There were many people waiting at the bus stop.
Some nearby were discussing the trending topic about her and Ling Tingyu.
Lu Xian stood further away, trying to minimize her presence.
The car was driven by Ling Tingyu’s assistant, Xiao Chen, a low-key black vehicle that gave no hint of the superstar sitting inside.
Lu Xian opened the passenger door, but Ling Tingyu, seated in the back, looked at her and said, “Come sit in the back.”
“Okay.” Lu Xian bent down and quickly slipped into the back seat, shutting the door to block the view of passersby.
Xiao Chen focused on driving, tuning out the conversation behind her.
Still, Lu Xian worried about their relationship being exposed. Instead of speaking, she typed into her phone’s notes and showed it to Ling Tingyu: Your foot isn’t healed enough to walk yet.
Ling Tingyu glanced at the screen and replied, “It’s fine, it’s much better now.”
Lu Xian nodded and typed again: You didn’t have to come all this way, I could’ve gone home on my own.
Ling Tingyu tapped out a response in Lu Xian’s notes: Are you okay?
After seeing the online frenzy, Ling Tingyu had immediately contacted PR to remove the trending topic. Though it was taken down quickly, she wasn’t sure if Lu Xian had seen it.
Lu Xian guessed Ling Tingyu had come because of the scandal.
“I’m fine. Online gossip doesn’t affect me. I’m just worried it might hurt your reputation.”
So she had seen it.
Ling Tingyu shrugged indifferently. “I’m used to trending topics.”
Since her debut, Ling Tingyu had appeared in hundreds of them both positive and negative. Over the years, she’d grown numb to it all.
Outside the window, the scenery blurred past as shifting light and shadows flickered across the glass.
When they arrived at the police station, Lu Xian spotted the horse handler from the set through the window, along with a dark-skinned man standing beside Lu Li.
“Wait in the car. I’ll take you home afterward,” Ling Tingyu said before limping inside. Lu Xian wanted to help her, but Xiao Chen was already one step ahead.
Instead of staying put, Lu Xian followed Ling Tingyu in as an eyewitness, she needed to be present for the identification.
Once inside, the horse handler erupted, “How many times do I have to say it? I never expected the horse to go wild! It was an accident, why are you harassing me like this?”
Lu Li scoffed. “Really? Just a horse handler? Think carefully. You’re in a police station now.”
The man stammered, “Y-yes! I’m telling the truth!”
“Fan Rui, 35, owns a small stable. Has a sister named Fan Yiyi, a D-list actress who recently auditioned for the third female lead in Director Liang’s new film.”
Lu Li paused. “Should I keep going, Fan Rui?”
Fan Rui gulped. “What does any of that have to do with today?”
“Fine, I’ll continue.”
Lu Li laid out the investigation: “After the audition, Director Liang rejected your sister. When you found out Ling Tingyu got the role instead, you hatched a plan replaced the original handler, rigged the scene, and tried to injure Ling Tingyu so she’d have to drop out.”
The dark-skinned man, who had stayed silent until now, blurted nervously, “H-he offered me 500! I didn’t know things would go this far!”
Fan Rui hadn’t expected Lu Li to investigate so thoroughly. Even so, he stubbornly insisted, “These are just your personal conjectures. What evidence do you have?”
Lu Xian stepped forward resolutely and said, “I’m the eyewitness.”
Fan Rui, who had been relatively composed until then, showed signs of nervousness the moment he saw Lu Xian.
Lu Li nodded at Lu Xian. With the help of the police, Fan Rui finally admitted his actions: “I did it all by myself. It has nothing to do with my sister.”
After examining the injured parts of the horse and extracting the long needle from its nose, it was confirmed that Fan Rui had intentionally harmed the animal.
Lu Li informed Fan Rui, “The evidence has been handed over to the lawyer. Expect to receive a legal notice.”
What was supposed to be a foolproof plan had completely unraveled. Fan Rui never thought he’d run into tough opponents like Lu Li and Lu Xian.
After leaving the police station, Xiao Chen escorted Ling Tingyu back to the hospital, while Lu Li saw Lu Xian home.
On the way, Lu Xian thought for a moment and said to Lu Li, “People like Fan Rui would do anything for their sisters. We shouldn’t push them too hard.”
“I know my limits,” Lu Li replied with a slight curl of his lips, thinking that Lu Xian really seemed like a changed person at least not as naïve as before.
In the kitchen, chicken soup bubbled away. Lu Xian set a timer on her phone when suddenly a reminder popped up from her notes:
[September 12 is sister’s birthday. Prepare a gift in advance.]
It was a memo left by the original host. However, in the book, the “gift” the original host prepared was a torn contract and divorce papers. Everything had been premeditated by the original host.
