The next day
While the two were talking, two people wearing baseball caps and masks walked in from outside.
One was the team's captain, Lu Bingbing, and the other was a somewhat famous member, Xu Mengchen.
Seeing the two, their expressions immediately darkened.
"Yuwei, the captain and I came to see you. Are you doing okay?"
Xu Mengchen, with her long curled hair and charming eyes, teared up as soon as she entered and sat next to Yuwei, full of concern.
Seeing her act like this, both Ye Yuwei and Jiaqi felt an intense disgust.
This was entirely her doing.
It all started because her fans turned their backs on her and switched their support to Ye Yuwei, even retaliating against her.
They called her: "Flat as a plank, sings breathlessly, yet insists on flaunting herself on stage."
And now she's putting on this display of sisterly love—it's just unbearably "green tea."
"Yuwei, are you feeling better now?" Lu Bingbing also asked, her tone filled with concern.
"Thank you, Captain. I hope to participate in the next performance next week," Ye Yuwei said with a strained smile. She was just a small-time nobody and could only swallow her grievances.
"Yuwei, if your injuries are serious, then take more rest. Treat it like a vacation," Xu Mengchen said, her face still full of concern.
"Mengchen, you make it sound so nice. If there's no performance, who's going to pay us?" Li Jiaqi couldn't hold back her bluntness.
"Jiaqi, look at what you're saying. I was just thinking about Yuwei's well-being." Xu Mengchen shot a somewhat aggrieved glance at Jiaqi.
Li Jiaqi, seeing her playing innocent, felt an overwhelming urge to tear off that fake mask.
Lu Bingbing chimed in, "Yuwei, it'd be great if you could join the performance. Without you, our rehearsals have been off, and the theater's fans are all looking forward to seeing you back soon."
"Captain, I won't let the fans down," Ye Yuwei endured the pain and forced a smile.
"Captain, are we not going to investigate this matter within the team? If this kind of behavior continues, how can we practice in peace?" Li Jiaqi said, glancing briefly at Xu Mengchen.
"The company is investigating the matter, and they will make sure Yuwei gets justice," Lu Bingbing said seriously.
Ye Yuwei and Li Jiaqi didn't believe her; it was clearly just lip service.
Lu Bingbing added, "Yuwei, take care and get some rest. We won't disturb you any longer."
"Yuwei, rest well, and if you need anything, call me," Xu Mengchen offered, reaching out to tidy Yuwei's unruly hair, her eyes filled with warm affection.
Ye Yuwei felt a chill run down her spine, barely containing the nausea as she endured this show of fake concern.
The girls in this industry were truly terrifying.
They could ruin you and leave you devastated, yet outwardly provide warmth, bring you fruit, supplements, cry with you, show you affection, and care.
The two quickly left, leaving behind a pile of fruit.
"Ptooey! Ptooey! What a disgusting act!"
Fuming, Li Jiaqi threw all the fruit into the trash can.
Unable to vent her anger, she stomped on them furiously.
"Ouch!"
"What happened, Jiaqi?"
"Damn it, there's a needle in the fruit!"
In pain and breaking into a cold sweat, Li Jiaqi sat heavily on the edge of the bed. She lifted her foot to find a shiny sewing needle embedded in it. If someone had accidentally swallowed it...
"I swear, Xu Mengchen, one day I'll make her pay for this." Jiaqi was on the verge of exploding in fury.
"Jiaqi, are you alright? You should see a doctor."
"It's fine, it didn't go in deep. I'll just put a bandage on it."
Li Jiaqi couldn't bear to spend money on such minor injuries.
"I'm sorry, Jiaqi. I dragged you into this."
"It's not your fault. It's all about how wicked Xu Mengchen and her people are."
"Jiaqi, we must be extra cautious in the future. They'll stoop to anything."
Ye Yuwei looked at the sweat lining Jiaqi's forehead due to the pain. Her heart was heavy as shadows filled her mind.
At this moment, a clean and neat nurse walked in.
"Ye Yuwei, it's time to pay your hospital fees."
"Nurse, I just paid 10,000 yesterday," she replied.
"It's already used up. You'll still need additional tests today."
The nurse's tone was cold and impatient.
"Oh," Ye Yuwei could only nod.
Jiaqi's face was full of anger, and had it not been for Yuwei holding her back, she would have started shouting at the nurse.
After the nurse left, Ye Yuwei said, "That's just how hospitals are. Why get angry over it?"
"I just can't stand their attitude. We're customers, too! We may not expect royal treatment, but they shouldn't act like that."
Ye Yuwei chuckled at Jiaqi's words but quickly sighed.
"It's like spending money as if it were running water. The company told me to use insurance but hasn't provided a dime in advance."
Jiaqi's heart sank as well, but there was nothing she could do. They needed the company's platform.
"Yuwei, you rest. I'll go pay for you."
"Jiaqi, I… I don't have any money left in my account."
"Don't worry, I've got some. Relax."
Jiaqi smiled and gently touched Yuwei's head, speaking tenderly.
Three days later
After being discharged from the hospital, Ye Yuwei and Jiaqi lay on their beds in the dormitory.
Though small, it was their only sanctuary.
Looking at the setting sun outside, Ye Yuwei suddenly felt a deep melancholy.
"Yuwei, what's wrong?" Jiaqi seemed to sense Yuwei's shifting emotions.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about why our lives are so hard."
"Because we're not famous yet, not stars," Jiaqi chuckled.
"Then let's work hard together."
"Together!"
The two encouraged each other.
"Yuwei, you smell so nice. It's a faint milky scent, just like my mom's."
Jiaqi nestled into Yuwei's arms, greedily inhaling the fragrance she loved so much.
Once, to confirm whether the scent was natural, Jiaqi had sniffed Yuwei from head to toe after a bath.
Yuwei gently stroked Jiaqi's hair, her movements soft and tender.
"Jiaqi, I want you to always be my little baby."
"Haha! Haha!" Jiaqi laughed as a slender finger tickled her earlobe.
"Mama Yuwei, then you have to comfort me every time I feel sad."
"Deal! That way, we'll never be apart—just you and me forever!"
Yuwei turned over, facing Jiaqi.
The warmth and allure of her presence seemed to linger on Jiaqi's face.
Tingly, warm, and fragrant.
In an instant, Jiaqi's body felt utterly drained of strength, unable to move.
Their gazes met, filled with overflowing happiness.
"Ding!"
It was a company notification to practice a new song.
Ye Yuwei's face dimmed.
She originally had a good solo in the song.
But with her current health, she certainly couldn't perform.
Which meant losing a valuable opportunity to showcase herself.
"Yuwei…"
"It's fine. If I can't make this performance, there's always the next one."
Ye Yuwei could guess what her friend wanted to say. Though her heart ached, she didn't want her friend to worry.
"Yuwei, I'll head to practice then!"
"Go for it! Good luck!"
When Jiaqi left the room, a wave of loneliness washed over Ye Yuwei.
Sometimes she wondered, if Jiaqi were gone and she was no longer a little idol, what purpose would her life have?