Jiang Yu’s pupils shrank.
He suddenly tightened his grip on Yu Shiqing’s hand, feeling truly at a loss for the first time.
Yu Shiqing’s kiss.
He looked at Yu Shiqing’s lowered eyelids, the lashes shadowing his eyes. He felt the soft lips gently press down and the warm breath brush his cheek. Jiang Yu almost stopped breathing, his mind going completely blank. He forgot how to respond at all.
Was this Yu Shiqing’s answer?
Jiang Yu tightened his grip again. When the soft, dragonfly-like kiss ended and Yu Shiqing slightly pulled away, Jiang Yu finally reacted.
Overwhelming surprise flooded his eyes. He stepped forward, hooked his fingers around Yu Shiqing’s neat tie, and pulled hard, pressing Yu Shiqing against the cabinet behind him.
Bang!
The cabinet shook slightly from the impact.
“You agreed?” Jiang Yu’s eyes now carried that familiar, determined look. His voice was low. “You agreed to be with me. You agreed to fall in love with me.”
“Yes.” Yu Shiqing wrapped an arm around his waist and smiled. “I agreed to all of it.”
Yu Shiqing’s promise was right in his ear.
Jiang Yu’s fingers curled tighter. He suddenly pulled off the tie, wrapped it once around his hand, and then slid it off Yu Shiqing’s neck.
Before Yu Shiqing could lower his head, Jiang Yu leaned in and kissed him fiercely.
This kiss was nothing like the one before. It was intense just like Jiang Yu’s usual style. Warm and damp, the kiss forced its way between Yu Shiqing’s lips, exploring without holding back.
Yu Shiqing raised a hand to press Jiang Yu’s jaw. He paused but didn’t stop him.
Before long, Jiang Yu gently rested his forehead against Yu Shiqing’s. Their lips parted for a moment, and the smile on Jiang Yu’s lips became more obvious in Yu Shiqing’s indulgent gaze.
Yu Shiqing was about to speak, but Jiang Yu’s hand unbuttoning his collar interrupted him.
Yu Shiqing slid his hand down and held him in place. “Jiang Yu.”
Jiang Yu kissed his hand and then his neck, letting his gaze drift lower. With one hand, he began to unbuckle Yu Shiqing’s belt.
Yu Shiqing froze slightly. He tightened the arm around Jiang Yu’s waist and held him closer. “What are you doing?”
[Note: This scene cuts off here, possibly due to censorship concerns regarding physical intimacy.]
Jiang Yu, unable to move, raised his eyebrows lightly. “Something lovers are supposed to do.”
Yu Shiqing said, “There’s no rush for that.”
Jiang Yu didn’t try to break free. He simply rested his chin on Yu Shiqing’s shoulder, turned to look at him, and smiled. “What? Is this part of the assessment too?”
Yu Shiqing also turned his face.
Before he could answer, Jiang Yu kissed him again. “You promised a kiss every day. You haven’t kept that promise.”
He leaned back on Yu Shiqing’s shoulder, tone calm. “Now I want all of them back.”
Yu Shiqing chuckled. “Okay.”
Jiang Yu looked at him closely, watching the rare genuine smile in his eyes. Suddenly, he said, “I have another question.”
Yu Shiqing replied, “Hmm?”
Jiang Yu leaned a bit closer, their noses nearly touching. He smiled and asked softly, “That thing you’re not in a rush for. When can we do it?”
Yu Shiqing simply said, “Let it happen naturally.”
After saying that, he placed a gentle kiss on Jiang Yu’s lips, then let go of him, bent down to pick up his bag, and walked to the bedroom.
Jiang Yu followed behind.
“No specific date?”
“You’re still assessing me?”
“Mr. Yu?”
Yu Shiqing walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Jiang Yu stood at the door, leaning against the wall, unable to hide the smile on his face.
He raised a hand and gently brushed the foggy window, laughing quietly.
