Hearing these words, Jiang Ling’s expression softened for a brief moment.
Yet Song Meng’s voice continued.
“How does she usually treat you?”
“She’s very good to me.”
“Do you think everything she’s done was completely out of selfishness?”
“Absolutely not!”
Jiang Ling almost shouted, firmly refuting Song Meng’s assumption, her little face stubborn.
This reaction only made Song Meng, on the other end of the phone, smile even more. “Just like a little cat bristling.”
She gently and slowly stroked Xiao Ling.
“You should know better than I do how your teammate treats you, and how she treats NOVA. Even as just an onlooker, do you really think someone who cares about you enough to say such things would so easily give up on your relationship?”
Song Meng shook her head, as if asking and answering herself.
“People who’ve been hurt do tend to react, avoid, and find it hard to trust others again. But in her case, I don’t think she’s completely given up—more like she’s struggling to survive, barely hanging on in the mire.”
She looked at Jiang Ling, whose expression was growing heavy, and let out a barely noticeable sigh.
“You really are silly, just as I said. After getting lost in a few words from her, you’ve been feeling down ever since. She must have her own reasons for keeping her distance and even quitting NOVA.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling hesitated. “But she said this is fine, and even asked me what kind of resolve I had. So I keep thinking— even if I dig deeper, can I really help her? Or will I just make her even more upset?”
Song Meng picked Xiao Ling up from her lap and placed her on the floor, then straightened the slightly askew camera, speaking lightly.
“Here’s the real question: what kind of resolve do you have for her?”
She continued, “Is it a half-hearted attitude, where you don’t try to understand how she really feels, just offering empty words to comfort her wounded heart and making things worse?”
“Or will you just let it be, allowing that wary, always lonely girl to leave NOVA with regret, only to remember her silhouette years later?”
Just hearing these words, Jiang Ling clenched her fingers tightly, her face clouded.
“Or—”
“Will you stick to your original intention?”
Song Meng’s tone softened as she looked at the now wide-awake Jiang Ling and asked again, “Why did you seek her out in the first place?”
For what reason?
Jiang Ling’s face went rigid.
Her thoughts raced back, finally settling on the moment when Mo Ran announced her departure from the group with a gentle smile.
Back then, what was she thinking? Don’t go.
Those three words flashed clearly through her mind.
Immediately, she recalled every moment she shared with Mo Ran, each scene replaying in slow motion.
The way she could enliven a performance, the care she gave to the other members, her gentleness, her sharpness… all of it coming together as that face that should have been smiling brightly.
“I don’t want her to leave.”
So Jiang Ling answered firmly.
But soon, she lowered her eyes, her voice growing soft. “But you didn’t see it—her eyes were really cold, and her tone was sharp when she talked to me… I’m not afraid of getting hurt, since it’s her, but I’m worried our relationship will get worse, and in the end, it’ll all be for nothing.”
Song Meng nodded slightly.
“Your worries aren’t unreasonable. But in my view, that sharpness is a part of who she is—an extension of her unmet needs. A truly good relationship won’t break from a few words that aren’t even a real conflict.”
“She’s already tucked her head in like a turtle. Are you going to do the same?”
At that, Jiang Ling immediately propped herself up, face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m not a turtle… She, she counts as half of one at most!”
“Pfft.”
Song Meng couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiang Ling pouted, but suddenly realized the anxious feeling she had earlier had been soothed quite a bit. Looking at Song Meng still smiling teasingly at her on the screen, a gentle, warm sense of gratitude welled up in her heart.
“Thank you!”
Jiang Ling quickly offered her heartfelt thanks. She had lost count of how many times Song Meng had helped her. Twisting her fingers together, she lowered her voice, “Maybe… we could hang out some time?”
Hearing this, Song Meng was a little surprised, but quickly understood the reason, tapping the camera lightly with her finger.
“You think I comforted you just to get this? I admit, I do have some thoughts about you, but before that, we’re friends. Friends helping each other is normal, so just accept this kindness. Then take my expectations, and bring your teammate back to NOVA, okay?”
Faced with these sincere, open words, Jiang Ling pursed her lips and looked away, ears turning red.
“Don’t worry about it. I just want to hang out with you.”
Song Meng watched her with great interest, and asked meaningfully, “And maybe let me realize some of those thoughts…?”
“Absolutely not!”
Jiang Ling blushed furiously and hung up the phone, her eyes growing determined.
This time, she was definitely going to have a real talk with Mo Ran!
But Mo Ran wouldn’t see her at all!
Ever since their last conversation, Mo Ran had made it clear she didn’t want to talk to Jiang Ling anymore. Any time Jiang Ling tried to ask something, Mo Ran would deflect the question without a care.
After a few attempts, Jiang Ling found she simply couldn’t get another chance to talk to her.
Time waited for no one, and soon, it was time for rehearsals for the New Year’s performance.
Bai Xue planned to announce at the end of this performance that NOVA would officially enter the entertainment industry. She and Xu Nuo were both run off their feet.
It seemed that Fang Wannian had fallen out with Mo Ran—she was so quiet during practice it didn’t seem like her at all. Normally, Jiang Ling would liven up the mood, but her mind was completely occupied with how to talk to Mo Ran, leaving the rehearsal room feeling oppressively tense.
Bai Xue probably guessed what everyone was thinking and didn’t push them too hard. After all, even if they were at odds offstage, as soon as they went on stage, they’d pull themselves together. That was an idol’s professionalism.
After a few run-throughs, everyone had memorized the whole routine and was just waiting to go on stage.
After thinking for a long time, Jiang Ling finally realized that just before she and Mo Ran went on stage together, there was a short window where they could have a quick conversation.
But the time was so short that Jiang Ling couldn’t help but feel nervous, desperately trying to decide what to say in that brief moment to win Mo Ran back.
Yet Mo Ran seemed completely unaffected, every movement and word as usual, giving no sign that she was about to leave.
But on the last page of her cue cards, the farewell message was clearly written, the words sincere, making Jiang Ling feel for the first time that Mo Ran really would leave.
Since it was a ballad, their performance was scheduled to open the show.
Just before going on stage.
“Mo Ran.”
Jiang Ling called out quickly, the noise from below the stage crowding through the curtains, almost drowning out her voice.
In the chaos and darkness, Jiang Ling grabbed Mo Ran’s hand, passing over the carefully prepared microphone.
What followed was her unusually resolute voice.
“I want to answer your question from before.”
Mo Ran took the microphone silently, raising her eyes to calmly meet Jiang Ling’s.
“I think… I have that kind of resolve.”
Jiang Ling didn’t let go of Mo Ran’s hand.
Even though she was so nervous she could hardly breathe, she forced herself to enunciate every word.
“Please stay. I’ll take responsibility for what I’ve said. No matter what happens to you, even if no one else stands with you, I’ll support you with everything I have—”
“I want to be in a girl group with you for the rest of my life!”