57

Pei Xu froze for a beat, looked down at the Down Jacket Zhai Xingchen was wearing.

"When did he give it to you?"

He remembered that from the moment they met, Zhai Xingchen had been wearing this Down Jacket.

Zhai Xingchen said: "Didn't you come to my place on the weekend? Right after you left, I walked you out and came back, and Huo-ge was sitting in my living room."

He told Pei Xu about how he'd gone shopping for clothes with Huo Cheng, and how Huo Cheng had given him the Down Jacket.

Pei Xu felt like he'd been wrong.

He'd always thought Huo Cheng was rough around the edges, not as smooth as Yan Zhi at playing the game. Now he saw he'd been dead wrong.

One by one, he'd underestimated all of them.

"No wonder the jacket doesn't look quite right on you," Pei Xu said.

Maybe he felt like he was talking out of his ass after saying that, so Pei Xu added: "That jacket's pretty expensive. Not like a hat."

"Yeah, it's expensive. I've been thinking about how to give him something back, but I don't know what to get him."

Pei Xu hummed. "I'll help you think of something."

"Sounds good."

"The hat I'm giving you isn't worth much," Pei Xu added. "So you don't need to pay me back. Aren't you giving me a shell?"

Zhai Xingchen said: "At this point even the shell feels embarrassing to give."

"Look, all eight of us are good people. We give gifts out of kindness. Maybe our financial situations are different, and they don't think about price when they give things, so you don't need to either. I think the shell is really thoughtful. I like it a lot."

Zhai Xingchen nodded. "I know."

He said it with a small smile, looking at Pei Xu: "Everyone here is really good."

"Yeah," Pei Xu said. "All good."

But good or not, once they become rivals, that's a different story.

Think of the devil, and the devil appears.

The two of them suddenly noticed someone walking toward them.

It was Yan Zhi.

Zhai Xingchen immediately waved at Yan Zhi.

The smile faded from Pei Xu's face. He shoved his hands in his pockets.

Yan Zhi called from a distance: "What took you so long?"

Like he'd come out to pick up his wife or something.

"We're going to check on Duan-ge," Zhai Xingchen said. "Come with us."

Yan Zhi walked up to him and glanced at Pei Xu. He wasn't wearing his glasses, and his features looked unfamiliar. He must have just showered—his hair was fluffy, and his lips looked redder than usual.

This rival was seriously good-looking.

"Did Huo-ge and them head back?" Yan Zhi asked.

Zhai Xingchen hummed.

Yan Zhi pulled Zhai Xingchen's Gloves out of his pocket: "I noticed you forgot to wear them. Put them on, it's freezing here."

Yan Zhi didn't see Pei Xu as a rival, so he didn't hold back at all in front of him.

He figured Pei Xu probably didn't care.

Pei Xu looked away.

One more glance and he'd lose it.

Yan Zhi glanced at Pei Xu, saw him turn his head away, and thought: this guy Pei Xu is pretty decent, knows to give them space.

They got to Room 2. Lin Qingning was washing his feet; when he saw them come in, he quickly stood up.

They had a big bed too. Duan Yihua was wrapped in a blanket on one side, only a bit of his hair showing.

"Is he asleep?" Zhai Xingchen asked Lin Qingning quietly.

No sooner had he said that than Duan Yihua turned his head.

Seeing Zhai Xingchen and the others, Duan Yihua immediately tried to sit up.

"Don't get up," Zhai Xingchen said quickly. "We just came to check on you."

Duan Yihua settled back against the pillow. He looked especially haggard, his voice hoarse: "I'm much better."

"No fever?" Yan Zhi asked.

Duan Yihua coughed once. "No fever, just a bit of a cough. I'm much better now."

"It's freezing here," Yan Zhi said.

"Your room's pretty warm," Zhai Xingchen said.

Lin Qingning said: "This room has a heated wall."

Zhai Xingchen touched the wall next to him. Sure enough, it was hot.

