Everbloom members started their day with vocal warm-ups in the practice studio. Their voices rose and fell together, blending smoothly, while laughter broke out from time to time. Most members were still waking up—but Mengyao stood out.
She sang with extra energy, her voice brighter than usual, her smile wide, as if she carried her own sunshine into the room. Today, her enthusiasm was unmistakable.
"You're lively today, aren't you?" Xiuying said with a small smile.
Mengyao glanced at her. "What do you mean? I've always been like this," she replied, raising an eyebrow.
Xiuying shook her head, a knowing look in her eyes. "No… these past few days, you were quieter than usual. You didn't laugh as much, and even during practice, it felt like your mind was somewhere else."
Mengyao let out a small sigh, a silent admission. "Did I worry you?" she asked softly.
"A little," Xiuying admitted.
Mengyao curved her lips into a reassuring smile. "It's over now. You don't have to worry."
Xiuying studied her for a moment. Mengyao's eyes looked brighter than before, easing the knot of concern in her chest. At least she's not tangled up in the kind of trouble Meiqi is facing, she thought, though the thought lingered at the back of her mind.
...
Meanwhile, Song Meiqi stared at Haoran's message, the words blurring on her screen:
Let's have dinner today. I know a place.
Simple words—but heavier than they should have been. She had told herself last night to trust him, to ignore the stalker's warnings. Yet a small part of her still wavered.
From a few steps away, Mengyao noticed the faint crease between Meiqi's brows. Worried it might be the stalker again, she walked over.
"Little Qi," she called, but Meiqi didn't respond. The hip-hop music blaring through the room might have drowned her out, so she tried again.
Still nothing. She nudged Meiqi gently, the warmth of her hand pulling her back. Their eyes met—surprise flickered across Meiqi's face.
"Are you okay?" Mengyao asked, her voice laced with concern.
Something unreadable passed through Meiqi's eyes as she stared at her phone. Mengyao's chest tightened as she leaned closer—and froze. Haoran's name glowed on the screen, and her heartbeat skipped.
She brushed it off, exhaling with relief. "I thought it was something else. It's just Haoran." Her shoulders sagged, and a small, tense laugh escaped her.
But then Meiqi's expression shifted—troubled, distant.
"Wait… why do you look so tense? Did Haoran do something?" Mengyao asked, worry threading her voice.
Meiqi shook her head.
Mengyao's brows furrowed, curiosity and frustration warring in her eyes. "Then… what is it?" she asked, gentle but insistent.
Meiqi slowly lifted her gaze, hesitation flickering across her eyes.
"Actually… the stalker wants me to break up with Haoran—not just because he doesn't want me dating him," she began. Mengyao's eyes never left hers, sharp with concern.
"He believes Haoran is cheating on me," Meiqi revealed. Each word struck Mengyao like a knife. Her eyes widened, breath hitching as she realized Meiqi might already know about her and Haoran. Her hand clenched at her side.
…
Meanwhile, in the building next to Stars Entertainment, Haoran slouched in his office chair. Dim light cast shadows across his face. His usual calm was gone, replaced by restless tension that filled the quiet room.
His thoughts drifted back to last night. The restaurant, dark wood panels and soft lighting glowing warmly, had been calm and unhurried. He and Mengyao sat across from each other, quietly eating after a long day.
"Ha… you really saved me, Yaoyao," he said once they finished. Mengyao's eyes narrowed slightly, brow furrowing as she searched his face.
"I was so caught up with work, I completely forgot Meiqi's birthday fell on the same day as your concert," he said, running a hand through his hair, shoulders slumping under the weight of his guilt.
"And it's the first time I'll celebrate her birthday as her boyfriend. Honestly… without you, I still wouldn't have had a clue what the perfect gift would be." He exhaled softly, eyes flicking up to meet hers—gratitude and embarrassment warring in his gaze.
Mengyao curled a small smile, though something unreadable lingered in her eyes. Silence stretched between them.
"Honestly… you lied, didn't you?" she said, quiet but pointed. Haoran's gaze met hers, stunned.
"You've always delivered flowers to Meiqi on her birthdays… there's no way you could have forgotten," she said, voice firm and unwavering.
"We both know why you really invited me," she added, light but sharp, eyes holding his as if she could see straight through him.
He sighed, letting the silence stretch.
"You're right. The gift for Meiqi… that was just an excuse. I wanted to see you. To talk about that night," he admitted.
"I needed to clear things up."
Mengyao pressed her lips together, fingers tightening on the chair. "I wanted to talk about it too," she said, soft but steady.
Silence settled over the room, heavy and full of everything left unsaid.
Then Mengyao broke it, her voice soft yet certain. "Brother Haoran… I like you."
His eyes widened, caught off guard.
She tightened her grip on the edge of the chair and held his gaze. "I like you… more than a friend."
Her words sent a quiet ache through Haoran's chest. Surprise flickered across his eyes, and beneath it, a trace of happiness he couldn't quite hide.