Chapter 21 PART 2
That evening, Tang Yue still couldn’t bring himself to look at Jiang Shulu because of what happened.
This meant that viewers who didn’t watch the live stream during the day didn’t know what had happened and asked many questions.
“Why do they seem so unfamiliar with each other? Can this even be resolved?”
“The path is so short, why are they so far apart?”
“I remember Tang Yue used to be able to put his arm around Yao Lixin. Why is he so distant with Jiang Shulu??”
“Where are they going now?”
Tang Yue and the others lived in a small building across the river; the side dishes for breakfast were still sent by the old lady from the neighboring building.
He didn’t guess whether it was the program team’s instruction, but it was clearly an NPC issuing a task.
She hoped that these young people would bring her the spices for making sachets for the Double Ninth Festival when they returned home in the evening.
Although Tang Yue, this “alien,” had been living in this book for many years, he hadn’t been completely assimilated by the world of the book.
He only knew about a few important festivals; he didn’t quite understand traditional festivals; before, he always followed the company’s schedule.
This was even more so after running away with his child. In Liang Yi’s words, his mind was full of composing music and writing lyrics, and nothing else.
Luckily, Tang Mian was a gifted baby; otherwise, following Tang Yue’s completely free-range parenting style would have been disastrous.
Tang Yue knew about this festival, but he had never celebrated it. Only after the task was issued did he quietly ask Yao Lixin.
Even though Jiang Shulu was standing right next to him, he went to great lengths to ask his second older brother, who was arguing with Yao Xuan Yu, while standing away from Jiang Shulu.
As soon as Tang Yue finished saying “second older brother,” Jiang Shulu spoke: “Why don’t you ask me?”
Tang Yue made a sound of surprise, his eyes shifting, clearly showing his guilt.
Jiang Shulu thought he was still embarrassed about breaking the bed: “Don’t worry about the bed; I’ll fix it.”
Tang Yue: “Let me fix it alone.”
Mentioning this was awkward. Yao Lixin calmly took the children away first, leaving the spice task to the captain and the maknae.
His cheerful voice was completely unrestrained: “Let’s go, I’ll take you shopping. Is there anything you want to eat? Uncle will treat you.”
Even the cool little kid Yao Xuan Yu couldn’t resist this temptation, let alone Tang Mian, who directly followed Yao Lixin without looking back.
Tang Yue visibly looked longingly, wishing he could follow Tang Mian.
Jiang Shulu: “Don’t you want to go with me?”
In the past, Jiang Shulu wouldn’t have asked such a straightforward question.
Firstly, he was the captain, and secondly, he had to consider the members’ psychological problems, such as the current problem with member Tang Yue.
But after so many years, after their reunion, Jiang Shulu found that he couldn’t just indulge Tang Yue.
Because he would take advantage of it and then retreat three feet.
Jiang Shulu didn’t care about others avoiding him, but he couldn’t tolerate Tang Yue’s evasive eyes and actions.
Moreover, Tang Yue had a secret that Jiang Shulu instinctively felt was related to himself.
Jiang Shulu vaguely felt that once this secret was revealed, Tang Yue would either disappear completely, or…
He only hoped for the latter.
To have Tang Yue stay by his side.
“This question sounds like a confession?”
“What are you doing, post-production! Terrifying! Isn’t this BGM used in idol dramas?”
Tang Yue was sure that Jiang Shulu would comfort him, but he didn’t expect him to ask directly.
He let out a surprised sound, hurriedly waving his hands: “No, it’s just that…”
Tang Yue couldn’t say, “When I see you, I think of what Tang Mian said.”
It was too embarrassing.
He thought: My mind is full of dirty thoughts. Is this what happens when you read too many novels?
So offensive.
If the captain knew, he would definitely be very disappointed in me.
But Jiang Shulu chuckled, “That’s good then, let’s go.”
Without waiting for Tang Yue to come up with an excuse, he reached out and pulled him away.
The door was pushed open. From the mountainside to the foot of the mountain, Tang Yue’s day was spent being dragged along by Jiang Shulu.
He felt drunk even without drinking.
He couldn’t hear what Jiang Shulu was saying; all his senses were focused on Jiang Shulu’s hand holding his.
Even the agarwood scent he used to love sniffing intensely became insignificant, all becoming a fatal heartbeat.
This made Tang Yue dizzy. When he finished buying spices with Jiang Shulu and was about to return to the opposite bank, he almost missed a step while getting on the boat.
