Chapter 32 – That’s My Brother

Shen Fubai had gained a new sworn sister.

That night, two strangers who were online friends chatted about everything from the heartaches of being loyal fans to their happy idol-chasing lives. They recommended their favorite idols to each other, showing respect by praising the other’s idol, and their conversation gradually veered off into philosophy and dreams. Throughout, they discovered that they were eerily compatible, clicking ‘follow’ on each other’s profiles cheerfully during their chat.

If they weren’t both sisters, they would have been a perfect match made in heaven.

Here’s an excerpt of their conversation for your enjoyment, dear reader.

_

Amber: I must praise Shen Fubai’s divine beauty; I won’t allow anyone in this world to be unaware of his magnificence!【Image】

It was a photo of Shen Fubai’s portrait.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: Oh my, stunning. Let me recommend my idol too; he’s incredibly handsome!【Image】

This was a still from one of Jiang Heng’s dramas.

Amber: Wow, indeed he’s handsome. But didn’t you say that he was just your shield?

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: No, I was joking. I’m a die-hard fan, as you can tell from my username. But the one dating is another person. Sigh, let’s not talk about it; it makes me feel terrible.

Amber: Don’t be sad. Let’s admire Shen Fubai’s peerless beauty again to soothe your heart.【Image】【Image】【Image】

Shen Fubai: Then I might as well go look in the mirror.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: It’s alright; looking at more pictures of Heng Heng cheers me up.【Image】【Image】【Image】

Jiang Heng: If I started a video call, wouldn’t you be ecstatic?

The two of them battled with each other’s photos for what seemed like ages, determined to convert the other to their side, to become a fan of Shen Fubai or Jiang Heng.

Then they grew tired.

Looking at their own photos for so long, they became numb to their beauty.

So they began talking about life.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: Sister, do you have any dreams?

Amber: Marry my idol.【Cynical smoking picture】

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: What a coincidence, same here! Unfortunately, I have no chance. He’s already in a relationship, sigh.

Amber: As if you’d have a chance even if he wasn’t.

Reality bites.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: You’re making it hard for us to be good sisters now.

Sister, what’s wrong with you? I came here for comfort, why are you stabbing me in the heart?

Amber: Alright, but who is the one in the relationship? I see you’ve praised Jiang Heng endlessly, yet you haven’t mentioned the other one at all.

Jiang Heng wasn’t genuinely curious; he just asked out of politeness.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: Secret.

From these two words and a period, Jiang Heng somehow sensed a hint of shyness.

It was probably just his imagination.

Jiang Heng wanted to continue chatting, but then he checked the time.

Four in the morning.

Jiang Heng: “…”

He and his surprisingly compatible net friend had spent the entire night battling with images and selling their idols, losing track of time.

And he had to wake up at six to film.

He was doomed.

_

Amber: It’s getting late, time for bed. Goodnight.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: Isn’t it early? I could wake up in two hours… Damn, I’m going to sleep.

Did Wine Get Heng’s Attention Today: Good morning!

The corners of Jiang Heng’s lips curled slightly, and he replied with a good morning as well.

_

The next day, the doors of rooms 607 and 608 opened almost simultaneously, with Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng stepping out with dark circles under their eyes.

…That was impossible.

Celebrities often worked late into the night, taking meticulous care of their skin. How could they possibly have dark circles? Both appeared perfectly fine, discreetly stifling yawns when nobody was looking.

Jiang Heng hadn’t dared to sleep while holding Shen Fubai the previous night, and last night he’d chatted with a female net friend all night. He felt like his life had reached its peak.

He needed to catch some sleep in the car today, otherwise, he’d transcend into immortality right there.

_

Xiao Lin hadn’t returned yet, saying he had to send his girlfriend off at the airport that morning and would report back to the set at noon.

But that was fine. Without an assistant, Shen Fubai still had a nanny van and driver available twenty-four hours a day, ready at a moment’s notice.

“Do you have someone to drive you?” Jiang Heng asked Shen Fubai. “If not, ride with me today.”

Shen Fubai: “No.”

Even if he did, it had to be a no.

After breakfast, the two of them got in the car, sitting in the backseat as they had two days ago. In front were only the driver and Xiao Zhang. Four people in a nanny van, it was quite spacious.

Jiang Heng, who could be said to have pulled two consecutive all-nighters, was truly exhausted. Leaning against the back of the seat in the car, he closed his eyes to rest, drifting off to sleep.

