You're jealous, aren't you?

Nan Zhou and Huo Xingye rode to the Vegetable Market.

As a well-known young award-winning actor, Huo Xingye drew quite a crowd even at a small market like this.

Fortunately, the production crew had made arrangements beforehand to maintain order. Otherwise, the two of them wouldn't have been able to shop properly.

They picked out seafood at a stall run by a taciturn, scruffy middle-aged man with a cigarette between his lips.

"Was what you were talking about with Jiang Zhen downstairs at the Apartment Building true?" Nan Zhou asked Huo Xingye.

"Yes."

Nan Zhou considered his words. "Well, I hate getting dragged into messy situations. If you have a girlfriend or..."

"This one." Huo Xingye pointed out a large crab to the man.

Then he turned to Nan Zhou. "I don't."

Looking into Nan Zhou's eyes, Huo Xingye wore an utterly serious expression. "There's no one else. Only you."

Nan Zhou was a little surprised by his sincere gaze and the way he seemed to be making a vow.

For a moment, it seemed he wasn't answering his question, but confessing his feelings to him.

...He really went all out. Such dedication.

That acting, those fan-service tactics. Impressive!

"Oh, good." He looked away and pointed at the general store next door. "I'll go have a look over there."

As long as he was single.

Whether he had someone he liked was none of his concern.

They were just a fan-service pairing on a variety show who'd had a one-night stand.

"Aren't you going to ask more?" Huo Xingye called him back.

"Ask what?" Nan Zhou was puzzled.

For a moment, he wasn't sure whether he'd imagined the flicker of disappointment in Huo Xingye's eyes.

"Nothing," Huo Xingye said. "Go ahead. I'll find you when this is ready."

[There's no one else, only you. More ship fuel!!!]

[What kind of stupid question is that two-faced bitch asking? Since when does my idol have a partner!]

[Whoa, Nan Zhou's brave, asking his ship partner outright if he's seeing anyone on a live variety show. Just blowing it all wide open?]

[Anyone still shipping them has bubbles for brains. They're obviously fake...]

[That's right, Brother Ye actually has a partner in private. Yours truly!]

[Wait, am I shipping them wrong? They seem really real to me. Nan Zhou's jealous, and the award-winning actor's confessing his true feelings, isn't he???]

The seafood stall owner killed and packed the seafood, then handed it to Huo Xingye. "Young man, know how to cook this?"

"Yes."

"Make him something tasty. You've got a great chance. Good luck," the owner encouraged him.

Huo Xingye chuckled softly and took the seafood from him. "Here's hoping you're right."

Huo Xingye found Nan Zhou in the general store. As they returned to the electric scooter together, they happened to run into Lu Zhou and Wen Yu, who had just arrived.

With both hands in his pockets, Nan Zhou stared at the ground, slightly lost in thought, and didn't notice them at all.

Huo Xingye, on the other hand, looked toward Lu Zhou.

For an instant, Lu Zhou had the impression that his gaze was colder than the wind on the road.

"Did you push it here?" Huo Xingye asked.

"Huh?" Lu Zhou said.

Huo Xingye cast a barely perceptible glance toward Wen Yu and smiled warmly. "He's had a hard time, coming with you."

"..."

However slow Lu Zhou might be, he caught on. Huo Xingye was taking a dig at him.

"Everyone has things they're good at and things they aren't." He forced a smile.

"Yes. Nan Zhou isn't good at putting on an act."

"..."

[Holy shit!!!!!!! I told you! How is this not real???]

[He really loves him so much! Saying it loud!]

[I'm a hater now. Throwing his weight around to bully someone less famous leaves such a bad impression.]

[Off you go, then. Lu fans, stop trying to drag Brother Ye into this! Your precious idol is just two-faced!]

[Wait, is Huo Xingye standing up for Nan Zhou?]

While they were talking, Nan Zhou finally emerged from his reverie and looked up, meeting Lu Zhou's eyes.

As he looked up, Lu Zhou's heart skipped a beat. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but then Huo Xingye said, "I saw a milk tea shop up ahead. Want some?"

"Where? How come I didn't see it?" Nan Zhou's gaze whipped toward Huo Xingye.

"In the alley around the corner up ahead. We can stop by on our way."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go." Without another word, Nan Zhou unlocked the electric scooter and swung a leg over it, smoothly taking the shopping bags from Huo Xingye and hanging them on the hook at the front.

Huo Xingye climbed on and wrapped his arms around Nan Zhou, smiling even more warmly at Lu Zhou. "We'll head off first."

With that, the scooter drove away, leaving behind Lu Zhou, who had nearly lost control of his expression.

Beside him, Wen Yu turned his head, the corners of his mouth lifting before quickly dropping again.

[Hahahaha, Huo Xingye's actually this much of a menace!!!]

[That was definitely on purpose. You're jealous, aren't you?]

[It's scripted, surely. Why would Huo Xingye take a jab at a junior over Nan Zhou?]

After buying two steaming cups of milk tea at the shop, Nan Zhou handed them to Huo Xingye. "Hold these."

Rather than getting straight onto the scooter, he slipped a hand into his pocket and gestured to him. "Lower your head a little."

Huo Xingye was puzzled, but cooperated, bending down slightly.

Then, on camera, everyone saw Nan Zhou pull a pair of fluffy earmuffs out of his coat pocket as if performing a magic trick.

He put the earmuffs on Huo Xingye's head and seemed to be taken with the look himself. After a moment's stunned pause, he couldn't resist reaching out to rub Huo Xingye's head.

The instant his palm landed, Huo Xingye's pupils contracted sharply.

"Ha, so handsome."

"I'm suddenly starting to understand why some people like kinky play."

Nan Zhou withdrew his hand and noticed Huo Xingye's expression. He froze briefly, then hurried to explain, "This should keep you a bit warmer."

...That was careless. I shouldn't have touched his head without asking.

That wasn't very polite.

[Hahahaha, I get him. Who could resist Brother Ye in dog-ear earmuffs, aaaaaah!]

[Waaaaaah, that's a whole year's worth of sweetness.]

[Guys, it's mutual! (crawling) (wriggling) (splitting apart) (contorting) (excited) (roaring)]

[Nan Zhou: question the kink, understand the kink.]

[Chop that two-faced bitch's paws off!!!! Get lost!!!!]

"For me?" Huo Xingye asked.

"Returning the favor." Nan Zhou rubbed his nose. "It's a small gift, but it's the thought that counts."

As Huo Xingye's smile grew brighter and brighter, his face warmed too. "I'm too broke right now. Once I have money, I'll get you something better."

Never mind the guitar-even the scarf around his neck would have paid for a whole big box of puppy-shaped earmuffs.

"All right." Huo Xingye straightened, his tall figure standing in the wind. "It's a deal."

The winter sunlight fell on him, bathing his whole body in light, like a god descending to earth.

Once they returned to the apartment, Huo Xingye cooked while Nan Zhou went to the bathroom.

Not long after he closed the door, his agent, Hao Jia, called.

"The Alpha who marked you was Huo Xingye?!"