Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 36

“Ah!!!!!”

 

Early in the morning, Qiao Huihui was startled awake by a scream, as was Shen Nanqing sleeping beside her. Both sat up simultaneously.

 

Shu Bailian smacked Xia Niao in the face with a pillow, her morning temper severe after being woken: “What the hell are you howling about now?”

 

Still somewhat groggy, Qiao Huihui yawned and rubbed her eyes before leaning over to peer at Xia Niao’s bed: “Xia Xiaoniao, what’s wrong?”

 

Xia Niao pulled the pillow off her face, revealing a tearful expression.

 

“Waaah, I’ve got this huge pimple on my forehead!”

 

Squinting for a better look, Qiao Huihui confirmed it—right between her eyebrows, red and swollen, looking painfully obvious.

 

Frowning, she recalled yesterday’s events: “Probably from all those snacks you ate yesterday.”

 

Xia Niao pouted, on the verge of tears.

 

“What am I gonna do… waaah…”

 

Today was their official performance day, with HD live streaming. If this got caught on camera, she’d be ruined.

 

Unable to think of a solution, Qiao Huihui offered comfort: “At least it’s just one. Let’s ask the makeup artist if they can cover it.”

 

Now fully awake, Shen Nanqing checked the digital clock and decided it was close enough to their usual wake-up time. She began dressing methodically.

 

As she fastened the last button on her shirt, she scoffed at Xia Niao’s predicament—a clear jab at her ignoring warnings yesterday.

 

Only Qiao Huihui noticed, shooting her a warning glance to behave.

 

Mocking someone in distress wasn’t kind.

 

Instantly shifting to a gentle smile, Shen Nanqing leaned toward Qiao Huihui: “Could you fix my collar?”

 

One side was indeed tucked in. Qiao Huihui nodded, carefully smoothing it out.

 

Their hushed conversation on the top bunk irritated Shu Bailian, who kicked Xia Niao’s bed frame and stormed up.

 

Xia Niao turned, incredulous: “The hell? What’s your problem now?”

 

Shu Bailian wore a provoking smirk: “Suddenly can’t stand the sight of you.”

 

“Like there’s ever a day you can,” Xia Niao grumbled.

 

Hearing the commotion, Qiao Huihui intervened: “Xia Xiaoniao’s having a rough time. Picking on her isn’t fair, Xiao Lian.”

 

Shu Bailian rolled her eyes dramatically: “Not just her. Can’t stand any of you today.”

 

Xia Niao retorted: “You’re hitting menopause early! You’ve been a powder keg since last night—probably took out some outside frustration on us!”

 

Recalling Shu Bailian’s mood since returning yesterday, Qiao Huihui found this plausible.

 

Curiosity piqued, she leaned over: “What happened yesterday? Don’t tell me you fought with Xiao Ninglu again?”

 

But then she thought it over and found it unlikely. After all, it had only been a month, yet she’d already heard countless rumors—things like “Xiao Ninglu can’t stand Shu Bailian and always bullies her” or “Xiao Ninglu is jealous of Shu Bailian’s voice and deliberately assigns her the least impressive backing vocals.”

 

No matter how the stories spread, Xiao Ninglu always ended up playing the villain.

 

She had successfully made all the contestants pale at the mere mention of her name.

 

Though Xiao Ninglu was indeed no saint, she also didn’t believe Shu Bailian was as pitifully bullied as the rumors claimed.

 

Who knew if Xiao Ninglu regretted assigning Shu Bailian to her own team?

 

Sure enough, the moment Shu Bailian heard Xiao Ninglu’s name, her face twisted with disdain. “Her? If it weren’t for her family’s money, I would’ve crushed her centuries ago.”

 

“Then why are you so angry?” Qiao Huihui grew even more curious.

 

Shu Bailian fell into an eerie silence, avoiding the question, and instead started grumbling as she got out of bed.

 

She muttered under her breath, “Just remember one thing—those who show off their love affairs will break up fast…”

 

Before Qiao Huihui could grasp the meaning of those words, Shen Nanqing happened to pass by while climbing down the ladder and immediately took offense.

 

“Hmph, that’s just a lie losers tell themselves for comfort.”

 

It was the first time she had ever spoken with such sarcastic undertones. The other two in the dorm, unaware of the context, were completely lost, while Shu Bailian felt personally attacked.

 

Truly, adding insult to injury.

 

Shu Bailian defiantly declared, “Don’t worry, prey can never escape the hunter’s grasp!”

 

Before Shen Nanqing could react, Qiao Huihui burst out laughing. “Pfft—where did you learn such cringey lines?”

 

Shu Bailian, caught off guard and wounded again, was too furious to speak.

 

Before the performance, it was the same familiar preparation routine. The girls returned to the dressing room, and Qiao Huihui was once again assigned to Sister Qiu, who greeted her with a hug and a playful pinch on the cheek. “I saw your new concept this time—it’s a complete transformation!”

 

Qiao Huihui smiled. “I’ll be in your care, Sister Qiu.”

 

This style was entirely different, posing a huge challenge for her. The makeup had to be especially intricate, meaning Sister Qiu would have to put in even more effort.

