The two workers carried the mattress upstairs. Chu Yao noticed the brand logo—it was the same brand they used at home.
A mattress from this brand cost at least several million, didn’t it?
Jin Zhihan really was willing to spend. They were only staying here for half a month, and they could not exactly take the mattress with them afterward. Yet he claimed he had joined the show because the production team offered such a high fee. He had only been here one day and already seemed determined to spend all his appearance money.
The netizens had sharp eyes. They soon realized that this mattress was something ordinary salaried workers could never afford.
[The world of rich people really is beyond my imagination. Does sleeping on a mattress this expensive actually give you better-quality sleep?]
[Maybe it has a mute function… Pretend I didn’t say anything.]
[I feel like President Jin just raised the production value of this whole show in one second. I’m almost embarrassed to admit this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a mattress this expensive.]
[No wonder Chu Yao’s alt account looked so extravagant. Turns out this is just his everyday life. Who wouldn’t be jealous?]
The workers were fast. By the time Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan finished breakfast, the installation was already complete.
As for the old mattress, the workers simply carried it away.
Chu Yao was seeing them out when he happened to run into Lu Yiwen and Wen Xu.
Seeing a large delivery truck parked outside the villa, they curiously asked Chu Yao what it was there for.
“Jin Zhihan thought the mattress was uncomfortable, so he replaced it.” Chu Yao immediately dumped the blame onto his nominal husband.
Jin Zhihan walked out just in time to hear him. Narrowing his eyes at Chu Yao, he said, “Wasn’t it because you’re picky about beds and weren’t used to using that one?”
Lu Yiwen and Wen Xu exchanged a glance. That word “using” sounded awfully suggestive.
“How lucky you are to have a husband who dotes on you so much.” Wen Xu pretended to sigh with envy. “He knew you were picky about beds, so he specially changed the mattress for you. So thoughtful.”
How could Lu Yiwen fail to hear that Wen Xu was deliberately hinting at him?
He turned around, but the delivery truck had already driven away. Otherwise he might have asked the workers to deliver another one on the spot.
“Honey, if you’d told me earlier you were picky about beds, of course I would’ve replaced ours too.” After saying that, Lu Yiwen looked at Jin Zhihan. “Send me the contact details for wherever you ordered the mattress.”
“It’s a friend’s company. If you want one, I can make a call. It’ll be free.”
Lu Yiwen was far too embarrassed to accept that and hurriedly said, “We were only joking. No need.”
Wen Xu chimed in, “Right. I slept perfectly well on that mattress. There’s no need to change it.”
Jin Zhihan did not insist. Anyone who had spent enough time in society understood how burdensome favors and social obligations could be. If they did not want to accept, there was no reason to force it on them.
The couple had actually come over to give Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan matching outfits. Wen Xu had his own streetwear brand, and this time he had specifically brought two sets he had designed, one for each of the other two couples.
Once inside the villa, Wen Xu took theirs out of his bag. He had chosen them based on Jin Zhihan’s and Chu Yao’s respective temperaments: casual hoodies, one black and one white, with clean, simple designs, paired with loose black sweatpants.
Wen Xu had noticed that Jin Zhihan usually wore shirts and had worried he might not accept this sort of style. Unexpectedly, after the clothes were unfolded, Jin Zhihan curved his lips into a faint smile and said, “Perfect. We were missing matching couple outfits.”
His tone was completely sincere. He clearly liked them.
“Which of us should wear black and which should wear white?” Chu Yao used the topic to keep the conversation going.
Naturally, they had to act a little more relaxed in front of the cameras.
“You choose first.”
“Then I’ll take black.” Chu Yao looked Jin Zhihan over. “I think you look better in white.”
At that compliment, a trace of a smile spread through Jin Zhihan’s eyes and brows.
Seeing such a gentle expression on Jin Zhihan’s face, Lu Yiwen secretly leaned close to Wen Xu’s ear and whispered, “President Jin really does love Chu Yao.”
Wen Xu raised a brow. He also felt that Jin Zhihan’s love for Chu Yao was more obvious. Jin Zhihan was clearly the more restrained man emotionally, yet right now he looked like a huge dog frantically wagging its tail at its owner.
