Shen An had a good impression of Jiang Mo, but it hadn’t reached the level of liking. He simply felt relaxed and comfortable when he was with Jiang Mo, naturally wanting to be close to someone who made him feel comfortable.
Last night’s incident was caused by Ye Lin. He didn’t eat the cake, so he had nothing to apologize to Jiang Mo for. Thinking about Jiang Mo’s awkward situation last night, he wanted to help him out. Today, during the outing, he didn’t want Jiang Mo to be left alone.
Chi Yu’s sudden arrival disrupted his plans. It was one thing for Chi Yu to assert his dominance in terms of status, but Shen An was completely puzzled by Chi Yu’s inexplicable hostility. The Love Variety program was supposed to be a fair competition, and he couldn’t understand why Chi Yu treated him that way.
Aren’t Chi Yu and Jiang Mo at odds with each other?
Unable to figure it out, Shen An decided to retreat for now.
“Oh, I see.” He awkwardly smiled and gave up his seat for Chi Yu.
The front window of the car was slightly open, allowing in the cold wind that couldn’t disperse the faint scent of cedar floating around.
Suddenly, no one spoke, and the car fell into silence. Each time Chi Yu approached, it made him nervous. Jiang Mo could hear his own pounding heartbeat.
He didn’t remember Chi Yu reserving a seat with him, and he didn’t understand why Chi Yu would want to spend time with him. Moreover, every time, it was Chi Yu who took the initiative.
[“I’ve been paying attention to Chi Yu. When did he make this arrangement with Jiang Mo?! Did I miss something?”]
[“Why does it feel like they’re having a secret conversation? It’s like a secret pact between a couple.”]
[“What kind of battlefield is this? Is there something wrong with me? Why do I feel like both A-group guests are interested in Jiang Mo?”]
[“Damn, even if it’s not a battlefield, I envy being surrounded by Chi Yu and Shen An. [Bites a handkerchief]”]
[“Haha, sorry, I don’t think it’s a battlefield at all. With these two in comparison, Jiang Mo seems so small. Seeing Jiang Mo shrinking in the corner, I’m reminded of a prairie dog scared by two elementary school kids.】
[“The atmosphere terminator ↑”]
After being “driven away” by Chi Yu, Shen An chose a seat in the middle row and the remaining people got on the car one after another.
As Jiang Mo expected, after Ye Lin got on the car, he didn’t hesitate and went straight to sit next to Shen An. Shen An was sitting in the aisle seat, and Ye Lin expressed his desire to sit there in a subtle way, but Shen An coldly refused.
“I prefer to sit alone.”
Ye Lin didn’t feel embarrassed by Shen An’s cold attitude. He found a way out for himself and sat in the chair on the other side of the aisle. The conversation from a second ago seemed to have never existed, and Ye Lin initiated a new topic with Shen An on his own.
A couple of days ago, Shen An’s attitude towards Ye Lin wasn’t as bad, but now it had suddenly become obvious that he was being perfunctory. Ye Lin noticed it, and a hint of embarrassment and sadness appeared on his face.
When Jiang Mo made eye contact with Lu Xuan, who got on the car, they were recording, and Lu Xuan didn’t show any negative emotions. In that instant of eye contact, Jiang Mo received a signal from Lu Xuan.
“Xiao Xuan, where do you want to sit?” Lou An followed Lu Xuan onto the car, still holding Lu Xuan’s backpack.
Missing out on a date with Lu Xuan, he had to show off today, trying to score more points in Lu Xuan’s heart.
Lu Xuan took his gaze off Chi Yu, who was playing with his phone while looking down, and smiled at Lou An, saying, “I’m fine with anywhere.”
“Then let’s sit in the front.” Lou An said.
“Okay.”
…
After Chi Yu sat next to Jiang Mo, he had been chatting with people, seemingly dealing with work matters. This relieved Jiang Mo’s nervousness, and those unrealistic speculations were suppressed before they even had a chance to take root.
“Feeling cold?” Chi Yu suddenly asked.
Jiang Mo shook his head. The temperature today was several degrees higher than yesterday. Before going out, Jiang Mo had put on a white jacket over his hoodie.
In response to the question, he instinctively lowered his head and realized he had forgotten to wear a scarf. His chin was exposed, and he awkwardly sat up straight, afraid to look at Chi Yu.
Little chick pecking rice.
Chi Yu thought of these four words and a smile appeared in his eyes.
