“I know you’re in a bad mood and don’t want to get too close to Yi Chen or accept the contract.” Guan Zifan walked to Yu Xi’s side and gently patted his shoulder.
Yu Xi’s expression wasn’t great at all. His brows were tightly furrowed, the corners of his mouth turned down almost to the ground, and his whole demeanor was gloomy.
“But it’s come to this.” Guan Zifan said, “You need to see past the surface to the essence.”
Guan Zifan analyzed the benefits of this joint promotion collaboration with Yu Xi.
His arguments were logical and well-founded, presenting an enticing prospect where the gains far outweighed the costs.
To be fair, Yu Xi agreed with Guan Zifan’s judgment, as well as his predictions and summaries, but he couldn’t absorb a single word.
He simply couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Why?
“Why does D·A·Y’s advertising director insist on me and Yi Chen together?”
“Am I the only one with CP vibes with Yi Chen?!”
“Um…”
Guan Zifan recalled the scene when he had gone with the higher-ups to meet the director.
The director had golden hair and blue eyes, long hair reaching the shoulders, sharp features with a refined elegance unique to Western regions.
“I think they have great chemistry when standing together.”
The director explained in a foreign language: “These two fit perfectly with the vibe of our upcoming products. You get what I mean, right?”
“When they interact, it’s not just simple rivalry or mutual dislike like competitors. There’s something in their eyes—a story only they know. They have secrets, they have a past. That’s what creates their unique atmosphere.”
Yu Xi: “?”
This director’s eyes were too sharp.
After relaying this, Guan Zifan stared intently at Yu Xi: “So, what story do you two have that only you know?”
Yu Xi: “…None.”
Guan Zifan: “Then what past do you share?”
Yu Xi forced himself to stay calm: “…What do you think?”
“Really none?” Guan Zifan’s expression was skeptical.
Yu Xi felt a chill under that gaze and countered, “What did you see?”
“Nothing.” Guan Zifan withdrew his gaze and shrugged. “Though I don’t know how he saw it, the big sponsor daddy is always right. What he says goes.”
Yu Xi: “.”
Fine, whatever.
At this point, did he have any other choice?
He quickly adjusted his mindset and forced himself to swallow his pride.
Soon, Xiao Chen pushed open the door, panting heavily, clutching several freshly picked-up documents.
“Why are you panting like that?” Guan Zifan asked.
“I really wanted to see what kind of face Brother Yu made when he heard about the CP contract. The elevator wouldn’t come, so I took the stairs.”
Xiao Chen caught his breath: “How’d it go? Are you done talking? What’s Brother Yu’s reaction?”
“Just like this.” Guan Zifan lifted his chin toward Yu Xi.
Yu Xi had already opened the documents Xiao Chen brought and was calmly and seriously reading through them word by word.
—If he hadn’t been holding them upside down, it might have looked more convincing.
Guan Zifan mercilessly exposed him: “Pretending to accept reality and work hard on the surface, but your brain’s already exploded. You have the files upside down.”
“No wonder I didn’t recognize those characters.” Yu Xi calmly flipped the documents right-side up.
Xiao Chen held back a laugh.
“These are a few scripts I picked for you.” Guan Zifan said. “The timing works perfectly—filming starts right after the variety show ends. They’re currently casting leads.”
Yu Xi flipped through the first couple and asked, “Any suitable for Xiao Ou?”
“Brother Yu, you’re still holding out for him?” Xiao Chen couldn’t help saying from the side. “The ones you saved for him were all good, but he wouldn’t take them. In the end, others just picked them up for free.”
“There are. The three blue folders are ones I scouted for Xiao Ou. Take a look.” Guan Zifan said, “Honestly, I think Xiao Ou’s too stubborn. He’s bound to suffer for it—overly rigid things break easily.”
“It’s fine.” Yu Xi waved it off. “Small losses help him grow. Big ones, I’ll cover for him.”
Yu Xi continued flipping through the scripts. The first two didn’t grab him, but the third one’s outline hooked him after a full read. It was provisionally titled Chasing Shadows, a modern urban drama. The protagonist’s character design and overall setup were solid, and the industry had high hopes for it with investments pouring in quickly.
“I’m pretty satisfied with this script too.” Guan Zifan’s phone rang, and he pulled it out while speaking. “You can audition if you’re free—mutual choice. Hey, I gotta take this call. Take these back and pick slowly. Contact me once you’ve decided.”
Guan Zifan left the office, and soon Xiao Chen escorted Yu Xi back to his place.
Yu Xi took some time to go through the rest of the scripts. Chasing Shadows remained his top pick. He messaged Guan Zifan, who replied quickly.
[Guan Zifan: Good. I’ll contact the production team and schedule an audition.]
Yu Xi turned off the screen.
With work sorted, his mind suddenly went blank, and he didn’t know what to do.
When bored, Yu Xi couldn’t resist opening his surfing alt account.
After half a day offline, the CP hype with Yi Chen had skyrocketed. Marketing accounts rode the wave, churning out fan-edit videos pairing them up like crazy. The super topic, newly created, had shot up the rankings to the top ten.
Maybe from clicking too much before, his alt’s V Blog feed was now flooded with CP content. Afraid his carefully cultivated surfing alt would be ruined, Yu Xi quickly closed V Blog.
As soon as he exited, he noticed he’d been pulled into a group chat.
Group name: Chenxi CP Joint Promotion.
Members: Guan Zifan, Liu Yun, Xiao Liu, Xiao Chen, Yu Xi, Yi Chen.
[Guan Zifan: Chat work stuff here for the upcoming promotions. We can build some chemistry before it officially starts.]
