While everyone else tearfully began the night-shift socialising activities of corporate slaves—raising glasses, making toasts, and going back and forth at the dinner table—the considerate good father Rong Sinian had already called a private car. While he was at it, he had also reserved a table at the five-star hotel in Ziwei Pavilion.
It was located on the very top floor. A vast wall of floor-to-ceiling windows displayed Jing City’s dazzling nightscape in full splendour. Paired with a top-tier luxurious family set meal where every dish had perfect colour, aroma, and taste, and none cost less than five hundred dollars, a master-level violin performance passionately unfolding beside them, and a specially arranged empty, romantic environment, the atmosphere had been pushed to the extreme.
Although it was called a table of food, in reality, he had booked out the entire hotel for the night.
Unfortunately, the true main character was away on business. The remaining three people, who had already taken their seats, looked at one another in silence, wasting this supreme, top-class luxurious enjoyment for nothing.
No one knew how long the silence lasted before the three of them suddenly spoke at the same time. “I’m going out for some air—”
The three of them looked at one another again, and obvious awkwardness spread through all their eyes.
Without Bai Jianwei here, the three of them could be called the most familiar strangers.
Their names were all very familiar, but they did not actually know one another as people.
Xiao Jiqing was the first to stand. He was tall with long legs, broad shoulders, and a straight posture. At a glance, he brought an extremely deep sense of pressure.
His tone was calm. “I’ll go check on Little Bastard first. Uncle, Auntie, see you later.”
Then he turned and left, looking practically as if he were fleeing in defeat. This could be counted as one of the most embarrassing moments in Young Master Xiao’s life.
Bai Yun narrowed her eyes slightly. “He’s a little nervous meeting us.”
The service at Ziwei Pavilion’s hotel was excellent. The moment Little Bastard was led into the hotel, staff came forward to guide them, taking Little Bastard to the pet area, where there were even specialised staff members to play with him.
Xiao Jiqing had just looked at Little Bastard through the surveillance feed on his phone. Seeing the entire Samoyed happily losing himself among a crowd of people, Xiao Jiqing completely lost interest and wandered aimlessly around the top floor of the hotel.
Night always had a way of bewitching people’s hearts and stirring up countless thoughts.
The first day they met, what had he been thinking?
With both hands in his pockets, Xiao Jiqing’s eyes showed no particular emotion. Wearing a handsome face that warned strangers not to come near, he wandered until he reached the open-air terrace. Coincidentally, he saw a figure there, one that looked vaguely familiar.
“What? I became popular? Someone like me can become popular?”
Xiao Jiqing: “…”
The moment that person opened his mouth, Xiao Jiqing knew exactly which little bastard it was.
Bai Jianwei found it unbelievable.
Just when he had finally made up his mind to leave the entertainment industry, he had actually become popular?
Afraid he would not believe her, Sang Qin had taken many screenshots from Weibo and sent them over. They were packed densely with blood-red “explosive” labels.
“Bai Jianwei, top-tier wealthy young master.”
“Bai Jianwei’s false scandals.”
“My Not-So-Innocent CP and I.”
“No, wait… what the hell is that last one?”
People could ship this too? Bai Jianwei had not expected that this generation of shipping scholars could even ship something like this. He and Xiao Jiqing had only interacted for such a short while. The words they exchanged probably had not even exceeded five or ten sentences, right? There had been almost no physical contact, right? There had not even been any eye contact at all, right?
With just that, how could they ship it?
Besides, back when he and Liang Yixi had deliberately created sugar, with so many ambiguous interactions, sweet gazes, and feigned shyness, they had not shown the slightest interest. Now, after only two sentences, they were shipping it? Just like that, they started shipping it??
Was this generation of netizens mainly driven by rebellion??
Bai Jianwei’s heart was full of complaints. He could not help picking up the carefully prepared pastries nearby and eating them.
The moment it entered his mouth, it was delicate, fragrant, and sweet. With one bite, he knew it came from the most famous old pastry shop in the north of the city. With a hundred years of history behind it, the price was expensive, and it was supplied exclusively to this hotel. Ordinary people rarely had the chance to eat it.
