Above the stage on the side, the tuner was still adjusting the sound. Bian Li approached the edge of the sound system. The sound waves spread along the floor, leaping up from the soles of her feet.
“I don’t even know who forgot who,” He Yunxing said, as if the person who had just ignored her wasn’t him at all.
The nearby noise and darkness gave her courage. Bian Li placed her hand on He Yunxing’s leg, gently pinched it, and then tentatively pushed.
However, it was of no use. He remained completely still.
Ning Xuechu, sitting next to He Yunxing, was idly playing with his phone. Hearing the faint noise, he turned his head in curiosity.
And when he looked, he froze in disbelief.
There, in the dim light, was a silhouette near He Yunxing’s leg. As his eyes adjusted, the silhouette came into focus.
Touching his thigh in the dark—Bian Li was truly bold.
Although He Yunxing’s face was blank, he made no move to stop her. His tacit expression made it clear he didn’t mind and might even be enjoying it.
“Hey! Are you going to let me go?” Bian Li said, a little annoyed. She slapped his leg sharply. The crisp sound was loud enough that even He Xuyi, sitting at the edge of the row, glanced over.
“No.” He Yunxing replied steadily, his voice calm and composed. Behind him, rows of fans were seated, and he seemed completely unbothered by their proximity.
“You’re the one who pretended not to know me…” Bian Li muttered angrily, her voice lowering with every word.
When she had seen him earlier, she had been ready to greet him cheerfully, but his cold indifference had extinguished the small flame of excitement in her heart.
Usually, she was surrounded by his vague warmth and teasing. She had forgotten that the He Yunxing who casually brushed people off was his true self—distant, restrained, and hard to grasp.
It seemed He Yunxing understood her thoughts at that moment. He slowly spread his legs apart.
Bian Li let out a sigh of relief. But just as she moved to step forward, he closed the gap again, reverting to his teasing ways.
“Give me the soda in your hand, and I’ll let you go,” he said, his tone light.
“If you want a drink, just say so. Stop beating around the bush,” Bian Li grumbled.
She had no choice but to hand him the soda bottle. He Yunxing caught it with ease, finally moving his legs aside.
Bian Li, reluctant to let it go, muttered, “You better replace it next time—with every flavor.”
“Impossible,” He Yunxing replied with a slight smirk.
Pouting, Bian Li made her way down the row of seats. As she passed Ning Xuechu, he gave her a hard rub on the head.
Flustered from the interaction, Bian Li climbed the side steps. Before she could complain to Ruan Xiangyi, the lights in the recording room suddenly lit up, illuminating the space.
The fans cheered loudly upon receiving their queue numbers, though the staff quickly reminded them to quiet down. The dazzling light made the room appear as if no one else existed.
In the vast recording studio, every department was busy preparing for the show. From a distance, Ying Xuelai waved at them, finally spotting the two who had arrived late.
Bian Li found her seat in the second row, near the corner. It wasn’t the best view of the stage, but a monitor displaying the recording’s effect hung just above her head.
As she adjusted in her seat, she suddenly noticed He Yunxing turning to look at her. Their gazes locked in silence.
His mood seemed good—his eyelids slightly raised as he idly scrolled through his phone.
Inspired, Bian Li quickly pulled out her phone and dimmed the brightness. Sure enough, two WeChat notifications popped up.
Opening the app, she saw He Yunxing’s message.
[X.]: Save a file.
Attached was a photo.
Bian Li zoomed in, her heart skipping a beat. In the dimly lit image, a girl was crouching near a long, straight leg. Her soft, curly hair draped over her rosy shoulders, framing her delicate side profile. Despite the lighting, her porcelain-like skin and starlit eyes stood out vividly.
The composition was beautiful—a hazy, dreamlike quality created by the dim light and blurred aperture.
But the charm of the photo ended abruptly at the hands resting firmly on the leg.
The hands were unmistakably hers.
Bian Li froze. No matter how she looked at it, the photo portrayed her as the one causing trouble. Her position was entirely indefensible.
Flustered, she typed furiously.
[Fei Fei Eats Pears]: Hey! You’re so annoying! Who gave you permission to take sneak photos?!
He Yunxing replied almost instantly.
[X.]: Oh? Last time you stood me up, your praise said otherwise.
[Fei Fei Eats Pears]: How is that even the same thing?! Don’t provoke me! I don’t know what I might do if I’m pushed too far!
[X.]: Got it.
Bian Li stared at her phone, unsure what he “got”.
Another message popped up—a sticker of her doing the splits. It was the one she had sent him previously, now weaponized against her.
He Yunxing seemed to be having fun, responding with another message.
[X.]: Smile.jpg.
[Fei Fei Eats Pears]: …
Bian Li groaned in frustration. She quickly changed his contact name to “Fatty” and sent him a screenshot.
