At half past midnight, Ji Ying's phone buzzed.
Finally, on the third vibration, Ji Ying answered. An anxious man's voice came from the other end. "Xiao Ying! Thank goodness you finally picked up. Are you all right? What about Niuniu?"
Still groggy from being woken in the middle of the night, Ji Ying said, "Honey...? What do you mean, am I all right? Niuniu's asleep."
"I just finished working overtime and saw the news. Around six this afternoon, on the road into Cheng County, someone deliberately drove a big truck into dozens of cars to take revenge on society. So many people died!!" Hearing Ji Ying's voice, Yu Ze finally felt his heart settle. "Thank goodness you and Niuniu are all right!"
"I... I'm still at Mom and Dad's..." As Ji Ying said this, she felt momentarily dazed-"Ji Ying, you should leave early tomorrow morning instead."
She suddenly remembered Ji Nanshu's warning from earlier that day, and an indescribable wave of belated fear washed over her, along with relief at having escaped disaster. If... if she had insisted on leaving during the day, the crash would have happened just as she was about to reach Cheng County.
"Honey! Listen, I was originally planning to leave this afternoon..."
Ji Ying stroked Yu Niuniu's head, quietly opened the bedroom door, then told Yu Ze about Ji Nanshu's warning that afternoon.
"I see... As long as you're all right. As long as you're all right! Could you and Niuniu take a flight straight back to Hai City tomorrow morning? I miss you both."
"Okay..."
After the little ghost had been dealt with, the guests and production crew finally relaxed their taut nerves, and exhaustion followed.
Director Yang knew that resuming the livestream in their current state probably wouldn't produce good results, so he said, "Everyone, get some proper rest tonight. We'll continue filming first thing tomorrow."
Everyone cheered, quickly cleaned up the trash in the front courtyard, and went back to their rooms.
Once back in their room, Chu Mo went through his usual fluid routine of unplugging the power and shutting the door and windows, then pinned Ji Nanshu in a corner and kissed him thoroughly.
Ji Nanshu didn't resist at all. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.
"My dear benefactor~ This isn't very appropriate..." When Chu Mo's hand slipped beneath his clothes, Ji Nanshu made a show of reminding him, yet his arms only tightened around Chu Mo's neck.
"Heh." Chu Mo chuckled. This little fellow was simply too adorable when he put on an act.
"Little fellow, go take a shower."
Little fellow?
Was that his dear benefactor's new name for him?
He could live with that.
Ji Nanshu tilted his head, his affectionate peach-blossom eyes suddenly widening. "Are we showering together?"
Then he shook his head again and said with a troubled expression, "We're filming a show... No, no. Things could easily get out of hand!"
Chu Mo sighed. This kid really had an abundant imagination and urge to perform all day long.
So Chu Mo simply grabbed Ji Nanshu by the back of his collar and deposited him in the bathroom.
Ji Nanshu stripped in no time, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He poked his head out of the bathroom and asked pitifully, "My dear benefactor~ Are you really not coming in with me~?"
From his eyes to his mouth, his whole face was full of anticipation.
Did Chu Mo not want to go in?
No, he did.
But he felt that ever since meeting Ji Nanshu, his self-control had been heading irreversibly in an unspeakable direction, so he still couldn't go in.
Seeing that Chu Mo remained unmoved, Ji Nanshu slammed the door. A few seconds later, he poked his head out again and demanded angrily, "Chu Mo, are you incapable of getting it up?!"
Then he slammed the door again.
Couldn't get it up?!
A man couldn't admit he couldn't do it!!!
Not even a certain film emperor famous throughout the country.
Chu Mo's gaze darkened. He abruptly rose and pulled open the bathroom door-
Inside stood a completely naked Ji Nanshu, with milky-white skin and a slender waist, water droplets slowly sliding down his lower back into that indescribable place...
To Chu Mo, every bit of him was a temptation.
Backed into a corner, Ji Nanshu was somewhat flustered. He braced both hands against Chu Mo's chest and, after a long moment, managed to squeeze out, "A-aren't you going to take your clothes off to shower?!"
Seducing him was one thing, but actually doing it... shouldn't he get some time to prepare?!
"Mm... I'll take them off now." Blocking the bathroom door, Chu Mo removed his clothes one piece at a time, staring meaningfully at Ji Nanshu as he did.
Ji Nanshu quietly swallowed. That body... was really something...
Before Ji Nanshu could finish admiring Chu Mo's physique, he was pinned against the wall again.
He would soon find out whether Chu Mo could do it!
"Mmph... Don't..."
"Hmm? What?"
Looking as though he hadn't heard clearly, Chu Mo continued moving his hands.
Ji Nanshu's face was flushed, perhaps from the steam in the bathroom, or perhaps for some other reason. He was having trouble catching his breath. "Mmph... No more..."
It sounded like a small animal's whimper.
Very cute, and very tempting.
"Soon..."
Chu Mo didn't go all the way. After proving whether he could do it, he carried Ji Nanshu, whose eyes were red and who was on the verge of tears, back to bed, then blow-dried his hair like a mother hen.
"Does it still hurt?"
Ji Nanshu pouted, touching his still faintly aching inner thighs. He didn't want to talk!
Chu Mo asked again, "Let me see?"
As he spoke, he reached to lift the covers.
Furious, Ji Nanshu pressed Chu Mo's hand down. "See what?! Like hell you will! Go to sleep!"
"All right." Chu Mo wasn't annoyed. He turned to switch off the light, lay down beside Ji Nanshu, and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Propping his head on one hand, he rhythmically patted Ji Nanshu's back with the other to lull him to sleep.
Before long, Ji Nanshu fell asleep.
In his sleep, Ji Nanshu naturally curled into Chu Mo's arms.
So sweet.
A long, long time ago... he had already wanted to do this.
Early the next morning, when Ji Nanshu woke, Chu Mo was no longer in the room. He slowly dressed, and when he opened the door, the aroma of food greeted him.
Ji Nanshu followed the smell to the kitchen.
"Bene... Mr. Chu~ What are you making? It smells so good~" Ji Nanshu peeked out from behind Chu Mo.
Chu Mo popped a piece of pancake straight into Ji Nanshu's mouth. "Pancakes, congee, and fried eggs. I stir-fried a side dish too."
There were still plenty of ingredients left from the large batch Director Yang had brought yesterday. They should have been enough for all the guests' breakfast today.
"Shall we eat in the courtyard?"
"Mm, I'll bring everything out."
Just as the two were about to eat, Bai Nanchen came out. He ran over with a delighted expression. "Mr. Chu~ Did you get up early to make breakfast for us? Thank you so much."
Chu Mo's eyes filled with confusion. "?"
He had only made enough for two.