As evening approached, the guests in the live variety show spent the whole day wandering around the mountain city.
Yao Lixin took the two children to visit the small village and then went to the workshop, occasionally sending short videos to Tang Yue.
Telling Tang Yue and Jiang Shulu not to rush, he would take care of the children; they could just get along well.
Tang Yue felt that his second older brother was deliberately trying to get him and the captain together.
“Tang Yue, watch your step.”
Seeing that Tang Yue almost fell when he got on the boat, Jiang Shulu reminded him.
This kind of ferry was still the means of transportation for the residents here. Even though a small bridge had been built in the distance, everyone still preferred this way of commuting.
Tang Yue had never been on such a boat before and felt even more dizzy as soon as he got on.
The boat wasn’t big, but there were also residents going to the opposite bank; seeing the program team’s cameramen, they were a little curious.
Then they looked at Jiang Shulu and Tang Yue and found that these two were very good-looking, and smiled and asked: “Are you celebrities?”
Jiang Shulu shook his head: “No.”
Tang Yue quickly followed: “Not anymore.”
“Tang Yue, I think you’re drunk even without drinking.”
“Don’t you guys think his interaction with Jiang Shulu is like someone with a guilty conscience?”
“It’s like the state of being heartbroken because of unrequited love.”
“Damn!! I disagree with this view, it’s more like Jiang Shulu likes Tang Yue, look at his hands! —”
The ferry was now powered by electricity.
Perhaps considering the configuration of the tourist attraction, the bow was still equipped with decorative oars.
Jiang Shulu saw that Tang Yue was dizzy, so he let him sit at the bow.
It was just as the sun was setting; the lake reflected the golden light, shimmering into Tang Yue’s eyes.
Tang Yue seemed to be lost in thought, so he was easily manipulated by Jiang Shulu, obediently leaning against Jiang Shulu’s shoulder.
After a while, he suddenly bounced up, “S-sorry, Captain, I’m a little sleepy.”
Jiang Shulu: “Didn’t you sleep well last night? It’s clearly me who didn’t sleep well.”
There were still obvious marks of collision on his lips. At dinner, Yao Lixin hesitated, looking at Tang Yue several times; Tang Yue wished he could run away on the spot.
He also felt a little regretful that he couldn’t remember anything.
It definitely wasn’t a mosquito bite.
99.9% it was Tang Yue’s bite.
Tang Yue thought: I’m such a terrible person!
How could I do such a thing!
It’s fine to just think about it in my dreams, how can I actually do it! —
Tang Yue didn’t dare to look at Jiang Shulu in the eye. Viewers who had been watching the live stream all day felt that Tang Yue’s reaction was completely unlike someone who had been in the entertainment industry.
How could an idol be so bad at facing the camera?
Tang Yue: “Sorry, I have a really bad sleeping posture. Xiao Mie said that before…”
His head was bowed as low as it could be; the next second, Jiang Shulu ruffled his hair.
Tang Yue’s heart trembled violently. He reluctantly suggested, “I’ll sleep with Xiao Mie tonight.”
Jiang Shulu: “What about me? Sleep with Yao Lixin and his nephew?”
Today, the program team equipped all the guests with personal recording devices; compared to the noisy sound quality yesterday, the guests’ voices were much clearer.
“His nephew… Hilarious, such double standards!!”
“I thought the captain was the type to share his love equally…”
“Jiang Shulu is also a human being, you know. I feel that he’s much more lively with Tang Yue than before. He was like a robot before, perfect in every way, too unreal.”
“Although this isn’t something I should be considering, I feel like Jiang Shulu was too artificial before, like a successor from an assembly line… Not as good as his current state.”
“If I were Jiang Shulu, I wouldn’t be able to help but like Xiao Mie. After all, he looks a little like him, and he’s also very much like Tang Yue; Tang Yue is a beautiful boy with a perfect figure! Big and small are just a perfect match, like a regular and a chibi version.”
“Tang Yue, you’re so nervous, I feel my breathing is quickening.”
“I seem to have heard someone’s heartbeat.”
Tang Yue glanced at Jiang Shulu; the face he had been longing for for years was too close, so close that Tang Yue couldn’t help himself.
He hurriedly looked away: “N-no, is that not possible?”
Jiang Shulu turned his face back: “But Yao Xuan Yu doesn’t like sleeping with unfamiliar uncles.”
Tang Yue felt his face was about to explode; Jiang Shulu’s hand was so hot that he wanted to jump up.
