Visiting

Huahua and Xiaolin were both efficient workers.

Huahua was mainly responsible for Si You's meals and daily needs, while Xiaolin kept an eye on the internet and liaised with the PR department. Xiaolin spent the entire afternoon sitting in a chair, tapping away at her phone until it died twice.

Si You observed quietly. After Xiaolin finally let out a breath of relief, he asked, "What's the situation now?"

"Get some proper rest." Xiaolin said, "The online narrative has already been brought under control. It's in your favor."

"Okay." Si You had just taken his medicine, and a touch of drowsiness showed on his face.

Seeing this, Huahua softly asked, "Want to sleep for a while?"

"Mm." Si You did not let Huahua help him. He lay down by himself. "You two should rest too. Go eat."

Xiaolin put away the charging cable and left with Huahua.

Once the door closed, Huahua suddenly stopped and took several deep breaths with her mouth slightly open.

Xiaolin found it funny. "What are you nervous about?"

"Isn't it normal to be nervous at a new job?" Huahua chatted easily with Xiaolin. "I thought Si You would be difficult to serve, but he's so low-maintenance! Did you see that just now? I was busy sorting out his clothes, and he got up to pour himself water."

Xiaolin shot Huahua a glance but said nothing. In truth, Si You was not the first artist Huahua had worked for. Before him, she had worked for a female artist with a terrible temper who was outrageously fussy. That woman practically wanted Huahua to wipe her ass whenever she went to the bathroom, and if Huahua was even a little slow, she would start verbally abusing her. It was deeply humiliating, and she had made Huahua cry from anger several times. Yuan Fei truly could not stand it anymore, so he transferred Huahua away. He later assigned her to Si You. Huahua had been uneasy, worried she had escaped a tiger's den only to enter a wolf's lair, but Si You really was... very easygoing.

"And he's so handsome!" Huahua squeaked softly. "His face is pale, and he always smiles so absentmindedly. He'd be perfect for editing fan videos! Who has a crush? Me! Ah!"

Xiaolin lightly smacked Huahua. "You've only known him for a few days. Don't get carried away."

Si You slept fitfully, the ringing in his ears coming and going. In the dimness, he slowly opened his eyes, turned to check the time, and found that he had slept for over forty minutes.

Si You had a stubborn temperament. He did not dare show it when there were many people around, but he was actually feeling rather unwell, especially in his chest. It felt as though sharp spikes were bouncing up and down between his flesh and skin.

Si You struggled into a sitting position and reached for the drawer in the bedside table to his right. The doctor had prescribed some painkillers, and he had watched Huahua put them there.

Si You did not know when the room door had opened. The ringing in his ears had started up again.

He pulled out the packet of painkillers one-handed, deftly pried it open with his fingertips, and pressed out one pill. After thinking about it, he pressed out another, intending to take two at once and make things easier. But before that sinful hand could leave the packet, someone gently grasped his wrist.

Si You jumped in fright. He abruptly looked up, and after seeing that familiar face, froze for a moment before erupting into a violent coughing fit.

Jiang Tingxu hurriedly helped him sit upright and frowned. "Did I scare you? I thought you knew I was here."

Si You took the opportunity to grip his arm and use his support to sit up higher. Panting, he said, "I know now."

Jiang Tingxu swept his gaze around the room. Perhaps it was the lighting, but his expression looked dark. "You're here alone?"

"No." Si You explained, "Brother Yuan arranged two assistants for me. They watched over me all afternoon, and it felt awkward. Since it's almost dinner, I told them to go rest for a while."

Jiang Tingxu nodded lightly. "Then what are you eating tonight?"

"I don't want to eat." Si You's face was pale as he gave Jiang Tingxu a helpless smile. "It's either plain congee or plain congee. I can't stomach it anymore."

"Then what do you want to eat?"

"Spicy crawfish."

Jiang Tingxu lifted his eyelids. "You're injured. Don't make me hit someone."

Sister Chen had been standing at the door for half a minute and had heard every word of their conversation. She knocked softly.

