Chapter 027.1 The Young Master – “Why is this couple so good?!” (27.1/35)
Because today’s counterattack was so complete, and that game video was a whopping nine hours long, no one could possibly watch it without speeding it up; it hadn’t been edited into separate clips yet.
But it was only a matter of time and probably would be finished within the next few days. Li Zhuoyun had merely accelerated the process.
Seeing Wen Xusheng’s question mark, Li Zhuoyun smiled, sent a “Thanks” emoji, and tossed her phone aside.
Hmm, she was tired too. Hua Mingyi wasn’t the only one who hadn’t slept much these past few days.
Seeing Li Zhuoyun’s reply left Wen Xusheng feeling even more baffled. But the word ‘Xingxing’ still tugged at his sensitivity, so he clicked on the video anyway.
The next second, the young master’s clear voice rang out. Wen Xusheng’s lips curved upward slightly. It was Xiao Ge.
Xiao Ge, rallying the others to vote for his ‘student’—how utterly adorable.
The young master’s voice continued, and soon, the word ‘Xingxing’ exploded in Wen Xusheng’s ears like dazzling fireworks, catching him completely off guard.
“Idols are like stars in the sky. Do you understand? Xingxing.”
“Xingxing is something you can only look up to, never reach. If a Xingxing appeared right before you, would it still be one?”
In that moment, Wen Xusheng could vividly picture the young master’s expression. Proud yet animated, tinged with a hint of flustered annoyance; every word radiated pure cuteness.
Unable to resist, Wen Xusheng skipped back through the recording and replayed those two lines again. Still unsatisfied, he rewound the progress bar repeatedly, listening over and over.
Each time, it felt like sparks were being flicked into his heart. The flames were faint yet stubbornly persistent, gathering at his heart’s core until they set his entire being ablaze.
Wen Xusheng’s emotions were tangled beyond words. Yet, through the young master’s repeated utterances, a thousand thoughts crystallized into a single realization.
So this was ‘Xingxing’.
The Xingxing the young master had always spoken of had been him all along.
It was Wen Xusheng.
In a daze, Wen Xusheng seemed to see that scene again.
The young master had burst through the door, brimming with energy, his brow radiating pride and a hint of triumph. Those beautiful eyes were filled with anticipation.
The moment he saw Wen Xusheng, his eyes lit up.
“Xingxing!”
Wen Xusheng’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively pressed the lock button, exhaling a long breath. He wanted to see him. He wanted to see his young master.
That intense desire, once born in Wen Xusheng’s heart, could no longer be suppressed. He opened the door, walked across the hall, and knocked on the door opposite.
Soon, Shi Jingge opened the door, and Shi Rongqing opened his door beside it, looking over with a faint, ambiguous smile.
“Mr. Wen,” Shi Rongqing said politely, “what brings you here to see my brother?”
“Just a small matter,” Wen Xusheng replied calmly, then extended his hand to Shi Jingge. “May I borrow your phone?”
“Wait—” Before Shi Rongqing could finish, Shi Jingge had already handed his phone to Wen Xusheng.
Shi Rongqing: “…“
How could he have such an idiotic younger brother?
Wen Xusheng remembered Shi Jingge’s unlock pattern and quickly opened the phone.
Shi Rongqing: ”…”
Damn it! He didn’t even know this little brat’s passcode!
Wen Xusheng opened Shi Jingge’s Weibo and searched for himself.
“What are you doing?” Shi Jingge raised his hand, trying to snatch his phone back.
Wen Xusheng used the young master’s Weibo account to follow himself. “You forgot to follow me back.”
Shi Jingge stared blankly at Wen Xusheng.
Wen Xusheng gazed steadily at Shi Jingge, his voice tinged with melancholy. “I followed you a long time ago. Was it you who didn’t want to follow me back?”
“No… it wasn’t…”
“Xiao Ge!”
The young master hadn’t finished speaking, but Shi Rongqing truly couldn’t hold back any longer. He snatched the phone back from Wen Xusheng and beckoned to Shi Jingge. “Come here. You’re sleeping with your big brother tonight. Let your brother teach you a lesson—some basic safety protection knowledge.”
Shi Jingge: “Huh?”
Shi Rongqing shoved him into his own room, then gave Wen Xusheng a faint smile. “Good night, Mr. Wen.”
The door slammed shut behind them.
Wen Xusheng stared at the door, then suddenly smiled, his expression radiant.
What good would separating him and Xiao Ge do now? Tomorrow, he and Xiao Ge would still be sleeping together.
Still without Shi Rongqing around.
Why?
Because Season 2 of ‘Starting with Cohabitation’ was about to begin.
Wen Xusheng returned to his room and pulled up the game recording. Though he’d never played the game himself, just hearing the young master’s voice brought him comfort.
Then Wen Xusheng forwarded the video Li Zhuoyun had sent to Du Yi.
Du Yi: [?]
Du Yi: [What’s up?]
Wen Xusheng calmly asked: [Did you watch the video?]
