Making the Same Mistake Again

People in the entertainment industry say that minor stars rise with a push, while major stars rise by fate. But Li Qiu feels that she and Shen Tu owe their breakout success half to hard work and half to luck. They walked together through the bleakest years, putting on show after show, going from empty venues to packed houses. How could they never have wanted to give up? When they arrived in an unfamiliar city and stayed in a damp, stuffy basement; when they played a mixed-bill music festival and the crowd was cheering at the top of their lungs one moment, only to fall silent the second they took the stage; and when... after all those years, he confessed to that girl. The spotlight shining down on Li Qiu shifted toward someone else. She suddenly thought of a saying: How could you feel nothing when you're standing beside a bonfire? That's right. They both felt something for each other. #Shen Tu and Li Qiu's new song, Going Our Separate Ways# Wu Qiangwei had a favorite ship she'd been shipping for over a decade. Years ago, when she was a rebellious teenager, she and a friend found their way to an underground performance through some obscure channel. Onstage were boys and girls not much older than her, along with their friends. Honestly, the songs weren't that good, but the atmosphere was incredible. She fell for them at first sight and added them as friends. They stayed in touch all these years. They replied to the greetings she sent on holidays, and having them as friends meant she knew a little more than other fans. She watched them sing drunken songs on deserted streets at midnight, watched them always look out for each other, watched them go together to see, witness, and welcome every performance. Every moment before they went onstage and after they came off was recorded. How could she not ship them? Then she saw the number-one trending topic, and the separation she'd feared had come true. Though it was never publicly announced, almost three years without working together and their avoiding each other at public events made it clear to everyone in the industry and to their fans: Shen Tu and Li Qiu, once the most in-sync duo, had split up. Trends in the entertainment industry are always hard to predict. The year before last, it was talent competitions; last year, danmei adaptations; and this year, dating shows. Yet Orange Entertainment decided to go against the trend and make a show about friends, called Hello, Old Friend. The proposed guests were all celebrities whose feuds were common knowledge. Shen Tu and Li Qiu were among them. In an instant, curious onlookers, bickering fans, and shippers all went wild. *Tips This may be a win-her-back story. Theme: Seize your opportunities