The assistant on the driver’s seat asked softly, “Where are we going now?”
Xu Yin gave his apartment address.
Wen Congyan, with a stern expression, waited for a moment but didn’t receive any further information from the person beside him. He turned his gaze back to the other person.
The other person looked out of the car window, maintaining a slight smile on their lips. They remained quiet, showing no intention to speak again.
Wen Congyan shifted his gaze away and lowered his eyes.
After a moment, he asked, “Are you an artist at Wen Yan’s Company?”
“Yeah,” Xu Yin turned to him with a smile.
“Just signed recently?” Wen Congyan’s gaze returned to Xu Yin’s face.
“No, I’ve signed the contract for a year and a half. I’m just not that very popular,” Xu Yin replied with a smile. He could probably guess why this gentleman was asking.
Wen Congyan said in a low voice, “I don’t pay much attention to the entertainment industry.”
“I can tell,” Xu Yin tilted his head slightly, maintaining a gentle tone.
Wen Congyan: “…”
The car was silent again.
Xu Yin smiled and looked out of the window again.
Wen Congyan furrowed his brows slightly.
He kept his eyes on Xu Yin.
At a certain moment, the light from the streetlamp outside the window shone straight into the car, and Xu Yin saw a reflection on the window.
The man continued to gaze at him, just like every time they had crossed paths on this road in the past few days.
But today’s atmosphere was indeed somewhat different.
Xu Yin paused, lowering his eyelids.
He liked men, he knew he liked men, but it was limited to that.
Xu Yin had lived the age of twenty in his previous life and had never really developed feelings for any man. He didn’t have any plans for romance.
Especially not for a man who might not even be sure if he was straight or not.
Of course, there was no denying that this Mr. Bystander was adorable, or else with Xu Yin’s personality, perhaps even if they met a few more times, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to raise his hand to greet the other party with a smile like he did that day.
Ah, in that case, perhaps this was still something he took the initiative to provoke?
Xu Yin silently opened 018’s chat window, and just as he wanted to communicate, he was shocked by 018’s screen full of exclamation points.
He had shut down 018’s window after formally engaging those two drunkards to prevent obstructing his field of vision, and he hadn’t expected this guy to keep brushing until now without stopping.
018: “Yeah, kick it over, that’s it!”
018: “Your martial arts have greatly improved, this system is very pleased!!!”
018: “That roundhouse kick could have been a little sharper!”
……
018: “Today’s task is quite good, 20 points. The current highest points of random tasks so far… Crap! What are you licking!?”
From this second on, straight man 018 started going crazy again.
018: “How can a real tough guy lick his wounds like this?!”
018: “The licking is too erotic and flirty!”
018: “Look! This man in front of you has straight eyes out! Damn human bender1TL: He meant here that Xu Yin may have bent Congyan on becoming gay, who is clearly straight. Thus, Human Bender Lol. Probably because of how sexy our Yinyin.
Xu Yin: “…”
He couldn’t help but look back at Wen Congyan, just in time to meet his gaze with him.
After getting caught staring at Xu Yin, Wen Congyan immediately wandered his eyes. Pretty much trying to hide his presence and embarrassment.
However, his gaze wandered around for a while, but eventually went back to Xu Yin and now honestly stared at Xu Yin again.
Xu Yin: “…”
No, did you really have to stare at him like that?
Apart from anything else, this Mr. Bystander’s face was good looking and his personality was really cute that suits Xu Yin’s taste. Xu Yin wasn’t a recluse2TL: Lived in solitary life. anymore, so he could still be indifferent to being stared at so directly.
It was rare for him to feel his ears burning. While he’d been so calm just a moment ago, he was really shaken at this moment. His throat was starting to get dry, so he couldn’t help but lick his lips.
In the next second, he stiffened.
To say that Xu Yin had also been criticized by 018 a lot. So, he didn’t need to know what 018 would brush off at this moment.
Normally, he could still smile and retort back, but at this moment, Xu Yin hurriedly closed the chat window with his mind. At the same time, he sensitively noticed that the gaze of the man beside him landed on his lips.
Xu Yin felt his body heat up.
It was a long run back to his apartment from Shijin Street, but it was a quick drive back.
The assistant followed the navigation around and arrived at the entrance to the neighborhood.
The car stopped and the headlights came on. Xu Yin couldn’t help himself but turned his head to glare at Wen Congyan as a warning not to be too indulgent with his gaze.
The person being warned averted his gaze.
But under the car’s lights, Xu Yin saw clearly that the other party’s ears were also red.
Xu Yin froze, and the knot in his throat rolled.
