While Zhou Qingyu was confronting the Qu Family, Zhou Yanci and Meng Yingrong also sat face-to-face in the tea room.
Meng Yingrong was nervous. After Assistant Sun hurriedly took Yan Xi away, she had her bodyguards investigate and accidentally discovered Qu Yan’s scheme of drugging someone.
Now, as she stared at the bandage on Zhou Yanci’s arm, her heart burned with anxiety.
"Yanci, are you alright? That wretched Qu Yan! I always knew she wanted to marry into the Zhou Family, but I never imagined she’d set her sights on you!"
Zhou Yanci remained calm. Qu Yan was Zhou Qingyu’s problem to handle—he had come to Meng Yingrong for another matter.
"Mother, you met with Yan Xi today and tried to get her to sign a letter of leniency for Meng Xuanyu?"
Meng Yingrong stiffened.
She had deliberately arranged to meet Yan Xi alone to avoid Zhou Yanci’s interference.
"Did Yan Xi tell you?"
Zhou Yanci took a sip of tea, unfazed. "Assistant Sun saw it."
Meng Yingrong clutched at the hem of her clothes, her expression flustered. "Yanci, it’s just a letter of leniency. If Yan Xi signs it, Xuanyu could get a lighter sentence..."
"Don’t disturb Yan Xi again." Zhou Yanci cut her off coldly.
He continued drinking his tea, his expression unreadable, but his tone was icy enough to make Meng Yingrong’s heart clench. "I’ve already submitted evidence of Meng Xuanyu’s embezzlement to the prosecutor’s office. This time, his sentencing will be much harsher."
Meng Yingrong shot to her feet. "What have you done?"
Zhou Yanci replied leisurely, "No matter how long you’ve covered for him, punishment always comes due."
"And as for Meng Xuanyu assaulting his ex-girlfriend—you silenced her with money back then, but if you insist on interfering with his sentencing, I can always bring her forward as a witness."
He looked straight at Meng Yingrong. "Mother, Meng Xuanyu is guilty. I only ask that you stop intervening."
Meng Yingrong was torn apart. On one side was her guilt toward Zhou Yanci, and on the other, her concern for Meng Xuanyu. She couldn’t make a choice.
"Yanci, we’re family..."
Zhou Yanci’s gaze turned cold. "Sentimentality doesn’t work on me."
Some things had to be severed cleanly. Yan Xi had understood this five years ago—it had taken him much longer to accept it.
Truthfully, Zhou Yanci should have realized long ago that while Meng Yingrong cared for him, her love would never match what she felt for Meng Xuanyu. What little maternal affection she had was likely just a sense of duty, mixed with guilt over his cancer diagnosis.
Things that were never truly his were not worth longing for.
Zhou Yanci stood. "Mother, Yan Xi is my choice. There will be no one else. Stop arranging blind dates for me, and don’t use your status to pressure her—it will only push me further away."
"As for the Meng Family, rest assured—since M Group now belongs to Zhou Corporation, as long as Zhou Corporation stands, M Group will remain stable. The shares you hold are enough to sustain your lifestyle."
"From now on, don’t come looking for me."
His final words were like a sharp blade, piercing Meng Yingrong’s heart.
She was devastated. "Yanci, I know I’ve failed you in the past, but can’t you forgive me? I’m your mother!"
Zhou Yanci remained unmoved. "Forgive? Where were you when I needed you most?"
"I won’t forget the debt of raising me."
"But our relationship… ends here."
Everyone had their own choices to make.
Meng Yingrong had ultimately chosen Meng Xuanyu—even knowing how much Zhou Yanci cared for Yan Xi, she had still used her maternal authority to pressure Yan Xi into signing that letter.
And so, Zhou Yanci had made his choice too.
.
Leaving the tea room, Zhou Yanci headed straight for the lobby of the Hilaire Hotel.
Passing by a modern Chinese-style water feature, where symbolic rock formations bordered a pond crossed by a minimalist zigzag bridge, he spotted Zhou Qingyu emerging from the security office.
Both paused.
Zhou Yanci’s gaze traveled past Zhou Qingyu to where Qu Yan was being escorted away by police behind her.
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes, in turn, flickered past him to the distraught Meng Yingrong in the distance.
