Bian Li half-turned, glancing back at him with slanted, almond-shaped eyes, her expression both calm and mischievous.
Neither spoke. They simply stared at each other in a silent standoff.
After a moment, Bian Li zipped up her jacket with lightning speed, pulling it all the way to the top so only her eyes were visible. Acting as if He Yunxing didn’t exist, she turned around and gave her electric scooter two experimental kicks.
He Yunxing opened his mouth to call her, but before he could get a word out, she moved. Like a flash, she darted toward the elevator at the side of the garage, disappearing in an instant.
He stood there, frozen for a second, his gaze complicated.
He hadn’t expected to run into her here.
It was almost the end of the year. Everyone was either resting or preparing for the major New Year’s Eve performances, except for the occasional variety show commitments. He Yunxing himself rarely appeared solo on variety shows, preferring to use his free days for songwriting or shuttle between the dormitory and the company. Today was no different—he’d planned to head to the studio to focus on creating.
But the moment he stepped into the underground garage, he saw her. Bian Li, staring intently at the electric scooter with a slight frown.
He knew better than anyone that it wouldn’t run. After all, he’d been the one to bring it back when it ran out of power.
From her expression, though, she’d clearly forgotten all about that.
He had intended to offer her a ride. But she’d run off.
Even after returning to the dormitory that night, the strange feeling lingered, an inexplicable heaviness refusing to dissipate.
It was late when he arrived. The dormitory lights were off, but the projector cast a bright circle of light across the room, illuminating a figure sprawled on the sofa.
Ning Xuechu was lounging comfortably, his long legs crossed as he sank deeper into the cushions. Having just returned from a grueling day on set, he was taking full advantage of the rare downtime.
Lately, Ning Xuechu had been assigned to a reality show meant to polish his temperament. He complained incessantly about it. With his careless nature and sharp tongue, trouble followed him like a shadow, much to the company’s frustration. Eventually, his agent, Brother Li, received orders from above to send him to “experience life”.
Though he stuck out like a sore thumb among the rugged men and amateur participants, he somehow managed to survive the physical training—barely.
When He Yunxing entered, his expression was colder than usual, his aura frostier than ever.
Without a word, he flicked on the living room light, filling the semi-open space with a glaring brightness.
“Ah—what the hell!” Ning Xuechu yelped, raising a hand to shield his eyes. “You scared me to death!”
But the moment he saw who it was, he regretted his outburst.
The harsh light accentuated the sharp planes of He Yunxing’s face, his pale skin exuding an almost eerie stillness.
Ning Xuechu tilted his head, studying him.
He Yunxing’s jawline was taut, his lips pressed into a thin line. Even though his face was as expressionless as ever, the oppressive air around him made it clear he wasn’t in a good mood.
“Boss…” Ning Xuechu’s voice faltered as he wisely shut his mouth.
Without sparing him a glance, He Yunxing strode toward the kitchen counter, his long legs moving with purpose.
Usually, his cold demeanor felt natural, almost effortless. But tonight, there was an edge to it—a subtle, simmering violence beneath the surface.
“What’s up with you today?” Ning Xuechu finally dared to ask. “Why do you look like someone ran over your cat?”
He Yunxing popped open a can of beer with a flick of his long fingers, the metallic click echoing softly.
“No way,” Ning Xuechu muttered, watching him warily. “Don’t tell me… Did something happen? Did someone crush your pride on the road or something?”
A thought suddenly struck him, and his expression brightened. Last time, he’d hinted to Bian Li about a certain someone. He wondered if it had worked.
He couldn’t help but feel smug. Among their group, he seemed to be the only one who noticed the subtle shifts in He Yunxing’s interactions with Bian Li.
From the set to the dorm, from casual glances to deliberate moments, it was clear to Ning Xuechu that something was brewing.
But while he was putting the pieces together, everyone else—including Bian Li herself—seemed oblivious.
His chest swelled with a sense of superiority. He couldn’t wait to watch this play out.
“Boss,” he ventured cautiously, “you haven’t been…watching live broadcasts lately, have you?”
He Yunxing finally looked up, his icy gaze cutting straight through him. “Are you very free?”
