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The atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous.
It could be the combination of He Tiao’s expression with his current gaze, or perhaps Chi Yizhen naturally carried this atmosphere with him.
Their eyes met, making the nearby crew members feel like they should be hiding under the bed.
In fact, whether it was that rushed morning or just now in the car, Chi Yizhen hadn’t really had a chance to take a good look at He Tiao.
He was too hurried and too tired.
Now he realized that He Tiao’s eye shape had a slight downturn, and when he looked straight, it was fine, but when he lowered his gaze, it seemed to carry a hint of vulnerability.
But this vulnerability didn’t quite match his outward appearance of sophistication.
Chi Yizhen smiled and reached out, placing his hand on top of He Tiao’s hand that was inserting the key, with their palms touching, he casually asked, “Then what should we do?”
[“Damn, Chi Yizhen, you’re really good at this!!! I thought at the very least there would be a ‘yes’ or something, and you actually turned it into a question?”]
[“Ladies, learn from him!!”]
[“Did Chi Yizhen date someone before? I tried searching and found mentions of a first love, and in an interview, it was said that he liked girls!”]
[“No one, regardless of gender, can resist this!”]
He grabbed He Tiao’s hand and opened the door with a creaking sound. The old wooden door swung open, revealing the furnishings inside to both them and the audience.
[“The conditions here are really poor!!! But you can tell it’s a young person’s room.”]
[“A one-room apartment with a private bathroom in a high-rise building isn’t bad at all!!! Be content!”]
[“I’m laughing so hard, who set up this set? It’s kind of tacky but not quite, not really trendy… And why are there anime posters?”]
[“Among them, who’s into anime is pretty obvious, right?!!”]
The cameras were all focused on the two of them, eager to capture the guests’ expressions.
However, this pair, one of whom was a billionaire CEO, surprisingly had no reaction.
Chi Yizhen actually seemed rather satisfied and nodded.
[“Chi Yizhen hasn’t let go yet… help, I’m going to die.”]
[“I’m laughing so hard, He Tiao looks like he wants to break free but also seems a bit hesitant…”]
Chi Yizhen said, “It’s pretty good, at least it’s not a shared bathroom and toilet.”
Only then did he release his hand and looked around the small one-room apartment, which had a very tiny kitchen.
The windows had old-fashioned blue stained glass, and Chi Yizhen reached out to open one. He realized that just beyond the wall outside the window was a vegetable market.
He Tiao’s heart was beating rapidly, perhaps because of Chi Yizhen’s gaze just now, or perhaps it was the sensation of their palms and the back of their hands touching.
It even stirred up the fleeting memory of that day when Chi Yizhen had kissed him on the chin. He couldn’t help but think of it.
Chi Yizhen asked, “Cousin, what do you think?”
He Tiao replied, “What?”
[“Cousin? Didn’t they just change it from husband and wife?”]
[“Hahaha, e-god’s expression is so confused, I’m dying of laughter!”]
Chi Yizhen said, “Since you don’t want me to call you husband or wife, how about cousin? Wasn’t that popular in the past?”
After saying this, he went to open the wardrobe and asked the crew, “Do I have to wear these clothes for the next half month?”
Director: “We’ll give you both a thousand yuan as startup capital.”
Chi Yizhen: “Is the thousand yuan for me or for him?”
He Tiao also stood in front of the wardrobe, noticing that there were two sets of sizes. Even before they officially started, the feeling of cohabitation was already setting in.
He Tiao moved his eyes away but noticed a box below.
He reached out to take a look and quickly put it back.
[“What is that???”]
[“A fleeting moment… It can’t be what I’m thinking, right?!!”]
[“I see some sweet words written on it. It seems to be a brand…”]
[“Sweet words hahaha, damn, it’s the sponsor for this variety show!!! Grown-ups will understand!!!”]
[“Zhang Miya, are you watching? My face is all red. Even though I haven’t seen what it is, just seeing the words ‘sweet words’ is driving me crazy!”]
[“Wasn’t the previous travel variety show on Xianggua also sponsored by Sweet Words? I remember some small idol got a lifeless blind box.”]
[“Right now, e-god looks like a still frame…”]
The director continued to speak with Chi Yizhen, “You have freedom in how you use it. The rent for the barbecue stand and the equipment over there are all prepared, so there’s no need for additional payment, but…”
Chi Yizhen nodded with a solemn expression, “Starting from scratch.”
Chi Yizhen nudged He Tiao’s arm, “Cousin, say something. How should we use this thousand yuan?”
