162: Chapter 162 The little fantasy in my head shattered in an instant.

For the rest of the time, the two of them just stood there, polishing their performance over and over again in the living room.

They practiced from afternoon until dusk.

Until the sky outside the window gradually darkened.

The lights in the living room were not turned on, and only the faint glow of the equipment screens reflected on their faces.

Lu Li's voice sounded a bit listless, and Shen Qingxue's throat also carried a trace of exhaustion.

"Let's call it a day, don't put too much pressure on your throat."

Lu Li took off his headphones and shook his sore wrist.

"Let's continue tomorrow."

Shen Qingxue nodded, also took off her headphones, and turned around.

The lighting in the living room was very dim. When she turned around, she didn't pay attention to the cables at her feet and tripped, stumbling forward a step.

Lu Li was quick to react and grabbed her arm.

"Careful."

His hand was strong, steadily supporting her.

Shen Qingxue stood firm and instinctively raised her head.

The distance between the two of them became extremely close again.

The living room was quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

Lu Li's hand was still holding her arm, and the temperature from his palm passed through the thin fabric, scorching her heart as if it had violently contracted for a second.

The air became thick at that moment.

Shen Qingxue raised her head and met Lu Li's eyes.

Her heartbeat was absurdly fast, and there was only one thought in her mind...

If he took another step forward and gave her a hug...

Or...

She even felt that she wouldn't refuse.

The moment this thought popped up, the tips of Shen Qingxue's ears felt so hot they were burning.

But she didn't dodge or back away; she just stood there, even instinctively closing her eyes.

The next second, and then...

"Are you a pig? You can even trip just by turning around?"

Lu Li's voice broke the silence.

There was a hint of teasing in his tone, but his ending note was slightly tight, exposing that he was not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

He quickly let go of his hand, took half a step back, and widened the distance between the two of them.

Shen Qingxue froze in place.

She stared at Lu Li for two seconds, and that little fantasy in her head shattered with a "snap".

It shattered completely and thoroughly.

Pig?

He said she was a pig?

Shen Qingxue took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

The lingering flutter and panic from just now all transformed into another emotion at this moment.

Embarrassment and annoyance.

And... a trace of inexplicable disappointment.

But she would never admit to that last bit!

"You're the pig!"

Shen Qingxue spoke up, her voice returning to its usual aloofness, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a hint of gnashing teeth.

Lu Li was stunned for a moment, then instinctively quibbled.

"I didn't trip, how did I become a pig?"

"You... none of your business!"

Shen Qingxue turned her head away, her earlobes so red they were almost bleeding, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

After walking two steps, she stopped again, tilted her head to look at Lu Li, and her tone returned to a bit of calmness.

"Tonight, you! Cook! Dinner!"

"Ah? Why?"

"Because you laughed at me."

After saying that, Shen Qingxue walked away without looking back.

Lu Li stood in place, watched her back disappear at the kitchen door, and shrugged.

Fine, if he cooks, he cooks.

Who asked him to run his mouth.

Afterward, Lu Li walked into the kitchen, tied his apron, and opened the fridge to rummage through it.

There were still some eggs, peppers, and greens. Making scrambled eggs with peppers and stir-frying some greens would basically be enough for the two of them to eat.

Just as he was bustling about, Shen Qingxue returned at some point, leaning against the kitchen door frame and quietly watching him busy.

"What are you looking at?"

Lu Li didn't look back, clearly sensing someone behind him.

This is called Spider-Sense.

"I'm seeing if you'll blow up the kitchen later."

Shen Qingxue said in a flat tone.

Lu Li's mouth twitched, too lazy to reply, and continued stir-frying.

Over half an hour later, the dishes were served on the table.

Scrambled eggs with peppers and a plate of baby bok choy looked quite decent.

"Go dish out your own rice."

Lu Li didn't stand on ceremony with her either, then shouted and picked up his bowl and chopsticks, devouring his food heartily.

When Lu Li was eating his third bowl of rice, Shen Qingxue suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at Lu Li.

"Right, Director Chen from Tianlai Music also messaged me today."

Lu Li wiped a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth and looked up at her.

"What did he say?"

"He asked how our consideration is going, and also said they are willing to add some more conditions on top of the original ones."

Lu Li raised an eyebrow, put down his chopsticks, and picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth.

"Oh, are they starting to enter a bidding war?"

"Mhm."

Shen Qingxue nodded, her expression turning serious.

"Because Penguin Music also sent a new cooperation intent letter today, offering a price twenty percent higher than Tianlai Music, and promising homepage recommendation slots and special feature pages."

"Cloud Music didn't raise the price, but added a condition: they are willing to hold an online concert for us, and they will bear all the expenses."

After hearing this, Lu Li leaned back against the chair, crossed his arms, and thought for a moment.

"Then what's your thought?"

"Let's wait and see."

Shen Qingxue picked up her water glass, took a sip, and put the glass down.

"All three companies are still in the probing stage, and their true trump cards haven't been shown yet. It's too early to make a decision now."

Lu Li nodded and didn't say anything more.

After the meal, Lu Li cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, and Shen Qingxue leaned against the sofa scrolling through her phone.

When he came out of the kitchen, Shen Qingxue's expression was a bit more serious than before.

"What's wrong?"

Sensing something was amiss, Lu Li walked over and sat down next to her.

Shen Qingxue turned her phone screen toward him.

"Take a look at this first."

Lu Li lowered his head to look, and on the screen was a trending search topic.

[Starlight Entertainment official announcement: Their new singer Lin Zhihan will release a brand new traditional-style single "qingyu"]

"Oh, having backing is indeed different. Just casually releasing a song has people helping to promote it. Let me see what's going on."

Lu Li raised an eyebrow, then clicked in to take a look.

There were already quite a few people discussing it in the comment section.

[Is Starlight Entertainment planning to promote a new artist?]

[They definitely have to boost a new artist. Shen Qingxue terminated her contract, so Starlight Entertainment urgently needs someone who can shoulder the heavy burden now.]

[Lin Zhihan? Never heard of this person.]

[Come to think of it, Shen Qingxue just sang hair like snow a couple of days ago, and now Starlight Entertainment is pushing a traditional-style newcomer. Isn't this obviously setting up a rival stage?]

[Holy shit, now that you mention it, it really is!]

[Is Starlight Entertainment trying to promote a newcomer to go head-to-head with Shen Qingxue?]