***
Chapter 52 – Sense of Security
Returning from the riverside to the hotel, everyone took a group photo at the entrance with all the crew members—both on and off camera—making an appearance. This marked the official conclusion of the recording for the second season of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫.
With an early flight back to China scheduled for the next day, the production team had arranged single rooms for all six guests to ensure they could rest well. Back in his room, Jiang Liusui found himself repeatedly recalling the scenes from the riverbank.
The warm glow of the cafe lights, the breeze blowing from the river, the faint smile on He Yujing’s lips as he sang, and the calm yet focused expression on his face as he softly answered questions.
Jiang Liusui couldn’t stay in the room. He grabbed his phone and went out alone.
After all, he was in a foreign country, so Jiang Liusui didn’t stray far—just wanted to wander a little near the hotel. In the distance, a massive Ferris wheel glittered brilliantly against the night sky, while a few scattered pedestrians passed by. As Jiang Liusui wandered aimlessly forward, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
The person was speaking through tears, walking straight toward him. Jiang Liusui froze for a moment, having assumed he was the only one out for some fresh air. Mu Zhe, approaching head-on, hadn’t noticed him. He wiped his tears fiercely and snapped angrily into his phone, “…Fine! Have fun then! Don’t even remember your own last name if you want!”
With that, Mu Zhe hung up abruptly.
When he looked up and saw Jiang Liusui just a few steps away, his eyes widened in shock.
Jiang Liusui stood awkwardly in place, wishing he could just disappear.
How had he managed to stumble upon Mu Zhe on the phone again??
And judging by Mu Zhe’s expression, it clearly wasn’t anything good—what the hell…
Neither of them spoke first. After a brief silence, Jiang Liusui pretended as if nothing had happened. “I was just passing by, so I’ll head off—”
“Stay with me for a while,” Mu Zhe spoke almost simultaneously, looking at him pleadingly. “I need someone to talk to.”
Jiang Liusui and Mu Zhe returned to the hotel and settled in the quiet bar on the second floor.
The bar was nearly empty, and they took a seat in a corner. Mu Zhe immediately ordered a large amount of alcohol. Seeing his determined demeanor, Jiang Liusui silently ordered a glass of lemon water for himself.
Mu Zhe downed several glasses in quick succession. Jiang Liusui opened his mouth to speak but then reconsidered. Since the program recording had already ended, it might be better to let him vent. Jiang Liusui swallowed his words.
“Suisui, you didn’t say anything last time. Can you keep this a secret for me too?” Without waiting for Jiang Liusui’s reply, Mu Zhe continued, “I’ve never told you this, but my… benefactor—it feels strange to call him that.”
Mu Zhe let out a bitter laugh, staring blankly at the orange-red liquid in his glass. “This relationship has been going on for two years now.”
“I was still an idol back then. It was only after we got together that I gradually started acting. He gave me a lot of resources.” Mu Zhe glanced at Jiang Liusui beside him, looking slightly embarrassed. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally spoke, “We’ve been acting like we’re in a relationship.”
Jiang Liusui’s fingers around his glass tightened slightly.
“Strange, isn’t it? A benefactor and his lover, acting as if they’re in love. That was his request from the beginning. He likes this kind of tender, affectionate dynamic—finds it more interesting than a simple transaction.” As he spoke, Mu Zhe took another large gulp of alcohol. “It’s not really a problem, actually. We both get what we want. There’s nothing wrong with meeting his demands. But over time, I actually…”
Mu Zhe remained silent for a long while before finally saying bitterly, “I like him.”
Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but freeze.
Last time when he accidentally overheard Mu Zhe on the phone, Mu Zhe had indeed been speaking affectionately, his words full of coquettishness. At first, Jiang Liusui had mistakenly thought the person on the other end was Mu Zhe’s romantic partner. Now it seemed that Mu Zhe’s natural and intimate demeanor was partly due to his genuine feelings.
A benefactor and his lover, acting like they’re in a relationship…
Seeing Jiang Liusui’s expression, Mu Zhe asked, “You think I’m ridiculous too, don’t you?”
“No,” Jiang Liusui was still processing, “I’m just too surprised.”
“It’s fine, Suisui, laugh if you want to. I don’t mind. My manager and assistant both say I’m out of my mind,” Mu Zhe continued on his own. “Before me, he had similar relationships with others. Mine has lasted the longest, and I can’t help but feel I’m different.”
