Chapter 23 Trending: #Nolimit Lead Dancer Tong Jiaqi Assaults on the Street#

He Guan proceeded upstairs, heading to the practice room on the 13th floor to check on several group members.

Interns typically start their day earlier than regular staff.

Their vocal lessons span from 1 pm to 4 pm, followed by physical training from 5 pm to 8 pm—quite monotonous, only after which they break for dinner.

After dining, they rest for an hour and typically finish their day.

Some interns choose to practice extra hours in the evening.

Nolimit is the type to engage in such additional practice.

As He Guan just set foot on the 13th floor, he sensed a palpable change in the atmosphere.

If previously they gazed at He Guan as if he were a mascot, now they truly looked at him with the respect due to a leader.

Word travels fast within the company. The person in charge of this floor approached proactively, inquiring about He Guan's needs.

He Guan: "What's Nolimit up to currently?"

Supervisor: "They're in vocal training; it will wrap up shortly."

He Guan: "I'll head there myself."

As He Guan proceeded, he could see through the glass windows of each vocal classroom, identifying its occupants.

All five members were present.

The vocal rooms were soundproofed, preventing any outside eavesdropping. Yet, it was evident that even after more than two hours of lessons, all five remained deeply engrossed.

He Guan paused outside one particular room, observing silently. After an extended look, more than he usually afforded anyone, he continued on.

Soon after, all five members concluded their vocal lessons. In unison, they quenched their thirst and stepped out of their rooms.

He Guan was waiting for them in the corridor.

With sharp eyes, Tong Jiaqi was the first to spot He Guan. His pink tuft of hair wiggled as he exclaimed, "Bro, what brings you here?"

The other four turned their gaze towards him.

He Guan: "I came to check on how you all have been doing lately and to share a few important pointers. Follow me."

The group followed He Guan into an unoccupied classroom.

Chu Li lingered behind, locking the door.

Leaning against the room's sole table, He Guan got straight to the point.

"First rule: no dating."

"You've all had some exposure to agents, and you might've heard them say, 'Idols can date, as long as they don't get caught.'"

"Not under my watch."

"While we've formed the group, I won't hesitate to shake things up. I can disband, and I can let any of you go. If you date, the choices are breaking up or leaving the group. Either you handle it, or I'll handle you."

"And if you're keeping it a secret now and I find out later, you'll still be dismissed. Let's be clear on this: idols don't date."

Jin Jue was the first to nod in agreement, murmuring, "Understood."

The remaining four followed suit with their nods.

None among them were in a relationship.

"Second rule: don't be overly anxious."

He Guan continued, "The songs you practiced today, aren't they all by other artists? And if I'm not mistaken, the dance routines you've been rehearsing are from other groups too. The songs from the previous talent show were mediocre at best, and the choreography just passable. Now that you're under Xingyu, you won't be getting second-rate choreography."

Gan Qing replied, "...Right."

This was a significant pain point for them — having a group but lacking songs and a stage.

Their most pressing concern.

Without these foundational elements, the group would merely be a shell, and disbanding would be inevitable.

As the leader, Gan Qing felt this acutely.

He Guan spread his fingers and, pressing each finger into his palm with each word, stated, "Soon, you'll have your songs. Learning them, recording them, mastering the dance, relentless rehearsals, then shooting the MV."

With all fingers clenched in a fist, he continued.

"Stay motivated during this period. Being in a group means exactly that. Limit your phone usage; the fans outside don't understand the intricacies and are rife with speculations and rumors. Don't let their comments affect your morale."

The five exchanged glances and unanimously voiced, "Understood."

Even without He Guan's words, the group would have continued their practice routinely, but perhaps... hearing these words gave them more motivation.

He Guan: "Thirdly, and the last point, from today onwards, you all belong to me. Aside from business engagements and announcements, which Ren Ning will handle, you'll hear about notifications from him. For everything else, come to me. This includes, but is not limited to, trivialities like insomnia or other emotional issues at midnight."

Jin Jue raised an eyebrow, provocatively asking, "If I call you in the middle of the night, will you answer?"

He Guan replied confidently, "Of course I will. I promised to guide all of you, and naturally, I'll be responsible for each one of you."

Jin Jue pressed on, "Didn't you get married? Won't answering calls at night disturb your wife's sleep?"

Gan Qing shot Jin Jue a disapproving look, signaling him to stop making things difficult for their superior.

After He Guan left, the most rebellious in the group naturally became Jin Jue.

Gan Qing had previously pointed out Jin Jue's tendency to oppose He Guan, but Jin Jue brushed it off, not changing his behavior.

Like now, when he finds an opportunity to confront He Guan, he doesn't hesitate.

He Guan genuinely hadn't anticipated this question. Even though he felt cornered for a moment, he maintained his composure, replying, "She won't mind."

His marriage with Lou Dongcang is more in name than in substance.

Jin Jue skeptically eyed him, yet seemed at a loss for a counter.

After all, he doesn't really know the temperament of He Guan's spouse.

Could it be that she's so gentle that she won't get angry even if woken up by He Guan in the middle of the night?

Do such people exist in the Lou family?

He Guan: "Any other questions? Feel free to ask."

All five shook their heads.

He Guan: "Oh, and one more thing."

"In the afternoon class... even though you've performed group dances on variety shows before, the positions you moved to weren't many. With your own songs, after switching parts, there will definitely be frequent movements. Make sure to communicate with the dance instructor about this."

"I'll discuss it with the instructor tomorrow. Just a heads up, the training intensity will increase... if Nolimit doesn't debut soon, the hype will fade, so I'll aim to debut you all as quickly as possible."

"Consequently, the schedule will be very tight. After debuting, we'll need a continuous flow of promotional materials and group resources for some time. This means you all need to have everything ready, perfectly. It will be hectic, be prepared."

"Any questions?"

Nolimit members in unison: "No."

After saying his piece, He Guan began to leave.

Unexpectedly, Chu Li quickly followed, looking like he had something to discuss.

He Guan paused at the bend of the fire escape, asking, "Is something on your mind?"

Chu Li nodded, his gaze unwavering.

Every time He Guan saw Chu Li, he felt like a homeroom teacher looking at a timid student. Now, with the student raising his hand for the first time, he would naturally entertain the query.

He Guan prompted, "What is it? Speak."

