Chapter 44

Zheng Xiyu had snuck her phone out the night before, but Tang Tianman hadn’t called her on it.

The two of them chatted in that sticky, awkward way until someone on Zheng Xiyu’s end kept urging her to wrap it up. Only then did they finally hang up.

Tang Tianman stared at the darkened screen, giggling to herself for a good while.

Winter days were short. By the time that one call had ended, the sky outside had already shifted from bright daylight to evening gloom.

The formal report sessions were mostly wrapped up by now. All that remained were the private gatherings people had arranged on their own.

Tang Tianman tidied her things and headed over to say goodbye to Teacher Li before returning to the hotel.

But when she reached Li Qingqing, a glance to the side revealed Bi Qilin was there too.

Tang Tianman took a small step back and whispered to Li Qingqing, “Teacher, if there’s nothing else…”

She didn’t get to finish. Bi Qilin suddenly turned, spotted her, and waved her over with a kindly smile. “Little Sweetie, come here.”

Tang Tianman eyed him. Bi Qilin beckoned again. “Come take a look at who this is.”

Li Qingqing gave Tang Tianman a gentle nudge from behind. With all these elders around, Tang Tianman plastered on her professional smile and walked over to Bi Qilin.

Bi Qilin tugged at her arm and pointed in a certain direction. “Quick, look.”

Tang Tianman followed his gesture and spotted Xiao Ji.

Tang Tianman: “…”

Bi Qilin: “The one next to her. In the white clothes.”

Tang Tianman squinted, puzzled. “Lin Benqi?”

Bi Qilin clapped his hands and laughed heartily at Li Qingqing. “See? I told you—the young ones all know him.”

“Why is he even here?” Tang Tianman couldn’t wrap her head around it. What was a boy band idol doing at a college academic exchange?

“The dean of the Y Film Dance Department was in the class right next to mine back in school…” Bi Qilin launched into his favorite routine: reminiscing about the old days and how he knew everyone under the sun. He wrapped up with a few intimate anecdotes about the dean before finally getting to the point. “This kid’s been out in the industry for two years already, but he still hasn’t finished his degree. Old Zhu heard I was bringing some talent along and, naturally, wanted to show me up…”

“Oh.” Tang Tianman gave a casual acknowledgment. Bi Qilin was just looking for someone to vent to anyway.

“The group’s contract is up next year.” Bi Qilin leaned in toward Tang Tianman and lowered his voice. “Little Lin’s landed a spot in Director Zhang Han’s new drama crew. His future’s looking boundless.”

Tang Tianman’s gaze drifted over to Xiao Ji, who was chatting with Lin Benqi. A question suddenly burned in her mind, one she desperately wanted to ask Bi Qilin.

She glanced around. Everyone else was off doing their own thing; no one was paying them any mind.

So Tang Tianman lowered her voice too. “Teacher Bi, how does Xiao Ji stack up against him?”

Bi Qilin slapped his thigh, clearly displeased. “Xiao Ji’s future is even more boundless!”

Tang Tianman blinked. “How so?”

Bi Qilin’s smile turned rich with meaning. “You little girl. I’ll let you in on a secret today.”

Tang Tianman: “I’m listening.”

Bi Qilin: “After winter break, Xiao Ji won’t be who she is right now anymore.”

Tang Tianman: “She won’t be a freshman anymore.”

Bi Qilin: “Hahaha! You know Tencent? They’re sinking this much cash into a new variety show this year.”

Tang Tianman stared at his five raised fingers, unsure exactly how much that meant—and not particularly caring.

But the answer to her question had clicked into place. Xiao Ji was set to join that variety show, leveraging all her connections and backing.

Tang Tianman closed her eyes for a moment, her feelings a tangled mess.

Whatever Bi Qilin said after that went in one ear and out the other.

When he finally seemed to wind down, she flashed a polite smile. “Teacher Bi, sorry—I need to use the restroom.”

Of course, Bi Qilin didn’t try to stop her. Tang Tianman slipped away. She skipped the hotel and headed out alone to grab some dinner.

Tomorrow would bring another full day just like this one.

She had no idea what kind of results Zheng Xiyu would pull off tomorrow. She wouldn’t be able to see it or even hear about it.

Tang Tianman knew it was a bit unfair to dwell on that, but her mind kept dragging Zheng Xiyu into comparisons with Xiao Ji anyway.

The gap was obvious.

They were both talented and gifted, both driven and hardworking toward their goals. Yet they’d chosen completely different paths.

