The first wish failed
After returning home, Song Shiyu sank into the large and soft sofa in the living room. Outside the window was the glittering city night scene, but he ignored it and replayed the brief meeting with Ji Zhiqi during the day in his mind.
Those cold eyes, that distant yet polite demeanor, were like a tiny feather, constantly plucking at his heartstrings, bringing with it waves of indescribable throbbing and... unwillingness.
UU lay on his shoulder and could clearly feel the chaotic emotional fluctuations in the host's heart, like a pool of water disturbed by the spring breeze.
She tilted her round body and stared at Song Shiyu's changing profile with her small black eyes.
Silence spread throughout the room. After a long moment, Song Shiyu, seemingly having finally made up his mind, sat up straight and carefully lifted UU from his shoulder. His eyes lit up with a startling intensity, and he lowered his voice and spoke, "I'm going to go all in!"
"UU, I want to make a wish!"
Upon hearing this, UU's entire translucent body expanded at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a blown, shiny bubble, representing her instant surge of emotions.
Here it comes! Is the host finally going to use this incredibly precious opportunity to accomplish something "big"? Will he make Ji Zhiqi fall in love with him instantly? Or will he make the Song Group the global entertainment giant?
Then his mission can be accomplished!
However, Song Shiyu's next words, like a fine needle, accurately punctured UU's inflated expectations.
"——Let Ji Zhiqi smile at me, just once, with a sincere smile." His tone even had a hint of embarrassment and shyness.
“…”
UU's inflated body froze instantly, and then, like a punctured balloon, the air leaked out with a whoosh. Immediately afterwards, a hollow, shrill roar of disappointment exploded in Song Shiyu's mind:
"Song Shiyu! You are useless!!!!!"
UU was so angry that she danced wildly in Song Shiyu's palm, her short fingers almost wanting to poke his nose, and the halo around her turned light pink because of anger.
Song Shiyu's ears were buzzing from the sudden "spiritual roar." He quickly used his other hand to gently stroke UU's "furry" body, his tone full of soothing and flattering words: "Alright, alright, don't be angry, UU, calm down, calm down... Look at you, you're so angry that you look like a pink glutinous rice cake..."
"How can I stay calm!" UU's voice was trembling. "Do you know how precious this opportunity is?! Even if you wish for him to fall in love with you immediately, I'd consider you ambitious!"
Song Shiyu looked at the little ghost who was about to evaporate with excitement. The smile on his face slowly faded, and was replaced by an extremely rare seriousness and stubbornness that penetrated deep into his eyes.
He shook his head, his voice low and clear, with unquestionable determination, his eyes cast towards the endless night outside the window, as if he could penetrate the space and lock onto that cold figure.
"What I want is for Ji Zhiqi to be with me willingly, and to like me because I am Song Shiyu, not because of some inexplicable wish or the result imposed by any external force."
His eyes were firm, as if he was stating a truth: "Love gained through wishing, what's the difference between that and the exquisite toys sold in the window with a price tag? That's not what I want. I want the real him, his real reactions, his real heartbeats. Even if the process is slow, difficult, like a snail's pace, I'm willing to wait, willing to fight for it bit by bit."
The intense pink glow around UU slowly subsided and turned back into a soft milky white.
She looked at the pure and burning flame in Song Shiyu's eyes, which was called "Ji Zhiqi", and was choked for a moment.
This was the first time in twenty-three years that Song Shiyu had formally discussed the use of wishes, and the content was so... innocent and even childish, but the determination behind it was so mature and stubborn.
She exuded a helpless resentment, like a low-pressure cloud floating in Song Shiyu's palm.
Song Shiyu felt her softening, and gently ran his fingers along her round body, as if he was stroking the fur of a kitten.
In the quiet night, one man and one soul temporarily put aside the somewhat heavy topic of "wishes".
------
At night, at the Song family's old house.
Different from the modern coldness of the Song Dynasty and the apartments, the old house exudes warmth and solemnity with a profound cultural heritage.
Mahogany furniture, famous calligraphy and paintings, and the air filled with the faint fragrance of sandalwood and tea, everything speaks of the extraordinary and profound history of this family.
In the dining room, the family gathered around the long pearwood dining table.
Grandpa sat in the main seat with an energetic look, looking dignified without being angry; father Song Zhengting looked at the tablet in his hand, handling official business with a calm expression; mother Ruan Ning was whispering to the servants to serve the dishes, looking elegant and capable.
The atmosphere is warm and ordinary.
During the meal, Ruan Ning put down her chopsticks, wiped the corner of her mouth gracefully, and cast her eyes on her youngest son with a subtle inquiry: "Xiaojiu, you went to the company today and negotiated the contract for 'Tears of the Starry Sky'. I think you did a great job. If you're interested, I'll arrange for you to join the company tomorrow."