His head tilted, resting on Shen Fubai’s shoulder.

Shen Fubai tensed up, turning his head carefully to look at Jiang Heng, subconsciously holding his breath, afraid of waking the sleeping beauty.

The youth leaning on his shoulder had his eyes closed, his long, curling eyelashes distinct. His nose was straight, his lips slightly thin, and his features were strikingly beautiful.

Shen Fubai’s heart pounded.

Then he suddenly remembered the words he overheard outside the dressing room yesterday.

Shen Fubai’s heart stopped.

He was dead inside.

Shen Fubai steeled himself, gently pushing Jiang Heng away. Just as he struggled to sit him upright, the driver took a sharp turn, and Jiang Heng’s weight pressed down on him. Shen Fubai, caught off guard, found his slender body pressed against the back seat of the car.

Jiang Heng slid down, landing on top of Shen Fubai.

Shen Fubai: “…”

Another daily tumble, the routine task was complete.

Every day, he fell once. Did he take advantage of Heng Heng? Was he taken advantage of by Heng Heng? Did they take advantage of each other?

…What nonsense was he thinking.

Jiang Heng blinked his eyes.

Then blinked again.

The drowsy Jiang Heng, his intelligence apparently not fully awake, remained on top of Shen Fubai for a moment before mumbling, “Your chest is really flat.”

Shen Fubai: ? Sorry, I’m not an E-cup.

Shen Fubai was furious.

Heng Heng, who did you mistake me for?!

Yang Yingying?

Shen Fubai thought about Yang Yingying’s mature figure, and it seemed she really was an E-cup.

…Don’t talk to him; he didn’t want to talk right now.

He was in real pain.

Jiang Heng was silly for a while, his eyes gradually focusing.

He woke up, remembering what he had said.

Alright, he declared that he was still half-asleep, and nothing happened.

Jiang Heng sprang up like a coiled spring: “Sorry, I… You could have woken me up.”

Shen Fubai looked dispirited.

Jiang Heng panicked: “Did I bump into you?”

Shen Fubai shook his head lightly, still looking dejected.

You wouldn’t understand this feeling of heartbreak before love has even blossomed, Heng Heng.

_

Jiang Heng kept a close eye on Shen Fubai throughout the day.

He felt that Fubai’s mood had been off for the past two days, but he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. He wanted to grab a stool and have a heart-to-heart with Shen Fubai, encouraging him to pour out all his troubles.

But today, he had another matter to attend to.

Yang Yingying and his brother had finally reconciled. His brother, who had waited for two years, couldn’t wait another moment and was meeting Yang Yingying today.

Jiang Heng recommended a date spot to his brother – the “Eternal Love, Happily Ever After” couple restaurant, along with the adjacent Wine Hotel’s one-stop service.

There was no need to thank him; he was doing it for Ye Lin’s business.

Approaching his hometown with trepidation, Jiang Yuan, who was preparing to date Yang Yingying, still didn’t dare to make a phone call, asking Jiang Heng to relay the message instead.

Jiang Heng was speechless at his cowardly brother.

Then he thought about his own cowardice.

Fine, they were both cowards.

As soon as Jiang Heng finished filming, he went to find Yang Yingying and told her about Jiang Yuan’s invitation.

_

After finishing his filming, Shen Fubai had originally intended to find Jiang Heng to run lines together. But when he went to the dressing room and couldn’t find him, Xiao Zhang said Jiang Heng had gone to look for Yang Yingying.

Shen Fubai’s interest vanished instantly: “…Oh.”

He returned to his own dressing room alone to practice his lines.

When Xiao Lin came back at noon, he opened the door to the dressing room, his voice loud and full of energy: “I’m back! Have you missed me!”

Shen Fubai looked at him listlessly: “Oh.”

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Lin’s tone softened. “I was only gone for a day; you don’t have to look so listless, do you? Did you realize that you can’t survive without me for even a day? Now you know how important I am, right.”

Shen Fubai rested his chin on his hands, squishing his face into a bun. “I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”

“What’s really wrong? Who made our great celebrity Shen suffer?” Xiao Lin approached. “Should I tell you something to cheer you up? I really have to thank you for recommending Wine Hotel. The decor is very childlike, my girlfriend was very satisfied, and she played in the children’s area downstairs all night, declaring she would come back next time.”

