The last day of operation, there were no new guests checking in, and the guests were gradually checking out.
In the afternoon, after seeing off the last group of guests, the staff members started their final clean-up work. Before leaving work, they drove to visit the famous cedar landscape in the local area.
“This episode was quite relaxing.”
“Healing.”
“I liked this episode.”
The frozen creek was icy and clear, flowing in a winding curve amidst the pure white. The pine trees on both sides were covered in frost and formed transparent ice slides. Squirrels quickly darted through the snow and disappeared into the white forest.
The staff members were somewhat reluctant to leave. After returning, they would each be busy, and these three days could be considered a vacation to purify their fatigue and negative energy.
“It’s beautiful, like a fairyland.” An Ran raised her phone to take a photo.
Pei Shinian sighed, “I wonder if we’ll have a chance to come back and see it again in the future.”
Mu Ye helped Song Jianchu adjust his hat and put his hand into his coat pocket. “To keep your hands warm.”
While still filming, Song Jianchu turned to him in surprise.
Mu Ye’s warm hand held his fingers in his pocket, quickly dispelling the cold on his hand.
Song Jianchu’s fingers fidgeted uncomfortably in his pocket.
Mu Ye thought he would take his hand away, and was about to let go, but the slightly cool fingers tightened their grip.
Mu Ye’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly tightened his grip on that hand and looked at Song Jianchu’s face in astonishment.
Kissing in front of others, holding hands in front of the camera, Song Jianchu didn’t need to worry too much. Moreover, there was a legitimate reason.
Song Jianchu turned his gaze away with a calm expression, burying his chin in his collar. “Thank you.”
Mu Ye smiled a bit more.
[“Ahhhh!”]
[“Mu Ye warms his hands, our son is so happy.”]
[“Please play the wedding march, thank you, program team.”]
[“See you next time, family!”]
[“Throwing confetti!”]
“Well, I’ll leave now.” An Ran got into the car, lowered the window, and waved to her family. “Keep up the good work, everyone! If you need help, just call me, Brother Chu!”
After seeing off the departing temporary staff, someone started a snowball fight.
Bai Xingyu threw snowballs fiercely, venting the frustration he had been holding in these past few days due to his jealousy.
Pei Shinian decisively joined Bai Xingyu’s side.
Song Jianchu didn’t really like these activities that easily made a mess. He stood at a distance with Mu Ye.
“Don’t you want to join in?” Mu Ye asked.
Song Jianchu had no interest. “Too childish.”
Mu Ye suggested with a smile, “Then how about building a snowman?”
Building a snowman was even more childish.
Song Jianchu put on his gloves. “Let’s do it.”
Song Jianchu and Mu Ye started rolling snowballs together. One small snowball came straight towards Mu Ye and shattered on his coat.
“Sorry, sorry, my bad.” Pei Shinian apologized with a fist salute not far away.
Mu Ye bent down and picked up a handful of snow, shaping it into a snowball to retaliate.
Pei Shinian didn’t look in their direction and took a solid hit. He wiped the snow off his face and joined the fight without hesitation.
Mu Ye’s combat skills were not weak in this snowball fight, and Pei Shinian was covered in snow, panting and waving his hand, “Alright, I surrender!”
But Mu Ye didn’t stop.
Pei Shinian covered his head, confused, “Brother, why are you only targeting me? Did I do something?”
Mu Ye threw another snowball at Pei Shinian, coolly saying, “You can’t mind your own business, always meddling and talking too much.”
Pei Shinian: “?”
Song Jianchu stood there, bewildered, and looked at Mu Ye with a puzzled expression.
Realizing the reason why he was being targeted, Pei Shinian had nothing to say. He covered his head and ran away, pleading for help, “Brother Xing, save me!”
Bai Xingyu saw his little brother being continuously hit, stopped attacking Lu Shen, and turned around to help seek revenge for his little brother, saying, “They won’t fight back, so it’s like bullying.”
Lu Shen also changed his target and started attacking Mu Ye.
Mu Ye was attacked by the three of them together and quickly ended up covered in snow.
Song Jianchu frowned and threw a snowball at Bai Xingyu, joining the battle.
After the chaotic snowball fight, they returned to their accommodations to change clothes, looking disheveled.
Song Jianchu finished washing up and changing clothes first. He sat on a suitcase on the ground floor, playing with his phone, while Mu Ye went downstairs.
Pei Shinian approached, dragging a suitcase, and leaned on Song Jianchu’s shoulder, saying, “Jianchu, I spoke without thinking when I just woke up in the morning. It was just a joke. Don’t take it to heart.”
Song Jianchu put away his phone. “It’s nothing.”
