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Upon arriving home, Chi Yizhen, in a state of exhaustion, took a quick shower without even bothering to dry his hair before collapsing into bed, ready to sleep.
The sky had already darkened, and He Tiao had yet to set up his stall. Despite Chi Yizhen lying on the bed, he urged He Tiao to leave.
“Why haven’t you left yet? Not making money anymore? I don’t want to live forever in a place where two people can’t even shower together.”
[I’m stunned; this person really knows how to surprise with his words.]
[Why does everything he says provoke such wild thoughts? It’s annoying; can’t they really shower together?]
He Tiao was also surprised. He covered Chi Yizhen’s head with a dry towel and rubbed it, saying, “It won’t take much time; you blow-dry your hair first, don’t catch a cold.”
Chi Yizhen replied, “It’s okay, I’ll lie down for a while; my back hurts.”
He felt uncomfortable everywhere, having vomited profusely during the shower just now, trying to mask the sound of it with water, afraid that He Tiao would find out.
The bed was only one meter and fifty centimeters wide, and two men sleeping together felt especially cramped; Chi Yizhen lying alone was still manageable.
He sprawled out, one hand still on his stomach, rubbing it.
He Tiao went to fetch a hairdryer, brought an extension cord over, and casually asked, “Did you throw up?”
Chi Yizhen paused in his stomach-rubbing motion and didn’t lie, “Yeah, your child threw up too.”
He Tiao: …
[He’s so bold, haha. When did he become a stand-up comedian?]
[Help, I can never get tired of these two interacting. Although the next-door couple on the brink of divorce fighting is entertaining, it’s clear this is my happy haven—pure and sexy.]
[E-god is also surprised, haha.]
He Tiao said, “It’s okay; you can conceive again.”
He gradually figured out Chi Yizhen’s shameless way of speaking and realized that a tit-for-tat approach might be more effective.
Chi Yizhen indeed hesitated for a moment, then quickly started acting, “You don’t love me at all, and you still want me to…”
The next second, his face was covered by the towel he used to wipe his hair. He Tiao turned on the hairdryer, blowing his hair vigorously and adding a massage function.
At this moment, Chi Yizhen didn’t forget to fabricate a story, creating a character: “Cousin, since we moved here, you’ve set up your stall so few times. I might as well keep you company later.”
Because of the towel covering his face, his voice sounded muffled.
Chi Yizhen could feel He Tiao’s fingers intertwining in his hair.
It was a bit too close.
But there had been closer moments before, so why did it feel uncomfortable now?
I’m not the innocent type! Can this really affect me?
The one-bedroom apartment in the appartment building was not spacious to begin with. When He Tiao came back, he had seen the traces of ordinary residents’ lives.
Some doors were left ajar, revealing slightly messy rooms.
When a family lives together, their scents blend.
Just like now, Chi Yizhen’s scent from shampoo and shower gel was the same as his.
He Tiao remained silent. Chi Yizhen thought it was because the noise from the hairdryer was too loud, and He Tiao couldn’t hear.
“Hey, He Tiao?”
He tilted his head, and his hair slid from He Tiao’s fingertips. Unexpectedly, his face was suddenly covered in the blowing wind from the hairdryer.
Instinctively, people tend to close their eyes.
Then he heard He Tiao’s low laughter.
This person naturally had a very masculine voice. Based on the rumors online about the E-god in the Star Track game, many thought he was a domineering CEO.
After all, this voice would be perfect for dubbing the paper-thin CEO in a dominating role.
But surprisingly, there was a significant contrast in appearance. He wasn’t the type to wear suits and shoes every day; he was even a bit mischievous.
Just like now, He Tiao didn’t think too much and reached out to pinch Chi Yizhen’s nose.
Chi Yizhen: “Let go.”
He Tiao: “Nope.”
He had smelled it there in the afternoon, and he was somewhat unsatisfied.
Chi Yizhen’s attitude was clear – downplaying their awkward 419 relationship and twisting it into a workplace romance.
But He Tiao wasn’t willing.
Being exposed to the camera for an extended period was actually quite challenging.
He felt like he had been stretched out for a long time, so much so that time seemed to slow down when facing Chi Yizhen.
