By the time the first live broadcast ended, it was already very late.
The production team didn’t require the guests to stay; they could choose to remain at the homestay or head home after wrapping up. Yu Xi decisively chose the latter.
He didn’t want to share a bed with Yi Chen anymore.
The drive back from Cloud Mist Mountain took about four hours.
After climbing the mountain all day and being on camera for a full live stream, Yu Xi was exhausted. He covered himself with a blanket and slumped in the back seat.
“Thanks for the hard work, driver,” Yu Xi said hoarsely to the driver. “Sorry to make you stay up late with me.”
“No problem at all. I slept the whole day in advance,” the driver replied straightforwardly with a hearty laugh. “As long as the pay is right, I’ll get you home safely anywhere!”
Yu Xi smiled. He was too tired and fell asleep in no time.
In a daze, his phone buzzed once. Yu Xi lit up the screen.
It was that automatic transfer notification.
The same day every month, the same amount.
Not too much, not too little—just enough for one month’s living expenses during 985 University.
But… he had already graduated.
Yu Xi stared at the number for a moment before putting his phone down.
Summer days always brightened early. By the time Yu Xi finally arrived home, the sky was already dimly lit.
Yi Chen had sent him a bunch of messages not long after he left, but Yu Xi hadn’t checked them then. Now, he suddenly remembered and opened the chat.
A string of meaningless question marks filled the entire conversation.
【Yi Chen: ?】
【Yi Chen: ?】
【Yi Chen: ?】
【Yi Chen: ?】
【Yi Chen: ?】
【Yu Xi: ?】
【Yi Chen replied instantly: Wait, you left?】
【Yu Xi: Yeah, I left. We’ll talk work tomorrow.】
【Yi Chen: No goodbye? You just slipped away without a word?】
【Yu Xi: ?】
【Yu Xi: I did say?】
【Yi Chen: When? I had no idea.】
【Yu Xi: Except you.】
【Yu Xi: I’m going to sleep.】
Yu Xi was too sleepy to banter with Yi Chen online. He clutched his phone, closed his eyes, and passed out immediately.
He didn’t know how long he slept before his phone started vibrating wildly.
—It probably hadn’t been too long. Yu Xi, jolted awake by the buzzing, felt a splitting headache and exploded with frustration.
Who the hell calls in the middle of the night?!
Yu Xi didn’t check the caller ID. He answered on instinct, ready to unleash, when a girl’s voice came from the other end: “Hello, this is Municipal First Hospital. Is this Mr. Yu Xi? Mr. Ji Ruiou has acute gastric bleeding and fainted. You’re listed as his emergency contact from his previous visit here. Do you have time to come over?”
Yu Xi snapped awake instantly, threw on some clothes, and rushed out.
By the time Yu Xi arrived at the hospital, Ji Ruiou was already conscious, dressed in a hospital gown with an IV drip. His eyes lit up when he saw Yu Xi. “How did you get here!”
Yu Xi rushed to Ji Ruiou’s side. “What happened? How did you end up in the hospital? What did the doctor say? Why do you smell like alcohol? Did you go drinking? And got yourself hospitalized?!”
“It’s nothing,” Ji Ruiou said. “I was at a dinner party, but I don’t drink much usually. I just had a little too much this time…”
Yu Xi: “A little? A little and you end up in the hospital?”
Ji Ruiou: “A teeny-tiny bit.”
Yu Xi: “…”
He pulled up a stool and sat beside Ji Ruiou. “What exactly happened?”
Ji Ruiou didn’t want to hide it from Yu Xi. Yu Xi had just finished his show and probably hadn’t been home long, yet he’d rushed over without even sleeping. It warmed his heart. “I… I set my sights on a role… a really great role! But a lot of people want it, so I had to pull some strings with a dinner. I wasn’t trying to buy my way in; I just wanted the director to remember my face…”
There were too many actors in the industry, too many talented ones, too many good-looking ones. To land a role, besides skill, you needed to stand out—and that could mean anything.
Yu Xi sighed. “Was it worth it?”
Ji Ruiou nodded seriously. “I really like it!”
“If you like it, you could have told me,” Yu Xi said. “I’ve lined up plenty of scripts that suit you. Not saying I’d pull strings or invest to get you in, but at least for auditions, being familiar could boost your chances.”
