Mr. Yu was a man who had weathered countless storms in life. On the screen, the two people were still moving, their intertwined bodies giving off indecent sounds that echoed faintly through the quiet room.
Yu Xiangchen’s expression remained calm, his gaze steady as it swept once, just once, over the two faces on the screen.
When he saw that neither of them was Bai Mao, his features didn’t even flicker. With the same composure, he reached for the mouse and closed the video window.
The porcelain coffee cup in his hand landed on the table with a dull thud.
He had no mood to drink it anymore.
Study material?
This was what Bai Mao called study material?
Utter nonsense.
Yu Xiangchen frowned, his brows drawing together in restrained irritation. For a moment, countless words of reprimand came to mind, yet the more he thought, the more something felt… off.
If he remembered correctly, Bai Mao was twenty-two this year.
Twenty-two. Already an adult for four years.
That child who used to write him letters, addressing him as “uncle” because he never knew Yu Xiangchen’s real age, had, without his noticing, grown up. Now he was in the entertainment industry, capable of earning his own living.
As for such videos… well, at Bai Mao’s age, watching something like that privately wasn’t exactly a sin.
But Yu Xiangchen wasn’t just anyone to him. He was Bai Mao’s patron, his investor. And when Bai Mao sent him such a thing, its nature immediately shifted, from casual sharing to something deliberate, suggestive, provocative.
Since that night when Yu Xiangchen had clearly stated their relationship, Bai Mao had never crossed that line again.
Instinct told Yu Xiangchen that this wasn’t something Bai Mao would do.
He scrolled back through their chat history, his sharp eyes catching a small but telling difference, Bai Mao always began his messages with “Mr. Yu,” even when typing. This time, that prefix was missing.
So, the only conclusion was,
“You sent it to the wrong person,” Yu Xiangchen typed, and hit send.
Bai Mao didn’t see that message until eight in the evening.
He was sprawled on his bed, video chatting with Xu Dongming about the upcoming variety show they’d both be appearing on.
“The two senior regular guests are both big names,” Xu Dongming reminded him. “They’ve got spotless reputations and massive fanbases. Just treat it as a vacation, you don’t need to butter anyone up, just don’t offend them. You’ve got your own charm, anyway. With your face, I refuse to believe anyone could dislike you at first sight.”
Being praised so bluntly, Bai Mao couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re only saying that because you’re biased,” he teased.
Before he could say more, his phone buzzed. He paused, switched screens, and froze the moment he saw the message.
Sent it to the wrong person?
How could that be? He definitely hadn’t.
He’d taken his time picking that “study material” for Mr. Yu, even sending it early in the evening so the man could “study” properly before bed.
He’d imagined they might even discuss the material together later that night, an enlightening exchange of “knowledge,” perhaps reaching a deeper, harmonious “understanding of life.”
And now this?
Bai Mao blinked in confusion.
Why would Mr. Yu think he’d sent it to the wrong person?
Did he perhaps assume he didn’t need such material, that his “skills” were already beyond reproach?
After all, judging from what happened the last time they met… Mr. Yu might indeed think highly of his own abilities.
Especially since Bai Mao had been too embarrassed to say aloud that his patron wasn’t exactly… impressive in certain areas.
After all, a man who had used four boxes of Rainy Day Protection in one night clearly believed himself a paragon of endurance.
Or maybe, maybe Mr. Yu hadn’t watched it at all, only saw the filename labeled “study material” and assumed it was a mistake?
Xu Dongming was still talking on the other end, his tone warm and light. “Seriously, you don’t have to worry too much. With your personality, you’ll get along fine. You’re not the type to put on a fake persona anyway, wait, what’s wrong? You’ve gone quiet.”
Bai Mao’s eyes were still on the message. “Hold on, ge. Mr. Yu just texted me.”
Hearing that name, Xu Dongming instantly fell silent. He knew better than to interrupt.
Bai Mao quickly typed back:
“Mr. Yu, did you see the contents of the video?”
In his study, Yu Xiangchen’s eyes flicked toward the screen as the message popped up.
He began to type:
“I thought it was a recording from your acting class, so I opened it to check.”
But as soon as the words appeared on the screen, he frowned and deleted them.
That explanation was unnecessary.
Yu Xiangchen was very clear about one thing, “Uncle Yu,” the benefactor who had sponsored Bai Mao through his schooling, could have said something like that.
He had every right to care about the boy’s growth and achievements. That was why he had opened the file in the first place.
But “Patron Yu,” the man in their current relationship, could not.
It would only lead to misunderstandings.
With that in mind, Yu Xiangchen retyped a simpler reply:
“I saw it.”
Bai Mao stared at the screen.
Oh.
