Xiao Cheng...
An entertainment industry superstar, a nine-time Best Actor winner, Xiao Cheng.
His... younger ex.
Jiang Chiyan rubbed his brow. Xiao Cheng really had shown up at the reception. He hadn't imagined it earlier.
What a fucking coincidence.
What a soap opera.
What a cliché.
Six years after their breakup, he, Jiang Chiyan, had run into his younger ex-boyfriend in the restroom.
Xiao Cheng had just finished using the toilet. At the sound of footsteps, he looked up and froze.
He stared blankly at Jiang Chiyan, his mouth falling open in shock.
Awkward, embarrassed, bewildered, at a loss.
Jiang Chiyan looked at Xiao Cheng and walked over, hooked a fingertip beneath his chin, and pushed his gaping mouth shut.
Before Xiao Cheng could react, he heard Jiang Chiyan say indifferently, "What are you standing there for? Waiting for me to help you?"
Xiao Cheng snapped out of his daze. He looked down at himself, then back at Jiang Chiyan, his face turning crimson.
He hastily straightened his clothes and trousers, walked silently over to the sink, and turned on the tap.
Amid the rush of running water.
Xiao Cheng finally calmed down. He glanced at Jiang Chiyan, who was washing his hands at the next sink, and his lips moved. "Long time no see."
Jiang Chiyan remained unruffled. "Mm."
Jiang Chiyan was a man of few words, but his presence was commanding.
The faint, cool scent of fir on him drifted into Xiao Cheng's nose.
Xiao Cheng fell into a daze, even forgetting the cut a glass had left on his palm.
When the award-winning actor reached for the restroom's hand soap, a large, warm hand closed around his wrist.
Xiao Cheng turned toward the hand and found himself looking straight into Jiang Chiyan's dark eyes.
Jiang Chiyan's expression was cold, his voice tinged with impatience. "You shouldn't get that cut wet. Why are you reaching for soap?"
Xiao Cheng lowered his head without a word.
His eyelashes trembled violently. Warm drops fell onto the back of his hand, mingling with the bloody water.
Jiang Chiyan took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Xiao Cheng's hand, then tied the black cloth around it in a neat knot.
Just then, a voice rang out inside Jiang Chiyan's head.
[Ding-dong!] [Host, the system has captured Xiao Cheng's future.] [Would you like to view it?]
Jiang Chiyan lowered his eyes.
Three years ago, he had accidentally picked up a system.
Whenever he made physical contact with someone, he could see their future.
Jiang Chiyan said silently, View it.
[All right. Please recite your chosen incantation.]
Jiang Chiyan: Xiao Cheng loves Jiang Chiyan, life after life.
The instant Jiang Chiyan finished reciting it in his mind...
A transparent, three-dimensional projection appeared above Xiao Cheng's head, visible only to Jiang Chiyan.
A video played on the screen.
Video footage of Xiao Cheng's future.
In the video-
The venue for Xiao Cheng's concert.
Xiao Cheng made his entrance suspended from wires, slowly descending from more than ten meters above the stage.
The wires suddenly snapped...
Xiao Cheng struck the back of his head in the fall and lost consciousness on the spot.
After more than three hours of emergency treatment...
He died.
The timestamp in the bottom-right corner of the video read: August 7, 20:15.
Wasn't that the day after tomorrow??
Jiang Chiyan felt an icy chill climb from the soles of his feet to his tailbone.
The blood throughout his body seemed about to freeze.
He stared fixedly at the space above Xiao Cheng's head, deep in thought.
His stare unnerved Xiao Cheng, who pulled free of his grip, turned, and left the restroom.
Jiang Chiyan stood at the sink for a long time.
I need to find a chance to warn my younger ex to be careful.
But Jiang Chiyan didn't want to reveal his identity yet.
So he took out his spare phone and bought an alternate Weibo account on Taobao.
ID: Late Silence.
He drafted a Weibo post.
Late Silence: "For the August 7 concert, avoid heights, or you'll end up dead or injured. Be careful. @Xiao Cheng V @Xiao Cheng Studio V @Manager Lu Ting V"
Jiang Chiyan copied the message into every Weibo post and Super Topic related to Xiao Cheng.
He also sent Xiao Cheng a private message.
And sent one to Xiao Cheng's manager, too.
When Jiang Chiyan left the restroom and found Su Jing, he saw-
Su Jing clutching her phone, her mouth open wide enough to fit a duck egg. She exclaimed in shock, "Holy shit!"
Jiang Chiyan walked over. "What happened?"
Su Jing said, "Xiao Cheng's fans have dragged Late Silence onto the trending list with all their hate!"