***
Chapter 29 – Stay With You
Perhaps because it was late at night, but everything seemed to take on a lingering, almost intimate hue. Listening to his voice, Jiang Liusui felt momentarily dazed.
Some people sound beautiful when they sing but not when they speak. He Yujing was beautiful at both.
Jiang Liusui shook himself out of the daze.
What He Yujing said sounded genuine, but the first several seconds were clearly him teasing. He always spoke and acted half-seriously, half-jokingly, making him hard to read.
And then there was the thought of going to see him alone, asking him to sing…
Jiang Liusui pushed aside the casually flirtatious idea, assuming He Yujing had merely said it offhandedly.
Sui: Sure, if there’s a chance.
Sui: Is your new album coming out soon? When exactly?
He mentioned a date, and Jiang Liusui quickly checked his calendar—next Friday, just a week away.
He Yujing had said during the variety show that his schedule would be packed afterward, and it turned out to be true.
Sui: Lying in wait, looking forward.[mfn]蹲着了, 期待 (dūn zhe le) – lit. squatting here, looking forward; slangy or funny way to say “I’m eagerly waiting,” conveys excitement and a playful tone.[/mfn]
Remembering the promise he made to Shen Sijia that night at the club, he added:
Sui: Then I’ll buy two rows of albums, one row for my friend.
E: The one who sent the voice message?
He remembered it so clearly. If Shen Sijia ever found out she’d left an impression in her gege’s heart, she would probably be overjoyed to the point of fainting.
Suisui: Yes.
E: And the other row… keeping it for yourself?
E: Really going to be my fan, huh?
Even through the phone screen, Jiang Liusui could imagine his playful tone.
Unlike last time when he brushed it off with a joke, Jiang Liusui seriously considered it this time. He wasn’t just buying the album to support a friend, but because he genuinely liked them himself. Still, being a fan…
Thinking of how Shen Sijia had practically lost her mind over He Yujing, Jiang Liusui felt he wasn’t anywhere near that level—at least, not yet.
After waiting for a long time without a reply, He Yujing was feeling bored. When the notification bar blinked, he clicked in without hesitation.
Sui: Not a fan, just an admirer of your music is enough.
That works too, He Yujing thought.
Liking his work was, in a roundabout way, almost equivalent to liking him as a person.
Sui: I’ll just focus on your work, won’t disturb your life[mfn]不打扰你的生活 (bù dǎrǎo nǐ de shēnghuó) – common phrasing in fan-culture contexts to express support without intrusion.[/mfn].
E: …
Song-fan, movie-fan—no wonder it sounded so familiar. Turns out someone had lumped him together with Chi Lianxi.
Feeling displeased, He Yujing grumbled, “…Who even wants to be on the same level as Chi Lianxi?”
The day He Yujing released his new album happened to be Shen Sijia’s birthday.
Miss Shen[mfn]大小姐 (dà xiǎojiě) – lit. young lady / young miss; used here as playful nickname[/mfn] directly interpreted the new album ⟪Advent of Dawn⟫ as a birthday gift from her gege and pre-ordered a hundred copies to celebrate. In the evening, she took a group of fan-club friends and rented out an entire bar for a wild party. Earlier at noon, she had kept things simple, just spending the day at home with Zhou Xun and Jiang Liusui.
Shen Sijia’s parents were away. The housekeeper had laid out a lavish spread, including an exquisite raspberry chocolate cake and several bottles of low-alcohol champagne, each tied with a neat bow. But Shen Sijia paid no attention to any of it—she was already camped in front of the massive living room projector, waiting for the livestream of He Yujing’s new song release. Zhou Xun couldn’t help teasing her. “Maybe you should take a bath and burn some incense too, just to make it more… devout.”
Shen Sijia was about to retort when the livestream camera cut to the man slowly entering the screen. Overwhelmed with excitement, she exclaimed, “Suisui! Gege’s here!—Oh my god, I can’t take it! He looks so handsome today!!”
Jiang Liusui, who had been absorbed in reading a script, paused and closed the book.
After deciding on ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ from the huge stack of scripts Jiang Chuan brought, Jiang Liusui began preparing for the upcoming audition. Hearing that he had chosen such an unconventional[mfn]剑走偏锋 (jiàn zǒu piān fēng) – lit. the sword goes along the off-center edge; meaning taking a nontraditional or risky approach.[/mfn] project over numerous straightforward options, Jiang Chuan tried to dissuade him for a while but eventually relented when his efforts proved futile.
⟪Eternal Bell⟫ was adapted from a novel titled ⟪Eternal⟫, with ⟪Bell⟫ being just one of its chapters. Later, a screenwriter polished it into a standalone film script.
