Old photos of the Wei and Jin Dynasties

Even now, this statement still seems quite fitting for Chu Yiqi.

Time and again, self-abandonment, destruction, and then rebirth. Repeated self-questioning, doubt, and finally, unwavering resolve. Each and every event ultimately shaped "Chu Yiqi".

The dream ended a week after the initial group assignments, at the lawn concert. Zhou Yangxi's Polaroid camera wasn't confiscated, so she wandered around the venue with it.

Then take photos secretly.

Xi Ai, of course, wouldn't allow the filming, mainly because she didn't trust Zhou Yangxi's skills.

So before the show even started, the two of them staged a chase scene, but they couldn't escape.

Halfway through her run, Xi Ai glanced back at Zhou Yangxi and unexpectedly bumped into someone who suddenly took a step in front of her. Xi Ai quickly stopped and apologized, saying "I'm sorry" and "It's okay, it's okay" repeatedly. Then, Xi Ai suddenly looked up—oh no, it was Chu Yiqi.

Zhou Yangxi was also stunned, and then suddenly realized that this was a great opportunity.

"Hey Xi Ai!" Zhou Yangxi stood there, one hand on her hip, as if she was tired from running. "Why don't you and Yi Qi stand together and take a picture?"

Xi Ai almost blurted out, "Why?"

Chu Yiqi glanced at her but didn't say anything.

"Since we're going to film everything anyway, why don't I film it all together?"

This time, Chu Yiqi didn't give Xi Ai's sharp tongue any chance to get away with it, and preemptively took the high ground: "Don't struggle, it's being broadcast live today, the teacher over there has already filmed it."

Xi Ai froze and asked her, "When did it start?"

"From the time you started acting out classic idol drama storylines."

Xi Ai: "..."

Zhou Yangxi over there didn't hear what they were whispering about, but seeing the two of them cooperating so well, she quickly snapped a few pictures.

Of course, this became their first "minor breakthrough." Later, in the CP fan community, people would always bring up this part, slandering Xi Ai for doing it on purpose from that time.

He deliberately bumped into Chu Yiqi, and then they ended up in the same frame.

What do you mean by "incompatible as fire and water"? It's just a trick by the younger generation and the older generation's indulgence.

Xi Ai responded with: "..."

Although I do like Chu Yiqi very much, I really don't have any, and I'm going to beat the drum to appeal for justice!

Xi Ai's dream stopped at this moment. She opened her eyes, turned off the alarm clock, closed them again after a moment, and filled in the rest of the dream herself.

That was the first time she spoke up for Chu Yiqi; it was an unconscious response that came from a moment of absentmindedness.

"What do you mean by 'autumn is the deadline'? It means that everything in the future is still within reach."

Xi Ai couldn't recall Chu Yiqi's expression, or rather, she couldn't describe it, so she had no choice but to sit up and pick out clothes.

Xi Ai grabbed her phone and went downstairs. When she saw someone suddenly appear in the kitchen, she lost her footing on the last step.

Xi Ai gripped her phone tightly as she reached for the railing.

Chu Yiqi looked utterly miserable, but she couldn't spare a hand to help Xi Ai up—she was holding a hot milk in one hand and a sandwich in the other, standing there quietly opening her eyes to see if Xi Ai had fallen.

“Oh my God!” Xi Ai said unconsciously in French, her head lowered as she raised her hand to smooth her hair.

Chu Yiqi understood what Xi Ai meant, so when Xi Ai saw Chu Yiqi smiling with pursed lips, then walking over, her tone sounding strange: "Teacher Xi, are you alright?"

Xi Ai stood up straight, her smile perfectly timed: "It's all good, isn't it? Good morning, Teacher Chu."

Chu Yiqi was also tactful and didn't mention Xi Ai's awkward situation that morning, saying, "It's your first official day at work, so be professional."

"Don't fall asleep once you get on the bus." Xi Ai hadn't actually fallen; she was just startled, so she recovered quickly and teased him with a smile.

"..."

Indeed, the people who know you best are yourself, your nemesis, and your lover.

For Xi Ai, someone you used to be at odds with but who is now your lover, max out your skill points.

That hit the nail on the head.

"Okay, mute it."

As soon as Chu Yiqi finished speaking, he wanted to hit himself, but it was too late.

