TSBDRA 69: I Won’t Be Able to Help You Deal With It

【Yan Yushan is so good at comforting people! If my boyfriend had even half his emotional intelligence, we wouldn’t have broken up】

【Yan Yushan, no wonder you have a husband】

【Xu Xishuang, don’t be mad anymore—please go back to being sweet together!】

Not wanting Xu Xishuang to stay out under the sun for too long, Yan Yushan found a spot under a beach umbrella and sat down with him.

His medical team arrived quickly. The cameraman kept a respectful distance while filming, and once viewers saw the masked doctor finish the injection and take care of the wound, both Xu Xishuang and the livestream audience finally relaxed.

Yan Yushan touched the gauze taped around his finger, then turned to see the relieved look on Xu Xishuang’s face. Using his uninjured hand, he held Xu Xishuang’s and led him back toward the hut, saying gently, “I’ll be more careful from now on. You have to take care of yourself too, okay?”

Xu Xishuang paused. “Okay.”

Yan Yushan had come to understand that when it came to Xu Xishuang, the best thing he could do was be honest—openly and directly show what he was thinking and feeling. They were already together, and Xu Xishuang liked him too. There was no need to overthink things, no need for hesitation or to chase something far away when the person he wanted was already right here.

Xu Xishuang liked things straightforward so Yan Yushan decided he had to learn to be straightforward too.

Once they returned to the hut, Yan Yushan sat right next to Xu Xishuang, their bodies close, posture intimate, openly displaying both his possessiveness and his identity as Xu Xishuang’s boyfriend.

Xu Xishuang glanced at the bandaged finger on Yan Yushan’s hand. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Let me make your shell necklace for you. You should rest and let your hand heal.”

The cut on Yan Yushan’s finger was shallow. It would probably be gone by morning but being cared for like this was dangerously addictive. Yan Yushan basked in the affection, leaning into the attention with zero shame. Since Xu Xishuang told him not to move, he obediently stayed still, handing over his red shells and quietly watching as Xu Xishuang made the necklace for him.

【Help!! Anyone else remember when Yan-ge broke his arm doing action scenes and didn’t even flinch—now he’s whining over a tiny cut so his hubby will make a necklace for him!!】

【I thought Xu Xishuang would be the one who turned soft and clingy after they got together, but it turns out it’s Yan-ge??】

【Even the love rival was dealt with by the husband. The one declaring their relationship? Also the husband. Yan-ge, you’re slacking—you’re really slacking (shakes head, sighs)】

The brown-haired boy had originally wanted to say it was best to make the shell necklace yourself but when he looked at Xu Xishuang and Yan Yushan, his lips moved, and in the end, he said nothing. He also stopped trying to get close to Xu Xishuang.

The other guests in the room kept their eyes on their noses, their noses on their hearts—pretending not to know anything about what had just happened, pretending they hadn’t heard the conversation outside. But the slight curl at the corners of their mouths betrayed their real thoughts.

Making a shell necklace wasn’t complicated, but after polishing the shells, applying the protective oil, and stringing them together with the special thread, the sense of accomplishment was unmatched.

Xu Xishuang looked at the two red shell necklaces laid out on the table. At last, the coldness on his face melted into a smile. He picked one up and handed it to Yan Yushan, who was sitting beside him.

Seeing that smile, something stirred in Yan Yushan’s chest. He lowered his head slightly—not to take the necklace right away, but to gently lift Xu Xishuang’s hand and press a kiss to the back of it before softly saying, “Thank you, Teacher Xu.”

Yan Yushan’s lips were warm. Xu Xishuang could feel the heat of the kiss lingering on the back of his hand. As soon as Yan Yushan took the necklace, he quickly pulled his hand back and turned his head away, refusing to let Yan Yushan see his reaction.

