AAMIBBSBY 23

“Where did he go?” Shen Shixiao anxiously came to Xia Zhi’s wardrobe. After opening it, he found that the clothes Xia Zhi bought himself were unexpectedly all gone, and inside it was completely empty. “You knew perfectly well his expression wasn’t good, so why didn’t you tell me?”

The servant looked at the scene before her—nine times out of ten, Xia Zhi had run away from home.

She fearfully said, “But we didn’t know if Mr. Xia was going on a business trip or for some other reason, we didn’t dare to rashly disturb you.”

Shen Shixiao, with a livid face, walked into the bathroom in Xia Zhi’s bedroom again, only to find that the toothbrush cup, hair dryer, and other things had all been taken away by Xia Zhi. The annoyance and anxiety in his heart rose higher and higher.

The sound of a car engine started up in the courtyard, but Shen Shixiao, gripping the steering wheel, did not set off for a long time. 

He didn’t even know where Xia Zhi had gone.

Inside the stifling space of the car, a cigarette was lit. 

Shen Shixiao let out a long breath and made a phone call to Yan Wenqing. 

The call was quickly connected.

Yan Wenqing: “President Shen, is there something the matter?”

Shen Shixiao: “Is Zhizhi with your production crew?”

Yan Wenqing: “No, our production crew is recently filming halfway up the mountain in District M. Xia Zhi is not on the submitted list of people who need to stay in the hotel.”

“Thank you, I understand.” 

Shen Shixiao’s right hand rested on the steering wheel. He suddenly slammed it fiercely, his gaze looking into the distance. 

It was snowing outside and the temperature was very cold—the only place Xia Zhi could go, other than that dilapidated tube-shaped apartment building, was nowhere else.

Half an hour later, Shen Shixiao’s car parked downstairs. 

The snow was falling heavily. Having just stood downstairs for a moment, a layer of snow had already fallen on the shoulders of his overcoat. 

Shen Shixiao looked up at the window of Xia Zhi’s home; it was pitch black without a single trace of light. 

Could it be that he didn’t come home?

Sure enough, he stood at the door and knocked for a long time, but no one answered. 

At this time, the household opposite Xia Zhi’s door suddenly opened. 

It was an old grandpa nearing 70 years old.

Shen Shixiao asked, “Hello, has the person from this family returned today?”

The grandpa replied, “No, he moved away a long time ago.”

“Thank you.” Shen Shixiao restrained his dim expression, preparing to leave.

“This child has a bitter fate.” The grandpa’s tone was full of heartache. “Back then when his mother passed away, he handled the entire funeral all by himself, holding his mother’s ashes, crying on the street until he became a person made of tears.”

“It is said his father heartlessly abandoned them; this child doesn’t have much money. The furniture in the room was all hunted down from second-hand markets. In order to save on labor costs, he forcefully carried the furniture up from the first floor all by himself that his hands were rubbed until they formed bloody blisters.”

Shen Shixiao, with his back facing the old man, softly gave a sound of acknowledgement and walked down the dim and narrow stairs step by step. 

Shen Shixiao stood in front of his car for a long time. It was until the heavy snow piled up on his shoulders and gradually melted into snow water, seeping through his overcoat, did he stiffly open the car door.

When he received news of Xia Zhi in France, he had some understanding of Xia Zhi’s experiences, but it all floated on the surface. Often, it is the pain in the details that cuts the deepest into the heart.

If… what if he had never found Xia Zhi? 

How much suffering and hardship would Xia Zhi have had to endure then? 

If he wasn’t there, if Xia Zhi could be doted on by someone else, that would also be quite good—at least he wouldn’t have to face such painful things alone. 

He suddenly figured it out.

With both hands frozen stiff and losing sensation, Shen Shixiao dialed Xia Zhi’s phone with trembling hands. 

However, a cold voice came from the other end.

“The number you have dialed is powered off.”

Shen Shixiao propped both arms on the steering wheel, burying his head deeply onto them.

—

Halfway up the mountain, Xia Zhi and Xiao Pang, dragging three super large suitcases, stood panting in front of the hotel. 

This snow is too heavy. 

Wuwu. When a person is unlucky, nothing goes smoothly.

Xia Zhi had finally managed to get through to Yan Wenqing’s phone, and brazenly told him that he had temporarily changed his mind and wanted to stay at the hotel. 

Yan Wenqing received the call and immediately came down to pick him up. 

Seeing the sorry state of the two, he asked, “With such heavy snow, why didn’t you two wait?”

“It only started snowing when we were halfway here.” 

Just now in the car, Xia Zhi’s heart was in his throat, terrified that if they weren’t careful, the car would slide off the cliff and he would kick the bucket.¹A comedic, four-character idiom that translates to “one life gasps its last.” It’s a slightly dramatic and humorous way to say “die” or “croak.”

He hasn’t even gotten famous yet—he absolutely cannot die.

Yan Wenqing smiled and opened two suites for them. “You guys are quite lucky. These are the last two apartment-style rooms in the hotel, so rest early.”

Xiao Pang held the room card gratefully. His job as an assistant wasn’t bad, to actually be able to mooch a luxury suite. 

After saying goodbye, Yan Wenqing scratched his head. He kept feeling like there was some important matter he hadn’t explained to Xia Zhi.

Turning on the AC, Xia Zhi took off his heavy down jacket and curled up in the corner of the sofa to charge his phone. 

He was going to start licking his wounds!

Once the phone was charged, a missed call from Shen Shixiao popped up. Xia Zhi did a carp kick-up²This refers to the martial arts / acrobatic move (the “kip-up”) where a person lying flat on their back whips their legs up to spring instantly to their feet or into a sitting position. to sit up straight, looking properly at the contact on his phone. 