On He Yunxing’s end, he raised an eyebrow in amusement.
Nearby, Ning Xuechu leaned over, eyeing him suspiciously. “Boss, why are you smiling so smugly? You’ve never acted like this before.”
He attempted to peek at the screen but was swiftly deterred by He Yunxing’s cool gaze.
“Don’t think I’m stupid. I saw the nickname you gave someone!” Ning Xuechu’s tone turned incredulous. “Fatty? You’re hiding something, aren’t you? Admit it—what are your intentions with her?”
He Yunxing didn’t even look up, his tone sharp and direct. “You, shut up.”
He Xuyi, who was leaning back with his eyes closed, surprisingly echoed He Yunxing’s words.
Ning Xuechu felt stung by the dismissal. Just as he was about to retort, the music in the venue abruptly stopped.
The director’s voice came through the external microphone, loud and clear. “Alright, the recording starts now. Lighting team, camera team, get into position.”
He Yunxing’s long fingers tapped briefly on his phone screen before he tucked it back into his pocket, unbothered. Meanwhile, Bian Li, who also heard the announcement, quickly locked her phone. Right before she turned it off, another message from He Yunxing popped up.
The text displayed a single line:
[Just add a brother at the end.]
—
Over the past month, as their teams began sharing more announcements and schedules, Gemini and Ace gradually overlapped.
This collaboration wasn’t coincidental. Yi Qian Entertainment had clearly decided to tie their two popular groups together to maximize buzz.
Gemini’s recent comeback had brought a surge of attention, and the response from gg merchants came swiftly. Popularity generated data and traffic, which in turn translated to significant benefits within the industry.
Among these was the Yingli School Uniform GG, a campaign tailored for vibrant and youthful idol groups. The timing was perfect: handsome boys, beautiful girls, and a guaranteed lively aesthetic—it was a win for all sides.
Unlike their last male-female duo shoot for the Christmas single, this time the campaign focused mostly on group and individual shots. The process was straightforward: change outfits, strike a pose, repeat.
Having worked together before, the groups were no longer as distant. Their chemistry was noticeable, and the shoot went smoothly.
The director was highly impressed, praising the artists for their professionalism. “You can really tell they’re from Yi Qian Entertainment,” he remarked. “Dedicated and skilled.”
—
The girls gathered on one side of the rest area, while Ning Xuechu and He Xuyi sat opposite them. He Yunxing was still on set, finishing his solo shots. It seemed the gg merchant particularly favored him, given the number of outfits he was cycling through.
Bian Li leaned back on a bench, smiling faintly at the director’s earlier compliments. Her mood was noticeably lifted.
“The director wasn’t wrong,” she said to no one in particular. “Our company is amazing, and our artists are amazing too.”
As the industry leader, Yi Qian Entertainment had been in the spotlight for years. It was a legendary company, and Bian Li was a devoted fan.
“Do you like the company that much, Fei Fei?” Ning Xuechu, now sporting freshly dyed black hair for the campaign, asked lazily while fiddling with his phone.
“Of course,” Bian Li answered enthusiastically. “The food’s delicious, the dorms are comfortable, and I got a generous paycheck this quarter. Oh, and the boss? Handsome, rich, and generous. When I did well in my midterms, I even got a special scholarship from the company—”
She suddenly paused, her thoughts drifting to He Yunxing.
Her exceptional midterm performance had been, in part, thanks to him.
Snapping back to reality, she was about to continue when Ning Xuechu interrupted her with a mock cough. “Alright, alright, no need to write an essay about it. I just wanted to remind you to stay cautious. Some bad brothers like tricking pretty little things like you. Be careful.”
Before Bian Li could respond, Ruan Xiangyi snorted softly from beside her. Her tone was as sharp as her smirk. “Ning Xuechu, if we’re talking about bad brothers, aren’t you the prime example? Always digging holes for yourself with your nonsense.”
Ning Xuechu’s face twitched. He wanted to retort but bit his tongue, unwilling to escalate.
—
The shoot took place at a photography base in the suburbs. Most of the team was now idle, except for those editing photos or wrapping up He Yunxing’s session.
A staff member waved at the group to come preview the shots, and they left to crowd around the monitors.
Normally, Bian Li would be the first to join in the fun, but she stayed back, opting to recharge instead. She figured she’d take a look once the others were done.
A previously idle TV screen nearby flickered to life, and the director decided to play an exclusive interview with He Yunxing to keep everyone entertained.
Bian Li, caught off guard, turned her full attention to the screen.
The interview opened with a sleek shot of He Yunxing seated on a high-legged swivel chair. His long legs bent casually, his posture both relaxed and striking.
