Chapter 94 Part 1

Chi Hua stood alone amid the cluster of tall trees, a hapless mosquito buffet.

In the end, it was Xia Hengtao who came to her rescue.

The five women and one cat—aside from Xia Hengtao, the streamer, who couldn’t help glancing at the live chat out of professional habit—had all completely forgotten the viewers were even there.

People in the modern world had a habit of scrolling through their phones before bed.

Xia Hengtao was no different.

So when she slipped under the covers and tapped open her screen for her usual peek at the chat, she found the audience hilariously yet sympathetically recounting Chi Hua’s plight.

【How many mosquitoes is that now? Anyone keeping count?】

【Fifteenth one—smack. Make that sixteen. Total so far: sixteen down, five of which got a blood snack before biting the dust. Count complete.】

【Chi Chichi: When’s Teacher Shen coming? Any later and I’m flipping to villain mode!】

【Lmao, funny but oof. I got so distracted by Kitty I almost forgot about the signing too.】

【Forgot +1】

Thankfully, some new viewers were asking what was up, and following the old-timers’ advice, Xia Hengtao switched to Camera 57.

The feed jumped straight to Chi Hua’s lonely figure.

The young woman stood in the grove clutching an album and a pen. The angle made her expression hard to read.

—Probably hopeful, though.

Fresh from her shower, Yu Jingqing had just pushed open the bathroom door when the room door slammed shut with a bang.

She froze for a second, then hurried after her.

But Xia Hengtao had moved fast; by the time Yu Jingqing reached the hallway, she was already gone.

Yu Jingqing paused, thinking it over, then turned and knocked on the door to Room 203.

Shen Yunchu, assuming it was He Nianyou, yanked the door open with a scowl, finally losing her patience. “He Nianyou, do you know what time—”

Her angry words cut off the instant she saw Yu Jingqing’s face, which looked even stormier than her own. “What’s wrong?”

“How old is Bai Qian? You made her crawl all over during the day, and now in the dead of night, she needs to be held to sleep? What are you, not human?”

Shen Yunchu instantly caught the misunderstanding in her biting sarcasm and calmly blocked her from storming inside. “She’s not in our room. Probably headed downstairs.”

“Huh?”

The words snapped Yu Jingqing out of her fury, her cheeks flushing—whether from embarrassment or something else, who could say. “Fine. You two keep sleeping. I’ll go look for her.”

“You’re nearly thirty. Act like it next time.”

Yu Jingqing shot back lightly, “Don’t toss around warnings like that. Karma’s a bitch—could wake up one night to find your cat missing or something.”

【Lmao elementary school kids bickering.jpg】

【Looks like Best Actress Yu and Teacher Shen are tight. Wonder if they’ll pick the same wedding day? Dream mode activated.jpg】

【Everyone cracking up, but no sympathy for poor Chi Chichi waiting for her autograph?】

【No worries, Tao Zi to the rescue! Beautiful and kind-hearted Tao Zi, it’s you!】

【Chi Chichi’s super pitiful, but sorry, I can’t stop laughing.】

【All is Kitty’s fault and her irresistible charm. Teacher Shen couldn’t resist—totally normal. But it’s not fair to Chi Chichi. To prevent this next time, Teacher Shen, just ditch the cat. Tell me where and I’ll take the hate. Happy to suffer alone!】

In the grove, Chi Hua heard footsteps approaching slowly.

A grin split her face—until she saw it wasn’t Shen Yunchu. It vanished in an instant.

Remembering the album in her hand couldn’t be seen by a third party, she yanked her shirt hem out and stuffed it inside in a panic.

Xia Hengtao couldn’t help chuckling at the ostrich-like maneuver, but she knew Chi Hua didn’t want anyone else knowing about her “secret” with Shen Yunchu. Tactfully ignoring the cameras, she said, “Chi Hua, what are you doing out here all alone so late?”

Chi Hua played it cool. “Moon’s nice and round tonight. Just admiring it.”

The younger woman didn’t call her bluff, but her gentle smile took on a knowing edge. “It’s really late, Chi Hua. If you want to stargaze, why not tomorrow? Everyone’s asleep now. You should head back to bed too.”

“Everyone?” Chi Hua’s expression stiffened. “Shen Yunchu and Bai Qian too?”

Xia Hengtao softly delivered the news she most wanted to hear. “Yeah, Sister Yunchu and Bai Qian are both out cold.”

“Then why’d you suddenly come out?”

The girl curved her brows into a smile and told a kind white lie. “I ate a bit too much at dinner tonight, so I came out for a walk to help digest it. Then I spotted you, Sister Chi Hua. Shall we head back together?”

Chi Hua’s heart had shattered into a million pieces.

Teacher Shen!!!

Had she forgotten about her, still waiting in the shrubbery for that autograph?!!

She had left the house brimming with anticipation, but now, trailing behind Xia Hengtao on the way back, her disappointment in Shen Yunchu ran just as deep.