Did Shen Shixiao dial the wrong number? 

Definitely! 

He had already driven him away! 

Ah no, actually, it was his own glass heart and thin skin, making him too embarrassed to stay at the Shen house. 

Turning off his phone, Xia Zhi decided to ignore this matter. He peeled an orange and began to lick his wounds alone.

Meanwhile, Yan Wenqing, who had returned to his room, finally remembered the matter he was concerned about. 

He had to tell Shen Shixiao that Xia Zhi had come to stay with the production crew.

Having slept groggily for a night, he originally could have played here for two days while waiting for the recording, but unfortunately, the directing team called early in the morning, telling Xia Zhi to prepare for pre-recording training. 

Luckily, he came early. 

This large-scale tourist resort halfway up the mountain was newly built. Inside it, not only were there many fun gaming facilities, but also various entertainment venues.

The name of the third script was called “Dream,” telling the story of a group of fencing athletes fighting for dreams and honor. 

Because the trainees didn’t understand fencing, the production crew specially arranged training for them before recording.

Xia Zhi bit into a slice of bread, secretly complaining in his heart. 

Fencing? If the trainees knew he had studied fencing, would they think the production crew was opening the back door for him? 

Scary, scary.

Yan Wenqing had just finished explaining today’s schedule at the front when he suddenly cued Xia Zhi, “Zhizhi, I saw on your resume that it says you’ve studied fencing, right?”

Xia Zhi gave a stiff smile. “Just showy but impractical skills.” 

Ugh, did he have to tell everyone in public!

The training began. Considering the trainees’ foundations, the coach only taught everyone one type this time—Foil.³One of the three weapons in modern fencing (along with Epee and Sabre). In Foil, the valid target area is strictly the torso (chest, stomach, back), and points are only scored with the tip of the blade.

After changing into the fencing suit, Xia Zhi slowly and methodically adjusted his cuffs. The slim-fitting and handsome fencing suit outlined his superior waistline. 

In the end, he raised his neck, tossed his hair, and put on the mask.

Liang Siyue had been behind him all along; waiting until he finished dressing. He stepped forward and asked, “How long have you studied fencing?”

Through the mask, Xia Zhi smiled. “Not long, just learn it for fun.”

Liang Siyue gently observed his posture while holding the sword and joked, “Looking at your stance, it doesn’t look like you just learned it for fun.”

It was indeed so. Xia Zhi’s childhood fencing coach was an old coach retired from the national team, professional and strict. 

If it weren’t for Xia Huaishan only wanting him to treat fencing as an amateur hobby, he probably would have taken the route of a professional athlete. 

Cough cough, it’s just that his physique is a bit thin and frail. 

With hard work and training later on, it can still be salvaged!

Soon, the coach began to explain seriously. The rules of fencing are very simple: the tip of the sword has a sensor, accurately thrusting into the opponent’s valid target area once counts as one point, and the one with the most valid hits wins.

For this recording, some of the trainees played training team members, some played coaches. Xia Zhi and Ji Yun, who had the heaviest screen time, played the two trainees with the most outstanding results in the team.

Ji Yun practiced very seriously, and would also frequently stop to help the coach guide the others. He told everyone that he had also been exposed to the sport of fencing, so he caught on a bit faster.

The director and the screenwriter watched the trainees train from the side, secretly discussing a matter. 

In the script, Xia Zhi and Ji Yun compete many times—who should they let win? 

After all, this is a live broadcast. Pretending to lose, if not done well, will look too fake.

The screenwriter’s eyes radiated with a bold idea. “Who wins and who loses will depend on the live scene. Let them genuinely compete a bit.”

After the snow, the sky cleared up. The warm winter sun shone in through the window, falling onto the sweating trainees. 

Xia Zhi just played a round with the coach. Having not practiced for a long time, although he was quite rusty, it was heartily satisfying and exhilarating. There was a feeling of meeting one’s match in chess.

His sword drawing speed was fast, and his movements were beautiful and agile. 

This was the evaluation the coach gave Xia Zhi.

Taking off the mask, his forehead was dotted with fine beads of sweat. Due to the intense exercise, his lip color was a vibrant red. His eyes curved gently, exuding an aura brimming with youth.

Film Empress Xu beside Liang Siyue teased, “You are paying a lot of attention to Xia Zhi.”

Liang Siyue responded mildly, “Paying attention to trainees is a matter of course.”

During the break, the trainees exchanged techniques. Xia Zhi deliberately tore a small slit on his mineral water bottle’s wrapper, arousing everyone’s curiosity.

“Xia Zhi, what is this for?”

Xia Zhi: “They are all half-empty bottles of water. This way, mine won’t get mixed up with yours.”

“If it gets mixed up, just grab a new one.”

“Yeah.”

The trainees were all somewhat famous internet celebrities or idol trainees. With substantial family backgrounds, second-generation rich kids⁴Refers to the children of China’s nouveau riche. It often carries a stereotype of being wealthy, spoiled, and out-of-touch with the struggles of normal people (like worrying about wasting half a bottle of water). could be grabbed by the handful. Regarding this kind of behavior from Xia Zhi, they indeed felt it was very novel.

“It’s to save water, and besides, things are bought with money.”

Having experienced the previous Xia family illegitimate child incident, everyone had heard a thing or two about Xia Zhi’s family conditions. Now, the topic shifted over to Xia Zhi’s husband.

“Xia Zhi, what does that person in your family do?”

“I feel like last time when he treated everyone to a meal, his conditions should be pretty good. His family background is quite good, right?”

Xia Zhi leaned against the wall, thinking of Shen Shixiao. 

Looking at this situation, three years from now, the two of them would probably have to go their separate ways. 

