Chapter 35
The group went to “Shengge.” Zhuo Zhi was familiar with the place by now, especially with her “girlfriend” status. She walked in as if she owned the place.
Aijia was also there. Zhuo Zhi not only greeted her but also invited her to join their dinner.
Lan Xi’s band’s residency contract wasn’t up yet, and Aijia was heavily involved in that.
Li Qinyue approached them and chimed in, “Join us.”
Aijia didn’t refuse. She arranged a private room for them on the second floor, ordering not only the bar’s snacks but also some famous dishes from the street.
They sat down, and the three other band members, all quiet guys, toasted Li Qinyue and Aijia one by one. They didn’t pressure them to drink, finishing their own drinks in one gulp as a gesture of gratitude.
The main conversation was between the four girls.
Aijia was gentle and knew how to create a harmonious atmosphere. Zhuo Zhi had initially thought that she would have to show some hostility towards Lan Xi tonight to discourage her from pursuing Li Qinyue. But with Aijia present, they spent the evening talking about music, current variety shows, and celebrity gossip. There was no tension at all.
It was quite enjoyable.
After dinner, they chatted over drinks, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable, completely different from the previous dinner. Lan Xi loosened up, and whenever she looked at Li Qinyue, her eyes would light up.
That sparkle made Zhuo Zhi nervous. She squeezed her orange juice glass, reminding herself of her mission.
Li Qinyue glanced at her and said, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Wanting to play the role of a clingy girlfriend, Zhuo Zhi immediately said, “Me too.”
Lan Xi and Aijia both looked over. Lan Xi lowered her head to drink, while Aijia just smiled.
Zhuo Zhi followed Li Qinyue out of the room and whispered, “Why is Sister Aijia smiling?”
Li Qinyue led Zhuo Zhi through a couple of turns, “Probably proud of her own design.”
Zhuo Zhi didn’t understand what she meant. Just as she was about to ask, Li Qinyue pushed open a door, and Zhuo Zhi understood.
The bathroom was uniquely designed, spacious and clean, with only one toilet stall. A large glass window faced the toilet, the light dim and suggestive. The painting on the wall was abstract, both artistic and provocative.
Zhuo Zhi stopped and gestured awkwardly, “You first, Sister.”
“You’re wasting Sister Aijia’s design if you don’t come in with me,” Li Qinyue said with a smile.
Zhuo Zhi looked at her mischievous smile, knowing that her mind was full of those adult things. She pushed Li Qinyue playfully and said, “Do you think you can go with me staring at you?”
Li Qinyue leaned against the door, “How would you know if you don’t try?”
Zhuo Zhi stomped her foot, “Oh, come on!”
Li Qinyue glanced outside, “Come in, I’ll show you a magic trick.”
Zhuo Zhi followed her gaze, “What kind of magic trick?”
“Don’t ask,” Li Qinyue said, “There’s someone watching us around the corner, give me some face, okay?”
There was indeed someone around the corner, Zhuo Zhi had noticed earlier.
But she thought it was normal for people to be around in a bar. They weren’t doing anything sneaky, so she hadn’t paid it any mind.
Now that Li Qinyue mentioned it, it suddenly felt awkward and embarrassing.
Zhuo Zhi couldn’t help but take a step back. Li Qinyue didn’t bother discussing it with her anymore and pulled her inside.
The door closed behind them. Zhuo Zhi leaned against Li Qinyue’s arm, took a deep breath, and said, trying to make conversation, “Sister Aijia is really thoughtful, even the bathroom smells so good.”
Li Qinyue smiled, “Not everyone comes here.”
“Oh,” Zhuo Zhi obediently replied.
“Lan Xi was flirting with me throughout dinner, don’t you have any thoughts about that?” Li Qinyue asked.
“Huh?!” Zhuo Zhi’s eyes widened, “How was she flirting with you?”
“Can’t you tell?” Li Qinyue squinted at her, “Where’s your renowned observation skills?”
“I could tell she was interested in you,” Zhuo Zhi paused and added, “She’s still interested in you now.”
“Then that’s it,” Li Qinyue said.
“But being interested and flirting are two different things, right?” Zhuo Zhi thought for a moment. She had been paying attention to everything happening above the table. The only thing she hadn’t noticed was what was happening under the table.