Pretty much like a radiator.

"Better than that kang bed in Room 3. Wonder if Pei Xu and Hu Ying are gonna turn into baked fish tonight." Zhai Xingchen laughed.

Duan Yihua leaned against the pillow, watching Zhai Xingchen quietly, smiling along with him.

Maybe it was the illness, but his heart felt especially tender, soft. Seeing Zhai Xingchen's smile warmed him up.

Zhai Xingchen injected new life into his weakened body. His youth and energy made Duan Yihua envious, made his heart flutter.

Feelings really can't be suppressed. The more you push them down, the more they rebel.

"Let Duan-ge rest," Yan Zhi said. "It's getting late."

Lin Qingning pulled on thick cotton socks, looked at Pei Xu: "I heard not everyone can sleep on a kang bed. Be careful tonight—if it gets too hot, that's no good either."

Pei Xu hummed.

Zhai Xingchen glanced at Lin Qingning.

He suddenly felt Lin Qingning seemed to care especially about Pei Xu, always finding things to chat with him about.

Unexpectedly, Yan Zhi had noticed it too. Once they were out, he said to Pei Xu: "Qingning seems to always be looking out for you."

Someone as sharp as Pei Xu couldn't possibly not know that Lin Qingning liked him. But Yan Zhi suddenly bringing this up in front of Zhai Xingchen—Pei Xu was pretty suspicious of his motives.

Zhai Xingchen added: "I think so too."

Pei Xu didn't respond.

Yan Zhi and Zhai Xingchen both had the sense not to keep going.

After leaving Room 2, they split up from Pei Xu.

One headed outside, one toward the Scenic Area.

After they'd walked a ways, Zhai Xingchen looked back and saw Pei Xu still standing there.

Pei Xu watched Yan Zhi and Zhai Xingchen's figures walk away. In the dark night, a song drifted faintly—the same one they'd heard leaving the hot pot place, playing over and over, who knew how many times by now.

In the biting cold wind, cold moon, cold snow, cold night, that song was so warm. It sang:

[Promising true hearts, promising peace, promising there will always be someone looking out for you,

Of all the loves in this world, only a true heart cannot be surpassed.]

He looked up at the sky.

The name Zhai Xingchen was chosen so well—a name you hear once and never forget.

No matter who they were, from now on, looking up at the stars would make them think of him.

That was really cruel.

Pei Xu's gaze was cold. He refused to be the one who looked up at the stars and felt regret and loss.

Pei Xu went back to Room 3. Hu Ying was soaking her feet.

Honestly, after Zhai Xingchen and the others left, it was just the two of them, and the atmosphere was genuinely awkward.

After all, they were the Red and Blue pair.

Way better than a single man and woman sharing a room, but still a little weird.

She planned to sleep in her sweater and pants, stay as close to the edge as possible, not touch Pei Xu.

But she relaxed pretty quickly.

Because Pei Xu completely killed any of those weird Red and Blue guest feelings.

Pei Xu had become totally indifferent, looking at her without any evasion.

She felt like, to Pei Xu, she was just a Puppet.

Not giving up, she asked when she got into bed: "Do you feel weird, sleeping with me?"

Pei Xu sat on the other end, wrapped in another blanket, looked at her calmly: "No."

It was the first time Hu Ying had doubted her own charm.

Fine then.

She lay down in her sweater. The moment she did, Pei Xu asked: "Didn't you used to really like Yan Zhi? Why have you been so cold to him lately?"

Hu Ying froze for a beat, turned to look at Pei Xu.

The reason she froze wasn't the question itself.

It was that she hadn't expected someone as cold as Pei Xu to gossip about their love lives. Hadn't he always been the bystander, never getting involved?

If it had been anyone else, she might have played it off, but Pei Xu really wasn't someone you could joke around with. Hu Ying glanced at the camera, lowered her voice: "I like Zhai Xingchen more now."

