Chapter 23 But this isn't your room, this is...
Fang Xin has always been prone to allergies, a fact that Jing Yitong now knows, but neither of them knew when they were younger.
Jing Yitong still remembers the summer when he was eight years old. After taking Fang Xingu out to play all day, they returned home. It was hot during the summer vacation, and they were covered in sweat. Drinking water alone didn't seem to quench their thirst. Just then, Jing Yitong discovered that there were several peeled pineapples in the refrigerator at home.
The tiny pineapples were only the size of a fist, and they looked incredibly juicy. Jing Yitong took out two and naturally gave one to Fang Xin Gu.
As a child, Fang Xin was unaware that he was allergic to pineapples. He simply didn't like eating pineapples and would only eat a small slice before refusing to eat any more. So, that day, when Jing Yitong handed him a whole pineapple, he blinked his big eyes and said, "Brother, pineapples are so astringent, I don't like them."
Jing Yitong savored the sweet taste of the pineapple, then chuckled and pinched Xia Xin's cheek: "This isn't astringent at all, it's sweet and delicious. Try it, and if you still don't like it, give it to me, I'll eat it." The pineapple was small; he could easily eat two at once.
With the newcomer Jing Yitong in mind, Xiao Fang said in a coquettish voice, "Okay, I'll give it a try."
He took a bite. The pineapple was very fragrant and sweet, but Fang Xin smacked his lips and still tasted a little astringent. However, it was not as astringent as the pineapples he had eaten before.
Fang Xingu took a few bites very seriously, but he still didn't really like it. However, the slight astringency was still acceptable.
Although Jing Yitong said he could have it if he didn't like it, Wang Jinxu had taught Fang Xingu since childhood that he shouldn't let others eat his leftovers. The same applied to pineapple, and it would be wasteful to throw it away after only a couple of bites. So Fang Xingu tried his best to finish the whole pineapple and earned a lot of praise from Jing Yitong.
Jing Yitong was also very satisfied, feeling that this was another day in which she had taken good care of her younger brother on her own.
As a result, their joy turned to sorrow. After finishing the pineapple, the two were about to continue playing, but before they even left the courtyard, Fang Xingu felt unwell. He tugged at Jing Yitong's clothes and walked slower and slower, feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and with a bitter taste in his mouth. The scenery in front of him became increasingly blurry, and slowly all he could see was Jing Yitong's back.
Jing Yitong noticed that Fang Xingu's footsteps behind him were a little heavy. Just as he was about to turn around and ask what was wrong, Fang Xingu suddenly fainted, lost consciousness, and fell forward, crashing into Jing Yitong's arms.
Jing Yitong, who was still young at the time, was almost scared to death. It wasn't until he took Fang Xingu to the hospital for a checkup that he learned that Fang Xingu was severely allergic to pineapple.
Fortunately, Fang Xin was tough and nothing serious happened. After staying in the hospital for a few days, he was discharged as if nothing had happened.
By now, Fang Xingu couldn't remember the specifics of the incident, only vaguely recalling that it happened. The adults, of course, wouldn't blame Jing Yitong, since none of them knew Fang Xingu was allergic to pineapples. Besides, Fang Xingu hadn't suffered any lasting effects; at worst, they could just be more careful about avoiding pineapples in the future.
But for Jing Yitong, it was indeed his childhood nightmare. In countless midnights, he would dream that Fang Xingu died from an allergic reaction after eating the pineapple he gave him, which made him feel very guilty.
Therefore, for a long time afterward, Jing Yitong was extremely strict about Fang Xingu's diet, even more so than the elders of the Fang family—as long as Fang Xingu was around, even when dining out, no food that he was allergic to was allowed on the table.
It wasn't until Jing Yitong transferred to Shen City with his parents to attend junior high school and was separated from Fang Xingu for a period of time that his extreme desire for control improved.
After all, if you can't even see the person, what can you control?
Fang Xingu sometimes felt that Jing Yitong was making a mountain out of a molehill. Since he was allergic to some foods, he could simply avoid them himself, but he didn't expect others to avoid them with him. Besides, he didn't really like those allergens anyway, and even if they were on the table, he wouldn't touch them.
However, considering that Jing Yitong was doing this for his own good, Fang Xingu felt there was nothing wrong with it. Let Jing Yitong interfere if he wants; he wouldn't object to being managed by Jing Yitong anyway.
Nearly twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Fang Xin has never eaten any food related to pineapple since, not even anything pineapple-flavored. He has almost forgotten what it tastes like, and all he remembers is the undeniable astringent taste of pineapple.
Looking at Jing Yitong, who was showing signs of anger, Fang Xingu felt as if he had returned to his childhood. He looked down and stirred the bowl of yogurt, vaguely seeing some small pieces of yellow pulp inside, which did look a bit like chopped pineapple.
But you can't really blame him, can you? He just happened to get a bowl of yogurt with pineapple chunks, and he didn't taste any pineapple at all.
In fact, Fang Xingu felt that this should be nothing. In the past few years, when his eczema relapsed, he would occasionally retest for allergens and update his dietary restrictions. He also found that his allergy concentration index to pineapple had been decreasing. Now, at most, he was only a level three allergy. At worst, he would get a little more eczema.
