Chapter Seventy-three: Shocking

Lan Qing turned her gaze back to Shen Jin, her eyes filled with confusion. She blinked, then denied it. "I didn't."

"Really?" Shen Jin was doubtful, looking at her with suspicion. Yet Lan Qing’s eyes were too sincere; Shen Jin couldn’t find anything amiss, so he let it go.

"Alright, then try this." Shen Jin knew Lan Qing was dieting, so he selected crystal grapes instead of anything high-calorie, and had already peeled them for her.

Lan Qing didn’t want to refuse. "Thank you."

"Mm." Shen Jin hadn’t peeled many, noticing Lan Qing didn’t seem eager to eat. He watched her, trying to discern her thoughts, his gaze deepening.

[Why does it feel like Qing Qing isn’t as sweet as before?]

[Is it because of that phone call?]

[Brother treats her so well—why is she ignoring him?]

[If Brother were sitting across from me, I wouldn’t notice anyone else!]

[Who wouldn’t? That’s Brother, after all!]

In the livestream, Shen Jin’s fans began to express their dissatisfaction with Lan Qing. Outside, Jian Hong, watching the broadcast, furrowed her brows, her temples throbbing with pain.

—

Sang Yijia glanced at the signed jade from Bian He, then looked at Yan Ningsi’s expression—it still hadn’t softened.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu Wenchuan’s voice suddenly sounded.

Sang Yijia turned her gaze and shook her head softly. "Nothing."

"Why aren’t you eating more?" Lu Wenchuan noticed Sang Yijia hadn’t really touched her chopsticks since sitting down, his brow faintly furrowing. "Is there something you don’t like?"

"No." Sang Yijia denied it. "I’m just not hungry."

Lu Wenchuan believed her, "Then let’s eat something else later."

"Alright." Sang Yijia nodded slightly.

Lunch soon came to an end.

During this time, Duan Yuqing wanted to ask Sang Yijia what her friend’s team was called, and whether they’d participated in competitions before, but Bian He kept asking about games, so Duan Yuqing had no chance to speak about anything else.

Moreover...

Duan Yuqing glanced at Yan Ningsi sitting nearby, feeling something was off. She narrowed her eyes and, after lunch ended, called Sang Yijia aside.

"Jiajia, can we talk privately?" Duan Yuqing looked at the filming crew.

Sang Yijia understood, glancing at the group director.

The director had no reason to refuse.

[I’m really curious what they’re going to talk about.]

[Isn’t it obvious? It must be about Wild joining a team next season.]

[Didn’t have a good impression of Sang Yijia before, but now I hope she can introduce Wild to a reliable team.]

[PE is my eternal blacklist!]

[PE doesn’t deserve to win next season!]

The livestream chat was veering off topic, but the staff could do nothing.

Lu Wenchuan didn’t rush to leave; he waited at the restaurant entrance for Sang Yijia.

[Lu Lu really seems perfect as a boyfriend.]

[Sang Yijia isn’t good enough for Lu Lu.]

[Are there still such devoted boyfriends at times like these? It's all fake, meant to attract attention and debut.]

[It’s all a capitalist scheme. Sisters, don’t be fooled!]

That comment was quickly drowned out, barely noticed. But the person kept posting, as if holding a grudge against Lu Wenchuan; eventually, people started paying attention.

[What’s going on?]

[Did Brother Lu sign with someone?]

[If he debuts, I’ll be his first fan.]

[With that face alone, I’m following!]

Lines of chat scrolled by, none what that person wanted to see. Clicking their tongue, they exited the stream and sent a message on WeChat.

[This batch of netizens is hard to manipulate. Need some real dirt.]

Soon, the other party replied: OK.

Satisfied, the person smiled.

—

Sang Yijia and Duan Yuqing walked to a corner of the corridor, where a window let in the afternoon breeze, carrying the scent of earth and leaves, giving the space a unique flavor.

Duan Yuqing looked at Sang Yijia. "Thank you for speaking up for me in front of the camera."

"You think the invitation to join the team is fake?" Sang Yijia asked in return.

Duan Yuqing was stunned for a few seconds, then smiled faintly and shook her head. "No, I know it’s real."

"Jiajia never lies," Duan Yuqing answered sincerely.

Sang Yijia fell silent for a while, then exhaled. "I don’t know this friend; he’s Lu Wenchuan’s acquaintance."

"He asked me to reach out to you."

Duan Yuqing’s eyes widened in surprise. "Lu Wenchuan? Your variety show boyfriend?"

"He seems like a decent person." Duan Yuqing nodded, watching Sang Yijia, unsure whether to speak further. "Jiajia, what do you think of Shen Jin now?"

Duan Yuqing believed she was being tactful, but her question was still direct.

Sang Yijia hadn’t expected this, and after a moment’s pause, shook her head with a smile. "Youthful folly."

"After seeing you in the garden, I looked up your news." Duan Yuqing touched her nose. "Jiajia, don’t mind me."

"What I’m about to say might not sound nice."

Sang Yijia was curious. "Go ahead, I won’t mind."

"You were obsessed with Shen Jin," Duan Yuqing said, then added, "Before—I mean, not now."

"That’s true." Sang Yijia couldn’t deny the original self’s excessive behavior, but now she had to own it. "Alright, that’s my past. Let’s talk about you."

"I don’t know much about teams. I’ll send you Lu Wenchuan’s WeChat, you two can add each other and discuss."

Sang Yijia took out her phone, intending to send Lu Wenchuan’s contact, but was stopped.

"No need for his WeChat. Just ask for me." Duan Yuqing pressed her lips together and continued, "There’s a reason I can't stay in PE."

"First, I’m a woman—they want an all-male team." Duan Yuqing didn’t know why she was telling Sang Yijia this, but she shrugged and went on. "Second, PE’s boss is my ex-boyfriend."

"He came out—he’s with my teammate now."

"????" Sang Yijia was confused, unable to process it, raising a hand to stop Duan Yuqing from continuing. "What did you just say?"

"Your boyfriend came out with your teammate?"

Duan Yuqing corrected, "Ex-boyfriend."

Sang Yijia took a deep breath, her gaze complicated as she looked at Duan Yuqing, utterly at a loss for words.

"He said he’d rather look at my teammate than me." Duan Yuqing pointed blankly. "He also said my teammate’s is bigger than mine."

Sang Yijia: "……"