Pei Xu didn't react at all.

Hu Ying felt guilty herself, worried that acting like this might make her look fickle in their eyes. There were cameras everywhere, and even though they weren't wearing mics, the Production Team might still be able to pick it up. Such a dangerous topic—she'd better not keep talking about it for now.

Unexpectedly, Pei Xu suddenly said: "I think Yan Zhi likes him too."

Hu Ying froze for a second. 'Yan Zhi?'

Pei Xu hummed 'mm.'

Hu Ying was stunned. 'Yan Zhi?'

Pei Xu lay on his arm, his expression cold. The more he thought of Zhai Xingchen, the colder he got.

Wolves in front, tigers behind—one man couldn't fight off four hands.

Guo Bing and the others were staring at the monitor.

'Holy shit, Pei Xu doesn't make a move and then when he does, it's this ruthless.'

'Is he borrowing a knife to kill? Watching tigers fight from the mountain? Damn, this guy's smart.'

'Doesn't he always cover the camera when he sleeps? Why not today?'

'Avoiding suspicion, probably. Since he's sleeping with Hu Ying, with the camera on and the Production Team watching, it doesn't count as being alone with her.'

'Pei Xu really is… such a dog.'

Hu Ying was still in shock.

He really hadn't thought about it that way. He only knew Huo Cheng really liked Zhai Xingchen.

Turns out he had another rival?

This was the moment Yan Zhi had been waiting for.

A moment alone.

Having alone time with Zhai Xingchen, and a whole night at that—just that alone was enough for him.

'Have you showered?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

Yan Zhi said: 'Already did.'

'Was it cold?'

'Not cold, the bathroom's warm.' Yan Zhi said.

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Then I'll go shower.'

Yan Zhi nodded.

Zhai Xingchen opened his suitcase and took out the clothes he wanted to change into.

'There are towels in the bathroom. I prepared them for you, not the hotel ones. Feel free to use them, they're clean.' Yan Zhi said.

'Okay.'

Zhai Xingchen went in to shower. Yan Zhi walked around the room alone for a bit, then picked up some clothes and covered the camera.

'He really is covering it.'

'Total contrast with Pei Xu today.'

'Heh, men, everyone has their own little schemes!'

Yan Zhi cleared his throat softly, went out and brought back a pot of tea. He poured a cup, sat down at the head of the bed with it, took a sip, then looked toward the bathroom.

The sound of water splashing came from the bathroom.

It was Zhai Xingchen showering.

The thought made his whole body tremble with excitement. He lay down on the bed, pulled the covers over himself, rested his head on his arm, and listened to the water.

He had to hold himself back. This was a Love Variety Show, they were filming.

He stroked his neck, lightly scratching his Adam's apple with his fingernail.

About ten minutes later, Zhai Xingchen came out of the bathroom.

He was still shivering when he came out. 'Still a bit cold.'

Yan Zhi pointed at the desk: 'Hair dryer's there.'

Zhai Xingchen toweled his hair, wearing a thick bathrobe, went over and got the hair dryer. After he finished drying his hair and the steam in the bathroom had mostly cleared, he changed into his pajamas.

Yan Zhi noticed he hadn't come out and called from outside: 'What are you doing?'

'Washing the clothes I changed out of.'

'Remember to use hot water.'

'I know.'

Yan Zhi walked to the bathroom door and peeked in, saw Zhai Xingchen washing his underwear.

Pure white.

Just as he thought.

Yan Zhi went back to the bed to wait. Another ten minutes or so, and Zhai Xingchen came out.

'So tired today.' He climbed into bed and burrowed under the covers.

The moment he crawled in, he caught a familiar scent.

'Did you put on cologne?' he asked Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi hummed 'mm.' 'The one I gave you, just a sweeter version.'

Zhai Xingchen grabbed the blanket and sniffed it. 'Smells good.'