Moreover, the pineapple he just ate was probably only a few fingernails in size.
When Liang Jiyan heard Fang Xingu say that he was allergic to pineapple, he was also startled: "You are allergic to pineapple? I saw the introduction of this yogurt when I passed by just now. It does contain pineapple pulp and pineapple juice. How serious is your allergy? Are you okay?"
Fang Xingu didn't want others to worry about him, so he subconsciously comforted them, "It's okay, it's not serious, don't worry."
Upon hearing Fang Xingu utter the words "It's nothing," Jing Yitong immediately frowned, his expression becoming extremely serious and grave. He coldly retorted, "...Not serious?"
Liang Jiyan was stunned by Jing Yitong's deep tone. Only then did she realize a question: How did Jing Yitong know that Fang Xingu was allergic to pineapple? And why did he react so strongly to Fang Xingu's accidental eating of pineapple?
Liang Jiyan wasn't usually a gossipy person, but perhaps because Li Wenyu and Wang Peiyang had just talked to her about the two of them a lot these past two days, Liang Jiyan couldn't help but start secretly observing Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong.
Both of them were acting out of character; Jing Yitong's face was gloomy, and Fang Xingu looked guilty.
Even a blind man could sense the strangeness between the two.
For example, the people at the next table, including Luo Da, had clearly sensed the oppressive atmosphere and were peeking over. Meng Hui was even more perceptive; she cut off the live stream almost immediately.
Everyone noticed that Jing Yitong's usually easygoing and smiling face was now tense. He tapped the table in front of Fang Xin Gu with his index finger: "Let's go."
Fang Xingu knew without a second thought that Jing Yitong was definitely going to take him to see a doctor. He took a few deep breaths and finally resigned himself to following Jing Yitong.
As soon as the two walked away, the other five couldn't hold back any longer. Even Liang Jiyan ran to another table, and the five heads huddled together, whispering. Luo Da asked, "Why are those two starting again?"
Wang Peiyang shook his head: "I didn't hear clearly, but I felt a sudden low pressure there."
Li Wenyu nudged Liang Jiyan: "Sister Jiyan, you were sitting at the same table as my senior brother just now, did you hear anything?"
Just as Liang Jiyan was about to recount what had happened to them, Yan Tu suddenly interrupted her, saying, "Ahem, it's forbidden to pry into the personal privacy of other guests!"
Liang Jiyan turned her gaze to Yan Tu, only to see Yan Tu giving her a sly smile. Liang Jiyan, being a shrewd person, immediately understood that Yan Tu meant for her not to mention what had just happened.
Although she didn't understand Yan Tu's intentions, she had to listen to the director since she was receiving the appearance fee.
Li Wenyu was very dissatisfied with the rules that Yan Tu had set up on the spot: "Sister Jiyan, don't listen to Director Yan, just say it out loud!"
Liang said, half-jokingly, "I really don't know. Maybe the two of them mentioned the yogurt you brought? And then they started giving each other the cold shoulder. I didn't dare to watch or listen too much. You'll know when the show airs."
Li asked doubtfully, "Really?"
Liang Jiyan remained calm and composed: "Of course it's true, otherwise you could steal the master tapes from the production team." She wasn't lying; she just deliberately omitted some minor details.
Seeing Liang Jiyan's certainty, Li Wenyu began to believe him: "Sigh, two grown men are arguing over a yogurt."
Wang Peiyang: "They were acting all aggressive when they went out just now. I hope they don't start a fight."
Meng Hui was also a little worried: "Should we follow them and take a look?"
Yan Tu reassured him, "Don't worry, there are staff members with you."
Wang Peiyang quickly inquired, "Director Yan, what did they go to do?"
Yan Tu smiled in a smug way: "I don't know either. If you want to know, remember to watch the finished product later."
Rhoda was shocked: "No way, you're going to pull this stunt on us for a few views?"
Li Wenyu clasped his hands together with Yan Tu and said, "Fine, if you don't want to tell us, but please cut out the part where I was cricketing my senior brother and Brother Jing. I don't want to be assassinated by their fans."
Yan Tu: "I know what I'm doing."
"Thank you, Director Yan!"
Yan Tu thoughtfully stroked his chin. He only said that he knew what to do, but did not agree on whether to delete it or not. After all, his intuition told him that keeping this part would be very entertaining.
The meal was finally over. Although two people were missing, the recording went smoothly. As the group was about to leave the restaurant, Liang Jiyan noticed a hat on an empty seat. She picked it up and asked, "Did someone leave this behind?"
Luo Da recalled, "It must have been Yi Tong. I guess he forgot in his haste to leave."
Li Wenyu started to make plans in her mind. She pressed down Liang Jiyan's hand holding the hat and said, "I'll ask Brother Jing and send it to him directly later."
Luo Da quickly understood Li Wenyu's ulterior motives. He drawled out an "Oh~" and winked, "Remember to share any news with us later."
Li Wenyu and he exchanged a smile: "It's all wrapped up."
.
On the other side, Jing Yitong took Fang Xin to find the medical team accompanying the program crew, and the cameraman dutifully followed behind them.
Dr. Zheng from the production team was leisurely eating in his room when they came to his door, and he was quite surprised: "Teacher Jing and Teacher Fang are not feeling well?"
