***
Chapter 27 – Mischief
On the morning of the third and final day, the post-filming interviews began at seven o’clock, with staff members waking up the guests in sequence. According to the schedule, Mu Zhe was first to be interviewed, followed by Qin Yi. He Yujing and Jiang Liusui were in the middle, while the two female guests, whose makeup and styling took longer, were saved for last.
Jiang Liusui was sleeping deeply, half-dreaming and half-awake, when he felt someone standing by his bed. Thinking it was a staff member, he mumbled groggily, “…Time to get up?”
“You really sleep hugging something, huh?” The person replied offhandedly, not answering the question, but stared at him with a curious look for a long moment.
“……” Jiang Liusui had his arms wrapped around a pillow, curling up in the blanket with only half his face peeking out. Hearing He Yujing’s voice, he initially thought he was still dreaming.
But the next moment, that teasing tone cut through: “How old are you, huh?”
Jiang Liusui gradually came to his senses.
It wasn’t a dream.
That uniquely teasing tone of He Yujing—there wasn’t another like it, even in a dream.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. A staff member called out loudly from outside, “Teacher He, Teacher Jiang! Are you two awake? Time to get ready for hair and makeup!”
He Yujing glanced at Jiang Liusui, who was still lazing in bed, and shamelessly exposed him: “Teacher Jiang is still in bed—”
The staff member outside seemed unsure what to say and fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Liusui’s ears flushed red, a mix of embarrassment and amusement. He rolled out of bed in one swift motion and raised his voice, “Teacher Jiang is awake!”
He Yujing couldn’t help but let out a mischievous laugh. Jiang Liusui shot him a sharp sidelong glance. The other man was already impeccably dressed, looking like he could step straight onto a runway. The simple silver hoop he’d worn to bed had been replaced with a pair of intricate, hollow earrings, and the tiny cartilage hoop sparkled in the morning light.
Looking utterly polished, He Yujing urged with feigned seriousness, “Hurry and wash up, Suisui.”
Jiang Liusui paused in his steps.
He had initially thought He Yujing’s use of his nickname was just a whim, or a deliberate playful tease.
But… it was real. He’d actually changed the way he called him.
It was a little surprising—but with He Yujing, everything that breaks the rules somehow makes perfect sense.
After washing up, Jiang Liusui and He Yujing left together and headed to the dressing room. Time was tight so everyone was doing their styling while having breakfast. Xu Miao held a glass of iced Americano and chattered nonstop: “I didn’t get to sleep until two last night! Can you guess what I was up to?!”
Shang Qingzhi played along, “So late, what were you doing?”
Xu Miao: “I ended up binge-watching a drama! —he plays this reborn, revenge-driven cop. So handsome! I knew I was in trouble the moment I started watching, so I had my assistant bring me an iced coffee this morning to reduce swelling on my face—hey, Xiao Zhe, your dark circles are even worse than mine!”
Mu Zhe forced a faint smile. “Mm… didn’t sleep well.”
He noticed Jiang Liusui entering and his gaze flickered. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but with everyone around, he held back.
Jiang Liusui didn’t notice the flicker in Mu Zhe’s expression. When he heard Chi Lianxi’s name, his eyes lit up. “Is it good? I haven’t had the chance to watch it yet.”
Even Qin Yi chimed in, “It’s already airing? I meant to note the premiere date, but I’ve been too busy lately and forgot.”
Shang Qingzhi: “I’ve been following that one too, it’s already been airing for two weeks. Looks like you’ve had a packed schedule lately, Qin-ge.”
Qin Yi smiled sheepishly. Xu Miao finally found a moment to answer Jiang Liusui’s question: “It’s so good! Teacher Chi is ridiculously handsome! When he fires his gun, he’s not shooting criminals, he’s shooting my heart!”
Jiang Liusui: “Really? Then I’ll watch it when I get back.”
Xu Miao caught the spark of interest in him and smiled knowingly. “So you like Teacher Chi too? The guys around me either like Yu-ge, or like Teacher Chi, or like both.”
Qin Yi, who had seen Jiang Liusui watching Chi Lianxi’s movies during breaks while filming before, chimed in, “He’s a fan of Chi Lianxi.”
The room was filled with praise for Chi Lianxi, except He Yujing, who said coldly: “What’s so good about him? Just two eyes and a mouth[mfn]两只眼睛一张嘴 (liǎng zhī yǎnjīng yī zhāng zuǐ) – used humorously here to downplay someone’s looks.[/mfn], that’s it.”
