Chapter 55

Hu Ying immediately joked with a sigh: 'Cleaned up so nicely, great—when I move in in a couple days it'll save me the trouble.'

Everyone laughed.

Yan Zhi glanced at Hu Ying when he heard that.

Huo Cheng said, 'Maybe I'm the one moving in?'

At that moment he felt like he and Hu Ying had formed a united front.

He'd never found Hu Ying this cute before.

Yan Zhi had worked his butt off cleaning for so long, and hearing this kind of 'sewing a wedding dress for someone else' talk naturally put him in a funk. And honestly, what they were saying was possible—in two days they'd be redoing the Room Assignment, and who knew what would happen.

All this work he'd been putting in might end up benefiting Hu Ying and Huo Cheng instead.

Suddenly the idea of building a little nest for him and Zhai Xingchen didn't feel so appealing anymore.

The funk flipped into spite.

He was going to do it up right—this was their private little world, just the two of them.

Zhai Xingchen felt the vibe getting weird, so he jumped in: 'Let me show you guys the Sento Pool, it's gorgeous.'

They walked down a long narrow corridor and arrived at the Sento Pool. Before even stepping in, you could feel the steam rising.

'The best part is the window,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'Here, let me show the viewers first.'

The Live Streaming camera pointed at the Sento Pool window, and the comments were all [Wow].

Turns out the mountain-facing side of the Sento Pool had a long rectangular window cut into it. Looking out, there was a river right across, and beyond that the Snow Mountain, bathed in golden sunset light. The rectangular shape of the window framed the Snow Mountain outside like a classical painting—like Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.

'Wow,' Hu Ying said, and this time she meant it.

Under the window there was a little drink table, perfect for soaking and sipping.

Huo Cheng noticed two cameras mounted on the Sento Pool walls.

Looks like there'd definitely be soaking footage.

He couldn't help imagining Yan Zhi and Zhai Xingchen soaking together. He shoved both hands in his pockets and went quiet.

'The sunset outside is getting really good,' the Production Team said. 'Anyone want to go check it out?'

They stepped outside and saw red clouds draped over the Snow Mountain, the sky half pale blue, half pale red—bleak and majestic. But the wind was biting, stinging their faces. They all pulled their hats on, and soon Hu Ying couldn't take it: 'So cold, so cold.'

'I'm starving,' Wen Nu said.

'Are we cooking for ourselves today?' Hu Ying asked.

'Let's do it at our place, the kitchen looks pretty big,' Zhai Xingchen said. 'Just don't know if there's anything to eat.'

'No cooking today—the Production Team's treating everyone to Lamb Hotpot,' a staff member said.

'Lamb?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

Ah, his mind really wasn't pure anymore.

Hearing 'lamb' made him think of the whole lamb-heat thing.

And he wasn't the only one—Hu Ying thought of it too. And unlike him, she said it out loud: 'Eating lamb isn't great, right? We're all young, strong guys, and we're sleeping together tonight—you're really trying to stir things up.'

Wen Nu and the others burst out laughing.

The staff member laughed: 'Copper-pot lamb is a local specialty. It's cold out—lamb soup is perfect right now.'

Zhai Xingchen said, 'Then what are we waiting for, let's go eat—I'm freezing and starving.'

Duan Yihua wasn't feeling well and had turned in early, so the remaining seven headed to the Lamb Hotpot Restaurant together. Zhai Xingchen noticed the houses and trees over there had little colored lights tied to them, and told Hu Ying, 'These'll look amazing once they light up tonight.'

Hu Ying had gotten smarter now. She figured the best-friend identity limited Zhai Xingchen's feelings for her, but it also made it easier to get close to him. She looped her arm through Zhai Xingchen's and leaned into him: 'After we eat, let's come back out and walk around.'

They were about the same height and build—looked genuinely harmonious together.

Star Lake CP started going wild, their energy suddenly through the roof.

So what if they can't room with Zhai Xingchen? So what if they can't see the two beauties soaking together? That's the audience's loss!

Star Lake CP fans: [Honestly, The Red and Blue Signal has been on for three seasons now, and every season it's been Red and Blue paired, right? Has there ever been a Blue-Blue pairing? Just because Zhai Xingchen looks like he could be either top or bottom doesn't mean you should ship him randomly. Star Lake CP is definitely the official pairing—wait for the face-slap if you don't believe it!]

