01 Military Training
Lin Yi should have known better than to stand next to Xu Shuyan during military training.
September in S City still felt like the height of summer. The sun in the azure sky beat down mercilessly, its scorching rays hitting the sweat-drenched, army-green T-shirts. The brim of her cap did little to block the light; tiny beads of sweat formed on her face, half in shadow and half in light, slowly dripping down as she stood perfectly still at attention.
They fell onto the concrete below, only to be instantly evaporated by the high temperature.
The entire athletic field was deathly silent.
Lin Yi stood ramrod straight, eyes fixed forward, watching a car drive past the iron fence. She counted silently in her head-that was the eighty-third one. Yesterday, standing at attention had ended when the ninety-ninth car passed. Today would probably-
Hm? Did someone just poke her?
Lin Yi blinked. In that instant, two cars sped past the fence, and her waist was poked again. Now Lin Yi was sure of it. Someone was poking her, and they were on her left.
It was Xu Shuyan.
What was Xu Shuyan trying to do? Get her assigned extra training? That Xu Shuyan, what a malicious heart! Even if they were love rivals who couldn’t stand each other, did she have to try and sabotage her now? If she got extra training in this heat, would she even survive?
Lin Yi decided to pretend she hadn’t felt anything. She ignored Xu Shuyan and continued to count the passing cars, her focus absolute. Just as she steeled her resolve, she was poked again.
This time, it was right in the dimple of her waist. She flinched, a sensitive shiver running through her.
Then, she got angry.
Was she ever going to stop?!
She shot a glare to her side, but before her eyes could meet Xu Shuyan’s, she heard the instructor bark, “Xu Shuyan, don’t move!”
Ha!
Serves you right for getting warned!
Lin Yi quickly averted her gaze. After mentally cursing Xu Shuyan out a few times, she started to feel it was strange. Why would Xu Shuyan do something so thankless?
She glanced over from the corner of her eye, only to see Xu Shuyan’s deathly pale face.
Lin Yi’s eyes widened.
Oh no! Xu Shuyan’s hypoglycemia was acting up!
Almost without thinking, she immediately shouted, “Reporting to the instructor!”
The instructor’s voice was imposing. “Speak!”
Lin Yi’s heart was pounding, but she showed no fear. “Xu Shuyan isn’t feeling well. I want to take her to the infirmary!”
The instructor remained stern. “If she’s not feeling well, let her say so herself!”
Lin Yi turned her head. Xu Shuyan was clearly struggling to stay upright. She bit her lower lip, forcing herself not to sway, but she couldn’t stop the slight trembling. She opened her mouth to say something but had no strength left.
Lin Yi stomped her foot, stepped forward, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Xu Shuyan, can you hold on?” she asked in a low voice.
She heard Xu Shuyan manage a soft “mhm.”
Xu Shuyan leaned into her embrace, shifting her entire weight onto her. But she felt as light as a feather. Without the instructor’s permission, the other students didn’t dare move. Lin Yi summoned her strength and started walking her toward the infirmary.
The instructor yelled from behind, “Lin Yi, you’ve left the formation without permission! Ten laps as punishment!”
Without looking back, Lin Yi replied, “Yes, Instructor!”
Fortunately, the infirmary wasn’t far. The school doctor had heard the commotion and was waiting at the door to take Xu Shuyan. As the cool air from the air conditioner hit her, the sweat on her body turned cold, and Lin Yi couldn’t help but shiver.
Xu Shuyan passed out almost as soon as she was on the bed. Lin Yi helped cover her with a blanket and watched as the doctor inserted a needle into a pale blue vein. As the IV fluid slowly dripped down the tube, she finally let out a breath of relief. She rested her forehead against the cool bedsheet, her senses gradually returning.
…Ten laps as punishment.
She must have been cursed by Xu Shuyan!
So what if Xu Shuyan had low blood sugar? If she fainted, someone would have taken her to the infirmary. Why did she have to play the hero and talk back? Acting like such a troublemaker. And for Xu Shuyan, of all people, she was going to be punished with ten laps?
Would she even be alive after running them?
Lin Yi wailed internally, but then she suddenly remembered Xu Shuyan’s pale, pitiful face, so fragile she looked like a gust of wind could blow her over. She couldn’t blame herself for letting beauty cloud her judgment and acting on impulse. Anyone would have done the same upon seeing such a beauty suffer!
But Xu Shuyan was her love rival! Not only had she been seduced by her rival’s beauty, but she was also getting punished for it. Who could she possibly complain to?
