I Struggle to Survive in a Girl Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 7

There were no cameras from the production team inside the convenience store, and since An Qing and Yu Tingbai were crouched in a corner, it gave the illusion that no one else was present.

The girl who spoke seemed to have completely shed her facade, her tone dripping with malice as she openly mocked Yu Tingbai.

An Qing’s eyes darkened as she suddenly remembered something.

She recalled that during the talent show phase, Yu Tingbai’s family business had encountered severe financial troubles broken capital chains and massive debts. Everyone believed their family would never recover.

Yu Tingbai was stunningly beautiful and exceptionally talented. Since securing the top spot, she had drawn the envy of countless trainees.

For those who could never even touch the hem of her garment, seeing someone so high and mighty fall was nothing short of exhilarating. So when news of Yu Tingbai’s family crisis broke, there were plenty who eagerly waited to revel in her downfall.

Because of this, Yu Tingbai faced both overt and covert hostility from several wealthy and influential trainees including the original An Qing. But Yu Tingbai ignored them all, quietly doubling down on her training and pouring her heart into her performances.

However, about half a year after her debut, the crisis was successfully resolved, leaving those who had gloated over her misfortune utterly humiliated and disappointed.

“Exactly! That fake-nice act of hers drives me crazy. Always helping this one and that one just to steal the spotlight, right?”

Another voice, somewhat androgynous, chimed in, dripping with disdain.

An Qing’s expression darkened further. The novel had mentioned that Yu Tingbai rarely refused anyone’s requests for help, always doing what she could. Sometimes she even stayed up late into the night, refining details for other teams.

How had that turned into a ploy for attention in these people’s mouths?

“Her family’s fallen on hard times, hasn’t it? Of course she has to grovel and keep her head down. Unlike Yuanyuan, who’s got connections no need to suck up to anyone…”

A soft-spoken voice joined in, and An Qing suddenly found it familiar.

She searched her memory and realized it belonged to a girl from their battle group named You Le.

An Qing remembered You Le because, during a break in practice earlier that day, You Le had suddenly rushed in from outside. Claiming to be Yu Tingbai’s biggest fan, she had been effusively friendly, clinging to Yu Tingbai and chatting animatedly for a long time. It wasn’t until Yu Tingbai politely reminded her that she needed to resume practice that You Le reluctantly left. That had caught An Qing’s attention.

The first girl teased, “You Le, aren’t you supposed to be Yu Tingbai’s number one fan? I thought you two were close.”

“Don’t make fun of me! It was just for clout,” You Le hurriedly explained, as if desperate to distance herself from something filthy.

“I’d stan anyone but her. I only like rich, beautiful girls like Yuanyuan here.”

To cozy up for attention by day and then turn around and badmouth behind someone’s back, how shamelessly transparent.

An Qing had fully immersed herself in the moment and was now seething. Gritting her teeth, she turned to look at the person beside her.

Yu Tingbai’s eyes were slightly lowered, her striking face devoid of any emotion, as if she hadn’t heard a thing. But her fingers unconsciously crumpled the candy wrapper in her hand, betraying the faintest ripple of emotion.

An Qing was a principled person. Her strong sense of justice had gotten her into trouble more than once growing up.

But she never changed, always daring to do it again next time.

An Qing stood up, ready to argue with the other party, when she heard footsteps rounding the shelves, heading straight toward them.

The next second, the figures of three girls appeared at the other end of the aisle. Startled by the sight of Yu Tingbai crouching on the floor and An Qing standing beside her, they froze.

“Holy shit, you two trying to scare someone to death?”

The girl at the front, her face full of shock, clutched her chest and glared at them. The zipper of her jacket was undone, and An Qing glanced at the name tag on her sweatshirt Wang Yuanyuan.

The two girls behind her were You Le, who claimed to be Yu Tingbai’s fan, and another girl with a ponytail whom An Qing didn’t recognize.

Caught red-handed gossiping about someone, the three of them looked awkward.

You Le forced a laugh and waved her hand. “What a coincidence, Tingbai, An Qing.”

Yu Tingbai gave them a cold glance, showing no intention of greeting them, and stood up to leave.

Since Yu Tingbai didn’t want to engage, An Qing bit back her words. Pressing her lips together, she followed closely behind.

But as she passed Wang Yuanyuan, her arm was suddenly grabbed.

“An Qing, why are you hanging out with someone like this washed-up loser?”

Because An Qing had previously acted as if she despised Yu Tingbai, Wang Yuanyuan though not close to her deliberately stopped her.

Even though An Qing and Yu Tingbai were here at the same time, Wang Yuanyuan didn’t think they had come together. At most, it was a chance encounter. After all, one was standing while the other crouched hardly the picture of companionship.

Just as Wang Yuanyuan confidently expected An Qing to seize the opportunity and twist the knife further into Yu Tingbai, the other girl abruptly shook off her grip, her voice dripping with impatience.

“And what the hell are you?”