The two entered the room, and before the cameramen could catch up, Jing Yitong deftly closed and locked the door, shutting all the cameramen out. The whole action was smooth and fluid, leaving the cameramen outside speechless.
Inside the room, Jing Yitong glanced at Fang Xingu, who then stepped forward and confessed, "Dr. Zheng, I just ate pineapple, but I'm allergic to pineapple."
"Ah? Oh," Dr. Zheng pushed up his glasses, carefully observed Fang Xingu for a moment, but couldn't see any allergic reaction, so he asked, "Where do you feel uncomfortable now?"
"Uh, I don't feel uncomfortable. Actually, I don't think I'll have any allergic reactions this time."
Dr. Zheng: ?
Then what are you doing here? Playing with me?
Jing Yitong couldn't stand it anymore and added, "He used to have a severe pineapple allergy and even a history of shock. Although he doesn't seem to be in any discomfort yet, could you prescribe some medication just in case?"
Upon hearing Jing Yitong start flipping through ancient almanacs from who-knows-how-many years ago, Fang Xingu, fearing that his words might influence the doctor's judgment, quickly said, "It's not that exaggerated."
Jing Yitong suppressed his dissatisfaction: "What do you mean 'it's not that exaggerated'? Can't you pay a little more attention?"
Fang Xingu patiently explained, "...My allergic reaction to pineapple isn't as severe now. I had an allergen test done at the end of September, and I still have the report on my phone. Dr. Zheng, you can take a look."
Jing Yitong was momentarily taken aback. He did know that Fang Xingu's allergies had improved in recent years, but he could only get a general idea of the situation from the sidelines and did not know the details, let alone that Fang Xingu's allergy to pineapples had decreased.
A tightness gripped his chest: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Hearing Jing Yitong's questioning tone, Fang Xingu also felt a little angry: "Actually, I've long since stopped being allergic to pineapples, you just didn't know that."
These words struck Jing Yitong's sore spot precisely. Jing Yitong felt his heart clench and his emotions were about to spiral out of control. He raised his voice: "Yes, I didn't know your current physical condition. You didn't tell me anything, how was I supposed to know?"
Fang Xingu's head throbbed with pain. He didn't understand what Jing Yitong was angry about. He hadn't deliberately eaten the pineapple, nor had he deliberately kept his health condition a secret from Jing Yitong.
There's no point in talking about these trivial matters.
They've all grown up and are destined to drift apart, living their own lives. They shouldn't be trapped in preconceived notions of their relationship. He wanted to set things right, to get everything back on track.
Besides, in what capacity should Jing Yitong manage him now?
He used to enjoy being managed by Jing Yitong because he knew it was Jing Yitong's way of showing concern for him. But the thought of someone unknown appearing in the future and taking away Jing Yitong's concern for him made him feel suffocated.
Why should I?
He is the one who grew up with Jing Yitong, he is the one who understands Jing Yitong the most, and he is the one who likes Jing Yitong the most. Why should someone who appears halfway through be able to take away Jing Yitong's feelings?
What he wanted was Jing Yitong's "only one".
Fang Xingu was burning with anger, completely immersed in negative emotions. His mind went blank, and he almost started arguing with Jing Yitong: "Tell you? Why should I tell you? Who do you think you are? What's the point of me telling you?"
"Is my concern meaningless to you?"
Fang Xingu sneered: "Do you think it makes any sense?"
The two argued more and more heatedly, completely ignoring the third person next to them, making Dr. Zheng, who was listening in, wish he could find a crack to hide in.
As the accompanying doctor, he had naturally heard from others that Jing Yitong and Fang Xingu probably had some past conflict, and their relationship wasn't good. Although the two were arguing now, the content didn't seem to be any deep-seated hatred; instead, it subtly revealed their concern and worry.
...But is this something he can even hear? What if these two come to their senses and kill him together?
Dr. Zheng tried his best to minimize his presence, but couldn't help eavesdropping.
Unfortunately, after arguing for a few minutes, the two started giving each other the silent treatment. In the end, Jing Yitong calmed down first. He tried to stabilize his emotions, but in the end, the other party's worries about the recent incident clearly prevailed. He turned to Dr. Zheng and said, "Please take a look at him first."
Dr. Zheng thought to himself that Fang Xin's loud and energetic manner during the argument didn't seem like an allergic reaction at all.
But he dared not say these things at this time, and instead simply performed a check-up on Fang Xingu to confirm that he was currently fine.
Dr. Zheng: "It's been about twenty minutes since Teacher Fang accidentally ate the pineapple, right? Food allergies are usually immediate allergies. If he hasn't felt unwell in this time, it's possible that he hasn't had an allergic reaction. Also, those kinds of pineapples are usually processed, and the proteases that easily cause allergies are basically destroyed when heated. Teacher Jing, don't worry too much."
With Dr. Zheng's words, Fang Xin Gu immediately felt that he was in the right: "I told you I was fine. Don't I know my own body?"
Jing Yitong was still frowning. He knew that his reaction just now might have been a bit too strong, but once bitten, twice shy. Besides, Fang Xin had been seriously ill not long ago, with a high fever and pneumonia. No one knew how well he had recovered. What if his immunity had dropped?