Just as she was stewing in her frustration, she heard the instructor’s voice from outside.
He announced in a booming voice that standing at attention was over and they were dismissed. A cheer erupted, followed by the chaotic sound of footsteps scrambling to get out of the sun. Everyone happily went off to catch up on sleep or get something to eat.
A hand gently patted her head.
Lin Yi froze, lifting her head slightly. She realized Xu Shuyan had woken up at some point. Her palm was resting on her head, rubbing it gently. The intimate gesture sent a chill down Lin Yi’s spine. Without thinking, she slapped her hand away, shot up to her feet, and said warily, “What are you doing!”
Xu Shuyan’s hand hovered in mid-air for a moment before she slowly placed it back on the bedsheet. She managed a weak smile. “Look at me. What do you think I can do?”
Lin Yi felt she had overreacted. She cleared her throat awkwardly and sat back down. “…Are you, are you feeling better?”
Xu Shuyan hummed a soft “mhm.”
“That’s good.” Lin Yi watched as some color returned to the back of Xu Shuyan’s hand where the needle was inserted. She couldn’t help but mutter, “You might be feeling better, but I’m miserable. I have to go run ten laps later, and it’s all your fault!”
She regretted it as soon as she said it and quickly backpedaled. “Of course, I know you didn’t get low blood sugar on purpose.”
She should blame herself for being too impulsive.
Blame herself for not thinking things through.
Blame herself for being so used to their “business” partnership that her sense of being on the same team as Xu Shuyan was too strong.
“It’s my fault.” Xu Shuyan’s pale lips moved, her voice soft. “It’s all my fault. I should have told the instructor as soon as I felt unwell instead of asking you for help. I ended up dragging you down with me.”
With that, she closed her eyes.
How strange, she thought. She’d had hypoglycemia since she was a child, so she always carried candy in her pocket and made sure to eat breakfast. The military training these past few days had been exhausting, and the sun had made her dizzy. She could have just reported it, and the instructor would have definitely let her rest.
But instead, she had lost her head and asked Lin Yi for help.
What was she thinking? She always felt that if Lin Yi would just look at her, if Lin Yi was with her, as long as Lin Yi was there, her sense of security would multiply. Just like when Lin Yi wrapped an arm around her waist, she could let down all her defenses and entrust herself to her.
This was too strange. Who trusts their love rival this much?
It must be because they had just started school and hadn’t made any new friends yet. Lin Yi was her comfort zone, so her first instinct was to pull Lin Yi into her camp.
Yes, it must be because-
“What?” Xu Shuyan’s eyes suddenly flew open. She stared blankly at Lin Yi. “You have to run ten laps as punishment?”
Lin Yi’s mouth twitched. “That’s right.”
Xu Shuyan was immediately filled with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Lin Yi.”
Lin Yi was horrified. “Don’t talk to me like that! There’s no need for apologies. Just think about how you’re going to compensate me! Otherwise, I’ll nag you about this for a year and make you feel guilty for the rest of your life!”
Xu Shuyan: “…I could cheer for you from the sidelines?”
Lin Yi gritted her teeth. “Xu! Shu! Yan!”
Xu Shuyan: “Ahem, ahem!”
A third of Lin Yi’s anger instantly vanished. “Are you okay?”
Xu Shuyan clutched her chest, her eyes welling with tears. “If you don’t yell at me, I’ll be fine.”
Lin Yi: “…”
Who on earth taught Xu Shuyan these green-tea tactics?!
Lin Yi silently chanted “don’t argue with a patient” a few times to calm herself down. “Just focus on getting your strength back. After your IV is done, we’ll get something to eat, and then you can accompany me for my punishment run.”
Xu Shuyan tilted her head to meet her gaze. “You’re not mad anymore?”
“Of course I’m mad,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “I’ll settle the score with you when you’re better.”
Just as Xu Shuyan was about to say something, the infirmary door was hastily pushed open. Their class monitor walked in, holding their bags with a worried expression. “Xu Shuyan, are you okay now?” she asked with concern.
Xu Shuyan quickly waved her hand. “I’m fine, I just need to rest a bit.”
“Thank you, Monitor.” Lin Yi stepped forward to take the bags and smiled at her. “Sorry to trouble you.”
The monitor was a cute girl with a round face who played the cello exceptionally well and had a kind personality. She looked at Lin Yi with some difficulty. “The instructor asked me to supervise you running the ten laps. When do you think you’ll be free?”