【Xu Xishuang’s hands are seriously too pretty—long, slender fingers, so pale… just perfect for grabbing things, like… the bedsheets ahem—and with the red background, it’s so tempting, who gets it, gets it!】

【Yan-ge gets it, that’s why he kissed them! A hand kiss ahhh! Xu Xishuang’s ears turned red!!】

【These subtle, restrained kisses are even more heart-fluttering—way more thrilling than watching them make out! (Though, to be clear, if they do start making out on camera, I’m 100% watching too)】

【?? Can you two at least put on some pants first!】

Yan Yao was beside them, desperately covering her mouth to hide her unrestrained laughter. Yu Shudie looked completely deadpan as Yan Yao hid behind her, silently cracking up.

When it came time to see the guests off, the brown-haired boy had a stony expression. He didn’t even glance at Xu Xishuang or Yan Yushan. He just slammed the door shut in front of them as quickly as possible.

At Shen Youlian’s suggestion, everyone put their shell necklaces back on, kept their ridiculous floral shirts on, and asked the cameraman to take a group photo. Afterward, they all took off their necklaces to keep as souvenirs.

After completing the check-in task, it was already near sunset by the time everyone returned to the villa. Seeing the stunning view of the sun dipping into the sea, no one headed inside right away. Instead, they all paused in the villa’s courtyard, facing the ocean, admiring the sunset and the clouds streaked with pinks, purples, and gold.

Shen Youlian and the others took out their phones to snap pictures, while the livestream viewers flooded the chat with screengrabs. Xiang Yao, holding his sunglasses in one hand and resting the other on his hip, sighed dramatically, “We just experienced local culture, now we’re watching a seaside sunset, and tonight we get a seafood feast from the production team—this is what a trip should be.”

The comment feed filled with envy, sticking with the cast until the last rays of sun faded, then followed the camera as it moved into the villa with them.

After spending the whole day outside, they were all sticky with sweat and sunscreen. On top of that, sand had somehow made its way into their clothes and shoes. As soon as they stepped into the house, everyone split off into their rooms, heading straight for their showers.

Xu Xishuang had just taken off his floral shirt when he suddenly remembered that Yan Yushan’s wound couldn’t get wet. Without hesitation, he opened his door and headed out, knocking on Yan Yushan’s door.

Yan Yushan pulled him inside and the audience only caught a brief flash of Xu Xishuang’s fluttering shirt hem… and a split-second glimpse of Yan Yushan’s chest and abs.

【???】

【You’re still filming a show—are you sure this is appropriate? At least open the door and let us see!!】

【Last season, Yan-ge entered Shuangshuang’s room. This season, Shuangshuang enters Yan-ge’s room. Honestly, just move in together already—it’d be more convenient.】

【Who agrees? I do!】

Xu Xishuang had entered Yan Yushan’s room intending to remind him to keep the wound dry during his shower. But the moment he opened the door, what greeted him was Yan Yushan’s bare upper body—solid muscle in plain view. Whatever he had meant to say evaporated on the spot.

Years of consistent training had given Yan Yushan a physique that wasn’t overly bulky, but every line was defined, and it was clear his muscles would feel amazing to the touch. Before Xu Xishuang even realized what he was doing, his hand had already landed on Yan Yushan’s chest.

The feeling of bare skin was completely different from touching through clothes. Xu Xishuang’s face flushed with heat, and he instinctively tried to pull his hand back but Yan Yushan had already caught on. Smiling, he pressed Xu Xishuang’s hand in place and beat him to the punch. “Mr. Xu, did you come to my room just to take advantage of me?”

“No,” Xu Xishuang averted his gaze, doing his best not to look at Yan Yushan’s bare torso. “I came to remind you not to let water touch your wound.”

He had originally planned to send a message, but worried that Yan Yushan might’ve already stepped into the shower without his phone and wouldn’t see it, so he decided to come knock instead. Who knew he would walk in right as Yan Yushan had just taken off his clothes—now wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. 

“Oh,” Yan Yushan said, still not letting go. “Then how about you help me shower, Teacher Xu?”

Xu Xishuang: “…No.”

“Why not?” Yan Yushan pressed, leaning in closer to meet his eyes. “It’s just a shower. Teacher Xu, you copped a feel and now you’re planning to run off?”