Realistically speaking, Tang Tianman knew Xiao Ji’s road would be smoother and faster—a straight shot to success. But Tang Tianman had never been the realistic type. She prized freedom and idealism above all, drawn to qualities that burned bright and hot, bold enough to shine right out in the open under the sun.

Zheng Xiyu was far more reserved than Xiao Ji, but she was also more genuinely openhearted.

Except, of course, when she was putting on her Big Tail Wolf act.

The thought of Zheng Xiyu’s Big Tail Wolf moments chased away Tang Tianman’s lingering worries in an instant. She suddenly burst out laughing.

If her memory was right, it hadn’t even been two months since that Big Tail Wolf had left her heartbroken.

Now, though? It just made her laugh—and she couldn’t stop. Couldn’t hold it back. Couldn’t hide it.

It was a feeling as wondrous and magical as something out of a fairy tale.

There were no new messages from Xi Chun on her phone. Tang Tianman figured the coach had confiscated the team’s phones again.

They were probably eating dinner right about now, chatting idly about the day’s events and tomorrow’s game plan.

The coach had to be praising Zheng Xiyu, right? After all those points she’d scored.

And after the praise… would Zheng Xiyu get all full of herself and sneak her phone out again sometime tonight?

Tsk. Big Tail Wolf.

Tang Tianman enjoyed a dinner that was unmistakably spicy yet carried an odd undercurrent of sweetness. By the time she got back to the hotel, there were still no new messages—but her mood was pretty good anyway.

That night, Li Qingqing returned earlier than usual. Not wanting to play on her phone in front of her teacher, Tang Tianman turned in early too.

She didn’t sleep soundly. In her dream, L City was hit by a massive flood that swept their conference hotel clean away. Tang Tianman had no choice but to head back to school.

Going back to school meant she could finally take that trip to H City.

A trip with Zheng Xiyu.

She woke up on the verge of being furious at herself for the dream.

Sure enough, this day unfolded exactly as she’d imagined. Bored out of her mind by afternoon, Tang Tianman was sipping milk tea in a quiet corner of the rest area when Bi Qilin plopped down beside her.

Tang Tianman leaned away slightly. “Teacher Bi, something I can help you with?”

The spot was tucked away and remote—just the two of them. She didn’t buy that this was pure coincidence.

“Ran into you by chance.” Bi Qilin insisted with a straight face.

Tang Tianman said nothing. She slipped her hand into her pocket, fingers brushing her phone.

Modern young people could navigate life blindfolded with their phones. Besides, on her first day in L City, she’d already programmed the hotel’s security line into her emergency contacts.

One press of her thumb, and help would come running.

So Tang Tianman stayed perfectly calm. She even took another sip of her milk tea, grimacing inwardly at how overly sweet it was.

In the end, Bi Qilin was the one who cracked first. “Little Sweetie, your grades must be pretty good, huh?”

“On exams?” Tang Tianman smiled. “Not really. Mid-tier at best.”

“That means you’re sharp where it counts.” Bi Qilin beamed and pressed on. “You joined the Party yet?”

“Nope.” Tang Tianman replied. “Not yet.”

“Schools are clamping down hard on quotas these days.” Bi Qilin studied her. “Teacher Bi still has two spots open this year. Head back, get your materials together, and drop them off with me.”

Tang Tianman nearly laughed out loud. Instead, she just smiled at him. “Teacher Bi, you’re with the Music Academy. I’m Literature Academy. That won’t fly.”

“Hahaha…” Bi Qilin chuckled, then reached out as if to pat her head. “Silly girl. If Teacher Bi says it’ll work…”

He didn’t make contact. Tang Tianman dodged smoothly, her expression calm and unruffled.

It forced Bi Qilin to play it off, picking up right where he’d left off. “It’ll work.”

“I’m not that interested.” Tang Tianman shrugged. “All that paperwork? I’m way too lazy for it.”

Bi Qilin paused. “So, Little Tang—grad school, or straight to work?”

“Way too early for that. Haven’t thought about it.”

“Planning to stay in N City or head back home?”

The mockery was starting to seep through her smile. “Home is N City.”

“Ohhhh…”

He drew out the sound, his gaze shifting off to the side as he brainstormed other ways to lure her in.

In that moment, Tang Tianman felt utterly certain: she had absolutely nothing to worry about.

She pulled her hand from her pocket and leaned back farther, cradling her milk tea as she regarded Bi Qilin like some dancing monkey on display.

“You checked out that new mall they built downtown yet?” she asked.

Bi Qilin clearly hadn’t expected her to take the initiative. He looked delighted. “All that stuff for you young folks. I’ve been a couple times. Next time, I’ll bring you along.”

