Deciding

"Huh?"

Xiuxiu was stunned on the other end. Sister Wanjun had called just to ask her this?

She didn't know anything about relationships. She'd never been in one herself, so how would she know?

Besides, Sister Wanjun had said it was about a friend. Since when did Sister Wanjun have a friend Xiuxiu didn't know about?

"Is Sister Wanjun talking about a new friend you've made? How come I've never heard you mention her before?"

Xiuxiu asked, still confused.

Wang Siyi blushed on the other end of the phone.

"A...a new friend I made recently, when I came back to Yangcheng. You haven't met her..."

"Oh, I see..."

Xiuxiu understood and began seriously considering Sister Wanjun's question.

She'd never dated anyone, but she read novels. She'd read countless sweet romances and tearjerkers.

There were plenty of plot devices in books, too. She racked her brain, trying to think of whether Sister Wanjun's situation resembled anything she'd read.

"Ah! I've got it!"

Xiuxiu had a sudden idea. There really was a novel with a similar situation.

"Sister Wanjun, are your friend and the guy she likes really close to each other?"

"Y-yes. How did you know...?"

Wang Siyi felt that Xiuxiu had already figured something out, and blushed even more.

"Then tell your friend this: I suggest she spend some time apart from that guy. While they're apart, she shouldn't contact him. She should see if he'll make the first move and come looking for her."

"If he does, it means he cares about your friend."

"If a long time goes by and he still hasn't looked for her, then either he's a total flirt who showers every woman with attention..."

"...or he doesn't like your friend at all and is just trying to take advantage of her."

Xiuxiu spoke excitedly. She'd seen that plot in a novel once and had thought it was a little far-fetched.

How could two people in love not know whether the other person cared for them?

She'd never imagined Sister Wanjun would run into a situation like that. It really showed how life inspired fiction.

"Huh?"

"Is that really a good idea?"

Wang Siyi asked Xiuxiu in a small, uncertain voice.

"Don't worry, Sister Wanjun. This is a pretty reliable test. If that guy really cares about your friend, he'll be thinking about her all the time!"

"If she goes away and he stops checking in on her, then he was only pretending. You'd better be careful around guys like that..."

Xiuxiu advised Wang Wanjun with all the confidence of a relationship expert.

"But what if my friend can't bear to be away from him?"

"Oh, Sister Wanjun, how can your friend be so silly?"

"If that guy is just playing with her feelings, it's not a matter of whether she can bear to leave him. Better a short, sharp pain than a lifetime of suffering."

"If the test shows that he really loves her, she can go back to him. But if he's a scumbag, what's there to miss?"

Xiuxiu felt like a relationship guru, analyzing the situation from an all-knowing perspective. She was sure she'd accounted for every possibility.

"So...she really has to leave him for a while? How long do you think she should stay away?"

Wang Siyi was torn. She really didn't want to be away from him.

"That's a good question. If it's too short, you won't be able to tell. If it's too long, it's not worth it. How about a month? Tell your friend to stay away from him for a month and not contact him at all."

"She shouldn't call or message him on WeChat. She should see whether he'll reach out first. If he contacts her within the month and shows that he really cares, then he truly misses her and has feelings for her. Maybe he just hasn't realized it himself."

"It's not me. It's my friend..."

Wang Siyi blushed as she corrected Xiuxiu.

"Ah, right, right. Your friend."

"Thanks, Xiuxiu. I'll go tell my friend. Goodbye."

If she was going to keep up the act, she had to see it through.

Xiuxiu regretfully hung up on Wang Siyi. It had been so long since she'd talked with Sister Wanjun, and she still wasn't ready to end the call.

The only people she could talk to at this company were Sister Wanjun and Sister Baozhu.

Sister Baozhu had been busy with something lately. Xiuxiu barely saw her. She often slacked off at the office and wasn't very motivated at work.

She'd finally found someone to talk to, and the conversation had ended so quickly. Xiuxiu shook her head and went back to slacking off.

After hanging up with Xiuxiu, Wang Siyi thought it over carefully. What Xiuxiu had said made a lot of sense.

