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Chapter 35 – Goodbye
⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ split its first recording into two episodes, airing over two consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, preparations for the second recording were already underway.
This time, the location was set in the majestic and magnificent Turin Desert. The production team had booked a hotel on the shores of Lake Tuta, deep in the heart of the sands. Relying on this narrow natural lake, a palace-like, magnificent structure stood amidst the vast yellow sands, with both its exterior and interior exuding an exotic charm.
After arriving, the guests first went to the hotel for makeup and styling. Having not seen each other for a while, Mu Zhe was the first to enthusiastically greet Jiang Liusui when he entered with his luggage: “Suisui!”
During the last recording, Mu Zhe had been accidentally seen making a phone call. Jiang Liusui had promised not to tell anyone, and indeed no news had spread since then. Mu Zhe had grown even fonder of him.
“Hi.” Jiang Liusui replied softly.
“Come, come, let me see.” Xu Miao, already done with her makeup and styling, held her cup leisurely. She observed Jiang Liusui seriously for a moment and, in a very earnest tone, concluded, “Hmm, you’ve gotten even more handsome.”
Some things never changed—the dramatic one was still as dramatic as ever.
Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but laugh. Noticing he only had a small suitcase, Mu Zhe guessed he hadn’t packed much: “Did you bring enough sunscreen? Chemical sunscreen is pretty much useless here; you’ll need physical protection. I brought several sun-protective jackets—want one?”
Mu Zhe had always been fond of bringing extra items. During the last recording, he had even brought a large stash of snacks, just in case.
“Look at you, Little Mu, so particular.” Xu Miao set down her cup and joined the teasing. “Got any extras? Give one to your big sister too.”
Just then, the door to the makeup room was pushed open. Qin Yi and Shang Qingzhi stepped inside. The last figure to enter was tall and upright. Qin Yi was already quite tall, but He Yujing was even taller. Combined with his eye-catching outfit and commanding presence, he was the only one you could see at a glance.
He Yujing didn’t bring a suitcase, entering empty-handed with a very cold expression. He had always been sensitive to cameras and gazes, and sensing that several people in the room were looking at him, he suddenly lifted his eyes and looked directly toward Jiang Liusui.
Jiang Liusui didn’t expect him to look directly at him and instinctively looked away.
Realizing what he’d done, he felt a twinge of annoyance.
What was he even avoiding? Being caught glancing at him wasn’t a big deal—it would be better to just face it honestly.
“Teacher He, please sit next to Teacher Jiang,” the makeup artist’s voice interrupted Jiang Liusui’s thoughts. Remembering how familiar they had seemed during the last recording, the makeup artist smiled and said, “You two get along well, you can chat more.”
He Yujing shot a brief, indifferent glance at Jiang Liusui, said nothing, and took his seat.
Before the show, Jiang Liusui had mostly sorted out his emotions. But the moment he saw He Yujing, the events of that day came rushing back uncontrollably. Unsure how to face him, he stayed quiet, sinking into the seat beside him.
Sensing that the atmosphere was different from the last recording, the staff around them kept to themselves, silently working on their styling.
Up until nearly finishing makeup, neither of them had spoken; He Yujing was even fiddling with his phone. Qin Yi, sitting nearby, noticed the tension between them and stole several curious glances.
Jiang Liusui had expected the silence to persist, but to his surprise, He Yujing suddenly stopped what he was doing and placed his phone on the dressing table.
“Been busy lately? Haven’t reached out to me.”
As soon as he spoke, everyone nearby pricked up their ears. Jiang Liusui was taken aback, never expecting He Yujing to initiate a conversation with him. When he turned his head, he met He Yujing’s gaze directly.
Contrary to his seemingly casual tone, He Yujing’s stare felt tangible, weighing heavily on Jiang Liusui’s face. His heart skipped a beat under that intense scrutiny, but he managed to keep his expression neutral. “A little busy… mostly going through scripts lately.”
Only after speaking did Jiang Liusui realize how wrong his words sounded.
