In the second week, Signal announced new rules for its music show performances and opened the application channel.
Chi Li returned to several of the most popular stages and also released a new song for a new round of promotions.
Then... just as fans were calling for a 'concert,' they turned around and officially announced that they had joined the cast of ' Old Friends of Mountains and Rivers,' leaving everyone completely bewildered.
"The old man's afraid that if we don't start filming soon, the male lead he's got his eye on will slip away like a cooked duck flying away." An Che casually flipped through the script in his hands. "By the way, you're so busy every day, do you even have time to read a script?"
The printed script was only distributed to the actors three days ago.
During those three days, Chi Li won three number one spots in Signal magazine.
"Yes, I read it when I have a spare moment before bed." Chi Li made two annotations on the script.
"Before bed?" An Che's expression was strange. "If I remember correctly, you should be living with Shen Xunye now, right?"
Chi Li looked up at him. "How did you know?"
"How would I know? Of course, your boastful boyfriend told his older brother, and then his older brother casually told me~" An Che couldn't help but shake his head, his tone full of undisguised smugness.
"Alright." Chi Li was quite wary. "That's enough. Before your father arrives, use this time to understand the character."
Before the official filming begins, there will be a two-day reading session.
"You're living together." An Che ignored Chi Li's guard and continued the conversation. "Your bedtime activity is reading scripts instead of doing...?"
Chi Li: "..."
Chi Li frowned. "You don't need to use mine as a prelude to show off your sexual happiness."
"Hehe." An Che gave him a 'you really understand me' look, then quickly went back to savoring the moment. "Being a bottom is so great..."
Chi Li: "."
thump thump thump--
A knock sounded on the door, and the other actors entered the room one after another.
An Che reverted to his aloof and noble demeanor, coldly greeting the newcomers alongside Chi Li, before subtly shifting his position to sit next to Chi Li.
"Top student." An Che showed Chi Li his brand-new, untouched script. "If the old man causes trouble, you'll have to hand me your answers later."
Chi Li: "Don't you dare hurt me."
Fortunately, An Yihe didn't cause any trouble for anyone; he was simply leading everyone through the script as usual.
The reading session went relatively smoothly.
Chi Li returned to the hotel, took a shower, and it was only a little past 10 p. m.
Although it wasn't particularly early, it was a rare, relatively leisurely time recently.
At this point, the live stream for that day on "Signal" had already ended.
He glanced at today's rankings, then picked a few more stages to watch. Before the last stage had even finished, he received a video call request from Shen Xunye.
Chi Li pressed the connect button.
Shen Xunye had clearly just finished showering; his hair was still wet, and water droplets dripped down his hair and onto his broad shoulders.
He was shirtless, his wheat-colored skin glistening with moisture under the warm yellow light of the bathroom.
The outline of his pectoral muscles was clearly visible, his abdominal muscles were well-defined, and water droplets slid down those grooves and disappeared into the loosely tied bath towel around his waist.
Chi Li stared at the screen, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.
... This guy is trying to seduce someone again.
"Is it pretty?" Shen Xunye's voice came from the phone, with a hint of teasing laughter.
He propped his phone up on the coffee table and leaned back on the sofa so that Chi Li could see it more clearly.
"Not bad." Chi Li nodded, his fingers secretly tracing the abs on Shen Xunye's screen.
... An Che was right before; they hadn't done it for a long time.
However, the reason he couldn't do it wasn't because he needed to read the script, but because the unexpected popularity of "Signal" made Shen Xunye even busier than him, and the two of them couldn't even meet before going to bed.
So, when I was suddenly tempted, I really did want to...
"The sponsorship for 'Signal' is basically settled," Shen Xunye casually mentioned. "The cooperation with music platforms is still under negotiation. How was your day?"
"Hmm, it went fairly smoothly." Chi Li found something, placed her phone against it, and rested her chin on her hand. "How about you? Are you tired?"
"I'm not tired," Shen Xunye said with a hint of regret, "But I was a little disappointed that I didn't see you when I got home early today, and you didn't text me either..."
"Hey, don't you dare slander me." Chi Li clenched her right fist and waved it in front of the camera with dissatisfaction. "I'll message you as soon as I get back to the hotel."
They have a habit ingrained in their bones: checking in with each other when they have free time.
Shen Xunye insisted on being serious. "You didn't post anything after taking a shower!"
"Try arguing with me again."
"Okay..." Shen Xunye quietly pouted, "I just miss you a little."
"What is the necessary connection between thinking about me and slandering me...?" Chi Li tilted her head, puzzled.
"If..." Shen Xunye's eyes flickered, and he hesitated for several seconds before choosing to speak honestly, "If you admit your mistake, I will coax you into accepting a punishment."
"You—" Chi Li understood almost instantly, a blush spreading across her face. "Can't you think of anything healthy?"
Shen Xunye looked at the flushed face, the beautiful eyes filled with anger, and the alluring lips on the screen, his gaze darkening.
"I've been healthy for too long," Shen Xunye said with a wronged expression. "It's time for a indulgence."
When he came home late at night and saw Chi Li sleeping soundly, he couldn't help but think about waking him up and having his way with him.
But when she thought about how tired Chi Li had been these past few days, she had no choice but to endure it.
I finally have some free time, but he's not here with me...
Chi Li couldn't help but chuckle, "It's not that I won't let you eat, it's just that there aren't conditions for you to have it."
Shen Xunye: "It's not impossible."
Chi Li: "?"
"Baby." Chi Li leaned forward, his face taking up most of the screen, and deliberately lowered his voice. "... From now on, can you follow my instructions?"
Chi Li blinked, vaguely sensing that the suggestion was somewhat dangerous, but she couldn't bear to refuse.
He muttered, "... Can this be right?"
Shen Xunye chuckled softly.
The laughter came through the phone, carrying a static-like sound that only made it sound more magnetic.
"Of course," he replied affirmatively. "Please, baby, be a good baby tonight, okay?"
"Oh." Chi Li looked away from the screen.
"Baby." Shen Xunye took in Chi Li's shyness, his voice tinged with pleasure. "Now, look at me."
Chi Li didn't say anything more, but slowly turned her gaze back as instructed.
"Good boy," Shen Xunye praised him first, then continued, "Then, open your mouth."