“Brother Yi Chen, why did you listen to him?!” Fu Le pouted, looking extremely aggrieved. “He doesn’t like me anyway, so he definitely doesn’t want anyone talking to me…”
With that, he started to get up and walk toward Yi Chen.
“Don’t come over!” Yi Chen took a step back, suddenly turned to Yu Xi, straightened his back, and said, “You’re right, why should I listen to you?”
He was used to it…
Whenever Yu Xi got angry, he couldn’t help but tremble all over…
“You can choose not to listen or look, but don’t come over.” Yu Xi coldly washed the knife stained with bits of meat. “Then I won’t interfere with you. Carry on.”
“You’re concerned about me. I get it.” Yi Chen took the initiative to help Yu Xi pack the ground meat into a basin. “He talks too recklessly, especially on live streams where he speaks without a filter. One slip-up and he’ll get attacked. Of course, I have to accept your concern.”
The very reckless-talking Fu Le: “?”
Yi Chen paused. “Oh, Teacher Yu Xi, so you were that worried about me!!”
Yu Xi: “…”
Half an hour later, Wu Zhiqi and Fang Peng returned together.
The two had quite a haul.
Fang Peng carried a basket of eggs, with chicken and duck feathers on his clothes. “Come take this, my old back can’t take it.”
Wu Zhiqi carried a whole bucket of live, flopping fish. “Look at my fish! A fisherman’s paradise! Wow! Yu Xi! You chopped up the meat? And made meat filling!!! We can make dumplings for the next couple of days!! You’re amazing!!”
The rest of the process went fairly harmoniously. Fang Peng somehow found dumpling wrappers, Yu Xi followed an online tutorial to season the meat filling, Wu Zhiqi excitedly wrapped the dumplings, Yi Chen handled the ingredients, and Fu Le, though he didn’t look too happy, still played his persona since it was live.
Only Wen Yimeng stayed cooped up in his room, lying sideways on his phone playing games.
[Dream Dream, why didn’t you go make food with everyone?]
Wen Yimeng: “I don’t want to eat, so I don’t want to make it.”
[But you can’t be antisocial. You’re a newbie; you need to build good relationships with the seniors. Yi Chen is—]
Wen Yimeng: “I want to rely on my skills.”
[You still need to interact more with everyone.]
Wen Yimeng coldly glanced at the screen. “I’m very tired.”
The live stream feed showed only Wen Yimeng. A breeze carried the laughter from the others outside into the room through the slightly open window.
The barrage started getting upset.
[What’s Wen Yimeng’s deal? How big a star does he think he is to be this antisocial?]
[Sure, I get that Dream Dream was exhausted from training on the talent show, but this is a different variety program. Did the production team pay you to give the other guests attitude?]
[Even on Chase Dream Star, I felt like you weren’t very social, always practicing alone, but with so many contestants, it wasn’t obvious. Now it’s way too clear.]
[Wen Yimeng’s personality isn’t suited for solo live streams? Too boring, I’m out.]
The barrage heated up, but Wen Yimeng lowered his eyes and didn’t respond. He lost the game, so he started another round.
Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. Fu Le’s voice came from outside. “Dream Dream, lunch is ready. Pack up and come down to eat.”
“No.” Wen Yimeng said coldly.
Fu Le inwardly showed an expression of utter disgust.
Damn.
Who does he think he is?
“Why not? What happened?” Fu Le tried to make his tone as gentle and soft as possible. “Are you in a bad mood? Tell me, I’ll help you vent.”
Footsteps sounded from inside. Soon, the door opened, and Wen Yimeng stood there.
He was taller than Fu Le, standing in the backlight with a cold expression. His tall shadow completely enveloped Fu Le, creating an intangible sense of pressure.
Fu Le flashed a carefully crafted sweet and obedient smile. “Dream Dream, you finally opened the door! Come on, lunch is ready.”