When he was with Jiang Mo, his fingers were always in a restless state, not because of external reasons, but because of the itchiness that spread from his heart to his limbs.
The desire to touch Jiang Mo grew stronger day by day.
It had been a long time since he had seen the little white cat at home. He almost forgot how it felt to stroke a cat.
The estimated travel time was half an hour, and Chi Yu only asked Jiang Mo one question before returning to his own affairs.
For the next ten minutes or so, Jiang Mo felt on edge. The partially open window on the side allowed the cold wind to blow Chi Yu’s breath towards him.
Jiang Mo was trapped in the corner, and his every breath was filled with Chi Yu’s scent.
At this moment, he wished his sense of smell would fail and couldn’t detect the fragrance he wanted to carefully sniff in the kitchen.
The more mature aura enveloped him without any gaps, making his head slightly dizzy and disoriented.
The vibration in his pocket saved the almost suffocating Jiang Mo. He hurriedly took out his phone, and Lu Xuan, who was sitting in the front seat, sent him a message.
[Lu Xuan: What are you clinging to Senior Chi for? Are you planning to use him for publicity like before?]
[MOMO: I’m not.]
[Lu Xuan: Then stop bothering him.]
He wasn’t bothering Chi Yu!
[MOMO: I’m not bothering him. He’s the one who came over to talk to me.]
Jiang Mo felt very wronged.
He knew that Lu Xuan probably wouldn’t believe him, but it was the truth.
Jiang Mo guessed it right. Lu Xuan didn’t believe Jiang Mo’s explanation at all. Did Chi Yu eat too much? Would he stoop so low as to actively approach Jiang Mo?
Last night’s incident happened suddenly. When he heard the news that Jiang Mo went out on a date with Chi Yu, he impulsively used Ye Lin, but things went beyond his expectations.
He thought Jiang Mo would silently accept this setback, but he didn’t expect Jiang Mo to fight back and argue with Ye Lin. He also didn’t expect that after Chi Yu learned about the situation, he would speak up for Jiang Mo.
Over the course of the night, online public opinion surprisingly leaned towards Ye Lin, thanks to Chi Yu’s help.
Facing the camera, Lu Xuan had to maintain his own image, but he had long been filled with anger.
When he got on the car and saw Jiang Mo sitting with Chi Yu, he felt even more annoyed.
After Chi Yu left the restaurant last night, he went straight back to his room. The planned texting segment was also forced to be canceled due to this small incident, and he didn’t even have a chance to interact with Chi Yu.
He wouldn’t allow Jiang Mo to take away his things.
[Lu Xuan: Don’t pretend to be pitiful in front of me. I know what kind of person you are. Senior Chi was just deceived by appearances. Please don’t take advantage of Senior Chi’s kindness.]
Jiang Mo: “…”
Jiang Mo hadn’t figured out how to reply yet when another new message came in from Lu Xuan.
[Lu Xuan: The company wants me to create a CP (couple pairing) with Senior Chi, and Senior Chi has agreed. I hope you have self-awareness and stop hovering around him.]
Jiang Mo stared blankly at this new message.
He wasn’t surprised that Lu Xuan and Chi Yu were being paired up as a couple.
That was how the original plot was arranged.
It was originally just an agreement, but Chi Yu ended up falling for Lu Xuan during their time together, rendering the agreement invalid and turning their relationship from fake to real.
But knowing that Chi Yu had agreed, Jiang Mo inexplicably felt a sense of loss.
He turned off his phone and secretly looked to his right.
Both of them were sitting, with Jiang Mo’s head just reaching Chi Yu’s shoulder. Chi Yu was busy typing on his phone, which made it convenient for Jiang Mo to observe. He didn’t need to raise his head to look at Chi Yu.
The smooth and sharp profile of Chi Yu’s face struck all of Jiang Mo’s senses. Even with his head lowered, Chi Yu’s chin had no trace of excess flesh.
Since his debut, Chi Yu had been praised with many iconic compliments, the earliest being ‘eyelash prince.’
His eyelashes were thick and long, but not curled. They were like a small fan, easily covering the color of his pupils when he lowered his gaze. But when he lifted his eyes, his mixed light-gray irises could capture your next breath.
Jiang Mo’s blushing face unexpectedly fell into those captivating pupils, as if enveloped by a subtle haze. Jiang Mo didn’t feel the slightest discomfort. On the contrary, the temperature of his cheeks was gradually rising.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Mo was pulled out of those mesmerizing eyes by Chi Yu’s gentle voice.
