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Chapter 436 – Palpitations from That World – The Male Lead Is Worried Sick (03)

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The moonlight was bright, and the night wind howled. On the rooftop, Ning Sitong was still waiting for Wen Junnan to come back after checking things out. Even though she was freezing, she refused to leave—what if she left and he came back right after? That would be a huge loss.

So she could only continue her lonely wait in the biting cold wind.

Inside the dormitory.

Wen Junnan lay beside the boy. The warmth coming from him made his mind go blank, and he didn’t even know where to put his hands and feet.

Whenever he slept in the same bed as his husband, he was always held while sleeping. Bai Tang had waited for a long time but didn’t get the warm embrace he expected. Dissatisfied, he pouted, then nimbly slipped under Wen Junnan’s arm, resting his cute head on his shoulder.

Wen Junnan’s body grew even stiffer. Tang Tang had gotten close to him—bare, without a single thread, pressing against him.

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Wen Junnan’s mind. The one that lingered most was: ‘Tang Tang was transformed from a little squirrel. He doesn’t even know what he’s doing—he just wants to find a warm embrace.’ This thought took root in his mind and refused to go away.

“Cold… A Nan, hug…” the boy murmured in his sleep, curling up as if he were truly freezing.

Wen Junnan’s indulgence toward Bai Tang was etched into his soul. Hearing him say he was cold, he didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around him, his long legs pressing down on the boy’s legs. “Don’t kick off the blanket. I’m holding you—you’ll warm up soon.”

In his sleep, Bai Tang let out a satisfied little purring sound, turning to lean against Wen Junnan, showing complete trust and dependence.

Wen Junnan gradually drifted off to sleep amid his thoughts. When he woke up, it was already broad daylight.

He jolted upright. The dorm walls looked as clean as new, the window was open, and freshly washed clothes fluttered outside in the wind.

His sudden reaction startled his early-rising roommate. “Wen Junnan, did you have a nightmare?”

The empty embrace and the cold space beside him seemed to suggest that everything he experienced last night had only been a dream. Wen Junnan didn’t answer. He lowered his head, staring at his arm. Last night, Tang Tang had even acted spoiled, insisting on sleeping on his arm… Was it really just a dream?

His gaze fell on the coat he was wearing, and the confusion in his eyes sharpened into focus. No—that wasn’t right. He never wore a coat to sleep, except when he had gone out for a walk last night.

He reached into the coat pocket and pulled out a few strands of yellow squirrel fur.

Wen Junnan smiled. Sure enough, Tang Tang was real.

Seeing him sit on the bed grinning foolishly without saying a word or moving, the roommate thought to himself that this top student might have studied himself stupid. Shaking his head, he picked up the freshly washed bedsheet and headed to the rooftop to hang it out.

Suddenly, Wen Junnan jumped out of bed, darted past his roommate, and ran outside. Nearly knocked over, the roommate cursed, “Idiot,” then picked up the bedsheet from the floor and resigned himself to washing it again in the bathroom.

Wen Junnan spent several hours running through the entire dormitory building, knocking on door after door, asking each room if anyone kept a pet squirrel. Without exception, every answer was no.

Disappointed, he returned and slumped into a chair to rest. By then, all his roommates were already up—some brushing their teeth, others playing games, chatting idly here and there.

“Come to think of it, it’s really strange. I had a dream last night—super creepy. The dorm turned all run-down, and it felt like sleep paralysis. I could sense the temperature dropping and this eerie atmosphere, but I couldn’t move at all. I only woke up when it got light.”

“You had that dream too?”

“‘Too’? What do you mean—you had a dream like that as well?”

“Me too, me too! I even dreamed that Wen Junnan sleepwalked out in the middle of the night. When he came back, there was suddenly another person on his bed. I couldn’t see what that person looked like, but he really just appeared out of nowhere—and Junnan was even holding him while sleeping…”

The three of them looked at Wen Junnan with strange expressions.

Wen Junnan: “……”

He rubbed his temples. Not being able to find Tang Tang had already exhausted him, and now the three of them were convinced they had shared the same bizarre dream. Without any evidence to prove that the dream had been real, he didn’t want to explain anything. Even if he did, no one would believe him.

But one thing seemed certain—the world they experienced last night was definitely not the same space-time as this one.

That made him think of parallel dimensions. Perhaps some coincidence had caused everyone in their dorm to collectively enter a parallel world. But why had he been the only one able to move? That part, he still couldn’t figure out—what exactly had triggered it?

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Parallel World

The moment Wen Junnan disappeared, Bai Tang woke up.

He stared blankly at the empty spot beside him, where warmth still lingered though the person was gone. His morning temper mixed with a sense of loss, and he couldn’t accept the fact that his husband had disappeared and left him behind. Hugging Wen Junnan’s pillow, he burst into tears.

“Wuuu…”

His resentful sobbing drifted through the air, faint yet lingering in the boys’ dormitory building. Ning Sitong, who had spent the entire night waiting on the rooftop and had nearly been blown silly by the wind, began to feel afraid.

Could it be… something supernatural?

This was a boys’ dormitory building—it should be full of strong yang energy. So how could this be happening…?

Ning Sitong didn’t dare think further. Although she was loyal to the “bandaged man,” she didn’t truly follow him from the heart. They were both people with special abilities—why should she be subordinate to him? If he could grow stronger by feeding on fear, then she could also find a way to strengthen herself.

Hard work pays off. While wandering the streets last night, she had caught a faint trace of spiritual energy—something she had never encountered before. And after absorbing it, she realized her power had indeed grown stronger.

Ning Sitong knew very well that the boy was not from this space-time. People from this world would not carry such an aura.

It was the legendary aura of “warm light”—what those people once described as the scent of the “sun.”

She had never seen the sun. In this space-time, something like the sun simply did not exist. Daytime was either overcast or rainy, while nighttime was filled with a deathly, suffocating despair.

She longed to know what sunlight was like.

If she could, she truly wanted to go to their world—to feel the blazing sun, the gentle breeze, and the fireworks that would bloom across the night sky.

Although the parallel world and the current world shared identical buildings, the atmosphere and environment were utterly despair-inducing.

When Ning Sitong awakened her abilities for the first time, the bandaged man came to her. He made her work for him—luring people from the current world into dreams so he could amuse himself by feeding on their fear and killing them. Otherwise, she could choose to be devoured by him and disappear from the universe entirely.

Ning Sitong chose the former.

She was someone who cherished her life. As long as she could live, she would do anything to survive. Because of this, she had come into contact with all kinds of people. The more she learned about the worlds of those she dragged into dreams, the more she yearned for them.

Sunlight…

She, too, wanted to live openly under the sun.

The crying grew clearer—and closer.

Ning Sitong snapped out of her thoughts, goosebumps rising all over her body.

That boy had already returned to his own space-time after she fell asleep. Once she had rested enough, she could simply pull him back in again. After last night’s encounter, she wasn’t worried about not finding opportunities in the future to absorb the spiritual energy from his body.

Perhaps she could even tear open a rift in space-time and travel to that other world—the one with sunlight.

After crying his fill, Bai Tang gradually calmed down.

Faced with the fact that he could only meet his husband when the female lead pulled him into the parallel world, he felt both wronged and helpless.

He asked Qiu’er and Xiao A, “I also have special abilities. Can I pull A Nan in too?”

Qiu’er replied sympathetically, “Tang Tang, I’m sorry. This is a rule of the Heavenly Dao. We can’t forcibly change it, or you’ll suffer a backlash.”

Xiao A nodded. “According to the rules, that’s correct. Either Ning Sitong uses her ability to pull the male lead in, or the male lead enters this space-time using his own power. Although I don’t yet know the male lead’s true origin, I can tell his identity is extraordinary. His power is sealed. If that seal is broken, this small world won’t be able to withstand it and will collapse. At that point, not only would we have to expend energy to escape, but the unsealed male lead also wouldn’t be able to remain within the Three Thousand Small Worlds—yet the host’s mission would still have to continue…”

Bai Tang understood what Xiao A left unsaid.

If that happened, then in the future worlds he traveled to for missions, the male lead he encountered would no longer be the one who doted on him, cherished him, and loved him…

“Then… let’s leave it as it is for now,” Bai Tang said, lowering his head in disappointment.

Ever since the bandaged man appeared, the people in this space-time had already been nearly destroyed by him. If everyone were wiped out, this world would collapse. The bandaged man didn’t dare take that risk, so he restrained himself somewhat. But after discovering that the female lead could pull people from other space-times into dreams, he threatened her into working for him—and thus resumed his former recklessness.

The bandaged man was extremely domineering. He could not tolerate anyone being stronger than him. Even Ning Sitong, who worked for him, was not allowed to cultivate her abilities, nor did he permit the existence of others with special powers.

Bai Tang turned back into a little squirrel and ran to the bandaged man’s residence.

He had just shut himself inside the cage when the bandaged man dragged his broken body back, still reeking as horribly as ever.

He stared at the little squirrel for a while, then spoke slowly in a hoarse, fragmented voice, “You went out, didn’t you…?”

The little squirrel stiffened all over. How did the bandaged monster know? He had clearly already returned to his original form.

Just as Bai Tang didn’t know how to respond, the bandaged man continued, “You’ve been with me for so long—you should have gained some intelligence by now. You can’t just freeload forever. Go keep an eye on Ning Sitong. She’s been acting a bit strange lately…”

In the bandaged man’s eyes, the little squirrel was nothing more than a pet he raised—eating his food, using his things. Now that it had intelligence, it should naturally work for him. He wasn’t worried the squirrel could escape his control. It was just a beast, after all, with such a tiny brain—there was no way it could develop any real wisdom.

Bai Tang thought for a moment, then decided to go along with him. He nodded and let out a few “squeak, squeak” sounds as if agreeing.

The bandaged man was very satisfied. The little beast did have this one advantage—its small size and agility. He wanted to see just what that brat Ning Sitong was up to. If she didn’t behave, he wouldn’t mind devouring her and absorbing her ability. At worst, it would just be more troublesome for him to pull people into dreams himself.

…

Current Space-Time

Wen Junnan had never felt time pass so slowly before. In just half an hour, he checked his watch twenty-five times.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried taking a nap to return to the dream. But when he woke up, nothing had happened. Could it be that he could only enter that world at night?

All he could do was pray for nightfall to come sooner, so he could return to the dream and see Tang Tang again. The little guy was timid—just the sound of a window could make him tremble. Without him there, who knew what bad things Tang Tang might encounter?

Why was it only five-thirty? It wasn’t even dark yet…

This was really worrying.

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Chapter 434 – Palpitations from That World – Tang Tang Knocked Out by the Smell (01)

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[Points settlement: Breaking up the male and female leads—reward: 10,000 points.
Side mission—clear your name—completion rate: 100%, reward: 1,000 points.
Helping elderly and vulnerable groups in need—completion rate: 100%, reward: 1,000 points.
The next world has an S+ danger level. Please adjust your condition and pay attention to your personal safety. Muah~]

Ever since the system matched itself with a partner, even its usually flat, mechanical voice had started to include playful remarks.

However, this S+ danger level…

“Tang Tang, how about we switch to another world?”

“Qiu’er, let’s check the plot first.”

Their voices sounded at the same time. Bai Tang smiled and lifted Qiu’er onto his lap, gently stroking his back in a steady rhythm.

“I know you’re worried about me, Qiu’er, but we can’t keep avoiding difficulties. If we run away now, it will come back to bite us someday.”

After traveling through so many worlds, Bai Tang’s knowledge and perspective were no longer what they used to be—he was no longer the little squirrel in the forest who only thought about fancy ways to eat pine nuts every day.

“You protected me as I grew. I’ll protect all of you until you can take human form.”

“Tang Tang…” Qiu’er’s eyes welled up with tears, deeply moved by Bai Tang’s sudden sincerity and affection. “Tang Tang, you’re so good…” The child had grown up—he was ready to spread his wings.

Xiao A jumped onto Bai Tang’s lap and gently patted Qiu’er’s back with his paw. “With us around, are you really afraid something will happen to our host?”

This wasn’t just empty boasting. After absorbing the fortune they had gathered in the previous world, Xiao A had vaguely touched upon certain laws and understood some truths. In the vast universe, while one could not oppose the Heavenly Dao, protecting a single person was still possible.

“Alright, then we’ll go to that world.”

Qiu’er wiped his eyes with his paw and pulled out a book from the archive titled <Palpitations from That World.>

This world was divided into two dimensions.

The male lead, Wen Junnan, lived in a normal timeline. Like any other child, he grew up safely and smoothly, studying without incident. It wasn’t until he entered university that things began to change. One night, in his sleep, he dreamed of a girl—and of cruel torture. After waking, he couldn’t calm the lingering fear the dream had left behind.

From that day on, he dreamed every night. Sometimes the girl appeared, sometimes she didn’t, but without exception, the world in his dreams was brutal. People he knew—classmates and friends—existed there as well, yet their personalities were drastically different from those in reality.

What he saw most often was the girl’s life. Watching her being bullied and tortured stirred even his normally indifferent heart with pity. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he intervened in one of the dreams—and that was how he met her.

The girl’s name was Ning Sitong. Through their conversations, she learned that he did not belong to her world, and she became deeply fascinated with the sunlit world he came from.

Wen Junnan and Ning Sitong gradually grew closer, and he also taught her many ways to protect herself.

