Zhao Xiaorou stepped out of the Mercedes event venue, ignoring the completely drenched Diao Zhiyu, hailed a taxi and went to Gong Huaicong's villa on Puming Road. By 3 a.m., she returned triumphant.
Her breakup with Gong Huaicong netted her a Porsche 718 and one million in separation fees.
For Gong Huaicong, every breakup cost was like a snake shedding its skin—money was nothing, the main thing was extricating himself.
And every woman he'd dated would become an object of public attention, Zhao Xiaorou being no exception.
Being cursed at was probably routine for Internet celebrities. After that night, Zhao Xiaorou pulled herself together and posted advertisements the very next day, completely ignoring the abuse in the comments section.
Words like "whore," "unwanted prostitute," and "slut"—she gradually became immune to them. Thanks to Hu Xiu's efficiency in organizing posts and Li Ai's work, cease-and-desist letters were sent out swiftly.
As for her and Li Ai in the office, neither initiated conversation, as if separated by an invisible barrier.
The entire company had been up all night. By the time Hu Xiu left WeWork, it was already 9 p.m. She hadn't seen Diao Zhiyu all night and day. Returning home, she called him, but he didn't answer. A faint anxiety crept into her heart—after being drenched all night, where was he now?
Had that so-called art film director's invitation already pushed him halfway into the entertainment industry?
After taking an uneasy shower, Diao Zhiyu finally replied: "I had an interview during the day. I'm home now, didn't check my phone earlier."
"How did the interview go?"
No response again. After cleaning out the fridge, tidying up some clutter, and taking another shower, her phone remained silent.
She called him directly. By the third call, she was getting irritated: "Where do you live? I'm coming over!"
"I have a fever..."
The taxi ride took fifteen minutes. It took him three minutes to answer the door, his curly hair a messy pile on his head. He crawled back into bed, a thermometer in his mouth, motionless.
Before leaving, Hu Xiu had inexplicably brought a pumpkin with her. Coincidentally, Diao Zhiyu's fridge was stocked entirely with carbonated drinks.
She cut the pumpkin in half, scooped out the flesh with a spoon, and cooked it into porridge with millet. Diao Zhiyu lay curled up in bed like a shrimp, looking utterly pitiful.
Northerners probably... don't eat savory porridge. With no window open in winter, the room was dark and stuffy, filled with the scent of a young man's sweat.
Sitting by the bed, she watched the camel with his eyes closed—so feverish he'd forgotten to remove the thermometer.
She heard him mumble about worrying something might happen to Zhao Xiaorou. He'd taken a taxi to Pujiang Town, stood guard soaked in near-freezing temperatures outside the villa district to ensure her safety, returned home at dawn, then went out again already feeling unwell. Halfway through the interview, he'd lost all energy—this hero complex, really, what could you do with him?
After tidying up, she returned to the bedroom. The camel opened his eyes and spoke, his throat dry: "Sorry for not answering your call sooner."
It wasn't a big deal. Hu Xiu placed her hand on the camel's forehead, his eyelashes brushing against her fingers: "Don't talk. The doctor needs to observe, listen, ask, and feel."
"Doctor, how am I doing?"
"Diao Zhiyu, male, twenty-two years old, temperature 39.5°C, weak pulse." He smiled: "Taking pulses on the forehead?"
"I'm diagnosing through layers."
"Alright. So doctor, how's my pulse?"
"Not suitable for intimate relations..."
"..." The boy with a fever-reducing patch on his forehead, lips chapped from the fever, smiled helplessly: "Have we ever been intimate? When?"No one particularly disliked risqué jokes; it seemed everyone was testing each other's boundaries. Sitting by the bed, her eyes unsure where to rest, her chest heaving with rapid breaths, her mouth dry and scratchy.
Even when ill, he remained strikingly handsome. Though his eyes struggled to stay open, he forced them wide to look at her, blinking repeatedly until her heart softened.
"What are you thinking? I'm not that kind of person." Diao Zhiyu was probably truly delirious from fever: "In your eyes, am I really so improper?"
