bickering lovers

In the scene with Xi Ai, her co-star was a newcomer, and the more takes they took, the worse her performance became. The plan was to adjust after finishing the take. But it was during this take that a problem arose with the wire work; Xi Ai loosened before even landing.

Although Xi Ai reacted quickly enough, she only managed to protect her face and vital areas; her arm was inevitably scratched.

The person in charge of the wire work was a young girl who was completely bewildered. Xi Ai pretended to be fine and managed to calm her down. She even went to mentor the new actor she was acting with.

After two more tests were completed, Xi Ai quickly left to go to a private hospital for a check-up.

Xi Ai saw that the exposé only contained pictures. After considering it for a while, she edited a Weibo post, saying that it was just an accidental injury, leaving the film crew out of it, and even creating the image of someone who came to care for and visit her.

I also went on WeChat to comfort that girl.

As Xi Ai went out, Chu Yiqi was coming downstairs. He noticed she was visibly stiff and greeted her rather awkwardly, "Is it resolved?"

"Not so fast, but it's okay." Xi Ai didn't say anything more. Suddenly, she felt that it was a good thing that Chu Yiqi was avoiding her now, at least he wouldn't really ask about the injury in detail.

Chu Yiqi nodded and then said, "Meng Yike has finished the last bit for you."

Xi Ai hummed in agreement and turned back to sit on the sofa with Nie Chuiying.

Chu Yiqi breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Xi Ai leave. He exited the live stream and sent a message to Meng Yike: "I just picked up some medicine for her on the way. I'll tell her you put the medicine in her room later."

Meng Yike heard her phone vibrate, glanced at the noodles in the pot, and then picked it up to look at it. Her lips twitched as she looked at Chu Yiqi: "..."

Chu Yiqi was also staring at her.

Chu Yiqi received the message: [Okay.]

[Breaking news! I saw Ai Ai's Weibo post!]

[Waaaaah, Ai Ai, come to Mommy for a hug.]

Chu Yiqi was holding her phone, her fingertips rapidly tapping the screen, looking like she was having a heated argument with someone. But given that Chu Yiqi usually seemed like a well-behaved child, no one thought of it that way.

In reality, Chu Yiqi, using an alternate account, has already been engaged in a fierce battle with the smear posts about Xi Ai.

—The incident was sudden, but it was news from a few days ago, and it happened to coincide with the group's variety show, so it's inevitable that some people will take advantage of it and try to link it to marketing hype.

It was originally a minor matter, and we could have just pretended not to see it, but Chu Yiqi took Xi Ai's matter exceptionally seriously.

Xi Ai seemed to have seen it. After all, Chu Yiqi's alternate account was a long-time fan and even became the moderator of Xi Ai's super topic. So Xi Ai sent Chu Yiqi a private message saying, "Cheer up, don't take it to heart. It's not a big deal, so let's not take it too seriously."

Chu Yiqi chuckled, then thought again, if he were to be exposed, would Xi Ai still maintain this attitude?

Meng Yike interrupted her thoughts: "Qiqi, keep an eye on how much she eats?"

That's enough.

Xi Ai sat for a while, and when she saw Chu Yiqi coming over, she raised her hand and took off the rubber band.

In that instant, her hair came loose, looking as if it were just casually scattered, yet it seemed as if every strand of hair was designed to be placed in the most suitable position.

—After all, I spent an afternoon getting my hair done before coming to participate in the group variety show, so it suits me perfectly.

It could also be that the morning sunlight was just right, enough to fall on people without being dazzling, but it couldn't erase the slight aggression that Xi Ai usually unintentionally exuded.

Anyway, Chu Yiqi paused unconsciously for a moment, and when he looked at Xi Ai, he was less deliberately aloof and indifferent.

When Xi Ai looked over, Chu Yiqi suddenly felt bewitched. When he saw the smile in Xi Ai's eyes, Chu Yiqi slightly suppressed the corners of his mouth, and once again looked like he was saying "Don't come near me".

Having achieved her goal, Xi Ai handed Chu Yiqi the hair tie after she put down the bowl. Then, she used an extra chopstick she had brought to tie up her hair, letting the excess fall over her shoulder.

