The two of them stood at the door in a standoff for about a minute. Though it was a standoff, it was more a matter of silence and shock.
The shock came from Yu Lanting.
The silence stemmed from Zhai Yi’s currently somewhat awkward state.
Zhai Yi thought that maybe it was too late, maybe Yu Lanting needed to rest, and maybe she should cut her losses and return to her room.
The thoughts flashed through her mind in a hurry, and Zhai Yi immediately made up her mind, ready to put it into action.
“I came at a bad time. It’s too late—you should rest. We’ll talk tomorrow. I’ll just…”
Before Zhai Yi could finish speaking, Yu Lanting urgently interrupted her.
“Not late. I’m not resting.” Afraid she would leave, Yu Lanting quickly grabbed her hand. “Don’t go. I’ll sign.”
Clatter—
The phone dropped, landing face up.
Yu Lanting’s pupils dilated. She hurriedly picked it up and hid it behind her back.
Zhai Yi pretended not to see and tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
Yu Lanting took the photo. “No trouble at all.”
She glanced at Zhai Yi standing in the doorway, and a thought struck her. “Do you want to come in and sit for a bit?”
Zhai Yi was just about to refuse when Yu Lanting added, “A TO sign is a bit tricky. I need some time, and it’s not good for you to stand outside. There are too many people coming and going. I’m worried…”
A TO sign is tricky?
She had signed plenty of them back when she was an entertainer.
Looks like she really thought of her as some clueless newbie idiot.
Zhai Yi raised a brow. “Alright, I’ll come in.”
She stepped inside, closed the door, crossed her arms, and leaned against the wall. “How long will it take?”
Yu Lanting thought for a moment. “About five minutes.”
Zhai Yi nodded. “Got it.”
She asked casually, as if offhand, “I accidentally caught a glimpse of your phone screen earlier. Were you watching a live stream?”
Yu Lanting’s heart skipped a beat. “Ah? I… I was watching a shopping live stream. Right, a shopping live stream. I was planning to buy some stuff—they’re cheaper in the online stream rooms.”
Zhai Yi’s lips curved slightly. “Oh? Didn’t expect a big star like you to watch live streams for deals.”
Yu Lanting found a signing pen and sat down. “Everyone likes cheap and reliable products. Stars are no exception.”
She placed the photo on the table. It was from her new photobook released this year—only five thousand copies printed, all sold out in five minutes on release day.
Many fans had asked for more volumes, but she had no say in the company. All she could do was post on Weibo and make short videos to soothe her fans’ disappointment.
Yu Lanting shook the signing pen. Just as she was about to sign, a hand reached over her shoulder and flipped the photo to the back.
Zhai Yi’s clear and elegant voice came from beside her ear. “Don’t sign the front. Lin Ranjiao said it can’t cover your beauty.”
Yu Lanting’s cheeks flushed red, and she said with a trembling voice, “Ha? O-okay…”
Zhai Yi watched her put pen to paper and instructed, “She wants a TO sign from you, with the words [I love you].”
“If you think it’s too much, you don’t have to write it. I’ll go tell Lin Ranjiao.”
“N-no problem.” Yu Lanting felt Zhai Yi’s breath enveloping her layer by layer, hot and scorching. It felt like Zhai Yi was hugging her, making her uncontrollably excited and trembling all over.
Struggling to suppress her excessive emotions, Yu Lanting said, “I didn’t expect Coach Lin to be my fan. I definitely have to fulfill a fan’s wish.”
Zhai Yi hadn’t expected Lin Ranjiao to be Yu Lanting’s fan either. Maybe she just hadn’t delved deeply enough into the original main storyline and character relationships.
Once Yu Lanting finished signing, she blew on it and turned back. “All done. Take it…”
She unconsciously held her breath, looking at Zhai Yi, who was relatively close to her.
The distance between them wasn’t that near—just about the length of a forearm. It was merely a normal social distance, not even as close as when Mu Li had pinned her down back then. Yet Yu Lanting’s heart pounded wildly, out of control.
Zhai Yi lowered her gaze, looking at the woman in the chair. Her eyes held innocence and fluster, her posture tense, her cheeks far redder than before.
She reached out and took the signed photo from Yu Lanting’s hand. “Thanks.”
“It’s late. You should rest early too.” Zhai Yi glanced meaningfully at the phone lying face down on the table. “Staring at your phone too much is pretty harmful for you entertainers.”