Hu Xiu stood up: "The congee should be ready."
Her arm was grabbed by the person on the bed: "Don't go..."
"It'll burn..."
"It's just an electric rice cooker..."
"It'll beep, so noisy..."
"I won't eat—just don't leave."
Exactly like when he had stomach pain at REGARD. Hu Xiu held his hand by the bedside, the obedient camel pressed against the pillow, his curly hair sticking out in all directions, both eyes revealing double eyelids when open—though when awake, his right eye occasionally lost the crease.
He didn't seem to be the type who enjoyed taking advantage of others either, at most just stubbornly clinging to her hand without letting go.
Until he fell asleep—apparently falling asleep while holding something wasn't her exclusive habit. In this world, there existed aliens with identical habits.
Diao Zhiyu's hand still held tight. After some thought, Hu Xiu tucked the corner of the quilt into his grasp, freeing her hand.
The home was sparsely furnished: dark gray bedsheets, dark gray comforter, everything in the room dark-toned except the walls.
The curtains were open, revealing the still-awake loft apartments outside, dotted with starlight, mirroring her own sleepless state.
On the bookshelf stood a film calendar and directing/screenwriting textbooks, beside them an unfolded tripod that hadn't been put away.
He indeed owned multiple editions of "An Actor Prepares," one with its spine completely worn out, its pages scattering when opened nearly waking the sleeper.
As she reassembled the pages in order, Hu Xiu discovered Diao Zhiyu had also visited the boutique where she bought black shirts—the receipt dated recently. Possibly... he'd specifically gone searching for the black shirt he gave Pei Zhen.
And before giving her that masterclass, had he also crammed "An Actor Prepares" overnight?
Sitting at the desk reading Robert McKee's "Story," she mustered what remained of her energy—
She needed to wait for the camel to wake up for food and medicine, and the room was so minimalist it lacked even a sofa. She certainly couldn't lie on the bed.
Stay rational, leave after taking care of him.Absolutely must not leave any excuses for taking advantage of others.
Zhao Xiaorou texted: "Thank you.".."
"Just a small thing..."
"I never realized Hu Xiu could be so brave before."
"People change..." Hu Xiu glanced back at Diao Zhiyu still clutching the quilt corner—definitely a hand-holding alien.
"The Gong Huaicong matter is basically over. Though I'm the victim in public opinion, I've genuinely gained money and attention. Worth it."
"That's worth it?"If you get scolded unwillingly, it means the compensation isn't sufficient." Controversial figures ride the storm, but attention translates to real RMB.
Besides, I still have some die-hard fans with sharp tongues even the haters can't outmatch.
I've finally understood: education matters. Without cultural literacy, you'll get roasted into your urn."
"Don't keep playing this game."I'm completely awake." Do you think I'm some love-struck fool? Since divorcing Wang Guangming, every relationship I've had has been for my own benefit."For physical pleasure, Ning Zechen wanted my body; the boy toy coveted my youth; Gong Huaicong had money and status—I never lost out with any of them.
Besides, Gong Huaicong's breakup settlement, combined with selling the car, totaled two million. The rent for the escape room was covered just like that.
Not to mention the fans I gained and the ads I landed because of it—no wonder so many internet celebrities want to date Gong Huaicong."
Hu Xiu sighed. She wasn't unaware of Zhao Xiaorou's playful nature, but the bar kept getting higher.
Her messages kept coming: "Maybe I didn't get up gracefully, but my pride remains; as long as my girls don't leave me, I'm not alone."
"I want my sisters unharmed."
"Okay, got it." Zhao Xiaorou was typing: "Li Ai has been acting strange lately, no idea why. He finished the escape room blueprints but refuses to talk to me... Could you ask him when you have time?"
"Sure..." The escape room script was personally written by Diao Zhiyu. Both the sketches and script were ready, but Hu Xiu had been busy translating for two weeks straight and hadn't seen them yet.
"Of course, no thanks yet—I've got something to show you too. You still can't do without me for now, since you're so slow on the uptake. Judge for yourself."
