LR – Chapter 23

***
Chapter 23 – Testing the Waters

Mu Zhe responded with an understanding nod, “Ah, so that’s how it is… you two really get along.”

He Yujing didn’t respond further. Mu Zhe actually felt relieved by his silence.

Strictly speaking, Mu Zhe wasn’t truly a fan of He Yujing. This persona had been crafted for him by his agency for the show—after all, among ten male idols, five would claim to admire He Yujing, so adding one more was perfectly normal. With He Yujing’s massive fanbase, such a persona was well-received, helping him gain visibility without attracting much backlash.

Although he wasn’t really a fanboy, Mu Zhe truly admired He Yujing’s creative ability and felt a lot of respect for him. Aware that his pretense was dishonest, Mu Zhe always tread carefully around He Yujing, feeling guilty each time.

Jiang Liusui had been half-asleep, but catching that snippet of their exchange made him stop mid-yawn.

What had He Yujing just called him? Suisui?

Perhaps it was the speaker’s captivating voice, but even though it was just a nickname, it carried an inexplicably intimate and alluring tone.

Was this the charm of a singer?

Rarely did other men address him so affectionately. Jiang Liusui hesitated before asking, “What did you just call me…?”

Before this, He Yujing had either used his full name or jokingly called him “Teacher Jiang.”

“What’s wrong?” The man in front of him remained unfazed, met his gaze and countered with a casual shrug, “Am I not allowed to call you that?”

Jiang Liusui was taken aback by his confident attitude. He remembered that He Yujing had also called him that while walking the dog—probably just for fun.

Having known him long enough, Jiang Liusui was well aware of He Yujing’s impulsive streak, so he didn’t read too much into this sudden nickname.

“No, it’s fine. Whatever you want.”

The van sent to pick them up pulled to a stop in front of the villa, and the guests boarded one by one. Jiang Liusui was the first to take a seat in the second row’s double seat, and Qin Yi, the second to board, naturally settled beside him.

After a moment of silence, He Yujing moved to a single seat across the aisle.

Xu Miao, sitting behind Qin Yi and Jiang Liusui, tapped their shoulders and asked, “So, how was your ‘cohabitation’ last night?”

Jiang Liusui replied, “Not bad, I’d like to do it another night.”

Not wanting to reveal that they had been selecting scripts, Qin Yi gave a knowing hint, “Another night of reviewing ‘textbooks’ for you?”

Jiang Liusui grinned. “Or, you know, you could give me a little tutoring instead.”

Qin Yi responded, “If you’d like, that’s possible.”

Both of them understood each other without saying more. Xu Miao clicked her tongue: “What little secret are you two talking about?”

He Yujing’s brow twitched as he listened. He leaned back, stretching his long legs forward, only to accidentally kick the footrest fixed to the seat in front of him.

The noise drew everyone’s attention. He Yujing said expressionlessly, “A little cramped.”

Xu Miao sympathized, “Yu-ge’s legs are too long. This seat must be pretty uncomfortable.”

Mu Zhe chimed in, “Yeah, even I can’t get comfortable here.”

He then turned to Jiang Liusui and Qin Yi, “How long have you two known each other? You seem really familiar.”

With the cameras rolling, Jiang Liusui didn’t want to discuss their personal friendship openly and deflected with a laugh, “Oh, he’s my older brother—works three jobs just to put me through college.”

“…?”

Qin Yi explained to the confused Mu Zhe, “In the movie, he plays my little brother.”

Do you have to bring up that playing brothers role eight hundred times? I also acted as Jiang Liusui’s lover in another project—did that ever come up?

He Yujing couldn’t hold back any longer, “Qin Yi.”

Qin Yi looked up, “Yeah? What’s up?”

“…” He Yujing’s mouth moved faster than his brain. Not knowing what to say, he finally grabbed his phone. “Let’s add each other as friends.”

Qin Yi had a feeling that wasn’t what he really wanted to say. But he had a good impression of He Yujing and was quite pleased to be proactively added as a friend. “Sure.”

The pier for watching the sunrise was less than a twenty-minute drive away. The van arrived at its destination after a smooth journey. The first hints of dawn were spreading across the sky. The icy sea breeze, thick with mist, hit them head-on.

The production team had picked a quiet corner to avoid a commotion. Only a handful of tourists were gathered on the white pier. When they saw the group arrive, they whispered among themselves, while a few bolder ones called out the names of their favorite artists and waved enthusiastically.

The dawn air was colder than Jiang Liusui had anticipated. In just a long-sleeved T-shirt, he shivered as he stepped out of the van. Suddenly, He Yujing reached out and wrapped an arm around him. “Cold?”

“A little.” He Yujing’s long, firm forearm pressed against Jiang Liusui’s neck through the sweatshirt, blocking some of the icy sea breeze. Warmth trickled through where their bodies touched.

“I’m a little cold too. Let’s just stay like this to keep warm,” He Yujing murmured, leaning in and casually letting half his weight rest on Jiang Liusui. Despite his towering height, he moved with a lazy, almost boneless ease.

Is that why he’s so good at dancing?

Seeing him make the decision so casually, Jiang Liusui muttered under his breath, “You really are like a big cat.”