The shimmering pond water separated them from the latter, yet Zhou Yanci and Zhou Qingyu stood together on the same bridge.
Without a word, they walked side by side toward the lobby.
Zhou Qingyu pulled out a tin of pressed mints from her pocket, popped one into her mouth, and offered it to him.
"Want one?"
"What flavor?"
"Mint."
"You hate mint."
"People change."
She shrugged carelessly. "Back when Father warned us not to date young, you swore you’d never bother with romance—said it was too much trouble. And now?"
The workaholic CEO was now chasing his girlfriend onto variety shows. It was downright embarrassing.
At the thought of Yan Xi, the tension in Zhou Yanci’s brow softened into a faint smile. He took a mint and let it dissolve on his tongue.
"I meant it at the time. All those boys swarming our doorstep just to catch a glimpse of you—annoying as hell."
Zhou Qingyu scoffed. "That’s because I’m gorgeous! You’re no better—how many love letters did I have to stash for you? If I hadn’t spread rumors that we didn’t get along, my locker would’ve burst from all the envelopes!"
They traded barbs for a moment before both laughing.
These were memories from long ago. Though they’d always clashed, bickering every time they met, they’d also relied on each other through over twenty years.
She was not the obedient little sister.
He was not the doting older brother.
Yet they were each other’s closest family.
The mint candy was bitter at first, its crisp shell giving way to a gritty sweetness as it melted.
"Zhou Yanci,"
Zhou Qingyu suddenly spoke as the candy dissolved, "Treat Yan Xi well. She’s had a hard life."
Zhou Yanci knew she was referring to Yan Xi’s past with the Lin Family.
He raised a brow. "Since when do I need your advice?"
Then he added, "But as for Pei Hanli—"
"Stay out of my business with Pei Hanli." Zhou Qingyu lifted her chin. "It’s not like this is my first relationship. Besides, what man could possibly be out of my league? Impossible!"
Zhou Yanci nearly said "Pei Yubai."
But Zhou Qingyu cut in first, "Pei Yubai doesn’t count! He’s scum!"
Zhou Yanci rarely agreed with Zhou Qingyu’s opinions, but this time, he couldn’t argue.
They continued walking.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground. The fiery clouds melted into the modern Chinese garden’s scenery, blending their silhouettes together—for once, their shared frame looked harmonious.
.
Hilaire Hotel Lobby
"Junior, we’ve known each other so long—just tell me who Zhou Qingyu’s dating these days?"
"A tiny hint?"
"Come on, I helped you find CEO Zhou! Return the favor!"
In the lounge area, Yan Xi was enjoying a small cake on the sofa. Song Zhile pulled out his phone’s memo app, asking about Zhou Qingyu’s recent activities.
This was the first time Yan Xi had ever seen… such a bootlicking version of Song Zhile.
After all, back at Bowen High School, Song Zhile had been the epitome of a refined and scholarly senior. Many girls in their class had secretly crushed on him. Whenever Yan Xi gave speeches as a freshman, she’d see Song Zhile backstage—always composed, exuding the dignified air of an upperclassman.
But now…
It was downright painful to watch.
"You should just ask Qingyu yourself!" Yan Xi said between bites of tiramisu. "She’ll be here soon!"
"I’m just doing some preliminary research—know thy enemy and know thyself!"
"You can’t just start investigating now! Haven’t you watched the variety show Qingyu and I were on?"
Yan Xi thought that if Song Zhile had even glanced at The Journey, he’d have noticed Pei Hanli’s obvious interest in Zhou Qingyu. With Qingyu’s rising popularity, the internet was flooded with fans shipping her and Pei Hanli as a couple.
"I skimmed a bit. Didn’t want to watch. Just seeing Pei Hanli irritates me." Song Zhile’s eyes burned with undisguised hostility toward Pei Hanli.
Yan Xi’s curiosity was piqued. "You know Pei Hanli? Oh, right, he also went to Bowen. You’re alumni."
Bowen High School had both a junior and senior division. Many young heirs and heiresses from Haicheng’s elite families attended from middle school through high school, though the two divisions were in separate buildings, limiting interaction between students.
When Yan Xi was a seventh grader, Zhou Yanci had been a sophomore at Bowen. Pei Hanli was in the same grade as Zhou Yanci, so they must have crossed paths.