Jiang Mo quickly turned his face and looked at the half head of the driver in front. He stammered, “N-nothing.”
“Oh,” Chi Yu replied, elongating the end of his tone, seemingly with a hidden smile.
Jiang Mo covered his blushing cheeks and, once his heartbeat calmed down, he secretly glanced at Chi Yu again. Chi Yu was still engrossed in his phone and hadn’t noticed Jiang Mo’s observation.
This time, Jiang Mo didn’t dare to look for too long. He turned his head back and vigorously rubbed his heated face with the palm of his hand.
Why was his heartbeat acting up again?
What Jiang Mo didn’t know was that as he shifted his gaze, Chi Yu, who was focused on his phone, subtly curled up the corners of his mouth. His conversation with his friend had ended several minutes ago.
[“Damn, Chi Yu is so bad! He’s secretly laughing behind Jiang Mo’s back!”]
[“Ah, it feels like I’m watching a movie. They’re like a couple in a campus idol drama! It reminds me of how pure and innocent my boyfriend and I were when we were dating. The nostalgia hits me!”]
[“Every time Jiang Mo looks at Chi Yingdi, his face turns red. He definitely likes Chi Yingdi.”]
[“I’m sorry, I’ve betrayed everyone. The current Jiang Mo is so adorable. I don’t care anymore, I’ve fallen in love with him!”]
[“Jiang Mo rubbing his face is so cute. It reminds me of [Sea Otter Rubbing Face.jpg].”]
Without work, the production team couldn’t let the guests be bored in the cabin. Staying indoors was boring, even though the fans wouldn’t mind. So, the production team had prepared activities.
This city was famous for tourism, and before the guests arrived, the production team had already dispersed the fans who had rushed here upon hearing the news.
After getting off the car, Chi Yu sensed that something was off with Jiang Mo. Out of habit, he stood beside Jiang Mo, but their arms didn’t touch. However, Jiang Mo intentionally took a step back, creating distance between them.
Lu Xuan, who was sitting in the front row but got off last, walked over. He greeted Chi Yu with a smile and naturally stood beside him.
Jiang Mo pretended to search for something in his backpack. He casually picked up a power bank and plugged it into his phone, which still had 95% battery. When he looked up, Lu Xuan had taken his previous position, and Lou An had naturally stood on the other side of Lu Xuan.
Chi Yu’s scrutinizing gaze fell upon himself, but Jiang Mo didn’t dare to look at Chi Yu. He stood beside Lou An with his head lowered.
“Behind everyone is Z City’s museum…” the director said a long string of introductory words, but Jiang Mo didn’t pay much attention.
Was it an illusion? He felt like someone’s gaze was fixed on him all the time.
“Alright, this time we’ll form groups for the tour. Please form pairs with the person next to you, Group A with Group O.” After the director finished speaking, everyone looked at the person next to them.
Coincidentally, the positions they stood in when getting off the car were AO separated. Jiang Ying was paired with Li Heng, Ye Lin finally ended up in a group with Shen An, and due to Jiang Mo’s avoidance, Chi Yu and Lu Xuan were grouped together. Besides Lu An, there was no one else beside Jiang Mo. In order, Lou An missed Lu Xuan and was assigned to Jiang Mo’s group.
Except for Lou An, who already had a target, the sudden formation of groups didn’t bother anyone else.
Ye Lin’s morning gloomy face completely changed, and he followed Shen An into the museum with a spring in his step.
“Senior, shall we go in?” Lu Xuan smiled faintly at Chi Yu.
“Mm,” Chi Yu responded, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Mo, who had his head down. His lips tightened, and there was no hint of a smile on his face.
Deliberately, Chi Yu took a detour and entered the museum from Jiang Mo’s side. When they brushed past each other, Jiang Mo cautiously raised his head and caught a glimpse of Chi Yu’s profile.
Jiang Mo blinked at the empty space.
But in a moment, the warmth emanating from Chi Yu suddenly dropped. It seemed like Chi Yu was angry?
The three groups entered, leaving only Jiang Mo and Lou An. Lou An’s gaze had been following Lu Xuan as he moved away, and the cold wind rustled his clothes and swept across his forehead, making him resemble a pitiful person who had been abandoned.