“…We’re still filming,” Xu Xishuang muttered, tugging at his hand. His voice was soft, and he spoke quickly, “If I help you shower you’ll definitely get hard, and my hands are sore from polishing shells. I won’t be able to help you deal with it.”

Yan Yushan: …

Damn.

He really hadn’t expected that kind of reply from Xu Xishuang. He only meant to tease him a little and not actually keep him there for a shower. He knew full well he probably wouldn’t be able to hold himself back. But Xu Xishuang’s answer was both obedient and blunt, and it hit him right in the gut. He was completely defenseless against it—those two lines from Xu Xishuang nearly set him off on the spot.

Teasing gone wrong. The one doing the flirting got flirted with instead.

Yan Yushan let go of his hand helplessly. “Alright, I get it. I’ll be careful with the water. You go shower first and I’ll come find you later.”

Xu Xishuang didn’t ask what he meant by coming to find him later. His own face was already burning. The moment Yan Yushan let go, he quickly pulled his hand back, opened the door, and slipped out.

【? Out already? Yan-ge, be honest—are you actually… not that good?】

【Shuangshuang baby’s face is so red, what the hell happened in there?! Why can’t we VIP viewers see it?! I have money! LET ME SEE!!】

【Clothes are intact, pants are in place… hmm… maybe they just kissed?】

While the livestream comments were going wild trying to guess what had just happened in the room, Xu Xishuang had already returned to his own. He quickly showered, changed into fresh clothes, and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for Yan Yushan.

He had left the door unlocked. Barely a moment after sitting down, Yan Yushan quietly pushed the door open and slipped inside.

Usually when Yan Yushan came to his room, it was to talk to the baby or tell stories to help Xu Xishuang fall asleep. But it wasn’t bedtime yet, and Xu Xishuang wasn’t sure what he was here for now. He looked up, eyes meeting Yan Yushan’s, silently asking what he intended to do.

Fresh out of the shower, Xu Xishuang smelled clean and soft, with his hair draped over his ears in a way that made him look impossibly touchable. Sitting obediently on the bed waiting for Yan Yushan to come over, he looked just like a little wife waiting for her husband to return. Yan Yushan almost got swept up in the moment again—he had to close his eyes briefly to collect himself, push aside the thoughts, and walk over to Xu Xishuang’s side.

“I came to massage your legs,” he said.

“Single-handed,” he added, seeing Xu Xishuang glance at his bandaged finger, “It won’t affect the wound.”

They had walked a lot that day. Back when they were in the courtyard watching the sunset, Yan Yushan had already noticed Xu Xishuang shifting his legs discreetly, clearly uncomfortable. He had pulled him into his arms then, letting him rest against him.

Now that Xu Xishuang was further along in his pregnancy, his belly felt heavier by the day. Yan Yushan noticed every bit of it, and it hurt his heart. He had even asked Dr. Xu for instructions on how to massage properly. So tonight, he was going to help relieve some of that pressure.

Shen Youlian and the other two women took a bit longer in the bath, and since no one was in a hurry for dinner, Yan Yushan and Xu Xishuang could stay in the room a while longer before going out. Xu Xishuang thought for a moment and tacitly allowed Yan Yushan’s behavior.

Xu Xishuang leaned back slightly, then lifted his leg and rested his calf on Yan Yushan’s thigh.

Yan Yushan held his slender calf, a bit distracted, his fingers gently pressing and kneading, feeling the softness and warmth.

There was something subtly sensual about Yan Yushan’s massage, and Xu Xishuang found it a little overwhelming. He picked up his phone to distract himself, deciding to scroll through Weibo and short videos to calm his nerves and stop his mind from wandering.

Xu Xishuang opened Weibo first. The series Who’s Behind the Door had finished airing, and just like Cheng Tianwen had dreamed, it surpassed a hundred million views, giving Animal TV a strong start to the year. To celebrate, Animal TV opened a special section for fans to upload their fan-made content, which would be synced to Weibo. After the event ended, they’d pick the most liked submissions and send out exclusive show merchandise as prizes.