Lin Yi: “…How about I take a walk after dinner?”
The monitor nodded quickly. “That works!”
Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Monitor.”
“It’s no problem,” the monitor said. “By the way, when I was coming over, the phones in your bags kept ringing. Someone must be trying to reach you urgently. You should check them. I’ll get going now.”
“Okay, thank you, Monitor!” Lin Yi saw the monitor out and returned to find Xu Shuyan already dialing a number back.
Before the call connected, Lin Yi asked, “Who was it? Fang Yi?”
Xu Shuyan nodded silently. Seeing how weak she looked, Lin Yi thought that if Fang Yi yelled at her over the phone, it might just make her pass out again. Annoyed, she snatched the phone from her. “I’ll talk to her.”
Xu Shuyan blinked. “Are you worried about me?”
Lin Yi: “?”
Xu Shuyan: “I’m so touched.”
Lin Yi covered her mouth with a deadpan expression. “Okay, that’s enough. Any more and I’m going to throw up.”
Fang Yi had called because she’d heard about Xu Shuyan fainting during military training. She didn’t scold them, just asked with concern if she should find an excuse to get them leave from the training.
“I don’t need it,” Lin Yi said, pouring a glass of water. “But please get one for Yanyan. The training intensity has been pretty high lately.”
Fang Yi asked, “Why don’t you need it?”
Lin Yi sighed. “You think I don’t want to? But I don’t want to give people a reason to talk, to say that celebrities have special privileges or that we’re being dramatic. Yanyan fainting is a legitimate reason. If I take leave too, people might question whether she really fainted.”
Fang Yi was moved. “Our little Yi seems to have grown up overnight, boo hoo hoo.”
Lin Yi’s eyes lit up. “Am I not very sensible?”
Fang Yi: “Mhm, mhm.”
Lin Yi: “Then can I do shipping activities with Yuanyuan?”
Fang Yi was blunt. “No.”
Lin Yi pouted sullenly. “Why not! Other girl groups have members who ship with multiple people. Why do I have to be stuck with just Xu Shuyan? It’s not like we’re married or took vows. Why are we being forced into a 1v1?”
“Haven’t I explained this to you many times?” Fang Yi said. “The point of a 1v1 is to attract devoted fans. You did great today, by the way. Someone took pictures. It’s all over the internet now-you helping Yanyan to the infirmary and your bold reply to the instructor. The CP fans and casual viewers are eating it up!”
Lin Yi mumbled a dejected “oh.” “But a lot of people are probably flaming me, right?”
Before Fang Yi could answer, she consoled herself. “It’s fine. People will flame you no matter what you do. Let them. I just won’t look. But I still want a reward!”
Fang Yi: “Anything but changing your shipping partner.”
Lin Yi puffed out her cheeks. “Then I want a three-day vacation after military training ends.”
Fang Yi thought for a moment. “Deal.”
Lin Yi let out a quiet “yes,” hung up, and handed the phone back to Xu Shuyan. When Xu Shuyan didn’t take it, she pressed it into her hand, muttering, “Don’t think that just because I got a three-day vacation, your debt is paid. This is from the company. You still have to thank me separately.”
Xu Shuyan looked at her calmly. “What do you want?”
Lin Yi hummed thoughtfully. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll tell you when I do! Anyway, you better remember the sacrifice I made for you!”
Xu Shuyan was helpless. “I know.”
She yawned and sought Lin Yi’s opinion. “Can I sleep for a bit now?”
“Go ahead, sleep,” Lin Yi said.
Xu Shuyan slowly lay down. Just as she was closing her eyes, she suddenly asked, “You won’t leave while I’m sleeping, will you?”
Lin Yi let out a sound. “Where would I go?”
“How would I know where you’re going?” Xu Shuyan mumbled. “Just that you wouldn’t stay with me.”
Lin Yi sat down, tucked the blanket in for her, and chuckled. “Do you have any idea how many people out there are concerned about you fainting and me taking you to the infirmary? Everyone thinks we’re the best of friends. Where could I possibly go right now? I have to stay here with you, without leaving your side for a second.”
Only then did Xu Shuyan feel at ease. “That’s good.”
She patted the back of Lin Yi’s hand and gave her a toothy grin. “How nice, my business partner.”
Lin Yi pulled her hand back and rolled her eyes at her. “I must have owed you in a past life!”