Both of them knew the real reason he hadn’t contacted He Yujing. Yet phrased like this, it sounded as if he’d truly been too busy with work to contact him. And with so many people around, there was no way to dodge the question…
As Jiang Liusui wrestled with his thoughts, He Yujing seized the opportunity to press further. “That ruthless character you mentioned before?”
“Uh… yeah,” Jiang Liusui replied stiffly. “That one.”
“Are you done being busy now?”
“Now it’s okay…”
“In that case,” He Yujing said meaningfully, “we haven’t seen each other for so long, let’s have a proper talk today.”
Jiang Liusui hadn’t anticipated this little trap and, with no way out, forced himself to nod in agreement.
He Yujing noticed his unease but smiled nonchalantly, as if no tension had ever existed between them.
Qin Yi, who had been observing the exchange, frowned slightly. After everyone finished with hair and makeup, they boarded the production team’s vehicle and arrived at the predetermined location. The host greeted them energetically: “Hello, everyone! Welcome to the magical Turin Desert. It’s just around sunset, and the perfect time for today’s activity: a desert hot air balloon ride!”
As the host spoke, the camera panned to the preparations behind her. Staff members were already setting up the hot-air balloons, checking the burners and pumping hot air into the massive reinforced nylon envelopes.
The host continued, “We have two hot-air balloons today. The teachers will be split into two groups: Teacher Qin, Teacher He, and Teacher Jiang in one balloon; Teacher Mu, Teacher Shang, and Teacher Xu in the other.”
Jiang Liusui’s expression slightly stiffened when he heard He Yujing’s name. He no longer had the mental energy to consider whether the production team had deliberately arranged the three of them together to cause trouble. With the help of the staff, everyone stepped into the baskets, and the pilot used the burners to slowly lift the hot-air balloons.
The evening wind was gentle and steady, making it an ideal time for flying. In the distance, the sky faded from deep blue to rose, dotted with many colorful hot-air balloons.
Deep in the heart of the endless desert, with the evening sun slowly sinking below the horizon, the view should have been breathtaking—but Qin Yi had no time to enjoy it.
The two beside him remained silent, creating an awkward atmosphere. Qin Yi tried striking up a conversation with Jiang Liusui, but the latter responded distractedly with vague replies like “Hmm,” “Okay,” or “Yes”—clearly not listening. When Qin Yi turned to He Yujing, he received similarly dismissive answers: “Is that so?” “Maybe,” “Probably not.” Yet all the while, his gaze locked firmly on Jiang Liusui. Jiang Liusui, sensing the deliberate stare, felt completely flustered.
Qin Yi couldn’t bear it any longer. He leaned toward the cameraman trailing them and said, “Could you turn off the camera for a moment?”
The cameraman was taken aback. He also felt the atmosphere was unbearably tense, and this segment probably couldn’t be aired in full. But he hadn’t expected Qin Yi to be the first to break.
Once he confirmed the camera was off, Qin Yi looked at the two people opposite him and asked, “What’s going on with you two?”
Jiang Liusui replied guiltily, “What do you mean, what’s going on?”
He Yujing, as if he didn’t understand Qin Yi’s question, drawled, “What are you talking about? We’re perfectly fine.”
The two of them had completely different vibes. Qin Yi, even more exasperated, decided to stop beating around the bush: “Are you two really like people online say? …Are you just sulking at each other? Or is this a lovers’ quarrel?”
Qin Yi’s words were shocking. Jiang Liusui’s eyes widened, and he immediately retorted, “We’re not in that kind of relationship!”
He Yujing, who had been silent until then, suddenly remarked coldly, “Why deny it so quickly?”
Jiang Liusui turned to look at him sharply. Qin Yi was slightly stunned, momentarily unsure of He Yujing’s meaning.
He Yujing knew he couldn’t go too far. Despite his bad mood, he refrained from saying anything inappropriate.
In his usual somewhat casual tone, he said, “We didn’t fight, just… don’t know what to say.”