Several years had passed since the completion of the ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ script. Due to the novel’s cult[mfn]邪典 (xié diǎn) – niche / edgy; often refers to works with unconventional or subversive themes.[/mfn] following and concerns that the male and female leads would be overshadowed by secondary characters if strictly following the original source, finding suitable directors and actors had been challenging. It wasn’t until Director Pei Wen took an interest and secured funding through relentless effort that the project finally moved forward.
Although ⟪Eternal Bell⟫ wasn’t considered a high-quality script by mainstream standards, the director was talented and backed by a strong team, making it a project with real potential.
The audition script Jiang Liusui had received was incomplete—it contained only ten scenes. Despite not knowing how much the screenwriter had altered from the original novel, Jiang Liusui had been diligently studying the book after memorizing the audition script, mentally piecing together the character in his mind.
Shen Sijia, meanwhile, was screaming like crazy beside him. Jiang Liusui simply put aside what he was holding and joined her in watching the livestream.
On screen, He Yujing wore a formal suit with a plain black tie. The stark contrast of black and white only amplified his naturally commanding presence, making him more captivating. From the moment he appeared, the reporters’ cameras all chased him, and the flashes never stopped on his way onto the stage.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe He Yujing’s figure as one in ten thousand, and the suit further highlighted his advantages. His proportions were exceptional—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and straight, well-shaped legs outlined by his suit pants. When the camera panned upward from his legs in a low-angle shot, Jiang Liusui noticed Shen Sijia beside him practically on the verge of fainting.
Zhou Xun glanced at her with concern. “Can you still breathe? Want me to hook you up to an oxygen tank?”
Shen Sijia: “I’m fine, I’m fine… Gege’s legs are incredible, I swear he could kick me to death!… Can we get a shot of his face? I can handle it…!”
Zhou Xun: “……”
He turned to Jiang Liusui and muttered, “This girl’s completely lost it.”
Although his clothing was simple, He Yujing still wore jewelry. When the host invited him to greet the audience, cameras clicked frantically as he extended his hand. Jiang Liusui noticed the multi-band ring on his long, elegant fingers, alternating thick and thin.
As expected, very much He Yujing’s style.
Jiang Liusui smiled. He watched as He Yujing took his seat and answered the reporters’ questions about his new album one by one. He Yujing spoke at a measured pace, his responses clear and logical. Occasionally, he would smile, each gesture effortless and composed, undeniably captivating.
The entire press conference lasted about half an hour. As it neared its end, a reporter asked: “You mentioned before that ⟪Advent of Dawn⟫ embodies your fantasies across various aspects. Your lead single, ⟪Fading Colors⟫, has already achieved remarkable success. Its concept and inspiration relate to love—does that mean ⟪Fading Colors⟫ also reflects your own fantasies about love?”
“Yes,” He Yujing said with a calm expression, “including my fantasies about love. When casting for the MV, we specifically chose actors who fit the concept perfectly.”
Shen Sijia’s legs gave out, and she nearly toppled off her seat. She collapsed onto the cushion, whipping her head around to look at Jiang Liusui on the sofa, even more excited than before: “Waaah, Suisui! Brother said you fit his fantasy of love! I’m shipping this so hard ahhhhhh!!!!”
“……” Jiang Liusui now also agreed with Zhou Xun that Shen Sijia was crazy. “He’s talking about the song, not me.”
Shen Sijia refused to accept this: “How is it not you? The song is his fantasy of love, and you’re the person he personally chose—draw an equal sign here, so you are his fantasy of love!—I don’t care, I’ve already swallowed this sugar, it’s my birthday today, I can’t spit it out!”
Zhou Xun was momentarily floored by her airtight reasoning, only managing to find his voice after a long pause. “…In a way, this might be the clearest Shen Sijia has ever been.”
Sure enough, mentioning her birthday made Jiang Liusui change his attitude: “Okay, okay, whatever you say, fine.”
Seeing him so accommodating, Shen Sijia pushed her luck. “I don’t ship fake sugar[mfn]磕假糖 (kē jiǎ táng) – fan-culture slang, referring to rooting for a romantic moment that isn’t real.[/mfn]. Go ask Gege if it’s really true.”
Jiang Liusui replied in an indulgent tone: “Sure, I’ll give him a call in a bit.”
Zhou Xun: “……”
Even though Jiang Liusui was clearly just humoring her, Shen Sijia was still in high spirits. Their eyes met, and she noticed the dark, crow-like sweep of his lashes, the clear, shimmering depth in his gaze Even with a gentle expression, he inexplicably exuded an alluring charm.
Shen Sijia’s heart was struck, and she couldn’t help but murmur softly, “If only it were real… I really like him, and I really like you too.”
She spoke with such sincerity that Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but smile.
