Chapter 60: Best Friend’s Invitation

In the living room, Qin Baobao leaned her head against Qin Ze’s head as she looked through the comments on the iPad. “It’s all your fault, it’s all your fault…” She pinched Qin Ze’s waist.

She almost cried because of the mean comments, but she could not argue with netizens so she could only vent her anger on the perpetrator.

While Qin Ze suffered, his left hand was around his sister’s waist. Since his sister started dance lessons, her waist felt nice when one put their hands around it.

“How can you survive showbiz in your fragile little heart?” Qin Ze was worried about his sister’s future. Internet violence was a scary thing. It could unleash one’s negativity and dark side without them having to take advantage of it. Many celebrities were depressed because of this.

Even an airhead like Qin Baobao became temperamental and insecure. Qin Ze was confident that he could become his sister’s shield and protector, but there was no way he could prevent internet violence.

“I’ll learn to adapt.” Qin Baobao scoffed. “My soul is getting stronger by the day.”

“I don’t care if your soul is getting stronger. My waist is dying.” Qin Ze laughed bitterly.

Qin Baobao slapped the hand on her waist. “You take advantage of your sister, and she uses you to vent her anger. It’s fair trade,” she said with narrowed eyes.

“I have a bold idea,” Qin Ze said as he stared at his sister’s well-endowed chest.

“Move your eyes away.” Qin Baobao chopped her brother’s hand with her hand.

Did Qin Ze have nothing better to do than to attract hatred? He had a motive. The netizens were right. One of the entertainment industry’s tricks was to hype things up between celebrities.

Hyping things up was always the fastest way to boost one’s popularity, and the most common way was through gossip and rumors. Of course, things were getting more complicated now, and there were many tips and tricks to hyping things up.

Have you noticed? Before celebrities announce their new production or albums, they would always hype things up first.

Qin Ze was helping his sister by making use of Li Xuegang’s popularity and radicalizing the conflict. Of course, he had to be careful about it since there was a limit to things. Else, it would have the opposite effect. Therefore, he stopped posting on Weibo. The effect right now was good, and he did not need to attract any more hate.

Everyone knew that Qin Baobao argued with Li Xuegang publicly, and the two would face off on the ‘I am a Singer’ stage. Now that their goal of attracting attention has been reached, Qin Baobao would be despised if she went on and on.

Conservatively speaking, Qin Baobao’s popularity had doubled at the very least.

Conversation meant popularity. That was the real purpose of hyping things up.

“What do I do after? Can I really knock out Li Xuegang on stage?” Qin Baobao was worried about her future.

The best thing about Qin Baobao was that she did not blame others when she faced problems and setbacks. The others would complain about their husbands lacking ability, lacking a romantic spirit, that their husbands did not love them enough. The worst of all… complaining that their husbands were not rich enough.

Complaints were a killer in relationships. They were even more merciless and sharper than time.

Her pinching Qin Ze’s waist was more like a woman acting coy to her man.

“Given your current singing ability and popularity, wanting to win Li Xuegang… it’s tough.”

“Worse comes to worst, I’ll back out since I’ve earned enough popularity.” Qin Baobao pouted.

“Then, today’s incident will become a blemish in your career.” Qin Ze added the finishing touch.

Qin Baobao glared angrily at Qin Ze who glared right back. The childish pair of siblings started a staredown, neither wishing to give in first.

“I have a little donkey that I never ride…” The sudden ringtone stunned the two, and they both looked for their phones.

Their phones were the couple’s edition. One black and one pink. They both had the same childish children’s song as their ringtones, a match for Qin Baobao’s bad taste.

The ringing was from Qin Baobao’s phone. She struggled to get her phone out of the pocket of her short shorts. “Qinghong? What’s up?”

Qin Ze leaned in to eavesdrop. The two of them were one and the same. Qin Baobao would do the same when he was on a phone call.

“Baobao, I saw the notification on my phone’s news app that said ‘Qin Baobao Chastised Li Xuegang’. I thought it was someone of the same name, but I looked it up and watched ‘I am a Singer’. It’s only been a few days, but you’re a star already? Did I time travel, or did you?” The usually calm Chen Qinghong went on and on.

