Chapter 92: Prospective Boyfriend (Part 2)

Chapter 92: Prospective Boyfriend (Part 2)

The driver had already rested, so Chen Bai didn't disturb him and hailed a taxi to the airport right after leaving the hotel.

He only spoke to give his destination, and the driver remained silent as well, driving quietly all the way to the airport.

In his haste to leave, he hadn't worn a mask or a hat. Upon arriving at the airport, he put on the hood of his jacket, pulling it down to cover half of his face.

There weren't many people at the airport at this time; only a few scattered individuals were around. He sat in a corner of the waiting hall and quietly sent another message.

His message went unanswered again. He scrolled up on his phone, found the location message the other party had previously sent, and switched apps to start searching for the route.

After jotting down a few locations, the airport's announcement came on, and he got up to board the plane.

The flight was sparsely populated, with only him and one other passenger in a row. The passenger closed their eyes to catch up on sleep as soon as they boarded, undisturbed by any noise.

Chen Bai didn't sleep. He gazed out the window, slowly tapping his phone screen with his finger.

The passenger woke up just as the plane was about to land, right after the announcement. They turned to the only other passenger in the row and asked, "Bro, are we almost there?"

The brother responded affirmatively. His voice was somewhat cold but pleasant to the ear. The passenger thanked him.

As the plane landed, the rain outside was still heavy. When everyone left the cabin and the lights came on, the passenger moved aside to let the brother next to him leave. In that instant of bright light, he caught a glimpse of the smooth jawline and pale lips.

Before he could get a good look, the man said thanks and quickly left, blending into the crowd ahead in no time.

From the airport, he took a taxi to the county town and then from the county town to the town.

After several hours on the plane and several more hours on the road, when the vehicle arrived in the sparsely populated town, the cell tower was still not repaired, leaving no signal. Chen Bai paid the driver in cash.

The driver dropped off the passengers at the designated bus stop and did not take them anywhere else. The crew's hotel needed to be found on their own.

It was a little past five in the morning when he got off the bus. The torrential rain had subsided to a regular downpour. It was early, and there weren't many people on the streets in the southern town, shrouded in grayness.

With the map of the town he had glanced at before still fresh in his mind, Chen Bai looked at the names of the shops on both sides of the street and headed in one direction.

Holding an umbrella, he walked through the unfamiliar town, crossing several streets, and stood under an old locust tree. From a distance, Chen Bai saw the river that divided the town. The water was murky, making continuous sounds as it fell from a height, splashing everywhere.

The bridge over the river had been closed to vehicles. He bypassed the bridge and headed in another direction.

At five-thirty in the morning, he found the hotel where the crew was staying according to the location.

There were parking spaces marked along the roadside in front of the hotel, but they were empty except for an ordinary minivan, with no sign of the crew's vehicles.

The hotel's door was open. He closed his umbrella and stepped inside.

The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella disappeared, and the hotel was quiet, with no one behind the counter.

He walked further in and tentatively called out twice. Without a signal, this was the most primitive way to communicate here.

"..."

The corridor was empty, and no one answered.

Just as he was about to turn around and inquire at a nearby place, a head appeared at the end of the corridor. It was an auntie who seemed to be of a certain age. She held a spatula in her hand and looked over, her eyes widening in surprise. "There really is someone!"

Chen Bai nodded politely and explained his purpose, asking about the crew members.

She said, "They left yesterday. The embankment in Yi Xiang was breached by the flood, and if it wasn't fixed, people downstream might be in danger."

Yi Xiang was where the crew had been filming these past few days. With the river problems unresolved here and the rescue efforts concentrated on this side due to a lack of manpower, and with only elderly people in Yi Xiang, the village chief had no choice but to approach the crew for help.

Considering that they were shooting in the countryside, the crew had brought young and strong staff members this time, who proved to be useful.

A group of them left yesterday, originally planning to return around midnight. However, she hadn't waited for them. This morning, someone passing by mentioned that they were still engaged in emergency repairs and estimated that they would finish soon and should be back in no time.

In short, everyone was safe, just a bit tired.

The auntie waved her spatula and said, "I heard from someone that they ran out of gas over there. They probably haven't had a hot meal for most of the day. I thought about preparing some food to send over."

She waved her spatula again and rubbed her waist. "But it seems my back isn't up to it anymore."

The person who usually cooked in the kitchen wouldn't arrive until the morning. Some things indeed couldn't be forced.

Everyone was safe.

