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For Chi Yizhen, Sunday’s day off was complete chaos, as he seemed to have no leisure time besides getting a good night’s sleep.
He even encountered the distasteful Sheng Xin.
He had been thinking about this on the way there. Perhaps it was because this person in his memories was too good at causing trouble, and Chi Yizhen couldn’t help but wonder if Sheng Xin had the ability to drag him back into the dust.
He Tiao glanced at him several times and noticed that Chi Yizhen wasn’t dozing off; instead, he was staring off into space.
His phone was flooded with messages, mostly teasing from friends and family, along with some screenshots bombarding him from his sister.
For example: Can’t believe you can still be shy, bro?
[Bro, I think Little bro Chi is really nice. Have you considered it]
[Originally thought you’d rest today and go home for dinner. Why are you working again?]
He Tiao had almost slept the night through, relying on coffee to stay awake. He replied to some messages and dozed off on the way.
Meanwhile, Chi Yizhen had snapped out of his thoughts and stared at the sleeping He Tiao for a while.
The car’s setup was the same as the day they first went live, and with some free time on his hands, Chi Yizhen decided to pick up the script for the drama they were filming the next day.
The electronic version provided by Qi Tianda had vivid symbols, making Chi Yizhen both thunderstruck and amused.
He completely didn’t notice when He Tiao woke up midway and secretly observed him.
Sitting in the passenger seat, the director almost couldn’t resist scratching her head. In her view, the pair of guests she was responsible for was indeed more genuine than the others, with details revealing an easily noticeable ambiguity and intimacy that could make people break into silly smiles.
Even the person involved, He Tiao, was smiling.
He Tiao didn’t show many expressions in the live broadcast. When Chi Yizhen went to work, He Tiao, even if he was slacking off, had an expressionless face, giving the impression that he was genuinely angry about his job.
Originally, the director thought this would be boring, but the audience could easily treat it as a daily life vlog.
The reason was He Tiao’s face, which could captivate attention even if he were farming, leaving people unsure where to focus their eyes. Some viewers even spontaneously began counting the number of times He Tiao smiled in the replayed videos.
By the end of the first week of the live broadcast, the total number of smiles was calculated separately for He Tiao alone and when he was with Chi Yizhen. The latter was tens of times more than the former.
It was easy to imagine that this big brother didn’t show much joy when he was alone; perhaps he didn’t have so many emotions in the first place.
Chi Yizhen noticed He Tiao’s gaze just as the navigation showed they were close to their destination. He put down his phone, leaned his elbow against his knee, and asked He Tiao, “When we get home, do you have time to practice lines with me?”
He Tiao wasn’t fully awake yet, “What?”
Squinting his eyes, still somewhat blurry, Chi Yizhen repeated his request.
He Tiao nodded.
Chi Yizhen said, “It won’t take up much of your time.”
It seemed like he had distanced himself again.
He Tiao subconsciously replied, “Aren’t we going home?”
Chi Yizhen said, “Yes, we are going home.”
He Tiao said, “I’m yours, no matter what, I’ll accompany you in everything.”
There was currently no camera in the car, and the atmosphere inside the carriage suddenly became quiet. The driver and the director up front wished they didn’t exist, feeling that the production team missed a huge opportunity by not installing live broadcast cameras inside the car.
This was a perfect conversation and atmosphere that could easily trend on social media.
The temperature had dropped sharply today, and pedestrians on the road were bundled up in cotton-padded clothes.
Chi Yizhen was still wearing the scarf that He Tiao had given him. At this moment, He Tiao directly bumped him on the forehead, leaving him stunned for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, “Really?”
He Tiao nodded.
Chi Yizhen asked, “He Tiao, have you never been in a relationship before?”
The use of “He Tiao” was like a bucket of cold water, splashing directly onto He Tiao’s face.
He Tiao shook his head.
Chi Yizhen commented, “Then it must be because your standards are high.”
He Tiao said, “No.”
Chi Yizhen didn’t know He Tiao very well. The only understanding he had was from that one night and the variety show livestream, which were half-true and half-false daily activities.
Even if they slept together, it was a bit exaggerated to say they were very familiar.
He Tiao asked, “What about you?”
Chi Yizhen replied, “You know.”
He Tiao shook his head, “I don’t.”
He Tiao was, as described online, not good at talking to people. Currently, with no cameras and the staff in the front maintaining absolute silence, the two guests were quietly probing each other.
Chi Yizhen pursed his lips, “There’s a lot online.”
He Tiao said, “That’s different.”
He Tiao then apologized and added, “I’m just a bit curious about you.”
Chi Yizhen asked, “A bit?”
He Tiao corrected himself, “A lot.”
