Taking Liu Yifei back to Northeast China for the Chinese New Year has sent the entire internet into

night.

Liu Yifei's apartment on the East Fourth Ring Road.

The main light in the living room was off; only the floor lamp next to the TV cabinet was lit.

The warm yellow light bathed the sofa, also separating the city night view outside the window into another world.

There were no movies or variety shows on TV.

The screen being projected is a real-time pre-sale dashboard sent by Xingyao Business Department.

Pre-orders for the Little Chicken blind box series are skyrocketing.

Liu Yifei curled up in a corner of the sofa, hugging a gray square pillow, her chin resting on the edge of the pillow.

She glanced at the cheeky, chibi-style yellow chick on the screen, then turned to look at Fang Yu.

The person was using a calculator on their phone, their fingers flying across the keyboard, silently muttering something to themselves.

Liu Yifei stared at him for a long time before finally unable to resist.

"I don't quite understand."

"Hmm?" Fang Yu looked up.

"What don't you understand? Why is it so easy to make money off this generation of netizens?"

He waved his phone with a nonchalant expression.

"Actually, I don't understand this problem either, but the leeks... ah no, but the facts are already there."

"Look at these numbers. This isn't even the official version yet, and the pre-orders alone have already reached—"

That's not what I meant.

Liu Yifei shook her head, cutting him off from his impending boast.

She hugged the cushion tighter, turned to the side, and looked at him intently.

"You went to great lengths to help Cai Kun."

"From songwriting, styling, and stage choreography, to when he became a meme across the internet, you personally stepped in and turned a derogatory nickname into a money-making IP."

Liu Yifei paused.

"This isn't just about making money, is it?"

"With your current net worth, if you really want to make money, there are many easier ways."

"Why go to such lengths for him?"

The living room fell silent.

Fang Yu remained silent for a few seconds.

He then tossed his phone aside, leaned back on the sofa, and let out a long sigh.

That greedy look he had shown also disappeared.

"You saw right through me after all."

Liu Yifei didn't say anything, but quietly waited for what was to come.

Fang Yu turned his head and smiled at her.

"Actually, the root of the matter... is because of you."

Liu Yifei was stunned.

"Because of me?"

She blinked, clearly not quite understanding.

How can helping Tsai Kun involve her?

Isn't this logic a bit roundabout?

Seeing her serious yet puzzled expression, Fang Yu burst out laughing.

"Didn't you already start poaching my girlfriend a while ago?"

He reached out and tapped her lightly.

"Who said that if they ever open their own studio, they'd sign me first?"

"Isn't this blatant poaching of talent from Xingyao?"

Liu Yifei opened her mouth, intending to refute.

But upon closer reflection, she really did say that.

So she silently swallowed back the complaints that were on the tip of her tongue.

Fang Yu stopped teasing her and his tone gradually calmed down.

"You know how weak Xingyao's foundation is."

"Besides me, there are basically no other artists in the entire company who can truly make a name for themselves."

"If I really go to your studio when the conditions are right, and then just dump all of Xingyao, that would be such a scoundrel."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

"So before I leave, I have to leave someone who can hold the fort for Xingyao and for President Zhang."

Liu Yifei listened quietly.

Two seconds later, she spoke softly.

"I never knew you had such a broad perspective."

"Of course."

Fang Yu immediately straightened his chest.

"Mr. Fang is a man of principle, loyal and devoted to his friends."

"In the martial arts world, everyone who mentions my name must address me with respect—"

"Alright, stop now."

Liu Yifei interrupted him helplessly.

"If you keep blowing like that, you'll float off the twentieth floor."

Fang Yu wisely kept his mouth shut.

But after less than three seconds of silence, he spoke again.

"Seriously, you're such a fairy."

"The day we first met in Mohe..."

"Back then, did you even know there was someone like me in the entertainment industry?"

Liu Yifei thought about it carefully and shook her head very honestly.

"have no idea."

At that time, all she knew was that the production team had assigned her a partner in the same group.

The new singer has few works and little popularity; there's hardly any decent information about him online.

If it weren't for the program "Going Home for the New Year", she probably would never have noticed this name.

Fang Yu nodded, not minding at all.

"That's normal."

"When I first debuted, I had nothing."

"No songs, no fans, and no resources."

"There are a lot of people in the company who are more senior than me and have better qualifications than me, waiting in line for opportunities."

"There's only one S-level variety show spot for 'Going Home for the New Year' in the entire Xingyao troupe."

Fang Yu paused.

"Logically speaking, it shouldn't be my turn at all."

"It was General Manager Zhang who, despite the pressure from within the company, gave me that spot."

"If he hadn't been willing to take a gamble on me, I wouldn't have gone to record that show."

Fang Yu turned his head and looked straight at Liu Yifei.

"If I hadn't gone to record the show, I wouldn't have met you."

"And there certainly won't be... this whole series of events that followed."

Liu Yifei's breathing slowed down slightly.

She wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat.

Fang Yu looked back at the big screen.

The warm light fell on the side of his face, and his usual carefree attitude had completely disappeared.

"General Manager Zhang has been very kind to me."

"I have to repay this favor."

"Cai Kun is a promising talent; he has ability and is willing to work hard."

"Most importantly, he is clear-headed and has a stable mindset."

As he spoke, it was as if he had finally sorted out all the myriad thoughts in his mind.

"So, I'm not just helping him."

"It's also helping Xingyao, and repaying the favor Zhang did for us back then."

"Once Cai Kun has truly established himself and become the new face of Xingyao..."

Fang Yu met Liu Yifei's gaze again.

This time, his eyes were smiling, but there was no hint of joking in them.

"Then I can go and work for the fairy sister without any worries."

After he finished speaking, the living room fell silent again.

The warm yellow light enveloped the sofa and the two people sitting side by side.

Liu Yifei stared intently at Fang Yu.

He didn't raise his eyebrows in a cheeky way, nor did he immediately add a flirtatious remark to ruin the atmosphere.

All his thoughts were laid bare before her.

She had always thought that Fang Yu was the kind of person who only cared about today and didn't think about tomorrow.

Only now does she understand.

It turns out that this seemingly most unreliable person had been making serious plans for the future all along.

Moreover, in all his plans for the future, "going to her" was never a spur-of-the-moment decision.

That was a predetermined destination.

Liu Yifei lowered her eyes and hid half of her face behind the cushion.

But that little bit of laughter that she couldn't suppress still sneaked out from the corner of her mouth.