TSBDRA 55: I Don’t Want to Grow Too Attached to Things Like This

Just like the netizens said, to clean up the mess Yu Shudie left behind, Shen Youlian took the initiative to start a new topic, easing the awkward and heavy mood in the van.

Even though she had been retired from acting for over a decade, nearly everyone had seen her classic films—she was still the goddess in many people’s hearts. So whether it was the other guests or the viewers watching the livestream, everyone gave her face.

With the help of Xiang Yao, who despite seeming aloof was actually warm and chatty, the mood gradually softened, and the comment section stopped arguing.

Chatting casually like that, the six guests finally arrived at the airport and boarded the production team’s private plane.

The flying guest, Bai Keke, was already seated when they boarded. She stood up, waved at everyone, and greeted them one by one.

Since filming wasn’t convenient on the plane, the livestream was temporarily paused.

Xu Xishuang glanced at Yan Yushan, who once again sat next to him. He really wanted to tell him to move, but with so many people around, he ended up saying nothing and silently allowed it.

He had a feeling that this trip wouldn’t be peaceful.

After exchanging contact info, Yan Yao and Bai Keke quickly got along and were now sitting together, whispering casually.

There were still a few hours before they reached the destination. Xu Xishuang leaned back to rest and eventually dozed off.

Across the aisle, Yan Yao watched as Xu Xishuang slowly, gradually slid toward Yan Yushan’s shoulder. Yan Yushan glanced at him, then gently cupped Xu Xishuang’s soft cheek with one large hand. After supporting him for a moment, he carefully withdrew his hand, letting Xu Xishuang rest against his broad shoulder.

Yan Yao: …What do I do? I want to take a photo and tell the world her CP is real!!

Sitting beside her, Bai Keke shifted slightly. Yan Yao quickly looked away, suddenly remembering that Bai Keke was a hardcore solo fan of Yan-ge so she couldn’t let her see this scene!

Yan Yao subtly leaned forward, trying to block her line of sight. But Bai Keke had already turned her head and happened to see Yan Yushan looking down at his phone. From her angle, it looked like he had just lowered his head to kiss Xu Xishuang, who was leaning against his chest.

Bai Keke: !!!

Yan Yao: !!!

Bai Keke stiffly turned her gaze away, her brain starting to spin as she recalled the trending topics from before boarding.

First, #ShenYoulianYuShudieAuntAndNiece. Then another one about Shen Youlian, Xiang Yao, and Yan Yushan joining a travel livestream variety show. And then…

#YanYushanAndXuXishuangSittingTogether

In truth, Bai Keke was more of a career-focused fan when it came to Yan Yushan—she wasn’t particularly interested in his romantic life, and had even hoped he’d eventually settle down with someone and have a stable family.

Under the influence of a friend who shipped the YanXu CP, she had once suspected there might be something between them. But after the two clarified on Weibo that they were just friends—and with what happened later at the recording studio—Bai Keke had mostly put her doubts to rest.

Thinking about that trending post, the replay clips, and how close they were now… she wasn’t so sure anymore.

If the two of them were really together… Why say they were just friends? Shouldn’t they be avoiding suspicion right now? Why join the same variety show and a livestreamed one at that? Were they planning to flaunt their relationship in front of the whole country?

Sitting there, both Yan Yao and Bai Keke were on edge, each suspecting the other had figured it out, and silently swore, if Yan Yushan and Xu Xishuang did anything that might expose their relationship, they would cover for them at all costs. No one else could find out—it couldn’t affect their careers!

They weren’t the only ones who noticed.

Yu Shudie was already fuming.

There were plenty of people in the entertainment industry who had feelings for Yan Yushan—she was one of them. After watching others get turned down for being too obvious, she’d kept a low profile, waiting patiently for a chance to be in the same show or project as him.

A few months ago, when she found out Yan Yushan would be on this variety show, she begged her aunt Shen Youlian to join and bring her along, hoping to create more opportunities to interact with him.

But her excitement didn’t last long—soon after, rumors started swirling about Yan Yushan and someone else. He continued working with that same person on new projects.

This shift in Yan Yushan’s behavior was unlike anything she had seen before, and it threw her into panic. Her intuition screamed at her that Xu Xishuang was different. He was her biggest rival.

