LR – Chapter 28

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Chapter 28 – Schemes

After the morning’s post-filming interviews wrapped up, the afternoon schedule was packed with water activities—surfing, jet skiing, and the like. Everyone played happily in front of the cameras, but once filming ended, they collapsed one by one from sheer exhaustion. A whole afternoon of surfing had left Xu Miao wobbling as she walked. Wearing an expression of complete hopelessness, she groaned, “I can’t go on, I’m about to die from exhaustion. Once I get on the plane, I’m sleeping straight through until we land… Qingzhi, can you still stand?”

Shang Qingzhi had no energy left to speak and only lifted a hand to indicate she was fine. Jiang Liusui wasn’t much better—his stamina had never been great, and now he looked just as drained, dragging his steps as he moved forward slowly.

Among a group of guests so exhausted they could barely keep up appearances, He Yujing alone looked exactly the same as always. Watching him walk ahead at an easy, unhurried pace, Xu Miao almost wondered if they’d been filming two different shows. She complained under her breath, “Why does Yu-ge look like absolutely nothing happened to him?””

Mu Zhe wiped the sweat from his forehead. He could understand it perfectly well. Back when he’d still been an idol, he’d trained for at least five or six hours of dance practice every single day. Compared to that, the afternoon’s water activities were nothing. But since switching careers to acting, his physical condition naturally wasn’t what it used to be.

Lowering his voice, Mu Zhe explained, “He’s a singer. Concerts are physically demanding, and he still has to dance. This level of activity is probably nothing new to him.”

Jiang Liusui, walking alongside Mu Zhe, weakly chimed in, “Impressive.”

Xu Miao, apparently exhausted beyond reason, suddenly let out a strange chuckle and said in a rogue, hooligan-like tone, “Wow—his stamina’s really something.”

Mu Zhe: “……”

Jiang Liusui: “……You’re impressive too.”

She even dared to crack risqué jokes about He Yujing. At that point, he almost felt like calling her “Xu-jie” from the bottom of his heart.

Mu Zhe’s instinctive reaction was to scan their surroundings for cameras. Thankfully, filming had alreundady wrapped, and Xu Miao’s explosive comment hadn’t been recorded.

The three-day, two-night variety show recording officially came to an end. That night, the group flew back to the capital from Linzhou Island Airport. To avoid stirring up chaos, they took the VIP passage. Even so, crowds of fans still swarmed the airport, all just to catch a distant glimpse of them.

Before boarding, Jiang Liusui noticed Mu Zhe pull He Yujing aside. The two headed toward the far end of the lounge for a private conversation. About ten minutes later, they returned one after the other. He Yujing looked no different than usual, his expression giving nothing away. Mu Zhe, however, seemed as though a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders—his steps noticeably lighter than before.

Jiang Liusui guessed Mu Zhe had apologized to He Yujing and didn’t ask any further. Just then, his phone lit up with a new message notification. Opening it, he saw a deposit alert:

Your card ending in XXXX received 100,000 yuan (bank transfer) on July 29. Sender: Ye Yun. Sender’s account ending in XXXX…

Jiang Liusui stared at the message, momentarily lost in thought.

Every couple of months, his mother would send him living expenses. As always, he replied with a simple “thank you.” It’s been four years since he started university and opened his own bank account. Countless thank-yous sent—not a single reply ever came back.

He didn’t really care whether she replied or not. But when someone sends money, it’s only right to express gratitude.

No emotional connection—but having living expenses was still pretty good.

Since they had spent the entire afternoon in the sea, everyone returned to the villa to shower before leaving. After washing up, Jiang Liusui finally felt a little more clear-headed, but perhaps the temperature in the lounge was too comfortable—before long, fatigue crept back in. It was as if all his energy had been drained.

The moment he settled into his seat on the plane, he tugged out his sleep mask, ready to pass out. But then He Yujing, seated beside him, spoke in a low voice. “You know about Mu Zhe?”

“…Huh? Yeah.” Jiang Liusui took a moment to process the question, assuming He Yujing was only referring to the part about pretending to be a fan. As for the matter involving a benefactor, Jiang Liusui was sure Mu Zhe wouldn’t be foolish enough to disclose that himself.

“So all that sneaking around earlier was just for this? What—was he planning to draft a script with you first or something?”

Seeing that He Yujing was still speaking so bluntly, Jiang Liusui chuckled and said, “No. He had something else to talk to me about. How did it go between you two?”

He Yujing replied flatly, “It was never a big deal to begin with.”

He had encountered dozens, if not hundreds, of people like Mu Zhe and hadn’t paid them any mind. What actually caught him off guard was that Mu Zhe had taken the initiative to apologize.

Taking this as a sign that He Yujing wasn’t holding a grudge, Jiang Liusui offered a bit of flattery: “Nice. Very magnanimous.”

Assuming He Yujing might want to chat a bit longer, he set the sleep mask aside. There was faint exhaustion between Jiang Liusui’s brows, though a smile still lingered on his face. Seeing that he didn’t have much energy, He Yujing stopped making small talk. “Get some rest.”