“He knows what I’m thinking and doesn’t mind… or rather, he simply doesn’t care,” Mu Zhe laughed self-deprecatingly, “I actually developed feelings for someone like this. I’m such an idiot.”
He had listened to He Yujing singing by the river earlier. Perhaps because the song was about unrequited love, he couldn’t help but think of that person he could never truly reach.
They hadn’t seen each other for some time now, and hadn’t contacted each other once since recording the show. He couldn’t resist calling him, but the other person impatiently said he had social engagements and told him not to bother.
“When he’s gentle, he treats you like you’re his everything. But when he turns cold, he’s faster than anyone,” Mu Zhe said while clinking his glass with his own, “I f*cking admire it! How can someone like this exist?”
Mu Zhe was drinking too quickly, his expression gradually becoming dazed. Jiang Liusui watched as he alternated between drinking, cursing, crying, and laughing.
“The first time he took me to a gathering, when others asked about our relationship, he wouldn’t say anything. I should have been more clear-headed then…”
Mu Zhe poured out a torrent of words, clearly treating Jiang Liusui as the only person he could confide in tonight.
At first, Jiang Liusui could still offer some comfort, but later Mu Zhe was completely talking to himself, not needing any response.
Before he knew it, Jiang Liusui had finished the lemon water beside him.
Although his situation was different from Mu Zhe’s, his own heart wasn’t calm either. His mind wandered, replaying moments from the past few days spent with He Yujing. Inevitably, his thoughts drifted back to last night.
“I want to ask you something,” Jiang Liusui suddenly said.
“Hmm…?” Mu Zhe had already downed more than half of his drink and was completely disoriented. He nodded slowly in response, “Go ahead, Suisui. I’ve been doing all the talking.”
“Benefactors and their lovers,” Jiang Liusui asked hesitantly, “are there any who don’t sleep together?”
Mu Zhe thought for a moment, then frowned, “There are, but those who have problems in that area are usually perverts.”
Jiang Liusui choked a little: “Cough, cough!… What?”
“If they can’t do it themselves, of course they can only find various ways to torment people. I heard before about some older boss who had this problem—he particularly enjoyed abuse, and several artists who followed him ended up in the hospital—”
Seeing Mu Zhe getting further off track, Jiang Liusui quickly brought the conversation back: “What if there’s no problem, but they still don’t sleep together?”
“Suisui,” Mu Zhe giggled drunkenly, “what are you talking about? If that’s the case, what kind of lover would you be?”
Jiang Liusui was momentarily speechless.
He felt his question was rather foolish. Fortunately, Mu Zhe didn’t wait for Jiang Liusui to answer and started pouring himself another drink. Seeing how much Mu Zhe had already consumed, Jiang Liusui considered calling his assistant. Just then, his phone lit up.
He had received a new message.
E: Where are you? I just went to your room, but you weren’t there.
Jiang Liusui stared at the message and typed a reply.
Sui: I’m at the bar on the second floor.
Sui: What’s up?
After sending the message, he added a sticker of a rabbit being brushed. He Yujing, however, copied the sticker and sent it right back to him.
E: What do you mean? I thought you couldn’t drink?
It was such a small gesture, yet Jiang Liusui found himself pausing, his gaze lingering.
Their dynamic often felt like a romantic relationship. But he knew He Yujing wasn’t toying with him or treating their interactions as mere amusement. Instead, He Yujing was genuinely good to him.
He Yujing never acted hot and cold, and never treated him perfunctorily. Even though he had set some “conditions” at the beginning… perhaps they couldn’t even be called conditions. He Yujing had never truly restricted him in any way and had always respected his thoughts.
Sui: I’m not drinking. Mu Zhe is the one drinking.
E: ?
E: He asked you to drink with him?
Jiang Liusui and Mu Zhe were on decent terms, but they weren’t particularly close and had no special private connection.
He Yujing, still a little uneasy, sent another message.
E: Should I come down?
Jiang Liusui snapped out of his thoughts and quickly typed.
Sui: No need, I’ll be up soon.
Sui: I’ll call his assistant to pick him up. Once he’s taken care of, I’ll come back.
The next day, on their way back, Mu Zhe’s face was swollen from the hangover, and he looked utterly drained.