[Liu Yun: Welcome to collaborating.]
[Xiao Liu: Confetti.jpg]
[Xiao Chen: Fireworks.jpg]
The two leads didn’t respond.
[Guan Zifan: Our Yu Xi is super busy. He’ll chime in once he’s free—not unwilling to cooperate.]
[Liu Yun: Same with our Yi Chen. He’ll be here soon. We’re happy to work together.]
Half an hour later, still no response from the two.
[Guan Zifan: @Yu Xi]
[Liu Yun: @Yi Chen]
The next second, Liu Yun and Guan Zifan’s chat boxes exploded with messages.
[Yu Xi: You think work’s too light or the live variety show’s too easy? Why’d you agree to this CP selling??]
[Yi Chen: Aren’t you usually great at clapping back? Why didn’t you reject the contract? Now we’re stuck—no way out, no choices left.]
[Yu Xi: Who’s fault is it for you always showing up around me? If no one shipped us, it’d be fine. Why not go stare at someone else?]
[Yi Chen: It’s ’cause I’m too handsome and you can’t look away. Look at the edits—how many have you sneaking peeks at me! What do I have to say?]
[Yu Xi: …You watched the CP videos? Got nothing better to do, huh? Stuffed?]
[Yi Chen: Xiao Liu showed me.]
Xiao Liu: [?]
If the messages didn’t pop up, fine—but once they did, it was nonstop.
Guan Zifan and Liu Yun’s biggest regret that day was @-ing Yu Xi and Yi Chen to say hi.
Liu Yun: “Sorry, I might mute the group. Private message me for urgent stuff. Too noisy.”
Guan Zifan: “Same plan. PM for anything important.”
Yu Xi bickered with Yi Chen in the group all evening until Guan Zifan sent him the audition segment, finally quieting him down a bit.
The Chasing Shadows male lead was a modern detective: a corporate drone by day, his work badge like a horse collar hiding his true self; by night, he investigated cases. The tone balanced cases and romance.
The audition scene was the leads’ first meeting, where the female lead was in crisis and the male lead came to her rescue.
A common setup, but high acting difficulty—showing the shift from drone to suave detective after removing the badge. Not too exaggerated, not too bland; it required precise control.
Over the next few days, Yu Xi stayed as busy as ever.
Besides work, he squeezed in a hospital visit.
“Based on your symptoms and report, it’s basically confirmed as Secondary Differentiation.” The doctor told Yu Xi. “But we won’t know exactly which secondary gender until it happens. If Beta, just some discomfort for a few days, no big deal. If Omega… you’ll need to prepare in advance.”
The doctor typed out a prescription while explaining: “If it differentiates into Omega, your body will change—like developing a Reproductive Cavity, Heat Period.”
“I’ll prescribe meds now. Don’t take them yet—start immediately if Heat symptoms appear, and seek medical help right away. For now, avoid being alone in enclosed spaces with Alphas, just in case.”
Yu Xi was still dazed leaving the hospital.
Secondary Differentiation? Reproductive Cavity? Heat Period? Words once so distant now crashed into his head all at once.
He headed to the parking lot.
As he drove out, two cars had scraped in the lot. The owners were “negotiating”—really, a pot-bellied thug in a black suit and shades yelling one-sidedly at a slim young man in mask and hat.
The language was crude, the tone explosive. The young man didn’t retort, just clutched his backpack tightly.
But from the cars’ positions, it was clearly the thug’s reverse-driving fault.
Yu Xi rolled down his window, leaned out—his shades hid half his face: “Buddy, need help?”
“What’s it to you?” The thug’s tone was nasty.
“Reverse-driving, full fault.” Yu Xi pointed out.
The young man looked up sharply at Yu Xi’s voice, his back stiffening. He tugged his hat lower unnaturally, as if terrified of being recognized.
Bundled so tightly, Yu Xi couldn’t see his face—just the heart-shaped necklace peeking from his neck.
No impression of the guy, but Yu Xi remembered that necklace well.
A limited-edition luxury brand piece, global limited run—only the rich or noble could afford it.
The person who’d bumped into him at the hospital last week wore the same one.
“This road’s wide enough—not on a main street. So what if I reversed? Can’t you dodge?” The thug snapped.
“I’ve called the police.” The masked young man said. “I don’t want to argue. Let’s wait for them.”
Thug: “Police or not, I’m cursing you now. Hell, I could slap you—what you gonna do?”
“I’m pregnant. Here’s my medical report—came for a checkup today.” The young man said. “I’m feeling awful. If you keep blocking me, I’ll faint right here. Then you’ll cover my treatment, lost wages, emotional distress. You might even get detained for provocation.”
The thug’s face changed.
“Counting to three. If you don’t leave, I’m fainting.”
Words barely out, the thug jumped in his car, gunned it in reverse, and fled.
Yu Xi: “…”
The young man stepped back, gesturing for Yu Xi to go ahead.
Yu Xi left the hospital.
Three days before the second episode of Weekend Go Where live stream, the director sent the plan.
For episode two, no city travel for guests—instead, a surprise visit to Chase Dream Star.
Chase Dream Star was the live selection variety show where Wen Yimeng had participated, with Yi Chen as mentor.
Though live selection, cameras were only in practice rooms, stage, and studio—no dorm life.
This episode, Weekend Go Where entered the living areas for a secret probe, with mini-cameras for full live stream. Contestants unaware, to capture their real off-camera selves.
The director outlined the flow in the work group and required NDAs from guests and staff—leaking the secret visit would ruin it.
Same day, D·A·Y endorsement promo shoot prep began.
