Chapter 47: The Song of Our Youth

“My goodness, Xiaobai, I never knew you could draw! Why didn’t you ever mention it to me?” Ye Xiruo’s gentle smile lingered as she teased, “Were you waiting to show off in front of Professor Yu?”

[lwb, what are you up to? I’ve never heard that lwb could draw—she must have learned it just to grab attention.]
[We all know Baichuan is outstanding, but people should be with those who match them. Someone as remarkable as Baichuan deserves a goddess, not someone like Li Wanbai. Can she stop riding our idol’s coattails?]
[Requesting a guide to untangle their marketing partnership, please!]
[If Li Wanbai really learned this skill just to attract Yu Baichuan’s attention, as Ye Xiruo suggested, how vulgar can you get?]
[Ugh, bottom-tier girl, nine times out of ten!]
[…]

Yu Baichuan looked up at Ye Xiruo.

Li Wanbai frowned slightly, puzzled. “Why would you think Baichuan didn’t know about this? He’s my husband. How could he not know? Or are you implying that our relationship is so broken we can’t even talk about such things?”

Ye Xiruo was stunned.

Everyone in the industry knew Yu Baichuan and Li Wanbai’s marriage was on the rocks; not long ago, Yu Baichuan had his assistant prepare divorce papers. This wasn’t kept secret in Hague—plenty of people had heard.

But those in the circle understood that rumors were different from an official public announcement.

Li Wanbai’s fame was built on Yu Baichuan; when she lacked popularity, she borrowed his, when she had no resources, she leaned on him. Rather than being a star forged by Sunlight Entertainment, she was more like a peculiar artist nurtured by Hague.

Many resources were offered only because of Yu Baichuan.

Before Ye Xiruo became prominent, Li Wanbai, the face of Sunlight Entertainment, couldn’t be allowed to fall. If she did, Sunlight would have no resources left to cultivate Ye Xiruo.

Weighing the pros and cons, Ye Xiruo quickly smiled, “No, I was just speaking nonsense. It’s only because we’ve spent so much time together lately that I assumed you weren’t in contact with Professor Yu.”

After explaining, she couldn’t help but add quietly, “I’ve never been in a relationship; I never realized how close couples can be—even when not together, they still connect through the internet. How fascinating.”

“I knew she could draw,” Yu Baichuan said calmly. “I’ve known it for a long time.”

Ye Xiruo choked.

“How odd. You claim to be good friends, yet you didn’t know Li Wanbai studied art in high school?” Quan Hao glanced up and down at Ye Xiruo, scoffing. “Seems your so-called friendship isn’t as close as you say.”

Ye Xiruo was momentarily flustered, but largely kept her composure. After all, she’d initially built her popularity by riding Li Wanbai’s wave, but if she wanted to become a bona fide leading lady, she’d eventually need to cut ties with that notorious star and avoid any association.

She merely smiled, as if confirming Quan Hao’s claim that their relationship wasn’t all that close—so if this came up later, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Her gaze fell on the sketch paper. Shaking her head, she said, “Xiaobai, your drawing is vivid, but its meaning isn’t good. As Professor Quan just mentioned, you started drawing after hearing Professor Yu’s music, yet the picture is completely at odds with the music. This isn’t good—it might cause others to misunderstand Professor Yu’s music.”

Yu Baichuan suddenly laughed, and Ye Xiruo took it as agreement, straightening and saying seriously, “So, Xiaobai, in the future, don’t act rashly without understanding the situation—it can confuse others.”

Seeing her so confident, Li Wanbai almost doubted herself for a moment, pointing at herself: Me? I’m the one who doesn’t understand?

She’d heard the first version of the music and could clearly detect the emotional shift in the second.

She’d seen Yu Baichuan in his youth, so she knew exactly what his youthful music sounded like.

“Isn’t it you who doesn’t understand the situation?” Li Wanbai couldn’t help but retort.

[What does she mean by that? Is she mocking Ye Xiruo?]
[I really don’t get it. Yu Baichuan’s music is so light and cheerful—why did she draw such a heavy image and then accuse Ye of not understanding music? Isn’t this a case of the thief crying thief?]
[I, for one, didn’t sense any sadness in Baichuan’s music.]
[But... I did feel some sadness. What’s going on? Am I abnormal?]

[You’re not alone! I just had my cousin, who’s learning composition, listen to the audio—he also felt there was sadness in it.]

[Ye Xiruo’s dance is very moving, and paired with Baichuan’s music, it’s a visual feast! Handsome man, beautiful woman—they should collaborate more.]

[They should collaborate more, but only if Li Wanbai stays out of it—she’s everywhere, so annoying!]

[Haha, Li Wanbai, your husband’s got a new girlfriend, and she’s a thousand times better than you~ Soon you’ll be crying in your bed, all because you didn’t appreciate Baichuan!]

[Baichuan deserves a soulmate who truly connects with his mind—not a fame-hungry vampire like Li Wanbai! I think Ye Xiruo is pretty good; at least she understands Baichuan. If they get together, I wish them happiness.]

[The mood is set—Li Wanbai, leave the entertainment industry.]

[Li Wanbai, leave the entertainment industry!]

[Li Wanbai, leave the entertainment industry!]

[…]

“The one who doesn’t understand my music is you,” Yu Baichuan said, lifting his gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on Ye Xiruo. “I don’t think my music was all that cheerful.”

Ye Xiruo froze, her eyes darting, clearly flustered. But Yu Baichuan pressed on, “You listened to my music but danced so joyfully, completely ruining its atmosphere. If it were only that, I wouldn’t embarrass you in public. But you shouldn’t deny the only person in this world who truly understands me.”

Ye Xiruo’s face turned pale as paper. She stammered, “But... but... surely the music has a sense of youth, right?”

Yu Baichuan looked at her with pity. “That’s the main theme. It’s not surprising you caught it.”