Ning Xuechu was suspicious. The more he looked at He Yunxing at this moment, the stranger he felt.
His gaze suddenly landed on the black coat, and the seed of doubt buried in his heart quietly sprouted.
That coat looked very familiar.
It was the same one He Yunxing had worn when they went to their junior sister’s dormitory that day.
Ning Xuechu didn’t remember all the details clearly—only that, at some point, everyone around him had lost interest in the variety show, and he had been the only one still watching with relish.
In the dimly lit living room, apart from the glowing light projected on the wall, the surroundings were shrouded in darkness.
When the final segment of the variety show played, Ning Xuechu turned his head, intending to tease the show’s main characters—just like he had been doing earlier.
However, before his peripheral vision could even land on its target, He Xuyi suddenly blocked him, forcibly turning his head back without allowing any protest.
Ning Xuechu didn’t understand why, but a faint suspicion lingered in his heart.
His curiosity, however, refused to be silenced.
So when He Xuyi stood up and moved to the other side of the sofa, Ning Xuechu seized his chance, turned around, and looked up—just in time to witness He Yunxing’s actions.
The other man was bracing himself with both hands on either side of Bian Li, who was lying on the sofa. He raised his body slightly, then carefully took off his coat and draped it over Bian Li.
Sensing Ning Xuechu’s stunned gaze, He Yunxing turned his head slightly, his expression as unreadable as ever. He simply raised a finger to his lips, pressing it lightly as he whispered, “Hush.”
It took Ning Xuechu a long time to process what he had just seen. He had no idea what his boss was up to, but whatever it was, it definitely wasn’t pure.
He nodded blankly and actually obeyed, keeping his mouth shut.
Every question that had been bubbling up in his throat was now stuck—neither rising nor falling.
Later, before they left, He Yunxing had roped them into being free labor for a bit of post-gathering cleanup.
But more importantly—that coat.
After several twists and turns, it somehow ended up back in He Yunxing’s hands.
Even though, before they left, it had clearly still been on Bian Li.
Recalling all of this now, Ning Xuechu finally understood what He Yunxing was truly skilled at.
Something as simple as returning a coat—if it wasn’t a big deal, he’d make it one.
Clicking his tongue twice, he muttered, “In this group, three people—two of them are abnormal. I’m the only one from a good family. What a pity.”
He Xuyi was an introverted, unpredictable man—sometimes sharp-tongued, sometimes prone to random outbursts.
And their boss? He Yunxing? A living legend in being unreadable.
Ning Xuechu nodded to himself, satisfied with his conclusion. “Yeah, that checks out.”
The other two seemed lost in thought and didn’t even spare him a glance.
Noticing this, Ning Xuechu suddenly bounced over to He Yunxing, voice filled with exaggerated curiosity.
“Boss, I’m not saying anything bad about you, but—do you really have to smile at this coat like that?”
He Yunxing’s current expression reminded him of blooming chrysanthemums—especially bright ones, swaying slightly in the breeze under the sun.
“It’s just fat—” Ning Xuechu had just started to speak when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Brother Li’s suspicious gaze. His tongue twisted, and he swiftly changed the subject.
Brother Li wasn’t one to miss anything. He frowned. “What did you just say? Fat? Who’s fat?”
The slight joy in He Yunxing’s expression instantly vanished. His eyes turned icy, lips pressed into a hard, straight line.
Then, he turned his gaze on Ning Xuechu, filled with a very strong warning.
That look alone felt like an ice dagger piercing straight through him.
But Ning Xuechu handled it with ease. In a perfect mix of truth and lies, he casually replied, “Oh, I just feel like I’ve gained weight recently. I want to be as thin as that person.”
Brother Li snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Then exercise properly. Seriously, you never mention it, but when I invited you to that reality show, everyone else got to show off their abs—meanwhile, you looked like a boiled chicken. My agent even teased me about it at a dinner party. I was so embarrassed my whole face turned red.”
Ning Xuechu remained unbothered. “Why should a pretty boy like me exercise? Fans are the most hypocritical creatures. They say they want muscle, but in reality, they love seeing someone slim and stylish like me. If I actually started lifting weights, they’d run faster than anyone else.”
Brother Li scoffed. “Yunxing has six-pack abs. Why don’t you learn from him?”
