Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

Although it's already autumn, the weather is still very hot. Chu Yi got up and cleaned the house first. He stuffed all the bedding sets and sofa covers into the washing machine. The sun is shining brightly today, so he can let them air out properly.

Chu Yi had just finished cleaning the living room when she received a call from Qi Yuan, who spoke in a thick Beijing accent, "What's up, buddy? Want to hang out?"

Chu Yi held her phone to her ear, still holding the curtains she had just taken down in her hand: "I need to clean the house today, let's do it another day."

"Oh my!" Qi Yuan sighed dramatically on the other end of the phone, "When are you going to change this germaphobia? Hurry up! I'll give you ten minutes, and I'll be at your door to pick you up on time."

Before Chu Yi could refuse, Qi Yuan had already hung up the phone. He shook his head helplessly and glanced at the clock on the wall—ten minutes, but given Qi Yuan's personality, it would probably be over in five minutes.

Sure enough, just as she finished hanging the last curtain, the doorbell rang. Chu Yi wiped the water off her hands and went to open the door. Qi Yuan was already standing there, dressed in a trendy outfit: a white graffiti short-sleeved shirt, ripped jeans that were torn from the thigh to the calf, black sunglasses on his face, and car keys twirling in his hand.

"Pretty punctual, right?" Qi Yuan grinned, revealing his signature canine teeth. "Come on, let's go to that newly opened private restaurant. I heard their braised pork is amazing."

Chu Yi glanced down at her clothes, which she had just thrown on that morning. "I haven't changed yet."

"Why change? You look great as you are." Qi Yuan grabbed his arm and pulled him outside without another word. "Besides, it's just a meal, not a blind date."

Chu Yi stumbled as he pulled her, and sighed helplessly, "At least let me hold my phone."

"Hurry up, hurry up, my car is parked downstairs," Qi Yuan urged, leaning against the doorframe. "If you dawdle any longer, there won't be any spots left."

The two bickered all the way to the parking lot. Qi Yuan's car was a flashy red sports car, particularly eye-catching in the sunlight. As soon as Chu Yi got into the passenger seat, Qi Yuan stepped on the gas and sped off.

"Drive slowly." Chu Yi frowned. "I don't want to have to go to the emergency room on my day off."

Qi Yuan laughed heartily: "Don't worry, I'm a great driver."

Qi Yuan's driving skills were indeed impressive. The red sports car weaved nimbly through the city streets in the afternoon and soon turned into a quiet alley. At the end of the alley, an antique-style Chinese building stood quietly, with a wooden plaque reading "Jingyuan" hanging at the entrance.

"How about it?" Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow smugly. "Isn't this place secluded enough? Most people couldn't find it."

Chu Yi looked around: "This certainly doesn't seem like a place you would come to."

"Hey!" Qi Yuan hooked his arm around his neck. "Who are you looking down on? I'm just hiding my true abilities!"

The two walked into the restaurant laughing and joking, and a waiter immediately came to greet them. Qi Yuan was obviously a regular customer, and he led Chu Yi through the winding corridors and into a small private room by the water.

"The braised pork belly here is their signature dish," Qi Yuan said, his eyes lighting up as he opened the menu. "And this crab meat lion's head meatball—I almost swallowed my tongue when I ate it last time."

Looking at the exquisite dishes on the menu, which were quite expensive, Chu Yi asked, "Have you struck it rich lately?"

"How could that be..." Qi Yuan grinned and leaned closer. "I just wanted to bring my good brother here to try something new. Besides, you're busy at the hospital all day long, you finally get a day off, shouldn't you treat yourself?"

After the dishes were served, Qi Yuan immediately put a lion's head meatball on Chu Yi's plate.

"How about it, not bad, right?" Qi Yuan proudly raised his chin. "I booked the table a week in advance."

Chu Yi glanced at him: "Speak, what is it?"

Qi Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then grinned and put his arm around his shoulder: "Hey, do we brothers need a reason to have a meal together?"

