Chapter 42

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Chapter 42: Title

Post-lunch, staff distributed name tags indicating each contestant’s current teammates on their sleeve. Successful snatches required tag exchanges. Groups were then escorted to various mall floors.

Song Yutian and Gong Yu found themselves at a top-floor restaurant entrance. Five minutes later, staff announced all teams were in position for commencement.

Gong Yu stood surveying their surroundings. "Yutian," he asked, "where do you suppose others are stationed?"

Song Yutian smiled faintly. "Eager to snatch teammates already?"

Gong Yu flinched before hastily recovering. "Merely curious." After a pause, he added, "Truthfully, I’ve always wanted to team with you."

Song Yutian’s raised eyebrow made Gong Yu avert his gaze uncomfortably—her piercing eyes always unnerved him.

"How about visiting the third floor?" he proposed.

"Agreed."

Gong Yu’s inner delight surfaced briefly before he hurriedly justified, "There’s… an ice cream parlor there."

"Ah," Song Yutian’s smile deepened. "I assumed you had other motivations."

Gong Yu’s pulse quickened. "What possible reasons?"

"Perhaps its central location?"

"Why would I—" Gong Yu’s reflexive denial died midway, realizing his over-explanation betrayed guilt. He shut his mouth awkwardly. How did this woman always anticipate his thoughts?

Descending two floors via escalator, they heard distant shouts of "Sister Yutian!" Turning toward the sound, they spotted Liu Tian and Shen Xi.

As soon as Liu Tian saw Song Yutian, he immediately ran over and appeared before her within two seconds.

"Sister Yutian, I finally found you all!" Liu Tian said breathlessly.

Having rushed too quickly, he took several deep breaths before regaining steady breathing.

Shen Xi walked at a slightly slower pace, only reaching Liu Tian’s side just then.

Song Yutian and Shen Xi exchanged polite nods before hearing Gong Yu ask, "Liu Tian, Sister Xi, are you here to—"

Before Gong Yu could finish, Liu Tian declared loudly, "I want to steal a teammate! To be Sister Yutian’s teammate!"

His resolute expression and tone made it sound like a solemn proclamation.

Gong Yu was somewhat startled by Liu Tian’s intensity, swallowing the rest of his unfinished question.

The other two showed little reaction—Song Yutian and Shen Xi merely glanced at each other before Shen Xi nodded.

Song Yutian instantly understood: Shen Xi was signaling, "Don’t worry, I’ll handle Gong Yu."

Completely ignoring the others’ reactions, Liu Tian turned to a staff member. "This counts as successfully stealing a teammate, right?"

Receiving confirmation, Liu Tian immediately extended his palm toward Gong Yu. "Brother Yu, give me Sister Yutian’s name tag."

As Gong Yu began removing the sleeve-pinned name tag, he wondered: What’s gotten into Liu Tian? Why is he so desperate to team up with Song Yutian?

Handing over the tag bearing Song Yutian’s name, Gong Yu shot Shen Xi a faintly malicious look, his lips curling imperceptibly.

Being so blatantly rejected by Liu Tian must sting Shen Xi. At least he wasn’t alone in disliking Song Yutian anymore.

Yet Gong Yu’s expression froze a moment later.

After taking the tag, Liu Tian turned to Shen Xi. "Sister Xi, you’re amazing! Sister Yutian was exactly where you said! I’ll buy tons of your new albums to support you!"

Shen Xi shook her head with a smile. "Alright, I get it."

Gong Yu stared at Shen Xi incredulously, searching for signs of forced composure.

Instead, he saw her smiling at Song Yutian. "Yutian, see you tonight."

Bitter disappointment flooded Gong Yu: Why don’t they hate Song Yutian? She’s so hypocritical, so…

"Gong Yu? Let’s go." Shen Xi’s cool voice snapped him back to reality.

After their departure, Liu Tian gazed excitedly at Song Yutian. "Sister Yutian! We’re finally teammates!"

He raised his arm, joyfully tracing the sleeve-pinned name tag bearing her name as if it were a rare treasure.

His unbridled delight even made Song Yutian wonder: Does teaming up with me truly make him this happy?

Livestream viewers immediately noticed Liu Tian’s blatant favoritism:

[Liu Tian clearly adores Song Yutian! That gaze, though…]

[So obvious! Think we can’t tell? I’m totally shipping them!]

[Powerful big sis × loyal pup—YES!]

Pro-shipping bullet comments multiplied rapidly despite scattered naysayers who were quickly drowned out:

[Can’t blame us! They’re feeding CP fans directly!]