The atmosphere was becoming dangerous. If this were happening during a live broadcast with the camera turned on and the crew visible, Chi Yizhen could instantly detach himself.
But it was different now.
No one was watching through thousands of screens. Although it couldn’t be considered completely private, it was still one of the rare moments where Chi Yizhen and He Tiao could shed their live broadcast personas and be real.
Chi Yizhen responded, “Those rumors are true, but my preference for women is a bit different.”
He spoke in a low voice, within the range that He Tiao could hear.
He Tiao asked, “If Sheng Xin comes to bother you again, what do you plan to do?”
Changing the topic, He Tiao’s question made Chi Yizhen raise his eyes in surprise.
Chi Yizhen replied, “I just plan to start over, and the rest doesn’t matter.”
His lips were a bit dry, possibly because he had opened the car window, letting in the cold wind.
“Anyway, there’s no turning back now. At least, I need money badly right now.”
There were many online comments saying he was playing the victim, but today he was in a state of madness. Mainly because the interaction between He Tiao and Chi Yizhen at the entrance of the residential area was too conspicuous.
So much so that such comments were not getting much attention.
Chi Yizhen truly didn’t care.
In his original world, he had also been criticized. He had a clear conscience, and criticism wouldn’t make him lose opportunities. Even if he lost them, he could regain them with good reviews in his next project.
Even in this world, where he seemed to have no way out from the start, he had a feeling that he would bounce back.
“Let’s earn money first. The people who criticize me can’t give me what I want.”
He was open and straightforward, then looked at He Tiao again, “He Tiao, you started from scratch. Do you think you’re qualified to help me?”
He Tiao asked, “Do I have the qualification to help you?”
Chi Yizhen shook his head, “What relationship do we have? You don’t need to do this.”
The next second, he became ruthless again, “We’ve only known each other for a few days at most. It’s just that kind of relationship, and it can be considered me…”
He Tiao interrupted, “I’m not a male escort.”
He emphasized seriously, “That day I was brought there by Zhang Miya.”
He was the kind of person who didn’t beat around the bush, and he could talk to Chi Yizhen about such matters straightforwardly.
Chi Yizhen widened his eyes, “You two?”
He Tiao clarified, “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Chi Yizhen speculated, “Were you forced to sign a contract?”
Little Zhang was indeed formidable.
Chi Yizhen subconsciously thought of He Tiao’s appearance that day, completely infatuated. Zhang Miya even arranged a room for He Tiao to rest after getting him drunk. In a sense, it was a very skillful move for a woman.
Was this considered a business war?
Ah, this was completely beyond his knowledge.
He Tiao remained silent for a while, “Not exactly.”
He had agreed to the contract before he got muddled. It was just that Zhang Miya was not kind; she wanted him to open his eyes to handsome guys when he went to see them.
He Tiao seriously suspected there was someone deliberately stirring up trouble with Du Binbai
Perhaps He Tiao’s prolonged silence seemed suspicious. Chi Yizhen said, “You’ve worked hard.”
He Tiao replied, “Really, it’s nothing.”
Chi Yizhen remarked, “Little Zhang is quite ruthless.”
He smiled, “You’re not bad either; otherwise, I might have to adapt.”
He Tiao asked, “Are you sure you’re not scared?”
Chi Yizhen pondered for a moment, “A bit. After all, I originally thought you were…”
He only said half of it, but He Tiao understood the rest.
Chi Yizhen asked, “What about you? Don’t tell me you still think I’m…”
He Tiao replied, “After you asked me how much for a night, can I still think that way?”
Today, he was dressed in clothes a step higher in quality than those from Apartment Building. He looked like a well-off college student, but when he spoke, he didn’t quite have the air of a college student.
Chi Yizhen touched his nose, “I was also not in the right state of mind back then.”
Talking about being not in the right state of mind made He Tiao thinks of Chi Yizhen mentioning going to that place for a legacy from his Big Brother.
Who was the person who approached him?
And who gave him the medicine?
If it weren’t for this twist of fate, who would he have spent the night with?
Perhaps because He Tiao seemed unusually serious, Chi Yizhen couldn’t help but laugh.
He lowered his voice, “Let’s talk about this when there’s a chance in the future.”
He still felt that He Tiao’s current identity was not quite suitable. Moreover, S City was originally dominated by Shengshi. He Tiao had just moved here not long ago, so it was better to avoid catching the attention of Sheng Xin.
“Now that I’m already in a desperate situation, if He Tiao ends up the same, I’m afraid I’ll really have to open a braised duck shop.”
He Tiao asked, “In the future?”
He couldn’t help but let his mind wander, what kind of future was Chi Yizhen talking about?
Unfortunately, Chi Yizhen shattered his brief fantasy, “We’re just colleagues.”
