ASFSODS 9

Wen Chi didn’t see the WeChat messages from Tong Xian’en and Sang Sang until much later. Both had sent the same reminder: it was going to rain.

Standing at the mall entrance with his gift bag in hand and the cameraman beside him, Wen Chi looked around at the growing number of people taking shelter from the rain. He glanced left and right, then turned to the cameraman and said, “Let’s stop filming for now.”

He lowered his voice. “There’s more and more people hiding from the rain here… I’m feeling kinda shy. Besides, there’s nothing much to film right now anyway.”

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[Nooo don’t stop!!]

[Who says there’s nothing worth filming?! Sis could look at your face all day #drool]

[LMAO he really said he’s “feeling kinda shy”… this boy is too cute!!]

[But honestly, he has a point. I’d be worried if this causes a crowd.]

[Rainy days = worst for calling a ride.]

[Can’t the production send a driver? Tong Xian’en probably got back already, right?]

[Oh yeah, just get the show’s driver to come!]

[…That was kinda dumb.]

Wen Chi checked the ride-hailing app—there were over 50 people in the queue, and he was around number 30. The cameraman said, “I’ll call the production crew.”

Wen Chi blinked. Oh, right. He could ask the production to send someone.

“Okay.”

The cameraman shifted his heavy camera to one hand and was just about to make the call when Wen Chi’s phone rang.

“Hello?” Wen Chi answered and froze. “Teacher Jiang?”

The cameraman’s ears perked up. He instantly put away his phone and lifted the camera.

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[Oho? Less than a minute off-air and we’re back again??]

[Hmm? Who’s our boy talking to on the phone?]

“Where are you right now?” Jiang Siheng’s voice was calm, filtered through a bit of static, but still gentle.

Wen Chi looked around. “West gate of Cheng’an Mall.”

Jiang Siheng gave a soft “mm.” “Got it. Wait and I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

He was driving, and with the rain, it wasn’t convenient to stay on the call, so he quickly hung up—leaving Wen Chi dazed while holding his phone in the air.

After a moment, Wen Chi came back to his senses and turned to the cameraman, still a little dazed. “Teacher Jiang said he’s on his way to pick us up.”

The cameraman nodded, barely holding back a grin.

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[WAIT—Jiang Siheng is really going out to pick up Wen Chi?!]

[It’s not “you guys,” okay? He said wait for him, and that means you, Wen Chi!!]

[Cameraman: Don’t drag me into this.]

[I just came over from the main feed and saw Jiang Siheng leave. Knew it. KNEW he was going to pick someone up.]

[If this isn’t love, what is???]

[They’re literally just using this show as an excuse to date in public, aren’t they?]

[This is a government-funded relationship at this point.]

[I’m camping in this livestream today.]

Since hearing that Jiang Siheng was coming, Wen Chi’s eyes stayed fixed on the road. But after a while, it hit him—he had no idea what car Jiang Siheng drove. Not the color, not the plate number.

He frowned slightly and turned to ask the cameraman in a low voice, “What color are the production cars usually?”

The cameraman replied, just as softly, “You can’t miss them. Sponsor cars are always red or yellow.”

“…,” Wen Chi opened his mouth.

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[Did he just mouth “f***”???]¹yes, wen chi said fuck

[You can’t say that word, okay~]

[Whatever color they are, sponsor cars are beautiful!!! For real…]

[Lowkey? I kind of agree.]

[Why is no one saying it? Fine, I’ll say it for Wen Chi: Red is whatever, but yellow? Yellow is wild #doge]

Wen Chi gave an awkward smile. “It’s good though, right? In a sea of white and black cars, you can spot a sponsor car right away. That’s great.”

The rain grew heavier, and judging by the sky, it wasn’t stopping any time soon.

One ride after another pulled up to the curb, but finding the exact one was becoming more and more difficult.

Wen Chi looked like a cautious little kitten, staying alert to every car that passed.

Luckily, Jiang Siheng sent a message, telling him he’d parked near the right-side intersection by the west gate.

Wen Chi replied: 【Ok.】 Then turned to the cameraman and said, “Ge, let’s go.”

The cameraman nodded.

The rain wasn’t pouring, but it was heavy enough that they’d definitely get wet walking over. Even so, the cameraman remained dedicated, carrying the camera and filming Wen Chi all the way.

Wen Chi pulled off his still-warm jacket and wrapped it around the paper gift bag. The paper couldn’t get wet, or it’d be ruined.

His face lit up with excitement. Something about running through the rain made him feel… wildly and inexplicably happy.

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[Help, Wen Chi looks like a monkey frolicking by a riverbank.]

[LMAO why is that image so vivid.]

[You can feel his joy just from watching.]

[Not gonna lie, running through rain is fun… even if it makes you look dumb.]

[Did y’all not notice how he took off his jacket just to wrap up the gift for Jiang Siheng?!]

[I noticed. I mean, that’s pretty normal though, right?]

Wen Chi really wanted to hug the sponsor right now—whoever made the decision to go with a bright yellow car? Genius.

Jiang Siheng sat in the car, his face clearly captured by the dashboard camera. When he saw Wen Chi running through the rain toward him, he froze for a second, then opened the door and stepped out with an umbrella.

Wen Chi muttered “shit shit shit” under his breath as he jogged over, water splashing up his pant legs.

The ground was slippery, and he hadn’t expected Jiang Siheng to get out of the car. He couldn’t stop in time and crashed straight into the man’s chest.

