Meng Zhenzhen

You Gui bought two cups of fruit tea, and they sipped as they wandered. The only difference from an ordinary shopping trip was the sheer number of people. Everyone wore different outfits, with traditional Han clothing and anime cosplay everywhere. Since Magic Cube Technology had started out with short videos, and Magic Sound Video was still its most profitable business, there was practically a livestreamer every few steps.

"Look over here, babies..."

"Folks, we've now entered the event grounds."

"Thank you to our top donor for the little rocket! Thank you, thank you..."

"You all want me to check out a Small Stage? Look, look, look, there happens to be one right here!"

A Small Stage???

Shi Yuan leaned over too. "There really is a stage here. What's it for?"

A voice chimed in beside him. "You don't even know that?"

Shi Yuan: "???"

He turned around, bewildered. Seven or eight men stood behind him, apparently another big group out together, and they had come fully equipped, each carrying a large backpack.

The one speaking to him was the tallest and burliest young man in the group. Up close, Shi Yuan had to tilt his head back to look at him. He was probably about Wei Zelin's height, over six foot three.

He enthusiastically explained it all to Shi Yuan.

"The celebrity concert tonight is at ** Stadium, and a few big-name influencers will be there too. But what about all the other streamers? Plenty of them are well-known. Magic Sound invited them officially, so they can't just be ordinary spectators, right? That's why they built all these stages for performances. Online voting has been going on for the past few days and closes at midnight tonight. From tomorrow until the event ends on day seven, they'll perform nonstop starting at eight in the morning, in order of their popularity in the vote."

Since he seemed knowledgeable and friendly, Shi Yuan asked another question. "Are you guys Magic Sound streamers too?"

He had no idea what was so funny about that question, but all of them burst out laughing.

"I guess we count." (A band-a very low-profile band.)

They walked away laughing and joking, leaving Shi Yuan to ask You Gui in confusion, "Did I say something funny?"

You Gui had no idea either, but she felt very relaxed around Shi Yuan and said with a soft laugh, "I don't think so."

"The concert doesn't start until eight tonight. Where should we go first?"

Shi Yuan had already planned everything out. "Let's go get something good on the pedestrian street first. I haven't had breakfast yet. Have you?"

You Gui shook her head. She had little appetite in the mornings and rarely ate breakfast.

They set off right away. Map in hand, Shi Yuan walked briskly and decisively, looking even more like someone who worked here than You Gui did.

You Gui was nearly 180 centimeters tall. Shi Yuan walked beside her, and the two attractive young people wandered along, stopping here and there. Even with impeccably made-up influencers everywhere, they still stood out, drawing furtive glances and discreetly raised phone cameras.

"I want rice noodle rolls and potstickers." Shi Yuan stopped in front of a potsticker stall, unable to tear himself away from the enticing golden-brown dumplings.

"Sure. There's a rice noodle roll place right next door." Between the morning queue and all their walking, it was nearly ten now, and You Gui was hungry too.

With no objections from You Gui, Shi Yuan immediately bought two portions of potstickers, then took them into the rice noodle roll shop to eat with their rolls.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, neither felt much like walking.

"Perfect. Let's catch a ride to Koi Park next. We can look at pretty fish and get some rest there," Shi Yuan suggested.

You Gui had no objections. No private vehicles were allowed inside the event grounds; all transport consisted of electric vehicles arranged by Magic Cube Technology, with four-seaters, eight-seaters, and little trains that could carry twenty people.

With so many visitors, the vehicles were in short supply. Luckily, a four-seater happened to be parked right beside them.

They were about to get in when someone called to Shi Yuan from behind.

"Shi Yuan, wait for us!"

They had only met yesterday, so as soon as he heard Xiao Ying's voice, Shi Yuan knew who it was without even turning around.

Zhang Xiuying and Xiao Wen ran out of a nearby shop, panting. "Where are you and your friend going? Can we get in too?"

