Chapter 21 Part 1

The fans of Ji Nuo’s live stream had already adopted his early-to-bed, early-to-rise habits over the past two days.

Watching Ji Nuo tuck the cub in, they too picked up their phones to wash up, planning to synchronize their sleep schedule with the live broadcast.

Unexpectedly, Ji Nuo stepped out for a phone call, then rolled up his sleeves and got busy again.

First, he made a vegetable and minced meat congee using the minced braised beef and spinach. Then, he cracked three eggs into a bowl, using the eggshell to measure out water nine times, pinching in a tiny amount of salt with his fingertips before whisking the egg mixture extremely fine.

Limited by his circumstances and unable to strain it, Ji Nuo placed a towel under the bowl, set it on a chopping block, and jiggled it a few times to release some of the air bubbles. He removed the braised beef brisket from the pot and started steaming the egg mixture.

While the egg liquid was still unset, Ji Nuo found the Jade Mountain ham he bought at the market. He sliced off more than a dozen paper-thin pieces and warmed them briefly over the charcoal brazier to give them a hint of smoky char.

After about four minutes, when the protein in the pot had mostly solidified from the heat, Ji Nuo neatly arranged the roasted ham slices on the surface of the egg custard and covered the pot to continue steaming.

Watching Ji Nuo cook was inherently an enjoyment. The live broadcast viewers used to just feel envious, but right now it was ten o’clock at night!

Everyone originally intended to watch the pre-sleep preparations and get in the mood themselves.

But instead, they were tantalized into alertness by Ji Nuo’s ham and egg custard:

[Wuwuwu, Ji Nuo, I hate you! What kind of late-night snack assassin are you?!]

[Not sleeping in the middle of the night, cooking behind my cub’s back!]

[Holy crap, I couldn’t help it and ordered beer and skewers. If I gain so much as an ounce tomorrow, Ji Nuo has to take full responsibility!]

The viewers weren’t just wildly complaining in the comments. Thinking misery loved company, why should they be the only ones tempted by Ji Nuo?

Many, with their hunger-turned-green eyes, rushed into the other three families’ live streams, maliciously poisoning their peaceful comments:

[I heard something’s happening in Ji Nuo’s stream, anyone know what’s going on?]

[What? Ji Nuo causing trouble again?]

[Looks like Ji Nuo got a call from the production team to…]

By the time Ji Nuo’s viewers stirred up the audiences of other streams, the steaming hot ham and egg custard was just out of the pot. Ji Nuo spooned some Thelephora ganbajun oil, mixed it with light soy sauce, and drizzled it over while it was still hot.

Next was the vegetable and minced meat congee simmering over the charcoal brazier…

The “knife-wielding” hands of the newcomers flooding the stream paused, followed by a new round of wailing in the comments: [Whoever spread the false news, step right up!]

[Wuwu, damn, I really thought Ji Nuo was going to cause a scene, but he was just causing me pain instead… damn it…]

The production team had actually wanted to promote the news of the Movie Emperor’s arrival early on. However, Han Cheng Studio had many meticulous requirements in the initial contract, making it extremely difficult to milk the Best Actor Han’s popularity.

Seeing the live stream audience spontaneously creating buzz, the production team was naturally happy to see it succeed. They also gleefully bought a hot search to lay the groundwork, just waiting for the Movie Emperor’s sudden appearance to explode in popularity.

#Shock! Ji Nuo’s Live Stream Is Actually Like This#

This drew in wave after wave of newcomers falling for it, then veterans bringing in newbies, an endless cycle of traps.

The popularity of Ji Nuo’s live stream doubled during a time slot typically meant for low traffic. Everyone drooled while wondering, why was Ji Nuo showing off his cooking skills so late at night?

Just as Han Cheng’s car stopped at the “dilapidated house,” the courtyard’s live broadcast camera immediately lit up with a signal light.

