Up the mountain

In the blink of an eye, two weeks had passed.

"Make sure you eat properly. Call me if anything comes up. Once I finish what I'm working on, I'll come over to see you. Be good." After taking Gu Nian'an to the airport, Fu Xiuyuan kept reminding him of things to watch out for once he arrived.

Listening to his reminders, Gu Nian'an felt his ears grow a little warm and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

A trace of amusement appeared in Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. He stared straight at the young man's earlobe, then suddenly reached out to stroke the sapphire on it.

With a low chuckle, he remarked, "Sapphires suit you. Keep it on, and stay safe on the way." With that, he turned and left.

Standing to one side, Lin Shuxue took in their entire exchange, the corner of her mouth twitching in speechlessness. She had originally been wondering whether Fu Xiuyuan was keeping the young man.

But everything she had just witnessed completely dispelled that thought. What financial backer would personally take someone to the airport and give them such careful reminders before leaving?

As she watched Gu Nian'an take off the ring on his hand, a flicker of understanding crossed her eyes. No wonder Fu Xiuyuan went to such lengths to look after him. They were partners.

She sighed softly and followed Gu Nian'an onto the plane.

They soon reached their destination. After leaving the airport, they got into the car the production team had sent to collect them.

Lin Shuxue adjusted her glasses and said somewhat vaguely, "Nian'an, the guests this time are the same as last time, except there's one new person filling Yu Songqing's spot."

Gu Nian'an looked up at her questioningly.

Lin Shuxue paused before adding, "His name is Lin Xianyu. He started out in a boy band and is now an artist with Yasheng. His fans are mostly mom fans and older-sister fans, and they can be incredibly vicious. Don't offend him lightly."

But Gu Nian'an paid no attention to her warning at all, merely murmuring, "Yasheng?"

The name sounded as though he had heard it somewhere before. He lowered his eyes and thought for a while before suddenly realizing that it was Yu Songqing's family company.

Thinking of how Yu Songqing had left the entertainment industry because of his family's affairs, Gu Nian'an could not help feeling sorry for him.

The production team's car soon took them up the mountain, while his manager, Lin Shuxue, was assigned accommodation elsewhere.

Gu Nian'an got out of the car and looked around. The morning mist seemed to drape the mountains in a layer of white gauze. The fresh scent of vegetation drifted through the air, and a birdcall or two sounded nearby from time to time.

Residents' small houses also dotted the surrounding mountains. Many of them had risen early to light their stoves and cook, so the aroma of food lingered in the air as well.

A trace of nostalgia crossed the young man's eyes. He still remembered how his grandmother's home had been just like this in his previous life. Every morning, he would wake to a scene like this.

As he stood lost in thought, someone suddenly patted his shoulder. Gu Nian'an turned and saw Mu Chen, who was wearing an overcoat and looking at him with a bright smile.

"What are you standing out here daydreaming for? Hurry inside. It's so cold right now." Without waiting for a reply, he took Gu Nian'an by the hand and led him into the house.

Gu Nian'an entered the inner room and saw that several people had already arrived and were sitting together chatting. His gaze then shifted to an unfamiliar young man nearby.

Noticing Gu Nian'an looking at him, the young man looked back. He appeared to be only eighteen, with curly white hair and handsome features. His pitch-black eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Gu Nian'an.

"Hello, I'm Gu Nian'an. You must be Lin Xianyu." Gu Nian'an stepped forward and held out his hand slightly.

Lin Xianyu looked him over, then reached out to shake his hand. "Hello."

Looking into those eyes that seemed to shimmer with tenderness, Lin Xianyu froze briefly. It was just as he had expected: one careless moment, and he could fall right in. He recalled his manager's instructions to stay away from Gu Nian'an.

Lin Xianyu's eyes dimmed slightly despite himself. He pursed his lips and said nothing more.

Seeing that he did not intend to continue, Gu Nian'an did not invite a snub. He quietly sat to one side and began chatting on and off with Mu Chen.

Before long, a commotion came from the doorway.

Everyone in the room looked up together. Ji Baiwei, Ji Yaozhi, and Yun Bingxia had arrived.

Seeing the two sitting together, Yun Bingxia's eyes lit up, and she hurried over. "Gu Gu, long time no see! How have you been? Where's Xiao Mi?"

Gu Nian'an had not appeared in public for nearly half a year since the last variety show. Having already formed a very good impression of him, Yun Bingxia had been delighted to learn that he would be joining this show. She would get to eat Gu Gu's delicious food again.

Looking at the lively young woman before him, Gu Nian'an could not help smiling too.

"Pretty well. Xiao Mi's been bouncing around at home every day."

"How has your health been lately? Why do you look like you've lost quite a bit of weight again?" Looking at the young man before him, Ji Yaozhi felt that he seemed a little thinner still, and frowned slightly.

Hearing this, Ji Baiwei also studied the young man. He had indeed looked very thin the last time they met, and now he appeared even slimmer.

Seeing the concern in their eyes, Gu Nian'an curved his lips, his eyes holding a smile. "I had a bout of gastritis a while ago, and I accidentally broke my leg too."

He waved a hand helplessly and added, "I spent some time in the hospital. I only got discharged recently, and now I'm back on a show."

Ji Baiwei's gaze settled on the young man's somewhat pale face, and she frowned slightly. "Xiao Gu, we'll be spending the next month up in the mountains. There's a big temperature difference between day and night here. Can your health hold up?"

The others voiced their agreement and looked at him with concern.

Gu Nian'an waved a hand and said softly, "I'm really fine. I've long since gotten used to this body of mine. A lot of it is just old ailments. As long as I take my medicine on time, I'll be fine."

His health had been like this in his previous life too, and his constitution had even been much worse than it was now, so he was already very content.

Since Gu Nian'an insisted, no one said anything more, and they simply went on chatting about everyday things.

Lin Xianyu glanced from the corner of his eye at the young man sitting near the door, a trace of scrutiny in his gaze.

Before he came, his manager had told him to stay away from Gu Nian'an, saying that their former artist, Yu Songqing, had left the industry because he had gotten involved with him. However, Lin Xianyu remained skeptical of his manager's words.

Gu Nian'an seemed quite well-liked. Even Ji Baiwei, who was known in the industry for being warm on the surface but cold at heart, had taken the initiative to ask after his health.

He shifted his gaze to Ji Yaozhi, who had been watching Gu Nian'an all along, then glanced at Mu Chen, who had stayed seated beside the young man ever since entering.

Resting his chin lightly on his hand, a spark of interest crossed his eyes. It seemed their relationships were far from ordinary. There ought to be something entertaining to watch on this show.

Only after two hours did the director finally arrive to explain the situation to everyone.

This variety show would still be livestreamed. The production team would provide their meals for the first week on the mountain, while the guests would have to find their own way to get food for the following two weeks.

They could borrow from the villagers or help them with their work in exchange for food.

After explaining the general arrangements, the director began assigning rooms. Their accommodation on the mountain was a small courtyard house with three rooms, each shared by two people.

The director divided them into three groups.

Mu Chen and Gu Nian'an were paired together, as were Ji Yaozhi and Lin Xianyu. Naturally, the two remaining women, Yun Bingxia and Ji Baiwei, would share a room.