Chapter 4: Just a Little Bit

"Did you invite Xingzhi too? Xingzhi, we're old friends. I was thinking since we haven't been on a reality show in a while, we should team up together for the first stop so we can take care of each other."

Chen Xi said with a smile, glanced at Ren Limeng and Xu Chichi, then turned to look at Shen Xingzhi.

Chen Xingzhi has not been a regular on any reality show in the past two years, but he and Chen Xi both participated in a music variety show on the Pitaya platform last year. The adapted songs they sang together were all over the major platforms. Their complementary timbres and the tacit eye contact between the performances made the audience talk about it with relish.

But Ren Limeng didn't care about these things now. She just wanted to know where did the "also" come from? When did she invite Shen Xingzhi?

Just kidding, if she had the courage to invite Shen Xingzhi, she would have spoken directly to Chen He long ago.

Ren Limeng put on a polite smile and was just about to politely ask Chen Xi to "do as she please" and not involve her when she heard Xu Chichi's timid but firm voice, "Sister Chen Xi, I'm sorry, I didn't know you also wanted to ask Brother Xingzhi out. How about we all go together!"

Xu Chichi...agreed with Chen Xi's words?

Ren Limeng tilted her head slightly, thinking rapidly in her mind, but after thinking about it, she did not invite Shen Xingzhi, except...Xu Chichi's words before the performance - "The three of us can be together."

At that time, she nodded politely but did not respond, and Shen Xingzhi did not say a word from beginning to end. If this could be considered as reaching the intention of forming a team, then the mutual courtesy after everyone entered the door just now could be linked to a series of "two-way rush".

"That's fine. The four of us plus Yue Qian will make the right number."

Although the team formation rules had not yet been announced, Chen Xi spoke nonchalantly, with the confidence that she was sure to win. As a top female singer signed to Le Yu, one of the four major agencies in the circle, she was indeed confident.

The "Yue Qian" that Chen Xi mentioned is the young actor that her agency has been promoting in the past two years, and it is also the "buy one get one free" that is commonly accepted in the circle.

"Sure! A combination like ours will definitely be fun!"

Xu Chichi took over the conversation somewhat anxiously, as if he wanted to quickly finalize the matter with Shen Xingzhi and others.

She actually didn’t expect that Shen Xingzhi would actually agree to team up with them.

Just now, after Ren Limeng got up to record the first stage, Xu Chichi vaguely noticed that Chen Xingzhi seemed to pay special attention to Ren Limeng, the first guest who volunteered to perform.

Even though she had other plans before the recording, Xu Chichi's understanding of Shen Xingzhi was not completely false. As a long-time fan of Shen Xingzhi in front of the camera, she was unwilling to miss the opportunity to team up with Shen Xingzhi.

Xu Chichi mustered up the courage to try again, and once again took the initiative to invite Shen Xingzhi to team up with them. Frankly speaking, she didn't hold much hope, but after Shen Xingzhi looked at her for half a second, he suddenly nodded indifferently as if inexplicably.

Xu Chichi did not mention this matter to Ren Limeng. Ren Limeng was just an unknown host who was slotted in by the platform. It was a stroke of luck that she could rely on her to get close to Shen Xingzhi and join a good team on the variety show. Xu Chichi never considered the possibility that Ren Limeng might be unwilling.

Ren Limeng was indeed a little conflicted. Putting aside her past with Shen Xingzhi, rationally speaking, Shen Xingzhi was not inferior to Chen He in any aspect and was a strong contender for the championship team. She was not sure whether Chen He would choose her. If Shen Xingzhi agreed to be on the same team with her now, it seemed that letting things take their course would be a good choice.

She came to "Twenty Changes of Mountains and Seas" with a clear purpose. In order to achieve her wish, it is not unacceptable for her to work with the popular star Shen Xingyi.