Xue Xiaoshan asked Qian Lei, who was nodding off in the passenger seat: “Brother Lei, you really not going to grab a bite? Xiao Nuo’s cooking is very good.”

Qian Lei had also been worn out accompanying Han Cheng during filming recently. He didn’t expect Ji Nuo’s food to be any good, always feeling it was just a persona designed by Xu Li to boost his image.

As long as the dishes looked presentable and people around him hyped it up, a culinary genius persona could be forged. After all, no phone yet invented could transmit taste across a screen.

He’d seen this done in the industry before. In reality, the food produced was utterly unremarkable, drenched in heavy sauces and oils just for appearance’s sake, utterly meaningless.

Qian Lei waved his hand tiredly. “I ate plenty on the plane. Just get to the hotel, I’m dead tired.”

The live stream viewers soon saw the car door open, and Han Cheng, who was supposed to be filming for the “West Wind” crew, stepped out.

[Holy crap? Han Cheng just quietly came online???!!!]

[Ahhhhhh, Brother Cheng, I love you!!! Oh my god! This must be a reward for us mom fans, so glad I didn’t leave! /Groundhog scream.jpg]

[Han Cheng looks even thinner than in his last interview… but still so damn handsome!]

[Wait, so Ji Nuo was preparing a late-night snack for Han Cheng? Wuwuwu, such a beautiful ‘wifey’ Ji Nuo, I won’t say who’s jealous (covers mouth crying.jpg]

Of course, Ji Nuo’s live stream never lacked anti-fans. Someone still sneered: [Yo, the Movie Emperor running between two “crews,” doesn’t that count as schedule-stacking? What a model worker!]

And the Movie Emperor’s fans, who arrived upon hearing the news, were no pushovers. Amidst the noisy comments, Han Cheng’s long legs had already stepped into the cramped kitchen.

Ji Nuo was setting out chopsticks. Looking up to meet the man’s much thinner, handsome face, he first paused, shock flashing in his eyes, before a hint of innocent shyness surfaced. “You… you’re here.”

Compared to Ji Nuo’s awkwardness, Han Cheng, as the proactive party in this “romance scenario,” stepped forward and gently pulled him into a light embrace.

Feeling the person in his arms stiffen noticeably, Han Cheng’s gaze paused, curving his lips into a gentle smile. He softly patted Ji Nuo’s back and whispered, “I missed you.”

The man carried a very faint woody scent, tinged with the chill of the late-night dew, more like the cold, thick scent unique to a winter mountain forest.

Before Han Cheng arrived, Ji Nuo had already made up his mind. But upon seeing the idol he had admired for years, smelling that scent—not familiar, yet etched deep in his memory—his mind flooded with memories of his drunken, disgraceful actions over a month ago…

He didn’t even react right away to what Han Cheng said. When he finally processed it, his head buzzed, and he felt completely dizzy.

The comments instantly became an ocean of screaming chickens. Who would have known that the entertainment industry’s famously ascetic workaholic would be such a direct attacker when in love!

[Ahhhhhh, Brother Cheng, I missed you too!!]

[Holy crap, who can resist this?! So this is how Han Cheng is in love!!]

[I’m dead. Already teased by cravings late at night, and then get a shovel-full of dog food right in the face. Is this how you act human?!]

[Damn damn damn, that voice… I’m nosebleeding. Teacher Han not filming romance is a loss for Chinese cinema!]

The man’s deep, elegant voice, as if in stereo surround sound, instantly set off every maiden heart in the live stream.

Regarding their interactions, Xu Li hadn’t given Ji Nuo too many requirements. After all, in the love story she had crafted for them, they were reunited shortly before being exposed by paparazzi.

Ji Nuo’s shyness, tinged with a hint of pouty resistance, was normal. The focus of the act was on Han Cheng. Xu Li was naturally very confident here. As long as Han Cheng used half his acting skills, he could easily pull Ji Nuo into the scene, presenting a perfect early-stage romance.

