Perhaps because Solaron-X’s four members all had strong fashion sense and the camera positioning was mostly fixed, the magazine shoot went smoothly.
But when the photographer was preparing to shoot a set of cool, light-clothing photos, he noticed several bright red marks on Yu Huaili’s spine.
The photographer frowned and asked Yu Huaili about it. Yu Huaili hadn’t noticed the marks on his back either. He touched them and said they were probably bug bites.
The weather really did have a lot of mosquitoes biting this time of year. The photographer took a couple more looks and didn’t say anything else.
For the sake of visual harmony, Solaron-X didn’t go shirtless for that set of photos—instead they wore deep-V suits.
Near the end, Sister Chen even paid out of her own pocket to buy coffee for all the on-site staff, creating a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
After wrapping up, Sister Chen closed the car door and was about to tell Solaron-X their upcoming schedule when she turned and saw Yu Huaili, mouth on his coffee straw, nodding off with exhaustion.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Li, tired already?”
Hearing his name, Yu Huaili jolted awake, only then realizing he’d actually fallen asleep.
He blanked out for two seconds to recover, unconsciously taking a big sip of the extra-strong coffee clutched in his hand, then grimaced—it was so bitter his face scrunched up.
The bitterness snapped his brain wide awake.
Accepting the water Duan Qiong handed him, Yu Huaili rubbed his temple and answered Sister Chen’s question. “Sis, I haven’t been resting well lately.”
Sister Chen asked, puzzled, “Didn’t you rest this morning?”
While Sister Chen was speaking, Duan Qiong silently opened his palm toward Yu Huaili.
Yu Huaili glanced up at Duan Qiong, unsure what he wanted, so he casually handed him the coffee in his hand while answering Sister Chen. “Because City H is so dry. This morning Brother Duan Qiong had a nosebleed, and the two of us took a long time dealing with it.”
Duan Qiong looked at the coffee in his hand with a hint of surprise, then stared at Yu Huaili’s profile for two seconds, a look of realization crossing his eyes.
He’d only thought that the bottle of water he’d handed Yu Huaili earlier had been sitting in its seat for so long that it had probably gone warm. He’d just grabbed a cold one from the car fridge and wanted to swap.
But why had Yu Huaili given him the coffee?
Was it for him to drink?
But Yu Huaili had already bitten the straw flat…
After hearing Yu Huaili’s vague words, Sister Chen’s mind inexplicably conjured the ambiguous red marks on Yu Huaili’s back.
Shocked and bewildered, she turned her head, sweeping her gaze over Duan Qiong’s face. “What? Took a long time dealing with it? Oh, no wait—how did Duan Qiong get a nosebleed…?”
Duan Qiong looked up. “Mm.”
Seeing Duan Qiong still calmly take a sip of the coffee, Sister Chen swept her gaze over the people in the car and the team, trying hard to suppress the shock and anger in her heart.
She slowly withdrew her gaze, paused to organize herself, then spoke. “Is it because you’ve been too tired lately…? Little Duan, if you have time, go to the hospital and get this year’s physical done. The company will reimburse it.”
Duan Qiong nodded. “Got it.”
Hearing this, Sister Chen looked at Duan Qiong a couple more times. She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say to him, but her lips moved and the words ultimately didn’t come out.
She took a few deep breaths, and her tone calmed down again as she normally discussed Solaron-X’s other engagements.
“But there’s no time for you to get a physical recently, because you still have two or three variety shows to record. ‘Entertainment Broadcast’ is set for next Wednesday, but before that, you have a reality variety show to record.”
“That show has very, very high online viewership and a lot of attention. It’s called ‘Love Song of Life.’ And you’re recording the final episode of the season. The director thinks highly of you—you’re the finale.”
Sister Chen took a sip of water and added, “But don’t be too anxious. This show’s main theme is leisure and relaxing the soul. All you have to do is plant some crops, chop corn, and catch fish in the water. In the evening, sing some songs and talk about your dreams with the show’s regular cast members—oh, and when you sing, don’t forget to plug Solaron-X’s new album whenever you can.”
Yu Huaili also took a sip of water, swirling it around to wash out the bitter taste in his mouth.
Plant crops, chop corn, catch fish… Ouch. This was supposed to be a relaxing show?
【Hmph.】The System, which had smoothly self-inserted into the role of the idol’s little assistant because Yu Huaili had become an idol, snorted twice. 【Bad Pear, I’m watching this show right now. Let me tell you, the viewers even compare how much work the guests do. Those who do less get cursed out.】
At this, the System felt a bit proud. 【But you don’t need to worry, Bad Pear. I’ll go to the System Store and buy you a ‘Wage Slave Buff.’ That way, even if you plow three acres of land on the show, you won’t feel tired.】
【…】Yu Huaili lightly flicked the System’s body, unable to hold back a laugh. 【System, you really think of everything.】
Sister Chen glanced at her phone and said, “Oh, right. After you finish these two variety shows, it’ll be about time to record Solaron-X’s group variety show. The company is planning to launch a brand-new format for it. But exactly how to record it is still being discussed internally.”
