“So beautiful…” one of the guests sighed.
Bai Mao thought the same.
Since their phones were confiscated by the crew, he borrowed the director’s for a moment, taking photos from different angles until he found the perfect shot. Then he sent it to a private group chat.
Later, when he got his phone back, he would send the photos to Mr. Yu and once he returned to Beicheng, he’d print them out for Uncle Long Legs.
A small smile curved his lips. He was in a very good mood.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Shang Tongrui glancing at him over and over again.
The boy still seemed lost in thought, probably mulling over what Bai Mao had said earlier.
On one hand, he trusted Bai Sheng. On the other, he couldn’t quite shake off the feeling that Bai Mao had no reason to lie, after all, their phones were taken, the recording was off. There was no incentive to make something up.
And his expression back then…
They were all actors, but Shang Tongrui had to admit, Bai Mao’s emotion at that moment had felt too real.
If it was acting, then his skills were terrifying.
And then, out of nowhere, Bai Mao smiled, that soft, genuine kind of smile. The moonlight caught the corner of his eyes, and for a brief moment, Shang Tongrui forgot to breathe.
Even though he’d never liked Bai Mao before, he had to admit, the man was stunning. In a circle full of beautiful faces, Bai Mao still stood out.
In an industry obsessed with looks, how had he not become famous sooner? It was almost unbelievable.
“What are you staring at me for?” Bai Mao suddenly asked.
Shang Tongrui jolted, snapping back to reality. His palms were slightly sweaty. Embarrassed, he forced himself to stay calm. “I wasn’t staring. I was just… thinking about what you said.”
“Then think slowly,” Bai Mao replied with a faint laugh.
Half an hour later, they finally reached the ancient town.
The director arranged for all six guests to stay at the village chief’s house. The place had been tidied up in advance and looked surprisingly clean.
The only female guest got her own room. Two others drew lots and won a comfortable double room, laughing and joking as they dragged their suitcases inside.
That left Bai Mao, Xu Jian, and Shang Tongrui to share the last room, a large communal space.
“Come on, let’s take a look,” Xu Jian said cheerfully, stepping in first, only to exclaim in dismay.
Bai Mao poked his head in and immediately understood why. The room was tiny, with three narrow beds lined up together, nothing but hard boards, not even a sheet or blanket.
A setup like that could only mean one thing: variety show comedy.
“Now this is just cruel!” Xu Jian protested, half to the camera. “No bedding at all? How are we supposed to sleep? And these two kids are first-time guests! Is this how we welcome them? What if no one ever comes on the show again?”
Bai Mao joined in with mock outrage. “Exactly! The kids will get mad!”
Then, turning to Shang Tongrui with a teasing grin, he said, “Go on, get mad.”
“…What?” Shang Tongrui blinked.
He hated the way Bai Mao looked at him , like he was some small child. His face flushed red. “Who’s a kid!? I’m twenty!”
Xu Jian chuckled. “Ah, youth. How nice.”
Still laughing, they got to work.
Bai Mao found the folded quilts in the wardrobe, but they smelled musty from sitting too long, so he carried them outside to air in the courtyard.
The senior guests who had drawn the nice room passed by and, upon hearing about the situation, couldn’t hold back their laughter.
“Good thing we got the double room!” one crowed. “Everything’s ready for us!”
“Do you need help?”
“Nope, we’re good!” Bai Mao replied.
“Didn’t think so, haha!”
Bai Mao could only shake his head helplessly.
He worked efficiently, movements smooth and practiced. Xu Jian, watching from the doorway, raised a brow. “You’re used to this, huh? Did you do chores at home too?”
Bai Mao smiled faintly. “Something like that.”
He had no desire to mention his childhood at the orphanage, it wasn’t something worth bringing up for sympathy.
Shang Tongrui listened quietly, sneaking glances at him. He was the youngest among them, and even though he wasn’t used to manual work, he couldn’t just stand by. So, awkward and red-eared, he joined in to help hang the quilts.
By the time everything was ready, it was already mid-afternoon.
Their next stop was the local elementary school, where they donated supplies and played games with the children. When the sun began to set and the sky turned gold, they returned to the village chief’s house, tired but cheerful.
Bai Mao and Shang Tongrui carried the now-fresh quilts back to their room and started making the beds.
Xu Jian stretched. “Tongrui, help me with this blanket.”
Shang Tongrui took one corner and froze.
