Chapter 23: Prelude to a Showdown

Chapter 23: Prelude to a Showdown

The shirt Emily selected for Ying Li had a zipper on the back. After putting it on, he realized he couldn’t reach the zipper.

Glancing over, he noticed Qi Xie adjusting his collar.

"Qi Xie, could you help me zip this up?"

Qi Xie hesitated for a brief moment, pressing his lips together, then approached him.

To facilitate the zipping, Ying Li lowered his head slightly. The arch of his back shone with a silk-like luster, the light reflecting off his fair skin, reminiscent of creamy ice cream.

He seemed so tender, one could almost melt him with a touch.

Qi Xie's gaze slowly traversed Ying Li's back, intense and authoritative, like a sovereign inspecting his dominion.

Soon, his eyes settled on a small imperfection — a scar the size of a fingernail near the shoulder blade. It was a faint pink, barely noticeable.

"Aren't you done yet?" Ying Li's neck was starting to ache from being tilted. Could zipping really take this long?

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Qi Xie's reflection in the mirror, fixated on his back. Was there something on it?

Just as Ying Li was about to inquire, the zipper swiftly closed.

"Done," said Qi Xie, his voice noticeably hoarse.

Ying Li gratefully responded, "Thank you."

He neatly folded his wet clothes, planning to take them back to the hotel for washing.

Clearing his throat, Qi Xie's voice returned to its usual tone, "How did you get that scar on your back?"

Ying Li paused, seemingly caught off guard by the question. Blinking, he replied, "Got it from a fight when I was younger."

"A fight?" Qi Xie appeared surprised, "Why?"

Ying Li explained succinctly, "Someone hit me, so I hit back..."

Back then, he had just started middle school after transferring from a rural elementary school. New to the environment, he was rather shy and didn’t have many friends. He mostly kept to himself but, for some reason, managed to cross paths with a few male classmates.

Children seldom hide their emotions. When they dislike someone, it's blatantly obvious. They pick the most hurtful insults, and upon learning that he was a child left behind by his parents, they taunted him as an "orphaned wild child." They even ambushed him after school, hurling stones at him. At that moment, he didn't know where the courage came from, but he threw down his backpack and fought back.

It was one against three.

Qi Xie gazed at him intently, "And then? Did you win?"

Ying Li lifted his chin, his fringe bouncing slightly. He said with a hint of pride, "Of course, I was quite the fighter when I was young."

The 'fighter' part wasn't evident, but he sure was adorable.

The corner of Qi Xie's mouth lifted, "You won and still got hurt?"

Ying Li's eyes sparkled, "They didn't fare any better. One got a black eye, another lost a tooth, and the third one literally wet himself."

Ying Li started school early, so he was two years younger than his classmates. Those three boys were taller and bulkier. But Ying Li decided that even if he couldn't beat them, he would ensure they regretted it, showing them he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

The four tangled in a brawl right in the middle of the street until passing adults separated them.

The scar on his back came from that encounter, from when he grazed against a stone. He bled profusely, wincing from the pain.

When he got home, Ying Tao was terrified and cried. He had to muster a smile to comfort her despite his own pain.

The scar doesn't hurt anymore, and when he recounts the story, he does so with a calm demeanor, as if narrating someone else's tale. His tone is light and nonchalant.

However, Qi Xie's gaze is deep and inscrutable, revealing no emotion.

After packing up his dirty clothes, Ying Li said, "I'm dressed now. I'll head out."

As he was leaving, he thought about how wonderful Qi Xie was — not getting upset despite the interruption and patiently listening to his long story.

After changing, Clare sized up Ying Li and nodded approvingly, "Emily has a good eye. Training her was worth it."

Ying Li replied, "Thank you. How should I return the clothes?"

Earlier in the dressing room, Emily mentioned the garment was designed by Clare, made from genuine silk, with each crystal sewn on by hand, making it rather pricey.

"Return it? You're adorable," Clare laughed, "Consider it a welcome gift from me."

"I couldn’t possibly accept..."

"When I first designed this dress, I never imagined who might wear it. I thought it would remain sealed in a storeroom forever. Seeing it on you today, it's as if the dress has finally found its rightful home, truly realizing its value," Clare lavished praise upon her, "Darling, you can't imagine how stunning you look right now..."

Ying Li's cheeks turned pink as she thanked him again. Back in the studio, everyone else was still on a break.

He gently pushed the door open, and in an instant, all eyes turned to him.

Song Ji Mo's gaze sharpened slightly.

With floating white feathers behind her, Ying Li resembled a pure angel mistakenly descended to earth, her eyes filled with a touch of bewilderment.

He was too pure, a purity that ignited a deep desire in others to tarnish.

An overwhelming possessiveness stirred within him; he wanted to stain the angel with different shades.

Black, red, blue – any color would do, as long as it bore his mark.