The hot air balloon ride, which lasted over an hour, had been nothing short of painfully awkward. When they finally landed, Jiang Liusui felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped a disaster.
By the time it was completely dark, the group returned to the hotel by car. The production team had already set up recording equipment at the dinner venue in advance. The hotel was most famous for its open-air restaurant in the central courtyard, where tables and chairs were placed on flat sandy ground. The colorful table flags fit perfectly with the exotic surroundings, and the central fountain emitted a faint mist in the midst of the sweltering
heat.
After they were seated, everyone chatted casually while eating. Xu Miao asked,“Did you all watch the first episode of the show?”
Mu Zhe, Shang Qingzhi, and Qin Yi nodded one after another, but He Yujing answered simply, “Didn’t watch.”
Xu Miao, remembering that he had just released a new album, could imagine how busy he must have been during this period. “Is it because you were too busy and didn’t have time?”
“Sort of.”
He Yujing didn’t give a clear answer. He hadn’t watched the show mainly because he didn’t want to see himself being close to Jiang Liusui—the contrast with their current situation was just too stark. Moreover, he had seen the rough cuts and had a general idea of what would be aired, so he had little interest in watching.
He Yujing shifted his gaze and asked the only person who hadn’t responded: “You watched it too?”
Jiang Liusui sat beside him, the two of them uncomfortably close. When he’d watched the show, he had done so mechanically, and now he couldn’t even recall a single specific scene.
Even so, he still gave a quiet, “Mm.”
“Suisui and I watched it together!” Xu Miao said excitedly. “We sent messages to each other, sharing our thoughts while watching.”
He Yujing let out an unexpected smile. “You two seem pretty close.”
Xu Miao sensed something was off and chuckled awkwardly, quickly changing the subject. “Yu-ge, your first concert was so lively! Half of my friends were there!”
Qin Yi chimed in, a hint of regret in his voice. “I wanted to go too, but I’m about to wrap up filming soon and just couldn’t get away.”
He Yujing replied, “Next time you come, I’ll save you a ticket.”
Qin Yi was somewhat surprised, then smiled. “Well, thanks a lot then.”
Jiang Liusui was absentmindedly picking at the desserts. Suddenly, someone spoke: “But… didn’t you go already?”
Jiang Liusui froze, still unsure if He Yujing was talking to him, and felt a gaze slowly fall on him: “So… tell me. How was my concert?”
Unconsciously, scenes flashed through Jiang Liusui’s mind.
The ecstatic crowd in the stands, He Yujing standing alone on the extended stage singing. The slight smile on his lips when he hurried backstage, and the sudden dimming of light in his eyes…
Jiang Liusui steadied himself, trying not to be affected: “You looked great. The dancing… really good. The singing was good too.”
He spoke in general terms, but He Yujing didn’t want to let it go: “Nothing else?”
“……”
Seeing that He Yujing seemed to have more to say, Jiang Liusui’s nerves tightened involuntarily. He Yujing’s words carried hidden meaning: “I specially reserved the front row VIP seats for you. I thought Teacher Jiang would have more to say after watching.”
Although He Yujing’s face carried a teasing smile, the comment struck straight at Jiang Liusui’s thoughts, leaving him even more flustered. Realizing he couldn’t let it continue, he grabbed He Yujing’s arm.
Under the stunned gazes of those around them, Jiang Liusui’s grip tightened, tugging at him with a force that felt part frustration, part determination. “Come with me.”
As he spoke, he stood up, forcing He Yujing to rise as well.
He Yujing was stunned for a moment, his body already subconsciously yielding to the pull, following Jiang Liusui toward the restaurant exit.
Realizing Jiang Liusui had actually shown a loss of control because of him, He Yujing watched his retreating back, the corners of his lips lifting involuntarily. But soon, that faint smile faded away.
The remaining guests watched them leave, exchanging puzzled looks.
Xu Miao hadn’t spent much time with them today and only now realized something was wrong. Shang Qingzhi stopped eating and asked hesitantly, “Are they …? “
Recalling Jiang Liusui’s sudden intensity moments earlier, Mu Zhe couldn’t help worrying: “Suisui won’t get into a fight with Yu-ge, will he?”