“…Well, you two are certainly young at heart.” Shen Fubai was at a loss for words. On the day he and Heng Heng went, they were so excited that they didn’t even notice the children’s play area.

“Adults, under pressure from work, occasionally need to relieve stress in a children’s playground. It’s a return to simplicity, and it leaves you relaxed and happy.” Xiao Lin said.

Shen Fubai slapped the table: “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

He really needed to adjust his mood.

_

In the afternoon, Shen Fubai wrapped up early and took a taxi to the legendary children’s area of Wine Hotel, searching for a sense of returning to his childhood innocence.

Shen Fubai dressed playfully, putting on a giant panda mascot headgear, ensuring that even his mother wouldn’t recognize him here.

He was about to start his solo indulgence!

But.

He saw Jiang Heng and Yang Yingying in the lobby of Wine Hotel.

Shen Fubai quickly hid behind a corner, removing the headgear to peek over.

Jiang Heng, who was clearly dressed up, paced around a corner of the lobby, waiting for someone.

Soon, the hotel’s main entrance opened, and a woman wearing red high heels and dressed in a soft, seductive style walked in.

The two stood together for a moment, exchanging a few words before Jiang Heng pressed Yang Yingying against the wall and kissed her.

The posture instantly reminded Shen Fubai of the blurry photo taken by the media two years ago.

Title, he’d already thought of it, “We Kissed Goodbye on the Empty Street,” how fitting.

_

“A heartless woman.” The man’s deep voice was tinged with grievance, reaching Shen Fubai’s ears. “Finally decided to come back, huh?”

“Right, here’s the card with ten million yuan; I’m giving it back to you.” This was Yang Yingying’s voice.

The man was surprised. “You didn’t use it?”

“Don’t you rich people think money can solve everything? I’m a celebrity; I can earn ten million yuan even if I’m not popular. I won’t treat feelings like a transaction. I just disliked your mother’s attitude; is it that hard to show respect?”

“As for me, loving fame, fortune, and money is true.” The woman whispered in his ear. “Loving you is also true.”

Shen Fubai didn’t want to listen to their lovey-dovey exchange.

He just couldn’t help but think about how he and Jiang Heng had spent a wonderful night in this hotel two days ago, but now Jiang Heng was spending an even better night with another woman.

He felt terrible.

Alright, he had no right to complain.

But it hurt.

His heart felt heavy.

Xiao Lin, this liar, it was obviously not a happy place.

Shen Fubai hastily took a taxi back to the hotel booked by the crew.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would cry again.

_

Just as Shen Fubai was about to retreat to his room 607 to drown in sorrow, the door to room 608 opened.

Jiang Heng stepped out of the room and saw Shen Fubai returning, softly calling out, “…Fubai?”

Shen Fubai stared at him, his eyes reddened. The tears he had held back all the way suddenly welled up, falling the instant he saw Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng panicked instantly: “What’s wrong?” His tone was gentle. “What happened?” Indeed, something had been bothering Fubai for the past two days. Jiang Heng had just planned to knock on Shen Fubai’s door to talk, not expecting to meet him right at the door.

Shen Fubai turned away, wiping his tears: “You, you weren’t at Wine Hotel?”

Jiang Heng was baffled: “No, I’ve been here the whole time.”

“I clearly saw you there just now.” Shen Fubai lowered his head, sniffing. “And with… Yang Yingying.”

Jiang Heng paused for a moment.

“Could it be that you saw my brother?”

Shen Fubai exclaimed in surprise, lifting his eyes in shock and staring blankly.

Jiang Heng explained: “I have a twin brother, and he’s in a relationship with Yang Yingying.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Damn it, Shen Fubai, what are you doing?! Are you stupid? Aren’t you ashamed?! You’re the biggest fool in the world, your mind is a sea of stupidity!

Shen Fubai wanted to curse himself with every word he could think of.

But at the same time, he felt a sense of relief. The heavy pressure that had weighed on him for the past two days disappeared.

He was happy.

Extremely happy.

Very, very happy.

His eyes still teary, but his mouth couldn’t help but curl upward uncontrollably. Shen Fubai had to cover his mouth to pretend he was trying to hold back his tears, to prevent himself from laughing out loud.

“Fubai, you were upset about this?” Jiang Heng looked at him, suddenly having an incredible thought. “You thought I was in a relationship, so… you were upset?”