“You only found out now? I’ve been singing for two sessions already.” Qin Baobao scoffed smugly.

“I’ve been swarmed with work recently and haven’t had time to watch variety shows.”

“I quit a long time ago. I went for an audition at Star Talent the day after my birthday. The company thought I showed promise and sang well so I got in successfully.”

The corners of Qin Ze’s mouth twitched. What success? Who was the one saying that she wanted to flee the other day? It was embarrassing…

Qin Ze kindly decided not to expose his sister’s bragging.

“Baobao, did Qin Ze really write those songs?”

Qin Baobao turned and looked at her brother. The latter shook his head. “Hehe, it’s a secret.”

“Hmph, I bet your company got someone to write them. Big shot, don’t forget me and Zhang Ya when you’re famous.”

The two chatted for a while. “Oh, right, Baobao, are you free tonight?” Chen Qinghong asked.

“I do have time…” Qin Baobao hesitated.

“Then, that’s it. Let’s celebrate in the bar tonight. You’re a star so, of course, we gotta have some fun.” Chen Qinghong paused shortly as if someone was talking to her. “En, you can ask that high school classmate of yours, too. En… I remember that Qin Ze does not like bars. Apologize to him for me. I’ll take care of you tonight. I won’t let you get drunk.”

“I didn’t agree to it. I still have work tonight; how can I go to the bar?” Qin Baobao frowned slightly.

“Let’s go. I even called Zhang Ya.”

“No.”

“Then, the weekend?”

Qin Baobao was moved, but she glanced at her brother who shook his head.

“I’m going home with Qin Ze this weekend. My mom’s matchmaking me, and she just issues an ultimatum. We’ll see.”

“Then… okay.” However, she did not give up. “Baobao, think about it. You didn’t agree the last time I asked you out either.”

“Aiya, that was because I was about to take part in ‘I am a Singer’ that time. Training was extra tough, and I didn’t have the energy. I don’t have a choice this time either. Next time, Qinghong. It’ll be my treat.”

“Okay, then you’ve got to come next time.”

“En, bye.”

“Bye.”

Chen Qinghong hung up her phone. “She’s not coming?” Her boyfriend asked unhappily.

“Didn’t you hear?” Chen Qinghong replied plainly.

“You’ve asked her out twice, but she’s rejected you twice. Aren’t you best friends?” Chu Feng frowned.

“She turned me down nicely. Baobao’s smart. She knows what you’re planning. She doesn’t even like…” Qinghong lowered her voice to a hushed tone. “Li Zemin.’

“This is the last time. I’m not a pimp, and I don’t want to drift apart from Baobao because of this.”

She doesn’t even like you…

Chu Feng thought of something a girl said years ago. That year, he had just gotten into Fudan. While playing soccer in the field, he ran into Qin Baobao who was taking a walk after lunch. He was enamored and wooed Qin Baobao. Writing love letters, stalking, purposely sitting near her during open classes, and mustering up the courage to talk to her…

This woman once had him head over heels.

At that time, Chen Qinghong was not Qin Baobao’s best friend yet. He wooed her just to try to get closer to Qin Baobao. He only gave up on Qin Baobao at a gathering with her, Zhang Ya, Chen Qinghong, and Zhang Ya’s boyfriend.

When the gathering ended, he left his drunk girlfriend in the suite and went after Qin Baobao under the pretense of alcohol. He grabbed her by the arm. “Qin Baobao, I’ve liked you for a long time, a really long time. From the first time I saw you, I swore that I would make you my wife. These three years, I’ve written countless love letters to you, but you’re the high and mighty phoenix, a pure angel. You’ve never reciprocated my feelings; neither have you to other guys…”

However, Qin Baobao cut him off before he could finish. “Angel my foot. They all call me a vixen.”

“No, no, no, you’re the most beautiful in my heart. You’re my angel.”

“Thank you, really, but no thank you. I can’t talk. I’ve got to get home and game with my brother. Oh right, what’s your name? Aren’t you Qinghong’s boyfriend? Please do be so fickle,” she said impatiently.