Chu Li said, "About the first point you made earlier... I have a question."

He Guan, with keen intuition, inquired, "What question? Are you in love? Someone from within or outside our industry? Male or female?"

Chu Li shook his head: "None of those."

He Guan, curiously probed, "Then, what could it be?"

Chu Li bit his lip, hesitated, then bit it again. He seemed conflicted for a good two to three minutes, staring at his shoes without saying a word.

He Guan waited patiently.

When Chu Li finally looked up, he was met with He Guan's intense, albeit slightly puzzled, eyes.

Chu Li caught his breath, instinctively taking a step back.

He Guan chuckled, "What's the matter? Am I some kind of monster that you're backing away?"

Though he joked, he remained unperturbed, standing calmly, waiting for Chu Li to speak.

Chu Li, calmed by He Guan's gentle demeanor, gathered his thoughts, "No, it's not that..."

At this close proximity, looking into He Guan's eyes, Chu Li felt a resemblance to the gentleman from the other day.

How could that be? Their voices were utterly different.

The gentleman had a raspy voice, after all.

After some internal deliberation, Chu Li finally admitted, "Is it okay to have a secret crush?"

He Guan, somewhat confused, questioned, "A secret crush on whom?"

Blushing, Chu Li gritted his teeth and said, "You mentioned idols shouldn't date, but can they have unrequited love? I'm pining for someone."

He Guan was momentarily speechless.

It was a question He Guan hadn't considered before.

He Guan furrowed his brow, asking, "Tell me, do you frequently interact with the one you're smitten with?"

Chu Li shook his head.

He Guan probed further, "So, it's not mutual, right? The person you're fond of isn't aware of your feelings, I assume?"

Chu Li shook his head vehemently, as if he were a bobblehead, exclaiming, "How could that be possible!"

Seeing him like this, He Guan couldn't help but chuckle, "Why the self-deprecation? From what I see, you're not any less than others."

Chu Li gestured frantically for him to stop talking.

He Guan nodded, "I'm just teasing. It's fine. After all, there's no substantial relationship since the person you like isn't even aware of your feelings."

Chu Li nodded eagerly, his spirits lifted by the approval, "Understood!"

He Guan added, "However..."

Chu Li looked at him anxiously.

He Guan continued, "Don't let feelings for someone unattainable distract you from your training. This is your job, and you shouldn't let emotions interfere."

Chu Li responded affirmatively, "Understood!"

Exiting the fire escape, He Guan said, "Off you go. I should be heading out too."

The regular meeting had been replaced by the shareholders' meeting, making it time to clock out.

He Guan had instructed Yan Xu to cancel the afternoon scheduled meeting, which is why some guessed He Guan attended the shareholders' meeting.

Chu Li stood rooted to the spot, watching him, "Goodbye, Director He!"

By mid-March, the weather had begun to warm.

The 5 pm sun streamed through the glass windows, casting its glow on the floor, which then reflected upon the ceiling. The soft diffusion of light brightened the corridor exceptionally.

The young man dusted off the hem of his blazer. Then, as if remembering something, he turned around and waved to Chu Li.

In the hallway, the sunlight softly illuminated half his body.

His eyes held a comforting smile.

Subsequently, he retracted his hand, shifted his gaze forward, and briskly rounded the corner.

Chu Li remained still, lost in thought.

*

After leaving Xingyu, He Guan had Du Junyan drive directly to the nearby People's Hospital.

Tong Jiaqi's mother was admitted there.

Holding the hospital bed number provided by Yan Xu, He Guan followed directions up the steps.

Along the way, he glanced at his phone, his finger hovering over Lou Dongcang's number, contemplating whether to give him a call.

He's almost home; is there any necessity to call now?

The journey might still take a while...

Would making this call seem too eager?

To call or not to call?

He had barely stopped, still in indecision, when his arm was bumped by someone from the side away from the wall.

The person who bumped into him wore a hat, looking visibly distressed, standing half a head shorter than He Guan.

As they brushed past one another, He Guan could feel an intense aura of unease from him.

... Along with the scent of alcohol.

He Guan pocketed his phone, quickening his pace, trailing the man from a safe distance.

The man reached the end of the corridor, anxiously scanning his surroundings to see if anyone was watching him.

He Guan bent down, assisting a little girl struggling with the wrapper of her lollipop.

The girl joyfully swung her legs, saying, "Thank you, mister!"

He Guan replied, "You're welcome."

When he looked up again, he saw the man withdraw his gaze and leave via another elevator.

Just a brief glance around, no lingering by the room doors, probably not him.

Where's the on-duty bodyguard at the entrance?

He Guan deeply furrowed his brow, noting that the elevator truly did stop at the first floor and when it returned to the third, it carried different passengers. That man hadn't returned. Only then did He Guan proceed into the patient's room.

The room was a six-bed ward, with Tong Jiaqi's mother in bed number six, located furthest inside by the window. Approaching a few steps, one could see everything clearly without the curtain drawn.

She was asleep, giving He Guan an uninterrupted moment to observe her.

Her skin was a wheatish tone.

Her fingers were rugged, with thick calluses.

Her hands looked at least five years older than most women her age, suggesting she did most of the household chores.

There was an injury on her forehead.

Having reviewed her medical record en route, He Guan knew the forehead injury was from an impact. It wasn't severe and seemed more like she'd been hit elsewhere, tilted, and then bumped her head on a table.

There were seven or eight contusions on her body, which He Guan had seen in the photos sent by Yan Xu.

The injuries varied in depth. Some were bluish-purple with yellowish edges, indicating older wounds, while others were fresh, likely from recent altercations.

She slept restlessly, her eyebrows knitted tightly, lips parched—a result of neglect and not hydrating herself.

At this time, Tong Jiaqi was still training in the star domain, and he might not visit her until after midnight.

She forced herself to sleep so that she would not be too tired when seeing her child later.

A nurse came for rounds, visiting each bed in succession. The woman's foot, peeking out from under the blanket, twitched slightly.

She was about to awaken.

Seeing that she was relatively okay for the time being and with the nurse already attending to her, He Guan stepped out with a moist cotton swab in hand.

As he exited, he noticed someone carrying a bag of fruits. Dressed in casual wear, the marks of rigorous training were evident, beyond what clothes could conceal.

Recognizing him, the man greeted, "Boss."

