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Chapter 48 – Heartbeat
The hot spring hotel, located halfway up the mountain, was constructed from brown granite and pine wood. Three groups of buildings were arranged in a circular formation, surrounded by picturesque mountain scenery. Inside the hotel, there were several natural hot spring baths with mist curling in the air.
By evening, the mountain air had turned sharply cold. As they arrived, fine rain drifted outside, while the fireplace in the lobby roared to life.
This time, the production team had changed their approach, assigning all guests to single rooms. Hearing they wouldn’t be subjected to the usual room-sharing arrangements, everyone felt somewhat unaccustomed to the change.
“Congratulations,” Xu Miao said to Jiang Liusui after a moment’s thought. “You finally get your own room.”
Jiang Liusui smiled in response. Beside him, Mu Zhe stretched lazily and cheered, “Finally, a holiday!”
Filming for the day officially ended once they reached the hotel. The production team made a point of telling everyone that no cameras would be installed in the rooms this time—guests could finally drop their on-screen personas and truly relax.
Jiang Liusui’s room offered a direct view of distant, snow-capped peaks. After entering, he tidied up the things he’d bought and then headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Only after drying his hair and finishing his routine did he notice a new message on his phone.
E: How’s the chocolate?
Jiang Liusui’s gaze fell on the paper bag beside him.
He Yujing had bought him dozens of varieties of handmade chocolates. He’d eaten two pieces on the bus—the sweet, rich flavor blooming on his tongue, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Sui: It’s delicious.
Sui: Do you want some?
After sending the messages, Jiang Liusui felt a little tempted again. He picked a piece of strawberry-flavored dark chocolate, eating it while waiting for He Yujing’s reply.
He suddenly remembered something.
Rumor had it that He Yujing hated replying to messages. Chi Lianxi had openly complained about it—nless it involved work or something that genuinely interested him, He Yujing would read messages without responding. Attempting casual conversation with him was impossible. Friends around him had long since gotten used to talking to his chat box as if it were a diary.
But He Yujing replied to his messages rather quickly… Perhaps it wasn’t an absolute rule after all?
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a message popped up.
E: You want me to come over?
He Yujing was deliberately twisting his words, but Jiang Liusui didn’t fuss over it. He pressed the voice message button and murmured softly, “How about I come to you instead?”
A short while later, the room number appeared in his chat.
Jiang Liusui picked up a box of chocolates, grabbed his phone and key card, and stepped out. It was already quite late, and the day’s filming had been draining. Tonight was a rare break, so it was unlikely anyone would privately visit another guest. Jiang Liusui glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before knocking on He Yujing’s door.
The door opened, and a hand reached out, pulling Jiang Liusui directly inside.
Almost the moment the door closed, he was pressed against it, a scorching kiss landing on his lips. The chocolate box in his hand was taken and set aside as He Yujing grasped his pale, delicate wrists with one hand.
“Open your mouth.”
The grip on his wrists wasn’t forceful, but it slowly stroked the thin skin of his wrists, as if treasuring something precious. Jiang Liusui had always been sensitive to physical touch, and this leisurely caress made his legs feel weak. Hesitating for a moment, he parted his lips under He Yujing’s attentive gaze.
Having just eaten chocolate, the sweet taste lingered in his mouth, and He Yujing couldn’t help but notice it during the kiss.
Compared to his initial passivity, Jiang Liusui had gradually begun to show small emotions in front of him, and his attitude toward him had unconsciously grown much more intimate these days. If it had been right after He Yujing returned from Japan, Jiang Liusui would have been unlikely to take the initiative to come find him as he did tonight.
Jiang Liusui felt He Yujing pressing a little harder, savoring him, holding on. In the brief pauses between kisses, his other hand found Jiang Liusui’s earlobes, rubbing and teasing them. A warm blush crept up his ears, his breathing grew uneven, and his heart raced faster than usual.
Had they been kissing too long?
