Revealed in Bian Li’s eyes was half a trace of doubt, while the other half was quietly hidden in her own thoughts.
Seeing He Yunxing looking over, she lifted her delicate little chin and poked at him in the air.
But the guy being stared at remained indifferent. He only raised an eyebrow slightly, completely unbothered.
With assistants and staff surrounding them, she couldn’t find the right moment to ask. When break time ended and everyone continued toward the recording venue, Bian Li finally caught up with He Yunxing in the bustling, noisy corridor.
“You didn’t misunderstand me, did you?” Bian Li’s voice was low, meant for the two of them alone.
He Yunxing, with his long legs and tall frame, was nearly a head and a half taller than Bian Li. Seeing her tiptoe slightly, he shifted his shoulders and bent down slightly to the right.
Her soft voice blended with the rustling sounds around them, carrying a faint warmth. At this distance, he could catch the subtle fruity-woody scent on her—hints of strawberry and peach.
“What misunderstanding?” He Yunxing heard her question clearly and asked in return.
His gaze lowered slightly, his thick black eyelashes fanning out with the ends curling faintly upward. From this angle, Bian Li could see the distinct curve of his brow bone and the dark eyes hidden beneath it.
“Well… I mean, there wasn’t any little note inside the album I gave you. You get what I mean, right?” She lowered her voice, eyes shifting away first to avoid direct eye contact.
He Yunxing actually took a moment to process it. Then, realization dawned. The implication couldn’t be clearer.
This was her way of finding an excuse for herself.
He raised his eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. “Oh? Then tell me, what kind of note?”
Bian Li pursed her lips. He definitely knew the answer but still asked.
“What kind? The kind Brother Li just mentioned,” she said, before secretly complaining in her heart.
‘Or the kind that girl just tried to give you in the corridor.’
“I didn’t misunderstand you.” He Yunxing responded quickly this time.
Bian Li heard his answer, but her mind stalled for a second.
Now, she didn’t know how to reply. It felt like this whole topic had somehow gone off track.
Because no matter how she looked at it, the expected answer was strange.
If he had misunderstood and thought she had slipped in a note, then his acceptance of the album carried a very obvious meaning.
And if he hadn’t misunderstood but still accepted it… considering what Brother Li had just said, Bian Li’s thoughts looped in circles—only to return to square one.
No matter how she looked at it, He Yunxing never accepted other people’s albums.
But this time—he did.
Just hers.
This realization brought a strange, inexplicable sweetness to her heart.
Around them, the corridor was filled with noise and chatter as they walked side by side.
Bian Li slowed her pace slightly, falling half a step behind. Lowering her gaze, the first thing she noticed was his hand hanging loosely by his side—long fingers, knuckles defined, slender as jade.
For some reason, an image of him flipping through her album just moments ago flashed in her mind. His fingertips had lightly brushed over the pages, creating the faintest rustling sound.
Gemini’s limited edition albums all had individual covers and personalized inner pages for each group member.
The version she had given him was her own.
Filled with her artistic photos.
Bian Li still remembered how serious He Yunxing’s expression had been when he flipped through them, page by page.
She let out a small “ah” and instinctively cupped her slightly warm face with both hands.
This unfamiliar emotion had been circling around her for quite some time now.
She was really hopeless.
—
When the recording for the third round of the competition was about to begin, Bian Li was still in a daze.
At that moment, He Yunxing softly called her name.
She had been lost in her thoughts for a while, so his sudden voice startled her. She jolted two meters away in shock—
—And crashed straight into He Xuyi, who had just rushed over.
Although he looked thin, he was surprisingly solid, like an iron block.
Bounced between two people like a pinball, Bian Li nearly lost her balance.
Fortunately, He Xuyi was quick enough to steady her just before she fell.
The moment of panic came and went in a flash.
Bian Li’s thoughts snapped back to reality. She was young, after all, and within seconds, she was lively again.
Meanwhile, for some reason, He Yunxing fell silent. He didn’t call her name again.
