Stepping through the moonlight and the damp night breeze, Qin Sizheng led Little Tomato back to House Number Five and helped him wash his hands and feet.
There was no filming scheduled that night. He quickly took a shower, then came back carrying the food provided by the production team and mixed a bottle of milk for Little Tomato.
Little Tomato hugged the bottle and gulped it down. Before long, he had actually fallen asleep.
Qin Sizheng helped him remove the bottle. Just as he was about to lie down himself, he suddenly heard the buzzing of mosquitoes.
Moving quietly, he got up and asked Chen Yue to keep an eye on Little Tomato. Then he walked a few minutes down the path and gently knocked on a door. A woman answered. “Oh, you’re from the filming crew, right? What can I help you with?”
Qin Sizheng said, “Do you have any mosquito coils or a palm fan? I can trade this with you.”
As he spoke, he took off a beaded bracelet from his wrist. The woman smiled. “No need, no need. That thing’s valuable. Just wait a moment—I’ll get them for you.”
Before long, she brought out a box of mosquito coils and a palm fan, and even added a few peaches, placing everything together in a bamboo basket.
Qin Sizheng thanked her and headed back. A producer walked out with him and said with a smile, “You were really going to trade your bracelet. I remember that one—it’s a global limited edition, very expensive.”
“Is it?” Qin Sizheng genuinely hadn’t known. He had thought it was just a cheap street-stall item worth a few dozen yuan. The producer added, “The conditions for the show are a bit tough. You must be unbearably hot, right?”
Qin Sizheng pressed his lips together and smiled softly. “It’s okay. I’m used to it. But Little Tomato is still young and might not be able to handle it. And mosquito bites aren’t good for his health either.”
The producer froze for a moment. She had assumed Qin Sizheng couldn’t stand the heat himself and had gone out looking for a fan. She hadn’t expected he was doing it entirely for Little Tomato.
“You’re not quite like how I imagined.”
Qin Sizheng’s foot slipped slightly, and he let out a guilty dry laugh. “I-is that so?”
Lowering her voice, the producer said, “Si Qianqiu is making a fuss with the production team right now, demanding a cooling fan. He says it’s too hot and he’s going to break out in a rash. Everyone knows he’s just spoiled. Artists who act one way in front of the camera and another way behind it are everywhere—we’re used to it.”
Qin Sizheng glanced back and, sure enough, saw Si Qianqiu arguing with the crew.
“I still have an endorsement shoot after this! If I get heat rash and it delays things, are you taking responsibility? Do you know how much one of my endorsements pays? Selling your entire family wouldn’t be enough to cover it! I don’t care—if you don’t get me a cooling fan, nobody’s sleeping tonight!”
Qin Sizheng wasn’t interested in gossip. He didn’t linger and went straight back to House Number Five, sharing one of the peaches with the producer.
Little Tomato was still asleep. Qin Sizheng lit a mosquito coil in the corner of the table and gently waved the palm fan to chase away the stifling heat.
Someone knocked at the door outside. “Ge, are you asleep?”
“Not yet.” Qin Sizheng opened the door. Jiang Xi lowered his voice and showed him his phone. “These kinds of messages have been coming in the past few days. Did you offend someone? Should we report it to the police?”
Qin Sizheng took the phone and glanced at it. A surge of anger rushed straight to his head.
The other party probably thought private messages on Weibo were like finding a needle in the ocean, so they had simply switched to sending text messages directly to his phone.
Afraid of being overheard, Jiang Xi whispered, “At first I thought it was just sasaeng fans sending you private messages—there are a lot of those—but not many people know your phone number. Do you think you offended someone and they’re deliberately trying to disgust you?”
“I don’t know.” Qin Sizheng had no idea what enemies the original owner of the body might have had, or whether there were any other emotional entanglements. All he knew was that the man had once been obsessively, creepily infatuated with Lu Xianqing.
“Let’s tell Brother Xu after we finish recording.”
Jiang Xi nodded. “I’ll block him for now. During filming it’s still relatively safe. Once we’re back, I’ll find Brother Xu right away. Don’t worry. No matter how capable this person is, there’s no way they could get here.”