Realizing this, Zhuo Zhi was shocked, “Did she touch your leg?”
Li Qinyue froze, let go of her arm, and flicked Zhuo Zhi’s forehead, “What are you thinking all day? Touching legs is such a cliché, even TV dramas don’t use that anymore…”
“Then what did she do?” Zhuo Zhi was a little anxious.
“Go away, go away,” Li Qinyue waved her hand dismissively, “I’m going to use the toilet.”
“You’re really going?” Zhuo Zhi was not only anxious, but also at a loss.
“What else would I do? I came here to use the toilet. You insisted on coming with me, and now you’re not even doing anything…” Li Qinyue grumbled as she walked towards the toilet, pulling a circular curtain closed behind her.
Zhuo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was a curtain separating them.
She stood there quietly, head down, waiting for Li Qinyue to finish.
After two minutes, Li Qinyue’s voice came from behind the curtain, “Get out.”
“Hmm?” Zhuo Zhi was stunned. Although she knew Li Qinyue couldn’t see her, she pointed at herself, “Me?”
“Is there anyone else here?” Li Qinyue’s voice sounded a little annoyed, “Hurry up and get out.”
Zhuo Zhi immediately opened the door and left, her movements swift. After stepping out, she realized that Li Qinyue hadn’t locked the door. How unsafe. She stood by the door, waiting diligently.
The music from downstairs drifted up. The person who had been around the corner was gone. Zhuo Zhi stood by the bathroom, arms crossed, and finally couldn’t help but laugh.
They had been the same when they left, but now they were different.
Aijia didn’t understand why Li Qinyue looked annoyed. It wasn’t something she could ask, so she just brought up a topic that Li Qinyue liked.
“Ling Xi lost a deal the other day, I heard it was related to the second son of the Tan family.”
Li Qinyue was indeed interested in this topic. She smiled and said, “Second Young Master Tan is quite petty, people have been laughing at him for a month, he must be trying to save face.”
“He definitely can’t save face anymore, but he’ll still want revenge,” Aijia leaned closer to Li Qinyue and asked, “Didn’t Old Master Li urge you to meet with Second Young Master Tan again?”
“Of course not, after that incident, it would be too embarrassing.” Li Qinyue put her arm around Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder, “Besides, I have Zhuo Zhi now.”
They had been to “Shengge” several times, each time with a different relationship, but Aijia didn’t find it strange at all. She accepted it readily.
She just nodded and said with a smile, “That’s good.”
Li Qinyue, unable to satisfy her desire to show off, needed to find some other amusement. She rubbed Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder and turned to her, asking, “Do you think it’s good?”
The three male band members, unable to keep up with the conversation and having finished their meal, had left to give the girls some space.
Now, only the four girls remained in the room. The lights in the private room were dim, the heater was on full blast, and the warm, cozy atmosphere created a sense of intimacy.
Remembering what Li Qinyue had said in the bathroom, Zhuo Zhi quickly replied, “I think it’s good too.”
She paused, feeling that it wasn’t enough, and added, “Meeting you, Sister Qinyue, is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Li Qinyue was a little surprised. She looked at Zhuo Zhi, “Your life is still long, and you’re already calling it the best thing?”
“It’s the best thing so far,” Zhuo Zhi looked at her and said with a smile, “As for whether there will be anything better in the future, I can’t imagine it. I think this is good enough.”
Her words were sincere, mainly because they resonated with a genuine feeling in her heart, making them simple yet touching. Li Qinyue looked at her, speechless for a moment.
A strange atmosphere flowed between them. Aijia lowered her head, smiling as she sipped her wine. Lan Xi looked at them, her eyes dim.
Li Qinyue finally spoke, she said with a smile, “This is just the beginning. Follow me, and there will be many more good things to come.”
“Hmm,” Zhuo Zhi nodded vigorously, her expression resolute. Li Qinyue couldn’t help but squeeze her shoulder again.
And she didn’t let go. The four of them moved to a comfortable sofa, and Li Qinyue simply pulled Zhuo Zhi into her lap.
At first, Zhuo Zhi didn’t dare to lean in properly, but seeing Lan Xi’s watchful gaze, she relaxed and settled against Li Qinyue’s chest.
