ASFSODS 12

The next morning, Wen Chi stepped out of his room in pajamas with messy hair and ran into Tian Yang, who’s dressed and ready.

It was getting late. Tian Yang was a bit surprised to see Wen Chi looking like he had just woken up. “Morning, Xiao Chi. Did you just get up?”

Wen Chi replied with a groggy, “Morning. Yeah, I just woke up.”

Tian Yang had checked the time before coming out—it was already close to ten. Any later and it would be lunchtime. “Alright, I’m heading downstairs.”

Wen Chi waved his hand lazily and shuffled toward the bathroom, still half-asleep. The bathroom was spacious, with separate wet and dry areas.

He grabbed his cup, filled it with water, squeezed toothpaste onto his brush, then looked up at the mirror—only to be met with his own reflection. “……”

Wen Chi’s livestream chat:

[Morning, baby~]

[Not gonna lie, this is the first time I’ve seen a guest on a dating show get up at ten]

[My guess: lil bro’s the last one up]

[It’s the first date today ahhh Xiao Chi you need to get it together!]

[Oh right! I almost forgot today’s the first date for the CPs. Kind of excited.]

[Just came back from Jiang Film Emperor’s stream—looks like he’s making breakfast in the kitchen]

After freshening up, Wen Chi finally felt awake. The third floor was quiet. It seemed like he really was the only one still in bed. When he reached the first floor, Tian Yang was sitting on the sofa playing with his phone, like he was waiting for someone. When he saw Wen Chi come down, he nodded toward the kitchen. “Jiang Ge’s making you breakfast.”

“?” Wen Chi immediately dashed toward the kitchen. It was an open-style kitchen, but there was no one there, so it had to be the small kitchen.

Sure enough, Jiang Siheng was placing the last sandwich onto a plate. When he turned around, he saw Wen Chi walking in. “Awake? Come eat breakfast.”

Whatever Wen Chi had planned to say was cut off. He hesitated then went over to help. “Teacher Jiang, you haven’t eaten yet?”

“Nope, I got up not long ago too. Want milk or juice?”

“Coffee!”

“……”

Main livestream chat:

[This man is sly!!!]

[Then the guy I saw jogging at six was your twin brother, huh?]

[LOL he really knows how to charm]

[Their convo is hilarious. The younger one is totally chaotic-neutral energy]

[Milk or juice? Coffee.]

[They’re having breakfast this late, does that mean no lunch date today?]

[Tian Yang’s planning a full day out with Tong Xian’en]

[What about Mr. Qin and Xiao Bai?]

[The boss is at the office]

[Xiao Bai had a last-minute schedule and left early this morning]

Wen Chi didn’t doubt Jiang Siheng for a second when he said he had just woken up. He carried his breakfast to the dining room and saw Tong Xian’en pulling a bottle of cold milk from the fridge.

Tong Xian’en paused when he saw them holding sandwiches and drinks. “You guys are eating lunch this early?”

Wen Chi corrected him seriously, “This is breakfast.”

Tong Xian’en, who was used to waking up early for breakfast, shrugged. “Alright then.”

When Jiang Siheng followed Wen Chi out with an identical breakfast in hand, he paused. “Teacher Jiang, you haven’t had breakfast either?”

That didn’t make sense—Tong Xian’en remembered seeing Jiang Siheng return from a morning run when he woke up. It had been two or three hours—how had he not eaten?

Jiang Siheng, face expressionless: “Mm. I just got up.”

Tong Xian’en was speechless. “……Okay.”

Jiang Siheng sat across from Wen Chi, who then asked, “Where did Teacher Qin and Xiao Bai Jie go?”

“No idea.”

“Oh.” Wen Chi took a bite of the sandwich. The crispy chicken and fresh vegetables were a perfect combo. Paired with a glass of juice, it was a complete breakfast.

That’s right. He didn’t get his coffee. He picked coffee over milk or juice, but Jiang Siheng gave him juice instead, saying coffee wasn’t good in the morning.

As he ate, Wen Chi suddenly remembered something.

He had looked up information on Jiang Siheng online before, and a fan-compiled profile clearly stated that Jiang Siheng liked coffee.

Wen Chi glanced at the juice in Jiang Siheng’s cup confusedly. Was that info wrong? Did Teacher Jiang actually prefer juice?

Tian Yang and Tong Xian’en left. Qin Xiyu and Zhou Yunbai weren’t coming back either. The little house was now just Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi.

After doing the dishes, Wen Chi collapsed onto the couch, unwilling to move.

Mind blank.

Eyes glazed.

Arms limp.

Jiang Siheng sat in the small open spot Wen Chi had left. If Wen Chi tilted his head just a little, he would bump right into Jiang’s thigh.

“Wanna eat lunch?”

Wen Chi’s foggy mind snapped back. He looked confused. “Are you hungry, Mr. Jiang?”

“If you’re not hungry yet, we can eat later. Something simple,” Jiang Siheng said. “But we should eat three meals a day.”

“Okay.” Wen Chi agreed obediently.

Jiang Siheng’s livestream chat:

[Everyone rise! This is not a drill!]

