Chapter 65: So itchy. Scratch it for me?

Chapter 65: So itchy. Scratch it for me?

In the end, the four of them boarded a single car.

Qi Xie took the wheel, with Ying Li and Shen Yao seated in the back.

The air inside the car felt stuffy. Shen Yao rolled down the window a bit, letting the crisp night breeze caress their faces. Feeling the coolness, Ying Li sneezed, and the window promptly rolled back up.

"Cold?" Song Ji Mo glanced at him, offering, "Take my jacket."

"No need, I'm not cold," Ying Li responded, sitting between them. He then asked, "What about your cars?"

Shen Yao remarked, "Someone will fetch them tomorrow."

Shen Yao, somewhat irked that Ying Li chose Qi Xie's car, wondered: Was his own car not spacious or good enough? Unable to figure it out, he begrudgingly climbed in. Song Ji Mo shamelessly followed suit.

The back seat was a bit cramped with the three of them. Ying Li pondered moving to the passenger side, muttering, "Hmm."

By the time they returned to Azure Bay, it was quite late. Perhaps due to exhaustion, Ying Li slept soundly, only to be awakened early by a phone call.

Still groggy, he answered without checking the caller ID. Recognizing his mother's voice, he learned that Ying Tao had found a matching stem cell donor, who was willingly cooperating with the hospital to prepare for the donation.

Elated by the news, Ying Li felt lighter than he had in ages, even singing as he prepared breakfast.

Shen Yao had another sleepless night. Despite pulling two all-nighters in a row, he felt no exhaustion, but rather an abundance of untapped energy.

Song Ji Mo was crafty, the type to swindle you and still make you willingly lose money on his behalf. As for Qi Xie, Shen Yao wasn't familiar enough to judge, but he was certain Qi Xie was no pushover. Surrounded by such figures, how could he possibly sleep soundly?

After his workout and shower, he descended the stairs, hearing singing from the kitchen from afar.

The song seemed like a casual hum, simple in tune, devoid of lyrics or musical accompaniment. Just a pure, crisp voice that sounded like a refreshing spring trickling through one's heart.

"Shen Yao?" Ying Li noticed he had been standing at the doorway for quite some time.

"Hmm?" Clearing his throat, Shen Yao, having been entranced by the singing, approached and inquired, "What were you singing just now?"

Busy with his tasks, Ying Li casually responded, "Just something I made up."

"It's beautiful," Shen Yao commented, handing him a plate, "What made you sing all of a sudden?"

Ying Li wore his emotions on his sleeve, transparent in his every expression. Aware that the others had been silently concerned about him, he decided to share the good news with Shen Yao.

Shen Yao's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?"

Yi Li nodded earnestly: "It's true."

"That's wonderful!" Shen Yao exclaimed with excitement, lifting Yi Li into a twirl. "I knew it! You're so great, and everyone in your family is wonderful. I knew everything would be alright."

Recalling the wish he made at Phoenix Mountain, he couldn't help but shout, "Dreams do come true!"

"Shen Yao," Yi Li gasped, her arm squeezed by his embrace. She tapped his hand, "Put me down..."

"Did I squeeze too tight?" Shen Yao realized belatedly, immediately releasing her. His face flushed red, "I might've gotten a bit too carried away with my excitement. I'm just so happy for you."

His eyes sparkled with sheer joy, and this infectious happiness made Yi Li's smile even brighter. "I know, and I'm very happy too."

The doctor said that finding a match in just half a month was considered fast. Yi Tao was truly lucky. Yi Li felt as if a heavy stone that had been pressing on his heart finally dropped. His tense nerves relaxed significantly.

Upon entering the kitchen, Song Ji Mo saw the two twirling in an embrace. His eyes chilled a bit. Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, he inquired, "What's the occasion?"

Yi Li explained after catching his breath, "My sister has found a successful match. If all goes well, she'll have surgery next week."

"That is indeed a reason to celebrate," Song Ji Mo sincerely expressed his happiness, offering a smile. He walked over and playfully pinched Yi Li's cheek, "Finally, a smile on that 'bitter gourd' face of yours."

Yi Li, with his big round eyes, puzzled over the nickname, "Bitter gourd?"

"With your brows always furrowed and barely a smile, what else would I call you?" Song Ji Mo teased as he gently pinched the soft flesh of Yi Li's cheek, "If you didn't dislike taking pictures so much, I'd have shown you just how 'bitter' you've looked these past days."

