"Why haven't you left yet?" Song Xi asked, turning back to see Xiao Mo still sitting there.
Xiao Mo chuckled foolishly. She couldn't say that Director Lou had ordered her to keep an eye on Song Xi tonight!
"I'm staying with you, Sister Xi!"
Song Xi's delicate eyebrows furrowed. "You don't need to. Don't worry, I won't drink anymore. Go back."
"I..." Xiao Mo clung to the table leg, quickly fabricating a reason. "I... I'm scared! Sister Xi, I don't dare to sleep alone. Just let me stay with you. Don't worry, I'll sleep on the sofa. I absolutely won't disturb you!"
"Scared of what?"
Xiao Mo said pitifully, "When I was little, I was always alone at home. My parents were out working, so I was very scared sleeping alone..."
Song Xi pursed her lips. "Alright then."
? That easy?
Sister Xi is so easily fooled...
Song Xi didn't let Xiao Mo sleep on the sofa. It was winter, and she could easily catch a cold. So, she had her sleep in the same bed. The hotel bed was big enough anyway.
Xiao Mo hesitated. "N-no need, Sister Xi, I'll sleep on the sofa!"
"If you don't sleep in the bed, then you can leave."
"O-okay."
After all this fuss, Xiao Mo wasn't sleepy anymore, so she took out her phone to scroll through Weibo.
There was a lot of discussion online, mostly calling Song Xi dramatic. Some people even commented on the show's official Weibo, asking why they invited Song Xi! Saying she was a fly in the ointment.
Xiao Mo was so angry her screen was clicking loudly.
"It's their choice to invite whoever they want, why do you care?"
"I think you're the fly in the ointment. Did you eat shit for dinner to have such a foul mouth?!"
"Spreading rumors and slandering based on just one photo, do you know you'll be held legally responsible?!"
And so, Xiao Mo argued with netizens all night.
Song Xi couldn't sleep initially, but the alcohol effects came back. When she opened her eyes again, the sky was already a pale, milky white.
Her head felt a little dizzy. She looked back and saw Xiao Mo greeting her with dark circles under her eyes.
"...Sister Xi, good morning."
Song Xi: "..."
At six o'clock, Song Xi arrived at the training room. She thought everyone would be there, but to her surprise, only Tao Qingyu was present when she opened the door.
"Teacher Song, good morning."
They didn't have their phones, so they likely had no idea about the online situation yesterday.
Song Xi didn't bring it up deliberately and asked, "Where are the others?"
"Ye Tian was too sleepy, so I sent him to wash his face. The others... haven't arrived yet."
If they aren't this motivated, how can they compete for first place?
Song Xi looked at Tao Qingyu. "What are you planning to do?"
Tao Qingyu looked a little helpless, but he was still responsible. After a few seconds, he made up his mind. "I'll go call them!"
But the next second, a staff member rushed over to inform them, "Tao Qingyu, hurry back to the dorms! Ye Tian and Liu Dongdong are fighting!"
"What!"
Song Xi followed them, as they were in the same group.
Arriving at the dorm door, there was no sound from inside, but the door was locked.
Tao Qingyu pushed through the staff members to the door and knocked. "Ye Tian, open the door!"
No response from inside.
Tao Qingyu shouted again, "Open the door!"
He looked back at Song Xi, suppressing his anger, and said, "Teacher Song is watching. Ye Tian, do you want to make this a bigger issue?"
As expected, as soon as Song Xi's name was mentioned, there was movement from behind the door.
After a long pause, the door opened.
The staff members immediately rushed in. Fortunately, neither of them was injured, just that their belongings were overturned and scattered everywhere.
Other trainees, hearing the news, quickly ran over to witness the drama. After being dispersed by the director, they started gossiping in their respective dorms.
"I told you to go wash your face, why did you come back to the dorm?" Tao Qingyu was very angry.
"To get something."
As he said this, Ye Tian glared fiercely at Liu Dongdong.
The director, fearing they would start fighting, pulled Liu Dongdong away from the dorm.
As Liu Dongdong brushed past Song Xi, he gave her a disdainful glance.
In just a second, Song Xi had an intuition that this matter might, perhaps, be related to her.
The director asked Ye Tian what happened, why they were fighting, but Ye Tian was willing to apologize and said the director could eliminate him, rather than explain the reason.
It seemed there was a hidden story here.
Seeing that Ye Tian's mouth was sealed tight, the director told him to rest and prepared to find Liu Dongdong for an explanation.
Before leaving, he instructed Tao Qingyu, "You two have the best relationship. Keep an eye on him, and don't cause any trouble."
Tao Qingyu nodded, his brows furrowed.
After the director and staff left, Tao Qingyu picked up the scattered items from the floor. Once everything was tidied up, he finally spoke. "Are you calm now? Tell me, why were you fighting with him?"
Unexpectedly, Ye Tian turned and walked away. "No reason."
"Ye Tian!" Tao Qingyu shouted after his retreating figure. "Do you still consider us brothers?!"
But Ye Tian was exceptionally heartless this time, not even looking back.
Tao Qingyu clenched his fists. His tall frame suddenly emanated a faint sense of disappointment.