"You were so attentive last time..." Chu Yi paused, then pushed him away expressionlessly. "Back then..."

Qi Yuanqian chuckled twice and touched his nose: "This time it really wasn't a big deal..."

After all the dishes were served, Qi Yuan cleared his throat, his eyes darting around, and asked, "Um... Yi, does your hospital... have any single... female doctors?"

Chu Yi picked up a piece of braised pork, then paused upon hearing this: "Hmm?"

Qi Yuan was unusually flustered, tapping his fingers on the table: "It's just... my mom gave me an ultimatum: I have to bring a girlfriend home next month, or she'll cut off my allowance."

He sighed, "As you know, I'm in the early stages of starting my business, and funds are tight..."

Chu Yi slowly sipped her tea. "So you want me to introduce you to a female doctor to deal with your family?"

"How can you say it's just to get by!" Qi Yuan's eyes widened. "I genuinely want to find someone suitable! Female doctors are so great—stable jobs, good personalities..."

Chu Yi put down her teacup, a half-smile on her face: "You've never even met her, and you already know she has a good personality?"

Qi Yuan scratched the back of his head sheepishly: "I just trusted your judgment... so could you help me out and introduce someone?"

Chu Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Didn't you have a girlfriend before? Did you break up?"

Qi Yuan's expression stiffened, then he waved his hand: "Don't mention it, we're incompatible."

"The one before that was also due to personality clashes," Chu Yi said calmly. "What kind of person are you looking for?"

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer: "It would be best if she were gentle, not too assertive, and as for looks... something similar to yours would be fine."

Chu Yi nearly choked on her tea: "What do you mean, 'about the same as me'?"

"I just find it pleasing to the eye!" Qi Yuan said confidently. "You're fine as you are, but a female version would be even better."

Chu Yi rubbed her temples helplessly: "There are single female doctors in the hospital, but I'm not sure if they would like your type."

Qi Yuan immediately sat up straight, vowing, "I promise I'll take this seriously! I won't do anything reckless!"

Chu Yi glanced at him and sighed, "I can ask for you, but whether it works out or not is up to you."

"That's great!" Qi Yuan exclaimed excitedly, slapping the table and drawing the attention of the surrounding guests. He lowered his voice, "I knew you'd be the best!"

Chu Yi has never been picky about food. She ate half of the braised lion's head meatball that Qi Yuan had picked up and then put down her chopsticks. "So, tell me, what are you planning to invest in this time?"

When Qi Yuan heard Chu Yi ask about his business plan, his eyes lit up immediately, and he put down his chopsticks and began to talk at length.

"Let me tell you, this is definitely a golden opportunity!" He pulled out his phone, swiped a few times to bring up a PowerPoint presentation, and said, "These days, young people are all into health and wellness, right? I'm thinking of starting a high-end health-focused tea brand, emphasizing the concept of 'surviving all-nighters.' I've even come up with the recipe—ginseng, goji berries, donkey-hide gelatin, plus some high-tech ingredients, and it'll sell for 88 yuan a cup, targeting office workers!"

Chu Yi frowned: "88 yuan a cup of milk tea?"

"It's not milk tea, it's a 'functional health drink'!" Qi Yuan corrected. "I've already designed the packaging; it's minimalist and understated, with slogans like 'I don't get angry when the boss scolds me, I'm the most expensive for health and longevity' printed on the cup. It's guaranteed to be a hit!"

Chu Yi silently took a sip of tea, and after a long while, she finally spoke: "Are you sure this will work?"

"Why not!" Qi Yuan slapped his thigh. "Young people these days stay up all night but are also afraid of dying. My product perfectly solves that problem! We'll invest in a few influencers to promote it initially, then hire some KOLs to write advertorials. I guarantee we'll break even in three months!"

Looking at his excited expression, Chu Yi sighed, "Have you calculated the costs?"

"Of course!" Qi Yuan declared confidently, "An initial investment of two million will double in six months!"

