A year ago, Jiang Ye was still a trainee, and she spoke to him softly and politely.

Who would have thought that just a year later, Jiang Ye's respectful tone hadn't changed, but her words now carried a sharp, piercing edge.

Mu Xing Chi suddenly found it interesting.

His competitive spirit was ignited, and he thought for a moment before saying, "Okay, how about a bet?"

"If our team loses, I'll treat you to dinner."

Jiang Ye's mind raced, "Just treating me isn't enough, is it?"

"If Teacher Mu is so confident, why not treat our whole team?"

Mu Xing Chi readily agreed, "Deal."

Jiang Ye smiled, "Then it's settled."

•••

Eight o'clock in the evening.

The second round of team competition recording officially began.

The rules were simple, the two teams would each complete their own original creations based on the same theme, and the judges from both sides would decide which work was better, more relevant to the theme, and more touching.

Chen Ling and Mu Xing Chi's team went first.

Facing the theme of 【Memories】, they chose to go in the direction of a ballad, a song describing the feelings after a breakup, wanting to forget all the memories of the two of them, but unable to let go, so they slowly recalled their past in a sad love song.

Jiang Ye finally understood why Mu Xing Chi had provoked her.

The quality of the song was good, especially with Teacher Chen Ling's creative style, it must have been carefully revised by the teacher.

If He Zhou chose the same direction of a love song this round, he would probably be overshadowed.

Sure enough, after they finished their performance, there was a lot of cheering from the audience.

"Wow, this song is really good!"

"It's so good, the chorus melody is so catchy!"

Mu Xing Chi glanced at Jiang Ye, raised an eyebrow, looking confident.

Jiang Ye: "..."

Objectively speaking, the song was good.

But it wasn't really comparable to their team.

Because He Zhou changed his strategy this time.

The stage lights lit up again.

Chen Yi Ming's team members took the stage.

This time, they were dressed in a school uniform style, the girls were wearing school uniform skirts, the boys were wearing ties and shirts.

He Zhou stood at the front with his guitar on his back, the spotlight fell on his shoulders, making him look very youthful.

They appeared as a school band.

Their entrance caused a brief stir in the audience.

Then the music started.

The background stage design started playing visuals that matched the atmosphere of their song.

Jiang Ye started waving her glow stick in the audience.

He Zhou's song was about memories, most of which were from He Zhou's life, which she hadn't been a part of.

But Jiang Ye felt that they weren't that far away from her.

After they separated, they were like peers, going to school, studying, making friends.

The sunset in the summer evening was beautiful.

The fan whirred loudly during evening study.

She rested her chin on her hand, pretending to do homework, but she secretly listened to music with one earbud in.

It wasn't just them.

This song described everyone's memories of youth.

He sang about the cicadas chirping in early summer, the rhythmic drumbeat sounded like the chirping of cicadas.

He sang about the rising temperature, it was like a hot breeze brushing past your hair, it really felt like it was blowing into the hearts of everyone in the audience.

Jiang Ye was momentarily transported back to summer by the melody of the song.

She suddenly remembered that she had separated from her companion, her friend, the one who had first supported her dream, during a summer.

The chorus had a slight twist, the melody became more melodious.

He Zhou lowered his eyes slightly, memories flooded back.

That summer was hot and dry, everyone in the orphanage was congratulating him on finally being able to leave and go to a happier family.

Grandma was happy for him, she gave him a harmonica to take with him.

He Zhou didn't really understand the concept of separation yet.

He felt a vague sense of happiness, but also a little sadness.

In the crowd of people seeing him off, he didn't see Jiang Ye.

Ten-year-old Jiang Ye wasn't as strong as she was later when facing farewells, she knew she should be happy for her friend's better future, but she was still secretly crying.

Jiang Ye felt a little embarrassed.

When everyone was happy, if she went out to cry, it would really ruin the atmosphere.

So, Jiang Ye chose not to go out to see him off.

He Zhou wanted to say goodbye to her.

Although he didn't find Jiang Ye, he knew what to say.

He stood downstairs and played a final song for Jiang Ye on the harmonica that Grandma Jiang had given him, 《Farewell》.

Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, fragrant grasses stretch as far as the eye can see.

At the edge of the sky, at the corner of the earth, acquaintances have scattered.

Music was their common love that brought them closer to becoming friends.

He knew Jiang Ye would respond to him.

Sure enough, the window upstairs suddenly opened.

Jiang Ye poked her head out, her eyes red, and waved to He Zhou.

He Zhou looked up at her and waved back.

This was the last song he played for Jiang Ye.

For many years after that, they developed on their own paths, like two parallel lines that would never intersect.

Until a dream reconnected their lines of fate.

And when another summer came, they met again.

He Zhou was very happy, when they met again, he was in this position, standing in front of her, able to play music for her.

The music ended.

