Chapter 108

Under a clear, pristine sky, the jewel-like blue waves gently ripple in the wind that lifts their veils, the shimmering tides creating soft, rippling sounds that fall like a gift from nature into your ears.

"Filming wrapped."

The sound amplified from the drone echoed across the golden beach.

Chu Yuanqing looked up at the sky, her bare feet stained with blood and mud taking steps. Her wedding dress, deliberately cut and stained by the prop team, resembled the skin of a battle-damaged bride, possessing a fragile and poignant beauty. Against the backdrop of the sea and sky, it also seemed as if it could turn into bubbles at any moment.

--A broken tin core.

Kiriwake Yayoi gazed at the painting, a somewhat melancholic fairy tale inexplicably came to mind.

Thinking about it carefully, Chu Yuanqing always seemed to give me this feeling: she was dreamy, beautiful, gentle and loving, without any flaws, just like a person who stepped out of a fairy tale, as if she could be pulled away from my fading youth at any time.

So... is this period of filming the endorsement, and even right now, like that school trip years ago, one where missing the opportunity will only lead to regret?

Kiriwake Yayoi's heart was suddenly pierced by the bullet fired that year. A strange sense of resentment and anxiety welled up within her, and almost unconsciously, she grasped the woman's Gauze Skirt, greedily touching her delicate fingertips, and said:

"Xiao Qing."

Chu Yuanqing turned around and looked over, unaware of the unusual atmosphere, and asked:

"What's wrong, Yayoi? We've finished filming. We'll get ready this afternoon and then we can go back to the Program Group."

When she said this, she looked relaxed, enjoying the ease of being off work.

And it's probably because I've gotten used to physical contact with the other person in the last few days.

Chu Yuanqing didn't care about the fingers being held. She looked into the distance, used her other hand to remove the veil that was obscuring her vision, and took a few steps forward on her own, feeling the sea breeze on her face. The clear eyes reflected the end of the sea.

From an outsider's perspective,

The girl's calves had smooth lines, covered by a light gauze soaked in seawater that swayed gently in the wind. Crystalline water droplets slid down her thighs, reflecting lingering arcs of light under the bright sunshine, making her exceptionally beautiful.

Kiriwake Yayoi was somewhat at a loss. She looked just like a high school girl who was about to confess her feelings but suddenly couldn't find the words. She stared blankly at the other person's appearance with a silly and cute expression.

Yes, that's how Xiao Qing is. Her unintentional actions can make her lose her focus for a long time, like the long twilight in the classroom the year we graduated from high school, which always makes people reluctant to look away.

At this moment, her voice and warmth, her slender waist and long legs, the soft taste of her lips, and even the breath of the sea breeze so close at hand...

These random details, the strange feeling that accumulated during the filming of the advertisement, and the heart-fluttering memory of kissing under the umbrella all become more intense in the present moment, after being detached from the advertisement script and returning to reality.

In an instant, the heat of gunpowder penetrated my flesh and blood, the fragrance of roses filled my nostrils, and a strong, strange and complex emotion—a mixture of joy, a sense of unease, anxiety, and anticipation—spread deep within my soul.

The sound of blood rushing through the girl's body was like a resonance with the nearby tides. This emotion, like the dense, bursting bubbles in a carbonated drink, overwhelmed her senses. Her eyes were flushed a cherry pink, her expression serious. She took a deep breath before speaking:

"Xiao Qing, I want to be with you all the time. I... I want to be on the same stage with you."

"Therefore, in this round of stage competition, my team will officially challenge you to become my teammate!"

Kiriwake Yayoi spoke, a sense of shame crept over her. After filming this commercial, with the frequent encouragement from the production team, she was severely awakened and could no longer confidently utter such foolish words as "Our friendship is stronger than gold."

Because... being kissed by a friend isn't addictive.

Therefore, while these words may seem normal to outsiders, for her, they were a complete coming-out statement.

"I'm sorry, Dad and Dad. I'll kowtow and apologize to you when we get home."

"But now... I must follow my desires and do something insatiable."

Little Sakura pursed her lips, feeling ashamed as she apologized to her family.

Even so, her gaze remained firm, neither dodging nor avoiding, staring straight at that delicate and beautiful face and those moist lips that she had kissed more than ten times, as if officially announcing her entry into the arena and disrupting the original cat-dog battle.

Chu Yuanqing was bewildered. She had always thought that Yayoi was the kind of good kid who paid attention in class, would raise her hand when she heard a question, followed the rules diligently, and had only dreams in her heart.

However, the personal motives behind these words were too strong. It was almost an open statement that challenging her group was not to form the strongest team and win the second Public Performance, but simply to be with her, completely overturning the simple impression that Yayoi had in his mind before, who only pursued the stage.