But the ferry was rocking, and at this moment, a water bird actually landed on the side of the boat.
Not afraid of the humans sitting at the bow, it calmly preened its feathers.
The close-up shot swayed back and forth, cutting to a long shot of distant mountain peaks.
The shimmering golden water, the swaying ferry, the people sitting on the side of the boat leaning very close, this angle looked like a kiss in the live broadcast room no matter how you look at it.
“I can’t take it anymore!! Is this really not a romance variety show!”
“Unmarried x Widowed, that’s my type!!”
“Kiss him! Force them together!”
“I want to complain wuwu, after legalization, current boy groups’ marketing isn’t as good as before, but Away still has that forbidden feeling.”
“Just send them to get married, it will get better and better~”
Although Chengkong Media wasn’t an old-brand idol company, the one and only limited group Away was enough to make the company a benchmark.
Many video bloggers have even made videos comparing the official stage footage, finding Chengkong Media’s cinematography to be almost unbelievable.
It was really amazing, able to perfectly capture the most charming side of an idol.
It turned out that their skill in filming variety shows is also like this!
Whether it’s the close-up shot of Tang Yue’s trembling eyelashes, or his slender hand pressing on the side of the boat, the knuckles turning white from the force.
Or Jiang Shulu’s hand holding Tang Yue’s face, and the other hand holding Tang Yue to prevent him from escaping.
Jiang Shulu seemed to still be the perfect, in-control captain who could handle any situation.
Able to make up for all of Tang Yue’s shortcomings on stage, allowing Tang Yue, who had been trying to hide and lose his presence, to shine brightly, pushing him to the front of the cheering crowd.
Tang Yue couldn’t move, his face visibly reddening in the camera.
Like a beauty on rice paper, dyed with ink, even without the finishing touch, she’s beautiful enough.
Tang Yue: “Then I’ll sleep with the second older brother…”
Before he could finish saying “sleep,” there was a sudden bang from inside the cabin, instantly startling the water bird preening its feathers at the bow.
The boat seemed to shake; Jiang Shulu subconsciously hugged Tang Yue and turned to look inside the cabin.
A child had knocked over a vegetable basket, and the potatoes, winter melon, and pumpkin all rolled out.
The sound of heavy objects rolling was especially dull.
“I can’t breathe! Someone! Give me an oxygen mask! — I’m going to die from this hug.”
“Jiang Shulu gives such a sense of security wuwu.”
“That moment was absolutely breathtaking, a white bird flew by, Tang Yue fell into Jiang Shulu’s arms… wuwu, their bodies fit so well!”
“Tang Yue is that kind of clumsy little beauty, but he makes people want to protect him.”
“Didn’t you notice that Tang Yue’s hand is also comforting Jiang Shulu, stroking his back again and again… Help, these two!!”
Tang Yue’s face was pressed against Jiang Shulu’s chest.
The early autumn air was slightly cool, mixed with the scent of Jiang Shulu’s cologne.
Even the calming agarwood couldn’t soothe Tang Yue’s tremor; he almost wanted to cry because he wanted to be close to Jiang Shulu so much.
At this moment, the thought that popped into Tang Yue’s mind was that this layer of fabric was so obstructive.
Tang Yue: Why am I so excessive.
Jiang Shulu: “Xiao Yue, don’t be afraid, are you okay?”
He looked down at the person in his arms. Tang Yue’s nose was red, but he didn’t suddenly sit up. When he looked up, his eyes were red, making Jiang Shulu a little at a loss.
“What’s wrong? Are you scared?”
Tang Yue: “No.”
He just felt ashamed.
Too shameless, even lusting after the male lead.
Although the male lead is currently in love with someone else, are there any substitutes?
Things like destined lovers.
He never had such good luck.
Absolutely can’t live with the captain.
But sleeping with Xiao Mie, Tang Yue is also embarrassed to look at other things.
Tang Yue didn’t realize that his brows were furrowed in thought, making him look particularly bitter.
Jiang Shulu was about to ask if he was hurt when he heard Tang Yue hesitantly say, “Then I’ll sleep with the two children, Captain, you sleep with the second older brother?”
Jiang Shulu chuckled: “What are you dreaming about?”
“Why do I feel like he’s gritting his teeth.”
“Although Jiang Shulu doesn’t have a cold face, his angry smile is very scary!!”
“He’s anxious, he’s anxious!!”
“Tang Yue, are you an omnivore? You ship everyone, why don’t you ship yourself and Jiang Shulu!?”