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Just as the green light came on, the evening rush hour in the old city was not as congested as in the city center.
The decrepit pickup truck, on the verge of being scrapped, moved forward, and the setting sun cast a golden hue on He Tiao’s profile, right in Chi Yizhen’s eyes.
This lighting made him appear luxurious and noble even in the shabby car.
But those words could easily ruin the current atmosphere.
Chi Yizhen suppressed a smile and recalled the first time he had misjudged He Tiao when he saw him.
[Just a moment ago, I was admiring the nice atmosphere, and now he wants to kiss at a red light… And then…]
[Is this for real?]
[A duck shop!!! Could it be the one I’m thinking of?! OMG, this is too scandalous!]
[I always feel that when it comes out of e-god’s mouth, it carries a taste of simplicity. Why is that?! His appearance is completely unrelated to being humble!]
[Hahaha, I bet even Chi Yizhen didn’t see this coming! I take back my earlier statement that Chi Yizhen completely outshines him!]
[Some things are just too unpredictable…]
Chi Yizhen: “Duck shop?”
He Tiao drove steadily, but Chi Yizhen was surprised to find that He Tiao’s phone navigation had the voice package of an animated female protagonist. With the cheerful voice saying, “Turn right in fifty meters,” Chi Yizhen suddenly smiled.
He Tiao: “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Chi Yizhen: ?
What was I thinking? How do you know what I’m thinking?
He turned to look at He Tiao, saying, “I wasn’t thinking of anything.”
He Tiao nodded and said, “A duck shop, so I can make what you like.”
[Here they go again, these two seem to have some kind of subtle exchange going on.]
[The legendary e-god actually seems quite interesting…]
[It’s quite obvious that He Tiao has been adjusting his mindset since he entered that door in the morning.]
[What are you guys talking about? Are you going to review what he said back then…]
[I think Chi Yizhen thought they were officially becoming a couple tomorrow, but He Tiao already sees him as his spouse.]
[Help, He Tiao looks so good when he smiles!! Why didn’t he show his face in live streams before? I had no idea this game existed. Can I download it now and get the CEO’s voice package?]
[Haha, isn’t this free advertising for Star Trails? Kudos to the marketing team!]
Chi Yizhen paused for a moment and asked, “Make what I like?”
He looked ahead, then glanced at the program schedule, thinking about where he had to go to work tomorrow.
In the past, Chi Yizhen could have easily declined this kind of variety show. But it was different here. He had no choice, and being too picky might leave him with nothing to eat.
If it were just him, that would be fine. He could go find some casual work.
However, now he was both Chi Yishen and Chi Yizhen, and the memories of the original story contained emotions of pain and resentment that he could conjure up at the blink of an eye.
Chi Yizhen had experienced very little familial love in his own life, and it had ended with his parents hurting each other, dying together in front of him.
There was no pure love for him to cherish.
He was merely the image of Chi Yizhen, a cash cow, a source of endless entertainment for the impoverished couple who had once loved each other.
But in the memories, Chi Yishen’s family was warm and loving, with affectionate parents and a brother who doted on him.
Chi Yishen was the most important person in Chi Yimings’s life, almost a constant presence from birth to death.
Even in the last moments before his consciousness dissipated, Chi Yizhen regretted not obtaining his brother’s farewell letter.
He felt guilty again, sorry for his mother who was still connected to life support in the ICU, burdened with medical expenses.
He had been so weak, so reckless when he walked into this trap. If only he had made a different choice and accepted Sheng Xin all those years ago.
Chi Yizhen’s mind raced with all the possibilities and fears. Would his father really not jump off the building? Would his mother’s illness come back? Would Chi Yiming continue to live a good life, unharmed by any accidents, and would he get the chance to see him one last time?
That text message had struck a chord deep within him, amplifying his longing for Chi Yiming and the pain of not being able to say a proper goodbye.
With all his wounds and scars, Chi Yizhen had no choice but to accept the appointment. The original host had thought about many possible outcomes, but none of them were worse than the possibility of being □□, photographed, exposed to the public, having his reputation shattered, and being vilified by thousands under the manipulation of Yu Yuxing.
But none of that compared to the significance of Chi Yiming’s keepsake. It was Chi Yizhen’s final link to his beloved brother.
Chi Yizhen, who had entered the book world, couldn’t ignore it. He could only be grateful that Chi Yizhen had opened He Tiao’s door.
It allowed Chi Yizhen to have a beautiful dream, and when he woke up, there was no pain.
Now, he was even sitting next to He Tiao, heading towards a virtual future in the setting sun.
The pain from the dream and the warmth of his family almost kept Chi Yizhen awake all night, but he had no choice.
He had to continue in this industry. Chi Yishen’s acting skills were terrible, but Chi Yizhen was not.
Without resources, he had to start over, seizing the opportunity for a fresh start.
His words were almost a whisper, making the car’s radio sound like a murmur.
He Tiao: “To make the braised duck you like to eat.”
He didn’t know what he was thinking, his eyes still held a smile, and in the golden light of the setting sun, he seemed to have a built-in filter, exuding a gentle and continuous tenderness, and added, “The person you like.”
These four words had no prefix and may or may not have a suffix, but in the current context, they sounded very special.
[Is he acting?]
[So what if he’s acting! Even the idol dramas next door don’t make me feel so immersed!!]
[E-god was supposed to be a forever single otaku, right? How come he’s so good at this!!]
[I noticed that when Chi Yizhen looked a bit lost, it made me feel really sorry for him.]
[He has changed a lot from before, his gaze isn’t as carefree anymore.]
[If it were me, I would be in agony too. Everything disappeared overnight, and the main culprit is living a good life and even got married.]
Chi Yizhen: “Really?”
He took a deep breath and said, “Well, I won’t help you with your barbecue stall.”
This statement broke free from the sorrow that had surrounded him earlier and made him appear more lively.
He said, “I’m the one responsible for making money; you just need to watch me.”
Chi Yizhen thought to himself: Is he acting?
Why is he so good at this? Even outside of the show, I’m starting to feel moved.
From what I researched, this guy’s company mainly develops independent games, although they do have mobile and PC games. I didn’t see any targeting female audiences, though.
This line is even more excessive than the games I’ve played!
Chi Yizhen asked, “So, should I go to work tomorrow and then come find you to go home together?”
He replied, “You don’t have to wait for me. Have you ever seen a barbecue vendor who closes up early?”
[These two are chatting so quickly.]
[It’s supposed to be just one day, but it feels like they’ve gone through morning to night in just a few moments. It’s like reading a novel where they skip ten years ahead and have two kids.]
The production team had assigned a stall for He Tiao in the night market area of the old city, and due to recent renovations, it wasn’t too chaotic. Even the small stalls were neatly arranged.
This area was also near a well-known branch of a university in S City, so the business was thriving in the evenings.