Her entrance was utterly brusque, radiating an air of defiance.
Everyone turned around.
The girl still sported her eye-wateringly gothic attire.
Yet, she stood there, inviolable as a towering mountain.
Xie Yu's gaze halted momentarily, settling on Si Fuqing, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Si Fuqing strolled in at a leisurely pace, clapping her hands and laughing, "Quite the spectacle you've set up here, interrogating a single trainee."
Before anyone could react, she added softly, laughing, "See, this is what I'd call mentors bullying their trainees. Should I take notes?"
Xu Xiyun, who had followed her in, thought.
No, I'd rather not be seen.
Si Fuqing had moved so quickly that by the time he caught up, she had already kicked the door open.
Xu Xiyun whispered anxiously, "Teacher Si..."
Si Fuqing was in an even more precarious position than Xie Yu.
From the show's director and producer down to the janitors, no one gave her a second glance.
Her number of detractors in the entertainment industry was so high she could be splashed with acid just walking down the street.
Li Jingchen's expression stiffened momentarily, revealing a fleeting look of embarrassment.
He was too disappointed to choose his words carefully when he spoke harshly to Xie Yu.
Seeing Si Fuqing arrive, Lin Qingyan actually felt relieved. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Teacher Si, could you let me have Xie Yu? I promise to teach him well."
"Oh—" Si Fuqing crossed her arms, "No, go away."
Lin Qingyan's smile froze, her expression incredulous.
In the entertainment industry, everyone knew how to save face. Who was as blunt as Si Fuqing?
Li Jingchen was provoked into laughter again, "Si Fuqing, Lin Qingyan is speaking to you courteously. Who do you think you are?"
An Oscar or Grammy winner?
Everyone single person here has more clout than you, an 18-year-old universally despised
"If I give up a student who chose me, what would he think?" Si Fuqing spoke flatly, "In any case, I'm not giving him up."
"Si Fuqing!" The producer was enraged, "Don't you understand your position in this production? You don't have the right to choose!"
For the first time, such harsh words were laid bare.
The tension in the room escalated significantly.
"In that case, it aligns with your wishes, doesn't it?" Si Fuqing smiled, "You won't have to suppress him anymore, and his fans might even leave him. Wouldn't that secure Lu Yan's position as the center?"
"…"
The room fell into complete silence.
The producer had not expected Si Fuqing to be even more ruthless, to lay such matters out openly.
Li Jingchen was both shocked and infuriated, "Si Fuqing, what nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Let's go," Si Fuqing inserted her hands into her pockets, utterly nonchalant, "I will treat you to a late-night snack."
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow and followed her, his long legs striding out.
Seeing Xu Xiyun still standing in place, he grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him forward a few steps.
Suddenly lifted and then set landed back on the ground, Xu Xiyun was perplexed,
What kind of superhuman strength is this?
"Teacher Si," Xie Yu looked straight at her and suddenly spoke, "By choosing you, won't I be causing you significant trouble?"
"You're the trainees, and I'm the mentor," Si Fuqing spoke languidly. "If I don't protect you, who will?"
Xu Xiyun was overwhelmingly touched. "Teacher Si, you had to make a special trip tonight. It's really hard on you. Thank you for saving Xie Yu."
Si Fuqing glanced at him and took a bite of an apple out of nowhere. "Work demands professionalism."
"Teacher Si is indeed very professional," Xie Yu stretched his long legs and smirked. "Coming to the training camp late at night, even going through the trouble of putting on makeup."
"Mm," Si Fuqing stroked her chin. "Isn't my makeup skill excellent?"
Xu Xiyun praised her against his better judgment, "It's unparalleled."
Xie Yu chuckled softly.
The three of them really did head to the commercial street for a late-night snack.
"Thanks for the treat; I have to go," Si Fuqing said after eating, standing up. "If anyone bullies you again, remember to call me."
Xie Yu looked at her inquisitively, "It's quite late, Teacher Si. Where are you going?"
"Done with the celebrity job, now off to be a bodyguard," Si Fuqing checked the time. "I'm going to visit my boss and perhaps entertain his adorable but dim-witted subordinate."
Xu Xiyun looked back, puzzled, "Xie Yu, what does she mean by 'entertain'?"
"To toy with them," Xie Yu nonchalantly flexed his wrist.
Xu Xiyun, "..."
It didn't sound good either way.
**
Riding a shared bike, Si Fuqing traveled from the training base to Yu Xiheng's villa, even managing to remove her makeup along the way.
It was 10 p.m., and the sky had turned completely dark.
She locked her bike and stepped into the yard. Her ears picked up on a figure blending seamlessly into the dark night.
The figure seemed unaware that he had been exposed.
In a flash, Si Fuqing was behind the figure, quickly locking their arms behind their back.
Her voice was icy, "Who are you?"
Although the sound was soft, everyone in the villa had excellent hearing.
Feng San immediately rushed out and saw Si Fuqing holding an unidentified person, demanding sharply, "Who is this?"
"Uncle Nine, it's me! Ouch, ouch, ouch—" a voice cried out. "Owww, Miss, that hurts! Be gentler on me."
Si Fuqing hesitated and unconsciously loosened her grip.
Feng San turned on the garden light.
The illumination revealed a young girl's face, framed by doe eyes filled with innocent confusion.
Her eyes were misty from the previous pain, rendering her somewhat pitiable.
Feng San was a bit stunned, "Yu, Yu Tang, Miss?"
"Hey, hey, hey, Feng San, it's me! Long time no see; you've become even more handsome," Yu Tang quickly forgot her pain and opened her arms wide, "Come, give me a hug."
Feng San's expression was blank, "..."
His inner world was not just undisturbed but slightly despairing.
"Forget it, none of you dog men are any good," Yu Tang grumbled and looked at Si Fuqing with twinkling eyes, "Who is this young lady?"
"This is Miss Si Fuqing," Feng San introduced reluctantly, "Miss Si, this is Uncle Nine's niece, Miss Yu Tang."
Si Fuqing raised an eyebrow and extended her hand, "Nice to meet you, Miss Yu Tang."
"Mm, just call me Tangtang," Yu Tang also extended her hand, and after shaking hands, her expression suddenly changed as if she remembered something. "Wait, you're Si Fuqing?"
Si Fuqing looked at her, "What about it?"
Yu Tang became visibly nervous, "I know you!"