A band, or a battleground?

Qi Yuan nodded: "Then Yi Yi should be too, right?"

Ning Qianyu: "That makes sense..."

Then, at that moment, the doorbell rang again.

Ning Qianyu panicked slightly and lowered her voice, "Is it Yi Yi, or Meng Xue?"

Qi Yuan was speechless for a moment.

He knew, of course, that it couldn't be Jiang Yi ringing the doorbell right now; it was most likely Qiu Mengxue, but he couldn't explain it away.

What's even more troublesome is that Ning Qianyu glanced around, whispered "I'm going to hide for a bit," and then slipped into the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Qi Yuan covered his face with his hands, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

After a few seconds of silence, the doorbell rang again.

Qi Yuan stood up, feeling a strange heaviness in his legs. He moved his heavy legs step by step to the door and opened it again.

Sure enough, it was Qiu Mengxue standing at the door.

She seemed to have showered before arriving, having changed into a short-sleeved shirt and skirt, and tied her signature high ponytail, exuding a youthful, school-like vibe.

Qiu Mengxue, her hands empty, revealed a fresh and sweet smile and asked, "I can't sleep a bit, can I chat with today's birthday star?"

Qi Yuan: "In my room?"

"Is it not allowed?" Qiu Mengxue tilted her head, her ponytail swaying gently.

Qi Yuan sighed: "Let's go to your room. I'll chat with you for a while. If you're sleepy, you can just sleep in bed."

Qiu Mengxue bit her lip and thought for a moment before asking softly, "You wouldn't happen to want to sleep at my place too, would you?"

Qi Yuan: "..."

Two questions are currently on his mind.

First, did Ning Qianyu notice Jiang Yi, who was also hiding in the bathroom?

Secondly, did the two people hiding in the bathroom hear what Qiu Mengxue just said?

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.

153, I hope there's no misunderstanding.

Ning Qianyu discovered that someone was already inside the bathroom as soon as she hid inside.

After all, although the bathroom lights were off, the door was open, and the light from outside was enough to make out the outlines in the darkness.

Jiang Yi was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, her bright eyes staring at her in the darkness.

Ning Qianyu was startled in an instant.

This was a literal "jump"; for a fleeting moment, both her feet left the ground, though it lasted less than half a second.

Fortunately, Ning Qianyu remembered that there were still people outside the door. In order not to cause Mengxue any misunderstanding, she absolutely could not make a sound. As for whether it was a misunderstanding or not, and why she especially wanted to give Qi Yuan a gift tonight, she didn't have time to think about it.

Ning Qianyu quickly closed the bathroom door slightly and stood there, glaring at Jiang Yi in the dark.

Next, Ning Qianyu and Jiang Yi both heard the conversation.

"I'm having trouble sleeping. Can I chat with the birthday boy/girl today?"

Upon hearing Qiu Mengxue's words, Ning Qianyu gasped. Having been friends with Mengxue for so long, how could she have no idea this aloof girl had such a gentle voice? No, she really puts on two different faces with her best friend, Qi Yuan!

Immediately afterwards, Ning Qianyu noticed Jiang Yi's expression... no, it was actually impossible to see her expression in the darkness, but the anger in her eyes was crystal clear.

Ning Qianyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Yi Yi really did like Qi Yuan.

That said, Ning Qianyu had already confirmed this when she saw those headphones. Her angry gaze now was simply a vivid manifestation of that.

"In my room?"

Upon hearing Qi Yuan's words, Jiang Yi's anger suddenly faded, replaced by a hint of panic. Ning Qianyu was also a little flustered—what a joke! The computer she had given him and the headphones Yi Yi had given him were both in the room; Meng Xue would find them as soon as she entered!

What would that scene be like?

Furthermore, what would happen if Mengxue discovered the two people hiding in the bathroom?

Will the Kasuga Kage band disband right after their debut? Will there be some huge scandal involving girls pulling each other's hair and fighting?

"Is it not allowed?"

"Let's go to your room. I'll chat with you for a while. If you're sleepy, you can just sleep in bed."