Yi Li: "Really?"

Indeed, he had been distressed these days. Still, it wasn't as exaggerated as Song Ji Mo portrayed. He remained professional when it mattered.

The more Shen Yao watched, the more irritated he became. He swatted Song Ji Mo's hand away, "Song Ji Mo, talk if you must. Why get so touchy? You've turned his face red!"

"Did I?" Song Ji Mo leaned in to examine closely, his voice dripping with tenderness, "Seems like I did. Our Li Li's skin is so delicate."

Shen Yao felt goosebumps rise, his mouth twitching as he asked, "You call him 'Li Li'?"

"Why? Is there a problem?" Song Ji Mo teased, deliberately calling out again, "Li Li."

Yi Li felt a tad awkward, not quite accustomed to such an intimate nickname. He quickly changed the subject: "Is everyone else awake? We can have breakfast."

"The captain hasn’t returned from his morning run," Song Ji Mo replied. "Should we bring this out?"

Yi Li nodded and cautioned, "Careful, it's hot."

Shen Yao snorted coldly, murmuring, "I wish it'd scald him. So irritating."

A hint of jealousy, too.

"Li Li."

Such an intimate nickname.

Totally flirtatious.

Song Ji Mo said to Yi Li, "If the surgery is next week, it aligns well with the end of the second episode. You can spend a couple of days with your family."

—

Number has almost wrapped up this month's schedule, ready to fully immerse himself in the group show filming.

By October, Nancheng had already cooled down. The program's second stop was a small island in Haicheng, where it felt like summer all year round. They were scheduled to stay there for three nights and four days.

As their plane touched down that afternoon, they were greeted by a tropical ambiance. The sky was a washed-out blue, cloudless, and the vast blue sea stretched before them. The breeze carried the salty humidity of seawater, as if they could taste the ocean with every breath.

The live broadcast started the moment they landed.

[It's Haicheng! We get to see the ocean and beach. Us inland folks are so envious!]

[Can someone from Haicheng tell if those roadside coconut trees are real or fake? What if a coconut falls and hits someone?]

[I'm vacationing in Haicheng! This is the closest I've ever been to them. Ahhh, I want to bump into them!]

[I'm here enjoying my air-conditioned room and eating watermelon. Aren't they hot wearing all that?]

It drizzled in Nancheng today, and most of them were in jackets. Now, the ground temperature read 27°C. Xie Wen Shi was feeling unbearably hot, having already taken off his jacket, eager to change into a short-sleeve shirt: "Director, where's our luggage?"

Li Chang Hong, donning a sun hat and sunglasses, fully geared up, truly looked as if he was on vacation: "Your luggage has been held back by us. To ensure everyone has a pleasant journey ahead, please hand over your phones and then receive your task cards."

Xie Wen Shi's eyes widened, "Wait, aren't we here for a vacation? Why do we have to surrender our phones and get task cards?"

[Shocked blondie face!]

[I knew the production team was up to no good.]

[You know, Director Li's last show was all about survival on a deserted island. Hahaha, surely they aren't going to maroon them on an island and watch them fend for themselves?]

[From travel show to survival show in a snap?]

Xie Wen Shi was the loudest in protest, yet he was also the quickest to comply. The others dutifully handed over their phones as well. Yi Li hesitated; he cared deeply about his family and wanted to call them daily. Only after seeking the director's permission did he hand over his phone.

Shen Yao took a task card.

Xie Wen Shi asked him, "What does it say?"

Shen Yao read aloud with flair, "Welcome to Haicheng, the southernmost city in our country. Here, we have crystal-clear seas, blue skies, sun-kissed beaches, coconut drinks, and a magical journey awaits. The unknown joys are yet to be discovered. Your luggage will be kept by the production team for now. Each of you will receive 500 yuan to buy daily necessities for the next few days. The weather is scorching, so don't forget the sunscreen."

Upon hearing, Song Ji Mo raised an eyebrow, "500? That seems a tad stingy, Director."

Haicheng is a popular tourist hotspot, especially in October when it's peak season. With inflated prices, nothing comes cheap.

The live comments were buzzing.

[500 is indeed too little. Everything in those shops is so overpriced.]

[A decent sunscreen alone can cost several hundred yuan.]

[Arriving as a rich woman, but leaving as a broke one.]

[It's confirmed; it really is a survival show.]

