Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Ji Xiaoning could hardly believe the words she just heard. The chilling aura emanating from Ning Yuyi rendered her speechless, stammering without knowing what to say.

Ning Yuyi cast her a cold glance and walked away without looking back.

As Ning Yuyi neared the kitchen, he had already composed himself. Yet, once inside, Xie Yezhou still detected his unease.

When questioned by Xie Yezhou, Ning Yuyi omitted some details and shared the incident that occurred in the backyard.

After hearing this, Xie Yezhou frowned. To appease him, Ning Yuyi washed a tomato, sliced it, and fed it to Xie Yezhou.

"Brother, let's wait for Zhouyang Emperor to be broadcasted. We can't meddle with this show anymore."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yezhou, albeit reluctantly, bit into the tomato slice and helped Ning Yuyi wash and cut the freshly picked green onions into five-centimeter pieces.

As Ning Yuyi prepared the tomato slices, he sprinkled sugar in just one small corner of the plate, allowing those who preferred sugar to help themselves.

Before slicing the tomatoes, Ning Yuyi had added oil to the pan. By now, it was adequately heated. He tossed in the dried green onion pieces. When they turned crispy, he scooped them out.

Luo Bin had already taken out the previously boiled noodles. Ning Yuyi plated the fried onions and then drizzled the onion-infused oil over them.

The unique aroma of the fried onions instantly filled the entire kitchen.

Luo Bin smacked his lips, "I think I'm hungry again."

"I made a lot of this oily mix; would you like some, Brother Luo?"

After mixing the noodles with the oil, Ning Yuyi, holding a clean bowl, headed to the living room.

……

The three-day shoot passed in a flash. After sending Ji Xiaoning off, they shot a few more scenes.

Once everything was wrapped up, everyone sat in the living room with their packed suitcases beside them.

With no camera on her, Zhuang Rong lost her ageless diva demeanor, staring blankly at the snow outside.

It wasn't until Ning Yuyi tapped Zhuang Rong's shoulder that she broke her gaze, "Sister Zhuang, my brother and I are leaving soon. Don't stare at the snow for too long; it's not good for your eyes."

Zhuang Rong rubbed her tired eyes and nodded weakly.

Before leaving, Ning Yuyi poured water for the three of them and then, with Xie Yezhou, picked up their suitcases, ready to depart.

After getting into the nanny car, just as Ning Yuyi was about to rest under a blanket, a message popped up on WeChat.

It was from the group chat he shared with Zhuang Rong and Luo Bin.

The first one to message in the group was Luo Bin.

Luo Bin: "Will you guys be returning as regular guests next season?"

Zhuang Rong: "Ning Yuyi, where's Ning Ning?"

Ning Yuyi licked his palate and roused the similarly drowsy Xie Yezhou to check the group's messages.

"So, will you be on next season, Second Brother?" Ning Yuyi directed the question to Xie Yezhou.

But Xie Yezhou volleyed the question right back.

"I'll consider it if Ning Ning is going."

Meaning, if Ning Yuyi doesn’t participate, he won’t either.

Xie Yezhou was never truly interested in this variety show. His primary reason for joining was to support Ning Yuyi, especially when their relationship wasn’t that close, and he couldn’t straightforwardly offer him opportunities.

Now, with Ning Yuyi having access to numerous resources in the entertainment industry, there’s no need to cling to this exhausting show.

However, Xie Yezhou noticed that Ning Yuyi got along well with Zhuang Rong and Luo Bin, and they seemed eager to help him. So, the final decision rested with Ning Yuyi.

Messages piled up in the group chat, and Liu Tiancheng also chimed in.

Luo Bin: "Old Liu, how about you?"

Liu Tiancheng: "I won’t be available. My wife is pregnant, and with the baby arriving next year and the postpartum recovery, I've turned down all projects for the upcoming year."

Luo Bin: "Sigh, with my son gone, there goes my last joy."

Liu Tiancheng: "??? How do you even speak to your father?"

Zhuang Rong: "...Are you guys children?"

Zhuang Rong: "So, did Ning Ning fall asleep?"

Ning Yuyi: "11111"

Luo Bin: "Isn't this a response? Ning Ning, will you be joining this variety show next year?"

Ning Yuyi: "No, I'll be focused on filming next year. Any free time I get will be dedicated to rest, so I probably won’t be on any variety shows."

Zhuang Rong: "Same here, this show has drained me."

Liu Tiancheng: "Even Old Baldy won’t be directing this show next year. He's actually been hands-off for a while now. Look at the guest they invited this time..."

Luo Bin: "I'm curious too. Everyone in the industry knows about your intense fallout with Old Wang, yet they still invited him."

Zhuang Rong: "Tragic."

Liu Tiancheng: "Zhuang Rong, do you really have the nerve to schadenfreude?... That old lecher was trying to cozy up to you. Good thing I stepped in."

Zhuang Rong: [Red Envelope]

Zhuang Rong: "A little gift for the baby. Also, please send my regards to your wife."

Luo Bin: "Tempting. I'm so tempted to click."

Liu Tiancheng: "Shoo! That’s for my child. If you want one, have a baby of your own."

Luo Bin: "On a side note, there's something I haven't told you."

Luo Bin: [Photo] "Before coming to this recording, I accompanied my wife for a medical check-up. Turns out, she's a few days ahead of your wife."

Zhuang Rong: "Wow~ Congratulations, is it twins?"

Childhood sweethearts

Ah

Zhuang Rong: [Red Envelope]

Liu Tiancheng: "Childhood what now? No way, I won't approve!"