It’s better not to let everyone know about his marriage to Shen Shixiao. Just in case the bai yueguang comes back, hears similar rumors and gossip, and it causes a rift to form between the two of them.

Wuwu, he is truly a charming little angel.

Therefore, he spouted nonsense, “Ah, just an ordinary person. His temper is a bit dull, and he doesn’t really like to talk.”

The trainees’ gossipy hearts didn’t stop there, continuing to say, “That meal he treated everyone to last time was quite expensive. It made your husband incur a great expense.”

Xia Zhi raised an eyebrow. “He made me angry last time—that was him making amends. I reckon after that one meal, several years of his secret stash of money are gone.”

“So that’s how it is. Otherwise, should we treat him back?”

“No need, no need. It’s just right that he doesn’t have a secret stash. Having money makes it easy to turn bad.”

“What kind of work does your husband do?”

“Uh, a doctor. Right, just a doctor.”

A doctor who can never cure his heart disease! 

A doctor holding a scalpel to cut his heart! 

Yan Wenqing, who understood the whole truth, smiled. 

Xia Zhi really knows how to act.

—

During lunch, Xia Zhi carried his meal tray and sat alone at a table. He took out his phone and took a glance. WeChat had no new messages, and there were no missed calls either. 

It seems Shen Shixiao really did dial the wrong number last night.

Carrying an indescribable loneliness, Xia Zhi bit into a spare rib, and instantly felt it wasn’t delicious anymore.

At this time, Liang Siyue carried his meal tray and sat down next to him, asking with a smile, “Is this seat taken?”

Xia Zhi: “No.”

Liang Siyue: “Let’s eat together.”

The length of the table was average. The two sat side-by-side, pressed quite closely together. 

With his idol sitting beside him, Xia Zhi appeared slightly constrained, and even his movements while drinking soup became smaller.

Liang Siyue glanced at him. “Staying at a hotel, won’t your husband miss you?”

Mentioning Shen Shixiao, Xia Zhi’s expression dimmed slightly. 

He definitely wouldn’t, he even suggested I stay at the hotel.

Sensing Xia Zhi’s low spirits, Liang Siyue consciously stopped asking, offering his own cola chicken wings. “Have a taste, the flavor is not bad.” 

Xia Zhi held his chopsticks and hesitated for a few seconds, ultimately not picking them up, only smiling to express his thanks.

The restaurant was booked out by the production crew, and was very lively. 

At this time, Yan Wenqing received a phone call, hurriedly put down his chopsticks, and ran towards the stairs. 

Xia Zhi stared at the stairs for a long time, guessing there must be some important matter.

Before long, Yan Wenqing’s laughter came from the doorway. He led Shen Shixiao in, asking with concern, “President Shen hasn’t eaten yet, right? See what you like to eat, I’ll have someone prepare it for you.”

Shen Shixiao’s gaze fell across the restaurant, quickly finding Xia Zhi, and also seeing Liang Siyue beside Xia Zhi. 

“Just getting some random things is fine. Lately, I’ve been sick and have no appetite.”

Shen Shixiao had visited the set once before, but only had a meal with the mentors; the trainees hadn’t seen him yet. 

Right now, all the trainees enthusiastically greet him. After all, even the contracted artists of Shen Group Entertainment rarely saw Shen Shixiao in a year.

Xia Zhi pulled his head back, hurriedly shoveling a few bites of food into his mouth. Beside him, Liang Siyue muttered to himself, “With the wind and snow so heavy, why did President Shen suddenly come?”

Xia Zhi muttered in a low voice, “Who knows.”

Shen Shixiao, carrying his meal tray, didn’t sit together with Yan Wenqing, but instead, from a distance, crossed past several dining tables, coming to stand in front of Xia Zhi and Liang Siyue. 

Xia Zhi could feel that almost all the gazes in the restaurant were faintly converging over here. 

His spine gradually stiffened.

“Excuse me, can I sit here?” Shen Shixiao said, directing it at Liang Siyue.

Liang Siyue paused. “Mm, you can.”

He was just about to clear out the opposite seat for Shen Shixiao, but unexpectedly, Shen Shixiao naturally placed his meal tray right between Xia Zhi and Liang Siyue. 

Liang Siyue was a little confused, while Xia Zhi deliberately turned his head away.

Why are you sitting together with him! 

He publicly has a husband! 

The famous grass has an owner!⁵A clever twist on the classic idiom “名花有主” (the famous flower has an owner), which means a beautiful woman is already spoken for/taken. Changing “flower” to “grass” makes it refer to a handsome man being taken.

You have no chance!

After a stalemate of merely ten seconds, Liang Siyue took the initiative to grab his meal tray, and sat opposite the two of them. 

After Shen Shixiao sat down, with no superfluous expressions, he took a small pot of vinegar from his meal tray and poured it straight into his noodles.⁶This is the cultural crux of the entire scene! In Chinese, “to eat vinegar” is the universally understood idiom for being jealous in a romantic relationship. Shen Shixiao pouring an entire pot of vinegar onto his noodles is a hilarious, literal, and passive-aggressive manifestation of his intense jealousy over seeing Xia Zhi sitting with another man.

The air in front of them was flooded with the smell of Shanxi mature vinegar.⁷Shanxi is a province in China famous for its dark, highly acidic, and deeply flavorful aged vinegar. Xia Zhi blinked his eyes, and innocently took a bite of his spare rib.

A shared meal between three people, and there wasn’t a single person speaking. 

It was just quite awkward.

Liang Siyue proactively asked, “The mountain roads are dangerous on snowy days, is President Shen here busy with some matter?”

Shen Shixiao replied, “Mm, my wife is over here. I came to find him.”

