The Fake Daughter is a Max-Level Green Tea [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Truth Comes Out

“A partial circuit failure!?”

The venue manager backstage abruptly stood up, unable to believe such a fatal mistake could happen on the premises under his management. He looked furiously at the lighting technician, who was also sweating profusely: “I, I don’t know! Shouldn’t the power supply be perfectly normal? Why didn’t they inform us if the power was going to be cut…”

“Emergency backup power is starting up, but it will take about a minute to stabilize. The previous wire short-circuited suddenly.”

“But they are still on stage!”

For a performance that has already started, stopping immediately is not an option, and continuing is just as difficult. Handling it poorly would lead to confusion and a somber atmosphere. When Ji You finished the last line of her part, she sensed something was wrong.

There was a transition before Lu Chaoqing’s part, but now the entire venue was silent. Everyone was bewildered by the sudden power outage. Although most quickly regained their composure, whispers started to rise from the audience moments later. As the noise from below grew louder, the organizers were momentarily at a loss. This venue had never made such a basic mistake in previous award ceremonies. The host’s face was flushed, and he even considered asking Lilium to stop temporarily.

The backing track had now stopped, and the high-altitude swing was still.

But when his eyes fell on Lu Chaoqing, suspended high up on the swing, his heart sank.

The high-altitude swing was as dangerous as many amusement park rides, especially without any safety measures. If there was the slightest mishap…

Just as Lin Chumu, who was watching the screen, couldn’t help but hold her breath for her, a highly penetrating voice, slightly lower than usual, steadily poured into the ear through the Bluetooth headset. The a cappella without backing music made the girl’s original voice clearer, like the gentle rippling of flowing water. The moment it sounded, it covered the panic of everyone present or in front of the screen.

“I will spread my wings and soar in the city, watering the land with hope. The secrets yet to sprout in the haze, the ancient song awakens them, So sing together and move on to the unknown journey…”

Lu Chaoqing’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it was incredibly penetrating in the quiet venue, clearly audible even without the aid of a backing track. The girl’s voice was clean and pure, without unnecessary embellishment. The only accompaniment was a gold and red bell tied to her wrist, which lightly swayed with her movements.

As she sang the last line, the girl suddenly turned sideways, lifting one leg onto the swing seat, completing the pre-designed movement. With the continuous melodious singing, Lu Chaoqing simply clipped the microphone onto a prepared pocket on her outfit, freeing one hand to hook onto the swing frame and lean back—the swing swayed with her movement. Although it was a very dangerous action high up in the air, the girl, who looked so delicate, showed no fear at all. Her freely extended arms straightened like lines, not deviating even slightly from the original design because of the stationary swing.

The swing, wrapped with flower vines, carried an adult high in the air, swaying gently. Even those below found it shocking. Lu Chaoqing was not an acrobat and did not possess such skills. All her support came only from the combination of flexibility and strength. The slightest mistake in this movement could lead to a permanent injury. The event organizers and the audience held their breath, their eyes fixed on the girl in the air.

Because of the previous rumors of her being a “Royal Family,” some people would always seize every opportunity to question her vocal ability in threads evaluating her strength, claiming she was half-singing or lip-syncing. After all, there were precedents of not fully singing live during music shows and concerts, and sometimes pre-recording was used.

But this time, her emergency a cappella left no room for those who liked to nitpick to find fault.

Lu Chaoqing’s timbre was soft but not overly sweet or irritating; it was simply a clean, pure, and comfortable youthful voice. Her transitions and articulation were perfectly balanced in emphasis and restraint. Even without the guidance of a backing track, she maintained the original rhythm throughout.

The manager backstage had been frantic, but he let out a long sigh of relief watching Lu Chaoqing successfully salvage the situation.

He had heard that this young girl was a “Royal Family,” and while “Royal Family” members were certainly not uncommon in their circle, they generally left a poor impression. However, in just over ten seconds, Lu Chaoqing managed to reverse the impression of most people. Under her leadership, the subsequent parts of Jiang Qishuang and Yao Xichen were also executed smoothly.