Jiang Liusui’s fingers paused slightly before he responded. He grabbed the sleep mask again and relaxed back into the seat.

Weary and exhausted, he quickly sank into a deep sleep. With nothing else to do, He Yujing idly scrolled through his tablet, flipped through his photo album, and casually scribbled down a few lines of lyrics before turning his head to look at the person sleeping beside him.

The cabin lights were dim, casting a hazy glow over everything in sight. Jiang Liusui slept quietly, his breathing almost inaudible. The dark silk sleep mask he wore made his face appear even smaller. His lips were relaxed, slightly parted, with the cupid’s bow gently upturned, their color reminiscent of rose petals.

Under the sweltering summer heat of Linzhou Island, Jiang Liusui wore a thin shirt and shorts. During the afternoon’s water activities, he must have accidentally scraped himself somewhere—a faint red mark, neither too deep nor too shallow, stood out starkly against the snow-white skin of his slender, straight calf.

He Yujing’s gaze lingered on that red mark. He remembered Jiang Liusui bruised easily—a slight scrape would leave a noticeable mark, though it faded just as fast. When they filmed the confrontation scene of the MV, Jiang Liusui had knocked his back hard enough to leave a swath of bruising. It had disappeared in a day or two.

Thinking about it this way, they had known each other for nearly three months already.

He Yujing looked away and slowly closed his eyes as well, resting beside him.

Once the plane landed, the driver who had been waiting at the airport picked He Yujing up. He didn’t head back to his own place, but instead returned to his parents’ house.

Gongshan was sparsely developed. From the Cen River at the mountain’s base upward, the land was entirely private. The entire estate was surrounded by mountains and water. Within the vast grounds, the main vistas and secondary scenery were arranged in deliberate layers, forming an atmosphere of refined elegance and classical grandeur. Even after passing through the gates, there was still a long drive before the main residence came into view.

As soon as he stepped into the house, he saw that the living room was still lit. He Yujing paused slightly in his steps. Just then, the indoor elevator doors opened, and a woman emerged. Wearing pearl-white silk loungewear with a dark shawl draped over her shoulders, she held a cup in her hand, seemingly having come downstairs to fetch water.

Seeing him, He Linshu’s face registered surprise. Then, with a touch of curiosity, she arched an eyebrow. “Back already, busy man?”

Her features bore a striking resemblance to He Yujing—about seventy to eighty percent the same—and her eyes were practically identical. Tall and slender, He Linshu’s figure was graceful, but even in simple loungewear, she radiated a sharp, captivating presence.

“Just finished filming a show. I wasn’t planning to come, but Mom kept messaging me before the flight,” He Yujing said as he sank into the living room sofa. The trip from Linzhou Island back to the capital, plus the ride home, had taken nearly six hours, leaving him understandably weary. He slouched comfortably, radiating a lazy reluctance to move.

“You haven’t been back in so long. Grandpa missed you. He kept mentioning you during dinner last week,” He Linshu paused briefly before adding, “Dad, too.”

“Give me a break. The second I see him, we’ll argue.” He Yujing ruthlessly exposed her words. “Don’t speak for him.”

He Linshu was momentarily at a loss for words, silently noting that this kid had gotten increasingly blunt over time. It was already past three in the morning, He Yujing had just returned and was a little surprised to see the lights still on at home. He asked, “Why are you still up?”

“There’s an overseas project going through its Series A funding right now. I’ve been so swamped these past few weeks that I even have to reply to messages while eating,” He Linshu said. Seeing He Yujing nod, she probed gently, “Looking at how exhausted your sister is… how long before you help share some of the load?”

But He Yujing leaned back comfortably on the sofa. “With you holding down the fort at home, it’s perfect for me to be the idle one.”

He Linshu chuckled wryly. “You’d only be idle if you were actually doing nothing. You’re clearly not any more relaxed than I am.” Seeing that he still showed little interest in family affairs, she thought that if their father were to witness this, another argument would surely erupt. Fortunately, their father had already retired for the night.

He Linshu quickly shifted the topic, her tone tinged with playful secrecy. “Do you know why Mom insisted on calling you back? It’s because the Qi family has a young lady—gentle in temperament, pretty, and apparently one of your fans! Mom wants you to meet her…”

At this, He Yujing slowly sat up.

He Linshu had only mentioned it casually, but seeing his reaction, she blinked in surprise: “You’re actually going?”

She was four years older thlinan He Yujing, and having watched her younger brother grow up, He Linshu understood his personality very well. He Yujing clearly still had no intention of settling down. If he were willing to obediently go on a blind date, well, she could swear she’d write her own name backwards.

Instead of answering, he said, “Lately, there’s someone I’ve taken an interest in.”
It was the first time she’d heard his gossip, and he looked like he wanted to say more but held back. She slid onto the sofa, set her cup aside, and leaned forward eagerly. “Finally ready to move your heart? Who is it—someone around you? Male or female?”

“I gave it a try… but it seems he…” He Yujing saw the light in her eyes growing brighter and felt his own face warm in embarrassment. Still, he had no choice but to tell the truth. “He’s not interested in me.”

