ASFSODS 20

The village chief looked around after everyone had spoken, then finally turned his gaze to the two who hadn’t said anything—Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng. “And what about you two…?”

Wen Chi was deep in thought. He didn’t usually share a bed with others. Ages ago, he had once had to share a bed with Huo Yinshi out of necessity. The next morning, Huo Yinshi had stared at him grimly and said, “If I ever sleep in the same bed with you again, I’m a dog.”

Yeah. That bad. 

Seeing them both remain silent, with the taller handsome one staring intently at the shorter handsome one, the village chief tentatively offered, “How about this? I can ask Uncle Wang next door if he’s willing to lend us a spare room?”

Wen Chi turned toward the producer, ready to ask if he could stay at another villager’s house. The producer, listening to the director’s voice through his earpiece, smiled calmly and said, “It’s up to you.”

Wen Chi just wanted to sleep somewhere else and leave the room at Uncle Li’s for the others. He turned to the village chief and said, “Then I’ll go with you to Uncle Wa—”

Before he could even finish the sentence, Jiang Siheng hooked a finger in his collar and tugged him back. Then he turned to the village chief and said, “I’ll go with you. Let him stay at Uncle Li’s.”

“Huh?” Wen Chi grabbed Jiang Siheng’s arm. “No no no, I’ll go to Uncle Wang’s. It’s fine.”

Jiang Siheng patted his head and said gently, “I’m not comfortable letting you stay alone. Be good.”

Wen Chi muttered under his breath, “I’m not comfortable letting you stay alone either,” Then he mimicked Jiang Siheng’s tone, “You be good.”

Jiang Siheng: “……”

The two grown men went back and forth, “I’m not comfortable if you go,” “Well I’m not comfortable if you go,” while the rest of the cast stood off to the side silently eating popcorn.

In the end, Tian Yang, probably feeling too full, finally stepped in. “Why don’t you two just share the bed? Didn’t Uncle Li say it could fit three people? If you’re shy, just put a pillow in the middle or something.”

Tong Xian’en gave him a look. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

Tian Yang scratched his head sheepishly. “I mean, I’ve done it with my bros before. We’d be too tired to shower after a trip and all reek, so we’d just toss a pillow between us and call it a day.”

Jiang Siheng turned to Wen Chi. “What do you think?”

Wen Chi pursed his lips. “I think I’ll just go to Uncle Wa—wait wait wait! Sharing’s fine!”

Jiang Siheng had already turned to talk to the village chief, but Wen Chi grabbed his arm.

“Hm?” Jiang Siheng turned back.

Wen Chi shut his eyes and declared, “We’ll share the bed!”

The producer, checking the time and worried they wouldn’t get to the games, jumped in immediately. “Great, then Wen Chi and Teacher Jiang will share a room. Settled!”

As if afraid the two might change their minds.

Main livestream:

[Okay okay, I take it back—outdoor shoots are amazing]

[I’m dying at everyone else’s expressions]

[Come on you two, don’t be so polite, just sleep together]

[Seriously! Xiao Bai, tone down that smirk!]

[Teacher Jiang did that on purpose, right? RIGHT?]

[Feels like our baby just walked into a trap lol]

Wen Chi and Jiang Siheng were officially assigned the big bed room. Uncle Li led them to the far-right room on the second floor. When he opened the door, there was none of that musty smell often found in rural homes. The windows were open, letting in fresh air, and the bedding was new, washed and sun-dried for two days.

“Everything’s brand new. You two settle in first. I’ll go check on the others,” Uncle Li said, setting a pillow from the closet beside the one already on the bed.

He was clearly delighted to host and had been beaming ever since the guests arrived.

“Thank you,” Jiang Siheng said.

Wen Chi squatted down to open his suitcase, then quickly turned to say, “Thank you, Uncle Li!”

His voice was bright and clear. Uncle Li chuckled, “No need to thank me, just make yourselves at home.”

Jiang Siheng crouched down beside Wen Chi. “Which side do you want?”

Wen Chi looked up. “Can I take the side by the window?”

“Sure.”

Jiang Siheng stood, glancing at the two pillows on the bed… then at Wen Chi.

“Let’s just leave it like this for now.” Wen Chi clapped his hands and pushed his suitcase toward the window side.

Once all the guests had unpacked, the producer’s voice blared from a megaphone downstairs. “Please change into the vests provided by the show and gather at Qi He Square.”

They weren’t full outfits—just colored vests. Three colors, grouped by CP pairings.

Jiang Siheng looked down at the bubblegum-pink vest in his hands, an expression of resistance written all over his face.

Wen Chi, on the other hand, was delighted. He put his on immediately and posed in front of the dressing table mirror, twisting this way and that.

Main livestream:

[OHHH the HengWen CP got pink!]

[Qin Ge in that blue vest looks hilarious]

[Goddess Zhou Yunbai in action!!!]

