ASFSODS 24

Wen Chi finished one game after another, and only realized it was past midnight when he finally stopped.

He yawned, exited the game, and noticed the red notification badge on his WeChat icon had hit double digits.

Wen Chi blinked, hesitated for a second, and tapped it open.

9 unread messages from Jiang Siheng.
13 unread messages in the group chat.

So that’s what had been nagging at the back of his mind while gaming.

Feeling a bit guilty, Wen Chi read through all of Jiang Siheng’s messages. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the way they read… gave off the vibe of a husband bitterly abandoned by his spouse.

Hmm. Why did that feel so familiar?

Because he went to bed too late, Wen Chi ended up sleeping until past ten the next morning. Even while brushing his teeth, he was thinking about whether he should go back to bed.

As he passed by Tian Yang’s room, he vaguely heard a lot of noise. There are more than just one voice. Just then, he saw Tong Xian’en step out of his own room.

Wen Chi walked over. “Xian’en, do we have guests in the villa?”

Tong Xian’en frowned. “No. Why?”

“Didn’t you hear? There are other people talking in Yang Ge’s room.” Wen Chi spoke as they walked downstairs.

“Oh,” Tong Xian’en said, “He’s probably just making up for his livestream hours. Maybe he’s gaming with other streamers.”

No one else was on the first floor. Wen Chi went to the fridge, pulled out a few packs of mini bread, and called it breakfast.

“Xiao Bai Jie and Mr. Qin went off to work. It’s just us three today,” Tong Xian’en added.

Wen Chi’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean we can order takeout?”

Tong Xian’en looked disapproving. “Too much takeout isn’t good for you.”

Wen Chi thought for a second. “True. Then how about this. You and Yang Ge cook, and I’ll just order takeout for myself.”

“…Fine,” Tong Xian’en sighed. “Let’s all just order takeout.”

Main Livestream Room

[I’m dying]

[“For everyone’s health, I’ll sacrifice myself and eat takeout alone.”]

[Xian’en’s expression is killing me]

[Someone check if Tong Xian’en is touched or just resigned]

[Isn’t Teacher Jiang coming back the day after tomorrow?]

Wen Chi let out a little laugh. “Okay.”

Since Tian Yang had to keep streaming, he went back to his room after lunch. Tong Xian’en stepped outside to take a call.

Wen Chi sat cross-legged on the couch, hugging a pillow. With no one else on the first floor, he really started to miss Teacher Jiang.

He zoned out for quite a while, even considered going back to sleep, when—like magic—Jiang Siheng called.

“Teacher Jiang, good afternoon~” Wen Chi greeted, snuggling into the corner of the couch with a soft tone.

Jiang Siheng smiled just hearing his voice. “Afternoon. Just finished lunch.”

“Oh, same here! Did you eat already, Teacher Jiang?”

“Yeah, just now.”

“Then… are you heading back to nap? Or back to work?”

“Going to rest for a bit.”

“Okay~”

Wen Chi idly fiddled with the tail of his throw pillow, suddenly not knowing what else to say.

In the backseat of a van, Jiang Siheng ignored Zhou Ge’s death-glare from the front seat and kept chatting. “Your fans told me… you miss me a lot.”

Wait, what fans? Who missed who?

“Ah?” Wen Chi blurted.

Jiang Siheng glanced down at the tablet he had taken from Xiao Pang, who now sat silently like a scolded puppy. On screen: Wen Chi’s livestream.

Wen Chi’s Livestream Room

[They seriously sound like me and my boyfriend when he’s away for work]

[No really, Xiao Chi totally misses you, I swear]

[Jiang Ge’s watching the livestream]

[Jiang Ge is in Wen Chi’s stream right now]

[Xiao Chi literally sighed and said he missed Teacher Jiang just now]

[Teacher Jiang please go kiss him already, he needs comforting]

[Jiang Ge aren’t you opening your own stream today?]

Jiang Siheng wasn’t even reading the comments. His entire focus was on Wen Chi, sitting there alone in the living room. From the camera’s angle, Wen Chi looked so small and soft.

Seeing Wen Chi still confused, Jiang Siheng added, “I’ll tell you on WeChat tomorrow.”

Wen Chi assumed it was something inconvenient to say out loud during the livestream. Even though they weren’t face-to-face, he still instinctively nodded. “Okay.”

Suddenly, the livestream fans, deprived of their eavesdropping privileges, started losing their minds.

[What what what? Don’t keep secrets from the class.]

Wen Chi bolted downstairs with his phone, shut the door to his room, and waited. A few moments later, a message popped up from Jiang Siheng.

【Jiang Siheng: I’ll be back in Haining tomorrow at 3pm. Gotta meet a friend first.】
【Jiang Siheng: Want to come hang out after that’s done?】
【Jiang Siheng: If you’d rather stay in, just tell me what you want to eat and I’ll bring it back.】

Wen Chi blinked at the messages.

Truthfully, when he first saw the invite, his instinct was to say no.

But then he remembered. He had ignored Jiang Siheng’s messages last night, skipped the video call, and vanished into games. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally made up his mind.

【Wen Chi: Okay】

【Jiang Siheng: That “okay” is for which part?】

【Wen Chi: I’ll come hang out with you】

【Jiang Siheng: [shared location]】

【Jiang Siheng: Call me when you get there】

Wen Chi: “…”

—

Later that night, Zhou Yunbai returned from work after 11pm. To avoid waking anyone, she opened and closed the door as quietly as possible. Only to find Wen Chi, Tian Yang, and Tong Xian’en still awake in the living room.

As she bent down to change shoes, she asked, “You guys aren’t asleep yet?”

Tong Xian’en sighed. “Xiao Bai Jie, good timing. Help Wen Chi pick his outfit for tomorrow.”