Jiang Tingxu turned around. "Come in, Sister Chen."

Sister Chen clearly saw the trust and unrestrained ease on Si You's face gradually fade, replaced by faint distance and wariness.

In that brief exchange, Sister Chen sensed that something was off, drawing on her many years of experience.

Jiang Tingxu had insisted on coming to the hospital. Visiting a variety show collaborator was perfectly reasonable, but Sister Chen knew Jiang Tingxu too well. He was someone with clear boundaries around others and never offered care or affection without cause. He was cool and aloof by nature. After all his years in the industry, he only had a handful of friends. Yet when something happened to Si You, Jiang Tingxu had actually gone with the search-and-rescue team. Once it was over, he had carried the man out himself, causing a tremendous uproar. And now, regardless of the online controversy, he had come to visit the hospital despite the risk of being photographed by paparazzi.

A few days of interaction should not have been enough, Sister Chen thought, but Jiang Tingxu's attitude said otherwise.

"This is my manager. You can call her Sister Chen," Jiang Tingxu said.

Sister Chen was in her early thirties, a typical career woman. Her professional fitted skirt was crisp and capable, her high heels were at least ten centimeters tall, and her features were clean-cut yet striking.

"Hello, Sister Chen," Si You said.

Sister Chen gave him a professional smile. "Hello."

Sister Chen carried a wooden lunchbox bearing the logo of an upscale restaurant.

"Preserved egg and lean pork congee. Want some?" Jiang Tingxu asked.

Si You said, "Yes!"

After only two bites, a nurse came in for rounds. She saw Si You eating congee and did not say much. Everyone working at the private hospital had signed confidentiality agreements, so no one made a fuss no matter whom they saw.

Jiang Tingxu picked up the medicine packet from the table. "What medicine is in this?"

Si You guiltily raised his eyes.

The nurse said, "Oh, painkillers. I remember you took them at noon and again this afternoon. You can't take any more."

The moment she finished speaking, Jiang Tingxu cast a dark look over.

Sister Chen: "..." Something was definitely wrong here!

As soon as the nurse left, Jiang Tingxu was about to say something when the room door opened again.

This time, Yuan Fei had personally led someone in, as though an important figure was following behind him.

The Xue Household had a daughter, Xue Boyu's cousin. After Xue Boyu's eldest uncle passed away, his father had brought her home and raised her as his own. Her name was Xue Ling, and she doted on Xue Boyu. She had originally been in B Country discussing business, but the moment she heard something had happened to her younger brother, she flew back at once. From checking on his condition to holding the production team accountable, she had been busy for quite a while. Only now did she finally have time to visit the man who had saved her brother.

Xue Ling had originally planned to settle the matter by giving Si You some resources or money, but after Xue Boyu woke up and praised Si You to the skies in front of her, she understood.

Upon receiving the news, Yuan Fei had gone to pick her up himself. He thought Si You had truly turned his luck around, then turned his head and discovered two other people standing in the room.

The moment Yuan Fei saw Sister Chen, the two of them rolled their eyes in perfect unison.

Yuan Fei and Sister Chen had once worked at the same management company. If anyone asked, they had been fierce rivals.

Then Yuan Fei saw Jiang Tingxu and stumbled.

Why was Jiang, the Movie Emperor, here?!

Xue Ling also saw Jiang Tingxu and raised her brows slightly. She had crossed paths with him before, though not because of endorsements or anything like that. Jiang Tingxu was fine working in entertainment now, but he would eventually have to take over the Jiang Household. Did people think Jiang Tingxu only knew how to act? Wrong. Jiang Tingxu's Movie Emperor halo had made many people forget that he had graduated first in his department from A University, double majoring in economics and financial management. This man had been born as though he had cheat codes enabled.

Xue Ling greeted Jiang Tingxu first. "Long time no see."

Jiang Tingxu said, "Mm."

Everyone: "..."