The moment the power was restored, the first thing to light up was the swing. Colorful lights were strung on the vine-wrapped ropes, converging into a unique spectacle in the darkness. The girl’s slender legs were so white they shimmered slightly under the light, yet it wasn’t jarring. The deep purple Lilium flower on her ankle swayed back and forth with her movements, looking as if it was about to bloom.

When the performance concluded perfectly, the previously quiet audience erupted in the most enthusiastic applause of the evening. The live stream’s bullet screen, at this moment, surged crazily at an unprecedented rate. Both passersby and fans were flooding the screen with praise for Lu Chaoqing’s stunning performance.

As an old fan, I must say that the move just now wasn’t a sudden show-off. It’s a move of the Fallen Angel (Lu Chaoqing’s character) in the ‘Against the Wind’ MV. Back then, she was on wires. Now, the swing is used as a substitute, but the movement hasn’t changed much. It wasn’t convenient for the concert before, but I didn’t expect her to do it this time!

I second the comment above, and there should be safety measures on the swing, but the power went out… I was terrified just now. If she fell, a broken bone would be considered a minor injury, right?]

Passerby, I’m hooked.

Xiao Qing is forever a god! You can always trust SUN!!! She is the sun, just like the Fallen Angel!!

I actually always thought her resources were bought because she’s a “Royal Family,” but today completely changed my mind. Lu Chaoqing deserves this Center position.

The girl on the stage greeting her fans could only hear the thunderous cheers but couldn’t see the compliments on the bullet screen. Lu Chaoqing’s heart was still pounding furiously, and she almost felt like collapsing.

No one knew how scared she was on stage.

When the power suddenly went out, the others were off stage, and she was sitting on the swing with no one nearby. One thing Lu Chaoqing never mentioned was that she was slightly afraid of heights.

The time she jumped with Lin Chumu, she wasn’t afraid of whether the wires would hurt; she was afraid of the sudden feeling of weightlessness when being suspended, but it was much better when someone was beside her. Lilium was a concept group, meaning the group had its own story background. Her character was irreplaceable, and the moves naturally couldn’t be done by anyone else. Thus, when she received the high-altitude swing task, Lu Chaoqing was stunned.

During the MV shoot, because of post-production, she only had to be suspended at a lower height, but the high-altitude swing was truly high. During rehearsals, she even thought about giving up and changing the move several times. But thinking of the fans’ previous anticipation for this move, one part of the internal conflict started to gain the upper hand.

Everything she had today came from the unwavering support of her fans, and standing on this stage was also due to their constant encouragement. Because of the previous support event incident, her fans had temporarily endured the undeserved grievance. Could she really disappoint them again?

Even a small disappointment was something Lu Chaoqing instinctively refused.

Having studied dance for many years, her strength and flexibility were fully sufficient for her to execute that move. Even without safety measures, Lu Chaoqing could ensure her strength was fully in place. This was an award the fans had worked hard for, and it was the unique solo privilege of the Center position. She absolutely refused to be the kind of “Royal Family” who occupied the position but didn’t do the work, even though this time she genuinely could have chosen not to.

Fortunately, she did it, and the earth-shattering applause from the audience was her biggest reward.

The host clearly hadn’t expected Lu Chaoqing to execute such a phenomenal save, otherwise, this incident would likely have turned into a ridiculous stage accident. He was also immensely relieved that Lu Chaoqing was unharmed. Thus, he showered her with compliments, relentless and effusive, until the young girl blushed slightly, before finally allowing the group to step down and rest.

On the way to the backstage resting area, Jiang Qishuang and Chen Li kept asking her if she was okay. Ji You’s face was pale with nervousness, and large beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. However, she didn’t crowd them, choosing instead to silently watch Lu Chaoqing’s back, biting her lip.