Li Qinyue’s shoulders were slender, not very comfortable to rest on, but human heads seemed to have a mind of their own. Zhuo Zhi’s head slid down until it rested on Li Qinyue’s chest.
Li Qinyue was only wearing a sweater, warm and soft, with a faint fragrance, different from her usual perfume. Zhuo Zhi thought it smelled like the winter sun and spring flowers.
Li Qinyue didn’t seem to mind the weight as Zhuo Zhi nestled against her. She gently nudged Zhuo Zhi with her arm, adjusting her position so she could rest more comfortably.
Zhuo Zhi felt like the alcohol in the room was getting to her head, even the air seemed to be filled with alcohol molecules. Even though she had only been drinking juice all night, she felt dizzy and a little drunk.
The four of them lounged, occasionally chatting. As it got late, it was time to go.
Zhuo Zhi was so comfortable that her mind was hazy. When she stood up, she felt dizzy and just wanted to go home and sleep.
But as they left the bar, Lan Xi called out to Li Qinyue, “President Li, I have something to tell you.”
Zhuo Zhi frowned, thinking, “You’ve been talking all night, what couldn’t you have said then?”
Li Qinyue still had her arm around Zhuo Zhi, she didn’t let go, and said, “Go ahead.”
Zhuo Zhi inwardly cheered and nodded along.
Lan Xi glanced at Zhuo Zhi and said, “About that matter.”
“It’s fine,” Li Qinyue said, “Zhuo Zhi knows.”
Since Li Qinyue had said that much, Lan Xi couldn’t insist. She said, “I heard Sister Ai talking to you about President Ling. She approached me before and gave me your contact information.”
“Oh,” Li Qinyue wasn’t surprised. Even when she was busy, Ling Xi was still scheming to bring her down.
Lan Xi hesitated, “She said some things, quite unpleasant things.”
Zhuo Zhi tensed up immediately. Li Qinyue said, “Then there’s no need to repeat them.”
Lan Xi said, “In short, I think she’s a terrible person. I didn’t agree to her offer. I hope you’ll be careful, President Li, don’t fall for her tricks.”
Li Qinyue smiled and asked, “Do you know that Ling Xi works for Wang Zilai?”
Lan Xi was stunned.
“Otherwise, how could Wang Zilai have ‘bumped into’ you so coincidentally?” Li Qinyue rested her head on Zhuo Zhi’s, “Anyone who didn’t know would think you two were working together to set me up.”
“No, I didn’t!” Lan Xi quickly said, “President Li, I really didn’t know. I explained to you on the phone why I went to that dinner with Wang Zilai, I just wanted a chance…”
Li Qinyue interrupted her, “Okay, I understand.”
Lan Xi didn’t say anything more, frowning, looking sad.
Li Qinyue turned around, her arm still around Zhuo Zhi, “Work hard and make something of yourself.”
After getting into the car, the arm that had been resting on Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder finally let go.
Although the heater was on in the car, Zhuo Zhi still felt a chill on her shoulder, strangely missing the warmth.
She hadn’t fully understood the situation with Lan Xi, so she quickly asked, “Did you make some kind of deal with Lan Xi, Sister?”
“Yes,” Li Qinyue said, “I’ll get her on ‘I’m a Musician’. If she makes it to the finals, I’ll sign her.”
“Then did her winning today have anything to do with you?” Zhuo Zhi asked.
Li Qinyue smiled, “Do you think she sang better than the one she was up against?”
“Bai Zixi,” Zhuo Zhi had been paying close attention, “Her name is Bai Zixi.”
“Do you think she sang better than Bai Zixi?” Li Qinyue asked again.
“I don’t even know who Bai Zixi is,” Zhuo Zhi said, “She wasn’t in the episodes that have already aired, and we arrived late, so we didn’t see the earlier recordings…”
Her voice trailed off, clearly feeling regretful.
Li Qinyue squinted at her, “You like watching live shows that much?”
“Yes, it’s so much more exciting live, and you can see celebrities in person.”
“I don’t like watching live shows, it takes too long, there are too many procedures, it’s annoying.”
“So did you bribe the judges or not?!” Zhuo Zhi shook her arm, genuinely curious.
