Chi Yu read Jiang Mo’s reply several times. If Jiang Mo could see his expression at this moment, he would definitely be scared and quickly take back those words.
He swiped the screen, confirming that Jiang Mo hadn’t taken too long to think and replied almost within seconds of him asking the question.
“Tsk.” Chi Yu stretched his long legs and irritably threw his phone away. He sank half of his body into the sofa, propping his chin with one hand, silently gazing at the figure by the restaurant window.
The phone vibrated several times within a minute, but he wasn’t in the mood to look.
If it was Jiang Mo who sent him a message, he was likely to say something that would upset him.
Why couldn’t liking be a meal? Jiang Mo had no long-term vision at all. Being with him meant more than just a few million.
How foolish.
Even while chatting with him, Jiang Mo didn’t forget to eat. His mouth was filled with chicken strips, and Chi Yu noticed a habit of Jiang Mo’s. Jiang Mo liked stuffing things into his mouth and chewing together, habitually using his right side to bite. The right cheek would always puff up like a swollen glutinous rice ball.
Chi Yu stared at the fleshball on Jiang Mo’s face with a gloomy expression, and his rising anger slowly subsided.
At that moment, the phone vibrated again.
He considered it as a signal that Jiang Mo was coming to coax him.
Thinking so, Chi Yu reluctantly picked up his phone and opened WeChat.
[MOMO: If there’s a one in ten million chance that Chi Yu would like me, then I would choose the second option.]
[MOMO: Ah no, forget what I just said. As a qualified fan, how can I fantasize about my idol! I’m committing a crime! [kneeling.jpg]]
[MOMO: Please don’t take my previous words seriously. As you said, if you are sure that the person you like also likes you, he might have some difficulties that make him hesitate between millions and you. These difficulties will affect your relationship. If you have made up your mind about him, why not try to help him overcome these difficulties? Waiting blindly will only let him slip away…]
[MOMO: Brother, did I say too much?]
Chi Yu’s gaze gradually softened as he lightly flicked his fingertip on the first message.
If there’s a one in ten million chance that Chi Yu would like me, then I would choose the second option.
I choose Chi Yu.
A smile appeared on Chi Yu’s lips as the sunlight bathed his brows and eyes, dispelling the gloom.
…
Jiang Mo checked his phone dozens of times within a few minutes, but CY hadn’t replied to any of his messages.
He was full of regret. Did he upset CY?
Just from CY’s messages, he could feel that CY really liked that person.
“Ah.” Jiang Mo sighed, resting his head on the table, blankly staring at the pear blossoms in the yard.
If he gave CY millions to leave the person he liked, or be with the person he liked, which one would he choose?
He didn’t hesitate. His thoughts couldn’t keep up with the speed of his fingers, and he instinctively chose the first option.
He spoke the truth. Such a hypothesis was too far-fetched. Wasn’t it better to live a comfortable life with millions?
But as soon as his brain started thinking, he sent another reply to CY.
CY and the person he liked were both caught in a dilemma.
The difference was that CY and the person he liked mutually liked each other, while he was forcefully dragged in.
Lu Xuan and Sister Hong used millions in breach of contract to keep him away from Chi Yu, and he had no choice but to comply because he couldn’t come up with that amount of money.
However, these past few days, another thought kept emerging in his mind, contradicting his previous decision.
He couldn’t refuse Chi Yu’s approach, even though he felt nervous and his breathing became difficult when Chi Yu was around, as if his heart was about to leave his body.
He liked it when Chi Yu talked to him, and he also liked Chi Yu’s thoughtfulness. Even if it wasn’t exclusively for him, being able to briefly occupy Chi Yu was enough to satisfy him.
CY’s words were like a key, unlocking a box named “Never Satisfied.”
He seemed… to have become insatiable.
When Lu Xuan said that Chi Yu was so kind and considerate to everyone, he wanted Chi Yu to treat only him well.
When CY asked him which one he would choose between millions and Chi Yu, he selfishly added a condition: Chi Yu must like him for him to choose Chi Yu.
