Pei Yujang didn't bring goggles with her, so seeing Yu Zhiwan's slightly red eyes made her feel a pang of concern.
This was unexpected; Chen Lulu hadn't mentioned that the event would have an outdoor segment. If she had known, she wouldn't have brought Yu Zhiwan. Meanwhile, the fans were all thrilled, waving their banners and beautifully decorated fans, which they had made to support Chen Lulu.
Seeing Pei Yujang accept the flowers, Chen Lulu held back her excitement and signaled the staff. One of them handed a microphone to Pei Yujang.
"A special segment is coming up. Miss Pei, could you please come on stage to assist?"
Pei Yujang was puzzled. "?"
She didn't remember this being part of the plan.
Typical Chen Lulu, always full of surprises and not sticking to the script. Pei Yujang mentally rolled her eyes but figured that going on stage wouldn't hurt. After all, she was somewhat of an internet celebrity now, and ever since her public spat with Banana, her fame had skyrocketed. People had been glancing her way all night, probably recognizing her.
After making sure Yu Zhiwan was settled, Pei Yujang climbed up onto the stage without any assistance from the staff. She easily pulled herself up with both hands, a feat that earned her a round of cheers and applause from the audience. Chen Lulu seized the moment, waving at the fans with a smile and shouting:
"No switching sides!"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
With the atmosphere lively and the fans seemingly fond of Pei Yujang, Chen Lulu finally relaxed.
Chen Lulu glanced at Pei Yujang before stepping closer to her.
Today, Chen Lulu wore 8cm high heels and a fluffy white gown adorned with sparkling sequins. She looked sweet and delicate, and the two standing together made an attractive pair, causing quite a few fans to scream in anticipation of what Chen Lulu was going to do.
"You all probably know that last year, I went through a rough period when I was caught up in a controversy. During that time, I wasn't in the right headspace and chose a rather extreme way to try and end it all."
As Chen Lulu's voice echoed through the microphone, the laughter in the audience died down. Those who had been fans of Chen Lulu knew that she had fallen into a deep depression during that period. The rumors and supposed evidence online almost drove this cheerful girl to suicide, thinking it was the only way to end everything.
"That day, standing at the top of the tower, I thought a lot—about my parents who raised me and about my fans and all the things I'd been through. But in the end, I couldn't suppress the negative emotions. Luckily, I was saved by Miss Pei before I could take that final step. She told me that life is worth living for myself. Death might bring temporary relief, but if I'm not afraid of dying, why should I be afraid of living?"
Chen Lulu took a deep breath:
"Thankfully, I made it through, and now I've moved past that unspeakable part of my life. I want to share the courage to live well with all of you. Thank you all, and thank you, Miss Pei."
Even after so much time had passed, Chen Lulu could vividly recall Pei Yujang's swift rescue and straightforward advice. The old tower in Wing Lake Park had a musty, metallic smell, and if it weren't for Pei Yujang, her impulsive decision could have led to an irreversible tragedy.
"May I hug you, Miss Pei?"
Chen Lulu looked up slightly at her. This Omega had bright, doe-like eyes filled with innocent hope. Though she didn't use the microphone, her voice was clear enough for the front row to hear.
Pei Yujang generously opened her arms and let Chen Lulu hug her.
It was the first time Pei Yujang had been so close to Chen Lulu, and she could smell the sweet scent unique to Omegas. But Chen Lulu didn't push her luck. Although she relished the sensation of being enveloped in Pei Yujang's embrace, she knew that any overly intimate interaction would only drive a wedge between them.
"Thank you, Pei Yujang."
Chen Lulu smiled up at her, eyes crinkling with warmth.
The superstar's birthday party was lively, with Chen Lulu singing and dancing on the outdoor stage. She then invited everyone to a private cinema screening of an exclusive preview of her new movie.