[Can’t wait can’t wait]

[Yellow suits En’en so much. Mommy kisses for you #chu~]

[Okay okay Wen Chi you’re very pretty, now stop posing]

[AHHHH he’s so smug and cute I’m gonna die]

Wen Chi turned around and saw Jiang Siheng leaning against the wardrobe, pink vest still in hand, face impassive. “Teacher Jiang, why haven’t you put it on?”

“I’ll put it on later,” Jiang Siheng said as he stood straight, gaze sweeping over the boy. Whether in a black tee or a pink vest, Wen Chi’s skin tone made anything look good.

“Well… should we head down?”

“Mm.”

On their way out, they ran into Zhou Yunbai and Tong Xian’en. The four went downstairs together.

“Where’s Qi He Square?” Tong Xian’en asked.

“No idea. They just said ‘up ahead’ but… where is that, exactly?” Zhou Yunbai looked around. Nothing about this place screamed square.

“Let’s just ask someone.” Tian Yang and Qin Xiyu came out too.

Qin Xiyu, like Jiang Siheng, wasn’t wearing his vest yet. Zhou Yunbai raised an eyebrow. “Ah Yu, why didn’t you put yours on either?”

Qin Xiyu gave the vest a look of pure disdain. “Later.”

But from the way he looked at it, Zhou Yunbai was pretty sure “later” meant “never.”

Uncle and Auntie Li were busy elsewhere, so they asked another villager.

Tian Yang stopped a man passing by. “Hello, big bro. Can you tell us which way to Qi He Square?”

The villager gave them a once-over, pausing briefly on the very pretty girl before quickly looking away. “You’re going to Qi He Square? That’s back that way. Just keep walking straight.”

“Oh, got it. Thanks!”

The group turned and headed in the new direction—another lively procession.

The vests had pockets on each side. Wen Chi stuffed his hands in and trailed lazily behind Jiang Siheng.

Jiang Siheng was up ahead chatting with Tian Yang and the others. Wen Chi wasn’t in his line of sight, so he kept glancing back to make sure the boy was still following obediently.

Zhou Yunbai walked next to Wen Chi. Suddenly, she lit up. “Wen Chi, look!”

Wen Chi turned.

“It’s a corgi! So cute!” She was staring at the little corgi by someone’s front door.

Wen Chi stared at it seriously. “I want to take it home. Let’s make a move tonight.”

Zhou Yunbai’s smile froze. She nervously whispered, “Uh… is that something you can say during a livestream?”

Jiang Siheng, walking ahead, heard the muttering—then heard Wen Chi say he wanted to steal someone’s corgi.

Qi He Square turned out to be a small open plaza. The production crew were already there, along with a curious crowd of villagers.

Even Jiang Siheng and Qin Xiyu couldn’t avoid wearing the vests now.

“It actually looks pretty good,” Wen Chi said, studying Jiang Siheng in pink. He wore a white T-shirt underneath, which paired even better with the color than Wen Chi’s black tee.

Jiang Siheng’s lashes lowered slightly. “How pretty good?”

“Pretty cute,” Wen Chi said.

Jiang Siheng looked at him. “Still not as cute as you.”

The sudden burst of mutual praise caught Wen Chi off guard. His cheeks flushed. “Everyone’s cute! All cute!”

Seated among the staff was a man Wen Chi recognized, Ma Chuanbo, known for directing hit shows like Pastoral Corner and Escape. He was in his fifties now and one of the most respected variety show directors in the industry.

The megaphone was now in his hand. “We’ve brought everyone here to Qi He Village to test how much each CP’s chemistry and familiarity has grown after two days and one date. You’ll see six chairs ahead, please sit according to the color of your vest.”

The chairs were set back-to-back. Unless they turned around, they wouldn’t see their partner.

Wen Chi sat down with his back to Jiang Siheng. On his other side were Tong Xian’en and then Zhou Yunbai.

The producer took the megaphone. “Round one is a familiarity test. You’ll have six seconds to answer. Ready? Listen to the question.”

“What are Wen Chi, Zhou Yunbai, and Tong Xian’en’s favorite and least favorite foods?”

Wen Chi’s favorite and least favorite? He frowned, marker and whiteboard in hand, trying to decide.

He liked so many things—would Jiang Siheng even know what to write?

The countdown started, and Wen Chi had no time to think more. He quickly scribbled two dishes.

“Alright, boards up!”

Wen Chi raised his whiteboard but was dying to know what Jiang Siheng had written. He twisted around, one hand on the back of the chair, peeking over like a curious kitten.

Jiang Siheng felt a light puff of breath at his ear, it was Wen Chi trying to peek. He hadn’t expected him to get that close.

When he turned his head, his lips brushed against Wen Chi’s cheek.

They both froze.

Wen Chi’s eyes flew open in shock, filled with disbelief. Even though the surrounding crowd was audibly gasping, it was as if he’d gone deaf. The only thing he could feel was that small patch of skin where the man’s lips had brushed his cheek—tingling, numb, and buzzing with heat.