So he did see it, and still replied so calmly?
Then clearly, Mr. Yu must be very confident in his abilities.
Bai Mao fell into thought.
Should he, next time, just lie there motionless, like a dead fish, and let his lack of reaction speak for itself? That might make the point more directly.
…No, no, that wouldn’t do.
A qualified canary’s job was to make its patron feel pleased and satisfied.
If the benefactor lost interest halfway, what if he went looking elsewhere?
Fish and bear’s paw, one couldn’t have both.
Bai Mao quickly decided to play along. He typed, “Alright, I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Yu. That was an accident. It won’t happen again.”
Forget it. He’d just act cute next time and steer the situation where he wanted.
A moment later, another message appeared, “It’s fine. Just be careful next time.”
Businesslike. Polite. Detached.
But then, a few seconds later, came a follow-up, “I don’t have those kinds of worldly desires.”
Bai Mao: “???”
What?
What?!
He blinked at the message, utterly speechless.
Worldly… desires?
Really?
When you were pressing me against the wall, breathing like a wild animal, you didn’t seem that detached from the mortal world!
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
Bai Mao could only reply lifelessly:
“Understood, Mr. Yu.”
He switched back to the video call. “Okay, ge, I’m done replying. Let’s continue.”
That night, after taking notes for the variety show, Bai Mao washed up and went to bed.
And even though Mr. Yu had claimed to be above earthly lust, Bai Mao still dutifully studied two or three more “educational” clips, after all, if the older man’s technique improved, he would be the one to benefit.
Once he felt adequately “enlightened,” he drifted off to sleep, ready for the next “academic exchange.”
But in the days that followed, Yu Xiangchen never came to the “birdcage” again.
Bai Mao began to worry, had his “study material” struck too deep a blow to Mr. Yu’s pride?
…Damn. That would be a serious loss.
Travel With Us was one of the country’s most popular travel reality shows. Now entering its second season, each episode featured four regular cast members and two guest stars.
With its mix of humor, breathtaking landscapes, and genuine charity work, the show had maintained solid ratings since day one.
Bai Mao’s invitation to join the show came thanks to one of its regulars, a senior artist from CDL Entertainment, the same company he was signed under.
After his talent show ended, Bai Mao’s popularity had plummeted.
He’d filmed both a drama and a web series, but neither passed review for broadcast approval. Three months had gone by, and even reruns of the talent show had stopped airing.
Only a single sportswear commercial was still keeping his name somewhat alive online.
So, the company decided to use this opportunity, have a senior colleague bring him along to gain exposure before the public forgot him entirely.
“Hello, Senior Xu.”
The moment Bai Mao climbed into the van, he bowed slightly in greeting, just as a camera lens zoomed right in on his face.
He blinked. “We’re already filming?”
“Yes,” Xu Jian, the senior artist, chuckled. “First time doing this kind of show, huh? Come, sit here.”
Bai Mao smiled gratefully and slid into the seat beside him.
They hadn’t interacted much before, just polite nods in the company hallways. Though management had asked Xu Jian to “take care” of him, Bai Mao knew such help only went so far. Giving him the guest slot was already more than enough.
Bai Mao wasn’t naive. He knew gratitude when it was due.
“I saw that sportswear ad you did,” Xu Jian said, grinning. “Looked great! Running in the cold like that with just a T-shirt and shorts, must’ve been tough. But I know that director, he’s a perfectionist. Still, your effort paid off. The final cut looked fantastic.”
Bai Mao’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, the director’s really talented. And it’s work, I was just doing my part. Thank you for the compliment, senior.”
See? Building connections really did pay off.
For now, it was just the two of them in the van. Soon, the other three regular cast members arrived, one woman and two men, all well-established figures with impressive resumes.
Despite their stature, they were easygoing, and soon the van was filled with laughter and chatter.
Bai Mao’s bright personality, quick wit, and striking looks made it easy for him to blend in.
Everything was going smoothly, until the final guest arrived.
A tall figure stepped into the van and introduced himself with a calm smile. “Hello everyone, I’m Shang Tongrui.”
Bai Mao froze.
Him?
Of all people, it was White Sheng’s knight in shining armor, Client No. 1 himself!
He hadn’t expected to see Shang Tongrui here of all places.
The man had been a generous contributor to his recent “funding goals”, one day’s interaction had earned Bai Mao a solid fifteen hundred yuan.
And if White Sheng kept performing enthusiastically, there’d definitely be more income ahead.
Easy money.
If only he’d met someone like Shang Tongrui back in his school days, life would’ve been so much simpler.
Just for that, Bai Mao genuinely liked him.
He beamed. “Nice to meet you.”
But Shang Tongrui only gave him a faint glance, his tone polite but distant. “Hello.”
