Chapter 49

“Impossible.” Chen Nian refused instinctively, without a moment’s hesitation.

Fang Zhixiao kept her same smiling expression and asked her, “Why not?”

“What’s there to why?” Chen Nian replied. “None of it makes any sense.”

“Oh.” Fang Zhixiao grabbed her bag and walked past her toward the exit.

Chen Nian didn’t budge from her spot. She just turned and said, “But I still want the answer to that question. You can come up with another condition.”

Fang Zhixiao had already reached the steps. When she glanced back at Chen Nian, the sky framed her from behind, making her look lofty and distant.

“Then you tell me your reasons first,” Fang Zhixiao said.

“Fine.” Chen Nian tilted her head up. “One, I may be close to Fang Zhi, but I won’t make decisions for her—or try to sway her competition results. Two, ensuring she loses to you? Once Fang Zhi steps on stage, no one can guarantee that. I don’t even know any of the judges. Three, I asked for the secret to success, but I don’t sing or dance myself. Logically, I’m asking for Fang Zhi’s sake. Trading her loss for that is a contradiction right from the start.”

“Finally,” Chen Nian paused, “I don’t get what I want by hurting someone else. Not just Fang Zhi—no one.”

“Wow.” Fang Zhixiao let out an admiring sigh, turning her face to give her a few claps. “Model citizen. Paragon of virtue.”

Chen Nian frowned. Fang Zhixiao turned and kept walking. “Guess I’ll have to find some heroic act to trade with you instead.”

Once Fang Zhixiao’s figure vanished from sight, Chen Nian didn’t follow.

She stood there in a daze for a bit, then took a few steps forward and sat down on the steps.

The spot was quiet, but if she looked out, she could see the lively crowds streaming in and out of the venue.

She sat until the sun dipped in the west, the temperature cooled, and it was nearly time. Chen Nian got to her feet.

She rubbed her face, forcing her lively, cheerful expression back into place, then jogged all the way to the hotel.

Bang bang bang! She pounded on the door. “Come on, let’s go! We’ll be late!!!”

Dad opened the door. Chen Junjie was shrugging on his jacket. “We were just about to come find you.”

Chen Nian flashed a big grin. “No need—I came running back on my own.”

Chen Junjie glanced at the camera hanging from her chest. “How’d the photos turn out?”

“Ah.” Chen Nian paused. “Pretty good!”

Liu Chunhua shoved at Chen Junjie’s shoulder. “Out first, out first—you’re blocking the way.”

Chen Junjie quickly stepped aside, and Chen Nian spotted Fang Zhi behind her mom.

By now, Fang Zhi had finished her makeup and was wearing the special performance outfit Liu Chunhua had prepared just for her.

It was a pink princess dress, covered in flowers across the bodice and hem. Her long, black, curly hair was half-braided, dotted with tiny blooms. With Fang Zhi’s big, sparkling eyes, it was every mother’s dream of the perfect daughter.

“What do you think?” Liu Chunhua asked, seeing Chen Nian stare. She was practically bursting for praise.

“Beautiful,” Chen Nian said with a smile.

Fang Zhi glanced at her. Chen Nian added, “This look wins it all on its own.”

Fang Zhi’s gaze flickered. Chen Nian hustled everyone along. “Hurry, hurry—get there early for good seats.”

Like herding ducks, the family crammed into the elevator, rode it down, and rushed to the venue.

Fang Zhi had her contestant number clipped to her waist. Her parents headed to the seats. Chen Nian peeked toward backstage, and a staff member asked if she was competing.

Chen Nian shook her head. The staffer smiled and pointed. “Then go take your seat—the show’s starting soon.”

Chen Nian looked at Fang Zhi, her lips parting then closing. Finally, she said, “Zhizhi, good luck.”

“Mm.” Fang Zhi’s response was flat, emotionless.

Seeing her steady, Chen Nian felt relieved.

She made her way to the audience section and sat next to her mom. Liu Chunhua leaned over. “Did you two talk it out with Zhizhi?”

Chen Nian blinked. “Huh?”

Liu Chunhua went on, “Didn’t you fight?”

Chen Nian said, “Zhizhi told you we fought?”

“Does she need to?” Liu Chunhua poked her forehead. “I can tell from your faces—and hers. If you hadn’t fought, you’d still be loitering backstage right now!”

