Chapter 33: Such a drama, especially from the foreign breeds.

Chapter 33: Such a drama, especially from the foreign breeds.

"Wait..." Zhang Shaoling blinked in confusion, "Have you truly not taken your medication recently?"

He knew about Qi Xie's mild bipolar disorder and that he was under medication. Normally he'd pay extra attention to him, but just a few days of negligence and Qi Xie had already skipped his doses. No wonder he was so moody.

"I haven't," Qi Xie turned away, no longer interested in the bus's activities.

It took Zhang Shaoling a moment to react, then he exclaimed, "Why aren't you taking your meds?"

Qi Xie raised an eyebrow slightly, "Forgot."

"You can forget something this crucial? Your forgetfulness astounds me!" Zhang Shaoling was at a loss for words. Then, taking on a responsible tone, he added, "This won't do. I'll have to assign someone to supervise you."

Qi Xie shrugged indifferently, "Whatever."

Zhang Shaoling, out of words, gave him an exasperated look. He had never dealt with a more difficult artist in his life. He waved him away, "Alright, alright, get on the bus."

The morning had been foggy, but now with the autumn breeze, the mist had cleared, revealing a potentially sunny day ahead.

The bus chartered by the production team was spacious. Apart from Xie Wenshi and Ying Li sitting together, everyone else was seated separately.

Shen Yao was grinding his molars. He had just stepped out for a restroom break when Xie Wenshi had sneaked next to Ying Li.

Both of them were engrossed in something on a phone, sharing earphones. Whatever it was, Xie Wenshi found it hysterical, laughing uncontrollably, while Ying Li's laughter was more restrained, his amber eyes filled with a gentle humor.

Ying Li was seated by the window. The brilliant sunlight poured in, softening as it passed through the window, casting a gentle glow on his serene and exquisitely chiseled face. His porcelain skin seemed almost translucent, his lips curling in a youthful smile, effortlessly evoking a sense of protectiveness from those around.

The cameraman, stationed at the front of the bus, was capturing a wide shot and wasn't particularly focused on Ying Li. But Ying Li had that magnetic allure, making him irresistibly noticeable and dazzlingly radiant.

[That profile is absolutely stunning! I'll lose a night's sleep if I can't have a man like that!]

[Then you're destined for sleepless nights.]

[Whoa, they look so compatible. Sunshine boy X Gentle beauty.]

[Ship, ship, ship! All you think about is shipping! Ship more if you're so good at it!]

[Xie Wenshi, put away those grinning teeth; they're almost drying out.]

[What are they watching? Cameraman, do you even know how to film? If not, let me do it.]

Sliding down the screen, Xie Wenshi paused for a moment and then burst into laughter, resting his head on Ying Li's shoulder and shaking uncontrollably, looking utterly carefree.

Silky golden locks slid down, tickling like feathers against his neck. Ying Li, who's ticklish, shrank back. Their heads naturally collided, with strands of hair intertwining.

Such drama, especially from the foreign breeds.

Tears almost streamed down from Xie Wenshi's laughter, "Isn't it hilarious? People are actually shipping within our group. Their imagination is wild!"

Shen Yao, sitting to their right and seeing the two so amused, leaned in curiously, "What ship? Let me see."

Regret filled him once he saw. The fans were shipping him with Xie Wenshi, and the ship's name was rather cheeky: "Xie Yao", the British noble X rough-skinned laborer.

Amused, Xie Wenshi showed Ying Li the fanfictions written by their fans.

[Ahhhh! I wrote that one! Did the subjects just notice me?!]

["Xie Yao", why not "Diarrhea Medicine"? This name cracks me up every time.]

[When I bring up "Graphite" and "Mysterious"... how would you respond then?]

[You guys are fearless, cooking up any and every ship.]

[So awkward! I need to watch a couple of videos to cool off.]

Ying Li didn't find it awkward. Fans shipping was quite normal. Ying Tao did the same, diligently participating in various ship discussions daily. Occasionally, he would even forward some videos to Ying Li, who had gotten used to it.

Song Ji Mo, seated in front, also turned around to join in. The four of them were utterly engrossed.

Song Ji Mo glanced at Shen Yao and remarked, "It's well-written. Quite imaginative and intriguing."

Shen Yao's composure shattered. Intriguing, my foot! Why is Xie Wenshi portrayed as a noble and he as a laborer? Just because of his darker skin?

While Xie Wenshi and others took it all in jest, Shen Yao was deeply stung. Returning to his seat, he couldn't calm down for a long while. Those descriptions still made his skin crawl. But, on a different note, if people ship him with Xie Wenshi, might there be those who ship him with Ying Li?

A handsome caregiver and a rugged laborer - now that sounds about right.