Her heart was pounding non-stop. Heaven knew how scared she was when she saw Lu Chaoqing up there. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her throat; it was even more unbearable than being up there herself. But fortunately, Lu Chaoqing quickly resolved the incident perfectly, just like the girl in her memory—virtually omnipotent.

Ji You’s nose stung, and she nearly shed tears.

“Hey, Xiao You, how was my performance just now?”

Lu Chaoqing, surrounded by people, didn’t forget her. She quickly parted Jiang Qishuang and Chen Li and came to Ji You, smiling sweetly. Her perfect expression showed no flaws, except perhaps for her slightly trembling hand…

Driven by some unknown courage, Ji You’s head suddenly heated up. She went straight to grab Lu Chaoqing’s hand and shook it. Her voice carried a hint of uncontrollable choke: “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Lu Chaoqing had fallen from the stage then.

Ji You tried hard to force a reassuring smile: “You did great!”

Lu Chaoqing then smiled, put her arm around Ji You’s shoulder, and shook her slightly. Although it was brief, Ji You’s face still flushed. She seemed to want to pull away but thought of something and didn’t.

“Let’s go get some water first, I’m exhausted!”

The performance was over. There wasn’t much more to see afterward. Lu Chaoqing’s save this time immediately boosted her public goodwill significantly. This was a good thing for both companies and for her. Logically, Lin Chumu should have closed the live stream, but she hesitated for a long time and didn’t exit.

Her gaze fell on the interaction between Lu Chaoqing and Ji You, finding it somewhat jarring.

In all aspects, their interaction was completely within the bounds of friendship, without any suspicious ambiguity. Lu Chaoqing didn’t even use her spoiled tone when speaking to Ji You. Yet, this girl possessed the power to capture hearts and make people care about her every move. She smiled brightly at Ji You, and the small girl’s heart was instantly put at ease.

The camera stopped following them at the door, and the live stream feed was cut, beginning the broadcast of the next performance. Perhaps there would be some interviews afterward. Lu Chaoqing’s emergency save this time was of a level that could go viral. The subsequent resources would definitely follow, and it was conceivable that she might become massively popular soon.

Lin Chumu rubbed her slightly sore eyes.

Perhaps the reason the little “green tea” was so clingy to her now was because she still needed her. After this, once she truly established herself in this complicated industry, with her pleasing personality, many seniors would surely be willing to support her. Coupled with her strong inherent skill, Lu Chaoqing would eventually carve out her own vast space.

Lin Chumu was not the type of person who easily became jealous, nor had she ever intended to be jealous of Lu Chaoqing, but at this moment, she felt an inexplicable, heavy sense of suppression. Perhaps it was because she saw the little “green tea” unconsciously showing her cute side in front of others, or perhaps it was because she saw the unpleasant expression of a certain individual.

“Jiang Qishuang, is that right?” The woman’s voice on the phone sounded casual. “Fine, look into everything about her before her debut.”

The awards ceremony quickly became a trending topic. Lu Chaoqing’s inherent popularity, combined with comments from passersby and company promotion, propelled it to the number one spot that night. The comment sections of major marketing accounts were filled with friendly discussions of passersby becoming fans and fans passionately promoting her. Below the main trend, there was also a smaller one: “#LuChaoqingJiYou#”.

Lu Chaoqing had previously wondered why Ji You, with such a gentle and even timid personality, chose to become a rapper. This girl was practically two different people on and off stage. Unlike Lu Chaoqing’s versatile contrast, Ji You was purely reserved off stage and expressive on stage. She rarely spoke unless addressed during live streams or other activities, thus having lower popularity within the group.

The name “Ji You” appeared on a trending search term for the first time, attracting many passersby. With the fans’ promotion, her Weibo following growth rate was second only to Lu Chaoqing’s in a short time.

Aside from the interaction after the awards ceremony, the two teams soon went their separate ways. The only person who seemed dissatisfied was Yao Xichen, whose eyes held unconcealed resentment towards Ji You during those days.