Chen Nian protested, “Hey, they don’t let random people backstage. It’s semifinals—super official.”

“Won’t even tell me.” Liu Chunhua chuckled. “Fine, stew in it then.”

She wasn’t worried in the slightest.

Both girls were good kids, crazy about each other. Little spats lasted hours, big ones a couple days at most—then they’d be even more inseparable than before.

The audience waited eagerly below the stage.

Backstage, several of the contestants were already so nervous they were on the verge of tears.

It was a youth competition, after all, so none of them were very old. Without their parents or teachers around to hold their hands, a few stern words from the staff were enough to leave them utterly dejected.

Fang Zhi was in far better shape than most. She sat quietly in the seat the staff had assigned her, waiting calmly for her turn. Her expression was serene, her posture relaxed, every strand of hair and fold of her skirt impeccably in place. She looked utterly dependable.

She had drawn the fifth slot—a prime spot, right as the event was picking up steam and the crowd was getting into it.

Fang Zhixiao was number thirty-two, a fact Fang Zhi had made a point of noting.

With thirty-five contestants total, Fang Zhixiao was all but the grand finale.

They were grouped roughly ten to a cluster, and Fang Zhixiao wasn’t in Fang Zhi’s bunch. As the competition neared its start, Fang Zhi scanned the room but didn’t spot her.

One song per contestant, and things moved briskly. By the time the third performer took the stage, a staff member came to escort Fang Zhi to the wings. As she rose, a scattered chorus of sighs rippled through the group around her. When she reached the waiting area, a figure darted around the corner—Fang Zhixiao, heading straight for her.

Her contestant badge kept anyone from stopping her. Fang Zhi watched her approach, and their eyes met. The air thickened into something quiet and charged.

Fang Zhixiao broke the silence first, a smile playing on her lips. “You really care about Chen Nian, huh?”

Fang Zhi had no interest in entertaining such a pointless question. Whatever curiosity she’d once held for Fang Zhixiao had evaporated, replaced by a sharp, wordless hostility.

“Looks that way,” Fang Zhixiao concluded, her gaze fixed on Fang Zhi’s face.

She arched an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Chen Nian is pretty interesting, isn’t she?”

Fang Zhi: “…”

Fang Zhixiao stepped closer, peering intently into her eyes. “Are you scared I’ll… steal Chen Nian away from you?”

Fang Zhi: “Get lost.”

She made no effort to soften the blow.

“Wow…” Far from rattled, Fang Zhixiao looked delighted. “You’re fierce. Not like Chen Nian—she’s such a sweet, clueless goof.”

Fang Zhi raised her hand and called out to a staff member nearby. “Teacher, this contestant’s harassing me.”

Fang Zhixiao: “…”

The staff member approached and gave Fang Zhixiao a once-over. She was slated for an explosive, high-energy song that night, and her outfit screamed delinquent girl—leather jacket, ripped jeans, the works. Towering over Fang Zhi in both height and age, she did look like the type who could push her around.

“What do you think you’re doing?” the staff member asked.

“Teacher, I wasn’t sure when my turn was, so I came to check,” Fang Zhixiao replied, her face the picture of innocence.

The staff member glanced at her badge. “You’re up way later. Head to the backstage lounge over there and wait.”

Fang Zhixiao flashed a grin. “Got it. Thanks, teacher.”

She turned and gave Fang Zhi a playful wave. “See you around, underclassman. Oh, and do me a favor—tell Chen Nian the barbecue last time was amazing. The Jing Family’s got an event coming up. Let her know I’ll treat her to one when I get back.”

Fang Zhi’s pupils dilated. Her fists clenched tight.

Fang Zhixiao sauntered off with a spring in her step. The staff member eyed Fang Zhi’s expression and asked, “You two know each other?”

Fang Zhi: “Nope.”

The staff member chuckled and returned to his post, muttering to a colleague, “Kids these days—one more precocious than the last. It’s uncanny.”

But Fang Zhi could hardly register the voices around her. Her mind was looping that one line from Fang Zhixiao: the barbecue last time was amazing. The Jing Family’s got an event coming up. Let her know I’ll treat her to one when I get back.