Xue Ling wore black pants and a black suit, with large chestnut-colored waves, exquisite features, and fiery red lips. Her presence outclassed Sister Chen's by several levels.

She was proud and sexy, always holding her chin slightly raised like a queen. Looking at Si You, Xue Ling's tone softened somewhat. "Thank you for saving my brother."

Si You shook his head. "I still couldn't hold on to him."

"No," Xue Ling said. "My brother told me that if you hadn't blocked him midway, he might have fallen badly enough to be crippled."

Si You smiled but neither confirmed nor denied it.

"This is my business card." Xue Ling handed it to Si You. "Call me if you need anything."

Yuan Fei blinked furiously, signaling Si You to accept it.

Si You took it with both hands. "Thank you, Miss Xue."

Xue Ling had an assistant and bodyguards behind her. They came in and out one after another, filling one corner of the hospital room with fruit baskets and nutritional supplements.

Si You discreetly pressed a hand to his chest. Then a shadow loomed over him as Jiang Tingxu pressed the call button by the bed.

Everyone: "..."

The doctor and nurse arrived quickly. With these three groups gathered together, the spacious hospital room instantly felt cramped.

The doctor stepped forward. "Where does it hurt?"

Jiang Tingxu said, "He can't take painkillers. Is there any special medicine?"

The doctor looked at Jiang Tingxu, then at Si You. "Hm?"

"His chest has been hurting the whole time. That can't be right, can it?"

Everyone: "..." How did he know that?

Si You's heartbeat sped up slightly. He had thought he had hidden it well.

The doctor asked Si You, "Does it hurt badly?"

Si You first met Jiang Tingxu's gentle gaze, and words of weakness slipped out before he could stop them. "Yes. It mainly affects my sleep. I can't catch my breath lying flat, and I can't sleep for long."

Jiang Tingxu frowned.

The doctor understood. "All right. Prop yourself up higher tonight, and get a CT scan tomorrow. Your physical data is showing as normal, though. As for the painkillers... take one more before bed tonight."

"Okay," Si You said.

Seeing the situation, the doctor did not stay any longer.

Si You wanted to speak to Jiang Tingxu, but Xue Ling and the others were not leaving...

Jiang Tingxu asked, "What is it?"

Everyone: "..." How did he know?!

"Is the show canceled?" Si You thought about it and decided it was not a secret, so he asked directly.

"It needs to be rectified," Jiang Tingxu said. "Either way, you and Bai Yu can both get some proper rest."

"Mm," Si You replied.

Jiang Tingxu said, "Get better soon. I'll take you to an audition."

Si You said, "Hm?"

Everyone: "???"

"The Sixth Prince, Yun Si," Jiang Tingxu reminded him.

Si You's eyes lit up. "Really?!"

Jiang Tingxu said, "I'll speak to the director, but you only get one chance."

"No problem!" Si You said.

Seeing how energized he was, without the slightest trace of timidity, Jiang Tingxu knew he had made the right choice.

In truth, the director had recommended someone for Yun Si, and that person had auditioned as well, but Jiang Tingxu had not been impressed. With Si You's performance that night setting such a high standard, the other person's emotional portrayal seemed superficial.

Yuan Fei's mouth kept twitching. "An... audition?"

Jiang Tingxu said, "Focus on recovering. I'll go first."

Si You lifted his eyes to look at him. "Mm."

The young man's brows and eyes were clear, but in that instant, they seemed to carry hooks.

Si You's hidden trust in Jiang Tingxu was something he might not have even noticed himself.

Jiang Tingxu rubbed his fingertips together, wanting to ruffle Si You's hair, but with so many people around, he held himself back.

Xue Ling left together with Jiang Tingxu.

The moment the door shut, Yuan Fei took two strides to the bedside. "What audition?!"

"Journey?" Si You said. "I don't know whether they'll change the name. I'll only know after I try out. Brother Yuan, keep it secret."

Yuan Fei said, "...Are you the manager, or am I the manager? Do you think I don't understand how these things work?!"

Si You: "..."