The man hung his eyes and suddenly opened his mouth, his voice low and hoarse: “You’re very good-looking.”
Xu Yin froze.
The assistant in the front seat: “???”
What? What is Mr. Wen saying? Is he hallucinating?
After saying these words, Wen Congyan was silent for a second, then looked at Xu Yin again and said seriously, “Don’t wear headphones while running in the future. It’s not safe. You didn’t even wear them before.”
Xu Yin stared at him, “…”
A few seconds later.
With a “Bang”, the car door was opened, and Xu Yin came out quite embarrassed.
Inside the car, the man nodded slightly and said, “Get some rest early.”
Waiting for the car to drive away.
Xu Yin lowered his head and raised his hand to cover half of his face.
After living for twenty years, for the first time, Xu Yin felt so embarrassed.
Wen Congyan
He remembered his name.
In the car, the assistant was driving with a puzzled expression. He heard his boss in the back seat ask, “Do you know the artists from Wen Yan’s company?”
The assistant suddenly recalled and said, “There seem to be only two relatively well-known ones, but they’re only considered second-tier. The others don’t seem to have much fame..”
Just like that young man that was with them earlier, he had no impression of him at all. But in the entertainment industry, such people are probably the majority.
The assistant looked up at the rearview mirror and saw his boss’s furrowed brow. He quickly said, “Mr. Wen, I’ll look it up when we get back.”
Wen Congyan nodded.
*
Wen Yan and Nan Ye had a tasteless meal and had quite a bit to drink.
As they were leaving, Wen Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you both okay? Should I find a designated driver to take you back?”
“No need, I haven’t been drinking. I can drive myself,” Wen Yan said listlessly.
Wen Yu hesitated but decided not to say more, as their eldest brother gave him a meaningful look.
After parting ways, Wen Yu asked quietly, “What’s going on with Congyan and that artist?”
Their eldest brother replied firmly, “Don’t overthink it. Congyan is different from Wen Yan.”
Their third brother appeared to be a typical straight guy. He probably didn’t even know how to write the word ‘love,’ let alone have feelings for another man.
Wen Yu nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the so-called typical straight guy, Wen Congyan, who was holding his phone inside the moving car, was quietly searching for the word “xuyin” as he remembered. And finally, he found an account, “Xu Yin V” on Weibo.
*
Wen Yan walked to the parking lot with his head down, and Nan Ye followed behind.
Even though it was summer, Nan Ye felt a chilly wind blowing.
As Wen Yan sat in the driver’s seat, closing the car door and seemingly forgetting about him completely. Nan Ye finally exploded in anger.
Congyan Ge had been enticed away, and Wen Yan seemed utterly distracted. Did Xu Yin drug them or something? He couldn’t believe it!
If he couldn’t take Wen Congyan, how could he not manage to take Wen Yan?!
Nan Ye lowered his face, walked over quickly, opened the passenger side door and sat in aggressively.
Wen Yan froze and said, “Ah, A-Ye.”
Nan Ye: “…”
What do you mean by “Ah, A-Ye”?!
Nan Ye couldn’t believe this person really didn’t notice him, a big living person, throughout the whole process, until now.
Nan Ye laughed: “What, still thinking about Xu Yin?”
Wen Yan uncomfortably lowered his head, “No…”
Suddenly, a pair of hands reached over and cupped his face.
Wen Yan was stunned, raised his head, and saw Nan Ye sneered saying, “You’ve promised to always remember and like me all the time.”
This was the first thing that Wen Yan said to him when he saw him after he returned to China.
Wen Yan stiffened and said hoarsely, “A-Ye, I-“
In the next second, his breath was caught.
Nan Ye leaned forward and came over, directly confining Wen Yan in that small space in the driver’s seat.
Nan Ye has always been gentle and aloof, but at this moment, his two hands pressed on Wen Yan’s side. His whole person seems to envelop Wen Yan and his demeanor is so strong that Wen Yan couldn’t help but be a little stunned.
Nan Ye hooked his lips, leaned closer and whispered, “If you say it like that, you should be responsible till the end, Wen Yan.”
Wen Yan’s eyes widened, the youth in his eyes, smiled coldly.
Three seconds later-
Wen Yan raised his hand and pressed it on Nan Ye’s chest, calmly saying, “No, it’s impossible for the two of us.”
The overbearing script of being attacked broke.
Nan Ye: “???”
Wen Yan: “Hey, A-Ye. I’ve said a lot of irresponsible things before and I’m sorry. Today, I’ve thought about this clearly, but my true love is still A-Yin. And even if he rejected me, I still love him. So I can’t have a promiscuous man-on-man relationship with someone. I have to be clean, so I’m really sorry.”