She sent a Weibo screenshot with the caption: "Long time no see, MrAurora."
The attached video showed Pei Zhen bending down to play with a dog using a transparent umbrella, location tagged in Boston.
Also in the chat was the Weibo account link—a woman doing a project at Boston University who drove there with her dog and was staying at a friend's vacant villa.
The woman's name wasn't visible, but the profile link contained "DongHae" (Lee Donghae).
Now she really couldn't sleep. She'd seen that aurora photo pressed under the glass desk.
Pretending not to be hurt was futile, but she wasn't entirely surprised—Pei Zhen had barely sent any messages since the farewell party that night.
Though she hadn't kept her promise of three months' fair competition, she had no desire to question Pei Zhen about any of this.
She'd feel jealous, but... the guilt was gone.
"Doctor..."
"You're awake..."
"Mhm..."
"How was... the interview?"
"Probably bombed it. Couldn't muster any energy with this fever."
"Standing in the suburban cold wind late at night—no wonder you caught a fever."
"Worried about me?"
"Not worried. Men who act tough don't need others' concern. Besides, fretting over someone is what parents do—not my style."
"Damn. I used to think you paid close attention to me, but now I see... you're pretty heartless."
"Adults face the consequences of their choices. Anyway, even if I tell you not to play hero next time, you'll still do it."
Diao Zhiyu buried his face in the pillow, muttering muffledly: "I'm hungry. Feed me."
The porridge bowl was scalding. Just as the spoon reached his handsome lips, Hu Xiu's face flushed.
Diao Zhiyu's forehead was sweaty, strands of hair clinging to his pale skin. His lazy, damp-bright eyes fixed on her, the mole in their depths like a secret spilled from his pupils. His lips caught between his teeth then sprang free, glistening pink after a lick—it was hard not to see this as seduction.
She couldn't take advantage of a delirious patient. Hu Xiu placed the bowl in his hands: "Eat it yourself...""Heartless..." His eyes were unusually bright, suggesting the fever hadn't broken yet, though he seemed half-revived after sleeping.
Hu Xiu yawned widely and cracked open a cola: "I'm leaving. I have work tomorrow, and I haven't slept for thirty hours straight."
"Sleep here."
Cola nearly shot out her nose: "What did you say?"
"What's our relationship?"
"Boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Then why can't you sleep here? Unless you're hiding something unsightly on your body, afraid I'll see it."
Isn't that a line from Snowpiercer? Hu Xiu pointed her finger like a gun at Diao Zhiyu's nose: "Warning you—no adopting any personas from Snowpiercer, especially Qin Xiaoyi's."
He looked somewhat smug: "Can't resist Qin Xiaoyi's charm? So you do want to sleep with me."
Her nose twitched momentarily before Hu Xiu suddenly remembered something and chuckled. Diao Zhiyu held his bowl, licking his lips: "What's so funny?"When you switched to playing Feng Youjin and they cast a new young Qin Xiaoyi, I came up with an analogy that Zhao Xiaorou and I talked about enthusiastically for days."
"What analogy?"
"I'll tell you if you promise not to cut ties with me or tell that young Qin Xiaoyi."
"Okay..." Diao Zhiyu set his porridge aside, sitting upright at the bedside to look at her seriously.
"I said—" Hu Xiu took a deep breath: "That young Qin Xiaoyi is the kind of handsome guy women forget after one night, while Diao Zhiyu is a charming treasure with high return rate worth savoring in detail."Stunned for three seconds, Diao Zhiyu's expression turned subtle: 'How long have you wanted to sleep with me?""
"I swear that analogy was pure! It was purely for comparison, to highlight how irreplaceable your Qin Xiaoyi was. Zhao Xiaorou kept insisting another sunshine boy was handsomer."
The phone rang. Diao Zhiyu answered with some hmms and thank yous before standing up: "I actually passed the interview. I'm going to shower—wait for me."
"Huh?" Hu Xiu waved her hands nervously: "No, I didn't mean anything by it, don't shower!"
