I Have a Friend

Ruyi saw the confusion in Wang Siyi's eyes and chuckled to herself.

My idol seems kind of adorably clueless. Do women really get less intelligent when they're in love?

"Sister Wanjun, I really am your most devoted fan! I've been following you since you debuted."

Ruyi figured Wang Wanjun didn't quite believe she was really a fan, so she simply began telling her how she'd followed her ever since her debut.

At first, Wang Siyi listened without much interest, but before long she realized that everything Ruyi said was true.

Ruyi even remembered some things that Wang Siyi herself had nearly forgotten. She really was one of her most devoted fans.

Wang Siyi was touched. To have a fan like this was probably the greatest sense of fulfillment singing had ever brought her.

"Sister Wanjun, you haven't been in the public eye for quite a while. Didn't you say you were going to release an album in the second half of the year?"

Seeing that she'd successfully gotten close to Wang Siyi, Ruyi hurried to fish for information.

At the mention of it, Wang Siyi couldn't help shaking her head.

"There's no sign of the new album yet. I don't know, either."

"Could the rumors online be true? Has Xinyi Huyou really put you on ice?"

Ruyi was shocked and hurriedly asked.

Wang Siyi hesitated, then nodded, admitting it was true.

"Why?"

As if she'd thought of something, Ruyi asked indignantly, "Wait, are the rumors online about why they put you on ice true, too?"

"They're awful! How could they do that? What a trash company!"

Ruyi had seen people online claim that Xinyi Huyou's executives wanted Wang Wanjun to submit to their unspoken rules so she could help the company secure more benefits. Wang Wanjun refused, so they put her on ice.

Now it seemed those rumors hadn't come out of nowhere. They were true!

"Then what are you going to do now, Sister Wanjun? Are you going to leave the entertainment industry?"

Ruyi felt heartbroken. Wang Wanjun was the first celebrity she'd ever liked. But if she left the entertainment industry for this reason, she'd be even more worthy of her admiration. It was just such a shame. She'd never find another person like her to support.

Wang Siyi nodded, then shook her head.

"No matter what, I'll support you, Sister Wanjun! Lots of my friends like you, too. We're all your most devoted fans!"

"We thought you just hadn't been around lately because you were busy. We never imagined you'd been put on ice. Xinyi Huyou is awful! I'm going to tell everyone what's really going on and get them to curse out that trash company!"

Looking at the adorable girl fuming in front of her, Wang Siyi felt touched. She'd never realized she had such a sweet fan, and apparently there were quite a few like her.

Then... should I really keep singing? If I stop, won't they be disappointed?

They'd supported her for so many years. If she just walked away without leaving anything behind, she'd feel like she'd let them down.

Even if I leave the entertainment industry, shouldn't I at least say a proper goodbye?

Wang Siyi thought it over for a long time. Then she looked at Li Changle, chatting and laughing with Qinghe, and sighed inwardly.

Li Changle and Wang Siyi saw off Qinghe, Ruyi, and the others at the station. They all looked thoroughly satisfied.

Li Changle smiled and waved goodbye.

Qinghe merely smiled and lifted a hand, but Ruyi waved vigorously, grinning from ear to ear.

"Good luck, Sister Wanjun!"

Ruyi's words of encouragement had a double meaning. Wang Siyi's face immediately flushed. She felt that Ruyi had seen right through her.

Qinghe was satisfied because Li Changle was so straightforward and easy to talk to. Their group had managed to sign this amazing talent without much effort.

Starting today, Li Xiaoyao's name would appear on three more books on the Chinese Web Novel Platform, according to their agreement. If one Legend of Sword and Fairy had already made such a splash, what about three more?

The Chinese Web Novel Platform was about to rise again!

Qinghe had heard that Li Changle's next novel would be Wuxia.

She couldn't help looking forward to it. Wuxia novels were part of the memories of everyone from her generation.

If a truly phenomenal work came along, it would spark another Wuxia craze!

