Ch110 - Reaching Consensus

Some things were easier said than done.

Seeing Tang Yanqing so readily wanting them to work together to achieve their goals in such an organised manner, Ji Xiunian was in no hurry to state his opinions and simply asked, “So, how far have you gotten with shijie?”

“…”

Tang Yanqing was suddenly quiet. He suddenly did not know how to answer in a way that was not embarrassing. “Um… She definitely knows who I am, y’know…”

“Ah?” Ji Xiunian was speechless. He truly did not know why he was so willing to listen to someone, who was chronically single, analyse his relationship problems.

At the end of the day, he liked someone for two years and there was no development?

“At the rate you’re going, when she gets married and has kids, perhaps you can let her know that you once had feelings for her…” Tang Yanqing kept telling Ji Xiunian that if he liked someone he could not let it drag on, otherwise things would become stale. Yet, he could not even introduce himself to the person he liked for two whole years. This was quite the development.

“Stop. I’m a bit zupset.” Tang Yanqing clutched his chest, as though he had been shot. Ji Xiunian was right. He was impossible. He had not even been able to confess after all this time.

When he felt himself calm down, Tang Yanqing finally composed himself. “Actually, it’s because I wanted to see whether my feelings for her were true or if they were just an infatuation. Xiunian, you know me. My passion for a lot of things can be fleeting. I don’t want to start a relationship just because of a moment of impulse. But such a long time has passed. I’m quite sure of my feelings now. Now that it’s like this, I don’t want to continue dragging this out. I still feel like we can help each other. After all, our lovers are both from the same company. What do you think?”

The term “lover” went straight to Ji Xiunian’s heart.

He inwardly asked himself a question. Between “colleagues” and “lovers”, which one did he want to choose?

Though there was no need to have an answer right away, the moment he asked himself that, he already knew.

“Okay.”

Just as Tang Yanqing was trying to think of ways to appeal to Ji Xiunian, he saw Ji Xiunian nod his head. “Then, can you explain what method of cooperation would be most effective?”

Ji Xiunian was always like this. Once he had his mind set on it, he would be determined and calm.

He would never do anything if he was not sure of his feelings for Lu Xu. But he had already decided on his feelings. He just did not want to regret anything.

He had lived for 27 years, and this was the first time he had ever wanted someone. This kind of emotion was unfamiliar to him, but it also made him feel like he was truly alive.

Everyone came into this world alone. Connections with others were what brought meaning to life.

His previously monochromatic life was suddenly filled with light. Ji Xiunian clearly saw that the light looked just like Lu Xu.

His heart thumped in his chest, again and again, excitedly and cheerfully.

The cold expression on his face subconsciously gave way to a smile, and his eyes even seemed to shine with starlight.

Tang Yanqing was all ready and excited to explain his battle plan, but upon seeing Ji Xiunian’s expression, he rubbed his chin. “Hey hey hey, brother. You’re so happy just thinking about him?”

“Mhm.” Ji Xiunian did not even deny it. Lu Xu’s name was like a switch. As long as someone mentioned it, he would feel happy. “Very happy. I’m happy just thinking about it.”

“…”

Tang Yanqing scratched his ear. He felt that his brother here was done for.

Lu Xu had not even expressed anything, yet Ji Xiunian was already thinking far ahead.

Fine. There was bound to be a day where he could be this happy anyway.

These two eternally single men had their own concerns, and got together to discuss their plans.

The sun shone in through the window, casting its light onto Ba Mei’s body. Its orange fur was bathed in sunlight, and it looked soft and warm.

The two adults beside it talked and talked. It went in one of Ba Mei’s ears, and out the other. It opened its mouth wide and yawned. Ba Mei lifted its head and glanced to the side, then laid its head down on its front paws—

Human emotions were strange. They could negotiate so much even when dried fish wan’t involved.

“Yawn…” Ba Mei yawned again, then curled itself up into a ball and went back to sleep.

“All right. That’s settled then!” Tang Yanqing clapped his hands together. He felt like his happiness was right in front of him for the taking.

However, when he thought about Yu Manman’s beautiful, alluring face, he suddenly felt a little hesitant. “Xiunian, tell me. Do you think Manman will even notice me?”

