The familiar cool lips brought back recent memories.
Only one thing was different from the last time on the reality show:
There were no cameras, no audience, no host, and no background noise.
It felt like time had stopped.
The awkward stillness lasted about two seconds.
Then, suddenly, a phone rang like an alarm bell.
Jiang Yu quickly got up.
Yu Shiqing slowly sat up too. He heard Jiang Yu answer the phone and walk away. His voice grew fainter, blocked by the glass balcony door.
Jiang Yu stood with his back to the living room. On the other end, Yan Hongyun was talking non-stop, but Jiang Yu couldn’t focus. His heart was beating too loudly.
“Jiang Yu? Jiang Yu?”
Jiang Yu snapped back and said calmly, “I’ll handle the money. I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”
Yan Hongyun sounded excited. “Really? That’s great.”
But the call was cut off before he could finish.
Jiang Yu slipped the phone back into his pocket. He turned slightly and looked back.
Yu Shiqing was still sitting on the sofa, drinking a glass of warm water from the table. Calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.
Just like after that reality show.
Jiang Yu looked away, letting the cold wind outside calm his thoughts before returning to the living room.
Hearing movement, Yu Shiqing turned his head.
Jiang Yu said, “It was Yan Hongyun.”
Yu Shiqing had guessed that and said, “I made an appointment with Director Shi for 2 p.m.”
The tense mood in the room eased with the topic change.
Jiang Yu’s expression was cold again but he no longer objected. “Okay.”
Yu Shiqing smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of myself.”
Jiang Yu gave him a look. “You better.”
After promising, Yu Shiqing changed clothes. Before he could leave, Jiang Yu checked him over and handed him a scarf.
“This should be enough, right?” Yu Shiqing tied the scarf and looked to him for approval.
Jiang Yu replied indifferently, “So-so.”
His final warning: “If you feel unwell at all, leave right away. I don’t want all my effort these past two days to go to waste.”
Yu Shiqing smiled. “Got it.”
Thankfully, Yu Shiqing was fine after leaving the house.
After chatting for a while, Shi Zhefing found out Yu Shiqing had been sick and apologized profusely.
“If I’d known, I would’ve told you to stay home!”
Yu Shiqing said, “It’s okay.”
Shi Zhefing shook his head. “No way. If your illness got worse, it would’ve been my fault!”
Before they parted, he asked Jiang Yu if he had time to do a cameo role.
He had this idea ever since visiting the Doomsday Rescue set and seeing Jiang Yu act. Yan Hongyun had said Jiang Yu had real talent. At the very least, his acting wouldn’t drag the movie down. Plus, Jiang Yu was very popular. A cameo would only help the film.
Jiang Yu glanced at Yu Shiqing.
Doing the cameo would be doing Shi Zhefing a favor and an opportunity too.
But Jiang Yu answered truthfully, “I have several concerts after the New Year. I’m not sure if I can make it.”
Shi Zhefing asked curiously, “How many?”
After leaving the Dawn production, they had to reorganize everything from locations to props. They had already been preparing for a while, so waiting for Jiang Yu a bit longer wouldn’t be a big issue.
Jiang Yu said, “Twenty-six.”
The concerts had been planned before Doomsday Rescue started. But with how busy he was recently; he couldn’t hold too many.
Shi Zhefing: “…”
Okay then. So “a few” was just a figure of speech.
He smiled and said, “The movie won’t start for about a month, and the shoot will take time. If needed, we can check your schedule later. No rush.”
He could tell Jiang Yu and Yu Shiqing had a close relationship. With Yu Shiqing around, it would be easy to keep in touch. It wasn’t unusual to finalize casting during production anyway.
The three of them chatted a bit more before saying goodbye at the door.
The sky was starting to darken.
On the drive home, they passed a supermarket. Jiang Yu noticed Yu Shiqing looked well and suggested, “Your fridge is empty. Want to buy some New Year’s groceries?”
Yu Shiqing said, “Sure.”
Ren Bai had joked about them spending New Year’s together. Who would’ve thought time would pass so quickly and so perfectly? Because of his illness, Jiang Yu had stayed almost three days. Tomorrow night, they would really ring in the new year together.
Jiang Yu looked at him, then got out of the car.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. The streets of the capital were quiet, with barely anyone around. So, they didn’t gear up completely and just casually bought some food and drinks before checking out.
While Yu Shiqing was paying, Jiang Yu had a strange feeling and glanced behind them.
Yu Shiqing asked, “What is it?”
Jiang Yu said, “Nothing. Maybe I was seeing things.”
But not long after they got home, Ren Bai’s call came in.
“You two are really enjoying yourselves, huh? Grocery shopping together?”
He sighed. “Wondering how I know? Dude, you were followed by paparazzi again!”
It was trending online.
In the animated photos posted by the paparazzi under the hashtag #JiangYuYuShiqing, they were clearly seen choosing groceries together in the supermarket.
Aside from a few comments speculating on their relationship, most of the posts were Jiang Yu’s fans scolding the paparazzi for invading privacy.
But since some exposure helped keep a celebrity relevant, neither New Era Studio nor Jiang Yu’s team tried to control the trending topic.
Then suddenly—
A suspicious post about Yu Shiqing was flooded by bots.
“Is Yu Shiqing done riding the hype? He’s been in nothing but bad movies for years. At least we didn’t have to see him before, but now he keeps clinging to Jiang Yu to get on trending. Where’s the new movie? Probably another flop!”
In just ten minutes, reposts, comments, and likes exploded.
The discussion shifted. People were talking about their joint movie again.
“’Epic sci-fi’ just seeing those words makes me laugh.”
“I kind of liked Yu Shiqing recently, but honestly, domestic special effects? No thanks.”
“Has Yu Shiqing acted in so many bad movies that his acting’s gone too?”
“Honestly, New Era signing Yu Shiqing feels like charity. He’s been flopping for four years what’s even the point?”
While Yu Shiqing was still on the phone with Ren Bai, Jiang Yu was sitting beside him. Seeing the trending topic, he called Yan Hongyun.
Five minutes later, while netizens were still mocking them.
The first official trailer for Doomsday Rescue dropped with a bang!