Ying Li became a bit self-conscious under their gazes. The tips of her ears turned subtly red, and she returned to her seat with pursed lips.

"Mr. Zhang mentioned you were caught in the rain earlier. Are you alright?" Song Ji Mo asked with genuine concern.

"I'm fine," Ying Li shrugged nonchalantly, "I feel great, actually."

Song Ji Mo took a disposable cup and poured some hot water into it, offering it to her: "Would you like some warm water?"

"Thank you." Ying Li took a sip, moistening her radiant lips, then teased him jokingly, "No goji berries in it?"

"Hmm?"

Ying Li laughed, dimples appearing on her cheeks, "It's a popular internet joke – thermos bottles with goji berries inside."

Realization dawned on Song Ji Mo. After a brief pause, he said, "Perhaps honeysuckle would be better. It helps to cool down internal heat."

When Ying Li entered the room, Shen Yao sneaked a glance and then dared not look again. The dress Ying Li wore had cutouts at the waist, showcasing her delicate hip bones.

Shen Yao vividly remembered how, in his dream, he had gripped those slender hips with heavy breaths...

He felt guilty; the dream was so vivid that he could almost feel the warmth of Ying Li's blushing, trembling skin. Why did he dream of her?

It must have been because of Song Ji Mo and that video, leading him to inexplicably connect the two.

"Your hair is damp underneath. You should dry it," Song Ji Mo gently touched Ying Li's hair, his voice softening.

Ying Li shook his head, "It's okay. It'll dry soon."

After touching his hair, Song Ji Mo affectionately squeezed the back of Ying Li's neck.

Shen Yao's face instantly darkened, and he stared intently at them. Almost immediately, he noticed Song Ji Mo provocatively arch an eyebrow in his direction.

That gaze was full of determination.

A flicker of distaste crossed Shen Yao's face, and he took a large gulp from the water bottle on the table.

Triumph of the underdog.

……

By seven in the evening, the photo shoot was successfully completed.

Ying Li had overestimated his resilience. On the flight back to Nancheng, he felt drained, as if even lifting his hand required immense effort.

Upon returning to the Clearwater Bay residence, his head was heavy, and he fell asleep without even checking his phone.

At 6:30 a.m., the alarm rang punctually. Ying Li's head felt heavy as he reached out to switch off the alarm. He lingered in bed for a while longer before getting up.

The rain outside had ceased, leaving streaks on the windowpane. The air was thick with the scent of dampness. Leaves, knocked loose by the rain, littered the path, signaling the onset of autumn.

After freshening up, feeling a bit chilly, Ying Li put on a hoodie and a face mask and headed to the kitchen, where he ran into Qi Xie.

"Going for a run? The weather forecast mentioned possible rain later," Ying Li zipped up his hoodie to the top, sniffled with a nasal tone, and coughed slightly, "I've washed and hung the clothes you lent me. I'll return them once they're dry."

"Hmm," Qi Xie furrowed his brows, "Caught a cold?"

"I think so," Ying Li mused it might have been due to getting wet in yesterday's rain.

Seeing Qi Xie still in short sleeves, Ying Li couldn't help but advise, "It's quite cold outside. You should wear something warmer."

"Okay."

Obediently, Qi Xie went back to his room and returned wearing a light hoodie, pulled the hood over his head, and left.

Shen Yao suffered from insomnia again last night.

Tossing and turning, he couldn't find sleep. A fiery sensation seemed to engulf him from head to toe, bringing on a splitting headache. Rising before five, he headed to the gym, lifting weights for two hours.

He exerted himself more than usual, pushing two levels beyond his regular intensity, leaving his hair drenched in sweat.

Only after completing his final set did he realize it was nearly seven o'clock—time for another live broadcast.

Parched, he wanted to grab a drink from the kitchen. But the thought of Ying Li possibly being there made him hesitate at the door.

The sounds of intense coughing and Xie Wen Shi's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Why are you coughing again? Take a sip of water to soothe your throat."

Inside, Ying Li was holding his mouth and nose, coughing as if his lungs would come out. "Stay away," he warned. "You might catch it."

"I've always had a strong immune system, not easy to fall ill," Xie Wen Shi reassured him, pouring a glass of water. "Here, drink this."

Ying Li's voice was nasal, "Thank you."

Xie Wen Shi fetched the medicine box and asked, "Which one's for colds?"

All the medicine packets looked alike, and given Xie Wen Shi's limited character recognition, he brought the entire box over.

"This one." Ying Li picked out a box of Cold Relief granules, glancing at the expiration date. "But it's been expired for over a month."

"It's expired?" Xie Wen Shi took it to inspect for himself but could barely decipher the skewed print.

Ying Li has caught a cold?

Shen Yao lingered at the kitchen doorway for a moment before turning and leaving.

