Chapter 39 - The Panda Cub Bows For Love

Chapter 39: The Moon Above He Xing was unaware of the absurd thoughts brewing in the mind of that child outside. Had she known, she certainly would have given her a few candied chestnuts and even prepared a broth for her. Wasn’t what she had done for her in the past enough? First, she handed a cup of milk to Jing Dan, observing her drink with half-closed eyes, resembling a satisfied little animal. A shadow flickered across He Xing's eyes before she asked, “Didn’t you say you would bring your aunt's cat for me to see? Why haven’t you brought it yet?” Jing Dan, who had been contentedly sipping her milk: “…” She looked up at He Xing, puzzled as to why she would suddenly remember to ask about this. “Or should I just have them send a photo? It’s all the same, isn’t it?” she said, a sigh of relief in her heart. Thankfully, everything was prepared in advance, or else where would she have found a cat so suddenly? “They?” He Xing sensed something unusual. “Yes, them!” Jing Dan didn’t think much of it and calmly stated, proceeding to send a message to her aunt without caring much for He Xing's growing curiosity. Receiving her message, Jing Shi Yue: “...” This kid really knows how to stir trouble! Summoning Qiu Shu Huai, Jing Shi Yue, with a stoic face, held two cats while Qiu Shu Huai took their picture. Upon receiving the photos, Jing Dan promptly showed them to He Xing, blinking as she said, “Aren’t they cute?” He Xing stared at Jing Shi Yue in the photo, who looked utterly unwilling to ‘open for business’. Her gaze shifted to the two cats, soon realizing something was amiss, “Aren’t these cats the ones Qiu Shu Huai once showed off in her social circle?” After all, the contrast of a black and a white cat was indeed memorable. “They’re living with my aunt now!” Jing Dan revealed without hesitation. He Xing: “…” She silently regarded Jing Dan, noticing her forthright demeanor, she sighed and handed back the phone, “Just don’t mention this outside.” Were these things to be discussed so openly? Although Qiu Shu Huai wasn’t a pop idol, her significance in the entertainment industry was palpable, and thus, her personal life was under scrutiny by many. “Oh.” Jing Dan felt He Xing was overworrying. She had no interest in indulging others with tales about her aunt. He Xing didn’t bring up the matter of the cats anymore and returned to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Drinking her milk, Jing Dan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this hurdle was now behind them. After finishing the breakfast prepared by He Xing, Jing Dan felt revitalized. Before leaving for work, she even had He Xing prepare a bottle of milk for her to take along. He Xing: “...” She had never seen such a CEO before! In the days that followed, tranquility was surprisingly maintained online. There were rumors about a crisis at Zhi Huan Entertainment, with Xu Zhi Huan being removed from her CEO position. Her father had taken over, and Xu Zhi Huan herself was sent abroad. He Xing was momentarily taken aback by the news. So this was the kind of reassurance Jing Dan offered? It was indeed a thorough solution—the person wasn’t even in the country anymore. However, her surprise was fleeting, as Xu Zhi Huan’s matters failed to pique much of her interest. What mattered now was the performance. With Xu Zhi Huan no longer sabotaging from within, the tickets for the performance sold out shortly after going on sale, and there were even scalpers reselling tickets. Informed of this, He Xing implemented a system where each ticket was bound to an ID for future sales, leaving no chance for scalpers. — "What are you dressed up for? It's just a performance, and you're not even the one on stage. Why bother looking so good?" Hu Tu, lounging on a sofa, rolled her eyes, longing to sprawl on the bed instead. Yet, glancing at Jing Dan, she dared not. Jing Dan emerged from the wardrobe with another outfit, stating as a matter of fact, “He Xing gave me a supreme VIP ticket. As it is supreme, I, of course, should dress well to live up to the name!” Hu Tu: “...” Do you even realize how much you’ve been talking this morning? Seeing her continue to browse through her clothes, Hu Tu's face bore an indescribable expression, “You’re