He Zhou looked in Jiang Ye's direction and smiled at her.

After both teams finished their performances, it was time for the campaigning segment.

The captain of the opposing team said a lot about their creative intentions, how they wrote the song, how many hardships they faced, and how difficult it was for them.

Jiang Ye was almost asleep listening to it.

She forced herself not to yawn, waiting for He Zhou's speech.

She was a little worried that, based on He Zhou's personality, he wouldn't say much to please the audience, and he would lose in the pity-party department.

When it was He Zhou's turn to speak.

He only said one sentence.

"Whatever you heard in the song, vote for that."

He was never good with words.

But his music spoke for him.

The audience was silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers.

The final voting results were clear.

It wasn't just because there were more Jiang Ye fans in the audience.

It was also because He Zhou moved the audience with his talent.

The voting results were out.

Jiang Ye quickly ran up to the stage.

He Zhou subconsciously opened his arms to catch her.

But Jiang Ye just high-fived him, then quickly went to hug Little Chili next to him.

He Zhou's hand was outstretched, then he put it down.

He looked in Jiang Ye's direction, and he couldn't help but smile.

After the recording finished.

Mu Xing Chi took off his microphone and asked Jiang Ye, "Okay, I lost. Want to go eat?"

Jiang Ye waved her hand, "No, I have something to do later."

She paused for a moment and said, "But this meal is you owing our whole team, just treat them. After all, they're the ones who really bet with you."

Mu Xing Chi: "?"

He felt like he had been subtly tricked.

Seeing Mu Xing Chi's desire to back out, Jiang Ye immediately turned around and shouted at her teammates, "Did you hear that? Teacher Mu said he'll treat everyone to dinner, everyone quickly thank Teacher Mu!"

Instantly, several people surrounded him.

"Really?"

"Thank you, Teacher Mu!!"

His own team members came over to question him.

"Brother Mu, why are you only treating their team to dinner, what about your own team?"

"Brother Mu, you're too biased!!"

Mu Xing Chi: "..."

Mu Xing Chi was caught in a difficult position, so he could only grit his teeth and say, "No, I'll treat everyone, both teams, let's go together."

"Thank you, Brother Mu! Brother Mu is so generous!!"

He Zhou quietly asked Jiang Ye, "You're not going?"

Jiang Ye nodded.

He Zhou said, "Then I won't go either."

"No way."

Jiang Ye immediately said, "You're the captain, how can you miss the team building event?"

"If you don't go, then it's pointless for me to go."

He Zhou asked, "Do you have work later?"

"No."

Jiang Ye lowered her voice, "I just don't want to eat with him."

She tilted her head and smiled, "But I got this meal for you guys, if you don't help me get my money's worth, won't I be losing out?"

Jiang Ye's tone had a casual familiarity.

Even without realizing it, she had clearly placed He Zhou on the same side as her.

It was like how she used to chat with Lin Zui and the others about not wanting to be on the same show as Mu Xing Chi.

Now, He Zhou had been naturally added to her list of trusted people, she didn't have to worry about her perfect idol image outside, she didn't have to be polite and humble to everyone.

Who she liked, who she didn't like, you could tell.

He Zhou pondered her words for a moment, and he could sense a meaning of, "It's enough if just one person from our family attends".

"..."

His ears turned slightly red, and he whispered, "Okay."

•••

Mu Xing Chi treated them to a nice restaurant.

Although he felt like he had been tricked by Jiang Ye, he was still a popular idol, so treating them to dinner wasn't a big deal.

At the dinner table, they chatted about the show, and inevitably mentioned Jiang Ye.

Little Chili held her face and sighed, "Senior Jiang Ye is so nice."

"At first, I thought she would be a bit arrogant as a top star, and she was just going through the motions as an assistant, but I didn't expect her to be with us all the time when she didn't have other schedules, she's so down-to-earth."

"Right, right, I think she's so nice too."

"To be honest, Senior Jiang Ye is really the kind of girlfriend I'd like to have."

"Don't tell anyone, but I feel the same way."

"Aren't you on the other team?"

Little Chili joked with the boy who had said that, "You're in the enemy camp, but your heart is with the enemy."

The young man instantly blushed, "No, is that, is that not okay?!"

Amidst the laughter, Mu Xing Chi chuckled, "If you really like her, go chase her."

"You guys don't have any idol rules."

The table was silent for a moment, then erupted in laughter.

They were half joking, half serious, talking about what kind of boys Jiang Ye liked and how to chase her.

After a moment, someone suddenly spoke, "No way."

Mu Xing Chi raised an eyebrow and looked at the person who spoke.

This person had not said much the whole time, but he suddenly reacted at this moment.

"We don't have any rules."

"But she does."

He Zhou looked up, calmly looking at the person across from him, "Teacher Mu, isn't it unethical to challenge her restrictions when you know she can't date?"