The last female reporter picked up the microphone, drawing Shen Sijia’s attention back. She turned her head and heard the reporter on screen say: “This is also about ⟪Fading Colors⟫. Some people jokingly call it a ’scumbag song.’ How did you approach it during the creative process?”
“This song describes love at first sight,” He Yujing said, pausing for just a moment. “And then… the feeling of gradually growing tired afterward.”
The female reporter immediately followed up, ““So… does that mean you, too, gradually grow bored after a passionate romance, like the song suggests?”
“Absolutely not.” He Yujing’s lips curved into a smile, as if a private thought had just crossed his mind. “I’m the kind who loves deeply and takes responsibility.”
The reporter’s face turned completely red at his smile. Shen Sijia couldn’t help but be affected too. She cupped her face in both hands, letting out a bizarre little squeaky laugh, completely flustered.
The press conference had wrapped up, and in just a few minutes it would be exactly midnight. Shen Sijia stared unblinkingly at her phone, counting down. “Suisui! One minute left!”
Jiang Liusui played along: “Fifty-three seconds.”
Zhou Xun inexplicably felt as if he were being excluded by the two of them and said to Jiang Liusui, “A few months ago, I never imagined that one day you’d reach an understanding with her.”
Just as Jiang Liusui was about to respond, Shen Sijia exclaimed excitedly, “—Time’s up!”
At the stroke of midnight, He Yujing’s new album officially dropped across all platforms. Tens of thousands of fans timed their entry to watch the lead and secondary track MVs, while countless listeners flooded the major music apps. Over the years, He Yujing had earned a reputation for solid musical talent, attracting an enormous number of casual listeners who simply enjoyed his music. Chart numbers soared, breaking records across the board.
【The choreography for ⟪Advent of Dawn⟫ is so cool. If you’re a man, dance Poppin—! Forever popular!!!!】
【The lead MV is perfect! At first, the red-and-black underground scene looked like some post-apocalyptic ruin, then suddenly colorful mist bursts everywhere. He Yujing, you’re literally made for all this flashy, over-the-top stuff! That first close-up shot—one glance, and my heart just exploded. I pinched my philtrum[mfn]猛掐人中 (měng qiā rén zhōng) – playful way to express overstimulation, not pain or harm[/mfn] on the spot!】
【It’s Friday, and I was feeling down because of work, but the intro rap in the lead track instantly lifted my spirits and cured all my work-related stress. I have a tiny, selfish request: A’Jing, can you curse at me like this, please? Ahhh???】
【Who let this chicken in? Peck it out of here.
【Anyone else blown away by ⟪Vanilla⟫? Yu-ge speaking English is so charming, aaaah! And it’s such a fresh, lighthearted track—so adorable! His singing style is full of youthful energy too! Feels like I’ve been instantly transported to an American high school!】
【Holy shit, I skimmed through every track and they’re all amazing. Do you know how I’m feeling right now? I’m so moved I could cry! He Yujing, after so many years of fame, it’s deserved—you never half-ass an album, never let us down!】
【I looked at the sales from pre-order to now… damn, terrifying. I thought I misread a few digits.】
【Not even talking about sales, Boss He’s copyright fees alone could support me for the next-next-next-next-next lifetime!】
【After hearing the distinct style of ⟪Fading Colors⟫, I thought the whole album would focus on love songs, but aside from ⟪Fading Colors⟫, there’s only that duet with Su Wan. He Yujing really doesn’t like writing love songs, does he?】
【Why sing love songs? Is your Yu-ge the kind of person troubled by romance? Kill kill kill kill kill! Handsome handsome handsome handsome!】
Shen Sijia projected the MV for ⟪Advent of Dawn⟫ onto the screen and set it on loop. Zhou Xun, initially uninterested, unexpectedly remarked after listening twice, “This song is actually pretty good.”
Shen Sijia paid no attention to his reaction, frantically switching between Weibo, forums, chat apps, and music video players to monitor updates. Suddenly, she shrieked, “—Oh my god! A showcase concert!”
Shen Sijia scrambled in excitement, “The first show is in Shanghai, and there’s really only one show?! After that, he’s going abroad, and the domestic dates haven’t been announced yet…”
Even though she’d heard whispers of the tour, seeing the official announcement still made her heart skip a beat. She flailed in anxiety: “No, no! I need to grab more tickets. If I can’t get the first show, I’m going to die of frustration!”
Zhou Xun and Shen Sijia continued their noisy back-and-forth, while Jiang Liusui quietly watched the MV on the screen. He Yujing stood atop a circular stone pillar in the underground city, towering over the throngs of people below. The instant he pressed his hand downward, the crowd—dense and ant-like—erupted into cheers, as though welcoming a newly crowned king. The shot then shifted seamlessly into the dance sequence.
