The live broadcast room was enveloped in a dazzling golden glow for ten seconds before exploding into chaos, like boiling water in a pot. The bullet comments surged instantly, filling the screen in dense waves.
“Welcome Brother Cha!!!”
“Sexy Brother Cha, online flirting!”
“Ahhh, it’s true, big brother, ten aircraft carriers!!”
“Wait… I feel inexplicably spoiled, what’s happening?”
Bian Li’s live broadcast room became a storm of activity. She leaned closer to the screen, squinting as the bullet comments flew by too fast to read. Amid the chaos, one line stood out—clear and unmissable:
“Of course I came to see you.”
Bian Li froze, visibly caught off guard, before switching to her usual polite and formal tone to thank the sender. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed what looked like soft candy, her previous casual demeanor replaced by seriousness as she addressed the camera.
This change brought an inexplicable warmth to He Yunxing, who was watching from the other side of the wall that separated their bedrooms. He leaned back against his bed, one arm tucked under his head, watching the broadcast with a faint sense of satisfaction.
There was no other reason for his attention—she just seemed… fitting.
Bian Li’s live broadcast soon reached its conclusion. After thanking her fans again, she signed off. The moment her voice disappeared, He Yunxing’s door swung open.
He raised his eyes slightly, his brow twitching as Ning Xuechu peeked in, his head barely through the door, eyes scanning the room suspiciously. He was wrapped in a towel, his hair still damp—evidence that he’d just rushed over post-shower.
“Boss, what were you doing just now?” Ning Xuechu asked, his tone deliberately casual but his expression anything but.
“Ning Xuechu, are you getting bold? Walking into my room without knocking?” He Yunxing responded coldly, shutting his phone and tossing it aside.
Ning Xuechu grinned, undeterred. “I didn’t step all the way in, did I? Anyway, what were you doing?”
“Playing with my phone,” He Yunxing replied, half-lifting an eyelid.
“Oh? What were you playing?” Ning Xuechu pressed on, his curiosity unabated.
He Yunxing’s gaze sharpened, and after a pause, he said with faint amusement, “Tetris. Satisfied?”
Ning Xuechu blinked, momentarily stumped. “…Tetris? Seriously? Who even plays Tetris anymore?”
“Are you done? Get out.” He Yunxing’s tone was final as he stood and moved towards the bathroom.
But Ning Xuechu wasn’t done tempting fate. “Boss, can I sleep with you tonight?”
He Yunxing didn’t even look back, stepping into the bathroom and sliding the glass door shut.
“I’m serious! I’m watching a horror movie, and it’s so scary. I don’t care—I’m sleeping here tonight!” Ning Xuechu called after him.
“Go to He Xuyi,” came the muffled reply.
“Forget it! That guy’s colder than ice. I’d freeze before I got scared!” Ning Xuechu whined. “Come on, Boss. Just say yes!”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t like people next to me when I sleep.”
“…”
“Then what will you do when you get married?” Ning Xuechu shot back, standing at the bathroom door, arms crossed.
“It won’t be you, so don’t worry,” He Yunxing replied coolly. His hands moved to unbutton his pajama shirt, his tone casual but his gaze sharp. “So, are you going to keep watching?”
“Huh?” Ning Xuechu froze, momentarily confused—then his eyes widened in realization.
“Why didn’t you close the door?!” he yelped, hastily retreating and sliding the door shut.
His loud outburst drew He Xuyi from across the hall. “What’s all the noise?” He Xuyi asked, his expression as frosty as ever.
“He was staring like a creep, that’s what!” Ning Xuechu accused.
He Xuyi frowned. “If you’re that noisy again, I’ll record you and send it to your fans. Let’s see how they handle knowing what a psycho you are in real life.”
Ning Xuechu scoffed. “Psycho? My fans love me for my soul, okay? They’d support me no matter what!”
He immediately shifted tactics, sidling up to He Xuyi with a grin. “Xuyi, Xiao Yiyi, you’re my only hope tonight.”
“No,” He Xuyi deadpanned. “Don’t even think about it.”
Faced with dual rejection, Ning Xuechu wilted dramatically. “Fine! Who needs dignity anyway?” He shamelessly leaned in, whispering something into He Xuyi’s ear.
He Xuyi touched his chin, thought for a while, and reluctantly agreed.
After Gemini finished their promotion, Bian Li’s few days of rest came to an end. Before the busiest year-end rush arrived, they still had a packed schedule of high-profile variety shows to attend.
Kiwi TV had launched a new program at the end of last year. It was an intriguing mix of intelligence and physical fitness challenges, featuring different guests in every episode based on varying themes. Over the past year, the show had maintained its popularity.
This wasn’t just because the challenges were engaging—the punishment and reward mechanisms for the guests were entirely unique. Coupled with an ever-changing roster of stars, it offered a fresh dynamic for each episode.