Chen Bai looked over, removed his jacket's hood, and rolled up his sleeves after exhaling a breath. His brows and eyes relaxed slightly, and he smiled. "Can I help?"

With that smile, the surrounding chill seemed to warm up a notch.

When he took off his hat, the auntie finally got a clear look at his appearance, her eyes lighting up involuntarily.

She was of advanced age and didn't play with her phone often, but she watched TV and recognized this highly distinctive face that she had seen on television not long ago.

Chen Bai went to help in the kitchen.

The auntie was initially worried and found it hard to believe that such a big celebrity could actually cook. But as she watched him skillfully toss the wok, she held back all her doubts.

Quiet throughout the journey, Chen Bai finally spoke up and started a simple conversation with the auntie once he entered the kitchen.

People here spoke with local accents, but when he spoke, it was standard Mandarin, clearly indicating he wasn't from around here. The auntie gave him a few extra glances and looked at the heavy rain outside, asking, "My goodness, how did you come here from out of town at a time like this?"

"It's easy to get here by plane and car," Chen Bai said, omitting the rest of the process. "I wanted to see a friend."

The auntie guessed based on intuition, "Is it that tall and handsome one?"

Chen Bai smiled. "Yes, the particularly handsome one."

The car outside belonged to the hotel. The auntie packed the food into boxes, and he put his hood back on, lifting the packed boxes and heading out of the hotel.

The rescue crew arrived, and with professionals taking over, the production team returned to town earlier than expected.

After being soaked in water for half a day, even the warmth of the car couldn't dispel the chill that had seeped into their bones on the way back.

Everyone huddled together, shivering, but Xu Sinian didn't join them. He sat by the window, looking down at his phone.

Waterproof bags were plentiful on set, so his phone was fine and still operational.

Someone leaned over from the front seat to ask him, "Professor Xu, do we have a signal now?"

His gaze swept past the red exclamation mark on the screen as he simply replied, "No."

The person in front turned back around, and a chorus of disappointed sighs echoed through the vehicle.

As they drove back into town, the road gradually transitioned from empty fields to scattered buildings, eventually leading to streets lined with houses.

Through the rain and mist, they turned onto a street, and the person who had been glued to the window finally spotted the familiar hotel. Leaning forward, he said, "We're almost there."

After saying this, he squinted, taking a closer look, and added, "There seems to be someone up ahead."

It wasn't just a semblance; there was indeed someone standing by the roadside in front of the hotel.

As the vehicle approached, the others also looked out and saw a person holding an umbrella next to the hotel's car, one hand apparently placing something inside.

Their figure was blurred by the rain, but it was clear they weren't part of the hotel staff.

The car slowly pulled over to the side of the road. The man who had been standing by the minivan had already put down what he was carrying, closed his umbrella, and walked back into the hotel, turning his head towards them under the dim light when he noticed the commotion.

"Whoosh—"

Before anyone could get a good look, the rear passenger door opened, and Xu Sinian, who had been silently staring at his phone, got out of the car. The sound of the rain filled their ears the moment the door opened, only to diminish again once it was closed.

They only caught a glimpse of the man striding into the hotel entrance before he disappeared into the shadows.

Both figures at the door vanished. Then, the hotel auntie emerged from the entrance with her umbrella, telling them that hot meals had been prepared and left in the car. She advised them to return to their rooms, take a warm bath to warm up, and then eat quickly to soothe their stomachs.

Chen Bai went to his good friend's room.

The hotel room resembled the one he had won during the variety show, also a double room with white sheets quietly sinking into the shadows of the dim lighting.

"Creak—"

The door closed, and outside the window, the dark green tree shadows swayed. Xu Sinian stood by the door, lowering his head to place his phone on a nearby cabinet. He slightly lifted his eyes to look at Chen Bai, who seemed to be touring the room with his hands behind his back, and asked, "Did you get caught in the rain today?"

Chen Bai didn't reply. His fingers, hidden behind his back, lightly scratched his palm, his pupils reflecting the swaying tree shadows. He exhaled, turning around in the instant he released his last breath.

His pale gray eyes shimmered with a faint glow, and as he turned, it was as if a streak of light cut through the air, more noticeable in the dimly lit room.

In a few quick steps, he spun around and bounded over, accelerating. Xu Sinian, well aware of what was about to happen, looked down and said, "I'm dirty... "

Cold sensations touched his cheek and ear, cutting off his words.

"..."

Warm breath brushed against his lips, and in the quiet space, he lowered his eyes, his dark pupils slightly dilating as they sank into the shadows.