Yan Zhi smiled softly. Zhai Xingchen's pajamas were loose and roomy, all the buttons done up, but the collar was wide, showing a hint of collarbone. The ink-blue fabric made his skin look even paler and smoother, like he smelled of milk.

'Want some water?' He sat up.

Zhai Xingchen shook his head. 'No more.'

Zhai Xingchen lay down, let out a long breath, saw the covered camera and laughed: 'I heard you guys all cover the cameras when you sleep. You don't have to, really. The Production Team wouldn't dare air anything random.'

'Being filmed doesn't feel safe.' Yan Zhi said.

'They can pick up sound, right?' Zhai Xingchen asked quietly.

'We're not wearing mics, they probably can't hear clearly.'

Zhai Xingchen rolled over: 'We could play a song.'

Saying that, he grabbed his phone and put on a song.

He played 'Nightingale.' He felt the Soviet-style vibe fit the mood.

Compared to Yan Zhi's nervousness, Zhai Xingchen was totally relaxed. Like they were back in a high school dorm, just chatting about nothing.

'Do you think this song is old-fashioned?' he asked Yan Zhi.

Yan Zhi said: 'Sounds pretty good.'

'My classmates always say my music taste is old-fashioned. I love old songs, especially old songs redone with new arrangements and covers.'

Yan Zhi said: 'I usually listen to more Western music.'

'I know your taste.' Zhai Xingchen smiled. 'That intense, explosive kind.'

'You know what music I like?' Yan Zhi was flattered, grinned: 'Where'd you see that?'

'Heard it from your fans.'

'Most people think it's noisy, but I don't,' Yan Zhi said. 'I like heavy metal.'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'So under that gentle exterior you're hiding a wild beast.'

Contrast Hibiscus Attacker!

Yan Zhi smiled at him, eyes dark and deep: 'Yeah, I've got a big contrast. I'll show you slowly, don't get scared.'

Zhai Xingchen laughed: 'Alright, I'll see just how big.'

A sudden impulse surged up in Yan Zhi—the urge to peel himself open and show Zhai Xingchen everything.

He sat up and took off his clothes, down to just a T-shirt and shorts, then threw back the covers and lay down.

Zhai Xingchen couldn't help but look.

He really couldn't be blamed. Yan Zhi's whole brand was the wrapped-up Asceticism Attacker. He had to admit, scarcity marketing worked in every industry. Yan Zhi was just like him—two arms, two legs, no different from any other guy—but watching him undress, you couldn't help but look twice.

To his surprise, he noticed Yan Zhi actually had some abdominal hair.

It didn't match his gentle, pretty-boy exterior at all, but somehow fit his brand perfectly.

In that moment, Zhai Xingchen thought: Hu Ying would probably love this, right?

Yan Zhi lay down under the covers and rolled over to face Zhai Xingchen.

He was actually really nervous, and really excited.

Nothing had actually happened. He'd just taken his clothes off in front of Zhai Xingchen. But even that small thing stirred up a flood of fantasies.

When you love someone, even the slightest hint of intimacy makes your heart leap. He'd read online that a lot of people get hard just from holding hands for the first time—turns out it's true.

Zhai Xingchen laughed first: 'You know how many people online want to see you with no clothes on?'

Yan Zhi said: 'I know.'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Wanna hit the Sento Pool tomorrow? I feel like your fans would lose their minds.'

Yan Zhi said: 'Cameras there. Not going.'

He actually wanted to go. With Zhai Xingchen.

The Production Team had given them this opportunity, after all. Not using it would be a waste.

But there were cameras there. He knew what kind of footage the Production Team wanted.

But he didn't want anyone else to see. Especially not the millions of viewers online.

He only wanted Zhai Xingchen to see.

Only him…

The thought suddenly made his whole body light up with excitement—inexplicable, overwhelmingly intense. He was such a weirdo. He was clearly a wild, intense person, but this extreme devotion and male virtue somehow got him incredibly worked up.

Give him everything, all of it, only him, and so on.