With one month left until Ling Tingyu’s birthday, Lu Xian pondered what gift to prepare, only to realize she had no money.
Although there was 100,000 yuan in her card, that was the allowance Ling Tingyu had given her. Using Ling Tingyu’s money to buy her a gift seemed entirely inappropriate.
Lu Xian continued searching for extra roles in group chats. With no connections or background, she had no idea how long it would take to land a proper role.
Moreover, the fallout from the trending scandal hadn’t completely died down, and she wasn’t sure if anyone would still be willing to hire her.
After scrolling through the WeChat groups and finding no suitable opportunities, she had no choice but to give up.
Feeling somewhat hopeless, Lu Xian slumped onto the sofa. Wen Tian turned on the LCD TV, and a promotional ad for a variety show popped up.
“ABO Idol Group,” a talent show gathering 99 trainees, 33 Alphas, 33 Betas, and 33 Omegas.
Just as Wen Tian was about to close the ad, Lu Xian grabbed the remote. “Wait.”
[Here, everyone is equal. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you can transform into a standout idol.]
Lu Xian wasn’t interested in idol groups, but she noticed that making it into the top 20 came with a 50,000 yuan prize.
Wen Tian poked Lu Xian’s arm: [Are you going to participate?]
Lu Xian cleared her throat. “Well, I can dance a little and sing a tiny bit. Maybe I can make it into the top 20.”
She offered a warm yet awkward smile.
Determined to win the prize money for Ling Tingyu’s gift, Lu Xian immediately signed up, ready to give it her all.
As noon approached, Lu Li came by to pick up the chicken soup.
Wen Tian eagerly ran over to fetch slippers for her.
Lu Li declined. “No need. I’ll just take the container and go.”
Wen Tian had no choice but to put the slippers back and showed Lu Li the message she had prepared earlier on her phone:
[Sis, does your company need employees? I’m bored at home alone during summer break and want to find a job.]
Lu Li looked at Wen Tian’s youthful face and asked, “Are you even an adult yet?”
Wen Tian shook her head and continued typing: 【But I’m already 17, I’ll be an adult soon.】
Lu Li: “Are you in your final year of high school?”
Wen Tian nodded slowly.
Lu Li: “Focus on your studies.”
Lu Xian handed over a thermos of chicken soup to Lu Li and asked, “Sister Lu Li, can I go to the hospital with you?”
“No, there have been many reporters lurking near the hospital these past few days. It wouldn’t be convenient for you to go.”
Lu Xian understood: “Has Tingyu been feeling better today?”
“Much better. She should be discharged in a couple of days.” Lu Li took the food container. “I’m off.”
After this incident, Lu Xian noticed that Lu Li’s attitude toward her seemed slightly better than before, though she hadn’t completely let her guard down yet.
Lu Xian knew gaining Lu Li’s trust wouldn’t be easy, it would take time.
Wen Tian stared in the direction Lu Li had left, her head drooping dejectedly.
Lu Xian ruffled Wen Tian’s hair: “Focus on your studies. There’ll be plenty of job opportunities in the future.”
Wen Tian lowered her eyes. Without the ability to speak, she doubted any company would want her.
After two days of waiting, Lu Xian received a response regarding her variety show application.
A text message informed her she had passed the preliminary selection and invited her to the Jingzhou training camp the next day for program recording.
When Lu Xian saw the notification, she could hardly believe it had she really passed just like that?
Wen Tian told her: 【This is a looks-based show. With your appearance, naturally you’d make it through the first round.】
Lu Xian laughed: “You sure know a lot.”
Wen Tian: 【Of course. Based on my experience watching talent shows, good-looking and hardworking people can gain many fans’ support even if they’re tone-deaf.】
Lu Xian didn’t believe it: “Where did you get that idea?”
【Never mind where I heard it. Just focus on doing your best.】
Wen Tian gestured: 【The talent show is a closed-door program. Shouldn’t you start packing now?】
Lu Xian had only noticed the prize money for participating and hadn’t read any other details.
Now reminded by Wen Tian, she went over the program rules again.
It was indeed a closed-door program. According to the schedule, recording the entire show would take three months. Early-stage eliminations would be quick reaching the top 20 would take about a month. One week after that would be a public performance elimination, leaving 11 finalists competing for 7 debut spots.
Lu Xian had no interest in debuting. She just hoped to make it into the top 20, claim the prize money, and return to buy Ling Tingyu a birthday gift.
But during this time, she probably wouldn’t have many chances to see Tingyu.
During Ling Tingyu’s hospitalization, apart from Lu Xian sending chicken soup through Lu Li, there had been no other contact. Lu Xian hadn’t messaged to avoid disturbing her rest, and Ling Tingyu hadn’t reached out either.