It turned out he was the bodyguard on the eight-hour night shift.

He Guan asked, "Where were you?"

With a naive smile, the bodyguard lifted the plastic bag, saying, "I went to buy fruits. Am I late?"

He Guan glanced at his watch, a slight ease in his brow, "No, you're on time."

He Guan offered a few more instructions to watch out for any suspicious individuals, then called Du Junyan.

The bodyguard nodded with a gleeful expression, his eyes squinting as if they wouldn't open from the joy.

As He Guan headed downstairs towards the parking lot, he said, "Junyan, I'll drive myself home today. You can manage on your own, right? It's just six now, it's easy to hail a cab."

With no pressing matters today, He Guan planned to drive leisurely, exploring the surroundings.

Although he was already quite familiar, he still wanted to roam around personally.

Du Junyan replied, "I feel like biking tonight. I'll rent a mountain bike to ride home."

After bidding Du Junyan farewell, He Guan walked to the parking lot with his phone, drove home, and on the way called Yan Xu to verify the status of the three bodyguards.

He Guan instructed, "Replace the bodyguard who was on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Have someone else come tomorrow; he left early."

Without hesitation, Yan Xu responded, "Understood."

He Guan added, "Alright, take some rest now. No further arrangements are needed."

Yan Xu replied, "As you say, boss."

After ending the call with Yan Xu, He Guan dialed Lou Dongcang.

Once everything was in order, only then did he call Lou Dongcang.

The call connected swiftly: "He Guan?"

Driving, He Guan spoke, "What's for dinner tonight?"

At a red light, He Guan stopped his car, pursing his lips.

Having someone consistent to call lifted his spirits. The moment he heard Lou Dongcang's voice, all his hesitation about making the call was smoothed away.

Lou Dongcang paused briefly, "When will you be back?"

He Guan: "Hmm... I'll be home just past seven. If you're not too hungry, could you wait for me?"

Lou Dongcang: "Alright. I feel like having soup."

He Guan: "Then we'll keep it simple. How about a mushroom soup? We don't have time for a slow-cooked one or using a pressure cooker—it would be too late. Mention it earlier next time, like at noon. Do we have mushrooms at home? Check with Uncle Yue."

Lou Dongcang: "Hold on."

Since he was driving, He Guan had his phone volume turned up high, and he could hear the sound of Lou Dongcang's footsteps leaving the bedroom.

Unconsciously, He Guan began humming a tune.

He was now more familiar with the roads than a few days ago and could smoothly drive from the city center to Hongqiao District, catching glimpses of the roadside scenery while checking the rearview mirror.

As March was ending, willow trees budded, and forsythias turned yellow.

He transitioned from the cramped buildings of the city center to the vast vistas of the Hongqiao District.

The surroundings grew darker; the mountain road was unlit.

He Guan switched from low to high beams and sped up slightly, waiting for Lou Dongcang's response, which came five minutes later: "We have shiitake, oyster mushrooms, tea tree mushrooms, cordyceps mushrooms, matsutake..."

Lowering his window to the gentle night breeze, He Guan responded lazily, "Great. I'll chop some meat and toss them all into the pot."

Lou Dongcang: "Alright."

He Guan: "Did they install the lights outside the house today?"

Lou Dongcang: "They rerouted some wiring and chiseled the outer wall."

He Guan, taken aback: "They chiseled it?"

Lou Dongcang: "Yes."

After a moment's thought, He Guan said, "That's fine, I suppose. The exterior wasn't attractive anyway, covered in ivy footprints that blackened over time. We can refurbish it later and replace the radiators with underfloor heating."

Lou Dongcang: "Sounds good."

Nevertheless, He Guan couldn't help but voice his main concern: "Did you meet the workers who chiseled the wall?"

He Guan's question stemmed from...

Previously, whenever Lou Dongcang interacted with outsiders, He Guan was always by his side.

It was evident that Lou Dongcang was reluctant to engage with strangers.

Thus, when it came to installing the outdoor lights, He Guan had only tentatively mentioned it, considering Lou Dongcang's aversion to outsiders.

Unexpectedly, Lou Dongcang had agreed.

He Guan wondered how today's experience went.

After a brief pause, Lou Dongcang said, "I met them."

He Guan inquired, "How was it?"

Lou Dongcang shared, "After they installed the lights, one of them, upon learning I was blind, described the lights to me."

Naturally, He Guan continued, "What do the lights look like?"

Lou Dongcang detailed, "He said they are vintage-style ground lights, set on the ground, square-shaped with intricate carvings. A bulb is placed inside."

He Guan laughed, "Sounds beautiful. I'll take a look when I get home."

Lou Dongcang added, "I've felt them."

He Guan asked, "How did they feel?"

Lou Dongcang hesitated, "... I couldn't discern much, couldn't imagine them. It felt like wooden bars."

After losing his sight, his ability to perceive spatial arrangements had diminished.

Licking his teeth, He Guan hesitated for a moment, pondering how to respond, when Lou Dongcang said, "When we get home, could you draw it for me to see?"

He Guan, puzzled, asked, "Draw? Where?"

Lou Dongcang specified, "On my hand."

He Guan sought clarification, "Are you sure?"

Lou Dongcang questioned, "Is that not possible?"

As He Guan navigated a bend in the mountain road, he explained, "Of course, it's possible. Just a heads-up, my drawings aren't pretty."

"When I used to write songs, my music teacher often misread my notations. That old fellow would pick up my scores during lessons, criticizing them. I'd think to myself, my notes are correct, just a bit skewed... Nevermind, I don't want to talk about him. Just thinking about it irks me."

Despite the lack of overt respect in his voice, there was an underlying fondness and humor. One could tell that he had a close and friendly relationship with this teacher.

He Guan concluded, "I'm just not sure if you'd be able to understand my drawing."

Lou Dongcang pointed out, "He Guan, it seems you've forgotten something."

He Guan: "What?"

Luo Dongcang seemed to bring his phone closer.

His voice abruptly became nearer.

He Guan heard him say,

"It doesn't matter if it's good or not, as long as it's you."

There's a more pessimistic interpretation to this.

I have no choice; I only have you.

So, whatever it turns out to be, I'll accept.

He Guan chuckled, "Sounds good, what about me?"

He stressed the word "me."

Luo Dongcang waited quietly for what came next.