It was true. They did affect Pei Shinian last night, but Song Jianchu didn’t think much of it.
Pei Shinian sighed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my brother angry. When I went to greet him earlier, he wouldn’t talk to me. I don’t know when he’ll start acknowledging me.”
Song Jianchu was taken aback.
Was Mu Ye angry?
Just because of that remark?
Song Jianchu pondered for a moment and tried to recall. Since they went out to walk the dog in the morning, Mu Ye had been acting normal in front of him. He couldn’t detect any signs of emotional distress.
Pei Shinian stared at his face for a couple of seconds and furrowed his brow. “Did you catch a cold again? Your face doesn’t look right.”
Song Jianchu snapped back to reality. “No.”
Pei Shinian patted his shoulder. “You have a weak constitution. You should find someone to go to the gym with you and exercise.”
Officially off work.
The staff members were picked up by their manager and taken to the next work location. Song Jianchu and Mu Ye boarded the plane back home.
Once the plane took off, Mu Ye touched Song Jianchu’s forehead and furrowed his brow. “Are you running a fever again?”
His body temperature couldn’t hide, and Song Jianchu replied calmly, “I took the medicine.”
Mu Ye blamed himself. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. I shouldn’t have taken you to play in the snow.”
Song Jianchu observed Mu Ye’s face from the side but still couldn’t detect any negative emotions.
He couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Mr. Mu, are you angry?”
Mu Ye was taken aback. “Why would I be angry? It’s not like I want to get sick.”
Song Jianchu said, “This morning…”
Mu Ye lightly furrowed his brow and said softly, “Don’t let other people’s words affect you.”
Song Jianchu averted his gaze and looked at his own fingers. “I won’t.”
Mu Ye’s tone was calm and gentle as he said slowly, “When I say ‘other people,’ that includes me. Don’t let me influence you either. If you’re going to consider it, consider it thoroughly.”
After a moment’s pause, Mu Ye smiled and said, “After all, once we’re together, I won’t be able to shake you off that easily.”
Song Jianchu chuckled softly.
After a brief silence, Song Jianchu blinked slowly and said, “Mr. Mu…”
Song Jianchu assured him, “I’ll try to give you an answer as soon as possible. I promise.”
…
After the recording of the program ended, the two of them took a few days to rest.
Approaching New Year’s Eve, Mu Ye’s work became busy. He had to start preparing for the first world tour concert in March of the following year, as well as working on a new album. He would stay late at the studio every day.
On this particular evening, Song Jianchu didn’t have much to do, so he planned to drive to the studio to pick up Mu Ye after work. He sent him a message in advance.
Mu Ye quickly replied.
[Mu Ye: Just come straight up when you arrive. 😊]
While passing by a dessert shop, Song Jianchu bought a few bags of pastries and coffee, which he put in the trunk of the car to bring to the staff members who were working late at the studio.
He parked the car in the studio’s parking lot and took out his phone. While he was typing a reply to Mu Ye’s message, his nose suddenly became wet, and he felt a warm sensation as blood quickly flowed out. A few drops of red liquid fell onto the chat box.
Song Jianchu quickly grabbed some tissues to cover his nose.
After a while, the bleeding stopped. He concealed the stained tissues and used more tissues to clean his phone.
Recently, his episodes of bleeding had become more frequent, and the medication was not as effective as before.
While Mu Ye was absent, he went to the hospital for a check-up. Dr. Zhao determined that he was experiencing the worst form of drug resistance and had entered the transitional period before the acute phase.
The formal transition couldn’t be confirmed, and there was still no news from the bone marrow registry regarding a match. Finding a match in the bone marrow registry was a matter of luck. Some patients received their match within a month or two, while others waited for several years without any results.
A new message popped up on his phone.
[Mu Ye: Have you arrived? I can leave early now.]
Song Jianchu hurriedly carried the pastries and coffee and got out of the car, planning to bring them upstairs.
He took the elevator and walked through the studio corridor, passing by a balcony where Mu Ye was leaning against the railing, looking at his phone. It seemed like he was replying to Song Jianchu’s message, and he had a cigarette in his hand.
Without calling out to him, a female staff member approached with a cup of coffee. “Mr. Mu, here’s your coffee.”
Song Jianchu instinctively hid behind the corner of the wall.
Mu Ye put out his cigarette, accepted the coffee, and smiled gently. “Thank you.”
The female staff member stood there and didn’t leave. She didn’t dare to look up and nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her courage and looked up with flushed cheeks. “Mr. Mu, thank you for taking care of me and being so accommodating all these years. You are the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”
“If it weren’t for the stroke of luck that brought me here to work, I wouldn’t dare to dream that one day I would stand beside you, speaking like this.”
