Chapter 3: Living Together

“You’re too close to me, what are you doing?” Ji Chenxuan’s eye suddenly twitched.

The gaze that the other person fixed on him was too intense. He tried to look away, but his gaze was caught, unable to move.

Xiao Chi said confidently, “You just called my name.”

Ji Chenxuan: “……”

He rubbed his temples, momentarily not sure. Since taking control of Huanyi, he had been able to handle even the most complicated situations, but his current hesitation was rare.

He sized Xiao Chi up from head to toe once more, then threw out another question, “If you are Xiao Chi, why does your face look different from the virtual idol?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who blew up the lab and erased your data?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can the AI company restore you?”

“I don’t know.”

Ji Chenxuan was speechless. “What exactly do you know?”

Without hesitation, Xiao Chi replied, “The interaction records you had with me before.”

“……” Ji Chenxuan suddenly closed his eyes in frustration, pinching his brow. “What are you planning to do in this state?”

Xiao Chi looked at him blankly. “I don’t have anywhere else to go, but I won’t go back into the capsule.”

Ji Chenxuan thought to himself, I’d be crazy to send you back.

He hid his fleeting thought and said indifferently, “Since you have nowhere to go, I can take you in, but we need to set some ground rules. You’ll have to agree to a few conditions.”

Xiao Chi thought the proposal was very reasonable. “Tell me.”

Ji Chenxuan paused for a moment before saying, “First, you cannot reveal your identity or the fact that you’re living here to anyone. Second, you must work for me as a sample for research on virtual idols. Third… I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.”

Xiao Chi readily nodded in agreement.

A hidden smile tugged at the corner of Ji Chenxuan’s mouth, but he quickly straightened his lips, concealing his emotions, and said nonchalantly, “For now, stay in the guest room. I’ll have the maid clean it thoroughly. If you need anything, let me know.”

Xiao Chi’s gaze wandered as he slowly moved toward the bed, his hands lingering on the feel of the lamb fleece blanket. “Is the bed over there this soft too?”

What does this guy mean? Could it be… he wants to sleep here?

Ji Chenxuan’s breath hitched for a moment. After a fierce inner struggle, he forcefully suppressed the tempting thought, replying, “If you like this, I’ll have someone buy it for you.”

“Okay.” Xiao Chi, satisfied, smiled and got up from the bed without any hesitation.

“…” Ji Chenxuan suddenly realized he had over-thought things.

He led Xiao Chi to the guest room next door. As they brushed past each other, a faint scent drifted into his nose.

Ji Chenxuan pursed his lips and frowned slightly. “I have something to do right now. Go take a shower and get rid of the smell of disinfectant on you.”

After returning to the study alone, Ji Chenxuan decided to personally verify the information Zhou Tong had reported, while waiting for the emergency meeting to begin.

His finger gently slid across the silver-gray metal wristband, and the AI virtual logo lit up. Sure enough, the projection beam was pitch black.

The account backend no longer contained any records or data related to Xiao Chi. His personal image had become a generic gray silhouette—this guy had really disappeared from the virtual world!

If the AI company couldn’t restore Xiao Chi, the compensation alone would be a huge blow to them. No wonder they were trying to shift the blame elsewhere.

Ji Chenxuan crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, sinking into deep thought.

This sudden incident had dealt a serious blow to the AI company, but for Huanyi, it was actually a rare opportunity.

Especially…

He glanced subtly towards the door, his mind not yet far from his thoughts, when the meeting screen suddenly lit up on the wall, drawing his attention back.

The large curved display was made up of multifunctional wall panels, and the space seemed to extend from the monitor, as if a real conference room had appeared in front of him.

The executives, who had been whispering amongst themselves, immediately straightened up and sat up properly when they saw him.

Ji Chenxuan skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. “I already know the situation. What do you all think?”

The PR department had just reported on the emergency response plan when the head of the marketing department spoke up first. “President Ji, I believe we should seize this opportunity and act immediately. While the AI company is in chaos, we should start our national star show competition. It’s been a long time since a real new talent emerged in the entertainment industry.”

Director Yan of the virtual projects department echoed, “Since AI is trying to shift the blame onto us, we can take advantage of this. Virtual idols are replicable, and their popularity lasts a lot less time than real stars. Rather than letting them rush out a new idol to fill the gap, we should grab Xiao Chi’s fans while we can.”

Hearing this name suddenly, Ji Chenxuan’s gaze flickered slightly.