“Pfft!” Xia Zhi was almost choked by his soup, awkwardly covering his mouth and coughing violently.

“Are you okay?” Liang Siyue handed over a tissue with concern, and unexpectedly, Shen Shixiao was one step faster than him.

Shen Shixiao: “Drink slower.”

Liang Siyue’s eyes carried a bit of strangeness, but he didn’t show it too much.

Xia Zhi ate the meal in great discomfort, only managing to stare blankly at that bottle of Shanxi mature vinegar. 

At this time, Liang Siyue suddenly asked, “Zhizhi, is your husband’s work at the hospital usually busy?”

Hearing this, Shen Shixiao’s fingers gripping his chopsticks curled slightly. He then placed the chopsticks on the edge of the bowl, his gaze looking straight ahead.

Xia Zhi’s whole body tensed up. 

Hey! Why bring this up out of nowhere!

“Mm, it’s alright, usually it’s not too busy.”

Shen Shixiao’s lips parted slightly, his eyes gradually dimming, and he dropped his chopsticks. 

He had only eaten two bites of the noodles in his bowl, which continuously emitted a strong smell of mature vinegar.

Xia Zhi buried his head, muttering quietly. 

Hoping Liang Siyue wouldn’t ask anymore.

However, Liang Siyue didn’t get his signal, smiling as he said, “If your husband is a doctor, he must be very meticulous and considerately take care of you in everyday life.”

Xia Zhi awkwardly chimed in, “It’s alright I guess.”

After eating, it was getting late. The director reminded the trainees to rest well and prepare for tomorrow’s live broadcast. 

Tomorrow is the competition mode, 35 down to 25.

Although the hotel everyone was staying in couldn’t be considered star-rated, the facilities were not bad, and the rooms were neat and comfortable. 

The elevator buttons lit up one by one. Gradually, only Yan Wenqing, Shen Shixiao, and Xia Zhi were left in the elevator. 

Xia Zhi lived on the top floor, staying on the same floor as the mentors and staff.

After Yan Wenqing entered his room, only two sets of footsteps remained in the corridor. Xia Zhi stood in front of his door, looked up at Shen Shixiao, and asked, “Are you going to stay here?”

Shen Shixiao: “Mm, the road conditions are too poor, it’s not easy to go down the mountain.”

Although he really wanted to ask Shen Shixiao why he came here, Xia Zhi held it in. 

He definitely wasn’t going to ask.

“I’ll go in first then.” Xia Zhi swiped his card to enter the door, closing it with a thud.

Facing the ice-cold door, Shen Shixiao pursed his lips, leaning against the wall with his head lowered. 

After Xia Zhi went in, he didn’t leave immediately either. Instead, he stealthily peered through the peephole, observing the activity outside the door.

There were no footsteps. Had Shen Shixiao not left? 

Could it be he had something to say to him?

After struggling with it for a long time, Xia Zhi gently opened the door a crack, popping his head out to look around. 

Sure enough, Shen Shixiao was leaning against the nearby wall. 

Their gazes met, and Xia Zhi asked, “Do you need something?”

Shen Shixiao’s energy looked average, and he replied in a deep voice, “The hotel doesn’t have any spare rooms left.”

Xia Zhi glanced at the window at the end of the corridor. Outside, at some unknown time, heavy snow had started falling again. 

What to do if there are no rooms? 

He definitely wouldn’t take the initiative to take him in. 

That would be showing no backbone!⁸Literally “no bone spirit.” It means to lack moral character or willpower, being too soft, easily giving in, or lacking the resolve to stick to one’s guns (like refusing to forgive Shen Shixiao).

Shen Shixiao coughed twice, and said towards him, “Go inside, it’s cold out here, I’ll contact my assistant to figure out a solution.”

“Mm.”

Xia Zhi responded, and gradually closed the door.

Suddenly, he popped his head out and tilted it slightly. “Want to stay at my place? I can take you in.”

Wu! He is truly a little angel!

Those deep black eyes looked at him for a moment. Shen Shixiao said: “Mm, thank you.”

The room was like a small integrated apartment, with a kitchen and bathroom, and a complete range of home appliances. 

The warm air in the room was turned up high. Xia Zhi stood in front of the cabinet and took down the medicine box, looking for cold medicine for Shen Shixiao.

Shen Shixiao’s condition looked very poor. He leaned on the sofa with his eyes slightly closed, looking somewhat haggard. 

Last night, he searched for Xia Zhi until midnight. Upon receiving Yan Wenqing’s message in the morning, he hurried over at top speed.

His body was now extremely exhausted.

“Taking these two kinds of medicine will make you get better quickly, I take them often.” 

Bringing over a glass of warm water, Xia Zhi handed it to him. “Go to sleep after taking them, and the cold will be cured.”

Shen Shixiao took the water glass. “As expected, with a husband who is a doctor, the medicine is fully stocked.”

Xia Zhi was almost amused, muttering, “They kept asking me and I couldn’t just say that my husband is you. After all, we will divorce in three years—supposing I become wildly popular later, aren’t you afraid your bai yueguang will find out about us and get jealous?”

Shen Shixiao took a sip of warm water, his lips looking somewhat dry. 

“Him… I…”

“Alright, alright.”

“I know the bai yueguang is the treasure of your heart, your cinnabar mole—other people can never compare.” 

Xia Zhi’s tone was sour. He stood up with his hands behind his back. “Hurry up and take your medicine, so you can be well tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

With Shen Shixiao being so obedient, Xia Zhi felt a bit strange in his heart, and couldn’t help but muster the courage to ask, “What did you come here for today?”

Shen Shixiao: “To deliver something to you.”

Coincidentally, at this time, Shen Shixiao’s assistant came knocking on the door, delivering a clothes dryer and a box of cake for him.