Suddenly, his lips felt dry. Licking them, he noticed Qi Xie approaching. His whimsical thoughts were instantly pulled back to reality. The captain looked grumpier than ever.

After boarding, Qi Xie took a seat behind Ying Li.

The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe. Ying Li stared straight ahead, fingers twitching.

Xie Wenshi exclaimed, "Oh no, why did the screen go off?"

Ying Li's eyes darted as he unlocked his phone, "Accidentally pressed something."

Xie Wenshi urged him to continue, "Next, next!"

Whatever was playing on the phone didn't matter to Ying Li anymore. The car window reflected his silhouette. Sensing something, he subtly turned to find, as expected, another gaze meeting his.

Qi Xie was watching him through the window reflection, his eyes dark and brooding, brewing an indescribable emotion. For a moment, Ying Li felt like prey being stalked by a wolf, hunted relentlessly through a dense forest until devoured.

Ying Li tried to regulate his racing heartbeat and focused on the video.

The earphones played a soothing piano melody, relaxing Ying Li's tensed nerves, but Xie Wenshi remained restless.

He kept sneaking glances at Ying Li, who was intently watching the screen. His long lashes cast fan-shaped shadows, fluttering, and finding their way into Xie Wenshi's heart.

The East indeed produces beauties.

Unable to resist anything beautiful, he yearned to be closer to Ying Li, actively engaging him in conversation, chattering away like a little sparrow.

Bian Qiao, annoyed by the noise, put on earplugs to sleep. Perhaps the earplugs weren't soundproof enough, for he always heard Xie Wenshi's laughter and Ying Li's occasional responses—soft, yet clear.

He sat diagonally behind Ying Li, in the same row as Qi Xie.

Opening his eyes, Xie Wenshi was blocking his view of Ying Li. He could only see the top of Ying Li's soft hair. A gust of wind blew, causing the delicate, dark strands to flutter, dancing with the fine dust in the air.

He closed his eyes once more, resembling a beast deep in slumber.

The car journeyed towards the outskirts, crossing elevated bridges and tunnels, taking roughly an hour and a half to reach Phoenix Mountain.

Phoenix Mountain is not only a 5A-rated scenic spot in Southern City but also a national exemplary scenic and tourist area. With picturesque landscapes and lush vegetation, the mountain hosts ancient trees, some over a thousand years old. With minimal industrial pollution nearby, the air quality is astoundingly pure.

The pristine air flooded his lungs, providing Yilai with an unparalleled sense of exhilaration, as if washing away all the vexations within him.

Xie Wen was notably more excited than the rest. Having spent a significant time in China, he hadn’t truly experienced its majestic landscapes. While Li Changhong described Phoenix Mountain, Xie Wen couldn't contain his excitement, dancing around and fervently snapping photos with his phone upon disembarking.

This trip was in collaboration with the city government, and they received robust support from the scenic area, with several breathtaking checkpoints set up along the way.

The vehicle stopped at the scenic area's parking lot. There was still some distance to the entrance on foot. Li Changhong, wielding a loudspeaker and leading a large group, said, "Phoenix Mountain rises over 1,600 meters above sea level. There are walking paths and a cable car to the peak. Walking there would take over two hours, not to mention stopping at the designated checkpoints. Round trip, you’re looking at a minimum of four hours. Would you prefer to walk or take the cable car up?"

"Definitely the cable car. Climbing would be exhausting," Xie Wen responded without hesitation, feeling the phantom ache in his calves at the mere thought.

"Opting for the cable car?" Li Changhong grinned slyly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, but I only have two round-trip tickets and two one-way tickets."

A puzzled Xie Wen asked, "What do you mean? There are six of us and only four tickets..."

Li Changhong: "Well, those without tickets will obviously have to walk."

Shen Yao chuckled, "Director Li is quite resourceful. I assume getting those cable car tickets wasn’t easy?"

"Smart observation. The scenic area is hosting an event. Win a rowing competition and get free cable car tickets," said Li Changhong, waving his flag. "The starting point is just ahead."

After a short five-minute walk, they arrived at the Twin Crane Creek rowing station.

Though named a 'creek,' it more closely resembled a lake. With a gentle breeze, the lake's surface shimmered, reflecting myriad colors. The scenic area's staff had set up a perimeter, and three kayaks were tethered to the shore.

"The first team to reach the opposite bank wins two round-trip cable car tickets; the second place gets one-way tickets, and the last team has to walk," Li Changhong briefly explained the rules. "Six of you, paired into three teams. Who’s with whom?"

Song Jimo asked, "What if we've never rowed before?"

"There are instructors. You’ll have half an hour of practice before the competition."

Li Changhong had naturally considered this aspect, ensuring safety with the presence of a rescue boat and lifeguards.