Song Jianchu’s expression froze slightly, sensing that something was amiss.
“After I leave, I won’t have another chance to speak like this with you,” the female employee’s voice trembled. “I’m afraid if I don’t say it today, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
Mu Ye furrowed his brows lightly and leaned against the railing, not interrupting.
“I like you.”
“You can consider it as liking an older brother, liking an idol, or… something else.”
“I just wanted to be brave once, without any other meaning. I’m sorry.”
Song Jianchu leaned against the wall, his eyelashes drooping slowly under his hat, and lightly bit his lip.
After patiently listening to the female employee’s words, Muye spoke gently, “There’s nothing to apologize for, thank you. You will meet someone better.”
The female employee’s voice choked up as she spoke, her voice quivering, “No, I won’t. I won’t meet anyone better than you again.”
“You will, this world is bigger than you imagine,” Mu Ye gently persuaded, “When you meet that person, you will understand that I am just a passing figure in your life.”
“On your last day of work, you’ve worked hard,” Mu Ye handed her a tissue and said, “Leave early, and I wish you all the best in the future.”
“Thank you, Mu Ye, and I wish you the same,” the female employee bowed deeply, her eyes red, and ran away.
Song Jianchu exhaled softly, taking advantage of not being noticed, he placed his belongings on the coffee table in the rest area and quietly left.
Driving away from the studio, Song Jianchu parked the car by the roadside.
Mu Ye sent him a few more messages.
[MY: Haven’t arrived yet? Stuck in traffic?]
[MY: Call me when you’re here, I’ll come down to pick you up.]
Song Jianchu leaned against the driver’s seat, looking at the messages on his phone without replying.
He called Yin Chi, “Are you free? Let’s meet and chat.”
He and Yin Chi arranged to meet at the same bar where they had coincidentally encountered Muye before, and sat in the same spot near the bar counter, ordering a non-alcoholic drink.
Yin Chi arrived quickly and embraced him by the shoulder, “I thought you would forget about your brother once you have a lover. How come you thought of treating me tonight? Is Mu Ye not here?”
Yin Chi ordered a drink and leaned on the bar counter, appraising him, “What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?”
Song Jianchu propped his face up and stirred the straw, not saying a word.
Yin Chi took a sip of his drink and turned his head, saying, “Tell your brother, what’s bothering you? Did that idiot Song Yan cause trouble again?”
“Brother,” Song Jianchu looked at the juice in his cup and spoke softly, “I want to drink.”
“Then drink, I’m here to accompany you,” Yin Chi smiled, “But be careful with your alcohol tolerance, don’t drink too much and end up wandering around on the rooftop while being drunk and accidentally bring back a lover. Mu Ye is still waiting for a reply, you can’t be a scumbag.”
Song Jianchu didn’t smile.
Noticing his brother’s mood, Yin Chi furrowed his brows, “If you have something on your mind, don’t keep it to yourself, tell your brother.”
Song Jianchu pushed away the fruit juice in front of him, his expression subdued. He raised his head lightly and said to the bartender, “Give me a glass of alcohol.”
Yin Chi raised an eyebrow.
Yin Chi accompanied Song Jianchu as he drank two shots.
Song Jianchu’s phone kept vibrating, with Mu Ye calling several times.
Yin Chi picked up the phone and said, “Let me answer, don’t keep Mu Ye waiting.”
Song Jianchu stared blankly, pressed the phone, and shook his head.
Yin Chi stared at him for a few seconds, sighed helplessly, “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t ask. But this is the last drink tonight.”
Song Jianchu took a long breath and his voice became hoarse, “Brother.”
Yin Chi replied, “I’m here.”
Song Jianchu closed his eyes and said, “I have a question that I can’t answer.”
Yin Chi chuckled, “Don’t play around, there’s a question you can’t answer? Aren’t you a top student?”
“But this question, even as a mediocre student like me, I have the right to answer,” Yin Chi took out a coin and spun it on the bar counter, holding it with his hand, “If you really can’t answer, then guess. Whether you guess right or wrong, with a fifty-fifty chance of being correct, it’s better than struggling and not being able to answer.”
Song Jianchu picked up the coin, flicked it with his finger, making it spin.
Mu Ye had stayed in the studio for a long time. The person he said he would come for didn’t show up, not replying to messages or answering calls.
Mu Ye was a little annoyed and ended work early to go home.
Passing by the rest area, Gu Jiaming looked at the several paper bags on the coffee table and asked the employee, “Who sent these? “
The employee shook his head, “I don’t know. They have been here all this time, I thought you ordered them.”
Mu Ye paused his footsteps and walked over to take a look, asking, “When was this placed here?”
