Chapter 22 Part 2

"That's freaking awesome," Xu Zhenfan said. After a couple of seconds, he couldn't help but repeat, "Freaking awesome!"

Soon, the organizers sent staff over to take photos, which would be posted on the website for public voting.

"But little sister," Xu Zhenfan chatted with her while they waited for their turn, "when it comes to voting, I bet 'Assassin' will take the lead. They have too many clients. A single post on their Moments would get tons of support. You need to know how to canvass for votes."

Xu Zhinan blinked. "I saw on the schedule that contestants aren't allowed to canvass for votes. It could lead to malicious competition."

"Are you really 18 this year?" Xu Zhenfan said, amused. "'Assassin' is the best tattoo shop. With so many artists, even if Lu Xihe doesn't canvass, there will be plenty of people to do it for him."

Xu Zhinan hadn't thought much about that aspect before.

She frowned, then said optimistically, "But Lu Xihe and I aren't in the same group."

Xu Zhenfan: "...The others are all the same."

Xu Zhinan puffed out her cheeks. "Then I'll just have to rely on my skills."

Xu Zhenfan was at a loss for words. For a moment, he felt that anything else he said would be corrupting the pure soul of the young girl before him, so he shut up.

Soon, a staff member came over to them. "Alright, time for pictures." Xu Zhenfan rolled up his loose-fitting shorts.

The staff member saw the design. He had noticed the commotion from this group earlier, and now seeing the finished product, he couldn't help but be surprised. He gave Xu Zhinan a deep look, took the photo, and said slowly, "Not bad at all."

Xu Zhenfan quickly pulled his shorts back down. "Keep it a secret. We're going to respond to their action with inaction."

After all the photos were taken, everyone packed up and left.

Xu Zhinan was among the last to leave. At the entrance, she ran into Lu Xihe again. He had a cigarette dangling from his lips as he looked over. He glanced at Xu Zhenfan and smiled. "You're just like you were last time I tattooed you. I could hear you yelling from the other side of the room."

Xu Zhenfan let out a sigh. "Don't mention it, don't mention it. Spare me some dignity."

"Got it on your leg?" Lu Xihe asked.

"Yeah."

"Let me see the work of our future champion," he joked.

Xu Zhenfan was on good terms with him, and since everyone would see it online soon anyway, he didn't hide it. He just added a little suspense before rolling up his pant leg, "Don't be shocked."

"Just hurry up."

Xu Zhenfan rolled up his pant leg, revealing the tattoo.

Lu Xihe was stunned. He took the cigarette out of his mouth, finally getting serious. He leaned in for a closer look, then turned his head to Xu Zhinan. "You did this?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"I really underestimated you," Lu Xihe said, examining it carefully again. "How old are you?"

"21."

"Over twenty, huh? You don't look it." Lu Xihe put down his cigarette, stood up, and extended his hand. "Interested in joining our shop?"

"Huh?" Xu Zhinan was taken aback and exchanged a look with Xu Zhenfan.

"Our shop is really lacking a professional tattoo artist in this style," Lu Xihe's attitude shifted very quickly. "You can name your price for salary and everything, and you'd save on rent costs."

Xu Zhenfan was dumbfounded. "Brother Lu, aren't you a little too fast at poaching people?"

"I'm just thirsty for talent. So, are you in, sister Ah Nan?"

Xu Zhinan's current shop had already made a small name for itself. Occasionally, people would come for a tattoo after hearing about her, and she had put a lot of hard work into it.

What Lu Xihe said was also true. If she went to his shop, after deducting costs, her hourly rate could be higher. In terms of income alone, it was definitely a better option.

But Xu Zhinan was reluctant to give up her shop just like that, so she politely declined.

Lu Xihe wasn't surprised. He handed her a business card. "If you ever change your mind, contact me anytime. You can also look me up if you need anything in the future."

Xu Zhinan took the business card and thanked him again.

Her phone rang at that moment. It was Gu Congwang. "Are you done? I'm waiting for you outside."

"Why did you come over?" Xu Zhinan asked.

Gu Congwang: "It's so hot today, you want me to let you squeeze onto the subway?"

"Actually, the subway station has AC, so it's quite cool," Xu Zhinan smiled. "Are you outside now?"

"Yeah, at Exit 2. I see a lot of people coming out."

After hanging up, she saw that Lu Xihe and his companions had already left. Xu Zhinan asked Xu Zhenfan how he was getting back. They had taken a taxi here, and it wouldn't be right to leave him behind now.

