After Hyping a CP with My Cold and Aloof Arch-Rival, We Exploded in Popularity - Chapter 1

The narrow dressing room was lit with excessively glaring lights. Tan Zhiyu stared at her own reflection in the large mirror on the makeup table with a somewhat dazed expression. Several days of back-to-back rehearsals with her teammates for tonight’s finale live broadcast had left her face unusually pale. Her already slender collarbones and neck looked even more sharply defined.

“Xiaoyu, why haven’t you started your makeup yet?” Another girl hurried out from behind her. She was wearing a similar street-style American high-school outfit to Tan Zhiyu’s and was frantically tying more accessories onto her wrists one by one.

The girl was Wen Duoduo, her roommate during this talent show. Both of them were lucky enough to have made it to this final night and had even drawn the same stage group together.

“I’m waiting for the makeup artist…” Tan Zhiyu briefly pulled herself out of her thoughts. She slowly curved her lips into her usual gentle smile.

“Okay, she should be here soon. I’m so nervous, Xiaoyu…” Wen Duoduo hugged Tan Zhiyu’s shoulders from behind the chair and affectionately rubbed her cheek against hers.

Tan Zhiyu stiffened slightly and reached out with her slender arm to grab the cup of iced Americano she had ordered early that morning from the edge of the table. The dark liquid had long since returned to room temperature, and the ice had completely melted away.

The moment her fingers touched the slightly cool, condensation-covered cup, Tan Zhiyu’s mood inexplicably soured.

She frowned faintly. Ever since she had drunk half a cup of Americano that morning to reduce swelling, her stomach had begun to ache faintly. It wasn’t painful enough to keep her in bed, but the discomfort was real and constant.

She had prepared for a long time for this stage. She had practically lived in the practice room. She had to secure a debut spot this time—she had no other chances. At that thought, her fingers tightened slightly around the transparent cup, and a wave of coldness swept over her again.

After Wen Duoduo entered, the dressing room door hadn’t been closed properly. At that moment, the noisy sounds from outside suddenly grew louder, as if someone was arguing.

Tan Zhiyu tiredly rubbed her temples. The cool fingertips helped clear her mind a little. She naturally recognized the lazy voice among the crowd—it belonged to Chi Yingzhu. Of course she wouldn’t forget it.

“Eh? Sister Xiaochu?” Wen Duoduo let go of her and trotted to the doorway, leaning against it to greet the person.

Hearing that name, Tan Zhiyu instinctively looked up at the brightly lit mirror in front of her, only to unexpectedly meet Chi Yingzhu’s gaze in the reflection.

Chi Yingzhu had already changed into her costume for the other stage she was performing tonight. The black tube top and short skirt had layers of stiff tulle at the hem, with tiny sparkling particles hidden in the folds. The intense black color perfectly complemented her appearance.

Chi Yingzhu’s face was extremely aggressive. Even without makeup, it drew everyone’s attention. On her fair, refined face were deep pupils and full lips painted with a niche brand’s brownish lip color. She looked straight back and hooked her lips at Tan Zhiyu in the mirror.

Tan Zhiyu quickly averted her eyes, feeling a bit dejected.

Chi Yingzhu was still the same. Whether in speech, behavior, or outfit, she was always so proper, always invading others’ territory with that aggressive aura.

Even though they hadn’t spoken in a long time, Chi Yingzhu still looked as dignified as ever. Like a polite acquaintance, she gave Tan Zhiyu a very faint, courteous smile, nodded slightly, and left in a hurry.

“Don’t worry. Good luck tonight.” Chi Yingzhu maintained her faint smile, shifting her gaze away from the girl in the mirror who looked like a scared turtle, and calmly landed it on Wen Duoduo.

After saying that, she turned around. The arguing outside temporarily stopped. She nodded slightly to the people around her and walked gracefully toward her group’s dressing room.

Chi Yingzhu was like that with everyone—keeping her distance, polite and proper. She rarely played with the lively, chatty girls in the program. Most of the time she maintained a regular schedule: dance practice, vocal practice, and occasionally going to the gym on the third floor. She was always alone. She was too dazzling—whether in family background, appearance, or anything else. Many girls secretly called her a goddess behind her back.

“Wuuu, Goddess is still so aloof.” Wen Duoduo finally closed the off-white door, leaned against it, and covered the lower half of her face with both hands, sighing in admiration.

Tan Zhiyu didn’t speak. Fine cold sweat had broken out on her forehead. For some reason, the spasms in her stomach seemed to have gotten worse. She had used up her last stomach medicine not long ago. The backstage area was chaotic, so she glanced at the time, ruffled her hair, and planned to run out to find a quiet place to order delivery.

“Eh? Xiaoyu, where are you going? The makeup teacher told us to wait here. She’ll come find us soon.” Wen Duoduo asked in confusion.

Tan Zhiyu was too irritated to answer. She pushed open the door and rushed out, only to bump into a soft embrace. A familiar cool fragrance spread through the air. It was Chi Yingzhu.

