Bai Lu got scammed, but I became a superstar through e-commerce.

"Fifty thousand." Bai Lu's voice lowered.

"You jinxed me. I transferred the money this morning, and that person blocked me this afternoon. I went to their company, and the receptionist said there was no such person there, and even the artist director's badge was fake."

As she spoke, her voice trembled with tears again: "Do you think I'm incredibly stupid?"

"It's alright, at most just average stupid."

"Qingxiao!"

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore," Qingxiao said, looking at her seriously.

"Where did you get so much money?" Qingxiao asked. "Don't you only have a little over ten thousand on you?"

"It was all raised by relatives and friends." Bai Lu buried her face in her knees. "My mom gave me 20,000 yuan, my cousin lent me 10,000 yuan, and a high school classmate lent me 5,000 yuan... I told them I was going to become a star and pay them back tenfold. Now look what happened, I didn't become a star, and I'm drowning in debt."

She looked up at Qingxiao, her eyes red: "I only have less than a hundred yuan left in my pocket. Qingxiao, why does God always seem to target me?"

Bai Mengyan.

Bai Lu stopped.

"It's like you just handed yourself over to be taken advantage of."

Bai Lu's expression changed from aggrieved to incredulous: "Even at a time like this, you're still making fun of me? Are you still my friend?"

"Alright, alright," Qingxiao sat down next to her, "It's just a few tens of thousands of yuan. I'll pay it back for you in a month."

Bai Lu suddenly turned his head, his eyes lighting up: "You've struck it rich?"

"Once this batch of goods is sold, there should be a profit of tens of thousands of yuan."

The light in Bai Lu's eyes quickly faded. She rested her chin back on her knees, her voice muffled: "Forget it... I'll take on a few more orders and pay it back slowly."

She knew the situation with Qingxiao's shop.

She's been running the online store for over half a year, busy from morning till night every day. She takes the photos, he handles customer service, he packs the orders, and he even runs errands to Sijiqing.

Only in, no out.

She even regretted introducing Qingxiao into this industry.

Although working was hard before, at least I got a salary every month, enough to eat and pay rent.

And now? All the money is gone, I'm exhausted like a dog, and I can't even afford a decent meal.

"Let's go." Qingxiao stood up and dusted off his pants.

"Where to?"

"Have a meal."

Bai Lu was about to speak when Qing Xiao had already walked to the side of the road, so she had no choice but to follow.

Qingxiao took her to a Hangzhou-style restaurant on Fengqi Road called "Lao Jiangnan".

Bai Lu stood at the door and glanced at the menu: West Lake Vinegar Fish 88, Longjing Shrimp 128, Dongpo Pork 68.

She grabbed Qingxiao's arm.

"Let's try another one."

"What's wrong?"

"It's too expensive," Bai Lu said in a low voice. "This meal would be enough to buy you a dozen new outfits."

"I want to eat this today."

"Are you crazy? Your shop isn't even... "

"Bai Mengyan," Qingxiao turned to look at her, "how much sorrow can one man bear?"

Bai Lu was stunned for a moment: "What?"

"Even a bite of delicious food is worthless."

"..." Bai Lu was speechless for a moment, but it sounded somewhat interesting, which made her feel a little better.

He opened the glass door, turned back to look at her, and said, "Let's go."

Bai Lu stood still, looking at Qing Xiao's profile.

But the way he spoke and the way he looked at her seemed different from before.

She couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

They ordered four dishes that day: West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, Longjing Shrimp, Dongpo Pork, and Song Sao Fish Soup.

Bai Lu initially said "That's enough, that's enough," but when the Dongpo pork was served, she picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, and stopped talking.

"Is it delicious?" Qingxiao asked.

Bai Lu didn't answer, and picked up another piece.

Qingxiao smiled.

After dinner, Qingxiao didn't take her home.

"Any other plans?"

"Sing."

Bai Lu followed him into a karaoke bar.

In 2013, Hangzhou KTVs were engaged in a price war, with small private rooms in the afternoon costing only 15 yuan for five hours, practically free.

Qingxiao brought out a few bottles of beer from the supermarket—Snowflake, the kind that costs a little over two yuan a bottle. The sound of the glass bottles clinking together was particularly crisp in the corridor.

In 2013, the most popular songs in KTVs were Shin's "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies", Huang Ling's "High Song", and Angela Chang's "Invisible Wings".

As soon as Bai Lu entered the private room, she ordered "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies." As soon as the intro started, she took off her shoes, stood on the sofa, and held the microphone to her mouth.

"Boundless horizons—after courage—"

She sang with all her might, cracking three notes in the high register, but she didn't care.

With her eyes closed, the veins on her neck bulged, as if she wanted to shout out all the grievances of the day, the 50,000 yuan she had been cheated out of, and the humiliation of those three minutes during the SM audition.

Qingxiao sat on the sofa, not choosing any songs, but just looking at her.

When she sang "Thank you to the people who understand me best for silently accompanying me all the way," she opened her eyes, glanced at Qingxiao, then quickly looked away and continued to shout the next line.

After singing "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies," she requested "Invisible Wings."

Then came "High Song," Huang Ling's version, with ridiculously high notes. She just strained her voice to reach those notes, and there was a part where she kept saying "Auntie Auntie Auntie Auntie Auntie Auntie Auntie," which made the two of them laugh so hard they couldn't stand up straight.

Qingxiao also sang.

He ordered "Old Boys," the song by Chopstick Brothers, a must-sing song for losers in KTV in 2013.

"Were the original wishes fulfilled? Now, is all that's left is to mourn them...?"

Bai Lu sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion, watching Qing Xiao stand in the spot where she had just stood, earnestly singing the song.

She suddenly felt that Qingxiao seemed to have become more handsome when he sang?

Is this an illusion?

After singing "Old Boys," Qingxiao put down the microphone and opened two bottles of beer.

After getting a little tipsy, the two of them were in different states.

"I, Bai Lu, am determined to become a star! I will definitely become famous!"

Bai Lu raised his beer above his head, his voice echoing in the private room.

She was already a little drunk, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were sparkling.

"Qingxiao, believe me, I'll definitely become famous. When that happens, I'll treat you to dinner at the best restaurant in Hangzhou, order the most expensive dishes, and buy the most expensive wine. Then you won't have to squat on the ground packing every day anymore, and you won't have to be a one-man customer service, graphic designer, operations manager, and packer all by yourself."

She spoke faster and faster, as if trying to convince herself: "That liar cheated me out of 50,000 yuan, it's okay. SM doesn't want me, it's okay too. One day, I'll make them all know that my name is Bai Lu, I'm not Bai Mengyan, I will become the best actress, the hottest star..."

"A toast to the future superstar, Bai Lu..."

Qingxiao raised his glass.

"Cheers..."

Bai Lu then shook off his gloom and revealed a joyful smile.

"Bai Lu..."

"Um?"

"Fly boldly forward, I'm here behind you."

As he spoke, Qingxiao filled his glass to the brim and raised it again.

"At worst, I'll support you through e-commerce."

After he finished speaking, there was a three-second silence in the private room.

Then Bai Lu burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she bent over, almost spilling her beer, and coughed as she laughed.

"You'll support me?" She straightened up, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Your online shop that loses money every day? Qingxiao, it's more reliable for me to support you when I become famous."