“I already said I don’t want to eat.” Wen Yimeng’s tone was very irritated. “I’m not hungry, I don’t want to eat, don’t worry about me. Which part of that wasn’t clear?”
Fu Le was stunned by the yell, and his eyes gradually reddened.
Wen Yimeng showed a disgusted expression. “What are you faking?”
With a “bang,” the door slammed shut heavily.
[How could Wen Yimeng act like that?]
[What a bad temper!]
[Ruined my good mood! Why did the production team invite him?!]
[The Chase Dream Star filters are gone! Why did I vote for you?]
[Too many people on the show hid your flaws, but now the real you is exposed!]
[Poor Lele!]
[Lele shouldn’t have come! Serves him right to starve!]
Fu Le returned to the table with red eyes.
“Lele, what happened?” Wu Zhiqi scooted over to Fu Le’s side and lightly patted his shoulder. “Did Dream Dream yell at you?”
“Yeah…” Fu Le nodded. “His tone was pretty harsh. It’s fine, I was just startled.”
Fu Le laughed inwardly.
Wen Yimeng yelling at him? He wasn’t upset at all—in fact, he felt thrilled.
He’d been worrying he wasn’t aggrieved enough to garner fan sympathy.
“You were wronged.” Wu Zhiqi comforted him. “Eat more. The food Yi Chen made is delicious. I didn’t expect Teacher Yi Chen to know how to cook!!”
“Yeah.” Fu Le looked up with a resilient smile. “But nothing’s gone right today. I broke a bowl, see, Sister Zhiqi, my finger got hurt… And Brother Yu Xi thought I was too much trouble…”
Girls were generally good at comforting people and would fuss over even the tiniest scratch. Fu Le needed to leverage Wu Zhiqi, use her words to make fans heartbroken, and step on Yu Xi a bit.
The camera was so far away—who could tell how big the wound was?
Sure enough, Wu Zhiqi looked extremely worried. “Let me see!”
Fu Le shot a provocative glance at Yu Xi.
Wu Zhiqi carefully examined Fu Le’s hand. “Aiya, don’t worry! I have iodine. It’s just a little cut, no big deal. It’ll heal in no time!”
Fu Le: “…”
“Oh right, Lele, you broke the bowl—did you transfer money to the local?” Wu Zhiqi leaned close to Fu Le’s ear and whispered a reminder. “We’re live, after all. Even tiny flaws get blown up. If you don’t handle it right, busybodies might stir up trouble…”
“Pfft.” Yu Xi couldn’t hold back his laugh.
Wu Zhiqi: “No worries though, Lele. Just transfer on camera. Do you usually only use cards? Locals here don’t use mobile payments much. If you don’t have cash, I’ll cover it!”
“Sister Zhiqi, you’re so good at comforting people.” Fu Le forced a very strained smile.
“Of course!” Wu Zhiqi heartily patted Fu Le’s shoulder. “I have a little brother about your age!”
“You have a brother? First time hearing you mention it?” Yu Xi said.
Wu Zhiqi happily replied, “He was in high school before, and I didn’t want him disturbed, but he finished his college entrance exams this year, so no more worries!”
“How’d he do? Filled out his preferences yet?” Yi Chen asked.
“Yeah, he got admitted. Just waiting for the acceptance letter now. The school’s pretty good, but I won’t spill the details.” Wu Zhiqi excitedly said, “I’m actually really happy. All my hard training, studying, and earning money was for my little brother!!”
She looked at the camera solemnly. “Thanks to Mom and Dad for raising me well! I can’t fully repay them yet, but don’t worry! Once I make money, I’ll be my brother’s support!!!!”
Beside her, Fang Peng frowned, clearly not agreeing with Wu Zhiqi’s words. “From what you said, it sounds like you’re working hard for your brother?”
“Yeah.” Wu Zhiqi nodded openly. “My brother’s the meaning of my life! I need to work even harder and buy him a house!”