Only Qin Yi seemed unfazed by the situation. Having witnessed the troublesome scene on the hot air balloon that evening, he understood that this was a matter outsiders couldn’t meddle in.
Observing He Yujing—hot-tempered but always with a measure of restraint—Qin Yi remarked casually, “Let them sort it out themselves.”
Jiang Liusui guided He Yujing along the hotel corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty space, until they reached the courtyard, deserted and silent. Granite walls framed the hotel, and beyond them lay the endless desert. At last, Jiang Liusui stopped and let go of He Yujing’s arm.
He turned to look at the man standing a few steps away.
The warm pale yellow decorative lights accentuated He Yujing’s sharp, defined features. He Yujing hadn’t spoken a word along the way, letting himself be led out without complaint, showing a rare obedience.
Jiang Liusui, however, knew better. This wasn’t a man to be easily managed or underestimated. He had originally thought He Yujing no longer cared about him, yet unexpectedly, not only had he not let go as Jiang Liusui imagined, he managed, the moment they met, to unsettle him completely.
“Can’t we just coexist peacefully like this?” For some reason, Jiang Liusui didn’t want to control his emotions in front of him and spoke straightforwardly. “Let’s just pretend nothing happened and finish recording the show properly.”
He Yujing didn’t respond immediately. After a moment, he let out a self-mocking laugh, his voice low: “You want me to act as if I never liked you?”
“……”
He Yujing’s gaze locked onto him, unwavering: “Then I’ll say it straight—I can’t do it.”
His eyes were still as fervent and bright as that night, making even the dazzling desert starry sky behind him pale in comparison. Jiang Liusui had never met anyone like this—someone willing to expose their feelings again and again, unbothered by shame or the risk of being hurt.
Somehow, an unprecedented panic rose in Jiang Liusui’s heart. His instincts kicked in instantly, guiding him on how to navigate the storm of emotions.
Like a self-protective instinct, Jiang Liusui habitually adopted the attitude he had always used with others. Suppressing his turbulent emotions, the casualness he had shown earlier when pulling He Yujing outside vanished, replaced by a distant yet gentle expression.
He Yujing keenly sensed something was wrong.
Jiang Liusui looked like…
Jiang Liusui moved his lips.
Originally, he had wanted to snap out, “Then if you can’t—deal with it yourself.” He knew that if he said it, it would crush He Yujing, make him feel humiliated and defeated.
Even though this was something he had done countless times before, when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know why he changed them at the last moment:
“I’ve told you before… I won’t like you.”
Jiang Liusui spoke, then immediately fell silent, as if unwilling to say another word.
He Yujing, who had witnessed how Jiang Liusui rejected Lu Zhun, understood he was being treated with the same attitude.
He Yujing had originally wanted to have a proper talk with him, but this completely ignited his anger. Reason clawed at him, forcing him to keep his voice eerily calm: “In your eyes, am I no different from those who confessed to you before?”
Jiang Liusui was affected by the tightly restrained emotion in his voice. He instinctively wanted to deny it, but then realized it might be better to just let He Yujing misunderstand.
His feelings toward He Yujing were complicated—he couldn’t bring himself to be as harsh as with others. From the moment they met, He Yujing had been like a friend who fit him perfectly, a senior he could be close to… someone whose personality he genuinely admired. Yet beneath all of that, he did not possess the one thing He Yujing desired the most.
He Yujing saw his silence, felt the urge rise, and fought to suppress the darker impulses swirling in his mind.
“I’ll only be here for half of today’s recording. After that, I’m leaving,” He Yujing said, standing beneath the endless starry sky, his gaze fixed on the man just steps away. “I have a tour in Japan. I won’t be back for half a month.”
“I’m leaving, Jiang Liusui,” he repeated quietly. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
After a moment, all he heard was Jiang Liusui’s tone—neutral, unreadable:
“I wish you all the best.”
— — — —
