Actually, Xi Nian himself didn't know what kind of answer he was trying to seek by so tirelessly raising all sorts of hypotheses. He used a bit of force to lift Lu Xingzhe's head, then held the back of it and kissed him, a kiss with a hint of comfort, until their lips warmed each other, no longer cold.

Xi Nian was taciturn to the bone. There were too many things he couldn't say, so most of the time, he could only rely on his actions.

In the past, whenever Xi Nian kissed Lu Xingzhe, Lu Xingzhe would smile until his eyes crinkled. But this time, he was listless and didn't react at all. Xi Nian's well-defined hand gently caressed his back as he lowered his eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

When his cold voice was deliberately lowered, it always gave the illusion of a gentleness that reached the bones.

Lu Xingzhe shook his head, wrapped his arms around his neck, and buried his face in his chest without a sound.

This appearance was quite rare. It seemed he was truly unhappy.

Xi Nian picked him up in that position. As he passed the light switch, he turned off the light, and the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. Lu Xingzhe's body tensed for a moment, then he felt himself being thrown onto the bed, immediately followed by the man's lean and strong body pressing down on him.

He knew what would happen next and instinctively hugged Xi Nian.

The man was a bit overly gentle this time. The fiery kisses landed lightly on his body, stirring up a ripple-like itch. Lu Xingzhe unconsciously clenched the bedsheet beneath him, only feeling a pair of slender hands cupping his face. Then, Xi Nian's familiar voice sounded by his ear, "Why are you unhappy?"

Lu Xingzhe's eyes widened.

Fuck, you like another woman, why should I be happy?

He had now completely and selectively ignored the word "if," with its hypothetical meaning. His heart was sour and bubbling, yet he refused to speak. Under the cover of darkness, he silently pressed his lips together.

Before meeting Xi Nian, Lu Xingzhe believed that anything could be snatched away, and anything could be destroyed. Just like the toys and candies distributed at the orphanage when he was a child—if he didn't have any, then no one else could either.

But at a certain moment, he suddenly realized that some people could neither be snatched away nor destroyed.

Even if Lu Xingzhe didn't say it, Xi Nian could guess what he was thinking. Just like every night in the past, Lu Xingzhe would be left with the corners of his eyes red, his voice trembling, and his throat eventually hoarse, but he still liked to shrink into his embrace.

Xi Nian pulled up the blanket, wrapped it around Lu Xingzhe's body, and then patted his back intermittently. In a daze, he seemed to have said something, his voice normal as he said, "I don't like her."

Lu Xingzhe always paid extra attention to his every word and action. Hearing this, he asked, "What?"

Xi Nian said, "I don't like her."

He was naturally referring to Qiao Zhi.

He probably rarely took the initiative to explain things, especially to the person in front of him, Lu Xingzhe. It always felt a little awkward. After saying this, he fell silent again, but the person in his arms' eyes suddenly lit up.

"Tsk, I knew you didn't like her."

That smugness on Lu Xingzhe seemed to have returned. He wrapped himself around Xi Nian's waist, his dark eyes filled with a smile. He bit his earlobe, a hard bite that was both itchy and painful. "Even if you like someone, it has to be me."

His thick skin wasn't a recent development. Xi Nian gripped his lower back, his grip suddenly tightening. "You're that confident?"

Lu Xingzhe's body shook with laughter. As if not afraid of pain, he pressed against Xi Nian's ear and whispered with a laugh, "A little harder. If you have the guts, just strangle me to death..."

He seemed to truly want to die in Xi Nian's arms.

Xi Nian always thought he was rebellious enough, but he hadn't expected Lu Xingzhe to be even crazier. He carried him to the bathroom to clean up, then returned to the bed, only hoping this little ancestor would quiet down and get some proper sleep.

Xi Nian had spent the day working out at the gym and was inevitably a little drowsy. Lu Xingzhe, however, was too happy to sleep because of his earlier "I don't like her." He tossed and turned in bed, then, remembering something, quietly got out of bed in his pajamas in the middle of the night.

In his daze, Xi Nian heard a slight movement in the room. He almost thought a thief had broken in, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Xingzhe helping him pack his luggage.