He wore a mask the entire time and made a point to thank Jiang Liusui. Before Mu Zhe could bring it up, Jiang Liusui said quietly, “I won’t mention what happened last night. Go back and get some rest.”
Mu Zhe gave him a grateful look and nodded repeatedly.
After landing, everyone bid their farewells. Jiang Liusui, still drowsy from sleeping on the plane, instinctively followed He Yujing in the same direction.
Qin Yi, noticing how He Yujing ahead deliberately paused to wait for him, couldn’t help but call out to Jiang Liusui, “Is he giving you a ride?”
Jiang Liusui paused, his sleepiness vanishing. He glanced back at Qin Yi and nodded somewhat guiltily.
Seeing his hesitant yet obedient demeanor, Qin Yi waved a hand and let him be.
He Yujing overheard their conversation. As Jiang Liusui caught up, he suddenly reached out and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, turning back to flash Qin Yi a grin.
“We’re heading off now. Bye-bye.”
“……”
Qin Yi watched, utterly speechless, as He Yujing swaggered onto the car holding Jiang Liusui in his arms.
Last night, Jiang Liusui had been preoccupied with thoughts and barely slept a few hours. After getting home, he changed clothes and went straight to bed.
He Yujing hadn’t felt tired initially, but seeing Jiang Liusui asleep, he decided to join him, leaning against the headboard to scroll through his phone.
The person beside him slept deeply, breathing softly. It had become a habit—Jiang Liusui would gradually abandon his pillow in his sleep and instead reach out to hold him.
He Yujing lowered his gaze, watching the unconscious arm wrapped around him then contentedly nuzzled closer.
He set his phone aside and slowly lay down on his side next to Jiang Liusui.
Jiang Liusui was the kind of sleeper who barely stirred once asleep. On more than one occasion, gentle nudges or touches had failed to wake him. Seeing him cling to his arm with quiet dependence, He Yujing felt a mischievous urge and deliberately tried to gently pull his hand back.
Jiang Liusui didn’t wake up, but moved forward slowly in response, as if a little fox being lured.
As if sensing a source of warmth in his sleep, Jiang Liusui instinctively nuzzled closer into his embrace. He Yujing heard a faint murmur.
“What?”
He Yujing asked softly.
Jiang Liusui’s eyes remained heavily closed. His cheeks were full, his face small and narrow with a pointed chin, making him look younger than his actual age.
His pale pink lips parted slightly, emitting another soft sound. It was the first time He Yujing had heard him talk in his sleep, and he found it novel, leaning closer to say, “Speak up, I can’t hear you.”
But Jiang Liusui made no more murmuring sounds.
He Yujing, his interest piqued, felt his hidden mischievous side surfacing. He reached out and cupped Jiang Liusui’s face, thumb and fingers spread to push upward, making Jiang Liusui pout, then pinched his cheek.
Even though He Yujing had been teasing him the entire time, his touch remained gentle, careful. Jiang Liusui didn’t stir, clutching onto the very arm that was playfully tormenting him.
Finding it amusing, He Yujing pinched his nose, releasing it just as Jiang Liusui opened his mouth. This time, Jiang Liusui muttered something under his breath. After hearing it clearly, He Yujing paused briefly in surprise, then silently curved his eyes into a smile.
It turned out Jiang Liusui was asking him for a hug.
The whispered sound was faint, sticky with longing, yet stubbornly insistent—an unspoken plea that melted He Yujing’s heart.
After spending more time together, he gradually noticed that Jiang Liusui really liked physical closeness. He never said it aloud, but whenever they shared a bed, night after night, Jiang Liusui would unconsciously press against him, as if drawing a sense of security from it.
So He Yujing, without hesitation, would wrap him fully in his arms, holding him close.
Huddled together like this, He Yujing also began to feel drowsy and soon fell into a deep sleep with Jiang Liusui in his embrace.
When he woke again, there was no one in his arms. He Yujing propped himself up slowly on the bed and noticed that it had grown dark outside.
The bathroom light was on. Guessing that Jiang Liusui had probably gone to shower, he casually grabbed his phone. Unlocking it, he found several new messages from old friends.
Zheng You: A’Jing, are you in the capital?
Zheng You: Aren’t you dating someone? Is your partner free? Want to meet up in a few days?
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