“……” He Linshu was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. Seeing her laugh grow more exaggerated, He Yujing couldn’t take it anymore and cut in low, teasing growl, “Have you laughed enough?”

His expression darkened immediately. He Linshu had to forcibly suppress a laugh. “…Oh, A’Jing, you really should see your expression! I haven’t seen you look this gloomy since you were in high school!”

He Linshu teased, “Didn’t people always chase after you before, and you wouldn’t even glance their way? Now that you’ve finally found someone you’re interested in, how come they don’t seem to care about you?”

He Yujing remained silent, thinking to himself that he probably got stupid from sitting on the plane, had a lapse in judgment and told her his personal feelings.

“If you like someone, go fight for them. I got your brother-in-law that way,” He Linshu said. “You know our marriage was arranged by the families, right?”

He Yujing responded briefly. He Linshu casually revealed the inside story: “his original fiancée wasn’t me, it was a girl from another family.”

It was the first time He Yujing had heard this. The siblings’ personalities were quite similar in some respects. Feeling a sense of connection, he asked, “You… did you?”

He Linshu didn’t bother hiding it. “I pulled a little trick and made him switch his fiancée to me.”

“No wonder you were smiling like a flower on your wedding day,” He Yujing suddenly understood, teasing her, “So you had your eye on him all along, secretly scheming—”

His mouth really was too sharp. He Linshu cut him off: “If the scheme worked, he’s mine. Still better than you hesitating now.”

“……” He Yujing had no retort. “Fine, you win.”

“You really like them, don’t you?” He Linshu didn’t tease him this time. “You look so troubled—you must really like this person.”

He Yujing stayed silent, and she adjusted her posture, a hint of seriousness in her tone. “If you like them, go pursue them. Meeting someone who makes your heart flutter is a very precious and rare thing.”

Without waiting for a response, she lifted her cup and stood. “Alright, I have work to do.You think it over yourself.”

A short while later,

He Yujing’s lips curved slightly, a quiet warmth in his voice as he called after her retreating figure,

“Thanks, jie.”

***

Jiang Liusui got home, washed up quickly, and slipped into bed. He cast a glance at the clock.

3:56 a.m.—almost four o’clock. Yet he’d slept through the entire flight and now felt wide awake.

He idly fiddled with his phone for a bit, then, as if struck by a sudden idea, reached for the earphones on the bedside table and plugged them in. Opening his music app, he searched for He Yujing’s name, sorted the tracks by release date, and tapped to play one of his early songs at random.

Back when He Yujing had just debuted, his singing hadn’t been as smooth or effortless as it was now—but his breathing and pronunciation already hinted at the singer he would become. The song Jiang Liusui had picked was called “Opening Lines.” He had assumed it was a love song, yet it turned out to be about chasing dreams, brimming with the unrestrained energy and reckless spirit of youth.

Since his debut, He Yujing had written a wide variety of songs—ones about life and ambition, ones pouring out frustration and disappointment, even diss tracks aimed at haters. By comparison, his love songs were few and far between.

Jiang Liusui, who had rarely paid much attention to music before, but now he found himself thoroughly engrossed. Slowly, he began to understand why so many people went wild cheering for He Yujing. Completely awake now, Jiang Liusui was about to replay the song when he suddenly received a new message.

E: Want to come to my concert? I’ll save you a good seat.

It was from He Yujing.

He had just been listening to his music—and now, the singer himself had messaged him. Jiang Liusui thought it was quite a coincidence.

Sui: Sure.

The other party seemed surprised he was still on his phone at this hour: You’re not asleep yet?

Jiang Liusui didn’t say he couldn’t sleep and was listening to music. Instead, he sent the song link straight to He Yujing. Jiang Liusui had expected the reply to be full of smug pride as per his usual demeanor, messages coming one after another—but it was not quite like he imagined.

E: .

E: You’re listening to my song?

E: Why this one?

Sui: What’s wrong?

He Yujing replied with mild dissatisfaction: My singing wasn’t as good back then as it is now.

He actually sounded somewhat disdainful of his past self. Jiang Liusui couldn’t help laughing out loud before typing back: I think it already sounds great.

Sui: Or how about you sing one now? Let me compare.

There was no reply immediately. Minutes passed with no sign of activity. Jiang Liusui poked him, teasingly asking: Why so quiet? You’re not heading to the recording studio to prepare, are you?

No sooner had he sent the message than a thirty-second voice message arrived.

Jiang Liusui perked up, thinking He Yujing was actually going to sing—was he really this determined to prove himself? Excitedly, he tapped on the voice message, only to find the first few seconds completely silent.

Jiang Liusui: “……”

Unbelievable. He didn’t sing at all.

Sending an empty voice message late at night just to tease him—Jiang Liusui fully grasped how much He Yujing enjoyed teasing others. He could only stare at the message in speechless exasperation as it played all the way through.

Then, a voice tinged with laughter came through his earphones. Compared to the voice in the song Jiang Liusui had just heard, this one was even more mature and languid. Listening to him speak, that slightly husky, textured quality felt like a butterfly gently fluttering its wings by his ear.

“—Come find me, and I’ll sing it for you in person.”

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