Resting his chin on his hand, with his elbow propped against the steering wheel, He Guan spoke before getting a response, "Why, is there something wrong with having me?"

After a long pause, Luo Dongcang replied, "...It's wonderful."

A hint of laughter in his voice.

He Guan's eyes also crinkled with a smile.

After all, Luo Dongcang was currently in a stable mindset and had started interacting with others over the past few days. There was no need to dwell on such negative emotions.

What's needed is a diversion, to skip dwelling on these feelings.

He should focus more on his steady improvement.

No one mentioned hanging up, so the call continued.

This was a new experience for He Guan.

Being with another person, in silence, yet feeling comfortable.

He swiftly took the last turn, and at the end of the road, he could already see the stone lion in front of his house. He naturally said, "I'll hang up then..."

Luo Dongcang interjected, "Don't. I haven't heard your voice all day."

He Guan, with no choice, removed the car key, closed the car door, holding his phone, he protested, "We've been on the phone for almost an hour, and you're saying you haven't heard my voice all day. Where can I go for justice?"

Hearing noises from He Guan's end, Lou Dongcang inquired, "Are you home?"

He Guan replied, "Yes, just locking the main gate... We should replace this lock with a fingerprint one. What were we thinking at the time? Opting for a bronze bolt lock to fit the classic style? What if it rusts..."

Moreover, it's not safe. Anyone could easily push their way in.

That's how it was before.

As he continued walking in, he remarked, "Why don't I see any lights? Are they really installed? You're not tricking me, are you?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "They're only installed in the very back."

He Guan asked, "Why didn't you install them at the entrance too?"

His tone was so incredulous that, had Lou Dongzang not had a good memory, he would have been led astray.

Lou Dongzang said, "You told me to only install them at the seventh gate."

He Guan lamented, "Oh, my memory..."

Lou Dongzang gently urged, "Come on, I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

This genuinely stunned He Guan. As he walked, he queried, "What do you mean you've been waiting a long time?"

Lou Dongzang responded, "Just as I said."

He Guan held his phone, saying no more.

Was it what he was thinking?

He called Lou Dongzang, and on the other end, all was silent.

Throughout this time, Lou Dongzang had only moved once, which was to get up from where he was and ask Uncle Yue if there were any mushrooms.

That was just around six o'clock.

Could it be he had been waiting downstairs since then?

Waiting until now?

He Guan began to walk faster.

As he approached, he finally spotted the light emanating from the seventh gate in the distance.

The warm yellow glow caught his eye, illuminating its own bright spot in the night, making the floral wall look inviting and the tree shadows blurry.

He Guan reached the two ground lamps at the front row and saw Lou Dongzang standing at the entrance.

It was already a pleasant surprise when he dropped him off for work in the morning. He hadn't expected an even bigger one.

He Guan said, "Why don't you find something to sit on? Doesn't standing tire you out? And you're standing out here in the cold. How many times do I have to tell you..."

Hearing He Guan's hurried steps approaching, Lou Dongzang ended the call and said, "Come here."

He opened his arms towards He Guan and said, "I've been waiting for you for a while."

With an embracing posture, dressed in light clothes, he had waited for He Guan for a long time. Under the glow of the ground lights, he was bathed in a warm yellow hue.

Who could resist that?

How could He Guan resist?

He Guan stepped into the embrace, and as they held each other, his eyelids trembled and his voice quivered slightly, "No more next time."

Lou Dongzang whispered in his ear with a smile, "Wear something warmer next time."

Their hug was brief, and right after, He Guan immediately reached to touch Lou's forehead, but Lou, anticipating this, blocked his hand and said, "I don't have a fever. I'm in great health."

He Guan retorted, "You expect me to believe that?"

"Last time was just an accident..."

"Yeah, yeah, okay, everything's an accident. Come on, let's go upstairs and check your temperature."

Lou Dongzang usually doesn't turn on the lights when he's home alone.

The ground lights were turned off, and they headed upstairs together, their breath and body heat palpable.

He Guan held onto him, his heart melting completely.

*

The temperature reading was indeed normal, so He Guan went downstairs to make soup.

Mushroom soup is easy to prepare; quickly chop the mushrooms, blanch in hot water for a minute, then set them aside.

While the water boiled, he stir-fried some julienned carrots so they'd both be ready.

Lou Dongzang, standing at the door, observed, "The sound of the cooking is different from before."

He Guan responded, "Yes, I used a stainless steel-coated pan before. Now I'm using a stone pot with a wooden spatula."

He combined the mushrooms and carrots, added water to cover, and reduced the heat after they were cooked.

He Guan occasionally glanced at the pot, leaning against the countertop, and mused, "Making soup always reminds me of when I first arrived here."

Lou Dongzang hesitated slightly before asking, "Is it too late to apologize now?"

He Guan chuckled, "Timing is everything."

And with that, they gently turned the page on the past.

The mushrooms cooked quickly. He Guan reduced the heat and asked, "Where's uncle? I haven't seen him tonight."

Lou Dongzang replied, "He went out grocery shopping. He says there's a discount around this time."

He Guan: "They do have discounts at this time... Where's the coconut I bought a couple of days ago? I was thinking of opening it today."

Lou Dongzang uncertainly responded, "In the fridge?"

He Guan: "Can you check for me while I keep an eye on the pot?"

The refrigerator was near the kitchen counter. Lou Dongzang reached out to touch its surface but didn't recognize it, continuing to walk straight past it towards He Guan —

He Guan sidestepped, blocking his way.

"You just touched the fridge."

Lou Dongzang bumped into He Guan, instinctively steadied himself by holding onto He Guan's shoulders, and asked with a furrowed brow, "I did?"

He Guan struggled to contain his laughter: "Yes, take a half step back."

Lou Dongzang: "How could I have?"

He Guan, chuckling, countered: "How could you not have?"

Realizing he couldn't convince him, He Guan simply took Lou Dongzang's hand and guided it, "Here, this is the refrigerator. Feel it? This is the seam of its double doors."

Lou Dongzang: "I couldn't open it before."

He Guan paused, momentarily stunned.

He meant that he had tried cooking before but couldn't manage to open the fridge.

He Guan had been busy recently and hadn’t been at home to help Lou Dongzang familiarize himself with things.

He had indeed promised to do that.