So the fans were extremely active, with fan-made edits popping up nonstop. With just a casual swipe, Xu Xishuang came across a video—by someone he followed, no less. It was edited by a familiar user: 【I Can Be Single But My CP Must Go Three Days and Nights.】Xu Xishuang glanced up at Yan Yushan, who was still seriously massaging his leg, then quietly put on his headphones and tapped on the video, which had already racked up over ten thousand likes.

The video opened with a bonus scene from Who’s Behind the Door. In it, Chen Muzhou holds a black umbrella and responds to the butler, “Of course I’ll take full control of it.” But in the fan edit, the subtitle changes “it” to “him,” clearly implying that “him” refers to Yan Zheng from the show.

According to the subtitles’ interpretation, Chen Muzhou is a manipulative, seductive madman who shares a love-hate relationship with Yan Zheng. From their first meeting at the police station, he had his eyes on Yan Zheng, determined to make him his. He used Xiao He’s photo to make Yan Yushan jealous, employed all kinds of subtle tricks, and slowly lured Yan Zheng into obsession. In the end, he even fled overseas, forcing Yan Zheng to confront his feelings and fall completely in love with him.

Xu Xishuang: ……

He glanced at the comments below. They were all full of praise for the editor, saying the chemistry between Chen Muzhou and Yan Zheng was intense and fated, and demanding a second season with the same cast.

Xu Xishuang gave it a like, exited the video, then paused and tapped on another one titled 【Yan Yushan Kicking Down Doors with a Gun – Compilation.】 As the title suggested, the video featured Yan Yushan in uniform, and every time Yan Zheng cracked a case and tracked down a suspect, he would always take the lead, braving the danger, kicking down the door and taking down the criminal. Every movement oozed an intoxicating kind of masculine charisma.

The comments below read: 

【That kick from Yan Yushan wasn’t aimed at the door—it went straight through my heart! AHHH!】

【That sweaty shot… and the injured, bandaged hand shot… it’s all so sinful. Yan-ge’s body is insane.】

【Arrest me! Interrogate me! Whip me! Don’t show me mercy! I’m ready!】

【Selling boxers! Selling shirts! Freshly ripped, limited stock~】

Xu Xishuang gave the video a like but didn’t tap on any of the comments. He puffed out his cheeks and backed out of the page—accidentally tapping on the next video in the feed.

It was a visual edit of himself, titled: 【Click Here to Witness Beauty That Kills】. The video was short, mainly clips of him wearing gloves while carrying out assassinations, cleaning up after his subordinates, and his final escape. Xu Xishuang clicked into the comments out of habit.

【Something that didn’t exist before is now standing tall. I don’t need pants anymore! Sorry, Yan-ge—this time I choose Xu Xishuang!】

【Such beautiful hands, hnnng wife!! Please kill me with your gloves on, I’d die happy!】

【Crying—my morals are being overridden by my hormones! With a boss like this, who wouldn’t die for him?! Now I get that whole “better to die under the peony flower” thing!】

【It’s better when he’s not redeemed. For a born villain like Chen Muzhou, trying to whitewash him is just insulting. My wife is too damn hot, sobbing】

Xu Xishuang still wasn’t used to being called “wifey.” He quietly exited the video, opened his favorites folder, and tapped on a gecko-tail-wagging video to calm himself down.

After finishing the leg massage, Yan Yushan let go, saw that Xu Xishuang looked more relaxed, and leaned in to ask, “What are you watching?”

Yan Yushan’s scent and breath suddenly drew close, catching Xu Xishuang off guard. Startled, his hand shook, and the phone slipped onto the blanket.

Yan Yushan followed his gaze down and saw the gecko wagging its tail on the screen. Then he glanced at the watch count below—3,046 views—and fell into sudden silence.

Xu Xishuang quickly grabbed his phone, exited the video in a flash, and looked up—only to meet Yan Yushan’s expression, which was caught somewhere between confusion and disbelief.

Yan Yushan asked with difficulty, “You… like watching geckos wag their tails?”

Xu Xishuang was so embarrassed he wanted to bury himself under the covers. “…Yeah.”

He mumbled a quiet add-on, “It’s really soothing.”