The sense of familiarity she felt watching him clashed with the detached professionalism on display. He Yunxing’s usual carefree demeanor seemed almost calculated now—like cold oil dripping onto a hot flame, unintentional but intensely captivating.
Bian Li found herself staring, as if trying to peel back the layers of the mask he wore.
In the video, the interviewer’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“The national tour was a huge success. Do you have anything you’d like to say about it?”
He Yunxing didn’t hesitate. “Thank you to everyone who’s been there.”
“What about your fans? Any message for them?”
“Focus on your own life and live every day well.”
“You’ve been a scandal-free high-quality idol since your debut. Is it all for your fans?”
“No.”
The bluntness of his response surprised Bian Li. Unlike others who would sugarcoat their answers, He Yunxing didn’t even bother.
It was this unfiltered honesty that earned him both love and criticism online. Fans adored his confidence, while detractors called him arrogant.
The interviewer, intrigued, pushed further. “Then, what about your ideal type? Any preferences?”
He Yunxing’s expression remained calm. “I don’t have an ideal type, just an ideal person.”
“If you were to date someone, would you make it public?”
“If it ever happens, yes.”
“Won’t your fans be upset?”
He Yunxing thought for a moment before answering seriously. “I see them as listeners of my music, not just fans. They’ve been with me for so long—I trust they’ll understand. My future lies more in production than performing as an idol.”
Bian Li listened with interest. He Yunxing’s plan for his future was clear.
He was so willful and humble, strange contradictions intertwining to form his deep charm.
Bian Li finally understood, at least a little, why his fans were so obsessed with him.
The interview continued, but the topic shifted to his teammates. Just as Bian Li wanted to keep listening, someone paused the TV screen.
At the same time, a group of staff members began shouting, hauling in boxes of soda and distributing them to everyone on-site.
“He Yunxing is treating everyone to soda—please don’t be shy!”
Bian Li was handed a bottle. Looking closely, she noticed the bottle was pink and tender, strikingly familiar.
The brand and packaging were exactly the same as the soda You Shu had forced on her—and which He Yunxing had taken away.
A faint grassy scent tickled her nose before a shadow suddenly loomed in her vision.
The soda in her hand was gently taken away. Bian Li looked up and saw He Yunxing standing before her. His slender, jade-like fingers casually twisted open the cap.
Lowering his eyes, he handed the soda back to her.
Bian Li took it. “You wanted to steal it from me last time. Why are you so kind today?”
He Yunxing raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you ask me to compensate you? Consider this compensation.”
With one hand in his pocket, he bent slightly, his eyes level with hers.
He stared at her for a long time before speaking slowly, “Or have you forgotten?”
Bian Li felt a strange heat crawl across her face. Their gazes locked for a while before she relented, avoiding his eyes.
“I didn’t…” Her voice was soft and sticky, almost stumbling, before suddenly rising with a burst of confidence, as though she had backup. “You’re the one who forgot! I clearly said every flavor. Now—”
She waved the soda can in her hand for emphasis. “There’s only one flavor!”
After her mini protest, she took a sip, visibly pleased. Her lips curved up, like a kitten basking in the afternoon sun.
He Yunxing sat beside her. “Now that you mention it, you remind me—I’ve prepared a box for you. You can take it back to the dorm later.”
Then, mimicking her earlier tone, he added, “With all the flavors.”
Bian Li nearly choked on her soda. Coughing lightly, she exclaimed, “How am I supposed to carry such a big box back?”
She recalled the boxes the staff had carried earlier. They looked hefty. Sure, she could move them, but walking back to the dorm with a box of soda from He Yunxing?
People might think she liked taking advantage of him.
Decisively, Bian Li wanted to reject his kindness outright, but before she could, he cut her off.
He Yunxing lounged lazily on the sofa, his voice unhurried. “You’re right. I’ll have it delivered to you later.”
—
After filming wrapped, Bian Li had dinner with the team at the studio before heading back to the dorm.
Fresh out of the shower, she suddenly remembered He Yunxing’s words.
Her mood instantly soured. She flopped onto her bed, burying herself in the soft quilt. Curled up, she tugged at the sheets with restless fingers.
If he really sent it over and she opened the door, how could she explain it to her roommates?
Having her roommates open the door and hand it over to her would make things worse—wouldn’t that just look more suspicious?
Bian Li groaned in frustration. She buried her face in the bed, banging her head like a little chick pecking at rice.
She should’ve refused outright. Why didn’t she? How had she even agreed at the time? Her own actions baffled her.
As she wrestled with her thoughts, the phone lying next to her pillow buzzed.
She grabbed it, and two words flashed on the screen:
[Open the door.]
At the same time, a soft knock came from the balcony’s floor-to-ceiling glass sliding door—just two gentle, deliberate taps.