Slapping his forehead, He Guan exclaimed, "I keep forgetting to give you a tour of the house."

Lou Dongzang: "Will you do it tonight?"

He Guan: "Aren't I drawing the ground lights for you tonight? How about tomorrow for the house tour? I need to sketch out a draft for the lights first."

So their plans for the next day were set.

Lou Dongzang: "You can just draw a simple sketch, as long as I can get a feel for what it looks like."

He Guan: "If you can't even recognize it by touch, how will my drawings help you discern it? I have to be more detailed."

Lou Dongzang: "It's dead."

He Guan: "What?"

Lou Dongzang: "It's dead, that's why I can't feel it."

Compared to things that are alive and warm, his sensitivity to cold, lifeless objects is quite diminished.

"Touching the ground lights only lets me feel they're chunks of wood. Cold ones at that."

He Guan gazed at him in silence, finally offering a gentle smile, and placed a hand over the back of Lou Dongzang's hand, keeping it there.

Lou Dongzang adjusted slightly, pressing his hand against He Guan's fingers a bit more closely.

He didn't grasp his hand, but merely stayed quietly close to him.

An intimacy beyond words.

After a moment standing together, He Guan turned and noticed the soup simmering on low heat was about to overflow.

He had forgotten to lift the lid midway.

He Guan quickly grabbed a cloth to rescue the about-to-spill soup, "Oh no, the soup's overflowing..."

He was a bit flustered, but overall, he was methodically turning off the stove, wiping down the pot, and cleaning up the aftermath.

He withdrew his touch from Lou Dongzang's fingers.

Lou Dongzang turned and opened what He Guan had identified as the refrigerator.

Navigating the cold, he quickly located the slightly furry white exterior of the coconut and turned to return.

As He Guan finished wiping the countertop, intending to check on the coconut's retrieval, he was unexpectedly met with Lou Dongzang's half-lidded gaze.

It was as if a mere slit was begrudgingly offered to He Guan.

Behind it, a crystalline blue eye, as if composed of translucent chemicals.

He Guan stared at him, and the other remained motionless, maintaining this semi-open gaze.

The soup, now served by He Guan, filled the kitchen with a rich and savory aroma, imbuing the space with a bustling warmth.

Accepting the coconut from Lou Dongzang, He Guan smiled, "Your eyes, they're incredibly beautiful."

*

Even after opening the coconut, He Guan couldn't shake his disbelief. He hadn't anticipated uttering such words.

And so unrestrainedly.

Lou Dongzang's response was a brief pause, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He Guan sensed it wasn't a rejection but rather genuine astonishment.

Despite no regrets after the comment, He Guan remained slightly dazed as they sat down to eat.

Such words weren't typical of him.

He wasn't quite like the person who, though close, would never speak a word of praise.

Otherwise, the relationship with his parents wouldn't have become so strained.

But having said it, there's no regret.

He Guan heard a noise downstairs and stood up, saying, "Uncle Yue must be back; I'll go check."

Lou Dongzang was scooping out coconut flesh with a spoon, skillfully scraping close to the shell; his actions were swift, revealing a clear fondness for the fruit.

Hearing this, he looked up and said, "Hmm?"

He Guan went downstairs to help Uncle Yue sort and store the groceries.

The usually reticent Uncle Yue paused for a rare moment to ask He Guan, "Young Master, did you date anyone when you were in school?"

He Guan: "Why did you think to ask me that?"

Uncle Yue smiled, "I walked by a high school today while shopping and saw many young couples walking together."

Only then did He Guan set his suspicions aside: "I see. No, I haven't."

Uncle Yue: "Really? Young Master, you're so handsome and even became a celebrity. Haven't you dated before?"

He Guan shook his head, "During high school, I rented my own place. I nearly starved myself because I didn't know how to cook. Making friends? I was struggling just to survive on my own."

Seeing Uncle Yue trying to suppress his laughter, He Guan couldn't help but join in.

He grabbed some seafood intending to put it in the freezer, but the hard shell of the shrimp accidentally tore through the plastic bag.

He Guan hadn't noticed he'd grabbed a damaged bag, scattering its contents all over the floor.

Crouching down and caught up in the story, he said while picking up the shrimp, "When I first started high school and lived alone, I got sick of the restaurants near the school. Every day after class, I'd go for music lessons. After lessons, I'd feel hungry, and after eating, too tired to sleep. I couldn't balance things... At home, someone always looked after me, but on my own, everything was a mess."

He Guan smiled and said, "Come to think of it... you remind me a lot of the person who took care of me back home."

It had been a long time since He Guan shared such things with anyone. Speaking to Lou Dongzang would only raise suspicions about his identity.

But talking with Uncle Yue never carried such concerns.

This man, who bore a physical and temperamental resemblance to a relative He Guan had lost, had once said he had no family and had always treated He Guan as a younger kin.

Whenever they discussed these matters, he'd smile warmly at him.

Uncle Yue took the collected shrimp, cleaned them in the sink, and stored them in the crushed ice of the freezer.

After waiting for Uncle Yue to clean the shrimp, He Guan washed his hands.

Uncle Yue: "Young Master, if you don't..."

As Lou Dongzang, who had gone downstairs to find someone, precisely opened the kitchen door at the moment Uncle Yue spoke, he asked, "He Guan, are you here?"

He Guan wiped his hands on his trousers and inquired, "What's the matter? In a rush to find me? Hold on a moment; Uncle Yue wasn't done speaking."

Uncle Yue said, "It's nothing, Young Master. You can go with Master Lou."

He Guan gave Uncle Yue a perplexed look. Seeing no hint of a giveaway in Uncle Yue's smile, he then turned to look at Lou Dongzang and walked towards him.

After the two left, Uncle Yue gazed at the kitchen countertop. He set the towel he was holding onto the drying rack and sighed.

Ah, first love.

It's worryingly sweet to witness.

*

He Guan was pulled upstairs by Lou Dongzang and handed a coconut filled with scooped-out flesh.

He Guan asked, "Aren't you eating?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "I can't see; it's quite inconvenient."

He Guan initially wanted to insist on Lou doing it himself but reconsidered. He was already here; there was no need for Lou Dongzang to persist in these activities.

When Lou had earlier tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, all he received was self-denial.

He Guan said, "I'll feed you then."

Picking up a piece of coconut flesh, he said, "Open your mouth."