“I did some research last night and saw there’s a freshwater lake nearby, with an ancient town right next to it. Why don’t we go take a look together today? We can have snacks in the ancient town for lunch. What do you think?” Lu Yiwen asked.
Chu Yao immediately raised his hand in agreement. “Let’s go now.”
“Then get ready. We’ll go call Old Bai and the others.” Wen Xu could deliver their matching outfits at the same time.
–
Chu Yao stuffed some snacks and bottled water into his backpack, slathered a thick layer of sunscreen on his face, and got ready to leave. He put on a hat and sunglasses, disguising himself thoroughly.
He was not worried about being photographed while filming the show, but the sunlight in Cloud City was strong, so he needed protection from direct UV exposure.
Chu Yao opened the villa door and had just stepped one foot outside when, as if suddenly remembering something, he whipped around.
“You didn’t put on sunscreen, did you?” he asked Jin Zhihan.
“I don’t have that habit.”
Jin Zhihan usually used toner at most. He did not live as meticulously as Chu Yao did. He was not a male celebrity, after all, and had absolutely no idea how to cherish that devastatingly handsome face of his.
Too lazy to say more, Chu Yao pulled the sunscreen from his bag, squeezed a generous amount into his palm, then planted it straight onto Jin Zhihan’s face. He rubbed it repeatedly over both cheeks before spreading it evenly across his forehead and chin.
Feeling Chu Yao’s palm continuously stroking over his face, Jin Zhihan’s body went slightly rigid. He simply stood there ramrod straight and allowed Chu Yao to “do whatever he pleased” to his face.
Jin Zhihan glanced upward and noticed a camera diagonally above them, aimed directly at the two of them. His brows drew together unconsciously.
Was Chu Yao putting on an act for the camera? Hadn’t he talked to him before about creating a persona on reality television?
Otherwise, why would someone who usually resisted physical contact with him so strongly suddenly do this?
Chu Yao put the sunscreen away and smiled in satisfaction. “All right. We can go now.”
It was already close to noon, and the sun outside was growing harsher. Fortunately, a gentle breeze was blowing, so it did not feel particularly hot.
The production team had prepared a seven-seater business van for them. When Chu Yao reached the vehicle, Jiang Xizhe was standing by the rear door waiting.
“Good morning.” Jiang Xizhe greeted Chu Yao politely and even pulled the door open for him.
Combined with the smile plastered across his face, his attitude could not have been more attentive.
Chu Yao climbed in, and Jin Zhihan followed right behind him, about to get into the van as well.
“President Jin, I prepared some motion-sickness medicine. You can take it along just in case.”
Although the trip was only twenty-five minutes and there was no real need for it, Jin Zhihan still accepted the medicine and thanked him.
Seeing that Jin Zhihan’s attitude had clearly softened, Jiang Xizhe quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
After last night’s livestream ended, he had called his manager and been thoroughly chewed out.
His manager had called him an idiot. Someone as important as Jin Zhihan was the kind of person everyone in the industry scrambled to curry favor with, yet Jiang Xizhe had been reckless enough to test his bottom line. Who on earth gambled their own career just to stir up publicity?
If he truly angered Jin Zhihan, there was no telling whether he might end up blacklisted.
He had finally landed such a good opportunity. Shouldn’t he be doing his best to perform well and get closer to both Jin Zhihan and Chu Yao instead?
After being lectured, Jiang Xizhe did experience a bit of an awakening.
His emotional intelligence truly was not very high. When he had first debuted and people did not know him well, he had even become popular thanks to a “blunt and straightforward” persona. But if he wanted a long career in the entertainment industry, being that guileless all the time simply would not work.
Jiang Xizhe often acted according to his mood. If his manager did not guide him more, he would probably get cursed straight out of the industry sooner or later.
Once everyone was in the vehicle, Jiang Xizhe moved to the driver’s seat. Apparently he had to serve as the driver too.
They watched the scenery along the way and barely noticed the time passing before they arrived at their destination.
