Fortunately, everyone in the room was busy chatting while watching the program, so no one paid close attention to the contents of the bullet chat. Perhaps the others were not close enough to He Mingchen to risk bringing up such an awkward topic in person.
Every single one of those explicit remarks flashing across the screen was dancing on the absolute edge of being filtered out, making them far too provocative for ordinary acquaintances to joke about face to face.
Sitting on pins and needles, Ji Xing endured that sequence until the scene finally shifted to another group, allowing him to release a quiet sigh of relief. Because the sensory impact had been far too overwhelming, he failed to absorb any of the second half of the program, his mind entirely consumed by those vivid, lingering close-up shots.
The distinct contours of He Mingchen’s finger joints, the sheer power radiating from his wrist bones, and that gaze overflowing with predatory intensity—every single frame felt intensely stimulating. It wasn’t that Ji Xing had a habit of letting his mind wander into wild places, but rather that the experience of that particular night had simply been far too unforgettable.
After all, that remained the sole instance in his life of growing that physically close to another person, especially someone like He Mingchen, whom he bumped into constantly day after day.
Throughout that evening, Ji Xing remained seated right beside He Mingchen without initiating a single word, and outside of Pei Yun, no one else dared to bother him. Just as the broadcast was wrapping up and the gathering was nearing its end, Teacher Zhang asked Ji Xing half-jokingly whether he would consider joining his group once the first stage of evaluation concluded.
Uncertain whether the old veteran’s words carried any genuine intent or were merely made in jest, Ji Xing instinctively glanced toward He Mingchen. The man’s face betrayed no discernible emotion, his gaze locked unblinkingly onto Ji Xing as if eager to see how he would respond.
“Thank you, Teacher Zhang, but I do not have a performance role in this stage, so I cannot participate in the group evaluations or get reassigned.” Ji Xing’s answer was so brutally honest that it drew chuckles from everyone present in the room.
Turning toward He Mingchen with a smile, Zhang Li remarked, “It seems you have taken wonderful care of the kid. He is no longer willing to come over to my group.”
With a calm, polite smile, He Mingchen replied suavely, “There is still a long road ahead; he will certainly have plenty of future opportunities to learn from you.” While his words sounded airtight and flawless, to outsider ears they carried an overbearing sense of intimacy, making it seem as though he were speaking on Ji Xing’s behalf.
Normally in the entertainment industry, when one person stepped in to handle social pleasantries for another, only two types of relationships applied: an artist and their personal manager, or a senior colleague from the same agency looking out for a junior. Clearly, He Mingchen and Ji Xing fit neither description.
With a chuckle, veteran Zhang Li added, “Remember those words, because I will definitely come looking to you to poach him later.”
“Most certainly.” Wearing a poised, professional smile, He Mingchen personally escorted the remaining guests out as they departed.
Amidst the goodbyes, Pei Yun saw the last of the visitors off, leaving only the three of them—himself, He Mingchen, and Ji Xing—remaining in the room.
“I concede defeat.” Shrugging his shoulders, Pei Yun turned to He Mingchen and admitted, “You won this bet. I surrender.”
A few days prior, he and He Mingchen had laid down a wager, guessing whether Ji Xing would manage to master the art of smooth-talking in a short span after taking flak for being too blunt. While he had initially felt brimming with confidence, hearing Ji Xing’s deadpan response to Zhang Li earlier made it instantly clear that he had lost this round.
This little snail simply lacked that specific circuit in his brain, meaning no amount of hard knocks would ever teach him.
Completely baffled by the exchange yet lacking the courage to ask for clarification, Ji Xing hesitated silently, wondering whether he should wait to leave alongside He Mingchen or slip out on his own.
“We placed a bet regarding you,” Pei Yun proactively explained to Ji Xing.
Giving him a sideways glance, He Mingchen shot him a warning glare, seemingly reluctant to bring up the subject in front of Ji Xing.