Fortunately, Xi Ai didn't deliberately point out this "well-behaved" aspect.

Xi Ai said, "Okay."

After saying that, Xi Ai went to the kitchen, intending to have something to eat first.

Xi Ai had just walked around the glass of milk that Chu Yiqi was holding, which had a terrible sweet smell, when she almost tripped over it again.

The door in front suddenly opened.

Then two people stood at the door.

Xi Ai was quite speechless this morning.

Chu Yiqi felt an overwhelming urge to laugh, and it took her a lot of effort to swallow the milk. Then she laughed nonstop next to Xi Ai.

Once Xi Ai had recovered, she glared at Chu Yiqi with resentment, took a deep breath, blinked suddenly, and let Chu Yiqi go.

Because Xi Ai smelled the aroma of egg tarts and soufflés, and maybe something else, but she couldn't tell the difference.

She turned her head and stared at Chu Yiqi again. Chu Yiqi's sandwich had already been half taken by Yu Nianxi.

Chu Yiqi glanced at Xi Ai, then at his own half-eaten sandwich, and decisively gave half of it to Meng Yike.

"You're welcome, goodbye Sister Meng."

Meng Yike had no choice but to accept it, and then witnessed Chu Yiqi run back and pick out a soufflé with mango in it.

Yes, with breakfast prepared by Sister Luo's family as a bonus, who would bother to cook for themselves?

So Xi Ai took the bag, put it on the table, and picked one out for Chu Yiqi after a while. She then chose one with mango sauce for him.

Chu Yiqi's hand stopped in mid-air. After hesitating for a moment, she took it and then handed the green grape she saw next to her to Xi Ai.

It was like a silent exchange of equivalents.

They switched to a situation where neither owes the other anything.

Su Luojian silently watched everything, and only after they each took their own copy did she say, "Okay, let's have a little something to eat first. Anyway, we've already decided on the style and stuff, so maybe we can finish shooting this afternoon."

"Okay."

Xi Ai decisively gave up on the milk and went to get her small thermos, only to find that tea had already been brewed inside.

Xi Ai slowly turned her head to look at Chu Yiqi, who confessed without being asked: "I cut too many lemons when I was cutting them."

Chu Yiqi then raised his glass and swirled it. Xi Ai nodded and said "thank you" again.

Actually, it's quite easy to tell whether Chu Yiqi did it on purpose.

Because the two of them always had different tastes; Xi Ai hated all kinds of flower tea, but Chu Yiqi especially liked it.

Moreover, Chu Yiqi doesn't like lemons and repeatedly complained, "It's really vicious to add lemons to water."

Faced with this, Xi Ai, who always wanted lemon in her soup, could only remain silent, and then witnessed Chu Yiqi also choosing to remain silent in the eerie silence.

Early in the morning, someone who must have had a grudge against lemons in their past life was actually cutting lemons, and cutting too many of them.

That's really strange.

But Xi Ai, being such an understanding person, would never undermine Chu Yiqi.

Chu Yiqi slept all the way to her destination, and in her dream she found a great pillow that was just the right height.

Although the cushion itself is very thin, and the knitted dress I'm wearing today doesn't cover my shoulders, it's a little uncomfortable.

But her hand was unconsciously tugging at the other person's sleeve.

Faced with this, Ms. Chu, who woke up to find that the pillow she had been leaning against the whole way was Xi Ai's, could only stand there frozen, quietly witnessing Xi Ai wake her up and then get off the bus as if no one else was there.

"Why...didn't you call me before you went?"

Xi Ai casually made up an excuse, not caring whether Chu Yiqi believed her or not: "I was asleep just now and didn't notice."

The person who fell asleep first couldn't refute it, nor did they have any evidence, so they could only believe it, and then asked with extra politeness, "Um, is your hand... alright?"

Xi Ai looked at her arm. The sleeve was just enough to cover the injury, and the clothes she would be wearing later would also be long-sleeved, so it was fine. As long as she could deceive Chu Yiqi, everything would be alright.

"It's okay, it wasn't serious to begin with, it's almost over."

It's not much better, just a slight ache, and I don't know if it's just psychological.

Xi Ai finished her makeup quite quickly, so she quietly slipped out, wandered around the company with her thermos, and finally went to Chu Yiqi's place.

"Why is Teacher Xi here?" Chu Yiqi looked in the mirror and saw her face.