After parking, Jiang Xizhe circled back to the rear door, intending to help each of them out.
Jin Zhihan was first. Just as he bent down to step out, Jiang Xizhe quickly grabbed his arm. “President Jin, careful.”
He was actually gazing at Jin Zhihan with something almost tender in his eyes, enough to give anyone goosebumps.
The moment Jin Zhihan got out, he shook off Jiang Xizhe’s hand and turned to support Chu Yao instead. “I can take care of my own wife.”
Chu Yao cast Jiang Xizhe a suspicious look. He could clearly sense that something was off about him.
A strange wariness rose inside him. This guy couldn’t be changing tactics and trying to seduce his husband now, could he?
The freshwater-lake park was quite large, and walking around it would be tiring. Visitors could choose bicycles instead—single bikes, tandems, or four-person bikes. Jiang Xizhe asked which kind they wanted.
“Can the single bikes carry someone on the back? If so, let’s choose those.”
Lu Yiwen wanted to experience the feeling of riding around with his wife hugging his waist from behind, just like a couple in school.
After hearing him, Bai Jishen also said he wanted a single bike.
Since they had both chosen that option, Jin Zhihan could hardly insist on being different. He exchanged a glance with Chu Yao and went along with the crowd.
The rental station was some distance away, so Jiang Xizhe asked them to wait where they were while he ran over to check.
The scenery was beautiful. Lu Yiwen took out the camera he had specially brought and began taking photos of his wife.
Wen Xu was very good at posing. After several shots in a row, Lu Yiwen casually handed the camera to Chu Yao and asked him to take a photo of the two of them together.
Chu Yao did the job conscientiously, crouching halfway down and shooting them from a forty-five-degree angle that made their legs look especially long.
“Could you take one for us too? Thanks.”
After Chu Yao finished photographing Lu Yiwen and Wen Xu, Bai Jishen and Zhao Jing also asked him for a picture.
Both couples hugged each other, kissing foreheads and cheeks, making their photos unbearably lovey-dovey. Just as Chu Yao began to get a bad feeling, Lu Yiwen said, “You two go over there. I’ll take yours.”
Chu Yao instinctively looked at Jin Zhihan. He had not moved from where he stood, as if he were not very willing.
“Are we taking one or not?” The moment Chu Yao asked his opinion, Jin Zhihan walked over.
Behind them stretched layer after layer of green mountains veiled in mist. The two of them could simply stand there and already look like models.
They looked good, certainly—but each of them was standing on his own, with no interaction at all.
Lu Yiwen squinted one eye at the camera viewfinder. “Can you two hug? Like you’re taking wedding photos. Put your cheeks together.”
Forced to cooperate, Chu Yao grabbed Jin Zhihan’s arm and turned to gaze at him with feigned affection. “Is this good enough?”
“Sure. Now change poses. Let President Jin…”
Before Lu Yiwen could finish, Jin Zhihan reached out with one long arm and hooked Chu Yao into his embrace.
Caught completely off guard, Chu Yao’s body tilted abruptly. He stared blankly at Jin Zhihan, their noses nearly touching.
[Teacher Lu really knows how to secure benefits for us viewers! He’s basically the number-one CP fan.]
[Lu Yiwen, this family truly cannot survive without you.]
[Isn’t this basically proof that Raise the Flag and Cheer is a contract marriage? Why are they so stiff even taking a picture together? They look like they barely know each other.]
[I’ve been married to my husband for ten years and I’m still not comfortable being intimate in front of people. What’s wrong with that?]
[Just enjoy shipping them while you can. Don’t cry when the truth comes out. I’ll be waiting for the face-slapping.]
The livestream comments were already at war, while Lu Yiwen kept taking photos of them.
He quickly browsed through the shots he had just taken and kept feeling that something was missing. Then it suddenly struck him, and an ambiguous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
“You two are way too reserved. Hurry up and kiss, like we did just now.”
Afraid Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan might somehow fail to understand him, Lu Yiwen pulled Wen Xu over and planted a heavy kiss on his wife’s lips.
Then he raised his brows at Jin Zhihan. “President Jin, your turn.”
