Neon lights blazed brightly along the road.
Yan Su Ang glanced sideways.
Lian Jue Xiu’s smiling face was clearly reflected in the window.
“What are you smiling about?”
Lian Jue Xiu turned toward him. “I’m smiling because the spring breeze of reform is sweeping across the land and the motherland is bursting with vitality. Is that not allowed?”
“Didn’t you get an American green card?”
“I infiltrated enemy territory to perform underground work for the Party.”
“I’m going to record that statement and send it to the FBI.”
“…” Lian Jue Xiu changed the subject. “I was just thinking that Gao Qin would be delighted if he knew what happened tonight. What goes around really does come around.” Back when Yan Su Ang kept urging Xiao Bai to hurry and fly over to join them, he interrupted Gao Qin’s good times more times than anyone could count.
Yan Su Ang gave him a cold look. “Why would Gao Qin know?”
“Uh, because…” Lian Jue Xiu’s eyes darted. “Someone else from the crew will tell him.”
“You and Jia Zhi Qing haven’t done anything yet, have you?”
Lian Jue Xiu immediately became wary. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” Yan Su Ang straightened his cuff. “I just thought you probably wouldn’t want to follow in Gao Qin’s footsteps.”
Lian Jue Xiu stared at his profile for a long moment before muttering, “At this rate, the few of us are going to end up buying Viagra sooner or later.”
The vehicle was a hotel minibus.
As an apology for the hotel fire, the ride was free.
Jia Zhi Qing and Xiao Bai were huddled together in the row ahead.
Jia Zhi Qing leaned close to Xiao Bai’s ear and whispered, “Just now, when you and Great God were in the room…”
Xiao Bai said, “We were doing—”
“I know.” Jia Zhi Qing hurriedly cut him off.
Xiao Bai blinked, the flush on his cheeks still not completely gone.
After a long silence, Jia Zhi Qing could not resist asking, “Did you finish?”
“I don’t know.”
…
How could he possibly not know?
Had it only gotten halfway in?
Jia Zhi Qing asked, “Did you take your pants off?”
“No.” Xiao Bai thought for a moment. “But his hand went inside.”
…
Poor Great God.
Jia Zhi Qing imagined the scene and silently offered Yan Su Ang his deepest sympathy.
The group arrived at the new hotel.
Yan Su Ang dropped his luggage in his room and immediately charged toward Xiao Bai’s.
Once again, Jia Zhi Qing opened the door.
“Where’s Xiao Bai?”
Jia Zhi Qing pointed inside.
Yan Su Ang took two steps in, and his face immediately fell.
Xiao Bai was lying flat on his back in pajamas, sleeping soundly.
“Great God,” Jia Zhi Qing whispered from beside him, “once Xiao Bai falls asleep, even if the sky collapses, he won’t wake up.”
Yan Su Ang turned and walked back out.
Jia Zhi Qing added from behind him, “Oh, right. The faucet colors in the room are reversed.” He paused. “So if you want cold water, remember to turn on the red tap.”
Yan Su Ang wore a foul expression throughout the next day’s promotional events. Fortunately, because everyone had been forced to switch hotels in a hurry the night before, the entire cast and crew looked equally exhausted.
Lian Jue Xiu and Zhang Jia Jia repeatedly stepped in to smooth things over, bouncing lines off each other so effectively that the atmosphere never became too awkward. Since this was also the final stop on the tour, most people blamed the packed schedule and accumulated exhaustion and did not criticize them too harshly.
After the day’s itinerary ended, the local television station hosting them specially invited everyone to dinner.
Yan Su Ang originally did not want to go, but Lian Jue Xiu pointed out that their hosts had endured his sour face all day, so the least he could do was show them some courtesy.
Seeing Xiao Bai happily heading along, Yan Su Ang could only tilt his head toward the heavens and sigh.
Many people from the local station attended the dinner. Amid clinking glasses and lively conversation, Yan Su Ang’s expression remained dark as water.
One of the local television hosts, who was talking to Lian Jue Xiu, could not resist asking, “What’s wrong with Great God?”
Against his conscience, Lian Jue Xiu replied, “Great God is extremely dedicated. Every time he finishes a film, he has trouble stepping out of character.”
The host exclaimed admiringly, “As expected of a Best Actor.”
Lian Jue Xiu nodded. “Exactly, exactly. This happens when someone gets too deeply immersed in a role.”
The host turned toward Zhang Jia Jia. “But Zhang Jia Jia looks perfectly normal.”
“That’s because Yan Su Ang’s character goes to prison in the movie, while Zhang Jia Jia’s doesn’t.”
The host exclaimed admiringly, “As expected of a great director.”
“You find the plot that compelling?”
“I find your ability to make things up on the spot extremely impressive.”
“…”
Yan Su Ang stared at Xiao Bai, who was right beside him yet seemed as distant as the horizon, and finally could not hold back. He growled at Jia Zhi Qing, “Do you absolutely have to sit between us?”
Jia Zhi Qing looked at him miserably. “Great God, believe me, you’re not the only one suffering here.”
“Then why don’t you sit at another table?” Everyone else’s assistants were sitting together. Jia Zhi Qing was the only special case.
“Lian Jue Xiu dragged me over here.”
Yan Su Ang said, “So you’re sitting here in your capacity as Mrs. Lian?”
Jia Zhi Qing shuddered. “Great God, you may insult me, but you may not terrorize me.”
