Bai Jinyan, hugging Qiao Huaiyao from behind, also saw the comment.
He smirked, tightened his embrace, and kissed Qiao Huaiyao’s cheek, affectionately saying, “Good afternoon, young master.”
“Brother…” Qiao Huaiyao tried to retreat into the blanket, but it didn’t help much, and he ended up pressing closer to Bai Jinyan.
Bai Jinyan responded, “Mm.”
He answered readily but didn’t let go, continuing to kiss and nuzzle him, planting light kisses on the marks left on his neck from yesterday.
Qiao Huaiyao noticed the phone on the bedside table lighting up, “Brother, someone sent you a message.”
Bai Jinyan replied calmly, “Who? Open it and see.”
Qiao Huaiyao picked it up and checked, “Director Zhao Jiamei.”
Zhao Jiamei made a point of not contacting Qiao Huaiyao directly and would relay any messages through Bai Jinyan first.
As the show was about to air, he reached out to Bai Jinyan for promotion.
Zhao Jiamei: [Due to editing issues, the show was delayed for a few weeks. This time, we’ve combined the previous episodes into one and included individual shots of each family. It’s quite a substantial update, so make sure to log in and share it!]
Qiao Huaiyao skeptically asked, “Are they releasing the entire first season at once?”
For the director, this was quite a setback, as there would be no new material left and the second season would have to be temporarily shelved.
However, for the viewers eagerly waiting for the variety show, it was a delight.
It meant that after weeks of waiting, they would get all the missing episodes at once, plus some extra content.
Bai Jinyan explained, “Zhao Jiamei is probably thinking that if you have time after the New Year to film for the second season, he can use editing to release the new season’s content around the same time.”
The first few episodes of the first season were rushed to meet the deadline, with the editing team working overtime.
Zhao Jiamei spent a lot of money on it.
Now, with the experience from the first season, editing the second season would be much smoother.
Moreover, the individual shots are on-demand, so Zhao Jiamei could recoup some of his investment.
Qiao Huaiyao pondered, “But I might not be free after the New Year.”
He mentioned that he hadn’t scheduled anything yet, and if his experiments made progress, he might have to return to the lab.
Returning early to the lab for overtime was also a possibility.
Bai Jinyan casually opened Weibo and shared the post, saying, “You focus on your experiments. I’ll handle Zhao Jiamei’s side.”
Qiao Huaiyao had a contract, so whether he participated or not didn’t matter. Bai Jinyan just needed to manage his own time.
“Okay.” Professional work should be left to professionals.
Qiao Huaiyao turned over and looked up, asking, “Where will we spend the New Year this year?”
In previous years, they hadn’t made special plans for the New Year.
Sometimes, they stayed at the family villa, and during busy study periods, they stayed at the house Bai Jinyan had bought.
But this New Year would be different from the past.
It should be a meaningful place to celebrate their first New Year together.
Bai Jinyan didn’t directly answer but said, “I’ll take you somewhere when we get back to China.”
Qiao Huaiyao raised an eyebrow, seeing Bai Jinyan’s confident look, as if he had already planned the place for New Year’s.
He asked, “Is it a secret for now?”
Bai Jinyan leaned down and kissed his forehead, saying lightly, “Yes, baby.”
He couldn’t reveal it just yet.
The place he had in mind couldn’t be adequately described with simple words; it would be best seen in person.
Moreover, the place didn’t have many striking features worth describing.
Bai Jinyan said, “Look forward to it.”
Qiao Huaiyao wrapped his arms around Bai Jinyan’s neck, smiling brightly, “Alright.”
The visit to the international lab was scheduled for 3 PM.
They spent the entire morning at the hotel.
After lunch, Bai Jinyan drove Qiao Huaiyao to the meeting point but didn’t leave, choosing to wait there.
This time, the schedule was tighter than yesterday, so everyone arrived promptly.
They didn’t have to wait long before switching vehicles.
Qiao Huaiyao sat by the window, and before the bus started moving, he could see Bai Jinyan’s car window from that angle.
He opened his window slightly. The school’s bus windows had a brown tint, possibly from some coating.