In this brief moment, He Guan was lost in his thoughts.

When Uncle Yue had inquired about his past relationships, He Guan was actually pondering his future.

He's married in public view; could he date again afterward?

He couldn't, and he wouldn't.

At the very least, he'd have to wait until he and Lou Dongzang divorced.

Upon reflection, He Guan realized he wasn't too averse to the idea of not dating.

Compared to the past, he now had more than enough to say with ease...

It's fine not to date.

It's okay to continue being with Lou Dongzang here.

Romance isn't a necessity in his life.

As he fed him, He Guan inquired, "Lou, what have you been up to these days at home?"

After swallowing the coconut flesh, Lou Dongzang replied, "Occasionally reading, tending to the birds, daydreaming, and waiting for you to come home."

He Guan took a bite himself and remarked, "Well, it seems you've jumped straight into retirement. This coconut is quite tasty."

Lou Dongzang simply responded, "Mhm."

He Guan probed, "Anything you'd like to do?"

This was the second time He Guan had asked him this question.

Lou Dongzang remained consistent with his previous response, "Haven't decided yet."

He Guan nodded, "Take your time to figure it out."

After finishing their coconut and having dinner, Lou Dongzang conscientiously started vacuuming the second floor.

He Guan specifically went to the guest room to inspect—the condition after the sparrows had their way with it.

Surprisingly, the room was in good shape. It seemed he had been diligent in cleaning up.

As he was turning around, he was startled by Lou Dongzang appearing behind him, "When did you start moving around without making a sound?"

Mimicking He Guan's tone, Lou Dongzang retorted, "When will you start noticing my footsteps?"

Scratching his head, He Guan admitted, "I've just gotten so used to your movements around the house..."

As he stood immobile by the windowsill, Lou Dongzang reached over him, pressing a hand on his shoulder.

He Guan froze, not daring to move.

Lou Dongzang extended his arm over He Guan's shoulder to grab a plate outside the windowsill.

Being most familiar with the space, Lou Dongzang moved with ease, his breath brushing against He Guan's ear.

The situation made He Guan feel slightly cornered.

Not only were his footsteps quiet, but his breathing was also equally soft.

Out of the blue, He Guan blurted, "Lou, have you ever been in love?"

Holding the plate and standing just a half-step away from He Guan, Lou Dongzang paused for a moment before asking, "Are you considering divorcing me?"

He Guan's heart skipped a beat, "...How did your mind even jump to that?"

Why did it feel like Lou Dongzang was reading his mind?

Lou Dongzang said, "I've never been in a relationship, and neither have you. If you want to date, we can divorce, and you can go ahead."

He Guan was left speechless, "…"

That actually made sense.

He Guan quipped, "If you could see my face right now, you'd witness my absolute astonishment."

Lou Dongcang teased, "So, no divorce?"

With certainty, He Guan responded, "No divorce."

Lou Dongcang retorted, "Then why bring it up?"

He Guan confessed, "Just curious about what being in love feels like."

Lou Dongcang was tempted to suggest they could find out together.

But now wasn't the right time for that remark.

If said now, He Guan might just stay at his office for days without coming home, avoiding him entirely. It would be the epitome of awkwardness.

Leaning against the windowsill, He Guan remarked as if confiding in a comrade, "I've always wondered what it feels like."

Lou Dongcang queried, "Why haven't you dated before?"

He Guan replied, "Too busy."

"During high school, I was always busy and on my own. For some unknown reason, a few boys from my class spread rumors that I was a playboy who brought three or four girls home daily. When I heard about this, I almost laughed to death. Believe it or not, I had never even held a girl's hand. It was such a false accusation! University was hectic, and post-graduation was even more so."

Snapping out of his reverie, He Guan challenged, "And you? I don't believe for a second you've never been in love."

Lou Dongcang parroted, "Just like your classmates wouldn't believe you've never dated."

Intrigued, He Guan pressed, "I thought you'd say you haven't met the right one. For instance, I'm straight. How do you discern someone's...?"

He had never befriended someone of that orientation before.

Grasping the crux of He Guan's hesitation, Lou Dongcang explained, "Usually, it's about the circles we move in. Everyone knows everyone within the circle. Outside of that, it's intuition."

Like with you.

He Guan pondered, "So it's a bit like playing Minesweeper? What if you get it wrong?"

Lou Dongcang shrugged, "You accept the consequences."

He Guan, still in disbelief, countered, "Just like that? But..."

Once more, Lou Dongcang emphasized, "You just accept it."

A considerate person wouldn't push boundaries by presumptuously attempting to alter another's orientation.

"While admitting his mistake, Lou Dongcang's mind raced with thoughts."

"He's not a normal person."

He Gu fell silent.

This somewhat challenged his understanding.

If it were me, if my affection reached a certain point, I might really do something reckless.

He wouldn't... like Luo Dongzang said in his words.

So upright.

Luo Dongzang was the first to break the silence between them, saying, "The floor outside is cleaned up."

He Gu looked up from his thoughts, "Huh? Oh, will you go clean the bird feeder?"

Luo Dongzang sighed, "Forgot already?"

He Gu: "Forgot what? I'm sure I didn't forget anything. Don't talk nonsense."

Luo Dongzang: "Then think about it. Once you remember, I'll leave."

He Gu stood still, furrowing his brow, "Strange, I didn't forget anything. Why does it feel like I did when you say so?"

Luo Dongzang remained silent.

Seeing him become increasingly dejected, He Gu chuckled, "I was thinking about how to draw it, really."

"Before going downstairs to find Uncle Yue... I took a picture of the ground lamp."

Luo Dongzang turned and walked away.

He Gu followed, "Are you mad? Come on, I was just joking. I remember everything except the promise to walk around the house with you. Why are you walking so fast... Watch out, the wall!"

He Gu, noticing Luo Dongzang not stopping and a wall corner approaching, stepped ahead to cushion him against the wall.

He Gu was bumped into by Luo Dongzang and exaggeratedly gasped.

Luo Dongzang, with a furrowed brow, reached out, "Where does it hurt?"

He Gu took the opportunity to grab his hand and sketched a rectangle on it.

The shape of the ground lamp.

Luo Dongzang clenched his fist, feeling the lines He Gu had drawn and whispered, "Ugly."