“Since I’ve mentioned it, let me tell you more. When the weather cools down, Solaron-X will hold an offline signing event. The specific date isn’t set yet.”
“…”
Seeing the four of them instantly wilt like frosted eggplants, Sister Chen couldn’t help but smile. “You have so much work and you’re still not satisfied? Tonight, adjust your states. You can also watch past episodes of ‘Love Song of Life’ and see how the previous guests acted. Don’t go on the show and stand there like wooden logs. Create more show effects.”
The shoot location was close to the hotel, so Sister Chen didn’t talk long before the hotel’s outline appeared in her view.
“…” Sister Chen paused two seconds. “You all go back first. Duan Qiong, stay behind a moment. I have something to ask you.”
Hm? Something to ask him again?
Did Sister Chen hold this many private meetings with him in his past life…?
Duan Qiong frowned, wanting to refuse. But remembering the glass-walled bathroom in the hotel, he paused two seconds and nodded. “Mm.”
Let Yu Huaili go back and shower first.
City H was just too dry. There were no extra tissues in the hotel room for wiping his nosebleed.
The van slowly stopped at the hotel entrance. Solaron-X and the team staff all got out. Only Sister Chen and Duan Qiong remained in the car.
Watching Yu Huaili’s figure disappear around the hotel lobby corner, Duan Qiong withdrew his gaze and thought—he’d go to the convenience store nearby in a bit. Yu Huaili had eaten so little today, only an apple and a few vegetable leaves.
Once everyone was gone, Sister Chen couldn’t hold back her frown anymore. Her tone was serious as she cut through Duan Qiong’s thoughts. “Why didn’t you report such a big matter to the company?!”
Duan Qiong was genuinely confused this time. He narrowed his eyes. “Report what?”
“Duan Qiong!” Seeing Duan Qiong refuse to admit it, Sister Chen pressed her temple in anger and said through gritted teeth, “What do you want me to say about you… Did you or did you not switch rooms with Jiang Qing?”
Duan Qiong said frankly, “I did.”
Seeing Duan Qiong completely unbothered, like a dead pig afraid of no scalding water, Sister Chen’s face grew even uglier. “You… fine. I know you young people are eager, but can you be that… that desperate? You made yourself bleed from the nose! And you left marks on Yu Huaili’s body!”
Thinking of the daytime scene, Duan Qiong immediately fell silent, not noticing the strangeness in Sister Chen’s words.
Seeing Duan Qiong silent, Sister Chen got even angrier. “I gave you two hours to rest and you couldn’t hold it in… Spit it out. When exactly did you and Yu Huaili get into bed?! Do either of you even remember you’re idols?!”
“Get into bed?” Duan Qiong froze for two seconds. The coffee in his hand was crushed, coffee liquid dripping all over him—but he had no time to care. He repeated in disbelief, “…Yu Huaili and I got into bed? When?”
“…” Sister Chen paused two seconds. She felt she’d misunderstood something. “Yu Huaili said you two took a long time dealing with his nosebleed?”
Duan Qiong said with a straight face, “Because City H’s air is too dry.”
Sister Chen was silent a moment, then asked, “And the marks on Yu Huaili’s body?”
“They really were bug bites.”
Sister Chen: …
She thought the two of them were just treating her like an idiot, putting on a show to fool her.
But since it had come to this, and the paper window had been poked through, Sister Chen’s expression grew increasingly serious. “Duan Qiong, tell me the truth. Do you have those kinds of feelings for Yu Huaili?”
Duan Qiong seemed to not quite understand what Sister Chen was saying. “What?”
“That is—” Sister Chen said, “Do you like Yu Huaili?”
Duan Qiong’s lips moved, then he said in a low voice, “I like him. I like him the most. Yu Huaili and I are friends.”
Sister Chen felt that talking to Duan Qiong today was exhausting her to death. Who asked him that?
“The kind of like where you want to get into bed with him?”
The blunt words made Duan Qiong pause in wiping his clothes. He shook his head stiffly. “No. I’m not gay. I don’t like men.”
Sister Chen thought: Hah. Couldn’t tell.
Yu Huaili had reported his sexual orientation to the company, but Sister Chen felt Duan Qiong acted even gayer than Yu Huaili.
“Alright.” Sister Chen patted Duan Qiong’s shoulder. “Just keep yourself in check. You’re still on the rise. If anything happens, remember to report to the company at any time.”
Duan Qiong thought: He wouldn’t.
The meaning of his rebirth was to pull Yu Huaili out of the terrible mire he’d been in in his past life.
He wouldn’t let Yu Huaili repeat his past mistake of sleeping with men. He was a man too.
Duan Qiong returned to the hotel carrying a bag of convenience store food.
After opening the door, he first quickly glanced at the bathroom, where the steam hadn’t yet dissipated.
