SQHY - Idol Rivals, Lifelong Friends

Chapter 3: The Silent Treatment: Zhouzhou's Stubborn Silence

The silence that had descended upon the SNH48 dorms was deafening. Zhouzhou had effectively shut Wangyi out, her cold demeanor and refusal to even acknowledge the younger idol's presence creating a palpable tension that hung in the air.

Wangyi had spent the past few days desperately trying to reach out to Zhouzhou, she delete her live Zhibo immediately, to no avail. She would knock on the door to their shared room, calling out Zhouzhou's name, only to be met with stony silence. Whenever their paths crossed backstage or during rehearsals, Zhouzhou would promptly turn away, her gaze fixed resolutely on some distant point.

The other members of the idol group watched the unfolding drama with a mixture of concern and bewilderment. They had grown so accustomed to the lively banter and infectious laughter that had always characterized the "YiZhou" duo, and now, the absence of that familiar dynamic was almost jarring.

"Have you tried talking to her?" Hao Jing Yi, one of Zhouzhou's closest friends, asked Wangyi during a break in rehearsals.

Wangyi nodded, her expression downcast. "I've tried, but she won't even look at me, let alone listen to what I have to say. I just... I don't know what to do. I never meant to hurt her, you know?"

HJY reached out, placing a comforting hand on Wangyi's shoulder. "I know, and I'm sure Zhouzhou knows that too, deep down. But you know how stubborn she can be. She's probably just feeling really hurt and betrayed right now."

The younger idol sighed, her gaze drifting across the room to where Zhouzhou stood, her back turned to the group. "I just wish she'd let me explain. I can't stand the thought of her being angry with me. We're supposed to be partners, you know? Best friends."

HJY nodded sympathetically. "Give her some time, Wangyi. She'll come around. Zhouzhou's bark is usually worse than her bite. You just have to be patient and wait for her to cool off."

Wangyi mustered a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, HJY. I'll try my best to be patient, but it's killing me, seeing her like this."

As the rehearsal resumed, Wangyi's gaze kept drifting back to Zhouzhou, her heart aching with each subtle flinch or avoidance of eye contact. It was as if the older idol had built an impenetrable wall around herself, shutting Wangyi out completely.

The fans, too, had noticed the growing divide between the once-inseparable duo. Social media was abuzz with speculation and concern, as the "YiZhou" tag that had once been a constant source of joy and positivity now seemed to only invite heartbreak and uncertainty.

"What happened to Zhouzhou and Wangyi?" one fan posted, their distress palpable in the words. "They used to be so close. I hope they can work things out."

Another fan chimed in, their message tinged with frustration. "I can't believe Wangyi would do something to betray Zhouzhou's trust like that. They were supposed to be best CP !"

The comments only served to deepen Wangyi's guilt and despair. She had never meant for this to happen, never imagined that her actions could have such devastating consequences. All she wanted was to make things right, to have her partner, her friend, back by her side.

As the days wore on, the tension between Zhouzhou and Wangyi only grew more palpable. Backstage, the once-lively duo would barely acknowledge each other, their interactions reduced to a few stilted, polite exchanges whenever absolutely necessary.

During performances, the strain in their partnership was evident to all who watched. Gone were the effortless synchronization and the playful, on-stage banter that had captivated the fans. Instead, Zhouzhou and Wangyi moved like strangers, their focus resolutely fixed on their individual parts, their connection severed.

The other members of SNH48 had tried, in vain, to mediate the situation, but Zhouzhou's stubborn silence and Wangyi's heartbroken pleas had only served to create an impasse. The once-vibrant "YiZhou" duo had become a source of concern and heartache for the entire group.

Wangyi, her heart heavy with guilt and regret, found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on her work. She would catch herself glancing at Zhouzhou during rehearsals, her eyes pleading for the older idol to just look her way, to acknowledge her presence.

But Zhouzhou remained steadfast in her refusal to engage. She moved through the motions of their routines with a mechanical precision, her expression carefully neutral. It was as if she had erected an invisible barrier, shielding herself from the hurt and betrayal she had experienced.

The fans, too, had become increasingly vocal in their concern for the duo. Social media was flooded with messages of support and pleas for the two idols to reconcile, but Zhouzhou's stubborn silence and Wangyi's inability to break through it only fueled the growing sense of despair.

"Please, Zhouzhou, just talk to Wangyi!" one fan begged, their message resonating with hundreds of others who shared the sentiment. "We miss the old 'YiZhou' so much. They can't end like this!"

Another fan, their heart breaking, posted a simple yet poignant message: "Without Zhouzhou and Wangyi, it just doesn't feel the same anymore."

As the din of the fans' pleas echoed through the dorms, Wangyi found herself increasingly isolated, her attempts to reach out to Zhouzhou met with only the painful silence that had become the new norm. She longed to shatter the invisible barrier that had erected between them, to somehow find a way to mend the shattered trust and restore the bond they had once shared.

But with Zhouzhou steadfastly refusing to even acknowledge her presence, Wangyi felt helpless, adrift in a sea of uncertainty and regret. The once-vibrant "YiZhou" duo had been reduced to mere shadows of their former selves, leaving a void in the hearts of their devoted fans.