“I saw the dryer left behind by the door in your room and figured you probably forgot to bring it, so I brought it over for you.”

He was right—that dryer was indeed what Xia Zhi had wanted to take away. 

However, there was too much luggage and he simply couldn’t stuff it in. 

He could only bear the pain and part with it. 

Here, halfway up the mountain, the weather was gloomy and cold; if the hotel didn’t have this thing, it would be very hard for washed clothes to dry.

However, when Xia Zhi saw this dryer, sourness welled up in the bottom of his heart. Looking at Shen Shixiao’s posture, it seemed he wanted to make him stay here long-term. 

Damn it! 

As expected, men are all big pig trotters. 

Except for himself.

“Thank you.”

After putting away the dryer, Xia Zhi walked to the opposite bed without saying a word, and stopped speaking.

Shen Shixiao could sense his displeasure, but didn’t know why he had made him angry. After thinking for a moment, he took the Black Swan cake from the coffee table and walked to the front of Xia Zhi’s bed. “I also brought this for you, do you want me to put it in the fridge?”

Xia Zhi, wrapped in the quilt, blinked his eyes. “Did you have your assistant line up to buy it?”

Shen Shixiao shook his head. “I bought it myself.”

Hearing him say this, Xia Zhi’s mood inevitably improved, and he said in a pleasant tone, “Put it in the fridge. We will eat it together tomorrow.”

Coaxed into being happy by just one cake, truly unpromising!

When it was time to sleep, Xia Zhi asked the hotel front desk for a set of bedding for Shen Shixiao to use, and went to take a shower after making the call. 

Soon, there was a knock on the room door, and Shen Shixiao, who had just finished his shower, went over to open it.

Outside the door, Xiao Pang mumbled and shouted, “Zhizhi, the bedding the hotel sent for you was delivered to my place, here—”

When he saw Shen Shixiao’s face clearly, he frantically took a few steps back, his chubby belly trembling slightly. 

He went to the wrong room!

Shen Shixiao recognized him, and while wiping the water droplets from his hair, he reached out his arm. “Thank you. Give it to me, Xia Zhi is taking a shower.”

After the door closed, Xiao Pang had his mouth slightly open, his face full of shock. 

His Zhizhi was subjected to unspoken rules! 

And by Shen Shixiao no less! 

Although Shen Shixiao had good looks, a great figure, and was handsome and cool—it wasn’t too much of a loss! 

However, didn’t Xia Zhi already have a boyfriend?

Squatting dejectedly and helplessly in the corner, Xiao Pang’s chubby silhouette looked somewhat lonely. 

Could Zhizhi have been forced?

The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. He sent a WeChat message to Xia Zhi: Zhizhi, are you okay?

Xia Zhi had just finished his shower, and casually replied to him: Pretty good.

Xiao Pang heaved a sigh of relief, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings. President Shen’s figure was not bad, but with Xia Zhi’s small frame, who knows if he can endure it!

“Take care of your body.” Xiao Pang’s internal worries ultimately transformed into these four words, and Xia Zhi stared at the message in bewilderment, replying: Mm, my body is pretty great.

Xiao Pang sighed, and sang a song for Xia Zhi’s never-before-seen husband, “Pleasant Goat… Pretty Goat…”

Shen Shixiao, having received the bedding, naturally laid it out on the sofa, preparing to sleep there for the night.

After drying his hair, Xia Zhi came out of the bathroom feeling the room was a bit chilly, so he looked up at the air conditioner. Why is it turned off? It’s a bit cold.”

Shen Shixiao: “It suddenly broke.”

Xia Zhi: “Is there still time to have the front desk fix it now then?” 

It was clearly fine just now, how did it suddenly break?

Shen Shixiao: “It will have to wait until tomorrow.”

Winter in the north is very cold. Without heating or an air conditioner, one would freeze to death in the middle of the night. 

At this time, Shen Shixiao reminded him, “I noticed there’s an electric blanket laid on your bed, you can turn it on.”

Electric blankets are rarely used by people nowadays, but the hotel still prepared them. 

Turning on the switch, the electric blanket’s heating speed was very fast. Xia Zhi’s feet were warm and cozy, not cold at all anymore.

However, Shen Shixiao…

Xia Zhi looked over towards Shen Shixiao. With a thin layer of bedding, a narrow, ice-cold sofa, would his cold get worse tomorrow? 

He gripped the corner of the quilt, as the piping hot temperature transferred upwards along the bedsheets. 

He hesitated, unable to decide.

The lights turned off, and the surroundings fell into complete darkness.

At this time, Shen Shixiao suddenly said a sentence in a low voice.

“Zhizhi, that day, I suggested you stay here because the distance is far and the weather is severe. Commuting back and forth halfway up the mountain every day has a high risk factor. I didn’t mean anything else, please don’t misunderstand.”

In the darkness, Xia Zhi suddenly opened his eyes. 

Did Shen Shixiao really not mean to drive him away? 

After a long time, he stubbornly insisted, “No misunderstanding, I just felt staying here was convenient, so I left.”

Waiting for a long time but not getting Shen Shixiao’s response, he guessed Shen Shixiao had fallen asleep. 

Turning over, Xia Zhi seemed to be talking to himself, and also seemed to be talking to Shen Shixiao, “Do you want to come sleep on the bed? It must be very cold there.”

“Sure,” In the pitch-black dead of night, Shen Shixiao answered crisply and cleanly.

Xia Zhi: ???

The bed’s width was 1.5m—two people lying side-by-side there couldn’t be considered spacious. The electric blanket’s width was even smaller, only 1.2m. In order to stay close to the electric blanket, Xia Zhi had no choice but to scoot closer to the center. 

