Running into Zhou Suiyu here was truly something Qiao Qi hadn’t expected—but Zhou Suiyu’s attitude toward her was even more surprising.

There were many people in the room, and many more waiting outside to audition.

Qiao Qi thought it over for a moment and didn’t ask Zhou Suiyu what she meant.

But Zhou Suiyu seemed to have eyes only for Qiao Qi. She walked toward Qiao Qi, beaming, “Oh my god, running into a familiar face here of all places!”

Unable to figure out what Zhou Suiyu meant, Qiao Qi could only instinctively step back to put some distance between them.

The moment she stepped back, Zhou Suiyu looked as if she’d been wounded, freezing in place. She lowered her head, twisting her fingers together, looking extremely uneasy. “Qiao… Qiao Qi, are you still upset with me…”

“…?” Qiao Qi was a bit dazed.

Qiao Qi had grown up in an orphanage. That kind of place could be the warmest place imaginable, or it could be the coldest.

But whether warm or cold, the energy and information Qiao Qi had received there had always been the most unfiltered.

Growing up in that environment meant that even now, she still had trouble telling apart feigned kindness from unintentional malice.

So she tried her best to stay out of everything.

But she couldn’t stop people from throwing themselves at her.

“I… actually… about before…” Zhou Suiyu struggled to get the words out, and in the end couldn’t manage any coherent explanation at all—she simply gave Qiao Qi a deep bow. “I’m sorry!”

Qiao Qi truly had no idea what act Zhou Suiyu was putting on. She frowned, feeling quite at a loss.

She’d never been through something like this before and didn’t know how to handle it.

At that moment, Liang Yan, who had been lounging lazily beside them, stretched his limbs and stood up. He glanced at Zhou Suiyu with a raised brow, then let his amused gaze settle on Qiao Qi.

Seeing Qiao Qi’s eyes slightly widened like a little rabbit, he curled his lips into a slight smile and pulled the topic back to the audition. “Which role are you here for?”

Zhou Suiyu had already noticed Liang Yan; she hadn’t dared to greet him directly for fear of seeming too calculating. Now that he was speaking to her first, she immediately abandoned Qiao Qi and turned around, beaming, “He Nianyi—a friend recommended me.”

Liang Yan tilted his chin, saying something ambiguous, “You do seem quite suited for it.”

At hearing this, Qiao Qi’s heart suddenly settled. She didn’t say anything more to Zhou Suiyu, and instead turned to Cheng Yueming. “I’ll leave you all to it then—I’m heading back to my room.”

Cheng Yueming didn’t know exactly what had happened between Qiao Qi and Zhou Suiyu, but seeing the awkward situation, she quickly let Qiao Qi go.

After Qiao Qi left, Zhou Suiyu scratched her head and said apologetically, “I’d heard some unpleasant gossip about her before, and I mistook it for the truth—I misunderstood Qiao Qi.”

Cheng Yueming, understanding, smiled and said, “It’s fine, Qiao Qi probably won’t mind.”

Just as she finished speaking, Liang Yan suddenly went “Hmm?”

Everyone in the room turned to look at him at once.

Liang Yan’s expression remained unruffled. “Whether or not she minds is better left for the person involved to say herself.”

Cheng Yueming immediately understood what Liang Yan meant.

Don’t urge others to be magnanimous when you haven’t lived through their suffering.

“Alright, carry on—I’m heading out too.” Liang Yan said nothing more and turned to leave.

“Um… Young Master Liang…” Zhou Suiyu suddenly spoke up, looking embarrassed. “Could I get an autograph?”

Liang Yan said “oh” quite casually, “I slept in an awkward position last night, my wrist’s a bit sore—sorry about that.”

“…” Zhou Suiyu wasn’t ready to give up. “Then… could I take a photo with you?”

Liang Yan smiled, “I’m not wearing makeup, better not. I have to watch my image, after all, I do have quite a few fans.”

With that, he raised a hand toward Cheng Yueming. “I’m off.”