He shifted his hand from his left cheek to his right, listening as the other executives expressed their opinions, and slowly, a consensus began to form.

Only one dissenting voice broke the harmony: “You all are dreaming. Maybe AI will restore Xiao Chi’s data tomorrow, and we’ll just end up disappointed.”

Ji Chenxuan immediately shot back, “Impossible.”

The others turned to look at him in confusion.

After a brief pause, Ji Chenxuan shifted his posture and casually replied, “I’ve received reliable information that the possibility of data restoration is very low.”

Seeing that Ji Chenxuan had no intention of explaining the source of his information, the others returned to discussing the national star show competition.

With the general direction for the next steps set, there was no need for the CEO to worry about the specifics.

By the time the meeting ended, over an hour had passed.

Ji Chenxuan hesitated briefly outside the guest room door, knocked twice, and entered.

The bedroom was empty, but the bathroom light was still on, with the sound of running water filling the air.

He took a couple of steps toward the sound and was surprised to find the bathroom door wide open, with the misty steam spreading out. The warm light from the bathroom lamp diffused through the fog, casting a soft glow.

Even though it was his own villa, Ji Chenxuan hesitated to approach, the rustling sounds stirring his nerves.

The next moment, not just his legs, but his entire body froze.

Xiao Chi, with foam on his head, peeked out from the bathroom, still wearing his white shirt, which was completely soaked through with water, clinging to his body and outlining the contours of his chest and shoulders in a semi-transparent manner.

Frowning, Xiao Chi looked serious as he said, “I’ve been studying for a while, but I still don’t understand how humans take a shower.”

Ji Chenxuan: “…”

He took a deep breath, his mood subtle as he stepped into the bathroom. Bubbles floated in the air, bouncing off each other, and under the warm yellow light, they reflected the colors of the rainbow.

“First, you need to close the door when you shower,” he said, his face serious as he emphasized the point. He closed the door behind him, shutting off the room’s spring-like warmth.

“Also, take your clothes off,” Ji Chenxuan added, turning slightly away. From Xiao Chi’s angle, all he could probably see was a slightly twitching ear peeking through black hair.

“Oh.” Xiao Chi readily complied, grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling it apart with force—

A button popped off and flew through the air in a mischievous arc, hitting Ji Chenxuan squarely on the back of the head.

Ji Chenxuan turned around in confusion, and then, without warning, his eyes landed on Xiao Chi’s well-toned abs and chest muscles, perfectly sculpted and uncovered.

Xiao Chi’s muscles were lean and firm, flexing with each breath in the hot, steamy air. His body lines tapered smoothly down to his narrow waist, with clear, sharp lines forming a perfect V-shape, extending into his loose, soaked pants…

“You—” A single syllable caught in his throat. His breath faltered slightly, and Ji Chenxuan’s gaze deepened instantly. Xiao Chi, with his bright black eyes, innocently met his stare.

“You can’t even take your clothes off?”

Xiao Chi answered matter-of-factly, “I never had to change clothes myself before. The program did it for me.”

“…Fine.”

Stripping this helpless guy down and placing him in the bathtub, Ji Chenxuan suddenly had the strange feeling of taking care of a giant doll.

His thoughts wandered. So, behind that refined and elegant idol persona, there was this completely helpless side. And the only person in the world who knew this secret… was him.

“So, what now?” Xiao Chi sat in the bathtub, looking up at him with longing eyes, the milky white foam piling up around him, obscuring the view of the water beneath.

Ji Chenxuan cleared his throat, squeezed some shampoo into his palm, and rubbed it onto Xiao Chi’s head. “Close your eyes.”

Xiao Chi’s hair was fine, soft chestnut brown, with a natural curl. It was wet and piled on top of his head, now covered in white foam. Ji Chenxuan’s fingers worked through the strands, feeling both curious and entertained.

Xiao Chi closed his eyes in contentment, “It’s a bit itchy on the left.”

Ji Chenxuan paused, his hand frozen. The corner of his mouth twitched. As the president of Huanyi, why was he doing the work of a salon assistant?

“You do it yourself.” He pressed his lips together and walked over to the sink to wash his hands, catching a glimpse of Xiao Chi in the mirror, his head covered in foam, rubbing it aimlessly, sending bubbles flying everywhere.

Ji Chenxuan smirked helplessly. “Alright, just wash it off with water.”