 

Sister Qiu pushed her onto the chair with a click of her tongue. “Tsk—trust in my skills!”

 

The yandere aesthetic required a frail appearance, yet one that also exuded a pale, neurotic gloom. Sister Qiu had come prepared. She quickly envisioned similar looks in her mind before pulling out a wig from her bag.

 

“Ah, I was the one who cut your hair, and now we’re restoring it to its original length.”

 

She held the wig up to Qiao Huihui’s head, nodding in satisfaction at the effect.

 

Jet-black hair cascaded down, with overly long bangs slightly obscuring her eyes—instantly creating that brooding aura.

 

After setting the wig aside, she began applying foundation.

 

Qiao Huihui’s skin was already fair, but this time, it needed to be even paler—shifting from milky white to a sickly pallor.

 

The outer corners of her eyes were elongated with eyeliner, transforming her round, doe-like eyes into sharp, phoenix-shaped ones.

 

Her baby fat was subtly concealed to create a gaunt, hollow-cheeked illusion.

 

Applying foundation to her lips turned their originally rosy hue into a pale, bloodless shade. Finally, Sister Qiu placed the wig on her head and nodded in satisfaction.

 

A gloomy, pallid girl with lowered head and colorless complexion came to life before their eyes.

 

But soon, Sister Qiu noticed something amiss: “For stage makeup, the lips seem too pale…”

 

She lifted Qiao Huihui’s chin and murmured to herself, “Should we try adding just a hint of faint red?”

 

Just as she was about to test the color, her phone suddenly rang from her bag. Setting down the lip brush, she picked up the phone and said, “Sorry Huihui, I need to take this call. I’ll be right back.”

 

Qiao Huihui nodded. “No problem, go ahead, Sister Qiu.”

 

With her departure, the small dressing room was left with only two people—Qiao Huihui herself and Shen Nanqing, who had already finished her makeup and was resting with closed eyes on a chair in the corner.

 

Yet the moment Sister Qiu left, Qiao Huihui saw in the mirror that Shen Nanqing, who had been leaning back with her eyes shut, suddenly stood up.

 

Shen Nanqing walked up behind her and studied her makeup through the mirror.

 

“Missing lipstick?”

 

Qiao Huihui nodded. “Yeah, Sister Qiu said she’d do it later.”

 

Shen Nanqing didn’t respond, but after a pause, she suddenly bent down and embraced Qiao Huihui from behind.

 

The move was so abrupt that Qiao Huihui was startled. She struggled forward to break free but was firmly held in place.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Shen Nanqing’s voice was low. “Don’t move.”

 

With her other hand, she dabbed her own lips, then brought her thumb to Qiao Huihui’s mouth, gently smearing the color.

 

Qiao Huihui was utterly stunned. The moment the finger touched her lips, she instinctively tried to turn away, only to hear Shen Nanqing warn, “Careful, you’ll ruin the makeup.”

 

Remembering the hours spent on her stage look, Qiao Huihui froze, not daring to move a muscle.

 

Shen Nanqing, uncharacteristically gentle, meticulously applied the color. Then she pressed her cheek against Qiao Huihui’s, admiring her “handiwork” with satisfaction.

 

“So pretty…” she murmured softly.

 

Indeed, the bold red on Shen Nanqing’s lips, like a blooming rose, had transferred just enough to give Qiao Huihui’s lips a perfect soft pink hue.

 

It suited the look perfectly.

 

Qiao Huihui’s cheeks burned crimson, the thick foundation failing to conceal her blush.

 

Shen Nanqing’s actions were far too intimate, and… having someone else’s lipstick on her lips was utterly mortifying!

 

D-did this count as an indirect kiss…?

 

She couldn’t help but press her lips together, feeling as if they’d gone numb under the touch.

 

When she caught Shen Nanqing’s darkened gaze in the mirror, the deliberate intensity made her freeze again.

 

Shen Nanqing chuckled softly by her ear before finally releasing the flustered girl.

 

Straightening up, she pulled out a tube of the same shade from her pocket and reapplied the color to her own slightly faded lips. A press of her lips restored their bold crimson.

 

Noticing Qiao Huihui watching, she smirked and waved the lipstick. “Isn’t it lovely? My favorite shade.”

 

Qiao Huihui averted her eyes instantly, muttering unconvincingly, “It’s just… okay, I guess!”

 

A smile spread in Shen Nanqing’s eyes as he was about to say something more when the door behind him suddenly opened, and Sister Qiu walked in.

 

She froze for a moment upon seeing the color on Qiao Huihui’s lips, then turned her gaze to Shen Nanqing, who was holding the lipstick.

 

“Hey, did you put that on her?” Shen Nanqing gave a slight nod.

 

Though the application process wasn’t quite what Sister Qiu had imagined, it was indeed him who had “personally” applied it for Qiao Huihui.

 

Sister Qiu nodded approvingly. “Well, your taste isn’t bad—got the right color on the first try. I thought it would take a few attempts.”

 

Qiao Huihui stiffened at those words.

 

A few attempts?

 

Once was already enough to be fatal. A few more tries, and she might not be able to stop her nosebleed.