Yu Lanting nodded and murmured, “Okay. Good night.”
Zhai Yi waved. “I’m off.”
“No need to see me out.”
She stopped Yu Lanting from getting up to send her off, then walked out of the room and left.
Yu Lanting stared at the closed door and let out a long sigh of relief. She touched her burning cheeks.
She turned her head to look at the camera on the table and shouted in annoyance, “Aaaah! Why is my face so red?!”
“Damn it, did Zhai Yi see it all?”
Zhai Yi, who hadn’t gone far yet: “….”
She touched her nose and chuckled softly. “Of course she did.”
Red as a cooked crawfish.
Zhai Yi returned to her room, placed the signed photo with the others, and started a live stream to play games.
Looking at the ID still lingering in the viewer list, she sighed helplessly. “…Disobedient.”
: Yeah, exactly—disobedient. That marksman got fed so hard, and still walks out of the tower!
: Right? If I were gaming with Zhai Yi, I’d definitely be obedient.
: Yeah, if I were with Zhai Yi, I’d definitely be obedient.
: Yeah, if Zhai Yi called me “wife” once, I’d definitely be obedient.
: Yeah, if Zhai Yi kissed me, hugged me, and lifted me up, I’d definitely be obedient.
: Yeah, if Zhai Yi married me and became my wife, I’d definitely be obedient.
….
Yu Lanting watched the unified barrage flooding the screen, each line stabbing right at her heart.
If Zhai Yi could like her, she would definitely be obedient.
At the thought, Yu Lanting couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning up.
Zhai Yi finished a game and looked at the comments on screen. She smiled helplessly. “You can talk and mess around all you want, but don’t get my stream banned—that’d be more loss than gain.”
“I’ve still got makeup time to do. Be good and just watch me play, okay?”
: I’m good, I’m good—pick me, pick me!
: I wanna game with you—pick me! My hand’s cramping from tapping likes.
: I’m the most obedient—Zhai Yi-jie, pick me, okay?
: I’m a good baby—Zhai Yi, pick me—
….
Zhai Yi drew two more fans, both girls, sweet as honey. Throughout the game, they kept calling her “sis” and “wife.” Zhai Yi didn’t stop them and let the girls tease her.
Yu Lanting felt sour inside. She wanted to call her “wife” too, but she didn’t dare turn on her mic.
Burning with envy, jealousy, and hate, she straight-up sent Zhai Yi five Carnivals.
: Whoa, this big shot [YL157483XXXX] is gifting Zhai Yi money again.
: Drops five Carnivals just like that—rich!
: Probably wants to duo with Zhai Yi again. Five Carnivals—so much money.
: Didn’t Zhai Yi say no gifts?
: Gifting’s voluntary, like Zhai Yi said, but she can’t stop it. Pro gamers collab with Green River—this kinda traffic and hype means the platform won’t let it go to waste.
: YL157483XXXX is a rich sis, right? Rich lady, please take care of me!
: Same!
: Same +1!
….
Zhai Yi saw the Carnival effects flash on screen. Seeing the gifter’s ID was YL157483XXXX, she shook her head helplessly. “This fan, no more gifts. If you wanna game with me, there’s plenty of chances—no need to waste money.”
YL157483XXXX: I’m not short on money. I just love spending it on you.
Zhai Yi: “…”
So dominant.
: Rich lady’s badass!
: Beg rich lady to take care of me!
: Zhai Yi, just give in.
: Rich lady, take care of me!
: Rich sis, look at me—I’m super obedient, and I’m awesome at games.
….
Zhai Yi smiled faintly. “I’m not short on money either.”
YL157483XXXX: That’s different.
Zhai Yi, curious: “How so?”
YL157483XXXX: One’s money you earned through your own hard work, the other’s money I’m giving you willingly.
YL157483XXXX: Different meaning.
Zhai Yi: “….”
: Holy shit! A sweet-talking rich lady with money—I’m in love.
: Rich lady, take care of me!
: Begging again—rich lady, take care of me!
: Damn, “willingly spend on you”—that hits right in the feels.
: Rich sis, look at me! I’ve got eight-pack abs.
: Rich sis, I’ve got long legs, great waist, great legs, great kidneys.
: All you stinky guys get lost. Rich sis obviously likes girls—you dudes don’t defile her.
: Sis look at me—I’m a little ji girl, sweet mouth, pretty face, great figure.
