Chapter 86: I didn’t bring my ID…

Chapter 86: I didn’t bring my ID...

Haicheng's night market is renowned, filled with tantalizing food and attractions. Rumor has it there's a performance tonight, attracting numerous locals and tourists.

Upon alighting from the vehicle, they were astounded. The entire street was bustling; everywhere they looked, there were crowds, almost shoulder to shoulder.

"Wow, so many people," Xie Wen Shi exclaimed, observing the sea of humanity at the night market. "It's so lively."

Bian Qiao remarked, "They're hosting a music festival here, that's why it's particularly crowded."

Shen Yao inquired, "Shall we continue exploring?"

Li Chang Hong advised, "You guys take the cameras and roam around, get some footage. Just make sure not to get separated. It's hard to find someone in such a crowd."

The night market buzzed with activity. Not only were there food stalls, but also ones selling clothes, accessories, and toys. The mix of vendors shouting their wares and haggling customers made it so that conversations were practically a shout.

Entering from the main gate led to a street dedicated to snacks, the most crowded part. Unfamiliar with the place, they simply followed the crowd.

Small stores lined both sides of the street, each just a few square meters, selling a variety of snacks - stinky tofu, roasted gluten, roasted chestnuts, grilled squid, their delicious aromas tempting every passerby.

Xie Wen Shi regretfully said, "There's so much to eat! If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten so much earlier. Now I can't even eat anything more."

They continued forward and noticed a crowd gathering around a stall. Curious, they went over to see what the commotion was about.

Noticing them filming, the stall owner asked in Mandarin, "Hey there, are you guys shooting a TV show or recording a program?"

Shen Yao replied, "Recording a program."

Their tall statures and cameras were quite noticeable in the night market, causing quite a stir. As they moved along, many took out their phones to snap photos of them. Some fans even recognized them and, aware they were filming, helped maintain order around them.

The stall owner chuckled, saying, "I knew it! All of you are so handsome—definite celebrities. Many stars come here specifically to check-in. We're quite the popular spot online!"

The sizzling, oily grill made the food look very appetizing. Xie Wen Shi inquired, "That smells amazing, what is it?"

The stall owner replied, "Grilled frog."

"Frog?" Xie Wen Shi exclaimed in disbelief, "People eat frogs?"

Shen Yao said, "It's delicious. Haven't you tried it before?"

This store not only sold grilled frogs but also deep-fried scorpions. Below, in two glass tanks, were countless unprocessed scorpions and frogs. Xie Wen Shi got goosebumps just looking at them.

Having never seen live scorpions before, Xie Wen Shi remarked, "Who would dare eat these? They look terrifying!"

Ying Li blinked and said, "I've eaten them before."

Bian Qiao looked at him, asking, "You have?"

Ying Li nodded, "Yes. There's a snack street behind our school that sells them. They're quite popular."

Wide-eyed, Xie Wen Shi asked, "Are they tasty?"

"They're alright," Ying Li responded, "As long as they're cleaned properly, they don't taste weird."

Xie Wen Shi queried, "Aren't scorpions poisonous?"

The stall owner interjected, "Once thoroughly fried, not only are they non-poisonous, but they're also believed to be a tonic for male vitality."

After spending a considerable time at the stall and not wanting to disrupt the business further, Shen Yao suggested, "Do any of you want to try? It's genuinely delicious, worth a taste for those who haven't."

Just by looking, Xie Wen Shi felt uneasy and quickly declined, "I can't. I won't."

Bian Qiao simply shook his head.

Song Ji Mo also frowned slightly.

The shop owner said, "It tastes amazing. I guarantee you'll be hooked after one bite."

"None for you?" Shen Yao teased, then turned to Ying Li, "Ying Li?"

Ying Li shook his head, "I'm quite full, can't eat anymore."

Shen Yao remarked, "You didn't eat much tonight either. Such a small appetite. No wonder you're so slender."

In the end, Shen Yao ordered two skewers of fried scorpions and a portion of grilled frog. They were so spicy that he was sweating profusely and had to down two bottles of mineral water.

Xie Wen Shi, with his mouth watering, went next door to buy a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts. "These chestnuts are so soft and chewy, but a bit hard to peel. Anyone wants some?"

Ying Li noticed his hands were all dirty, "Didn't you wear gloves?"

"It was crowded, and the shopkeeper forgot," Xie Wen Shi replied nonchalantly, "If you want some, I can peel them for you. My hands are dirty anyway."

The freshly roasted chestnuts were still scalding hot, coated with a layer of syrup. After peeling just two, he couldn't go on and even pricked his finger.