Bai Mao blinked again.
Right. Of course.
Shang Tongrui was a rising star, half a top-tier idol already, and one of the company’s most heavily promoted artists.
It was said that he was a rich second generation , the kind of man born with a silver spoon and a bottomless bank account.
His entry into the entertainment industry was nothing but a game, a casual experiment. Every drama he had joined before this had been backed by his own investments, bringing capital into the crew, throwing money like it was water. In short, he was rich and reckless.
He and Bai Mao had technically debuted around the same time, but their paths had been very different.
While Bai Mao had spent two or three quiet years away from the spotlight, Shang Tongrui had entered the screen with a dazzling start, earning wave after wave of praise. He continued to progress steadily, building up a solid career brick by brick.
By now, Shang Tongrui already had several impressive works under his belt.
The only thing was, he was still young. Two years younger than Bai Mao, just barely twenty. He’d been pampered since birth, never once facing a real setback in his life. That made him… a little naive.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been tricked by Bai Mao.
In the original story, Shang Tongrui embodied the phrase “a fool with too much money” to perfection.
Because he liked Bai Sheng, he had poured money into several of Bai Sheng’s films and television projects, entirely out of his own pocket.
Among those were two costly art films that audiences didn’t care for but critics adored. Bai Sheng collected awards one after another, while Shang Tongrui lost money until even his mother wouldn’t have recognized his bank account.
And in the end, what he got in return was a single card from Bai Sheng and a sentence, “You’re a good person. I’ve always seen you as a younger brother.”
Tragic , with a capital T.
The two of them were silent for most of the ride. When they finally reached the airport, Shang Tongrui bumped Bai Mao’s shoulder as they got out of the car.
“Just wait,” he said coldly. “One day, I’ll make sure the whole world sees who you really are.”
At that, Bai Mao almost laughed. Every time he saw Shang Tongrui, he couldn’t help but recall the memory of the boy being dragged home by his furious parents after getting beaten half to death, to finally give up on showbiz and take over the family business.
He smiled lazily. “Oh? And what face would that be?”
Shang Tongrui froze for a second.
He quickly reached over to switch off both their microphones before muttering, “The fact that you abuse your little brother.”
He spoke in a tone of accusation, though he’d made sure to cut the recording, after all, it wouldn’t be good if such a thing leaked before it was confirmed.
He gave a sharp laugh, scanning Bai Mao up and down. “And really, you’re a grown man already. What’s with this childish stunt, running away from home like some middle-school kid? Don’t you think it’s a little embarrassing?”
…That was not something any mature adult would say.
Bai Mao tilted his head in amusement. “Run away from home? Is that what Bai Sheng told you?”
“Why? Isn’t that the truth?” Shang Tongrui frowned, his tone filled with skepticism.
Bai Mao chuckled, patting his shoulder. “Since you had the good sense to turn off the mic, I won’t charge you for these next few sentences. Consider it a free gift.”
He smiled. “I was only recognized by the Bai family after the talent show and I only stayed there for two days. The guest room quilt was damp, the air conditioner was broken, and it was freezing cold. My dear big brother even tried to lock me up, sell me off, really. So tell me, could I stay any longer than that?”
Shang Tongrui blinked in disbelief. “What??”
Bai Mao’s eyes curved with a hint of mischief. “Juicy enough for you?”
He was the victim here, he had no reason to hide the truth and besides, every word he said was real.
If Shang Tongrui went around spreading this, the ones who should be nervous weren’t Bai Mao but the Bai family and Bai Sheng, who had just stepped into the entertainment circle.
Of course, as Bai Sheng’s self-proclaimed protector, Shang Tongrui probably wouldn’t dare.
The thought made Bai Mao lose interest in continuing the conversation.
Shang Tongrui still looked doubtful.
“You’re kidding me, right?” he asked, staring at Bai Mao.
But Bai Mao’s voice had been too calm, his explanation too straightforward. It didn’t sound like a lie. Still, the story itself was too absurd to believe.
The Shang and Bai families had business ties. As a member of the Shang family, Shang Tongrui had heard about the Bai family’s “long-lost son” reunion.
The Bai family had made a fortune in new energy, they weren’t short on money. Why would they make their son sleep in a damp guest room with a broken air conditioner? Why lock him up?
Wouldn’t they be full of love and guilt and want to make it up to him?
Could that kind of thing really happen in the twenty-first century? Impossible.
But Bai Mao didn’t bother arguing. He shrugged and said lazily, “I’ve already given you so much free information. From this question onward, I charge. If you want to know whether I’m lying, you can pay up first.”
He held out a hand.