[I see why the director confiscated their phones. Afraid they'd use their own money, huh? Sneaky.]

On hearing that their luggage was taken, Xie Wen Shi nearly wanted to cry, "Did I pack all that stuff for nothing?"

Bian Qiao seemed unfazed, "Where should we shop?"

Xie Wen Shi scratched his head, "We're strangers here, unfamiliar with everything."

[Little Xie used two idioms! He deserves praise!]

Yi Li took the task card from Shen Yao and examined it closely, making an insightful discovery, "There's a map on the back."

Everyone crowded around to take a look.

Shen Yao pointed to two nearby locations, saying, "There's a mall here, and over there's a shopping center."

Song Ji Mo crossed his arms, noting, "Things in the mall and shopping center aren't cheap. We only have five hundred each, totaling three thousand."

The two places Shen Yao referred to are located in Haicheng's CBD. Just a coffee there could cost over a hundred yuan. With three thousand yuan, they might not even be able to buy a T-shirt.

Shen Yao scratched his head, looking a bit troubled, "Let's see if there's a commercial pedestrian street or something."

The task card was only the size of a palm, and the map's scale was quite small. It displayed only major landmarks, leaving out smaller streets entirely.

Yi Li squinted at the map, intently searching, then suddenly brightened, "How about a local market?"

Song Ji Mo looked at him, "A market?"

He studied the map intently, a salty sea breeze brushing half of his bangs aside, revealing eyes even clearer than the azure sky – pure and invigorating, captivating to those who saw.

"Yes, the Haicheng market," Yi Li said, lifting his gaze from the map and analytically added, "At markets, they usually sell daily necessities. Where I'm from, they sell clothes, shoes, everything. And it's mostly locals who shop there, so the prices shouldn't be too high."

The primary patrons of these markets are local residents, who often look for long-term deals and returning customers. The prices there are undoubtedly much cheaper compared to malls and shopping centers.

Song Ji Mo's lips curled up in a smile, giving Yi Li an appreciative glance, "Smart thinking."

[You can tell the young man has life experience.]

[I can vouch for that; things in the market are indeed quite affordable and good quality. If you aren't brand-conscious, it's entirely sufficient.]

[Whoever said college students are naive clearly hasn't met this one, right? He's quite sharp.]

"Shall we check it out? We have the whole afternoon anyway," Shen Yao suggested, with no one objecting.

Xie Wen Shi, a beat late, asked, "What's a market?"

Shen Yao replied, "You'll see when we get there. How do we go?"

The market was ten kilometers away from them. Given the scorching weather, walking wasn't viable. The production team did offer them a minivan, but they had to drive it themselves.

Shen Yao volunteered to drive, while the cameraman sat in the passenger seat to film.

The market was located in the old town. Without mobile navigation, they nearly took a few wrong turns. They had to ask for directions multiple times, winding through several streets before finding the place.

The Haicheng market was the largest in the city area, surrounded by old buildings from the 80s and 90s that hadn't been renovated. There weren't many people browsing in the afternoon, but the vendors had their stalls open, and the canopy of umbrellas seemed to stretch endlessly.

The entrance nearby led to the live poultry section. Inside the cages were

Being sensitive to smells, Ying Li tried to breathe shallowly. Suddenly, he felt a tug on his sleeve.

Bian Qiao pulled a disposable face mask from his pocket, saying, "Here's a mask. It's new, unused."

Turning to look, Ying Li realized that Bian Qiao wasn't wearing one. Considering Bian Qiao's known fastidiousness, Ying Li felt that this environment was nearly torturous for him and decided that Bian Qiao needed the mask more. Shaking his head, Ying Li said, "You wear it. I'm fine."

"Alright." Without hesitation, Bian Qiao unwrapped and put on the mask.

They continued forward, coming upon a vendor who was in the process of slaughtering a chicken. With fluid, assembly-line precision, the chicken was prepared in moments.

Beside the vendor was a large pot filled with boiling water, likely for de-feathering the chicken next.

Xie Wen Shi had never witnessed such a scene and couldn't bear to watch as the vendor prepared the chicken.

[They're showing such a graphic scene without censoring? The production team sure is getting bold.]

[I feel a chill down my spine.]

[Chickens are so cute; how can they kill them?]

[To the one above, do you want braised chicken

[I guess Xiao Xie has never been to a place like this. He's grimacing as if he were the one being slaughtered. Hahaha, no offense meant.]

