TSBDRA 58: He Reminds Me of the Flower I Really Like

The ice surface in winter was solid and thick. There’s no risk of it cracking but it was quite slippery underfoot, requiring constant attention to balance to avoid falling.

Yan Yushan walked behind Xu Xishuang, his eyes fixed intently on his back. Anytime Xu Xishuang’s body leaned even slightly, Yan Yushan would raise both hands to either side of him, ready at any moment to catch him.

【Tsk tsk tsk, he’s not even pretending to hold back, huh?】

【Yan Yushan really seems worried about Xu Xishuang’s health… does anyone actually know what illness Xu Xishuang has?】

【That’s private—don’t ask】

【Damn, that guy’s strong—he broke through the ice like it was nothing】

The burly man expertly carved four straight, “一”-shaped openings into the ice, then turned to the three guests and said, “You can’t drop the lines in just yet, or you’ll scare the fish away. You gotta wait a bit and let the bait draw them in.”

The three guests nodded to show they understood, each taking a fishing rod from the bucket he was carrying. They found their spots on the ice, accepted the folding chairs he brought, and sat down.

“In this kind of weather, fishing’s a matter of luck,” the man said as he scattered bait into the holes. “If you’re lucky, you’ll reel in a few within an hour. If not, you could squat here all morning and leave empty-handed.”

The production team had set the goal at three fish total—if each person managed to catch one, they’d complete the task.

While waiting for the bait to attract fish, Xu Xishuang sat on the ice, his face nearly completely wrapped in a scarf. Even so, the cold wind made him shiver, and he couldn’t help turning his head slightly and giving a soft cough.

Hearing Xu Xishuang cough, Yan Yushan immediately pulled out his thermos and handed it to him. Carrying a thermos had become a habit for him during the filming of Who’s Standing Behind the Door. Xu Xishuang had also gotten used to taking it from him and sipping hot water to fight the cold.

He reached out instinctively, but the moment his fingers touched the thermos, something seemed to cross his mind. Just as he started to pull his hand back, Yan Yushan noticed and firmly pushed the thermos back into his grip. “You didn’t eat breakfast. You need to drink something, or your body’s going to feel worse.”

【Help, Best Actor Yan really knows how to take care of people】

【Don’t be shy! Don’t hesitate! Just take it, Xu Xishuang!】

【I still don’t get why Xu Xishuang won’t accept Yan Yushan’s feelings. Being liked by someone like him is a blessing—what’s he holding back for?】

【…Why do you care so much? You’re more anxious than the people involved】

【? So what, because Yan Yushan likes him, Xu Xishuang should just be grateful and say yes on the spot?】

【No fighting! Can’t we all just enjoy this sweet, ambiguous phase of their relationship?】

【He took it, he took it! Xu Xishuang still accepted it】

Xu Xishuang sipped the hot water in small gulps, and sure enough, he started to feel better. The burly man nearby overheard what Yan Yushan said, thought for a moment, and offered, “You guys haven’t had breakfast yet? How about this—I’ll stay here and keep watch. You go to my house and have a bowl of porridge first, then come back to fish?”

“Thank you,” Yan Yushan nodded. “Sorry to trouble you.”

“No trouble,” the man replied. “I could tell that guy holding the thermos doesn’t look too well. Don’t catch a cold out here. It’s better to fill your stomach first.”

So the three of them got up and returned to the old lady’s house, knocking on the door. When she opened it and saw Xu Xishuang, she didn’t even wait for anyone to speak. She grabbed his wrist with a warm smile and said, “I saw the message from that big oaf—you’re here for breakfast, right? Come on in. Aiyo, your face is frozen pale. Want some canned yellow peaches?”

The old lady only had eyes for Xu Xishuang. She led him inside, pulled out all the festive snacks she had prepared—peanuts, sunflower seeds, candy—filled a whole plate and pushed it in front of him, telling him to help himself. Xu Xishuang sat a little stiffly on the sofa. Since transmigrating into this world, this was the first time someone had treated him with such warmth. He sat up straight, answering the old lady’s questions politely and obediently.

The first few questions were easy—like his age, what he did for a living, whether he had any hobbies. But the questions quickly became more… awkward.

“Haven’t… haven’t found anyone yet,” Xu Xishuang said, rubbing his face with the back of his hand. “Grandma, I like boys.”

The old lady paused for a moment, then quickly recovered, “Boys are fine too! I can introduce you—there’s someone in our village…”

“Grandma,” Yan Yushan suddenly spoke up, “the porridge’s about to boil over.”

Hearing that, the old lady immediately got up and shuffled back to the kitchen, temporarily sparing Xu Xishuang from the interrogation.

【So cute!! Xu Xishuang nervously answering Grandma’s questions is adorable】

【Comes out confidently to the whole country, but turns into a shy kitten in front of Grandma】

【Yan Yushan: interrupt the spell, block all of Xu Xishuang’s potential suitors】

【Jealous Yan Yushan strikes again, hehe】

After eating the hot porridge the old lady cooked, all three of them felt much better. They said goodbye to her, then made their way back to the ice, where the burly man had already set up the fishing rods. They returned to their spots, copied the man’s technique to bait the hooks, and set up their lines.