How could he not worry?
Dr. Zheng observed Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong's expressions and carefully suggested, "How about I prescribe some anti-allergy medication for Teacher Fang first?"
Fang Xin glanced at Jing Yitong and refused firmly: "No need, I'm not allergic, why would I take medicine?"
After saying that, Fang Xingu turned and left. He opened the door to the room and didn't even glance at the staff gathered at the door as he passed by.
Jing Yitong stood alone in Dr. Zheng's room, not saying a word, just looking at the corner where Fang Xingu had been standing. No one else dared to go up and disturb him.
After a long while, Jing Yitong finally said, "Dr. Zheng, would you please prescribe some medicine? I'll bring it to him later."
Dr. Zheng nodded vigorously and hurriedly handed him the medicine.
That was a very common type of anti-allergy medication. Because Fang Xingu used to have frequent allergies, Jing Yitong knew a bit about these anti-allergy medications. He knew that the medication Dr. Zheng prescribed for him was very safe, and Fang Xingu had taken it often before with virtually no side effects.
Jing Yitong walked out of the room with the medicine. As he passed the security camera at the door, he asked directly, "Which way did he go?"
The cameraman pointed to the left.
Jing Yitong understood, turned left, and realized that meant they should be going back to their rooms.
He then turned to the staff and said, "Everyone has worked hard. Let's call it a day."
The staff members looked at each other: ...This won't do, will it?
Jing Yitong noticed their predicament: "Don't worry, I'll talk to Director Yan."
The staff then relented: "Okay, then we'll call it a day early."
The staff dispersed, and the world finally quieted down. Jing Yitong walked steadily toward Fang Xin's room. Just then, he received a message on his phone from Li Wenyu.
Li Wenyu: Brother Jing, you left your hat at the restaurant.
Jing Yitong then realized that she had been so focused on getting Fang Xin to see the doctor that she had forgotten to bring her hat: "Thank you, I'll get it from you later."
Li Wenyu was very understanding: "It's alright, it's alright. Are you busy with something? I'll bring it to you."
Jing Yitong thought of the medicine in his hand and felt that a tattered hat was not as important as Fang Xin's. He immediately declined: "It's okay. I'm a little busy right now. I'll come to get it from you later. Please keep it for a while."
After saying that, he put away his phone and walked quickly towards 608.
At this moment, Fang Xingu was pacing back and forth in 608 with his hands on his hips, clearly seething with anger.
He didn't know what was wrong with Jing Yitong today, why was she yelling at him? Shouldn't his allergy level have dropped, which was something to be happy about? But Jing Yitong still argued with him after finding out. It's not like he ate that pineapple on purpose!
Overwhelmed with resentment, Fang Xin threw himself into the sofa, hugged a cushion, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
In reality, he didn't have that much acting skill; he couldn't pretend to be calm and composed when facing Jing Yitong, who was about to be married off to someone else.
Fang Xingu could even imagine that in the near future, if he were forced to attend Jing Yitong's wedding, he might be so jealous that he wouldn't be able to utter a single word of blessing.
Damn, who would wish their crush a happy marriage with someone else?!
Just as Fang Xin was burning with jealousy, there was a knock on the door of room 608.
Jing Yitong called to him from outside: "New or old?"
Upon hearing Jing Yitong's voice, Fang Xingu felt even worse: "What's wrong?"
"Open the door."
Fang Xingu had a stern face. "You think you can just open the door like that?"
He wanted to leave Jing Yitong alone, but he hadn't heard Jing Yitong leave. He sighed and opened the door anyway: "What?"
Jing Yitong handed over a paper bag: "These are the allergy medications that Dr. Zheng prescribed for you."
Fang Xingu felt like he was about to explode. Why was Jing Yitong still fixated on this? He wasn't allergic!
He said sarcastically, "I don't need your kind offer to send me medicine; I have my own."
After saying that, he stepped back and closed the door, giving Jing Yitong the cold shoulder.
Jing Yitong frowned and stood silently outside 608 for a while before saying to Fang Xin through the door, "You can take your own medicine, and I've left the one Dr. Zheng prescribed at your door. In any case, don't joke around with your health."
After saying that, Jing Yitong put the medicine on the ground and prepared to go back to room 609 next door. But when he turned around, he made eye contact with Lao Wu, the cameraman from the program crew, who was lurking around the corner.
Jing Yitong: ...
Old Wu grinned at him, showing off his big teeth.
Clearly, Jing Yitong was so focused on getting rid of his own paparazzi that he forgot Fang Xingu was also following him.
Seeing the video camera that Lao Wu was carrying, Jing Yitong knew that what had just happened must have been recorded.
However, Jing Yitong was in a bad mood and didn't care about Lao Wu. Let him take pictures if he wants; it's not like he's the one pretending not to know him. He casually waved to Lao Wu and went back to 609.
At that moment, Fang Xingu was eavesdropping on Jing Yitong's movements from behind the door.
He first heard Jing Yitong put the paper bag on the ground, then there was a moment of silence outside the door, and then the sound of the door opening and closing came from next door 609.
