Chapter 89

Xin Nuo felt that indulging Xu Heran too much wasn’t a good thing.

Not a good thing at all.

When she didn’t appear at the dining table the next day and a certain someone came downstairs full of energy, Laurel, the high school student who had woken up early to study for the college entrance exam, gritted her teeth beneath her long lashes.

Indeed, an illness? So that’s what it was!

No wonder Dog Woof Woof joked about pregnancy back then!

So that’s what it was!

Laurel, oh Laurel, your reputation throughout the ages, yet you couldn’t see through this.

“Tsk.” Laurel turned her head and deliberately asked Xu Heran, “Do you want me to cook red eggs for you guys?”

Xu Heran didn’t know the meaning of cooking red eggs, but she understood that red meant celebration, and eggs were nutritious. Combining two good things should be a nice gesture! So, the elegant and composed little pearl, who had met the distinguished Xu Heran for a night, put on a calm and elegant smile.

“Respectful compliance!”

Laurel: “Bah.”

Xu Heran: “?”

Fine, I’ll cook it myself then.

With a cheerful smile, Xu Heran prepared breakfast for Xin Nuo and sent it upstairs. Watching her happy figure, Laurel shook her head with a smile.

The new year was about to arrive, and Cui Qi released everyone to participate in New Year programs on various television stations. However, before they set off, they filmed a music video (MV) for Laurel’s single.

Laurel’s single, “I Don’t Care” (要你管), was written by Xu Heran and Jian Yueyin during the “Next King of Songs” competition. Haya, the disciple of the Flower Emperor, participated in the singing. Several SGS girls played various roles in the MV, dancing and jumping around. The main shooting locations were the living room and the underground swimming pool of the Forest Villa.

Once the MV was released, it attracted a lot of attention.

Fans who had remained loyal even after SGS’s solo careers were still excitedly watching their favorite girls in pajamas jumping around in the video. One little pearl wore blue-striped pajamas, a golden necklace around her neck, and sunglasses on her face. She was sitting by the dimly lit poolside, reading a newspaper.

Beside her, Jiang Qiong and Haya were holding a basin and a scrubbing towel. They asked Xu Heran if she wanted to scrub. Xin Nuo and Song Fenghua, dressed in cheongsams, swayed their hips seductively as they passed by. The three of them were left dumbfounded by what they saw.

Finally, with Jian Yueyin carrying a guitar and wearing a red wig, Haya carrying a basin, Jiang Qiong holding a scrubbing towel, Xu Heran and Xin Nuo dancing the cha-cha in their pajamas and cheongsam, Song Fenghua twisting her body while holding a vertical pole on the ground, and Laurel singing at the forefront, they all danced and jumped around in front of the camera. The shimmering light bulbs emitted a colorful glow, making the entire pool area vibrant. Various colored spots of light fell on the walls, in the water, on each person…

At the video’s end, Lin Weining, holding a suitcase, just opened the door when the light from the bulbs suddenly illuminated her face. A hand reached out from inside the door and pulled her in with a “whoosh.”

The swaying light illuminated the fallen suitcase on the ground. The camera’s final shot focused on the distant black sky.

“A MV featuring seven people, but eight people on the homepage, hahaha!”

“But Ning Ning was the first to like it! Awesome!”

“Nonsense! Ning Ning participated too, she just didn’t dance!”

“Ning Ning, come on, jump up, Ning Ning!”

“Hahaha, the last segment is actually a live recording of Ning Ning going home. She said on Weibo that she was really startled at the time.”

“That hand must be from Ha Da Ya, right? I’m sure of it!”

“Why is such a catchy song’s MV like this, hahaha! What’s going on with you all? Is this what we get to see for SGS’s reunion? Show us more!”

“Ah, ah, Nuo Nuo and Feng Hua’s hip movements are making me spurt blood against the wall! How can they twist like that? Why are their waists so slender!”

“Hehe… Nuo Nuo, Nuo Nuo has a great figure, everyone knows what I mean, right?”

“Hehehe…”

“Oh my god, I thought I was seeing things. Is that girl spinning around the pole and getting a solo shot really Feng Hua? Feng Hua, what happened to you, Feng Hua? Beneath your aloof exterior and calm gaze, was there really such a passionate and tumultuous heart? Feng Hua!!!”

