the end and new beginnings

ch 1

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ch. 1 tell me, one day...

YUQI BARELY HAD AN HOUR TO DRY OFF BEFORE THE CHAMPAGNE WAS UNCORKED and spraying over everyone's heads. In fact, it wasn't just champagne manifested tonight; beer, kebobs, and trays of beautiful pastries and tropical fruits were carried onto the rooftop of the Parisian Macau where a glamorous event awaited...

This was the "Keep Running" Wrap Party: a tradition at the end of each season like a final hurrah before the next day's farewell scene would be filmed. "Go back to the hotel and change," the crew told the cast and guests after everyone hauled themselves out of the pool that afternoon, at the end of the "best friend" program this episode—to which everyone happily obliged.

After being sat on by her brothers in the pool and tortured in a gladiator ring in the sun, Yuqi was relieved that the emotional part of the finale could be saved for another day. Ignored for a little bit later.

By the time Yuqi showed up to the Eiffel tower rooftop, it was evening, and the sun hung low in the summer sky. She had changed into a strappy summer dress and pulled her hair up from her neck into a high ponytail. Not a minute after she had time to take in the buffet, the string lights, and the glittering Macau skyline did she hear multiple voices shout out from across the balcony:

"Yuqi didi!"

Her brown eyes swung toward the familiar tones and she opened her mouth wide with amusement.

It was her brothers Zheng Kai, Yanlin, and their best friend guests Chen Linong and Zuo Chao, all already holding bottles and glasses of Macau Golden Ale and good ol' Tsingtao beer, toasting and pouring for each other.

"How'd you guys start so quickly?" Yuqi skipped over there, laughing. "Leave it to you guys."

"So what do you think, Yuqi?" Zheng Kai gestured around her, at the sprawling roof on which they stood; the impressive Venetian stood tall in the distance, the bay of Macau behind that, and the lights and music playing around them created the exact atmosphere for celebration.

"Are you satisfied?" He nudged her.

"How could I not be?" Yuqi gawked, accepting a tall cold glass of ale from Zuo Chao who was already heckling Li Chen from across the roof, laughing as old friends do. People floated in and around, out and about, just full of cheer.

"Yuqi, you are Keep Running family now, so you are welcome anytime to our extravagant parties."

"Oh thanks, Kai Ge, are you gonna hold regular parties without me now?"

"What makes you think we don't already?" laughed Yanlin next to her.

"Oi," she scolded him playfully, as they clinked glasses.

"Look, the Keep Running family will always welcome new siblings, come hang out anytime," said Zheng Kai. "Except not you, Yanlin."

"OI!" They howled in laughter.

"Yuqi, you're leaving day after tomorrow right?" Zheng Kai asked.

"Ah, yea..." She sighed loudly. "I'm flying out that morning." It was a plan set months ago, that she would be returning to Beijing right after filming to spend time with her family and attend a friend's wedding. Thinking about it brought a mix of joy and sadness.

"Don't feel sad—we'll see you at promotion events all the time." Yanlin commented holding his hands out. "You know those damn producers are gonna be working us all the way till the new season."