Chu Yueyi quietly sipped her coffee while listening to music through her earphones, mentally rehearsing her performance. She had already forgotten the earlier incident, as if she had never gone to speak with Director Qin.
After pondering for a few seconds, Li You finally couldn't help but speak up, hesitantly saying, "Director Qin actually knows what he's doing. Why did you need to intervene?"
Hu Ke's status was still too low, and his words wouldn't influence many people. The entertainment industry always favors the famous and tramples the unknown. People only pay attention to those with great renown, who cares about minor flaws beneath the glory? As long as you're popular enough, you can keep going - that's how realistic the entertainment world is.
Chu Yueyi clearly understood this better than anyone, yet she still resolutely stood up. This was exactly what puzzled Li You.
Chu Yueyi set down her coffee cup and said leisurely, "Because I'm righteous, as you've said, Sister You."
Li You: "I'm being serious here."
Chu Yueyi: "I just can't stand seeing people bully those who aren't good with words. What's the point of only picking on the meek? It'd be more interesting to challenge someone who can actually talk back."
Chu Yueyi wouldn't normally go out of her way to put others in their place. She was a hundred times more savvy than Hu Ke, and using someone's own tactics against them would be so much more satisfying.
Listening to the artist's evasive answer, Li You fell silent for a moment before speaking frankly, "Yueyi, you actually have a habit. It's not usually obvious, but once you consider someone part of your inner circle, it becomes quite apparent."
"You seem to treat everyone equally well, but for certain special people, you clearly behave differently."
Chu Yueyi cared for others impartially, but when it came to people she truly cared about, they would receive distinctly preferential treatment. Others usually wouldn't notice, only realizing the huge difference when that person appeared and they could make a real comparison.
Hearing this, Chu Yueyi's heart skipped a beat, but she pretended nothing was amiss and said, "I don't think so."
Seeing her denial, Li You insisted, "Of course you do. It's just that there are very few such people. Think back - the last time you did something like this, weren't you also standing up for someone?"
Chu Yueyi wouldn't casually get into conflicts with people. She would only intervene in one situation: when her great love gave way to favoritism.
Li You gazed silently at Chu Yueyi.
Chu Yueyi sat motionless in her chair. Her fingers trembled slightly, then she slowly picked up her coffee cup and said calmly, "Sister You, you're overthinking it. This is my debut stage performance after all, there's nothing wrong with chatting a bit with Director Qin."
Li You desperately searched Chu Yueyi's face for any clues, but the other party was truly an excellent actress and didn't reveal even the slightest hint. No one can act in front of an actor, and no one can see through an actor's performance.
Li You: "Perhaps you're right."
Li You then left the rest room, gently closing the door behind her to give Chu Yueyi some privacy.
Hearing the door close, Chu Yueyi's body relaxed slightly. Only then did she realize how tense her back had been, as if she'd been fully focused in front of a camera. Listening to the music in her earphones, she slumped back in her chair, staring blankly at the ceiling as Li You's words stirred up some thoughts.
The last time she did something like this?
That was probably when she stood up for Bai Yiyang back in university.
Chu Yueyi: "Tch."
Chu Yueyi inexplicably felt annoyed. She thought her manager's words made sense and realized she needed to adjust her attitude.
Shi Guanghua and the others arrived fashionably late at the Qingguo TV gala venue, immediately sensing a completely different atmosphere. To be honest, Shi Guanghua wasn't particularly close with Director Qin and the others, mainly because he used to make music abroad. If it weren't for Zou Qian's invitation, he wouldn't be recording for domestic shows.
When working on music overseas, Shi Guanghua always maintained a strictly professional attitude. At first, he had trouble adapting to the domestic environment, and with few familiar musicians around, he rarely interacted with them.
Instead of going to the rest room first, Shi Guanghua chose to communicate with Director Qin to discuss Chu Yueyi's part. To his surprise, Director Qin's attitude today was friendly, and he seemed to be in a very good mood.
Faced with Shi Guanghua's many requests, Director Qin smiled good-naturedly and said, "Sure, let's try it during rehearsal. We're not in a rush anyway."
Shi Guanghua had prepared a bunch of arguments with Cheng's help, but now he was stunned, finding no opportunity to use them: "?"
Director Qin sighed, "You too, always so quiet. If you have any ideas, just speak up. We've been recording the show together for so long, we're not complete strangers without any connection!"
Shi Guanghua: "Ah..." But he sometimes felt that having a connection was more troublesome than having none.
It wasn't just Director Qin whose attitude was strange, but also the other musicians he encountered on site. They actually greeted him openly and naturally thanked Shi Guanghua. If Shi Guanghua expressed confusion at their gratitude, they would put on a knowing expression as if to say, "We understand, that's just your personality."
After awkwardly exchanging pleasantries with them, Shi Guanghua pondered for a moment before admitting frankly, "I really still can't understand how they communicate."
Shi Guanghua had thought he was gradually adapting to the domestic environment, but now it seemed he still had a long way to go in understanding social niceties, completely baffled by his colleagues' transformation.
Cheng was equally confused: "Has the ideological awareness of domestic musicians improved so quickly?"
He still remembered when Director Qin had a dispute with Shi Guanghua, accusing him of being too demanding about the stage performance. Now that the show was over, had they really let bygones be bygones, with time beautifying past events?
Shi Guanghua didn't dwell on Director Qin's attitude for too long. After finishing preparations, he went to the rest room to meet up with Chu Yueyi, noticing a slight change in her emotions towards him.
As they walked together towards the stage, Shi Guanghua noticed her gaze lingering on his face for too long and curiously asked, "What's wrong?"