Wang Yuanyuan had always assumed the two were at odds. She never expected An Qing to retaliate so fiercely. A shiver ran down her spine, and for a moment, she was speechless.

Yu Tingbai had already paid and reached the door. Hearing An Qing’s words, she didn’t turn around, but her steps halted.

Outside was the deep night, the cold wind howling, lifting the strands of hair by her ears. She stood quietly at the entrance, facing the silent darkness in a wordless standoff.

Behind her, An Qing’s voice drifted over soft yet burning with intensity, making her eyes sting slightly.

“Keep your tail between your legs. If you keep running your mouth, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Perhaps to make the eventual comeuppance more satisfying, in the novel’s original plot, An Qing came from a powerful background and could afford to disregard anyone in this talent show.

That was why An Qing dared to speak so boldly, turning the tables for Yu Tingbai.

Wang Yuanyuan finally snapped out of her daze, staring at An Qing in disbelief. “You’re actually defending Yu Tingbai? Are you sick or something?”

Her arrogance stemmed from the fact that she wasn’t here to debut in a group just to gain some popularity before returning to her family’s company, where she’d inevitably be heavily promoted.

Though Wang Yuanyuan’s family wasn’t as wealthy as An Qing’s, they were far better off than Yu Tingbai, who was drowning in debt. In the entertainment industry, where paths constantly crossed, she refused to believe An Qing would attack her for Yu Tingbai’s sake.

An Qing laughed coldly at her entitled tone.

Staring at that stunned face, she spoke icily.

“Do I need to say ‘get lost’ for you to understand?”

Youle, eager to defuse the tension, quickly tried to mediate: “An Qing, don’t get so worked up. Maybe there’s been some misunderstanding. How about we all apologize to each other and make up, okay?”

Apologize to each other? An Qing sneered coldly.

Compared to Wang Yuanyuan, she disliked Youle even more.

When right and wrong were already clear, why still take a vague middle ground or pretend to be impartial by blaming both sides equally?

Not wanting to offend anyone meant having no principles or convictions, ready to switch sides for personal gain at any moment.

“Just shut up already.”

An Qing didn’t spare any courtesy, snapping at Youle with a fierce glare. She lifted her chin high, like a proud little swan.

“Hypocritical. Spineless people will never stand up for themselves.”

With that, she left the stunned trio behind, striding purposefully to the door, where she grabbed Yu Tingbai’s arm and announced loud enough for everyone in the room to hear: “Let’s go.”

Yu Tingbai let herself be pulled along as they walked toward the dormitory.

After a dozen meters, An Qing regretted her decision.

To make her exit more dramatic, she had tossed all the snacks she’d picked out back onto the shelves not to mention the oden she’d been craving.

But there was no helping it. Storming off righteously only to return to the counter, drooling over the oden, would have made her look like an idiot and ruined the effect she was going for.

Oh well. Skipping one meal was nothing. Consider it a sacrifice for justice.

Just then, the person beside her raised her other hand, bringing something right under An Qing’s nose.

The familiar aroma instantly enveloped her.

Oden! With radish and fish roe pouches!

“When did you buy this?”

An Qing’s eyes widened, and she immediately reached out with trembling hands, eager to take it.

“While you were arguing with them.”

Yu Tingbai smiled but didn’t let her carry it.

“Eat it when we get back.”

Truly the protagonist, unshakably composed. An Qing could almost picture it: herself standing by the shelves, angrily arguing with the three girls, while Yu Tingbai stood calmly at the counter, a faint smile on her lips as she elegantly picked up a piece of broth-soaked radish and placed it into a paper cup.

The arm she was holding shifted slightly but didn’t pull away.

Only then did An Qing realize she had been holding onto Yu Tingbai’s arm the entire way.

What incredible progress! Overjoyed, she tightened her grip, afraid this hard-won victory might slip away.

She asked the person beside her, “Did you have issues with them before?”

“You could say that.” Yu Tingbai’s tone was calm.

Wang Yuanyuan loved forming cliques. After Yu Tingbai repeatedly refused to join their little group, Wang took it as a personal slight and held a grudge.

But Yu Tingbai didn’t plan to explain all that to An Qing. She only said, “You really don’t mind making enemies, do you?”

An Qing tilted her head to look at that breathtakingly beautiful face.

As they walked, the shifting light from the streetlamps fragmented the complex emotions on Yu Tingbai’s face, lending her an oddly fragile air.

Suddenly, An Qing remembered her own stubborn past the times she had charged headfirst into walls and ended up battered and bruised.

In a way, maybe they weren’t so different.

“I’m not afraid. And you shouldn’t be either.”

An Qing exhaled deeply, her breath forming a small white cloud that quickly vanished into the night.

She said, “If anyone gives you trouble again, come find me.”

A sour, astringent feeling slowly coiled around his heart. Yu Tingbai paused, reining in the emotions in his eyes as he turned a calm gaze toward the little girl beside him. “What do you want from me?”

Those blue eyes sparkled, shimmering with a clarity and warmth that radiated light.

“I’ll protect you.”