Everyone knew He Yujing was close with Chi Lianxi, so they just laughed it off, taking his remark as playful teasing.
The makeup artist came over to confirm Jiang Liusui’s look for the day: “We’re going to the beach this afternoon. Shall I go with a simple, fresh look for you?”
Jiang Liusui nodded. He didn’t have any particular requirements for his styling, and with his good complexion, makeup artists always enjoyed working on him.
“Go get Teacher Jiang a glass of water,” the makeup artist told the assistant, then asked gently, “Would you like something to eat first? We arranged a dim sum breakfast from the nearby hotel—shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and such…”
“Get him a cake too,” He Yujing interrupted smoothly. “He likes sweets.”
Jiang Liusui tilted his head in surprise, silently wondering just how long He Yujing had known his preferences. As if sensing his thoughts, He Yujing walked over to him, and the makeup artist quickly made room for him beside Jiang Liusui.
“Last time at the club, you finished all the chocolate scones Su Wan made, didn’t you?”
Jiang Liusui let out an “oh,” surprised that He Yujing was so attentive, remembering such a small detail from a month ago. Seeing how close they were in private, the staff quietly watched, noting everything in their minds.
He Yujing’s makeup artist was very enthusiastic, afraid of doing anything unsatisfactory. After He Yujing sat down, the artist kept confirming: “Teacher He, what style of makeup would you like? Seeing the jewelry you’re wearing today, should I do something more glamorous? Or emphasize contrast and make it softer and pure…”
As the makeup artist rambled on, He Yujing cut him off expressionlessly, “Make me look more handsome than Chi Lianxi.”
“Pfft! Alright, alright!” The makeup artist nearly lost it but managed to hold back a laugh with impressive professionalism.
Jiang Liusui didn’t have much of an appetite, but considering the energy he’d need for the upcoming shoot, he ate a piece of chocolate cake and drank a glass of juice. Mu Zhe was the first to do the post-filming interview, with each person taking about twenty minutes. After finishing, Mu Zhe walked from the villa garden back to the dressing room, hesitated slightly, and approached Jiang Liusui:
“Can I talk to you alone for a bit?”
He really hadn’t gotten much rest. Even with the makeup artist covering his dark circles, fatigue still lingered in Mu Zhe’s eyes. Upon closer look, a hint of nervousness peeked through. Jiang Liusui had a rough idea of what this was about and nodded as he stood up.
Seeing Jiang Liusui being called away by Mu Zhe, He Yujing cast a subtle glance in their direction.
They made their way to the empty balcony on the second floor. Mu Zhe walked ahead, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to begin.
He had spent all of last night tossing and turning, replaying every expression and word Jiang Liusui had made in his mind over and over again, but he’s still unable to determine whether the other person had heard that phone call.
Aside from his agent and his trusted assistant, no one knew that Mu Zhe had a benefactor quietly supporting him. His agent, being strong-willed and, knowing he wasn’t very sharp, had repeatedly warned him to keep a low profile and not let outsiders know about his situation. Mu Zhe also understood that this was a matter that couldn’t be public and had always been very careful—but he never expected such an accident to happen on the show.
While Mu Zhe was tangled up in his worries, Jiang Liusui wasn’t doing much better either.
He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but he had still ended up overhearing the other’s private phone call. He had even found himself replaying it in his mind afterward—especially those few times Mu Zhe called out “husband”—which made the guilt impossible to ignore.
Feeling awkward and uneasy, Jiang Liusui subconsciously furrowed his brow. It was at that exact moment that Mu Zhe stopped, turned around. Seeing Jiang Liusui’s expression, Mu Zhe’s heart sank.
Jiang Liusui’s face was strikingly beautiful—o much so that even the smallest change in expression carried an intimidating force. Mu Zhe mistook that look for impatience. He had rehearsed countless things he wanted to say, even planned to carefully test whether Jiang Liusui had truly overheard the call. But the moment their eyes met, Mu Zhe’s mind went blank. In a fit of reckless resignation, his voice drained of warmth as he asked:
“You… you heard everything, right?”
Jiang Liusui hadn’t expected him to be so direct. A wave of panic from being caught off guard surged up inside him. That brief silence only made Mu Zhe even more uneasy.
“…Mm,” Jiang Liusui finally said. “I didn’t expect you to be there.”
The two of them stood facing each other in silence, both unbearably awkward. Seeing that Jiang Liusui also looked uncomfortable, Mu Zhe acted on impulse and cautiously asked: “You won’t tell anyone about this… will you?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Mu Zhe regretted them. He could only think that he’d spoken without thinking, and tension crept visibly across his face.