[Exactly, out of all eight guests, they're obviously the sweetest! Just because our Zhai-ge has a great waist doesn't mean you have to force him into bottom! A good waist matters more for a top! Yeah, yeah, I know you want to say he's got a slim waist, but look at his abs—hot guys have slim waists. Does a top have to be bulky and over-the-top muscular?]

[Random passerby question—why do I see Zhai Xingchen's waist being hyped everywhere? How good is it really?]

The words had barely landed before fans were already posting gifs of Zhai Xingchen.

One backbend move, and the comments exploded with [Holy shit].

[That waist is insane!]

[That flexibility, that control!]

[That waist—top-tier as a top, even more top-tier as a bottom. Treasure boy!]

The Production Team was already waiting at the Lamb Hotpot Restaurant. For filming, all the other tables had been removed, leaving just one big round table that could seat seven or eight. Cameras were everywhere—on the walls, on the ceiling.

[Seat arranging time again!]

[Hu Ying, go for it!]

Hu Ying didn't let her fans down: 'Xingchen, I'm sitting next to you.'

After she said that out loud, Wen Nu and Lin Qingning couldn't exactly squeeze in next to her.

[Nicely done!]

[Straight ball, well played!]

Yan Zhi actually didn't come to stake his claim this time. He coldly watched as Huo Cheng sat down next to Zhai Xingchen, then went over himself and moved a few chairs to the back, to hang clothes and Scarf.

Like now that he'd secured Room 1, little things like seat assignments didn't even register.

[Yan Zhi's so attentive today—everyone's seated and he's still fussing over things.]

[Got that big-room energy.]

Yan Zhi was the last to sit—he took the seat next to Huo Cheng.

They'd been Live Streaming for over an hour, and now that they were about to eat, the stream was wrapping up.

Netizens everywhere were crying.

The comment heat was climbing.

Good sign—the show was getting more gripping.

'Wave to the viewers, we're signing off.'

The staff panned the camera across all seven. The Live Streaming footage was a bit shaky, the angles not great, but the shot of all seven of them looking up at the camera together was warm and beautiful.

[Waaaah, a pile of handsome guys, I don't want it to end!]

[I want to watch them eat!]

[Every stream is so short, why not a 24-hour stream? I could watch them sleep!]

Hu Ying, bright and striking, waved first: 'See you next stream!'

Danmu was spamming "Hu Beauty."

That's Hu Ying's nickname.

Every time a guest waved at the camera, danmu spammed their name.

Wen Nu, Lin Qingning, Huo Cheng, Zhai Xingchen, Yan Zhi, Pei Xu.

Zhai Xingchen smiled the prettiest, Yan Zhi was the gentlest, Huo Cheng threw a heart at the camera, Pei Xu didn't smile—but the way he looked when he wasn't smiling was genuinely gorgeous, the vibe was magnetic, danmu was spamming "Sour-Face Bro."

That love-hate kind.

After the Live Streaming ended, Hu Ying said, 'Finally can relax and eat something.'

Even though cameras usually follow them at meals, it's still different from a live stream.

Live streams are more stressful because it's real-time, can't be edited.

The shop owner was thrilled to be on TV, handed over the menu: 'See what everyone wants to order.'

'Set menu, right?' Hu Ying glanced at it and asked.

'Right, our hotpot is set menu, but we also have some appetizers and desserts.'

There were several menus. Zhai Xingchen handed one to Yan Zhi, then one to Huo Cheng. Pei Xu shook his head, didn't take one.

Honestly, whether appetizers or desserts, there were only a few options—this place's main deal was the lamb hotpot. Supposedly their lamb was top-tier, one of those Xiaobeiji must-visit restaurants.

The shop was super warm, plus they were eating hotpot, so everyone quickly took off their Down Jackets.

Zhai Xingchen first just unzipped his, then couldn't stand the heat anymore. The moment he took his Down Jacket off, Yan Zhi reached around behind Huo Cheng and took it from him: 'Give it to me.'

Zhai Xingchen handed it over: 'Thanks.'

Huo Cheng, face flushed from eating, leaned back against his chair, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and watched Yan Zhi put Zhai Xingchen's jacket on top of his own Down Jacket.

He tossed the napkin next to his plate, his hand bumped the chopsticks on the dishes—clatter, they fell on the floor.