Xi Ai said casually, "Oh, I'm here to supervise the work, after all, it's Teacher Chu's first day back in the country."

"..."

The makeup artist was picking out lipstick shades, and Xi Ai looked at them by the door. After looking back, she turned back and said, "How about K7? It would suit this makeup better."

The makeup artist quickly took it out to compare and nodded, "Yes, thank you, Teacher Xi."

Xi Ai took one last look and turned around.

Chu Yiqi followed Xi Ai's gaze and saw the charm on the makeup artist's crossbody bag.

It is a custom acrylic keychain.

Above is... a picture of her and Xi Ai.

It's a picture from a traditional Chinese style gala several years ago.

It was when she and Xi Ai had a somewhat ambiguous relationship but weren't actually together.

*

Are you coming or not?

The others have been busy filming variety shows lately, so she only asked Xi Ai.

Although subjectively she was most looking forward to Xi Ai's appearance, she still wanted to find an excuse for herself: it was only because Xi Ai was free—Xi Ai's movie hadn't filmed her scenes for the past few days, so she had been clocking in and out for work and working overtime.

Xi Ai thought to herself, "Of course I'll come!" but her reply was: "[Guess!]"

No guessing.

Chu Yiqi put down her phone and let the makeup artist apply her eye makeup.

"Teacher Chu, do you want to see this message?" Upon hearing the notification sound, the makeup artist paused after finishing her makeup and waited for Chu Yiqi.

"No rush, let's finish drawing first."

The makeup artist was happy with this arrangement and didn't say anything.

About ten minutes later, Chu Yiqi pulled his hand out of his sleeve.

The message came from Xi Ai.

[The map refreshed randomly, and I was spotted holding a camera.]

Chu Yiqi laughed for a while, then pressed the voice button and said, "There must be a delay, right?"

Xi Ai replied quickly: "No, even if it's delayed, you still have to look at my side, otherwise it's not my fault if the photo doesn't look good."

"I look at others, I look at my fan site admin."

Xi Ai: "Then look."

Chu Yiqi could tell that Xi Ai's anger wasn't genuine, and she said, "No, I am a wise ruler, and I will bestow my favor equally upon all."

That day, in addition to the fashion show, Chu Yiqi also had a song and dance performance. Under Chu Yiqi's gaze, Xi Ai was led over by the staff and sat in the front row.

So this is another example of sponsor privileges, isn't it?

Chu Yiqi stared at Xi Ai, watching her put down her camera and quietly watch the fashion show behind her.

Once on her own stage, Xi Ai sat upright and watched the second half of the performance. As for the first half, she professionally held up her camera and snapped away.

Chu Yiqi's gaze was always directed in that direction.

The person in the audience wore a wine-red long dress, with a white shawl and half-loose hair. The tassels on her earrings were hidden in her hair, and they shimmered faintly under the lights.

Xi Ai originally raised her hand to press down her hair, but the angle and timing of the photo taken by the CP fans were exceptionally perfect.

In one photograph, light falls, and Xi Ai reaches out as if trying to see the person on stage through the light, wanting to touch them but unable to.

A gaze that cannot transcend time.

After the event, the two walked out of the backstage area together, side by side.

Xi Ai then left first, wearing a mask as she walked forward, while Chu Yiqi stood in place watching her leave.

They haven't seen each other much lately, so any brief encounters must be used to their fullest potential, until the very end.

So Xi Ai turned around and looked at Chu Yiqi, who was all alone. Across the crowd, on one side was the shadowy scene of an empty stage with lanterns swaying in the Wei and Jin dynasties, and on the other side was the modern scene of lights gradually coming on and people singing and dancing.

The event wasn't even completely over when the photos started circulating online. Because it featured the two of them together, fans of the couple were especially excited.

[This sense of destiny is killing me! (But why does it also have a sad ending vibe? (í _ ì)]

[Seriously, sisters, so many of their pictures have a sense of redemption. Can anyone understand why?]

...

*

Chu Yiqi pursed her lipstick and looked at the pendant again. It was from the scene where Xi Ai had reached out during the performance, which was the moment of tragedy on stage.

Xi Ai had already been called away, and Chu Yiqi no longer looked at the pendant.

“Sis!”

"Yes, I'm here, Sister Luo."