[“Why is Xiao Xuan standing with Chi Yingdi? Does he prefer Chi Yingdi? What about Lou An? Lou An is so pitiful, he really likes Xiao Xuan!”]
[“What’s so pitiful about it? It’s just visiting a museum together, not confirming a romantic relationship. Besides, Lou An didn’t give any signals of liking Lu Xuan. It’s all just Lou An overthinking things.”]
[“Lou An was on the same set as Chi Yu a couple of days ago. There’s nothing wrong with standing together with someone familiar.”]
[“True, Lou An didn’t give any signals, but don’t you think he’s a bit like Aquaman? He readily accepts any gestures of goodwill from others. He messages Lou An, goes on a date with Li Heng, and both Lou An and Li Heng compete to make breakfast for him. Lou An helps him carry his bag, and he doesn’t refuse but accepts it readily. And now, he’s visiting the museum with Chi Yu.”]
[“Now that you mention it, I think he does have the potential to be Aquaman1.”]
[“But does that really make him Aquaman? It’s not like they’re engaging in overly intimate actions. Dates are random, and how could Lu Xuan have known it was Li Heng he was going on a date with that day? Do you expect Lu Xuan to reject a senior? Besides, if Lou An likes him, does that mean he has to reciprocate equally? It’s a mutual thing! Choosing someone in a dating show is about picking the one you’re most satisfied with among many. How can you judge without spending time together? It’s ridiculous to call him Aquaman.”
“Shall we go in too?” Jiang Mo whispered.
“Sure,” Lou An replied.
The production team had arranged staggered entry to give the guests an opportunity to explore in pairs and have a private space for communication.
Lou An was still immersed in his sadness about not being grouped with Lu Xuan. He walked through the museum like a lifeless corpse, not speaking to Jiang Mo.
On the other hand, Jiang Mo enjoyed this state. Compared to Li Heng and Shen An, Lou An made Jiang Mo feel more relaxed because Lou An had a target in mind, and Lou An had a gentle personality that wouldn’t intentionally hurt him.
Jiang Mo focused on appreciating the artifacts in the display cases. He didn’t have much to say but admired the impressive objects.
Despite being together, the two of them seemed like strangers who didn’t know each other.
“Feeling tired?” Lou An broke the silence first.
“Not tired,” Jiang Mo replied.
“I’m a bit tired,” Lou An said.
“…”
“Can we sit over there for a while?” Lou An pointed to the courtyard outside.
Jiang Mo nodded.
There was a towering banyan tree in the courtyard, and an circular seat was set up around its outer circle. They sat down and fell into another round of silence.
“I like Lu Xuan,” Lou An suddenly said.
Jiang Mo was staring blankly at the dense branches and leaves of the banyan tree when he was startled by Lou An’s words.
Why did Lou An suddenly confess to him?
“On this trip, I originally thought I could be with Xiao Xuan, but I didn’t expect the production team to arrange groups,” Lou An said with a bitter smile. “Maybe I don’t have any fate with him. We were separated during our first date, and now we’re separated again…”
“…”
Jiang Mo didn’t understand why Lou An suddenly made such a straightforward confession. Going along with Lou An’s words, he tried to console him, saying, “Next time, for sure.”
“…”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Lou An asked.
Jiang Mo’s mind went blank, and he responded with the answer Lou An wanted to hear, “I believe.”
“Do you believe that someone could fall in love with you at first sight?”
“I believe,” Jiang Mo replied.
He didn’t believe.
Such things only happened rarely, and it wouldn’t happen to him. Even though in his past life, many fans had confessed their love to him on the spot, they would forget him as soon as he fell. Love at first sight was only about appearances, and such feelings wouldn’t last.
“Do you think Xiao Xuan would like me?” Lou An’s question almost made Jiang Mo blurt out an insincere “yes.” He quickly held back. If he said it, who knows how he would be criticized.
Jiang Mo considered it and said, “Other than Lou An, no one has the answer to that.”
Lou An slumped his shoulders, filled with disappointment. “But I just don’t know what he thinks.”
“…” Jiang Mo thought, You’re not a mind-reader of Lou An. How would you know?
Jiang Mo didn’t know how to comfort people. He pondered on how to console Lou An, while Lou An, who was in a state of dejection, started talking to himself.
“Do you think I should go and ask him?”
“Well…” Jiang Mo hesitated.
The program had just started recording, and if he went to ask now, wouldn’t that be too fast? Is he taking a rocket or something?