What barbecue? When had that even happened? Had Chen Nian treated Fang Zhixiao to barbecue? Chen Nian had never taken her out for barbecue…

No. No, that wasn’t the point.

The real issue was that Chen Nian was glued to her side day in and day out, sharing every little thing—how had she found time to treat Fang Zhixiao to barbecue? And after Fang Zhi had poured out all her tangled feelings about Fang Zhixiao, Chen Nian had kept this from her. Hidden something this big.

Why had Chen Nian treated Fang Zhixiao to barbecue?

Chen Nian had been off-kilter ever since she first laid eyes on Fang Zhixiao. Fang Zhi had assumed it was about her, but clearly, that wasn’t it.

Chen Nian had fought with her over Fang Zhixiao—grilled her so viciously. And afterward, instead of coming to make peace, she’d vanished for ages.

What had Chen Nian been up to? Had she gone off to treat Fang Zhixiao to another meal?

Why was Chen Nian treating Fang Zhixiao to meals in the first place? Was she sick of Fang Zhi? Was she ditching her for a new best friend with the same surname…?

“Number five, get ready!” a voice barked from nearby.

The staff member nudged her toward the rear of the stage. Number four’s music swelled, and Fang Zhi peered out into the audience.

It was an inky void down there. She couldn’t pick out Chen Nian anywhere.

Only the occasional flash of…

The beam of light drifted toward the audience seats and wouldn’t fall on Chen Nian’s face.

Fang Zhi suddenly felt like she couldn’t remember what Chen Nian looked like. She hadn’t seen Chen Nian for a very, very long time—if she counted carefully, it had been about two hours.

No, it was more than just two hours. She couldn’t see Chen Nian during club activities, nor during her weekend lessons with the teacher. She couldn’t see Chen Nian when she went to bed at night, nor when she stood on stage…

What was Chen Nian doing when she couldn’t see her? What was Chen Nian thinking when she could see her? Had she only been busy chasing her own stardream and ignoring Chen Nian? Had her possessiveness over Chen Nian become too strong and annoyed her…

Fang Zhi clutched a small piece of her clothing, twisting it forcefully and rubbing it hard with her fingertips.

She suddenly couldn’t understand this world anymore, couldn’t understand the emotions between people. She’d thought that greater distance meant greater estrangement, and closeness meant intimacy—yet she had panicked when Fang Zhixiao had smiled brightly and said she wanted to compete with her for Chen Nian.

She was so close to Chen Nian, yet she panicked.

She felt like she was about to lose Chen Nian, which made her suddenly so afraid that she was on the verge of tears.

“Get ready…” Someone pressed down on her shoulders and spoke into her ear.

Fang Zhi didn’t know what she was supposed to prepare for. Preparing to take one step back into her old world? Preparing to return to that cold room?

Someone passed by her side—a girl even smaller than her, with a tear-streaked face.

“The host will finish soon, then you go up…” That person spoke into her ear again.

Fang Zhi waited mechanically. The host’s words were short, and soon the host stopped.

Fang Zhi looked at the person beside her. The older uncle gave her back a gentle push: “Okay, go.”

Fang Zhi shuffled forward one step and stopped.

The uncle grew anxious and whispered urgently behind her: “Go on, walk forward.”

Fang Zhi shuffled forward another step.

At that moment, the stage was dark, and the lights finally deigned to cast some illumination toward the audience below.

The uncle came right up to her and slapped her shoulders hard twice: “Relax! It’s time to perform! Just sing as you prepared!”

Fang Zhi craned her neck, straining to search the crowd below.

In the sea of packed people, she finally spotted Chen Nian.

Chen Nian had a pair of bright eyes, filled with sparkling anticipation.

Just who was she anticipating—Fang Zhi, or Fang Zhixiao?

The uncle said, “Don’t be afraid! Even if you sing it wrong, it doesn’t matter! It’s fine! What counts is participation!”

Fang Zhi stared at Chen Nian and suddenly burst into laughter.

Singing it wrong mattered a great deal; losing would have huge consequences. If she stepped down from this stage, Chen Nian’s eyes would lock onto someone else.

“I will win,” Fang Zhi said.

The Director was stunned. “Ah?”

Fang Zhi took the microphone from the staff member nearby and said softly but firmly, “Not only will I win on this stage.”