Her tone was calm, but she instantly captured the attention of everyone at the table.
Father Song Zhengting raised his head from behind the tablet and pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.
Even the grandfather put down his spoon and looked at his favorite grandson.
Song Shiyu's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface and nodded obediently: "Yeah, I went to take a look."
Ruan Ning smiled slightly and said, "Then let's start by familiarizing ourselves with the entertainment department?"
If it were in the past, Song Shiyu would definitely find various excuses to shirk responsibility and continue his carefree life of "living a life of luxury and idleness, eating and waiting for death".
But today, he almost didn't hesitate at all and readily agreed: "Okay, then I'll trouble you, Mom. You can decide the position and I'll learn slowly."
His mind raced with calculations: Joining the company would be a legitimate opportunity! It would give him more contact with Ji Zhiqi, which would be perfectly logical! In the future, he would have more opportunities to get closer to him under the guise of "work"! This was a godsend! Hmm! Why hadn't he thought of this before?
UU squatted on Song Shiyu's shoulder. Others couldn't see her, but she could see clearly the host's excited and secret thoughts.
Looking at the familiar and "stupid" longing light that had rekindled in Song Shiyu's eyes, she instantly became furious, her body heaving slightly like a pufferfish that was puffed up with anger.
Loser! So loser! His ultimate goal in joining the company was still Ji Zhiqi! Was the Song family's foundation just a stepping stone to chase men in his eyes?!
Song Shiyu agreed so readily that the other family members at the table were a little surprised.
A hint of surprise flashed across his father Song Zhengting's steady gaze, but he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Since you've made the decision, do it well."
Grandpa was even more direct, his voice as resonant as a bell, filled with unquestionable doting: "Xiaojiu, if you want to go out and play, go ahead. If you don't want to work anymore, come back anytime. Our family is not unable to support you, so don't put yourself in a difficult position, okay?"
Song Shiyu felt warm in his heart, and looked at his grandfather with gratitude in his eyes: "I know, Grandpa, don't worry, since I plan to go, I will do my best."
------
After dinner, Song Shiyu did not return to his apartment, but chose to stay in the old house.
After washing away his fatigue, he put on comfortable silk pajamas and leaned against the head of the bed, but he was not sleepy at all.
He picked up the tablet and swiped his finger across the screen, almost instinctively searching for all the information about Ji Zhiqi.
Focus on searching: recent concerts.
In the past three years, he has had countless resources and opportunities, and can easily get tickets for the best seats at any concert and even arrange private meetings.
But he never went.
In the past, he was content to be a silent promoter behind the scenes, and felt that watching the light through the screen was already an extra gift from fate.
He was afraid that if he got too close, he would break the perfect illusion he had carefully constructed in his mind. He was also afraid that his identity as the "behind-the-scenes financial backer" would tarnish the achievements Ji Zhiqi had gained through his talent and hard work, making everything impure.
However, the brief meeting of just over ten minutes this afternoon was like a key that unexpectedly opened the door in his heart that had been closed for three years.
After seeing the real him and feeling the cool breath that was so close yet so far away, Song Shiyu could no longer be satisfied with just looking at him from afar.
The silent seed called secret love, after absorbing real nutrients, began to break out of the ground frantically, longing for more sunshine and rain.
He wanted to be close to him.
I want to listen to his live performance and feel the life-like light burning on the stage; I want to witness with my own eyes what kind of heart-shaking charm Ji Zhiqi has under the spotlight, who vents all his emotions and strength in drum beats and singing, and which is completely different from his cold and aloof private life.
Song Shiyu muttered to himself, his fingertips finally resting on the promotional page for the first stop of a tour concert called "Chasing the Light" which would be held in a month.
Ji Zhiqi on the poster is looking up slightly with his eyes closed. A beam of strong light pours down from the top of his head, casting shadows on his long eyelashes and straight nose. He is as beautiful as an angel who is about to break free from his shackles and ascend to heaven, yet with a sense of fragile fragility.
"From now on, I will go to every one of his concerts." He vowed to himself in his heart, his fingers gently stroking Ji Zhiqi's face on the poster, "Starting from this one."
He wants to step out from behind the scenes and onto the stage, from a distant guardian to a pursuer trying to get closer.
After three years of secret love, it's time to try to touch the real light.
UU, who was squatting beside the pillow, looked at the host who was immersed in the "Ji Zhiqi fantasy" and quickly switched to the "business elite" mode, and silently and desperately covered her eyes with her two small hands again.
There's no hope, really.
This man is beyond saving.
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