[Baby, you have a shoot today, right? I want pictures of you too, baby... with no clothes on, in all. kinds. of. poses~]
Sitting on the sofa in the waiting lounge for the shoot, Song Nianxing felt his slender body give an uncontrollable shudder the instant another message arrived.
How did that pervert know he had a shoot today?
Could that person be right here beside him?!
His breathing quickened as Song Nianxing looked warily around.
But today was the livestream of the promotional poster shoot for the dating show "Starstruck Moments," and there were far too many people around: camera operators holding livestreaming equipment, makeup artists waiting to touch up the celebrities' makeup, staff in charge of the sets, and the show's producer...
So many people.
That person had already come right up beside him. Who knew what even more outrageous things they might do to him in the future?
The more Song Nianxing thought about it, the more frightened he became. But who could he turn to for help?
Just then, a burst of shrieks rose from the crowd around him.
"Aaah, it's Jiang Jingzhe! I've been shipping him and Qiu Bailu so hard lately."
"I heard Qiu Bailu is on this dating show too. We'll get to watch our ship up close!"
"Waaah, Jiang Jingzhe really is just as handsome as he is on TV."
Right! Jiang Jingzhe was here!
Song Nianxing's eyes brightened, lighting up with hope.
Jiang Jingzhe was his childhood friend. They had grown up together in an orphanage.
As a child, he had always been bullied for his delicate looks, and Jiang Jingzhe had stood up for him every time.
He trusted and depended on Jiang Jingzhe. Jiang Jingzhe was his sole source of security.
Turning off the screen of the phone he had been forced to keep checking for fear of missing notifications about the production team's shooting schedule, Song Nianxing walked toward the young man in the fresh, clean white tracksuit, who looked bright and sunny from head to toe.
It was as though getting close to him meant getting close to warmth.
As he walked, he kept looking warily around. A faint red had spread around the outer corners of his eyes, making him look exactly like a frightened rabbit.
The phone clutched in both his hands buzzed twice again.
Song Nianxing startled once more and hurriedly broke into a run toward Jiang Jingzhe. The moment he caught the hem of the other man's clothes, he felt as though he had grabbed a lifeline. His lips trembled uncontrollably. "Jiang... Jiang Jingzhe..."
The crowd that had been exclaiming in admiration instantly turned their eyes on Song Nianxing, contempt and mockery rising all around him.
"What the hell is Song Nianxing doing? How dare he tug on Jiang Jingzhe's clothes!"
"Why did our production team invite him? What rotten luck."
"I heard he pestered the production team himself, saying he wanted to come. Who knows whether he used some shady means~"
Everyone's gazes burned like fire.
Jiang Jingzhe glanced around, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "What are you doing?" he asked Song Nianxing in a lowered voice.
Song Nianxing's brows drew together slightly, his eyes already misting over. "I told you about this. There's someone who..."
"Jiang Jingzhe."
A clear, sweet voice interrupted Song Nianxing.
"It's Qiu Bailu! Aaaah, he called out to Jiang Jingzhe first, aaaaah!"
"Mom, my ship! In the flesh! Right in front of me!"
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the young man in a black tracksuit a short distance away, including Jiang Jingzhe's.
Seeing that he was not listening, Song Nianxing tugged at his hem. "Jingzhe..."
He spoke again, but barely a sound had left his mouth before Jiang Jingzhe furrowed his brows, his gaze turning impatient. "You're a celebrity too. Having a few crazy fans is normal."
"No, he..."
"Enough. I don't have time for your fussing right now. Let's keep some distance for a while."
He forcibly pulled his clothes free of Song Nianxing's grasp and walked toward Qiu Bailu without looking back.
The people who had already been so excited immediately crowded around him, cheering and following him over.
They jostled around Song Nianxing, pushing him back and forth like a ball, putting more and more distance between him and Jiang Jingzhe.
Having finally caught hold of a "lifeline," only to suddenly lose it again, Song Nianxing could no longer hold back the tears already brimming in his eyes.
He had not wanted to cry either, but he had been born unable to control his tears. Whenever he was upset, he could not help shedding them.
As these scenes played out on the already-running "Starstruck Moments: Getting Ready" livestream, the comments immediately began scrolling.