Tang Tianman arched a brow. “Sounds good. Bringing me along will save you a bundle—fifty percent off every attraction.”

“Hm?” Bi Qilin blinked at her in confusion.

Tang Tianman smiled. “That building? My family put it up. We don’t sell. Just rent.”

Bi Qilin: “…”

Tang Tianman looked down with a sigh. “That’s why my dad always says if I don’t buckle down and study, the best I can hope for is going home to play landlady.”

Bi Qilin: “…”

Tang Tianman furrowed her brow. “Being a landlady is no good! It’s exhausting, with all those accounts to manage, and I’m terrible at math—I can’t make heads or tails of them!”

Bi Qilin said nothing.

“…”

“So I figure I need to buckle down and study properly,” Tang Tianman continued. “That’s why I came to the meeting with Teacher Li. It was really eye-opening.”

Bi Qilin hesitated. “Your father…”

Tang Tianman cut him off with a faint smile. “My dad’s totally uncultured—just your classic upstart. If it weren’t for my uncle sitting pretty as the city bureau chief, he wouldn’t get anywhere. And he nags me constantly.”

Bi Qilin fell silent.

Tang Tianman was about to keep boasting when someone hurried over, calling out loudly from a distance. “Teacher Bi!”

She glanced at Xiao Ji as she came running up, the mocking smile still lingering on Tang Tianman’s face.

Bi Qilin rose to his feet. “What are you yelling about?”

Xiao Ji’s eyes darted uncertainly. “Teacher Zhu’s looking for you.”

Without a backward glance, Bi Qilin strode away.

Tang Tianman nibbled on her milk tea straw and eyed Xiao Ji. “You’re not leaving?”

Xiao Ji looked her up and down. “Are you okay?”

Tang Tianman snorted. “What could possibly be wrong? It’s broad daylight. What does he think he can do to me?”

Xiao Ji exhaled in relief. “As long as you’re fine.”

Tang Tianman eyed her. “Did Teacher Zhu really send for him?”

“No.” Xiao Ji met her gaze and paused. “I was just… scared…”

“Then you should be scared about what comes next,” Tang Tianman interrupted, rising to her feet. “You just cockblocked your own mentor from hitting on a female student. What if he gets pissed and tanks your winter break plans…”

“No need.” Xiao Ji’s voice suddenly grew heated as she clenched her fist. “No need anymore. Believe me.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Tang Tianman turned to go.

Xiao Ji grabbed her arm, her grip tightening. “Really. I’ve already squared things with the director at Tencent. I don’t have to…”

A surge of anger flared up inside Tang Tianman. She wrenched her arm free and fixed Xiao Ji with a hard stare. “No need to service the school’s idiots anymore? So you’re off to kiss the asses of richer, more powerful idiots instead???”

Xiao Ji fell speechless.

Tang Tianman didn’t spare her another glance. She stormed out of the rest area.

Without breaking stride, she headed straight for the elevator and rode it back to her hotel room.

Packing was a breeze. She just tossed her skincare products from the bathroom into her suitcase. She hadn’t even unpacked her clothes, so she snapped the case shut and grabbed the handle. Ready to roll.

It wasn’t until she was in a taxi bound for the airport that Tang Tianman finally messaged Li Qingqing: Teacher Li, I left early.

Li Qingqing replied with a string of question marks, followed by three words: Why?

Tang Tianman: So grossed out. Can’t stomach it anymore.

Li Qingqing immediately fired off a flurry of concerned messages, checking in on every detail. Tang Tianman casually spun a tale about being sick.

Li Qingqing insisted on taking her to the hospital, but Tang Tianman texted back that she was already en route. Her personal doctor was waiting there—some meds, and she’d be fine.

Li Qingqing fussed over her for a good while longer, clearly forgiving the abrupt departure.

The disgust was real, of course—a purely mental affliction. No hospital visit required. But she did have a private doctor.

The mere sight of her was the best medicine.

After booking her flight over the phone, Tang Tianman fired off a series of messages to Xi Chun:

– Once you get your phone, send me the exact address for your competition.

– If you don’t see this until after the match, don’t worry—I’ll have found you by then.

– If I’m with Zheng Xiyu, clear some space for the two of us.

– If I haven’t linked up with Zheng Xiyu yet, don’t tell her I’m here.

A grin tugged at Tang Tianman’s lips. The anger in her chest had transformed into a surge of exhilaration, her blood pumping with excitement.

She typed one final message:

– This is a secret. And a surprise.