Specifically, the two hadn’t gotten along well since the sub-unit formation. Yao Xichen would slightly restrain herself when everyone was together due to the presence of leader Chen Li, but now she didn’t bother to continue the facade.

The conflict finally erupted during a break when Yao Xichen came across a fan-made CP edit of Ji You and Lu Chaoqing and couldn’t help but sarcastically mock them. However, Ji You, who was usually good-natured and endured everything, confronted Yao Xichen this time, leaving her quite infuriated.

“You’re really good at clinging to coattails, Ji You. Why didn’t I notice that about you before? Who do you think Lu Chaoqing is? She’s just a ‘Royal Family’ who got her position through her relatives and…”

The usually gentle Ji You suddenly bristled like an angry cat and immediately retorted: “That’s still a hundred times better than someone like you who only picks on the weak! Don’t think that just because you’re petty and jealous and hide your tail, no one will notice. You hate Xiao Qing so much just because she didn’t agree to help you get that MV connection before. If you’re really capable, compete on your own! If you were really brave, why didn’t I see you among the applicants during the recruitment?”

This was the first time Ji You had spoken so aggressively in private. Yao Xichen couldn’t keep up with the rapper’s speed. Before she could formulate a rebuttal, Ji You continued to list several embarrassing incidents from the past. Yao Xichen’s face grew darker and darker, but she clearly didn’t intend to argue with Ji You anymore.

She grabbed Ji You’s wrist and pulled her close, leveraging her height advantage to look down at the thin girl. Her voice was full of coldness: “Dare you say that again?”

Before Ji You could speak, a surge of nameless anger had crushed Yao Xichen’s rationality, and she finally couldn’t help but pinch Ji You hard. The satisfying feeling of forcefully pulling skin and flesh made her increase the force. Hearing Ji You’s cry of pain, she simply covered the other’s mouth—while she might lose an argument, Yao Xichen could certainly overpower the small and thin Ji You physically.

“Are you asking for it? Are you sick?” Yao Xichen gasped for air. The resentment and grudges that had accumulated over many days finally found an outlet, especially when Ji You, unable to break free, bit her, which further fueled her rage, making her utter a very unpleasant vulgarity.

Yao Xichen in the original plot wasn’t someone with a good personality. Although she wasn’t a complete thug, her rebellious nature meant she was proficient in swearing. Ji You desperately pushed her away. Yao Xichen simply started using her leg to pin her down, deliberately pinching unseen, unexposed areas with just the right amount of force—not enough to leave obvious marks, but not too light either.

Ji You was in so much pain that tears welled up, but she continued to fight back desperately.

The difference in strength between two girls is usually not too great. Under Ji You’s full resistance, Yao Xichen gradually became exhausted and finally released the arm she was clutching. Ji You had several marks on her body, but they were hidden by her clothes and not visible unless they were lifted.

Yao Xichen swore and left.

Since then, as if a switch had been flipped, the two argued several times a day, and Yao Xichen occasionally resorted to physical aggression again. After all, once was enough to lead to a second time. A few days later, Ji You finally couldn’t tolerate it anymore and reported it to the manager.

But the answer she received was unbelievable.

The previous manager followed the sub-unit on the EM side, while the one here was a new manager sent by MT. The woman looked gentle despite her young age, but even Ji You could clearly sense her bias.

“Hit you? Then I’ll call Yao Xichen here and talk to her. Xiao You, and you too, since you’re both in a team, can you please not try to blow things up? We are busy enough already. Making a fuss won’t benefit you or the group. Sometimes, team issues can be resolved internally. Enduring it won’t hurt.”

Enduring it, will it truly not hurt, or will it make things worse?

To prevent any further trouble, Ji You gradually resumed her previous silent endurance during this period. Until one time, she overheard Yao Xichen on a phone call, using her name without reservation in the conversation. She heard the girl complaining: “Yeah, so I’ll go alone because she’s not feeling well. It’s just a small commercial performance, not an important occasion… Thank you, Sister Zhou, you’re the best~” “Sister Zhou” was the new manager assigned to them recently. Unexpectedly, Yao Xichen didn’t even try to hide her communication with her. Ji You had a slight cold these past two days, but she was perfectly capable of performing, and it wouldn’t affect her state.