It seemed that Jing Yitong should have gone back to his room. Fang Xingu checked through the peephole to make sure there was no one else in the corridor before he breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, he was afraid that if Jing Yitong had stood there any longer, he would have surrendered first.
Even though he didn't reconcile with Jing Yitong on the spot, Fang Xingu had already begun to reflect on himself: Was he too harsh just now? After all, Jing Yitong was indeed doing it for his own good.
Fang Xin was struggling with his inner conflict. After a while, he finally managed to convince himself and carefully opened the door. He picked up the medicine that Jing Yitong had left for him from the ground. After doing this series of actions, he looked around furtively and then met the gaze of Old Wu, who was squatting at the corner of the corridor like a paparazzi, grinning with his big teeth.
Fang Xin Gu: ...
Old Wu had been following Fang Xingu these past few days, and the two had become quite familiar with each other. Old Wu simply patted the camera to indicate that he had just recorded everything.
...Wouldn't that mean the entire sequence of events—from his cold rejection of Jing Yitong, to Jing Yitong's insistence on keeping the medicine for him, to his own reluctance to admit his true feelings and secretly taking the medicine—was captured on film?
Fang Xin glumly covered his eyes with his forehead, feeling utterly humiliated, and now he really wanted to die.
Fang Xingu quickly retreated back into the room and pretended to be dead for a while before he had no choice but to face reality. He took out the medicine that Jing Yitong had given him and was surprised to find that it was exactly the same as the anti-allergy medicine he carried with him.
Fang Xingu held the medicine Jing Yitong had given him in one hand and his own medicine in the other, looking at them from left to right, and then suddenly smiled helplessly.
Although Jing Yitong was unusually stubborn today, he was also acting strangely. Why was he angry with Jing Yitong? Jing Yitong didn't even know that he liked him.
From Jing Yitong's perspective, he must have felt very frustrated these past few days, right?
His younger brother, who had always been very dependent on him, suddenly started to distance himself. He was worried that his brother was allergic to pineapple, but in the end, his brother talked back to him instead. He didn't even know why his good brother was angry... and he may never know the reason behind it.
Fang Xingu chuckled, but in the end he still opened the water and took the medicine that Jing Yitong had left for him.
It was nearly 8 p.m. Fang Xingu took a shower, changed into a cotton pajama, and took out the lyrics and music he had written before to organize them. Perhaps it was the medication that helped him sleep, but soon he felt drowsy. He rubbed his eyes and simply lay down to sleep.
The Affogato continued its journey toward the Drake Passage. The power of the westerly winds began to emerge, and the waves gradually grew larger. When Fang Xingu opened his eyes again, it was almost eleven o'clock.
He woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. He picked up his phone from beside his pillow and scrolled through it, only to find that he and Jing Yitong's fans were arguing again.
"What is Jing Yitong trying to do? What's wrong with Fang Xingu eating a bowl of yogurt?"
"Yeah, it's rare for my kid to eat even a little more [crying emoji]"
"Stop playing the victim, don't you even remember how FXG treated JYT before?"
"At least FXG never physically attacked JYT [smile]"
"I'm speechless. How can a celebrity openly assault someone on a TV show?"
Fang Xingu became more and more confused as he looked at it. He sat up and asked, "What does this mean? Jing Yitong hit him?"
How come he, the person involved, didn't know he was being beaten?
Fang Xin Gu thought about it for a long time but still couldn't understand. Finally, he found a very blurry GIF online, which was a screenshot of Meng Hui's live stream. In one frame, Jing Yi Tong was vaguely seen reaching out to hit him.
Fang Xingu then remembered that Jing Yitong must have found him eating pineapple and was angry that he ate things randomly, so he hit him on the head.
...No, how can this be called hitting someone? Jing Yitong didn't even use any force.
Fang Xingu quickly browsed through the online comments. At first, the two sides' fans were just having minor squabbles. After all, Meng Hui's live stream was not focused on their table, and the camera only captured a limited amount of footage. Fang Xingu's fans were just venting their anger by deliberately targeting Jing Yitong. But later, the situation gradually went astray.
Does Jing Yitong have violent tendencies?
"Is this what you call hitting someone? At most, he patted FXG on the shoulder. The live stream hadn't even captured the exact moment, and you guys are already spreading rumors?"
"'At most, he just patted FXG on the shoulder'?? Now is not the time for fans to say that FXG is disrespectful to his seniors?"
"If it's not their own child, of course Tongsi won't feel sorry for them [eye roll]"
"Anyone can say that bowl of yogurt looks absolutely delicious [drooling]"
"What kind of time is this to care whether yogurt tastes good or not!"
"#Jing Yitong, come out and apologize to Fang Xingu#"
It was morning in China, a time when people are full of energy, and the two fan groups argued more and more fiercely, eventually even trending on social media.
Fang Xingu was completely baffled. The public opinion was fermenting so quickly that it was obvious that someone was guiding the public opinion behind the scenes.
He immediately got out of bed and contacted Qi Qiu to coordinate with the production team to handle the matter. Only after explaining all the details to Qi Qiu did Fang Xingu feel dizzy, so he went to the balcony to feel the sea breeze and clear his head.
With a click, the balcony door opened, and the sea breeze rushed in. At the same time, a familiar figure appeared before Fang Xingu's eyes—needless to say, it could only be Jing Yitong.