[My mom is so alluring!]

[To my sister: Hello, I'm getting married.]

[What should I do? I think she's just deliberately trying to seduce Qiqi.]

[No, they call it a romantic, marital atmosphere.]

[Haven't you noticed that you're ignoring the CP (couple) fans' comments every time? Isn't that obvious enough?]

It's a pity that all six of them were focused on eating and didn't have time to watch the comments.

However, judging from these last few messages, there's a high probability of no response. After all, one is busy dealing with a bad ending, and the other only replies when they feel like it.

—Although I'm in a good mood, nothing can stop me from eating.

Whenever it's time to eat at the coffee table, all six of them instinctively shrink down and sit on the floor—for convenience, there's always a circle of fluffy cushions around the coffee table.

[I can't stand them anymore, all they care about is eating.]

[Can you tolerate someone interrupting your meal?]

[No, I'm eating too.]

[I'm dying of laughter. What amazing teamwork they have! They all sat down on the ground in perfect unison.]

[Reflect on your actions, Xi Ai.]

[New fan, why is it her fault again?]

Now someone's watching the live chat. Yu Nianxi teases Xi Ai, and the meatball that Xi Ai painstakingly picked up falls back down.

Xi Ai: "...Taro paste filling!"

"Hey, don't give me nicknames anymore!"

Amid the commotion, Chu Yiqi quietly stood up and brought a spoon to everyone eating noodles.

Xi Ai's mood improved significantly after receiving the spoon; it felt like butterflies were fluttering around her, and she felt incredibly relaxed.

She scooped up a spoonful of soup but didn't drink it, and said, "Okay, let me explain. At first, they all liked to sit on the sofa and isolated me. But I sat on the floor every day, and then Xixi insisted on taking my cushion from me. Yes, it's that pink cat paw from a long time ago."

Yu Nianxi stood up, gestured to the person she was sitting next to, and said, "What do you mean 'your'? It's mine now."

"..." Xi Ai didn't say anything, but her whole expression said, "Have you no shame?"

[I'm into the love-hate relationship between the group's darling and the group's bully.]

[Haha, does Ai Ai have a "mix-and-match" body type? (Yes, I think it's pretty good too)]

Xi Ai glanced at it, didn't reply, and said, "Anyway, with Yu Nianxi starting, it's one to two, two to four... that's how it is."

Actually, Xi Ai deliberately omitted a part of the content. She glanced at Chu Yiqi and found that his chopsticks paused for a moment, and the noodles slid back into the bowl, almost splashing onto Chu Yiqi's white shirt.

-

Actually, after Yu Nianxi, it was still one-to-one communication—Xi Ai brought Chu Yiqi down with them to sit on the ground as well.

Every time Chu Yiqi passed by, if he was wearing wired headphones, Xi Ai would unplug them.

Chu Yiqi ignored it the first couple of times, but one day, she stood there silently for a moment, then suddenly squatted down, took Xi Ai's Bluetooth earphones, and ran away.

Xi Ai wanted to chase after her, but because she was sitting cross-legged, it took her a long time to get up. When she finally caught up, she pressed the other person down to sit next to her and "kindly" gave her half of her newly bought cushion—a flower-shaped cushion.

After that incident, Chu Yiqi started to have preconceived notions, taking Xi Ai's earphones and forcing her to give up her seat.

What started as a little fuss eventually became a habit, except that Chu Yiqi had her own cushion—a butterfly.

But she still liked to sit down and, quite casually, say to Xi Ai, "Move over a bit."

-

This was actually the first group variety show after the group was formed, so as soon as Xi Ai finished speaking, some people realized that she had omitted what the CP fans wanted to hear, and immediately some people went to watch the previous group variety shows.

After successfully leading everyone to their seats, it gradually evolved into them arguing every day about which one they wanted to sit in. Su Luojian simply let them take their seats to their own rooms and bought them a uniform one—a whale shape.

Perhaps it's some kind of tacit understanding, but no one mentioned Xi Ai's injury, and even if a few comments appeared on the screen, they were quickly overshadowed by the rest of the comments.