But a simple sentence from Yao Xichen easily uprooted all her efforts during this period, like grass swept up by a strong wind, making her unable to resist.

The commercial performance was canceled. She watched Yao Xichen subtly criticize her in interviews but couldn’t refute it; her solo endorsement was transferred to Yao Xichen; even fans wondered why she wasn’t accepting many activities anymore, with some even saying she was putting on airs and disdainful of small resources…

Such days continued until the activities of both sub-units temporarily concluded, and they reunited. When she saw Lu Chaoqing again, Ji You felt the immense sense of grievance miraculously dissolve.

She didn’t want to vent her frustrations to her, using the other party’s sympathy as her emotional trash can. Just seeing the girl’s bright, sunny smile was enough to fill and heal a part of her heart.

The girl who was the first to stand up for her amidst everyone’s doubt was like a hand reaching out in the darkness. When she was hovering on the edge between darkness and light, about to fall, that hand firmly cleared all the thorns for her.

Even before meeting again today, Ji You hadn’t expected…

The rebellion hidden deep in her bones, like unquenchable wild grass reborn in the spring wind, cried out again, telling her a truth that might be impossible to change in this lifetime. Her heart raced uncontrollably when she saw Lu Chaoqing, and that feeling clearly surpassed ordinary friendship.

She liked Lu Chaoqing.

Half an hour later, the group returned to their MT dorm.

They had been constantly busy with promotional schedules during this time. Although they didn’t have continuous flights, everyone was physically exhausted. Even those with the best stamina felt tired. After exchanging greetings and a few words, everyone collapsed into bed.

Lu Chaoqing slept for about three hours. When she woke up, she felt sluggish, but she couldn’t fall back asleep, so she sat up in bed.

Her roommate, Ji You, lying on the opposite bed, didn’t seem to be sleeping much either, only breathing lightly so as not to disturb those who were asleep. She was originally lying on her side facing Lu Chaoqing. Seeing the other person awake, she felt a momentary embarrassment and quickly tried to turn her head away—”Xiao You.”

Lu Chaoqing’s voice was gentle, without any impatience or other negative feelings. She seemed to see a surge of desire to confide in Ji You’s eyes. Since the other party considered her a friend, Lu Chaoqing certainly wouldn’t refuse.

“Is there something you want to talk to me about?”

Ji You’s eyes clearly flickered with panic. She was about to say “no,” but she still succumbed to Lu Chaoqing’s unintentional gentleness. Even though the other person wasn’t deliberately flirting, she couldn’t help but feel a strong flutter in her heart. The constantly palpitating heart mixed two completely different emotions: half guilt, half excitement, perhaps intertwined with some anxiety.

Ji You wrestled with herself for a long time. Lu Chaoqing quietly waited for her until the girl opposite finally made up her mind. Instead of speaking directly, she got out of bed and, facing Lu Chaoqing, slowly lifted her clothes.

Lu Chaoqing instinctively wanted to look away, but when her eyes fell on the unmistakable bruises on the thin ribs, her heart fiercely contracted.

The events in the original plot still happened, but this time, it was Ji You’s own choice.

Ji You always thought it was incredible that she had found the courage to sign up.

Although she had been exposed to music since childhood, that beauty was limited to her early years, limited to a time before her parents fell into endless fighting and mutual suspicion, where only fragmented memories could offer a glimpse of warmth. Perhaps someone held her to read sheet music, or softly hummed a song for her. It was ironic, but her family was considered a musical family. Her parents and even grandparents had graduated from prestigious music conservatories, but the music that cultivated their minds couldn’t stop their increasingly irritable personalities. They began fighting constantly and even physically attacking each other when she was young, until they divorced when she was five.