He bent down to pick them up and noticed Hu Ying's feet were pressed right up against Zhai Xingchen's.

Heheheheheh.

Was that really accidental?

One after another, these people are way too fucking smooth.

Are they subtly getting Zhai Xingchen used to their intimacy?

Wen Nu handed him a fresh pair of chopsticks.

Huo Cheng took them, turned to the owner: 'Got any alcohol?'

The owner said: 'What would you like to drink?'

'I've heard the Blueberry Ice Wine here is famous,' Hu Ying said.

The owner pointed at a blue bucket on the counter: 'Right here.'

'Come to Xiaobeiji and don't drink the Blueberry Wine, you've wasted your trip.' Hu Ying was the first to get up, grabbed a cup and poured herself one.

Huo Cheng got up and poured one too.

'Looks kind of like grape wine,' Wen Nu said. 'I want a glass too.'

Zhai Xingchen was about to go pour, heard that, grabbed Wen Nu's cup too, filled two full glasses and brought them back.

Hu Ying was already sipping, tasted it: 'Not bad, kind of a unique flavor.'

'More like baijiu or grape wine?'

'Neither. Not as sweet as grape wine, not as harsh as baijiu.'

They all tried it, reviews were decent.

'Pei-ge want to try?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

He noticed Pei Xu was the only one who hadn't gotten any.

But Pei Xu just reached over and took the half-finished glass from him.

Pei Xu took a sip, everyone was watching. Huo Cheng laughed: 'Don't get drunk again.'

Hu Ying chimed in: 'Pei-ge, take it easy, I'm sleeping with you tonight.'

Zhai Xingchen and the others laughed.

Pei Xu's eyes were half-lidded, then he noticed the other side of the rim still had the wet mark where Zhai Xingchen had just drunk.

His Adam's apple moved. His long fingers subtly rotated the glass, turning the spot Zhai Xingchen had just drunk from—the one still wet—toward himself, and he pressed his lips to it and finished the wine.

The alcohol content wasn't high, but it was still bitter and sharp. The cold wine hit his stomach—first the chill that stung his gut, then the warmth slowly rising up.

Nobody saw his little move, but he was burning up inside. Thinking that the rim he'd just drunk from was where Zhai Xingchen's mouth had been, his heart kept surging wave after wave.

His ears went red.

Hu Ying said: 'Look at Pei-ge's ears.'

'He flushes easy when he drinks,' Zhai Xingchen said, then asked him: 'How's it taste?'

Pei Xu's expression was calm, cheeks a little flushed, he nodded: 'Really good.'

His gaze drifted over Zhai Xingchen's mouth.

He suddenly wanted to kiss Zhai Xingchen's mouth.

He was immediately roused.

After dinner, it was already past nine. Hu Ying went out for a bit, came back shivering: 'Freezing to death.'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Drink more hot soup, quick.'

As he said that, he ladled her a bowl. Hu Ying took two sips and put it down: 'Can't drink anymore, or I'll be hot and thirsty all night.'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Leave some water in your room before bed.'

After eating, they planned to walk around the Scenic Area—the night view here was supposed to be amazing.

Everyone started putting their Down Jackets back on. Yan Zhi handed Zhai Xingchen his Down Jacket.

Zhai Xingchen put on his Down Jacket, they all started heading out. Two cameramen were backing up in front of them filming. Pei Xu walked to the front and held the curtain open for them.

After the cameramen were out, Pei Xu was still holding the curtain, letting everyone go first.

They filed out one by one. Yan Zhi and Zhai Xingchen walked out side by side, and as they moved their hands suddenly brushed against each other.

Yan Zhi's lips pressed together slightly. The cameraman caught that instant—pale fingers under the light, brushing past. Yan Zhi gave Pei Xu a small nod and walked out the door.

When Zhai Xingchen walked past Pei Xu, Pei Xu suddenly grabbed the hood hanging down his back and pulled it up over his head.

Zhai Xingchen pushed the hood up a bit, turned back with a smile and glanced at him.

His eyes reflected the light by the door, bright and dewy. Pei Xu walked out after him, couldn't help reaching out again—through the thick hood, he gripped the back of Zhai Xingchen's neck and squeezed.

The heavy door curtain swung and slapped his back, then swung away again.