She’d made up her mind!

Today, she was turning from fan to hater!!!

The kind where she not only unfollowed but started trashing her too!!!

With four or five mosquito bites itching on her arms, Chi Hua trudged back into the house feeling utterly wronged. To her surprise, she spotted Shen Yunchu at the entryway, on the verge of heading out with Yu Jingqing.

“Hengtao, you and Jingqing go on up first.”

Once the pair had tactfully departed, Shen Yunchu turned to her with a sincere apology.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how long you were waiting, but I did forget. It was my fault—I’m truly sorry.”

—What did it feel like to have your idol apologize to you personally?

Just a second ago, this young girl had been silently vowing to unfollow and badmouth her. Now, in the very next breath, that heartfelt apology from the woman made her waver.

Her heart was pounding with excitement right then, but the rush of emotions left her too flustered to know how to respond.

To Shen Yunchu, that reaction just meant the girl was still upset.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “How about I sign that autograph for you now, along with a message from Xu Qingzhi to Song Zhiliang? And to make up for it, if you’re willing, I can recommend you to the director for next year’s filming of Butterfly Glory Legend. What do you say?”

“Yes! Yes!”

Chi Hua blurted out her agreement without a second thought, forgetting whatever inner turmoil she’d been wrestling with.

As it sank in, her face flushed crimson.

She wanted to play it cool, to hold out on the unfollowing for a bit longer. But her idol was inviting her to act in a TV series together—not just any role, but sharing the screen!!!

Who could say no to that?!

True to her word, Shen Yunchu signed the autograph right there on the shoe cabinet.

Clutching the precious signed item from her idol, Chi Hua returned to her room with her lips curved in a grin that never faded.

She was so thrilled that even when He Nianyou’s feet pinned her awake again at midnight, she didn’t get annoyed like the night before.

With remarkable patience, the young girl readjusted the other’s position. But just as she closed her eyes, two realizations hit her belatedly.

When they’d turned off the lights earlier, hadn’t she shooed He Nianyou onto the sofa?

And she was certain the woman had been fast asleep when she left!

So how had she ended up back in the bed?

Could it be that this woman not only had terrible sleeping posture but also suffered from “stranger bed syndrome”?!!

But something far more terrifying than He Nianyou sleepwalking finally dawned on her: that “autograph ceremony” had taken place inside the house. Which meant—

It was over.

Everyone watching across the nation now knew she was a fan of He Nianyou!!!

As if on cue, just as the thought crossed her mind, the phone on the bedside table lit up.

Chi Hua glanced over.

The caller ID showed two simple characters.

—It was her childhood friend, who also happened to be her manager.

…

The next morning dawned fresh.

Shen Yunchu’s allies rose latest. By the time she and He Nianyou were locked in their childish battle for seats again, Chi Hua had just come downstairs.

Still half-asleep, the girl sleepily rummaged in the fridge for toast and milk. On her way back, she missed the meaningful look Shen Yunchu shot her way and, out of habit, plopped down right next to Bai Qian with a yawn.

Shen Yunchu & He Nianyou: “…”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll take turns sitting.”

He Xiaogou didn’t object for once. “Sure.”

Bai Kitty’s breakfast today was, once again, prepared by Yu Jingqing.

Just like yesterday, she unhesitatingly refused He Xiaogou’s offering of food.

She also turned down the chopsticks Shen Yunchu extended her way.

She rejected the former because those salty dumplings from the other day had left her with PTSD. As for the latter, the reason was much the same.

This woman, whom heaven had blessed with effortless acting talent, seemed cursed in the kitchen—no matter how much she begged the gods, they refused to grant her even a single decent bite.

—The taste was mediocre enough, but the presentation was downright unappetizing.

Bai Kitty had tried one bite yesterday and decided then and there: even if it meant losing the game, she would never take a second.

Chi Hua tore off the edge of her toast and took a bite, only to hear the person beside her ask, “Not having salad today?”

Rubbing her bleary eyes, she nodded. “Nah, I’m good.”

“Hm?”

“Hengtao, help me grab the peanut butter, thanks.” After getting the item, she spread it on the slice of toast while explaining, “Last night, I did something that my manager saw. She called me overnight and chewed me out, so I got mad at her. For the next month, I’m entering my rebellious phase! Whatever she tells me not to eat, I’ll eat it anyway. After all, I’m here, and she can’t catch me.”

Bai Qian: “……”

Xia Hengtao thought more comprehensively: “Then haven’t you considered what will happen after you go back in a month?”

Chi Hua, who hadn’t eaten such refined carbs in the morning for many years, took a big bite, swallowed it contentedly, and then spoke up: “Worst case, I run away from home. Anyway, I’ve already lost all face in front of the national audience, so I don’t care anymore! Oh right, we’ve been living together for a full two days now. To celebrate, how about everyone has hotpot tonight?”

【Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha】

【So the fairy girl persona is gone? Now she’s just going to lie flat and fully expose her foodie nature?】