Chu Yi stared at him for a few seconds, then calmly said, "I'll invest one million."

Qi Yuan, who was holding a teacup, trembled upon hearing this, spilling half the tea: "W-what?"

"I said, I'll invest one million." Chu Yi calmly pulled out a tissue to wipe the table, "but with conditions—I need to see a detailed business plan, and the finances must be transparent."

Qi Yuan froze for two seconds, then suddenly jumped up from his chair, circled around the table, and was about to pounce on him: "Oh! Brother Yi! You're simply my soulmate! I love you to death!"

Chu Yi quickly raised her hand and pressed it against his forehead: "Get away from me."

Qi Yuan, blocked half a meter away, still stubbornly reached out to touch his shoulder: "Really! You're practically my angel investor! My mentor! My—"

"If you keep arguing, I'll withdraw my investment," Chu Yi said coldly.

Qi Yuan immediately sat back down and made a pursed mouth gesture, but his eyes were still sparkling.

He was silent for less than three seconds before he couldn't help but ask, "Um... when will the money arrive?"

Chu Yi glanced at him: "Send me your proper business plan to my email, and I'll have someone evaluate it before we talk."

"No problem!" Qi Yuan patted his chest and assured him, "I'll change it tonight!"

Chu Yi shook her head helplessly. Qi Yuan had always had too many wildly imaginative ideas since he was a child, but Chu Yi always supported his "fantasy" ideas.

Because Qi Yuan was his best friend since childhood.

The biggest benefit the Cheng family gave him was that even if Chu Yi didn't become a doctor, he would have more money than he could ever spend in his lifetime.

Therefore, most of the time, Chu Yi is in a state of "no desires or wants".

Chu Yi has always been straightforward in providing financial support for his friends' "dreams".

---

After finishing his meal, Qi Yuan slumped onto Chu Yi's sofa, lazily scrolling through his phone, showing no intention of leaving.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back?" Chu Yi asked, glancing at him as she tidied the books on the table.

Qi Yuan rolled over and buried his face in the cushion: "I'm not going back."

Chu Yi wiped his hands and walked to the sofa: "If you're not going back, help me move these out." He pointed to the green plants on the balcony.

Qi Yuan wailed, "No way! I just finished eating!"

"Then go home yourself." Chu Yi remained unmoved.

"Fine, fine, I'll move it, okay?" Qi Yuan reluctantly got up and shuffled towards the balcony in his slippers.

The two moved the potted plants on the balcony to the outermost layer to bask in the sun.

As Qi Yuan moved the plants, he complained, "Why do you keep so many flowers and plants? They're so troublesome and take up so much space."

"Be quiet." Chu Yi said without looking up. "Place that succulent gently; the leaves will easily fall off."

Qi Yuan pursed his lips, but still made his movements gentler.

Chu Yi ruthlessly directed Young Master Qi to give the house a thorough cleaning. If Qi's mother saw how obedient her son was, she would definitely be astonished.

In the words of Qi Yuan's older sister, Qi Ran: If Qi Yuan were a dog, only Chu Yi could keep him on a leash.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

It was almost eight o'clock when they finished cooking. Chu Yi poked her head out of the kitchen: "How about noodles for dinner?"

"Whatever, anything you make is fine." Qi Yuan was sprawled on the sofa playing on his phone when his eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait!"

Chu Yi had just taken the noodles out when Qi Yuan snatched them away and threw them back into the refrigerator.

"What are you doing?" Chu Yi frowned.

Qi Yuan waved his phone: "A friend just called and said a new bar opened, and the special guest is that super popular DJ! Come on, let's go see it!"

Chu Yi said helplessly, "I don't go to places like that."

"Hey, it's good to relax once in a while!" Qi Yuan grabbed him and dragged him towards the bedroom without further ado. "Come on, come on, change your clothes first. How can you go out in these loungewear?"

