many times, it was impossible for her to forget even if she tried.
