But he hadn't dared say it.
Don't ask why. If you had to ask, he was scared of his better half.
Jiang Chiyan: "I want to see your abs, handsome. Will you show me?"
Xiao Cheng blushed. "Stop teasing."
After a pause, he seemed unable to bear disappointing Jiang Chiyan and said, "I'm going away for work this afternoon. Can I show you on a video call tonight?"
Jiang Chiyan chuckled and shook his head. "You're a top-tier actor in the entertainment industry. How are you still as innocent as a trainee, without the slightest guard up?"
"Huh?"
"Xiao Cheng, aren't you afraid I'll record the screen or take screenshots and post pictures of your abs online?"
"You wouldn't." Xiao Cheng answered without a second's hesitation.
Jiang Chiyan didn't know whether to be happy or exasperated.
But what he didn't know was this.
Xiao Cheng only let his guard down completely around him.
Still, to be fair, after chatting with Xiao Cheng for a bit, Jiang Chiyan felt much better.
He asked Xiao Cheng, "Where are you going for work?"
"To film. Lawyer Storm starts shooting tomorrow. I'll be in Hengdian for a few months."
After saying that, Xiao Cheng explained as though he felt guilty, "If I have any other engagements during those months, I'll still come back to Demon Capital. It won't be months before we see each other."
Jiang Chiyan smiled.
They chatted a little more before hanging up.
Jiang Chiyan swiped across his screen a couple of times and casually opened Weibo.
season V: "Successfully defended my rights. Thank you all for your support, and thank you, @Jiang Chiyan V."
Below it, the comments from season's readers and Xiao Cheng's fans were particularly entertaining.
___: "So Jiang Chiyan and Xiao Cheng really are together, and Xiao Cheng really doesn't have to pay legal fees."
___: "Daily question: has Jiang Chiyan handed over his salary card yet? Now that he's won the case, does that mean he won't have to kneel on a washboard anymore?"
___: "Hahaha, help! I laughed my head off!"
___: "Pick up the head above, coat it in beaten egg, cover it in breadcrumbs, fry until golden and crispy, then drain and serve. Loved by young and old alike. Even the kid next door is crying with envy."
After reading the comments, Jiang Chiyan tapped away at his screen.
He replied to the person who'd posted the "daily question."
Jiang Chiyan V: "Already handed it over."
Jiang Chiyan V: "No kneeling on washboards. More bed-warming instead."
What he hadn't expected was for people online to take his two offhand replies seriously.
So much so that the next day...
When he and his colleagues from the law firm went to Experimental High School to give a talk on legal awareness.
Jiang Chiyan was leaning over the teacher's desk, copying his PowerPoint file.
A girl walked over and placed a bottle of yogurt and a bread roll on the desk.
Jiang Chiyan: ?
Girl: "Mr. Jiang, I ship you and Best Actor Xiao."
Jiang Chiyan said, "Oh," then greeted her.
Then he pointed to the yogurt and bread on the desk. "Why are you giving me these?"
Girl: "I heard your salary card got taken away and you don't have money for breakfast."
Jiang Chiyan: "..."
A little while later.
Another boy walked over and put a turtle on the lectern.
A live turtle.
The kind that crawled.
Jiang Chiyan was somewhat speechless. "Buddy, I haven't had breakfast, but I don't eat turtles for breakfast."
The boy shook his head, wearing an expression that said, I get you.
He leaned closer to Jiang Chiyan and whispered, "Mr. Jiang, my family sells seafood."
"This softshell turtle... boosts your virility. It works really well."
The boy winked at Jiang Chiyan and made an encouraging gesture.
"I'm rooting for you two~"
Jiang Chiyan: "..."
After the two-hour talk ended, Jiang Chiyan walked out expressionlessly, holding a turtle in his left hand and a bag containing yogurt and a bread roll in his right.
Of course, he'd had his assistant transfer money to the two student shippers to pay for the gifts.
As soon as he left the classroom, Jiang Chiyan sought out the principal.
He offered to pay for a complete, all-subject set of Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Mock Tests for every student who had attended.
Jiang Chiyan was positively righteous. "No need to thank me. It's only what I ought to do."
The righteous Jiang Chiyan strode out through the school gates on his long legs.
A turtle was still perched on his shoulder.
He took a photo of himself and the turtle and sent it to Xiao Cheng.
Jiang Chiyan: "I went to a school to give a legal awareness talk today. A kid who ships us gave me this to boost my virility."
Jiang Chiyan: "Personally, I don't think I should."
Jiang Chiyan: "If I really did, you'd be the one who couldn't handle it."
Xiao Cheng didn't reply. He was probably busy.
Jiang Chiyan lowered his gaze and glanced at his watch.
He seemed to remember something.
Suddenly, his expression darkened.