The kind of big cat with a bad temper but still clingy—like a lion or a snow leopard.

“There are so many seagulls here! They’re so beautiful!” Xu Miao gazed at the flocks of birds circling the pier. Snow-white wings dipped and climbed over the sea, moving like clouds that gathered and scattered.

She lifted her camera, ready to snap a few shots, when tiny glimmers appeared along the distant horizon. Excited, she turned to the others: “Wow… the sun’s coming up!”

As if to confirm her words, a golden arc slowly emerged from the horizon, dyeing the surroundings in rich shades of orange and red. Farther up, the sky shifted from amber to a soft pink-blue, the layered colors blending and fading like watercolors spreading from intense pigment to delicate pastels.

The sunrise spilled a thousand streams of light, blending seamlessly with the clouds and the sea. The sky shimmered on the water’s surface, and the dazzling clouds looked like roses set aflame.

The sunrise itself lasted barely a minute, yet it carried a power that felt limitless. In that fleeting moment, the world seemed to sparkle, and everything before their eyes was brimming with life.

Everyone fell silent in unison, quietly admiring the magnificent spectacle. When the sun finally rose, Shang Qingzhi was the first to speak.

She had been yawning non-stop since before the ride, yet now her eyes were glued to the horizon where sea met sky. She murmured softly, “Waking up this early was worth it… this is the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen.”

“Ahhhh! I’m completely mesmerized! No way… I didn’t record it!” Xu Miao groaned in despair.

“You can watch it on the show later. They must have recorded everything,” Mu Zhe remarked with emotion. Mu Zhe said, shaking his head in awe. “Linzhou Island’s sunrise truly lives up to the hype. Everyone should see it at least once.”

Everyone chattered excitedly, thoroughly satisfied with the sunrise. As the sun climbed higher, flocks of birds traced patterns above the shimmering sea. Jiang Liusui had never been to the coast before, and seeing these masses of white birds was a first for him. He watched intently, when a few crisp chirps sounded near his ears.

Chirp, chirp——

He turned slightly and noticed a lone seagull perched on a white wooden post just a few meters away. Its body was pure white, its tail feathers tinged with pale gray, and its beak and claws shone a vivid orange-yellow. The tiny, beady black eyes fixed on him without a single blink.

Huh? It landed so close?

His curiosity piqued, he deliberately stomped his foot and stepped forward, fully expecting the seagull to bolt. But to his surprise, it didn’t flinch—it just cocked its head in a daze.

What a little fool.

Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but laugh and mimicked the bird by tilting his own head. Suddenly, a soft chuckle came from beside him.

He turned around and saw He Yujing holding up his phone, the camera aimed directly at him.

Click—

The camera clicked, capturing the moment with a subtle sound. He Yujing stared at the screen, studying the image. Jiang Liusui’s expression as he looked back carried a hint of confusion, but his eyes were very bright. Behind him stretched a sky transitioning from deep blue to golden hues, while a white seagull rested lazily on a nearby wooden post.

The photo radiated calm and gentle light; even through the screen, it felt alive with interaction.

People say photos can convey the photographer’s emotions. He Yujing never believed this before, but seeing Jiang Liusui through his lens, he suddenly began to reconsider.

“So?” He Yujing held out the phone. “I made you look good, didn’t I?”

“Oh…?” Jiang Liusui examined the photo carefully, a smile gradually spreading across his lips as he praised sincerely, “You’re really good at taking pictures.”

His bright eyes fixed intently on He Yujing’s phone screen, a sight that instantly brought a sense of satisfaction. He Yujing found himself quietly delighted by his adorable reaction, feeling that holding the phone and waiting so long just to capture this moment was entirely worth it.

“I’ll send this photo to you.”

“Sure.” Jiang Liusui watched as he sent the picture and tapped to save it. “I’ll treasure Teacher He’s masterpiece.”

“……” He Yujing noticed that Jiang Liusui had cheekily picked up on calling him “Teacher” to tease him back. After a brief pause, he said with mock severity, “”If you lose it, you’re in big trouble.”

Jiang Liusui couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. He Yujing watched him, his gaze gradually softening.

Ten minutes earlier, as the sun crested the horizon, He Yujing had cast a sidelong glance out of habit—and that small, unconscious gesture had made something clear to him.

More than the grandeur of the sunrise itself, what captivated him was Jiang Liusui’s reaction to it.

After the excitement of watching the sunrise faded, everyone was overcome with drowsiness on the way back. Shang Qingzhi even fell asleep directly in the car.

Taking everyone’s state into account, the production team generously gave them most of the day off—free to do as they pleased until five in the afternoon.

Jiang Liusui slept straight into the evening. When he noticed the time, he quickly freshened up, changed into a new outfit, and headed to the dressing room to get his hair styled and makeup done in preparation for the night’s recording.

The host had instructed them to gather in the villa’s garden once they were ready. The summer evening was warm and humid. Xu Miao arrived first, dressed in a red strappy dress, busy poking a straw into a cracked-open iced coconut.

She was the first to arrive, Jiang Liusui the second, while the others hadn’t shown up yet.