The flight was at two in the afternoon tomorrow. Packing after waking up would be a bit of a rush. Lu Xingzhe considered himself someone who loved whatever job he did. He had been diligent when he was a paparazzi, and now as Xi Nian's assistant, he had to be even more dedicated.

'After all, he's so obscure. If I don't help him, who will.'

The trip to C City for the show recording would be three days at most. Lu Xingzhe checked the weather there and saw that the temperature would drop. He then used his phone as a light to rummage through Xi Nian's wardrobe for a jacket, and also packed some daily necessities. 'Now there shouldn't be anything missing,' he thought.

He was squatting by the suitcase, checking the items inside one by one. He was so engrossed that he didn't even notice when Xi Nian got out of bed. It wasn't until a lean, strong body suddenly pressed against his back and arms wrapped around his waist that he jumped in fright as if he'd been caught doing something wrong.

Lu Xingzhe swore he had never been this terrified, not even when he was caught taking secret photos as a paparazzi.

Xi Nian was drowsy, his voice low and heavy with sleepiness. He rested his chin on Lu Xingzhe's shoulder and asked with his eyes closed, "Packing?"

It was late at night, and most people were asleep. Only the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was still glittering—skyscrapers stretching as far as the eye could see.

Hearing this, Lu Xingzhe's hand trembled. "Did I wake you?"

Fuck, I should have just packed tomorrow.

After speaking, he quickly zipped up the suitcase, not even caring that some things hadn't been packed in yet. He looked a little flustered. It was only when a soft and gentle kiss landed on his cheek at some point that his movements abruptly stopped.

Lu Xingzhe and Xi Nian had done everything they should and shouldn't have. They had tried all sorts of lingering and passionate kisses. The kiss that had just landed on his face could even be called chaste, but it was precisely that which made Lu Xingzhe's heart skip a beat.

His voice stammered slightly as he tried to get Xi Nian to go to bed. "Let's... let's pack tomorrow. You go to sleep first."

The person who was once shrewd and cunning was now suddenly unbelievably clumsy.

Xi Nian didn't speak. He just felt that no matter when, whenever he turned around, he could always see Lu Xingzhe's figure. He reached out, wrapped his arms around the other's slightly cool body, and then pulled him up from the floor.

"Let's sleep together."

Xi Nian carried Lu Xingzhe to the bed, then covered both their bodies, which had lost some of their warmth, with a thin blanket. His heart, accustomed to loneliness, suddenly felt that having someone's company at a time like this wasn't so bad.

...

Lu Xingzhe couldn't sleep to begin with. After Xi Nian's kiss, he was even more wide awake.

Fortunately, his sleep schedule wasn't very regular in the past. When he and Xi Nian arrived in C City by plane the next day, he was still in good spirits. The agency had publicly released the artists' schedules, so when they got off the plane, quite a few fans were waiting outside to greet them. A quick glance revealed a dense crowd, vaguely divided into three groups, with security guards doing their best to maintain order.

He heard that Bai Yicheng and Qiao Zhi were also on a flight today, but half an hour later than Xi Nian's. More than half of these fans were theirs.

Artists in the entertainment circle are never unattractive, but finding one's own style and positioning can take years of exploration and experimentation. Xi Nian's personal clothes were mostly black and white, which subtly complemented his cold temperament. Wearing a pair of sunglasses, he wasn't like the current "little fresh meat" idols who were so thin they were just skin and bones. His figure was tall and slender, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist—a true male model's physique.

The moment he appeared in everyone's line of sight, it created the illusion that this wasn't an airport, but some haute couture runway show.

There was no other reason than Xi Nian's personal style being too strong. It was rare to see such a handsome man with both looks and presence in the entertainment circle. Anyone who had seen him in person would find it difficult to forget him.

The Niangao who came to pick him up were in an uproar. Is such a handsome Zai Zai really ours?! Ooh, I feel a nosebleed coming on, what do I do!

"Ahhh, Zai Zai, look here!!! You're so handsome, ooh-ooh-ooh!!"