She couldn't tell whether he liked her, and she didn't dare ask him outright. This was the only way she could test him.

But staying away from him for a month without contacting him sounded so difficult.

Even when they lived in the same house, she sometimes wondered what he was doing at that very moment.

If she were a thousand miles away, what would she do whenever she missed him?

Here, she could go see him whenever she wanted. She could even act spoiled or throw a little tantrum. But if she went to Shanghai, she'd rarely get to see him.

Wang Siyi worriedly patted her head. She felt like she was growing anxious and possessive. What was happening to her?

Hesitation leads to defeat, Wang Siyi.

Her heart was in turmoil. She thought of Ruyi, her devoted fan, who had felt upset and indignant that the company was suppressing her.

But when Ruyi saw how happy she was with Li Changle, she'd been happy for her, too.

It was wonderful to have fans like that. And according to Ruyi, there were lots of them...

She sighed. She really couldn't keep being so selfish. She had a great song in her hands—the kind she'd once dreamed of getting.

She hadn't recorded it yet, but she knew it was going to be excellent.

It was better than "If," the song she'd debuted with, and better than the song Yang Caiqian had written for her this time, only for the company to snatch it away.

She ought to sing this song. He had written it for her, after all. She couldn't let his hard work go to waste, or disappoint her fans.

"One month..."

Wang Siyi murmured the words, made up her mind, and picked up her phone to call Chen Baozhu.

"Hello? Wanjun, what's up?"

Chen Baozhu asked Wang Siyi, puzzled. She hadn't given up trying lately; she was still reaching out to musicians, hoping to get a good song.

After the company had taken Yang Caiqian's song, word had gotten around. Yang Caiqian had been humiliated, and he'd declared that no Xinyi Huyou artist should ever expect him to write them another song.

He'd effectively blacklisted Xinyi. Chen Baozhu was glad to see it. The company deserved it. Being publicly criticized by a musician of his caliber was humiliating.

But Chen Zhiyuan had no shame. What could anyone do about him?

It had become even harder to find songs for Wang Siyi. Chen Baozhu was exhausted from going around and using all her connections, with nothing to show for it.

"Damn Xinyi Huyou!"

Chen Baozhu loathed Xinyi Huyou. If Wang Wanjun had been at any other company, she would have already turned her into a diva.

Instead, she had to beg people for songs.

"Baozhu, I have a song here. I think it's pretty good. Take a look. If you think it's all right too, we'll use it as the lead single for the new album."

Wang Siyi said it outright. She and Chen Baozhu had always worked this way. They only released important songs after both of them agreed they were good.

Chen Baozhu didn't know what to say. Where had Wang Siyi gotten a song? Had she written it herself?

"Did you write it, or did someone else write it for you, Wanjun?"

"The lead single is really important. You can't just pick a random song because things look hopeless. If you do, you won't be able to break into the ranks of top-tier singers."

Chen Baozhu thought Wang Siyi had given up on herself and couldn't help trying to talk her out of it.

"Don't worry, Wanjun. I still know a few musicians I haven't visited yet. I'll go ask around again over the next few days. I should be able to get a good song."

"No, Baozhu. I think this song is great. A friend wrote it for me. Take a look first—I'll send you the demo."

Wang Siyi hung up and sent Chen Baozhu the demo of "Red Bean," which she'd recorded herself.

Five minutes later, Chen Baozhu called back, her voice full of excitement.

"Wanjun, your friend is incredible! This song is practically tailor-made for you! I think the demo is good enough to release as it is. It's so beautiful, and the lyrics are wonderful. It's even better than Yang Caiqian's last song!"

"Let's use it for the new album! When are you coming back to Shanghai? We can record it and get the album ready. It's the only lead single we haven't recorded. We've got everything else pretty much done."

"Once we've recorded the lead single, we can start thinking about releasing the album. We can't rely on the company, so we'll have to find other ways to promote it."

"But we don't need to worry. This song is so good that it's bound to catch on. I have a feeling this song, 'Red Bean,' will be heard everywhere. Wanjun, your place among the top-tier singers is secure!"