Zhou Suiyu: “…”

Zhou Suiyu looked at Cheng Yueming with a face full of frustration. Cheng Yueming’s lips twitched—she’d meant to smooth things over for Liang Yan by saying he hadn’t rested well, but remembering what he’d just said about the person involved, she immediately held back and said with a straight face, “Let’s talk about work first.”

—

Qiao Qi’s headache had originally just been physical, but after running into Zhou Suiyu, it had developed into a psychological one as well. This kind of headache couldn’t be cured by just one nap, so she decided to take two.

Before falling asleep, Liangou sent her a message.

Liangou: Bored.

Liangou: Making money is really boring.

Qiao Qi’s room wasn’t as grand as Cheng Yueming’s presidential suite, but it wasn’t bad either.

Traces of Republican-era style were everywhere in the hotel, including in her room—wooden furniture and bed frame, warm yellow wallpaper, a Western-style lamp by the bed. Its soft light illuminated half of Qiao Qi’s face.

She lay on her side, hair spread messily across her cheek. She raised a hand to hook her phone closer, and upon seeing his message, her mouth twitched.

7: I really want to screenshot this.

And post it on Weibo, so you’ll know what a beating from society feels like.

Liangou: ?

Liangou: Why screenshot it?

Liangou: As a keepsake?

Liangou: Wow, you’re so romantic, babe.

7: ……….

7: I think I might know what your actual job is now.

Liang Yan was still lounging lazily on the living room sofa in his own room. Seeing this message, he raised an eyebrow slightly and sat up straight.

A faint smile touched the corner of his lips as his fingers typed rapidly.

Liangou: Do tell.

He also sent a stick-figure sticker with its legs crossed.

Seeing the sticker, Qiao Qi automatically pictured him in that pose and couldn’t help but laugh.

7: With an imagination that wild, you must be a novelist.

Qiao Qi hadn’t intended to linger on this topic for long; she expected he’d talk nonsense as usual for a couple of lines before moving on to the next topic.

But unexpectedly, this time he answered seriously.

Liangou: Actually no, having a wild imagination is a personal trait of mine, not a profession.

Liangou: Though I do happen to be coworkers with a relative of mine who writes novels.

Qiao Qi mentally weighed the idea of a novelist relative, then weighed the idea of a coworker of that relative, and finally concluded that he was still just talking nonsense.

So she sent back a single, blunt word.

7: Scram.

Liangou: Look at you, pulling out that “flip your attitude like a book” skill again.

7: …

7: Bye bye.

Liangou: What do you mean, bye—what are you up to? Aren’t you on a business trip? Why so free?

7: Nothing going on today, didn’t sleep well yesterday, my head hurts a bit.

Liangou: Take some medicine.

Seeing those three no-nonsense words, something subtle stirred in Qiao Qi’s heart.

She pressed her lips together and replied.

7: It’s not that bad.

Liangou: Taking medicine has degrees now? What, are you going to fly to heaven instead?

Liangou: No more excuses, call the hotel front desk and have them bring some up.

The smile at the corners of Qiao Qi’s mouth deepened. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but in that instant her headache suddenly seemed less severe.

7: Seems like it doesn’t hurt anymore, I’ll just sleep for a bit.

Liangou: Don’t tell me you’re afraid of taking medicine?

Liangou: A grown adult, still afraid of medicine?

Liangou: Be good, take your medicine before you sleep.

Liangou: If you’re worried about the bitter taste, have the front desk send up a couple of lollipops too.

Seeing him coax her like a child, Qiao Qi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

7: You think the front desk is running a convenience store?

Liangou: I’m the one running it.

Liangou: Opened it specially for you.

Liangou: Or how about you give me your address, and I’ll deliver it myself.

Qiao Qi paused for a moment, then laughed again.

7: You’d fly over here yourself? The delivery fee must be steep.

Liangou: Don’t provoke me.

Liangou: I’m free today too, don’t push me into actually flying over.

Once he sounded like he meant it, Qiao Qi started to panic and hurried to say.

7: Okay okay okay.

7: I was wrong, I was wrong.

Liangou: Rare to hear you admit fault.

Liangou: Feels like my status just jumped up more than one level.

What status—he made it sound like they had some kind of indescribable relationship.