Yu Shiqing heard the sound, turned back to glance at him, then smiled and looked away.
When Yu Shiqing came out of the bathroom, Jiang Yu was already gone he must have gone to the main bedroom.
Yu Shiqing sat by the bed and flipped through some files. Not long after, Jiang Yu came in through the balcony door, wearing pajamas. He climbed into bed and took the documents from Yu Shiqing’s hands.
Yu Shiqing turned to look at him.
Jiang Yu said, “You should sleep.”
Yu Shiqing had been busy for four days. Now that he was finally home, what he needed most was rest.
So Jiang Yu could wait. The files could wait too.
Yu Shiqing smiled. “Okay.”
After he lay down, Jiang Yu squeezed next to him as usual.
But this time, it was a little different.
“Yu Shiqing.”
“Hmm?”
“Goodnight kiss.”
Yu Shiqing smiled and kissed him again before saying, “Sleep.”
Jiang Yu held his hand tightly, fingers interlaced. “Okay.”
The next day at noon, Ren Bai came to pick up Yu Shiqing for the airport.
On the way, Ren Bai kept glancing back. His heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat. Finally, he couldn’t help but ask, “Did something really good happen to you two lately?”
Otherwise, why did Jiang Yu seem so happy today?
Yu Shiqing didn’t answer.
Jiang Yu said, “Yes.” Then he raised his hand and started playing with Yu Shiqing’s ring finger.
Ren Bai’s eye twitched.
Meng Chen, curious, asked, “What happy thing happened, Jiang-ge?”
Jiang Yu casually said, “I wrote a song.”
Meng Chen asked, “‘After the Rain’?”
“No.”
“A new song?” Meng Chen’s eyes lit up. “Is it for a new album?”
Jiang Yu nodded. “Yeah.”
Ren Bai was suspicious. A new song or new album was great, but what did that have to do with Yu Shiqing?
Then he noticed Jiang Yu still holding Yu Shiqing’s hand and remembered something. “By the way, there are more and more rumors online about your relationship. I think during the next livestream, you should try to avoid acting too close. Otherwise, people might misunderstand and it could affect you.”
Jiang Yu replied, “There’s no need to care about that kind of gossip.”
Ren Bai: “…”
You’re the last person qualified to say that! Your studio has almost sued every gossip blogger on the internet!
He turned to Yu Shiqing. “Shiqing, what do you think?”
Yu Shiqing put down the script and looked at him. “After we get back, I have something to tell you.”
Jiang Yu’s grip tightened. “Yu Shiqing.”
Yu Shiqing said, “It’s fine. He’ll have to know sooner or later.”
Jiang Yu looked at his profile and didn’t say more.
Ren Bai looked between the two of them, confused. “What is it?”
Yu Shiqing glanced at their hands.
Ren Bai followed his gaze only to see their tightly clasped hands and looked back in confusion.
Yu Shiqing remained calm.
Before Ren Bai could ask again, he instinctively looked at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu sat with his legs crossed, holding a pen and notebook. Though there was space beside him, he stayed pressed up against Yu Shiqing.
Noticing Ren Bai’s stare, Jiang Yu looked at him.
Seeing the confusion on his face, Jiang Yu smirked, took Yu Shiqing’s hand and placed it on his leg, interlocking their fingers and tightening the hold.
Ren Bai’s eye twitched again.
He stared wide-eyed. Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Ren Bai turned to Yu Shiqing. “Don’t tell me—”
Yu Shiqing calmly interrupted, “We’ll talk when we get back.”
That silence felt like confirmation, and Ren Bai was stunned.
The van kept driving.
Yu Shiqing opened the script again. Jiang Yu casually jotted down some inspiration in his notebook.
Meng Chen, sitting in the back, couldn’t see anything and didn’t dare pry. He focused on planning for the new album Jiang Yu had mentioned.
Only Ren Bai sat there feeling dizzy, as if his brain wasn’t getting enough oxygen. He leaned back and stayed that way until they reached the airport.