She instinctively nuzzled into Chi Yingzhu’s neck for a moment, but the decorative black gauze tickled her cheek. She sniffed. Why had Chi Yingzhu sprayed so much perfume today? It didn’t match her personality at all.

Chi Yingzhu naturally placed her hand on Tan Zhiyu’s waist, neither tightening nor letting go.

She suddenly smiled. When Tan Zhiyu was little, she still had soft baby fat on her face and soft flesh around her waist that felt round and comfortable to hug. She had called her “sister” in a little-adult way. Now her waist was slim and narrow, paired with those full thighs… Chi Yingzhu glanced downward.

Unfortunately, Tan Zhiyu’s style tonight was American campus: a fitted short top and loose graffiti wide-leg pants.

They pressed closer together. Tan Zhiyu clearly felt something soft and round pressing against her front. She lowered her head and saw that the tight black fabric on Chi Yingzhu’s upper body outlined a full chest shape.

“Sorry.” Realizing what was happening, Tan Zhiyu quickly straightened up and apologized.

She cursed herself inwardly for being useless. Why was Chi Yingzhu always so calm and composed? She refused to lean into her.

She took a step back, and her back pressed against the wall through a thin layer of clothing.

She didn’t want to recall her relationship with Chi Yingzhu. Most of the time, they maintained a tacit understanding, deliberately avoiding each other. In front of cameras, they would simply nod in greeting. To fans, they probably seemed like complete strangers.

“Teacher Luo was worried everyone’s bodies might not hold up, so she asked me to bring the first-aid kit and distribute it to both groups.” Chi Yingzhu stood in place. She neither reached out to steady her nor acknowledged the apology. She simply handed over a white medical box.

“Oh… thank you.” Tan Zhiyu said hesitantly. She knew the program provided basic medicines, but her usual blue-packaged stomach medicine wasn’t on the list.

At that moment, a cameraman carrying a camera approached them, followed by the host. They needed footage that might be used in extras or the main episode.

“Xiaozhu and Xiaoyu are the two most popular contestants in our show. And for tonight’s finale, you two have been assigned to different groups. Netizens are really looking forward to your rivalry!” Host Simon, with his fine curly hair and black short skirt, smiled as he extended the microphone between them. “Is there anything you want to say to each other?”

Tan Zhiyu, who was already in a bad mood, felt even more annoyed. There was nothing to say between her and Chi Yingzhu. She seriously suspected the program team was doing this on purpose. She and Chi Yingzhu always ended up as rivals, and almost every performance turned into a competition.

Chi Yingzhu’s dark pupils flashed across Tan Zhiyu’s face. She put on a calm smile and took the microphone. “Xiaoyu.”

The two syllables that came from her lips were the same ones Tan Zhiyu had heard since childhood. Chi Yingzhu used to softly call her “Xiaoyu,” and back then she would obediently follow the adults’ wishes and call Chi Yingzhu “sister.”

“We’ve been rivals for so long. Next time, I want to be your teammate.” Chi Yingzhu’s gaze was direct. She didn’t smile as she spoke, still wearing that cool, aloof expression.

We’ve been rivals for so long… To the program team and the audience, this was probably just ordinary teasing, since they always ended up as rivals whether performing solo or in groups.

But in Tan Zhiyu’s ears, the words carried a different meaning. She suddenly looked up at Chi Yingzhu. The other girl’s light and breezy expression made her deflate. Something was stuck in her chest with nowhere to vent.

“Teammates can also be rivals, can’t they?” Tan Zhiyu forced out this reply. She refused to fall behind.

Simon was very satisfied with their exchange. He said a few polite words and left. Chi Yingzhu simply nodded calmly and turned to leave as well.

Tan Zhiyu was left standing there feeling very aggrieved. It was clearly Chi Yingzhu who left every time, yet she was the one talking about rivals and teammates. Tan Zhiyu would not stay obediently in place forever, and she would not keep calling her “sister” forever.

“Xiaoyu, the makeup teacher is here… Eh? A first-aid kit. I just need some cooling oil. I’m so nervous.” Wen Duoduo came over and casually opened the box.

A flash of blue appeared in her peripheral vision. Tan Zhiyu subconsciously lowered her head. Her fingers moved faster and picked up the most prominent box of stomach medicine on top—exactly the kind she usually took.

Her feelings were complicated. Just then, PD Luo hurried over from a distance. Tan Zhiyu immediately called out, “Teacher Luo, this first-aid kit…”

“I asked Xiaozhu to bring the kit to you. I was worried everyone would be too busy to find things. Quickly distribute some to your group members. Everyone, do your best! This is the final battle!” PD Luo jogged over. She seemed very busy; the sound of her work badge and bunch of keys clashing was completely drowned out by the surrounding noise.

She seriously patted the girls’ shoulders to cheer them on, then quickly ran off in her high heels.

Tan Zhiyu didn’t think too much about it. She followed Wen Duoduo back into the dressing room, nimbly popped out two pills and swallowed them, then took out a small bottle of mineral water from her bag and drank it down.

Whether it was psychological or not, her stomach felt a bit better. She pressed her lips together and quietly sat down in front of the makeup table.