Livestreaming Together

"Don't move. I might poke you. I'm almost done applying the medicine." Qu An continued treating Xiao Ming's wound without looking at him even once.

"I can do it myself..." Xiao Ming felt a little embarrassed. The staff nearby were setting up the livestream equipment, occasionally sneaking glances at him and Qu An.

He couldn't explain why, but the way he and Qu An looked right now just felt strange.

"So it can split open again, and you can change the bandage all over again?" Qu An said irritably.

A young woman adjusting a phone nearby nearly dropped it. Her eyes widened in alarm, but a suspicious smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Qu An could have asked a staff member to treat Xiao Ming's wound, but seeing how little Xiao Ming cared about his injured hand had inexplicably annoyed him, so he did it himself.

Thankfully, the awkward ordeal did not last long. Qu An quickly finished treating Xiao Ming's wound, his movements practiced throughout.

Xiao Ming remembered that Qu An had once played a doctor in a drama. For that role, Qu An had learned a great deal, and he often took part in charity events himself.

Qu An tied a neat bow, then withdrew his hands and put the supplies away.

"Thanks." For some reason, Xiao Ming felt an awkward sense of unfamiliarity at that moment.

Qu An seemed to notice it too and joked, "A good gaming partner has to be protected like a national treasure. Otherwise, how would I get the Acceleration King title?"

His relaxed tone lightened the atmosphere around them, and the staff reminded them that they could begin the livestream.

[Whoa, the last livestream just ended, and now there's another one?]

[I came in after seeing the title #WhyXiaoMingContinuedFilmingAfterGettingHurt#]

[Huh, am I seeing things? Why do I see Film Emperor Qu?]

"Hello, everyone. I'm Qu An." Qu An greeted everyone first, setting an example for Xiao Ming.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Xiao Ming." Xiao Ming waved as well. Seeing a comment asking about the title, he got straight to the point. "We started this livestream to explain why I continued filming."

"The injury on my hand isn't serious. It's just a scrape. The production team also asked whether I wanted to rest, but I refused." Xiao Ming held his bandaged hand up before the camera.

"See? It's only a minor injury. The production team asked a doctor to take a look, and there was no problem, so after discussing it with them, I decided to continue participating in the show."

Asking someone to examine it had happened just before Qu An was about to treat Xiao Ming's wound. Xiao Ming had not lied; he simply had not specified the timing.

People in the comments began wondering how things had gone for him afterward.

[So did Xiao Ming win after he kept filming?]

[I feel like the hunters probably caught him pretty quickly.]

[Oh my god, why does Xiao Ming look so good on this livestream? Did he turn on a beauty filter?]

[You're silly, Qu An is right beside him. His face is the measuring stick.]

[Oh right, why is Qu An here?]

"As for Xiao Ming's performance, everyone can wait for the episode to air and find out. As for me, the production team was worried everyone wouldn't believe it, so they asked me to be a witness. Maybe they think I'm more trustworthy." Qu An's eyes curved slightly as he smiled.

Xiao Ming nodded in agreement.

[Why is Qu An so funny when he talks on livestreams? Hahaha.]

[He looks like such a gentleman, but he's kind of amusing when he speaks.]

[This is great. It's so much more interesting.]

[Didn't you see it? Xiao Ming had a blank expression at first, but he smiled as soon as Qu An spoke.]

[kswl]

[Wifey looks so pretty when he smiles.]

[When wifey smiles, my HP bar empties.]

[A million-person petition for Xiao Ming to smile more.]

[Was today's filming fun? We couldn't see much from the hunters' perspective.]

Xiao Ming's ears turned red as he read all the comments calling him wifey. He could not help retorting, "I'm not a wife. I'm a guy, a proper one."

Then he saw the next question and replied, "Everyone will know when the episode airs. Personally, I think one segment was especially, especially great—super interesting. You can look forward to it."

[You're still my wifey even if you're a guy! (heart-wrenching scream)]

[Wifey, wifey, muah muah muah.]

[Kiss kiss kiss kiss, wifey.]

"Stop teasing him. He's very thin-skinned." Qu An could not help saying it as he watched Xiao Ming's uncomfortable expression. But once he said that, Xiao Ming's ears turned even redder. Pink bloomed across his warm fair skin, making people all the more prone to wild thoughts.

