Chapter 7
The frustration after training wrapped Feng Ling's heart like a cold, damp towel. She collapsed on her bed, scrolling aimlessly on her phone, the screen's light illuminating her dazed face. Those lighthearted short videos and social media updates seemed dull now.
Suddenly, with a "ding" sound, a WeChat friend request popped up.
The verification message is simple and clear: [It’s me, Qiqi.]
Feng Ling's heart skipped a beat. Why would he add her? The worst thought flashed through her mind—was her performance today so bad that he was going to personally try to dissuade her? Her fingertips hesitated for a moment between "Accept" and "Ignore," but she finally clicked with some trepidation.
As soon as the friendship was established, a message came in almost immediately:
[You left in a hurry just now and didn’t have time to add you to the group. I’ll add you in now (smiley face emoji)]
So that's why. Feng Ling breathed a sigh of relief, but then a deeper dilemma emerged. The more she felt this seemingly ordinary consideration, the more she couldn't accept the fact that she might become the team's weak link. The cursor in the dialog box flickered. She typed a few words and deleted them, repeating this several times, unsure how to express her budding desire to quit.
Just as she was organizing her words, Qiqi's message popped up again, as if it could penetrate the screen and sense her emotions:
[It’s great to be able to do this at the beginning. You have to believe in yourself, and even more importantly, believe in my vision (proud emoji)]
Those words, like a warm current, instantly melted the ice in her heart. Feng Ling stared blankly at the screen, her nose aching. She hadn't expected that he understood all her unspoken frustration and self-doubt, and gave her answers and support in such a relaxed and firm way.
Never mind. She took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing those chaotic thoughts. Since it has come, I'll just make the best of it and take it one step at a time.
[Okay.] She replied, simply but with a determination to stay.
Soon, she was added to a WeChat group called "Qi's Babies." The group was bustling with activity, everyone discussing where to celebrate their first team-building event. Feng Ling, habitually lurking, quietly changed her group username to her real name. She noticed that An Hesu's profile picture was a deep black hole, his nickname being his real name, as always, fitting his aloof, night-like demeanor. Like her, he remained silent amid the boisterous discussion, like two invisible beings.
In the end, everyone decided to go to KTV after training on Saturday.
***
Another exhausting training session concluded. Feng Ling dragged her exhausted body into the locker room and changed out of her sweat-soaked training clothes. She donned a white V-neck polo shirt and a long skirt with dark black lace. The simple, clean combination accentuated her delicate and gentle temperament. Her hair, still wet with shampoo, fell softly over her shoulders, still lingering with the freshness of shampoo. Like green grass after rain, it exuded a pure and fragile feeling.
She walked out of the dressing room, waiting to rejoin the others. Tiantian passed by her, her gaze lingering briefly before she shifted away expressionlessly, walking to the other side to wait alone. Feng Ling could sense a lack of kindness in her gaze. Ever since joining the team, Tiantian seemed to have harbored a certain inexplicable distance from her. Not wanting to stir up trouble, Feng Ling feigned ignorance, maintaining a surface of calm.
"Is everyone here? Let's go!" Qiqi called out to everyone. When her eyes swept over Feng Ling, they visibly lit up. She unconsciously clenched her hands hanging at her sides, then quickly adjusted her expression, covering up her momentary loss of composure with a hearty smile. She pushed An Hesu, who was leaning against the wall next to her, and said, "Let's go, Hesu."
No one noticed that before Feng Ling came out, An Hesu had been leaning silently against the corner with his eyes lowered, but he used his peripheral vision to see the entire process of her moving from the changing room to the moment she stopped to wait.
On the way to the KTV, a group of young people were making a lot of noise, and the atmosphere was lively. Xiaodi took the initiative and suggested, "Hey, let's rank the team! Qiqi is definitely our boss! I'm 16, Tiantian, Awei, and Jiezi are all 17, and An Hesu is the youngest at 15. Feng Ling, Feifei, how old are you two?"
"I'm 16 too." Feifei said.
Feng Ling replied softly: "I'm 18."
"OK! Done!" Xiao Di clapped his hands. "Then from now on, Sister Ling, please take good care of us brothers and sisters!"
Feng Ling was infected by their lively atmosphere and couldn't help but smile and joked with them: "Okay, you little guys, you better be obedient from now on!"
It suddenly dawned on her that in this group with a relatively young average age, she had truly become the "older sister." No wonder they were so boundless with energy. This discovery struck her as somewhat novel, as if she had found a niche, a little beyond her dancing abilities. In the night, a group of people made their way noisily toward the KTV. Feng Ling walked in the middle, feeling much more relaxed than she had been when class ended.
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