When their eyes met, Fang Xin Gu and Jing Yi Tong both fell silent.
Fang Xingu thought the balcony was really annoying, but by now he had made up with his emotions and didn't want to argue with Jing Yitong anymore, so he greeted him: "Not asleep yet?"
"Yeah, I came out for some fresh air," Jing Yitong said, noticing Fang Xingu's rather thin pajamas. "Aren't you cold?"
"It's not cold."
Jing Yitong hesitated, then, fearing Fang Xin might think he was being too nosy, simply nodded; "Sit for a while?"
Fang Xingu naturally sat down next to Jing Yitong, and the two of them had a rare moment of silence, but neither of them started a conversation.
At this moment, the ship was sailing on the vast and desolate sea, where not a single island could be seen. It seemed that the sound of the crashing waves was the only sound left in the world.
In such a tranquil setting, time flew by. Fang Xin didn't know how long he had been sitting there in a daze. After a while, he suddenly spoke up: "I'm sorry."
Jing Yitong turned his head with some confusion.
Fang Xingu looked at Jing Yitong and said, "I was too impulsive before. I was angry inside, but I took it out on you. I'm sorry."
Jing Yitong stared at him for a while without saying a word. Fang Xingu felt uneasy under his gaze and wondered if Jing Yitong was not going to forgive him.
Fortunately, Jing Yitong suddenly laughed: "How could I be angry with you? I'm afraid you'll think I'm meddling too much."
Fang Xingu tilted his head: "Really not angry? But when I saw you at Dr. Zheng's place before, you didn't seem like you weren't angry either."
Jing Yitong: ...
Jing Yitong couldn't help but tap Fang Xingu's head again: "Can't you just see through it and not say it?"
Fang Xingu covered his head and dodged to the side, jokingly saying, "You can't hit me anymore, or people online will say you're bullying me again."
"Sigh," Jing Yitong withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair, his expression somewhat helpless. "You knew?"
Fang Xin Gu: "Yeah, I just took my medicine and slept for a while. When I woke up and checked my phone, I saw it. I've already contacted my agent to handle it. Your studio has also contacted the production team, right? I'll give you my agent's WeChat. You can contact him if you need anything."
Hearing Fang Xingu say that he had already taken his medicine, Jing Yitong was relieved and said with a smile, "Then thank you, Teacher Fang."
After saying that, he took out a small cup, poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it to Fang Xingu, saying in a low voice, "Actually, I should be the one apologizing to you."
Fang Xingu took the cup and was stunned for a moment: "What?"
Jing Yitong held the teacup in both hands, the rising steam making his face look hazy. He said self-deprecatingly, "Do you know why I was angry this afternoon? It wasn't because you ate pineapple, nor because you didn't tell me about your recent situation. Actually, I was angry with myself."
I'm afraid you'll faint again in front of me due to your allergy, and even though I know you're allergic to pineapples, I still haven't taken good care of you. Besides, medical facilities on the ship are limited. If something happens to you and you can't get treatment, I'll just stand by helplessly... I'm so scared.
Fang Xingu took a sip of tea in a daze, only then realizing that the reason Jing Yitong was angry was completely different from what he had thought.
At this moment, Fang Xingu suddenly realized that he had been ignoring something for more than ten years—the incident when he went into shock due to an allergic reaction when he was a child seemed to have caused Jing Yitong serious psychological trauma.
Yes, Jing Yitong was only seven or eight years old at that time, yet he watched helplessly as Fang Xingu went into shock due to an allergic reaction after eating the pineapple he gave her. How guilty and scared he must have felt?
While everyone else forgot about the matter because Fang Xingu had recovered, and even Fang Xingu himself didn't pay much attention to it, no one noticed that Jing Yitong was still trapped in that nightmare.
After figuring all this out, Fang Xingu felt a mix of emotions. He moved closer to Jing Yitong, and then, just like when they were children, he touched Jing Yitong's head with his own, and said in a soft voice, "Brother, I'm fine. If you're willing, you can keep taking care of me from now on."
Jing Yitong felt the soft, furry touch against his cheek, and a sense of satisfaction filled his heart. He smiled and reached out to put his arm around Fang Xingu's head. The two remained in this head-to-head position, and he said, "Then I'd be more than willing."
Time seemed to stand still at that moment. The sea breeze continued to blow, and the two heads remained close together, quietly watching the Affogato cut through the waves.
The two were immersed in this beautiful moment when suddenly, Jing Yitong's phone rang, breaking the silence. He looked at the caller ID and said, "Hmm? It's my mom."
Jing Yitong didn't avoid Fang Xingu and answered the phone directly. Jing's mother, Song Jiao, spoke from the phone: "Hello, Xiaotong, are you not asleep?"
"Hmm, Mom, what's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing serious. I just saw something online and wanted to ask you what happened."
Jing Yitong assumed Song Jiao had seen the negative comments about him online, so he gave a brief explanation. However, Song Jiao became impatient: "Tsk, who told you that? I saw someone online saying that you and Xin Gu had a fight. What's going on between you two? You should talk things out."
The phone was slightly audible, and the environment was quiet, so Fang Xin "accidentally" overheard Song Jiao's words.