Ying Li took a glance and noticed a tiny blood spot. The wound wasn't deep. "There's a restroom over there. Go wash your hands and let them dry before continuing to eat."

He took the bag from Xie Wen Shi's hand, inadvertently smearing his hand with the black residue on the bag. Before he could react, the bag was taken away from him.

Qi Xie handed him a tissue. After wiping, Ying Li's hand still felt a bit sticky. As he spread his fingers apart, Qi Xie briefly touched them, releasing them almost immediately.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Ying Li's heartbeat missed a beat.

The snack street wasn't long, and after strolling through, they wandered to a place with toy stalls. Several parents were playing a ring toss game with their children. There were small goldfish, turtles, and plush toys, all displayed on the ground.

The stall owner asked, "Care to play, handsome? Ten rings for ten yuan. If you don't land any, I'll give you a small toy."

Xie Wen Shi, having never played before and finding it intriguing, exclaimed, "I want to play!"

The rings had a very small diameter and were lightweight. They'd go astray with the slightest gust of wind. For a successful toss, the ring had to stay on without falling. Xie Wen Shi bought ten rings, didn't land a single one, and the stall owner gifted him a small bear charm.

Ying Li also gave it a try but hardly landed any. The stall owner handed him a toy doll.

Xie Wen Shi pouted, "Why is this so challenging?"

"What's so hard about it? Tell me which one you want, and I'll get it for you," Shen Yao teased, raising an eyebrow with confidence. "I'm an expert at this game."

Xie Wen Shi expressed skepticism, "Really?"

"Vendor, ten more rings," Shen Yao ordered, handing over the money. "There's a knack to this. Tossing it casually won't work."

Planting his feet apart, he adopted a stance resembling a horse stance, leaning slightly forward. His confident posture set high expectations.

A circle of onlookers formed around them. Ying Li glanced around, noticing Song Ji Mo and others but no sign of Qi Xie. Just as he thought Qi Xie had wandered off, turning his head, he spotted him immediately.

Qi Xie's towering stature made him stand out in the crowd.

At that moment, Xie Wen Shi realized someone was missing, "Where's the captain?"

Ying Li pointed, "Over there."

The crowd was so dense it was nearly impassable. Qi Xie didn't venture in, opting to stand slightly apart, holding a plethora of items they'd bought from the snack street, including food and drinks.

Xie Wen Shi looked in that direction, "Why isn't the captain coming over?"

"I'll fetch him."

Ying Li wove his way through the crowd and approached Qi Xie, "Aren't you playing?"

"Hmm?"

The surrounding noise was overwhelming, and Qi Xie couldn't hear Ying Li. He only observed Ying Li's beautiful lips moving, his tongue barely visible as it stirred inside.

Ying Li felt Qi Xie was too aloof, "I asked if you're playing. Hand over the stuff."

To better communicate, Ying Li tiptoed, trying to move closer. Unexpectedly, Qi Xie leaned in, resulting in an accidental brush of Ying Li's lips against Qi Xie's ear.

Both paused in surprise.

The fleeting warmth of the touch startled Ying Li, who instinctively stepped back, almost colliding with a passerby. After apologizing repeatedly, he turned to find Qi Xie still intently observing him.

Their startled gazes met, with Ying Li seemingly transfixed, forgetting to even evade.

A dim light illuminated from behind Qi Xie, casting intermittent shadows on his face. Being nearsighted, Ying Li couldn't discern Qi Xie's expression, but the faint light shining through his thin ears rendered them a shade of red, as if they'd bleed.

In a daze, Ying Li unconsciously pursed his lips, staring at Qi Xie, still not entirely back to his senses.

Although the surroundings were undeniably noisy, Ying Li could only hear the prominent thud of his own heartbeat, excessively loud as it resonated in his ears.

Qi Xie's gaze clung to his face, watching intently for a long while before saying, "You kissed me."

Ying Li's pupils constricted momentarily, blinking rapidly as he stammered, "It wasn't intentional."

Qi Xie took a step forward into the light, and only then did Ying Li notice the unusually flushed hue of his face, even extending down to his neck, starkly contrasting his otherwise icy demeanor.

The protruding Adam's apple rolled irregularly as Qi Xie stubbornly repeated, "You kissed me."

In barely a second, the soft lips brushed against his earlobe, bringing with it the sweet, dense warmth of breath, all funneling into his ear.

"Lips touched my ear."

He was speaking more to himself.

Ying Li felt as if his heart was being tugged violently, racing beyond his control. Meeting Qi Xie's gaze, he felt slightly dizzy, "I'm sorry, I... I just wanted to ask you to join in..."