Bian Li had no time to worry about his mood. Instead, her attention was now on the competition ahead.
This was a major highlight of the show—every episode had its fair share of both laughs and complaints.
The third round required a lot of physical activity and was originally scheduled to be recorded outdoors. However, since it was early winter, the cold, dry air and the frosty night posed challenges for the filming equipment. To prevent issues like blurred camera footage and technical difficulties, the production team ultimately decided to move the competition indoors.
With fewer obstacles in an indoor setting, the director team naturally sped up the recording process.
This final challenge not only carried the highest points but also took up the longest segment of the show.
At first glance, it seemed simple, but in reality, it wasn’t. The key to winning lay in teamwork and mutual understanding.
The rules were straightforward.
Each team sent three members: one to complete an obstacle course, another to guide them with verbal instructions, and the last person to finish the food on the plate using the utensils won by the team.
Every team started at the same point, and the one that finished the fastest would be the winner.
Without hesitation, He Yunxing assigned the roles for the pink team.
He Xuyi was responsible for completing the obstacle course, while Bian Li was in charge of the eating challenge.
As for He Yunxing, he took on the role of giving instructions while also selecting the utensils—essentially acting as the middleman between He Xuyi and Bian Li.
From the very start, He Xuyi was visibly displeased. Unlike Ning Xuechu, who would have thrown a tantrum in the past, He Xuyi simply expressed his irritation in a restrained manner.
“You want me to wear a blindfold and clear those ridiculously childish obstacles?” he asked, clearly unimpressed.
“Unless you’d rather I do it?” He Yunxing shot him a glance, completely unfazed.
He Xuyi, knowing better than to argue, silently went to the side and started doing push-ups, treating it as a warm-up.
Bian Li had been listening to their conversation the entire time.
Watching He Xuyi get roped into the challenge, she suddenly felt a surge of excitement and boldness.
“If He really doesn’t want to do it… how about I go instead?” she volunteered enthusiastically. “I think I’d be good at it!”
She wasn’t just talking big—she was genuinely confident. Bian Li had always been active and had played around with similar obstacle courses before. The acupressure mat might be annoying, but things like climbing ropes and fake slopes were no problem at all.
Without even considering it, He Yunxing rejected her offer.
“Just sit tight and eat your food.”
He paused for a second before adding in a slower tone, “Or… do you really not like it?”
Bian Li’s gaze fell on the pot of bright red chicken feet assigned to each team. She licked her lips, hesitating.
It had been a long time since she last ate them—probably back when she was doing a food broadcast. Now, the fragrance of chili oil lingered in the air, instantly triggering her craving.
She was torn.
He Yunxing, seeing her hesitation, pinched the bridge of his nose and made the decision for her.
“Alright, that’s settled.”
His tone was final, leaving no room for argument.
The competition went smoothly at first, but He Xuyi’s speed couldn’t compare to the stronger members of the other teams.
Every time he failed an obstacle, he had to start over from the beginning.
He got stuck four or five times on the very first level, putting their team into an endless loop of retries.
The frustration on his face grew more and more obvious—his usual composure on the verge of snapping.
Watching He Xuyi, who was usually so calm and self-possessed, struggling like this, Bian Li couldn’t help but laugh from her seat.
But soon, she wasn’t laughing anymore.
She couldn’t laugh anymore.
Because by the time He Xuyi finally reached the finish line, most of the eating utensils had already been taken by other teams.
Now, only two were left.
All the useful utensils—chopsticks, spoons, and forks—were taken early, leaving behind only two options: a massive soup ladle and a tiny clamp that resembled tweezers.
The choice of eating utensils directly affected the time spent in the competition.
Anyone with common sense would know how to pick, let alone He Yunxing.
Without any hesitation, he strode forward.
Then, in full view of everyone—under Bian Li’s expectant gaze and the curious, gossiping eyes from all directions—
He decisively grabbed the massive soup ladle, its diameter even larger than the food plate, and handed it straight to Bian Li.