Shen Sijia adjusted the bullet comments to be semi-transparent, confining them to the lower quarter of the screen. Even then, the flood of comments still obscured part of the image. Jiang Liusui caught sight of one that read:
【This MV is shot so well—total straight-man killer[mfn]直男斩 (zhí nán zhǎn) – slang meaning irresistibly attractive, even to straight men[/mfn].】
He rewound the clip, recorded that segment, and sent it off to He Yujing.
Sui: This part is really handsome!
He sent it casually, thinking that He Yujing had just finished the press conference and definitely wouldn’t reply. Jiang Liusui set his phone aside and went back to watching the MV with Shen Sijia, who had finally wrapped up her frantic ticket negotiations.
Half a minute later, Jiang Liusui’s phone suddenly started vibrating. He didn’t notice until Zhou Xun reminded him, “Is someone messaging you?”
Jiang Liusui picked up his phone and was surprised to see an incoming video call request.
The phone continued to vibrate. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Liusui slightly tilted the screen, found an angle where Shen Sijia and Zhou Xun couldn’t see, and tapped to accept the call.
He Yujing’s face appeared on the phone screen. He was wearing the same black suit as at the press conference earlier—his features sharp, his demeanor reserved and cool, giving off an unapproachable impression at first glance.
Only then did Jiang Liusui realize he hadn’t put on earphones. It was his first video call with He Yujing, and seeing him like this, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Behind him, Shen Sijia was completely immersed in the MV, tears streaming down her face without her even noticing. Zhou Xun jumped in surprise. “What’s wrong with you?”
Shen Sijia: “Waaaah… waaaah… I’m crying because he’s so handsome! Wah…!”
Shen Sijia sang along to ⟪Advent of Dawn⟫ through her tears and sniffles. Hearing the commotion on Jiang Liusui’s end, He Yujing asked without much thought, “What’s with all the wailing over there?”
Jiang Liusui paused for a moment. “It’s Shen Sijia. She’s watching your MV.”
Shen Sijia was completely absorbed in the screen, oblivious to the fact that Jiang Liusui was on a video call. Zhou Xun caught part of the exchange and looked over in surprise—but when he saw Jiang Liusui’s lowered gaze fixed on his phone, he quietly looked away, choosing not to intrude.
He Yujing knew Shen Sijia was Jiang Liusui’s friend. Having just made a snide remark about her, he couldn’t help feeling a bit awkward. After listening carefully to what she was singing, he cleared his throat and added, almost as an afterthought, “…She’s picking it up pretty fast.”
The inexplicable sense of distance vanished instantly. He Yujing’s familiar tone almost made Jiang Liusui laugh, and only then did he take the time to look at the scene on the other end of the call. “Are you in the car?”
“Mm,” He Yujing replied. “I’m filming a music show this afternoon, and I still have two interviews tonight.”
He said it casually, but Shen Jie, sitting beside him, gave him a strange look–it was the first time she’d ever seen this young master voluntarily report his schedule to anyone.
Hearing how packed his day was and knowing He Yujing seemed to have been practicing singing and dancing all week—and even busier times ahead once his tour started—Jiang Liusui asked, “Are you tired?”
He Yujing was about to reflexively say he wasn’t, but the words caught in his throat.
“A little tired,” he said softly, his tone tinged with vulnerability. “The interviews won’t end until at least one or two in the morning. I also have things to do tomorrow so I have to get up early…”
Shen Jie stared at him in disbelief, wondering what had gotten into him.
This was someone who could work nonstop for days and still dance for seven or eight hours straight without a single complaint. And now, before things had even properly started, he was already saying he was tired?
Jiang Liusui also felt that He Yujing’s schedule was overwhelmingly packed. But given his current popularity, such demands were unavoidable.
Still, the fact that He Yujing took the initiative to share his schedule and reveal his emotions to him made him feel less like an untouchable superstar, and more like a friend casually seeking a bit of comfort in conversation.
Jiang Liusui asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
The other end fell silent. A moment later, He Yujing’s lips curved upward, that all-too-familiar, slightly roguish expression returning to his eyes.
His tone was lazy, almost teasing. “Then just say, ’Gege, you’ve worked hard.’”
Jiang Liusui froze for a second, only feeling that He Yujing changed expressions far too quickly. Behind him, Shen Sijia, caught up in the excitement of watching the MV, wiped her tears away in one rough swipe, cheeks flushed as she let out a shout straight from the heart.
“—Gege ahhhhhhh!!! I’ll love you forever!! I’ll stay with you forever!!!”
Her voice was so loud that even He Yujing couldn’t help but hear it clearly.
A smile spread across Jiang Liusui’s lips.
“Gege, you’ve worked hard,” he said softly, his gaze flickering as he echoed Shen Sijia’s words. “I’ll stay with you too”
— — — —