Nan Ye: “???”
Grass Mud Horse3TL: The Grass Mud Horse 草泥马; Pinyin: cǎo ní mǎ is a Chinese Internet meme and kuso parody based on a word play of the Mandarin profanity cào nǐ mā (肏你妈), which literally means “fuck your mother”.! He sent this guy out his first night in high school and now he still have a fucking chastity to keep?
Wen Yan sincerely said, “Let’s just pretend that what happened before never happened. We will still be good brothers, what do you think?”
What do you think?!
Nan Ye’s smile cracked. He ferociously rushed to grab Wen Yan’s neck to choke, causing a loud scream echoed in the parking lot.
*
After returning home, Wen Yan, whose hair and clothes were torn and disheveled, thought about life for a minute and felt that he couldn’t just be discouraged. How could anything happen between A-Yin and that Wen Congyan bastard?
If he gets mad at A-Yin for that, would this be the same as that phone call with A-Yin when he’s at his part time job?
Wen Yan picked up his phone and wanted to send a message to Xu Yin. But then, Wen Yan remembered that he had been completely blocked by Xu Yin.
On the other side of the city, Qin Yue, who had just finished his shower, came out in his bathrobe and noticed his phone vibrating. He picked it up to take a look.
Wen Yan: [Forward it to Xu Yin for me: A-Yin, have you returned to the apartment? Are you tired? I’ve been loud to you again today, I’m sorry!]
Qin Yue, “…”
He forwarded it to Xu Yin expressionlessly.
Meanwhile, having just completely finished the drawing for Gu Lin’s sister, Xu Yin rubbed the corners of his eyes and noticed his phone vibrating. Then fixed his eyes on it.
Qin Yue: [Forward it to Xu Yin for me: A-Yin, have you returned to the apartment? Are you tired? I’ve been loud to you again today, I’m sorry!]
Xu Yin: […?]
Qin Yue made a forward and forwarded this one from Xu Yin to Wen Yan again.
Wen Yan: [Keep forwarding this for me: Don’t be angry with me anymore. I won’t do it again. I’ve also made it clear to Nan Ye today that you’re the only one in my heart! (Heart)]
Qin Yue forwarded it.
Wen Yan: [Continue to forward this for me: That’s that, but I still want to know how you and Wen Congyan know each other. Tell me, OK?]
Qin Yue forwarded it again.
Wen Yan: [Continue to forward this for me: ｡ﾟ( ﾟஇωஇﾟ)ﾟ｡4TL: I’ve put this emoji here since on this part here has these characters ‘嘤嘤嘤嘤’ that means ‘Ying Ying Ying Ying’ that also seem to be crying sounds. But anyway, let’s just put it that way hehe. A-Yin, please pay attention to me!]
Qin Yue forwarded it again.
Then he received Xu Yin’s reply: [I’ll block you too if you keep this on. :)]
Qin Yue: “…”
Half an hour later, Wen Yan, who had not received any reply for a long time, became angry: [Qin Yue! Have you forwarded it for me?!]
Qin Yue: [Don’t disturb me. I’m already asleep.]
*
Xu Yin thought for a moment and decided not to go back to Shijin Street. Fortunately, this mission world wasn’t absurd enough to only generate tasks on Shijin Street.
After finishing the drawing for Gu Lin’s sister, he also added text and formatted it. When he sent it to Gu Lin’s sister, he once again received a series of excited screams.
Gu Lin’s sister: [So beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful! Kyahh!!]5TL: Don’t hate me for this ‘Kyahh’ thing XD hahaha
She forwarded it to her friend, who replied instantly: [Damn! Where did this genius come from? Give me their contact info!]
Gu Lin’s sister: [Let me go chat with the genius first! Kyahh!! >< ]
On the other side, in a certain villa.
As Wen Congyan walked downstairs through the living room, he casually noticed a picture on his sister’s laptop screen.
The image featured two men.
There was an image of one person holding the other’s head, forcing them to look up. The smile on their lips was very mischievous, and their eyes were incredibly seductive. The man being embraced in this picture had a rosy cheek and watery eyes.
Wen Congyan’s steps came to a halt, “…”
His sister was enthusiastically typing away: [How should I address the genius? Are you sure he isn’t some famous genius using a new alias? What’s his Weibo handle?]
Gu Lin’s sister replied: [I don’t know. I haven’t asked. I’ve only been calling him Gege.]
Wen Congyan’s sister urged: [Ask him quickly!]