Qin Sizheng nodded. “Thank you.”
—
Early the next morning, the production team turned the cameras back on.
It was live again.
Qin Sizheng was helping Little Tomato get dressed when the task card was delivered. He shook the water off his hands, took it, held it in his mouth, and finished wiping Little Tomato’s face before starting to read.
“Please bring your baby to the village entrance to collect breakfast.”
Once they were dressed, each of them carried a small food bowl and headed toward the village entrance. Qin Sizheng held the little one’s hand and hummed as he walked:
“Early in the morning I hear the rooster crow,
Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo,
I push open the window to welcome the morning glow~
The green, green grass is smiling at me…”
Chen Yue followed behind them, barely holding back her laughter.
Qin Sizheng acted as if he didn’t feel embarrassed at all—he even imitated a rooster’s crow.
【I’m fucking dying laughing, what kind of absolute treasure is Qin Sizheng? That rooster crow just killed me.】
【I’m wriggling on my bed like a maggot—this is hands down the funniest variety show I’ve ever watched. I’m laughing so hard my toes are carving out a magical castle.】
【Is Qin Sizheng going for the pure dumbass route? As long as I’m not embarrassed, it’s everyone else who is?】
Breakfast was supposed to be local specialty food provided by the production team, but by the time they got there, only plain white steamed buns were left.
Qin Sizheng leaned down and whispered to Little Tomato, “Eat more. The production team won’t give us lunch later. I saw the uncles last time—they were so hungry they almost called the police.”
Chen Yue’s eyelid twitched hard. This was still a live broadcast—was he really going to roast the production team this openly?
Fine.
“Quick, quick, there are still buns left! Victory is right in front of us—charge!” Qin Sizheng whispered excitedly to Little Tomato along the way, playing around as if he were barely any older than the child himself.
Just as Qin Sizheng reached out, another hand beat him to it and grabbed the very last bun.
That hand had long, well-defined fingers. A band of gauze was wrapped around the wrist, disappearing into the cuff of a crisp, wrinkle-free shirt.
Qin Sizheng looked up.
He saw that hand holding the big white bun, fingers pressing into it lightly. The eyes above carried a hint of amusement, as if waiting for him to say hello.
Lu Xianqing.
Qin Sizheng thought for a moment—he should probably greet him, right?
Even though he’d just stolen his bun.
“Hello, Senior Lu.”
Lu Xianqing noticed Qin Sizheng’s eyes fixed on his hand, even swallowing slightly. Did he like his hands that much? Looking this hungry—should he let him hold them?
Licking them wouldn’t be out of the question either, but there would have to be something in return.
“Um…” Qin Sizheng began cautiously.
Lu Xianqing said, “Sure.”
Qin Sizheng broke into a smile at once, dimples rippling, and held out his food bowl. “Thank you, Senior Lu!”
“?”
Lu Xianqing’s fingers sank straight into the bun. He wanted the bun?
Seeing him frozen there, Qin Sizheng took advantage of the fact that he’d agreed, reached out, grabbed it, and squinted with a grin at Little Tomato. “We’ve got food—let’s go!”
Lu Xianqing’s expression turned icy, his voice even colder. “Come back.”
【Hahahaha Fourth Brother is completely dumbfounded—he’s not even as important as a bun.】
【Baby, do you have to be this real? I’m crying laughing. All he sees is the bun. At least try to build a relationship with Fourth Brother, you silly thing.】
Qin Sizheng led the child two steps away, then came back. Guessing that Lu Xianqing had probably just arrived after a long flight, he pressed his lips together and asked, “Senior Lu, would you like to eat with us?”
Lu Xianqing’s hands were gripping the food bowl so hard that they were almost turning white. His gaze dropped to them, calculating—sure enough, he couldn’t hold him with one hand. It would take both hands. Both hands would be even better. One less just wouldn’t do.
He wanted to lick them. He wanted to become that ugly food bowl, held in those hands, fingers straining white.
Seeing Lu Xianqing stare at the bun without saying anything, Qin Sizheng grew inexplicably nervous. The little bead on his lip flattened unconsciously as his dimples deepened. His palms were slick with sweat.