Moreover, are you sure Lu Xuan won’t be scared? Big brother, you’re too impatient, aren’t you?
“Actions are more effective than useless inquiries!” Lou An clenched his knee, as if air had filled it, giving him confidence.
Jiang Mo: “Uh, well…”
Lou An: “You’re right. Only Xiao Xuan can tell me the answer. Waiting blindly is pointless. If I just sit here, Xiao Xuan won’t tell me the answer.”
Jiang Mo: “…”
Lou An started to worry again. “But I don’t want to scare him. Should I endure it? But I have an impatient personality. I may not be able to endure it for long. I still want to go and ask him…”
Jiang Mo: “…Well, then go and ask.”
Lou An: “He’s just casually visiting the museum with Chi Yingdi. Nothing will happen, just like you and me. There won’t be any sparks. Am I right?”
Jiang Mo: “…If you say so, why do you have to insult me?”
[“Haha, Lou An, you turned out to be like this.”]
[“Hahaha, Jiang Mo’s expression is so funny. Lou An keeps shutting him up whenever he tries to speak.”]
[“Jiang Mo: Are you going to let me speak or not? Are you sure you wanted to confide in me?”]
[“Lou An is indeed impatient. Is he the fastest confession guest in the history of <Love Synthesis>? Although the confession is not in person.”]
[“Has he already made up his mind so quickly? Is Lou An not planning to leave himself any retreat?”]
[“What kind of retreat do you need? You need deep feelings!”]
[“Sorry, I can’t see how deep the feelings are…”]
[“Is this a show? It’s only been a few days. How can you get so infatuated so quickly?”]
[“I’m sorry, but our Xuan Xuan has such charm!”]
On the set, Lu Xuan had witnessed the stark contrast between Chi Yu’s on-screen and off-screen appearances.
Some people are more changeable in the drama and become even gentler off-screen, but Chi Yu is the opposite.
Chi Yu’s personality matches his appearance. He exudes an aura of dominance and coldness, making it difficult for others to get close to him.
Lu Xuan had tried to approach Chi Yu many times, but he always received a distant attitude in return.
Due to the scenes on set, Chi Yu would exchange a few words with him, but once they were out of sight, Chi Yu wouldn’t even utter a short sentence.
Lu Xuan has a handsome appearance and has had admirers since middle school. From childhood to adulthood, it has always been others pursuing him. Even when he entered the entertainment industry, this situation did not change. He was blessed by heaven until his background dealt him a heavy blow. Only then did he understand that heaven doesn’t always favor him; sometimes, it plays jokes on him.
Meeting Chi Yu was another heavy blow in his life.
When people see him, they are always amazed at first sight. He enjoys such attention. But when Chi Yu saw him, he averted his gaze and treated him as if he were invisible.
In the entertainment industry, there are people who idolize their colleagues, and Chi Yu is admired by most people. When Lu Xuan says he is Chi Yu’s fan, it’s not a lie.
His feelings for Chi Yu are admiration and reverence, not love. But among all the available options, he would choose Chi Yu without a doubt.
Chi Yu can give him everything he desires and help him reach the pinnacle. Even if Chi Yu is indifferent to him, a little bit of grievance and sacrifice are nothing as long as he can achieve his goals.
“Senior, after you left the set, everyone often mentioned you.” Lu Xuan’s words sounded like a sigh, as if he had met a long-lost friend.
[“Wuwuwu, the father-son CP is back again.”]
[“Emmm, let’s not ship the father-son relationship, it’s toxic! Orthopedics, right?”]
[“They are only father and son in the drama, there’s no blood relation between them. Although they have an eight-year age difference, can anyone who sees them not praise their good match?”]
[“Here we go again. Can Lu Xuan’s fans stop pushing for a relationship between him and Chi Yu? So many spoilers have come out even before the drama aired. I really suspect this is intentionally created by your team to generate buzz. How is Lu Xuan’s behavior any different from Jiang Mo’s previous actions?”]
Chi Yu’s current state is similar to Jiang Mo’s state when he was forcibly taken out for a walk—absent-minded and lacking interest in everything.
After Lu Xuan’s words fell silent for a long time, Chi Yu still hadn’t responded, and the awkwardness was gradually spreading, even permeating the live broadcast room.
[“…Lu Xuan, are you embarrassed? If you’re not embarrassed, then I am.”]
[“Chi Yu, you truly are someone. Why do you always clarify rumors in such strange ways?”]