He Tiao was still lost in thought about that thing, and he responded with an “Hmm? What?”
[“Is Chi Yizhen doing this on purpose? I have a feeling that sentence could have been ‘Husband, say something…'”]
[“Our e-god!! A socially anxious person participating in a live variety show is just too painful!”]
[“Chi Yizhen! Can you be nicer to our e-god!”]
Chi Yizhen said, “A thousand yuan, here.”
He picked up his phone and showed He Tiao the incoming thousand yuan, saying, “Our startup capital.”
Then, he realized something and said, “We haven’t added each other on WeChat yet.”
He Tiao nodded.
He was naturally tall, and Chi Yizhen had difficulty whispering in his ear, so he had to lower his head. The covert manner of this whispered conversation was blatantly obvious, and Chi Yizhen even glanced at the camera before quietly asking He Tiao, “I’ve even written you notes. Why haven’t you added me?”
For the first time in his life, he was having a hushed conversation in front of a live audience of a million people, and even though He Tiao wasn’t scared, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. He kept lowering his voice as he spoke, his breath brushing against Chi Yizhen’s ear. “You don’t need to pay.”
Indeed, he wasn’t a male escort, so why would he need to pay? What was this person misunderstanding?
With this in mind, He Tiao asked the director, “Can I give him all the money I earn from the show?”
The director: ?
[My e-god! Is this love already? It’s only been a short time!]
[I can’t stop laughing. These two got into character really quickly…]
[Their struggling startup couple persona is set, but I honestly can’t believe they’ll earn the specified amount in just half a month…]
[Don’t underestimate the income from selling skewers, and Chi Yizhen’s current profession as an online store model pays well too!]
[Hurry up! I want to see the socially awkward CEO setting up a street stall!!]
The director said, “The specified amount…”
He Tiao replied, very casually, “Above and beyond the specified amount.”
He said it as if running a street stall was no big deal for him at all.
Chi Yizhen even exaggeratedly cleared his throat and said, “I’m so happy.”
He Tiao glanced at him, and Chi Yizhen shook his head, saying, “Let’s talk about it later.”
“This show pays a fee, so you don’t need to worry about me.”
His words were truly baffling, even surprising Zhang Miya, who was already on her way to the scene. She didn’t have a strong impression of Chi Yizhen.
Even though the Chi family had set up a film and television company solely for their youngest son, Chi Yizhen, he hadn’t deeply integrated into the entertainment industry. His roles in movies and TV shows were quite straightforward, and he rarely appeared in variety shows. At most, he might have collaborated with Eccentric Entertainment on a film, playing minor roles without much impact.
In terms of acting, Chi Yizhen didn’t stand out. It seemed like he was genuinely passionate about the industry but lacked ambition. He didn’t strive for the top positions and didn’t engage in any fierce competition.
This made him fall into the category of not too successful nor unsuccessful, lacking the kind of star power that would generate a dedicated fan base, certainly not on the level of Yu Yuxing, who had garnered a large following through his intense performances.
The assistant sitting next to Zhang Miya nodded as well. “I remember Chi Yizhen from idol dramas mainly because of the female lead. He doesn’t seem very dynamic, and during private interviews, he comes across as very obedient and heavily reliant on his family.”
Zhang Miya looked back at the live stream screen, observing Chi Yizhen. He appeared slimmer than during his acting days but hadn’t reached a point of drastic weight loss. When he remained silent, he carried a naturally endearing melancholy; however, when he smiled, he was full of liveliness, especially during his interactions with He Tiao, which were incredibly captivating.
Oddly, when He Tiao entered this room, it was unclear whether he was getting into character or simply letting loose. The production staff had left them to arrange their upcoming schedules themselves and introduced them to people related to their professions before departing.
For a moment, the room fell into silence. Chi Yizhen began to explore the surroundings, opened the refrigerator, and discovered that it seemed like a place where someone had been living. Then, he turned to He Tiao, seated on the couch, and asked if he wanted something to drink.
The set was designed to match their personas, given that Chi Yizhen was currently an online model with an Instagram-worthy style. Yet, her boyfriend, or perhaps her husband, was a down-to-earth kebab seller. He liked sports stars and had a penchant for anime, as evidenced by the seemingly mismatched posters on the wall, featuring both minimalist prints and hot-blooded manga artwork.
There was no television in the room, but beside the tattered couch, covered with an extra layer of fabric, was a projector.
A two-seater sofa was centrally placed in the room, offering a cozy spot for the couple.