He felt that while everyone else was having fun on one side, Qi Xie stood alone on the other, without even someone to talk to, appearing lonely and forsaken, which was why he approached him.

"No need to apologize. I liked it. Loved it, in fact."

Qi Xie wished that it had been deliberate on Ying Li's part; even a simple touch from him could send shivers down his spine, a tingling pleasure he couldn't resist.

In the depths of his dark eyes seemed to smolder a hidden flame, leaving Ying Li alarmed. The warmth seemed to sear through him. Qi Xie's words were so soft, he had to ask, "What did you say?"

"Da Yao rocks!"

"Where's Ying Li?"

Hearing someone calling out to him, Ying Li responded hurriedly, "I'll be right there."

As he turned to leave, Qi Xie abruptly grabbed his wrist.

Their skin met without any barrier. The warmth from Qi Xie's palm was so intense that Ying Li almost believed he'd been burned. Looking up nervously, he noticed droplets of sweat on Qi Xie's forehead and the red veins in his eyes looked even more pronounced, spider-webbing across the white, an almost frightening sight.

With an uneasy twist of his wrist, Ying Li pulled away, "Are you running a fever?"

Ying Li wasn't sure if others felt the same, but whenever he had insomnia, the following day would inevitably bring a headache and fever. Subconsciously, he assumed Qi Xie must be experiencing the same.

Qi Xie remarked, "No, I'm just overly excited."

This is how he gets when he's excited: his heart races beyond its usual rhythm, his blood feels like it's boiling, burning through his rationality like molten lava. It's as if every part of him refuses to obey, instead taking control, compelling him to act in baffling ways.

"Hmm," Ying Li's face reddened, "Is there anything else?"

Qi Xie's eyes deepened, reminding him, "Don't forget."

Ying Li paused for a few moments, murmuring, "I haven't forgotten; I remember."

Qi Xie wouldn't accept mere verbal gratitude. He even accused Ying Li of being ungrateful. Ying Li was left speechless. He never intended to take advantage of Qi Xie, but at the moment, he genuinely had no means to repay these favors. All he could do was owe them.

In the end, Ying Li said that as long as Qi Xie didn't bully him, anything goes. Qi Xie then requested two hours of his time, saying he wanted to take him somewhere.

Ying Li lowered his head, then said, "You're standing too far back; the camera can't capture you. Many people want to see you, so come closer."

"Alright."

Shen Yao never missed a shot and quickly became the center of attention. Numerous children gathered around, seeking his help; he was like a pied piper.

"Brother, I want that robot dog!"

Shen Yao generously agreed, "Alright."

"Big brother, I want a Barbie doll!"

Surrounded by a group of children, Shen Yao felt his heart melt, "No problem."

Shen Yao's every catch was spot on. He snagged all the pricier dolls from the stall. Instead of getting upset, the vendor encouraged him to continue, making the stall instantly popular.

As the crowd grew, they were compelled to leave after less than an hour of browsing.

Shen Yao held several panda headbands in his hands, the kind commonly sold in tourist spots. He even wore one himself. The cute panda seemed incongruous with his ruggedly handsome face, yet this peculiar contrast made it surprisingly endearing.

"There's one left. Who wants it?" Shen Yao inquired, "Ying Li, would you like it?"

Ying Li glanced at it, finding it adorable, "When did you buy it?"

"Didn't buy it, won it earlier. I saw many kids wearing them, so I tried and got two," Shen Yao handed the remaining one to him, "You take this; it suits you better."

Ying Li responded, "Thank you."

Shen Yao chuckled, recalling how much Ying Li loved pandas. The panda charm given to him by Xie Wen Shi still dangled from his phone.

Xie Wen Shi hadn't finished his chestnuts, with more than half the bag left. His eyes were bigger than his stomach; always eager to try everything but seldom able to finish any.

"Aren't you guys full? I can't eat any more. What a waste," he complained, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

Shen Yao suggested, "Let's share a few each. Don't waste them."

Ying Li genuinely couldn't eat another bite, so Shen Yao took it upon himself to finish the rest.

Upon returning to the inn, Shen Yao immediately shed his clothes, exclaiming, "I'm burning up!"

He had a warm body and sweated easily. The humid night market made his clothes nearly soaked through. Bare-chested, he tilted his head back to drink, the bobbing of his Adam's apple producing audible gulps.

Bian Qiao frowned, "Be mindful of the camera."

The camera in the corner still had its light on. Though it wasn't broadcasting, Shen Yao put his shirt back on, "I was about to take a shower. Ying Li, care to join?"

Returning from washing his hands, Ying Li responded, "You go first. I need to step out and will shower when I return."