"Please look forward to the actual episode for the show's content. I believe you won't be disappointed."

[Anbao!!!]

[Why is Anbao here?!]

[Mommy's baby, why do you look thinner? Kiss kiss.]

[Why are there suddenly so many Qu An fans?]

The moment Qu An appeared in the livestream, viewers who recognized him quickly posted about it online, and the news spread rapidly.

"I'm just a tool brought in to help the director clear things up," Qu An joked.

[Hey, but why Qu An? Is there no one else? •́.•̀ ?]

[Why is Qu An helping Xiao Ming do this livestream?]

[Doesn't Qu An dislike livestreaming with other people? He didn't even join the previous drama promotions.]

[Then why isn't anyone else here?]

[Their status is worlds apart. Is Qu An doing charity work?]

[Doesn't Qu An usually avoid appearing in public outside of his projects? What's going on today?]

[Now that you mention it, he said it was for the production team. Since yym, he's only streamed once.]

[I seriously suspect he invested in this show. Otherwise, why would he care so much?]

[If you put it that way, both of Qu An's livestreams have been connected to Xiao Ming.]

[That's right. The first was indirectly helping Xiao Ming clarify things, and the second is still helping Xiao Ming clarify things.]

[Do these two really have something going on?]

[Is Qu An starting to hype a CP now? /shocked]

[Could it be that his career transition failed, so he wants some excitement?]

Xiao Ming saw those comments about him and Qu An, and his brows gradually furrowed. What were these people talking about?

He regarded Qu An as his idol. After seeing so much before this, he had come to understand how some people used rumors to ride others' popularity. He did not want Qu An to misunderstand him.

Though he subconsciously ignored the fact that Qu An had brought him up first both times.

"Teacher Qu is a really nice person. He takes great care of every one of us." On the show, he called him Brother Qu; normally, Teacher Qu. Xiao Ming had already learned to switch between the two naturally.

"I've said it before: Xiao Ming is really good at games. I can just lie back and get carried by following him. As for why I'm the one helping clear this up... all I can say is that the director offered too much, and I couldn't refuse."

Qu An was still smiling and had even made a meme reference, but a closer look would reveal a trace of coldness in his eyes. It was subtle. He could tell someone was buying bot accounts.

"I just wanted to tell everyone that I'm fine, and the production team has been very good to me too." Xiao Ming wrapped things up simply. He had not really explained much, but he felt he had made himself clear enough. It should be about time to end the livestream.

[Xiao Ming, don't go! What are your plans next, apart from filming this show? What about your next drama?]

[Wifey looks like he's just completing a task.]

[Xiao Ming's explanation is so official. Here's my conspiracy theory: Qu An is beside him because the production team is afraid Xiao Ming will say the wrong thing. Given their status gap, they could even blacklist Xiao Ming.]

[Talk about the show if you want to talk about the show. Why drag our Anbao into this?]

[Anbao, say a few more words. Are you going off to work tonight?]

Xiao Ming had only wanted to leave after finishing the show, but he had not expected anyone to ask about acting. He became even more guilty and did not know how to respond. All he could say was, "Going forward, I'll mainly be focusing on my studies."

Qu An gauged the range the camera could capture, then slipped a piece of candy into Xiao Ming's hand below the frame. It was the same kind he had given Xiao Ming before.

Xiao Ming instinctively looked down, then pulled his hand back and put the candy into his pocket.

He remembered this kind of candy. It was sweet and delicious.

"That's it for the livestream. For anything else, please follow the official Weibo of Full Speed Ahead!, as well as the main episodes and behind-the-scenes clips when they come out."

[What school does Xiao Ming attend?]

[You can't find his school online.]

[At his age, he should be in college, right? Is he a junior or senior?]

[What's going on?]

[What was that?]

[Did Qu An just hand something to Xiao Ming?]

[Xiao Ming seemed so nervous, but when he saw what was in Qu An's hand, he relaxed completely.]

[Does it feel like they're both only wearing a base layer of makeup?]

[Does this livestream have skin smoothing on? Why does Xiao Ming's skin look so good?]

[The two of them sitting like this are really pleasing to the eye.]

[The livestream is ending already?]

[I feel like they haven't said anything yet, and it's already over.]

[Class rep summary: Xiao Ming got hurt, but it wasn't serious. The production team had a doctor examine him. They asked whether he wanted to withdraw and rest, but he refused.]

