Chapter 73

"Isn't Ji Season here?" Qin Zhixiu glanced at the Rong sisters beside the dining table, then turned to ask He Lele.

"Mr. Mu said Mr. Shentu and Mr. Ji went to the set to visit Mr. Ruan, and won't be dining at the apartment tonight," He Lele replied, glancing at Qin Zhixiu.

Unlike his dazzling, cool, and handsome stage persona, Qin Zhixiu's daily attire was always plain—mostly basic shirts and T-shirts—but these unremarkable white shirts and black pants clung to his slender yet upright frame, making him appear even more refined: his skin was pale and flawless, his eyes a faintly cold black, his handsome features softened by gentle lines; when silent, he radiated an untainted, solitary elegance—the very image of a peerless gentleman amidst a turbid world.

"I see…"

"Do you need me to keep you company tonight?" If Ji Season wasn't here, no one would play with him, would they?

"Mm." Qin Zhixiu smiled faintly.

Pala-la! The sound of chopsticks striking the bowl, then crashing to the floor.

The two speaking turned toward Rong Qingya, who stared at them in shock and panic.

He Lele reconsidered and felt slightly embarrassed—her earlier phrasing had indeed been easily misunderstood. "Uh… Young Lady Rong, don't misunderstand—it's actually—"

"Could you refill my bowl of rice?" Qin Zhixiu interrupted He Lele's explanation, whether intentionally or not.

He Lele opened her mouth, then first served Qin Zhixiu rice and replaced Rong Qingya's chopsticks.

Rong Qingya stole a glance at Rong Qingfeng, her eyes wide with the bewilderment and disorientation of a fawn lost in a mad world.

Earlier that afternoon, she'd overheard Brother Ji and the others talking. When she heard the man in a cast was trying to steal Brother Ji's girlfriend, she'd been thrilled—even if she wouldn't stoop to being a mistress, someone else's lack of morals wasn't her problem! But soon after, the man calling himself Seeing Mu Wei had silenced her with a single sentence. That man had actually said—

"You can still hold her…"

You! You!

And now this Miss He was asking Qin Zhixiu if he wanted company tonight—and he'd said "Mm!"

That means… one, two, three, four…

And these people all lived in the same apartment, coexisting peacefully… Could this really be the same world she'd lived in for twenty years?

"Nothing is impossible. Behind every unreasonable thing lies a perfectly reasonable explanation."

Her sister had told her this.

"But right now, I'm growing more and more curious about Miss He. Seeing Mu Wei—if I remember correctly—is an heir from an unapproachable family. To make a man like that fall for her… I'm almost jealous myself."

Her sister had said this too.

She'd lost. To her, Miss He was now a divine presence.

He Lele, unaware that Rong Qingya had misunderstood her words, didn't know her first fan in this world had just been born, grandly and brilliantly.

To clear up Rong Qingya's misunderstanding, after gaining Qin Zhixiu's consent, He Lele invited the Rong sisters upstairs to play cards and chess with Qin Zhixiu.

Rong Qingya was naturally straightforward and simple-minded; though startled, after a few rounds of games, her cheerful, lively nature returned fully, her bell-like laughter ringing out frequently, making He Lele and Rong Qingfeng smile softly too. Then, when Qin Zhixiu picked up the sheet music, Rong Qingya even suggested they return downstairs to keep playing—Rong Qingfeng naturally had no objection. He Lele considered it, planning to check on Seeing Mu Wei first—but before she could speak, Qin Zhixiu, who rarely spoke, asked in his uniquely melodic voice—

"Could all three of you help me with the harmonies?"

The result? Rong Qingya's eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly, like a puppy spotting a bone thrown by its master; Rong Qingfeng shook her head with a wry smile, admitting she'd been tone-deaf since childhood; He Lele, unfamiliar with the term, simply said she'd help within her ability.

After deciding, He Lele went upstairs to check on Seeing Mu Wei, who surprisingly rolled down in his wheelchair to join them.

Then, five of them marched "in grand procession" into Qin Zhixiu's personal recording studio.

He Lele glanced around the studio's equipment—"luxurious" had always been her definition of excess, but these men kept resetting her understanding of the word; she was nearly numb to it now.

As Qin Zhixiu adjusted the gear, he asked Rong Qingya and He Lele to warm up their voices—they'd sing a few lines a cappella first. Though he'd only invited them to record a demo, he didn't make such decisions lightly. In truth, he'd been observing He Lele's vocal tone for some time; the score simply wasn't ready yet. This chance encounter with Rong Qingya instantly sparked his inspiration.

Once everything was ready, Rong Qingya tested the microphone and suddenly grew shy. Singing in front of her idol—singing his own songs—of course she was nervous and thrilled! More than that, she wanted to perform well—after all, since childhood, she'd been a renowned singer at her school!

Listening to the sweet, clear female voice through her headphones, Qin Zhixiu's eyebrows and lips slowly curved into a charming smile. As expected, Rong Qingya had received formal vocal training—her breath control, rhythm, pitch, and emotional delivery were all perfectly precise.

Rong Qingfeng, fully aware of her younger sister's talent, watched proudly as Rong Qingya began singing—and Qin Zhixiu's celestial beauty, like a god-made face, left her momentarily spellbound.

The quality of the men in this apartment—was it too high? But the most astonishing person here was still the only woman… Rong Qingfeng turned to look at He Lele beside her. And once she looked, she couldn't tear her eyes away.

Her face was… unremarkable, yet up close, it made one unconsciously hold one's breath: her eyebrows, naturally even and neither too thick nor too thin, arched like willow leaves—graceful and pleasing without any artificial shaping; her eyes, neither slanted nor drooping, were perfectly shaped, giving her small face a quiet, upright dignity; her dark pupils held a deep pool of stillness, radiating gentle warmth; her nose wasn't high or sharp, but perfectly matched her moist, plump, petite red lips—endlessly pleasing to look at. Unlike today's popular bony beauties, her cheeks held soft, rounded curves—surely delightful to touch…

Rong Qingfeng couldn't help staring at the petite woman beside her. Watching her wear headphones, gazing at her sister, her lips curved in a relaxed smile, her eyes filled with pure admiration and affection—perhaps even a hint of envy?

Rong Qingfeng had seen countless women's gazes; she even prided herself on reading a woman's true nature from her eyes. But this woman…

"Cough! Cough!" Seeing Mu Wei cleared his throat twice.

Rong Qingfeng turned her head and met his warning gaze head-on. After a brief pause, a mischievous spark ignited in her heart. So protective? But she hasn't even stepped into your bowl yet!

Her competitive spirit flared. If she couldn't win her husband in a week, why not play a little for fun?

Rong Qingfeng smiled seductively, placing her hands on He Lele's shoulders and whispering softly into her ear, "Your turn. Go in."