Shen Yao inquired, "Where are you headed?"

Ying Li vaguely replied, "Something came up."

Song Ji Mo looked at him, "Need help?"

"No, I'm good," Ying Li shook his head, "I'll be going now."

Narrowing his eyes, Song Ji Mo pressed further, "Alone?"

Ying Li replied, "Not alone."

"With whom?" There was a sharp glint in Song Ji Mo's eyes, as if he saw through everything, "Qi Xie?"

Qi Xie had gotten out of the car but hadn't gone upstairs with them.

Ying Li, not wanting to hide anything, nodded, "Yes."

Shen Yao's expression turned abruptly somber, "Just the two of you? Where are you headed?"

Ying Li shook his head, saying, "I'm not sure." Even when he'd asked Qi Xie, he didn't get a clear answer.

Shen Yao's eyes were intense and fierce, "You don't even know what it's about, yet you blindly follow him? Can't you ever say 'no'?"

The decision rested with Ying Li. If he didn’t want to go, Qi Xie couldn’t force him. It suddenly occurred to Shen Yao, "Do you actually want to go with him?"

Ying Li was at a loss for words. He had given Qi Xie his word, and it wasn't like him to break a promise. He hadn't really pondered whether he truly wanted to go.

Xie Wen Shi, from the side, furrowed his brow, teasingly sniffing, "Shen Yao, you reek of jealousy."

Pointing to himself, Shen Yao retorted, "Jealous? Me? Where do you see jealousy?"

Xie Wen Shi remarked, "Why are you so worked up then?"

"Am I overreacting?" Shen Yao responded, realizing he had squeezed his water bottle flat.

Xie Wen Shi pouted, thinking that Shen Yao's reaction was beyond mere agitation. Hearing Ying Li was heading out with Qi Xie, he seemed to lose control; his eyebrows raised in anger, and his words became sharp.

Only then did Shen Yao recognize he was overstepping his boundaries. He and Ying Li weren't officially anything. Why should he dictate where Ying Li goes? It wasn't his place.

"Why would I be jealous? What's there to be jealous about?" Shen Yao mumbled to himself, "I'm not jealous. I'm taking a shower."

Watching Shen Yao's huffy departure, Xie Wen Shi found it rather amusing, "If this isn't jealousy, he's practically a vat of vinegar by now."

As Shen Yao reached the corridor's corner, he couldn't hold back and slammed his fist into the wall.

He was indeed jealous, consumed by it. When had Ying Li and Qi Xie become so close that they had plans late into the night? What could they possibly be doing?

Even if Ying Li was usually oblivious, he sensed the tense atmosphere. Strangely, he remembered a night after visiting the night market under the bridge with Shen Yao. Qi Xie had frantically questioned him, asking if Shen Yao had kissed him.

Why would Shen Yao kiss him? Recalling past events, the details seemed to hint that Shen Yao might have feelings for him.

Shaking his head, Ying Li thought, "How could that be? Why would Shen Yao like me? Have the recent confessions made me overly self-absorbed?"

"When will you be back?"

Bian Qiao's voice snapped him back to reality.

Ying Li checked the time, noting it was almost eight o'clock, "By ten, I think."

Without further questioning, Song Ji Mo gently patted his hair, saying, "Go ahead, return early, and stay safe."

"Alright."

Yin Li exhaled softly, descending the stairs, only to find no sign of Qi Xie. Without his phone on him, he couldn't reach out.

Just as he was about to turn and head back up, a beam of light came from the direction of the parking lot, quickly followed by a honk. A vehicle from the production crew drove towards him.

Yin Li was puzzled, wondering why they were still driving.

Hesitating for a moment, he eventually took the passenger seat, asking, "Where are we headed?"

Qi Xie, avoiding the question, simply said, "Seatbelt."

Yin Li buckled up.

The interior of the car was dimly lit. Qi Xie handed him something – a face mask.

Seeing that Qi Xie was also wearing one, Yin Li put it on without hesitation.

As the car pulled away, Qi Xie remained silent. The quiet atmosphere made Yin Li increasingly uneasy, and wearing the mask made his breathing feel restricted.

Feeling stifled, Yin Li pulled the mask down, looking at Qi Xie curiously, "Why aren't you speaking? Where are we going?"

Qi Xie, evading the question once more, asked, "Want to listen to some music?"

Yin Li glanced at him, "No."

Two hours can be a long time, and Qi Xie didn’t mention their destination. The uncertainty scared Yin Li. After much inner debate, he whispered, "I didn’t bring my ID..."

"It's okay, I have it."

Author's note:

Yin Li: ???

Jumping from the car.