“Hahahaha, a fan asked Feng Hua what she was thinking, and she answered that she wanted to show more possibilities. Then a fan suggested she do a real pole dance.”

“Feng Hua: No.”

“Hahahaha!”

“They seem to have solo careers, but it’s like they haven’t really flown.”

“Thanks to SGS, I had a great year.”

“Thanks to Peng Ran Xin Dong, I suddenly came alive in this cold half-year. As long as I persist, my ship won’t sink!”

“Hahahaha, Peng Ran Xin Dong will never end!!!”

…

With the completion of the MV recording, everyone flew to various places to participate in variety shows in pairs.

Xu Heran rested her hand on Haya’s shoulder and asked Cui Qi, “Sis, tell me honestly, how were the teams divided?”

Cui Qi’s tone was calm, “We drew lots.”

“Really?” Xu Heran narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

“Really,” Cui Qi nodded.

Even if she didn’t believe it, with the schedule set, Xu Heran could only board a plane with Haya to another city. Jian Yueyin, Xin Nuo, Lin Weining, Song Fenghua, Laurel, and Jiang Qiong—all pairs except for the last one in Hai Cheng—were also rushing to different cities.

Seeing off the six of them, Cui Qi stood at the airport, arms crossed with a smirk on her face.

“Let’s see how you’ll form your groups!”

One pair gone, one pair broken, hmph!

Laurel and Jiang Qiong stood on either side of Cui Qi, feeling the black flames burning behind their manager. They both instinctively stepped back.

Sister Cui, you’re scary…

After the New Year’s schedule concluded, Xu Heran didn’t even get a chance to see Xin Nuo’s face. She boarded a plane back to the Blue Country to spend the New Year with her family.

“We had a lot of snow in the Blue Country this year.” Xu Heran spoke on the phone with Xin Nuo in the garden of her home. “Does it look nice?”

Xin Nuo had only seen Aston Manor and hadn’t been to the home where Xu Heran had always lived. She looked at the tranquil villa covered in snow and smiled, saying, “It looks beautiful.”

Xu Heran squatted on the ground, sighing softly, “I really wish we could spend the New Year together.”

“This is the first year after we formed the group that we’re not together.”

Xin Nuo playfully poked Xu Heran’s face through the screen. “We will be.”

“Nuo Nuo, it’s time to eat.”

Through the screen, Xu Heran heard Xin Nuo’s mother’s voice.

“I have to go,” Xin Nuo said gently.

“Alright,” Xu Heran reluctantly said, “Give me a kiss.”

Blushing, Xin Nuo leaned closer and kissed the screen.

“Goodbye.”

The call ended, and Xu Heran squatted in the snow, chuckling to herself.

“Something’s not right.” Xu Menglan, standing by the bed, said suspiciously, “Zhu Zhu is acting strange.”

Mrs. Diana stood beside her, holding a teacup, and said with a smiling squint, “She’s been squatting there for quite a while. Isn’t she cold?”

“Zhu Zhu’s body follows me,” Xu Menglan said to her mother, “Mom, don’t you think Xu Heran is in love?”

Mrs. Diana nodded, “Perhaps.”

As soon as Xu Heran entered the house, she was met with two pairs of bright eyes.

“Zhu Zhu, who were you talking to on the phone just now? Why weren’t you speaking inside? It’s so cold outside,” Xu Menglan said with a worried tone, “Please don’t get sick.”

Xu Heran shook her phone lightly, “We were having a video New Year’s greeting in our group. It got a bit noisy.”

“I see. Well, next time, bring us along. I’ve met others too, even their parents. For example… Nuo Nuo’s mother,” Xu Menglan said.

Xu Heran smirked, “Don’t be too presumptuous. They might not remember you.”

“What are you saying? Mom looks so good, Aunt Xin will definitely remember,” Xu Menglan said, noticing her daughter’s uncontrollable joy. After a moment of thought, she asked, “How are you and Nuo Nuo?”

Xu Heran slipped her phone into her pocket and headed for the kitchen. “How are we? We’re fine.”

“Just fine? What do you mean by just fine? Is there a chance?” Xu Menglan pressed on.

“Uh, Mom, don’t ask so many questions. It’s just okay,” Xu Heran said.