In the dream world, there was a ruler—the greatest villain in the original plot—who preyed on the weak and fed on fear. One day, he set his sights on Ning Sitong. With Wen Junnan’s help, the two of them narrowly escaped death multiple times. In the end, they broke through the barrier between dimensions, bringing Ning Sitong into Wen Junnan’s world, where they lived happily together from then on.

As for Bai Tang, his identity was a squirrel raised by the villain. He repeatedly assisted the villain in tracking the male and female leads and obstructing their escape. In the final battle, the villain casually grabbed him to block an attack, and he was killed by Wen Junnan with a single stab.

How should one put it? It truly deserved its S+ rating—the danger level and mission difficulty had skyrocketed. The male lead was in one dimension, while the female lead and the male supporting character were in another. The male supporting character had to stay under the villain’s watchful eye, avoid him, and at the same time prevent the leads from developing feelings for each other. This task was simply too difficult.

“No matter what, we have to give it a try~” Bai Tang wasn’t very confident either. He had always been afraid of worlds with strange energy fields, but he refused to back down. If even he retreated, wouldn’t Qiu’er be even more afraid? Thinking about it, this was already the third world of this kind.

“Host, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Qiu’er.” After upgrading, Xiao A’s connection with the host had strengthened considerably. He smiled at the uneasy Bai Tang, signaling that he didn’t need to be so restrained.

After a flash of white light, Bai Tang entered the mission world.

This world was somewhat special. Unlike in the previous world, the two systems did not appear in physical form, which greatly reduced how often Qiu’er got scared. If anything happened, Xiao A would promptly cut off the connection between Qiu’er and Bai Tang, doing everything he could to help.

The male supporting character was a squirrel raised by the villain, usually feeding on the leftover fear the villain didn’t consume. When Bai Tang arrived, he was locked in a cage. The surroundings were dim, and his nose was assaulted by a foul smell made up of who-knows-how-many things. The stench irritated the little squirrel so much that he sneezed several times. He lifted his tail, trying to block the smell with it—only to realize that the worst stench was coming from his own tail.

The sticky fur was right under his nose. The little squirrel stiffened and toppled backward, shutting his eyes in agony.

He fainted from the smell.

Xiao A and Qiu’er, who hadn’t even had time to react: “…” They really hadn’t expected this situation. Truly!

The two systems hurriedly set up a protective barrier around the little squirrel, isolating the foul air, and then sprayed deodorizing and purifying mist all over him like crazy.

Bai Tang had been knocked unconscious by the stench, then sprayed awake. Before he could speak with Qiu’er and Xiao A, the infamous villain returned.

The little squirrel immediately fell silent, sitting upright in the cage with perfect composure.

A tall, jagged shadow was cast against the wall by the doorway, accompanied by a dull scraping sound as it moved.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the villain, who possessed special abilities, Qiu’er and Xiao A had no choice but to withdraw the protective barrier for the time being, much to Bai Tang’s dismay. With the door opening, the air began to circulate, and the suffocating stench weakened slightly.

After an unknown amount of time, Bai Tang finally saw the villain’s true appearance—

A bandaged man. And not even whole. Where the bandages were missing, charred flesh was exposed, and his pitch-black eyes were enough to send chills down one’s spine.

The little squirrel quickly averted his gaze—not only out of fear, but also because the man was simply too ugly.

With his aesthetic standards always intact, the little squirrel refused to accept such an eye-assaulting sight. He even felt like dripping a few drops of eye wash just to cleanse his vision.

“Heh heh heh—why aren’t you eating?” The bandaged man spoke slowly. The moment he opened his mouth, a strong foul odor wafted out.

How Bai Tang wished he could refuse to respond—but as the villain’s pet, and with memories of how his predecessor had interacted with him, he couldn’t ignore the question.

“Squeak, squeak—” I’m too full, too full…

There was still a lump of extracted fear in the bowl. Bai Tang absolutely refused to eat it, so he could only use being “too full” as an excuse to avoid further questioning.

Fortunately, the bandaged man didn’t press the matter. In his broken, bellows-like voice, he said, “This one was too ugly. The fear doesn’t taste good. Next time I find a higher-quality one, I’ll share some with you.”

Based on the memories Bai Tang had inherited, those were nothing but empty words. Whenever the bandaged man found good-looking humans, after scaring them out of their wits and extracting their fear, he would devour it all himself—never sharing any. Only the fear from ugly people, which he found unpalatable, would be tossed into the feeding pouch inside the cage.

“Squeak, squeak—” Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master.

Finally, after sending the bandaged man away, the little squirrel collapsed flat inside the cage like a lifeless heap. Before long, the sticky, grimy feeling on his body made him feel utterly disgusted with himself.

“Qiu’er, Xiao A, has that bandaged monster left? I want to take a bath.”

The little squirrel, who had always hated water, was now voluntarily asking for a bath—just showing how terrible the environment here was.

“Alright, no problem.”

The bandaged man was in the next room. Qiu’er activated a shielding mode; as long as the bandaged man was busy studying new ways to do evil, he wouldn’t notice anything happening on this side.

The little squirrel climbed into the mini bucket of water. The feeling of his paws touching the bottom helped ease his fear of water—at least he didn’t have to worry about it being too deep and drowning.

Sensing Bai Tang’s negative emotions, Xiao A quickly added another isolation barrier.

The bandaged man grew stronger by feeding on fear. The host’s fear was also fear—there was no guarantee he wouldn’t sense it and, in a fit of madness, kill even his own pet.

“In the future, you must never let your guard down,” Xiao A warned.

For now, Bai Tang was safe. As long as the bandaged man didn’t notice anything unusual, nothing would happen. After all, his destined fate was to be stabbed to death by the male lead. Of course… if the male lead were to see Bai Tang and realize that the bandaged man abused him—starving him and leaving him uncared for—then who would end up stabbing whom was another matter entirely.

On that point, Qiu’er, who could feel the master’s consciousness gradually awakening, was absolutely certain—his master would definitely be the one to stab that bandaged monster to death!

Bai Tang had arrived at just the right time—the very day the male lead first began dreaming.

He pricked up his ears, listening as the bandaged monster left and its footsteps faded into the distance. Once everything fell silent, he reached out a paw and pushed open the cage door.

Clang— The harsh sound rang out sharply in the quiet room, especially startling in the stillness.

The little squirrel raised a paw to pat his chest. It’s okay, it’s okay… that thing has already left.

Having long been in darkness, his eyes had adapted. He avoided obstacles on the ground and nimbly climbed onto a table, slipping out through an open skylight.

The little squirrel dashed forward at full speed. On both sides were tightly shut shopfronts rushing past in a blur. The damp night wind carried a faint fishy smell, tainting the fur Bai Tang had only just finished cleaning.

“Qiu’er, Xiao A—barrier, barrier!” Bai Tang was on the verge of going crazy. He had just finished bathing—he absolutely did not want to bathe again.

After running for who knows how long, he finally stopped beneath a dormitory building on a campus. This school corresponded to the one in Wen Junnan’s world.

If nothing had changed in the early stages, the first time the male lead entered this world would be in his university dorm.

The eerie atmosphere would make him uneasy. When calling out to his roommates yielded no response, the sudden strangeness would drive him into the corridor for a cigarette. It was then that he would see a girl running in panic below the dorm building and quickly entering the male dormitory. He would return to his room to grab a coat and rush downstairs—only to find the main entrance on the first floor tightly locked, making it impossible for anyone to enter. At that moment, he would finally realize what was wrong (as in the original plot).

The little squirrel stared at one of the dorm room doors on the fifth floor and eagerly ran upstairs.

“A Nan, wait for me—I’m coming!”

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Chapter 433 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Countless Honeymoons (16)

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Heng Xingjian had originally intended to let Li Manpei climb even higher—after all, the higher she rose, the harder she would fall. If mere verbal warnings wouldn’t work, then a harsh lesson would.

But now, he had changed his mind.

After finally persuading his future father- and mother-in-law to relent—agreeing to their marriage as long as all these troublesome matters were settled—what was there left to wait for? Heng Xingjian could hardly wait to see Li Manpei fall into the dust, to finish dealing with everything, and then marry Bai Tang.

Competition among entertainment companies was nothing unusual. But soon, Li Manpei’s agency realized that Xingyu Entertainment was targeting them—more specifically, targeting Li Manpei.

At first, they weren’t entirely sure. After all, Liu Lingfan was also a rising star. Both were women, and it was understandable that their career paths overlapped. But gradually, it became obvious—at every event Li Manpei attended, Liu Lingfan would steal the spotlight from her. Because of this, Li Manpei often lashed out at the marketing manager who handled her appearances.

Sister Lian had no outlet for her frustration and could only bottle it up inside.

However, even the most patient person has a breaking point.

Finally, at a certain press conference, not only did Liu Lingfan steal her spotlight again, but Yi Haoguang also mocked her. Maintaining a fake smile and pretending not to care, Li Manpei returned backstage—only to explode at Sister Lian, smashing things recklessly. A cup of scalding hot water nearly disfigured her.

Sister Lian could no longer endure it. She threw a cup of cold water at Li Manpei—right as reporters entering backstage caught the entire scene on camera. Li Manpei burst into loud sobs, while Sister Lian trembled with rage.

As Li Manpei’s fame continued to grow, even under suppression, the company had no intention of abandoning this cash cow. And so, Sister Lian lost her job. Not only that—no one in the industry would hire her anymore.

Carrying a cardboard box, she wandered the streets with vacant eyes. Being ostracized by the industry hit her far harder than unemployment. It meant she would have to change careers—and start again from the bottom. Her family, mortgage payments, car loans, the expenses of elderly parents and children—each one weighed heavily on her shoulders.

At last, this once-strong woman cast aside her pride and crouched on the street, wailing uncontrollably.

Passersby avoided her, though their eyes inevitably lingered for a few extra glances.

As if to match the bleakness of the moment, a fine drizzle began to fall, gradually dampening the clothes of those walking by.

Two small dogs trotted up to Sister Lian on their short legs.

“Woof, woof…”

Their long fur was dusted with what looked like “powdered sugar,” and their watery eyes stared at her. She reached out and gently petted them.

“Are you homeless too?”

Suddenly, an umbrella appeared above her, shielding her from the drifting drizzle. A pair of sneakers entered her line of sight. She slowly looked up—and a familiar face came into view.

“Sister Lian, it’s raining. Let’s find somewhere to take shelter.”

The voice was as soft and gentle as ever, like a clear, flowing spring washing away the heaviness in her heart.

Sister Lian nodded, hugging her box as she followed Bai Tang into a nearby teahouse.

The drizzle never turned heavy. After about fifteen minutes, the rain stopped. The sky remained overcast, but golden sunlight leaked through the clouds.

When Sister Lian walked out of the teahouse, the exhaustion from fifteen minutes ago was gone. She seemed like a completely different person, her smile returning to her face.

She placed the cardboard box beside a trash bin—out with the old, in with the new. The old saying truly wasn’t wrong.

Bai Tang smiled faintly, his crescent-shaped eyes shimmering like they were filled with starlight. “Sister Lian, I’ll have to trouble you to take good care of Xiao Fan from now on.”

“Bai Tang, thank you.”

“No need to be polite~”

That’s right—Bai Tang had come to recruit her. Sister Lian, who knew Li Manpei’s schedules and engagements inside out, was the perfect weapon against her. Of course, the biggest reason for hiring her was her own capability.

The next day, Sister Lian joined Xingyu Entertainment and became a member of Liu Lingfan’s PR team.

The female lead and the supporting female rival facing off—wasn’t this scene quite entertaining?

Heng Xingjian held Bai Tang in his arms as they sat on the sofa, watching a replay of Extreme Wilderness. Aside from those irrelevant people, every moment was a sweet memory with Tang Tang.

Bai Tang watched with great interest. Look at him—wasn’t he amazing? One person doing the work of three: grilling, setting up tents, climbing trees to grab flags—he could do anything, from sky to earth.

The little squirrel puffed out his chest proudly and shot a look at Heng Xingjian behind him. The latter immediately got the hint and began praising Bai Tang.

“Tang Tang is incredible. With you around, Extreme Wilderness basically turns into a casual outdoor picnic.”

Bai Tang grew even more pleased. “Of course. I’ll take care of you from now on.” When it came to surviving in the wild, he was the boss.

With Sister Lian helping Liu Lingfan, things became increasingly difficult for Li Manpei. No one understood her better than Sister Lian.

Li Manpei had secured the female lead role in a film by an international director—every film this director made won major international awards. After a bumpy rise to fame, Li Manpei had finally reached the peak. If nothing unexpected happened, completing this film would take her career even further.

She had imagined it beautifully—but unfortunately, her dream ended there.

Li Manpei was arrested during filming. Malicious defamation, intentional harm—each charge was backed by solid evidence. Even the incident where Bai Tang had been taken by his former manager to those kinds of events, damaging his reputation, had her involvement behind the scenes.

As she screamed and demanded to see Bai Tang, Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian were already on a plane heading overseas.

With the restrictions lifted, registering their marriage could not be delayed.

Bai Tang could wait—but Heng Xingjian absolutely could not.

When they received the certificate proving their marriage, Bai Tang couldn’t help but laugh as he watched Heng Xingjian carefully tuck the marriage certificate close to his body. A few seconds later, still uneasy, he placed it in the suitcase—then, still not reassured, he even made a call to buy a safe.