He Gu: "Ugly? If it's ugly, then I won't draw it. I'm leaving..."

He Gu was already backed against the wall by Luo Dongzang. Now, Luo Dongzang took a step forward, pressing him against the wall with arms extended, blocking his view outside.

Luo Dongzang: "Where are you going?"

With such a fierce charge and overwhelming presence, He Gu felt momentarily dazed.

He Gu hesitated for just a second, then chuckled as he tried to pry Luo Dongzang's hand away, "Are you being stubborn with me? We already agreed on this, and now you're acting out? I swear I didn't forget. Continue like this, and I'll call for help."

As he spoke, he truly intended to shout out, "Uncle Yue, where are you? Someone's bullying me—"

Luo Dongzang quickly moved to cover He Gu's mouth.

He pressed down firmly, making He Gu feel as if there was a cold, icy fever patch on his lips.

Before fully processing it, He Gu responded with a light kiss, innocently, like a child instinctively wanting to feel the texture of the fever patch.

Immediately after, he keenly noticed that Luo Dongzang had halted his actions.

Luo Dongzang slowly withdrew his hand, stepping back slightly, no longer pressing down on him.

His tone and volume remained unchanged as he said, "Draw me a new one later."

He Gu cleared his throat, "...Okay."

The other man still sounded as calm and aloof as ever.

Yet He Gu could feel his face heating up, turning red.

So soft. So cool.

*

Before going to bed that night, He Gu did finish the draft, diligently drawing on Luo Dongzang's palm with meticulous care.

Luo Dongzang offered his right hand to He Gu.

He Gu paused for a moment.

On the day they went shopping at the supermarket, Luo Dongzang had always held He Gu's hand with his left.

He Gu knew that Luo Dongzang didn't want him to see the scar on his right hand.

The scar from a cut by glass when he was unable to see.

He hadn't expected Luo Dongzang to let him see it now.

Taking the hand gracefully, He Gu drew a few lines under the light and said, "This is a rectangle."

Luo Dongzang looked down at his hand as if he could see it, and murmured, "Mm-hmm."

He Gu quickly outlined it and, shading one of the faces, indicated, "This is the front. I'm about to sketch the structure on this side."

Luo Dongzang: "Mm-hmm."

"The front has a hollowed-out bird, and the back is the same."

Luo Dongzang extended his hand, feeling the markings in his palm for a while, then asked, "Did you draw a bird? I thought it was..."

He searched for a delicate way to phrase it.

A vein on He Gu's forehead twitched, "That's a bit much."

Luo Dongzang made a zipping motion across his lips.

He Gu then continued to speak.

This time, until He Gu finished drawing, Luo Dongzang remained silent.

He Gu was engrossed in his drawing, occasionally explaining parts to Luo Dongzang. He felt as if his brain cells were dying by the droves. Just as he was about to look up, he narrowly missed brushing against Luo Dongzang's nose bridge.

He Gu: "...Why are you leaning in so close?"

Luo Dongzang: "Didn't you notice your voice was getting softer? I could barely hear you."

He Gu: "But you..."

Luo Dongzang: "Too close?"

He Gu: "Yes."

Suddenly, Luo Dongzang leaned in a bit more.

Caught off guard, He Gu felt Luo Dongzang's nose bump against his own.

Luo Dongzang revealed a surprised yet pleased grin, "Yes, it is pretty close."

Luo Dongzang's amusement was contagious, and He Gu chuckled, "Now that you're aware, keep some distance. I'm done talking; I want to sleep."

As He Gu reached to turn off the light, he felt a tug from Luo Dongzang, who said, "Here."

In the pitch-black room, He Gu hesitated, "What is it? I've turned off the lights."

The figure in the darkness precisely located He Gu's hand, saying, "Water."

He Gu: "Hmm?"

Luo Dongzang: "Didn't you talk for quite a while earlier?"

Accepting the cup, He Gu rubbed its surface, masking an unexpected shyness, and muttered, "...You should get some sleep."

Luo Dongzang: "Mm-hmm."

But he remained still.

Only after He Gu finished his water and set the glass on the nightstand, causing a soft clink, did he sense movement beside him. Luo Dongzang shifted, and the rustling of the sheets followed as he lay down.

He Gu also settled down to sleep.

In the middle of the night, He Gu was jolted awake by a phone call.

To be precise, upon hearing the initial ring, he swiftly grabbed the phone, hung up, silenced it, and got up to leave the room.

Luo Dongzang awoke in the process.

He murmured, "It's okay, I won't be disturbed."

He Gu spoke quickly, "I'll take the call in the next room. It's Ren Ning; he might be discussing business matters. You go back to sleep."

Luo Dongzang responded with a simple, "Mm."

Closing the door to the guest room, He Gu picked up the phone when Ren Ning promptly called again, "Bro, what's happening? Aren't you in Paris..."

Ren Ning interjected, "Quickly check the trending topics! What's going on over there? Isn't it past midnight? Tong Jiaqi is trending!"

He Gu's brow furrowed as he distanced the phone and checked the trending topics while keeping the call active.

A new number one trend in the dead of night.

#NolimitLeadDancerTongJiaqiAssaultsManInStreet#.

Upon opening the trend, the first post was from a marketing account. The subsequent twenty or so discussions were filled with confusion and question marks.

The post had a concise caption with a tag, accompanied by a photo.

At first glance, the image was blurry. On closer inspection, He Gu realized it was a live-action shot.

The shot was animated.

He recognized the person immediately; it was indeed Tong Jiaqi.

Tong Jiaqi was wearing the white T-shirt and sneakers he had on during the afternoon practice, with a red checkered jacket tied around his waist. He was on top of someone, throwing punches.

The person underneath was thoroughly wrapped up.

He Gu examined the figure closely, trying to match him with the sneaky individual he had seen outside the hospital room earlier.

The live-action image lasted for just three seconds, pausing right before the fist made contact.

Any further viewing was just a repetitive loop.

By the time He Gu finished examining the photo, the comments section below had exploded.

【？？？】

​1​

​2​

"Tongtong, have you lost your mind? Is Nolimit determined not to debut and mess things up instead? First, it was He Guan, and now it's you? I've been your fan for so long, I recognize you at first glance, especially with such a clear picture. Why would you assault someone in public?"

Immediately below that comment, someone else chimed in.

