My Relationship with Duan Xun Is Still That of Patron and Lover

Duan Xun sat on the sofa, still wearing a white shirt.

Song Mingzhou nodded. "Yes. Is big brother busy today? Mm, did you miss me?"

Thump.

Miss him?

This little thing had even learned how to flirt with him.

Duan Xun nearly laughed. Through the video call, he could not hear Song Mingzhou's thoughts, but based on past experience, he knew Song Mingzhou's obedient act on camera was all fake.

He raised a brow. "Not busy. I've been thinking about you ever since we parted. What about you?"

Sure enough, Song Mingzhou grinned so widely his eyes disappeared. "Me too. I've missed big brother all day. Don't work too hard. Take good care of yourself."

After a few seconds of silence, with no response from Duan Xun, Song Mingzhou continued on his own. "When you come back, I want to sleep with you. I can't sleep alone."

Couldn't sleep?

Duan Xun suddenly pictured the young man lying on his side beside him, propped up on one elbow, his bright eyes fixed on him.

His passion blazed like fire, as though he wanted to swallow Duan Xun whole.

Duan Xun suddenly felt a little thirsty again. He swallowed, poured himself a glass of water, and took a drink before clearing his throat twice and speaking.

"Are you scared when you're alone?"

Song Mingzhou paused, then parted his lips and uttered one word. "Scared."

Hm?

For some reason, Duan Xun's heart took a heavy blow. His gaze softened unconsciously. "Be good. Then I'll keep you company."

"How will big brother keep me company?"

"We'll just... stay on the video call. Don't hang up."

Duan Xun took another sip of water, with no visible change in his expression. Yet Song Mingzhou caught the fleeting upward curve at the corner of his eyes and could not help feeling delighted. "Okay. We won't hang up."

That was exactly what he wanted.

Duan Xun went about his own business, while Song Mingzhou had nothing much to do and picked up his script to read.

Neither of them spoke again. They only occasionally looked up at each other. When Song Mingzhou lifted his head for the nth time, his gaze unexpectedly met Duan Xun's through the screen.

Duan Xun... had been looking at him too.

Song Mingzhou opened his mouth, momentarily unsure what to say to ease the awkwardness. In the end, he only squeezed out one word. "Hi."

Duan Xun: ...

Tsk.

Painful to watch.

He got up and walked to the screen, his voice somewhat cold. "I'm going to take a shower. Go to bed early."

Song Mingzhou nodded obediently. "Okay."

He watched Duan Xun enter the bathroom before burrowing into bed himself.

Duan Xun had been busy these past few days, and the two had not met again. Filming on set was in full swing.

Perhaps Gu Yanting had been delayed by something as well. More than ten days later, he finally appeared on set in a low-key manner, fully covered up.

After taking off his hat and mask, the set erupted in a commotion, as expected.

Every time Gu Yanting visited, he brought food and drinks to share with everyone, making things lively. This time was no exception.

Shen Qing had been consistently outperformed by Song Mingzhou in filming these past few days. The director was always praising Song Mingzhou in front of him, and he had long been simmering with anger. Now that he found an opportunity, he swaggered over with some food.

Chen Fei went to open the lounge door. "Teacher Shen."

Shen Qing knowingly asked, "Is Teacher Song here? I brought him something to eat. Yanting brought it, and everyone on set gets a share."

Chen Fei looked back at Song Mingzhou, who was on the phone, and was just about to ask Shen Qing to wait when Shen Qing pushed past him and walked in himself. "Song—"

"Duan Xun!"

A voice, half coquettish and half angry, rang out. Shen Qing's words froze on his lips as he stared at the phone in Song Mingzhou's hand in disbelief, his gaze seeming ready to bore a hole through it.

He was on the phone with... Brother Xun?

Song Mingzhou was immersed in flirting with Duan Xun and did not notice that another person had entered the lounge, which had originally contained only the two of them. Just as he was about to say something else, his assistant Chen Fei hurriedly interrupted him. "Teacher Song."

At that call, Song Mingzhou abruptly came back to himself. He covered his phone vigilantly and turned around, only to see Shen Qing staring at him with a strange expression, occasionally glancing at his phone.

Song Mingzhou remained perfectly composed and said into the phone, "Something came up on my end. I'll call you back later?"

The person on the other end seemed to agree. Song Mingzhou hung up with a smile blooming across his face.

Shen Qing suddenly felt a little superfluous.

He looked down at the food in his hands, then at the smile Song Mingzhou could not suppress, and slowly clenched his fingers.

Gu Yanting and Shen Qing had been surrounded and fawned over by everyone. This time, Gu Yanting had not even glanced at Song Mingzhou. Shen Qing had assumed Song Mingzhou would be upset and heartbroken, hiding away somewhere to cry. Instead, he had been hiding away to call someone else.

And... he looked so happy!

Song Mingzhou slipped his phone into his pocket and raised a brow at Shen Qing. "What is it?"

Shen Qing smiled and repeated himself. "Yanting came to visit the set and brought some food. Everyone in the crew has a share. I saw you hadn't come out, so I brought some for you."

Song Mingzhou did not even glance at it. "Leave it there."

Shen Qing: ...

Song Mingzhou said, "Anything else?"

Shen Qing took a deep breath. He wanted nothing more than to tear Song Mingzhou apart, but he forced a smile as he spoke. "Nothing else. Just don't forget to join us for dinner after filming, Teacher Song."

They had mentioned it before—Gu Yanting was treating everyone to a gathering.

Song Mingzhou had not forgotten. He still had a task to complete, but he did not want to give Shen Qing a pleasant expression either, so his face remained cold. "Fine."

Shen Qing: ...

Song Mingzhou said, "If there's nothing else, I'm going to rest for a while."

Shen Qing had his own lounge and had no reason to stay here, yet he showed no intention of leaving. His gaze slowly shifted once more to the pocket holding Song Mingzhou's phone.

"Teacher Song."

"?"

"You were just..." Shen Qing tried his best to sound casual. "Were you on the phone with Brother Xun?"

The moment the words fell, the lounge became so quiet that even breathing could be heard. Chen Fei tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible and shrank into the corner.

With both hands in his pockets, Song Mingzhou studied Shen Qing's tense face with amusement and slowly said, "What does that have to do with you?"

Shen Qing's expression did not change. "Brother Xun and I are very good friends."

"So what?"

My relationship with Duan Xun is still that of patron and lover. A relationship in bed will always be closer than yours outside of it, won't it?

Shen Qing had punched cotton once again, and he gritted his teeth in anger.

Just then.

The lounge door was knocked on again.

Chen Fei immediately went to open it, shocked. "G-Gu... Teacher Gu?"

Gu Yanting stood outside the door and politely asked, "I saw Shen Qing come over. Are they inside?"

Chen Fei nodded. "They are."

Gu Yanting walked in and keenly sensed that something was off about the atmosphere. He immediately stepped forward, draped an arm over Shen Qing's shoulders, and cast Song Mingzhou a cool glance. "What are you doing?"