After Being Bound to the Scummy Alpha System, I Became Famous Thanks to My Face Blindness - Chapter 28

Soon, the footage from the co-living period was released online.

Unless the cameras were manually turned off, they recorded everything during the entire stay. This episode mainly documented how the seven teams got along and practiced with their guest mentors. Naturally, the final edit focused on the interactions between each group and their mentors.

Tan Shiyi’s group was no exception—but unexpectedly, Tang Ling ended up gaining quite a bit of popularity too.

After all, there were always “microscope girls” online—fans who analyzed every single frame without missing a thing.

“Why hasn’t He Junnian released that photo of Tang Shi falling asleep in the car yet? Don’t I deserve to see it too?”

“AHHH did you all hear that? Tang Ling said she’s going to live with Shishi! I’m shipping it for real now!”

“What do you mean Tang Shi didn’t get the double center position for the third performance?! Nooo I refuse to accept this!”

“LMAO Tang Ling is literally the group’s mom and dad in one—she carries Fang Zhizi upstairs and cleans her room! What a saint.”

“Is it weird that I think Tang Ling and Cheng Qingyan actually have chemistry?”

“Sis, same! The way they practiced facial expressions together in front of the mirror was so cute!”

Tang Ling watched the episode with her teammates in the practice room.

Jiang Manli was in awe. “Ling-jie, why does it feel like you can form a CP with literally anyone? Do you think, in the fans’ eyes, you and I are a couple too?”

Chi Ningrui quipped, “You wish. Take a look at those comments—did anyone even mention your name?”

Jiang Manli pouted. “Just wait! Once the third performance airs, there’ll definitely be people shipping me and Ling-jie. After all, I’m the one she personally picked out!”

Their chatter gave Tang Ling a headache. She honestly didn’t understand why everything she did got turned into a ship. Turning toward Cheng Qingyan and Fang Zhizi, she said apologetically, “Sorry for dragging you into this. I hope you don’t mind?”

Fang Zhizi beamed. “It’s fine, Tang-jie! I used to only have ‘mom-fans.’ This is my first time having CP-fans—it’s kind of fun!”

Cheng Qingyan nodded. “I don’t mind either.”

Jiang Manli smirked. “What’s the point of asking them? The real question is—does your wife mind?”

Cheng Qingyan blinked. “Your wife?”

Jiang Manli grinned mischievously. “Tan Shiyi, of course! You don’t know? Before Ling-jie even came to Beidou Star, she already had her eye on Shiyi. She told me,”

Before she could finish, Tang Ling lunged forward and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Can we not bring up ancient history, please?”

Jiang Manli mumbled an exaggerated, “Okay, okay, I won’t say another word! By the way, isn’t it about time for you to go teach your wife some guitar?”

Tang Ling checked the clock—five minutes to nine. Perfect timing.

She shot her a warning look. “Less gossip, more practice. Don’t ruin my reputation, got it?”

Jiang Manli grinned cheekily. “Got it, got it.”

As Tang Ling headed for the door, Cheng Qingyan hesitated, then called out softly, “Do you still keep in touch with Tan Shiyi?”

Tang Ling nodded. “Yeah. She doesn’t play any instruments, so I’ve been teaching her guitar.”

Cheng Qingyan only murmured a thoughtful “I see,” and didn’t press further.

When Tang Ling reached Room 5203, she heard Tan Shiyi inside, singing and playing guitar. Her clear, delicate voice drifted faintly through the door.

“Can you forget me?

Let me sink alone into this sorrow,

Hide the bitterness I can’t confess,

And turn it into a clumsy, fragile love song.”

The song’s chorus required frequent chord changes—challenging for a beginner. Tan Shiyi’s playing was hesitant, stopping and starting as she checked her instructor’s notes to confirm the finger placements.

Tang Ling stood outside for a while, listening quietly, then knocked and stepped in.

Tan Shiyi, who’d been sitting, immediately stood up when she saw her.

“You’re here! I can already play ‘Can You Forget Me’ all the way through—it’s not very smooth yet, though. Want to listen?”

Tang Ling smiled. “I actually heard you from outside. It sounded great.”

Tan Shiyi flushed slightly. “You did? I wasn’t playing that well just now.”

“You’ve improved a lot since yesterday. How’s your hand? Any pain?”

Tan Shiyi flexed her fingers. “Much better now—it doesn’t hurt anymore. Let me play it once more for you, so you can tell me where I’m going wrong.”

“Sure.”

After adjusting the strap, Tan Shiyi straightened her posture and took a deep breath before starting.

Can You Forget Me was a sorrowful piece, and her voice—clean and ethereal—carried the emotion beautifully. Perhaps because Tang Ling was watching, she played a little slower, but didn’t make a single mistake.

When the last note faded, Tan Shiyi’s forehead glistened with sweat, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her bright eyes brimmed with earnest anticipation. “Was it okay?”

It wasn’t often that she wore her emotions so openly, but right now her whole face practically said, I’m happy. Please praise me.

And of course, Tang Ling did.

“It was beautiful. This song suits you so well. Keep practicing—you’ll have no problem performing it live. You’ll blow everyone away.”