[Does anyone get it? That was so satisfying to watch. Song Nianxing was just like a homewrecker trying to seduce someone else's boyfriend, only to discover our Lulu is his one true love. All he had to do was crook a finger and Jiang Jingzhe went right over.]
[Exactly, Song Nianxing is so shameless. Jiang Jingzhe clearly barely knows him, yet he went right up and pulled on his clothes. Disgusting.]
[And he has the nerve to cry? No wonder people call him a pretty face who's only good at crying scenes. So this is the kind of "crying scene" he's good at. Playing the victim. What a total bitch.]
[Aaaah, forget him. Look who I spotted!! It's Shen Siyi!!!]
The very next second after Shen Siyi's name scrolled across the comments-
Song Nianxing felt something warm and slightly rough wipe away the moisture at the corner of his eye. He froze for a moment, then turned his head, meeting a pair of eyes that seemed to hold all the romance in the world.
And the owner of those eyes, Shen Siyi, showed no intention of withdrawing his hand. Instead, his lips curved into a smile. "Your tears are precious. How could you shed them here over someone else?"
The comments instantly erupted.
[!! Am I hallucinating? Did I just see Shen Siyi wipe Song Nianxing's tears?]
[And his expression was so gentle when he talked to him.]
[Th-this must just be because Shen Siyi is a really good person. He's gentle with everyone.]
[Exactly, exactly. Who does Song Nianxing think he is? He isn't even fit to carry Shen Siyi's shoes.]
[Tsk, if you ask me, Best Actor Shen really doesn't have to be this nice to everyone. I'm honestly afraid Song Nianxing will start thinking he has a chance again.]
Seeing that Shen Siyi had arrived, the show's producer, Li Bin, immediately came over with a cheerful smile. "You're here, Best Actor Shen. Shall we get your styling done first?"
As Li Bin spoke to Shen Siyi, he hesitated, then pointed at his neck. "What happened here...?"
Song Nianxing followed the direction of Li Bin's finger. He was pointing at the scratches marking Shen Siyi's fair, slender neck. Song Nianxing's ears instantly flushed, and he hastily ducked his head like a chick pecking at grain.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Siyi raised his eyebrows in amusement, then gave an understanding "Oh." "I have a cat at home. It wasn't very well behaved last night, so I had a little fight with it~"
"Huh?" Li Bin sounded puzzled, then smiled. "Sounds like that kitten really is naughty, scratching you up like this. It would be terrible if it scratched that precious face of yours someday. Looks like you need to find someone to teach it some manners."
Listening, Song Nianxing lowered his head even farther, like a quail.
Shen Siyi chuckled. "That won't be necessary. It's my kitten, mine alone. I can train it myself."
Song Nianxing abruptly looked up at the radiant Shen Siyi, the redness at his ears quickly spreading over both cheeks.
Was Best Actor Shen trying to cheer me up?
As he was thinking this, Shen Siyi bent slightly to meet his eyes. "Your eyes are red from crying. If you run into any trouble, you can come to me."
As he spoke, he leaned closer to the side of Song Nianxing's neck. "I'll help you, my little star kitten."
His warm, damp breath slipped into Song Nianxing's ear along with his clear, resonant voice, making Song Nianxing's heart tremble.
After speaking, Shen Siyi straightened and let Li Bin lead him to the styling room. The camera followed him away.
Watching the man's retreating figure, Song Nianxing's heart beat so fast he felt he could hear it. While he was still dazed, someone placed a fluffy star plushie in his hand.
He looked up to find Shen Siyi's manager, Wen Xian, wearing an impassive expression. "Shen Siyi wanted you to have this... You... Never mind."
He seemed to have more to say, but finally just sighed and hurried after Shen Siyi.
Song Nianxing blinked in confusion, looking down at the plushie in his hands, then at the people who had already walked far away. His long lashes grew damp again.
He had taken liberties with Shen Siyi, yet Shen Siyi had been so gentle with him all along. Seeing him upset, he had not only cheered him up but even given him a plushie.
Shen Siyi really was so wonderful!
Shen Siyi was such a fucking bastard!
Having walked some distance away, Wen Xian glanced back at Song Nianxing, who was still standing there in a daze, and could not help cursing inwardly.
Damned pervert!
He had actually planted a surveillance device in it and made him deliver it!
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