Shifting tactics with a mischievous grin, Pei Yun teased unceremoniously, “We bet on whether you could bear to leave Teacher He’s group to join someone else’s.”
“Huh?” Taking the statement entirely at face value, Ji Xing panicked inwardly, completely unsure of how to frame his response. It wasn’t a matter of whether he could bear to leave; he simply didn’t dare speak carelessly. He feared that expressing too much eagerness to join another team might enrage He Mingchen, yet worried that showing reluctance might prompt the man to jump to wrong conclusions.
Shooting Pei Yun another glare to prevent him from spouting any further nonsense, He Mingchen grabbed Ji Xing by the arm and prepared to leave.
Relieved as if granted a pardon, Ji Xing hurried along in He Mingchen’s footsteps out the door. Caught up in his haste, he failed to notice that He Mingchen had suddenly halted ahead of him, causing him to crash squarely into the man’s chest.
The solid, muscular expanse of the man’s chest coupled with that familiar woody fragrance collided with him abruptly, leaving Ji Xing momentarily dazed.
“What is the rush?” He Mingchen asked in a deep voice.
“I am sorry.” Rubbing his forehead, Ji Xing blinked in utter confusion and asked, “What is wrong?”
Scanning his figure, He Mingchen asked, “Do you want to grab a midnight snack?”
“Is it not a bit too late?” Just as the refusal hovered on the tip of his tongue, Ji Xing’s stomach betrayed him with a loud rumble.
Thus, He Mingchen made the executive decision for him, leading him directly to a restaurant situated right beside the hotel.
Mindful of the approaching hour for rest, He Mingchen kept the order light, sticking strictly to easily digestible options. To his surprise, Ji Xing possessed an astonishing appetite, polishing off everything on his plate within minutes and promptly devouring the complimentary dessert provided by the restaurant as well.
Noticing this, He Mingchen slid his own untouched dessert across the table toward him. Offering a soft word of gratitude, Ji Xing picked up his spoon and dug in. While his table manners weren’t rigid, they weren’t ungraceful either; watching him eat resembled observing a squirrel with a bottomless appetite, taking bite after steady bite in a way that made the food look undeniably appetizing.
He Mingchen generally held zero fondness for sweets, yet watching Ji Xing reach the final bites left him feeling strangely tempted to join in.
“May I have a bite?” He Mingchen asked abruptly.
“Of course, this was originally your portion.”
Ji Xing prepared to push the half-eaten dessert back across, but He Mingchen simply reached out, gripped his wrist, and took a small taste directly from the spoon still held in his hand before gesturing for him to finish the rest.
“Do you… not like it?” Ji Xing asked.
“I simply find it more enjoyable watching you eat,” He Mingchen replied.
With his spoon poised to continue, Ji Xing suddenly remembered that He Mingchen had just used his exact spoon. It wasn’t as though he minded sharing utensils with the man—after all, the two of them had literally kissed deeply on that fateful night.
Even so, sharing a single dessert with a spoon between two grown men in the middle of the night felt dangerously ambiguous, didn’t it?
“Why did you stop eating?” He Mingchen prompted.
“I am still eating, I want some more.” Shaking off those chaotic, scattered thoughts, Ji Xing resumed eating the dessert, though with every bite his ears grew hotter and redder until he ultimately wanted nothing more than to bury his entire head inside the plate.
He Mingchen appeared thoroughly entertained by watching the person across from him eat, keeping his gaze fixed on Ji Xing with amused patience until the dessert was entirely gone before handing over a tissue.
“What are your plans for the next stage?” He Mingchen inquired.
“The next stage? Are we not heading back to rest?”
“I am not talking about tonight. Hu-ge mentioned that the production team sent the rough cuts of the first episode for your company to review beforehand.” Taking a sip of club soda, He Mingchen added with feigned casualness, “You knew about this, correct?”
Hu-ge served as He Mingchen’s manager; having visited the production crew a few days prior, he undoubtedly possessed insider knowledge of various behind-the-scenes arrangements.