Filming hadn’t started. As Jiang Liusui approached, Xu Miao held out the coconut with both hands, bowing slightly. “To repay the favor of waking me up twice, I specially prepared this for you. Please enjoy.”

“……” Jiang Liusui rarely encountered someone who could be so dramatic off-camera. “You have it, I’m not thirsty.”

“Really?” Xu Miao wanted to say more, but Jiang Liusui simply waved his hand and sat down opposite her. She let out a small “ah!” and hurriedly pulled out her phone. “Oh right, let’s add each other on WeChat! We didn’t get a chance this morning—it was too busy.”

Jiang Liusui took out his phone and scanned her code. Xu Miao quickly added him as a friend and immediately checked his Moments. “Why is your Moments completely empty? You didn’t block me, did you? …Oh, you didn’t block me at all. You just… never post photos!”

Xu Miao looked up at him in disbelief. If I looked like you, I’d post a new selfie every single day of the week.”

Before Jiang Liusui could say anything, Xu Miao realized someone had quietly appeared behind him.

He Yujing’s gaze landed on her phone, his eyes slightly darkened. Xu Miao couldn’t read the expression on his face but felt the weight of his stare. Hesitantly, she asked, “Yu-ge you want to add me as a friend too?”

“……”

Seeing Jiang Liusui also looking over, He Yujing took out his phone to avoid making the situation too awkward, adding his second unwanted friend of the day.

Xu Miao stared at the new, unexpected friend in her contacts and said suddenly, “Actually… I tried to get your contact details before.”

He Yujing turned to look at her, and Jiang Liusui also glanced over.

Since there were no cameras rolling, Xu Miao treated it as a funny story. “About two years ago, a friend of a friend organized a gathering, and Yu-ge was sitting right across from me.” She paused, unusually embarrassed. “I watched him the entire evening. When it ended, my friend encouraged me to ask for his WeChat.”

“That was the first time I ever took the initiative to ask a guy for his contact details. I was so nervous my hands were sweaty… But do you know what he said?” Xu Miao paused dramatically, turning to face Jiang Liusui. She told the story with such vivid detail that he couldn’t help but be captivated.

What did he say?”

“He said… ’Sorry, who are you?’”

Seeing Jiang Liusui stunned, Xu Miao couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “Pretty awkward, right? I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. For a while, that incident made it into my top ten most embarrassing memories I never want to recall.”

“But actually, it wasn’t a big deal. After about half a month, I didn’t care about it anymore. When I heard we’d be on a show together recently, I was a little uneasy… but it turned out he didn’t remember me at all.”

When she first moved her luggage, she had been somewhat nervous around He Yujing, but now she realized it was completely unnecessary.

As she finished, Xu Miao looked over at He Yujing.

He stood beside Jiang Liusui, not sitting properly but leaning casually on the edge of the wooden table, his long legs stretched lazily to the floor.

Xu Miao teased, “Yu-ge, how many people have chased after you?”

He Yujing hadn’t interjected once during her story. Hearing this, he only offered a perfunctory smile and didn’t answer. But this casual, unconcerned attitude indirectly revealed the answer.

Being admired or pursued, by either men or women, was nothing new to him. It wasn’t worth the effort to remember every single face.

Xu Miao clicked her tongue in quiet amazement.

This guy’s self-control is unreal.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Can I ask… what type do you like? Don’t worry, I know my place! Since that day, I haven’t had any other intentions toward you—I’m just genuinely curious.”

The words had barely left her mouth when she realized how personal they sounded. Spending the past few days with him had almost made her forget what kind of person He Yujing actually was. Quickly, she added, “It’s fine if you don’t want to answer—I’m just asking.”

To her surprise, the usually quiet He Yujing lifted his chin and nodded toward Jiang Liusui, who was watching the scene unfold. “This is my type.”

Xu Miao was momentarily stunned, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Liusui’s strikingly beautiful face. The latter, suddenly singled out, widened his eyes slightly.

She vaguely sensed something subtle between them. The words sounded almost like a confession, but He Yujing’s calm demeanor could also be interpreted as simply liking this type of person.

No matter what He Yujing actually meant, as an outsider, she couldn’t press further. Xu Miao decided to change the concept slightly, omitting the same-sex aspect: “You mean girls who are pretty, gentle, cute, and charming, right?”

“No,” He Yujing said. “Just someone who looks gentle and cute.”

—but is actually stubborn and sharp-tempered, smiling on the surface yet revealing a fierce side only when pushed to the brink.

Xu Miao couldn’t quite figure out what was different. Jiang Liusui, not thinking much, blurted out, “If Yu-ge were my girlfriend—”

Seeing He Yujing raise an eyebrow, he scrambled to correct himself. “I mean… if I were Yu-ge’s girlfriend… no, that won’t do.” Just imagining it sent a jolt through him. “I honestly can’t picture what that would even be like.”

“Then don’t picture it. Boys work too,” He Yujing said, staring at him directly. His tone was casual, playful, almost teasing. “Want to date me?”

Author’s Note:

Sui: immediately backs off when he senses something’s off

Jing: immediately takes advantage when he senses an opening

— — — —