Shen Yao suspected none of them had been to such places. They were like delicate flowers, recently returned from abroad, pampered and sheltered, terrified by the mere sight of a chicken being slaughtered.

His gaze settled on Ying Li. Approaching him, he inquired, "Aren't you scared?"

Taking a deep breath, Ying Li replied, "I'm okay."

Truth be told, he was somewhat averse to gory scenes, associating them with violence and harm. But being raised in a rural area, he felt it might be odd to be frightened of a chicken being killed.

Suddenly, Xie Wen Shi let out a piercing scream. The camera captured the chicken, which everyone assumed was dead, springing to life, its neck hanging askew.

[Whoa, a supernatural occurrence!]

[A zombie on live stream...]

【run run run！】

Xie Wen Shi's terrified shouts filled the air as the chicken, fluttering wildly, flew towards them. Even Ying Li was taken aback. Just as the bird was about to land near his feet, a hand swiftly grabbed it by the neck. The chicken made a disturbing, guttural noise and, after a few more flaps of its wings, went limp.

[Wow, the captain's reflexes are sharp!]

[Wasn't the captain at the back? He appeared out of nowhere. Impressive.]

[He must've been concerned about the chicken leaping onto Xie Wen Shi. I don't care, I'm officially shipping them!]

[Catching a chicken bare-handed for love!]

"My apologies, everyone. Sometimes this happens if the chicken isn't fully dead," the vendor said, visibly shocked, dropping what he was doing to approach them, asking with genuine concern, "Did it frighten you?"

A false alarm, Ying Li responded, "No, not at all."

Xie Wen Shi exclaimed, "It's still not dead even with its neck like that?"

Song Ji Mo furrowed his brow, explaining, "Birds and fowls have very sensitive nervous systems. Sometimes even after decapitation, the spinal cord isn't completely severed. Any stimulation can cause muscle spasms, colloquially known as 'playing possum'."

Xie Wen Shi shuddered at the thought.

[Golden-haired Xie silently vows never to eat chicken again.]

Handing the chicken back to the vendor, Qi Xie's hands were covered in blood.

"I have wet wipes. Here, clean up a bit," Ying Li offered, pulling out a wipe from his backpack for Qi Xie.

Song Ji Mo glanced over, "With that much blood, a wipe won't do. There's a faucet near the entrance. Better wash up there."

Qi Xie then went to wash his hands.

The camera didn't follow him, but after a brief hesitation, Ying Li told the others, "I'll get him some tissues."

Due to the scar on his hand, Qi Xie had been wearing gloves on camera for the past few days. Now, he removed them to wash up and left them on the counter.

The water from the faucet was a slow trickle, washing away the red stain. With an unfazed demeanor, Qi Xie gently scrubbed his fingers.

Noticing that most of the wounds on the back of Qi Xie's hand were already scabbing over, a peculiar feeling arose within Ying Li. He quietly inquired, "Does it itch?"

With an unchanged expression, Qi Xie responded, "It does."

Ying Li's dark eyelashes fluttered as he hesitated, but finally he advised, "When it's scabbing, it itches the most. Try not to scratch; it might leave scars."

Qi Xie's fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles. They looked good no matter how you viewed them. Merely holding them up

Qi Xie remarked, "I can't help it."

"… If you feel the urge to scratch, go ahead. It's up to you."

Ying Li glanced at him briefly before looking away. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a speck of blood on Qi Xie's cuff. "You've got some on your sleeve too. See if you can wash it off with soap when you get home."

Qi Xie inquired, "Where?"

"Here." Was it possible for Qi Xie to miss such a conspicuous spot? As Ying Li pointed it out, before his finger could even touch the fabric, it was seized.

Walking under the blazing sun, beads of sweat formed on Qi Xie's forehead and his shirt had darkened with perspiration. Yet, his hand remained chillingly cold, bone-cold. A shiver ran down Ying Li's spine, as if his blood had been frozen.

Qi Xie didn't turn to look at him; he was fixated on Ying Li's fingers.

"What are you doing?" A cameraman was filming in their direction. Startled by Qi Xie's audacious move, Ying Li demanded, "Let go."

"It's so itchy." Lost in the sensation, Qi Xie fondled Ying Li's fingertip with a dreamy gaze. "Scratch it for me."

A note from the author:

What a cunning man!

Today he seeks a touch of the hand, tomorrow it might be a kiss on the lips!