Du Yi: [Not yet.]
Wen Xusheng: [Go watch it now.]
Though completely baffled, Du Yi clicked the video.
Ten minutes later, Du Yi sent Wen Xusheng a string of ellipses.
Wen Xusheng asked kindly: [Finished watching?]
Du Yi: [……]
Du Yi: [What the hell was that?!]
Du Yi: [What exactly did you want me to watch?]
Du Yi: [Watch you two flaunt your love and make me eat dog food?!]
Don’t single people have any rights?! Du Yi thought bitterly.
Soon, he received Wen Xusheng’s reply. A period.
Du Yi: “…”
He was done being his agent!
He was going on strike! He was quitting!!
The next second, Du Yi received another message from Wen Xusheng again: [This year’s bonus is doubled.]
Du Yi: !!!
Du Yi: [Brother Wen, your love for the young master is truly moving! You two are a perfect match! No one suits each other better! You were born to be together!!]
Du Yi: [Today is another day I shed tears for your breathtaking romance.]
As long as the money’s right, what’s a little white lie? He could personally pen a ten-thousand-word steamy short story for these two!
Just as Wen Xusheng basked in bliss, Shi Rongqing was sinking into misery. His despair deepened when he realized his “self-defense” tutorial had barely begun. Less than ten minutes in, the little brat had already dozed off.
But the kid slept soundly. Shi Rongqing ultimately left him be, turning instead toward his study.
Since he couldn’t sleep anyway, he might as well handle some business first. The masterminds behind Hua Mingyi’s affair—didn’t he need to settle accounts with each and every one of them?
And that madman lurking in the shadows, relentlessly slandering his little one. All those trolls and paid commenters in the discussion section wereorganized, disciplined, and meticulously coordinated. Did he look blind and fail to see it?
Bullying his little rabbit deserved a price to be paid.
On this point, Shi Rongqing and Wen Xusheng were on the same page.
Though their respective mentalities might differ.
After all, Wen Xusheng possessed the young master’s “sweet confession” video.
—— —— ——
The next day, the ‘Starting with Cohabitation’ production team sent staff to pick up Wen Xusheng and the young master.
This time, Shi Rongqing’s mindset was different from the last time.
He clutched the young master’s hand and rushed to impart a series of self-protection “basics.” Even in the final second before pushing Shi Jingge into the car, he reminded him, “You’re still young. You haven’t even graduated from university yet. Keep your focus on your studies, understand?”
Wen Xusheng’s expression stiffened slightly.
The young master looked bewildered. “…When have I ever studied?”
Shi Rongqing: “…”
Wen Xusheng couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud. Shi Rongqing silently turned to look at him, his gaze sharp. Wen Xusheng met it calmly, composed and unruffled, even returning a smile.
Shi Rongqing almost wanted to go with them. Better to act than to hesitate. He calmly inquired, “Is your show still seeking sponsors?”
Staff: “!!!!” Who would ever complain about too many sponsors?
“Okay,” Shi Rongqing said calmly. “I understand.” Then, Shi Rongqing’s gaze slid past Wen Xusheng, finally settling on Shi Jingge. “Have fun. Remember to think of your big brother.”
Shi Jingge nodded, not quite understanding.
The car rolled slowly forward. The staff member in front chuckled, “You brothers really have a strong bond.”
“Of course,” Shi Jingge declared, chest puffing out proudly.
Wen Xusheng remained silent, head down, texting with a serious expression.
Shi Jingge glanced at him and lowered his voice, “You and my brother…” Wen Xusheng looked up at him. “… Are…… you fighting?” Shi Jingge hesitated.
“How could that be?” Wen Xusheng replied casually. “It’s Du Yi. We’re discussing the itinerary.”
“Oh.” Shi Jingge understood and didn’t disturb him further.
Wen Xusheng’s lips curved slightly as he lowered his head to continue messaging.
Sponsorships can never be too abundant, right? If Shi Rongqing could sponsor, so could he.
—- —– —-
All the guests gathered at the airport and took their seats in the same order as last time.
Meng Yisong even brought Shi Jingge a gift—homemade milk candies—and urged him to eat them quickly, lest the production team confiscate them.
Shi Jingge shot him a glare and reluctantly thanked him.
Wen Xusheng was also given a piece, but he stuffed it in Shi Jingge’s hands. He, too, received a grudging “thank you” from Shi Jingge.
After disembarking the plane, they transferred to another vehicle. Once they finally reached their destination, everyone was allowed to drop their luggage for a brief rest before the livestream commenced.
Viewers, expecting the broadcast to start tomorrow, were pleasantly surprised. They spread the news rapidly, and soon, the livestream’s viewership surged.
The director grinned. “Isn’t everyone starving by now? Our production team has prepared a selection of premium ingredients, but first, you must play a little game to determine if you’ll get dinner tonight. Welcome, viewers, to our special live stream segment—Plum Blossom Poles[mfn]Poles barely wider than the width of an adults foot, placed a few feet apart. Can be off the ground anywhere from a foot to ten feet off the ground. Used in Martial arts training and the popular Dragon Dancers. Google image search 梅花桩 to see examples[/mfn]!”
