CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 85: HE’S SO DRIVEN

Yu Xia was still unsure about how to develop her relationship with him and was quite conflicted.

But when they actually started talking on the phone, both of them subconsciously only talked about light topics, and the intimacy they showed was subtle and not overdone.

After the call, Yu Xia got up from the sofa and sat for a while, then went to the bedroom to take out the gift box placed on the bookshelf.

The white T-shirt was folded neatly and still carried the scent of laundry pods, as she had taken it out to wash earlier.

With the box on her lap, she looked intently at the shirt without touching it.

Xie Qingci is a very open-minded guy—not sure if it’s because all young boys are like this, or if it’s just him personally.

A high school student who is always indifferent when entering school and ignores female classmates, dating a celebrity who has already entered society is quite a bold move.

Yet, he is very proactive, like a pup that smells meat, easily getting hooked by her flirtations.

Everything then proceeded smoothly and naturally to the next step. He didn’t seem like an innocent eighteen-year-old boy at all; he sold innocence while pushing forward relentlessly, displaying a different kind of assertiveness.

She used to think he was at most a boy, not yet stepping into the realm of men, given that she often saw him in school uniform.

It wasn’t until she was tucked into this white T-shirt, leaning against his firm chest, that she realized age is not the only criterion to distinguish boys from men.

He was already a man—physically mature, mentally mature, with a clear plan for his studies and life. He was cunning, bold, and did things prudently, knowing how to take responsibility for his actions.

Also serious, and desirous.

This white T-shirt could wrap around her hips but could barely cover his abdomen. His ordinary shirt could already serve as her summer quilt.

Afterwards, she no longer frequently called him "little brother." He, however, was quite unaccustomed to it, insisting on calling her "big sister" like it thrilled him somehow.

Yu Xia sighed, picked up the two postcards inside, the elegant penmanship on them was like him, spirited yet subdued, speaking of only one thing—ambition.

The things he wanted to do, his ambition, no one could persuade him otherwise, whether it be regarding matters or people.

So, should she persuade him to give up? Or work hard together with him, waiting for the best opportunity?

He worked so hard...

Yu Xia took a deep breath, closed the gift box again, and put it back on the bookshelf.

Then completed her usual routine to wash and go to bed.

And then it was Monday again.

The third indoor spin-off program arrived.

Early in the morning, the program team’s official account announced the selection rules for future spin-off program participants, shifting from cautious balance to a bold approach based on popularity.

Specifically, it was based on whether recent popularity had increased or not.

As long as popularity had risen, one could enter the candidate pool. If popularity stagnated or decreased, even someone as high-profile as Song Xi wouldn’t be chosen.

This method was still considered reasonable, and fans could accept it.

So on Monday night, Yu Xia saw Xie Qingci again.

On the popularity surge chart of the week, the top spots included Xie Qingci, Song Xi, Pei Lu, and Wei Yaoyao.

Ning Yunchao and Chi Qiao’s popularity growth was not significant, which was a bit unexpected.

It’s been heard that Chi Qiao’s side had urgently contacted the company for solutions, because if others’ popularity kept rising and his didn’t move, it would be dangerous even with a fan base.

Yu Xia analyzed it in her mind and maintained a normal expression while chatting and joking with Shu Ran and the others, sitting in the rehearsal room center.

But Wei Yaoyao saw her and greeted her with a cheerful hello.

Yu Xia nodded at him and continued chatting with the person next to her.

"I guess it will just be these few younger guys coming to join the game next," Yu Kuang shook his head, "Not necessarily, each stage is a turning point, there’s never a lack of dark horses. In past talent shows, lower-ranked participants gradually rose, directly reaching debut positions in the last two episodes."

He Mingjie also said, "That’s possible. However, those replaced are usually the latter ones. Like Xie Qingci and a few others, they are relatively stable."

Yu Xia nodded in agreement.

Yu Kuang added, "I also never expected that Xie Qingci would sign with Changhui and become Shu Ran’s junior from the same company."

Shu Ran smiled, "It’s fate. The company is bound to sign more people, and it makes sense to recruit Xie Qingci this time; the company holds him in high regard."

There wasn’t any more in-depth conversation.

However, everyone suspected that Shu Ran had paved the way for Xie Qingci to sign with Changhui, but why Shu Ran would help him, remained a mystery.

Yu Xia didn’t think too much into it. Although she found their unfounded rumors annoying, she was the first one not to believe Shu Ran and Xie Qingci had anything.

Not to mention from Xie Qingci’s side, but just from Shu Ran’s perspective, she would never get involved with someone from the same company. Likewise, Changhui would never allow such a thing to happen.

For the company’s reputation, Shu Ran might even have to appropriately distance herself from Xie Qingci later on.

As conversations continued, the program team announced that the game was about to begin.

Everyone sat cross-legged in a circle, with a sufficiently large empty space left in the center. Xie Qingci was sitting to Yu Xia’s left, and Wei Yaoyao to her right.

A familiar ultra-thin screen was on the right wall. When switched on, it displayed Zhipu Electronics’ logo, then a computer interface similar to playing cards online appeared.

Resembling the Yin-Yang Bagua, there were a total of nine positions. After everyone sat down, avatar icons representing each person appeared on the nine positions, carrying their names.

It was like a mobile game interface.

A staff member stood under the screen to announce the rules of the game.

"This game is called ’Playing Big Cards’. As the name suggests, each person will draw nine custom cards to play three rounds of a special version of the card game ’Fight the Landlord’.

"The first to play is decided randomly by Little Zhipu, and the play order goes clockwise. When playing, all must justify why their card can beat the previous card; the validity of the reason will also be judged by Little Zhipu."

"There will be bonus coins accumulated during the game. Four winners will eventually be announced: three who first finish playing their cards in each round, and one who accumulates the most bonus coins, with each getting nine points."

"Now let’s give you a demonstration."

Two staff members held giant cards over a meter long. One played a card with a picture of Pleasant Goat, while the other played a card depicting Grey Wolf, explaining:

"Wolf eats goat, my card is bigger."

Then, as if through card scanning and voice recognition, the bottom broadcasted a mechanically officious dealer-like electronic voice: "Relationship established, pass."

Then in the interface, among the player avatars, a sound effect of an increasing coin "+1" appeared.

Another staff member played a card with a picture of a thermos flask, while the other pondered, then played a card displaying a window.

"Window is bigger than thermos flask."

The electronic voice promptly responded: "Relationship not established, card recalled, next person plays."

Intelligent, responsive, and visually pleasing in color and design.

The group opened their mouths wide, exclaiming wow.

——

ps: I’m not sure if there’s such a machine on the market now. This is a game helper I imagined up, hehehe.