Xiao A: “This male lead is kind of dumb.”

Qiu’er: “You’re not allowed to call him dumb—you’re the dumb one.” His master wasn’t dumb at all. Only a smart master could create a smart him.

Xiao A: “…” Is it really that hard to please your wife? Even catering to their preferences doesn’t work anymore? What should I do? Waiting online—this is urgent.

Bai Tang pulled along Heng Xingjian—whose personality had suddenly taken a turn for the silly—and began their honeymoon journey.

Exotic clothing, ancient traditions, all kinds of delicious food, and a cultural landscape completely different from that of Z Country—everything made the little squirrel let loose. He ran all over the streets in high spirits, while Heng Xingjian followed behind, carrying bags full of local delicacies, resignedly chasing after him.

What should he do when Tang Tang loved running around so much? Spoil him, of course. After all, he was the one he chose.

By the time the two returned home loaded with souvenirs, the Li Manpei incident had already been resolved. Even the stains on Bai Tang’s past reputation had been completely cleared away.

Although Extreme Wilderness had been halted midway, this season’s lineup of guests was incredibly strong. Viewership didn’t drop—in fact, it increased. Of those who saw Bai Tang, at least eighty percent fell in love with the smiling boy with crescent-shaped eyes.

Unfortunately, after the Li Manpei incident, the young man announced his withdrawal from the entertainment industry. It seemed he had been deeply hurt. No matter how loudly his fans called for him to return, he remained resolute, never looking back.

Back in domestic life, the little squirrel was busier than ever. To avoid idling at home—and to support his husband’s career—he took on a newly launched charity project by the company. At the same time, he became Heng Xingjian’s assistant, constantly showing off their affection on set, making the entire cast green with envy.

With the “wife of the Best Actor” present, no one dared to make a move on Heng Xingjian. Even if someone tried to flirt with him while Bai Tang wasn’t looking, Heng Xingjian would mercilessly throw them out of the dressing room, humiliating them in front of the entire crew. After that, no one dared to harbor improper thoughts again.

With his experience in charity work, Bai Tang turned the project—caring for the elderly living alone and for children—into a great success. Backed by the Heng Corporation, he brought together many celebrities to participate. Every donation was accounted for in physical goods, handled fairly, transparently, and openly. Netizens could look everything up online, and the clear data made it one of the most admired corporate charity initiatives.

It was simply outstanding. Every celebrity’s donation was listed—if there were any questions, people could consult the celebrity’s studio or team, and even track where the donated materials went.

Though Bai Tang was no longer seen in the entertainment industry, his name was still heard everywhere.

After eight years of struggling in the industry, Liu Lingfan finally won the title of Best Actress. Holding her trophy during her acceptance speech, she announced her retirement from acting and her marriage to a boyfriend outside the industry. Fans were shocked—some heartbroken, some offering blessings, others reacting intensely—but nothing could stop her from moving toward her happiness.

After that variety show, Ke Liangong won over audiences with his personal charm and successfully made a comeback. As for Yi Haoguang, he remained active for a while, then gradually settled down to hone his acting skills and moved into film and television. In his seventh year, he was crowned Best Actor.

Now much more mature, Yi Haoguang no longer acted impulsively. The youthful vigor of his earlier days had faded, replaced by a hint of world-weariness and melancholy.

After another award ceremony ended, he refused his manager’s company and sat alone by the riverside, smoking.

By the time Ke Liangong found him, the ground was littered with cigarette butts.

“Why are you smoking so much? Even a Best Actor shouldn’t have such poor stress tolerance.” The man was as gentle as ever, but his words brought a trace of bitterness to Yi Haoguang’s heart.

“I’m fine.” He flicked away the cigarette butt and took another from the pack. Before he could light it, Ke Liangong snatched it away.

Ke Liangong frowned. “You can’t keep smoking like this.”

“You can’t control me.”

“What if I insist?”

“You’re not qualified. It has nothing to do with you.”

“You think that just because you say it has nothing to do with me, it really doesn’t?!”

“You—”

The rest of his words were swallowed between their lips.

Yi Haoguang’s eyes widened in shock. Ke Liangong’s anger had completely dissipated, and his smiling eyes stared at him without blinking.

“Has no one ever told you? When you kiss, you need to breathe. You’re already a Best Actor and you still don’t know that?”

“I’m a method actor—I don’t win awards from intimate scenes,” Yi Haoguang muttered. Ever since he realized his feelings for Ke Liangong, he had avoided having too many intimate scenes with both male and female co-stars. In other words, at thirty years old, Yi Haoguang was still inexperienced.

“We’re already in this kind of relationship now—do I have the right to control you?”

“Haoguang, I don’t like the smell of smoke. Can you stop smoking from now on?”

The one who falls in love first loses. No matter how bad Yi Haoguang’s temper was, he could never unleash it in front of Ke Liangong. In the end, he could only compromise and say a soft, “Okay.”

Later on, the two of them withdrew from the film industry and joined the charity project led by Bai Tang, becoming two of its main leaders. Bai Tang’s burden lightened considerably, and every so often, Heng Xingjian would whisk him away to “relive their honeymoon.” Only, those honeymoons no longer involved traveling around the world—they were mostly spent at home.

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Chapter 432 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Passing Smoothly (15)

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Bai Tang had originally planned to get their marriage certificate first. The plane tickets were already bought—he just needed to head out. But in the end, he still couldn’t leave.

An intentional injury case was a serious matter. Until the results were out, he was not allowed to leave the city.

Hearing this news, Bai Tang wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, completely dispirited and unable to muster any energy.

Seeing his dejection, Heng Xingjian, who had been following the case’s progress, comforted him. “It’s okay. We just need to wait another day or two.” In truth, he was anxious as well—only by settling things as soon as possible could he truly feel at ease.

In Country Z, marriage isn’t just about two people—it’s also about two families.

After receiving Heng Xingjian’s message abroad, the two elders of the Heng family immediately dropped their ongoing business expansion plans, booked flights overnight, and rushed back.

Nothing was more important than their child getting married. They only had two sons: the elder was fully devoted to his career, while the younger showed no interest in women. In fact, he rarely even spared a glance at men. Now that this child had finally opened his heart, they absolutely had to see what kind of person could break through their second son’s stubborn, stone-like nature.

When they returned home, they were quite surprised. The gray-white walls had been repainted into a warm beige, and greenery could be seen everywhere, adding life and vitality to the house. It looked incredibly comfortable.

Neither Heng Xingjian nor Heng Xingzhou liked making changes, so the only person who could have brought about such transformation must be the soon-to-be second daughter-in-law—whom they hadn’t yet met.

The Heng parents nodded, their anticipation for meeting this “daughter-in-law” growing even stronger.

At that moment, Heng Xingjian had Bai Tang pressed against the door of the study, kissing him. Bai Tang’s legs went weak, and his arms hung limply around Heng Xingjian’s neck. “Don’t… your parents… they’ll be back soon…”

His soft, sweet voice, tinged with emotion, was even more alluring. If the timing weren’t so wrong, Heng Xingjian would have wanted to take the young man right there. But he couldn’t—he neither wanted nor would do anything against Tang Tang’s will.

“It’s our parents,” Heng Xingjian corrected in a low voice. As he helped straighten Bai Tang’s clothes, he leaned in to kiss his nose again. That flushed little face paired with those watery eyes made his lower body tense uncontrollably. He could only pull Bai Tang closer, as if breathing in his scent might calm his physical reaction.

“Um… maybe you two should continue this in your room?”

The two of them looked up, only to see Father Heng and Mother Heng standing by the staircase, wearing awkward expressions after accidentally interrupting their son’s intimate moment.

Bai Tang buried his head into Heng Xingjian’s chest like a little squirrel, refusing to come out no matter how he was coaxed.

This was too embarrassing. Being caught by elders like this—how could he possibly continue living under the same roof in the future?

In contrast, Heng Xingjian remained completely unfazed. There wasn’t the slightest hint of panic at being caught by his parents. So what if he and Tang Tang had gotten a little intimate in the heat of the moment? It wasn’t like they were putting on an R-rated show. Besides, this was his own home—there was nothing illegal about it.

Bai Tang was escorted back to his room by Heng Xingjian, after which Heng Xingjian was called away by Father Heng. What followed was time for a conversation between men.

Mother Heng wanted to get to know Bai Tang better, but the earlier awkwardness hadn’t quite faded. So instead, she decided to start with the people in the household—the butler and the servants.

“Madam, you mean Bai Tang? He’s a good child,” the butler said with a beaming smile, his unusually expressive face catching Mother Heng’s attention.

“Mr. Bai? He’s very easy to get along with—never makes things difficult for others,” one of the maids said.

“Oh, Bai Tang? The Second Young Master likes him a lot. I heard he even saved the Second Young Master’s life,” another maid added.

“Thanks to Bai Tang, the Second Young Master’s daily routine has become much more regular,” said a kitchen helper.

Mother Heng was startled. So there was even a life-saving favor between them?

If that was the case, she couldn’t help but wonder—could it be that Bai Tang liked her younger son and was using that favor to pressure him into marriage?

She ordered someone to investigate. For the time being, she also put aside the idea of speaking with Bai Tang directly. She had even planned to tell him more about Heng Xingjian’s preferences and hobbies, but it would be better to wait until the investigation results came back.

The conversation between the men was far more rational. After discussing future plans, Father Heng no longer interfered with Heng Xingjian. The child had grown up and now had his own path to follow.

What had happened on “Wild Extreme” was no secret. During dinner, Mother Heng kept placing food onto Bai Tang’s plate. Bai Tang was flattered and a little overwhelmed, quickly thanking her. Seeing that he remained humble and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient, Mother Heng grew even more fond of him.

Soon after, Bai Tang dressed up, put on sunglasses, and went to the hospital to bring his parents out.

When both families met face-to-face, Bai Tang’s parents were so shocked upon learning that their “daughter-in-law” had turned into a “son-in-law” that they nearly had a heart attack.

Father Bai had been in business before—anyone in the business world had heard of the Heng family. Apart from an entertainment company still based domestically, most of the Heng family’s industries had gradually shifted overseas. They had long-term vision and great ambition, far beyond what his own small company could ever compare to. Not to mention that now his family had fallen into poverty. Becoming in-laws with such a family left them lacking confidence—if Bai Tang were ever mistreated in the future, what could they possibly rely on to stand up for him?

To be honest, Bai Tang’s parents were not very satisfied with this marriage. The main reason was simple—they felt they were not of equal standing.

Heng Xingjian understood their concerns. Asking him to give up Bai Tang was absolutely impossible. The only solution was to convince them.

“Uncle, Auntie, my feelings for Tang Tang are sincere.”

“I know your feelings are sincere, but marriage is something two people commit to for a lifetime. You’ve only known Tang Tang for half a year—do you really understand each other? The passion of a new relationship hasn’t even faded yet. Isn’t it too early to start talking about the future?”

“If that’s your concern, Uncle, you can rest assured.” Heng Xingjian took Bai Tang’s hand. “What matters most in a marriage? Feelings and assets. I’ve already discussed this with my father—I will transfer all the shares and property under my name to Tang Tang. If there are ever problems in our relationship in the future, I will leave with nothing. I will never let Tang Tang suffer any loss.”

In any case, he had no intention of ever divorcing Tang Tang. Whether it meant transferring assets or signing a prenuptial agreement, none of it mattered—as long as he could marry him.

“That’s right, in-laws, we would never mistreat Tang Tang. Please don’t worry,” Mother Heng said. She shot Heng Xingjian a glare for making such a major decision without consulting them first, but as his mother, she understood her son well. Money could always be earned again—but if the person who moved his heart was gone, who knew when her younger son would ever fall in love and get married? Between her two sons, neither gave her any peace of mind.

“Well…” Father Bai hesitated. The other side had already laid everything out so firmly, and every condition favored their son. What argument could he possibly make now?

Bai Tang looked at his parents expectantly. “Dad, Mom…”

Mother Bai, soft-hearted toward her child, tugged gently at Father Bai’s sleeve. The Heng family had shown sincere intentions, and their child truly liked him. There was no real disadvantage—perhaps it was better to grant their blessing. After all, children would find their own happiness.

With that, both families reached an agreement. Once the police released the investigation results, they would choose an auspicious date for the wedding.

Only then did Heng Xingjian finally let out a sigh of relief. Gaining the approval of his future in-laws had not been easy.

With persistent reporters still lurking outside, and Bai Tang’s newly purchased house not yet renovated, Bai Tang’s parents accepted the warm invitation from the Heng family to stay temporarily. Heng Xingzhou was also called back home from the company by his parents. The house suddenly became lively, filled with warmth and the feeling of a true home.

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Chapter 431 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Nothing Is More Important Than Business (14)

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Li Manpei is a trending young celebrity. Although her performance in “Extreme Wilderness” was less than ideal and didn’t match the persona she had built, she was still a human life. Netizens from all sides kept a close eye on both the production team and the hospital, hoping to get updates as soon as possible.

Fortunately, the production team had taken extra precautions. After emergency treatment, Li Manpei was transferred to a better-equipped central city hospital. By the third day, she regained consciousness.

However, the very first sentence she spoke after waking caused a huge uproar.

“Senior Brother Bai, why did you push me?”