[Don’t care if it’s fake—Liu Tian’s gaze is pure magic!]

Having admired the name tag, Liu Tian looked up eagerly. "Sister Yutian! I can’t wait to compete with you tomorrow!"

Song Yutian chose to temper his enthusiasm. "Rules say a maximum of three steals. We might not be teammates tomorrow."

Liu Tian blinked. "Oh."

"You didn’t consider that at all?" she pressed.

Suddenly beckoning her closer, Liu Tian whispered conspiratorially—though the mic captured every word: "Yutian, let’s hide together where no one can find us."

The bullet comments exploded:

[AAAAND that’s straight from a romance drama!]

[My heart! Liu Tian’s smooth af!]

[This ISN’T a dating show?! Even my single ass feels the sparks!]

Song Yutian froze—not from the suggestion, but from noticing Liu Tian’s address had shifted from "Sister Yutian" to simply "Yutian."

Her intense stare briefly stunned Liu Tian, but he quickly recovered. "Come on, Yutian! I’ll show you a special place!"

Ten minutes later, at the ice rink on the top floor of the mall.

Song Yutian and Liu Tian sat side by side on the bench, ice skates and protective gear at their feet.

Liu Tian tightened his shoelaces and asked, "Yutian, how’s your skating?"

Song Yutian replied, "Not bad. I learned as a child."

Liu Tian sighed in disappointment. "Oh."

Song Yutian raised an eyebrow. "What’s the matter?"

Liu Tian shook his head. "Nothing!"

After securing her knee pads, Song Yutian reached for the arm guards. A hand suddenly brushed over hers. She turned to find Liu Tian focused intently on fastening her arm protector, his gaze fixed on the straps. When he finally looked up, he grinned. "All set!"

Noticing her stare, he added, "These are tricky to put on alone. See? Much faster with help!"

Song Yutian inclined her head. "Thanks."

"Anytime! That’s what friends do," he beamed.

Once geared up, Liu Tian strode ahead onto the ice. Twisting his torso toward her, he extended his hand.

"Thank you," she said, bypassing his offer to glide directly onto the rink. Within seconds, she had become a distant silhouette against the frosty backdrop.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Liu Tian called out, but Song Yutian kept gliding along the perimeter, wind threading through her hair. The cold air invigorated her—this felt closer to dancing than any scripted program moment.

Completing a full circuit, she halted before Liu Tian, who remained rooted in place.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

"You’re too quick!" He pouted theatrically, though his eyes sparkled. "I’d rather wait here than chase ghosts."

A laugh escaped her. "My apologies. It’s been years since I last skated." Her fingers absently traced the guard on her wrist—memories of childhood figure skating lessons flickering through her mind, as brief as winter sunlight before dance consumed everything.

"Join me?" she offered.

"Absolutely!" He nearly tripped in his eagerness to follow as she pushed off again, this time moderating her speed.

Their blades carved twin arcs across the nearly empty rink. Liu Tian proved surprisingly adept, weaving patterns that complemented hers. When Song Yutian spread her arms in a spontaneous pirouette, she found him motionless upon completing the spin, his gaze unwavering.

Slowing to a stop, she tilted her head in silent question.

"You’re breathtaking," he said, the words as simple as snowfall.

Then he hugged himself, knees dipping in exaggerated mimicry of a jump spin. "Can you do that?"

Her laughter echoed off the rafters before she answered with action—flowing backward, leaping, and completing a flawless airborne rotation. As she coasted back, Liu Tian gaped. "Is there anything you can’t do?"

She smiled. Compliments usually curdled like spoiled milk when they came from men, yet his felt pure as springwater.

"Teach me?" he pleaded, already wobbling into a starting position.

Song Yutian shook her head with a smile, "I’m not very good at teaching others."

Liu Tian insisted, "It’s okay, come on! I’ve always wanted to try jumping."

Song Yutian’s smile faded slightly, "There’s not enough time today. Maybe next time."

Liu Tian lowered his head briefly before brightening again, "Alright, but Sister Yutian mustn’t forget next time."

Song Yutian arched her eyebrows slightly at his form of address.

Unaware, Liu Tian continued, "Yutian, let’s skate two more laps together."

"Okay," Song Yutian agreed.

This time Liu Tian accelerated first, gliding ahead.

Song Yutian followed.

She couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but Liu Tian seemed to be skating faster than before.

After barely one and a half laps, Liu Tian abruptly slowed down while craning his neck in a particular direction.

Song Yutian followed his gaze.

Two familiar figures.

She sighed inwardly—the inevitable had arrived.