Hearing this, Xu Menglan realized that Zhu Zhu and Nuo Nuo’s situation wasn’t what she had initially thought. She couldn’t help but laugh. “When will you win her over? When can you bring her home for me?”

I knew it would be like this.

Xu Heran poured a glass of warm water and shook her head.

Xu Menglan grew anxious, “What does shaking your head mean?”

“It doesn’t mean anything, Mom. Don’t worry so much. If there’s a chance, there’s a chance,” Xu Heran said with a cheerful smile. She held the water glass and walked out, giving both Xu Menglan and Diana a peck on the cheek.

“Happy New Year~”

Something’s off.

Xu Menglan narrowed her eyes, “Spring breeze on the face.”

“Don’t pressure her, take it slowly,” Diana said in a gentle tone, “Within three years, is that okay?”

Xu Menglan took a deep breath.

“No, two years!”

After the New Year, Xu Heran and her younger brother returned to school, and Xin Nuo joined the group once again. This time, she played the lead role in a TV drama. It was her first time starring in a TV drama in her lifetime.

“Not a bad start,” Xin Nuo looked at the script in her hand and chuckled softly.

Meanwhile, in Haicheng.

Xing Mansion.

A black car stopped outside the tall building. Inside the car, a man with a cold and stern expression looked at the familiar building coldly, his lips slowly curling up.

He had finally returned.

Xing Jun, the current Vice President of the Xing family, stood in the lobby with his entourage, watching the handsome man get out of the car.

“Good morning, big brother. Long time no see,” Xing Yu’s face wore a gentle smile, but the hatred in his eyes when they met Xing Jun’s gaze was almost uncontrollable.

Xing Jun smiled slightly, “Long time no see. It’s been a while abroad. Are you unfamiliar with the company now? Shall I show you around?”

“No need. It’s just a little over two years, and besides, this is my family’s company. Just a mere two years, how could I forget?” Xing Yu adjusted his collar and chuckled softly. “This time, I won’t leave.”

And I won’t let go of anyone who took everything away from me, and those who once caused me to fall to where I am now!

The crowd left the lobby. At the front desk, a receptionist who had been with the company for six months breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest. “What’s going on? Vice President Xing and the new manager seem to have a lot of tension!”

“Shh—” another girl immediately raised her hand and gestured near her mouth, “What new manager? That’s our CEO’s own son!”

“Oh, isn’t Vice President Xing…?”

“You’ve been here for half a year and you still don’t know? Vice President Xing is the older brother of the CEO. But since he lost his parents at a young age, he was raised by the chairman’s family. He’s older than the chairman’s biological son, joined the company earlier, so this…,” the girl gestured towards the door, raising an eyebrow, “He’s never really liked him.”

The receptionist lowered her head and whispered, “Sis, I sense a dramatic plot coming. Going by this development, the two brothers will not only fight for the company, but also for the same woman. And then they’ll turn against each other, fighting over a woman – a classic love triangle!”

“…You’ve read too many novels!” the girl retorted, then her eyes lit up. “But let me tell you, though they didn’t have the same woman in mind, they did have a ‘sibling rivalry over a woman’ because of a woman!”

The receptionist immediately wore an eager expression, ready to hear the details.

“Do you not know about the incident when Prince Xing made a fool of himself during the 《Starlight Girls》 audition?”

“Huh?” the receptionist exclaimed in surprise. “You mean the group that went solo last year and was pretty popular? I didn’t follow them, but I liked their songs!”

Another woman leaned in, “You absolutely must try this melon seed snack. There was a big fuss back then, and our Prince was involved. Anyway, it made the company lose face, and the CEO was furious. In a fit of anger, he sent him abroad. He had actually risen to the position of Vice President by then. The whole thing was quite complicated, and that’s when Xing Vice President took over.”

“Oh… so Prince Xing must have been furious. He’s definitely coming back for revenge!” the receptionist eagerly poured water for the woman.

“But revenge needs a target too,” the woman pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds from her drawer and shared them with the receptionist. “Our company’s internal conflicts are one thing, it’s been going on for years. But outside…” she looked out the window, her tone a bit odd.

“Stealing our company’s orders big and small, squeezing our market, and causing our profits to drop by thirty percent over two years… Huanqiu and that mega-star with millions of fans.”

“Our Prince Xing really must have lost his mind. Then you and I should quickly find a new job.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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