Qi Yuan turned Chu Yi's wardrobe upside down, and with each item he took out, Qi Yuan's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Wait, what kind of clothes do you have?" Qi Yuan picked up a gray T-shirt. "Black, white, and gray, all black, white, and gray! Not a single one with a pattern!"

Chu Yi leaned against the doorframe: "I think it's fine."

"What's so great about it!" Qi Yuan slammed the wardrobe door shut. "Come on, let's go buy some new clothes!"

"I don't--"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Qi Yuan had already pushed him out the door. "Consider it a celebration that you've become my angel investor!"

Two hours later, Chu Yi stood in front of the mirror, somewhat uncomfortably tugging at her clothes.

Qi Yuan picked out a loose beige knit sweater for him, layered over a white shirt, and paired with light-colored straight-leg jeans. He looked clean and gentle.

"How about it? My taste is pretty good, isn't it?" Qi Yuan patted his shoulder smugly. "Much better than your old-fashioned cadre clothes!"

Looking at herself in the mirror, Chu Yi did look much more energetic than usual, but she still felt a little awkward: "Isn't this... a bit too young?"

"You're only 27, okay?!" Qi Yuan rolled his eyes. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you were 72! Come on, come on, we'll miss the opening!"

The bar was dimly lit and the music was deafening. Chu Yi followed behind Qi Yuan, her brows never relaxed.

"Relax!" Qi Yuan shouted in his ear, "You look like you're here to inspect work!"

"Go do your thing, I'll sit here for a while."

After kicking Qi Yuan out, Chu Yi sat alone in a relatively secluded booth, casually taking off his knitted cardigan, leaving only a white shirt with the cuffs casually rolled up at his wrists, and holding a glass of low-alcohol fruit wine in his hand.

The singing style on stage had switched from rock to sentimental love songs at some point, and Chu Yi finally felt that her ears could have some peace and quiet.

While Chu Yi was busy rejecting the third person who tried to chat her up, a person wearing a black hat and sunglasses appeared on the stage at some point. A large black hoodie hood completely covered the rest of his head.

The people in the bar were in a state of extreme excitement, and no one paid attention to the "masked man" who appeared in the corner of the stage.

Only Chu Yi, who was sitting alone in the corner, noticed this change.

A staff member went on stage to adjust the microphone for the "masked man." When the lights turned, Chu Yi realized that there was actually a piano on the stage.

When the masked man casually pressed the first note, Chu Yi's fingers tightened suddenly, and the water droplets condensed on the glass slid down his knuckles.

The blurry figure on the stage sat in front of the piano, yet was right at the edge of the spotlight, completely hidden in the darkness.

But Chu Yi felt that the sound was so clear that it seemed to have penetrated his eardrums.

On the seventh moonless night…

You've finally seen through my clumsy pretense...

It is "The Seventh Night".

Zhou Ai's unreleased songs performed at underground music festivals before her debut, without even a formal recording, only a few blurry live videos circulate among fans.

Chu Yi had listened to those poorly-sounding videos repeatedly during sleepless nights, becoming intimately familiar with every single note change.

The noisy chatter in the bar miraculously quieted down.

Chu Yi felt a throbbing sensation in her temples, her gaze fixed on the figure on the stage.

When the song reached the chorus, the person suddenly raised their hand and took off their mask, causing Chu Yi to catch her breath.

It's not Zhou Ai.

A completely unfamiliar young face, but the voice was imitated perfectly.

Chu Yi's tense shoulders slowly relaxed, whether from disappointment or relief, it was hard to tell. He looked down at the swirling liquid in his glass and suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.

How could Zhou Ai possibly be in a place like this? That person should be backstage at a concert with tens of thousands of people, or in a high-end recording studio, not...

"Hey! What are you spacing out for?" Qi Yuan returned sometime earlier, plopping down next to him, reeking of a mixture of smoke and alcohol. "Did you see that? That singer's imitation of Zhou Ai was absolutely amazing! I almost thought the real Zhou Ai had come!"

Chu Yi subtly moved to the side: "Hmm, it does look quite similar."