"That’s exactly why I can’t stand him! There’s no way Qingyu would ever be with him!" Song Zhile clenched his fists, grinding his teeth as if he wanted to tear Pei Hanli apart.
Yan Xi recognized that look—it was the glare of a rival in love.
"Why ‘no way’?" Yan Xi asked.
Song Zhile scoffed. "Qingyu doesn’t do second chances, right? If Pei Hanli, a literal ex, stands a chance, then why not me?"
Yan Xi’s eyes widened slowly. "Qingyu and Pei Hanli dated?!"
Song Zhile stared at her. "You didn’t know?"
Yan Xi shook her head.
"It wasn’t long. Right after Qingyu returned from abroad, I tried to win her back, but Pei Hanli swooped in!" Song Zhile recalled his failed pursuit bitterly. "Then Pei Hanli almost confessed, but Qingyu developed feelings for Pei Yubai instead. So neither of us succeeded."
"If Qingyu didn’t tell you, it’s probably because nothing serious happened. Not worth mentioning."
That made sense. Zhou Qingyu had too many suitors to bother recounting every one to Yan Xi—there simply weren’t enough hours in the day.
—Men weren’t worth wasting the young mistress’s breath over.
Just then, Zhou Qingyu and Zhou Yanci returned.
Yan Xi immediately abandoned Song Zhile, beaming at the two. "You’re back!"
Zhou Qingyu and Zhou Yanci responded with simultaneous "Mn"s.
Then, their eyes locked—sparks flying between them.
Zhou Qingyu turned to Yan Xi first. "Who were you asking about earlier? Who did you want to ask first?"
Yan Xi blinked.
Was… there a difference?
Zhou Yanci reached out, ruffling Yan Xi’s hair. "My girlfriend obviously cares about me more."
Zhou Qingyu swiftly stepped forward, looping her arm through Yan Xi’s. "I’ve been her best friend for over a decade! You’ve only been her boyfriend for a few days—what does that even count for? And boyfriends are replaceable. Right, Song Zhile?"
Zhou Yanci: "…"
Song Zhile: ???????
Caught in the middle, Yan Xi felt like the chocolate filling in an Oreo.
She ventured cautiously, "Can’t I… care about both of you?"
The two glared at her in unison. "No. Priority—pick one!"
Yan Xi: "…"
She glanced between Zhou Qingyu and Zhou Yanci.
Zhou Yanci was unusually confident. Previously, their relationship had been secret, but now that Yan Xi had agreed to go public, surely she’d choose him? Plus, he had an injury on his arm!
Zhou Qingyu noticed Zhou Yanci’s tactical advantage too—the old schemer had subtly rolled up his sleeve to reveal the bandage.
Ugh, this man! So manipulative it’s disgusting!
Her eyes darted, then she suddenly clutched her forehead with a dramatic "Aiyo!" before collapsing against Yan Xi.
Yan Xi hurriedly steadied her. "Qingyu, what’s wrong?"
Zhou Qingyu gave her a pitiful look. "I’ve been filming all day… forgot to eat lunch. Must be low blood sugar. Xi, you and my brother just got together—I can’t possibly intrude…"
"I’ll just…" She glanced at Song Zhile behind her. "Have dinner with my annoying ex! It’s fine. At worst, I’ll lose my appetite staring at his face. No big deal."
Song Zhile, the so-called "annoying ex": ?
"You skipped lunch again?!" Yan Xi fretted. "Didn’t Little Meng prepare anything for you?"
Zhou Qingyu—tall at 5’7"—leaned delicately against Yan Xi, who stood at 5’5".
"You know how bad my acting is. So many retakes… Little Meng brought a salad, but I had no time to eat! By the time I could, I heard something happened to you two and rushed over… Aiyo, so dizzy, so dizzy~"
Zhou Yanci: "…"
Song Zhile: "…"
Even a blind person could see through this terrible acting.
Yet Yan Xi bought it completely.
She picked up her half-eaten tiramisu and fed it to Zhou Qingyu. "Here, have some cake first. What do you want for dinner? I’ll take you!"
The tiramisu melted luxuriously on Zhou Qingyu’s tongue, sweet as honey.
As she happily pondered dinner options, Zhou Yanci grasped Yan Xi’s hand.
"What about me?"