At the mention of the issue, Jiang Liusui set aside his awkwardness and grew solemn. “Don’t worry. This is your personal matter. I shouldn’t have known about it in the first place.”
Mu Zhe stared at him, clearly stunned. After a beat, he finally managed, “…You really won’t say anything? I didn’t sleep at all last night. I just kept thinking about it—over and over. I imagined so many possible outcomes, but never this…!”
Mu Zhe’s words came out in a jumble. He had already braced himself for the worst outcome, but Jiang Liusui showed no intention of using this against him. Seeing that Jiang Liusui didn’t seem to be pretending either, Mu Zhe was overjoyed: “—You’re really a good person! I’ll apologize to Yu-ge in a bit!”
Jiang Liusui paused, momentarily dumbfounded. Weren’t they talking about Mu Zhe? What did this suddenly have to do with He Yujing? Seeing that he didn’t react right away, Mu Zhe awkwardly reminded him, “About me pretending to be his fan…”
Noticing Jiang Liusui’s silence, Mu Zhe quickly added, “I swear I won’t ever do that again!”
In truth, even though Mu Zhe had played at being He Yujing’s devoted fan, his attempts at currying favor were clumsy at best. He hadn’t gone so far as to pester or cling to He Yujing either. Over the past few days, their interactions had been practically nonexistent—so minimal that the production team couldn’t even edit anything noteworthy out of them. The potential impact was extremely limited. He Yujing couldn’t even be bothered to pay him any mind.
Jiang Liusui had almost told him that He Yujing likely knew everything already—and probably didn’t care in the slightest. But after a moment’s consideration, he decided it was better for Mu Zhe to deal with it himself. He swallowed the thought and simply said, “Go ahead.”
Mu Zhe instantly relaxed, as if a heavy sentence had been lifted, and broke into a relieved smile.
The people Jiang Liusui usually encountered in the industry were all shrewd and calculating. This was his first time meeting someone so simple-minded—someone who couldn’t hide any thoughts or worries at all—and he couldn’t help finding it amusing. He deliberately teased Mu Zhe: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll lie to you and turn around and expose everything?”
“You… you wouldn’t trick me, would you?” Mu Zhe panicked at first, but after meeting Jiang Liusui’s gaze, he spoke with surprising confidence, “I believe you’re not that kind of person.”
He might be a bit foolish, but his intuition was sharp.
“—Teacher Jiang!” A voice called out urgently from the side. The staff member had finally found Jiang Liusui and quickly said, “Teacher He has already started his interview. Please head over to the waiting area now!”
“You should go,” Mu Zhe said, worried he was holding him up. “I’ll go find Yu-ge in a bit.”
Jiang Liusui nodded and followed the staff member into the villa’s back garden. It was peak summer. Towering purple magnolias were in glorious bloom, their blossoms lush and radiant. Sunlight slipped through the misty layers of flowers, casting scattered, dappled shadows across the grass like strokes on an oil painting.
Beneath the tree, He Yujing sat on a long bench, already midway through his interview. His handsome features seemed even more striking under the summer sun. Facing the camera, he exuded a relaxed and carefree aura, so much so that the surrounding sea of blossoms seemed dimmed by comparison.
No wonder he was considered even more handsome than Chi Lianxi…
Mm, indeed very handsome.
The thought made Jiang Liusui chuckle softly. He Yujing had already noticed him the instant he stepped into the garden, though he kept his expression perfectly composed. It wasn’t until the host finished asking a question that he raised his eyebrows slightly and answered, The happiest moment? The morning we watched the sunrise. It was very interesting, and very meaningful.”
Assuming he was about to deliver a poetic, cultured response, the host smoothly followed up, “Then which part did you find most enjoyable? Was it the moment you saw the sun rise?”
He Yujing’s gaze shifted slightly, settling on Jiang Liusui outside the camera frame.
“No. It was being rudely woken up by someone.”
Jiang Liusui: “……”
What a grudge-holder.
All I did was wake him up! Didn’t he get back at me by dragging me under the covers?
The host couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Oh wow, you really know how to joke! You’re making us feel kind of bad now. Sounds like you’re still deeply resentful about that wake-up call.”
He Yujing gave no clear response either way. Off to the side, the director raised a hand, signaling that this segment was over. The host stood up and said, “Thank you for your cooperation! Teacher He, you can go rest now—sorry for the trouble.”
