Over dinner, Old Wang was still urging him, "Time waits for no one, young man. If you like someone, be bold and admit it. Go after them. Don't leave yourself with regrets. Once you've lost them, it'll be too late for regrets."
For some reason, those words made Wen Jiu feel awful. He was still wondering how to respond when the man across from him said earnestly, "Yes, I know. Thank you."
Wen Jiu wanted to ask, What do you know now? But looking into the man's eyes, he held his tongue.
Only after saying goodbye to Grandpa Wang and Xiao Baga did the two meet up with the cameraman and head back to Peach Blossom Spring House together.
On the way back, Wen Jiu remembered the mysterious arrangements Qu Feng had mentioned. Unable to resist, he poked the man's waist.
Seeing that the two had unconsciously drawn so close again, the cameraman naturally switched on the camera, letting the gossip-hungry spectators into the melon patch.
Wen Jiu ventured, "Say, what am I supposed to do once I get back?"
The original owner had gotten lousy opportunities, working one day and slacking off for seven. Over time, he'd learned to just let things happen, but Wen Jiu couldn't do that.
Even taking a single day off made him restless all over.
"Once you get back, the company will arrange a few days of classes for you. After that, just relax and wait for the variety show performance."
Feng Chi reached out to brush his palm. While Wen Jiu's attention was elsewhere, their hands slowly pressed together. "You just need to prepare your debut stage."
"My debut stage?"
"Yes, your debut stage."
"You've got the buzz. Next, what you need to do is put on a performance stunning enough to make everyone who doubts you-"
As he spoke, the man stopped to look at him. His thin lips curved slightly as he uttered two words.
"Shut up."
Wen Jiu froze.
A beauty under the moonlight truly grew more beautiful the longer you looked.
Wen Jiu felt that every feature of the man before him struck him right in the heart. His profile was exquisite and cool, carrying an inexplicably seductive chill under the moonlight. Even the red mole at the corner of his eye seemed to come alive.
Like an arrogant vampire in the dark, dangerous and captivating.
That forceful, domineering declaration carried an irresistible thrill, making Wen Jiu's heart pound uncontrollably.
Fuck! Again, again! Why the hell was this feeling back again?!
Wen Xiaojiu, get a grip!
[Cameraman, could you step it up? At least move closer so we can see whether they're holding hands!]
[Cameraman, what's your deal? Did you turn the camera on just to show us a mess of pixels?]
[This livestream is on, but it might as well be off. [too tired to love]]
[Last time you tilted our wife sideways, and now you're showing us pixels. [lights cigarette] The weather's getting cold. Time for the cameraman to retire.]
The cameraman's hands shook with excitement. He thought he was secretly treating the viewers and fans, unaware that this treat could only be admired from afar, not enjoyed up close. The fans could shout themselves hoarse without getting the slightest response from him.
Only after returning to Peach Blossom Spring House and setting down his gear did the cameraman discover that, at some point, a blob of rice soup had smeared over the lens.
"..." S-sumimasen.
For the latter half of the journey, Wen Xiaojiu hadn't dared say a single word. He walked with his head down, quietly trying to cool his face.
The prizes for the afternoon session had been announced: local specialties again, two boxes of peach blossom pastries.
Just looking at the packaging made Wen Jiu crave them terribly.
Afraid Yu Qing would share some with him if he noticed, Wen Jiu held back and didn't let it show. But the glances he unconsciously cast that way still gave him away.
Yu Qing pressed his lips together to suppress a smile.
Nothing else was scheduled for the evening, but since Wen Jiu and Feng Chi had come last that afternoon, they still had to accept a punishment.
The director said slyly, "Since you're all tired, we won't make you do anything else. How about just chatting on a livestream? We'll randomly select requests from three fans and play a round of truth or dare."
[I'm in, I'm in! Hahaha, is it finally time for me, Hu Hansan, to make my entrance?]
[What kind of dare? Can he sit on President Feng's lap and get kissed? I've waited ages for this livestream. [drools]]
[What kind of truth? Can he sit on President Feng's lap, get kissed, and then say he likes him? My sack's ready. Just waiting to bag my wife. [takes off undies]]
[Good lord! You people are really bold, so can he say he wants more after kissing and swallowing?]
The very word "livestream" made Wen Jiu nervous. He strongly suspected the unscrupulous director was doing this on purpose!
More precisely, Feng Chi had deliberately arranged it.
Because in a certain someone's eyes, this punishment that hardly counted as punishment was a reward, a chance to steal the spotlight.
Sure enough, as soon as the suggestion came out, Lin Shuheng couldn't hold back. "Just a livestream?"
Zhang Guozhong looked puzzled. "What else? Wen Xiaojiu's most afraid of livestreaming. Making him do what scares him most doesn't count as punishment?"
Lin Shuheng: ...
Wen Jiu bristled. "Aha! I knew you were doing this on purpose!"