“Yep,” Ning Xuechu replied cheerfully. “My reality show’s done. I’m on self-care duty now—skincare masks, naps, the whole deal. Free as a bird.”
He Yunxing didn’t respond, taking a long sip of beer before leaning casually against the counter. From a distance, he seemed relaxed, but up close, his distracted gaze betrayed his thoughts.
Ning Xuechu studied him, his curiosity piqued. “Come on,” he teased. “You’ve been acting weird. Spill the beans. Did something happen?”
Most people wouldn’t have He Yunxing’s WeChat account. As his solid teammate for three years, Ning Xuechu was very familiar with his WeChat name.
Tonight, Bian Li made a surprise return with a dessert eating show on the Raccoon Live platform.
Ning Xuechu hadn’t paid attention to it for a while. Today, with time to spare, he eagerly clicked into the live broadcast room, watched with interest, and even spent some money.
Bian Li’s live broadcast started later than usual. She explained that she had been delayed while buying desserts and hoped the audience wouldn’t mind.
Ning Xuechu certainly didn’t mind, but as he watched, something felt off. The barrage caught his attention.
Fans were discussing the mysterious X, who usually spent lavishly during her broadcasts. But today, X was missing. Someone asked why he hadn’t shown up, and Bian Li naively replied, “Why does he have to come?”
Ning Xuechu, reading this, felt a flicker of suspicion.
He had long guessed that X might be He Yunxing, but it was still unconfirmed.
However, today’s live broadcast ran longer than usual. A well-known game anchor began streaming, and Ning Xuechu casually jumped to that broadcast.
Meanwhile, He Yunxing, who had been listening to Ning Xuechu’s earlier ramblings, paused slightly but answered calmly, “No.”
He genuinely hadn’t been watching live streams lately.
But Ning Xuechu’s words stuck in his mind.
Seeing his indifference, Ning Xuechu scratched his head and hesitated. “Boss… Actually… If you really like someone, I support it. But your temper—fix that first.”
Though usually indifferent, Ning Xuechu had a soft spot for girls like Bian Li. Her bright personality triggered his protective instincts, and he unconsciously wanted to play watchdog.
Thinking back to He Yunxing’s behavior—subtle yet deliberate interactions with Bian Li—he realized something unusual was at play.
He Yunxing wasn’t known for paying attention to anyone, let alone teasing them. Yet, with Bian Li, there was an undeniable shift.
Ning Xuechu scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Boss, you’re cold on the outside but secretly blooming inside—like one of those arrogant icebergs that’s sweet to their person.”
He Yunxing frowned. “Talk properly.”
Unbothered, Ning Xuechu grinned. “Don’t be shy; I know everything.”
He Yunxing shot him a sharp glare, then retreated to his room.
After washing up, He Yunxing felt inexplicably restless. Though the weather was cold, something nagged at him—a fleeting thought, emotions bubbling like waves.
Unable to shake it off, he lay on the bed, arm draped over his forehead. Moments passed in silence before he reached for his phone and opened Raccoon Live.
In his “special attention” list, only one name stood out.
He clicked on it and saw a pinned post with a striking red title floating at the top of the page.
Scanning the bullet comments, he noticed the chatter:
“Fei Fei’s live is almost over, and our mysterious Brother Cha still hasn’t shown up…”
“It’s okay, Fei Fei. Don’t be sad! We’ve got your back!”
“Ahhh, it’s ending soon! I’m not ready to say goodbye!”
He Yunxing glanced at the soda bottle on Bian Li’s desk—a drink he’d given her as compensation weeks ago.
On-screen, Bian Li picked up the bottle and waved it at the camera. “This isn’t GG, don’t report me! Uh… a kind neighbor gave it to me.”
The bullet comments erupted, asking about the neighbor. Who was he? Could they meet him?
Feigning ignorance, Bian Li laughed it off, pretending not to see the questions.
“Well, maybe he’s busy. Be considerate, okay? Besides, are you here to see me or him?”
She singled out a few fans in the chat, scolding them for their constant rainbow farts about Brother Cha.
A kind neighbor?
He Yunxing repeated the phrase in his mind, his lips twitching faintly.
Then, without hesitation, he threw ten aircraft carriers into the live stream, along with a single message:
“Of course, I’m here to see you.”
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