Sympathy

The production team moved fast, sorting out the chaotic location arrangements within twenty minutes.

This time, everyone had a room to themselves, so there was no need to work out room assignments. The guests soon put away their luggage and settled in.

Director Zhang clicked his tongue twice. "Good thing we'd already set up a few cameras. What a shame it would've been to miss that."

Editor Liu gave him an amused look and remarked, "Even if we'd missed it, it wouldn't be much of a shame. As far as I can see, this is only the beginning."

Honestly, this season's guests were far more intense than the last season's.

Last season, they had invited big-name celebrities who either wanted to fall in love or wanted to use dating on Heart-Pounding Expedition to generate publicity. Having acted in plenty of romantic scenes themselves, they knew better how to put on a show. Besides, they were bound to keep running into each other in the industry, so they all held back somewhat.

But this season was different. These people barely showed anything on the surface, yet fierce undercurrents swirled beneath it.

Would there come a day when they couldn't hide it anymore and everything erupted?

That would surely give both the people they liked and the audience quite a fright.

It really did take a wealthy family to produce such hopeless romantics.

Editor Liu sighed at the thought.

On camera, Shi Zhou brought Xie Jiali a cup of hot water and asked the production team:

"Do you have any of that powdered medicine left?"

He had felt a little unwell after being out in the cold wind earlier, but had felt much better as soon as he drank it.

The staff member he stopped asked a few other people, then returned and told him with a smile, "That medicine belonged to Su Yue."

Shi Zhou froze, remembering that Su Yue had indeed gotten out of the car on their way here.

Once he recovered, he thanked the staff member first.

Su Yue really was...

Xie Jiali had been leisurely drinking the water Shi Zhou had brought him, finding it sweeter than honey. Now, at those words, he suddenly couldn't swallow another sip.

He set down his cup and told Shi Zhou with a smile, "It's fine. I'm all right. I don't need any medicine."

Then he reached out quite naturally and touched the back of Shi Zhou's hand, frowning in concern. "Your hands aren't warm either, though."

As far as he could see, Shi Zhou was wearing plenty of layers.

Yu Manman happened to come downstairs just then. She had so much luggage that, after opening it and taking a look, she had decided to leave it for now and come down to give Shi Zhou something.

Spotting Shi Zhou, she jogged over to him and held up what she was carrying. "Zhouzhou, I've finished altering the crocheted wrap. Want to try it on?"

It was just right for this weather.

Her eyes sparkled. The moment she talked about something she loved, all her shyness vanished. Shi Zhou smiled as he thanked her and took it. "It's gorgeous!"

Two warm colors blended with cream to create a gradient. Yu Manman had both good taste and excellent crochet skills. Shi Zhou had put on an extra sweater, and the wrap went perfectly with it.

The live comments were full of "Beautiful inside and out" and "I ship it, I ship it."

"It'll go perfectly around your waist."

After wrapping it around himself, he asked, "Does it look good?"

Shi Zhou was in the Arts Department, so naturally he knew a thing or two about this. Yu Manman adjusted it for him a little more, making his waist look slimmer and his legs longer, his figure slender as green bamboo.

Yu Manman looked him over, her face a mixture of emotion and excitement. At his question, she nodded frantically.

"It does! It looks amazing!"

Oh my gosh, who could possibly understand!

Shi Zhou looked so much better than a BJD doll. Could she try every clothing style she'd ever dreamed up on him?

That would be pure bliss!

Su Yue came downstairs too and looked at the three people in the living room. Yu Manman kept pinching and adjusting the piece around Shi Zhou's waist, while Xie Jiali stood to one side with his arms folded. Although he wore a smile, it didn't reach his eyes.

As he saw Su Yue coming down the stairs, Xie Jiali suddenly said:

"That crocheted wrap looks lovely. The colors go perfectly together."

Yu Manman was very pleased too. Her boy was beautiful, and she had excellent taste.

I wonder if Zhouzhou would be willing to try wigs in different colors...

Hearing Xie Jiali praise her, Yu Manman drew her gaze away from Shi Zhou. Since she wasn't all that familiar with Xie Jiali yet, she restrained herself a little.

"It's all right."

She would have to prepare more accessories for her boy in the future!

Then she heard Xie Jiali give a soft laugh. "I think Su Yue's outfit today would look great with one too."

Did you only want to give one to Shi Zhou, or does everyone get one?

Shi Zhou pinched the fluffy crocheted wrap at his waist, admiring it from every angle.

Even if Yu Manman wanted to give one to someone else, she would worry about sending the wrong signal.

As for why she didn't have to consider that when giving something to Shi Zhou, well...

"No need," Su Yue said.

"I heard from the production team that you weren't feeling well. Here's some medicine." He handed the medicine he was holding to Xie Jiali.

Xie Jiali nodded, a smile at the corners of his lips. "Thank you."

Su Yue gave a brief "Mm," then turned and went upstairs, as though he had come down solely to deliver the medicine.

Yu Manman fled after him. These two men were terrifying.

Xie Jiali went to the kitchen to get fresh water for the medicine. Shi Zhou followed beside him and asked curiously:

"Jiali, how did you know?"

Xie Jiali's hand paused, his heart lifting slightly in apprehension. "...Know what?"

"That Su Yue seems to like Yu Manman!" Shi Zhou even leaned closer, glancing around before speaking with great caution.

He acted as though he had uncovered some earth-shattering secret.

Seeing Xie Jiali's puzzled expression and the indescribably complicated look in his eyes, Shi Zhou thought he didn't believe him and hurriedly explained what he had discovered yesterday.

When he finished, he added admiringly, "You really are impressive. You noticed as soon as you got back."

Xie Jiali slowly poured the powdered medicine into his cup and chuckled softly at Shi Zhou.

"Yes. Then let's help him out whenever we get the chance."

With that, he downed the medicine in one gulp.

Although the medicine was a little bitter, there was no bitterness in his heart.

He even felt a little sympathy for Su Yue.

Then he let out a long breath.

Sure enough, he felt much better after taking the medicine.