Chapter 64

When Jiang Yu said that, the first people to react weren’t Yu Shiqing, but Ji Chen and Su Yayi, standing nearby. They had seen the online comments about the two of them. Thinking of how many people were watching this live stream, Ji Chen felt his eyelid twitch uncontrollably. “Pisces cp.” Even without meeting regularly, just a few days on the show made it clear: the massive “cp” fanbase wasn’t coincidence it was self-made by these two.

“Listen to what you’re saying: offering yourself? Who wouldn’t say ‘I wish you happiness’?” Since Jiang Yu didn’t take it seriously, joking like that probably wasn’t a problem. Ji Chen stepped forward: “Hehe,” he said to Jiang Yu. “Bro, isn’t that too direct? Look, you’re holding equipment hooked to the live stream. Yu-ge can’t officially respond!”

“What?” Jiang Yu frowned. “Hooked to the live stream?”
The crew hadn’t told him that this device’s recording was shown live. He thought the footage would be edited later. That morning, Wu Luo read the letter while he and Yu Shiqing were changing clothes in the dressing room. When they came out, they only saw Ji Chen and Su Yayi joking.

Ji Chen froze, thinking, Oh no! Was Jiang Yu speaking without knowing? Whether sincere or joking, media would blow it up. He clenched his brow regretting the reminder. Maybe the audience wouldn’t have misinterpreted otherwise. What to do now?

Just then, Jiang Yu pointed the camera at Yu Shiqing.
“You heard that. The audience is waiting for your answer.”

Ji Chen’s worried expression froze.
Well? Not quite what he expected. But somehow… so natural? Watching Jiang Yu’s profile, Ji Chen silently admired him: this was how you defuse a public relations crisis, smart and graceful.

Yu Shiqing, standing opposite him, saw his expression fully. His gaze softened slightly. Then he turned to Jiang Yu: “What does the audience want me to say?”

Jiang Yu’s tone was calm: “Your honest thought, of course.”

Yu Shiqing smiled: “Then I definitely agree this doesn’t sound like a loss to me.”

Jiang Yu just stared at the screen. Even knowing it was a joke, his lips still curved again: “This was your promise, don’t back out.”

Yu Shiqing didn’t overthink: “Sure.” Then he asked, “Since you’re offering everything, does that mean I’ll listen to you always?”

Jiang Yu answered decisively: “No.”

Yu Shiqing fell silent. Then he said, “Then I want to choose again. I want the prize.”

“Didn’t I say no backing out?” Jiang Yu pressed a smile. “This is your prize.” He then turned off the camera and walked toward the group.

At the starting point, Su Yayi, Wu Luo, and Xi Mingjie were trying to draw their first bows but all failed. Su Yayi sighed and put down her bow. She turned and saw Jiang Yu. “Jiang Ge, finally remembered us?”

The audience noticed then: since morning, all footage had been focused on Yu Shiqing even scenic shots showed him closest.
“Too real… moved to tears by this perfect love!”
“Oh! Don’t forget ‘this is your prize!’ So, I’m your prize?? Jiang Yu: I want to see who still thinks I’m straight!”

When Yu Shiqing walked over, the coach said: “Those choosing archery stay; others can go to the equestrian range.”

Wei Yuanju asked: “Can we try both?”

The coach nodded: “Yes, you can try both, then choose.”

Ji Chen exclaimed: “Let’s go then!” The equestrian field was far, so they took the coach’s van. After Jiang Yu settled in, he set the camera aside recording all day was hard work.

“Thanks for your effort, senior.”
Wu Luo sat opposite on the other side of the aisle and offered him a bottle of water. Jiang Yu accepted: “Thank you.” Wu Luo’s eyes sparkled as he spoke to his idol.

Jiang Yu didn’t notice. He drank and asked Yu Shiqing: “Thirsty?”

Wu Luo glanced across and saw Yu Shiqing seated by the window. He reached under his seat for another bottle and saw Jiang Yu handing Yu Shiqing his own. Wu Luo awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Wei Yuanju, watching the exchange, commented: “You two are really close.”
“It’s said you met on Doom Rescue? Can’t tell now at first I thought you two had known each other for years.”

Ji Chen nodded in agreement.
Su Yayi said: “Maybe it’s love at first sight!”

Love at first sight? Yu Shiqing glanced at Jiang Yu, and a memory surfaced the first time they met: malicious marketing thrust them into a false scandal. If that first meet didn’t count, then the second the night of the accident it did. He remembered Nash evening smile.
Realizing this, Jiang Yu’s hand tightened around the camera.