Just as Lin Yi had predicted, the online discussion about the incident was divided. There were positive comments, like how the Gu Group members had such a great bond and strong team spirit, and how the feelings between Yan Zhi You Yi were undeniable. There were also negative ones, like how Lin Yi was using her celebrity status to defy the instructor’s authority. Although the company intervened, they couldn’t control public opinion too tightly. They only guided the conversation in a positive direction and then let netizens discuss it freely.
At that moment, Xu Shuyan was standing on the athletic field, cheering for Lin Yi. “Go! Only two laps left!”
Later, after they got together, Xu Shuyan brought up Lin Yi’s heroic rescue. She asked Lin Yi, “Were you secretly cursing me in your head while you were running back then?”
Lin Yi reminisced along with her. “Not really. I was just thinking about how to make you pay me back big time!”
That night, Xu Shuyan dreamt she had returned to that evening.
She saw the sky filled with a brilliant sunset, the last blazing embers of summer. Lin Yi was running toward her, lap after lap, no matter how many there were.
The final destination was always her.
02 Cruise Ship
It wasn’t until filming began for the new season of their group variety show, when the production team flew them to the coast and put them on a luxury cruise ship, that Lin Yi finally brought up how Xu Shuyan could repay her.
Xu Shuyan had just walked to the stern to gaze at the distant sea. When she first heard her mention repayment, she was taken aback. “Repay you for what?”
“Xu Shuyan!” Lin Yi was instantly annoyed. The sea breeze blew her long hair about, creating a kind of messy beauty. Even her anger was cute. “A person has to have a conscience! How long has it been, and you’ve already forgotten that I ran ten laps for you?!”
Xu Shuyan said, “Oh, you mean that.”
Then she couldn’t help but laugh. “What do you mean, ‘how long has it been’? That was in September. It’s December now, okay?!”
Lin Yi nodded. “So in less than four months, you can forget everything completely. It’s clear you don’t have a shred of gratitude in your heart. I’m so disappointed in you!”
“…” Xu Shuyan gave her a fake smile and sang, “A grateful heart, thank you for being there, with me for my whole life-“
“Stop singing!” Lin Yi cut her off. “What’s the point of this phony ‘grateful heart’ act now?” She pulled Xu Shuyan away from the cameras. “You’re going to repay me right now!”
“Fine.” Xu Shuyan leaned back against the railing, draping her slender arms over it. The wind lifted the hem of her long dress. She pushed her sunglasses up, looking every bit the leisurely vacationer on a tropical island. Her red lips were luscious as they parted slightly. “Go on, tell me. How should I repay you?”
Then she let out a soft “ah.” “You’re not going to ask me to repay you with my body, are you?”
Lin Yi said angrily, “Stop dreaming!”
Xu Shuyan pouted. “Then how do you want me to repay you?”
Lin Yi glanced behind her. The other three had gone to explore the cruise ship. The deck was empty except for them and some crew members who were still busy. No one was paying attention to them. Only then did she whisper, “I have a bad feeling about this variety show. So I need you to put me first, no matter which team you’re assigned to or what happens.”
Xu Shuyan tilted her head and thought for a moment. She was supposed to be doing business with Lin Yi anyway, and with her love-addled brain, she would naturally do whatever her “wife” said. Even if Lin Yi hadn’t brought it up, she would have done it.
So she nodded readily. “Okay.”
Lin Yi hadn’t expected her to be so obedient. She gave her a strange look and emphasized, “You have to listen to me.”
Xu Shuyan: “Okay.”
Lin Yi: “Play along with my jokes.”
Xu Shuyan: “Okay.”
Lin Yi: “Set me up for my punchlines.”
Xu Shuyan: “Okay.”
Lin Yi: “Be my little dog.”
Xu Shuyan: “Okay…”
She realized something was off and hummed. “Who are you calling a little dog?!”
Lin Yi grinned triumphantly. “I don’t care. You already agreed. No take-backs.” She grabbed the belt of Xu Shuyan’s dress and gave it a tug. “Let’s go, my little puppy.”
Xu Shuyan: “Get lost!”
Although the room assignments were supposed to be fair and impartial, they couldn’t account for the Yan Zhi You Yi CP fans within the company. Under Fang Yi’s instructions, Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi ended up in the same room-a VVIP sea-view suite with a double bed decorated with ocean-themed elements.
Lin Yi threw herself onto the bed and turned her head to watch the cruise ship glide slowly across the sea, parting the azure waters and sky.
Xu Shuyan checked the room and spotted several glaring cameras. She clicked her tongue. “They’re probably going to film us waking up tomorrow morning. Try to be a little more reserved when you sleep.”