Her once-beautiful face was now thin and pale, without a trace of color, making her look fragile and pitiful.

People tend to sympathize with the weak. As a result, many forgot Li Manpei’s earlier manipulative “green tea” behavior and instead took her side, united in anger.

Netizen 1: [I didn’t expect this—Bai Tang is that jealous? Even harming his junior sister from the same sect?]

Netizen 2: [Li Manpei is stirring up trouble again. Her senior brother is already down on his luck with fewer resources than her, and she still won’t let him go. When Bai Tang had his accident before, she didn’t hold back from stepping on him either.]

Netizen 3: [Only an idiot would risk their own life just to frame someone. Li Manpei may be a bit of a schemer, but she’s not brainless.]

Netizen 4: [They should call the police. If Bai Tang really pushed her, that’s intentional assault.]

The internet buzzed with endless arguments. Bai Tang currently had no agency, and he himself was still sleeping soundly at Heng Xingjian’s house, so he couldn’t respond immediately or handle the crisis. This caused some of his supporters to lose confidence.

Why hasn’t Bai Tang responded yet? Could it actually be true?

They couldn’t believe that the cheerful boy from the livestream—the one who often flirted sweetly with the Best Actor Heng and treated the production team considerately—could be a would-be murderer.

By the time Bai Tang woke up and learned about the situation, the internet was already in chaos.

“Qiu’er, what’s going on?” Bai Tang was still confused. Did those people have any evidence that he pushed Li Manpei? Why were they making such a big deal out of it?

As Tang Tang’s number one die-hard fan, Qiu’er had already registered an account while Bai Tang was still asleep and had been arguing with netizens for five hours straight.

Qiu’er got angry just looking at the comments. “It’s all that Li Manpei making things up and slandering Tang Tang! Even in the hospital she won’t behave. People are worried about her, and the first thing she says is, ‘Why did Senior Brother Bai push me’…”

If it weren’t for Li Manpei’s dramatic accusation, netizens wouldn’t have believed her so quickly. After all, she was the victim—surviving a near-death experience and wanting justice seemed natural.

“She used to be in the same agency as Tang Tang. She must know he doesn’t have any backing now, so she dares to act so recklessly.”

“I have every reason to suspect that there’s something wrong with Li Manpei’s brain. Back on the mountain, she should have seen how the male lead protected the host. Anyone with a brain wouldn’t keep targeting the host after that. The male lead’s background and power in the entertainment industry aren’t exactly a secret,” Xiao A said, holding a diagram of the human brain as if it were Li Manpei’s, trying to spot some flaw in it.

No matter what, a clarification still had to be made.

Bai Tang logged into his account and posted a clarification on Weibo.

Although it was a bit late, for the fans who supported Bai Tang, it was undoubtedly reassuring. As for those who still didn’t believe him and continued to insult him online—he was going to take action.

Call the police.

The best solution.

“If you’re in trouble, go to the police. That’s something we learned in kindergarten—didn’t you all go to kindergarten?” Bai Tang calmly replied to the netizens who were insulting him in private messages, even posting screenshots of those messages.

“Thank you to all the fans who support me for your concern. If I didn’t do something, then I didn’t do it. My conscience is clear. If there’s a problem, go to the police—I believe in justice. For those who don’t believe my explanation, please stop insulting me. Let’s speak with facts instead. (Screenshots of private messages) @Z City Police”

When celebrities encounter situations like this, they usually just issue warnings or lawyer’s letters and leave it at that. Who would have expected Bai Tang to be so direct—reporting it to the police on the spot and even posting his follow-up conversations with them? His open and straightforward attitude, with nothing to hide, won over quite a few people. Even some haters began to wonder if they had misunderstood him.

After finishing everything, Bai Tang went to find Heng Xingjian in the study and threw himself into his arms. “A Jian, you have to take me in—I have nowhere else to go.”

Although the matter had been reported to the police, before any official conclusion was reached, there was no stopping the mouths of netizens. Having experienced online harassment and even stalking before, Bai Tang didn’t dare to underestimate anyone now. Who knew—maybe one of Li Manpei’s die-hard fans was secretly planning how to ambush him with a sack.

Heng Xingjian wished for nothing more than for the boy to grow closer to him—but not like this, forced into staying indoors.

He stroked Bai Tang’s soft black hair. Thinking of Li Manpei spouting nonsense in front of the media, a trace of sharpness appeared in his usually gentle eyes.

“Tang Tang can stay as long as he wants. This is our home.”

“Hm?”

The boy’s questioning tone was misunderstood by Heng Xingjian as reluctance. Having already come up with a perfect plan to ruin Li Manpei completely, Heng Xingjian panicked. Had he been too forward and scared Tang Tang?!

“Tang Tang, I’ve already decided that you’re the one for me in this lifetime. Would you be willing to give me a chance—with marriage as the goal—to see if I’m suitable to be your partner for the rest of your life?”

Bai Tang’s eyes curved with happiness as he was about to agree, when Xiao A suddenly interrupted:

“Host, you need to be reserved. Qiu’er’s handbook says that if something is obtained too easily, it won’t be cherished. This is a husband-training manual Qiu’er wrote based on the male lead’s personality—ah~”

Xiao A was caught off guard when Qiu’er twisted him. What grudge was this?! The male lead had already spoken—if they just got married on the spot, there’d be no role left for the female lead. What was the point of any “test”? Wasn’t Xiao A supposed to be on the female lead’s side?

Xiao A felt wronged. He had clearly followed the method written in Qiu’er’s notebook. And hadn’t Qiu’er always been reluctant to see the host and the male lead get together so quickly? Sigh… a wife’s thoughts were truly hard to understand.

In the past, Bai Tang might have listened to Xiao A. But after going through so many lifetimes, he no longer wanted to test the male lead based on some unfounded fear that he might change his heart, wasting both of their time.

Smiling brightly, the young man stood on tiptoe and kissed the man’s thin lips. “Let’s pick an auspicious day to register our marriage.”

Heng Xingjian was both surprised and delighted. Just as he was about to confirm it, Bai Tang’s next sentence stopped him in his tracks.

“You’re not even focusing when you kiss. You can sleep in the study from now on.”

Heng Xingjian: “!!!”

Whether it was the “benefits” now or those in the future, Heng Xingjian couldn’t afford to miss out. Besides, the person was already in his arms—there was no way he could run away.

A wonderful life began. With no elders at home, the only one who could be considered an elder was the housekeeper. Nicknamed the “Elder Slayer,” the little squirrel managed, in less than two days, to make the usually expressionless housekeeper beam with smiles. Every day, he happily busied himself in the kitchen, saying he wanted to cook nourishing meals for Bai Tang.

Bai Tang, meanwhile, lived quite leisurely—sleeping, browsing the internet, and snacking in Heng Xingjian’s room. Life couldn’t have been more pleasant.

It wasn’t that reporters hadn’t tried to find Bai Tang—they simply couldn’t.

They turned their attention to Bai Tang’s parents and went to the hospital. But a hospital is a place for treating patients—how could it be surrounded by reporters? How would ambulances get in and out?

The reporters couldn’t even get through the hospital’s main entrance. Even if some tried to sneak in disguised as patients, they still couldn’t access the inpatient ward. After speaking with Bai Tang on the phone and understanding the seriousness of the situation, his parents, though worried, chose to avoid causing him trouble. They even stopped their daily walks downstairs.

The people staying with Bai Tang’s parents were all patients of similar age. They weren’t interested in entertainment industry gossip—unless it made the national news, they wouldn’t pay attention to which celebrity got married, divorced, or filmed a drama.

Though it was called a hospital ward, it felt more like a retirement home. Bai Tang’s father played chess with fellow patients, while his mother watched TV dramas with other female patients. Their days were simple but fulfilling. Most importantly, Bai Tang had said that once this matter was resolved, he would leave the entertainment industry, bring his parents home, and have the family live together.

Having their child by their side—that was all they wished for.

The two elders were in great spirits, cheerful all day long. From time to time, they would chat with fellow patients, happily imagining a future surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Li Manpei became famous—half for her popularity, half for the controversy. Numerous endorsements and appearances lined up, waiting for her to choose once she was discharged from the hospital.

She wasn’t worried at all about Bai Tang calling the police to investigate the scene. At the time, there had been a chaotic crowd, and everything happened in an instant. Even the cameramen had put down their equipment to rescue people—what evidence could possibly have been left behind? As for witnesses, perhaps Heng Xingjian, who had been nearby, might have noticed something. But everyone knew he was on Bai Tang’s side, so his testimony wouldn’t count as reliable evidence.

News in the entertainment industry moves quickly. Within a few days, the incident lost its heat, replaced by stories of Li Manpei’s “rebirth from the ashes” and her return after recovering her health.

Just as Li Manpei had expected, collecting evidence proved extremely difficult—but not entirely fruitless. In the early stages, both parties’ statements were consistent. The disagreement arose after Bai Tang was pulled back up: one claimed that Bai Tang had pushed her, while the other insisted he had not.

When questioning the witnesses, one of the cameramen suddenly slapped his thigh. “That’s right—there might be evidence! Maybe that camera caught it.”

To capture either clever or embarrassing moments from the guests, the production team had installed a miniature camera beneath the broken bridge. That camera might have recorded the moment Bai Tang was pulled up.

The police and the production staff quickly retrieved the footage, loaded it onto a computer, and located the time of the incident. Sure enough, everyone involved was in frame. When Li Manpei fell, they slowed the footage down several times. Her facial expression was twisted, and her hand was extended outward—not in a pulling motion, but clearly in a pushing one. Bai Tang, firmly held by Heng Xingjian, had shifted slightly to the side. Unable to pull her hand back in time, Li Manpei lost her balance and fell.

This was crucial evidence. The production team cooperated fully, submitting the footage and promising not to disclose anything before the final result was announced.

Meanwhile, Li Manpei was discharged from the hospital and took on several endorsements, riding a strong wave of momentum.

However, this was also the last stretch of time she could enjoy her success. Heng Xingjian and Bai Tang didn’t deal with her immediately—not because they couldn’t, but because they were busy planning their honeymoon route. Whatever needed to be handled could wait until after they finished their “important business.”

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Chapter 430 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – The Tea Withered (13)

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Bai Tang’s silence was taken by Li Manpei as a sign of yielding. Encouraged, she became even more proactive, even deliberately edging Bai Tang aside.

Bai Tang refused to let go. The two of them exerted force in secret. Beneath their feet was loose soil—one moment of carelessness, and it gave way. Terrified, Li Manpei instinctively grabbed onto Bai Tang.

Seeing that all three of them were about to fall, Bai Tang used the momentum to pivot, pushing Heng Xingjian upward while he himself lost balance and dropped off the cliff.

“Tang Tang—!”

Gravel tumbled down the slope. Bai Tang was caught by Heng Xingjian and left hanging in midair. More than half of Heng Xingjian’s body dangled over the edge—only then was he barely able to hold onto Bai Tang.

The cameraman, frightened, dropped his camera and rushed to grab Heng Xingjian. The others did the same. They shoved aside the stunned Li Manpei and ran to the cliff to help.

“Don’t let go, Tang Tang—hold onto me!”

The soil was still collapsing, and Heng Xingjian didn’t dare loosen his grip.

Veins bulged clearly across his forehead as his arms suddenly strained with force. He couldn’t think of anything else—there was only one thought in his mind: Tangtang must not fall.

Bai Tang glanced downward. The height meant little to him, but for an ordinary human, it would mean either death or crippling injury. He tightened his grip on Heng Xingjian’s hand. Even if it was just to reassure A Jian, he couldn’t let go.

People tend to sweat when they’re nervous. Before long, Heng Xingjian was drenched in sweat.

Bai Tang’s grip kept slipping lower along Heng Xingjian’s arm. “A Jian, let go. I’ll be fine.” If this continued, A Jian’s arm would be dislocated—how could he bear that?

Bai Tang couldn’t bear it, but Heng Xingjian could bear it even less. Rather than watching Tang Tang fall right before his eyes, he would rather die himself.

“Senior Brother Bai, don’t worry—we’ll definitely pull you up!”

While the others were pulling Heng Xingjian, Li Manpei ran to the edge, leaned out, and tried to encourage Bai Tang with her words.

Whether it was the lingering emotions of the original host or Bai Tang’s own dislike of her, the moment he saw Li Manpei, anger surged within him. “Go stand somewhere cooler and stay there.”

“I…” Li Manpei’s outstretched hand froze midair. She didn’t know whether to withdraw it or continue helping Heng Xingjian pull Bai Tang up.

“Miss Li, please step aside.” Heng Xingjian’s voice was icy, so cold that Li Manpei slowly withdrew her hand, her eyes gradually reddening.

“I’m sorry… I just wanted to help.”

With everyone’s combined effort, Bai Tang was gradually pulled back up.

Heng Xingjian tightened his grip a little more, slowly guiding Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, don’t panic. Hold onto my hand and climb up slowly.”

Bai Tang was no longer completely suspended in midair. His body pressed partially against the cliff face. Stepping on protruding rocks, he used the leverage to push himself upward.

Again… just like this. Everyone only ever paid attention to Bai Tang.

Just as Bai Tang was about to be pulled up, a vicious thought rose in Li Manpei’s heart. A bright smile bloomed on her face, as if she were celebrating Bai Tang’s narrow escape. Yet as she turned around, she “accidentally” slipped and shoved Bai Tang outward.