"Right, sis? I also think it's him! That distinct jawline!"

As soon as this comment appeared, the likes soared rapidly and quickly became the top comment.

He Guan checked it at half past one, and in just two minutes, the likes eerily surpassed five thousand.

He activated the speakerphone, changing his clothes, and asked, "Bro, is it daytime where you are?"

Ren Ning replied, "Yes, the contract here is almost settled. Good thing I glanced at my phone while walking."

He Guan: "The PR department has messaged me. I'm going to the police station to check things out. This public opinion issue should be easy to handle. Whether Tong Jiaqi assaulted someone is still debatable. I'll have someone pull the surveillance footage."

Ren Ning: "Easy to handle?"

He Guan: "Yes, I suspect it's just a family dispute. You carry on with your work; this matter will be resolved quickly. Don't be distracted. I'm waiting for good news from you. The five of them are idle and restless now."

Assured by He Guan's confident tone, Ren Ning naturally shifted his thoughts to his work, saying, "It'll be settled soon. I need to hang up now; I have a director to liaise with."

He Guan: "Alright, stay busy."

As He Guan hung up and finished dressing, he glanced into the master bedroom and noticed the person inside was awake, saying, "Old Lou, I'm leaving."

Lou Dongzang: "How long will you be gone?"

He Guan hadn't expected the question and answered honestly, "I'm not sure. It might be just tonight, or if it's not resolved, I might not be back until tomorrow. Don't wait up for me."

Lou Dongzang: "Can I call you?"

He Guan: "Yes, you can call me anytime. I'll answer."

Of course, that's a privilege he can afford.

Lou Dongzang: "Return as soon as possible."

He Guan smiled, "Okay, when I get back, we can garden together."

Lou Dongzang didn't respond further.

He Guan closed the master bedroom door, watching the silhouette of the person sitting up in bed fade behind the door.

This was the first time He Guan had left in the middle of the night since moving here.

When he got downstairs, the surroundings were quiet, a thick darkness enveloping the area, punctuated by faint chirping of insects and a cool breeze.

As he pushed open the main door and reached for his phone to illuminate his way, unexpectedly, the ground lights suddenly turned on, lighting up the path ahead.

He Guan looked up toward the second-floor window.

In the glow of the ground lights, He Guan saw the figure who should have been asleep. The figure slid open the window and waved the Bluetooth switch in his hand.

The one that controlled the ground lights.

He Guan cupped his hand around his mouth and shouted, "Old Lou, I'm off!"

The figure held his gaze for a moment, retracted his waving hand, and closed the window.

With a suppressed smile, He Guan continued on his way, using the lights to guide him. Only after covering some distance did he turn on his phone's flashlight.

Once in his car, the smile vanished from his lips, and he sped towards the city center.

He arrived at the police station at two in the morning, noticing everyone was present.

The four members of Nolimit, Yan Xu, and the man who had been assaulted.

Indeed, the man he had encountered earlier in the day.

All these tall and robust men, including himself, made the police station feel rather cramped.

He Guan asked Yan Xu, "Where's Tong Jiaqi?"

Yan Xu replied, "I'm not sure. I tried calling him, but he's not answering."

He Guan exhaled deeply and waited for the police to retrieve the surveillance footage. He was just about to ask the Nolimit members about the situation.

A chime from a wind bell sounded at the police station's entrance whenever the door opened.

He Guan looked up toward the entrance.

Tong Jiaqi, looking haggard and wearing the same outfit as he did in the live footage, walked up to He Guan. However, his gaze seemed distant and didn't settle on He Guan.

He spoke in a mockingly soft tone.

"He Guan, where's the bodyguard you arranged for me?"

That very morning, he had cheerfully addressed He Guan as 'brother'.

Author's Note:

Editing and revising are in progress; there may be inconsistencies in the comments.

——2022.4.7 22：45

He Guan has two phones.

The first one is linked to a WeChat account that many scammers have targeted.

The second one is for work.

(In Chapter 14, around the 29% mark, I wrote about this. After meeting Yan Xu and getting involved in work, he acquired a work phone.)

These two phones have overlapping contacts, such as Chu Li, who knows both of He Guan's identities, and Lou Yingjie, who is both a company employee and his father-in-law.

The first phone is for personal use, with a WeChat nickname "Kai". It only has five active contacts: Lou Dongzang, Ren Ning, Du Junyan, Chu Li, and Lou Yingjie. He uses this phone to communicate with the first three.

The latter two were added initially but haven't been contacted since.

There's a robot monitoring app on the phone, which he occasionally uses to see what Lou Dongzang is doing at home.

The second phone is for work, with a WeChat nickname "He Guan". It's filled with contacts from Xingyu Company. Yan Xu pre-entered the company directory into the contacts. As He Guan is a director, he also has the contacts of other directors, including Lou Yingjie.

In this chapter, when He Guan handles company matters, the first phone he pulls out is undoubtedly his work phone.

As a result, he didn't pay attention to his personal phone, which remained on call the entire time.

When I write WeChat conversations, the displayed name—either "Kai" or "He Guan"—indicates which phone he's using.

Some readers have asked why He Guan personally leads this team, suggesting it seems disorganized.

It's not uncommon for a boss to lead directly. In real life, there are many examples, even of bosses dining with their artists. Given that He Guan leads the group, is making a phone call such a stretch? He's been trying to boost morale from the start, so he naturally opts for a more intimate approach.

The managers mainly handle business resources, coordinate schedules with artists, etc. Unless it's a top-tier manager, many junior managers don't have much say in an artist's decisions, even concerning makeup and hairstyles. They primarily handle business, with numerous external negotiations.

Few managers stick with their artists all day. Many accompany them during events (like variety shows), but if there's a larger entourage, they might choose to hang back.

The team members are all training well at the company without other engagements. Managers aren't always hovering, asking if they're hungry or thirsty. More often than not, they're liaising with other brands' PR teams.

The original author's note said, "Guan Zai: Contemplating pressing a washboard. Snake: Angry-ing." This was meant in jest... It doesn't mean that Lou Dongzang's name has been changed to 'Snake' LOL. They're both using nicknames here. Given that many fans in the comment section love referring to Lou as 'Snake', I just went with it.

This is what I've gathered. If you have other questions or concerns, feel free to discuss them in the comments.

——2022.3.29 12：26