Chongen had opened when he was in middle school, on the route Shen Xingcan had to take to school.
He had even complained to Xie Linchuan back then that Chongen's food tasted good, but its strawberry options were rather lackluster.
Then, when he went to Chongen again one day, he discovered that it had changed.
Shen Xingcan ate more and more slowly, casting a thoughtful glance at Xie Linchuan beside him.
Xie Linchuan did not like eating these things, so there was only a cup of tea in front of him.
Shen Xingcan's gaze was far too obvious, and Xie Linchuan soon noticed. "What is it?"
Shen Xingcan could not describe what he felt. "...Nothing. I just feel like I've discovered another secret... I think their food tastes even better than before."
As he spoke, Shen Xingcan picked up an unused fork from beside him, selected a piece of cake with a strawberry from his plate, and brought it to Xie Linchuan's lips.
Xie Linchuan did not like these things, but whenever Shen Xingcan ate them, he liked to feed Xie Linchuan a bite. Over time, it had become a habit.
So Xie Linchuan ate the piece of cake Shen Xingcan offered him.
One fed him naturally, and the other ate naturally, as though they had done this countless times before.
"How is it?"
"Not bad."
"Want some more, then?"
"No."
Shen Xingcan was displeased. "You say it's not bad when I ask how it tastes, but when I offer you more, you won't take another bite. You brush me off like this every time."
Xie Linchuan was cold. "Because if I say it tastes bad, you get upset, and if I say it tastes good, you make me explain what's good about it."
Shen Xingcan said, "...Tch."
[Baby Xingcan is so cute! Aaaah, can that damned Xie Linchuan stay away from our baby Xingcan?!]
[Solo stans, stop fighting it and accept reality. Can's fans got a brother-in-law who's a triple-gold best actor and a chaebol heir, and Chuan's fans got a sister-in-law who's fair, rich, beautiful, and the pearl of the music industry. No one in Chinese entertainment could be better matched!]
[Ask them and they're sworn enemies, but in reality, their childhood-sweethearts vibes are practically overflowing.]
[I can't take it. I'm way too curious about why these two fell out in the first place. I need to go on Weibo and like the posts from all the girls wondering the same thing.]
[Best Actor Xie is totally the type who knows how to soothe you but won't stop.]
[He might also be the type who doesn't know how to soothe you and doesn't know when to stop o(*￣︶￣*)o]
The livestream came to an end over afternoon tea.
After chatting together for a while, they each returned to their cabins to rest.
Once Shen Xingcan returned to the cabin, he flopped limply onto the bed. "So comfortable..."
After a while, as though remembering something, Shen Xingcan rolled over to look at the man sitting on the edge of the bed. "Best Actor Xie, your office has a rest area, right? If not, could you have your assistant prepare a bed in advance? A single is fine. I'm not picky."
"An office isn't a hotel."
Shen Xingcan said, "But there's no rule saying an office can't be furnished to hotel standards!"
Xie Linchuan said, "There's a rest area in the office."
Shen Xingcan happily decided, "I hereby declare that the bed in the lounge is my workspace."
Xie Linchuan said, "You're going there to be my assistant. There's no reason the boss should be working while his assistant snores away in bed."
Shen Xingcan said, "That applies to a proper assistant. Someone like me, who gets hired without going through the standard procedure, is obviously more like the boss's kept lover. And as a lover, my only task should be lying in bed waiting for Best Actor Xie to come fuck me."
Shen Xingcan spoke those last few words right beside Xie Linchuan's ear.
His warm breath brushed over the shell of Xie Linchuan's ear like a feather. Because of their positions, Shen Xingcan and Xie Linchuan were extremely close.
Most of Shen Xingcan's body was practically pressed against Xie Linchuan, his arm loosely encircling Xie Linchuan's neck, bringing electric shivers and tingles.
Before Xie Linchuan could speak, Shen Xingcan withdrew and sat back in his original spot.
It was as though the warmth, softness, and elusive seduction Xie Linchuan had just felt had been nothing but an illusion.
Xie Linchuan watched Shen Xingcan with a dark gaze. "Shen Xingcan, do you know what you're doing?"
Shen Xingcan met Xie Linchuan's eyes, his face utterly innocent. "Stating facts, of course. Did you think I was seducing you, Best Actor Xie?"
Xie Linchuan practically forced the words through clenched teeth. "You'd better be stating facts."
Shen Xingcan said, "And what if it's the latter?"
Xie Linchuan gripped Shen Xingcan's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes.
Their noses nearly touched, their heated breaths mingling. Xie Linchuan's eyes were dark, as though blazing with fire. "If it's the latter, I suggest you think it through, because once certain things start, you won't get to stop them just because you want to."
Shen Xingcan's lashes fluttered a few times. Even with someone gripping his chin, that brilliant smile remained on his lips. "...What happens if I say stop?"
Xie Linchuan's fingertips stroked Shen Xingcan's neck, his tone gentle and resolute. "Stop? If you say stop, I'll hide you away somewhere no one in the world can find you."
Shen Xingcan smiled, his tone light. "A little dark room? You're such a pervert, Xie Linchuan. But I suggest you do it while Shen Xingcan is still in the country. You know, Shen Xingcan is the Konoh Family's young master. Once he's abroad, Shen Xingcan can easily be rescued."
Xie Linchuan's fingers trembled uncontrollably.
Shen Xingcan took the opportunity to free his chin from Xie Linchuan's grip.
He shifted, then lay down on his pillow as though nothing had happened. "There's another game tonight that's closely tied to our trip to France. I think we should both get some rest early so we can leave everyone in the dust during the game. I really don't want to do France on a shoestring. As for that little dark room imprisonment plan, let's put it on hold for now."
With that, Shen Xingcan closed his eyes, his hands folded over his chest and his expression peaceful, looking ready to fall asleep at any moment.
Xie Linchuan sat there in silence.
After waiting with his eyes closed for a long time without hearing any movement beside him, Shen Xingcan opened them again.
He reached out and tugged at the man beside him. "Lie down and sleep. Today, we can just wait for the production crew to come get us."
After all, he was sleeping fully clothed this time, so there was no need to worry about the cameras catching anything they should not.
Pulled by Shen Xingcan, Xie Linchuan lay down, but did not close his eyes.
Shen Xingcan closed Xie Linchuan's eyes for him with his hand. "All right, go to sleep."