“Next up is Teacher Jiang,” she continued, beckoning to the stylist waiting on standby. “Let’s check if Teacher Jiang needs a little touch-up.”
The stylist stepped forward to take a careful look and indicated that everything was fine. Jiang Liusui sat down on the bench He Yujing had just vacated. The latter did not leave; instead, he walked over to where the director’s team was, clearly intending to watch Jiang Liusui’s interview.
The host proceeded with the usual lineup of questions: the most memorable moment of the trip, his favorite activity, the best thing he’d eaten.
“One last question,” the host said, pausing just long enough to make the moment feel suspenseful, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “These past two nights you’ve stayed with different guest teachers. If you could choose your roommate yourself, would you rather pick Teacher Qin or Teacher He?”
Jiang Liusui froze for a beat, instantly spotting the mischief behind the host’s perfectly practiced smile. On the surface, it seemed like a simple, harmless question, but the layers beneath were obvious. Whichever answer he gave would be broadcast and instantly dissected. Every little interaction he’d had with them before could be mined for ‘cute moments.’ With just one post-filming interview question, the show had effortlessly stirred up drama among three people—truly the best at stirring CP speculation.
Yet, when it came to ambiguity, asking which male roommate he felt most comfortable living with was perfectly normal. The production team had skillfully tread the line.
He Yujing understood perfectly well that all these twists and turns were just for the show. Still, he couldn’t help but feel drawn in, waiting for Jiang Liusui’s answer.
Over the past few days, he had come to understand clearly that Qin Yi and Jiang Liusui were just friends. To Jiang Liusui, Qin Yi was like an older brother, protective and caring. Once he confirmed this, the subtle hostility he initially felt toward Qin Yi gradually faded. And after spending some time with him, He Yujing had to admit—Qin Yi wasn’t a bad guy. Just yesterday, he had even unintentionally helped He Yujing gauge Jiang Liusui’s sexual orientation.
But if Jiang Liusui didn’t choose him…
A cold snort escaped He Yujing’s mind. Why on earth wouldn’t he be the one chosen?
Living with him — wasn’t that simply the most comfortable option? Jiang Liusui had slept so soundly last night, lazing in bed this morning, and he had gently coaxed him awake—although Jiang Liusui might not see it as gentle, his intentions were good. Was there any roommate as considerate as him?
He Yujing may have thought this, but the memory of his wishful thinking during the beach barbecue was still fresh in his mind. He stared unabashedly at the figure beneath the flowering tree, so openly that even Jiang Liusui noticed.
Jiang Liusui caught the unspoken message in his eyes: If you don’t pick me, you’re doomed.
Jiang Liusui smiled. “Of course, it’s Yu-ge.”
Host: Why is that?
Jiang Liusui: Because I can use his shower gel and shampoo. They smell really nice.
The host burst out laughing. “So that’s it! Hahaha! Teacher He even brings his own toiletries to the show? You really do prioritize quality of life.”
Jiang Liusui chuckled in agreement, praising He Yujing’s habits a bit more before wrapping up the interview.
The host thanked him with a smile for cooperating, and Jiang Liusui expressed his gratitude to the other staff before leaving the interview spot. He hadn’t gone far when someone approached him.
“You didn’t even use my shampoo and shower gel,” He Yujing drawled lazily, a teasing smile playing on his lips, clearly enjoying the moment.
They both knew the “toiletries” excuse was just for the cameras. To Jiang Liusui, it didn’t matter much who he shared a room with—but choosing Qin Yi right in front of He Yujing would have been too disrespectful.
Still, seeing him so self-satisfied made Jiang Liusui chuckle. He couldn’t help thinking how refreshingly blunt and childlike He Yujing was. A mischievous impulse stirred within him.
“Yeah, that’s just something said for outsiders to hear. The reason I chose you as my roommate—” Jiang Liusui waved at him, signaling He Yujing to come closer, as if to share a secret.
He Yujing obediently lowered his head.
Jiang Liusui leaned close to his ear and whispered, “It’s because of your face.”
He Yujing was stunned, still unsure whether he had been flirted with for the first time ever. Jiang Liusui then smiled at him, his black-and-white clear eyes full of mischief, his expression full of life.
Jiang Liusui paid no attention to He Yujing’s reaction. After delivering his playful jab, he turned and walked away, leaving He Yujing behind after having his fun.
— — — —
Author’s Note:
Quite charming, Xiao Sui.
Jing: Thank you for this face of mine.
— — — —