At the same time, Lin Jiu, who was in the distance, was even more shocked.

It's important to know that "Flash Dance" is now a nationally popular show, and these two are among the most popular trainees on the show. If such a "borderline" conversation were to be exposed, it would definitely cause a huge uproar online.

The designer quietly turned off the camera that was filming behind-the-scenes footage, then winked at the director, dismissing the team ahead of schedule, and couldn't help but sigh at the beauty of youth.

Although she had known for a long time that a certain Sakura Girl had always been interested in Chu Yuanqing, and that this interest had gradually awakened during filming and evolved into ulterior motives, she never expected that the other party would make such a direct move on her so soon after the announcement of the wrap party.

--Even someone with a big heart shouldn't play like this, okay?

However, even so, if the two Little Idol who endorse their own company's wedding dress brand were to actually become a couple outside of the advertisements, the economic benefits and publicity they would generate would be far more than just a doubling.

If it weren't for the immense power of <Flash Dance>, her first reaction wouldn't have been to turn off the camera, but rather to film the entire thing and do a crazy editing, adding a terrifying off-screen buff to the wedding dress advertisement.

Chu Yuanqing remained silent for a moment, trying to quietly pull her fingers away from his grasp, but Little Sakura noticed in time and took the opportunity to press her fingers tightly together. She hadn't yet grasped the seriousness of the situation, but sensed something was amiss and decided to take a more roundabout approach:

"I understand. You mean, in order to build a team that can handle all aspects, you think I'm the most suitable teammate for you after considering everything, right?"

Kiriwake Yayoi shook her head and said:

"Although I never thought Xiao Qing was any worse than them, in terms of team and individual benefits, Ji Shuzhu, as Genius Choreographer, is the best choice."

The reasoning is very simple.

Girl groups need to have a center position (Center position). The Center position is the absolute focus, the core of the group, the crown symbolizing status, and the main axis of the entire group's plan. The weight, popularity, status, and popularity value it represents are incomparable to any other position.

Therefore, the battle for the Center position has always been a popular topic in talent shows, and a subject that fans from all walks of life would fight tooth and nail over.

The second round of the competition tests humanity and wisdom, and this is also closely related to the Center position itself.

While stealing a high-quality teammate can certainly boost a team's strength, isn't it also like inviting a wolf into the house, hiring a competitor, or even a powerful rival?

Whether it's about focusing on building strong teammates for the team's overall strength, or about deliberately choosing teammates who are moderately strong and easy to control so you can consistently secure the carry Center position, it's a delicate balance to make.

One dominant team with many strong teams is the most ideal team structure, as it is the easiest to avoid disputes.

Compared to Ji Shuzhu, who is unassuming and possesses choreography skills, both Xie Qingxuan and Chu Yuanqing are idols positioned as the main Center position, making them far more difficult to suppress than that Green Eyed Cat.

In other words, bringing Chu Yuanqing into the team was a decision that did more harm than good for her.

--Yayoi... would you risk your Idol Career for her?

Chu Yuanqing didn't understand; she was confused and asked directly:

"You mean you're going to choose me even if it means risking losing your Center position and becoming the core of the team, right?"

But it shouldn't be like this. The Kiriwake Yayoi she knew was a girl who always put her idols first, was always dedicated to the stage and her dreams, and always maintained courage and passion.

There's no reason for someone like that to choose their teammates based on personal gain.

But... the other party's attitude confused her.

Kiriwake Yayoi's gaze was upright and unwavering, seemingly unswayed by personal desires or impulses. Her cherry-pink eyes, clear as a mirror, held an undiminished, unique charm. She spoke earnestly:

"If I can't even compete with Xiao Qing in the team, there's no reason I should be able to steal the Center position from you when we actually debut as a group."

Chu Yuanqing wanted to say something, but Little Sakura bluntly saw through it:

"Of course I understand that it's more reliable to build a team and let the team decide the outcome."

"But Xiao Qing and I are the same kind of people, so you should be able to understand, right? Rather than playing it safe, I yearn to create a stage that the audience will love more."

"Compared to the other two, only you, as a kindred spirit, can create unexpected chemistry with me on stage."

"So, I want to defeat you once first."

What Kiriwake Yayoi said wasn't a high-sounding lie; from the very beginning, when she decided to take Chu Yuanqing away, that was truly what she thought.

The difference is that she didn't reveal the possessiveness hidden in her heart, nor the joy that gradually blossomed into love.

The reason is simple: confessing your feelings is a victory song, not a battle cry.

Now that everyone knows Xiao Qing is straight, it would be foolish to confess your feelings rashly.

The initial statement was impulsive; if it had alerted the other party, it would have only created distance between them. Therefore, the subsequent words seemed somewhat like an attempt to justify the situation.