Scooting and scooting, smack, a bump. 

He bumped into Shen Shixiao’s arm.

He grunted, “Your muscles are really nice, how did you train them.” 

He then added another sentence: “I don’t mean I’m envious, don’t misunderstand.”

Shen Shixiao chuckled deeply. “Mm, if you want to train, I can teach you.”

This was the second time the two were lying on one bed. 

Shen Shixiao’s even breathing sounds were especially clear. Xia Zhi slowly looked at the moonlight outside the window, and thought of Shen Shixiao’s first love again. 

How good-looking must his first love be, to make Shen Shixiao constantly keep him in his thoughts and never forget. 

Of course, it’s also possible that an interesting soul lived in that body.

“Are you asleep?”

“No.”

Xia Zhi slowly turned around. He slightly bended his legs, face-to-face with Shen Shixiao, their breaths mingling.

“You and your first love—how long did you date?”

“We spent three months together, dated for one day.”

After hearing this, Xia Zhi was somewhat shocked. “Just dated for one day?”

Shen Shixiao: “Mm, the second day after confirming our relationship, he left me.”

Breaking up right after confirming the relationship, if he isn’t a scumbag then he’s a bastard playboy! 

However, he only complained a little in his heart, and didn’t say it out loud in front of Shen Shixiao. 

Therefore, strictly speaking, Shen Shixiao had only dated for one day.

“No wonder…”

“No wonder what?”

Xia Zhi was amused. “Looking at you, you don’t seem like someone with rich dating experience.”

Shen Shixiao: “You like people with rich experience?” 

He pondered and it seemed that Liang Siyue had had a constant stream of rumored boyfriends by his side since his debut. He had a very rich dating experience.

Xia Zhi yawned. “It’s alright I guess, but my own dating experience is zero.”

“Is that so?” Shen Shixiao stared at his drowsy appearance, and softly said, “Little liar.”

Thinking back to when Xia Zhi first started spending time with him, he was super good at flirting, constantly acting spoiled and cute—sweet nothings came easily to him, looking quite experienced. 

On the day they confirmed their relationship, Xia Zhi answered his doubts regarding this aspect.

“Actually, I’m usually very shy, but after seeing you, I became self-taught.”

Shen Shixiao believed it. 

Xia Zhi then ran away the next day, and never came back.

—

The next day, Xia Zhi woke up in Shen Shixiao’s embrace. 

The arm resting on his waist was strong and warm, their foreheads were touching, and their pajamas retained each other’s body heat. 

Xia Zhi hurriedly pulled open his pajama pants.

Wuwuwu, thank goodness, didn’t lose my virginity.

Staring at the “chief culprit”, Xia Zhi narrowed his eyes.

Shen Shixiao was just a big pig trotter, constantly longing for his bai yueguang, yet unexpectedly still hugged him to sleep. 

Moreover, he hugged so tightly. 

Eating from the bowl while looking at the pot.⁹A classic Chinese idiom describing greed or having a wandering eye. It means you are enjoying what you already have in front of you (the bowl) but you are still coveting what is in the pot (or what belongs to others).

Xia Zhi cursed continuously in his heart, suddenly realizing it seemed he was the one who rolled into Shen Shixiao’s blanket, right in the very center of the electric blanket. 

Uh, let this matter pass. 

He pulled up his pants and feigned ignorance, climbed out of bed, and prepared to record the variety show.

Makeup for seven hours, on camera for a few minutes; this was the portrayal of most trainees. 

Everyone changed into handsome fencing suits. The camera positions and lenses were ready.

The opening was an ensemble performance, the gist being that some members of the team felt their future was bleak and prepared to quit, while their team had already lost 4 consecutive times to representative teams from other provinces. 

During the ensemble scene, what was presented to the audience was a nine-square grid, able to freely adjust camera angles to watch the trainee they wanted to watch.

Ji Yun stood in the very center, currently working on persuading the team members who wanted to quit, while Xia Zhi just silently sat to the side, calmly fiddling with an epee.¹⁰Before, the coach taught them Foil (花剑). Now Xia Zhi is seen playing with an Épée (literally “heavy sword”).

The character he played was Wang Yang. His shoulder injury had just healed, returning to the country after recovering. 

Yet in today’s circle, rising stars were fiercely emerging—there had long been no place for him. 

His dreams, in the face of massive commercial value, were not worth mentioning.

[A group of handsome little brothers—love them to death.]

[Fencing is very professional, can everyone do it?]

[I heard everyone underwent special training. It will definitely be very cool during the match.]

The trainees’ figures were all very well-proportioned, and being young boys in their twenties, the youthful vitality, flamboyance, and stubbornness during fencing training was impossible to replicate. 

Carrying a deep hormonal attraction. 

White sword shadows swung confidently under the sunlight—the fans camping the live broadcast were simply thoroughly satisfied, every frame of their own idol could be screenshot into a high-definition large picture.

Some were happy and some were worried. Xia Zhi’s fans waited until they were anxious and restless. The other little brothers had already put on fencing suits and were training, only Xia Zhi remained motionless, sitting to the side deep in thought.

Ji Yun’s character inside was a famous rising star in the circle, Yi Fan. Due to his cool, handsome appearance and sword posture, he attracted a huge swathe of fans, and was also the captain of the city’s training team. 

Watching Ji Yun’s starlight value skyrocket as he taught team members training movements, Xia Zhi’s fans were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.¹¹A traditional idiom for being in a state of extreme agitation, panic, and restlessness.

When Shen Shixiao arrived at the scene, it had already reached the plot’s crucial point; Yi Fan provoked Wang Yang, and the two prepared to duel. 

Yan Wenqing noticed Shen Shixiao’s arrival, softly greeted him, and introduced the script’s plot to him.