This new movie was the apocalyptic film she shot in Ningxiang, marking a significant career shift for Chen Lulu. Her fans were eager to see it. There were staff members live-streaming the event so that fans who couldn't attend the birthday party could still enjoy it.
Pei Yujang had always been interested in this genre, and Chen Lulu knew this was her real reason for inviting Pei Yujang.
To prevent Yu Zhiwan from getting bored, after greeting all her fans, Chen Lulu sat beside them and handed Yu Zhiwan a rectangular box.
"What's this?"
"A meeting gift, the official kind." Chen Lulu's smile was sweet, and her voice was as soft as most Omegas:
"Do you want to open it? I can tell you if you prefer. It's a puzzle with music blocks. It might sound childish, but it's really fun. It's already charged, and it has an AI assistant to guide you through assembling it. Once completed, it plays songs. There are 24 different styles you can build, each with a different song."
"I see."
Even though Yu Zhiwan had always been indifferent to others, and she couldn't say she liked Chen Lulu, she was genuinely touched at this moment.
Chen Lulu knew she was "blind" and couldn't use many types of gifts, so she had specially chosen a musical puzzle. The AI assistant's primary function was to help blind people assemble the puzzle; a sighted person could easily figure it out themselves. It wasn't particularly difficult.
Usually immersed in darkness, with few people considering whether she might be bored, Yu Zhiwan had long since learned to cope with loneliness, suppressing even the slightest hint of such emotions with reason.
Yu Zhiwan felt a slight pang in her chest, a soft, swelling emotion beginning to surface. The dimly lit cinema allowed her to hide her growing feelings. Yu Zhiwan cherished the box, gently caressing the braided silk ribbon, then turned to smile at Chen Lulu:
"Thank you, I really like it."
"Zhiwan," Pei Yujang whispered, "the movie's about to start."
The preview lasted fifteen minutes, combining behind-the-scenes footage and a teaser. There were few spoilers, so it didn't diminish the anticipation for the full movie. This was Chen Lulu's first time tackling a heavy script, and she was eager to hear everyone's feedback. As the movie started, the audience fell silent.
The black, white, and gray tones set a bleak, post-apocalyptic mood. The sound of zombies tearing into flesh echoed through the surround sound system, making it feel as if the zombies were crawling right next to the viewers.
In the movie, Chen Lulu was heavily made up to play an ordinary woman. On the day of the disaster, she was at home with her four or five-year-old child, telling stories and watching the child practice writing. They lived in a rundown building, with faint sounds of commotion coming from outside. In a close-up, the camera captured Chen Lulu's pupils dilating in fear.
Her husband hadn't returned since going out that day. Standing at the door, Chen Lulu saw the twisted, mutated faces pressing against the glass doors at the bottom of the stairs. She grabbed whatever weapon she could find at home, and the small, defenseless woman was forced to pick up her child and flee for their lives.
She encountered various people along the way. A group of burly men with clubs fought off zombies to protect the weak but later selected young girls to abuse for fun. Chen Lulu's character, along with a college student protecting his sister, fought back, stabbing the leader in the neck before fleeing into the rain...
The entire preview was intense and gripping, with the behind-the-scenes footage seamlessly integrated. The escalating tension left the audience on the edge of their seats. At one point, the protagonist's daughter was in danger, and the mother was torn between saving her and rescuing her partner.
The scene ended there, leaving everyone wanting more.
Chen Lulu's performance was compelling, completely overturning her image as a bubbly, cute actress from idol dramas. She wasn't afraid of looking unglamorous and even requested the makeup artist add subtle crow's feet to better portray the woman who had endured years of hardship.
Pei Yujang was thoroughly impressed. Having lived through an apocalypse, most zombie movies seemed trivial to her, but she had to admit that Chen Lulu's film was well-thought-out, focusing on the internal struggles and moral dilemmas of humanity during such a crisis. The minimalistic approach was quite intriguing.