Born into wealth, he had never done such a thing in his life. The household staff had always handled his bedding. He fumbled awkwardly, turning the duvet this way and that, completely at a loss.
In the end, Bai Mao had to guide him step by step until he finally managed to get the cover on.
He waited for ridicule but Bai Mao said nothing.
Later that evening, when they found a brief moment alone, Shang Tongrui turned off his mic and blurted, “You’re laughing at me in your head, aren’t you?”
“…What?” Bai Mao blinked.
“The blanket thing,” Shang Tongrui muttered, his ears red. “You think I’m stupid.”
Bai Mao smiled. “No. I think it’s kind of nice, actually.”
Shang Tongrui stared, completely thrown off.
Seeing his confusion, Bai Mao also switched off his mic and spoke softly. “It means you’ve had a good life, that your parents love you and take care of everything. That’s not something to be ashamed of. A lot of people would envy that.”
Then, glancing toward the recording device, he added with a teasing grin, “And considering how you turned out, you’re still within the range of tolerable rich kids.”
Hot-headed, gullible, and too easily used but not a bad person.
Shang Tongrui looked at him with a complicated expression, emotions churning. He was about to say something, maybe even admit that he’d started to see Bai Mao differently, when Bai Mao suddenly held out his palm and said:
“By the way, those two questions? That’ll be a thousand yuan. Cash is fine, or you can transfer it later on Alipay or WeChat.”
He raised a brow. “You’re not the type to default on payment, right?”
Shang Tongrui’s face darkened instantly.
Damn it.
All the warmth and emotion evaporated on the spot.
This man really was obsessed with money!
After dinner, night had fully fallen.
The villagers went to bed early, and after a long, exhausting day, the guests were equally worn out. One by one, they showered and climbed into bed.
Shang Tongrui ended up sleeping beside Bai Mao.
Bai Mao drifted off almost instantly, curled up under the blanket, breathing evenly.
In the faint moonlight streaming through the window, Shang Tongrui found himself staring at Bai Mao’s side profile, quiet, peaceful, and inexplicably gentle.
Half an hour later, unable to sleep, he finally got up, tiptoeing to the door.
Just as he turned the handle, Bai Mao’s drowsy voice floated from the bed.
“…Where are you going?”
“Bathroom,” Shang Tongrui whispered.
“Oh.”
And then the room fell silent again.
He turned over and went right back to sleep.
Meanwhile, Shang Tongrui was creeping around like a thief in the night. He quietly borrowed the director’s phone, since his own had been confiscated, and went to a secluded corner to make a call.
“Mom, I wanted to ask about the Bai family… yeah, the one in the new energy industry.”
He spoke slowly, repeating most of what Bai Mao had told him earlier. “Mom, could you help me check if it’s true?”
For a long while, he just listened. His mother’s gentle voice came through the line, calm and unhurried. As he listened, his eyes gradually widened.
“…How could this be? The Bai family did something like that just to climb higher in social circles? Yu Wantian? Isn’t he that infamous playboy, wait, the Bai family is actually willing to give their own son to him? As in, that kind of relationship? Without marriage?”
He fell silent for a long time before his voice came out again, disbelieving. “Even if he was missing for more than ten years, even if they don’t have much affection left, he’s still their biological son. How could they do that to him?”
Shang Tongrui was completely shaken.
He had grown up in a warm, loving home. His parents were kind, his friends were all from similar backgrounds, and for years he had lived in a little world where everything felt normal and safe. To him, families were supposed to be gentle and good.
He had never imagined that something so twisted could actually happen in real life, that a parent could truly not love their own child.
When he finally hung up, his expression was complicated. His thoughts were a tangled mess.
He remembered Bai Mao’s quiet tone, the way he spoke without bitterness, and the subtle glimpses of pain hidden beneath his calm words.
Bai Mao had never once badmouthed his parents. In fact, he even spoke well of them. But the scattered things he had said over time, when pieced together by Shang Tongrui and others, painted a completely different picture.
They had imagined a temperamental, resentful young man who couldn’t adapt after being brought back to his biological parents, who hated Bai Sheng, the adopted son who had taken his place, and who stormed out after being lightly scolded by his parents.
Yet, after actually spending time with Bai Mao, Shang Tongrui realized none of that was true.
