Innocence

Chi Weiran has been surrounded by rumors since her debut, but the only relationship she ever acknowledged was with Lu Bei, a senior she met when she first entered the industry.

Years later, after becoming a hugely popular star in both music and film, the media asked whether the rumors of her relationship with Lin Leyan were true. Chi Weiran calmly admitted that they were.

Everyone was in an uproar.

Lin Leyan had been Lu Bei's bandmate many years earlier, and was also the idol Chi Weiran had publicly confessed to when she first joined a talent show.

More importantly, Lin Leyan and Lu Bei were suspected of being lovers. Their relationship fell apart, and the group eventually disbanded, with the two never speaking to each other again.

The media clamored to ask whether dating her ex-girlfriend's ex-girlfriend was an act of revenge.

Chi Weiran, the person involved, laughed indifferently. "I was young and foolish. I can barely remember it now."

-

On the third day after going public with her relationship, Chi Weiran held a concert.

In the middle of a crowd of ten thousand, the camera flashed past.

Chi Weiran saw Lu Bei, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

-

The first major opportunity Chi Weiran got after debuting in a group was a movie with two female leads.

Her co-star was Lu Bei.

That big-shot actress spent all day buying planted articles to pick fights and stir up publicity. Aside from her looks and figure, she had nothing going for her.

She had a terrible reputation both inside and outside the industry.

On the first day of filming, the director brought Chi Weiran to meet Lu Bei.

The woman lounged against the sofa, one white, straight leg crossed over the other, a nearly burned-out cigarette between her fingers. At the introduction, she lazily lifted a hand to her tousled hair and looked up without a care. After a long pause, she finally managed, "Hello, Chi Weiran."

Everything Lu Bei did pushed all of Chi Weiran's buttons.

What an irritating woman.

Over the next few days, just as the rumors said, Lu Bei kept being shipped with different people. Sometimes she was photographed having a meal with someone, sometimes returning to a hotel together.

One day, Chi Weiran couldn't hold back anymore and told her she didn't want their first drama to end up never airing.

Lu Bei laughed like a madwoman. It took her a long time to stop, then she warned Chi Weiran:

"Chi Weiran, if your dislike is written all over your face, it'll cost you in this industry."

The next day, Chi Weiran learned her lesson.

A brand deal she'd worked hard to land was taken from her for no reason, and the artist who stole it was from Lu Bei's company.

One night later on, Chi Weiran saw Lu Bei return with the person she was rumored to be dating and knocked on her door, her feelings in turmoil.

Perhaps she'd been staring too long, because Lu Bei teased her as usual: "What? Want to sleep with me?"

Chi Weiran didn't call her crazy like she usually did. Instead, she pinned her against the wall, blushing with embarrassment. "Yes."

"Lu Bei, I can be shipped with you, too."

Lu Bei, who was used to making provocative jokes, was stunned.

After that night, they hugged and kissed away from the cameras and did many things at night that they would never do in the daytime.

Later, when filming wrapped, Chi Weiran told Lu Bei with red eyes that she didn't want to part. But all she got in reply was a mocking laugh. "Chi Weiran, if you let your feelings show on your face, it'll cost you in this industry. Got it?"

Chi Weiran paid the price for her naivety. After filming wrapped, the two quietly ended their unlabeled relationship, and the internet was flooded with rumors about Lu Bei.

Later, Chi Weiran followed the company's arrangements, getting shipped with other people, acting in dramas, singing, and winning one award after another.

Later still, Lu Bei announced that she was leaving the industry to study abroad.

Chi Weiran became the second Lu Bei.

"At first, I looked down on you. Later, I became you."

Reader's Guide:

- A reunion-after-a-breakup story in the Yuncheng series. Chi Weiran and Lu Bei are the endgame couple from beginning to end. They are each other's only ones, with a seven-year age gap.

- Told in reverse chronological order.

Theme: Love and freedom.