Perhaps Chi Yizhen’s use of the term “colleagues” was too impactful. When Chi Yizhen and He Tiao arrived at the designated location and ordered the dishes, He Tiao still appeared somewhat cold.
This person usually didn’t smile, and when not in a daze, he had a naturally aloof and noble aura.
Chi Yizhen wasn’t in a hurry. He just stared at He Tiao.
As the program team had already prepared for the live broadcast before the meal, the audience waiting for the official broadcast would first see Chi Yizhen’s expression as he propped up his face.
When the camera pulled back to a full view, He Tiao also appeared in the frame. The outfits of the two during the live broadcast didn’t look like that of a couple from Apartment Building, nor did it resemble the casual posture they had before going live.
[Oh, oh, E God in a suit! Help, it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Tears are shamefully flowing from my eyes.]
[Chi Yizhen’s outfit is so good-looking, but why do I feel like it’s somewhat similar to shooting a sweet talk intimate series?]
[Can male celebrities please ditch the waistband? Chi Yizhen’s outfit is too good-looking, but seriously, are you eating with a waistband on?]
[Mr. He is daydreaming, and Chi Yizhen is just staring at him daydreaming… Is this really not acting? I always feel like I’m watching a segment where a couple from Aprtment Building goes out on a date.]
[I heard they will be reading and answering comments. I need to think about what to ask.]
[Can we ask if they have feelings for each other?]
[Let’s go for a random pick… Hopefully.]
Chi Yizhen also didn’t know what He Tiao was thinking. He was completely immersed in being a fan, not caring that the live broadcast had started. His gaze at He Tiao was incredibly deep and affectionate.
Until the dishes were served, the director reminded them that they could start. That’s when He Tiao looked at the screen.
The dishes were ordered by the two of them. Chi Yizhen took advantage of the program team’s reimbursement policy and ordered a crazy amount of food. The table was filled to the point that He Tiao didn’t know what to say for a moment.
“Can we pause and read the comments?”
Chi Yizhen asked the staff off-screen.
“Can He Tiao and I shout ‘pause’ together?”
Chi Yizhen looked at He Tiao but felt it was inconvenient, so he asked He Tiao to come and sit beside him.
“Now they’re not in character, right? They seem so natural together.”
“E God is so obedient…”
“Where did they go during their half-day break? I saw in the news that Sheng Xin, that annoying guy, also came?”
Chi Yizhen was hungry. Initially, he didn’t dare to eat too much because of the combined breakfast and lunch. It was He Tiao who silently peeled shrimp on the side.
Chi Yizhen nudged He Tiao with his elbow. “I’ll count down from three. We’ll shout ‘pause’ together?”
He Tiao replied, “It’s up to you.”
[He’s so spoiled!!]
[They suddenly seem rich…]
[Mr. He, why do you keep staring at Chi Yizhen?]
Chi Yizhen also noticed and asked, “Do you have any questions?”
He Tiao replied, “Can you loosen your waistband? Isn’t it uncomfortable like that?” He even furrowed his brows, seemingly having difficulty understanding. “Doesn’t it feel tight?”
He Tiao and Chi Yizhen went to change clothes separately after arriving at the restaurant. It was only when He Tiao sat down and saw Chi Yizhen’s waistband that he couldn’t help but think of Chi Yizhen’s pale face during the previous photo shoot.
So, naturally, he raised his eyes. “Did you guys not consider this issue?”
Facing Chi Yizhen and facing others were always two different scenarios. For a moment, he even gave the impression to the staff that it was his responsibility.
[He looks so cool…]
[He still has a bit of a CEO vibe; it’s so comforting.]
Chi Yizhen replied, “It’s fine.”
“Don’t worry; it’s not like before, where it was a drawstring. This one can be adjusted.”
He even lowered his head to demonstrate to He Tiao in the same row, but the viewers in the live broadcast couldn’t see.
[Darn it, I want to see too!]
[I saw He Tiao smiling hahaha.]
Chi Yizhen said, “Let’s pause for a moment. I’ll count down, and you shout ‘pause’ too.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.” There was also a separate channel for questions in the comments.
But Chi Yizhen hadn’t thought that what would be frozen in time would be something like this.
However, He Tiao was one step ahead of him, reading out each word—
[What does it feel like to kiss on variety shows?]
Author’s notes:
Some premeditation(?);
[Later, He Tiao had an online interview]
Interviewer: Is there any word that Mr. He dislikes the most?
He Tiao: Colleague.
Later, the statement about the not-so-good atmosphere of the Star Trail Game Technology company was made public.
Vice President Du Binbai: How is that possible!!
Clearly, it’s you people who pursue each other, making the innocent word the scapegoat!
—
Dreamt that I received a negative 50 jj collections…woke up in horror (how did this happen);
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!