As an eligible bachelor in the entertainment industry, Tang Yanqing had quite extraordinary looks compared to other artists. Not only that, he also had a stellar family background and wealth. His finances and looks were good. How could he not be an exemplary suitor?

“Don’t put yourself down just because you like her. Shijie is great, and so are you.” Ji Xiunian truly felt that whether it was looks or social standing, both Yu Manman and Tang Yanqing were the best of the best.

If the two of them got together, not even fans would have anything to say about it.

But feelings were complicated.

Ji Xiunian was not Yu Manman, so he could not promise his friend anything.

Whether Yu Manman liked him or not, it remained that Tang Yanqing was a great person.

Being encouraged by his good friend was also a sort of joy. Tang Yanqing was touched. He said, “Xiunian, I’m really so fortunate to be your friend. If this doesn’t work out, the two of us actually get along really well…”

“No!” Ji Xiunian made a cross with his arms in front of his chest, obviously not interested in that proposition. “We will succeed.”

Tang Yanqing also nodded. “That’s right. We will succeed.”

The two of them looked at each other and nodded, their eyes glinting knowingly.

“Xu ge, where did you go off to just now? Yao Yulong already went searching for you twice.” As soon as Lu Xu stepped into the dorm room, Xu Haoming began questioning him.

“Yao Yulong?” Lu Xu thought about it, and realised that it had been Yao Yulong knocking on Ji Xiunian’s door earlier. “Did he say why he was looking for me?”

“Nope.” Xu Haoming shook his head, trying hard to remember. “He came to ask if you were around. It looked as if he had something to say, but he wouldn’t tell me.”

“I see.” Lu Xu nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. “Thanks. I’ll look for him to find out what he wants.”

The trainees were all mingling and taking photos with one another for memorabilia. Lu Xu came out of his dorm and was pulled over quite a few times.

They were more or less like classmates, and everyone got along quite well.

Lu Xu plastered a smile on his face, and also chatted for a bit while taking pictures.

Yao Yulong had returned to his dorm but was troubled. His mind kept going back to what he had seen.

Lu Xu and Ji Xiunian…

He did not know if he was just thinking too much, and he was even starting to doubt what he had seen.

In order to ascertain the truth, he had gone to Lu Xu’s dorm twice, but he was not there. It was obvious that the person he had seen on Ji Xiunian’s bed was none other than Lu Xu.

Just as he was wondering if he should pretend like he had never seen anything, he heard the sound of Lu Xu’s voice as he talked to other people, and it seemed to be quite close by.

Not long after, Lu Xu’s handsome face appeared in the doorway to his dorm.

“Yulong. You were looking for me?”

When Lu Xu spoke, there was a smile in his eyes. He looked warm, like sunshine.

Yao Yulong stood up and hurried over. “Mn mn. Xu ge, there’s something I want to talk to you about…” There were cameras in the dorm rooms, and there was even a VJ nearby filming material. Yao Yulong looked around, and had to ask Lu Xu, “Xu ge. Why don’t we talk outside?”

Lu Xu nodded. “Okay.”

Not caring what his roommates thought of him, Yao Yulong closed the door on the way out, and with Lu Xu behind him, arrived at the stairwell.

Yao Yulong was full of suspicions and wanted to ask Lu Xu about them, but he didn’t know where to begin. He also did not know if it was even appropriate to do so.

He lowered his head to look at the floor, hands scratching the back of his head. He hemmed and hawed for a long time but nothing came out.

Lu Xu saw him like this, and more or less understood what was going on. Not letting it show on his face, he smiled gently at Yao Yulong. “If you want to ask something, you can just ask. There’s nothing to hide between us.”

His attitude was warm and calm. There was no sign of impatience or anything likewise.

Thinking back to their time training together in the team, Yao Yulong felt that sense of familiarity come back to him.

He lifted his gaze to look at Lu Xu, took a deep breath and said, “Xu ge, where were you just now?”

Lu Xu said naturally, “I was playing video games in Nian ge’s room.”

“Huh?”

Yao Yulong initially thought that if Lu Xu denied anything, he would not pursue the matter. He did not expect Lu Xu to be so honest.

Not to mention, Lu Xu looked calm and composed, with not an ounce of guilt in his expression.

Yao Yulong could not help but let out a sigh of relief, his body relaxing. “Aaah, I was scared to death. Then you heard me when I knocked?”