not seriously interested in He Xing, are you? Remember, she is human.” She felt almost numb from trying to dissuade them, yet it seemed her efforts were in vain. They continued to meet and joke around without a hint of awkwardness typical between pursuer and pursued, rather resembling a couple in love. Jing Dan looked back at her quizzically. She was only trying to pick out nice clothes; how did that translate to having an interest in He Xing? If anything, wasn’t it He Xing who was interested in her? Seeing Jing Dan’s look, Hu Tu thought, “...” Forget it! Let them do as they please! After all, it's not her who will end up mourning their loss. After much deliberation, Jing Dan settled on a suit to her liking—a high-neck, thin white sweater paired with a black blazer. The ensemble managed to portray a touch of aloofness, softened by the cozy sweater. Before leaving, Jing Dan added a pair of silver-framed glasses, instantly elevating her scholastically decadent vibe to several notches higher. Hu Tu, witnessing the entire process: “...” If this kid doesn’t get whisked away, she'd write her name backward! Neither Hu Tu nor He Xing had ever seen her dressed like this. Arriving backstage before the performance, Jing Dan saw He Xing, who was adjusting her costume. She furrowed her brows slightly at the sight of He Xing's lightweight performance outfit. Wouldn’t she be cold? But, when He Xing caught sight of her, she was taken aback, unable to divert her gaze. Today, Jing Dan gave off a completely different vibe. Typically, her exterior appeared distant and indifferent, her glances carrying an air of nonchalance. However, today, the glasses seemed to dissipate some of that coldness, emphasizing instead a scholastically decadent quality. She seemed more grown-up. He Xing: “...” She found herself unexpectedly uncomfortable with the change. Tilting her head, Jing Dan failed to understand why He Xing remained silent. Meanwhile, Hu Tu's mood plummeted. While Jing Dan might not have noticed, as an old fox, how could she fail to see that He Xing was literally smitten? This tilt of Jing Dan’s head brought back familiar feelings for He Xing, prompting a soft smile. Indeed, no matter how much the surface changed, the core remained the lovely little one she knew. "Did you come early?" He Xing arranged seats for them to sit. Others glanced over when Jing Dan appeared, curious about their relationship and if the online rumors of them being a couple were true, especially given the way He Xing had looked at Jing Dan just now. “Not too early, it’s starting soon.” Hu Tu rolled her eyes, oblivious to Jing Dan's early morning efforts in dressing up. Jing Dan nodded in agreement. He Xing’s smile deepened as she applied eyeliner, saying, “I’ll have someone take you to your seat later. Once the performance starts, I won’t be able to accompany you. Feel free to ask anyone from the dance group if you need anything.” Jing Dan leaned in, intrigued by He Xing’s makeup application. Seeing the flick of the eyeliner, she looked puzzled, wondering if this was stage makeup. Though it looked appealing, it was too sharp for her taste. Jing Dan preferred He Xing's usual makeup – more beautiful and approachable. As she leaned closer, the subtle scent of bamboo from her enveloped He Xing, causing her hand to jerk and misapply the eyeliner. Jing Dan noticed and pointedly commented on the smudge, saying, “It's smudged.” He Xing: “…” She was both amused and irritated. Of course, she knew it was smudged. After removing the smudge with makeup remover, He Xing caught a glimpse of Jing Dan’s unadorned face in the mirror. Her natural beauty outshone many celebrities, making her the undisputed epitome of divine looks. A thought struck her; she had never seen Jing Dan with makeup. How would she look if she were made up? Seeing them so close, Hu Tu nearly ground her teeth in frustration, but the pleasant atmosphere between them was undeniable. She sighed inwardly, deciding not to play the villain. After all, she wouldn't be the one suffering in the end. After fixing her eyeliner, He Xing glanced at Jing Dan, who was still closely watching, and asked, “Interested?” Upon hearing this, Jing Dan nodded earnestly. She was quite curious indeed. She had seen her aunt apply