Chi Yizhen reached out to pat He Tiao’s hand, and the two of them engaged in a playful back-and-forth.
The hairdryer fell to the floor. Chi Yizhen, despite feeling dizzy and disadvantaged, still insisted on maintaining a dominant position, seated atop He Tiao.
He Tiao was flattened like a pancake, his hands almost reaching the floor. He didn’t struggle, simply holding onto Chi Yizhen’s waist and asking, “Aren’t you tired?”
[Is this what couples do every day?]
[My boyfriend has never blow-dried my hair, why do they look so natural?]
[Even our E-god said that a sword naturally unsheathes when the heart has no object. Why is he so skilled at this?]
[Is being in this position really okay?]
[Thankful for the good quality of the bed this time, or else after collapsing the sofa, they’d have to deal with a collapsed bed too (smirk).]
[He Tiao’s expression!! Is he falling for him? Is he?]
[I’m really worried the livestream room might explode. E-god, were you playing hard-to-get at the beginning? Where are your hands now?]
[I’m speechless; Chi Yizhen’s waist is really slender. Even in such a wide T-shirt pajama, being embraced by He Tiao, you can still feel…]
At first, Chi Yizhen didn’t react, but when he felt the warmth of He Tiao’s palm on his waist, he immediately flipped over.
It wasn’t a big deal to touch his waist, but for some reason, He Tiao was staring at him so seriously.
Chi Yizhen buried himself under the blanket.
At this time, it was dinner for many families in the tube building. Even with doors and windows closed, the aroma of meals still permeated.
Chi Yizhen muffledly said, “Why are you looking at me? Hurry up and leave.”
He Tiao leaned in, “You don’t have to come to see me.”
Chi Yizhen retorted, “Mind your own business.”
He Tiao chuckled, “This home is all yours.”
[Did the roles just reverse?]
[Truly our E-god, turning the dominant position around in just a day.]
Chi Yizhen lay on the bed; his face, recently washed, had a faint blush. Due to mental fatigue and the discomfort from vomiting earlier, his blink rate had increased slightly.
“Everything is mine to manage, what about you?” He Tiao got off the bed and tucked in the corner of the blanket for Chi Yizhen. “I belong to you too.”
Chi Yizhen responded, “I’ll come when I want.”
He Tiao said, “Not today. You look very uncomfortable. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
He glanced at the camera in the room, thinking he would ask the director later. He Tiao had no experience in variety shows; this was his first time, and without a script, it was hard to control the situation.
For example, his current genuine concern, when caught by the camera, made the audience feel like he was scolding himself.
[That look from He Tiao… so stern.]
[This man has two faces; he’s so gentle in front of his wife, but in front of us, heh.]
[What should I do? I’m already worried that after this variety show, these two won’t interact anymore. So heartbreaking!]
[Everyone, relax; we can fantasize about a script where the CEO takes care of a troublesome celebrity!]
Chi Yizhen replied, “No need.”
He turned over, rolled to the edge of the bed, and pulled He Tiao’s hand, saying, “Go quickly; we still need to make money.”
He Tiao replied, “There’s porridge in the pot that I stewed for lunch. Heat it up and eat if you’re hungry.”
Chi Yizhen nodded.
It wasn’t really early, and He Tiao left not long after.
Once the door closed, Chi Yizhen lay in bed for a few minutes, then swiftly threw off the blanket, got out of bed, and, wearing slippers, opened the door and walked into the corridor.
There were several devices at the door, and the audience in the livestream room saw a handsome young man in oversized pajamas hastily leaving.
[Doing one thing while saying another?]
[Seriously, at least change your clothes before going out.]
Chi Yizhen didn’t follow. He leaned on the railing, waiting for He Tiao to exit the building.
At this time, outside was lively, with kids playing. He Tiao walked to the parking shed to open his car. The engine of the old car was quite powerful, and He Tiao quickly disappeared at the entrance.
Chi Yizhen sighed, turned around, and bumped into the girl who was now his neighbor – the bubble tea girl who was actually a musician.
Liu Rumen.
He asked, “Are you working the night shift today?”