Yan Xi tilted her head. "You can come too!"
Restaurants didn’t have a two-person limit—three was perfectly fine.
Zhou Qingyu’s eyes lit up. "Xi, I want hotpot! I’ve been eating rabbit food for ages to stay camera-ready. Just two night scenes left—they can wait till tomorrow. You’ll come with me, right?"
Yan Xi nodded. "Of course!"
Arm in arm with Yan Xi, Zhou Qingyu shot Zhou Yanci a triumphant look. "Zhou Yanci, didn’t you have stomach issues? Can’t eat spicy food, right?"
"Oh yeah!" Yan Xi recalled his medical report warning about his gastritis.
Zhou Qingyu: "Why not have dinner at home with Dad? His meals are healthier!"
Zhou Yanci: "…"
Who cared about healthy? He wanted to eat out with his girlfriend!
"I can have the mild broth," he insisted stubbornly.
Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu spoke as one: "No!"
Mild broth was an insult to Sichuan hotpot! The whole point was the fiery red oil!
Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu hit it off immediately—when it came to food, they shared a common language.
Zhou Yanci, on the other hand… was left speechless.
Zhou Qingyu had already pulled out her phone to search for nearby hotpot restaurants. Yan Xi, noticing Zhou Yanci’s mood, tugged at his sleeve to console him. "Qingyu wants hotpot. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?"
Zhou Yanci: Given his current standing in the family hierarchy, did he even have the right to refuse?
"Exactly!" Zhou Qingyu chimed in. "Besides, you were drugged. Who knows what else was in that stuff? You should go to the hospital for a check-up, not eat hotpot!"
Yan Xi nodded vigorously.
Earlier, the doctor Assistant Sun had called also recommended Zhou Yanci get examined at the hospital.
After booking a table, Zhou Qingyu happily linked arms with Yan Xi and headed off for hotpot. Song Zhile, being neither drugged nor afflicted with stomach issues, was eager to join—until Zhou Qingyu shot him a glare that sent him retreating silently.
Assistant Sun arrived just then.
"Mr. Zhou, shall I take you to the hospital?"
Zhou Yanci grumbled, "What’s the point?"
He’d hoped tonight would be filled with cuddles and a proper date with his girlfriend. Instead, he was stuck with a hospital visit. The injustice of it all!
A Rolls-Royce pulled up at the entrance of the Hilaire Hotel. Assistant Sun opened the door, and just as Zhou Yanci was about to step in—
Yan Xi came running toward him.
Her champagne-colored gown had a long train, and Assistant Sun had paired it with towering heels—something Yan Xi hadn’t worn since leaving the Lin family. In her haste, she tripped over the hem. Zhou Yanci reacted instantly, catching her before she could fall.
"Can’t you be more careful?"
Though his words were scolding, his eyes held nothing but warmth.
"I was afraid you’d leave if I was too slow!"
Zhou Yanci’s heart skipped a beat, and a smile tugged at his lips. "Changed your mind about hotpot?"
"Not exactly." Yan Xi shook the red diamond bracelet on her wrist. "Where’s the box for this? Can you give it to me? I’ll keep it safe. If I lose it, how could I ever afford to replace it?"
The system had just estimated the bracelet’s worth, and the number made Yan Xi tremble.
Zhou Yanci: "…"
"So you came back just for this?"
"Yep!"
His tone turned frosty. "It’s a gift. Even if you lose it, I won’t make you pay."
"No way! It’s worth hundreds of millions! Just give me the box—I’ll store it properly."
Zhou Yanci sighed but relented. After all, such jewelry was meant for galas, not everyday wear. He handed her the velvet case.
Yan Xi carefully tucked the bracelet into her purse. "Alright, off to hotpot!"
Zhou Yanci: "Go ahead."
He had a hospital to visit.
How tragic—the first day of their public relationship, and he’d be spending it in a sterile ward.
But Yan Xi didn’t leave. Just as Zhou Yanci turned to get into the car, she suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
His eyes darkened, fixed intently on her.
They were outdoors, at a hotel entrance, surrounded by people.
Yan Xi squeezed his hand. "Don’t be upset. Qingyu confronted the Qu Family today. She might act fine, but she cared deeply about Qu Yan. It must’ve been hard for her. Let me be there for her tonight, and I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?"
