Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

On Wednesday morning, Jiang Fan sent the roadshow agenda to Sister Lan.

I arrived at 2 PM, went on stage at 2:30 PM, sang "Those Bygone Years," gave a 15-minute media interview, and left at 3:30 PM.

He sent another message to Su Yuyan.

Jiang Fan: Are you ready for the roadshow this afternoon?

Su Yuyan: It's all better now. Don't worry.

A few seconds passed.

Su Yuyan: Aren't you coming?

Jiang Fan: Flying Star City this afternoon.

Su Yuyan: Going to keep your little singer company again?

Jiang Fan didn't reply to this message. He put away his phone, picked up his suitcase, and went downstairs.

Only Shen Nian and Li Cheng were in the car.

"Where is Zhou Yutong?" Jiang Fan asked.

"I told her to stay in Shanghai." Shen Nian adjusted her bra strap. "I can handle this myself."

Jiang Fan glanced at her.

"Okay. Let's go."

-

2 PM, Hongqiao Airport.

The two went through security and sat down in the waiting area.

Shen Nian was wearing a mask and scrolling through her phone when Jiang Fan returned with two cups of coffee.

At the same time.

In Shanghai, a university auditorium was filled with audience members and student representatives.

A row of cameras and microphones were set up in the media area.

In the backstage dressing room, Xu Qingya sat in front of the mirror, while Yang Lele adjusted her skirt.

Today I'm wearing a cream-colored French dress, my hair is down, and my makeup is light.

The theme of the roadshow was campus youth, and the styling leaned towards a student-like look.

Yang Lele smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt, stood up, and examined it for a couple of seconds: "Sis, it looks especially good."

Xu Qingya turned halfway around in front of the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.

At this point, she was unaware that Su Yuyan had facilitated the project.

The two came out of the dressing room and walked along the backstage corridor toward the main stage.

The passageway wasn't long; the waiting area was just around the corner.

Xu Qingya had just turned the corner when she bumped into someone.

Su Yuyan.

She wore a black suit jacket over a camisole, her hair was styled in an updo, and she wore a pair of tassel earrings.

Completely opposite to Xu Qingya's understated style—heavy makeup, alluring.

The two women stood facing each other in the two-meter-wide passageway.

Su Yuyan spoke first.

"Oh, Qingya-jie."

She glanced at Xu Qingya, from the hem of her skirt to the ends of her hair.

"Congratulations! Your song 'As You Wish' has been included in the Civilization Office's program and has been confirmed for the National Day Gala—you're really making waves lately."

His tone was warm, and his smile was perfect, like that of an old friend who had known each other for many years.

But Xu Qingya had known this woman for years. She didn't believe a single word.

"What are you doing here?" Xu Qingya asked.

Su Yuyan blinked: "Oh dear, didn't Jiang Fan tell you? I'm the one who introduced this theme song project. I also made the connections with Lu Chuan, so of course I have to be here at today's roadshow."

Xu Qingya's smile remained unchanged.

She cursed Jiang Fan in her mind.

You just packed up and left for Flying Star City, leaving me here staring blankly at Su Yuyan. What a clever scheme.

"Yu Yan." Xu Qingya slightly raised her chin, her voice rising half an inch, "You still need to work harder. After all, the road ahead is long, let's all cheer each other on."

That's an understatement.

But paired with her expression and tone of voice—it was utterly Versailles.

Su Yuyan's smile lasted for about three tenths of a second, and the muscles at the corner of her mouth twitched.

I need to stay calm.

I won't stoop to her level.

Su Yuyan silently repeated it three times in her heart, and then put on a smile again.

"Qingya is right. The song 'Fleet of Time' really suits you; it's full of youthful energy. Director Lu Chuan praised you highly, saying that choosing you to sing was the best decision he ever made for this film."

Xu Qingya's heart skipped a beat.