Her father tore all the sheet music in the house to shreds, never touching the violin he once used to win her mother’s affection, and within half a year, became intimately involved with another heavily made-up woman. Her mother abandoned her to her grandparents to enjoy her own life, only sending her two brief messages of greeting each month.

The first time she was hit was in kindergarten. The perpetrators might have simply found it amusing, cutting off a lot of her hair. When she resisted, several of them ganged up on her. The teacher lightly scolded them a few times, but Ji You didn’t dare tell her family, so there was a second time, a third time…

She gradually became numb.

Although no one naturally enjoys being bullied, Ji You wasn’t a masochist. At first, she didn’t want to worry her already tired grandparents. Later, she simply lost the motivation to change things. Sometimes, she would report it out of desperation, but each time, besides the criticism directed at the bullies, she also received the question, “Why are you the only one being bullied?”

Lu Chaoqing was the first person to stand up for her and speak out on her behalf, even though her initial impression of this rich girl was not very good, just like everyone else. This girl was so high and mighty, her status alone placed her worlds apart from them. She would likely debut easily and have a brilliant career even without diligent practice.

But Lu Chaoqing was surprisingly easygoing. She ate and slept with everyone, brought back delicious food to the dorm, and would intentionally act silly or tease someone when they were upset, just to make them smile.

Even the time Yao Xichen falsely accused her, it was Lu Chaoqing who stepped in to resolve it, instantly dispelling everyone else’s suspicion.

The girl’s gaze towards Lu Chaoqing was burning like fire.

She was not the Ji You in the original plot, who was coerced and forced to jump off a building to protest the injustice. She stood as an equal beside Lu Chaoqing, talking to her face-to-face. The massive support system of the abuser in the original plot was now opening the door of friendship to her. Ji You didn’t know the things that would happen in that plot, but after fully recounting her experience, she said with unprecedented determination: “I’m sorry, Xiao Qing, I will report this to the higher-ups. If they refuse to handle it, I might choose to sue Yao Xichen.”

A normal lawsuit would typically only involve Ji You and Yao Xichen, but they were a group. No matter what happened internally, externally, they were inextricably linked, sharing both success and failure. If Ji You sued Yao Xichen, it would definitely impact the group.

Although the main manager was kind to them, whether she would allow her to escalate the matter was truly hard to say. If Yao Xichen was punished, as long as they were not separated, the manager couldn’t possibly monitor her constantly, and the bullying could happen again.

Ji You had considered this deeply. But Yao Xichen’s repeated escalation meant she would never restrain herself unless she faced significant consequences. Of course, suing was only the last resort. Ji You wouldn’t want the entire team to suffer losses unless it was the absolute last option.

She originally thought Lu Chaoqing might try to advise against it, but unexpectedly, she received a swift agreement moments later.

“Alright.”

Lu Chaoqing hadn’t expected the team’s breakdown to come so quickly.

The moment she knocked on Jiang Qishuang’s door, she hesitated slightly, but remembering the bruises on Ji You’s body, she made up her mind. Since there was no need for this team to continue, she didn’t need to postpone certain matters. Instead of waiting for the wound to fester and grow larger, it was better to cut the Gordian knot quickly.

If there was one member with ulterior motives in a group, there might still be a chance for redemption. But if a second one emerged, it meant the group could no longer go far. For example, Yao Xichen, who engaged in group bullying and even resorted to physical assault, and Jiang Qishuang, who repeatedly attacked her secretly, even attempting something more severe than covert bullying, seeking to completely destroy her reputation.

Before the evidence was presented to her, she hadn’t imagined that the girl who seemed so gentle and friendly on the surface would resort to such vicious underhanded tactics. But this was reality. The compelling evidence left no room for anyone to argue.

From the initial “Royal Family” rumors to the incident of the fan-made light stick stealing the show, and even the time she was photographed leaving Lin Chumu’s room, all were the work of this person. No wonder she had wondered how someone could have taken pictures if neither sasaeng fans nor paparazzi could enter; the hotel wouldn’t tarnish its reputation, leaving only the possibility of someone inside.