Jiang Mo rubbed his earlobe, the icy fingertips rubbing against the scorching earlobe. Instead of neutralizing each other’s temperature, his fingers became hotter and hotter, while his earlobe grew warmer.
His liking for Chi Yu seemed to have changed. Besides the fandom’s liking, it was now mixed with personal desires.
Even the slow-witted Jiang Mo could perceive Jiang Ying’s transformation, let alone others.
Especially Lu Xuan, he clearly sensed Jiang Ying distancing himself intentionally.
A few days ago, Jiang Ying had a friendly attitude towards him when they talked, but now Jiang Ying couldn’t be bothered to pretend and gave him perfunctory answers to his questions.
Seeing Jiang Ying being so intimate with Jiang Mo, feeding him food without any regard, Lu Xuan didn’t feel happy.
Jiang Ying’s rise to fame relied solely on his face. He didn’t have any representative works, and his popularity as a young idol wouldn’t last for many years.
The entertainment industry had many newcomers, and Jiang Ying’s popularity would eventually decline. It wouldn’t have a big impact on Lu Xuan, so he didn’t need to please Jiang Ying.
They were in direct competition, and they would definitely fight over resources in the future. It was inevitable that they would clash, so there was no need to pretend to be brothers with Jiang Ying.
Jiang Ying’s foolish behavior of getting close to Jiang Mo instead offended Ye Lin.
Everyone present knew that Ye Lin and Jiang Mo didn’t get along, so for Jiang Ying to take Jiang Mo’s side at a time like this was incredibly foolish.
Jiang Mo was an artist who was being sidelined, and Jiang Ying was lowering his own value just to please Jiang Mo. Why?
“Why do we need so many people to cook? Having so many people crowded together only adds chaos…”
The speaker didn’t intend anything, but the listener had ulterior motives.
When Jiang Ying said this, Lu Xuan was standing on his left side, Lou An on his right side, and he was caught in the middle. It seemed like Jiang Ying was teasing him with his words.
Shen An hadn’t come out of the room yet, and Ye Lin wasn’t interested in the other members of Group A. Among the members of Group O, the only ones he could talk to were Lu Xuan and Jiang Ying.
Ye Lin couldn’t help but feel annoyed when he saw Jiang Ying suddenly being so friendly with Jiang Mo, whom he despised. He took off his earpiece and, using the cover of the fume hood, asked Jiang Ying, “Why are you suddenly getting so close to Jiang Mo?”
“Why, can’t I interact with Jiang Mo?” Jiang Ying retorted.
Ye Lin frowned, looking displeased. “You know that Jiang Mo and I don’t get along. Are you doing this on purpose?”
Jiang Ying asked, “Why are you so sure that I dislike Jiang Mo?”
Ye Lin sneered, “Who would like Jiang Mo? The things he has done are enough for everyone to dislike him. Don’t you also dislike him?”
Jiang Ying replied, “I’m sorry, my previous understanding was mistaken, or maybe you misunderstood me. I’m not close to Jiang Mo, but now that I’ve gotten to know him, I think he’s a decent person. At least, I quite like him now.”
Ye Lin remained silent.
Jiang Ying had taken off his microphone before cooking, so the audience could only speculate on their conversation through lip reading, but only a few could understand.
Jiang Ying gave a slight smile to Ye Lin, with no trace of mockery, “If you dislike him, then dislike him. He doesn’t even care about your liking. Don’t think that just because you dislike him, everyone else should dislike him too, Young Master Ye. This circle isn’t your territory, and being overly arrogant won’t do you any good.”
“You…” Ye Lin’s face turned pale, but due to the presence of the cameras and his reluctance to make too many enemies, he coldly snorted and returned to Lu Xuan’s side.
Jiang Ying lifted the lid of the pot, picked up a spatula, and skillfully flipped the braised pork inside.
His last sentence wasn’t meant to be sarcastic; it was a well-intentioned reminder to Ye Lin.
Ye Lin’s affluent background had allowed him to smoothly pave his way as an internet celebrity, but the world of internet celebrities and the entertainment industry were two different circles.