Xiao Chi turned his head to look at him. Through the foam and steam, his gaze seemed confused and dazed. He thought about the next step for a moment, then—plunged his head straight into the water.

Ji Chenxuan froze. This guy’s logic was always so simple and blunt, it always caught him off guard.

He waited patiently for a moment, but Xiao Chi still didn’t move, his head buried underwater.

“Hey, you can come up now.” Ji Chenxuan frowned and pushed his shoulder.

Splash—Xiao Chi suddenly shot upright, splashing water everywhere, drenching Ji Chenxuan.

His wet hair clung to his forehead, drops of water falling from the tips of his hair. His clothes were soaked, water beads dripping down, leaving deep and shallow marks. Ji Chenxuan stared at Xiao Chi, his expression flat but his gaze intense, as though he could pierce through him.

Seeing the dark look on Ji Chenxuan’s face, Xiao Chi cautiously asked, “Do you need a wash too?”

“No!” Ji Chenxuan took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions stirring within him. “Just finish and come out.”

After changing into a fresh set of loungewear, Ji Chenxuan sat down on the sofa with a glass of cold water, silently drying his damp hair.

Before long, Xiao Chi, barefoot, stepped onto the soft handmade rug, completely naked, unaware, and wandered into the bedroom.

The floor lamp in the corner cast a dim, soft light. The man’s long legs stepped into the beam, and the milky light illuminated a section of his ivory-smooth skin.

Ji Chenxuan’s breath caught in his throat. He suddenly turned his head away, his ear tips flushed red, and snapped, “Don’t run around naked after a shower! Put on your clothes!”

Xiao Chi silently replied, “My clothes are wet, they’re uncomfortable to wear.”

“…”

“There’s a bit of redness under your nose?”

Ji Chenxuan helplessly covered his nose, rummaging through the wardrobe for a brand-new set of pajamas. “Wear mine for now. I’ll send someone to buy new ones tomorrow.”

Xiao Chi curiously took them and examined them before immediately pulling them over his head.

“…You’re wearing them inside out.” After a whole night of chaos, Ji Chenxuan finally had a clear realization of how clueless he was about daily life and had completely lost his temper. Resigned, he took on the role of a caretaker.

He carefully buttoned up all the buttons for him, then, with a solemn face, tucked him into the bed, repeatedly emphasizing, “Don’t run around. Just sleep peacefully.”

After saying that, he turned off the light and was about to leave the guest room, but his clothes were suddenly grabbed.

In the darkness, a faint glow of moonlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Xiao Chi’s eyes glowed dark and bright, his gaze fixed on him, “Will you still be here tomorrow?”

Ji Chenxuan paused for a moment.

Xiao Chi patiently asked again, “Will you always be in this dark room?”

A dark room?

Ji Chenxuan hesitated briefly before responding, his voice deep and concise, “Yes.”

Xiao Chi seemed to sigh quietly in satisfaction and closed his eyes.

“…”

After a while, Xiao Chi opened his eyes again and blinked in confusion, “Why haven’t you left?”

“…Let go of my clothes.”

“Oh.”

The next day, a faint pale light appeared on the distant horizon.

Ji Chenxuan woke up early, even earlier than usual, despite having only fallen asleep in the late hours of the night.

His routine was always punctual, his biological clock as precise as an alarm clock. His movements were efficient, as if every second mattered and couldn’t be wasted.

Previously, the housemaid had taken leave to return home for the Spring Festival, and Ji Chenxuan didn’t like hiring newcomers whose backgrounds were unclear. The smart home robots were too crude with their skills, so for the past few days, he had to either cook for himself or eat at the company’s cafeteria.

Now that there was another person in the house, it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

After finishing his morning routine, Ji Chenxuan slowly tied his dark blue tie in front of the mirror, but his mind had already drifted to the guest room on the other side of the wall—he wondered how that guy had slept last night?

He stood at the guest room door, hesitating for a moment before knocking. After waiting for a while and receiving no response, he turned the doorknob, and a gust of cold air rushed into his arms. Ji Chenxuan furrowed his brows—there was heating in the house, so why was this room so cold?

The pale golden morning light filtered through the curtains into the bedroom. Ji Chenxuan looked at the empty bed, and his heart skipped a beat—he suddenly realized that Xiao Chi was gone!

—

The author has something to say: Small theater

Xiao Chi: A brand new day!

Ji Chenxuan: A troublesome day!