“Ah—!”

A terrified scream pierced the sky.

Heng Xingjian held Bai Tang tightly in his arms, one arm gently stroking his back—whether to comfort Bai Tang or himself, it was unclear. “It’s okay… it’s okay…”

Qiu’er and Xiao A stood where Li Manpei had originally been. Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, they quietly stepped back a few paces, hiding their contribution without a trace.

Trying to harm Tang Tang? Didn’t she know who was backing him?

Li Manpei’s attempt to harm others backfired. Not only did she fail to push Bai Tang off, she ended up falling off the cliff herself.

Of course, heaven cherishes all life. Qiu’er and Xiao A weren’t that heartless. Besides, Bai Tang couldn’t bear to see someone die in front of him. So the systems gave Li Manpei a small “benefit”—at the very least, her life wouldn’t be in danger. As for the rest of her body, however, they couldn’t guarantee it would remain intact.

The production team had set up safety measures for this segment. As Li Manpei fell, a net deployed and caught her. However, because her falling position was off, she rolled several times across the net and then tumbled off the edge with a thud, hitting the ground.

Just hearing the sound made it seem painful. But thanks to the production team’s cushioning setup and Qiu’er and Xiao A’s “friendly assistance,” Li Manpei’s injuries were far less severe than everyone had expected.

With an accident like this, the show couldn’t continue. Even a delay of just a few minutes in the livestream was enough to stir up the audience.

Their idol was in danger—who the hell would still watch a variety show?

The production team looked utterly miserable. This situation had blown up.

The director’s phone was practically ringing off the hook. Though it might not be very moral to think so, he couldn’t help but feel relieved—it was fortunate that Heng Xingjian hadn’t fallen. If the second young master of Xingyu Entertainment had been injured on their show, Xingyu would have torn him apart.

The program was forced to halt, and everyone gathered at the foot of the mountain.

Li Manpei lay on a stretcher provided by the infirmary. Heng Xingjian held onto Bai Tang, not allowing him to go forward.

Did she really think that just because things had been chaotic, he wouldn’t notice why she had fallen?

Bai Tang was soft-hearted and possessed special abilities—he might very well pity Li Manpei and try to save her.

Everything in this world comes at an equivalent price. Heng Xingjian didn’t believe Bai Tang’s powers could be used without cost. Asking him to pay a price to save someone who had tried to harm Tang Tang—Heng Xingjian would never agree.

“Tang Tang, are you okay? You scared me to death.” Liu Lingfan had heard about Bai Tang from the cameraman and was so frightened she felt like her soul had left her body. If anything had happened to Bai Tang, how heartbroken his parents would have been… She had promised the two elders she would take good care of him.

“I’m fine, Sister Xiaofan, don’t worry.” To stop the heroine from bombarding him with a series of questions, Bai Tang resorted to a “handsome-man tactic.” He shoved Qiu’er and Xiao A into her arms. “Qiu’er and Xiao A are terrified—they need a pretty big sister’s hug to feel better.”

Qiu’er & Xiao A: “???”

Before the two dogs could even react, Liu Lingfan had already started enthusiastically petting them.

“Good boys, don’t be scared.” She tried her best to comfort the two “trembling” dogs.

Qiu’er: I’m not scared—I’m being manhandled by the heroine! Woman, don’t touch me!

The barren mountain was in a remote area. It would take three hours just to drive into the city, so there was no way an ambulance from town could arrive in time.

The production team didn’t dare delay. They quickly transferred the unconscious Li Manpei to the local clinic—at least it had some medical facilities.

Gu Xinrong, the number one “bootlicker,” heard that Li Manpei had fallen off the cliff because of Bai Tang. Already blinded by her beauty, he refused to listen to any explanation and angrily swung his fist at Bai Tang.

“Ah—!” Liu Lingfan, standing nearby, cried out in shock at Gu Xinrong’s sudden attack.

Everyone turned to look, only to see Heng Xingjian catching Gu Xinrong’s punch. His expression was like solid ice, carrying the ominous sense of an approaching storm.

Both men were fighting for the one they loved—the clash between them began immediately.

Gu Xinrong had a martial arts background, each punch heavy and forceful. But Heng Xingjian was no pushover either. Ever since being introduced into high society by his family, he had trained his combat skills. Anyone thinking of kidnapping him would have to think twice. Now, he held nothing back.

The two exchanged blows, neither willing to yield. The sound of fists and kicks colliding made everyone present wince.

Didn’t they feel pain? Just listening to it hurt.

In the end, Heng Xingjian came out on top. With a shoulder throw, he neutralized Gu Xinrong’s strength and subdued him.

“A Jian, you’re hurt.” Bai Tang hurried to his side, but Heng Xingjian pressed down on his hand.

“It’s just a superficial injury. It’s nothing serious.” There were too many people around—he couldn’t let Tang Tang reveal his abilities.

Bai Tang seemed to understand. He glanced around, then lowered his head and gave a quiet “Mm.”

By the time they returned to the city, it was already late at night.

Feeling guilty, the production team arranged a hotel for them.

Heng Xingjian declined the production team’s offer and instead called the family driver, taking Bai Tang home with him.

The Heng family’s villa was located halfway up the mountain, with beautiful scenery. Heng Xingjian’s parents were both overseas expanding the company, while Xingyu Entertainment in the country was managed by the eldest son, Heng Xingzhou. He rarely returned home, having bought a place near the company for convenience.

The villa was luxurious. The paintings on the walls were priceless, and the exquisite chandeliers cast a cold white light that matched the gray-white walls, giving the place a lifeless chill. If not for the housekeeper and a few servants, the villa would have felt completely devoid of human warmth.

The housekeeper said respectfully, “Second Young Master, Doctor Shen has been waiting for quite some time.”

Heng Xingjian gave a slight nod. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Doctor Shen was the Heng family’s personal physician. After examining Bai Tang, he pulled Heng Xingjian aside. “You Xiao Heng—this is the one you’ve been making such a fuss over lately? That rumored partner of yours?”

Don’t be mistaken—this old man, already past fifty, really was a highly skilled doctor. But doctors can be gossipy too, okay? He had watched Heng Xingjian grow up—when had he ever cared about anyone like this? In the past, some people had even tried to throw themselves at him—one had stripped naked and run into his room, and he had still thrown them out expressionlessly. The Heng family had more than once suspected their second son might have… certain issues, even asking Doctor Shen to examine him repeatedly. After confirming over and over that Heng Xingjian was perfectly healthy, that whole “physical concern” finally died down.

“Not a rumored partner,” Heng Xingjian said, his gaze soft as he looked at the boy dozing with his head propped on the table. “My partner.”

Doctor Shen followed his gaze. The boy’s head bobbed sleepily; after nodding a few times, his cheek slipped off his palm. He opened his eyes, looking dazed and confused, as if unsure where he was.

“A Jian~” Bai Tang pouted at Heng Xingjian. “When can we go to sleep?”

The little squirrel was sleepy and wanted to curl up in his lover’s arms to sleep.

“Coming.” Heng Xingjian stepped past Doctor Shen and gently supported the boy. “Tang Tang, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something before sleeping?”

“I’m not hungry. No need to trouble the housekeeper. I just want to sleep with you right now~”

As the two passed by Doctor Shen, the boy yawned. His almond-shaped eyes, misted with moisture, looked at the doctor as he spoke softly, “Doctor Shen, thank you for your hard work. Good night.”

“Good night,” Doctor Shen replied.

Watching their retreating figures as they left the room, a sense of inevitability rose in his heart. A boy like that… it was only natural for people to like him. It wasn’t surprising at all that he had caught Heng Xingjian’s special attention.

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Chapter 429 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Jasmine Green Tea (12)

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Heng Xingjian, Bai Tang, and the two little dogs all wore straw hats. From a distance, the first impression they gave was that of a family. Their relaxed demeanor didn’t look like they were challenging the wilderness at all—instead, it felt more like a spring outing. If they were carrying a basket, it would’ve looked even more so.

Since this was supposed to be an extreme challenge, they couldn’t stay together the whole time. With both teams gathered, all the attention was stolen by Heng Xingjian and Bai Tang, leaving the others with nothing worth watching.

Not long after the two teams split up, Bai Tang mysteriously took out two small flags. Unwilling to remain in the background any longer, Li Manpei spoke up, “Wasn’t there only one?”

Bai Tang replied, “I found this one in the grass.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Does it make any difference if I say it now? Anyway, I’m on the same team as Heng Xingjian.”

Bai Tang clearly didn’t include Li Manpei as part of his group. The latter bit her lower lip, putting on an expression of grievance that she seemed forced to endure.

[“Look, Li Manpei is at it again.”]

[“Now that Gu Xinrong, that fool, isn’t here, who’s going to stand up for her? Don’t tell me she’s expecting Heng Xingjian?”]

[“Bai Tang’s words clearly show he doesn’t see her as one of them. Isn’t she allowed to feel upset?”]

[“No way… does anyone seriously think Li Manpei is naturally delicate and fragile?”]

[“A truly considerate and delicate girl would know her physical condition isn’t good enough and wouldn’t even join this kind of activity. Not causing trouble for others—that’s real thoughtfulness.”]

Li Manpei watched as Heng Xingjian affectionately patted Bai Tang’s head in praise, then said in a soft, fragile voice, “Senior Brother Bai is really amazing. Unlike me… I can’t do anything.”

If it were a modest man, he might have comforted the insecure and self-deprecating Li Manpei. But Heng Xingjian was clearly not someone with a normal way of thinking. He very cooperatively nodded, agreeing with her.

“Indeed, Tang Tang is really amazing.” Whether it was producing a blanket out of thin air or possessing special abilities, these were things ordinary people couldn’t compare to. Of course, even if Tang Tang couldn’t do anything, he would still be the best in his eyes.

Li Manpei choked on her words, then continued, “No wonder the Best Actor Heng has taken a liking to Senior Brother Bai. He’s really much better than me.”

Bai Tang said, “Yes, A Jian really does have good taste.”

Li Manpei: “…”

Bai Tang gave Heng Xingjian a sweet smile, and the man adjusted the boy’s straw hat for him.

Still unwilling to give up, Li Manpei pointed at something red in the distance and said, “Is that a small flag?”

Bai Tang looked over in that direction and shook his head. “Just a red garbage bag.”

Li Manpei’s face turned a shade paler. What does Bai Tang mean? He didn’t even go over to look—how does he already know it’s not a small flag? Is he implying I’m blind?

Although Bai Tang said it was just a trash bag, he still walked toward it. Just as Li Manpei thought he was about to embarrass himself in front of the audience, Bai Tang picked up the bag and handed it to the production team.

“I don’t know who littered in the mountains—this really pollutes the environment. We’ve got food in our backpacks, so we can’t put it together with trash. I’ll have to trouble the cameraman to help find something to store it in.”

The camera filming Bai Tang tilted up and down a few times, as if nodding in agreement with the boy.

The livestream audience nearly burst out laughing.

[“Tang Tang is way too cute—he even remembers to protect the environment when he’s out.”]

[“Did you see Li Manpei’s expression? Poor thing. Too bad there’s no sucker here to stand up for her.”]

[“Tang Tang shutting her down like that felt so satisfying, hahaha.”]

Just as the comments said, no one was trying to please Li Manpei now, so she could only rely on herself.

“Since it’s not a small flag, we should hurry and find one. Otherwise, if the other team gets it first, we’ll lose.”

Finding flags was the main objective, so they continued according to plan. Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian were still leisurely holding hands, while the production crew following behind them secretly felt troubled. The two little dogs were like navigation devices—guiding the way so well that all the traps set by the crew were avoided. They even smoothly found the third flag. If things kept going like this, what would be left to watch?

Fortunately, luck was on their side. The two dogs led them straight to the broken bridge mechanism that had been set up. This was the hardest obstacle in the entire show—watching Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian rack their brains to get the flag would definitely be entertaining.

As for why no one was looking forward to Li Manpei’s performance—well, sorry. Her “well-behaved top student” persona had already collapsed. The “well-behaved” part had turned into “scheming green tea,” and the “top student” into someone practically illiterate. The staff couldn’t say much, but the audience had eyes. It would already be good enough if she didn’t hold them back—no one was expecting anything from her anymore.

When they arrived at the broken bridge, a small red flag was planted on the other side. Its surface fluttered in the wind, eye-catching and impossible to miss.

“Woof, woof, woof…” One of the dogs barked a few times, startling Li Manpei out of her thoughts.

The camera shifted to her. She gave a soft, delicate smile and put on a troubled expression.

“The bridge is broken, but the flag is on the other side… what should we do?”

If one ignored her previous behavior and only looked at her now, she really could stir up a man’s protective instincts—making one not want her to frown, willing to go through fire and water just to see her smile again.

But still, the same problem remained—unfortunately, her devoted simp wasn’t on this team.

Bai Tang stared at the opposite side, deep in thought. If he were alone, he could easily get the flag. But with cameras around—and with A Jian there—there was no way he could just turn back into a little squirrel to retrieve it.

Heng Xingjian walked to the edge to examine the situation. The broken bridge was made of wood and had long fallen into disrepair. It had snapped in the middle, and the remaining planks were extremely fragile. With just a light press, a finger-width crack split open in the wood. Repairing the bridge was clearly not an option.