Song Jimo looked around, tapping his folded arms, "How do we pair up?"

Xie Wen spoke up first, "I want to be in a team with Little Li!"

Qi Xie coldly tucked his hands into his coat pockets, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

Shen Yao glanced at Ying Li instinctively and said with a frown, "No."

Xie Wen questioned, "Why not?"

Shen Yao countered, "Do you even know how to row?"

"No." Xie Wen retorted defiantly, "Do you?"

"As it happens, I do," Shen Yao said with a defiant expression. During college, he was the leading rower of the school's kayak team and led them to numerous victories.

[Look at him, Shen Yao's tail is practically pointing to the sky.]

[You two can't possibly add up to more than three years old combined.]

[Elementary school level x2.]

Shen Yao, looking at Ying Li confidently declared, "Pair with me, and we're guaranteed first place."

Ying Li's knee, which had been bumped the previous night, was still aching. He didn't fancy the idea of walking. He pursed his lips, showing slight hesitation.

Xie Wen immediately said, "I called dibs on being with Little Li first. There's a thing called 'first come, first served', right?"

"Shouldn’t it be about who he wants to team up with? Even if you begged and pleaded, it wouldn’t matter if he doesn't want to team up with you." Shen Yao cast Xie Wen a sharp glance and then turned to Ying Li, asking, "Who do you want to team up with?"

Ying Li looked at the diverse crowd, masking his emotions, and gave a neutral response: "I'm...fine with either."

His noncommittal answer left Shen Yao a bit disappointed. Didn't Ying Li want to be in his team?

[The big dog's tail has drooped down suddenly.]

[Feels like Big Yao really wants to team up with the young caregiver.]

[If it were me, I'd want that too. While teaching him to row, I could sneakily hold his hand.]

[To the one above, I'd advise you not to be too creepy.]

[Straight-guy Yao would lose his mind if he saw you talking like this.]

Song Ji Mo, however, found this outcome preferable. At least it indicated that Ying Li didn’t favor anyone explicitly. After some thought, he proposed, “How about drawing lots?”

Shen Yao, with a hint of impatience, tapped his cheek and replied, "That works. It's fair."

It's all up to luck; no one can complain.

Li Chang Hong was puzzled. Isn't it just about pairing up for kayaking? Teaming up lightens the work; what's the fuss about fairness?

He commented, "We don't have anything to draw lots with."

Song Ji Mo: "That's easy to solve."

The previous night's wind had left many dry twigs on the ground. Song Ji Mo picked up a few fairly straight ones and broke them into pairs of different lengths. "People who pick the same length will be paired. Any objections?"

Xie Wen replied, "Sounds good."

Shen Yao agreed, "I'm on board with that."

Bian Qiao voiced, "I have no objections."

Song Ji Mo turned to the leader, “Captain, any objections?”

Qi Xie, unconcerned, gave a slight nod.

With the twigs' tops aligned and their bottoms in his grasp, Song Ji Mo asked, "Who wants to go first?"

"I will." Shen Yao took the initiative and drew the longest one.

Xie Wen went next, cautiously reaching out, and drew one of medium length, as if he was drawing a lottery ticket.

Ying Li drew third, and when he compared his twig to the others, it turned out to be the shortest. Xie Wen was paired with Bian Qiao, and he looked utterly deflated.

Now only the longest and the shortest twigs remained. Song Ji Mo raised an eyebrow and turned to the side, "Captain."

For some reason, Ying Li felt a surge of anxiety. He didn't want to be paired with Qi Xie, not in the slightest. Qi Xie was too malicious.

Recalling the foot that had teased him under the breakfast table that morning, Ying Li cast a discreet glance at Qi Xie’s shoes. The foot had pressed hard, surely leaving a mark. However, there was no sign of it on Qi Xie’s shoes. Even stranger, nobody else’s shoes had marks either. Of course, it was possible they had changed their shoes while he was cleaning up in the kitchen.

By the time he looked up again, the results of the draw were revealed.

Qi Xie had drawn the shortest one.

Xie Wen was green with envy. "The captain is paired with Brother Li."

Ying Li's breath caught in his throat.

With a crooked smile, Song Ji Mo glanced aside, "Seems like the big rapper, Shen Yao, is going to be paired with me."

Shen Yao's lips twisted in frustration. Even the heavens weren't on his side!

Author's Note:

Here are a few things I'd like to mention:

1: This is a light-hearted romance, no heartbreaks. If I ever make it sad, feel free to come smack me.

2: There are no secondary couples; everyone's smitten with Li.

3: It's a crazy mix of clichés, expect every twist and turn.

4: I've been as busy as a husky these days. Late-night updates are possible (on the down-low).