The burly man glanced at how the three guests were fishing and was surprised to find that the one who looked the most delicate and frail actually had the best technique. His movements were impressively skilled.

In the early morning and cold weather, fish tend to stay closer to the bottom of the water, so you need to fish deeper at this time. And because winter waters are calm and slow-moving, the hook barely drifts at all, so every two to three minutes you have to lift the line a little to make the bait move and attract fish.

If someone hadn’t been fishing for years or hadn’t learned from an experienced master, they would never know these details. The burly man couldn’t help tilting his head and asking Xu Xishuang, “Have you fished before?”

“…Yeah, I’ve seen other people fish,” Xu Xishuang answered vaguely. Before transmigrating into the book, during his travels, he had indeed fished with many seasoned veterans and shared great conversations with them. The original version of himself in this world, due to health issues, rarely went out except to act for money—and had never fished a day in his life.

The burly man wanted to ask more, but suddenly caught sight of Xu Xishuang’s float bobbing. His eyes sharpened. “You’ve got one!”

Next to him, Xiang Yao exclaimed, “That fast? Who—”

Before he could finish, he saw Xu Xishuang skillfully pull back and lift the rod. Following the long fishing line downward, they all saw a fish, estimated to weigh at least seven or eight kilos, thrashing its tail wildly as it struggled on the hook.

The burly man immediately grabbed the net, helped land the fish, then unhooked it and tossed it into the bucket. He looked at Xu Xishuang in amazement. “Nice one, man! Your luck’s not bad at all.”

At that moment, not only the viewers behind the screen, but also the director’s team sneak-watching the feed, and the other two fishermen on-site, all chalked it up to Xu Xishuang just being lucky.

But then, just a few minutes later, Xu Xishuang reeled in another fish. This one was nearly ten kilos and they all began to realize something wasn’t quite right.

Another six or seven minutes passed, and Xu Xishuang lifted his rod again. This time it was even more outrageous—both of his hooks had caught fish, not a single one came up empty. He calmly tossed the fish into the bucket, then turned to Yan Yushan and Xiang Yao then said, “I think we’ve completed our task.”

Xiang Yao and the burly man looked at their own rods, which hadn’t budged the entire time, and said nothing. Fei Yuan, who was watching behind the scenes, fell silent, and even the audience outside the screen went quiet for a few seconds.

The ice holes weren’t that far apart—so why was Xu Xishuang the only one catching anything? If they chalked it all up to luck, then his luck was bordering on the absurd.

Yan Yushan chuckled, reeled in his line, and said, “Yes, our task is done. Teacher Xu, you’re amazing.”

Other people had called him “Teacher Xu” too, but somehow when Yan Yushan said it, it just felt… different. Xu Xishuang couldn’t help raising a hand to touch his ear, tugging his hat down lower to cover the tips of his ears. “Mm,” he replied softly.

【I’m losing it, folks. The task that was supposed to take all day—Xu Xishuang finished it in half an hour】

【Ahhh Yan-ge’s tone is so doting!】

【Why call him Teacher Xu? Just call him Baby Shuangshuang already!!】

【Xu Xishuang should start a fishing tutorial side hustle—he’d be a hit with the middle-aged crowd】

【LOL Xiang Yao looks like a jealous uncle. If Xu Xishuang really starts a class, he’ll be the first to sign up】

Since the task was done, there was no reason for the three of them to keep freezing on the ice. The burly man handed them the bucket full of fish, then picked up his own rod and sat down where Xu Xishuang had been, trying to figure out whether it was the spot, bad luck, or simply that his technique wasn’t as refined as Xu Xishuang’s.

Xiang Yao offered to carry the bucket. Xu Xishuang glanced inside, then said to him and Yan Yushan, “We only needed three fish to complete the task. How about we give the extra one to Grandma as thanks for the porridge?”

Yan Yushan and Xiang Yao both nodded in agreement. All four fish had been caught by Xu Xishuang and he could do whatever he wanted with them.

So the three of them set off once again for Grandma’s house. Xu Xishuang walked carefully across the ice, lifting each foot slightly before pressing it down fully, making sure he wouldn’t slip. Now that the sun was out, the surface layer of the ice had started to melt a little. As he walked, he lost his footing and suddenly fell backward.

Yan Yushan, who had been watching him the entire time, reached out immediately and caught him securely, both arms wrapped tightly around Xu Xishuang’s waist.

Startled, Xu Xishuang instinctively tilted his head back and his forehead brushed right across Yan Yushan’s lips. His whole body froze on the spot.

【They’re finally in each other’s arms!! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment?!】

【They kissed! They kissed! I saw it with both my eyes—I even took a screenshot!】

【Come on now, so many people are watching—can you two calm down a bit? Still holding on? How long are you planning to hug? (points and stares)】

Right as that comment floated across the screen, Xu Xishuang suddenly snapped out of it. He gripped Yan Yushan’s strong arm, stood back up, and quietly said, “Thanks,” before turning and walking ahead again, his pace clearly a little rushed.

