In an instant, Song Meng felt Cupid flutter his tiny wings and fly to her side, swiftly firing the Arrow of the God of Love straight at her.
With a whoosh, it hit the bullseye.
Jiang Ling looked at Song Meng’s somewhat dazed expression with a hint of confusion, thinking she’d been too casual, so she immediately withdrew her finger and apologized, “Sorry, I—”
Before she could finish, Song Meng let out a soft chuckle, her breath brushing against Jiang Ling’s ear.
“Want it? Hold it in.”
With that, she laughed to herself and stood up to get a drink, leaving Jiang Ling standing there in a daze, completely bewildered.
After a moment, Jiang Ling’s face turned bright red.
“I’m really going to report you for x-harassment!!!”
After dinner, the two strolled along the street, and Song Meng, still smiling, asked the silent Jiang Ling.
“Still mad?”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
Jiang Ling turned her face away, her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel with nuts stuffed in its mouth, obviously annoyed at Song Meng’s earlier careless words.
“Oh come on, didn’t I just treat you to dinner?” Song Meng nudged her with her elbow and pointed to an Arcade by the roadside.
“Wanna play?”
“…Mm.”
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Ling finally gave in to her own desires—after all, she really hadn’t been to this kind of place much.
After exchanging for Tokens, Song Meng followed behind the curious Jiang Ling, watching her touch this and look at that, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving into a gentle smile.
Just like a little kid.
“Hmm.”
The little kid walking ahead suddenly stopped, then turned around, looking up at Song Meng with eager eyes and pleading, “I want that one.”
Following the direction of Jiang Ling’s finger, Song Meng’s gaze landed on a Claw Machine.
The spot she pointed to seemed to be a Plush Bear—not too big, in fresh colors, looking especially cute.
“This one?”
To confirm her guess, Song Meng walked up to the Claw Machine, tapped on the plush and asked.
“Yeah!”
Jiang Ling nodded rapidly, her eyes shining brightly.
Song Meng couldn’t help but laugh at Jiang Ling pacing back and forth beside her in tiny steps, and suddenly a scene popped into her mind: A cute kitten pacing in place, its paw pawing at a beloved toy it’s set its sights on, letting out an urgent whimper from its throat, its fluffy tail spinning like a propeller, its whole body radiating a single message—
I want it!
“Pfft.”
Song Meng, caught up in her own imagination, looked at Jiang Ling and found the resemblance all too real, so she couldn’t help but laugh out loud, immediately drawing Jiang Ling’s discontent: “If you don’t want to grab it, then don’t! Why are you laughing at me…”
Jiang Ling pouted and grabbed a big handful of Tokens.
“I’ll do it myself! There’s no way I won’t get at least one with this many!”
Ten minutes later.
Jiang Ling squatted by the Claw Machine, staring at her empty palm with lifeless eyes, questioning her very existence.
“I can’t believe… I really didn’t get a single one…”
In the corner of the Arcade, there was now a pitiful figure, endlessly drawing circles, looking utterly lost.
Song Meng patted her on the head. “Get up.”
“No! I don’t believe it!”
“Don’t want it anymore?”
Seeing Jiang Ling stubbornly shake her head, refusing to accept reality, Song Meng lightly swung the claw.
“Want it!”
Jiang Ling bit down on her words firmly.
With Jiang Ling’s hopeful gaze fixed on her, Song Meng inexplicably felt a pressure and reached out to operate the Claw Machine, which had its odds already set.
Logically, these things were just an IQ tax—the claw’s tightness was preset, and only after a certain number of attempts would it actually let you win.
Song Meng thought about this, glanced at the bright-eyed Jiang Ling next to her, and pressed the button helplessly.
What else could she do? Just go with it.
As expected, with Song Meng’s brute force approach of grabbing nonstop, the claw finally picked up the Plush Bear and delivered it to the prize slot.
“Whoa whoa whoa whoa!”
Jiang Ling cheered and bounced, hugging Song Meng’s arm and shaking it. “You’re amazing!”
She crouched down with a beaming smile to pick up the small Plush Bear, hugging it tightly to her chest.
Seeing her so full of happiness, the words Song Meng had prepared to tease her unconsciously stuck in her throat.
“No one’s ever given me a gift before.”
Jiang Ling muttered softly, lovingly stroking the little bear’s head. What she said made Song Meng’s heart clench without warning.
Without thinking, Song Meng reached out and patted Jiang Ling’s head. Before she realized it, her hand was already gently ruffling Jiang Ling’s hair.
Looking at Jiang Ling’s slightly confused gaze, Song Meng felt something indescribable in her heart. After a long silence, she smiled and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
From now on, I’ll give you more—not just gifts.
Next, Jiang Ling excitedly tried out all the games she’d had her eye on. Time slipped by unnoticed, and by the time she realized, it was already getting close to evening.
“Ah! I still need to go back and practice!”
Jiang Ling suddenly stopped, her face filled with panic.
She’d made plans to practice with Fang Wannian—if she was late, she’d definitely get scolded!
In her mind, she pictured Fang Wannian’s impatient, disdainful expression—
“Hey, who said you could be late?”
So scary!
Jiang Ling shivered, then looked apologetically at Song Meng. “I have to head back first. Thank you for spending time with me today—I had so much fun!”
“Let me know when you get home.”
Song Meng didn’t mind and just reminded her to stay safe.
When she reached the Practice Room door, Jiang Ling was panting from running and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe the sweat from her forehead, trying to compose herself before going in.
But just as her hand touched the doorknob, she suddenly heard a sharp male voice from inside.
“So this is how you plan to compete with me? Bai Xue, don’t you think you’ve gotten more and more naive over the years?”
Jiang Ling instantly held her breath, her ear unconsciously pressing against the door.
“Ha… You called me just to say these pointless things?”
Bai Xue’s voice sounded tired.
The two seemed to be on the phone, and she had it on speaker.
“I’m just kindly reminding you not to waste your time on those ridiculous Underground Idols.”
The man’s voice was extremely arrogant, looking down on Bai Xue.
“The Girl Groups under me are all top-tier, easily making it onto the Hot Search. And you? Still hovering on the edge of so-called Debut. I really find you laughable, my Good Sister!”
After a brief silence, Jiang Ling heard Bai Xue’s cold voice.
“Oh.”
Then came a beep, and the annoying voice disappeared instantly—it seemed she’d hung up.
After thinking it over, Jiang Ling decided to pretend nothing had happened and slowly pushed open the door.
But as soon as she entered, she saw the always-smiling Bai Xue resting her head on her hand, staring blankly out the window at the darkening sky.
Her wavy hair fell down, half-covering her lonely expression, making her look even more heartbreaking.
At least, Jiang Ling could feel her heart slowly aching.
So almost on instinct, and while Bai Xue was completely unaware, she closed her eyes and hugged her.