Returning the borrowed phone, he crept back into the shared room. Lying in bed, he stared at Bai Mao’s sleeping face under the soft moonlight, eyes open until dawn. Only when the first traces of sunlight spilled in did he finally drift into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Bai Mao, who had been completely worn out from the bumpy ride the day before, woke refreshed after a long, dreamless rest. Feeling energized, he got up early to help Grandma cook breakfast alongside Xu Jian.
The small mountain town wasn’t exactly modern. The kitchen still used a clay stove, burning bundles of wheat and corn stalks for fuel.
Bai Mao knew how to cook, but he had never used such an old-fashioned stove before. After several failed attempts, smoke filled the room, and soon he was coughing, face streaked with ash. Laughing helplessly, he ran off to wash up.
When he came back, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
Shang Tongrui shuffled out of the room like a ghost, dark circles under his eyes so heavy they could scare children.
“You didn’t sleep well?” Bai Mao blinked in surprise. “Those eye bags are serious!”
“…It’s nothing,” Shang Tongrui murmured, his tone uncertain. Then, hesitating a moment, he whispered, “Don’t worry. Once I get my phone back, I’ll transfer the money to you.”
Bai Mao blinked. “Uh… alright.”
What’s with this sudden enlightenment?
Still, money was money!
Bai Mao had lived through enough hard days to know that cash solved most problems. Seeing Shang Tongrui suddenly so agreeable, his mood instantly lifted.
The rest of the day was packed with activities.
The group explored the little mountain town, filming one silly game after another for the variety show. They rowed boats, visited elderly villagers, hiked to the top of a nearby peak, and ended the day watching a sunset that painted the mountains gold.
That night, the production team gathered everyone again for a “fireside chat” at the town chief’s house, more footage for the show, of course.
By then, they had recorded plenty of material. The director finally stopped assigning new tasks.
Some guests had conflicting schedules and left immediately after filming.
The rest, including Bai Mao, stayed one last night to rest before heading home.
When they had first arrived, everyone had been full of excitement. Now, they were utterly drained.
Standing beside Xu Jian the next morning, Bai Mao rubbed his temples and sighed. “Senior Xu, are all the variety shows this intense? I watched previous episodes, they didn’t look this bad.”
Xu Jian chuckled. “That’s editing for you. Reality is exhausting; the final cut lasts five minutes.”
Bai Mao fell silent.
Thinking of their endless hiking shots, he could already imagine the broadcast version: probably three minutes long, at most.
Tragic.
Completely tragic.
He slumped into the van’s seat for the long trip back. The moment he got his phone back, he began furiously sending photos to Mr. Yu, every scenic shot, every candid moment.
When he finished, he typed, “Mr. Yu, I’ll be home around eight tonight. I don’t have any work for the next few days, lots of free time.”
Then he added a “cute kitten tilting its head and smiling” meme.
After that grueling “vacation,” Bai Mao was desperate for comfort, and preferably, a warm hug.
But Mr. Yu didn’t reply.
Bai Mao didn’t mind. He closed his eyes and fell asleep again, lulled by the hum of the van.
Hours later, train, then plane, then a long ride home, he finally stumbled out of the airport, clinging dramatically to Xu Dongming. “Dongming-ge, you lied to me! This wasn’t a relaxing variety show at all, it was boot camp! I’m dying!”
Xu Dongming patted his shoulder, laughing. “You earned good money though.”
Once in the car, Bai Mao checked his phone again, and froze.
Mr. Yu had replied.
He’d sent an Excel spreadsheet.
Bai Mao blinked. “…?”
A very bad feeling crept up his spine. He downloaded the file, opened it, and nearly screamed.
It was laid out like a university timetable, every single day of the coming week meticulously filled in.
Monday: 8:00–9:30 a.m., body posture training.
10:00–11:30 a.m., physical conditioning.
Lunch break: nearly two hours.
2:00–3:30 p.m., speech and diction class.
4:00–5:30 p.m., acting fundamentals.
Evening: rest and “free activities.”
And so it went on, every day perfectly scheduled.
Bai Mao stared at it, speechless. He finally sent Mr. Yu several rows of question marks. “??? Mr. Yu, what… is this?”
Mr. Yu replied almost instantly. “A schedule. I had someone make it just for you.”
“You said you were free, didn’t you?”
Bai Mao sat there, staring at the screen, his soul slowly leaving his body.
Alright. He believed it now.
Mr. Yu truly was a man without any worldly desires.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ END OF CHAPTER ✦ BEGIN COFFEE NEGOTIATIONS ✦
☕ 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