He Yujing ended with a soft peck on his lips, then the kisses gradually trailed downward along his face, lightly dotting his neck.
Since there was filming tomorrow, He Yujing’s movements were very, very gentle. Rather than calling them kisses, it was more like he was nuzzling him softly.
Yet, under such gentle touches, Jiang Liusui curled his fingers, the pale tips tinged with a faint pink. Leaning against the door, his back tense—
Then, a voice sounded from outside, immediately followed by a knock.
“Ge, are you in there? Can we come in?”
Jiang Liusui froze in place.
He exchanged a look with He Yujing, whose eyes briefly flashed with displeasure at the interruption. He glanced toward the door, a trace of confusion also appearing on his face.
A moment later, He Yujing finally realized what was happening.
“It’s Lin Chong,” He Yujing murmured. “He’s here with the crew to go over the schedule.”
The production team wanted to go over tomorrow’s post-filming schedule in the evening. Since it took up the artists’ rest time, they had Lin Chong confirm it with He Yujing on WeChat beforehand. At the time, He Yujing had planned to finish up before going to find Jiang Liusui. But when Jiang Liusui took the initiative to come over, He Yujing’s attention was completely captured, and he accidentally forgot about the arrangement.
After receiving no response for a while, Lin Chong asked again. Remembering that assistants often entered artists’ rooms directly in such situations, Jiang Liusui felt the voice was almost like a summons of doom. Already dazed from the kissing, he panicked and scanned the room, then tugged He Yujing straight toward the bed, kicked off his slippers, and slipped under the covers in one swift motion.
He Yujing seemed about to say something midway but stopped when he saw this.
The room lock beeped as Lin Chong swiped his card and entered as usual. Walking past the entryway, he paused briefly upon seeing He Yujing half-lying on the bed.
He’s in the room? He had thought something unexpected had happened to He Yujing.
“Ge, are you feeling unwell?”
“Mm…” He Yujing leaned against the pillow, his voice low and slightly husky, giving off the impression that he truly felt a bit weary. “Yeah… a little tired.”
He had one leg bent, propped up on the bed, while Jiang Liusui curled up snugly beside him. His slender frame made it impossible to notice anything from outside the covers.
He Yujing had originally intended to tell Jiang Liusui not to panic too much—even though visiting each other at this hour was a bit odd, as long as they both acted calmly, the crew wouldn’t be able to say much even if they were suspicious.
But seeing Jiang Liusui pull him toward the bed in his fluster, He Yujing changed his mind and didn’t remind him.
Lying on his side, Jiang Liusui’s nose brushed against He Yujing’s leg. Hearing the other speak, he suddenly realized—
He should have hidden in the bathroom!
…No, he shouldn’t have hidden at all!
That kiss earlier had left him utterly dazed. His guilty conscience made him think he had to sneak around, but in reality, there was no need. So what if he visited He Yujing late at night? Now it felt like they were having an affair…
Jiang Liusui was filled with regret, but just then, a hand slipped beneath the blanket, restless fingertips gliding to the side of his cheek.
Behind Lin Chong was only one staff member holding a notebook. Hearing He Yujing say he was a bit tired, the staff member immediately responded, “Sorry to disturb your rest, Teacher He! No need to get up then. We just need to confirm the questions for tomorrow’s post-recording interview. Please let us know if any revisions are needed. I’ll read them out for you!”
As the staff member went through the questions one by one, Jiang Liusui hid under the covers, struggling to breathe.
As if aware of his discomfort, He Yujing bent his knee and lifted the blanket slightly higher, allowing air to circulate. Jiang Liusui caught the scent on him—He Yujing had indeed bought his own body wash. Unlike the hotel’s toiletries, his fragrance carried notes of rose and musk, warm and richly intoxicating.
Although thoughtfully attentive to Jiang Liusui’s breathing difficulties, He Yujing’s actions were anything but considerate.
