Watching Xu Mei and Qin Yi embrace, Wen Ying thought of her own relationship with He Zhen. When she and He Zhen were together, they’d both entered society, and it indeed lacked the simple purity of a campus romance. If He Zhen were in the country now, Wen Ying might actually want to see him. He Zhen and Qin Yi were about the same age; dating a senior in the UK didn’t mean it wasn’t pure. She wasn’t He Zhen’s first love, but that wasn’t his fault or hers.
Sigh, she was just here to cheer them on, so why was she being fed dog food?
As Wen Ying wrestled with her mixed feelings, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a text from Xie Qian.
“Are you ready?”
Oh no!
Xie Qian meant the math test.
Wen Ying needed 120 points to get the entry pass from Xie Qian, who’d then take her to the TV station to watch Super Girl’s live recording.
Today, Xie Qian wasn’t in the city; he’d gone to Qingcheng Mountain to visit the elderly at a nursing home.
Since Li Mengjiao was in the Super Girl auditions and the night market street was cleaning up for a food festival, Wen Ying’s stall took a two-day break to recharge for the event.
Xie Qian had used the break to visit Qingcheng Mountain.
This text was a soul-deep interrogation for Wen Ying. She couldn’t guarantee 120 points unless Teacher Liang’s test was easy and stuck to junior high material—which, from what she knew, wasn’t Liang’s style.
He Zhen, senior sister, none of that mattered now.
He Zhen couldn’t help her with the test, so what use was he?
Thick-skinned as ever, Wen Ying replied, “The food festival’s coming up, everyone’s busy lately. How about testing in a few days?”
Xie Qian didn’t reply for a while, leaving Wen Ying uneasy.
Qin Jiao called over, “Mengjiao and Sister Xu Mei both advanced. My brother says we’re celebrating tonight.”
Where?
Boss Qin had a friend who owned a fancy KTV. Qin Yi was taking everyone there, and they’d surely clear out anything shady, letting Wen Ying and the others just sing and snack.
Qin Yi was reliable in the eyes of adults. Li Mengjiao’s mom heard it and didn’t object, telling her to have fun with her friends.
Wen Ying called Chen Li to check in. Confirming it was a safe spot, Chen Li agreed, “Take a break, have fun, don’t stay out too late. Qin Yi and them are adults, they’ll probably drink, but you can’t.”
Wen Ying swore off alcohol, and Chen Li let it go.
Today, for Li Mengjiao’s audition, Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng showed up, but Wang Shuang didn’t.
No one could figure out what was up with Shuang lately. Li Mengjiao thought he was being disloyal. Now, heading to the club, she forbade Geng Xiao from telling him.
Geng Xiao asked Qin Jiao what was going on, but she couldn’t explain.
“Wang Shuang’s been down lately, won’t say why. Did he break up with his girlfriend?”
Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng were clueless.
If Shuang got sad over breakups, he’d be moping half the year.
There’d been no word of a new girlfriend either.
Qin Jiao recalled Wang Shuang’s mood drop started at the airport pickup, but couldn’t pinpoint who upset him. Though Li Mengjiao said not to call him, Qin Jiao secretly texted, asking if he’d join.
“Have fun!”
That meant no.
Qin Jiao pocketed her phone, resolving to talk to Wang Shuang later.
Wang Shuang’s absence didn’t dampen the group’s spirits. After dinner, Qin Yi led them to the KTV.
The place’s decor would hold up even a decade later, top-tier for 2004 Chengdu.
The room was spacious and grand, with great sound and high prices.
Qin Yi, footing the bill with his own earnings, had confidence. Xu Mei sang several songs, earning thunderous applause as everyone egged her on for more.
Her renditions of old Hong Kong and Taiwan songs had charm, but she didn’t hog the mic, passing it to Li Mengjiao.
Li Mengjiao favored upbeat, joyful tunes. Her sweet, girlish voice paired with her petite, cute look offered a different appeal from Xu Mei.
Wen Ying stayed a listener until the mic reached her. She sang a fitting song.
Li Mengjiao was mildly surprised, “Wen Ying, you sing well! Why didn’t you audition today?”
Wen Ying shook her head, “I’ve got tutoring and the stall. No time. Singing’s not my thing, I won’t let it sidetrack me.”
Revising drafts endlessly, Wen Ying could do. A talent show? No interest.
Only a true passion could last, even without quick rewards. Wen Ying could pour her heart into what she loved.
Li Mengjiao, convinced, whispered, “I don’t like the stall, but I feared you’d mock me for not handling hardship. I love singing and dancing. Facing the judges today, I knew I’d pass. I sing so well, they had no reason to cut me!”
Business talk with Wen Ying and Xie Qian left her lost and unconfident. She tried fitting in but couldn’t fake it. Saying it aloud now felt liberating.
Wen Ying smiled, “Then do what you’re good at!”
Singing, Li Mengjiao was the confident, charming girl Wen Ying knew from her past life, utterly likable.
Qin Yi and the others started drinking. After two juice cups, Wen Ying headed to the bathroom. A drunk classmate was retching in the room’s restroom, so she stepped out.
The KTV’s hallway had dim, yellow lights. Returning from the bathroom, Wen Ying brushed past some guests.
The hazy glow lit a face in the crowd. A casual glance froze her like a spell.
As the group descended, she chased after them.
The elevator wouldn’t budge. She took the stairs, twisting her ankle in her rush. Limping downstairs, they’d already driven off.
Wen Ying wanted to punch a wall.
Was this some cliché drama? Life wasn’t a movie.
Someone supposedly in the UK chasing seniors shouldn’t pop up in a Chengdu KTV. It made no sense.
She figured she’d misseen, or the KTV spiked her juice with booze, making her hallucinate.
Too bizarre—she’d seen He Zhen!
Even if it was him, stopping him would’ve been pointless. In 2004, He Zhen didn’t know her.
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated. Xie Qian finally replied.
Oddly, the timing made Wen Ying feel guilty.
Wait, guilty about what?!