[So Xiao Ming just couldn't bear to give up screen time.]

[Yeah, a little nobody would definitely treasure every second of screen time.]

Neither Xiao Ming nor Qu An intended to explain those malicious speculations and doubts. Some people would rather believe what they had decided than accept facts already laid out before them.

After the livestream ended, the production team posted a statement on Weibo explaining in writing that claims of them exploiting their guests were completely baseless. But those who believed it had already believed it, and those unwilling to believe would not do so no matter what.

Xiao Ming was one of the people who benefited the most. After this, some praised his professionalism, some hardcore fans who were heartbroken by what he had gone through joined in, and CP fans of him and Qu An rapidly rose up as well.

Though plenty of haters came along with it, notoriety was still a form of fame, and it showed that the amount of discussion around him was extremely high.

[Xiao Ming really... feels like he was forced to respond.]

[I'm crying so hard, my mom asked why I'm gasping for breath.]

[Who understands? I got invested in such a heartbreaking one.]

[Stanning a little nobody really is...]

[Xiao Ming has truly relied entirely on himself. No company, no manager. He finds his own roles and fought for this variety show himself. I'm crying.]

[Can some company please take a look at our Xiao Ming? He can act, he looks good, he's smart, and this variety show gained him a million followers.]

[Is Xiao Ming still a little nobody? He debuted only a year ago, right? That's honestly kind of amazing.]

[I feel like this kind of explosive popularity can so easily turn into a slap in the face.]

The online uproar continued, while Xiao Ming and Qu An each went back to their work. When they parted, Qu An told Xiao Ming to call him if he needed anything.

Xiao Ming agreed, but inwardly wondered what he could possibly need help with.

Tomorrow's filming location was in a city in another province, so some guests had already left Yellow City by high-speed rail or plane. People like Qu An and Xiao Ming, who had other matters to handle, would arrive later.

Xiao Ming had just messaged the person arranging the offline interview for the Qu An Fan Support Association, saying that something unexpected had happened and he would need to arrive later. The other party generously said it was fine. There were three people in the final round, and one of them had suddenly run into a scheduling conflict and needed to switch, so they exchanged times with Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming's interview was at seven in the evening, at an upscale milk tea shop not far from the hotel where he was staying.

Why call it upscale? Because it even had private rooms, luxurious to the extreme.

After dinner, Xiao Ming headed there. He had neither an assistant nor a manager, so he did not need to report his plans to anyone. But as he was leaving, a staff member reminded him to wear a mask.

Xiao Ming happened to be wearing a hooded outfit today. It was late at night, so people would not be able to see him clearly, and he did not stand out too much on the road.

At most, his excellent posture drew an occasional glance from passersby.

Since the other guests had all left early, and Qu An had also gone elsewhere for work long ago, the entrance of the hotel was no longer packed with fans like it had been when they returned.

Before leaving the hotel for the milk tea shop, Xiao Ming took out the candy Qu An had given him during the livestream, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.

The candy was still delicious—sweet, with a rich milky flavor blooming in his mouth. Xiao Ming felt less nervous too.

It was funny, really. He had never been this nervous when looking for work or attending academic interviews.

When he arrived, Xiao Ming knocked on the door and heard a bright female voice call, "Come in."

More than one woman was waiting inside. The woman in the main seat looked around thirty, while the two beside her looked twenty-five or twenty-six. They were all in the bloom of youth, bright and beautiful.

The woman in the middle was probably the president of the fan support association. She had the air of an elite professional woman, and her gaze held a trace of scrutiny as she looked at Xiao Ming.

"Are you [One Flute Tune]?"

One Flute Tune was Xiao Ming's username. He had thought about it for a long time before ultimately choosing a name related to Qu An. He had considered Ming An and Xiao Qu before finally settling on his username. Later, because he had not subscribed to Weibo membership, he could only change his name once a year, so he never changed it.

Being called that out loud somehow made him feel a little embarrassed.

It was an offline interview, and the people present were key members of the fan support association. Xiao Ming knew they would definitely need to get acquainted with one another.

Xiao Ming was still wearing his mask when he entered, though he had lowered his hood, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes. His cool voice rang through the private room. "Yes. Do I need to take off my mask?"

The three women's eyes lit up at the sound of his voice. They exchanged glances, then nodded.