The drop beneath the bridge wasn’t very high, but it wasn’t low either. Climbing down and then back up from the other side to get the flag was possible—but it would take a lot of time and energy.

Heng Xingjian was calculating his chances of climbing across to retrieve the flag. If he ran out of strength halfway and fell, even if he didn’t die, he’d be seriously injured. That was the real difficulty of this challenge.

Seeing all three of them lost in thought—and even the two little dogs standing at the edge, staring into the distance—the production team couldn’t have been happier. A highlight moment for the show was finally in sight. If they edited together footage of the Best Actor and Bai Tang struggling and discussing solutions, then spliced it into a scene showing disagreement or even an argument, it would definitely draw in viewers. After all, there had been too much sweetness between them lately—this was supposed to be a survival challenge show, not a romance program.

Unexpectedly, the filming that followed went very smoothly. Bai Tang proposed the same plan Heng Xingjian had in mind: he would climb down, then climb up the other side to retrieve the flag. Li Manpei agreed, while Heng Xingjian opposed it.

“Tang Tang’s body is weak. I’ll go,” Heng Xingjian said. He hadn’t forgotten that the first time he met Bai Tang, the boy’s foot had been injured. It takes a hundred days to recover from muscle and bone injuries—although half a year had passed, he still couldn’t allow Bai Tang to face even the slightest danger.

“I can do it,” Bai Tang insisted. “I could climb the tree just now—my stamina is actually very good.”

Heng Xingjian replied firmly, “If I say no, then it’s no. Tang Tang, be good.”

Bai Tang said, “If I don’t go, are we supposed to let a girl do it?” He pointed at Li Manpei.

Li Manpei put on a shocked expression, then lowered her head in distress. “It’s all my fault… If only I were stronger, you wouldn’t be put in such a difficult position.”

Qiu’er: “Hey, Xiao A, look at this green tea b*tch.”

Xiao A: “I see it. Be good—we’re not learning from her.”

Bai Tang: “See? Other than me, there’s no one else who can go.”

Heng Xingjian said, “I can.”

“You can’t.” Bai Tang took off his backpack and grabbed Heng Xingjian’s hand, gently swaying it. “A Jian, you’ve been carrying me the whole way, and you’ve been making the fire and grilling meat—you’re already exhausted. But I’ve had plenty of rest, so let me go, okay~”

Heng Xingjian lowered his gaze slightly. Bai Tang intensified his acting cute, but his usually unbeatable trump card didn’t work this time. Heng Xingjian still firmly rejected his proposal.

For the first time in this world, Heng Xingjian took a hard stance with Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, you’re not allowed to go.”

Bai Tang wanted to keep persuading him, but when he looked into the man’s eyes, he saw pain and pleading. It made him freeze for a moment.

“I don’t want to lose you again.” Heng Xingjian pulled the boy into his arms, his whisper by Bai Tang’s ear filled with helplessness and unease.

Qiu’er added, “The male lead’s soul has always traveled together with Tang Tang through each world, and he’s always been conscious. It’s just that every time they transmigrate, his memories and awareness get sealed away. In the last few worlds, though, his consciousness has started to show signs of awakening.”

That also explained why the male lead had almost fallen into darkness in some worlds—his original power was something the laws of the Three Thousand Worlds couldn’t withstand.

“Then we’ll think of another way.” Bai Tang recalled how he had once accidentally triggered his lover and nearly caused him to lose control. His heart ached—Heng Xingjian always put him first.

Bai Tang’s nose stung. He hugged Heng Xingjian back, his voice slightly muffled with a nasal tone. “I’m sorry… I always make you worry~”

Heng Xingjian pinched the boy’s delicate nose. “I’m willing to.”

The cameraman captured this moment—these two lovebirds having a brief spat and then quickly making up—and couldn’t help but admire them inwardly.

As expected of a Best Actor Heng—he calmed his lover down so quickly. And Bai Tang was no less impressive; he had managed to win over the Best Actor Heng not long after meeting him.

Climbing over to get the flag became the last resort. Bai Tang came up with a new idea—he asked Heng Xingjian to gather some relatively straight branches, while he went to collect flexible vines to bind them together, making an extra-long pole. They could use it to hook the flag from the other side, then climb down to retrieve it, greatly reducing the risk.

The production team had already anticipated this method. Even after collecting all the usable branches nearby and tying them together, the pole still couldn’t quite reach the other side.

“Just need to stretch a bit more.” Bai Tang held up the pole and aimed at the opposite side, preparing to hook the flag. Before it could reach, however, Heng Xingjian snatched the pole from his hands.

“I’ll do it.” Heng Xingjian pushed Bai Tang behind him. He couldn’t stand the sight of Tang Tang leaning halfway over the edge, looking as if he might be blown off by the wind at any moment.

“Then be careful.” Bai Tang was also afraid Heng Xingjian might fall, so he held onto him tightly.

“I’ll help too.” Wanting to assert her presence, Li Manpei hurried over and grabbed onto Heng Xingjian as well.

Knowing Li Manpei wasn’t a good person, how could Bai Tang let her touch Heng Xingjian? He said, “No need. You’re not very strong—just rest over there.”

Unwilling to give up, Li Manpei saw this as the perfect chance to show teamwork and win Heng Xingjian’s favor. She blinked playfully and said, “I can’t just keep letting you take care of me. Don’t underestimate me, Senior Brother Bai.”

“Really, there’s no need.”

One insisted on helping, the other refused her help. It had rained the night before, and the soil by the cliff was still soft. As they moved, Heng Xingjian’s footing suddenly slipped a little, scaring Bai Tang so much that he didn’t dare argue with Li Manpei anymore.

Forget it. If she wants to help, then let her help—as long as she’s not trying to harm anyone. Bai Tang chose to think the best of it.

Seeing that Bai Tang no longer objected, Li Manpei became even more eager to show her attentiveness. She kept expressing concern for Heng Xingjian, “Be careful, take it slow. I’m holding onto you—you don’t need to be afraid…”

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Chapter 428 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Jasmine Green Tea (11)

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Beads of sweat the size of beans formed on Heng Xingjian’s forehead as he struggled to endure the pain in his arms.

Bai Tang scrambled to his feet in a panic. Most people’s attention had been drawn to Li Manpei, so there weren’t many gathered under the tree.

“A Jian, A Jian, I’m sorry…” The boy’s eyes were filled with moisture, and with a blink, tears streamed down.

“It’s okay. As long as Tang Tang is fine.” Heng Xingjian’s handsome face was pale. Half-embracing the boy, his bloodless lips gently kissed away the tears at the corners of his eyes. “Don’t cry, I’m fine.”

The boy sniffled softly. Seeing he couldn’t help much, Liu Lingfan ran to the luggage they had left not far away and began searching for the medical kit. Each person could only bring three items, and one of hers was a small first-aid kit.

Bai Tang glanced at the camera filming them. He had Qiu’er and Xiao A create a distraction, then took the opportunity to pull Heng Xingjian behind a nearby tree.

Once he was sure no one could see them, Bai Tang used his healing ability to slowly repair the injury in Heng Xingjian’s arm.

His control over his powers had grown more refined—the healing light was contained within a small range, with no leakage at all.

“A Jian, I lied just now. There wasn’t any snake in the tree. That Li Manpei is just too annoying, so I wanted to scare her a bit,” the boy confessed honestly, apologizing for his behavior.

His tears had already stopped, but his voice still sounded muffled.

“No matter what, I’ll stay by Tang Tang’s side.” It was a simple sentence, yet it carried Heng Xingjian’s deepest promise.

“A Jian~” Bai Tang buried himself in his chest, his heart burning with emotion at such deep affection.

“Tang Tang…” Heng Xingjian hugged him tightly, as if he wanted to press the boy into his very bones.

I love you—from the very first moment I saw you outside the hospital.

“Tang Tang, Heng Xingjian, where are you?” Liu Lingfan had found the first-aid kit, but in the chaos, she couldn’t spot the two people she most wanted to see.

What had attacked Li Manpei wasn’t the “green snake” everyone thought—it was just a vine that looked like one.

Li Manpei stopped wailing. The abrasions on her face throbbed faintly, but they were nothing compared to the anxiety of having mistaken a vine for a snake.

When she came back to her senses and realized that the scene just now had likely been seen by all her fans, her face burned with embarrassment.

What should she do? Her image…

Li Manpei lowered her head and said nothing. To her devoted admirer, Gu Xinrong, it looked like she had been frightened and injured, too embarrassed to face anyone.

He glanced around and spotted Liu Lingfan standing in the open with the first-aid kit. He quickly walked over, leaned in, and said softly, “Let me borrow that, thanks.”

Gu Xinrong was in a hurry and quite strong. When he grabbed the first-aid kit, Liu Lingfan didn’t have time to let go and was pulled forward, stumbling and nearly falling.

“Hey, I never agreed to lend it to you!”

Even the most easygoing person has their limits. The first-aid kit had been snatched away—what about Tang Tang and Heng Xingjian?!

Liu Lingfan pushed her way into the crowd, trying to get the kit back, but Gu Xinrong was faster. The kit had already been opened, and the accompanying doctor was carefully treating Li Manpei’s wounds.

Liu Lingfan was furious, but she couldn’t exactly snatch it back midway through treatment.

“Woof, woof, woof…”

The sound of two small dogs barking came from nearby. Liu Lingfan felt something tugging at her pant leg. Looking down, she saw a little husky biting onto her pants, seemingly trying to lead her somewhere.

Dogs protect their owners—these two must know where Bai Tang was.

Liu Lingfan bent down, grabbed some disinfectant and gauze from the first-aid kit, and followed the two puppies to the tree where Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian were.

“Tang Tang, are you hurt?” Liu Lingfan pulled him out of Heng Xingjian’s arms and lifted his chin—no injuries on his face, good; she rolled up his sleeves—his arms were smooth, also fine; she started to roll up his pant legs…

“Hm?”

Her movements were suddenly stopped by Heng Xingjian. She looked up and met his deep, stormy gaze, and her body froze as if she had been immobilized.

“Sorry to make you worry, Xiao Fan. I’m not hurt~”

The boy’s voice broke the frozen tension, and the atmosphere warmed again. Liu Lingfan also realized she had been too rash. She gave an awkward smile and let go of Bai Tang’s pant leg.

“It’s good that you’re not hurt… really good…” Liu Lingfan held the disinfectant awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Heng Xingjian’s presence was too overwhelming—just standing there made her unsure of herself.

Bai Tang let go of Heng Xingjian and instead looped his arm through Liu Lingfan’s. “How is it over there?”

With someone changing the subject, Liu Lingfan was more than happy to escape the awkwardness.

She glanced toward the crowd and curled her lips. “Tsk, making a fuss over nothing.” Clearly, even the “female lead” didn’t think much of that troublesome supporting character.

After treating Li Manpei’s minor scrape, everyone sat down quietly in a circle.

Bai Tang stuffed the small red flag into Heng Xingjian’s hand. “Ours.” If anyone wanted to snatch it, they’d have to get past Ah Jian first.

Xuan Xiuxian weighed the difference in strength between himself and Heng Xingjian, then reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

So far, their team hadn’t obtained a single flag—and now they even had two injured members.

He looked at the group that had split into two factions and sighed inwardly. Three days… and only one had passed so far. This was going to be tough.

The production team had clearly thought of this as well. Several of them stepped aside and huddled together, seemingly discussing something. Just as Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian finished packing and were about to set off, the cameraman—who had previously shared a “roast chicken” connection with Bai Tang—spoke up.

“Bai Tang, you’ve seen the situation. There’s conflict between Li Manpei and Yi Haoguang. If they stay together, things might escalate even further. So… would it be possible…”

The cameraman awkwardly expressed the production team’s request to swap team members. Creating drama was one thing—but they definitely didn’t want things to spiral into something serious.

After a day of observation, the staff had already figured out Bai Tang’s position within the team. As long as he agreed, Heng Xingjian and Liu Lingfan wouldn’t object.

Being able to get away from that “green tea,” Yi Haoguang couldn’t ask for more.

With bruises still covering his face, he moved closer to Bai Tang. “Look at this injury on my face…”

Bai Tang: “!!!”

Ke Lianggong explained, “He got it from a fight with Gu Xinrong. Just a small conflict.”

Ke Lianggong tried to downplay the situation. Deep down, he also wanted to separate Yi Haoguang and Li Manpei—once they were apart, there would be far fewer problems.

Even without hearing the full truth, Bai Tang could already guess what had happened.

Qiu’er and Xiao A were even commenting on Li Manpei’s acting skills.

“‘Innocent girl’? Please, don’t insult actual innocent girls. She’s more like a cup of jasmine green tea.”

“This is the worst slander jasmine green tea has ever suffered.”

The viewers in the livestream also found something off about Li Manpei.

[“The more I watch her, the more something feels wrong. That “green tea” vibe is really strong.”]

[“No bias here—Li Manpei is just a delicate girl. Her clothes were soaked, and a man suddenly barged in. Wouldn’t you scream too?”]

[“She’s not a bad person. She’s been blaming herself for leading everyone the wrong way, and she even kindly warned them about a snake in the tree.”]

[“Give me a break—“kindly”? How is she any different from those “Don’t argue, it’s all my fault, I’ve always wanted to get along with my sister” green tea girls? Only straight guys can’t see through it.”]