Diao Zhiyu leaned out with a towel around his neck, exhaling helplessly: "I meant Zhao Xiaorou rented the Escape Room venue, Li Ai finished the draft sketches, and I completed the script. I'll shower first then show you."
"That analogy..."
"Didn't you say it was just a comparison?"
Whatever. Diao Zhiyu was a proper gentleman who blushed easily, still running a fever—hardly seemed like someone who'd make a move.
She'd just hold her breath, stay hydrated with carbonated drinks, and keep her distance.
Hu Xiu sat cross-legged on the floor scrolling through her phone when a man in black T-shirt and sleep pants appeared behind her, towel draped over his head, approaching with gold-rimmed glasses—aren't those Qin Xiaoyi's glasses!
Wait, the computer! Where's the computer! Hu Xiu shook herself alert: "How are the drawings? Li Ai's quite skilled. What software do we use to open them? CAD?"
"What's the rush..." Diao Zhiyu's words came with warm breath spraying against her ear.
Flowers seemed to bloom beneath her clothes. Hu Xiu crawled forward only to be pulled back. When she stood, he rose too, his height completely enveloping her: "Why are you avoiding me?"
"We can't be this close."
"Why not." Diao Zhiyu advanced step by step, watching Hu Xiu retreat toward the bed: "The moment you entered this door, I never intended to let you leave."Wasn't she supposed to be running a fever? Wasn't she panting unevenly with a thermometer in her mouth? Hadn't she not taken the fever reducer yet?
Hu Xiu stumbled against the edge of the bed and collapsed onto it. You shouldn't say provocative things to a patient—the physical stamina of a young patient is unimaginable.
No, this wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. Diao Zhiyu adjusted his glasses, braced himself on the bed, and slowly leaned closer to her. His movements grew increasingly deliberate, and he licked his lips, quirking his eyebrows in a strange yet seductive manner.
That expression looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself...
"Explain what 'high rate of returning to bed' means."
"It's just a metaphor, don't overthink it."
"I'm not overthinking it. My thoughts are quite simple—simply put, I don't intend to let you leave."
After saying this, he pulled off his T-shirt, his bare upper body abruptly filling her vision. Hu Xiu's eyes didn't know where to look. His frame was impeccably straight, honed by classical dance training; his muscles were sculpted through basketball and sports; his lines were a natural work of art. The whole person radiated vitality, and who knew what treasures lay hidden beneath his sleep pants... He was a completely different person from the innocent expression he had worn just moments before.
His knee pressed onto the bed, his hands scooped under her armpits, and in an instant, she was shifted to the center of the bed. Her hands were pulled and placed at his waist—the sudden physical contact, damn it—
The sensation was too good. His arms were so firm, his waistline so taut, his Adam's apple right before her eyes... His voice dropped to a low murmur: "You've been craving me for a long time, haven't you?"
And she had long forgotten how to do this... It had been ages since she last watched an action movie...
"You have another metaphor, I know. Before Christmas, you said you hoped to open the door to Room 301 and see Qin Xiaoyi dressed as a naked Santa Claus—you wrote that yourself on Dianping."
"That was anonymous, how did you know?"
"Are you stupid? I clicked on your profile—all those infatuated anonymous comments were written by you."
"So, why not play another round of role-play? It's time to test your acting skills."
"Who am I supposed to play?"
"Doesn't matter..." Diao Zhiyu leaned over her, covering her eyes with one hand while moving closer to her ear. He nibbled her earlobe and then moistened the hollow of her ear: "I want to play the role of—Qin Xiao in bed."
Just hearing those words was enough to make Hu Xiu climax.
Limited Edition Acting Masterclass, Lesson Three, sudden and to be continued:
Acting can blur the line between reality and illusion; it can lead to obsession, and it can fade with time;
When a patient acts spoiled, the doctor's resistance drops to negative; there's more than one alien from the planet Grab in this world; even a sick camel must be taken seriously—after all, it's a superior breed that gets discovered by directors even after playing the hero and getting drenched in the rain; a cunning director will suddenly spring a pornographic movie scene on you!
A carefully prepared first time—doesn't exist...
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