And now, she was absolutely certain of it.

Yu Shudie glanced at Xu Xishuang, still asleep on Yan Yushan’s shoulder, and clenched her teeth.

They weren’t together yet. As long as that was true, she still had a chance. She wouldn’t lose. She had never lost, not in her career, and certainly not in love.

Shen Youlian beside her caught a glimpse of her resentful, unwilling expression and sighed silently.

Who would’ve thought, just a few months ago, that Yan Yushan would suddenly fall for someone?

She regretted agreeing to Yu Shudie’s request back then. Now it was clear Yu Shudie wanted to fight Xu Xishuang for him but Yan Yushan was clearly leaning toward Xu Xishuang.

Shen Youlian didn’t think Yu Shudie stood a chance anymore. But she also knew her niece was headstrong and stubborn, and wouldn’t listen to advice. Nothing she said now would help.

…She could only hope the trip would go smoothly.

As the landing announcement chimed, Xu Xishuang’s eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes—meeting Yan Yushan’s deep black gaze.

Still in a daze from just waking up, with his defenses low, Xu Xishuang stared into those eyes and felt like he might fall in. He furrowed his brows, raising a hand, wanting to cover Yan Yushan’s eyes so he wouldn’t look at him like that.

Halfway through the motion, he snapped out of it.

Only then did he realize he had fallen asleep on Yan Yushan’s shoulder—who knew for how long. He quickly pulled back and sat up, murmuring, “Thanks.”

Yan Yushan gave a quiet “mm,” then added, “It’s cold out. Make sure you’re dressed warm.”

As the plane landed smoothly, the guests stepped off with their own complicated thoughts—except for the blissfully oblivious straight man, Xiang Yao.

Sure enough, the chill hit immediately. Xu Xishuang pulled his down coat tighter and buried his face into his scarf, only to catch a faint and familiar scent of wood, one that belonged to Yan Yushan.

…It must’ve rubbed off when he was sleeping on Yan Yushan’s shoulder.

Xu Xishuang lifted his face slightly, but the scent still lingered at the tip of his nose.

After leaving the airport, the seven guests transferred to another vehicle headed toward the forest cabins, and the livestream resumed. The viewers could now see their new seating arrangements.

Bai Keke was still sitting with Yan Yao, and Yu Shudie was seated with Shen Youlian. She originally wanted to go find Yan Yushan but was firmly pulled back by her aunt.

So once again, Yan Yushan and Xu Xishuang ended up sharing a double seat. Only Xiang Yao sat alone.

【Xiang Yao: the lonely grandpa LMAO】

【Bai Keke and Yan Yao seem pretty close—they’re whispering to each other】

【Well, they were on that same dating reality show】

【? Ugh, don’t bring up that cursed show. Every time someone mentions it, I remember that cursed person】

【Uh… why aren’t Xu Xishuang and Yan Yushan talking if they’re sitting together? Their vibe is so weird—like both close and distant】

To ensure the guests’ safety and avoid altitude sickness or wild animal attacks, the cabins were built near the edge of the forest, not far from a nearby town with all necessary amenities.

It had just finished snowing, and the farther they drove, the fewer cars there were on the road. It felt like they were entering a quiet, uninhabited zone, with thick snow piled on the roadside and blanketing the branches of towering trees. Everything was cloaked in white.

In the distance, dense forests stretched endlessly, and the outline of massive snow-covered mountains loomed faintly behind the clouds. Everyone—including the viewers—was stunned by the scenery, their breaths unconsciously softening.

Once they snapped out of it, Bai Keke and Yan Yao frantically took pictures. Yu Shudie pulled out her phone, and even Shen Youlian and Xiang Yao snapped a few shots. The audience flooded the chat with screenshots, eager to save the scene as their wallpaper.

Seeing that Yan Yushan and Xu Xishuang hadn’t moved, Yu Shudie couldn’t resist starting a conversation. “Senior Yan, I remember one of your films was shot in the snowy mountains, right? You must be used to scenery like this.”

Yan Yushan nodded. “Something like that.”

That film had been made years ago, and the director had since passed away. He was notoriously strict and every movement had to be refined to perfection. He discarded more footage than he kept, enough to fill a whole documentary.