[“It’s not that straight guys can’t tell—they just want to have it both ways.”]

Just then, Liu Lingfan, who had been firmly against swapping team members, was still refusing. Their group only had three people—who would leave, and who would join?

Maintaining her soft and fragile demeanor, Li Manpei walked up to Bai Tang. “Senior Bai, please don’t argue because of me. It’s all my fault. I’ve always wanted to do something for everyone, but I keep messing things up.” She turned to Yi Haoguang. “Yi Haoguang, I’ve always wanted to get along with you peacefully, but you misunderstood me…”

Xiao A: “See? What did I tell you.”

Qiu’er: “Impressive. I’ve learned something.”

Female viewers: [“That’s next-level.”]

Male viewers: [“Something feels off, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”]

People of the same kind are especially sensitive to each other. While Ke Lianggong was talking to Bai Tang, Yi Haoguang had been subtly on guard against him all along. It wasn’t obvious, but it was definitely there.

Bai Tang’s eyes flicked back and forth between them. He pulled Heng Xingjian aside, and the two whispered about something. Then Bai Tang jogged over to Liu Lingfan. She cast a strange glance at Ke Lianggong and the others—then agreed to the team swap.

She agreed!!!

Yi Haoguang’s eyes widened. He jumped up in excitement, only to pull at his injuries again and cry out in pain.

“You, be careful.” Ke Lianggong rubbed Yi Haoguang’s arm, a hint of indulgent affection on his face that even he himself didn’t notice.

It was an equal exchange—female for female. Not only did it separate Li Manpei and Yi Haoguang, it also kept things relatively fair for both teams.

As everyone packed up, Gu Xinrong still felt uneasy, worried that Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian might bully Li Manpei, so the two teams ended up traveling together.

Along the way, everyone finally got to witness what it meant to be doted on by an award-winning actor.

For example, right now—

“Tang Tang, the path ahead is slippery. I’ll carry you across.”

“Okay~”

The man crouched down, and the boy shyly climbed onto his back, hiding half his face against the man’s shoulder.

“We’ve passed it already. Put me down—I’m heavy.”

“You’re not heavy, Tang Tang. I could carry you for a lifetime.”

“A Jian, are you hungry? These chestnuts are really good—I’ll feed you.”

“Open your mouth, ah—”

“Ah—”

The two of them led the way at the front, leaving no room for anyone else to join in.

Li Manpei bit her lower lip, glanced ahead, then lowered her gaze in silence.

Under the blazing sun, everyone was sweating profusely. When they stopped to rest at noon, Bai Tang quietly sat to the side, weaving grass. Gu Xinrong watched for a while, found it boring, and turned away to chat with Li Manpei.

Heng Xingjian started a fire. At some point, the husky and the golden retriever—who had disappeared earlier—came running back, one carrying a chicken in its mouth, the other a fish. They dropped them beside Heng Xingjian and barked, “Woof, woof…”

“Good dogs. Go see what Tang Tang is doing.” Afraid the fire might burn them, Heng Xingjian shooed them off to Bai Tang.

“Woof…” The black-and-white husky and the golden retriever trotted over and nudged Bai Tang.

“Come here—try these on and see if they look good.”

Bai Tang had woven several grass hats. Two smaller ones were clearly meant for the little ones.

Qiu’er wore the grass hat Bai Tang had specially made for him and strutted over to Li Manpei and the others, showing off proudly.

Hmph, a bunch of mortals—do you have love-filled grass hats personally woven by my Tang Tang?

With the hats on, they no longer had to worry about the sun pounding on their heads. Everyone looked on enviously, and Qiu’er grew even more smug.

Heng Xingjian stepped up to Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, where’s mine?”

“Of course I made one for you.” Bai Tang pulled out a hidden grass hat from behind him. “Come on, try it—see if it fits.”

The boy placed the hat on Heng Xingjian’s head. A few stray blades of grass stuck out, but instead of ruining his looks, they gave him a more down-to-earth charm.

“So handsome!” The boy’s eyes curved into a smile.

“It’s because Tang Tang is so skilled.” The man’s lips curved upward, and in his brown eyes, only one person was reflected.

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Chapter 427 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Where Are the Snakes (10)

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Yi Haoguang had recovered a bit of his strength and could no longer tolerate those ambiguous, judgmental looks. If he didn’t explain things clearly, who knew what the audience would think of him.

He looked around at everyone inside the tent and noticed that only Ke Lianggong seemed genuinely worried about him. The production crew didn’t know the full story, but their gazes were relatively neutral, without much bias.

He then glanced at Li Manpei, who was standing to the side with her arms wrapped around herself, trembling. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but it accidentally pulled at his wound, making him hiss in pain and ruining the expression.

Although his attempt to look cool failed, it didn’t stop him from defending his innocence. “Miss, please—just with your figure? Even if you stripped naked, you’d look like a washboard. You’re not even as well-built as Liang-ge’s gym-trained chest. What would I even want to peek at? And what you’ve got on your face—is that foundation or gold dust…?”

Everyone turned to look at Li Manpei. Her semi-transparent clothes clung faintly to her skin—there wasn’t much left to misunderstand.

So, it was just a misunderstanding.

Li Manpei’s face turned pale. What did Yi Haoguang mean? Was he looking down on her?

Catching her expression, Yi Haoguang let out a scoff, but it pulled at the cut on his lip again, making him cry out in pain.

“You’re injured, and you’re still not being careful,” Ke Lianggong said, bringing over cotton pads and disinfectant. The two had fought—Gu Xinrong was mostly fine, but Yi Haoguang had been hurt quite badly. After being examined by the accompanying doctor, fortunately, they were all just external injuries.

Even so, Ke Lianggong was still worried. While applying medicine to Yi Haoguang’s wounds, he leaned in and whispered, “The show isn’t as important as your life. How about going to the hospital for a check-up?”

Although the situation had already blown up, if he withdrew halfway, who knew what the netizens would say? This was his first time on a variety show—far from successfully transitioning his image, it had instead been damaged by Li Manpei. Yi Haoguang was unwilling to accept that. “I’m not leaving. It’s just some superficial injuries. Tomorrow I can work with everyone and look for the flags. I won’t hold anyone back.”

They were all adults—he should know what he was doing. Since Yi Haoguang insisted, Ke Lianggong couldn’t say much more. He just made a mental note to keep a closer eye on him and report to the production team immediately if anything seemed wrong, so he could be sent to the hospital.

After treating Yi Haoguang’s wounds, Ke Lianggong changed his clothes and came back. Li Manpei was still crying, repeatedly saying things like “I’m sorry, everyone.”

Feeling at fault, Gu Xinrong no longer spoke harshly to Yi Haoguang and instead stayed by Li Manpei’s side, comforting her.

The incident ended as a farce. Even though Yi Haoguang still felt frustrated, it wasn’t appropriate for him to say anything more. After all, he still had to maintain his image in front of the camera—persistently targeting a girl wouldn’t look good either.

The guests couldn’t stay in the production team’s tent forever. Ke Lianggong led Yi Haoguang back to the tent they had set up. Gu Xinrong and Xuan Xiuxian went to another tent, while Li Manpei, still frightened, chose to spend the night in the production team’s tent.

Before leaving, Yi Haoguang shot her a cold glance. Ke Lianggong shook his head helplessly, picked up their backpacks, and pulled him away.

Li Manpei forced a smile at the production staff. “Sorry for causing you trouble.”

The staff waved it off, indicating it was fine—but what they really thought was anyone’s guess.

The sky was turning pale with the first light of dawn. The rain had just stopped, and although the air still carried a chill, it felt much clearer.

The bruises on Yi Haoguang’s face stood out even more in the daylight.

This was the second day of the wilderness survival challenge. All the guests had the task of finding five small red flags and handing them over to the production team by 5 p.m. on the third day in order to win the game.

Ke Lianggong’s team had split apart, and their relationship had dropped to freezing point—they ignored each other completely.

They silently finished their now-stale bread, packed up their tent, and continued on their way, only to run into another team halfway through.

From a distance, they could already hear Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian laughing. When they finally met face to face, the harmonious atmosphere among the three of them stood in stark contrast to the stiff tension among the five.

Bai Tang paused for a moment, then greeted Ke Lianggong, who was walking in front. “What a coincidence, Brother Liang.”

“What a coincidence.” As always, Ke Lianggong was gentle and polite. He returned Bai Tang’s greeting warmly, which drew a sideways glance from Yi Haoguang.

There was a reason Bai Tang had become a top-tier rising star. The young man had striking looks, and ever since he arrived, his presence had seemed even more refined and otherworldly, naturally drawing attention wherever he stood.

Even though Yi Haoguang knew Ke Lianggong treated everyone the same, that simple greeting still made his chest tighten.

A sour feeling welled up inside him, leaving him in a rather bad mood.

The others had always ignored Bai Tang, and Bai Tang didn’t mind. To him, those people were insignificant anyway.

“It rained heavily last night. Are you all okay?” Ke Lianggong asked.

“We’re pretty good. A Jian and I set up a tent, and we even exchanged for blankets with the production team—we didn’t feel cold at all.”

Li Manpei looked at the three of them. Not only did they not look disheveled, they appeared refreshed and in high spirits—it was obvious they had been doing quite well.

She bit her lower lip and lowered her head slightly, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

“A Jian, help me hold this.”

Suddenly, Bai Tang handed the bottled water and his backpack to Heng Xingjian. Before anyone could react, he dashed toward a nearby tree and climbed it in a few swift moves, almost reaching the top. From within the dense leaves, he pulled out a small red flag.

“I got it~”

The boy’s excited voice came from the top of the tree. Heng Xingjian quickly set down the luggage and rushed beneath it. Seeing the branch Bai Tang was holding swaying as if it might snap at any moment, his heart seemed to sway along with it.

“Tang Tang, come down slowly—follow the branches,” Heng Xingjian said anxiously, his usually steady voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.

The camera zoomed in on Bai Tang’s fair, delicate face.

The boy wasn’t afraid at all; he even waved the flag in his hand.

“I’m really good at climbing trees, don’t worry.” Bai Tang glanced downward and realized he had nowhere to put the flag. If he threw it down, the other team might pick it up—he wasn’t about to do something that would benefit others at his own expense.

So the audience watched as the boy clamped the flag between his teeth and carefully climbed down, gripping the fragile branches layer by layer.

If even one of those branches broke, a fall from that height would leave him seriously injured—if not worse.

Everyone present held their breath, afraid that any disturbance might startle him and cause an accident.

Among them, Heng Xingjian was the most nervous. He even spread his arms, ready to catch the boy if he jumped.

Inside, Li Manpei felt deeply unbalanced. Bai Tang had already fallen from his pedestal—so why did he still receive Heng Xingjian’s attention? Meanwhile, she could only trail behind Bai Tang as an unnoticed follower. Whether in the past or now, it was always the same: as long as Bai Tang was there, everyone’s attention would fall on him.

The tree, growing wild in the forest, was extremely tall. No one knew what the production team had been thinking, hiding the flag at the very top.

Li Manpei lowered her gaze slightly. Her body began to tremble as she slowly stepped backward, stopping only when she bumped into Gu Xinrong.

As her devoted admirer, Gu Xinrong did not disappoint her “favor” and immediately shifted his attention back to her.

“Peipei, what’s wrong? Why are you shaking?”

At his question, Li Manpei put on a frightened expression. Her finger trembled as she pointed toward the leaves, her voice not too loud but perfectly audible to everyone.

“Th-there’s… a snake…”

“A snake? Where?”

Everyone was shocked and followed her gaze, but all they saw was greenery—no sign of any snake.

“Tang Tang, don’t move,” Heng Xingjian said. He couldn’t spot the snake either. The foliage was too dense, and what he feared most were small, well-hidden venomous snakes that might bite Bai Tang when he wasn’t paying attention.

Snakes tend to attack moving targets. Bai Tang froze, yet he didn’t sense any danger.

Animals are far more alert than humans; seeking advantage and avoiding harm was already an instinct for survival—especially for a little squirrel like him.

He didn’t sense any danger at all. Worried that his instincts might have dulled in human form, he contacted Qiu’er and Xiao A in his mind.

“Tang Tang, that Li Manpei is lying to you. There’s no snake in the tree at all,” Qiu’er reported honestly after running a scan.

“Based on psychological analysis, Li Manpei wants the host to panic after hearing there’s a snake and fall from the tree,” Xiao A said. Reading people was her specialty—within seconds, she had completely analyzed Li Manpei’s intentions.

Not only that, Li Manpei had also played a part in how badly the original host had been bullied.

Bai Tang narrowed his eyes and stared at Li Manpei, who was trembling as she leaned against Gu Xinrong. He found her extremely unpleasant.

Since she wanted to harm him, she couldn’t blame him for not holding back.

Bai Tang’s body began to tremble in fear, causing the branches to shake as well. Leftover rainwater and fallen leaves scattered down all at once.

“A s-snake… where is it? I’m so scared…”

Bai Tang had worked as both an actor and a voice actor before—he was quite confident in his acting skills.

Although no one could clearly see his face, just hearing his trembling, almost tearful, soft voice was enough for everyone to know how frightened he seemed.

Heng Xingjian’s breath hitched, and even his heart ached.

“Tang Tang, don’t be afraid. I’m coming to get you.” With that, he took off his shoes and coat and actually started climbing the tree to bring Bai Tang down.