Behind him, Yan Yushan glanced at the tips of his ears, which had turned slightly red, and said nothing.

【He’s blushing, he’s blushing】

【Have Yan Yushan’s fans just given up? No one’s bashing Xu Xishuang anymore? It’s been quiet since last night, and now the whole chat is full of CP fans】

【What’s wrong with Yan-ge having someone he likes? Why would fans bash Xu Xishuang for that? Those trolls online stirring things up—I don’t even know what breed of creature they are. Just ignore them.】

【I’m dying—Yan-ge’s fans are all hoping he hurries up and locks down Xu Xishuang, okay? Someone this good-looking, low-key, brave enough to expose Tang Min, talented at acting, and now even good at fishing—where else are you gonna find another one like him in the entertainment industry?】

The bullet chat suddenly exploded again—naturally, it was Yan Yushan’s fans going head-to-head with those trying to stir up drama. Xu Xishuang’s fans quietly joined in to help, and the CP shippers were absolutely unstoppable. The chat returned to its usual lively but harmonious state in no time.

Meanwhile, Xu Xishuang and the others arrived at Grandma’s house and gave her the biggest, fattest fish in the bucket.

Grandma was overjoyed. She stuffed Xu Xishuang’s coat pocket with a big handful of sunflower seeds and candy, generously gave them the metal bucket as well, and enthusiastically invited Xu Xishuang to come visit again sometime.

After delivering the fish, they returned to the cabin—only to be surprised to find that Yan Yao and her group had come back too.

“You have no idea how fast those squirrels can run,” Bai Keke groaned, flopping onto the sofa, exhausted. “We didn’t even see its face… actually, we did get a shot of its shadow.”

Next to her, Yan Yao handed over the camera. Xu Xishuang reached out to take it and glanced at the screen. There was just one photo, showing a blurry gray ball-like shape.

Yan Yao said, “We were so tired from chasing it, and none of us had eaten breakfast, so we decided to come back first. We’ll head out again after lunch.”

“Whoa, you guys finished the fishing task already?” Shen Youlian noticed the three big fish in the metal bucket Xiang Yao was carrying and exclaimed in surprise, “That’s amazing—we’ve got lunch sorted!”

Xiang Yao set the bucket down and waved his hand. “Those three were all caught by Xu Xishuang. I wouldn’t dare take the credit. He’s seriously skilled.”

Everyone in the cabin turned to look at Xu Xishuang in astonishment. None of them had expected he had a skill like that.

Yu Shudie was also visibly surprised for a second, but when her eyes met Xu Xishuang’s, she quickly turned her head away stiffly, refusing to look at him. Her whole body was radiating awkwardness.

That afternoon’s lunch was prepared by Yan Yushan and Yu Shudie. The moment Yu Shudie saw Yan Yushan, she was reminded of what he said the day before. The thought made her eyes turn red as she held back tears while cooking. Halfway through chopping vegetables, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and suddenly turned to ask him, “What is it exactly that you like about Xu Xishuang?”

【Here it comes, the love triangle showdown is here! Not gonna lie, I also want to know what exactly Yan Yushan sees in Xu Xishuang】

【Don’t cry, Butterfly—let’s just find someone else to chase】

【I bet Yan Yushan will say ‘everything’】

“I don’t think I’m obligated to answer your question,” Yan Yushan said calmly. “But if I had to…”

His expression softened for a brief moment. “He reminds me of a flower I like.”

Like the flower he once brought back from the entrance of a mountain cave after a mudslide—planted in his own garden. A flower with incredible vitality, enduring pain and illness yet still growing tenaciously upward. It might look withered at times, like it could be blown away by the wind and vanish, but if you look closely, you’d realize that it has never truly wilted.

Xu Xishuang was also like a cat. Beautiful, with a quiet pride in his bones, but not the kind that hurts others—just enough to make him endearing. A flower and a cat, combined into one strange but enchanting presence, every part of him making Yan Yushan’s heart soften, making him want to protect him, claim him, and have him all to himself.

【? I guessed wrong? But why a flower? Does anyone know what kind of flower Yan Yushan likes?】

【Damn, Yan Yushan really treats Xu Xishuang completely differently from everyone else】

【Yan-ge’s eyes are so gentle, full of love, sobbing】

The short conversation in the kitchen wasn’t heard by the others outside. By the time lunch was served, Yu Shudie had already returned to her usual self—though she no longer glared at Xu Xishuang with resentment, because she knew she no longer had a chance.

Both Yan Yushan and Yu Shudie were decent cooks. After suffering through Xu Xishuang’s “poisonous” stew the night before, Xiang Yao nearly teared up with gratitude at tasting normal food again. Bai Keke ate the steamed fish with a blissful expression. She couldn’t believe she was actually eating a meal cooked by her idol with his own hands.

After lunch, everyone rested for a bit before deciding to head out together to search for signs of the snow squirrels. Since it got dark early, they set off not long after, entering the forest with a promise to return early. If they couldn’t get a photo, so be it—safety came first.