Shi Guanghua wore a black baseball cap and a matching hoodie, the neckline accentuating his deep collarbones, giving off a casual and dashing feel. His casual wear always prioritized comfort, while remaining low-key and understated, never ostentatious.
However, his outstanding facial features overshadowed everything else, like a gemstone that doesn't need intricate carving to shine brilliantly.
Could it be this face that's confusing me?
Chu Yueyi frowned slightly, unable to describe her subtle feelings. She felt particularly awkward facing Shi Guanghua now. Having just stood up for him, she felt oddly influenced and annoyed, even irritated just looking at him.
She felt frustrated by her own strange behavior and wanted to shake off the sense of imbalance in her heart. She particularly yearned to put him down a bit, as if doing so would help her regain control.
Chu Yueyi said coolly, "Nothing. I just suddenly realized you're not that handsome after all."
"..." Shi Guanghua was petrified in an instant upon hearing her shocking words.
Following behind the two, Cheng almost burst out laughing when he heard this. He had to cover his mouth forcefully to suppress his laughter, curling up his body in an effort to control the urge. He didn't feel Chu Yueyi was being offensive at all. Instead, he felt a sense of schadenfreude, deriving pleasure from Shi Guanghua's misfortune.
Cheng thought: Shi Guanghua, you're finally getting a taste of your own medicine!
After all, countless people had criticized Shi Guanghua for his peculiar personality, but no one had ever, in good conscience, said he wasn't good-looking. Chu Yueyi was truly the first!
After calmly delivering her line, Chu Yueyi went to get a microphone from the staff, leaving behind a stunned Shi Guanghua.
Shi Guanghua felt as if he'd been hit by a freezing spell. He stood there for a long while before coming to his senses, mumbling, "What on earth is going on?"
Shi Guanghua: People with low favorability are rapidly gaining points, while those who should have high favorability are losing points drastically.
Shi Guanghua began to doubt his luck, wondering if he'd forgotten to check his horoscope before leaving home.
Cheng casually consoled him: "Don't worry, you can think of it optimistically. At least she used to think you were handsome, and now she's just feeling indifferent!"
Shi Guanghua asked incredulously, "It faded in just one day?" It wasn't like this yesterday.
Cheng sighed, "Well, love doesn't disappear, it just transfers, you know."
"..."
By the time Shi Guanghua reached the stage, he still couldn't understand Chu Yueyi's words, feeling he hadn't done anything to offend her.
Seeing both of them on stage, Director Qin began instructing, "Alright, let's officially start our rehearsal."
"Yueyi, don't be nervous. This is just a rehearsal," Director Qin said soothingly, noticing Chu Yueyi squinting slightly under the bright lights and remembering her lack of stage experience.
Chu Yueyi felt dizzy on the unfamiliar stage, especially with the overly bright stage lights making the audience area appear pitch black, increasing her anxiety. Despite various position markers on the stage, this was her first time experiencing a real stage, and she lacked the familiarity she had in the practice room.
Shi Guanghua noticed her disorientation and was about to reach out to guide her when he heard someone from the audience say, "Over here."
Many musicians were sitting in the audience watching the rehearsal. Seeing that Chu Yueyi lacked experience, they kindly offered guidance. Having chatted during the break earlier, the atmosphere was friendly, and they spoke without restraint.
Shi Guanghua felt even more confused. Chu Yueyi didn't know these people, so why were they so enthusiastic?
After the rehearsal, just as Shi Guanghua was about to approach Chu Yueyi with some suggestions, the musicians in the audience beat him to it.
Chu Yueyi stood at the edge of the stage, listening to the musicians chattering below. They began offering advice on her performance, sharing valuable stage experience.
"You can control the distance of the microphone a bit. No need to hold it so close intentionally. Let me have your mic for a moment, I'll demonstrate for you..." The nearest musician was particularly enthusiastic. He took the microphone and showed Chu Yueyi the proper distance, instructing, "You can sing with it here."
Aware of her weak stage presence, Chu Yueyi humbly responded, "I see, thank you."
"Also, don't rush when moving around. The camera won't follow you the whole time, so there's no need to hurry in the latter half."
Chu Yueyi smiled softly, "Alright, thank you all."
Shi Guanghua watched her chatting and laughing with her peers, thoroughly enjoying herself. The phrase "love doesn't disappear, it just transfers" suddenly popped into his mind. He felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest, feeling superfluous at that moment.
She had always asked him for advice in the practice room, but now at the rehearsal, she was surrounded by others teaching her, without even needing to ask.
After a short break following their rehearsal, Shi Guanghua, who hadn't gotten a chance to guide her at all, asked with a slightly dim look in his eyes and a meaningful tone, "Are you close with them?"
It wasn't that Shi Guanghua objected to her chatting with peers. He just felt a sense of loss, as if a treasure he had been guarding had been discovered by others. The light he once solely protected was now being captured by more people.
Chu Yueyi casually replied, "They're probably just being considerate because of you."
Chu Yueyi speculated that the musicians, worried that Shi Guanghua might not be good at explaining things clearly, had generously stepped in to help. In reality, she didn't have a deep relationship with them.
Shi Guanghua said decisively, "I don't have that kind of influence."
Chu Yueyi: "?"
Startled by his assertive tone, Chu Yueyi stammered, "Your modesty leaves me speechless..."
Shi Guanghua's eyes were dark as he continued, "But I'm definitely better than all of them combined."
So don't ask them, just ask me directly.
Chu Yueyi was about to comment on his excessive modesty when he suddenly reversed course. She found herself at a loss for words: "..."
She suddenly reflected on her own words. Logically, personality shouldn't be related to gossip, but could it be that he was often misunderstood because he pretended to be cool?!