Xu Zhenfan ran his own shop, and its location was on the way to Pingchuan University.

"Then why don't you come with us?"

Xu Zhenfan scratched his hair. "Won't I be intruding on you and your boyfriend? I'd be a pretty huge third wheel."

"He's not my boyfriend. He's a good friend of mine. It's fine. He has a great personality and would definitely be willing to give you a ride."

Xu Zhenfan recalled that he had indeed heard a male voice from the phone just now and said casually, "Last time I went to your shop to get that crane tattooed, weren't you on the phone with your boyfriend? Is he that busy? He didn't come to pick you up?"

Xu Zhinan paused, blinked slowly, and let out a soft "ah." Then she said, "We broke up. I guess he's especially busy now."

Xu Zhenfan stopped in his tracks for a moment, then quickly recovered, saying with a playful grin, "Hey, sister Ah Nan, I didn't realize you were so heartless, toying with people's emotions."

Xu Zhinan looked up at him, and Xu Zhenfan quickly averted his eyes awkwardly.

She understood then that he had probably said that on purpose to make her feel less awkward.

She smiled. "It's okay, you don't have to be so nervous."

"..." Xu Zhenfan patted her on the shoulder. "At your age, breakups are normal. Don't be too sad."

"Actually, it's alright. I was only sad for a little while," Xu Zhinan pursed her lips, a faint smile appearing. "Later on, I even felt a sense of relief."

They exited from Gate 2, where Gu Congwang was leaning against his car door, waiting.

At the same time, a sudden burst of screams and shouts erupted outside. Xu Zhinan looked up and saw a group of girls standing there holding up banners.

There were all sorts of banners for different celebrities.

Xu Zhinan caught sight of a familiar face among them.

There weren't many photos of Lin Qingye. The picture on the banner was a cutout of his look from the show.

Three commercial vans drove over, one after another, with the logo of the show "Here for the Song" on their sides.

The cars stopped in front of the stadium. A staff member got out of the lead van and ran to the venue's security guard to ask, "Is the venue cleared out yet?"

"It just ended. They're clearing it now. Almost done."

Soon, people began to get out of the vans one by one, and the surrounding fans' screams threatened to overturn the heavens.

The door of the last van was finally pulled open. The first thing that came into view was a long, straight leg in black pants, followed by a white shirt. Lin Qingye stepped out of the car.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HOLY SHIT!!!"

"I actually saw Lin Qingye in person!!!!"

"He's a hundred times more handsome than on TV!!"

"Brother, look at me!"

...

The fans looked so excited they were about to faint, holding their banners and shouting desperately.

Lin Qingye had probably seen Xu Zhinan while he was still in the car, as his gaze swept over as if it had a physical form the moment he got out.

Their eyes met in mid-air for a second before Xu Zhinan calmly retracted her gaze first.

She remembered the time he came to her shop drunk, and how he seemed to have misunderstood her relationship with Xu Zhenfan.

The current Xu Zhinan no longer needed to explain these things to him, but she also didn't want Xu Zhenfan to be misunderstood because of her. So she quickened her steps to Gu Congwang's side, putting some distance between herself and Xu Zhenfan.

Lin Qingye's gaze passed through the banners stretched out between them, his expression growing colder.

He watched as Xu Zhinan tilted her head up and said something to Gu Congwang. Gu Congwang's expression was lazy, as if he was teasing her, causing the young woman to raise her hand and lightly swat his arm.

Her slightly angry appearance was vivid and beautiful, her pink lips pouting slightly. It wasn't whiny, but it seemed exceptionally charming and coquettish.

Lively, and captivating.

Like a small animal with its fur slightly ruffled.

Lin Qingye narrowed his eyes, the long, narrow corners of his eyes revealing a sharp, cold glint.

He remembered how Xu Zhinan used to always smile in front of him in the past. She had a good personality, soft and gentle. It seemed he had never seen this coquettish side of her before.

His old habit was acting up again.

Just like in high school when he watched from the shadows as Xu Zhinan smiled at other boys. On the surface, he was disdainful, but inside, he was mad with jealousy, like a peeping tom.

Later, Xu Zhinan always smiled at him, and Lin Qingye's obsession of all those years was satisfied.

But now, he was starting to feel jealous again that others could see more of her vibrant expressions.

Author's Note: Lin Qingye: ? Which one of these two is your boyfriend?