Yan Yushan had spent nearly a year on that mountain, enduring a grueling schedule. By the end, he felt only relief to be done. He’d seen enough of this kind of scenery—now, even seeing it again didn’t move him.

【Xiao Die really is a true fan—she even knows about Yan-ge’s snowy mountain movie】

【Am I the only one who thinks they’d make a great couple? Glamorous actress meets mature actor—it’s like a rom-com!】

【Yes. You are the only one.】

【Seriously? How can anyone not see that Yan Yushan has zero interest in talking to her?】

Yu Shudie had no idea her fans were already fighting with other viewers in the chat. She glanced smugly at Xu Xishuang, convinced that he couldn’t possibly know Yan Yushan had filmed in the mountains.

She felt like she had the upper hand now and backed off for a bit, no longer pestering Xu Xishuang. She didn’t care why he wasn’t taking photos. Just as she was about to chat more about that film, she saw Yan Yushan turn toward Xu Xishuang and ask, “Cold? Why aren’t you taking pictures?”

Yu Shudie’s smile froze.

【Help, I’m cringing for her right now】

【Told you Yan Yushan didn’t want to talk to her—see now? The real deal is YanXu!】

【Don’t ship nonsense—they said they’re just friends!】

Xu Xishuang really didn’t want to engage with Yan Yushan, but he was afraid that ignoring him would provoke something even worse, so he quietly said, “Not cold.”

He didn’t answer the second question, but he knew the reason.

Before entering this novel world, he’d loved traveling and had been to many places, seen countless breathtaking views, and taken countless photos. The snowy scenery before him didn’t feel special anymore. It wasn’t worth capturing.

More importantly, he didn’t want too many memories like this. If he loved less, became less attached, then when he inevitably reached his destined ending… maybe he wouldn’t have so many regrets.

Yan Yushan looked at him and felt there was a deep sorrow hidden in his eyes—but whenever he tried to reach for it, it slipped away.

He didn’t understand why Xu Xishuang seemed so sad. Just like he didn’t understand why Xu Xishuang kept pushing him away, locking him behind the label of “friend,” refusing to let him take even a single step closer.

He said nothing more, and the two of them fell into silence.

【…This is what you call “just friends”? Who’s buying that?】

【I give up. Why is Xu Xishuang so cold? Yan Yushan just asked a question!】

【Shuangshuang baby, why are you so distant? Are you upset?】

【God, I didn’t think a slow-paced livestream show could be this dramatic. I’m hooked. I’m in.】

As they neared the forest cabins, Director Fei Yuan suddenly popped back into view, holding his trusty whiteboard.

“Attention, everyone! The second task for today’s checkpoint is—collect fallen branches along the roadside forest!”

“At least three guests need to get out and walk to the cabin while collecting firewood. The rest can ride the van to the destination,” Fei Yuan explained. “Once the task is complete, the production team will hand over the cabin keys.”

Shen Youlian raised an eyebrow. “Xoao Fei, didn’t you say there wouldn’t be gimmicks like the other shows?”

“But collecting branches is super easy!” Fei Yuan said innocently. “Plus, you’ll need them for your cabin fireplaces. Does anyone want to volunteer?”

As soon as he finished, everyone instinctively glanced at Xu Xishuang and immediately ruled him out. He looked too pale and frail, like a gust of wind might blow him away.

Xiang Yao volunteered first. “I’ll go.”

Yan Yushan: “Me too.”

Yu Shudie quickly raised her hand. “I’ll go too!”

Fei Yuan nodded. “Great, we’ve got three. I’ll hand the key to Ms. Shen. You three, off you go—good luck!”

【Yu Shudie is clearly tagging along after Yan Yushan. Can she not be so obvious?】

【She’s just a fan, chill. Don’t twist things.】

【Yu Shudie’s going with Yan Yushan—why isn’t Xu Xishuang jealous??】

【I think he is. Look closely—when Yu Shudie said she’d go, Xu Xishuang pressed his lips together.】

Shen Youlian took the keys from Fei Yuan. The three who volunteered bundled up and got off the van.

A cold gust blew in through the open door, ruffling Xu Xishuang’s hair. He glanced at the two figures walking close together ahead—Yu Shudie and Yan Yushan—then curled his chilled fingertips inward and shut his eyes.