“Are you crazy? We don’t even know where the snake is. Climbing up recklessly will just make you another target!” Liu Lingfan quickly grabbed him. If one couldn’t be saved, they might end up losing another as well.

“I can’t worry about that right now. Tang Tang is scared.”

Heng Xingjian’s voice was unusually calm, his gaze steady—he didn’t look like he was joking at all.

Before he could climb up, Bai Tang’s voice rang out again. “A Jian, don’t! Don’t come up! If you come up, I’ll jump down!”

The tree itself wasn’t dangerous, but the trunk was slippery—what if he fell? Heng Xingjian taking off his shoes and climbing up to rescue him without alerting the snake was practically risking his life.

Li Manpei sneered inwardly. The “trembling” Bai Tang in the tree shook even harder, sending leaves rustling down.

Taking advantage of the moment, a small hidden vine lashed toward Li Manpei.

Just as Li Manpei lifted her head, intending to watch Bai Tang make a fool of himself, a curved green strip suddenly shot toward her face.

It moved so quickly that, combined with everyone already believing there was a “snake,” someone immediately shouted, “It’s a snake! The snake got shaken down!”

“Ah—!”

Li Manpei screamed, her piercing voice almost like a kettle shrieking at full boil.

Watching her roll around on the ground, Bai Tang couldn’t help covering his mouth to stifle a laugh. Serves you right—this is what you get for trying to harm others.

“I’ve been bitten! I’ve been bitten…” The lie had been told too convincingly, and the atmosphere had been built up so well that even Li Manpei herself believed that the green “snake” that flew down had bitten her.

Everyone crowded around to check on Li Manpei. Bai Tang was laughing happily—until joy turned into misfortune.

The tree trunk had been soaked by the rain. As Bai Tang tried to climb down, his foot slipped, and he fell straight from the branch.

The vine, acting instinctively to protect its master, slowed his fall. When he dropped, Heng Xingjian managed to catch him just in time.

The powerful impact nearly broke Heng Xingjian’s arms. He endured the pain and refused to let go. In the end, the two of them fell together, with Heng Xingjian cushioning Bai Tang beneath him.

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Chapter 426 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – A Stark Contrast (09)

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“But I can hammer it in even without a hammer~” the boy said aggrievedly. He had special abilities, so he wouldn’t get hurt. Even if he did, he could heal himself quickly and wouldn’t feel pain. A-Jian was just being overly cautious.

Heng Xingjian couldn’t hear what Bai Tang was thinking. To him, the boy’s words sounded far too unbelievable. Not wanting to upset him, he simply went along with it. “The human body is made of flesh and blood. Even if you can fight steel with your bare hands, it’s still dangerous. Don’t do that again.”

Bai Tang put his foot down and stood up. “You still don’t believe me. Fine, I’ll show you.”

As he spoke, the boy lifted his foot again, aiming at the ground stake to step on it once more. Just as before, Heng Xingjian grabbed him and repeated the same princess-carry spin from earlier.

[“HAHAHAHA I’m dying of laughter, what kind of god-tier duo is this…”]

[“Do you guys still remember Liu Lingfan by the campfire?”]

[“Please debut in the comedy scene already, hahaha…”]

[“If you don’t vote, and I don’t vote, when will “Picking Candy” ever make it big?”]

[“One vote from you, one vote from me—“Picking Candy” debuts tonight!”]

[“They’ve already debuted though…”]

Putting aside that little interruption, the livestream here was genuinely entertaining.

The considerate puppy-like boy, the super bright “third wheel” Liu Lingfan, the sweet-and-salty adorable Bai Tang, and Heng Xingjian with his IQ occasionally dropping offline—what a strange yet harmonious combination.

Bai Tang didn’t know how to explain things in a way that would make Heng Xingjian believe him. Since hearing was unreliable, he decided to let him see for himself.

He pulled the man over to a corner and pointed at the ground stake embedded deep in the earth. “See? I didn’t lie to you.”

Heng Xingjian fell silent. A few seconds later, he let out a helpless laugh and ruffled Bai Tang’s hair. “Tang Tang is amazing.”

“Right? Right? So let me go step in the rest of the stakes!” Bai Tang marched forward energetically—only to be scooped back by the man, slung over his shoulder, and carried to the campfire.

The upside-down little squirrel looked completely bewildered: Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

“A-Jian, put me down! What if a typhoon comes in the middle of the night?”

“Eat first. We’ll deal with it after.”

When it came to strength, when had Bai Tang ever been a match for Heng Xingjian? He could only sit obediently on a rock, waiting as Heng Xingjian picked up the roast chicken and started dividing it.

Thankfully, Heng Xingjian hadn’t gone so far as to see only Bai Tang and treat everyone else as invisible.

Bai Tang got the first drumstick, Liu Lingfan the second. The group was harmonious and friendly, without the noisy quarrels from the neighboring team, making it much more pleasant for the audience to watch.

After all, when people gather together, there will inevitably be some conflicts. Viewers prefer watching idols display high emotional intelligence and intelligence—resolving problems quickly and perfectly—rather than shirking responsibility or constantly arguing. Compared to that, Li Manpei from the other group kept harping on her own “mistake” over and over again, which was honestly quite irritating.

Heng Xingjian tore off a drumstick and handed it to Bai Tang. After watching him finish it, he tore off another piece of chicken.

Bai Tang scrunched up his delicate features. “No more, I’m full.”

Even a kitten had a better appetite than Bai Tang.

That was what everyone was thinking at that moment.

“Just one drumstick is enough?” Heng Xingjian looked at the boy as he waved his hands repeatedly in refusal, clearly unconvinced that he was actually full. Still, he didn’t want to force him. Fortunately, they had plenty of snacks in their bags—if Bai Tang got hungry in the middle of the night, at least there would be something to fill his stomach.

When the system caught chickens, it never missed. But since it was in a puppy form, it handled prey rather roughly. By the time the chickens were released after being caught, they were already on the verge of dying.

With no other choice, Bai Tang roasted them all. After the three of them and the two dogs had eaten their fill, there was still one whole chicken left. Not wanting to waste it, Bai Tang took it to exchange with the production team.

“Hello, do you have any extra blankets?” Bai Tang asked. Judging from the sky and the moisture in the air, he had a feeling it might rain in the middle of the night.

With a tent, rain wasn’t a big concern—but if the wind picked up, it would get cold.

The production team was well-prepared; they did have blankets.

“One chicken for one blanket.”

Even when trading with the production team, it had to be an equal exchange. Bai Tang carried the blanket over to the smaller tent.

“It might rain tonight. Sister Xiaofan is a girl—getting cold wouldn’t be good.” Bai Tang said seriously, his little face tense as if this were a very important matter.

The female lead treated him well, so naturally, he would treat her well too.

There were only two tents. The smaller one was for Liu Lingfan, while the bigger one was shared by Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian.

Heng Xingjian was very satisfied with this arrangement. After putting out the campfire, he pulled Bai Tang into the tent.

Originally, cameras were supposed to be set up even when the guests rested. However, the celebrities present were all too high-profile—the production team didn’t dare insist, and the guests themselves were unwilling to be filmed while sleeping. After all, who knew what kind of unflattering sleeping positions might be captured?

After saying goodnight to the production team and Liu Lingfan, Bai Tang pulled Heng Xingjian back into the tent and mysteriously told him to close his eyes.

Heng Xingjian did as told. A few seconds later, when he opened his eyes, a high-quality silk quilt had appeared beside him, along with two soft pillows. The boy stood there with a proud expression, clearly waiting for praise—as if he wanted to be told how amazing he was.

Heng Xingjian was inwardly shaken. He was certain that Bai Tang hadn’t gone out, and that quilt hadn’t been there before he closed his eyes.

So… where had it come from?

A fleeting thought flashed through Heng Xingjian’s mind—so fast that he couldn’t grasp it—yet it left behind a faint sense of inevitability.

“Tang Tang, don’t do things like that again in the future,” Heng Xingjian said. He didn’t ask further. Since it was Tang Tang’s secret, then it could remain a secret forever.

Bai Tang didn’t receive the praise he had been expecting, and a trace of disappointment appeared on his face. “I only told you…”

Hearing the boy’s soft mutter, a sense of satisfaction rose from the depths of Heng Xingjian’s heart. Tang Tang only shared his secret with him—so that meant he was the one Tang Tang trusted the most, right?

Just as Bai Tang had predicted, the wind picked up at three in the morning.

At first, Liu Lingfan didn’t think much of it and pushed the blanket aside. But after being woken up by the cold, she unzipped the tent and realized it was raining—and quite heavily, judging by the intensity.

Shivering, she returned to the tent, spread out the blanket, and went back to sleep. Her last thought before drifting off was, ‘Tang Tang is amazing—he really got it right.’

Heng Xingjian was the first to notice the rain. He informed the production team to be cautious about the weather. When he returned, he saw the boy curled up due to the lack of a “body pillow.”

His cool body slipped under the covers, instantly waking Bai Tang.

“Where did you go?” The boy’s soft, slightly hoarse voice carried the drowsiness of sleep and an unguarded intimacy.

“It’s raining. I went out to inform the production team.”

“Mmm~” Without even opening his eyes, Bai Tang instinctively rolled into the man’s arms with practiced familiarity.

“It’s a bit cold… hug me~” The boy nuzzled against his chest, wrapping his limbs tightly around him like a koala.

Heng Xingjian let out a silent chuckle. Even he didn’t realize that at this moment, his expression had softened like never before, affection brimming in his eyes.

He held Bai Tang as the boy acted spoiled, and Bai Tang let out a contented little purring sound.

Outside, the sound of rain gradually grew louder, while inside the tent, everyone rested peacefully.

Qiu’er and Xiao A slept near the entrance of the tent, where Bai Tang had made a small temporary nest for them using a jacket.

Hearing the noise outside, Qiu’er groggily lifted his head. The next moment, a fluffy paw pressed down, pulling him into an embrace. “Go to sleep.”

“Mhm.”

Qiu’er turned over, snuggling closer to Xiao A as he drifted back to sleep.

Where there is joy, there is also worry.

While Bai Tang’s side was well-prepared, things weren’t going as smoothly for Li Manpei’s group.

Because they had taken the wrong path, the ground where they set up camp wasn’t suitable for pitching a tent. The soil was too soft, and the stakes couldn’t hold the tent in place at all.— If you want, I can make it more romantic/intimate or closer to a literal translation depending on your style preference.

When it started raining, they worked through the night to set up the tents. With strong winds and heavy rain, it took great effort to finally get them up. However, disagreements arose when it came to assigning the tents.

Gu Xinrong believed that since Li Manpei was a girl, she should be the first to enter the tent and take shelter from the rain.

As the only female in the group, the others all agreed.

Yi Haoguang wasn’t in great health to begin with. While standing in the rain, he sneezed several times. Ke Liangong told him to go into the tent as well to get out of the rain, while the three of them could finish setting up the remaining tents.

Unexpectedly, Li Manpei’s clothes became see-through when wet. The moment Yi Haoguang stepped inside, she crossed her arms over her chest and screamed.

Before anyone could figure out what was happening, Gu Xinrong rushed into the tent, grabbed Yi Haoguang, and threw a punch.

Yi Haoguang was knocked to the ground. The already soft soil had turned muddy from the rain.

His white T-shirt was completely ruined. When he lightly touched his face, a sharp pain shot through him, and anger surged up. You could hit him anywhere—but not his face. At this stage, his looks were his livelihood.

He spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva. “D*mn it, you hit my face.”

Argue all you want—but touching his face was crossing the line.

Gu Xinrong was still asking Li Manpei what had happened when Yi Haoguang suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Gu Xinrong’s waist and slamming him hard into a tree.

“And you think you can take me on, you weak pretty boy?”

Gu Xinrong had formal martial arts training—most people were no match for him.

It didn’t take long for Yi Haoguang to fall into a disadvantage, reduced to taking blows.

Earlier, the two had been fighting too fiercely for anyone to intervene. Now that it had turned into a one-sided beating, it was much easier to step in and break it up.

Yi Haoguang was pinned to the ground by Gu Xinrong. The mud blurred his vision, and he could vaguely see a fist about to come down on his face.

This is the end for me.

He closed his eyes, waiting for his “disfigurement.”

“That’s enough! Are you trying to kill him?!”

It was Ke Liangong’s voice. Usually gentle and refined, his tone now carried unmistakable anger. “Attacking someone without even figuring out what happened—well done.”

Well-mannered as he was, Ke Liangong couldn’t bring himself to use crude language. He pulled the exhausted Yi Haoguang to his feet, and everyone retreated into the large tent set up by the production team.

“Now, let’s talk about what exactly happened between Li Manpei and Yi Haoguang.”

Ke Liangong’s voice was cold. Someone who was usually gentle and refined becoming angry like this truly stunned everyone into silence.

Li Manpei sobbed, speaking in broken fragments. “It’s… it’s all my fault… blame me… it’s my fault…”

She kept blaming herself, but couldn’t clearly explain what had actually happened.

Gu Xinrong felt heartbroken. He pulled out some tissues provided by the production team and gently wiped away Li Manpei’s tears.

The production staff exchanged puzzled looks. They didn’t know what had happened inside the small tent either—how the two of them had suddenly ended up fighting. Still, that didn’t stop them from filming the entire scene.

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