Worried that You Gui might dislike sharing with strangers, Shi Yuan glanced at her first. She nodded to show that she didn't mind, and only then did he say, "We're going to Koi Park. Where do you want to go?"

"We're going to Koi Park to meet some friends too, but there are so many people. We've been looking forever and haven't found an empty vehicle," Xiao Ying complained.

It was just as Xiao Ying said. The grounds were large, but there were simply too many people, and not enough electric vehicles. Even as they spoke, four people strode aggressively toward the vehicle in front of them.

While Xiao Ying and Shi Yuan were talking, Xiao Wen reacted quickly and opened the door first.

But those four acted as though they hadn't seen her. They opened the door from the other side, and two of them quickly climbed in.

"What's wrong with you?" Xiao Ying demanded angrily. "We were clearly here first. Can't you see that?"

The two who had gotten in were a man and a woman. The woman snapped, "You were just standing outside. How were we supposed to know whether you wanted a ride? Shit or get off the pot."

Xiao Wen was sitting right beside her, and the woman nearly sprayed spit in her face. Then she started shoving Xiao Wen. "Have you no shame? This is our vehicle. Get the hell out."

Xiao Wen was quiet and mild-mannered to begin with. Her lips trembled with anger. "You... what are you doing? Can't you talk without getting physical?"

Seeing her best friend being bullied, Xiao Ying immediately rolled up her sleeves and squeezed in to grapple with the woman.

The woman let out an ear-piercing shriek. "Li Da, are you blind? Can't you see someone's hitting me?"

Sitting in front, Li Da found his companion embarrassing. He turned away and actually pretended not to see.

Of the two men standing outside, the shorter one had delicate features and wore light makeup, with a beauty mark drawn at the corner of his eye that made him look especially vulnerable. Looking troubled, he said, "Huang Zhenru, stop fighting. Let's just let them have this vehicle. We can find another."

Shi Yuan had originally wanted to keep the peace too, but that made him laugh. "Let us have it? Buddy, have you got something wrong? Do you seriously not know who got here last?"

Meng Zhenzhen's gaze swept over Shi Yuan's handsome face, then shifted past him to You Gui's exquisite features. His eyes flickered, and he suppressed his jealousy before speaking softly. "I'm sorry. We really are in a hurry. Huang Zhenru and Li Da were just too anxious. They saw you hadn't gotten in after all that time, so they took the seats first. We're really sorry."

Shi Yuan was truly speechless. He had exchanged a grand total of two sentences with Xiao Ying before these people came charging over. Now they were making it sound like his group's fault?

The man beside Meng Zhenzhen said impatiently, "It's just one lousy vehicle. What's the big deal about giving it to us? Give me your phone and I'll transfer you some money. Is two thousand enough?"

Now Shi Yuan was genuinely angry. His expression turned cold. "Keep that money and get your brains treated."

The man's face darkened. Meng Zhenzhen looked concerned. "Lu Hao means well. He has plenty of money. If you don't want it, that's fine, but why insult him?"

"Yuanyuan." You Gui's cool voice reached him.

"Another vehicle just pulled up behind us. Let's take that one."

She was aloof by nature and didn't want to waste any more time on these people.

Whenever Shi Yuan was with You Gui, he was protective of her and respected her wishes. Hearing that, he grabbed Xiao Ying, who was still grappling inside, and said to her and Xiao Wen, "Forget these people. Let's take the one behind us."

Xiao Ying snorted at Huang Zhenru, then helped Xiao Wen out and headed toward the vehicle behind them.

Huang Zhenru crowed smugly, "Why are you leaving? Keep mouthing off!"

Xiao Ying spun around, darted back inside, and gave Huang Zhenru a hard slap across the face.

The girl was small and nimble. Before anyone else could react, she had already grabbed Xiao Wen and run off.