These words, on the surface, were a compliment, but in reality, they were a reminder—I was the one who connected you with this project, I was the one who recommended Lu Chuan, and now that the song has reached you, don't forget who played a part in it.

Yang Lele stood at the back, her eyes darting back and forth between the two divas, barely daring to breathe.

"Thank you." Xu Qingya smiled. "Speaking of which, your song 'Poisonous Perfume' has been doing really well lately. I was listening to it in the car the other day, and the chorus is really catchy."

Su Yuyan's eyelid twitched.

Both of them knew what "Poisonous Perfume" meant.

"It's quite intoxicating." Su Yuyan switched the iced coffee in her hand to the other and straightened her suit cuffs.

The two of them stood in the passageway, smiling at each other.

The scents of the two perfumes mingled in the air.

A staff member peeked in from the other end of the passage: "Teacher Xu, please go on stage in five minutes."

"They're here." Xu Qingya stopped smiling, nodded to Su Yuyan, and said, "Then I'll go first."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Su Yuyan stepped aside.

The moment Xu Qingya walked past her, Su Yuyan's voice drifted from behind. It wasn't loud, just loud enough for the two of them to hear.

"Sister Qingya."

Xu Qingya didn't stop walking.

"The concealer on the left side of your neck isn't covering it properly."

Xu Qingya paused for a second.

My left hand unconsciously touched the left side of my neck.

That spot—the one Jiang Fan left the night before last—she applied two layers of concealer in front of the mirror this morning, making sure it was covered before leaving the house.

A laugh came from behind, tinged with obvious smugness.

Xu Qingya did not turn around.

She walked into the waiting area, stood behind the curtain, and took out her phone.

Xu Qingya: Jiang Fan, look what you've done! Come back and see how I deal with you.

After sending the message, he handed the phone to Yang Lele.

"Touch up your makeup. Left side of your neck. Quickly."

Yang Lele hurriedly pulled out concealer from her bag and applied it to Xu Qingya's neck.

The music started. The host called out Xu Qingya's name on stage.

Xu Qingya straightened her skirt, put on the smile befitting a diva, and walked onto the stage in her high heels.

Applause and screams erupted.

-

First row of the VIP section.

Su Yuyan sat with her legs crossed, holding a cup of iced coffee in her hand.

Xu Qingya began singing "The Fleeting Years" on stage.

As soon as the prelude began, the entire auditorium fell silent.

The melody is indeed good.

Clear and clean, carrying that bittersweet feeling unique to reminiscing about youth.

Xu Qingya's voice naturally leans towards a youthful tone, and this kind of campus-themed story comes out perfectly on her.

Su Yuyan took a sip of coffee.

She had to admit that this song was indeed more suitable for Xu Qingya to sing than for her.

Lu Chuan, who was listening intently, nodded gently in time with the rhythm.

When the chorus came, he turned to the side and said in a low voice, "This song was chosen by the right person."

Su Yuyan smiled, didn't reply, and downed her coffee in one gulp.

On stage, Xu Qingya finished singing the last note and stopped. The entire audience stood up and applauded.

Su Yuyan clapped her hands twice.

-

It was already dark in Xingcheng when the plane landed.

Jiang Fan opened his phone, and a long list of messages popped up.

He read Xu Qingya's message twice but didn't dare reply.

It was sent directly to Su Yuyan.

Jiang Fan: How did the roadshow go?

Su Yuyan's reply came quickly.

Su Yuyan: Success. Your Empress Xu performed very well.

Su Yuyan: The mark on your neck looks pretty too.

Jiang Fan stared at the screen for five seconds.

It took him quite a while to reply.

Jiang Fan: ...I'm already writing your song.

Su Yuyan did not reply.

Jiang Fan put his phone back in his pocket and left the arrival hall with Shen Nian.

-

Su Yuyan's nanny van drove on the elevated road, with neon lights flashing outside the window.

She put her locked phone into her bag and closed her eyes.

Xu Qingya, just you wait.

Next song, it's my turn.