“You’re buying the house?” Fang Peng asked.
“Who else? Isn’t buying a house for your brother a sister’s duty?”
Fang Peng said nothing more and quietly ate.
Barrage: [?]
[Damn, a brother-obsessed demon?]
[Nooo, Wu Ziqi!!!]
[Wu Ziqi, snap out of it!!! You’re working hard for yourself! Not your brother!!! Why buy him a house? You’re still renting!!!]
[I heard Wu Ziqi has a brother she’s super nice to, but didn’t realize it was this extreme.]
The atmosphere grew a bit awkward. Wu Zhiqi said, “Alright, enough of that. What about you all? Any siblings?”
“Yes.” Fang Peng shared the story of how he and his siblings helped each other succeed.
It was Fu Le’s turn. “I’m an only child!”
“Brother Yi Chen, Brother Yu Xi, what about you?”
“Me.” Yi Chen thought for a moment, glanced at Yu Xi, and said, “I almost had… a brother once.”
“Almost?” Wu Zhiqi perked up and pressed, “What do you mean, tell us!”
Yi Chen pondered how to phrase it when, beside him, Yu Xi suddenly set down his chopsticks with a “clack” and stood up. “I’m done eating. I’ll go wash the dishes. You all keep chatting.”
Yi Chen watched Yu Xi’s retreating back and fell silent for a moment. “About done here. Shall we go too?”
After lunch, the production team arranged a nap time.
They were to gather at four in the afternoon to head to a small peak next to Cloud Mist Mountain. The peak had light strips installed for beautiful night views, and the summit had a snack street.
Before departure was free time; the production team didn’t mandate content, so guests could choose to continue live streaming or rest.
Wu Zhiqi and Fu Le chose to keep streaming.
Fang Peng, Wen Yimeng, Yu Xi, and Yi Chen chose to rest.
Yu Xi and Yi Chen didn’t lie down to rest right away.
Back in the room, the two stood for half an hour, said good afternoon to the live stream viewers, and only then lay down on their precisely divided halves of the bed.
The curtains were thick, easily blocking out the afternoon sun.
On a sweltering afternoon, hunkering down in an air-conditioned room was extremely pleasant. Sleepiness quickly came over them. Yu Xi fell asleep easily and slept deeply, though his chronic late nights meant his naps weren’t profound. After some indeterminate time, in a hazy daze, he felt a bit of movement beside him.
Someone seemed to be touching him.
It started as tentative touches, then gradually encircled his arm.
Warm body heat stuck to his arm, skin clinging lovingly to skin. The AC hummed, cool air drifting gently from overhead. In the blur, some scene from long-suppressed memories seemed to surface slightly.
On countless sweltering afternoons, Yi Chen would sneak into his room, squeeze onto his bed, quietly wrap around his arm, and sleep just like that, pressed against him.
He had told Yi Chen many times.
It’s hot, we’ll get caught, it’s cramped, don’t come.
But Yi Chen always grinned back: “Got it, got it. I’ll come next time too.”
But later, why didn’t Yi Chen come anymore?
Yu Xi’s thoughts stiffly churned.
Then—
He suddenly stiffened, instantly waking up fully. His entire arm went rigid, and his eyes instinctively wanted to open.
“Keep your eyes closed.” Yi Chen’s tone was gentle, like a feather brushing his ear. “Don’t open them, don’t move. Let me fool myself for a bit.”
The rigid arm didn’t relax; instead, it tensed even more bit by bit.
Yi Chen leaned closer, like a soft sigh, his supple touch pressing against the tensed vein on Yu Xi’s upper arm.
Yi Chen had always particularly liked kissing there.
Yu Xi had pale skin, and after workouts, when his muscles tensed, the veins beneath had an indescribable sexiness.
Warm breaths brushed his skin as Yi Chen’s forehead rested on Yu Xi’s shoulder, his voice very soft, very soft.
“Why did you break up with me, A-Yu?”