And such delicacies were something he had not enjoyed for an entire year.
Bai Jianwei looked down at the incomparably charming night view, and a few sentiments that would normally never appear suddenly arose in his heart.
Why exactly had he given up a wealthy family’s lifestyle for an entire year, hidden his identity, and chosen to struggle in a tiny entertainment industry? Why had he even gone so far as to argue with his parents and run away from home?
In this brief evening alone, he had enjoyed pickup and drop-off in luxury cars worth tens of millions, full-service attention from an English-style butler, hotel staff welcoming him at the entrance, and all sorts of other extravagant services.
This had been his former life. The correct life. The life he should live from now on!
Bai Jianwei sighed.
Sang Qin instantly grew alert, deeply afraid that Bai Jianwei would be corrupted by the temptations of capitalism. A long string of words came crashing down. “Weiwei, what are you thinking? You signed with me for five years. Five years! This past year, following you around, I won’t even say I’ve eaten well and drunk well—I haven’t even seen the shadow of a scrap of meat. You can’t abandon me like this!”
Bai Jianwei: “…Of course.”
No matter what, he would still properly finish this final variety show.
It should be fine if he only quietly slacked off a little, right?
Relying on the fact that there was no one around, Bai Jianwei guiltily looked away.
Of course, Sang Qin heard the reluctance in Bai Jianwei’s words. She decided to increase the power, using threats and temptation at the same time!
“Weiwei, think about what this variety show has brought you. So many benefits. On the very first day, it already cleared up two scandals for you.”
Although this had happened with the company pushing things along behind the scenes.
“It even clarified the path after this variety show. You can hype a CP again.”
Selling BL really did attract heat, and the audience really did enjoy this kind of thing.
“Tell me, aren’t you a genius? How could you come up with such a perfect plan? You must have thought of this and planned it in advance, right? Weiwei, you’re amazing!”
Appropriate praise and flattery were beneficial to the progress of negotiations.
“Really…”
Under this brainwashing, Bai Jianwei’s heart was greatly shaken, and his brain began to feel dizzy and light. Was he… really that amazing?
“Of course!” Sang Qin agreed immediately and increased the firepower. “Exploding in popularity is just around the corner! With your looks, figure, and intelligence, only in the entertainment industry can you shine brilliantly and bring out the true value of your life!”
“And even if you want to leave, you still have to clean up all your scandals first and leave everyone with the image of a pure, flawless white moonlight in the entertainment industry. Otherwise, what would this dark entertainment circle do without you? Don’t you think so?”
“Weiwei, what do you think now?” Sang Qin’s mouth was dry from talking. Judging by past experience, such sincere words should be more than enough for him, right?
After a moment of silence, Bai Jianwei suddenly saw the light and spoke confidently. “You’re right. I was born for the entertainment industry!”
Sang Qin: “…”
Xiao Jiqing, who had unintentionally overheard everything from the moment he arrived: “…”
Sure enough, he was still the familiar Bai Jianwei.
Sang Qin slowly let out a breath and smiled. This matter was settled!
She guided him patiently and earnestly. “Baby, you are the entertainment industry’s only innocent person with hope left. Others slander you, smear you, and mock you, but I know you truly love the entertainment industry! You truly want to build your own career!”
“Mm-hm, yes, I want to build my own career!” Bai Jianwei’s eyes shone brightly. Looking down at the charming night view below, he suddenly raised his right fist, his heart filled with passion and heroic emotion.
What use was there in being a rich second generation who only ate, drank, and waited for death? Wasting resources and wasting food. He was born for the entertainment industry. He should use his acting skills and his looks to light up the world!
Xiao Jiqing, who had witnessed the entire brainwashing process: “…”
He was a little shocked. He had only stayed abroad for five years. How had Bai Jianwei’s personality become like this? So… dramatic and childish?
Xiao Jiqing suddenly fell silent.
It was also possible that this was the real Bai Jianwei.