So Yu Huaili had already showered.
Duan Qiong took off his mask, set the things on the table, and searched around the room without finding Yu Huaili’s figure. He frowned and called out, “Bad Pear?”
A muffled response came from the bathroom. “Mm.”
Only then did Duan Qiong fully turn his attention to the frosted glass—but he didn’t expect to see two shadows overlapping, faint and indistinct.
Why were there two shadows?
Duan Qiong ground his teeth. Did even five-star hotels allow in-room service? Didn’t they know a person was registered to this room?
He stood up and pushed open the bathroom door with a dark face.
Yu Huaili and Xi Xingheng turned to look at him at the same time.
At that moment, Yu Huaili’s arms were braced on the vanity, and Xi Xingheng stood behind him, pulling his clothes down to the nape of his neck.
Duan Qiong’s hands were trembling, so angry he nearly pried the door frame off. “What are you two doing?!”
“What?” Seeing Duan Qiong acting jealous without even realizing it, Xi Xingheng scoffed inwardly, but smiled on his face. He shook the ointment tube in his hand. “Putting medicine on Bad Pear… The bug bites on his back have swollen up.”
Duan Qiong frowned and looked at Yu Huaili’s back. The few scattered red marks from the afternoon had now become a fiery patch.
His heart suddenly ached. His breathing grew ragged. “…Does it hurt? It looks serious.”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Yu Huaili said dismissively. “I already looked it up. It only looks serious.”
Duan Qiong’s tightly knit brows finally relaxed a little.
“Oh, right.” Yu Huaili turned his head. “Brother Xingheng, take a photo for me so I can see what it looks like now.”
Xi Xingheng hummed. “OK, but let me put the medicine on first.”
Seeing Xi Xingheng’s fingers already landing on Yu Huaili’s back, Duan Qiong seemed to finally reach his limit. “Let me do it.”
“Little Bad Pear transferred me fifty yuan to do it for him.” Xi Xingheng raised an eyebrow. “I can’t take the money and not deliver, right?”
Yu Huaili blinked, curving his eyes at Duan Qiong. “Bro, you go out first. And close the bathroom door while you’re at it.”
Duan Qiong: …
This bastard Xi Xingheng even dared to charge a fee? Why wouldn’t Yu Huaili let him do it?
He wouldn’t charge anything.
Duan Qiong was nearly dying of rage, but seeing Yu Huaili smiling, he didn’t dare say anything.
He turned and went out, quietly closing the door.
Fortunately, the bathroom glass was transparent, so Duan Qiong just stood there staring at Xi Xingheng’s movements.
Watching Xi Xingheng’s fingertips lightly glide over Yu Huaili’s back, the veins on Duan Qiong’s arms bulged, and he nearly ground his teeth to powder before he barely managed to hold back the impulse to go in and beat Xi Xingheng to a pulp.
“His look at me is fierce.” Xi Xingheng looked down, lightly stroking Yu Huaili’s spine.
“Who? Brother Duan Qiong?” Yu Huaili turned his head to meet Duan Qiong’s eyes, smiling. “He’s like that with everyone. Don’t mind him.”
Xi Xingheng narrowed his eyes. “All done. You’ll have to sleep on your stomach tonight… If it’s not better tomorrow, I’ll come to your dorm and put more medicine on.”
“Huh?” Yu Huaili raised an eyebrow. “No need to trouble yourself.”
Xi Xingheng gently lowered Yu Huaili’s clothes, laughing softly. “No trouble. You paid me, boss.”
After the medicine was applied, Xi Xingheng didn’t stay long.
One, Sister Chen had something to discuss with him. Two, Duan Qiong’s mental state really did look unstable.
After Yu Huaili came out of the bathroom, Duan Qiong—whose mental state looked quite unstable—didn’t actually do anything. He only asked again whether it really didn’t hurt.
After getting Yu Huaili’s affirmation, he went to the kitchenette and cooked him a pack of instant noodles.
He added chopped green onions and an extra egg.
Yu Huaili ate every last bite while feeling guilty: sin, sin. I’ll stay longer at the gym tomorrow.
For tonight, he’d just sleep first. zzz
When Duan Qiong came out of the shower, Yu Huaili was already asleep.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes dark and gloomy, silently and intently watching Yu Huaili for a very, very long time.
So long that when he finally moved, he could hear the creaks of his own bones.
He gently lifted Yu Huaili’s clothes.
Even though Yu Huaili had been sleeping on his stomach, the medicine had all been rubbed off.
Duan Qiong’s fingertips lightly traced those fiery marks. He let out a soft sigh. “Does it really not hurt…?”
But as he kept touching, Duan Qiong’s movements changed meaning.
He remembered again how shamelessly Xi Xingheng had touched Yu Huaili’s back.
He always felt Xi Xingheng had deliberately taken advantage of Yu Huaili.
…Worthless.
Duan Qiong bent down, his trembling lips wandering lightly over those marks.
From top to bottom, over and over again.