“Ren-ge? Ren-ge?” Meng Chen’s voice sounded distant. “Aren’t you getting off?”
Ren Bai snapped out of it.
He looked ahead. Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu had already walked off. He jumped out of the van and ran to catch up.
“Shiqing! Jiang Yu!”
They didn’t stop. Ren Bai ran in front of them, panting. “Wait!”
Yu Shiqing asked, “What is it?”
“What is it?” Ren Bai cried, “Are you trying to scare me to death?!”
Then he turned to Jiang Yu. “There are still two episodes left! Please tone it down a bit! If this keeps going, it won’t just be trending topics, it’ll be a media storm!”
Jiang Yu looked cheerful. “I’ll try.”
Ren Bai gave him a hopeless look. You say that, but let go of his hand at least!
Jiang Yu asked, “Anything else?”
Ren Bai sighed, “…Nothing.”
Jiang Yu turned to Yu Shiqing. “Let’s go.”
Ren Bai and Meng Chen didn’t follow. After seeing them off, they headed back.
Meng Chen noticed Ren Bai’s pale face. “Ren-ge, are you not feeling well?”
Ren Bai shook his head. “I can manage.”
Meng Chen was worried and followed him home to watch the livestream together.
Ren Bai lay on the sofa for a while before managing to pull himself together. As it neared 5 PM, he turned on his phone to stream to the TV, waiting for the livestream to start.
Soon, the livestream camera lit up.
Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu’s shot was always the show’s main focus. They were still in the car, and the frame only showed them from the waist up.
Ren Bai sighed in relief.
Their hands hadn’t let go the whole ride. If the stream started and they were still like that, fans would go wild.
Meng Chen handed him a glass of water. “Ren-ge, you look better.”
Ren Bai forced a smile. “I’m fine. I was just overthinking.”
Jiang Yu never cared about rumors. But Yu Shiqing? He was rational and composed. There’s no way he’d mess around on camera.
Comforting himself with this thought, he watched the interview in the livestream quickly finish.
When all eight guests arrived at the meeting spot, Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu got out of the car. The cameraman followed.
The two walked side by side toward Wei Yuanju and greeted everyone.
Ji Chen immediately ran over to Jiang Yu. “Jiang-ge! The theme song’s done—can you listen to it?”
“Play it,” Jiang Yu said.
The others came over too to listen.
It was a new version, with a short harmony from Jiang Yu’s old demo that Ji Chen had added.
Su Yayi clapped. “It sounds great!”
Everyone looked at Jiang Yu.
He had written the song in just 20 minutes, yet it was flawless.
Ji Chen, clearly happy, looked to Jiang Yu. “Jiang-ge?”
“Not bad,” Jiang Yu replied, then pointed out a few parts that needed changes and explained why.
Ji Chen kept asking questions, nervous that Jiang Yu might get annoyed. But every time, he got a patient reply. Jiang Yu’s expression didn’t change at all.
He and Su Yayi exchanged a glance.
Su Yayi whispered, “Jiang-ge, you’re in a really good mood today.”
Jiang Yu asked, “Is it that obvious?”
Ji Chen nodded. “Super obvious!”
Su Yayi asked, “What made you so happy?”
Jiang Yu looked at Yu Shiqing and calmly said, “I passed Mr. Yu’s test.”
“Wow!” Su Yayi said. “Congrats!”
Then Wei Yuanju suggested they head out.
Jiang Yu casually held Yu Shiqing’s hand. “But there’s a second round of the test.”
He leaned closer. “Right, Mr. Yu?”
The livestream chat exploded.
“What kind of test?! If it’s a marriage simulation, count me out!”
“Am I the only one who noticed how much Pisces likes holding hands? Does a straight alpha do that??”
In front of the livestream screen, Ren Bai clutched his chest and slumped against the couch.
Meng Chen rushed over. “Ren-ge, are you okay?!”
Ren Bai murmured, “Get me heart meds.”