: Rich sis probably likes types like Zhai Yi. Any of you as pretty as Zhai Yi? As fit? As good at games?
The barrage stuttered to a brief halt. Newcomers thought the stream lagged.
Zhai Yi said, “Alright, let’s keep drawing people for games?”
She glanced at the list and asked, “Fan with ID YL157483XXXX—this round, wanna duo with me?”
“After all, you spent money. Can’t let it go to waste.”
“But other live stream viewers, don’t imitate.”
YL157483XXXX: Sure.
Zhai Yi pulled her into the lobby along with one male fan, and they started the game.
The game went smoothly and wrapped up quickly.
Zhai Yi checked the time—it was already 11:30. She told the stream viewers “see you tomorrow” and prepared to go offline.
Zhai Yi logged out of the stream, washed up, and went to bed.
Early next morning, after washing up, Zhai Yi headed downstairs. The guests were all sitting at the table eating box lunches provided by the Program Group. Everyone shot resentful looks at Luo Xi.
Zhai Yi took the last seat and opened her lunch box to eat.
Suddenly, someone poked her from the side.
Zhai Yi turned her head and saw Yu Lanting secretly stuffing her a bag.
“??”
Yu Lanting leaned in and whispered, “The box lunches suck today. I snuck some sushi last night—you can have this.”
Ever since they lost the match yesterday and finished that last barbecue meal, Director Luo had immediately confiscated all the leftover good food.
These pieces of sushi were what Yu Lanting had swiped when no one was looking—all flavors Zhai Yi liked.
Zhai Yi was slightly moved. “Why aren’t you eating it?”
She saw that Yu Lanting’s box lunch was already more than half-eaten.
Yu Lanting said, “This is way better than the ones on set. I’m used to it.”
Zhai Yi held the still-warm sushi bag, unsure what to say.
She watched as Yu Lanting calmly ate her box lunch, as if she weren’t the one who’d just secretly passed her sushi.
As expected of an actress—professionalism through the roof.
After the meal, everyone headed to their respective training rooms to learn and practice games.
Zhai Yi tossed her box into the trash and turned to Yu Lanting. “Come here. I have something to tell you.”
Yu Lanting replied, “Okay.”
She hurried after Zhai Yi.
Mu Li watched Yu Lanting’s retreating back, his eyes gradually darkening.
Fu Liang had wheedled a big drumstick from the Program Group and stared in the direction Zhai Yi had left.
Zhai Yi led Yu Lanting to a spot out of camera range and temporarily sent the PD away.
Seeing this, Yu Lanting thought it was something important and grew serious. “Is something wrong?”
Zhai Yi nodded. “Something big.”
“Go ahead—I’m listening.”
Zhai Yi pulled the bag out of her pocket and handed it over. “Eat together.”
Yu Lanting: “….”
She blinked. “What?”
“Eat together,” Zhai Yi said. “You got this and didn’t take a single bite. I’d feel bad.”
Yu Lanting waved it off. “I’m full.”
Zhai Yi said, “You call two bites of greens ‘full’?”
Yu Lanting had eaten all the veggies in her box but hadn’t touched the rice or meat.
Zhai Yi pushed it forward a bit, pretending to threaten, “Eat up, or I won’t either.”
Yu Lanting’s heart softened. “Then… alright.”
Seeing Yu Lanting agree, Zhai Yi breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “Then you eat…”
Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind Zhai Yi, snatched the largest piece of sushi, and stuffed it into its mouth under the surprised gazes of the two.
Fu Liang mumbled indistinctly, “You two… hogging it all… without me.”
Zhai Yi said helplessly, “You’re the one hogging it now. Neither of us has taken a bite yet.”
Yu Lanting nodded in agreement.
Fu Liang suddenly pointed behind them. “Quick, look, Luo Xi is here.”
Yu Lanting jumped in fright and whipped her head around at once, only to find nothing behind her. Realizing she’d been fooled, she turned back with her mouth open to complain, but Fu Liang stuffed a piece of sushi into it.
He also shoved one into Zhai Yi’s mouth. Though Zhai Yi hadn’t been tricked, Fu Liang shamelessly forced it on her anyway.
“Heh heh, now we’re all accomplices. No one’s getting away.”
Zhai Yi chewed on her sushi as she looked at Yu Lanting, whose mouth was stuffed full, and Fu Liang, who was wolfing his down.
The three exchanged glances and laughed silently.