Sensing something was amiss, she turned around to see her Gege staring intently at the image.
Her face blushed and she rushed to cover the screen. She asked shyly, “What are you looking at, Gege?”
Wen Congyan looked at his sister and asked, “What kind of novel are you writing?”
His sister replied, “You wouldn’t understand!”
Wen Congyan, “…”
Wen Congyan’s sister, “?”
“Why do you look so curious, Ge?” She asked.
Wen Congyan recalled that he hadn’t encountered Xu Yin on Shijin Street in the past few days. He couldn’t help but frown.
After furrowing his brows, he walked past the couch and approached his little sister. He gently moved her aside, then crossed his arms and gazed down at the picture with an incomprehensible expression.
Wen Congyan’s Sister asked, “What are you doing?”
*
Gu Lin’s sister had introduced a list to Xu Yin, and he was naturally interested. Gu Lin’s sister’s friend, who went by the pseudonym “Wen Ran”, turned out to be quite a skilled artist. After following each other on Weibo, Xu Yin discovered that Wen Ran had a substantial following with tens of thousands of fans, which surprised him.
Wen Ran also wanted a pair of character illustrations and inquired about the price. After receiving Xu Yin’s response, Wen Ran exclaimed, [Damn, this is practically a bargain, Master!!]
Xu Yin replied, [^^ If you like it, just help me promote it when the time comes.]
Wen Ran responded, [Ojbk.]6TL: The expression “OJBK” is very widespread in China. People say it when they don’t really think something is ok, but have to say ok nonetheless.
Since Gu Lin’s sister’s cover was already done and the new work’s promotional materials were ready and sent out, she directly mentioned @YIN.
Although Gu Lin’s sister wasn’t a big celebrity, she had a fair amount of followers. As soon as the cover was revealed, many readers expressed their admiration.
[The cover looks amazing!]
[I’m in love with the cover. I’ve already followed the artist!]
[Where did this treasure of an artist come from? My nosebleed…]
Wen’s Sister immediately shared her friend’s promotional materials and once again mentioned @YIN, writing, [Excitedly waiting for the Master’s artwork!]
[Did you also hire this artist?]
[This artist is really talented!]
[I’ve followed him!]
As a result, Xu Yin’s secondary account gained followers rapidly. For a while, the name “YIN” gained the attention of many people in the online literature community.
*
In the following days, Xu Yin continued to study the script and the original work, completed tasks, and took Xiao Hei7TL: Xiao means little; Hei means Black, thus Little Black. In which pertains to the little black dog Xu Yin had rescued in one of his random tasks. for a check-up and vaccinations. He also obtained a dog license.
Xiao Hei was very well-behaved. While it was quite attached to Xu Yin, it quietly sat by the door and watched him when he left, without being overly clingy.
Xu Yin had never owned a pet before and had never imagined he would one day have one. However, now that he had started living this way, he found it quite enjoyable.
…He could spend an entire afternoon petting the dog’s head.
However, it was impossible for him to bring Xiao Hei to their set. This was one of the challenges he would inevitably face after adopting a pet in his current situation.
He could only call Qin Yue and, with an apologetic tone, asked, “Qin Ge, during my time filming, could I trouble you to take care of my dog?”
Qin Yue lived with friends who were very fond of small animals and more than willing to look after Xiao Hei. So, before Xu Yin went to the film set, he sent Xiao Hei over.
Before parting, he earnestly said to Xiao Hei that he was just going to shoot scenes and would come back when he had time. In two or three months, he would be able to bring Xiao Hei back home.
Xiao Hei let out a soft whimper and came forward to nuzzle Xu Yin’s palm, its eyes filled with moisture.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Xu Yin’s lips. He bent down, kissed Xiao Hei’s head, and then stood up.
The next day, he headed to the studio with the new assistant that Qin Yue had arranged for him.
The production had started shooting today, and Xu Yin’s scenes were scheduled for tomorrow. Even though Xu Yin’s role is a side character, he still had quite a few scenes in the early part of the story.
After settling into the hotel with his assistant, Xiao Lin, they rested for one night and headed to the set the next morning.
Inside the set, the appearance of Bai Hao, the male lead, was already prepared. Xu Yin coincidentally ran into him while looking for the makeup artist.
Xu Yin smiled and nodded, but Bai Hao only walked past him expressionlessly.
Xu Yin paused and glanced at Bai Hao’s retreating figure.
018: “It seems like he doesn’t like you!”
Xu Yin smiled, withdrew his gaze, and continued walking forward, saying: “There are many people in this world who don’t like me.”
018: “Really? I don’t believe it.”