makeup before but was warned against it as a child, lest she "ruin her face." Now that she was no longer a child, surely makeup wouldn’t harm her? Her face was too pretty to ruin. Seeing her nod, He Xing smiled softly, “Then, when I’m free, I’ll do your makeup.” Jing Dan's eyes brightened slightly, then her gaze fell upon her face, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Not the kind of makeup you're wearing.” It looked so thick, surely it must feel uncomfortable on the face. He Xing: “...” And now she was being picky. What was wrong with her makeup? Was it not pretty? “I wouldn’t do this kind of makeup on you. It's fine for the stage, but if you wear it out, people might think I'm crazy.” Hearing this, Jing Dan sighed in relief. As long as it wasn’t this type of makeup, it was fine. Seeing her reaction, He Xing thought to herself: “...” Was she really that scared of such makeup? Could it be she didn’t know there was also something called nightclub makeup? Shaking her head, He Xing decided Jing Dan was indeed just a kid with limited worldly experience. “All right, the show is about to start soon. I'll have someone take you to the front.” “Oh.” Jing Dan responded and took one last glance at He Xing's makeup before following the staff member outside. Watching her leave, He Xing smiled lightly, then had someone fetch the snacks she had prepared for Jing Dan, so she wouldn't get bored watching the show. Others, noticing this, huddled together and whispered excitedly. At first, they thought the snacks were for them when they saw He Xing carrying a loads of stuff. It was only now they realized it was all prepared for Jing Dan! She was just here to watch the show, yet He Xing had personally prepared snacks for her. That's way too spoiling! If Jing Dan and He Xing being a couple were a lie, they wouldn’t believe in online pairings ever again! Jing Dan and her company were led by the staff to their seats in the front, right at the sixth row in the middle. Once seated, Jing Dan realized the true prestige of the supreme VIP ticket. The view was incomparably clear from here, and unlike the front rows, there was no need to crane her neck. "Tsk, He Xing really treats you well," Hu Tu remarked. How many people were looking forward to this dance tour? To what extent had the ticket prices been inflated? The tickets for these seats could be sold for a hefty price, yet He Xing gave them to Jing Dan, who wasn’t even that artsy. Hearing Hu Tu say this, Jing Dan felt a slight swell of pride. Of course, He Xing treated her well. After all, she liked her. If she didn’t treat her well, how could she win her over? Her ego slightly boosted; she watched the stage, suddenly noticing someone placing a small table in front of her and setting down various snacks and drinks, saying, “Ms. He prepared these for you. Let us know if you need anything else.” Having said that with a smile, the worker left. Hu Tu on the side: “...” Looking in front of her, all she had were her legs, devoid of any table, snacks, or drinks. Had He Xing forgotten about her presence? Damn, it infuriated her to realize He Xing was the type to forget friends over fans! Jing Dan, looking at the array of snacks before her, tried one and immediately recognized it was made by He Xing. She couldn’t help but smile secretly, tasting a sweet sensation. Hu Tu sat expressionless beside her. However, Jing Dan didn’t realize that her actions had been stealthily photographed by someone who recognized her and posted online. Her secretive smile, so genuine, was now in full view of the internet community, challenging their perception of her as an untouchable beauty. — Damn! Who is this secretive smiler?! Is that my goddess wife?! — My perception of Jing Dan has collapsed, but why do I love it so much?! — Ahhhh, so Jing Dan went to see Ms. He's performance! Jing and He are united! — What do you mean her image has collapsed?! What's wrong with smiling at your wife’s performance! Do you keep a cold face when looking at your own wife?! Unaware of the online frenzy about her, Jing Dan drank the milk prepared by He Xing, savoring the puddings and fruits, doing nothing else but waiting for the show to start. Hu Tu couldn't stand it anymore and stretched her hand to snatch some snacks. It was