Going to do a manicure~

In a daze, half a month passed, and with the lingering autumn rain, S City officially entered the season.

The familiar old apartment was messier than ever. The person curled in bed frowned, grabbing the incessantly buzzing phone, hanging up only to hear loud banging on the door.

“Open the door, sis! I dragged buns and soy milk from miles away, open up!” Chu Cheng’s voice boomed, piercing through the decent soundproofing.

Xu Fengluan tried burying her head under a pillow, but relentless nagging forced her up, slippers slapping loudly.

*—Bang!* @Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

The door swung open, rattling the drum set in the living room.

Chu Cheng, unfazed, her once-red hair now orange, looked like a shameless lion. She dangled a bag of buns and steamed bread, grinning, “That place you took me to, I got up early, queued half an hour for these.”

She chuckled, “Care to eat?”

Xu Fengluan’s expression was sour.

Her white hair, sprouting black roots, was a mess, her half-closed eyes gloomy. In just half a month, the weight Liu Tingsong had painstakingly helped her regain had vanished, leaving her gaunt under loose sleeves.

In the hallway, a child resisting kindergarten, dragged by an adult, froze upon seeing Xu Fengluan, clinging to the adult’s leg, urging to leave.

Like a gatekeeper, Xu Fengluan stood at the door, finally relenting under Chu Cheng’s goofy grin, slowly stepping aside.

Chu Cheng, impatient, squeezed past, shouting, “Hurry, it’s no good cold!”

“Where’s your cutlery?”

Before Xu Fengluan could enter, the kitchen erupted in clattering.

Chu Cheng yanked open the curtains, letting long-absent sunlight spill onto the small dining table.

The steaming buns and poured soy milk sat ready.

Xu Fengluan glanced up, muttering, “You’re washing the dishes.”

Why plate food that could be eaten from a bag? Chu Cheng laughed, nodding, “Fine, just two plates.”

Xu Fengluan had no appetite, but Chu Cheng shoved a bun at her. She nibbled slowly, barely breaking the skin while Chu Cheng was on her second.

Chu Cheng sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated.

Much had happened. After leaving the hospital, Xu Fengluan returned alone to her old haunt.

Paparazzi once camped downstairs had mostly left, though a few lingered, occasionally staking out.

That day, they caught Xu Fengluan’s return, snapping photos wildly.

“Xu Fengluan Suspected Heartbreak” trended online.

Fans, just accepting her partner, were stunned to see her pitiful, lost state in photos, hearts aching, wondering who dared dump the usually brash Xu Fengluan.

Her social media and video apps flooded with comfort. Even detractors held their tongues, improving her reputation unexpectedly.

But Xu Fengluan didn’t care. Since that day, she’d grown listless, visiting Chu Cheng’s bar a few times but stopping after a sip.

Though it might ease her pain, she couldn’t continue.

Liu Tingsong was pushed away, but her collar lingered, choking Xu Fengluan’s neck, inescapable. She even avoided cigarettes, only chewing tobacco in moments of deep distress.

Her frequent bar visits got her photographed by Burning Meteor fans twice, shared in group chats and fan spaces. Her wilted look drew more pity.

Curiosity about her lover sparked a frenzy of speculation, implicating female stars from rock to film, all ruled out eventually.

Some mentioned Liu Tingsong, but big fans swiftly deleted those comments.

*Burning Meteor can’t afford that kind of trouble!*

Even the CP fan page Pear built, with its handful of followers, got mysteriously attacked, dwindling to two.

Pear, scrolling late at night, writhed in frustration.

The hunt for Xu’s lover fizzled out without answers. Neither Xu Fengluan nor her bandmates commented, leaving fans guessing it was an outsider, ending the saga lamely.

Finishing her soy milk, Chu Cheng set the cup down, looking across.

Xu Fengluan, clutching a half-eaten bun, seemed to snap back, dazed. Her head tilted, hair tuft swaying.