The room was not particularly spacious, but when He Tiao sat there, it felt like he occupied his own territory.
He picked up a manga book from the coffee table, a last-minute replacement Zhang Miya had found. People didn’t know much about this e-god person, so they could only guess He Tiao’s preferences based on interviews with the Star Track creators from the past.
Unfortunately, the person who bought the manga made a mistake and got the latest hit shoujo manga. However, this accidental choice turned out to be rather fortuitous, as it made He Tiao take a second look.
Upon hearing Chi Yizhen’s question, He Tiao turned his head and asked, “Can I choose?”
Chi Yizhen shook his head, “Only soda, do you want some?”
With no one else around and the cameras set up, even though he knew he was being watched, He Tiao still relaxed somewhat.
He nodded, “Sure, I’ll have some.”
Chi Yizhen came out with two cans of cola and plopped down on the sofa. He adjusted his posture, trying to lean comfortably, but the sofa was too small, and no matter how he shifted, he could only lean towards He Tiao’s side.
Seeing him struggle, He Tiao generously said, “Just lean on me.”
Chi Yizhen let out an “Eh,” and teased, “Will you fasten my seatbelt for me then?”
The barrage of comments flooded in with laughter, even Zhang Miya couldn’t help but chuckle. She commented, “They seem quite compatible.”
Having been part of numerous shows, Zhang Miya was well aware of her fans’ preferences.
Watching romance was all about the build-up before the relationship and the ambiguity, and after marriage, it was all about seeing how the couple got along.
“My Days in the Apartment Building” perfectly combined these three elements, whether they were acting or not, the allure of a full-day live broadcast was enough to pique people’s curiosity.
In the video, He Tiao’s reluctance was evident as he shook his head, “This isn’t like being in the car.”
Chi Yizhen nodded, “Is Cousin getting into character?”
He Tiao replied, “Somewhat.”
With one hand still holding the manga, Chi Yizhen leaned in, “Let me take a look?”
He Tiao suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, “You should read something else.”
The more He Tiao resisted, the more curious Chi Yizhen became.
The two of them almost started wrestling on the couch, ending up in the same position as when they first got into the car.
The cola remained undisturbed, securely placed on the small coffee table.
However, He Tiao was pinned down tightly, and Chi Yizhen couldn’t help but think, “This face is just too perfect for the paper man who tricked me into giving him money.”
It was almost criminal not to take advantage of the situation.
He Tiao still didn’t want Chi Yizhen to see the manga, but he didn’t anticipate that the person straddling him would bypass the usual steps and try to seduce him with kisses.
There was even a moment when their lips brushed together, and Chi Yizhen took the opportunity to snatch the book.
[“Ahhhh! Help! Quick, someone bring me some heart medication! Am I watching a TV drama?”]
[“Xianggua Entertainment, you’ve really outdone yourselves! This camera work! Are your staff in another room watching and giggling like idiots? I refuse to believe I’m the only one reacting this way!”]
[“I’ve even seen the title of that manga… E-god, I didn’t expect you to have such tastes…”]
“Let me… Huh? ‘Daily Nights with the Model Tenant’??”
Chi Yizhen, sitting on top of He Tiao, froze in place.
He Tiao was naturally slender, and even with the added width, he still exuded a youthful charm. It was as if all the hardships he had experienced only left a fleeting trace of sorrow in his brows, quickly disappearing.
Chi Yizhen began reading aloud, and He Tiao covered his face in agony.
Chi Yizhen took a look inside and exclaimed, “Oh!”
[“I searched it, and it’s really exciting! This is what modern shoujo manga is like!!!”]
[“I’m floored. My idol, whom I admire so much, actually enjoys this kind of genre…”]
Chi Yizhen flipped through the manga casually and commented, “It’s such a pure love story, starting with a 419 setup… And the male lead looks quite…”
His words were unapologetically suggestive, and He Tiao couldn’t bear it anymore. He covered Chi Yizhen’s mouth.
The sofa was already low to begin with, and nobody expected what happened next. When He Tiao suddenly got up, Chi Yizhen was caught off guard and was pulled along.
No one saw it coming.
The sofa in the High-Rise Building guest room actually collapsed first.
[“I’m laughing so hard.”]
[“Was this sofa picked up from a dumpster? It fits the theme of the show…”]
[“For the newcomers, are this couple the Wild and Untamed type?”]
[“Today, the gaming room’s fans have seen someone collapse a sofa…”]
Chi Yizhen stared at He Tiao and said with a heavy tone, “Do we have to pay for this?”