Lu Chaoqing had initially suspected Yao Xichen, but Yao Xichen clearly preferred to pick on the weak rather than confront her, only occasionally resorting to verbal sarcasm, never daring to inflict any substantial harm on her. Chen Li and Ji You genuinely had a good relationship with her. Only Jiang Qishuang, whom she initially didn’t want to suspect…

As she pondered, the girl inside slowly opened the door. Seeing it was Lu Chaoqing, she smiled: “What’s wrong? The leader is sleeping.”

Lu Chaoqing expressionlessly held up a blurry photo from her phone’s album for her to see. Jiang Qishuang’s face instantly changed. She instinctively glanced back at the door. Seeing that Chen Li hadn’t woken up, she pointed to another area—the soundproof lounge.

Jiang Qishuang walked over purely by instinct, her body suddenly feeling weak, her steps unsteady as if she were walking on cotton. Finally, she reached the lounge, gently closed the door, and cautiously locked it, afraid someone might enter and overhear their conversation at this moment.

Completely contrary to her impression, the usually accommodating Lu Chaoqing showed a look of indifference that Jiang Qishuang had never seen before. Lu Chaoqing set her phone to automatically play a slideshow, slowly presenting several photos one by one, without any mercy. The dim yellow light in the lounge cast a shadow on the girl’s delicate face. Jiang Qishuang felt her throat dry up, and she stared blankly at her.

But the ending seemed clear in an instant.

Lu Chaoqing looked Jiang Qishuang in the eye without flinching. In her clear, bright gaze, which was not at all aggressive, Jiang Qishuang, who had managed to maintain a slight composure, unexpectedly collapsed. The girl’s bright, beautiful face instantly turned pale. Her meticulously groomed eyelashes trembled, and her chest heaved continuously. She was clearly approaching numbness.

“…I.”

She paused for a long time, unsure what to say, or rather, knowing that any defense would be futile against such sudden evidence. Lu Chaoqing was just good-tempered, not truly foolish. Since she had solid evidence, she would not be easily deceived by her words anymore.

The words Jiang Qishuang had rehearsed countless times in her mind found no opportunity to be spoken now. She slumped down like a melted snowman, collapsing into the rattan chair, as if the bones had been removed from her body. Her throat and face burned, and golden spots danced before her eyes.

“Since those paparazzi and marketing accounts are hired to do a job, I can get what I want from them with more money. The most untrustworthy people in the world are those who work for money, because sooner or later, they will betray you for money too.” Lu Chaoqing tried to keep her voice calm, at least maintaining that facade in front of the other person. “Shuangshuang, didn’t you know that?”

Jiang Qishuang was speechless, her eyes vacant as she looked up at her.

“Although I don’t know when I offended you, out of respect for our time as teammates, I’ll give you a choice. First, I will make these matters public. Second, you find a suitable reason to leave the group, and afterward, we’ll go our separate ways. Perhaps you can even debut as a soloist in a couple of years.”

“That way, no one in the team will compete with you, and no one will block your path. How far you go depends entirely on your own abilities. But before you leave the group, you must clarify one thing: the light stick incident. I don’t want my fans to suffer any undeserved injustice.”

Jiang Qishuang suddenly clenched the armrest of the rattan chair. Her emotions seemed agitated, but somehow she controlled herself again. The Lu Chaoqing in front of her felt completely unfamiliar. After spending so much time together, this was the first time she saw Lu Chaoqing speak to someone in such a cold tone, her face devoid of any warmth or expression.

Jiang Qishuang’s chest rose and fell continuously. Her mind was blank, and sweat soaked her back.

Had Lu Chaoqing had the evidence all along and just been enduring it, or had she only just found out and immediately come to confront her? But if the other person wanted to, revenge would be an easy matter. Jiang Qishuang’s thoughts suddenly became a chaotic mess.

The girl standing in front of her, looking down, only repeated that one sentence: “Will you leave the group?”