[Can’t believe I just heard Jiang Ge say we should eat three meals a day]

[Did anyone record that? Next time he skips a meal, throw this clip at him]

[I still remember Jiang Ge skipped meals during filming and ended up in the hospital #crying]

[Don’t all actors have crazy schedules? What’s the big deal]

[Yeah I don’t really get the fuss either]

[Who’s the idiot? Get them out of here]

The house was quiet. Even though it was just him and Jiang Siheng alone now, Wen Chi wasn’t as nervous as yesterday. He stayed flopped on the couch playing with his phone, occasionally changing positions.

Jiang Siheng was reading, though it looked like a random book. Judging by the title and summary, it seemed decent—but his mind clearly wasn’t on it.

Wen Chi was scrolling through his alt account on Weibo, which followed a bunch of comedy creators. Watching alone wasn’t enough. He tugged at Jiang Siheng’s sleeve. The man glanced down and Wen Chi held up his phone with a smile, “Mr. Jiang, look—this one’s hilarious.”

Jiang didn’t take the phone, just leaned over slightly. After a few seconds, he chuckled. “Yeah, pretty funny.”

Feeling validated, Wen Chi sat up cross-legged beside him and started swiping through more posts. “And this one too, seriously. I laugh every time I see it.”

“That guy’s reaction is funny.”

“Did you notice the expression on the guy in the back?”

Wen Chi followed Jiang Siheng’s finger. When he saw the shocked expression on the guy in the background, he burst into laughter. “Hahahahaha—pfft hahahahaha!”

Jiang Siheng hadn’t expected Wen Chi’s sense of humor to be so easy to trigger. He was laughing so hard he nearly tipped over, with Jiang Siheng ready to catch him at any moment.

“How did I miss that guy’s expression before—damn!” Wen Chi looked furious, but both Jiang Siheng and the livestream viewers just found him cute. He looked like a tiny kitten flailing its paws at a human—completely harmless.

Main livestream chat:

[Who else is dying?? These two didn’t even go on their date and I’m grinning like a fool]

[Same here! My roommate asked why I was smiling so much]

[Help, they’re too sweet. I’ve said “are they dating or not” so many times I’m exhausted]

[Know why you feel that way? Because they’re already living like a married couple #doge#]

Seeing that comment, fans watching from their phones or computers had a sudden realization—of course!

……

Around noon, Zhou Yunbai finally wrapped up her sudden work assignment. It had come up so last-minute that she hadn’t even had a chance to inform Qin Xiyu herself. During a brief break, she asked her assistant to send him a message.

Due to confidentiality, her livestream had been off throughout the job. Only after receiving the client’s approval did she turn it back on.

In the artist’s lounge, Zhou Yunbai sat with her eyes closed as the makeup artist gently wiped off her makeup. Just then, her assistant entered holding a phone. “Xiao Bai Jie, someone’s been trying to reach you.”

“Who is it?” Zhou Yunbai couldn’t move to check, so she asked directly.

The assistant hesitated, then leaned in to whisper, “President Qin is calling.”

Right after she spoke, the assistant realized Zhou Yunbai was already wearing a mic. Everything she said was probably heard by everyone.

“……” The assistant shrank back into the corner, looking defeated.

Zhou Yunbai hadn’t expected Qin Xiyu to call her. She smiled as she answered, “Good afternoon, Mr. Qin.”

“Good afternoon.”

Someone spoke to Qin Xiyu in the background. He raised his hand slightly, and the person went silent.

“Did you finish your work?”

“Just now,” Zhou Yunbai replied.

“Alright. Send me your location. I’ll come pick you up. Let’s have lunch?”

Zhou Yunbai’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”

Qin Xiyu seemed to have something else to handle and hung up after a few more words.

Looking at her bare face in the mirror, Zhou Yunbai, who had naturally good skin, decided to apply light makeup before heading out.

She was relieved that her outfit today wasn’t too casual—just a knee-length floral dress and white sneakers. She also remembered to bring the gift she’d prepared for Qin Xiyu.

After sending him her location, Qin Xiyu didn’t keep her waiting long. Accounting for travel time, he arrived pretty quickly.

The weather was mild today. Zhou Yunbai got into the passenger seat. As she was buckling her seatbelt, a suit jacket was handed to her from the left.

She took it instinctively. “What’s this for?”

“The wind. Your legs might get cold.” Qin Xiyu glanced at her, then looked back at the road.

Zhou Yunbai gave a soft “oh” with a flushed face and draped the jacket, which carried his scent, over her legs. Her cheeks felt even hotter.

Qin Xiyu wasn’t much of a talker, and Zhou Yunbai wasn’t sure what to say. Their fields were completely different.

The car was quiet with only the occasional sound of traffic outside.

To hide her nerves, Zhou Yunbai opened the show’s phone and clicked into the livestream. “Let me sneak a peek at what Xiao Chi and Tian Yang are doing.”

She assumed Qin Xiyu wouldn’t care, but to her surprise, he asked, “What are Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi doing?”

“Eh?” Zhou Yunbai was so startled by his sudden interest she fumbled with the phone and accidentally tapped into the main livestream instead of either of the guys’ individual streams.

And there, right on the main screen, were Jiang Siheng and Wen Chi—doing something she couldn’t quite process.

Her voice was uncertain.

“They’re… sleeping on the couch…?”