Qiao Qi’s ears quietly warmed up several degrees, and then she saw him send another message.

Liangou: Now that my status has gone up, I should have more say too.

Liangou: Now, this humble consort commands you to go take your medicine at once!

7: The emperor hears you.

7: Well done, beloved consort—here’s your reward!

Qiao Qi had meant to casually send him a red packet, but accidentally hit the voice call button instead. Her phone screen immediately popped up a call page, and she panicked, nearly dropping her phone.

Just as she calmed down and was about to hang up, he picked up!

“Hey.”

His voice, clear and bright, carrying a low chuckle, drifted into her ear and made her heart tremble along with it.

Qiao Qi sat on the bed as if someone had gripped her throat.

She stared wide-eyed, unable to utter a single word.

Even her breath caught unconsciously, and soon all she could hear was her own heartbeat.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Wasn’t the emperor going to reward his consort?” His voice was full of playful teasing.

Qiao Qi’s face instantly flushed red, the heat spreading down to her neck and chest, her heartbeat pounding even harder.

She found herself even less able to say a word.

Until a knock sounded from his end. Qiao Qi heard him give a low cough, then say, “Hold on a moment.”

He must have brought the phone along with him—the sound of slippers scuffing across the floor was clearly audible.

It was as if Qiao Qi could hear traces of his everyday life through the phone. In a daze, she seemed to see a tall, upright man in simple loungewear moving through a spotless hotel room, his loose home pants revealing the faint outline of his long, straight legs with each step.

He wore the hotel slippers, his gait somewhat lazy; perhaps he ran a hand through his hair now and then, revealing his smooth forehead and dark eyes.

He opened the door, and before he could say anything, Qiao Qi heard a woman’s voice first.

“Young Master!”

Qiao Qi froze.

“Young Master, would you like to go have some fun tonight? Shall I arrange Peony or Jasmine for you today?”

The moment those words landed, all three people present fell silent.

Liang Yan was utterly stunned. He stared at Cheng Yueming, who was talking nonsense right outside his door, and his first reaction was to glance down at his phone—the call was still connected.

He instantly sucked in a sharp breath, shot Cheng Yueming a fierce glare, and slammed the door shut without ceremony.

With his back against the door, he raised the phone and immediately began to explain, “I—”

“Click—”

She hung up on him.

Liang Yan: “…”

Once he recovered, he hurried to send messages explaining, but just as he’d typed “No! My coworker was just joking with me,” she sent several rapid-fire messages.

7: Young Master?

7: Have some fun?

7: Peony or Jasmine?

Liangou: …

Liangou: No, that was my coworker.

7: Oh.

7: Playing roleplay with your coworker, are you?

Liangou: …No.

7: My head hurts.

7: Going to sleep.

7: Have fun.

Liang Yan: “…Fuck!”

He threw down his phone, turned and yanked the door open, glaring at Cheng Yueming through gritted teeth. “Peony or Jasmine?”

Sensing danger, Cheng Yueming instinctively backed away step by step. “N-no, I was just joking.”

Liang Yan kept advancing, step by step, until he’d backed Cheng Yueming right up against the safety railing.

He pressed one hand against the railing beside her, effectively trapping Cheng Yueming within his arms.

The door to the neighboring room suddenly opened.

Qiao Qi had originally thought her headache was bearable, but after Li’ang’s stunt, she found it unbearable after all and decided to go get some medicine herself. As she stepped out and looked up, she saw Liang Yan… cornering Cheng Yueming against the wall?

At the sound, Liang Yan and Cheng Yueming both turned their heads.

Liang Yan: “…”

Cheng Yueming: “…”

Uh.

“Sorry, I didn’t see anything.” Qiao Qi turned and walked away, expressionless.

Cheng Yueming, unable to explain herself, threw out a dramatic pleading hand. “It’s not what it looks like! Let me explain…”

The fire that had been building in Liang Yan’s chest suddenly rushed straight to his head. He silently turned to look at Cheng Yueming, and after a long moment, cursed, “Fuck!”

Author’s Note: Qiao Qi: Liang Yan isn’t gay!!!

Liang Yan: …?