“I told you the production team had ulterior motives for bringing us here early! You didn’t believe me!” Meng Yisong was the first to jump up in protest. “At least tonight we should get dinner! If we’re going to starve, it should start tomorrow!”
“The production team has no conscience—making us starve today!” The guests quickly joined in, each taking turns to accuse the production team. But what did these attacks matter to them? They couldn’t care less.
Wei Zhiyun sneered inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.
Why bother with all those high-minded excuses? Isn’t it because Shi Jingge is trending now? They were deliberately riding his coattail for views.
Wei Zhiyun’s gaze swept over Shi Jingge. Suddenly, his eyes locked on Shi Jingge, filled with both confusion and a hint of surprise.
…Why did Shi Jingge seem so down now?
He remembered he’d looked quite excited when boarding the plane. He’d still been fine when getting on the bus, but it seemed his mood had started to sour after getting off.
Had something happened?
This perked Wei Zhiyun right up.
Shao Zechen tugged at his sleeve beside him, wanting to warn him not to get ideas about the young master. But mindful of the live stream, he merely feigned fear and said, “My balance is terrible! Plum Blossom Poles? This is going to kill me!”
Wei Zhiyun felt a bit restless inside, but he still played along with Shao Zechen’s banter. Yet his gaze kept drifting toward Shi Jingge.
Had something bad happened to make him look so grim?
Or had some new scandal about Shi Jingge surfaced?
The thought sent a thrill through Wei Zhiyun. If even he could tell, what about Wen Xusheng?
Wen Xusheng hooked Shi Jingge’s finger, silently asking, “What’s up?”
Shi Jingge shook his head slightly, saying nothing.
Wen Xusheng: “?” A little secret?
The production team led the guests to the game area. They had deliberately chosen very thin plum blossom poles, each barely wide enough for one person to stand on. A rope was suspended about two or three meters above with several baskets hanging from it. Inside were slips of paper listing ingredients.
Two contestants would be tethered together by a rope. They had to walk across the stilt poles one after the other, retrieve a basket, and carry it back to the opposite shore to claim the ingredients inside.
During this process, the production team would sabotage the task once. If anyone fell off the poles, the mission failed, and they got nothing.
Beneath the stilted platform lay muddy ground, meaning anyone who fell would be covered in mud.
Instantly, cries of despair filled the air.
“If you don’t want us to eat, just say so!” Wei Zhiyun shouted, feigning righteous indignation. “If we fall in, will you make us collect ingredients to trade for bathwater?”
“Smart.” The director gave him a thumbs-up. “Looks like you’ve grasped the true essence of our production team.”
Amidst the guests’ murmurs of resentment, the director cheerfully assigned the order, placing Wen Xusheng and Shi Jingge in the first group.
Wen Xusheng leaned close to Shi Jingge’s ear and whispered, “Can you do this?”
Shi Jingge didn’t respond, staring straight ahead at the plum blossom poles without a flicker of emotion. Even when crew members approached to secure his and Wen Xusheng’s ropes, he remained utterly unresponsive.
Wen Xusheng’s heart sank. The young master was genuinely in a foul mood.
Viewers in the livestream chat quickly picked up on this, their hearts sinking with concern.
But the very next second, the chat exploded with exclamation marks!
Shi Jingge seemed deep in thought. Then, he bit down on his fingertip. His lips parted slightly, holding the finger between them. His beautiful almond-shaped eyes gazed into the distance, unfocused, like a painting worthy of eternal preservation. An inexplicable allure radiated from every part of him.
Wen Xusheng was utterly captivated, unable to tear his gaze away no matter how hard he tried.
His hand rose involuntarily, as if everything around him had slowed a hundredfold. He extended his fingers inch by inch—a motion that likely took only seconds in reality, yet felt like an eternity.
His fingertips finally brushed against Shi Jingge’s hair. The soft strands sent a slight tremor through his heart.
It took Shi Jingge a while to register the touch. He looked up at Wen Xusheng, his eyes filled with confusion. But he didn’t bristle.
His mind was preoccupied with other matters, and he hadn’t fully processed the moment yet.
Wen Xusheng’s fingertips lingered through the young master’s hair before settling on his shoulder.
“Nothing,” Wen Xusheng said casually. “Just reminding you it’s about to begin.”
“Oh.” The young master nodded, not even noticing Wen Xusheng’s hand on his shoulder. He just stared at the plum blossom poles and said, “You go first, I’ll follow behind. How about that?”
The person behind would bear more pressure. Wen Xusheng had intended to take the rear position, but when he met the young master’s gaze…
“Alright.” Wen Xusheng nodded in agreement.
Chapter 27 split in half for easier posting, part 2 scheduled for 10 min release after this! Refresh if you don’t see the next chapter button yet!
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
