CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 437 - 429 Ideological Rift

The air felt a bit cold.

"Yezi, did you receive the coat I bought for you?"

"A coat?"

"Do you still remember when we went shopping before you left? You said you really liked that coat."

Ye Yuwei suddenly recalled—it had been almost two years ago. She really liked it back then but couldn’t afford it.

"Jiaqi, you still remember!"

"If you like something, I’ll always remember it... Back then, we couldn’t afford it. This time, I bought it for you as soon as I got my pay."

"Thank you, Jiaqi."

"Yezi, you used to hug me and say, ’You’re so good to me.’

Ye Yuwei turned her face away. She didn’t dare look into Jiaqi’s eyes, feeling like a betrayer.

"Haha! Yezi, let’s keep drinking!"

"...I’m sorry, Jiaqi, I..."

"It’s okay..."

Li Jiaqi’s reddened eyes brimmed with tears as she emptied her glass, bitterness filling her mouth and heart.

"Yezi, do you still remember?"

"You said that once we had money, we’d find a place where no one knew us and open a shop together."

Ye Yuwei smiled faintly, "We were too naïve back then."

"...Yeah! I was too simple-minded."

Li Jiaqi forced a smile, though the spark in her eyes had dimmed.

"Besides, we haven’t made any money yet. What if we lose it all?"

"Haha! Haha!"

Li Jiaqi burst into laughter at Yezi’s words.

"Actually, I think as long as there’s enough money to get by, it’s fine."

"...Jiaqi, we’re both bound by contracts. They’re like chains; there’s no way out."

Li Jiaqi fell silent. She knew Yezi was right.

Both of them had chosen this path and had to live with their decisions.

"Jiaqi, I still remember saying: We’re just poor girls, uneducated and without diplomas. The only resource we have is this fleeting youth and good looks. If we want a better life, we have to fight for it."

"Yezi, if we were just ordinary girls, we wouldn’t have so many worries, would we?"

"Life doesn’t entertain ’what-ifs.’ I’ve fought against all odds, and I won’t give up now."

Ye Yuwei’s words were resolute, her gaze filled with determination, like the fervent sunflower longing for the sun.

Li Jiaqi gazed at her friend and felt how unfamiliar she had become. Or perhaps, this was the real Ye Yuwei.

"Jiaqi, did something happen to you?"

"...No, I’m fine. I’m just missing you too much."

"No, Jiaqi, something’s definitely wrong. Tell me."

"It’s about filming. There’s a role and the company can’t decide whom to give it to."

Li Jiaqi didn’t tell the truth; she didn’t want to burden her best friend with her problems.

Deep down, she couldn’t shake the thought that the reason Yezi didn’t want to see her anymore was because she was a washed-up celebrity.

"Galaxy doesn’t have many resources," Ye Yuwei remarked with a sigh.

Back then, just for a handful of resources, over 300 girls fought tooth and nail against each other.

"Yezi, I noticed your team’s acting opportunities mostly go to the top two. You’re always appearing on variety shows."

"Those roles are secured by their company’s initiatives; there’s investor backing."

Li Jiaqi nodded, "Without resources in this industry, it’s impossible."

"Exactly! Without connections, you’re nothing but a background actor for life." Ye Yuwei empathized.

"Jiaqi, what’s wrong?" Ye Yuwei asked when she noticed Jiaqi had gone silent.

"Nothing... You girls are all top-tier now! Everyone in the group keeps up with you."

Ye Yuwei knew Jiaqi was referring to Galaxy.

She couldn’t help but let out a proud smile, "We are Huaxia’s strongest girl group."

That sentence stung Li Jiaqi deeply, making her uncomfortable: "Actually, we’re pretty good too. We just don’t have the platform like Penguin."

Ye Yuwei gave a casual smile and didn’t argue further.

She felt there was no point in arguing; no one would convince the other anyway. Li Jiaqi, however, mistook her silence for disdain.

Despite the ridicule and constant claims that Galaxy lacked talent, the self-respect of its girls was strong.

The fans and even the girls themselves joked about Galaxy lacking unity.

But in reality, anyone who had stayed in the group for over a year had that unity etched into their soul.

It was just the emotions that made them unwilling to admit it.

Li Jiaqi looked at Yezi, now distantly above her: "Perhaps, to her, we were just dirt."

"Yezi, it’s late. Let’s head back and rest."

"Jiaqi, take care of yourself. Let’s keep working hard."

"Goodbye."

Li Jiaqi slowly stood up, her beautiful eyes holding a complex mix of emotions. Yet when she left, she showed no hesitation.

Outside, the drizzling rain persisted, shrouding the magical city like smoke, like a dream.

Ye Yuwei watched Jiaqi’s figure gradually fade into the misty rain.

She knew her friend hadn’t been truthful with her.

But she didn’t have the courage to ask further.

Because she knew she couldn’t help Jiaqi—she couldn’t do anything.

She was just thankful she’d signed a full management contract with Penguin. As long as she remained valuable, she wouldn’t be discarded.

"I’m sorry, Jiaqi. In this world, we’re just one of many fish in the current, unable to swim upstream."

When she returned to the villa, the place was eerily quiet.

The lavish decorations gave Ye Yuwei a strange sense of reassurance.

At least they proved that she was still important.

Even if this was a gilded cage, they didn’t have to worry about food, safety, or applause.

"Yezi, you’re back!"

"Phew! Xiaoyu, you scared me coming out like that."

Ye Yuwei clutched her chest, trying to calm herself.

"Want a drink?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Ah! Sure!"

Wearing a white robe, her long wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, Fu Xiaoyu walked to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of alcohol.

"Vodka, your favorite."

"Drinking something so strong this late will give me a headache in the morning."

"Strong liquor may cause headaches, but it also clears the mind."

Fu Xiaoyu poured two glasses as she spoke.

"Xiaoyu, you seem off."

"Yezi, who did you meet today?"

"Xiaoyu, that doesn’t seem like a question you should be asking."

"I’d rather not ask, but if the person you met could affect the group, I have the right."

Ye Yuwei was extremely annoyed but showed no sign of it on her face.

"I just met with a former teammate."

"Was it Li Jiaqi?"

When Ye Yuwei didn’t answer, Fu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but say, "Yezi, I used to think you were more mature and rational than us. How could you do something like this?"

"It was a normal meeting. Nothing else happened."

"If you say nothing happened, then nothing happened? Countless eyes are watching us, waiting for us to stumble."

Fu Xiaoyu’s sharp questions left Ye Yuwei speechless. She realized her recklessness.

"Yezi, our group can’t afford any more scandals. At least internally, we need to stay united."

"Xiaoyu, I understand. I won’t make this mistake again."

"Yezi, remember: you’re the leader of Tianou. We represent the pinnacle of girl groups."

"Xiaoyu, I’ll make sure our group’s reputation remains untarnished."

Ye Yuwei trudged back to her bedroom. Gazing at the wall adorned with photos of all 11 members and the group’s central team portrait, she felt suffocated.

"Huaxia’s number one girl group. I’m the leader of this group, the leader..."