"Zai Zai, come over here! Let Mama take a look at you!!"

"Zai Zai, C City is very cold, be careful not to catch a cold!"

Lu Xingzhe, wearing a mask, saw this and poked Xi Nian, gesturing for him to look over. So, when Xi Nian turned his head, he saw a group of young girls, with an average age of just over twenty, fervently calling him Zai Zai and fighting to be his mom. Their gazes were as benevolent as grandmothers about to give out red envelopes to children during the New Year.

Seeing them wave at him, Xi Nian took off his sunglasses and walked over. His handsome and cool face was instantly exposed to the air, the impact far more direct than on screen.

The fans of Bai Yicheng next to them, who were struck speechless by Xi Nian's handsomeness, were a prime example: "..."

Damn it, isn't the real Xi Nian a bit too handsome?

The Niangao waved wildly at Xi Nian, their chattering reminiscent of worried mothers.

"Zai Zai, Escape Room: Decode is too hard. If you don't know what to do, remember to follow Teacher Min. He's an honest person and won't sabotage you. Maybe you can muddle through."

"Zai Zai, you must protect yourself. Don't try to steal the spotlight on the show. If you make a mistake, the netizens will flame you again. If we don't flame back, we feel like we're letting you down, but if we do flame back, we can't win against them. It's so difficult."

"Zai Zai, anyway, we're obscure, so being low-key is a good thing. It's not embarrassing if you don't know how to play; you're not the only one who doesn't. We love you, ooh-ooh-ooh, have a safe trip."

Xi Nian never would have imagined that they called him over just to say this. Facing the fans' eager gazes, he remained silent for a few seconds, then put on his sunglasses and turned to leave.

Qiao Zhi's and Bai Yicheng's fans were right beside them. Hearing this conversation, they tried to hold it in but couldn't, finally clutching their stomachs, almost peeing themselves with laughter. They nearly dropped their support banners.

Damn it, Xi Nian is so unlucky to have these kinds of fans!

After leaving the airport, the staff from the Escape Room: Decode program had already arranged for cars to take the artists to their hotel. Lu Xingzhe had dutifully played the role of a silent and low-key little assistant from beginning to end. Only when he was in the car did he finally take off his mask, covering his face with his hat and shaking with laughter.

Xi Nian glanced at the driver in the front seat, then, without turning his head, snatched the hat from Lu Xingzhe's hand, pressed down on the back of his neck, and pushed him onto his lap.

Lu Xingzhe didn't dare to make a sound. He struggled a few times but couldn't get up, finally choosing to give up. He managed to turn his head to look at Xi Nian, his eyes holding a pitiful smile, as if begging for mercy.

Seeing this, Xi Nian's hand loosened, and he was about to let him go, but who knew that Lu Xingzhe would silently mouth the words, "Zai Zai, I was wrong."

After that, he buried his face in his lap, convulsing with laughter.

Xi Nian: "..."

After arriving at the hotel, the program team booked a private room for all the guests to have a meal together and get to know each other. Xi Nian had just finished unpacking his luggage when, not long after, Qiao Zhi and Bai Yicheng also arrived.

A staff member came over specifically to knock on the door as a reminder, also delivering tomorrow's program script. Xi Nian thanked the staff member and closed the door. Lu Xingzhe, who was lying on the bed at that moment, tsked upon hearing this and asked with a raised eyebrow, "Happy now? You get to eat at the same table as a beauty."

Xi Nian still remembered him laughing at him earlier. He leaned against the bed, reading the script while saying, "Yeah, I'm happy."

Hearing this, Lu Xingzhe bit his fingertips and gave him a smiling glance. Then, like a small animal, he crawled over to his side, snatched the script right out of his hand, and sat on Xi Nian's lap, face to face. "Are you angry?"

Xi Nian wasn't angry. He just couldn't figure out why his fans in his past life were all quite normal, but the ones in this life were not.

So he shook his head and said, "No."

Lu Xingzhe nuzzled his chin. "Zai Zai..."

Before he could finish, Xi Nian flung him off.

Lu Xingzhe: "..."

Sure enough, it's all fucking fake.