Luo Bin: "Let’s settle this face-to-face."

Liu Tiancheng: "Bring it on! I fear no one!"

Ning Yuyi didn't expect both Luo Bin and Liu Tiancheng to become fathers again. He sent each of them a red envelope with 6666 (a lucky amount).

Later on, Zhuang Rong approached him about auditioning for a movie role.

Zhuang Rong mentioned the film was a small, artsy project aimed at international awards, and it might not even be screened domestically.

The only thing Ning Yuyi saw regarding the script was its title.

—— "Dark Alley"

He attempted to skim through the script, but the dense text quickly lulled him to sleep.

By the time he woke up at the airport, Ning Yuyi briefly replied to Zhuang Rong before boarding his flight.

Hǎi City Airport.

Xie Yezhou was hurriedly catching a connecting flight to attend an international award ceremony. Alone, Ning Yuyi exited the airport and saw a silhouette waiting for him at the end of the corridor, backlit by the setting sun.

Dropping his suitcase, he ran and leaped into the embrace of Fan Zhongchuan, who gracefully caught him.

"I've missed you so much," Ning Yuyi murmured, buried in Fan Zhongchuan's chest.

A gulp traveled down Fan Zhongchuan's throat, the straightforward confession urging him to pin Ning Yuyi against the wall and fervently kiss him.

He scanned the surroundings, shielding Ning Yuyi, and remarked, "Why aren't you wearing a hat?"

"I forgot; just woke up."

After wrapping up "Zhou Yang Emperor", Ning Yuyi's hair had grown past his ears. He initially planned to cut it before shooting "Old Friends", but Zhou Er mentioned that fans adored this hair length, suggesting a wait to let fans enjoy it a bit longer.

With his hair being long and prone to get tousled by the wind, Ning Yuyi buried his head in his scarf, revealing only his pale, delicate face and slightly lengthy hair.

"Click."

The faint sound of a camera caught Ning Yuyi's attention. He swiftly turned towards the source, spotting a camera lens peeking through the slightly opened window of a dilapidated van parked nearby.

Realizing they had been noticed, the van's window was hastily shut, and it took a sharp left, speeding away.

Ning Yuyi narrowed his eyes.

Today's itinerary was confidential; neither fans nor marketing accounts were aware of it.

Mentally, Ning Yuyi ticked through possible suspects, ultimately settling on Ji Xiaoning, the new variety show director, and its promotional staff.

He remained silent for a moment, interrupted only when Fan Zhongchuan tenderly touched the cool lobe of his ear.

"Wear a hat next time; your ears are cold." Fan Zhongchuan adjusted Ning Yuyi's scarf to better cover his ears.

"Do you want to handle this leak preemptively?" After getting into the car, Fan Zhongchuan glanced in the van's departure direction, hinting subtly.

"No need." Ning Yuyi rummaged for snacks in the car, "I was going to go public anyway. Why hide a boyfriend I’m committed to?"

He's an actor, not an idol selling dreams. He didn't owe fans celibacy.

Fan Zhongchuan's lips twitched, curving into a smile.

Before they even reached Qing'an from the airport, photos of them had already spread across various online forums.

The platforms with the most discussions were Weibo's 'Rabbit Zone' and Douban. Unable to access the Douban group, Ning Yuyi headed to the Rabbit Zone to check comments, most of which were of shock. Apart from a few malicious comments, many neutral netizens defended him.

【？？？】

【？？？？？？】

【？？？？？？？？】

[Did I wake up in an alternate reality?]

[Mom, my heart's broken qaq]

[Holy moly!!! Every time Ning Yuyi appears, he drops a bombshell.]

[Ugh, so disgusting. I used to like him so much, and now he turns out to be a damn gay.]

[Though I'm shocked, I still remember the user ID from upstairs. It belongs to one of the trolls against Ning Yuyi, Xie Yiezhou, and several other young actors. They often badmouth them on the forum. Weren't you banned?]

[Counting the days, our troll friend up there hasn't shown up for fifteen days. He probably just got unbanned. Allow me to send you back into the timeout corner.]

[Goodness, Ning Yuyi is an actor, not an idol. What's the big deal if he got photographed?]

[It's 0202 now. The same-sex marriage law has been passed. Surely, no one is still living under a rock?]

[Isn't this an old photo of Ning Yuyi? Hasn't he been out of the city ever since he finished the script for "Emperor Zhouyang"?]

[I too think it's an old picture. So, had Ning Yuyi returned to the Xie family at that time? Wasn't there a rumor about him being spotted in Qing'an district earlier?]

[Did the trolls or the paid shills drop this...? Anyone with eyes can see that's Ning Yuyi's current hairstyle. Trolls should at least use their brains, right...?]

[Honestly speaking, they look great together, both in terms of looks and status. Are some of the comments just salty?]

[I don't get it. No matter how much they trash-talk, neither Fan Zhongchuan nor Ning Yuyi would ever give them the time of day. Do they know who these two are?]

[OMG, OMG!!! Check out Weibo!!! There's a response!!!]

……

Huang Yumeng was dining with Ping Tongxin when she came across those photos. Seeing the two intimately embracing, she almost crushed Ping Tongxin's hand.

Noticing the comment about a response, she immediately switched to Weibo.

The response had already topped the trending topics, followed by a "New" tag added by fans.

With trembling hands, Huang Yumeng clicked on the trending topic, and the first thing she saw was a post from Fan Zhongchuan himself.

Fan Corporation - Fan Zhongchuan v: My boyfriend, Ning Yuyi.

Huang Yumeng: !!! OMG OMG OMG!!!