“I knew, Xiao Lin told me,” Ji Xing answered.
“Since you knew, did you not give it any thought?”
This marked the first time the two of them had ever broached such a topic formally, leaving Ji Xing somewhat bewildered as to why He Mingchen suddenly cared about matters of this nature.
Sensing his confusion, He Mingchen offered a cautious probe: “Have you ever considered switching agencies?”
“I signed a long-term contract, it has not expired yet,” Ji Xing replied honestly.
“If you wish to leave, I might be able to help.”
“Huh?” Startled, Ji Xing’s brain whirred into high gear.
Why on earth was He Mingchen suddenly offering to help him switch agencies?
Could he be planning to poach him into his own company?
If he accepted the offer, would he ever be able to escape the palm of He Mingchen’s hand in this lifetime?
Guided swiftly by his self-preservation instincts, Ji Xing shook his head frantically and replied, “You do not need to trouble yourself. My current situation is fine, there are no major issues, and I am quite content staying with my current company.”
Surprise flickered across He Mingchen’s face, as the answer bore no resemblance to what he had anticipated.
The agency Ji Xing currently belonged to possessed zero resources and zero industry connections; lingering there would make it nearly impossible for the young man to secure any decent career breaks. Any alternative agency He Mingchen casually recommended would outperform his current setup tenfold.
Any other trainee in his position would have jumped at the opportunity with ecstatic joy.
Yet Ji Xing had turned it down without a second thought!
Fixating his gaze on the young man for a long moment, He Mingchen ultimately let the subject drop without pressing further.
The following morning marked the live broadcast session for Ji Xing’s group.
With the group performances looming just days away, He Mingchen intended to spend the day helping both teams hammer out the fine details in their blocking and execution. Unsure of what else to do, Ji Xing grabbed his notebook and trailed closely behind He Mingchen, displaying an exceptionally diligent work ethic.
Before he could follow for long, however, He Mingchen pointed toward a chair tucked in the corner of the training room and instructed him to sit over there.
Consequently, as the live stream kicked off, viewers were greeted by a familiar sight: He Mingchen guiding the trainees in the center of the training room while Ji Xing sat quietly alone in the corner chair clutching a notebook.
Following the broadcast of the second episode the previous night, He Mingchen and Ji Xing had captured a massive wave of public attention. Learning that today’s session would be broadcast live, throngs of viewers camped out in the chat room early, eager to catch glimpses of their interactions.
The moment they clicked into the stream, however, they were greeted only by He Mingchen surrounded by trainees and Ji Xing sitting on the bench.
[What is the meaning of this? Why is my precious sitting so far away?]
[Did he fail to secure a role, so he is stuck sitting on the sidelines watching?]
[Can someone please assign him a character already?]
[I came here to watch them engage in sweet romance, not stare at each other across an empty room!]
As the broadcast stretched past the thirty-minute mark, Ji Xing had shifted positions three times, yet his seating location remained unchanged. Meanwhile, He Mingchen remained completely absorbed in coaching the trainees, failing to exchange a single word with Ji Xing from start to finish.
Observant viewers quickly noted, however, that throughout the coaching session, He Mingchen kept glancing in Ji Xing’s direction at least half a dozen times.
[Checking six times in thirty minutes, what does that signify?]
[At least once every five minutes.]
[Too frequent for a student-teacher dynamic, too sparse for a couple.]
[How do you know he is looking at Ji Xing? Stop overanalyzing.]
[If not looking at Ji Xing, was he admiring the chair?]
[Pass it on: He Mingchen has a secret crush on furniture.]
Unable to witness any direct interactions between the pair, the audience turned to amusing themselves by acting like microscopic inspectors, desperate to analyze He Mingchen’s movements frame by frame. Other viewers began spinning elaborate headcanons about a hidden feud, speculating whether the two might be fighting.
[Family, my partner and I give each other this exact silent treatment during cold wars.]
[Wild guess: they argued last night and are still holding grudges today.]