Ning Qianyu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Qi Yuan's words. Looking at Jiang Yi again, she was clearly less alarmed. It was good that Qi Yuan realized he couldn't bring Mengxue inside.

Then Mengxue asked with a smile, "You wouldn't happen to want to sleep at my place too, would you?"

Ning Qianyu couldn't help but grit her teeth. Then she noticed that in the darkness, Jiang Yi's figure swayed, as if she almost fell off the edge of the bathtub.

Fortunately, Qi Yuan didn't hesitate. He simply said, "Don't worry, that's absolutely impossible," then pulled out the room key and left with Qiu Mengxue.

The outer door was closed, but the bathroom remained silent.

A few seconds after the room key was removed, the power went out. The bathroom was plunged into complete darkness, and the two girls could no longer see each other.

Ning Qianyu took out her phone and turned on the screen.

Jiang Yi remained seated there.

Ning Qianyu tentatively joked, "I thought that as soon as I turned on my phone, I would see you rushing over to bite me."

Jiang Yi calmly asked, "Why would I bite you?"

Ning Qianyu continued to probe: "Because you like him, and it just so happens that I also gave him a gift..."

Jiang Yi did not deny 'liking him,' but continued to ask, 'So, do you like him?'

Ning Qianyu quickly shook her head: "I already said, it's just a birthday present to express my gratitude, because I owe him a lot. It doesn't mean I'm like you guys."

Jiang Yi's tone remained calm: "If that's the case, then why should I bite you?"

"Hehe," Ning Qianyu chuckled dryly, "It's good that you haven't misunderstood."

The two looked at each other in silence for a while.

Jiang Yi suddenly said, "You should have noticed by now that Mengxue likes him too."

"Yeah, anyone can see that. I never expected it. Mengxue, who's always been so aloof and said she didn't want to date during school, has turned out like this..."

Ning Qianyu tried her best to make her smile natural and to make her voice as relaxed as possible.

Jiang Yi looked at her quietly.

Ning Qianyu: "But then again, it's no wonder that guys like Qi Yuan are so popular. He can write songs, and he writes them so well. He's also very polite to girls, and he's always been mature and reliable..."

Jiang Yi suddenly asked, "Then don't you like him?"

“Me?” Ning Qianyu pointed to herself, then shook her finger vigorously. “No, no, no, of course I don’t like him. Uh, I can’t say that. I think we get along quite well, but not in a romantic way. We’re more like… more like buddies, you know? Otherwise, why would I always call him Brother Stick, hahaha.”

Jiang Yi then asked, "Between me and Mengxue, who do you support?"

Ning Qianyu was taken aback: "Support?"

Jiang Yi nodded: "Yes, do you support Qi Yuan talking to me, or to Meng Xue?"

Ning Qianyu asked in a low voice, "Isn't it forbidden to date in our band?"

At this moment, Jiang Yi finally smiled, but her smile lacked her usual shyness.

For some reason, Ning Qianyu suddenly felt that her best friend was like a little rabbit. Usually gentle and quiet, but once cornered, she would glare with bloodshot eyes and take a fierce bite.

An emotional outburst from an honest person is the most frightening.

Jiang Yi said, "We can't date openly, but what about secretly? If both parties keep it a secret from everyone, and those around them who know also keep it a secret from the media and fans, then even if we are dating, what's the big deal?"

Ning Qianyu slapped her thigh: "Great, Yiyi, you've finally come to your senses! I've said it before, you don't need to tell your parents everything... Uh, speaking of which, you haven't told your parents about liking Qi Yuan, have you?"

Jiang Yi slowly shook her head: "If I hadn't run into you today, no one would have known."

Ning Qianyu thought for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Does Qi Yuan know?"

That's a very insightful question.

Jiang Yi frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't know either, whether he knows or not. Like you said, he's a martial monk, he's never had a girlfriend. This kind of guy is like a block of wood when it comes to relationships. Maybe unless I or Mengxue confess, he won't even feel it."

