The fan who asked the question had nothing but concern in their eyes—it didn’t seem like they were trying to cause trouble.
So the staff nearby didn’t immediately stop them, but quietly waited for Fang Wannan’s answer.
Jiang Ling looked at her, seeing the difficult silence on her face and the eager eyes of the fans.
After taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and waved toward the fan: “We didn’t have a fight.”
At her words, both Fang Wannan and the fan’s gaze landed on Jiang Ling at the same time, and the fans waiting in line behind them all looked over curiously at what was happening.
“Nan Nan’s just been practicing too hard lately and caught a bit of a cold. It’s normal for someone who’s sick to be in a low mood.”
Jiang Ling tried her best to make up a reasonable excuse, then gave an apologetic smile to the fan who’d asked: “Sorry for making you worry, but really, we didn’t fight.”
“Phew, then I can stop worrying.”
Relieved by the clear answer, the fan’s face softened as they looked at the dazed Fang Wannan: “So it was just a cold. Are you taking your medicine on time? You can’t let yourself get so tired anymore…”
To the fan’s endless reminders, Fang Wannan nodded seriously in response while glancing at Jiang Ling out of the corner of her eye.
She was working as earnestly as ever, her smile bright and radiant like the sun in spring, unaffected by anything.
Fang Wannan silently withdrew her gaze and continued working.
“So tired~”
After the special event ended, Mo Ran stretched, looking at the now-empty venue with a cheerful grin: “We can finally go back and have our Christmas party later!”
She started tidying up things on the table, humming as she stood up, but accidentally knocked the host’s cue cards to the floor, right at Jiang Ling’s feet as she walked over.
Jiang Ling bent down to pick them up: “Did you make desserts or something, I…”
Her words stopped abruptly as she saw the content on the card.
The game that Mo Ran had talked about earlier wasn’t written in the event plan at all. In other words—
“You, you made up a game on the spot?!”
Jiang Ling hurriedly gathered up the scattered cards on the floor, staring in disbelief at the unapologetic Mo Ran.
Mo Ran didn’t bother denying it: “Something like that?”
“What do you mean ‘something like that’!”
Seeing Jiang Ling’s tense look, Mo Ran helplessly beckoned her over, leaning forward a bit.
“I couldn’t just let you two keep being so awkward, could I?”
Jiang Ling froze at her words, unable to find anything to refute.
Mo Ran continued, “You’re teammates after all, and it’s not like there’s been any serious argument. Wouldn’t it be better to just talk things out? I can create chances for you, but you’ve got to put in some effort yourself.”
She patted Jiang Ling’s shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Sincerity is the ultimate weapon. I don’t believe Nan Nan really won’t listen to your explanation.”
At those words, Jiang Ling seemed to realize something, her eyes clear yet foolish, nodding firmly.
“I get it now!”
Before the show, they’d already agreed to have a party together that night, so Fang Wannan didn’t go home but sat quietly on the sofa scrolling through her phone, looking idle.
Jiang Ling sat at the coffee table, constantly sneaking glances at her, pondering how to start a conversation.
“It’s Christmas after all, so I made roast chicken for you all.”
Mo Ran came out with oversized oven mitts, holding a huge tray of roast chicken, with Xu Nuo trailing behind her, eyes shining, carrying a bunch of bottles.
“We get to drink again, hehehe—Hey!”
Before she finished speaking, Bai Xue nonchalantly took the bottles away, enunciating clearly: “You can only have two.”
“Why!”
Xu Nuo wailed in protest, looking deeply troubled.
Lin Xiaoyu was clutching her phone, caught up in a game, the sound of gunfire bursting forth in waves.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling didn’t insist on talking to Fang Wannan, but instead glanced at her screen, her voice listless: “Let me play with you…”
“Download it.”
Lin Xiaoyu agreed readily, showing her the game name before continuing her own battle.
Jiang Ling stared at the sluggish download bar, sighing.
What was she even doing?
Maybe it was because she’d had too little experience interacting with people, but at that moment Jiang Ling couldn’t think of any way to mend her relationship with Fang Wannan.
In the end, she still didn’t know exactly what she’d done to upset her, so she had no idea what to do next.
“Almost done, you can all start eating now.”
Mo Ran brought out more snacks, piping hot and smelling sweet and delicious.
“Everyone performed excellently at today’s show, as always.”
Bai Xue raised her glass, her face gentle: “There’s no show tomorrow, so eat and drink well, alright?”
With that, she downed her whole glass in one go, turning it over and shaking it to show it was empty.
“Alright!”
The first to cheer was, naturally, Xu Nuo. She’d stayed up late working on drawings the past two days, and was exhausted—she really needed this moment to let loose.
She gulped down her drink, her face satisfied.
Mo Ran didn’t drink; she poured herself a glass of peach juice instead. After all, someone in the house had to stay sober.
She looked over at Lin Xiaoyu, who was still playing her game, and asked with concern: “Xiao Yu, aren’t you going to eat?”
“Mmm… Just about to reach the big guarantee,” Lin Xiaoyu replied without looking up, grabbing a snack to eat messily before wiping her hands and diving back into her game.
Jiang Ling stared at the glass of not-too-strong wine in front of her, suddenly recalling that people said drinking gave you courage. Steeling herself, she gripped the glass, closed her eyes, and downed a big mouthful.
A spicy yet faintly sweet taste filled her mouth and throat. After swallowing, Jiang Ling smacked her lips and found it acceptable, so she kept drinking, cup after cup.
Beside her, Fang Wannan also drank silently, not saying a word.
The two of them sat apart, each drinking on their own.
As expected, after little more than half an hour, Fang Wannan’s face was flushed red, and she couldn’t even hold up her glass, nearly toppling face-first into her plate.
Thankfully, Mo Ran was quick enough to steady her, her voice tinged with exasperation: “If you can’t drink anymore, don’t force yourself.”
“Who…who says I can’t drink anymore!”
Fang Wannan slammed the table, the loud bang making Jiang Ling jump. Dazed, Jiang Ling looked over with unfocused eyes and, trembling, also set her glass down.
Yep, that was enough.
She tried to get up, but her calves felt weak, so she just sat there staring blankly at her own knees, unmoving for a while.
On the other side, Fang Wannan had started drunkenly acting up, her antics giving Mo Ran a headache. But she couldn’t just cover her mouth, so she looked around at the others.
Xu Nuo had already passed out on the floor, Lin Xiaoyu was engrossed in her shooting game, and Bai Xue had disappeared who knows when.
Was NOVA doomed?
Mo Ran could only rub her forehead in resignation, then helped the swearing Fang Wannan up and, without asking, shoved her straight into the arms of the stunned Jiang Ling.
“Tonight, you two are sleeping together.”
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