Shen Shixiao asked with darkened eyes. “Ji Yun looks like he also learned fencing?”

Yan Wenqing: “Mm, and he belongs to the type who hides his depths¹²An idiom describing someone who hides their true skills, talents, or intentions, not showing them off easily..”

Two white shadows overlapped and separated—the crisp sound of collisions fell within the spacious training room, the other trainees sat in a circle around the two to watch the battle. 

Ji Yun’s offensive style was mainly based on thrusting, pressing hard step by step, gradually gaining the upper hand. 

The screenwriter gave him and Xia Zhi two sets of scripts. The win or loss of this match affected the script’s development. 

He didn’t want to lose.

Xia Zhi hadn’t expected Ji Yun’s technique to be so good, and even less expected Ji Yun’s aggressiveness to suddenly become so strong. 

He employed a delaying tactic, first taking a few steps back, but unfortunately, the opponent gave him absolutely no chance to seize the initiative—his attacking momentum becoming increasingly fierce.

[Ji Yun’s technique is so great, Xia Zhi looks a bit unable to hold his own.]

[Ji Yun is a treasure boy¹³Very common fan slang. It refers to an idol who seems like an ordinary guy at first, but constantly surprises fans with hidden talents, great personality traits, and skills (like discovering hidden treasure)., he even knows fencing!]

[As expected, athletic boys are super handsome. Ji Yun will definitely become popular in the future.]

Shen Shixiao, due to his cold, had a somewhat hoarse voice. He asked Yan Wenqing, “Are they fighting for real in this match?”

Yan Wenqing: “Right, in order to reflect authenticity, we specially arranged different script directions for the two characters based on winning or losing.”

Shen Shixiao nodded, his gaze evaluating Ji Yun.

Xia Zhi had already retreated to the edge, and Ji Yun’s aura was getting stronger and stronger. 

He had meticulously figured out this character of Wang Yang. According to the setting of Script 1, for this duel with Yi Fan, Wang Yang himself was resistant to it. 

Therefore, in the early stage of the match, Wang Yang was at a disadvantage, because he simply didn’t want to fight Yi Fan for a win or loss.

As the scoreboard sounded, applause surged within the arena. The team members, including Xia Zhi, were all cheering for Ji Yun.

Ji Yun took off his soaked mask, raised his eyebrows at Xia Zhi, and bent his knees while panting heavily, carrying an unbearably arrogant flamboyance. 

He had studied fencing since childhood, and it could be considered to have come in handy.

Xia Zhi’s expression didn’t change much. After all, he hadn’t used much effort at all, and compared to Ji Yun’s provocation, what he cared more about was how to respond using Wang Yang’s character persona. 

He sincerely said, “You are very formidable, and also have a lot of potential.”

Ji Yun sneered and lazily said, “Thanks.”

Xiao Pang squatted to the side scrolling through the bullet comments. Watching Ji Yun’s starlight value get higher and higher, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows tightly. 

Xia Zhi might rank second this time. 

The gold master daddy is also here, isn’t he going to help out?

The whistle blew, and the second duel began.

This time, Xia Zhi, holding his sword, revealed a profound expression, his eyes gradually becoming resolute. 

He struck preemptively—a sudden lunge caught Ji Yun off guard. Ji Yun had learned traditional fencing countermeasures, but facing Xia Zhi’s attacks, he unexpectedly had no way to start, acting with frantic haste.

[Holy sh*t! Is this a shocking reversal?]

[Did Xia Zhi turn on a cheat code?]

In just one short minute, Xia Zhi’s starlight value skyrocketed.

Xia Zhi’s sword drawing speed was extremely fast. Squatting, standing up, attacking—the movements were continuous without the slightest bit of sloppiness, and after a final feinted attack deceived Ji Yun, his epee pointed straight at Ji Yun’s chest. 

One point, two points. Ji Yun’s forehead broke out in quite a bit of cold sweat, gradually becoming powerless to cope. 

In just three short minutes, his advantage from the first round was more than half overtaken.

The match ended. Xia Zhi took off his mask and smoothed his hair, his gaze sharp, as he smiled at Ji Yun.

[Zhizhi the best ever¹⁴Literally yyds from the raw. One of the most famous pieces of modern Chinese internet slang. It is an acronym for “永远的神” (Yǒngyuǎn de shén), which literally means “Forever God.” It is the Chinese equivalent of saying someone is the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) or absolutely amazing.! Handsome and beautiful!]

[What the heck is ‘handsome and beautiful’ haha. Xia Zhi’s technique is pretty good—turns out the first round was just testing the waters?]

[Xia Zhi’s waist is absolutely stunning. I want to marry him!]

There was all sorts of messy chatter in the bullet comments. Xia Zhi seemed to have seen Shen Shixiao during the match just now, so he subconsciously looked around. 

Through the air, he and Shen Shixiao locked eyes. 

His eyebrows raised unintentionally.

I’m handsome, right? Don’t fall in love with me. 

Am I more handsome than your bai yueguang?

Shen Shixiao gazed at him gently. The omnipotent 

Zhizhi was forever the focal point of the crowd.

[Why did Zhizhi become gentle?]

[Who is he looking at? It couldn’t be his husband, right?]

[So envious, I also want to have Zhizhizi.]

The second round ended. There was originally supposed to be a third round, but Ji Yun didn’t accept the challenge and instead followed the arrangement of Script 1, ending this match, and leaving alone in the direction of the main door.

The end of the plot was still an ensemble scene. After filming finished, it was time for the interview segment for the number one in starlight value. 

Without any surprise, Xia Zhi’s starlight value was number one again this time.