“I think so too…” Ning Qianyu changed the subject, “By the way, it’s not good for us to stay here any longer, let’s go back to our rooms?”

Jiang Yi nodded: "Okay, you go back first."

Ning Qianyu asked, "Are you going to sit here any longer?"

Jiang Yi: "I want to stay here, alone."

Ning Qianyu stood up, walked to the bathroom door, and opened it.

She was about to leave when she suddenly realized something and turned back sharply to ask, "You don't mean you're planning to stay here and wait for Qi Yuan to come back, do you?"

Jiang Yi smiled sweetly: "Hehe, how could that be?"

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.

154 told you to yell, and you actually yelled?

The company booked rooms for four people, all with double beds.

In other words, there is only one bed in the room.

At this moment, Qi Yuan sat next to Qiu Mengxue by her bedside, their shoulders only a fist's distance apart.

Qi Yuan asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Qiu Mengxue looked down at the tips of her shoes and said softly, "If I had known your birthday was today, I... no, not just me, but also Yi Yi and Qian Yu, would definitely have discussed giving you a surprise gift."

Qi Yuan thought to himself that both of them had indeed given him gifts, and he was the only one who was completely unaware of it.

However, he just smiled calmly and said, "A birthday is just an ordinary day. I don't care about it. It doesn't matter."

Qiu Mengxue asked, "Is it because no one ever celebrated your birthday when you were little?"

Qi Yuan: "Some people want whatever they lack, but I know very well that I am not like that."

Qiu Mengxue: "So what do you want?"

Qi Yuan: "I don't really want anything in particular. If I had to say, it would be inspiration for songwriting. But that's something no one else can help me with."

Qiu Mengxue seemed thoughtful: "Is your biggest concern inspiration for songwriting...? Does that mean you need more life experiences?"

Qi Yuan shook his head slightly: "I don't know how others write songs, but for me, it's not that the more experiences I have, the more inspiration I get. It's really hard to say. For example, I wrote 'Hair Like Snow,' but that song has absolutely nothing to do with my real-life experiences."

The girl's pink lips pressed into a thin line, whether from thinking about something or from being silenced, it was hard to tell.

Qi Yuan chuckled inwardly, because what he was worried about was the question of whether or not to date in order to write love songs. Although he felt that given the current progress between the two of them, Qiu Mengxue shouldn't be so reckless, what if she was?

After tonight's experience, he realized that Jiang Yi and Qiu Mengxue definitely had feelings for him. As for Ning Qianyu, it was hard to say, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that beneath the 'buddy' facade lay a girlish affection.

And the more this was the case, the more he felt he had to be careful. Otherwise, if he started dating a girl, the band might break up.

The band is running perfectly now, their self-written songs are being performed and gaining market recognition, and they're on the fast track to both fame and fortune. At this point, how could they possibly dismantle such a thriving band?

But after a long silence, Qi Yuan suddenly realized that something was wrong.

He turned his head and saw Qiu Mengxue staring at him intently, her eyes blinking rapidly.

Qi Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Why are you staring at me?"

Qiu Mengxue spoke softly, almost in a murmur: "I was thinking, before, I thought I was already a very pure person, the kind who really loved music. But I never imagined that there could be someone even purer..."

Qi Yuan: "Is this considered pure?"

The girl nodded gently: "Yes, you said you don't need anything else. It's like nothing in this world can attract your attention except music, only your own music. I think I understand now why others can't write those songs, only you can."

Being stared at with adoring, starry eyes by a beautiful girl was too much for Qi Yuan to bear, so he had to look away.

Now it was his turn to look down at the tips of his shoes.

Qi Yuan truly didn't expect that the few words he used to shut people up would actually earn him favor.

Qiu Mengxue continued softly, "When I read about Beethoven and Mozart, I wondered why such geniuses existed..."

Qi Yuan: "I only wrote some pop and rock music, please don't compare me to those big names."

The girl smiled faintly: "I know, it's not about comparing, but you're also the kind of genius that surpasses ordinary people's imagination. I've been wondering why there are such geniuses. Now I understand, perhaps it's because of your purity?"