“Hey,” Jiang Yu leaned a little closer, whispering low to Yu Shiqing: “Don’t misinterpret anything!”

Yu Shiqing laughed softly: “If you don’t mind, how do you know I’m misi—”
Jiang Yu gave him a dark look: “Anyway, don’t.”

Everyone else fell silent. Respect the livestream, they’re making it so easy to misinterpret!

Wei Yuanju cleared his throat: “Are you two talking about past events?”

Yu Shiqing answered: “Yes.”
Jiang Yu: “No.”

Wei Yuanju paused.
Yu Shiqing quickly corrects: “Not tonight. Just pretend nothing happened.”

That was exactly what he had said before, and it seemed Jiang Yu planned to follow through.

Wei Yuanju was puzzled. Jiang Yu? Yu Shiqing? What is going on?! But the bullet-chats (danmu) were full of excited “yooooo”s:
“There’s a story here!”
“OMG I really want to know what Jiang Yu doesn’t want Yu Shiqing to think about!”

Since neither explained, Wei Yuanju guessed it was private and switched topics: “Look, we’re arriving!”

Through the window was the equestrian field. After they got off, the coach taught them to wear safety gear, then choose horses.

Yu Shiqing didn’t use much time he led a horse from the stable.
He asked Jiang Yu: “Want to try?”

Jiang Yu said: “I don’t know how.”

Yu Shiqing said: “I’ll teach you.”

“Don’t worry. This one is gentle.” Yu Shiqing helped him mount, holding the reins and patting the horse. The horse moved forward gently.
Yu Shiqing rode steady and even trotted a small circle.

Su Yayi climbed aboard and watched him breeze past with grace. Her heart ached as she shouted: “I want one-on-one instruction too!”

Ji Chen said enviously: “Yu-ge, your skills aren’t as bad as you said.”

Yu Shiqing replied quietly: “Not bad.”

At the training field, the coach trotted a demo. Seeing the obstacle course, Ji Chen said: “I’ll just run it on foot.”
Jiang Yu, intrigued, said: “Let me try.”

Yu Shiqing reminded: “Be careful.”
Jiang Yu nodded: “I know.”

He ran steadily not fast but controlled. Though slower, the coach praised him as he returned.
“Unbelievable! I’ve never seen someone run this well on a horse their first time.”

He asked: “Have you never ridden before?”
Jiang Yu confirmed, and the coach praised him further.

Ji Chen shifted admiration back to Yu Shiqing. Coach then asked Yu Shiqing: “Want to try?”

Yu Shiqing said quietly: “Yes.”
Since he was already there, he didn’t refuse. He mounted and stood waiting with the others at the starting line.

When the coach began timing, Ji Chen’s vision blurred as Yu Shiqing set off like an arrow straight through three obstacles, nearly matching the coach’s speed. Later he slowed, likely for safety, and finished in about twice the coach’s time.

Ji Chen asked: “So is it hard for him to win?”

The coach looked complex: “No.”

Jiang Yu looked at him sharply: “You don’t think he can win?”

The coach shook his head: “He will win.”

Ji Chen: “Huh?”

“Because in competition, tourist obstacles differ,” the coach pointed to a simpler course nearby where they only needed to ride much easier. With Yu Shiqing’s speed, losing would be impossible.

At last, Yu Shiqing returned.
Su Yayi’s eyes lit up. “Yu-ge!”

Caught off guard, Ji Chen yelled: “What are you doing?”

But Su Yayi didn’t care. She approached Yu Shiqing:
“Yu-ge, since Jiang Ge filmed all day and the production covers his cost you don’t need to take my slot too, right?”

“Yu-ge!” Ji Chen cried, “I was first! Yesterday I got it first!!”

Su Yayi clutched Yu Shiqing’s arm: “Yu-ge, pity memy omega strength is zero, I really can’t do it!”

Ji Chen grabbed Yu Shiqing’s other arm: “Yu-ge, you can’t just leave me be!!”

Yu Shiqing smiled: “Let go first.”

Su Yayi refused: “Yu-ge, I can give myself to you too!”

Ji Chen: “Me too, I also…”

“Stop.” Yu Shiqing raised a hand, cutting him off. “Just save it.”

Ji Chen said bitterly: “I’m sincere!”

Su Yayi, gleefully at Ji Chen’s pain, asked: “So, Yu-ge, will you choose me?”

Yu Shiqing answered. “If I win.”

Ji Chen sadly cried: “Yu-ge, that’s gender discrimination!”

“Heh, pity you’re not an omega.”
Su Yayi made a face at Ji Chen and hugged Yu Shiqing: “Our Yu-ge understands caring.”