Meng Yike couldn't find an opportunity to bring it up, so she simply sent Xi Ai a message: [I put some medicine on your bedside table, not sure if it will help.]

Even Meng Yike herself found it absurd after posting it.

When they visited each other on set two years ago, they were still on very good terms and it was obvious they hadn't broken up. But not long after that, Chu Yiqi suddenly went abroad, and Xi Ai suddenly increased her workload.

At that time, they advised Xi Ai: "Why don't you go on a trip, Miss? Why ruin your health like this?"

Xi Ai would always just laugh it off, saying things like "it's nothing," without knowing whether she was trying to comfort herself or them.

She knew that Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi's schedules had overlapped several times. Each time they returned, Xi Ai would relax for a while, and then start to put pressure on herself again.

I thought things would be better now that Chu Yiqi is back, but I have no idea what those two are up to now...

Well, let them handle their own affairs.

Meng Yike shook her head, picking up the pieces of her broken heart.

As Xi Ai looked at the message, a thought almost instantly popped into her head: This isn't like Meng Yike—she wouldn't be at ease until I finished applying the ointment, would she?

Xi Ai suddenly remembered that she had just seen Chu Yiqi go upstairs, but when Chu Yiqi came down, she took a phone stand. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now that she looked at it, it seemed like the timing was right.

Xi Ai smiled silently.

This person has always been like this, incredibly conflicted, yet also very good at loving others.

Composing herself, Xi Ai stood up, but it was impossible for her to help clear the dishes—Meng Yike and Su Luojian both said, "The wounded should all go to the side."

Xi Ai said "Oh," biting the milk straw, and went to sit with Chu Yiqi, but didn't say anything.

After a long pause, Xi Ai said something very unlike her: "I've never asked, how have you been these past two years?"

In fact, there has been very little news about Chu Yiqi in the past two years. Apart from two concerts, there are basically only occasional photos taken on the street.

Xi Ai didn't take the initiative to investigate. She knew that Chu Yiqi didn't want to tell her at the time, so she wanted to wait until Chu Yiqi was willing to tell her one day.

Chu Yiqi was clearly taken aback by Xi Ai's question, and after a while, he chose to downplay it: "Overall, it's okay. I was a little uncomfortable at first."

Xi Ai nodded, not asking about the parts Chu Yiqi didn't want to talk about, but simply smiled and said, "That's good."

They were silent for a long time, so after they finished speaking, the other four people returned.

"Now it's game time. The box on the coffee table is a lottery box. Let's have the representatives draw lots to see what we'll play first this morning."

As soon as Su Luojian spoke, perhaps because they hadn't heard him for a while, the six people inexplicably sat up straight in unison.

Then they looked at each other and burst into laughter, and then began to make meaningless sarcastic remarks.

"What have you done wrong that makes you so afraid of Sister Luo?"

"Stop shaking!"

"Sister Su, please use a notification sound next time. I know you can hear it..."

[Haha, this isn't how you guys used to play escape rooms!]

[Friendly reminder: New fans who want to see more details can watch the first year's group variety show]

Why are you all shouting your own names?

They're still living their own lives.

That's quite accurate. Apart from their group variety shows and annual albums and concerts, they really live their own lives on a regular basis.

Those who studied acting as a related major went on to act in movies.

The dancer went to dance programs and competitions.

They're going on variety shows...

[This is such a jarring contrast, hahaha]

Nie Chuiying glanced at her phone and urged Meng Yike, "Hurry up and draw it, or they'll dig up our embarrassing past if they keep talking."

Meng Yike was forced to grab a piece of paper by several people holding her hands down.

Seeing Yu Nianxi making a fuss, Xi Ai lent a hand. Chu Yiqi glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, and felt that it wouldn't be good for him to not go alone.

Therefore, when Chu Yiqi grabbed Meng Yike's wrist, he inevitably touched Xi Ai's hand.

Xi Ai looked at her hand, her fingertips curling slightly. Chu Yiqi also wanted to pull her hand back for a moment, but she held back, because it would be strange to suddenly pull her hand back.

What is it?