Bubble tea shops rely on shifts, and although He Tiao finished his barbecue stall yesterday, Liu Rumen was still stuck learning to make bubble tea under the program’s arrangement.
In the morning, she had to engage in flirtatious banter with her partner and act as a model for Li Zhenhe’s hand modeling.
And she had to cook for herself.
It was simply too painful.
She had just bought a bottle of dish soap from the small store outside. “Yes, I start at 8. I’ll wash a bowl first and lie down.”
As a musician, she naturally had a plain face, known in the music industry as a “gloomy face,” looking tired no matter how you looked at it.
Interestingly, standing next to Chi Yizhen made him seem more easygoing.
Chi Yizhen nodded.
They didn’t have much to say to each other, but as Chi Yizhen was about to leave, Liu Rumen finally noticed what he was wearing, “Why are you leaning on the railing? Even though life might not be great right now, there’s no need to be so down.”
Chi Yizhen: …
[This girl is hilarious!]
[Chi Yizhen looks like he’s wondering if she’s okay.]
Chi Yizhen: “I haven’t given up.”
Liu Rumen looked him up and down again.
When this variety show invited her, they had already arranged two pairs.
She knew the first pair consisted of a married couple on the brink of divorce, and the second pair was about to get married. If not for Zhang Miya’s influence here, she wouldn’t have wanted to come.
Liu Rumen had met You Yuxing at an awards ceremony before, and he was acting arrogantly.
Many people in the industry play the big shot, and given You Yuxing’s current status, it was normal for him to act like that. However, not apologizing after accidentally stepping on Liu Rumen’s dress made her furious. She initially thought about watching him embarrass himself on the variety show, but unexpectedly, they replaced him directly.
Chi Yizhen, who was rumored to have undergone plastic surgery, didn’t look too artificial. His gaze was gentle, and he was always smiling.
Liu Rumen also knew something had happened to him, and seeing him leaning on the railing, she worried it might affect public opinion.
Liu Rumen said, “Cheer up; life must go on.”
“Moreover, isn’t this a chance now? We…”
She suddenly realized they were on the program and changed her tone, “You have a legal husband now; you have someone to accompany you. No need to seek death and find life.”
[Haha, what’s the situation with Chi Yizhen and He Tiao on this variety show?]
[Didn’t he say he has an older brother? Is he living together with a barbecue seller because his family doesn’t allow him to date?]
Chi Yizhen: Sister, what kind of character have you given me!
Chi Yizhen: “He and I haven’t registered yet.”
Liu Rumen exclaimed, “What’s the big deal? Pillow Sister and I haven’t registered either. Legality is a matter of freedom and heart. Look at the couple downstairs; they got married and were choking each other in the middle of the night.”
Chi Yizhen asked, “Choking each other?”
Seeing his curiosity, Liu Rumen gossiped eagerly, “Yeah, I saw it when I came back after shaking bubble tea last night.”
“After all, the husband delivers food and only returns in the middle of the night. The wife thinks he smells of someone else’s perfume.”
Chi Yizhen thought, Is the plot really this thrilling? Have we reached the temptation to go home already?
[Are you the neighbors who can’t stop gossiping?]
[I’m dying of laughter. The atmosphere is so tense; I already feel immersed as if I live there.]
[Neighbor relationships always start with gossip…]
Chi Yizhen didn’t know what to say for a moment and just sighed, “The sound insulation is really bad.”
Unexpectedly, Liu Rumen nodded, patted his shoulder, and acted like a caring older sister, “You and your husband should be a bit more discreet. I can hear you at midnight.”
Chi Yizhen: ??
[Midnight? What midnight? Is it a midnight I didn’t see?]
[Why would you hear anything? What kind of sound?]
Chi Yizhen suddenly felt guilty, but he didn’t show it on his face, “Oh, that’s just me singing because I can’t sleep.”
He thought, What did I do? Does He Tiao know? It’s just a dream where I beat up Sheng Xin.
Liu Rumen made a weird sound, “I understand.”
Chi Yizhen thought, You understand what?
What’s going on? Why are they all so into acting? In comparison, He Tiao is much cuter.