Thankfully, Jiang Siheng caught him just in time to keep both of them from toppling over.

Jiang Siheng chuckled. “What’s the rush?”

Wen Chi looked up sheepishly. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting. I couldn’t brake in time.”

Jiang Siheng hummed. He held the umbrella over both of them, glancing at the bundle Wen Chi was hugging to his chest. It was wrapped in a jacket, so he couldn’t see what was inside.

“What are you carrying?”

“Oh,” Wen Chi looked down. “It’s a gift. For you.”

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[……Wen Chi!!!!!!!!]

[Oh my god, Wen Chi, THINK for a second!!!]

[This silly child… I don’t even know what to say.]

[Paging all of Jiang Siheng’s fans—come check out Wen Chi’s stream real quick.]

[Everyone else hides surprise gifts. Our boy? ‘This is a surprise gift for you!’]

[He’d probably smile and count money even if someone was selling him off.]

[Wen Chi is so cute. I want to stan him.]

Jiang Siheng: “…”

He laughed softly. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Wen Chi nodded earnestly. Then, seeing the cameraman trying to hold in laughter, it finally clicked.

“!!!”

Wen Chi panicked and tried to cover, “Wait, I mean—”

Jiang Siheng didn’t say anything more. He glanced up at the increasingly heavy rain, then gently pulled Wen Chi in closer. “Let’s head back first.”

“…Okay.”

As Jiang Siheng held him around the shoulder and walked him to the car, Wen Chi felt something was off—his walking posture was… restricted!

Wen Chi’s Livestream Chat:

[Look at Teacher Jiang’s smirk…]

[God, can this man calm down for one second.]

[Feeling pretty smug, huh? #eyeroll]

[Are they sure this isn’t a real relationship?]

[If I had a boyfriend as cute as Wen Chi, I’d keep him in my arms 24/7.]

[Bro you need to chill.]

Wen Chi climbed into the front passenger seat. The drenched cameraman quietly slid into the back, becoming a transparent presence.

As Wen Chi heard the driver’s door open, he slowly turned his head, blinking.

Did he just… hug Jiang Siheng the whole way here?

Jiang Siheng met his eyes and reached over to ruffle his hair. “Seatbelt.”

Wen Chi snapped out of it and buckled up.

Jiang Siheng asked, “Hungry? Want to grab a bite?”

Wen Chi shook his head. “Not hungry.”

“Alright. Shower when we get back, and drink a pack of cold medicine.”

Wen Chi obediently nodded.

They made it back to the house just before the rain really came down. Wen Chi’s hair was soaked, and his clothes were cold against his skin.

Jiang Siheng touched his shirt—completely drenched. He frowned.

Seeing that, Wen Chi panicked. “I’ll go shower and change right now!”

“…Don’t run. The floor’s slippery.”

Jiang Siheng’s Livestream Chat:

[This is the real “Teacher Jiang.”]

[Look at him scaring the poor kid.]

[All it takes is a frown and everyone freaks out.]

[He usually seems so gentle, but that frown? Lethal.]

Wen Chi didn’t even stop to greet the others. He swapped into slippers, grabbed a change of clothes, and dashed upstairs.

Zhou Yunbai looked up, startled, just in time to see Jiang Siheng walk in. She asked, “Teacher Jiang, what’s going on with Xiao Chi? Why did he rush off like that?”

“He got soaked and went to shower.”

Zhou Yunbai nodded. Jiang Siheng had already stepped halfway up the stairs when he paused and turned back. In the kitchen, he asked, “Yunbai, do you have any cold medicine?”

“Yeah, it’s in the first aid box under the coffee table.”

“I’ll take two.”

“Go ahead. I just finished boiling water.”

Zhou Yunbai turned and spotted Tong Xian’en. “Xian’en, you should have some too. Want me to make you a cup?”

“Sure, thanks, Xiao Bai Jie.”

Tong Xian’en glanced over at Jiang Siheng in the living room. After a second of hesitation, he walked over and asked, “Did Wen Chi come back?”

Jiang Siheng, reading the cold medicine instructions, nodded. “He’s showering.”

“Oh…”

Jiang Siheng glanced up and handed him a packet. “Want one?”

Tong Xian’en was surprised. “Thank you, Teacher Jiang.”

Zhou Yunbai came over with three cups and the kettle. “Here.”

Jiang Siheng opened the packets, poured in the brown granules, and added hot water. A bitter-sweet smell quickly spread.

Zhou Yunbai reminded, “Drink it while it’s hot—works better that way.”

“Got it.”

Noticing Jiang Siheng poured both packets into one cup, she asked, “Both are for Xiao Chi?”

“Mm.”

“I thought you two would share one each,” she teased.

Jiang Siheng went upstairs and ran into Wen Chi just out of the shower. His hair was still wet, and Jiang Siheng, ever the worrywart, went straight to get a hairdryer.

Wen Chi stood frozen, confused, and when Jiang Siheng came back out, he asked, “Teacher Jiang, what are you…?”

Jiang Siheng tilted his chin. “Back to your room.”

Jiang Siheng’s Livestream Chat:

[Is he raising a son or something?]

[No, it’s his precious baby.]

[Jiang Ge gives total “worried dad” energy.]

[Why does this dating show feel like it’s turning into a parenting show??]

Wen Chi returned to his room, flinching a little as the door shut behind him.

Then Jiang Siheng’s voice came from right behind his ear:

“Sit down and drink the cold medicine. I’ll dry your hair.”

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  yes, wen chi said fuck