The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, spilling a thin band of light into the dim corridor. Song Meiqi stepped out, her platform shoes silent against the polished floor—yet after only two steps, she paused and looked back.
Wang Zi Rui remained inside, motionless. The elevator's glow brushed the rim of his glasses, a faint metallic glint beneath the shadow of his lashes. His gaze found hers—cool, sharp, unreadable.
For a moment, Meiqi could only stare, words rising but catching in her throat. The silence hung between them, heavy as the doors slowly began to close.
At last, she bowed slightly.
"Mr. Wang, good night," she whispered, soft but sincere.
Zi Rui's eyes flickered, clearly not expecting her words, and he murmured, "Ms. Song—happy birthday," just before the doors slid shut.
Her eyes widened. She caught a hint of warmth behind his distant gaze—something gentle, unexpected. Relief eased through her chest.
He wasn't as cold as she'd imagined—just aloof. Somehow, that made him seem less intimidating.
Shaking off the lingering tension, Meiqi stepped into her room and let the door click softly behind her. It was dark inside, faintly lit only by the muted glow from outside, and everything lay exactly as she had left it that early morning.
Without a second thought, she sank onto the bed, every muscle heavy with exhaustion. Her eyes fluttered shut, and the world outside faded, leaving only the quiet hum of the room as she let her worries slip away.
…
Time passed, and the sun rose, spilling golden light over H. City. Streets stirred to life, shop signs flickered on, and people began their day.
Yet inside Star Entertainment, a heavy atmosphere hung over a stark office. The PR manager, Manager Li, and Old Hu sat rigidly behind the desk, facing Haoran and Mengyao, whose pale, drawn faces betrayed a sleepless night.
"The article about your alleged relationship has already drawn public attention. We need your account so we can address the situation appropriately," the PR manager said, her voice firm and steady.
Si Haoran's dark gaze lifted from the table to meet hers. "We're not dating," he said finally, his tone resolute, leaving no room for doubt.
The PR manager leaned forward slightly, unconvinced, hands folded neatly on the desk. "Then why were you two seen going in and out of a hotel—and even spending the night there?"
Mengyao's fingers tightened around the edge of her chair, her jaw stiff. She avoided looking at Haoran, though a flicker of guilt passed through her eyes.
Haoran's gaze wavered briefly, a shadow of unease crossing his face before he steadied himself. "Nothing happened. We were just drunk that night and booked separate rooms," he explained, tone firm but careful.
The PR manager raised an eyebrow, and Old Hu and Manager Li's brows drew together. Scepticism was clear on all three faces—but they didn't press further.
"Understood," she said carefully. "We will issue a statement denying the allegations. Public perception matters, and we want to prevent any further misunderstanding."
Mengyao finally lifted her eyes to meet the PR manager's gaze. "We'll cooperate," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the exhaustion shadowing her features.
Haoran nodded once, a silent affirmation. The office remained still for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone.
…
Later that morning, Star Entertainment released a statement on their official Weixin account:
"Star Entertainment is aware of recent reports regarding our artists, Si Haoran and Zhang Mengyao. After consulting with both parties, we clarify that they are colleagues with a positive and friendly relationship. There is no public confirmation of romance. We ask fans to respect their privacy and continue supporting their activities."
Fans around the world reacted in different ways: many felt relief, others remained doubtful, and some were already convinced something was going on between them.
ForeverWithEverbloom: "Sigh…finally I can sleep."
ABeautifulFlower: "Me too…my Haoran, can't wait for your new movie."
Bloomis_1314: "Am I the only one secretly rooting for them to date? Idols are human too."
MelonSeed44: "I don't buy it…these photos are clear as day. They're dating, 100%."
CuriousCat: "Ok but lowkey…if they actually end up together I won't even be mad."
…
Even during breaks, whispers of Everbloom's scandal rippled through GL Holdings. Employees huddled over screens, scrolling feeds and murmuring, turning quiet coffee breaks into debates about idols, rumours, and public perception.
Meanwhile, inside a spacious office, Zi Rui, clad in his suit, flipped to the next page of his document, eyes narrowing at the numbers. Something wasn't right.
A knock came at the door, and Si Qi stepped in.
"Boss, here's all the information I could find on Ms. Song Meiqi," Si Qi said, placing a folder on the desk.
Zi Rui lifted his gaze from the papers to the folder. After last night's concert, he had asked Si Qi for information on Meiqi, wanting to confirm if she was the girl he had met. He set the folder on the desk unopened, adjusted his glasses, and let his thoughts drift back to her.
…
Meanwhile, inside an office at the Star Entertainment building, Si Haoran's thoughts were consumed by Meiqi. He stared at the ring on his hand, his chest tightening—this wasn't what he had expected.
Old Hu sighed, watching his promising artist barely holding himself together. Just then, Haoran stood up, his face showing clear determination.
"Where are you going?" Old Hu asked, his face tightening.
"I'm going to find Meiqi"