Short videos had scripts and could carefully create a persona that audiences liked. Before this, many people didn’t know what Ye Lin’s true personality was like. The reality show had exposed all of Ye Lin’s flaws.
On the day of visiting the museum, he overheard a conversation between Lu Xuan and Jiang Mo in the restroom. After returning, he observed Lu Xuan and Jiang Mo.
During the night’s rest, he pulled up the previous recordings of the two and quickly scanned through them.
Lu Xuan was a clever person who knew how to disguise himself. Ye Lin, who called others stupid, was the one without a brain, indeed.
Being used and not even aware of it.
In this industry, there were too many people who liked to wear masks. Jiang Ying himself was someone accustomed to living with a mask. He joined this program for the sake of popularity. His previous signals of being interested in Li Heng were all fake. He had no interest in dating, let alone being interested in any of the guests.
After so many years, he finally saw a genuine feeling in Jiang Mo. Being with Jiang Mo was comfortable, and it made him naturally want to get closer.
He liked Jiang Mo’s state of not caring about anything.
When he learned that Li Heng’s attention had turned to Lu Xuan, he didn’t hesitate to give up.
In fact, he didn’t even want to wear a mask anymore. He wanted to relax himself in this program, just like Jiang Mo.
…
After finishing cooking, Jiang Ying grabbed Jiang Mo, who was sleeping by the window.
“Didn’t you sleep well last night?” Jiang Ying smiled and poked the marks left on Jiang Mo’s face.
“Yeah, I slept late,” Jiang Mo used the palm of his hand to rub the marks on his face, trying to smooth them out.
When Chi Yu entered, he saw Jiang Ying rubbing Jiang Mo’s face, and his buoyant mood immediately plummeted to negative. He subtly frowned.
He silently repeated in his heart—
Jiang Ying was from Group O, and Jiang Ying openly admitted that he was a seme. So, there wouldn’t be any sparks between him and Jiang Mo.
It was just playful banter between friends.
Friends?
Chi Yu made a slight clicking sound, thinking that being a bit closer as friends meant he could make a move? What kind of friend would do that!
Lu Xuan still had lingering fear from Chi Yu’s warning the previous day. After reporting it to his manager, the manager reluctantly announced giving up. Lu Xuan no longer approached Chi Yu and turned his attention towards Lou An instead.
The seating arrangement during meals was the most explosive moment, but to the surprise of the audience, the anticipated explosive moment did not occur.
Not to mention Ye Lin, who directly sat next to Shen An, no one competed for his seat. Lou An and Lu Xuan sat face-to-face with each other in mutual agreement. Li Heng, who had previously pursued Lu Xuan, suddenly gave up the pursuit and randomly chose a seat.
Jiang Mo was pulled by Jiang Ying to sit in a corner position, and as soon as he sat down, Chi Yu sat across from him.
Jiang Mo lowered his head and pretended to be focused on his food.
He hadn’t forgotten the hug in the game room and Chi Yu’s crouching down to talk to him.
Moreover, he hadn’t fully sorted out his own feelings yet, and Chi Yu’s presence would only disrupt his thoughts.
Jiang Ying had mentioned in the group chat that he would be responsible for today’s lunch and that he wouldn’t play the isolating tactics like Ye Lin.
He, the chef, invited Jiang Mo to eat, who would dare to object.
“This is what I learned from my grandmother. Give it a try,” Jiang Ying deliberately placed the braised pork in front of Jiang Mo and picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in Jiang Mo’s bowl.
Jiang Mo: “Thank you.”
“Is it delicious?” Jiang Ying asked.
The braised pork was stewed perfectly, with the fat melting in the mouth. It was fatty but not greasy, lean but not tough, and the sauce had a hint of sweetness.
Jiang Mo wiped away the soup from his lips and nodded vigorously, “Delicious!”
Good food can heal the soul, and Jiang Mo enjoyed all the delicacies. When he tasted something he liked, his eyes would light up and his face would show obvious delight.