“God, at this rate, it’ll go bad,” Chu Cheng stood, grabbing a bun and hooking the bag onto Xu Fengluan’s wrist.

Frowning, Xu Fengluan’s face showed resistance, unclear why.

Since her fall, she’d stayed in bed, sleeping from day to night, waking to stare blankly, then dozing again, never leaving. @Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

“Didn’t we plan to go with Kuang Ye to the nail salon today?” Chu Cheng turned, feigning confidence with exaggerated flair.

“You didn’t forget, right? We planned it while drinking.”

“Poor Kuang Ye, strung along by that girl so long. You really gonna ditch her?”

Chu Cheng’s righteous tone made Xu Fengluan feel like a negligent parent abandoning a child.

She pursed her lips. Vague memories confirmed the plan, but despite Chu Cheng and Ji Lunan’s chatter, she hadn’t agreed.

She felt Kuang Ye and the girl should sort things out first. Rushing to the salon blindly felt coercive.

“Let’s go, or we’ll be late,” Chu Cheng masked her guilt with urgency.

“You don’t know, that salon’s packed. We gotta get there before it opens,” she tugged Xu Fengluan’s wrist, the plastic bag rustling.

Xu Fengluan, never into nail art, her foggy mind struggling, was dragged along.

*—Bang.*

The door slammed, followed by the car’s roar.

Half an hour later, four arrived at the salon as it opened, claiming all seats.

The owner, Qiao Sheng, stood at the door, her smile sly and teasing.

Xu Fengluan ducked her head, pressing down her stubborn hair tuft.

Chu Cheng and Ji Lunan, thick-skinned, flipped through the price list, asking for Qiao Sheng’s contact to see more designs.

Kuang Ye, glancing around, stood, grabbed a cloth, and covered the fish tank, murmuring to Qiao Sheng, “Can I cover it?”

“You already did, why ask?” Qiao Sheng’s smile hid her mood.

Kuang Ye, subdued, sat back, hands on knees, looking like a good student despite her rebellious vibe.

When Qiao Sheng added the others’ contacts, Kuang Ye didn’t protest, just gave a pitiful, resentful glance.

Qiao Sheng had already deleted her contact.

Xu Fengluan, dragged along, didn’t pick a design. Thinking, she pulled out the leftover bun, not hungry but bored, nibbling absently.

Minutes later, the staff arrived, buzzing at seeing Burning Meteor.

Kuang Ye’s prior visits were discreet, leaving only after others to avoid trouble, keeping their connection quiet.

Now, with the whole band there, the staff clamored for autographs and photos. One claimed to be a diehard fan, playing their songs daily.

True or not, Chu Cheng and Ji Lunan were thrilled, chatting and recommending songs—mostly Kuang Ye’s highlights—for the shop to loop. @Infinite Good Stories, Exclusively at Jinjiang Literature City

The fan, excited, promised to play them daily.

Chu Cheng offered a signed album.

Xu Fengluan’s corner was quieter. Her heartbreak news had spread, and seeing her state, fans restrained, taking only signatures before retreating.

She finished the bun, rubbing her stomach—unused to food, even one bun felt heavy.

Her hair tuft sprang up again.

As she reached to flatten it, Qiao Sheng sat before her, offering warm water, asking, “What design do you want?”

Xu Fengluan blinked, confused. Wasn’t the plan to let the others take spots and push Kuang Ye to Qiao Sheng?

What was this?

Qiao Sheng, eyes twinkling, seemed oblivious, smiling, “Was the bun good? Give me one.”

She added, “I overslept, haven’t eaten.”

Xu Fengluan, as if doused with ice water, snapped awake.

Wide-eyed, she stared at Qiao Sheng, then turned, seeking help from Chu Cheng and Ji Lunan, who looked equally stunned, then at the frozen Kuang Ye.

This wasn’t the plan!

Qiao Sheng smiled, “Can’t I have one?”