Taking advantage of Jiang Liusui’s immobility under the covers, He Yujing’s hand wandered from his cheek to his neck, with intentions of going even further. Jiang Liusui pinched him, but He Yujing didn’t mind. Instead, he grasped Jiang Liusui’s hand under the blanket, gently tracing each finger from the base to the tip.
Jiang Liusui hadn’t expected He Yujing to find time for mischief while answering questions. Terrified of giving anything away, he froze in place, not daring to move. Even if the production team wouldn’t dare spread rumors, if anyone discovered him hiding in He Yujing’s bed, and in such an intimate position… damn, it would look beyond suspicious to anyone!
At that moment, his phone in his pocket vibrated.
Jiang Liusui’s scalp prickled—of all times, someone had to message him at this critical moment.
Who on earth was it? The timing couldn’t be worse!
Fortunately, the phone was on vibrate and only audible to He Yujing. No one else noticed anything unusual.
Despite this, Jiang Liusui curled up nervously. The staff member finally reached the last question: “You’ve been paired with Teacher Jiang throughout. What are your thoughts about him during your interactions?”
Originally, the staff only needed the guest to confirm the questions, not answer them on the spot. He Yujing had merely nodded for the previous questions. But for this one, he suddenly spoke up: “Very cute.”
“Most of the time, Teacher Jiang is gentle—but he actually has a lot of character.”
As he said this, He Yujing’s fingers slowly interlaced with Jiang Liusui’s, locking them together in a tight clasp.
Through the blanket, Jiang Liusui’s hearing was slightly muffled, but he could still detect the certainty in He Yujing’s voice.
“—He’s someone I need to treat well.”
Jiang Liusui was momentarily stunned.
The staff member was also taken aback but assumed He Yujing was preparing for the interview. Smiling, they agreed, “That’s perfect, Teacher He. Your answer is fine! Just say it like that tomorrow.”
“Thank you for your cooperation. Sorry for the trouble, Teacher He! Have a good rest.”
Lin Chong also left with the staff: “Ge, I’ll head out too. Let me know if you need anything.”
After the others left the room, He Yujing lifted the blanket, and Jiang Liusui, who had been curled up beside him, immediately emerged. His entire face was flushed crimson, the tips of his ears so red they seemed about to drip blood.
The air under the blanket had been stifling, and the tension hadn’t helped. It was no wonder he looked like this. He Yujing caught the fleeting glance Jiang Liusui threw his way, only for him to dodge eye contact the moment their eyes met.
“I’m going back.”
Jiang Liusui glanced down at his phone and made to get off the bed. Before his toes could even touch the floor, an arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
Seeing him trying to escape, He Yujing chuckled and held him from behind. “Are you mad?”
He had known Jiang Liusui was nervous earlier but had still teased him, assuming that was why he seemed uncomfortable now.
He Yujing softened his voice to coax him. “I was wrong. Don’t be mad.”
Somehow, the moment Jiang Liusui heard his voice, his already unsteady heartbeat quickened again without him even realizing it.
“No!” Jiang Liusui said immediately. “Ding Yan just messaged me asking if I was in my room. He said the production team wants to go over the post-interview with me.”
The vibration under the blanket earlier had been Ding Yan’s message all along. Worried He Yujing wouldn’t take his word for it, Jiang Liusui unlocked his phone and shoved it in front of him. “See? Ding Yan’s already at my door waiting for me.”
He Yujing stared blankly for a moment as the phone was shoved under his nose.
Sure enough, the screen showed Ding Yan’s message asking if Jiang Liusui was in his room, adding that if it wasn’t convenient now, the production team could do it tomorrow instead.
Jiang Liusui gave his arm a light pat. “Let go—quick.”
He Yujing instinctively obeyed and released him. The person in his arms immediately darted away.
After taking two steps, Jiang Liusui suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and turned back to look at him.
“I’ll be back soon.”
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