“That’s different—he has natural talent. I’ve never even touched a weight before.” Ning Xuechu waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, I’m not doing it. Never in my life.”
Brother Li thought about it for a moment. He couldn’t fully agree but decided to go for a roundabout response instead. “Why are you so shallow? Weren’t you the one shouting at your fans that you were strong?”
Ning Xuechu pinched his nonexistent muscles. “What’s wrong with that? Face is also a type of strength. If the first impression doesn’t grab people, who would bother to appreciate the ‘inner soul’ later? Can’t help it—the world is realistic. Besides, who made me a star?”
After speaking, he grinned and added, “But then again, there aren’t many people as perfect as me. Looks? On point. Inner strength? Unmatched.”
Brother Li rubbed his temples. “…I give up on you. If you manage to cause fewer scandals, I’ll personally hang a red banner for you with the word ‘Perfect’ written on it—no reminders needed.”
Thinking about the past PR nightmares he had to handle, Brother Li felt another headache forming.
Ning Xuechu immediately countered, “I’ve said this 800 times already—I really didn’t do it! God knows how those gossip reporters even made up that nonsense!”
The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt.
Clearly, the other two in their group were doing far worse behind the scenes—and yet, somehow, he was the one constantly in trouble.
Brother Li shot him a sharp look. “If you’d just kept your distance, how could you have gotten caught? I told you not to get too close to female artists, but did you listen? No. Now, when fans backfire, you have nowhere to cry.”
Feeling a little guilty, Ning Xuechu touched his nose.
Under the table, he nudged He Yunxing’s leg, hoping for some support.
But He Yunxing?
Unmoved. Completely calm.
The anger didn’t crease his brows, so naturally, he wasn’t in a hurry.
He Yunxing nodded slightly. “Brother Li is right. There’s more.”
His casual glance made Ning Xuechu feel uneasy. “When will you talk less?”
Lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, Ning Xuechu whispered, “My little sweetheart doesn’t mind me talking too much, but you do.”
He Xuyi, who had been pretending to be dead this whole time, finally couldn’t hold back any longer. His tone was full of disgust. “Ning Xuechu, I’ve been unhappy with you for a long time.”
Without hesitation, Ning Xuechu shot back, his words crossing the space between them with He Yunxing stuck in the middle.
He Yunxing remained calm, sandwiched between them. His slender fingers moved slightly before he tucked the black coat back into his handbag.
Kiwi TV had invited several big names to perform at this year’s year-end event. Among them were popular actors and small-time internet celebrities—nothing particularly remarkable. Most of them lacked singing ability but made up for it with sheer popularity. As usual, there would be interactive segments during the New Year’s Eve broadcast.
After rehearsals, it wasn’t too late.
Ace’s live performance was, as always, set as the finale. Their rehearsal was scheduled in the middle—neither too early nor too late, a reasonable arrangement.
With just two rehearsals, the group wrapped up their work efficiently.
Even the staff praised Ace’s professionalism. There was a reason for their popularity.
From start to finish, they were cooperative, respectful, and modest. They took every instruction from the production team seriously, carefully memorizing camera angles, stage transitions, and lighting adjustments. It was as if everything had been engraved into their minds. Their execution was flawless.
Working with them was smooth and effortless, making the entire team feel at ease.
Once rehearsals ended, the group had nothing to do and found themselves with free time. Brother Li told them to manage their time as they pleased before heading off to discuss last-minute details with the organizers. The live interactive segments were bound to come with unexpected challenges, so it was best to prepare in advance.
A large electronic display beside the central stage showed the rehearsal schedule and performance lineup.
As He Yunxing stepped off the stage, his gaze lingered on it for a moment. Then, without any urgency, he descended the steps and made his way toward the artist seating area.
The artists’ seats were arranged in rows. It was the same setup as in previous live broadcasts. The director would cut to audience reactions during the show to stir up excitement among fans both at the venue and watching online.
But that was an issue for the live show later. Right now, He Yunxing had actually chosen a seat and sat down—an action that made no sense at all.
“What are you doing?” Ning Xuechu asked, puzzled. As he spoke, he glanced around. Everything beyond his immediate view was pitch black, the dark red seats barely visible in the dim lighting.