Fans of variety shows especially loved watching the interactions between celebrities. It never got old. Even better, the challenges often revealed the emotional intelligence and quick wit of the stars. Compared to their curated on-screen personas, these unscripted moments on variety shows gave fans a glimpse of their true selves.
Even if press releases about celebrities saturated the internet, nothing compared to the unscripted, genuine reactions caught on camera during variety shows.
By now, nearly every well-known celebrity in the entertainment circle had appeared on the show. For the year-end special, the program team decided to create an idol-themed episode, inviting several prominent idol groups.
As soon as the official blog announced the lineup, fans erupted in excitement. Among the featured guests, Ace would send not one but two members: He Yunxing and He Xuyi. Meanwhile, Ning Xuechu, their groupmate, was busy with another reality show.
He Yunxing’s participation, in particular, caused a buzz. He rarely appeared in variety shows, save for the occasional stint on industry-specific programs like ‘Golden Produce’ or the occasional group-focused show arranged by their company. The last time he participated in such a lighthearted, comedic show had been six months ago.
This episode felt particularly thrilling. With so many idol groups in attendance, sparks were guaranteed to fly.
Gemini, on the other hand, sent only Bian Li. Ying Xuelai was busy filming, and Ruan Xiangyi, the group leader, was committed to another program.
Bian Li arrived slightly late due to prior engagements. By the time Da Xiong escorted her to the recording site, the backstage area was already bustling.
The dressing rooms were lined up in two neat rows. Groups with fewer members often shared rooms. At this point, most of the artists were busy with hair and makeup. As the format didn’t require rehearsals, everyone would head to the stage directly after dinner.
Bian Li first picked up her name tag, then followed Da Xiong down the hallway. Along the way, she exchanged polite greetings with several seniors.
She couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. Many of the boy band members she passed were big names in the industry. Having been immersed in her own company’s ecosystem for so long, she realized just how expansive the idol landscape was.
Despite her appreciation for other groups, her loyalty remained with Ace. Their talent and visuals were unparalleled, which explained their soaring popularity.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she didn’t notice Da Xiong stopping abruptly in front of her. She bumped into him, letting out a small yelp and rubbing her nose.
“Why did you stop all of a sudden?” she complained.
Da Xiong turned around, amused. “We’ve arrived. You’re acting like it’s my fault.”
He slowly pushed open the door and glanced at her. “By the way, did you read the program script and flow I gave you earlier in the car?”
Bright light spilled out from the room, momentarily blinding Bian Li. She blinked a few times before nodding quickly. “Yes, yes, I read it. Don’t worry. I’ve been preparing diligently. I won’t embarrass you.”
Da Xiong patted her shoulder with a laugh and ushered her inside. Following closely behind, he warmly greeted the other agent in the room.
“Brother Li!”
Brother Li stood up with a smile, exchanging a firm hug with Da Xiong.
Meanwhile, Bian Li remained by the door, momentarily overwhelmed. Her gaze landed on the two young men seated on the sofa. Both were staring directly at her.
“What are you standing there for? Come over,” He Yunxing said nonchalantly.
He Xuyi, seated next to him, raised an eyebrow, throwing He Yunxing a meaningful look.
Bian Li cleared her throat, gave a small bow, and greeted them in a soft voice before sitting down at the far end of the sofa.
For a while, no one spoke. The room was filled with the chatter of the agents, who had moved on from pleasantries to discussing industry trends and wages.
The silence between the idols was suffocating. Bian Li fidgeted nervously, kicking herself for her earlier faux pas in the underground garage, when she’d bolted like a deer in headlights.
Then, because the practice rooms of the two groups were directly opposite each other, and they often bumped into one another at the company, Bian Li subconsciously hid whenever she saw him.
She couldn’t quite explain her actions. Thinking about it, if He Yunxing really wanted to confront her about her past behavior, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
His tone earlier had been utterly neutral, revealing nothing of his emotions, which only made her feel guiltier.
Thankfully, the assistant called her over for makeup at that moment, giving her a perfect excuse to escape. She let out a long sigh of relief as she hurried over.
Halfway through the process, the makeup artist paused to rub her hands, grinning. “Your skin is so good, you barely need makeup at all. Just wait here; I’ll touch it up when I come back. I’m off to the bathroom for a moment.”
Bian Li obediently nodded, staying perfectly still. As the makeup artist left, she reached for her phone, planning to play a game or scroll through something to pass the time.
But before she could unlock it, someone sat down in the chair next to hers.
The figure in her peripheral vision was all too familiar.
He Yunxing settled into the seat effortlessly, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His gaze fixed on her, and he spoke with faint amusement, “You’ve been hiding from me lately.”
There was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he leaned slightly closer. “Are you still hiding now?”
READ ADVANCE CHAPTERS ON MY KO-FI!