Even though she has a lot of thoughts in her mind, Ren Limeng is still confident that she can perform well in front of the camera. She is already 32 years old, and she doesn't like to flatter and curry favor with others as an adult, but she is not incapable of it.

However, this team-up was very sudden and weird.

Ren Limeng listened quietly to Xu Chichi, Chen Xi and Yue Qian hitting it off, and glanced at Xu Chichi with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"There are too many people, no."

Shen Xingzhi's five light words immediately broke the happy atmosphere around them. He looked around at the other female guests who came to greet him, smiled faintly and suggested, "You find another team, I'm withdrawing."

"Too many? Xingzhi, aren't the five of us just right?"

Chen Xi's smile froze for a moment. Without Shen Xingzhi, there would be no need for her to agree to form a team with the two little stars in front of her.

"Chen Xi, if you want to take Yue Qian, I will naturally take Li Qingzi with me as well."

Shen Xingzhi's smile was playful and a little cold, which made everyone around him silent for a moment.

Ren Limeng subconsciously looked at the cameras around her. This first meeting was not a live broadcast, but even if it was a recording, in public, wasn't Shen Xingzhi's expression too straightforward?

Li Qingzi is a popular young actress promoted by Hanxing, the agency of Chen Xingzhi. She debuted as an idol singer and started filming idol dramas two years ago. Because she, like Chen Xingzhi, is under the management of Xu Jiao, the ace agent of Hanxing, she has been marketing the character of Chen Xingzhi's junior sister for many years.

Ren Limeng quickly recalled the impression in her mind. Apart from being Shen Xingzhi's junior sister, Li Qingzi only had one label that caused heated discussion - her age.

According to Baidu Encyclopedia, Li Qingzi was born in 2010 and is one of the post-2010 young actresses, but she debuted through a talent show in 2026, and she introduced herself as 18 years old that year.

What’s even more interesting is that the age requirement for guests on “Twenty Changes of Mountains and Seas” is 25+. In 2034, there is no way that the young actresses born after 2010 can reach 25 years old, except for the vague age in Chinese years.

It's a standard package deal, or a "buy one get one free" variety show. After all, it's the top singer Chen Xingzhi, and his appearance fee cannot be paid for by money alone.

Chen Xi also reacted immediately. Unlike some guests who looked surprised and nervous, when he heard Shen Xingzhi's words, Chen Xi just smiled bitterly as if it was a matter of course.

She and Shen Xingzhi have worked together several times. Even in the last live broadcast of the music variety show, Shen Xingzhi was still so willful, even more indifferent.

When Chen Xingzhi is in a good mood, he has a friendly and polite smile on his face, and he is gentle in his courtesy. But once he gets annoyed, his face becomes cold and makes people retreat three feet away, coupled with his frightening words, making every variety show crew love and hate him.

But he is Shen Xingzhi.

Although his debut variety show was badly edited from beginning to end, Shen Xingzhi was still able to reverse the first place with his looks and strength. The program teams of all platforms could only avoid him. They wanted the traffic he brought, but had to make risk plans in advance for his impulsiveness.

"I'd better withdraw. This way, the five of you will be just right. I have other potential partners, so now everyone's problems can be solved."

Ren Limeng's relaxed tone instantly broke the stagnant atmosphere around her and cleverly demonstrated the host's professional ability to control the situation.

Resolving embarrassment is the host’s specialty, and making moderate concessions is the presence of the little transparent person.

Besides, Shen Xingzhi was not her first choice.

"No need. Let's talk about forming a team first. There's no need to be so rigid until the rules are finalized."

Shen Xingzhi raised his eyelids slightly, glanced at Chen He next to the host desk, and turned his half-smiled gaze to Ren Limeng who was chatting and laughing.

Until Shen Xingzhi went to wait for the first stage, Ren Limeng couldn't help but recall his expression just now.

Why did she feel that Shen Xingzhi was a little emotional after hearing what she said just now?

Is it an illusion?