While it blurred the view, it still allowed him to see outside.
But Bai Jinyan’s car had anti-peep and bulletproof glass, showing only a black tint.
Qiao Huaiyao lightly tapped the glass with his finger, just about to message Bai Jinyan when he saw the distant car window slowly lower.
Bai Jinyan sat by the car window closest to Qiao Huaiyao, looking at him tenderly.
Qiao Huaiyao smiled, their eyes meeting from afar.
As the bus slowly started, Qiao Huaiyao’s phone buzzed twice, coinciding with the roar of the engine.
Bai Jinyan: [Close the window.]
The temperature was low, and although the window was only slightly open, it would get chilly once the bus started moving.
Qiao Huaiyao closed the window tightly and replied: [Okay, it’s closed.]
Bai Jinyan: [Head pat.jpg, good boy.]
…
The bus’s air conditioning was on high, and Qiu Shufeng, with his down jacket half-open, asked with a smile, “Have you checked Weibo, study god?”
Qiao Huaiyao replied calmly, “Yes.”
Qiu Shufeng was a bit puzzled, “Why did you suddenly reveal your identity? You always kept it hidden before.”
Previously, his identity was well-protected. If Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t told him, Qiu Shufeng would never have connected him to the Jiayao Group, even though they shared the surname Qiao. There were plenty of people with that surname, and no one would make that connection casually.
Qiao Huaiyao explained, “I was too young before.”
It wasn’t a big deal in itself. Whether or not his identity was revealed wouldn’t negatively affect him.
He just didn’t want too many distractions.
Now, revealing his identity was a form of protection.
Even if it wasn’t disclosed now, it would eventually be known when he inherited the Jiayao Group.
It was inevitable.
Besides, his dad had long intended to hand over the company to him.
If Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t been so determined to pursue chemical experiments, he might have already held a nominal position at Jiayao Group right after graduation.
Qiu Shufeng had spent his free time yesterday browsing Weibo, seeing some negative comments. He responded with a flurry of educational remarks, and in some cases, before he could even finish, the accounts were already gone.
Reflecting on the shift in the attitude of marketing accounts and the content in Qiao Huaiyao’s comment section, Qiu Shufeng couldn’t help but say, “I feel like I shouldn’t just call you ‘study god.’ Maybe I should join them in calling you ‘young master.'”
Two nearly perfect identities combined in Qiao Huaiyao.
From any perspective, Qiao Huaiyao appeared absolutely perfect, with no flaws whatsoever.
Qiao Huaiyao glanced at him, “Hmm?”
“Ahem,” Qiu Shufeng immediately straightened up in his seat, “Just kidding. ‘Study god’ sounds better, hehe.”
Qiao Huaiyao ignored Qiu Shufeng’s silly grin and lowered his head to type.
After sending the message, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t shared the promotional content on his Weibo yet.
Bai Jinyan had already posted the promotion, and after Qiao Huaiyao had greeted his followers on Weibo, he went offline.
Director Zhao Jiamei hadn’t sent him any messages either, probably assuming Bai Jinyan would inform him.
Qiao Huaiyao hurriedly opened Weibo to share the promotional content. By this time, the final episode of the first season had already been released.
Including the solo edits, many people had already watched them multiple times.
A trending topic quietly appeared on Weibo: #Why Bai Jinyan only celebrates his birthday on the lunar calendar#
The dates for lunar and solar calendars differ, and for some, their lunar birthday changes every year.
For fans celebrating their idol’s birthday, having a fixed date is best; otherwise, it involves calculating the dates each year.
However, Bai Jinyan always celebrated his birthday on the lunar calendar.
Fans didn’t understand; even now, many are still puzzled.
But after this episode aired, many fans expressed that it was because: [The birthday that never changes is reserved for one person.]
[I thought it was some sort of taboo, but it turns out to be sweet. CP fans are overjoyed!]
[I always admire Bai Jinyan for all the little details he captures.]
[The most important day, he only wants to spend with you. Bai Jinyan, you’re too good!]
[Ugh… This is what love is!]