Yu Songqing said softly, "Nian'an, let me carry you." Gu Nian'an froze, then compared their builds. Looking at the man half a head taller than himself, he found himself speechless.
Watching their interaction, Mu Chen's eyes flickered several times. He teased, "You two can do it."
Yu Songqing looked up at him and saw Mu Chen raise an eyebrow and smile at him. After meeting his gaze for a second, he lowered his eyes, various emotions flashing through their depths.
Yu Songqing drew him into his arms and somewhat awkwardly lifted him into a bridal carry. The arm supporting his waist was strong, holding him securely to keep him from falling.
Supporting the waist of the person in his arms, he began to squat. Feeling his weight, he couldn't help silently wondering why his waist was so slender when he was a guy too. Had he not been eating properly?
He soon completed thirty squats and set the boy in his arms down. The NPC took out the second clue and handed it to the three of them, while Yu Songqing remained where he was.
Suddenly noticing something, he raised his hand and sniffed it lightly. It was the faint citrus scent from Gu Nian'an's body. He couldn't help rubbing his slightly warm ears.
Gu Nian'an looked down at the clue, completely unaware of Yu Songqing's actions. Mu Chen, however, took it all in, a dark glint passing through his eyes.
Curling his lips, he stepped forward to examine the slip of paper in Gu Nian'an's hand, slipping an arm around his lower back as he did.
Seeing Mu Chen's movement, Yu Songqing instinctively clenched both fists, countless emotions flashing through his eyes. Then, remembering that this was being livestreamed, he hurriedly relaxed his hands.
Mu Chen watched Yu Songqing's every move from the corner of his eye, his chin slightly raised and a playful smile tugging at his lips.
[Ahhhhhhhhh! I'm declaring it: this Gu Nian'an absolutely knows how to bewitch people!]
[What is this massive male rivalry showdown? I'm shipping it first.]
[Just two dicks, no big deal (jk).]
[Casual hater here. I just have to ask, does this Gu Nian'an know witchcraft?]
[How do Emperor Mu's fans feel? Come tell us.]
[As a Best Actor Mu fan of seven years, all I can say is, although I don't like Gu Nian'an, I won't say anything if Best Actor Mu really likes him. He's been single for so many years. It's time he dated someone. Although I don't like this pretty face, I feel like Best Actor Mu might stay single his whole life otherwise. Ugh, did this Gu Nian'an put a spell on him?]
[Yu fans are shutting down. Watching Mu Chen's moves, I suddenly realized that even if our boy really likes this pretty face, he might not be able to win him over.]
[Hahahahahahaha, you Yu fans are too funny.]
[You're hurting my eyes, commenter above.]
[So we're whitewashing the pretty face already?]
[Commenter above, nobody's whitewashing him. We're just marveling at how this pretty face knows how to bewitch people.]
"Take off its red or yellow coat, and seven or eight brothers hug each other tight. Each has its own sweet or sour taste, and everyone likes them." Reading the riddle on the paper, Gu Nian'an pondered for a moment before turning to the other two.
"Is there anywhere in Lan City connected to oranges?"
Mu Chen immediately replied, "I remember there's an orange orchard on the western side of Lan City. Maybe the final clue is there?"
Gu Nian'an nodded slightly. The answer was an orange, and since this was an entertainment show, they wouldn't make the game too complicated. Presumably, the final clue was there.
He turned his gaze toward Yu Songqing, who hadn't spoken, and saw him looking down, lost in unknown thoughts.
Gu Nian'an instinctively recalled that, in the original novel, Yu Songqing had been a little socially anxious because he rarely interacted with people, and was often mistaken for being cold.
Over time, the people around him had stopped interacting with him much either, making Yu Songqing even more sensitive and socially anxious.
But later, later... what happened later? At that thought, a sudden stabbing pain shot through Gu Nian'an's head.
His vision went black, and his legs gave out as he pitched forward.
Mu Chen hurriedly caught the collapsing boy. Yu Songqing rushed over, and at the sight of Gu Nian'an's trembling body, panic overwhelmed him. He began biting his nails uncontrollably, something he did when he was nervous.
Watching Gu Nian'an faint and collapse from the other end, the director kept running his hands through his hair. He was done for. If something happened to Fu Xiuyuan's person on his show, he was finished. He was just about to call and arrange an ambulance for them.
The boy on the screen slowly came around. "Nian'an, how are you feeling?" Mu Chen hurriedly asked when he saw the person in his arms wake up.
The pain had completely vanished, but the memories of Yu Songqing's future seemed to have been erased by a huge hand.
Gu Nian'an's voice still trembled from the pain he'd just felt. "I'm fine, I'm fine. It's an old problem. Let's go find the guide."
With that, he held on to Mu Chen's hand and shakily rose to his feet.
Yu Songqing's brows were tightly furrowed, his voice still tense. "You don't have to push yourself. Let's go to the hospital."
Gu Nian'an smiled gently. "I'm really fine. It's an old problem, nothing serious. Let's hurry. It's almost dark."
[Oh my god, what happened? Why did my wife faint? That was so scary.]
[He's faking it, right? Could he be any more obvious about wanting attention?]
[His face is that pale. Go on, fake that for me.]
[Does he really not need to go to the hospital? I don't really like Gu Nian'an, but his health comes first.]
[Yu Songqing was so panicked he started biting his fingers.]
[Yu fan casually passing through. We're used to it by now.]
[Is the pretty face okay?]
[Okay, but my wife fainting was so hot.]
[Same here, commenter above.]
[Me too.]
[I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I didn't dare say it earlier (jk).]
[Any creators willing to feed us? The delicate, sickly beauty trope suits my wife so well.]
Unable to persuade him, the two could only take a taxi to the orange orchard. Along the way, Gu Nian'an kept wondering why the memories of Yu Songqing's future seemed to have blurred, along with those of the others. Whenever he tried to think about them, his head felt as though it would split apart.
Looking at the pale-faced boy resting against the window with his eyes closed, a trace of worry crossed Yu Songqing's eyes. He gently pulled him over, carefully resting his head on his shoulder.
But this woke the half-asleep boy. When Gu Nian'an looked at him in confusion, Yu Songqing's gaze darted about, and he stammered, "Leaning against the window is too, too bumpy. Leaning on me will be a little better."
After saying that, he didn't dare look at him again.
Gu Nian'an smiled at his words, feeling that he'd truly made the right friend. He rested his head on Yu Songqing's shoulder and closed his eyes again to rest.
Watching their interaction, Mu Chen grew restless and wanted to say something. But remembering that Gu Nian'an had just fainted, he closed his mouth again.
Elsewhere, the man sitting in his office chair, handling work while watching the livestream, suddenly witnessed the boy on the screen faint. His pupils abruptly widened, and his expression instantly darkened.
He hadn't forgotten that time, when the other man had collapsed into his arms just like this.
Afterward, he'd taken him to the hospital, but they hadn't found anything wrong. Yet the boy's pale face and constantly trembling body that day had kept showing him how much pain he was in.
Gu Nian'an had since woken up, but his pale complexion still betrayed the pain he'd just endured. A dark glint flashed through Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. After staring at the screen for a brief moment,
he made a call. His deep voice rang out, revealing no emotion. "Book me a flight to Lan City for Thursday."
Before you continue