Chen Baozhu rambled excitedly over the phone. She was happier than if she'd won the lottery.

Of course Chen Baozhu was happy. Heaven knew how much she'd suffered lately. Wang Wanjun was being suppressed and sidelined by the company.

As Wang Wanjun's manager, Chen Baozhu had been dragged down with her. She'd even cursed out the company director. Naturally, things hadn't been easy for her.

Luckily, she'd still had some standing in the industry, and Xinyi Huyou hadn't dared do anything to her.

Lately, she'd been visiting independent musicians, hoping they'd write a song for Wang Wanjun.

But after what had happened to Yang Caiqian, who would still be willing to write a song for Wang Wanjun? What if Xinyi snatched it away again?

Then all their work would be for nothing. Xinyi might even give the song to some random singer. Who could put up with that?

Xinyi Huyou's reputation in the industry was practically ruined. Chen Baozhu was pleased about that, but she was suffering too. Because of the company, she couldn't find any good songs.

She was trapped by this terrible contract. The moment it expired, she'd kick this awful company to the curb, no matter what.

"I...I'll go back to Shanghai in a few days. I still have some things to take care of here. That's all for now, Baozhu. I'm a little tired."

Wang Siyi hung up before Chen Baozhu could reply.

Chen Baozhu didn't mind. She listened to the demo Wang Siyi had sent over and over again. She had to keep it safe. Xinyi Huyou was the kind of awful company that would do anything.

To be safe, Chen Baozhu decided not to go back to the office for a while. Even if they recorded the song, they'd do it at an outside studio.

Wang Siyi stared ahead in silence. She'd finally decided to keep singing—and to leave Li Changle.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it. What should she do?

Wang Siyi, troubled, lay flat on the bed, pulled the covers over herself, and decided to sleep away her worries.

At dinner, Wang Siyi looked at Li Changle sitting across from her, wanting to say something but unable to.

She wondered how she should tell him. She wanted to see his reaction, too. Would he be sad to see her go?

Or would he be thrilled, like he'd been the last time she said she was moving across the hall?

By the time dinner ended, Wang Siyi still hadn't said a word. Back in her room, she angrily smacked her head with a pillow.

What was wrong with her, Wang Siyi? She'd said hesitation led to defeat. Couldn't she just get to the point?

She berated herself nonstop, but whenever she saw Li Changle, she still couldn't say it. She really couldn't bear to leave him.

She couldn't bear to leave him, his cooking, or his chicken soup.

For a whole week, Wang Siyi wavered back and forth. Whenever she saw Li Changle, she looked conflicted, then walked away in frustration and hurried back to her room.

What the hell was wrong with this woman? Her mood changed as quickly as the weather in June.

Li Changle noticed that Wang Siyi had seemed dazed and absent-minded for the past few days. When he asked her something, she wouldn't answer, and by the time he tried again, she'd already run off.

"Rain in June, you're so heartless. With every drop, you strike my heart. Oh~"

Li Changle hummed as he cooked. Wang Siyi sat on the sofa, watching him and listening to the tune she'd never heard before.

Life here was so peaceful. She didn't want to leave at all.

Suddenly, the phone in her hand rang.

"Hello? Wanjun, what's going on? You said you'd come up in a few days, but it's been a whole week. I've reminded you several times, and you still haven't shown up."

"If you can't make it, I'll come pick you up. You brought a lot of luggage with you last time. Should Xiuxiu and I come get you?"

Chen Baozhu was on the other end, urging Wang Siyi again. She'd already called several times over the past few days.

Every time, Wang Siyi's answer had been something like:

"We'll see. Let's talk about it. Maybe in a couple of days."

She'd turned into a chronic excuse-maker, driving Chen Baozhu up the wall. With a song this good, she needed to record it as soon as possible!

"No need for that, Baozhu..."

"I'll go to Shanghai the day after tomorrow. You don't have to come get me."

Wang Siyi spoke nervously to Chen Baozhu. She didn't want the two of them to find out yet that she had feelings for someone.