Tian Yang looked half-dead. “Xiao Bai, please save us.”

Wen Chi gave them a look. “You guys are being so dramatic, it’s only a half-hour meetup.”

Zhou Yunbai stepped into her slippers, still wearing her full makeup. She let her tied-up hair fall loose and sighed in relief. “So where are you off to tomorrow, Xiao Chi?”

“Teacher Jiang’s coming back in the afternoon. He’s meeting a friend first, but told me to go meet him and we’ll hang out later,” Wen Chi answered.

The tone was so much like a kid telling their parents about plans with a friend that Zhou Yunbai cooed, “Aww, so you’re going to pick up Teacher Jiang from work.”

“…Huh?” Wen Chi tilted his head. “Is that what this counts as?”

Then he thought about it and found it kind of… cute.

Zhou Yunbai suddenly remembered the livestream and looked around in a panic.

Tong Xian’en seemed to read her mind. “Don’t worry. We already turned off the cameras and mics.”

Zhou Yunbai let out a breath. “Good. But wait, won’t the show’s livestream follow Xiao Chi when he goes to meet Teacher Jiang?”

Wen Chi hadn’t thought of that. He set down the clothes he was holding. “Then I should ask him if it’s okay. If his friend doesn’t want to be filmed, I won’t go.”

“It’s fine. Let’s pick the outfit first.”

Zhou Yunbai suddenly got very into styling Wen Chi. She turned to Tian Yang and Tong Xian’en. “Do you two have any picks yet?”

They each pointed to a set of clothes.

Zhou Yunbai followed their fingers, glanced at the two outfits laid out on the couch, and winced. “Yeah, no. Let me do this.”

Tian Yang asked, “Xiao Bai, what’s wrong with our picks?”

Zhou Yunbai answered coolly, “Everything.”

One outfit was full-on cool-boy style, the other looked like it belonged to a shut-in. Neither screamed “I’m going to see someone I like.”

Tian Yang: “…”

Wen Chi didn’t have many clothes, but most of them were fairly mix-and-matchable. Zhou Yunbai went through the pieces, holding up each combination to him for comparison.

Wen Chi stood obediently the entire time, letting her move him around. He didn’t complain once. Meanwhile, Tian Yang and Tong Xian’en had already started dozing off on the couch.

Eventually, even Zhou Yunbai realized she had been fussing too long. She laughed awkwardly and stuffed her top pick into Wen Chi’s arms. “This one.”

Wen Chi looked at the outfit and nodded. “Okay.”

Zhou Yunbai stared at his fair face and sighed. “Xiao Chi, you really are such a sweetheart.”

Being praised so directly made Wen Chi a little embarrassed.

Zhou Yunbai glanced at the wall clock, it was already past midnight. “Alright, I’m off to bed. Keeping makeup on this long is killing my skin. You guys should sleep soon too. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Everyone went to bed. Wen Chi gathered up the clothes and trudged upstairs with his arms full.

Before sleeping, he didn’t forget to message Jiang Siheng. He sent a voice note.

“Teacher Jiang, will your friend be okay showing up in the livestream tomorrow? If not, I won’t come over.”

He figured Jiang Siheng was probably asleep already—it was late. But less than a minute after sending it, the reply came.

【Jiang Siheng: It’s fine】
【Jiang Siheng: I’m still awake】
【Jiang Siheng: Mm, goodnight. See you tomorrow】

Wen Chi stared at those three words—see you tomorrow—and for some reason, his heart started beating a little faster.

He bit his lip and typed.

【Wen Chi: See you tomorrow, moon】

—

The next day, no fans knew Jiang Siheng’s return schedule. Even those who knew he was flying back had no idea what time his flight landed, so no one could show up to the airport.

After landing, Jiang Siheng handed his luggage to Xiao Pang to put in the trunk and got into the back seat. First thing he did was send Wen Chi a message.

The driver was company-assigned and is responsible only for Jiang Siheng’s personal schedule. He already knew the destination and drove smoothly without questions.

Since they left the airport, Xiao Pang’s phone had been buzzing nonstop. He knew exactly who was texting and didn’t dare open his screen in front of Jiang Siheng.

The car was silent except for the constant hum of Xiao Pang’s vibrating phone from his back pocket.

Without looking up, Jiang Siheng said flatly, “Is that Zhou Ge messaging you?”

Xiao Pang gave an awkward laugh. “I don’t know.”

Jiang Siheng chuckled lightly. “Check. Or I’m afraid Zhou Ge’s gonna have a breakdown.”

“…Fine.” Xiao Pang shakily pulled out his phone. “Jiang Ge, seriously, Zhou Ge isn’t young anymore. Next time you want to stir things up, spare the old man a little.”

Jiang Siheng raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Pang immediately shut up.

An hour later, the car stopped in front of an office building. Jiang Siheng tugged his baseball cap lower with the brim just covering his eyes.

He went up to the 7th floor without a hitch. As he stepped out of the elevator, someone was already waiting.

“Jiang Ge.”

Jiang Siheng nodded. “Where’s Director Xu?”

“In the office.”

“Got it.”

He clearly knew his way around—no need for guidance. A few turns later, he stopped outside an office door and knocked.

“Come in,” said a low voice from inside.

Jiang Siheng pushed open the door. The middle-aged man behind the desk looked up, his previously tense expression easing slightly at the sight of him.

Director Xu glanced behind him a few times.

Jiang Siheng sat down, caught the look, and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Director Xu pulled his gaze back. “Didn’t you say yesterday a boy was coming to see you? Where is he?”

Just then, Jiang Siheng’s phone buzzed.

He glanced down, a smile forming on his lips. “He’s almost here.”