?
Bian Li: “…”
What the hell?! How was she supposed to eat with this?!
Whatever shyness or sweetness she’d felt earlier was instantly crushed beneath the weight of that oversized ladle.
—
Variety shows always had to end.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Early winter set in, its curtain lifting slowly, giving way to the season’s bitter chill.
The first snow in Z City hadn’t yet arrived, but Christmas Eve had quietly made its way in, marking the festive close of the year.
During this period, Yiqian Entertainment released its highly anticipated annual family collaboration Christmas single.
The moment the song hit major music platforms and streaming sites, the servers crashed under the surge of traffic. Within ten minutes, it had already amassed millions of streams, setting off a wave of warm winter vibes.
This was He Yunxing’s first lyrical track in a year. Compared to the bold and edgy songs he had previously composed for the group, this one was sweet, warm, and honey-like—melting straight into listeners’ hearts.
Fans were quick to flood the internet, reposting the MV collaboration between the two well-known groups, unable to hold back their emotions:
“My brother’s song this time is too sweet, QAQ!”
“He Yunxing, the all-rounder genius! He Yunxing, the born idol!”
“Oh my god, Bian Li and He Yunxing dancing together is so visually satisfying.”
“I’m just a passerby, but this song is seriously sweet. The best part? Both groups are stunning, and their choreography is so in sync. I’ve rewatched the video countless times without even realizing it.”
The wave of positive feedback gave an extra boost to the variety show’s upcoming broadcast.
Thanks to her impressive performance in the Christmas single alongside He Yunxing, Bian Li gained a million new fans in just three days.
Marketing accounts quickly cut out her solo moments, and the overwhelming number of reposts pushed her straight to the trending list, along with the tag “Human Peach.”
The company was beyond satisfied with the response. Their song sales skyrocketed, and the increased exposure on wider platforms only strengthened their hold on the market.
There were countless ways to gain popularity, and Da Xiong, ever the steady presence, reminded them to bring their best for the highly anticipated New Year’s Eve performance.
With only five or six days left until the event, the company generously granted the group a rare four-day break to ensure they were in peak condition for the year-end stage.
It was a strange overlap—the busiest and most leisurely period of the year clashing at the same time.
But Bian Li was the type who believed that as long as the sun kept rising, there was no need to be upset. A glass of wine today, live to ninety-nine tomorrow.
She didn’t bother going anywhere, choosing instead to stay in the dorm and enjoy the rare downtime with her two closest teammates.
Tonight, the variety show she had recorded would finally air. To celebrate, Bian Li ordered a ridiculous amount of takeout and invited Ruan Xiangyi and Ying Xuelai to watch it with her.
Just as she turned on the TV in the living room, the doorbell rang.
Ruan Xiangyi, too lazy to move, sprawled across the sofa like a boneless salted fish. She barely lifted her head as she lazily called out, “Fei Fei, go get the door.”
Bian Li shuffled over in her slippers, muttering as she went, “Huh? That was fast. Takeout’s never this early.”
She moved a little slowly, and the doorbell rang again—sharp and urgent, the sound dragging out at the end, clearly signaling the impatience of whoever was outside.
This delivery guy was not only early but also incredibly pushy.
Bian Li didn’t overthink it. “I’m coming!” she called, swinging the door open and sticking her head out.
She only spared a casual glance at first.
But then—
Upon seeing the person at her doorstep, her lollipop nearly fell straight out of her mouth.
Standing in front of her was Ning Xuechu, flashing a dazzling grin, his bright white teeth on full display.
“The power’s out in our dorm.” He grinned wider. “Fei Fei, how about taking this chance to socialize?”
As he spoke, he slowly stepped aside, revealing two figures standing behind him.
He lifted a finger and gestured toward them.
“It’s not just me. These two are here as well.”
He Yunxing.
He Xuyi.
Click.
This time, Bian Li’s lollipop really did hit the floor.
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