Song Ji Mo descended from the upper floor, just in time to catch a glimpse of Shen Yao's departing silhouette.

"Don't we have any other medicine?" Xie Wen Shi rummaged through the box and found a green box identical to the Cold Relief granules. "How about this one?"

Ying Li took a look and responded, "That's for stomachaches."

"What are you looking for?" Song Ji Mo knocked on the kitchen door and approached them.

Xie Wen Shi looked over his shoulder, "Looking for cold medicine. Do you know if we have any left at home, Old Song?"

Song Ji Mo tilted his head towards Ying Li, "Caught a cold?"

Ying Li nodded, "A bit, but it's nothing serious."

Song Ji Mo replied, "Old Zhang will come by later. I'll ask him to bring some."

Ying Li sniffled, his voice deep and nasal, "You should all leave. Don't risk catching it from me."

Their concert was imminent, and even a minor setback was unwelcome. If anyone fell sick because of him now, he'd feel guilty.

Seeing Ying Li's cautious and serious demeanor, a playful smirk crept up Song Ji Mo's face. Leaning in, he teased, "How could you spread it from this distance? It'd take something closer like this, right?"

Caught off guard by the sudden proximity, Ying Li momentarily lost his breath.

Song Ji Mo looked down at him, noticing his oversized sweater collar and the short sleeve shirt beneath. Frowning, he remarked, "Catching a cold and still dressed so lightly? Style over comfort?"

Unable to resist responding, Ying Li defended, "The sweater is lined with fleece."

"Is it?" Song Ji Mo reached out to feel the inside of the collar, feeling the soft lining, "My apologies."

Feeling a tickle in his throat, Ying Li gently pushed Song Ji Mo away and hurried outside the kitchen, breaking into a fit of coughing.

Bian Qiao, seated in the living room, noticed him coughing violently against the wall and approached with concern, "What's causing such severe coughing?"

Barely able to string words together, Ying Li warned, "Stay... away from me..."

Bian Qiao pondered for a moment, "I have a cough relief spray in my room. Want to try it?"

"Big brother Li, the pot is steaming."

Steam pushed the pot lid up, and Xie Wen Shi hesitated to approach.

Song Ji Mo inquired, "Should we turn off the heat?"

"I've got it." Ying Li returned to the kitchen, shutting off the stove. "Breakfast is ready. Has Qi Xie not returned yet?"

Song Ji Mo raised an eyebrow, "There he is. He's back."

Turning around, Ying Li was taken aback.

Qi Xie stood at the door, his clothes and hair dripping wet, enough to wring water out of them.

Before, he always wore a hat with some loose strands hanging over his forehead. Now, with all his hair pushed back, Ying Li could fully see his face.

His brows were pronounced, with deep-colored irises. Dewdrops clung to his lashes, and his gaze was as unfathomable as a cold abyss. He looked as if carved from cold jade, and the wet hair added a touch of wildness. His chest rose and fell slowly, like a lion having just finished a hunt.

"How did you get so drenched?" Ying Li exclaimed, "Quickly change your clothes so you don’t catch a cold."

"Take it after your meal." Qi Xie handed over the plastic bag he was holding, the knuckles clutching the bag turned white.

"What’s this?" Ying Li opened it to find two boxes of cold medicine. Surprised, he said, "Thank you."

Qi Xie: "Just picked it up on my way."

Song Ji Mo chuckled. There's no pharmacy in Bi Shui Bay. To buy medicine, one would need to go out and it takes at least half an hour round trip. What a convenient detour!

Ying Li put away the medicine: "I forgot to remind you to bring an umbrella. Go change, and I'll make you some ginger and date tea."

Qi Xie raised an eyebrow, a subtle hint of emotion in his otherwise cold demeanor: "Alright."

There was a noise at the door. Shen Yao entered the kitchen, equally drenched.

The workout clothes he wore were thin, and after the rain, they clung to him, emphasizing his physique.

Shen Yao, having run all the way back, couldn’t differentiate between the sweat and rain on his face. He wanted to hand over the medicine to Ying Li immediately, but seeing the cold medicine in Ying Li's hands, he hesitated.

The hesitation drew everyone’s attention to the clear plastic bag in his hand, which also contained a box of cold medicine.

Soon after, the kitchen door opened again. Bian Qiao entered, holding a cough spray. Glancing at everyone, he suggested to Ying Li, "Try this spray. It's quite effective."

Ying Li was flustered, taking it and muttering a thank you.

"Where is everyone? Where did they go?"

Zhang Shao Ling came in, noticing the empty living room. As he remarked on the heavy rain outside, he headed towards the kitchen.

The small kitchen was crowded with six people. Zhang Shao Ling paused, then said, "What's everyone doing here? I've bought the medicine."

A note from the author:

Just pumping iron and keeping fit, spare me the judgment!