The staff member was a bit cheeky during the interview, asking him, “This time your duel with Ji Yun had no script. Who won and who lost purely depended on technique. However, I didn’t quite understand your fighting style in the first round—was it a conservative strategy?”

Xia Zhi answered, “In the script, the character I play is resistant to that match. Therefore, in the first round, I followed the character’s true intentions and didn’t want to fight back.”

[Xia Zhi’s words need to be savored carefully.]

[The meaning is, the first round was laozi not wanting to play with you, the second round was just playing around with you.]

[I can lose if I want to lose, and win if I want to win—I’ve learned something.]

[Versailles Zhizhi, haha.]

The recording ended, and the staff left one after another. Xia Zhi wasn’t in a hurry to take off his performance suit, but instead sat on the floor to rest.

Shen Shixiao walked over and stood behind him. “Your movements during fencing are very beautiful, and also very impressive.”

Xia Zhi turned his head. “Do you know how to play?”

Shen Shixiao looked at the fencing suit. “I know how to play a little.”

“Want to play a round?”

“Sure.”

Only the two of them were left in the arena. Xia Zhi brought a fencing suit and helped him put it on. 

Standing behind Shen Shixiao and admiring that superior waistline and back muscles, Xia Zhi was a bit greedy for it. 

Touching it should feel pretty good. 

Hiss, what was he thinking.

Putting on the mask, Xia Zhi suddenly asked, “Three rounds in total, is there a penalty or reward for winning and losing?”

Shen Shixiao adjusted his cuffs. “I’ll listen to you.”

“Listen to me… then the winner can ask the other person a question. Any question works, and the other party isn’t allowed to get angry and must answer.”

“Okay.”

The duel officially began; inside the arena there were only rapid footsteps. 

Outside the door, Liang Siyue looked inside, lost in deep thought.

Shen Shixiao’s attacks weren’t as aggressive as Ji Yun’s, but they carried a strong sense of oppression and power. 

Xia Zhi wasn’t intimidated at all. Two tall and agile silhouettes dueled to their hearts’ content under the lights, accompanied by soaring adrenaline, their motor nerves reaching their peak.

Round 1: Xia Zhi 5 points, Shen Shixiao 5 points.

Round 2: Xia Zhi 2 points, Shen Shixiao 2 points.

Round 3 began. Xia Zhi’s attacking frequency obviously increased. He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but he felt Shen Shixiao’s fighting style this round was slightly gentle, as if he meant to let him win. 

In the final few seconds, Xia Zhi made a beautiful stepping squat and took advantage of the momentum to attack—time was up.

Round 3: Xia Zhi 1 point, Shen Shixiao 0 points.

After taking off the mask, Shen Shixiao brushed his black bangs backward, revealing a full forehead, panting lightly. 

He looked at Xia Zhi. “You won, you can ask me your question now.”

Xia Zhi held the sword behind his back with both hands, chuckled and opened his mouth, yet carrying a bit of hesitation. 

“Shen Shixiao, if your bai yueguang never returns, would you romantically consider accepting someone else?”

This question wasn’t simple, but it wasn’t hard either. 

Xia Zhi was like a cunning little fox, wagging his fluffy tail, taking a tentative step.

Shen Shixiao didn’t think too much about it and seriously said, “For others, it depends on who they are.” 

“You can.”

“No one else can.”

• 1
  A comedic, four-character idiom that translates to “one life gasps its last.” It’s a slightly dramatic and humorous way to say “die” or “croak.”
• 2
  This refers to the martial arts / acrobatic move (the “kip-up”) where a person lying flat on their back whips their legs up to spring instantly to their feet or into a sitting position.
• 3
  One of the three weapons in modern fencing (along with Epee and Sabre). In Foil, the valid target area is strictly the torso (chest, stomach, back), and points are only scored with the tip of the blade.
• 4
  Refers to the children of China’s nouveau riche. It often carries a stereotype of being wealthy, spoiled, and out-of-touch with the struggles of normal people (like worrying about wasting half a bottle of water).
• 5
  A clever twist on the classic idiom “名花有主” (the famous flower has an owner), which means a beautiful woman is already spoken for/taken. Changing “flower” to “grass” makes it refer to a handsome man being taken.
• 6
  This is the cultural crux of the entire scene! In Chinese, “to eat vinegar” is the universally understood idiom for being jealous in a romantic relationship. Shen Shixiao pouring an entire pot of vinegar onto his noodles is a hilarious, literal, and passive-aggressive manifestation of his intense jealousy over seeing Xia Zhi sitting with another man.
• 7
  Shanxi is a province in China famous for its dark, highly acidic, and deeply flavorful aged vinegar.
• 8
  Literally “no bone spirit.” It means to lack moral character or willpower, being too soft, easily giving in, or lacking the resolve to stick to one’s guns (like refusing to forgive Shen Shixiao).
• 9
  A classic Chinese idiom describing greed or having a wandering eye. It means you are enjoying what you already have in front of you (the bowl) but you are still coveting what is in the pot (or what belongs to others).
• 10
  Before, the coach taught them Foil (花剑). Now Xia Zhi is seen playing with an Épée (literally “heavy sword”).
• 11
  A traditional idiom for being in a state of extreme agitation, panic, and restlessness.
• 12
  An idiom describing someone who hides their true skills, talents, or intentions, not showing them off easily.
• 13
  Very common fan slang. It refers to an idol who seems like an ordinary guy at first, but constantly surprises fans with hidden talents, great personality traits, and skills (like discovering hidden treasure).
• 14
  Literally yyds from the raw. One of the most famous pieces of modern Chinese internet slang. It is an acronym for “永远的神” (Yǒngyuǎn de shén), which literally means “Forever God.” It is the Chinese equivalent of saying someone is the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) or absolutely amazing.