[He Mingchen, can you not drop your pride for once?]
[Why shouldn’t Ji Xing be the one to apologize first?]
[Ji Xing is a precious, obedient baby, what wrong could he commit?]
The affections of internet audiences always arrived with fierce, sweeping velocity. While viewers had spent the previous night worrying about Ji Xing facing backlash, by today they had already crowned him with an army of devoted protective fans and shipping enthusiasts inside the live chat. Regrettably, sitting quietly in his corner in a daze, Ji Xing remained entirely oblivious to the fact that every micro-movement he made was being scrutinized under a magnifying glass.
[I have a feeling our little Ji is genuinely terrified of the Best Actor.]
[I noticed it too. The moment Teacher He glances over, he immediately straightens his back.]
[Do not tempt me, my brain is already committing crimes.]
[If Teacher He raised his voice even slightly, would our precious burst into tears?]
[Will he end up shedding tears while getting punished?]
[Forgive me, I know I shouldn’t think this way, but my brain refuses to cooperate.]
Just as the live chat was busy entertaining itself, He Mingchen abruptly walked away from the other trainees and headed straight toward Ji Xing.
On screen, Ji Xing—who had been leaning against the back of his chair in a daze—instantly snapped upright the moment he saw He Mingchen approach. Having anticipated this interaction for ages, the viewers watched closely, thrilled by the sudden development.
To their profound disappointment, the words that left He Mingchen’s lips proved a total letdown.
“Take my phone to the lounge and charge it for a bit, bring it back to me in half an hour.” Handing his device over to Ji Xing, He Mingchen dismissed him. Taking the phone, Ji Xing headed straight toward the lounge without uttering a single superfluous syllable.
Having waited nearly an hour for an interaction, the audience watched helplessly as He Mingchen chased the person away, instantly wiping out any chance of an on-screen pairing.
While the viewers expressed boundless disappointment, Ji Xing felt secretly delighted. Pounded by sudden hunger yet unable to snack openly in front of the live cameras, He Mingchen’s convenient excuse to send him off to charge a phone provided the perfect cover to sneak away for a bite to eat.
Today’s spread in He Mingchen’s lounge boasted a brand-new assortment of snacks, featuring fresh-cut fruit alongside actual cakes!
The only hitch was…
Upon plugging the phone into the charger, Ji Xing glanced at the screen and noticed the battery was already sitting at eighty-nine percent.
With a battery percentage that high, did it really need charging?
Could He Mingchen possibly suffer from obsessive-compulsive battery anxiety?
Eighty-nine percent power would take barely ten minutes to hit max capacity, not even close to half an hour.
Devouring his meal in record speed to satisfy his gnawing hunger, Ji Xing grabbed the phone and headed back out to the rehearsal room. He Mingchen took the device back, slipping it straight into his pocket without even glancing down at it. As he did so, his gaze swept across the corner of Ji Xing’s lips, catching a tiny crumb of cake lingering there.
Instinctively reaching up to wipe it away, He Mingchen remembered the active live stream cameras and abruptly changed course, grabbing Ji Xing’s arm and pulling him toward the far corner of the room.
Having finally waited out an interaction, the audience stared eagerly at the screen, watching as He Mingchen dragged the young man into the wall’s shadow. That area fell almost entirely into a camera blind spot, allowing only a distant wide shot to capture the silhouettes of their upper bodies.
Within the frame, He Mingchen shielded Ji Xing’s figure with his own body and made a lifting motion with his hand. Because the distance was too great, however, nobody could discern what he was actually doing.
Grasping at straws in wild frustration, the viewers desperately wished they could climb right through their fiber-optic cables to investigate.
Half a minute later, Ji Xing returned to his designated cold bench seat and sat back down.
Yet this time, he kept his head bowed continuously, hiding his expression entirely. The only clue giving away his internal turmoil was the pair of ears visible beside his head… blazing a fiery, translucent red.
Live Chat: Ahhhhh!
He Mingchen, exactly what did you just do?!