Tan Shiyi smiled shyly. “You’re exaggerating. As long as I can get through it smoothly, I’ll be happy.”

Without thinking, Tang Ling gently took the guitar from her and slung it over her own shoulder. “This song has a lot of chord transitions. Try to make them more fluid, otherwise it’ll sound stiff. Keep your fingers relaxed—you can simplify the fingering a bit here.”

Tan Shiyi listened intently, crouching slightly to get a better view, her eyes fixed on Tang Ling’s hands as if wanting to memorize every movement.

Tang Ling couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t have to be so serious. It’s mainly because you’re still new right now. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t even need me to tell you these things—you’ll pick them up naturally.”

But Tan Shiyi remained bent slightly forward, insistent. “Still, I am a beginner right now. I need to learn from you.”

Tang Ling found her seriousness unbearably adorable and couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle her hair.

Tan Shiyi froze, taking two steps back. “You.”

Tang Ling quickly drew back her hand. “Uh, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to encourage you, that’s all.”

Tan Shiyi could feel her face burning red. Embarrassed to let Tang Ling see her like this, she turned her head away, waiting for the heat in her cheeks to fade. “Thank you,” she murmured softly.

Tang Ling instantly regretted it. The mood had been perfect, and she just had to let her hands act faster than her brain. Great—she’d probably made Tan Shiyi upset again. Slinging the guitar off her shoulder, she propped it against the wall and tried to change the subject. “Uh, we’ve been practicing for quite a while. Want to take a break?”

Tan Shiyi nodded lightly. “Mm.”

Tang Ling pretended to stroll around the room, eyes darting about until she finally seized on a topic to break the awkward silence. “So, um, did you watch the newest episode yet?”

Tan Shiyi shook her head. “Not yet. It just aired tonight, right?”

“Yeah. The editing’s pretty fun—though there aren’t many training scenes. It’s more for entertainment, not much you can review or learn from.”

She said this entirely out of consideration for Tan Shiyi, assuming she’d rather focus on the competition than waste time on lighthearted clips.

But to Tan Shiyi, the words struck differently. The flutter in her heart sank all at once. No replay value? Did that mean those days at training camp—their days together—meant nothing to Tang Ling?

She cherished those days deeply. Without the training camp, she wouldn’t have had so many moments with Tang Ling—wouldn’t have been cared for when she was sick, or been invited into Tang Ling’s home.

Her expression dimmed in an instant.

Completely unaware, Tang Ling went on chatting, “And seriously, the production team will edit anything. They even included footage of Fang Zhizi’s room—it was a total mess. Good thing that girl doesn’t care much about her image.”

“Oh,” Tan Shiyi replied faintly.

Tang Ling: “…”

Why did it suddenly feel even colder in here?

Tang Ling nudged her arm gently. “You’re still upset?”

Tan Shiyi didn’t want to admit that she didn’t feel like watching Tang Ling carry Fang Zhizi upstairs and tidy her room, so she said lightly, “No, I’ve just been busy lately. Haven’t had time to watch the show.”

Ah, just as I thought, Tang Ling thought, relieved, and tried to coax her back into a better mood. “Then let’s skip it. Let’s focus on preparing for the next performance. You haven’t heard our group’s song yet, right? I’ll play it for you—‘Insomniac Moon.’ How about that?”

Tan Shiyi nodded softly.

That night, Tang Ling patiently coaxed and guided her until Tan Shiyi’s mood finally lifted again.

Just as they’d agreed, they practiced until eleven before leaving the rehearsal room together.

After walking Tan Shiyi downstairs, Tang Ling returned to the dorm building. She was just about to go inside when someone called out from behind her.

“Tang Ling!”

Not far away, a girl in sportswear had just returned from her nightly run. Her high ponytail bounced lightly, and her expressionless face looked vaguely familiar.

Tang Ling hesitated, then ventured, “Cheng Qingyan?”

Cheng Qingyan nodded. “You just got back?”

“Yeah, just finished practice. What about you? Still doing your nightly runs?”

Back at the training camp, Tang Ling had already known about Cheng Qingyan’s running habit; sometimes, she’d even jog a few laps with her.

“Yeah. Every night,” Cheng Qingyan replied simply.

They walked together for a few steps before Cheng Qingyan couldn’t hold it in anymore. “You were with Tan Shiyi all evening?”

Tang Ling blinked. “Yeah. Why?”

“You were teaching her guitar?”

Tang Ling quickly explained, “Just some basics—she’s completely new to it. Don’t worry, it’s not going to interfere with our group’s practice.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Cheng Qingyan’s expression grew complicated, words hanging unsaid.

Tang Ling looked puzzled. “?”

“Don’t tell me you think I’m dating Tan Shiyi again? I’m not, seriously. Don’t listen to Jiang Manli’s nonsense.”

“It’s not that,” Cheng Qingyan said after a pause, still frowning. “I just find it strange. Tan Shiyi already knows how to play the piano—so why would she choose to learn the guitar instead?”

Tang Ling froze. “Wait—you’re saying Tan Shiyi can play the piano?”