I’ve had a crush on her for three years, and I’ve written her countless love letters… but she doesn’t even know my name…

From that day on, Chu Feng gave up on Qin Baobao. He tested his girlfriend several times after that but realized that she knew nothing about that day. Qin Baobao did not tell her about it. He was relieved and gave up all ideas and designs on Qin Baobao.

Qin Baobao kept quiet not because she wanted to give him a second chance. She had many encounters like that one. The boyfriends of her female friends would always try to seduce her, and she had lost a few friends that way. Until now, she was still wary of her best friends’ boyfriends. She kept quiet about it because she was afraid of losing Chen Qinghong as a friend.

“Watch what you’re saying. If you’re a pimp? Then, what am I?” Chu Feng glared at his girlfriend “Don’t you know how obsessed CEO Li is with her? He has given up so much business this month. We’ve made 50 thousand in commission. We’re another step closer to our goal of buying a home. Besides, I’m not asking you to do much. We’re just asking Qin Baobao out for a meal and making friends. We’re just creating the chance, okay? Let nature take its course. Besides, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. What’s wrong with CEO Li? He’s young and rich.”

No man wouldn’t obsess over her. I know this from experience.

Chen Qinghong bit her lips. “Then, I’ll try next time, but I don’t think it’ll work. Besides, her brother…” She hesitated.

“What about her brother?” Chu Feng frowned.

“He’s very protective of his sister. Since he moved in with Qin Baobao, he has tagged along every time we ask Baobao out. He’s got a tighter leash on his sister than he would a girlfriend. Most importantly, he doesn’t like me.”

“What does him liking you have to do with this?”

“Of course, it matters. For all we know, he could be badmouthing me right now. Between a best friend and brother, who is closer?” Frustration appeared on Chen Qinghong’s face.

She had her reason for saying so. Chen Qinghong often had meals with Qin Baobao and Zhang Ya. Qin Ze would always be there, but he hardly spoke to her. He was usually rather cold to her, but he got along well with Zhang Ya. Given the contrast, it was obvious: Qin Ze did not like her.

…

On the other end, Qin Ze laughed coldly. “Oh, the pimp is here again.”

“What pimp, that sounds awful,” Qin Baobao said unhappily.

“I advised you to bid her goodbye ASAP. She’s a pimp, and she’ll sell you out sooner or later.”

Qin Baobao was upset. “Can you talk nicely?” She glanced at him coldly.

Qin Ze was unfazed. “You’re still being stubborn? Haven’t you heard? ‘Corruption begins with brothers, and degradation begins with sisters.’ If she really wanted to find you a boyfriend, I’m fine with that; but who is Li Zemin? It’s her boss. Her boss is interested in your good looks, and as your best friend, she’s pulling the strings.

“And a bar. Screw the bar. Is she trying to get you drunk and into someone’s bed?” The more Qin Ze said, the angrier he got. “If she were here, I’ll slap her.”

The old man had one taboo: his daughter in the entertainment industry.

Qin Ze had a taboo: his sister going to bars.

Everyone knew the entertainment industry was dirty, and everyone knew that bars were improper places. Of all the people who went there, fifty percent were there for one-night stands. Forty percent was there to pick up eye candies. Only ten percent was there for booze and fun.

That meant that ninety percent of the people were there for the sex. Alcohol was both an excuse for tossing things aside and for sex.

Qin Baobao rarely went to bars, but she was not against them. That was dangerous since she would go when encouraged by her best friend.

“You’re crazy.”

Qin Baobao was really angry. She kicked him angrily and sat down on the couch. She turned her body aside and ignored her brother.

“I’m telling you, don’t go to bars. Don’t even think about it, or else we’re through. I’ll tell the old man that you went to become a star. Songs and whatnot, don’t even think about it,” Qin Ze said solemnly.

Qin Baobao turned suddenly, her eyes red. “Fine, I won’t go. Why are you so fierce?”

She grabbed a pillow and smacked him on the head with it before returning to her room angrily.