"Indeed, Ji Xiaonian didn't lie to me! The male voice in Ordinary Road sounds even better! With our amazing voices combined, we're simply unbeatable!"
"Ordinary Road was released a while ago, and I was wondering who bought it. Didn't expect it to be, haha!"
"This mysterious person is impressive. The new releases today - (Fairy Tale), (Prague Square), and (Nocturne) - are all phenomenal."
"The composition styles differ, so who is this mysterious person?"
"Do you think Superstar Yu has met the mysterious person?"
After the concert, the online discussion continued fervently. But just as everyone was engrossed in the heated debate, the Weibo system suddenly crashed, preventing netizens from accessing it.
Meanwhile, a programmer who had just gotten off work was on his way home when his boss called, summoning him back to the office to work overtime.
On the other side, Ji Xiaonian had just finished her performance and was being pulled into media interviews. She looked bewildered, squinting her eyes from the flashing cameras surrounding her.
"Ji Xiaonian, was the mysterious person present at today's event?" a reporter asked.
"Those few songs were from the mysterious person. Why did they give them to you?"
Ji Xiaonian had changed into her casual outfit - a loose T-shirt and jeans. Her hairstyle remained the same high ponytail from her stage look, complemented by delicate makeup, giving her a campus goddess vibe.
"Um... the mysterious person wasn't there," Ji Xiaonian replied, looking perplexed at the reporters below.
"Then who will the mysterious person give their next songs to?"
"Miss Ji, is it because of this mysterious person that you got the chance to collaborate with Superstar Yu?"
"Superstar Yu has never worked with female celebrities before. Are you two in a romantic relationship?"
Ji Xiaonian was stunned by the questions, unsure which one to answer first. Before she could respond, Yu Luobai stepped forward and pulled her behind him.
"I'm sorry, but our interviews are over for today," Yu Luobai politely addressed the reporters.
Ji Xiaonian looked surprised as the man grabbed her wrist and led her away from the scene.
At that moment, the reporters became excited, snapping photos left and right, their headlines already forming in their minds.
Once they reached the backstage area, the man released her hand and smiled, "Next time you encounter reporters who keep digging, just ignore them."
It was Ji Xiaonian's first time doing an interview, so she obediently nodded, "Okay."
Shen Shuyao, who was also backstage, spotted her idol Yu Luobai approaching. Her face flushed with excitement as she hurried over and stood beside Ji Xiaonian.
"Hello, Mr. Yu..."
Yu Luobai recognized her as his cousin's girlfriend and nodded with a smile, "Hello, Miss Shen."
Shen Shuyao, thrilled to receive a response, gazed at him adoringly and exclaimed, "Can we take a picture together?"
Yu Luobai smiled and agreed, finding Ji Xiaonian and Shen Shuyao's innocence refreshing and comforting.
"Sure," he replied.
Shen Shuyao immediately handed her phone to He Yi, saying, "Help us take a couple of pictures."
Ji Xiaonian smiled, finding the female lead's fangirl behavior endearing, and moved aside to let Shen Shuyao take a photo with Yu Luobai.
He Yi took several shots, and when Shen Shuyao noticed Ji Xiaonian, she promptly pulled her over, "Xiaonian, let's take one together."
After the group photos were taken, they were mostly done for the day, leaving the equipment and cleanup to the staff.
"We live in the same building, so Ji Xiaonian can ride with me," Yu Luobai told He Yi.
He Yi was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood, giving Ji Xiaonian a teasing look and wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Ji Xiaonian felt awkward, recalling what He Yi had said earlier and becoming increasingly certain that Yu Luobai harbored feelings for her...
"Is that okay with you, Xiaonian?" He Yi probed.
Peng He chimed in with a laugh, "Xiaonian rode with us earlier, so it's no problem. We'll make sure she gets home safe."
Well, they've already made their point, what else could she say? Ji Xiaonian thought helplessly.
"Alright, we'll head out first," He Yi said with a smile.
"Goodbye, Mr. Yu," Shen Shuyao said reluctantly, wishing she could admire her idol a little longer.
After everyone had finished packing up, Ji Xiaonian followed Yu Luobai to the underground parking lot.
"Xiaonian, you're not taking this car," Peng He spoke up.
Ji Xiaonian paused, recognizing the vehicle as the one they had arrived in earlier.
"I had my assistant bring my personal car over. Peng He can take this one back," Yu Luobai explained with a smile.
"I see..." Ji Xiaonian responded absentmindedly.
"We'll go ahead. Bye, Xiaonian," Peng He said as he got into the car.
Once everyone else had left, Ji Xiaonian turned to Yu Luobai, slightly dazed, and asked, "It's just the two of us?"
Yu Luobai smiled and patted her head, taking out his car keys as he walked towards a black Rolls-Royce. "We live in the same building, don't we? Who else would it be?"
Ji Xiaonian nodded and climbed into the passenger seat, slowly fastening her seatbelt.
Yu Luobai drove out, noticing the crowd gathered near the stadium entrance, and took a detour to avoid the fans and reporters.
"Are you tired from today?" Yu Luobai asked with a smile.
"It's alright. I think you're more tired since you didn't get any breaks," Ji Xiaonian recalled the chaotic backstage scene.
"I'm used to it. The first time I held a concert, it was also a frantic mess," Yu Luobai said as he stopped at a red light and turned to face her.
Ji Xiaonian felt self-conscious under his direct gaze and turned her head away. She wanted to ask if he liked her, but the question seemed too blunt to voice...
"How's your recent filming going?" Yu Luobai asked, his long fingers resting on the steering wheel.
Ji Xiaonian nodded and smiled, "It's going quite smoothly. The director even praised me."
A hint of darkness flashed in Yu Luobai's eyes as he casually inquired, "What's it like working with Cheng Liran?"
Ji Xiaonian froze, surprised by the sudden mention of that scumbag. Come to think of it, the original host's consciousness had been appearing less frequently lately. Facing Cheng Liran daily, she no longer felt the inexplicable heartache, suggesting the original host might have left.
"It's alright, I guess..." Ji Xiaonian didn't know how to respond.
"Do you still like him?" Yu Luobai asked, unsure why the sight of that man had been particularly irksome lately. The thought of him and Ji Xiaonian's past relationship left a sour taste in his mouth.
"I don't think so," Ji Xiaonian replied. She had never liked Cheng Liran, and with the original host rarely surfacing nowadays, she assumed her feelings had faded too.
Hearing her uncertain tone, Yu Luobai felt a pang of disappointment but maintained his composure, turning to her with a smile. "Although his acting skills and abilities are decent, I think you can find someone better."
Someone better? Ji Xiaonian paused, wondering if he was hinting at something.
There was no doubt that Yu Luobai liked her, and while he appeared calm and composed, his words carried an amusing quality.
"Pfft," Ji Xiaonian giggled, her eyes dancing with amusement as she asked, "Who would be better?"
Yu Luobai felt slightly flustered under her gaze and turned away, countering, "Who do you think would be better?"
Ji Xiaonian studied the man before her, wondering if she was imagining it, but she seemed to detect a hint of shyness and insecurity in his demeanor.
By now, they had arrived at the residential complex's parking area. Ji Xiaonian looked at him intently and said, "Mr. Yu, I'd like to ask you something."
Yu Luobai's hand, which had been unbuckling his seatbelt, froze. For some reason, his heart raced as he met her gaze and replied, "What is it?"
"Mr. Yu, do you like me?" Ji Xiaonian asked.