And the Chinese Web Novel Platform would be the one to launch that wave, thanks to its discovery of the great Li Xiaoyao. How could the platform's success be in doubt? Qinghe thought contentedly, her mind filled with nothing but work.

Unlike Qinghe, work wasn't on her mind at all. She was thinking about when Li Changle and Wang Siyi would finally become a couple.

Just thinking about it made her heart flutter. Ruyi watched as Li Changle and Wang Siyi grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

Thinking about Wang Siyi's circumstances gave her a bit of a headache, too. Still, leaving the entertainment industry might be for the best. At least then she wouldn't have to put up with so many grievances.

Damn Xinyi Huyou, treating people like dirt! She'd get all her online friends to stir things up.

"But as long as Sister Siyi is happy, that's what matters. Great God Xiaoyao is so talented. They're sure to be happy together!"

"It's just a shame we won't get to see them being sweet together online. They're such a perfect match—more people should get to see them!"

Ruyi imagined scene after scene of the two of them together, grinning like a doting auntie.

Qinghe looked at the silly grin on Ruyi's face, shook her head, and patted her on the head.

"What are you grinning about? Did you come here for work or to chase a celebrity? Have some dignity."

"Ow! Chief Editor, what do you know? Can you even call it celebrity-chasing when you're young?"

Ruyi glared at Qinghe.

"But I really struck gold coming out here with you, Chief Editor. Not only did I find out how handsome Great God Xiaoyao is, I even found out he lives with my idol. I have a feeling those two will end up together!"

As she spoke, the anger vanished from Ruyi's face, replaced by excitement and anticipation.

Qinghe shook her head, completely unable to understand what young girls were thinking.

If she were that happy to be with a handsome guy herself, that would make sense. But being thrilled to see a handsome guy with someone else? She must be out of her mind.

Of course, Qinghe couldn't say that out loud. Ruyi might seem a little spacey, but she was difficult to handle when she got mad.

Li Changle noticed that ever since Qinghe, Ruyi, and the others had left, Wang Siyi had been acting strangely.

She hadn't said a word. On the way back, he'd asked whether she needed anything from the store, but she hadn't answered.

Li Changle figured he hadn't offended her. It wasn't as if she was angry, was it? Though he couldn't be sure.

Who knew if he'd said something without thinking and upset her again?

Women were such a hassle. They never said what was wrong; they just kept it bottled up and made you guess.

Seeing her remain silent all the way home, Li Changle decided to say nothing, too. He just watched her.

Once they got home, Li Changle reached a conclusion: Wang Siyi probably wasn't angry.

When Wang Siyi got angry, it was usually obvious. Sometimes she even burst into tears. That was what he'd learned from the few times she'd gotten mad during the time they'd lived together.

This time, she just seemed absentminded and distracted.

"What's wrong? You look like you're in a daze. Don't tell me you've got a fever again."

Li Changle made as if to feel her forehead.

Wang Siyi finally came back to herself after they got home. When she saw Li Changle reach out, she quickly slapped his hand away.

"What are you doing?"

Wang Siyi's tone was flat, devoid of emotion.

"What did I just ask you?"

Wang Siyi rolled her eyes.

"How would I know what you said?"

"I kept asking you things on the way back. You didn't hear me at all?"

Li Changle grew agitated, gesturing wildly as he spoke.

"Huh? What did you say? I didn't hear you. I was thinking about something and didn't notice."

Wang Siyi felt a little aggrieved. She really had been thinking about something, and seriously, too.

"You... Forget it. Forget it."

Li Changle waved a hand helplessly and walked back to his room. He was a little tired today.

He'd chatted and joked with Qinghe and the others over dinner, but it had been ages since he'd had to deal with that kind of social occasion.

The last time he'd been this tired was the time before that. No, wait—last life.

Li Changle lay down on the bed, intending to take a short nap. He didn't have to cook for now, anyway. He could think about dinner later. At the moment, all he wanted was to sleep.

But then he noticed a shadow in front of him. Wang Siyi stood beside him, blocking the sunlight and casting her shadow over him.

