17. Liu Qiao Qiao joins Baiyu studios 2

The next day, after meeting with Tan Jing and his team. Lai Zhiqiang drove straight to First citizens hospital to visit Li Cheng.

The news of Li Cheng's health condition had come as a surprise to him. Never in a million years would he have ever believed, that something like this would happen to Li Cheng.

Thirty minutes later he drove into the hospital parking lot and got out of his car. He walked into the hospital and headed straight to the front desk.

He went straight to one of the ladies manning the front desk, out down his mask, and said

"Hello, could you please direct me to oncology ward room 305"

"Hello, sir. The Oncology department is on the fifth. Take an elevator to the fifth floor, Room 305 is four doors to the right." She replied with a smile

"Thanks"

"Your welcome"

He took an elevator to the fifth floor. When the elevator arrived, he got out of the elevator and walked over to Li Cheng's ward.

He came to a stop at the door, when he heard a familiar voice.

'What the hell is he doing here' he thought as he took a step away from the door.

He was still contemplating his next steps when he suddenly heard his name called from behind.

"Zhiqiang?"

He turned around to find himself face to face with the two other people he had been hoping to avoid running into.

'You have got to be kidding me. Of all the people, he could run into. It just had to be his old bandmates" He thought feeling completely embarrassed.

He had just wanted to come over, make good with Li Cheng, and go back, without anyone finding out he was ever here. Now he can't even do that again.

"It is you, Zhiqian. See Shen Xue, I was right" TJ said slapping Shen Xue on the chest lightly.

"We saw you from afar and I thought you looked quite familiar. I told Shen Xue that it was our little Zhiqiang but he didn't believe me. Luckily you proved me right" he continued egging Shen Xue.

This was their relationship in a nutshell. MJ always took jabs at Shen Xue while Shen Xue completely ignored him.

"You came," Shen Xue said solemnly looking straight at Lai Zhiqiang.

"Yes, I wanted to see if he was telling the truth" Lai Zhiqiang replied putting both hands on his pants pocket.

"Zhiyuan is already inside, we should go join him," Shen Xue said and opened the door wide.

Shen Xue wasn't giving him anyway out, which wasn't surprising. Shen Xue though quiet was one of the strictest men he had ever met.

"Shen Xue, MJ, and Zhiqiang? How come you're all here together" Lu Zhiyuan said as they walked into the room.

"Welcome," Li Shu, Li Cheng's younger sister said standing to welcome them in.

They walked on and spread out around the room, all focused on the pale, frail man lying on the hospital bed.

"I am going to buy some fruits. Take your time" Li Shu said picking up her purse and walked out of the room.

"wow the band is all back together," Li Cheng said coughing gently.

"Let's skip the small talk, Li Cheng. Why did you call us all here?" Lai Zhiqiang asked with a slight frown.

"Zhiqiang, Still as impatient as ever" Li Cheng replied.

"Oh cut the crap Li Cheng, You called us all here. You might as well cut to the chase and tell us why" MJ said holding Li Cheng's gaze.

In the group, while Zhiqiang was bad-tempered, MJ was impulsive and hot-headed. He was one of the more vocal members of the group.

Back then he and Li Cheng had been very close. They were the two people closest in age.

"You're still angry with me. I get that and I'm not mad at you for that. I know that I deserve that, Back then I was very selfish and stubborn.

"I let the fame get to my head. I"m sorry, I wasn't a good friend to y'all. I was wrong, please give me a chance to make it up to you all".

"There's no need for that Li Cheng, after all these years. I think we are even" Lu Zhiyuan replied.

"Even though I was wrong"

"The fact that you are admitting you're wrong, means you are making progress," Lai Zhiqiang said.

"Yeah"

They stayed back, catching up for some time. Close to an hour later they began to leave one at a time until it remains only him.

******

Weeks later.

Liu Qiao Qiao was almost done with her scenes. Everything was also gearing up for the big reveal.

A few days later Baiyu Studios sent out a post on their webpage announcing that Liu Qiao Qiao the former member of the girl group Pretty Girls, had been signed under Baiyu Studios.

The news had come as a shock to everyone but not as much as it did to her former group mates.

The announcement was faced with mixed reactions from the public. A few days later Baiyu studios announced that Liu Qiao Qiao would be making her acting debut in their upcoming contemporary romance drama 'A little love song'.