The employee thought for a moment and said, “I saw it a little while ago, it wasn’t here yet.”
Mu Ye frowned as he stared at the cakes and coffee in the paper bag.
He got into the car and called the little fan, but it went unanswered. He sent another WeChat message: [Have you arrived?]
After sitting in the car for a few minutes, Muye tightened his brows and drove back home.
Mu Ye entered the house looking disheveled, only to be greeted by Peppermint. The house was quiet, and the little fan was not there. Mu Ye took a deep breath, feeling restless, and stood in the entryway making a few phone calls to Song Jianchu.
After numerous attempts, the call finally connected.
Mu Ye let out a sigh of relief, pressed his temple, and tried to control his emotions. He spoke calmly, “Where are you? Why aren’t you answering your phone?”
It was Yin Chi’s voice on the other end, “Mu Ye, come pick him up.”
Ending the call, Mu Ye quickly drove to the bar and met Yin Chi.
Yin Chi had his hands in his pockets and pointed upstairs, saying, “He’s on the rooftop, enjoying the breeze and had a few drinks.”
Mu Ye raised an eyebrow, “Drinks?”
“Not too many,” Yin Chi didn’t say much, “Take him home, call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Mu Ye quickly ascended the stairs.
Mu Ye reached the rooftop, slightly out of breath, and stopped at the stairwell. His shoulders relaxed slightly.
The open rooftop offered an excellent view, overlooking half the city.
Snowflakes drifted down from the lightly clouded night sky, creating a thin layer on the ground. A young man wearing a black duckbill cap sat on a bench, gazing at the city night view. He was flipping a coin, the faint light reflecting off his fair and clean side profile.
Hearing the footsteps, Song Jianchu slowly turned his head.
Mu Ye, dressed in a black cashmere coat with a slightly open white collar, stood amidst the falling snowflakes, looking at him.
The man’s gray eyes gazed calmly at him, devoid of emotion.
In a moment of distraction, the coin in Song Jianchu’s hand fell and rolled to Mu Ye’s feet.
Mu Ye picked up the coin and walked towards him.
Mu Ye stopped in front of him, placing the coin back in his palm. Their warm fingertips touched briefly.
Song Jianchu looked at the coin in his hand.
It had a number on it.
He raised his head in a daze.
Mu Ye gazed at him, gently brushed his face with the back of his hand, without asking anything, and said in a gentle tone, “Let’s go home.”
“Mu Ye,” Song Jianchu put the coin into his pocket, lowered his lashes, and said, “Can you sit with me for a while?”
Mu Ye sat down beside him.
“Didn’t we say we wouldn’t drink anymore?” Mu Ye asked softly.
Song Jianchu replied, “I’m sorry.”
“Mmm,” Mu Ye leaned against him, rubbing his forehead against Song Jianchu’s shoulder, “I forgive you.”
Song Jianchu scratched the coin in his pocket with his fingernail, feeling the contours of the number on the coin’s face. He said, “Don’t forgive me.”
Mu Ye looked up, gazing at Song Jianchu’s reddened nose.
Song Jianchu said, “Mu Ye, I’m ready to answer.”
Mu Ye’s breath paused for a few seconds, and he forced a calm smile, saying, “Alright, go ahead, I’m ready.”
Song Jianchu remained composed and said, “There are a few things I must tell you before we proceed.”
Mu Ye asked with a smile, “What are they?”
Song Jianchu continued, “Being with me might not be a big deal.”
Mu Ye’s tone remained indifferent, “It doesn’t matter.”
“I can’t guarantee complete honesty.”
Mu Ye chuckled, “Hmm, it’s okay.”
Song Jianchu paused for two seconds and said, “This relationship might not last long.”
The smile on Mu Ye’s face faded slightly, but quickly returned to normal. He gently asked, “Why? Don’t you trust me?”
“Let me finish,” Song Jianchu calmly replied.
Mu Ye obediently remained quiet.
Song Jianchu lightly bit his lip and said, “If you can accept all of this, there’s one final thing I need to say.”
Mu Ye gazed at Song Jianchu, noticing the profound expression on his face. His eyes swept from his lashes to his lips, and he chuckled, “Go ahead.”
Song Jianchu took a deep breath, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, and finally dared to look him in the eyes.
The young man’s face turned slightly red, and his expression seemed reminiscent of the first time they met in this place.
“Mu Ye,” Song Jianchu spoke in a remarkably calm tone, “I really like you.”
Mu Ye stared at the person in front of him, his heart pounding in his throat.
After a brief pause, Song Jianchu’s clear gaze flickered as he added earnestly, “More than anyone else.”
i thought he would tell his illness..