Jing Yitong and Fang Xingu exchanged a glance. Fang Xingu cleared his throat and raised his voice: "Auntie, nothing like that. Don't look at the internet. It's all nonsense. How could we have quarreled?"
"...Xin Gu is here too?" Song Jiao clearly didn't expect to hear Fang Xin Gu's voice at this time. She was stunned for a moment before she reacted, "Uh, it's pretty late over there, and you're still together?"
Moreover, the background noise seemed very quiet, so it definitely wasn't a recording of a program, and it didn't seem like there were other people around.
Fang Xingu chuckled awkwardly, a hint of panic in his heart. He instinctively made up an excuse: "We were just discussing how to deal with the rumors online."
"Oh, yes, it should be dealt with," Song Jiao breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that the two had stopped arguing. "Anyway, it's good that you're both alright. If Xiao Tong bullies you, just tell me, and I'll scold him for you when he gets back."
Jing Yitong exclaimed, "You really are my mother! Have you forgotten that I'm here too?"
Song Jiao laughed and scolded him, "Get out of here! Give the phone to Xin Gu, I have something to say to him."
Jing Yitong handed the phone to Fang Xingu, who took it and asked, "Auntie, what's wrong?"
Song Jiao didn't really have anything on her mind. She just wanted to chat with Fang Xingu and see if she could get any information out of him to guess how far things had progressed between the two children.
A year ago, when Jing Yitong confessed to her family that she liked Fang Xingu, Song Jiao was both shocked and angry. It was one thing for Jing Yitong to like men, but how could she like Fang Xingu?
That's practically his younger brother!
In the end, she and Jinghong couldn't resist their son's wishes. Who can really explain what kind of person likes someone? Besides, Fang Xingu was someone they had watched grow up. If the two children could really get together, it would be like the two families becoming even closer.
Song Jiao chatted for a while about family matters, from Wang Jinxu's recent illness and the discovery that her blood sugar was a bit high after going to the hospital, to Jing Quanquan's weight gain again and the pet store's ruthless price increase when she went to take her for a bath.
Seeing that Song Jiao and Fang Xingu were chatting enthusiastically and showed no signs of hanging up, Jing Yitong, having nothing to do while standing there, mouthed to Fang Xingu: "Let's go back to the room, it's cold outside, I'm going to take a shower first."
Fang Xingu nodded, and then saw Jing Yitong return to his room.
Fang Xingu was still chatting with Song Jiao, his mind a little foggy, and subconsciously followed Jing Yitong to his room.
Jing Yitong found it a little funny to see Fang Xingu following him like a little tail, but he didn't say anything. He put on his pajamas and went to the bathroom, leaving Fang Xingu alone in his room to chat with Song Jiao.
Meanwhile, the last movie on the Affogato had finished playing. Li Wenyu and Liang Jiyan came out of the theater, and Li Wenyu was scrolling through her phone with a furrowed brow: "Sister Jiyan, did my senior brother and Brother Jing really make a move during dinner?"
Liang Jiyan leaned closer to look at the topics Li Wenyu had seen on her phone, and tried hard to recall, "No, right? At most, she just tapped his head?"
Knocking on the head?
...Isn't this gesture a bit too intimate?
Li Wenyu thought to herself, finding Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong too difficult to understand. Lost in thought, her gaze unconsciously fell on the hat Jing Yitong had dropped during dinner.
Her eyes lit up, and she had another idea: "Let's go! Sister Jiyan, let's surprise Brother Jing!"
Liang Jiyan pointed to his watch: "It's almost 11:30. It's not good to be this late. He's probably already asleep." Besides, he's a woman, so it wouldn't be good if word got out.
Li Wenyu grabbed Liang Jiyan's arm and pulled her towards Jing Yitong's room: "If the two of us are together, everything will be fine. Besides, it's only a little past eleven o'clock. How could Brother Jing go to sleep so early? Let's return the hat to him and ask around online if there's anything we can do to help."
Liang Jiyan, unable to resist her persistence, said, "Okay, okay, but only to the door."
Li Wenyu nodded vigorously: "Of course!"
A few minutes later, the two walked to the door of 609 and rang the doorbell.
Inside the room, Fang Xingu was watching a private bathing video of Jing Quanquan sent by Song Jiao when the doorbell rang.
Fang Xin continued watching the video, his head still buried in his thoughts: "Who?"
Li Wenyu, who was outside the door, responded, "It's me and Sister Jiyan. We've come to return the hat."
Fang Xingu looked up and heard the buzzing sound of a hairdryer coming from the bathroom. It was a bit noisy, but Fang Xingu could tell that it was Li Wenyu's voice outside.
Why did Li Wenyu come to see him so late?
Fang Xin paused the video, walked to the door, opened it, and glanced at Li Wenyu and Liang Jiyan outside: "What's the matter so late?"
But the two people outside the door stood there dumbfounded, looking at him with considerable confusion.
Li Wenyu looked up at the door number, 609. She hadn't knocked on the wrong door, had she?
This is clearly Jing Yitong's room, so why did Fang Xingu come out?
Fang Xingu hadn't realized anything was wrong. Seeing that neither of them was speaking and they were just blocking his doorway for no apparent reason, he thought Li Wenyu was up to something again. He was a little impatient: "What are you doing here?"