Li Qinyue glanced at her, “I let you lean on me all night, I’m very tired, stop shaking me.”
Zhuo Zhi stopped and looked at Li Qinyue with understanding. She quickly sat up straight, offering her shoulder, “Sister, come, lean on me.”
“Did I ask you to offer your shoulder?” Li Qinyue touched her shoulder, “Will it even be comfortable leaning on your shoulder?”
Zhuo Zhi looked down, “But mine can’t compare to yours, and you can’t lean on your own.”
Li Qinyue followed her gaze, landing on Zhuo Zhi’s chest, and couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s fine, you’re still young, you’ll grow. For your age, this is already pretty good.”
Zhuo Zhi blushed slightly, “It doesn’t matter, I don’t care about this.”
“I care,” Li Qinyue said, pausing before adding, “After all, I’m the one who’s leaning.”
Zhuo Zhi blushed and didn’t speak for a while.
Seeing that they were about to forget the previous question, Li Qinyue patted her leg, “Move over a little, I’m going to lean on your leg.”
Zhuo Zhi quickly moved closer to the car door. Li Qinyue lay down, resting her head on Zhuo Zhi’s thigh, adjusting her position several times before sighing, “Comfortable.”
Zhuo Zhi looked down at her. From this angle, Li Qinyue’s face still looked beautiful, “Sister…”
“I didn’t bribe anyone,” Li Qinyue closed her eyes, “They had already planned this ‘airdrop’ rule. This kind of thing generates the most buzz. ‘I’m a Musician’ has been too harmonious so far, it needs some controversy.”
“Oh, I see,” Zhuo Zhi quickly responded.
“I know one of the directors, so I just put in a good word for Lan Xi, gave her a chance,” Li Qinyue paused and said, “Don’t think of it as a good opportunity. The other contestants have all gone through auditions, they have some popularity and recognition. Suddenly having someone ‘airdropped’ in to take a spot, Lan Xi is definitely going to get hate.”
“Ah,” Zhuo Zhi sighed briefly, then thought for a moment and added, “With hate comes love. Only those who can evoke strong emotions in the audience can become truly popular.”
“Yes,” Li Qinyue smiled, “Opportunity and price always go hand in hand.”
With that matter cleared up, Zhuo Zhi felt much more at ease.
She wasn’t so naive as to be completely against the idea of “hidden rules”, but she didn’t want to see unfair things happening to people she knew.
If Li Qinyue had really pulled strings to pave the way for Lan Xi, then what Lan Xi would have to offer Li Qinyue in return was beyond Zhuo Zhi’s imagination.
So, it seemed it was just a normal business deal. Zhuo Zhi was happy. She straightened her back and moved slightly upwards, making Li Qinyue more comfortable.
The car drove smoothly. As they went uphill, there were occasional bumps, making Li Qinyue’s head sway on Zhuo Zhi’s thigh, sometimes bumping against her stomach, sending a strange tingling sensation through her.
Li Qinyue had drunk some wine at dinner and was probably really sleepy now. She slept soundly, her eyes closed the entire time.
Zhuo Zhi, on the other hand, was wide awake. She spent a small portion of the time looking out the window at the road and most of the time looking down at Li Qinyue’s face.
Li Qinyue’s face was truly captivating. Even with her eyes closed, her slightly upturned eyelashes gave her a fox-like allure.
When the car stopped at the villa, Zhuo Zhi called Li Qinyue’s name softly several times before she finally woke up.
She opened her eyes a crack, still groggy. As Zhuo Zhi helped her out of the car, her legs wobbled, and she almost lost her balance.
Thinking that Li Qinyue had gone through all this trouble just to take her to the show, Zhuo Zhi’s heart warmed. She said, “Are you too lazy to even walk a step now, Sister?”
Li Qinyue nodded, her chin resting on Zhuo Zhi’s shoulder.
Zhuo Zhi continued, “Sister, you got me that autographed album from Old Xu. Didn’t you ask me how I would repay you?”
Li Qinyue opened her eyes slightly and looked at her.
Zhuo Zhi smiled, tightened her grip on Li Qinyue’s waist, and swiftly lifted her horizontally.
“How about I carry you inside?”
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