If Lu Xianqing didn’t say anything, he didn’t dare leave. Qin Sizheng thought to himself in frustration: if only he were a horse.
Then he could just knock him out and take Little Tomato back to eat.
He was starving.
But Lu Xianqing seemed even hungrier than he was—his gaze never left that bun.
After a long while, the Best Actor finally spoke. “Qin Sizheng.”
Qin Sizheng reflexively raised his hand. “Here!” Then he realized something was off and awkwardly put it back down.
【Hahaha he’s so cute I’m dying. What did Qin Sizheng even grow up eating to turn out this adorable? He’s cuter than Little Tomato.】
【Fourth Brother, don’t bully my baby! Get lost—come at me instead!】
【Is Lu Xianqing crazy? Aren’t they rivals? He shows up and immediately starts teasing Qin Sizheng? Even stealing his bun—impressive.】
【The way Lu Xianqing looks at Qin Sizheng is honestly terrifying. Like they have a life-or-death feud and he wants to tear him apart and eat him. Guess the grudge really is that deep.】
【Can’t wait for Fourth Brother to rip Qin Sizheng apart. This washed-up nobody has been riding hype for so long, he should’ve disappeared ages ago.】
【Oh no, why am I seeing a bit of couple chemistry? I must be insane. I’m going to drink some boiling water to calm down.】
【Is Qin Sizheng shy? He looks so pitiful, hahaha. Damn it, I want to bully him. Fourth Brother, go for it—if you won’t, I will!】
【Qin-string fans, doesn’t your idol have a name? Will you die if you don’t ride hype? Stop clinging to Fourth Brother, okay?】
【Who’s riding hype? Didn’t you see Fourth Brother bullying Little Kite first?】
Lu Xianqing said again, “Qin Sizheng.”
This time Qin Sizheng behaved himself. He didn’t answer like a little kid, only tilted his head up cautiously, waiting for instructions.
Lu Xianqing reached out and pressed down on the microphone at Qin Sizheng’s chest. “I don’t know how to cook… ah, right—would calling the police now still be useful? They should still be able to do an injury assessment, right? I’m not very familiar with the process.”
Qin Sizheng really couldn’t take this anymore. Left with no choice, he surrendered again. “I can cook! You’re very welcome to come eat with us—welcome for you and Little Tangyuan!!!”
“Really welcoming me?” Lu Xianqing asked. “How welcoming?”
Qin Sizheng nodded furiously. “Extremely welcoming! You can come eat anytime! Whenever you want!”
Just please stop talking about eyebrow bones already—I said it wasn’t on purpose!
Lu Xianqing seemed thoughtful. When he withdrew his hand, he paused for a moment.
Seeing that Lu Xianqing still hadn’t moved, Qin Sizheng secretly wondered if the Best Actor was hinting for a pinky hook.
He tentatively reached out and hooked his little finger around Lu Xianqing’s. The dry, warm finger brushed against his own fingertip, which felt even softer and more delicate from the lingering dampness. Lu Xianqing froze.
He actually wanted to pinky-swear with him?
“Then I’ll head back first. You can bring Little Tangyuan over at noon to eat.”
Lu Xianqing rubbed his fingertips together.
He felt it.
“Senior Lu!”
Si Qianqiu released Little Strawberry’s hand and hurried over to Lu Xianqing, looking at him with delight. “It really is you! I thought you wouldn’t come! Seeing you feels like a dream. I—I’ve liked you for such a long time. I’ve watched every one of your dramas more than ten times! You’re my idol!”
Lu Xianqing lowered his gaze and looked at him.
Si Qianqiu suppressed the excitement in his eyes, holding his breath as he waited for Lu Xianqing to exchange a few polite words with him.
Lu Xianqing—so many people couldn’t even get a single sentence out of him, yet he was actually on the same program as Lu Xianqing! Good thing he hadn’t withdrawn!
If Lu Xianqing casually praised him on the show, that would be worth more than grinding away at dozens of projects!
After a moment, Lu Xianqing withdrew his gaze and walked past him.
From that gaze—cold to the extreme—Si Qianqiu clearly read a single word.
Get lost.