Jiang Ying was carried away by his emotions and couldn’t help pinching Jiang Mo’s cheek. “If it’s delicious, eat more.”
Jiang Mo: “…”
[“Wuwuwu, I’m really guilty. I think Jiang Ying and Jiang Mo make a great couple QAQ. Their surnames have the same pronunciation, they really match!”]
[“But they don’t have the right dimensions!!! Give up, can’t they just be friends?”]
[“Ah, ah, ah, Jiang Ying did something that I want to do but can’t do QAQ. I also want to pinch Jiang Mo’s face! It’s so sour!”]
[“Jiang Mo, why don’t you become a food blogger? You’re really good at eating! The kind that can make people eat five bowls of rice in one go!”]
[“Did you see the expression on Chi Yu’s face? Rewind five seconds, his eyes blinked slowly!”]
[“What does that mean?”]
[“Every time he’s unhappy, his blinking speed slows down a lot, and his pupils tend to look downward!”]
[“Damn, were you all watching the livestream with a microscope? How can you see that!?”]
The dining table was rectangular, long enough to accommodate four people on one side, but the width was limited. Every time Jiang Mo looked up to pick up a dish, he would receive Chi Yu’s gaze.
Since Jiang Ying served him the first piece of braised pork, Jiang Mo had noticed the low pressure coming from the opposite side.
What’s wrong with Chi Yu?
“Try this, it’s pickled radish made by my mom. It goes well with rice…” Jiang Ying brought a palm-sized dish and handed it to Jiang Mo’s side.
Jiang Mo: “Thank you.”
“Try this one too. Braised pork is not my specialty. The first dish I learned to cook was spicy and sour shredded potatoes. I’m particularly good at it…”
“It’s delicious!” Jiang Mo tasted a mouthful of shredded potatoes, his eyes bright, and he praised without hesitation, “You, you’re amazing!”
Something hit his shoe, and Jiang Mo froze for a moment, subconsciously looking at Chi Yu across from him.
Chi Yu looked up casually and said, “Sorry.”
Jiang Mo: “I-it’s okay…”
A lunch filled with hidden gunpowder came to an end, and the dishwashing duty was handed over to Shen An and Ye Lin.
Jiang Mo was full and planned to take a walk outside to aid digestion. As he walked out of the courtyard, he heard footsteps following him. Thinking it was a cameraman, Jiang Mo didn’t pay much attention.
When he stepped out, the sun was still shining, but soon it gradually disappeared behind the clouds.
As the rain started to fall, Jiang Mo raised his hand to block the falling raindrops and hurriedly ran towards a small shop ahead to take shelter from the rain. Suddenly, his wrist was grabbed by someone. He turned around in surprise, and a tall figure loomed over him like a dark cloud.
Chi Yu held onto Jiang Mo’s delicate wrist tightly, his gaze profound as he silently mouthed a few words to him.
Jiang Mo blinked away the raindrops on his eyelashes and silently uttered those three words in his heart—
You ran away.
Yeah also confused with the Seme/Uke here. Unless it’s a subversion of tropes? Like gentle tiny top with tall buff bottom universe?
Group A and O felt like an Alpha and Omega thing too. Plus people from group A do sound like stereotypical tops, whereas group O seem more like bottoms tbh.
“Jiang Ying was from group O, and Jiang Ying openly admitted that he was a seme. So, there wouldn’t be any sparks between him and Jiang Mo” Is it supposed to be uke instead of seme?
Seme = Top
Uke = Bottom
There are a few parts of the translations that are a bit confusing. Jiang Ying also has moments when referred to with she/her pronouns instead of he/him. Thank you for translating.
Hmmmm… have seme and uke been swapped? How can O be the seme group? I’ve been wondering this since the reveal that the ML was the protagonist shou despite being over 6ft tall. He is very imposing. I don’t mind him as a strong uke, just a little confused by the authors mixed signals. The livestream comments even joked that this “uke” would break the mc in bed, a statement usually reserved to tease semes.
Again I don’t mind. I’m giggling every time.