[“Can the shippers of the Chi Yu and Lu Xuan CP finally stop now?”]
“Senior?” Lu Xuan clenched his hand hidden in his sleeve, his face adorned with a polite smile, as if the previous awkwardness didn’t exist.
Chi Yu stopped walking, turned around, and looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Xuan repeated the previous sentence with a smile.
“Okay.” Chi Yu nodded, without further asking what they had said about him. He didn’t look down on the younger generation; he simply wasn’t interested in such matters.
There were too many people mentioning him, and he couldn’t ask each one of them. Besides, he had only spent three days on that set, during which he had exchanged only a few words with the lead actor. His impression of others was almost nonexistent.
Facing Chi Yu’s cold treatment once again, Lu Xuan couldn’t bear it, no matter how good his mindset was.
He had confirmed with Sister Hong that Chi Yu had agreed to create a CP relationship to repay the favor to the company. However, Chi Yu’s attitude wasn’t as certain as Sister Hong had claimed. Was Chi Yu having second thoughts? Or had Sister Hong deceived him, intentionally embarrassing him on the show?
“Are you done filming?” Chi Yu asked.
Hearing Chi Yu initiating the conversation, Lu Xuan’s expression improved significantly, dispelling his doubts. Chi Yu wasn’t completely ignoring him.
Lu Xuan smiled. “Yes, after you left, I stayed up for several nights, but we managed to finish smoothly.”
“It must have been hard work,” Chi Yu said casually.
“Thank you for your concern, Senior.”
As they continued talking, they walked past a corner.
“Senior, this hairpin seems to be the one you made for me in the drama…” Lu Xuan brought up a new topic in his ear, but Chi Yu heard the sound without registering a single word.
They entered a small exhibition hall, where several large doors were open, revealing a square courtyard outside. A massive banyan tree blocked most of the sunlight, and what caught Chi Yu’s eye under the tree were two figures.
Lou An, standing at less than 180 cm, almost completely overshadowed Jiang Mo’s petite figure. Jiang Mo’s body was hidden behind Lou An, with only half of his face exposed.
The familiar upward gaze from his memory, Chi Yu liked that about Jiang Mo. When Jiang Mo spoke, if he wasn’t blushing, he would lift his head and look at him with a serious gaze. Chi Yu enjoyed the feeling of being taken seriously by Jiang Mo. At this moment, he realized that Jiang Mo wasn’t only like this with him, but with everyone he spoke to.
But he overlooked one crucial point—the height difference between Jiang Mo and others, which destined that Jiang Mo couldn’t look directly into other people’s eyes.
Lou An said, “Jiang Mo, thank you. You’re a good person, willing to listen to me and patiently comfort me…”
Jiang Mo: “…” I never patiently comforted you. It was clearly you talking to yourself the whole time.
“Senior, over there, we can make rice cakes ourselves. Are you interested? Let’s go and give it a try together?” Lu Xuan didn’t notice Jiang Mo and Lou An in the courtyard. His words received no response, and when he turned his head, he saw Chi Yu’s figure outside the gate.
“Sorry, I ate your cake yesterday.”
Lou An suddenly changed the subject, catching Jiang Mo off guard. After a moment of bewilderment, Jiang Mo softly replied, “It’s okay.”
He didn’t like adding too much negative energy to himself. There was no need to dwell on yesterday’s incident today and in the future. After all, it had already happened, and whatever they did wouldn’t change anything. It was better to look forward.
Most importantly, he had already been comforted.
Lou An carefully looked at Jiang Mo, confirming that Jiang Mo wasn’t forcing himself, and his heart couldn’t help but soften.
“I also want to apologize to you. When you first came, I had biases against you.” Lou An touched his forehead, as if using that gesture to conceal his embarrassment. “I’ve realized that you’re actually a nice person.”
He was being praised.
Jiang Mo’s smile had not yet appeared when a shadow suddenly cast over his eyes. Both of them looked up and saw Chi Yu who had appeared out of nowhere.
“Chi, Chi Yingdi,” Lou An greeted first.
Chi Yu nodded and his gaze fell on Jiang Mo’s face. Jiang Mo had fair skin, making the blush on his face even more apparent.
What were Jiang Mo and Lou An talking about that made Jiang Mo blush like that?
An unknown emotion was fermenting in his heart.
“Chi, Chi Yingdi,” Jiang Mo imitated Lou An and also greeted Chi Yu.