Because it was all the truth, there were virtually no flaws to be found.

--You must exercise restraint.

--Take it slow, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

Kiriwake Yayoi reminded herself, and she naturally let go of her hand, concealing the gloom in her eyes. The blushing cherry blossom pink symbolized the silent operation of [Flow State], with her rapidly amplified reaction speed carefully managing every expression.

The girl's smile was expectant and enthusiastic, full of pure love for the stage. She looked so innocent and harmless, as if she was looking forward to standing on the stage, bathed in the waves of encore, and shining brightly.

Yes, just like Yayoi when I first met her, she's a powerful idol who's so clumsy offstage that she could fall like a little penguin, but onstage she can maintain perfect facial expressions and exude a storm-like personal charm.

Chu Yuanqing's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she even fell into self-doubt, feeling ashamed for having for a moment imagined the future of neodymium copper.

Yayoi was still that earnest and upright girl who only had eyes for the stage and was devoted to her idol, but she almost misunderstood it as that kind of thing!

Chu Yuanqing couldn't help but reflect. She had been filming scenes with neon copper for the past few days, and coupled with being startled by Liuli, this misunderstanding had occurred. She couldn't let it happen again. Luckily, she hadn't asked directly, or she would have been incredibly embarrassed.

After clearing up the "misunderstanding" and learning the "truth," she earnestly explained:

"I'm not as good as you imagine, Yayoi. Even if we were on the same team, I wouldn't be able to steal the Center position. Similarly, I can't meet your expectations."

"As for which team you choose to challenge, that's your own choice. I don't have the right to agree to this PK on behalf of my teammates."

Upon Kiriwake Yayoi breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't regret her impulsiveness today, because it made her truly clear about her feelings. However, if Xiao Qing were to avoid her because of this, it would be a huge loss.

Little Sakura said earnestly:

"Shall we make a deal?"

Chu Yuanqing asked:

"What agreement?"

Kiriwake Yayoi continued:

"It's a very simple agreement: assuming your team accepts my challenge, you are not allowed to refuse to join my team after I win the PK."

"If I lose this duel, I'll be at your mercy, and I'll grant you any request."

Chu Yuanqing thought about it and then agreed.

Because, in terms of the outcome, it wouldn't matter to her which team she was in.

Moreover, even Kiriwake Yayoi loses, she won't make any excessive demands, so it won't have any impact.

Thus, this thrilling and exciting conversation, which involved a sudden stop and a sharp turn, turned into a seemingly uneventful interlude.

The advertisement shoot took a total of two and a half days. The work for both of them has been completed, and the rest can be handed over to the professional teams of Flashdance and the brand.

The remaining steps are mostly post-production and promotion plans.

The former involves processing clips, combining them, and adding sound effects to enhance the visual appeal and entertainment value of the advertisement.

--This point was actually largely solved by the fast-forwarding technology in Flash Dance.

The latter refers to the promotional plan, which needs to be determined based on the brand's characteristics and the preferences of the target audience.

In short, Chu Yuanqing doesn't need to worry about anything.

Before leaving, Lin Jiu had another contract signed by Kiriwake Yayoi.

The reason for this was that during a previous shoot, the director suddenly felt that the bride was missing an earring, so he negotiated with the brand and decided to have Little Sakura endorse another product from the same brand.

After signing the contract, the designer gave away one new item of every product she was endorsing, except for the wedding dress, as a free gift.

Of course, this is less of a gift and more of a tool for fulfilling an obligation.

According to the contract, the two were required to wear necklaces and earrings throughout the recording of "Flash Dance," as these items did not interfere with their dancing and performance.

While forgetting once or twice is fine, not appearing on screen for an extended period will be considered a breach of contract and will result in prosecution.

This provision is the only one in the contract that is relatively binding.

For the two who felt that the effort and reward were disproportionate, fulfilling this obligation was naturally without any complaints.

Time passed.

At 3 p. m., the two returned to Zhelong Town, ending this bizarre wedding dress endorsement event.

However, before the phone was confiscated,

At the brand's request, Chu Yuanqing and Little Sakura posted a promotional Weibo post together.

This was the first time she remembered she had a social media account. After hurriedly logging in, she was bombarded with a barrage of private message notifications, a truly terrifying experience.

If it weren't for the message notification limit of 99+, the total number of private messages would probably exceed one million.

Chu Yuanqing was terrified.

The 7.65 million followers on her Weibo account made her fingers tremble. Fortunately, Little Sakura thoughtfully helped this old-fashioned person by enabling the option to refuse private messages and also helped post a promotional Weibo.

Otherwise, the girl would probably stare at the account for about five minutes, questioning her existence.

Afterwards, the two handed over their phones and parted ways in the B1 area to find their respective teammates.