She showed her style and took the initiative to give up the team, so that everyone's problems were solved. It would be fine if he didn't appreciate her, but why did he act so arrogantly?

This personality is the same as before.

Ren Limeng suddenly remembered her sophomore year, when they were competing for the host of a large-scale evening party on campus. It was the end of the semester and she was too busy to attend. Before the final round of interviews, Ren Limeng hesitated and decided to give up. When she went out, she happened to meet Chen Xingzhi. He had the same expression and said indifferently, "You haven't been selected yet, why are you worrying so much in advance?"

Her major in Chinese Language and Literature required her to memorize all the time, and she also had to prepare for her minor in Broadcasting and Hosting. He had a nonchalant expression as if “time is like water in a sponge”, but she was still completely captivated by his words and squeezed her time without hesitation!

When Ren Limeng thought about that time, she was simply exhausted during that period, but when she thought about how Chen Xingzhi could host the show with full energy, she was simply obsessed.

Sure enough, they are not suitable!

When she was young, she might have been dazzled by his appearance, but now she thinks it’s all fleeting!

After overcoming many difficulties to graduate with a doctorate and working at the grassroots level in the agricultural channel, she is no longer so superficial!

But, after so many years, why is "The End of an Autumn Hair" still so good to listen to?

Ren Limeng sighed quietly, propped up her head, and stared quietly at the live stage performance of Shen Xingzhichu broadcast on the screen, with a bit of complexity unconsciously in her eyes.

"The Tip of an Autumn Hair" was Shen Xingzhi's famous song back then. The elegant piano fingering combined with Shen Xingzhi's clear voice when singing gave him a sense of coldness and abstinence, like a bright and solitary moon hanging high in the sky, out of reach, just like the lyrics say, "The stars in the universe will eventually die out, and the vast Milky Way will hang in the sky between our heads."

"The End of an Autumn Hair" was first sung at the graduation party of CTU in 2023. That year, Chen Xingzhi was a senior and Ren Limeng was a junior.

They were the male and female hosts of the evening party. As a graduate of that year, Chen Xingzhi put down his hosting manuscript for the first time on stage and performed his original songs. His handsome and unassuming appearance seemed to shine brightly under the spotlight. It was uploaded to social media by an unknown classmate and immediately went viral.

Then Shen Xingzhi signed a contract with Hanxing Entertainment, and a few months later participated in the talent show "Idol Signal" and made his debut.

Ren Limeng still doesn't know what kind of mood Chen Xingzhi was in at that time. Facing the ever-changing graduation season, she doesn't understand why Chen Xingzhi sang "The End of an Autumn Hair" on the variety show "Twenty Changes of Mountains and Seas".

As far as she knows, Shen Xingzhi has never sung this song again since he entered the entertainment industry.

During the past ten years, despite the enthusiastic calls from fans, Shen Xingzhi has never talked about this song and has never performed it in public.

Is it because Shen Xingzhi's contract is about to expire and he wants to start over?

It’s worthy of being a breakup variety show that’s been circulating on the Internet. It’s really interesting.

Amidst a myriad of thoughts, Chen Xingzhi had already reached his climax. His thick eyelashes drooped, his high nose bridge was cold, and his sexy Adam's apple emitted an indifferent yet high-pitched voice—"Stars are like you and me, the Milky Way is like a passing meteor, the dust in the universe, a drop in the ocean, but the tip of a hair, yet it also shines with a thousand-foot brilliance, the sun and the moon are in my arms!"

The overwhelming sense of immersion briefly confused time, and Ren Limeng's arms were covered with goose bumps, as if she was back to the graduation party ten years ago.

But... at that time, her eyes were full of stars and she felt uncontrollable heartache, but now, it is more of a sigh.

To life, and to them.

Now, she no longer has the confusion of college, and she no longer confines herself to a certain area, doubting herself and sighing to others: "Senior, we are all so insignificant, just like these stars tonight, which are completely non-existent in the darkness!"