“Who are you calling unreserved!” Lin Yi patted the bed. “Stop wandering around and lie down.”
Xu Shuyan looked disgusted. “Lie down where?”
Lin Yi said, “Next to me, of course! Hurry up!”
Xu Shuyan: “…I think I’ll look around some more.”
“Don’t be shy, Xu Shuyan!” Lin Yi shouted at Xu Shuyan, who had fled to the balcony. “For the winter concert, we have a duet stage where we have to sing a love song. The choreographer said we need to have a couple-like feeling. Get over here and lie down with me so we can get some of that couple vibe!”
Xu Shuyan was stunned by her bold declaration. She glanced at the camera and shot her a reproachful look. “What are you talking about!”
Lin Yi sat up. “You just promised me!”
-Put Lin Yi first, listen to Lin Yi, play along with Lin Yi’s jokes, set up Lin Yi’s punchlines, be Lin Yi’s little dog.
Pah!
What little dog!
“I really can’t win with you.” Xu Shuyan dragged her heavy feet back into the room. The moment she sat on the bed, Lin Yi pulled her down to lie face-to-face. She instinctively leaned back. “…This is way too close!”
Lin Yi said, “But in the TV shows I watch, couples are always this close. And the closer you are, the easier it is to kiss.”
Xu Shuyan couldn’t listen anymore. “What kind of trashy TV shows have you been watching!”
“What do you mean, trashy! It’s the number one romance drama, okay?” Lin Yi said indignantly. “And you? What effort have you made? Tell me, what are lovers supposed to do at a time like this?”
Xu Shuyan lay flat on her back. “We’re singing a campus love song! It’s innocent! We’re going for an innocent vibe!”
Lin Yi: “Oh.”
She asked Xu Shuyan, “So what counts as innocent?”
“…” Listen to her! Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were doing something risqué every day!
Xu Shuyan glanced worriedly at the camera again, then resigned herself to her fate. The post-production editing would be supervised by someone from Fang Yi’s team anyway. They were doing this for the sake of their performance. Let people say they were queerbaiting or just doing business!
So she turned on her side and instructed Lin Yi, “Hug me.”
Without a second thought, Lin Yi pulled Xu Shuyan into her arms and even buried her face in her chest, looking quite professional and practiced. Xu Shuyan was stunned by her directness. After a long moment, she said helplessly, “Do you honestly think you’re being innocent right now?”
Lin Yi had had enough. She sat up, tucked her hair behind her ear, and demanded, “What part of me isn’t innocent?”
Lin Yi thought Xu Shuyan was being incredibly difficult. She had done exactly as she was told, yet she was still being picky. It wasn’t like she was dying to sing a love song with her. If it weren’t for the performance-
Before she could finish her thought, Xu Shuyan suddenly pulled her back down onto the bed. Lin Yi frowned. “What are you doing!”
Xu Shuyan said, “Lie on your side, with your back to me.”
Lin Yi was wary. “What are you trying to do? I’ll never leave my back exposed to the enemy!”
Xu Shuyan gave her a light slap. “Hurry up!”
“Oh.” As Lin Yi turned over, she muttered, “Why are you so bossy? And you hit me? The camera caught all of that. It’s all evidence. I’m going to save it and condemn you for it later!”
Xu Shuyan slapped her again. “Shut up. Don’t ruin the atmosphere.”
Lin Yi: “…”
She viciously dissed Xu Shuyan in her head. She had clearly promised to go along with everything, yet she dared to be bossy. This had to be written down. And what was Xu Shuyan pretending for? Acting like she’d been in a relationship before, and even telling her she was ruining the atmosphere!
Just as she was fuming, Xu Shuyan suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist.
It was less of a hug and more of a light touch, her arm just resting there. Her back was gently pressed against hers, a barely-there contact, like the most heart-fluttering ambiguity of adolescence, drawing out threads of tension in the air. Her heart skipped a beat, flustered by the overwhelming atmosphere.
“Get it now?” Xu Shuyan’s voice sounded from behind her, lazy and soft. “This is what’s innocent.”
Lin Yi: “…”
She didn’t get it. Right now, her mind was filled with anything but innocent thoughts.
Much later, when Xu Shuyan and Lin Yi went on their honeymoon, they also took a cruise. The same azure sea and sky, the same luxurious double suite, but the curtains were drawn tight.
The Xu Shuyan who had once taught Lin Yi what innocence was, was not innocent for a single moment during the entire honeymoon.