Forget it. Xiao Jiqing took a few steps forward. Now was not the time to talk about this. What mattered most now was how to make Bai Jianwei come back to his senses from this brainwashing, which could almost be called madness.
Just as he was about to pat Bai Jianwei’s shoulder, a spirited, fighting voice suddenly came from the phone. “So now, you only need to do two things!”
“What things?” Bai Jianwei instinctively asked back.
“The first thing: sell BL with Xiao Jiqing!”
Xiao Jiqing instantly froze, stiffening in place.
Sell BL?!
For a very long time, Xiao Jiqing made no movement at all. A few traces of helpless confusion appeared in his usually cold and calm eyes. The tips of his ears quietly turned red, not very obvious beneath the cover of night.
Him and Bai Jianwei together?
A little unwillingness entered Bai Jianwei’s tone. “Ah… why sell BL? Did you forget what happened last time?”
Actually, there was another reason too. He just did not want to say it.
He did not reject doing it with him.
Xiao Jiqing pressed his lips together slightly and finally felt a bit of the summer heat.
The person on the phone was still talking endlessly. “What happened last time? Last time was plastic. It was all fake! This time is different. Don’t tell me you and Xiao Jiqing have absolutely no relationship!”
“Oh.” Bai Jianwei said dully.
He did not deny their relationship.
Xiao Jiqing pressed down the collar of his windbreaker. The breeze blowing over was quite comfortable, cool and refreshing.
It was precisely this movement that made Bai Jianwei come back to himself. His gaze instantly swept behind him.
A figure dressed entirely in black, the familiar windbreaker, a sharply defined jawline. Bai Jianwei instinctively looked upward—
And met a pair of somewhat strange eyes.
Bai Jianwei: ?
“Why are you here? Appearing so suddenly is scary, all right?!”
Bai Jianwei instinctively took two steps back, a trace of panic flashing through his eyes. How long had he been here? How much of the conversation between him and his manager Sang Qin had he heard? The part about selling BL… had he heard it?
Xiao Jiqing said coolly, “I just arrived. Don’t worry.”
He raised the collar he had just pressed down again.
What awful weather. Annoying as hell.
“Oh.” Bai Jianwei relaxed. Xiao Jiqing would not lie to him. “But why are you here? Aren’t you eating with my parents? I already said you didn’t need to wait for me.”
Bai Jianwei’s tone was full of curiosity, but Xiao Jiqing’s expression instantly stiffened. His answer was somewhat slow. “…I came out for some air.”
Ridiculous. How could he possibly say that he had fled in defeat?
“All right. The night view really is beautiful. But… you really didn’t hear anything?”
Bai Jianwei’s voice was clear, a bright young man’s voice, like a warm little sun, shining and vivid. Just listening to him made one’s heart feel lighter.
But under the influence and weight of the night, that voice had lowered a great deal. It carried a slightly rising tail note that it usually did not have, like a tiny, delicate hook.
Xiao Jiqing’s gaze fixed on one spot.
The surroundings quieted. Behind Bai Jianwei, the blurred, unpredictable lights and dazzling nightlife completely disappeared from Xiao Jiqing’s eyes. Only the cold moon hanging high in the sky and the probing gaze of the person before him remained.
For no reason, Xiao Jiqing stood a little straighter. His voice was a little hoarse, and also held a little expectation. “So, are you going to sell BL with me?”
Bai Jianwei: “…”
So he had clearly heard the entire thing, right? After five years abroad, he had actually learned to lie!
In the next instant, from the faintly glowing phone came a hesitant voice. “Is that… Xiao Jiqing?”
In the following instant, two voices with different tones but equal shock rang out. “What are you two doing?!”
Bai Jianwei: “…”
Time seemed to freeze in that moment. He tightened his grip on the phone, moved his head inch by inch toward the doorway, while his body remained stiff and unmoving, and saw two familiar figures.
—It just so happened to be his father and his mother.
Bai Jianwei’s vision went black.
An open-air balcony, two lone men, with both witnesses and evidence present. This time, even jumping into the Yellow River would not wash him clean…
He did not cry. Truly.