Yan Su Ang raised an eyebrow.
“Besides, I’m sitting here specifically to act as a heat shield.”
“…”
“Lian Jue Xiu said he was worried you’d catch fire and burn Xiao Bai.”
Yan Su Ang ground his teeth. “Don’t worry. The next time Lian Jue Xiu tries anything improper with you, feel free to call me.”
Jia Zhi Qing’s eyes lit up. “Great God, you’ll be my backer?”
“No. I’ll be your heat shield.”
“…”
The dinner finally dragged to an end.
The instant Yan Su Ang stepped outside, he grabbed Xiao Bai and headed toward the street.
Jia Zhi Qing shouted after them, “The car is this way!”
“I’m taking a taxi,” Yan Su Ang replied.
…
Lian Jue Xiu walked over. “Where did Yan Su Ang go?”
Jia Zhi Qing said, “He went to hijack Shenzhou 7.”
Yan Su Ang pulled on the baseball cap he always kept ready and got into a taxi with Xiao Bai.
Xiao Bai silently looked at him.
Yan Su Ang asked, “What’s wrong?”
“You…” Xiao Bai paused before asking softly, “Are you angry with me?”
…
Yan Su Ang’s expression immediately softened. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you looked unhappy all day.”
The corner of Yan Su Ang’s mouth lifted into a gentle smile. “That’s because I barely had a chance to talk to you all day.” Damn Lian Jue Xiu. The only thing he hadn’t done was point a can of pepper spray at me.
Xiao Bai asked, “You’re not angry because of what happened yesterday?”
“Of course not. Yesterday… yesterday was just an accident.”
“Mm.”
The taxi driver suddenly could not resist asking, “Great God, is the person beside you actually a woman disguised as a man?”
…
Yan Su Ang said, “I’m rehearsing dialogue from my next film with a friend. Is there a problem?”
“No problem.” The driver chuckled. “Actually, I was just probing indirectly to see whether you really were Great God.”
…
Yan Su Ang asked, “Have counterfeit versions of me started appearing on the market recently?”
“…No,” the driver said. “I just never imagined you’d ride in my car. Heh, if I told anyone, they probably wouldn’t believe me. I really wish my friends could all come see this.”
…
Yan Su Ang said, “If possible, could you keep your eyes on the road instead of the rearview mirror?”
“I am watching the road.”
“You just ran a red light.”
“…”
When they got out, Yan Su Ang deliberately left him a slightly larger tip. A red-light fine was not cheap.
After paying, he turned around.
Xiao Bai stood in the wind.
His hair was slightly tousled, his cheeks flushed red, and his eyes were fixed steadily on Yan Su Ang.
The irritation in Yan Su Ang’s heart inexplicably settled.
It suddenly occurred to him that he did not absolutely have to sleep with Xiao Bai. What he truly wanted was certainty—that the adorable, wonderful man before him belonged to him, body and heart.
“Xiao Bai,” he said quietly. “Do you like doing it?”
Xiao Bai stared at him with wide eyes.
Yan Su Ang slowly clarified, “I mean doing the things married couples do. With me. Do you like it?”
“I don’t know.”
…
Still not certain enough?
Yan Su Ang could not help feeling dejected.
“I haven’t done it before, so I don’t know.” Xiao Bai never made arbitrary judgments about things he had not personally experienced.
Yan Su Ang laughed. “Xiao Bai, this is the second time you’ve invited me.”
Xiao Bai nodded vigorously. “Mm. I’m inviting you. Let’s do it.”
Yan Su Ang grabbed his hand and charged toward the hotel, gritting his teeth as he ran. “I swear, this time, even if my eyebrows catch fire, I’m not stopping!”
Jia Zhi Qing looked warily at Lian Jue Xiu. “Why do you insist on dragging me into your room?”
“You’ll know in a minute.”
“There’s something I think I should tell you beforehand. I’m actually a taekwondo black belt.”
“I’m Bruce Lee’s son.”
“…” Jia Zhi Qing looked at him suspiciously. “Really?”
Lian Jue Xiu opened the door. “As real as your black belt.”
Jia Zhi Qing scoffed. “So it’s fake.”
…
Jia Zhi Qing awkwardly added, “What I meant was, I’m not technically a black belt, but my skill level is about the same.”
“The door is already open.”
“I can see that.”
Lian Jue Xiu stepped aside. “Then come in.”
“I can come in, but you’re not allowed to close the door.”
“Sure.” Lian Jue Xiu waited until he entered, then casually shut it behind him.
…
Jia Zhi Qing stared at the closed door and shouted, “You clearly said you wouldn’t close it!”
While removing his jacket, Lian Jue Xiu opened the bathroom door. “Mm. This one isn’t closed.”
Jia Zhi Qing folded his arms and bluffed, “I’m not a casual man.”
“When I get casual, I stop being human.”
“If you dare force yourself on me, I’ll kill you.”
“If I can’t get hard, I’ll kill myself.”
“…” Jia Zhi Qing jumped up. “What exactly are you trying to do?!”
“Nothing.” Lian Jue Xiu undid the top few buttons of his shirt, revealing a muscular chest, and sauntered toward him with a roguish air. “What do you think I’m going to do?”
Because of the difference in their heights, Jia Zhi Qing had to tilt his head back to glare at him. “I’ll call the police.”
“On what grounds?”
“Because… because you’re being a pervert!”
…
Lian Jue Xiu was magnificently rendered speechless.
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