This soft and gentle call felt like a huge rock hitting Chi Yu’s chest.
He didn’t like Jiang Mo calling him that.
Didn’t he teach Jiang Mo how to address him?
At the entrance of the museum, Chi Yu already sensed that something was off with Jiang Mo. When they were standing, Jiang Mo deliberately took a step back, distancing himself from Chi Yu. When Lou An stood beside him, Chi Yu didn’t think much of it. But when the director announced the groups, Jiang Mo ended up being Lou An’s partner, and that instantly made him unhappy.
Seeing Jiang Mo bowing his head and acting like a turtle, Chi Yu felt both angry and amused.
He knew Jiang Mo was intentionally avoiding him, and he knew the reasons. Perhaps it was something his manager or the person who benefited the most from the groupings said to Jiang Mo.
Before this, he didn’t have any opinions about Lu Xuan. Even if Lu Xuan’s team intentionally tried to create a buzz around him, he ignored it all.
But this time, he felt really displeased.
He didn’t like Jiang Mo avoiding him, especially when he saw Jiang Mo smiling at Lou An, which made him even more unhappy.
[“Damn, why do I smell gunpowder? Why does it feel like a battlefield whenever someone stands beside Jiang Mo and Chi Yu?”]
[“This is the 18th time Chi Yu has openly looked at Jiang Mo.”]
[“Damn, why are there people keeping count? Are you all that bored? Where were the previous 17 times? Tell me!!!”]
[“I have to say it out loud, even as a passerby, I can tell that Chi Yu is being hypocritical. His attitude towards Lu Xuan is evident. The only one he willingly approaches is Jiang Mo!”]
[“What’s so good about Jiang Mo? Is Chi Yu blind? What does he see in him?”]
The three of them stood in the small courtyard, locked in a stalemate. Chi Yu and Jiang Mo locked eyes, each stubbornly waiting for the other to change their stance. Chi Yu, in his one-sided stubbornness, refused to remind Jiang Mo how he should address him, wanting Jiang Mo to realize it on his own and voluntarily call him that.
Until Jiang Mo started anxiously avoiding his gaze, Chi Yu sighed inwardly and compromised first.
Chi Yu asked, “Are you done sightseeing?”
Lou An thought Chi Yu was asking him and replied, “Almost, we’re all a bit tired and didn’t feel like leaving, so we thought of resting here and waiting for you guys.”
“There, you can make rice cakes yourself. Want to give it a try?”
Lou An, who didn’t notice that Chi Yu’s gaze had been focused on Jiang Mo the whole time he asked those two questions, became interested upon hearing Chi Yu’s suggestion. Then, as he turned his head and saw Lu Xuan walking over, his interest multiplied several times.
“Sure.”
Agreeing to Chi Yu’s invitation, Lu Xuan would definitely go as well. In a roundabout way, he and Lu Xuan would become a team.
“Jiang Mo, sitting for too long is boring. Let’s go and take a look, okay?” Lou An remembered Jiang Mo and turned to him with pleading eyes.
Please, agree with me. I beg you, please agree with me.
Jiang Mo also saw Lu Xuan and naturally understood what was on Lou An’s mind, so he nodded.
Lu Xuan listened attentively to the conversation between Chi Yu and Lou An, and his smile almost faded away.
It was him who suggested making rice cakes with Chi Yu, but instead of responding to him, Chi Yu went to talk to Lou An.
Only a fool wouldn’t see Chi Yu’s true intentions.
Did Jiang Mo put a spell on Chi Yu? Why was Chi Yu showing such special concern for him?!
The specialty food in the small town included rice cakes. Following the directions on the sign, the four of them walked out of the museum and arrived at a factory building outside the museum.
There was a sign hanging at the entrance with a cartoonish depiction of rice cakes. This place was specifically designed to showcase and promote the specialty food of the small town, and the residents of the town made rice cakes here. The factory was filled with machines.
Guided by the staff, the four of them visited the process of making rice cakes and were then led to a small room behind the factory.
To save time and effort, machines were used now, but there were still traditional handmade methods available. These small rooms were specially set up for tourists to experience the joy of making rice cakes by hand.
After leaving the courtyard of the museum, the positions of the four of them changed. With Lu Xuan present, Lou An would definitely stand beside him, and when Lu Xuan stood next to Chi Yu, it became an awkward trio. Jiang Mo was blatantly ignored by his partner Lou An.
