Chapter 45: Thank You for Pulling Me into Your Vibrant World

Chapter 45: Thank You for Pulling Me into Your Vivid World

Su Zhiyu was momentarily at a loss, instinctively wanting to look at Qin Yan, searching for his only source of security.

But Qin Yan was the one egging everyone on the most.

"..."

Su Zhiyu was someone who valued rules and cared a lot about keeping proper distance with people. Perhaps because he had always been an aloof person, he always kept a safe line in every relationship.

Except...

He looked up and scanned the people before him who were egging him on. Though they were people he'd worked with before, to him, they were merely acquaintances he had met.

Moreover, Yang Yichen, who was playing host, had never even worked with him.

"Su Zhiyu, if you don't tell a joke, you've gotta answer a truth question. And we're the ones who ask—you can't skip it."

Su Zhiyu's lips moved slightly. Yang Yichen, seeing his shy demeanor, waved his hand to ease the tension: "Let's not pick on Zhiyu. Come on, let's keep eating."

"No!" Qin Yan stopped Yang Yichen's grilling motion and teased with a grin, "Nobody here gets special treatment. Let's take turns—it just landed on Su Zhiyu, and later everyone has to participate."

"?"

Wait, since when did this become an elementary school talent show?

Yang Yichen didn't understand. He was about to protest when Qin Yan shot him a look.

Fine.

Jiang Yizhou also firmly supported Qin Yan's idea, chiming in, "I think Brother Qin's got a point. Playing some games is more fun."

The mood instantly picked up.

Su Zhiyu quietly tried to make himself invisible, but the spotlight swung right back to him: "Su Zhiyu, it's your turn."

Su Zhiyu's hand, holding the skewer, gave a slight tremble. He pursed his lips. Since everyone had agreed to the rules, he couldn't exactly make an exception for himself.

"Alright."

He put down the skewer, thought for a moment, raised his eyes a little, and said in a soft, calm, cool voice: "I can't think of any jokes, so I'll choose the truth question. Go ahead and ask me something."

"I'll go first." Yang Yichen shot Qin Yan a sly look, then looked at Su Zhiyu and asked, "Today, only Brother Yan and I are Alphas. Also, if a fire broke out today, who would you grab and run with?"

Actually, Yang Yichen wanted to ask what kind of Alpha Su Zhiyu liked, to scope things out for his bro.

But he wasn't very familiar with Su Zhiyu, and he couldn't bring himself to ask something so blunt and direct.

Su Zhiyu thought about it seriously for a second, then pointed at Qin Yan: "Him. I'd grab him and run."

"Wow..."

Yang Yichen's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Su Zhiyu to choose Qin Yan. Shouldn't he be hoping Qin Yan would burn to death?

Isn't this going the wrong way?

Qin Yan's grin had nearly reached his ears. He rubbed the back of his warm neck and grinned smugly: "Still trying to compete with me? What've you got to compare? Of course our captain's taking me!"

Liu Mian also teased with a smile: "What if you throw me and Yi Zhou into the mix? Zhiyu's been my captain twice as well."

Jiang Yizhou, who had been called out, masked his probing gaze and laughed along: "I want to know the answer to that too. Zhiyu wouldn't play favorites like that, would he?"

Su Zhiyu curled his lips: "That's the second question."

"Su Zhiyu." Qin Yan rested his chin on his hand and grinned at him. "You've learned to play it smart, huh? Keep going—we'll hit you with that killer question later."

"Right, right." Yang Yichen waved for everyone to keep playing.

The atmosphere quickly warmed up, and Su Zhiyu slowly loosened up from his initial stiffness, gradually blending into the game. A few more smiles crept onto his usually cold face.

As the light and shadows shifted, amid the laughter and chatter, each face flickered in and out of the moonlight, hazy and distant.

In the faint moonlight, Qin Yan stole a sideways glance at Su Zhiyu, noticing the smile that had crept into his eyes, and unconsciously curved his own lips in response.

How nice.

Su Zhiyu keenly noticed the gaze on him. He casually turned his head as if by accident, and his eyes met Qin Yan's.

They both looked away, pretending not to have noticed.

After they'd eaten and drunk their fill, everyone went to the karaoke room at Yang Yichen's place and didn't call it a night until the early hours, each grabbing a room to crash in.

Lying on the soft bed, Su Zhiyu rubbed his tired hands and feet, drank a few sips of water to moisten his throat. This unfamiliar kind of physical exhaustion gave him a rare sense of life's pulse.

It was beating strong.

He was living vividly in this world—not just with bitterness and sorrow, but also joy and happiness.

The feelings he'd once locked away seemed to slowly seep back, little by little.

Su Zhiyu pulled out his phone, scrolled down, and saw Qin Yan's profile picture. It was an abstract image, but he inexplicably felt like he was seeing Qin Yan himself.

Qin Yan.

Thank you for pulling me into your vivid world.

Good night.

"Good night."

A red "1" popped up above the profile picture, and Su Zhiyu's heart jumped along with it. Without even opening the chat, he could see Qin Yan's message.

"Good night."

Just two words. Su Zhiyu's lips, pressed into a straight line, couldn't help but curve again. After hesitating for a moment, he opened the chat and replied with a good night as well.

When he put down his phone, he helplessly rubbed his cheeks.

He seemed to have smiled a bit too much tonight.

The next day, everyone slept in and went to rehearsal together at noon, chatting and laughing along the way.

Over the following days, the group would meet up for meals whenever they had time, mostly rehearsing at the program's venue. Sometimes when they practiced too late, they'd simply sleep in the rooms the production provided.

One morning.

Su Zhiyu, as was his habit, woke up early. As he passed by the corridor, he saw two figures talking.

It was Qin Yan and Jiang Yizhou.

He had no intention of prying, and was about to turn and leave when he saw Jiang Yizhou suddenly grab Qin Yan's hand, speaking anxiously.

Qin Yan had his back to this direction and did not notice that Su Zhiyu had been there.

During lunch break.

Jiang Yizhou carried a plate of fruit over to knock on Qin Yan's door. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door right next to him opened.

Su Zhiyu stepped out of the room, glanced at his raised hand and the plate of fruit, and said politely, "It's nap time."

Jiang Yizhou awkwardly lowered his hand, but then got his confidence back: "I'm just bringing Brother Qin some fruit for after his meal. There's no way he's already asleep."

Su Zhiyu stayed by the door, watching him: "There was fruit at lunch, and everyone already had some."

"Then... what's the harm in bringing a little more?"

"It's disruptive."

"You..." Jiang Yizhou was embarrassed and angry, but afraid of being heard by the person inside, he lowered his voice, "This is my business, and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with you, does it?"

Su Zhiyu's hand gripping the doorframe tightened.

Right.

He was just an outsider—what right did he have to question someone else's gestures of goodwill toward Qin Yan?

Seeing him speechless, Jiang Yizhou snorted: "Brother Qin is kind-hearted, and it's his business to like taking care of everyone. As for me, I like him, and it's my business to be good to him. None of this has anything to do with you, so I hope you won't interfere or meddle.

Besides, you don't really have any connection to Brother Qin either, do you? You have even less right to reject me on his behalf."