outrageous to prepare so much and not include her! In the last few minutes before the show, Hu Tu browsed the internet and stumbled upon the topic of Jing Dan attending He Xing's dance tour. Inside, everyone was shipping Jing Dan and He Xing. There were also photos of Hu Tu snatching Jing Dan's treats, a loving scene that nobody seemed to ship with Hu Tu! How unfair! When they started shipping Jing Dan and He Xing, wasn't it also because they looked good together? Wasn't she attractive enough? Fuming, especially after seeing comments suggesting she should buy her own snacks instead of stealing Jing Dan's, Hu Tu felt unjustly treated. Damn, Jing Dan was pampered at home and held in He Xing's heart, and now even netizens were protecting her—too unfair! Even if she was a national treasure, it was excessive! Feeling aggrieved, Hu Tu thought, it was just some snacks. And wasn’t it obvious there was enough for her too? And those items Jing Dan was eating weren’t something you could just buy; they were obviously handmade by He Xing! Meanwhile, Jing Dan, ignoring Hu Tu's sulking, focused on the stage. As the performance began and the lights dimmed, the intense and somber music struck directly at the heart. Jing Dan was utterly mesmerized by the performance—every move on stage filled with a powerful sense of urgency, fear, and the imagery of battle. Watching He Xing's commanding presence, Jing Dan felt a sense of unfamiliarity; He Xing on stage was a different person entirely, belonging solely to that character. “That's the charm of a prima ballerina.” Hu Tu, no longer in the mood to sulk, whispered in awe. He Xing possessed a magical ability to immerse her audience into the character she portrayed. Even someone like Jing Dan, not highly sensitive to art, was deeply moved by her performance. Even after the performance ended, Jing Dan remained captivated by the impact He Xing had made, staring dazedly at the stage. Hu Tu, somewhat amused, waved a hand in front of Jing Dan's face. “Are you lost?” From the moment the performance officially started, Jing Dan hadn’t eaten a single bite, her gaze fixed on the stage. Jing Dan shivered back to reality and turned to look at Hu Tu. “It's time to go!” Hu Tu said, somewhat annoyed. Only then did Jing Dan realize the venue was beginning to empty. She glanced down at the table, where the fruits and other items were still fresh, thanks to He Xing's effort to maintain their freshness with her powers. It seemed a waste to leave them, and besides, they were made by He Xing... Jing Dan slid half of the items to Hu Tu, took a small piece of cake, and spoke with her mouth full, “Eat up, we’ll wait for He Xing here.” She was confident He Xing would come find her after cleaning up. Hu Tu: “...” Now you decide to share? They ate and waited together until He Xing finally appeared after about half an hour. Upon arrival, He Xing saw two beautiful women stuffing their faces, cheeks bulging adorably. “...” Were they really not concerned about their image at all? She glanced around the venue; thankfully, the audience had nearly all left, likely sparing them from being seen in such a state. Approaching, she noticed the nearly empty table and raised an eyebrow—a little surprised they had kept the food for so long. She had thought Jing Dan might find the show boring and snack the time away. “Shall we go?” He Xing asked their opinion. “Hold on!” Hu Tu mumbled, hastily stuffing the last piece of cake into her mouth, “Can’t waste!” Jing Dan didn’t speak, but her actions clearly echoed Hu Tu's sentiment. He Xing: “...” Was she supposed to thank them for indulging her this way? She chuckled helplessly, amused by Jing Dan’s chipmunk-like appearance, her cheeks stuffed with food. Sitting next to Jing Dan, He Xing helped finish up the snacks, asking, “Did you find the performance boring?” Jing Dan turned to look at He Xing, now without makeup, and back to her familiar self, lacking the formidable presence she had on stage. After swallowing her food, she earnestly replied, “It was beautiful! Very moving!” He Xing was momentarily taken aback, unaccustomed to hearing such sincere praise for her dancing. Feeling her ears warm, she turned away, avoiding Jing Dan’s gaze and looked at the staff still clearing the venue, standing