Huang Zhenru screamed at the top of her lungs and tried to get out to retaliate. Meng Zhenzhen and Lu Hao got in, their brows tightening at the racket. Seeing this, Lu Hao said viciously, "Who died? Li Da, control your girlfriend. If she can't shut her mouth, both of you can get the hell out."

That immediately cowed Huang Zhenru. Before Li Da even spoke, she shrank into her seat and fell silent.

Lu Hao said gently to Meng Zhenzhen, "Zhenzhen, don't be upset. There are plenty of people who don't know how to behave. We don't need to bother with them."

Meng Zhenzhen felt better now. Even the jealousy stirred up by Shi Yuan and You Gui's striking looks subsided.

So what if they're good-looking? They're dressed so shabbily. Who knows if everything they're wearing even adds up to a hundred yuan? Meanwhile, I'm not just a popular streamer who's newly signed with Magic Sound-even an arrogant rich kid like Lu Hao fawns over me.

Actually, Lu Hao isn't bad. He'd make a good choice for marriage. It's just a shame his face isn't handsome enough...

All four remained silent even after getting into the vehicle. You Gui was naturally quiet, while Xiao Ying and Shi Yuan were simply furious.

One messaged her older brother on WeChat, while the other messaged his boyfriend.

Their fingers tapped away at their phone screens, and the atmosphere was rather tense. In the end, Xiao Wen took the initiative and asked the driver, "Sir, do we have to wait until all the seats are full before leaving?"

The driver discreetly glanced at his own phone, then at Shi Yuan, who was typing with his head lowered, and gave them a friendly smile. "We can leave now."

Xiao Wen said delightedly, "Then we're going to Koi Park."

Shi Yuan unloaded his complaints on his boyfriend, not caring that he hadn't seen the messages yet. Venting left him feeling much better, and he started comforting Xiao Ying. As it turned out, she was much the same as him, and before long the two were laughing and chatting about something else.

You Gui and Xiao Wen: "..."

Shi Yuan asked, "Yesterday, you said you were meeting friends today. Are you meeting them at Koi Park?"

Koi Park was spacious and scenic, certainly a good place to meet people.

Xiao Ying smoothed her disheveled hair, then touched up her lipstick using her phone. "Yes. Actually, they're not quite friends yet. They're a group of people Xiao Wen and I added online. We both majored in broadcasting in college, and we hang around the Online Dubbing Community together. We met a few people there who dub web dramas, and we all started a group chat. The group admin happens to be from S City, so with Magic Cube Technology holding this celebration, they organized an offline meetup."

"That sounds really fun." People scattered all over the country coming together through a shared hobby-Shi Yuan was openly envious. Even You Gui perked up her ears to listen.

Xiao Wen smiled. "Right? We think it's pretty cool too."

Though they had spent time with Xiao Ying on a few occasions, they still weren't particularly close. Shi Yuan felt it might be a little presumptuous, but he said it anyway.

"You've never met them in person, after all. You're both young women, so make sure you stay alert."

That was admittedly a bit of a downer. Xiao Ying and Xiao Wen exchanged a glance.

"He's always worrying about people like this. Please don't mind him," You Gui said, speaking to the two girls for the first time.

"Not at all, not at all," Xiao Wen quickly replied. "We can tell when someone means well."

You Gui's face was simply too striking, and her cool beauty had a sharp, unapproachable quality that made people hesitate to take liberties.

Xiao Ying was dying of curiosity. She leaned toward Shi Yuan and whispered, "Is this gorgeous lady your partner?"

Shi Yuan nearly choked on his own saliva. "No, no. She's a good friend."

"Oh, okay."

Xiao Ying fell silent for a moment, then suddenly whispered again, "Does she have a partner, then?"

Remembering You Gui's disastrous romantic history and the sunny, outgoing personalities of Xiao Ying's family, Shi Yuan whispered back, "No."

Xiao Ying gave him a knowing look. Shi Yuan made an okay gesture in return and promptly forwarded You Gui's WeChat contact to Xiao Ying's-older brother.