Zhang Guozhong jolted and hurried through the announcements, ready to make his escape. "There are no tasks tonight. Do whatever you like, everyone. Whatever you like. You can all go live and chat with your fans if you want."
Wen Jiu: Heh.
Half an hour later, Wen Jiu sat on the bed and reluctantly started his livestream. "Hello."
The fans had waited ages for a livestream from the room, and their wish had finally come true. The moment it started, everyone swarmed in, howling like wolves whose eyes had lit up at the sight of a tender, juicy little lamb.
In just over ten seconds, the viewer count in Wen Jiu's personal stream shot straight up to forty million and kept climbing.
Wen Jiu was frightened.
[Hi, wife, hi, wife! Fuck, our wife's so adorable.]
[Such fair, soft skin. Come let me give you a kiss. Mwah~]
[Pah! You pervert up there, get lost. He's my wife.]
[Stop fighting. My wife's already sitting in my lap, coaxing me. You bunch of horndogs!]
Wen Jiu: ...
Could he end the livestream?
[Wait, why is the bedding on the other bed folded so neatly? Is nobody sleeping there?]
[Holy shit, you're right! Only this bed's messy! Are those two pillows... Hey! Wife, move the camera back. Don't make me get on my knees and beg!!!]
Wen Jiu hastily shifted the camera aside and pointed it at the foot of the bed, so nervous he broke into a sweat!
Were these fucking viewers watching the livestream through microscopes?
Wen Jiu instinctively looked to Feng Chi beside him for help. The man seemed to be chatting with someone, and his serious, businesslike demeanor kept Wen Xiaojiu from disturbing him. He could only bite the bullet and explain.
"That bed is Feng Chi's. He's a clean freak and likes things tidy, so his quilt's folded very neatly."
"We aren't sleeping in the same bed," Wen Jiu stressed. "We're just or-di-na-ry room-mates."
He deliberately slowed down and emphasized those last few words.
His teeth-gritting expression amused the man beside him. At the sound of a soft chuckle, every hair on Wen Jiu's body stood on end.
Fuck, he was working his ass off here trying to clear things up, and not only was this bastard refusing to help, he even dared laugh?!
Fuming, Wen Jiu went to draw his blade again.
Before he could draw it, the man easily pressed it back down. Feng Chi leaned over and wrapped his arms around Wen Jiu's waist, resting his head on his right shoulder as he lazily lifted his eyes to the camera. "Hello."
The comments scrolled frantically.
"Yes, that's my bed."
"Yes, just like A-Jiu said. Ordinary roommates."
"I'm not lying. A-Jiu won't let me sleep there."
Wen Jiu: ???
Before the stunned Wen Jiu could recover, the bastard hanging off his shoulder had already struck up a conversation with the comments.
Chatting was one thing, but what was with that aggrieved tone?
He made it sound like Wen Jiu had bullied him!
[Hahaha, what is this scene of a big dog pouncing on a kitten? Husband's lazy, satisfied look really hits the spot.]
[Having a wife really does make a difference. Hold him tight! You'd better hold him for the rest of your life!]
[Come on, let me translate what President Feng means:
First, "that's my bed," but whether I slept in it is another matter;
Second, my wife said we're ordinary roommates, but I didn't say that, nor did I agree;
Finally, my wife won't let me sleep there. If he did, I definitely would;
Besides, so what if my wife won't let me? If I want to sleep there, I still can.
So did he sleep there last night or not? Anyway, that's all I'm saying. I haven't lied to you, but how much you pick up depends on your own abilities.]
[Holy shit! A master interpreter has appeared above. Full marks for reading comprehension!]
[You can tell they've had plenty of practice deciphering their boss's meaning. [lights cigarette]]
[Having other netizens around is so reassuring. You don't even need to bring your brain to enjoy the ship moments.]
[Hahaha, our wife's angry and bristling, but he still can't break free of President Feng.]
[Eh, is there a difference between our wife being angry and not being angry? Even a chicken could tell. [lights cigarette]]
[So in a fit of rage, he got a little angry? [doge]]
These viewers were going to drive Wen Jiu mad. Exhausted, with a dog hanging off him, he snapped at the camera, "Keep yapping and I'm going offline again. Do you still want me to pick someone?"
[Pick, pick, pick! Wife, whip me! You can whip my body too! [drools]]
Having barely managed to make out that comment, Wen Jiu said, "..."
Why were everyone else's livestreams full of purity, kindness, beauty, and people who moved China, while his was full of perverts?!!
Perhaps that remark had given them a satisfying thrill, because the comments were now full of all sorts of bold speakers. Unable to stand the harassment, Wen Jiu opened the little feature pop-up.
"I'm picking someone. Three, two..."
[Holy shit, wife, you're not playing fair!]
"One!"
[Dare: Lasting Husbands, please recite with feeling the passage about "Gu Wenzhi and Bu Qing" that played yesterday morning.]
Wen Jiu: ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