[“Why does Jiang Mo always get excluded? It makes me want to speak up for him. They are all in the same circle and bound to meet each other. Don’t make it so awkward.”]
[“It’s not wrong for Lou An to like Lu Xuan, but he should at least consider his partner’s feelings…”]
[“There’s no choice. There are no principles in love. Who told Jiang Mo to be so attractive? He can only be patient for a while.”]
[“I feel sorry for Jiang Mo.”]
Before the comment “I feel sorry for Jiang Mo” even finished scrolling, observant netizens noticed that although Lu Xuan seemed to be sandwiched between Lou An and Chi Yu, Chi Yu’s target was not Lu Xuan on his left, but Jiang Mo on his right.
If Jiang Mo took a step back, he would too. If Jiang Mo sped up, he would too. They almost walked side by side without saying a word, but Chi Yu consciously adjusted his pace to match Jiang Mo’s.
It was clearly deliberate.
[“…”]
[“Lu Xuan’s fans are right. There’s no choice. Love truly has no principles.”]
[“……….”]
Of course, Jiang Mo noticed that Chi Yu was imitating his walking style, and he was puzzled but didn’t dare to ask. He could feel that Chi Yu was angry.
Did something happen between Chi Yu and Lu Xuan just now? Why was Chi Yu upset?
The methods for making rice cakes by hand and with machines were similar, and the initial steps were the same.
After soaking the rice, it was pressed into rice milk and filtered. After steaming, rice flour was obtained, and then the steamed rice flour was repeatedly pounded with a wooden mallet to create a soft and sticky rice cake.
The four of them put on the aprons prepared by the staff. Tourists came here every day to experience the process, and the staff provided them with soaked rice. As mentioned earlier, the remaining steps were left for the four of them to do.
They were still divided into two groups.
Lou An regained his sanity and stood next to Jiang Mo while making rice cakes.
Making rice cakes wasn’t difficult, and Lou An already knew how to cook, so Jiang Mo didn’t need to help. The rice flour was quickly steamed.
Jiang Mo wanted to assist, but just as he was about to take out the steaming tray, Lou An grabbed his hand and reminded him, “The steam hasn’t dissipated yet, you might get burned. Let me do it.”
“Thank you,” Jiang Mo awkwardly withdrew his hand and obediently stepped aside.
Lou An smiled, “Don’t be so polite.”
Bam!
The lid of the pot fell to the ground, making a loud noise that startled everyone in the room.
“Are you okay, senior?” Lu Xuan asked.
Chi Yu picked up the fallen lid expressionlessly and calmly said, “I’m fine, just lost my grip.”
“That’s good,” Lu Xuan replied.
Jiang Mo stood to the side, secretly observing Chi Yu’s expression. Chi Yu had a refined jawline, and he couldn’t detect any changes in his appearance, but he could sense Chi Yu’s tension.
Chi Yu took out the steamed rice flour from the steamer and poured it onto a clean surface.
“Let me take over from here,” Lu Xuan said, holding the wooden mallet with enthusiasm.
“Okay,” Chi Yu threw the steaming tray into the sink. Suddenly, a white figure flashed by, and a fair hand grabbed his wrist.
Chi Yu was taken aback and lowered his head to see a furry head that suddenly appeared by his shoulder.
Jiang Mo frowned, turned on the tap, and forcefully pulled Chi Yu’s hand under the running water.
Chi Yu’s surprise didn’t fade from his eyes. His wrist was pulled again, and the cold water slid down his fingers into his palm, followed by a warm breath.
Chi Yu doesn’t follow the tough-guy route. He has fair, pale skin, and the back of his hand reveals distinct blue veins. The camera focuses on him.
The large, slender index and middle fingers clearly showed several red marks caused by burns, contrasting red and white, giving the impression of a serious condition.
The continuous warm breath made Chi Yu’s whole body stiff. He stared blankly at Jiang Mo’s swelling cheeks as Jiang Mo clumsily blew on his fingers to relieve the burning sensation.
He had clearly told Jiang Mo that this foolish method wouldn’t work.
But his heartbeat still went out of control.
Note :
- “Aquaman” is used metaphorically to describe someone who readily accepts or takes advantage of the attention or affections of others without reciprocating or committing to a deeper relationship. ↩︎
ahhhhhhhhhhh that last scene awsl!!!!
Jiang mo is so cute(3x)
chi yu getting that jealous when they don’t even have label yet 🤣