Ignoring the dampness on his body and the slight friction of tiny grains of sand beneath his touch, Chen Bai raised his head, cupped the person's face, and closed his eyes, pressing his lips against theirs.

"..."

He held this position, motionless.

Bold as Chen Moubai was, the boldest thing he could do was press his mouth against another's and maintain that action until it became stiff, not daring to proceed further.

Amidst the rapid beating of his heart after such a bold move, he heard his good friend laugh softly.

His defenses crumbled, not daring to move recklessly due to the memory of biting someone previously. He surrendered completely, his hands that had been cupping the other's face sliding down, barely stopping at the point just below the shoulders. He gripped the wet clothes tightly to prevent himself from slipping further, while the back of his head was supported by a large hand, feeling the heat through his hair.

The rain continued to batter the windows. Just before reaching the brink of suffocation, Chen Bai finally drew in fresh air, clutching the person's clothes and gasping for breath.

Xu Sinian looked down at him and said gently, "Friends don't do things like this."

"I know."

Resting his head on his good friend's shoulder, Chen Bai took a couple more deep breaths before lifting his head again and saying, "Sorry, I can't have a boyfriend right now."

The hand steadying his body shifted slightly, and Xu Sinian waited quietly for him to continue.

"So, Xu Sinian, wait for me."

Chen Bai reached up to wipe away the mud on the person's neck in front of him and said, "That was a privilege reserved for a potential boyfriend."

The rain pounded against the windows, and the tree shadows danced. Amidst all the sounds isolated outside, his voice was clear and distinct.

"..."

In silence, the potential boyfriend bent down and slowly tightened his embrace, his arms constricting:

"You take your time, and I'll wait patiently. It doesn't matter how long it takes."

---

By nearly noon, the repair work on the town's base station was completed, and within a few kilometers, the signal was restored once again.

After morning showers and breakfast, the film crew slept until noon. Upon waking up, they found their phones flooded with missed calls and unread messages.

Rising for lunch, they ate at the hotel where meals were provided. The crew gathered in the dining hall, but instead of eating, they were busy answering call after call, filling the room with the sound of conversations.

The kitchen prepared a selection of dishes and three soups, available on a self-service basis. After finally taking their calls, they filled their plates and returned to their seats. After a few bites, someone remembered something and asked the auntie arranging post-meal fruit, "Did you make this morning's dishes?"

The taste was different from usual, not quite pinpointable, yet strangely delicious. After a shower, enjoying a hot meal felt like pure bliss.

"No, I wish I did," the auntie waved her hand, scanning the crowd before saying, "It was that tall and handsome Xu... Eh?"

Looking around, she couldn't find the person she wanted to mention. Scanning again, she spotted someone descending from upstairs and continued, "His friend made it."

She referred to Xu Sinian, who had just come down from upstairs. Others turned to look, hearing her words, but saw no one else behind him.

This friend couldn't possibly be any of them; they were all helping out, none had returned early. This friend could only be someone else.

It was hard to imagine having a friend in a place they'd never been before. The assistant director, usually talkative, spoke on behalf of the curious, asking, "Where is Mr. Xu's friend?"

An ordinary question, but for some reason, it struck a chord. They watched as the man, who rarely smiled, chuckled and said, "He's sleeping in the room."

With each room allocated for one person, his statement could only mean his own room.

This man, somewhat of a clean freak, wouldn't let anyone sleep in his room, even if not sharing the bed.

Though unbelievable, they roughly understood what kind of 'friend' he was referring to. The assistant director widened his eyes, "Isn't he supposed to be in City Y...?"

In this industry, information was shared freely, especially among large productions. When hiring, others would know where filming took place. They had noticed that Chen Yibai's production should still be in City Y.

Having just joined the crew, there shouldn't have been much time for rest. Moreover, the distance from City Y to here wasn't trivial.

Xu Sinian took a tray, filled it with food, and responded, "Yes."

From north to south, crossing over a thousand kilometers, working during the day and staying awake all night, he took a shower in the room and rushed over. The person fell asleep immediately and hadn't woken up since.

"..."

Suddenly, everyone eating understood.

They now knew why this person moved so quickly when getting off the car.

Xu Sinian didn't eat, taking the food back to his room, clearly for someone else, making it convenient for them to eat upon waking up.

Others watched him leave.

Until his figure disappeared from the stairs, someone shed tears like a tiger, "Why does he have such good luck? I should change my name to Xu Sinian."

