Xiao Can had just finished filming and had planned to give himself a break to relax. In reality, he only rested for less than a week before diving back into work.
He was invited as a temporary guest on a relationship variety show called “Crossroads of Love.”
The show was already in its fourth season. The first season had been a big hit a few years ago, and although the subsequent seasons had seen a slight decline in popularity, it still remained quite beloved, accumulating a large loyal audience.
The invitation came quite suddenly; he heard that the originally scheduled popular idol couldn’t make it at the last minute, so the production team needed a young artist with a good talking point to fill in. As a regular guest, Qin Ge recommended Xiao Can to the director.
During the last recording of the variety show, Qin Ge had shown undisguised admiration for Xiao Can.
Although the two hadn’t talked much privately afterward, Xiao Can would always actively like and comment on Qin Ge’s posts on social media, leaving a good impression on his senior.
Now that he had gotten the job opportunity, he immediately expressed his gratitude to Qin Ge. Qin Ge warmly invited him for a meal, which Xiao Can readily accepted.
The day before departure, Xiao Can went to He Xingzhou’s house, stayed overnight, and went directly to the airport from there.
After the variety show recording, he had to immediately go to another city for a commercial shoot, then participate in a live broadcast, and then rush back for class. After a day of rest, he would finally attend a charity event for Bai Tao.
His schedule was packed, and before departure, he urgently needed a recharge from He Xingzhou.
That morning, He Xingzhou drove him to the airport.
On the way, Xiao Can sat in the passenger seat, spraying deodorizer over himself to mask the scent. He Xingzhou sneezed continuously from the strong deodorizer scent.
“That thing smells awful,” he complained.
“Does it?” Xiao Can sniffed, “It’s lemon-scented, quite mild.”
“I don’t like it,” He Xingzhou said.
“Do you dislike the smell, or do you dislike its function?” Xiao Can asked.
He Xingzhou didn’t hide his feelings: “Both.”
Xiao Can chuckled and glanced at him, “Childish.”
He Xingzhou’s scent enveloped him from head to toe. If he appeared in public like this, it wouldn’t just be a privacy issue; it would be a matter of lacking manners and might even lead to being barred from boarding the plane.
““You’re the childish one,” He Xingzhou said, “What I’m doing is just human nature.”
Thinking about it, Xiao Can was also a bit reluctant. Being enveloped in He Xingzhou’s pheromones gave him a strong sense of security. As the lingering scent was gradually neutralized by the deodorizer, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness.
“Want me to help you carry your things?” He Xingzhou asked.
“No need, they’re not heavy,” Xiao Can said, “Cai Yawen is already waiting for me.”
“I haven’t seen her in a long time; let me go say hi,” He Xingzhou said.
Xiao Can declined his offer, “I’ll convey your greetings for you.”
“You’re just afraid of being seen,” He Xingzhou muttered.
“Did you tell Tan Zhen last time?” He Xingzhou asked again.
Xiao Can shook his head.
Tan Zhen had been out of the country recently, so there had been little contact between them due to the time difference. He felt a bit embarrassed to specially inform him.
“Do you really want him to know?” Xiao Can asked.
“If you don’t tell him, I will,” He Xingzhou said.
Xiao Can was afraid he would say something unnecessary and embarrassing, so he felt very uneasy, “Don’t, I’ll do it.” Then he thought of something and asked, “Do you usually keep in touch with him?”
He Xingzhou shook his head, “We haven’t spoken in a long time.”
After all, he was an “ex.” Xiao Can felt relieved when he heard that they weren’t in contact. Since officially entering into a relationship, he would often be petty about strange things like this.
As they spoke, the car had already arrived at the drop-off area.
“Shall I go?” Xiao Can turned his head to look at him.
“Will be apart for almost a month, should there be some kind of ceremony?” He Xingzhou asked.
Xiao Can giggled and took the initiative to lean over and kiss him on the lips. Then he took a small box out of his pocket and handed it to him.
“A gift,” he said to He Xingzhou, “to alleviate your lovesickness.”
While He Xingzhou was looking down, he quickly opened the door and got out of the car.
Excessive intimacy would make him reluctant to part, and it was better to be decisive.
Once in the waiting area, he received a photo from He Xingzhou.
In the photo was a silver pendant with a chain.
—Does it smell good?
Xiao Can typed with a smile.
He Xingzhou quickly replied.
—The car is filled with the strange smell of deodorant, but it’s the only thing that smells good.
Xiao Can’s smile grew wider.
—No texting while driving!
After sending the message, he looked up and saw Cai Yawen looking at him.
Their eyes met, and Cai Yawen smiled, then naturally looked away.
Xiao Can’s face felt a bit hot. He raised his hand and touched his face, pretending to be calm, and said, “Your former boss said he hasn’t seen you in a long time and wanted to say hello to you. I turned him down for you.”