Would Tingyu even remember her after being apart for over a month?
Lu Xian stared blankly at her open closet. Was she really going to be away for so long?
Well, maybe it was better if Tingyu forgot. After all, her life truly didn’t need Lu Xian.
Having made up her mind, Lu Xian began packing.
The original owner’s closet was packed full, with various luxury brand clothes neatly arranged in rows. Lu Xian didn’t want them, taking only some ordinary clothes from the corner.
She folded everything haphazardly into her suitcase without being picky, she didn’t need many clothes, just enough to get by.
When Wen Tian came in and saw the clothes Lu Xian had packed, she shook her head: 【These clothes aren’t suitable.】
Lu Xian raised an eyebrow.
Wen Tian: “You can wear these for private training sessions, but the production team won’t provide performance outfits, so you’ll need to prepare your own.”
Lu Xian hadn’t considered that much.
Wen Tian took out all the colorful clothes from Lu Xian’s wardrobe and packed them into a new suitcase.
“This should definitely be enough.”
Lu Xian rubbed her forehead: “That’s too much.”
Wen Tian: “Better to have too much than not enough. You might need them.”
Two full suitcases later to the uninformed observer, it looked more like she was moving house than going to a competition.
That evening, Ling Tingyu was discharged from the hospital. According to Lu Li, she would be staying here for one night before joining the film crew tomorrow.
In the afternoon, Lu Xian was preparing dinner, secretly looking forward to Ling Tingyu’s return.
As dusk approached, the doorbell rang twice.
Wen Tian went to answer it, but Lu Xian stopped her: “I’ll get it.”
Understanding the situation, Wen Tian stepped back to give the couple some space.
It had been three days since they last contacted each other. When Lu Xian opened the door, she felt unexpectedly flustered.
Ling Tingyu wore sunglasses that covered most of her face, with her cap pulled low, making her expression even more unreadable. There was an inexplicable air of detachment and indifference about her.
Lu Xian froze for a moment.
Ling Tingyu removed her glasses, her eyes cool and distant: “Aren’t you going to welcome me back?”
Lu Xian stepped aside: “Welcome home.”
The house hadn’t changed much in Ling Tingyu’s absence only Lu Xian had.
Wen Tian brought a chair for Ling Tingyu: “Sister Tingyu, you shouldn’t stand for too long with your foot just healed.”
Ling Tingyu: “I’ll go change first and come out later.”
Wen Tian nodded and went to help Lu Xian in the kitchen.
Ling Tingyu and Lu Xian’s rooms faced each other, so when Ling Tingyu came out after changing, she immediately noticed Lu Xian’s room.
The door was slightly ajar, with two suitcases placed in front of it.
Finding it odd, Ling Tingyu pushed the door open and discovered that the once-full wardrobe was now empty. The skincare products on the vanity and in the bathroom were also gone.
The two suitcases, however, were packed to the brim.
At the sight of this, Ling Tingyu’s eyes reddened. All the resentment she’d accumulated over the past three days turned into confusion.
She couldn’t understand where Lu Xian was trying to escape to, or why she was so eager to leave her so eager that she hadn’t visited or contacted her during her hospital stay.
Closing the door, Ling Tingyu suppressed her anger: “Lu Xian.”
Lu Xian responded quickly, still holding the spatula as she rushed over: “What’s wrong?”
Her expression was as if nothing had happened.
Ling Tingyu stared at her: “Don’t you have anything to tell me?”
Lu Xian: “…”
“You already know?” Lu Xian didn’t recall telling Ling Tingyu about joining the talent show.
“I was planning to tell you after dinner.”
So she really was leaving.
Ling Tingyu said coldly, “What if I don’t agree?”
Lu Xian: “I have to!”
“Get in here.”
Ling Tingyu didn’t want to hear the word “leave” from her lips. Grabbing Lu Xian by the collar, she pulled her into her room.
The scene felt strangely familiar, Lu Xian remembered the last time Ling Tingyu had pinned her against the door.
But this time was different. Ling Tingyu gripped her chin with near-obsessive intensity.
Lu Xian winced in pain, but before she could react, Ling Tingyu closed the distance, biting down on her lower lip.
“Mmm…” Lu Xian had nowhere to retreat, forced to endure it.
After a few seconds, Ling Tingyu’s bite softened into a kiss, her tongue gently tracing Lu Xian’s lips.
Seizing the moment when Ling Tingyu loosened her grip, Lu Xian turned her head, her lips crimson. “Why did you bite me?”
Ling Tingyu’s delicate fingertip brushed over Lu Xian’s lips as she replied in a low voice, “Because you’ve been very naughty.”