Others patted his shoulder in consolation, feeling that changing names wouldn't solve the problem. They suggested, "How about you try Xu Wunian? Maybe you'll meet Chen Sanbai."

Xu Wunian met Chen Yibai, who had finally woken up and finished eating, in the afternoon.

After an equivalent of an all-nighter, he looked surprisingly energetic, wearing a friend's clothes, all black, believing he was the coolest guy today.

Just that the coolest guy needed to occasionally roll up his too-long pants.

Everyone, along with the kind auntie, took a group photo. Cool Guy Chen gave the auntie a special autograph separately.

The auntie herself had no concept or pursuit of autographs. Her daughter was his fan, currently taking the college entrance exam in her county. She wanted to get a signature for her daughter, hoping it would bring her joy upon returning from the exam.

After the photo and signature, with only one day of rest, he booked a flight back to City Y that afternoon.

This time, he didn't need to spend money on transportation, going straight to the airport with his good neighbor.

It took considerable time to come, but the return was incredibly fast. He left in the afternoon and arrived at the crew's hotel by nightfall, reporting safety to a list of contacts.

While reporting safety to Ms. Jiang, he learned about the college entrance exam from the hotel auntie. He finally remembered that there seemed to be another good younger brother, also a high school senior, preparing for the same exam. So, he casually inquired about the situation.

The situation was that the good younger brother didn't need to take the college entrance exam.

Xu Lang, the younger brother, had previously won an award at a summer camp, earning a spot in University A's independent admission test. He had already taken it, passing both the written and oral exams, and would directly report to University A's mathematics department in September.

Recently, he took a break to play with Chen Yiwan for several days. Due to his boundless energy, he walked dogs to the point where even Chen Yiwan didn't want to deal with him. With no one accompanying him in games, Chen Yiwan refused to walk with him, leaving him bored at home. Flipping through university textbooks only made him feel more bored, and he had just rolled back to school to bother his classmates.

Hearing this experience, one wouldn't guess that this was the elementary school kid who calculated speeds comparable to the Fuxing bullet train. Chen Bai smiled, "Not bad."

Ms. Jiang also thought it was good, albeit with some regret. She had been looking forward to playing the role of a mother anxiously waiting outside the exam hall for her child. She had planned and cleared her schedule long ago.

Chen Yibai said, "Yiwan is still young, properly nurture him, and you can send Yiwan to the exam in the future."

Sounds of footsteps and calls for Yiwan came from Ms. Jiang's side. She really found the university textbooks that Xu Lang flipped through twice, trying to speed-run mathematics for the little dog, hoping for a dragon-like grandson.

This mother-son duo had their own unique toughness. Chen Yiwan stared in disbelief with puppy eyes, a Samoyed not quite understanding.

Chen Moubai swiftly took a screenshot, gaining another ugly photo.

Half a month later, rain fell once again, marking the end of the college entrance exam.

Amid discussions about questions and the sounds of high school students discovering their rooms turned into storage spaces upon returning home after months away, a niche voice emerged.

"Who understands! After finishing the exam and returning home, I suddenly found out that Xu Sinian filmed here! My family's shop hosted Xu Sinian and Chen Yibai! My mother, who never deliberately chases stars, has a group photo with them and the crew on her phone. My dear mom even got me Chen Yibai's autograph! It even wishes me success in the exam!"

"My superhuman mom, wailing! Definitely taking mom to see the movie when it's released, wailing! (PS: Yibai's handwriting is really beautiful.)"

Attached were two images, a group photo with most faces blurred, and a photo of the autograph.

"In the same world, the same batch of examinees, different treatments, I'm protesting!"

"They filmed a movie together?? When did this happen! Why didn't anyone tell me!"

"The clothes you're wearing, Chen Yibai... Never mind, they look good. Keep wearing them, and could you give me an autograph too?"

"The main building mentioned Xu Sinian filming, but Chen Yibai might've just been in the area for fun; don't get your hopes up (tear)."

"The auntie who doesn't chase stars got a photo with him straight away, while I, who's been chasing for years, haven't got a single picture together. Is this what they call the disparity of the world [stunned.jpg]?"

"We'll know when the movie comes out, but I'm dying to find out. Can the movie be released tomorrow instead [obedient.jpg]?"

The movie wasn't released the next day. Summer turned into autumn, and the film waited until October of the following year before it was finally scheduled for release during the National Day holiday.

Before its premiere, the official trailer and cast list were finally unveiled by the production company, including both the lead actors and those playing significant roles.

Xu Sinian was listed first, and among the significant role actors, there was a prominent "Chen Bai."