The sound effects were great, and the dialogue was clear, so Pei Yujang figured Yu Zhiwan could follow the storyline. As they left, they discussed the movie together. Meanwhile, Chen Lulu continued mingling with her fans, taking photos with them. Seeing that the rest of the event was fan interaction, Pei Yujang excused herself and Yu Zhiwan to leave early.
As they walked to the restroom, a few fans and staff members were there as well. Two fans recognized Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan and excitedly greeted them.
Many people recognized Pei Yujang, including two girls who had taken a photo with her at the Wing Lake Park tower. They had excitedly posted the picture on their social media, which eventually got circulated online, drawing attention from the city's leadership.
Later, the two girls realized their photo had been shared widely and even apologized to Pei Yujang through her public account. Pei Yujang didn't blame the young girls, but she became more cautious about taking photos with fans.
When the girls asked for another photo, Yu Zhiwan offered her phone:
"Let's use my phone. I'll keep the photos. Is that okay?"
The two girls eagerly agreed.
They seemed to like Yu Zhiwan more than Pei Yujang, both wanting to take a photo with her. Since Yu Zhiwan was blind, one of the girls kindly crouched down and held her phone, taking several shots, though she wasn't satisfied with them.
"Oh no, my makeup isn't good today, and my lipstick has faded. I'm not photogenic."
Yu Zhiwan's phone didn't have any beauty filters or editing apps, as she rarely took selfies. After taking the photos, the girls deleted them and repeatedly apologized to Yu Zhiwan.
Yu Zhiwan smiled graciously:
"It's fine."
Pei Yujang was about to offer her phone for another try, but the girls headed to the restroom. Seeing that they weren't very interested in her, Pei Yujang decided not to push it.
Later that day, Yu Zhiwan accompanied Pei Yujang to her place to open the gift from Chen Lulu. The rectangular box was heavy and beautifully packaged, with multiple layers, each one exuding a sense of luxury.
Seeing how thoughtful Chen Lulu had been in choosing a gift for Yu Zhiwan, Pei Yujang was pleased, though she couldn't resist a playful jab:
"Chen Lulu sure treats you well. She didn't give me anything."
Yu Zhiwan wasn't fazed by her teasing. Closing her eyes, she let herself sink into the familiar darkness, feeling the gift with her hands while retorting:
"If you want something from her, just wrap yourself up as a gift. She'll definitely reciprocate."
Pei Yujang caught the underlying meaning and felt a bit wronged. "I didn't mean it like that!"
"Aren't you one of her 'dewdrops'?"
"Dewdrops" was the name of Chen Lulu's fan club. It took Pei Yujang a moment to catch on. While talking, Yu Zhiwan started spreading the puzzle pieces out on the table, preparing to assemble them. Though her tone was playful, her hands didn't slow down.
Pei Yujang watched Yu Zhiwan's nimble fingers, then gradually shifted her gaze to her delicate face. To her surprise, she noticed that Yu Zhiwan's expression was different from usual. Her full lips were pressed together as if she were struggling with something.
It was the first time Pei Yujang had seen such an expression on her face, and she found it curious. She bent down to get a closer look.
At that moment, Yu Zhiwan opened her eyes and found herself face-to-face with Pei Yujang's striking features, which were suddenly so close. She almost lost her composure, barely managing to keep her expression calm.
The tightness in her chest made her heart protest, warning her of the strain. Rarely caught off guard, Yu Zhiwan realized it was time to retreat. After working on the puzzle for a while, she made an excuse about being tired, left the puzzle at Pei Yujang's place, and quickly returned home.
Yu Zhiwan took a shower, letting the cool water run down her spine, the fragrant foam of the body wash caressing every inch of her skin. She finally calmed down while drying her hair. With the blow dryer on low, she heard her phone buzz with a notification in the other room.
Unlocking the screen with her fingerprint, she saw a message from Pei Yujang.
"Zhiwan, if I liked Chen Lulu, would you be jealous?"
"Then you should debut. I'll be your number one fan."