When Yao Yulong had knocked the first time, Lu Xu  was out on a job trip with Ji Xiunian to familiarise him with the work. Of course he had not heard him knock.

Lu Xu shook his head. “Nope, I had headphones on as I was playing. Nian ge told me afterwards. Right, he even said that you left too quickly. He wanted to invite you in but didn’t get the chance to…”

“Ah? Hehe…” Thinking back to how shocked he had been earlier, Yao Yulong felt a bit embarrassed now. “That’s my bad. Now that you mention it, what is Nian ge doing right now?”

“When I left, Director Tang came by. I guess they’re talking about things related to the show.”

Even the new director knew that Lu Xu had been in Ji Xiunian’s room. Then it definitely was not a problem anymore.

Yao Yulong was starting to believe that he really was just thinking too much, and laughed sheepishly. “Then I’ll head over to ask Nian ge for a picture again later…”

The two of them chatted as they headed back to the dorm, and just so happened to see Tang Yanqing and Ji Xiunian talking as they walked as well.

“Hey!” Ji Xiunian had come over to look for Yao Yulong, but upon seeing Lu Xu by his side, there was now a smile in his eyes.

Tang Yanqing saw the interaction between the two of them, and lowered his gaze to hide his smile, pretending that he didn’t know anything.

Ji Xiunian greeted Lu Xu, then looked towards Yao Yulong, and talked to him kindly.

Seeing the male god instructor personally coming over to talk to him, Yao Yulong felt very special, and tossed any suspicions to the back of his mind. The other trainees, upon seeing this, also came over to talk to Ji Xiunian, and they all quickly surrounded him.

Lucky that Ji Xiunian was an instructor. Autographs and photo taking was very normal for him.

Lu Xu felt that there was no reason for him to stay here, so he smiled at Ji Xiunian, and pointed back towards his dorm, indicating that he would be heading back first.

Ji Xiunian was a bit reluctant, but he could only nod his head in acknowledgement.

Tang Yanqing very naturally fell into step beside Lu Xu. The two of them were more or less the same height, and there was nothing off between them as they walked together.

“Have you been resting well lately?”

Tang Yanqing suddenly opened his mouth to ask that, his tone of voice very kind as though they had known each other for a long time.

Lu Xu noticed that he was suddenly being very nice, and tilted his head to glance at Tang Yanqing. He smiled politely. “Quite well.”

After recording the second announcement of positions, there would be a third performance afterwards. It would definitely be another fight. Luckily, Lu Xu had a very good constitution, and he did not feel any kind of stress.

Tang Yanqing walked beside him, making small talk as they went. He would ask a question, and Lu Xu would answer. It was mostly about things related to the show, so Lu Xu did not have a problem with it.

Seeing that they were about to arrive at Room 201, Tang Yanqing hesitated for a moment before asking Lu Xu, “Xiao Xu, you’re in the same company as Manman, right?”

“That’s right.” Lu Xu did not know why Tang Yanqing was suddenly asking him about that, but Yu Manman and Lu Xu being in the same company was no secret. The entire internet knew about it. “I signed on not too long ago, but shijie takes very good care of me.”

An up and coming female singer coming on to a variety show just to support her junior naturally meant that she was invested in him.

Tang Yanqing even found himself admiring Lu Xu, and asked again after a moment’s pause. “Then, does your shijie have a boyfriend?”

“???”

That question caught Lu Xu off guard, and even confused him.

Tang Yanqing regretted it the moment he opened his mouth. Asking such a direct question was quite unexpected, after all.

Just as he was thinking of ways to try and cover it up, he saw Lu Xu sizing him up, as though he was under X-ray vision and everything about him was exposed.

Without waiting for Tang Yanqing to explain himself, Lu Xu had already put away his scrutinizing gaze and was back to his harmless looking self. “As far as I know, she doesn’t.”

In the agency, from top to bottom, the artists to the janitors, they were all demons and they were also all single. It was said that they were all fighting for their place in the industry, and there had never been news of any of them having a partner.

“I see.” Tang Yanqing could not help but feel a bit happy. He asked again, “Then do you know what kind of guys your shijie likes?”

Lu Xu shrugged and shook his head. “That, I don’t know. If you want to know, you should ask my shijie.”