Yu Xi asked again, “What about the crews I connected you with before? I heard you didn’t even go. Didn’t like those scripts?”
“No,” Ji Ruiou shook his head. “I don’t want to rely on you, A-Xi.”
There was a natural pride in his expression. “I told you, I want to do it on my own.”
Yu Xi’s brow furrowed slightly.
His good friend Ji Ruiou was great in every way—good personality, good temper, good with people, enthusiastic. He was just too stubborn, too bullheaded, too proud.
Ji Ruiou could tell what Yu Xi was thinking. He looped an arm around Yu Xi’s. “I know you’re worried, but trust me. If I ever can’t hold on, I’ll tell you. You’re my eternal backup plan, okay?”
Yu Xi looked into Ji Ruiou’s eyes.
Ji Ruiou blinked expectantly.
Yu Xi turned his head away and sighed. “Fine, have it your way. So which crew and role caught your eye? Let me give you some advice?”
Ji Ruiou grinned happily. “I’ll tell you once I get it!”
Seeing Yu Xi’s brow relax, Ji Ruiou let go. “Since you’re here, walk me home after the IV? I accompanied you last time; now it’s your turn!”
“Sure,” Yu Xi agreed immediately.
By the time Ji Ruiou finished his IV and they got back to his place, the sun was fully up.
Yu Xi kept some clothes at Ji Ruiou’s. They changed into pajamas, washed up, and crashed for a deep, dark sleep.
Yu Xi woke to Ji Ruiou’s laughter.
Ji Ruiou was curled up on the beanbag, shoulders shaking as he stifled his laughs. The sound wasn’t loud, but Yu Xi had slept enough; even a tiny noise woke him.
“What’re you laughing at?” Yu Xi groped for his phone.
It was fully charged. The time read past 2 p.m.
Ji Ruiou had been up for a while; takeout was already ordered and on the table.
“Look at this.” Ji Ruiou, holding back laughter, turned his phone screen toward Yu Xi.
Yu Xi, still groggy, saw a ring of pink bubbles. He wasn’t interested at first, but when he spotted the two people in the middle, he froze, instantly wide awake.
“Holy shit.”
Yu Xi jumped out of bed, face practically pressed to the screen.
He and Yi Chen were circled in pink bubbles, set against a romantic love song. The blogger had scraped together god-knows-how-many clips and edited them into intimate, ambiguous interactions.
Yu Xi eating, Yi Chen smiling at him indulgently;
Yu Xi reading, Yi Chen by his side;
Yu Xi uncomfortable, brow furrowed, Yi Chen gently handing him warm water and stroking his forehead;
On the mountain path, hand in hand; at the dinner table, friendly and close; in chats, eyes only for each other.
Yu Xi: “?”
Yu Xi: “No way? People actually watch this forced pairing?!”
“Oh my god! How can you call it forced?!” Ji Ruiou said. “You guys are so sweet! Sweet enough to make me jealous! Who’s your best friend, huh?”
Yu Xi: “…”
Yu Xi: “Stop watching!”
“No can do. If you don’t want to see it, it’ll still pop up,” Ji Ruiou said, unable to hold back his laughter. “It’s on the hot list! Comments are over ten thousand!”
Yu Xi tapped into the comments.
【OMG, so sweet!!】
【Blogger’s a genius! More food! More more more!】
【They’re perfect for each other!】
【I love seeing them together! Felt it during the variety show live stream—they’re so compatible!】
【Amazing editing! Can you clip a kiss scene?!?!】
【Sleep! Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!! Go to sleep already!!!】
Yu Xi even spotted 【Geng Shang Lou】 in the comments.
The rich lady fan was rampant under all the CP videos, showering the creator with rewards.
【Geng Shang Lou: More more! Clip more if you can!】
【Geng Shang Lou: Love it! Perfectly matches my tastes! So sweet, I love it!】
【Geng Shang Lou: How did I never notice this gem before! OMG! You’ve been shipping CPs forever! You! Real! Ly! Have! Great! Taste!】
【Geng Shang Lou: They! Are! Real! Ly! So! Perfect!!!】
【Geng Shang Lou: Made! For! Each! Other!!!!】