"I'm really tired today, so I'm going to sleep for a while. I'm not writing today. If you want to rest, you can go back to your room. Your foot's all better now, anyway."

Li Changle knew from the shadow that Wang Siyi had come into his room again. She'd been spending this time of day with him for the past few days.

Wang Siyi froze when she heard that.

She wasn't pretending to be injured anymore, so she'd lost her excuse to stick by him?

A pang of sadness rose in her heart. Did she have to make him feel sorry for her to stay by his side? The thought made her sad.

Seeing Wang Siyi standing there in a daze, her eyes turning red, Li Changle quickly sat up and asked, "What's wrong?"

Wang Siyi sniffed, keeping the tears from falling.

"Nothing."

"Then why do you look like you're about to cry?"

Li Changle was puzzled. Since they'd met, he felt like he'd seen her cry so many times.

Such a crybaby.

Wang Siyi gained a new label in Li Changle's mind.

"I'm not crying! I got dust in my eye!"

Wang Siyi snapped, raising her voice.

"If you're not crying, then why are you yelling so loud?"

Li Changle muttered. He really couldn't understand the way women thought. Women were such a hassle.

"Have you ever thought about moving to Shanghai?"

Wang Siyi asked cautiously.

"Why would I go to Shanghai?"

Li Changle glanced at Wang Siyi, baffled by her logic. Why would he go to Shanghai for no reason?

Yangcheng was great. Life moved at a slower pace, and it was close to home.

He'd lived in this city ever since he started university. He knew it inside out and was used to everything here.

He'd never even been to Shanghai. Besides, he'd heard that life there moved ridiculously fast. Only wage slaves would choose to live somewhere like that. He didn't want to be a wage slave again.

"Because I..."

Wang Siyi hesitated, unable to bring herself to say it.

"Never mind. I was just asking."

Li Changle looked at Wang Siyi. She didn't seem to be in a very good mood, though he had no idea what was wrong with her. One minute she was crying, the next she was laughing.

Well... She'd cried a lot these past few days, but he'd hardly seen her smile. Maybe she was under too much pressure.

He sighed inwardly. He no longer felt like sleeping, so he stood up and asked Wang Siyi, "You can tell me if something's wrong. We haven't known each other for long, but I think we're good friends."

"Good friends."

Wang Siyi repeated those three words, then said nothing more to Li Changle and went back to her room.

Li Changle scratched his head, unsure what he'd said wrong. Judging by the way she looked, her mood had clearly gotten worse.

Wang Siyi kept repeating Li Changle's words in her mind. Her thoughts were filled with "good friends."

She was sure now: she liked Li Changle. She didn't want to be just his good friend.

She wanted to be with Li Changle, to lean on him without any reservations. But if she told him she liked him now, how would he react?

Would he be delighted? Wang Siyi shook her head. He'd probably be more shocked than delighted.

Then he'd try to move out, and she'd lose the only thing connecting them.

Wang Siyi sat on the bed with her knees pulled to her chest, feeling a little sad. Could he really not tell that she liked him?

What a blockhead.

Wang Siyi was clueless about love and had no idea what to do, so she simply picked up her phone and called Xiuxiu.

"Hello? Sister Wanjun, is that you? What's wrong?"

Xiuxiu looked at Wang Siyi in surprise. Things hadn't been going very well for her lately.

With Wang Siyi gone, all she could do at the company was help out and fill in as a clerical assistant.

On top of that, she had to put up with Su Yanying's smug attitude every day. It drove her crazy. Chen Baozhu was just as furious.

Chen Baozhu had a much shorter fuse than she did. If her contract hadn't been tied to Wang Siyi's, she would have already planned to leave.

"Xiuxiu, there's something I want to ask you."

"Of course, Sister Wanjun. Go ahead. I'm listening!"

Xiuxiu was glad to hear from Wang Siyi. She hurried to reply.

"Well, I have a friend..."

"She seems to have fallen for a guy. He's good to her, too, but he hasn't shown that he likes her."

"Now my friend doesn't know if he really likes her. What do you think she should do?"

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