Cai Yawen nodded, “There will be opportunities in the future for sure.”
Xiao Can added, “Don’t worry, I won’t give him a chance to bother you.”
“It’s not that serious,” Cai Yawen said.
Xiao Can hoped Cai Yawen would ask him something so he could smoothly tell her about the significant progress between him and He Xingzhou.
Although they couldn’t publicize it, Cai Yawen, as his assistant, knew about their past ambiguities, and her lips were sealed tight. So, it wouldn’t hurt to tell her a bit. But Cai Yawen seemed to have a calm demeanor, making Xiao Can feel anxious.
Who else could happily listen to his love story with He Xingzhou? Xiao Can looked down at his phone and suddenly missed Tan Zhen very much.
As if sensing his thoughts, the screen of his phone suddenly lit up.
Tan Zhen sent him a photo, accompanied by some text.
—Look at the gift I got for you! Colorful Gugu Egg!
Xiao Can’s eyes lit up.
There was still about half an hour before boarding, so he quickly replied.
—Can you talk on the phone?
A few seconds after sending the message, Tan Zhen called him.
“What’s up, missing me?” he asked Xiao Can, “Did you see the photo? Isn’t it cute? I bought a set and will send it to you later.”
“It’s cute,” Xiao Can replied casually, then quickly got to the point, “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” Tan Zhen asked.
“It’s just… uh… I… with He Xingzhou…” Xiao Can blushed shyly, “I…”
“He confessed to you, didn’t he?” Tan Zhen was excited.
It’s the opposite, I confessed to him. It’s not necessary to share this detail, Xiao Can couldn’t say it out loud.
“More or less,” he reluctantly agreed, “You always thought we were a good match, right…”
Tan Zhen was quiet for a moment and then asked cautiously, “And then?”
Xiao Can’s face turned even redder, “And then I found out he’s not entirely without merit…”
“Uh, that’s true,” Tan Zhen seemed a bit uneasy, “You didn’t… agree to be with him, did you?”
Xiao Can licked his lips, “I did.”
Silence ensued on the other end.
“Hello?” Xiao Can felt nervous.
“Oh my god, really?” Tan Zhen was indeed excited, “So, what’s the situation now? Are you together? Are you dating? Damn, when did this happen?”
“Just over a week,” Xiao Can said, “Don’t tell anyone.”
Tan Zhen exclaimed “Oh my god” again, then seemed to suddenly remember something and abruptly stopped speaking.
“Are you surprised?” Xiao Can asked.
“…I am quite surprised,” Tan Zhen’s tone sounded strange, “From the outcome perspective, it’s good, but for you, it must be… awkward…”
“…”
He said it tactfully, but Xiao Can knew what he meant.
This was also something Xiao Can had been worried about for some time.
“If it’s discovered…” Tan Zhen paused, “I…”
“If it’s discovered, the one who needs to worry might be you,” Xiao Can said, “You understand He Xingzhou, he’ll say whatever he wants when the time comes, and I can’t stop him.”
Tan Zhen was silent for another two seconds, then chuckled, “He really will.”
“Anyway, I’m not ready to publicize this yet,” Xiao Can said, “Let’s not think about it for now.”
“Not wanting to say and not being able to say are two different things,” Tan Zhen said, “You shouldn’t have this worry in the first place, but I…”
Xiao Can searched his heart and admitted that when he had privately contemplated this issue before, he didn’t entirely blame Tan Zhen. But now, seeing Tan Zhen’s tone filled with unmistakable self-blame, he felt reluctant to blame him, and most of those grievances he had harbored disappeared.
“I guess if you were to talk to He Xingzhou about this, he would tell you, ‘what’s done is done,'” Xiao Can said. “It wasn’t right for you to lie to him initially, but if it weren’t for that beginning, none of this would have happened. Before considering whether we’ll be criticized for going public, we should first think, if you hadn’t intervened, would we still be together?”
“… “
“If it weren’t for you pulling me into the collaboration, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet him again,” Xiao Can said. “I might still be hiding in a dark corner, resenting him while seeing a doctor.”
“I just wanted to get to know you back then,” Tan Zhen said.
“After that, whether things turned out good or bad, it wasn’t your intention,” Xiao Can said.
“Cancan…” Tan Zhen’s tone sounded somewhat tearful, “you’re not normal.”
“Huh?” Xiao Can was taken aback, “I’m trying to comfort you!”
“Yeah, how come you’re the one comforting me,” Tan Zhen said, “You’re way too abnormal! He Xingzhou must have done a lot of good deeds in his past life to be so lucky in this one.”
“Um…”
“I’m lucky too,” Tan Zhen sniffed, “Cancan, no matter how selfish I am, I can’t betray you.”
In this touching moment, Xiao Can’s heart skipped a beat.
“Don’t… don’t get carried away,” he reminded anxiously, “Having He Xingzhou as a bomb around me is already tough enough!”