Zhou Yanci stayed silent.
"Okay? …Gege?"
His eyes lit up. "Say that again."
Yan Xi blinked. "Gege? Gege?"
Zhou Yanci cupped the back of her head and kissed her deeply.
They only broke apart when headlights approached. His thumb brushed away the moisture at the corner of her lips before he nipped at her earlobe.
"Now we’re even."
…
Assistant Sun had tactfully turned his back the entire time.
As a competent assistant, he knew better than to play the oblivious third wheel during his boss’s romantic moments.
Only after Yan Xi left did he return to Zhou Yanci’s side.
"Mr. Zhou, the hospital now?"
Zhou Yanci was in high spirits. "Hm? What was that?"
"I said, shall we head to the hospital?"
"Oh, so you knew my girlfriend told me to go? You knew I have a girlfriend who worries about me?"
Assistant Sun: "…?"
He hadn’t known whether Yan Xi cared, but he certainly knew now—his boss was a certified simp.
.
Qu Yan was taken into police custody that same day. Drugging someone constituted assault, and she faced charges of intentional harm. Father Qu attempted to bail her out, but failed.
Zhou’s Father was furious. The Zhou and Qu families had long-standing business ties, but from then on, all discounts for the Qu Family were revoked. The only reason cooperation continued at all was out of respect for his late wife and daughter.
Zhou Qingyu also severed ties with the Qu Family. To her, the strongest bond had always been with her mother. With her gone, the connection to the Qu Family had grown tenuous—and after Qu Yan’s actions, there was no reason to maintain it.
After wrapping up final scenes for Madness, Zhou Qingyu took a break from acting. Pei Hanli whisked her away for leisurely outings—concerts at Chi Wei’s theater, photo shoots, commercials—a life of indulgence.
Meanwhile, Yan Xi was drowning in work.
Between managing Starlight Entertainment and her academic responsibilities, she was stretched thin.
Though most grad students at Haida University were either interning or studying abroad, the second year brought a critical milestone: the thesis proposal.
Yan Xi spent weeks buried in research and literature reviews. Zhou Yanci and Zhou Qingyu, aware of her workload, dialed back their usual rivalry. Zhou Yanci even donned casual hoodies to blend in at Haida, joining her for cafeteria meals.
Zhou Qingyu attempted the same, but her striking looks made incognito impossible. Her first visit ended with students mobbing her for photos and autographs, leaving no time for a quiet meal with Yan Xi.
By October, Yan Xi’s proposal was done.
Around the same time, The Singer concluded with Han Shu clinching the title—earning Zhou Qingyu a modest +2 boost in luck points.
(After all, Han Shu was still a newcomer—no albums, no concerts. A reality show win didn’t make her a diva overnight. But with Starlight already producing her debut album and The Bottom Line’s theme song in her repertoire, more opportunities lay ahead.)
Preparations for SP, the variety show, were also underway.
This is a pre-recorded variety show. By September, Chu Tingbai had already completed the selection process for trainees and mentors. The main PD is the highly experienced idol Ji Xingzhou, who excels in both singing and dancing. He previously trained as a trainee in Korea and has recently returned to China to further his career.
The boy group US from Xingyao also joined the show, along with many other trainees developing their careers domestically, as well as pre-debut boy groups who trained overseas.
Chu Tingbai alone received over a hundred applications. After a round of evaluations by the mentors, the top one hundred most outstanding trainees were selected.
Throughout September, these one hundred trainees completed their initial stage performances and learned the variety show’s theme song and choreography.
By October, the first episode of the idol-training reality show "SP" is set to premiere. This is China’s first idol survival show of its kind. While the mentors are well-known celebrities, all one hundred trainees are relatively unknown—none of them have even a million followers on Weibo.
The industry has mostly adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward this show. After all, what’s the appeal of a program filled with unknowns? Although Ji Xingzhou is highly popular, he won’t be performing and will have limited screen time.
So, whether "SP" will thrive or flop remains uncertain.
To make matters worse, just as "SP" announced its premiere date, another survival show suddenly trended on Weibo, scheduled to air at the exact same time.
It’s a production by Tianhui—"Let’s Eat Well Today."
Instantly, netizens buzzed with discussions: the battle between Xingyao and Tianhui has begun.