up to say, “Let’s go then. Let’s not disrupt their work.” With the snacks nearly finished, they tidied up and followed He Xing out, leaving quietly behind her. The sight of this serene slumber could easily make one think He Xing was babysitting if she were any younger. As the performance ended around lunchtime, He Xing inquired, “Shall we have lunch?” Seeing how much they had snacked, she suspected they wouldn’t be keen for a meal. True enough... Both of them shook their heads in unison. Having just snacked with them, He Xing wasn’t hungry either, ultimately deciding to sit at a beverage shop before everybody headed their separate ways. “Where’s your next performance?” Hu Tu sighed contentedly with a hot drink in hand. Though as a demon she wasn’t bothered by the cold, holding a hot beverage in winter felt blissfully comforting. “In five days, at Baiyan City.” Jing Dan looked up at her, understanding that He Xing would be traveling around the country for her tour and likely wouldn’t find time to visit them again. And as Jing Dan had predicted, He Xing got so busy that even her messages became scarce. However, whenever Jing Dan sent her a message, He Xing, unable to reply promptly, would later converse more to explain the delay, keeping her promise of staying in touch. On the day of He Xing's final tour performance, she checked her phone only to find no message from Jing Dan. She then sent one, asking Jing Dan if there was anywhere she’d like to go; She Xing could accompany her. But, her message went unanswered for a long while. Online, she discovered the whole internet buzzing with talk of Jing Dan and her apparent breakup. He Xing: “???” Clicking further, she saw Jing Dan leaning on a woman in an extremely intimate posture. He Xing's face grew cold at the sight of the woman seemingly about to kiss Jing Dan. --- Seeing that photo online, He Xing was unprecedentedly livid. She couldn't wait to return with the dance group by plane and teleported straight to Huaqing City instead. The internet was blatantly trying to suppress the image's viral spread, but the more popular Jing Dan and He Xing had been, the more the photo's impact reverberated. She tried calling Jing Dan, only to find her phone off. She then rang Hu Tu. Hu Tu answered irritably but paused upon recognizing He Xing's voice, quickly realizing why He Xing was calling. “You’re overthinking it; they have nothing between them,” Hu Tu sighed, weary from the barrage of media calls she'd been receiving. “I know they have nothing,” He Xing said coldly, obviously not fooled by the photo of an unwell-looking Jing Dan. “What happened to her last night? Why is her phone off?” Hu Tu explained, frustrated, that Jing Dan had attended an event meant to be non-alcoholic, unwittingly consuming a highly alcoholic cocktail. Thankfully, an observant assistant had sensed something wrong and called her. He Xing, clenching her other hand into a fist out of indignation, demanded Jing Dan's location, insisting on seeing her now. Hu Tu shared their current whereabouts, understanding He Xing's desire to rush over given the circumstances. Upon revealing the culprits as competitors from other entertainment companies and the purpose behind their setup, He Xing's anger intensified. Upon arriving, He Xing was introduced to Jing Shi Yue and Qiu Shu Huai. Despite the tense atmosphere due to the incident, the gathered group shared a common concern for Jing Dan's well-being. Waiting for Jing Dan to wake, the heavy room reflected their collective worry and protection for Jing Dan's innocence, now sullied by the ugly side of fame. Jing Shi Yue's face was taut with tension. Her niece had always been protected and cherished, shielded from all harm. Yet now, someone had dared to employ such despicable tactics, attempting to drag her into the mire. She was like the moon above, untainted. How could she be allowed to be sullied? He Xing stood up, her voice low, "I'll go check on her inside." Jing Shi Yue and the others merely glanced at her, offering no objections. He Xing returned to Jing Dan's room and gazed at the still-sleeping figure. She gently placed her hand on Jing Dan's face, caressing it, feeling both suppressed and pained in her chest. This time, she might feel wronged. (End of Chapter)