Shang Tongrui, rich as he was, didn’t care about a bit of money but he wasn’t about to let Bai Mao profit off him.
Seeing no reaction, Bai Mao only smiled, turned around, and walked off to catch up with the others.
This episode of Let’s Travel! took the group to an ancient town still untouched by modern tourism, tucked away deep in the mountains.
After a long journey, plane, then train, then bus, everyone was exhausted. Their initial excitement had long faded. But when the director’s van climbed the winding mountain road and the old town finally came into view, surrounded by lush green hills, even the tired ones couldn’t help but gasp.
The town spread from the foot of the mountain up toward the middle, roofs layered among the greenery, forming a serene, picturesque view. A slender river wound through the buildings, where fishermen in small boats rowed slowly along the water.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
One tiny coffee. One very happy translator. ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · A Nightmare or Reality?Chapter 2 · Yu family’s BanquetChapter 3 · I know your Secret..Chapter 4 · Becoming A Stand-InChapter 5 · Real IntentionChapter 6 · Yu XiangchenChapter 7 · Moved into new houseChapter 8 · Why he’s so perfect?!Chapter 9 · Role stolenChapter 10 · Four Times a WeekChapter 11 · Wrong Message?Chapter 12 · Flower protectorChapter 13 · Study MaterialChapter 14 Part 1 · I don’t have that kind of worldly desireChapter 14 Part 2 · I don’t have that kind of worldly desireChapter 15 · Four thousand yuan has arrived in AlipayChapter 16 · In the River?Chapter 17 · Boss like him, People would ready to do OvertimeChapter 18 · Does Mr. Yu have two faces?!Chapter 19 · Now we can begin to express our gratitude.Chapter 20 · Split Personality!Chapter 21 · Mr. Yu is busy and may not have time to comeChapter 22 · Call duration: 0:12Chapter 23 · He’s not Worth itChapter 24 · Mr Yu on film setChapter 25 · You can consider me if you decided to leave Mr. YuChapter 26 · Big Sister has unique hobbyChapter 27 · Really? I’m actually the young master of the Bai family?Chapter 28 · Bai Sheng is Pitiful?Chapter 29 · Someone took a picture of themChapter 30 · Your little one is hereChapter 31 · Mr. Yu asked me if I had a stiff neckChapter 32 · The little lucky butterfly’s wings flutteredChapter 33 · Mr. Yu, you came here just once at the beginningChapter 34 · The door wasn’t lockedChapter 35 · You’re an adult nowChapter 36 · Are rooms still available by scrambling?Chapter 37 · I’m definitely going to watch this variety show!Chapter 38 · Who asked Bai Sheng for money to support Bai Mao?Chapter 39 · How many zeros are there?Chapter 40 · You have to be careful with your methodsChapter 41 · Let’s get MarriedChapter 42 · I’m obviously just coveting your body!Chapter 43 · Does what we’re doing count as Sneaking?Chapter 44 · You want to change rooms?Chapter 45 · Isn’t Bai Sheng’s scheming way too deep?Chapter 46 · Mr. Yu in front of me has become calm and composedChapter 47 · You care a lot about Yu Yutian?Chapter 48 · Bai Sheng has found someoneChapter 49 · How to fall in loveChapter 50 · Uncle Long LegsChapter 51 · Bai Mao, I’m a little scaredChapter 52 · I simply told them the truthChapter 53 · That was far too mercilessChapter 54 · Your fans mention it in your fan forumChapter 55 · In your dreamsChapter 56 · Hello, UncleChapter 57 · Verified account had repliedChapter 58 · Maomao, you don’t need to be afraid of themChapter 59 · What a headacheChapter 60 · It’s a bit… tragicChapter 61 · I’m waiting for you at homeChapter 62 · That’s just too much!Chapter 63 · Is this watch really that expensive?Chapter 64 · Tian CityChapter 65 · They’re easy to get along with.Chapter 66 · Want to have a relationship with marriage in mind?Chapter 67 · Is this the joy of being someone’s “little uncle”?Chapter 68 · Has the protagonist finally figured it out?Chapter 69 · I miss youChapter 70 · That whole family is something else.Chapter 71 · Then comfort meChapter 72 · What about sincerity?Chapter 73 · There’s also 10% of the company’s sharesChapter 74 · So called conservativeChapter 75 · I thought you’d be walking with a limpChapter 76 · They’ve been brainwashedChapter 77 · We got marriedChapter 78 · CongratulationsChapter 79 · You already knew it was me?Chapter 80 · You look very good in a shirtChapter 81 · Did you used to like Bai Sheng?Chapter 82 · I never liked himChapter 83 · Uncle is super niceChapter 84 · Extra 1Chapter 85 · Extra 2Chapter 86 · Extra 3