He Xuyi followed He Yunxing but couldn’t hide the doubt in his eyes.
Looking around, he noticed that the stage was empty at the moment, with dim lighting casting long shadows. At the far end of the seating area, a few celebrities were scattered about.
He Yunxing sat down, casually crossing his long legs. The brilliance he had displayed on stage was now set aside, replaced by a quiet, unexplainable laziness as he leaned back into his seat.
Hearing Ning Xuechu’s questioning tone, he replied calmly, “Rest.”
“Rest? Then why not go back to the lounge?” Ning Xuechu didn’t quite get his reasoning, but he had to admit that the atmosphere here was nice—really nice. Without further argument, he sat down as well, pulling out his phone to play.
The three of them sat in a row, silent, minding their own business. No one paid any attention to them.
For a while, they remained quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, Bian Li returned late, only to be immediately caught by Da Xiong, who gave her a thorough scolding. Being a natural people-pleaser, she managed to smooth things over without much effort.
But rehearsals were truly draining. Hours passed, exhaustion settling deep, yet the three girls endured, pushing through two to three hours before it was finally their turn.
Bian Li sat stiffly, and when she stepped onto the stage, she stretched in her own way—rather than doing conventional warm-ups, she simply went through an entire set of radio gymnastics.
The lighting technician found it amusing. “Is this for effect?”
Bian Li chuckled. “Personally, it works pretty well for me.”
“Alright, take two to three minutes to prepare. Get into position when you’re ready. During the performance, the stage will lift midway—remember your grid placements. If you step on the wrong spot, it’ll be a mess.”
Ruan Xiangyi listened carefully and nodded. The three girls huddled together, forming a small circle to encourage themselves.
Gemini had never held a large-scale concert before. Previously, they had only performed in mixed events. This would be their first time stepping onto a stage as grand as New Year’s Eve. Naturally, they were a bit nervous at first, but their rigorous training kicked in quickly, and they adapted with ease.
After five or six run-throughs, the director knocked on the board, signaling a break.
“Go to the artist seating area and wait for a bit. The next group will finish soon, and then you’ll do one final rehearsal.” Though the director was satisfied with their performance, he still felt the need to remind them.
Da Xiong immediately nodded in agreement, his expression serious.
Ruan Xiangyi wiped the sweat from Bian Li and Ying Xuelai’s foreheads before passing them off to Da Xiong. “Let’s find a place to sit and go over some details.”
There were still areas that needed refinement. Unlike rehearsals, the real thing would be a live broadcast—there wouldn’t be any second chances. She had to hold herself and the team to higher standards.
Bian Li nodded. After dancing five or six times, she was feeling overheated, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to her back.
Following Ruan Xiangyi toward the artist seating area, she fanned herself with her hands in an attempt to cool down.
Their rehearsal had ended, and now, the lights had dimmed. The seating area beneath the stage was almost entirely shrouded in darkness.
At a glance, several people were already sitting in the row of seats, most likely artists asked by the director to stay behind for confirmation.
Bian Li trailed behind the group, slightly hunched forward. With the surrounding area so dim, she unconsciously slowed her pace.
Before she knew it, Ruan Xiangyi and Ying Xuelai had already left her far behind.
Straightening up, Bian Li quickened her pace, jogging lightly to catch up.
Then, her toe suddenly hit something hard.
An unexpected force struck her out of nowhere.
Completely caught off guard, she tripped—
—and fell straight into someone’s lap.
Her legs sprawled awkwardly, her entire body landing in a firm yet oddly comfortable embrace.
Bian Li’s mind went blank. A deep, magnetic voice cut through the haze like a blade through silk.
With both hands pressed against the other person’s warm, solid chest, she slowly lifted her gaze—
—and crashed into a pair of obsidian-black eyes, dark and unfathomable, carrying an elusive smile.
The light and shadows blurred away, fading into the background.
All that remained were those eyes, shining like stars scattered across a midnight sea.
But the man beneath her didn’t give her time to think.
One hand lazily propped up his face, his gaze lowering ever so slightly.
His tone was unhurried, the slight lilt at the end curling like a small hook—subtle, teasing, and dangerously captivating.
He spoke, and the words exploded in her heart—
“Throwing yourself into my arms, huh? Do you like me?”
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