As expected, when Han Cheng released him, the dim kitchen light couldn’t hide the blush on Ji Nuo’s face at all.

Flustered, Ji Nuo invited Han Cheng to sit down, saying softly, “Sit down first, I’ll go get the congee.”

He lifted his leg to leave but was caught by the wrist. The man smiled faintly, gesturing towards the spinach and minced meat congee and the egg custard already on the table. “Is this it?”

Ji Nuo nodded sheepishly. “Yes, I forgot I already brought it over.”

Seeing Ji Nuo almost combusting, Han Cheng smiled lightly, released his hand, and picked up the spoon. “Did Xiaoshan ask you to make this?”

Ji Nuo nodded obediently. “Brother Shan said you only had a bit of plain congee this morning…” Overcoming his initial panic, Ji Nuo finally found his role. Lowering his eyes, he grumbled softly, “You never tell me anything. If Brother Shan hadn’t mentioned it, were you going to go to bed hungry?”

But he wasn’t Han Cheng’s real lover. Saying such things to a superior made him very insecure. After speaking, he looked up at Han Cheng, his gaze holding a hint of anxious timidity.

Han Cheng stirred the still-steaming meat congee with his spoon. Upon hearing this, a look of guilt crossed his face. “Didn’t have much appetite lately. Didn’t want you to go through the trouble.”

Although the meat congee smelled incredibly fragrant, Han Cheng’s gastrointestinal function was disordered from the rapid weight loss. He’d lost his appetite for a while now. Even the most aromatic dishes tasted like chewing wax to him, and not eating or drinking was actually the most comfortable state.

However, faced with Ji Nuo’s diligent preparation, he couldn’t ignore it. He had to take a few bites to get by.

Having said that, Han Cheng looked at the meat congee, his brow furrowing slightly. He paused for a moment, then scooped up a small spoonful to try.

But the moment the warm rice broth, carrying the soft, tender minced meat, touched his tongue, it was like boiling water poured onto solid ice, swiftly melting a hole through Han Cheng’s anorexic symptoms.

Han Cheng swallowed the entire spoonful of congee. His taste buds savored it, his brow slightly relaxing. He scooped up a second spoonful, a third…

He had to admit, Ji Nuo had timed it perfectly. The meat congee was perfectly palatable. After five consecutive bites, Han Cheng’s dark eyes swept towards the ham and egg custard nearby.

Three minutes later, when Han Cheng lifted the lid of the small congee pot to get another bowl, Ji Nuo couldn’t help but softly dissuade him: “Eating too much suddenly after fasting all day will cause indigestion…”

The young man’s voice was very gentle, as if afraid of disturbing the sleeping child just a wall away, with a hint of drowsiness trailing at the end.

Because Ji Nuo’s natural voice was clear and soft, combined with this, it sounded exceptionally gentle and pleasant to the ear.

And his tone was natural, but because his voice was so soft, it sounded like he was acting coy towards Han Cheng, telling him not to upset his stomach.

The comments erupted in another round of screams:

[My maternal love for Ao’ao has warped. I’ll be shameless and say it first, I want to marry Ji Nuo, wuwuwu!]

[Virtuous, beautiful, great cook, gentle and caring towards his husband, and good with kids. God, can Han Cheng’s fully-loaded life be allowed not a single flaw?!]

[Hehehe, I’m different. I’m quickly joining the Cheng-Nuo CP army, quietly waiting for my CP to squeeze onto the tiny bed with their cub. Hehehe, drool drool…]

Ji Nuo boiled a large pot of hot water for Han Cheng, so he could wipe down and brush his teeth.

He took out the big basin used for bathing Ao’ao. Although it was washed clean, he still scalded it with hot water once before mixing warm water for Han Cheng, placing it in a corner the camera couldn’t see.

He also placed the small wooden stool Ao’ao used daily nearby, for Han Cheng to place his change of clothes.