To his surprise, Li Wenyu's retort was even more forceful: "What are you doing here??"
Fang Xingu was speechless at Li Wenyu's self-righteousness: "Are you just looking for trouble? It's so late, where else would I be if I'm not in my room?"
Fang Xingu's tone was so frank that Li Wenyu even doubted for a moment whether she had remembered the room number wrong.
Just as Li Wen was at a loss for words, Liang Jiyan, who had been silent all along, quietly pointed out the truth: "But this is not your room, this is Jing Yitong's room."
Liang Jiyan's calm tone was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly waking Fang Xingu up: ...Holy crap!
Yes, this is Jing Yitong's room!
Why did he just walk over and open the door so casually?!
Fang Xin's brain was racing. What should he do? Should he say that he and Jing Yitong had switched rooms?
As Fang Xingu pondered how to explain everything before him, the noisy hairdryer that everyone had been ignoring in the room finally stopped running. Then, the next second, the bathroom door was pushed open, and Jing Yitong, who had just finished showering and changed into pajamas, poked his head out and asked, "Xingu, I think I heard the doorbell ring just now. Who was it?"
Jing Yitong's gaze first fell on the bed, but he didn't see Fang Xingu. So he subconsciously turned his head and glanced at the door, where he saw three pairs of eyes staring intently at him.
Jing Yitong: ...
Fang Xin Gu: ...
Liang's message: ...
Li Wenyu's eyes widened in disbelief: "Holy crap???"
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Author's note: This is now a paid service, thank you all for your support!
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Here's a pre-order for a contemporary BL novel. I'll be writing this next book. Readers who are interested are welcome to add it to their favorites!
"Mr. Xie, how could you fall in love with a body double!"
A seemingly respectable but actually ruthless and controlling top (Xie Sui) × A hedonistic, reborn bottom who doesn't care what kind of play you play as long as he's happy (Lu Mingwei)
(Main character is the receiver; the text and title are still being worked on.)
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Ever since he hired a new assistant, Xie Sui has noticed that the way his colleagues look at him has changed.
Every day as he walks around the company, he can hear the employees whispering amongst themselves, even though they think it's being discreet.
"How could President Xie find a substitute for President Lu to keep by his side?"
"This stand-in looks so much like President Lu, from appearance to personality. Could this be a scam?"
"I really misjudged President Xie. President Lu has only been gone for a few years and he can't hold back anymore? No, it's been eight years."
"Sigh, men really are all fickle."
Xie Sui turned a deaf ear and only showed great care for the "stand-in" assistant.
Not only did he let the stand-in move into his home, but he also personally took care of the stand-in's daily life. He even became so infatuated with love that he wanted to give his shares to the stand-in.
Upon hearing the news, Mingsheng employees erupted in a shrill outcry: "President Xie, how could you fall in love with a body double!"
Mingsheng is President Lu's life's work, and now you actually want to use Mingsheng to curry favor with the substitute? How can you face President Lu?
Xie Sui stubbornly insisted: "Stop arguing, I can tell whether he's a stand-in or not."
staff:……
Oh no, Ming Sheng is really doomed now!
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In his previous life, Lu Mingwei worked diligently for the company, but died of illness at the age of twenty-eight, only to be met with countless cries of "Heaven is jealous of talent" at his funeral.
When Lu Mingwei opened his eyes again, he found himself eight years in the future.
This time, he was reborn as a penniless man who looked very similar to his original self. However, he was unloved by his parents, owed a huge amount of money to loan sharks, and was even coerced and lured by his creditors to become someone else's substitute.
Creditor: "As long as you infiltrate Mingsheng Group and become Xie Sui's stand-in for Lu Mingwei, stealing Mingsheng's internal secrets, our debt will be wiped clean."
Lu Mingwei: ?
Mingsheng, isn't that my company?
Xie Sui, isn't that my student?
Lu Mingwei... isn't that just me?!
Lu Mingwei is not suitable as a typical stand-in.
But he definitely wants to see how outrageous it is that someone would infiltrate his own company and act as his student's double. :)
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In order to find out the details of the creditors, Lu Mingwei disguised herself and rejoined Mingsheng, becoming Xie Sui's assistant.
However, Lu Mingwei believed he knew Xie Sui very well and thought that Xie Sui would never be deceived by the so-called "stand-in" trap.
However, upon returning to Mingsheng, Lu Mingwei discovered that Xie Sui's attitude towards him, his "stand-in," was becoming increasingly strange.
She not only tricked him into living with her at home, but also took care of his food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and even tried to lure him into bed.
Lu Mingwei fell into deep thought: Something's not right. Does Xie Sui want to sleep with the substitute or with me?
Lu Mingwei sensed something was wrong and packed her bags, preparing to flee Xie Sui's house that very night.
As soon as he opened the door with his suitcase, he was blocked at the door by Xie Sui, who looked like a ghost.
Xie Sui looked at him with a gloomy expression: "Teacher, are you going to leave me alone again?"
Lu Mingwei's Adam's apple bobbed. Before he could even think about when he had been exposed, he felt a chill creep up his back.
Wait... so Xie Sui wants to sleep with me? ???
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