Chapter 14: The morning after the rain carried a crisp, cool breath. The window was slightly ajar, and a breeze laced with chill brushed against Ming Huai's face. He took a deep inhale of the fresh air; outside stretched rolling green hills, with a small river not far away. Gazing at it all, Ming Huai's eyes seemed blank, his mind finding a measure of ease.

"What are you thinking about?"

A low voice came from beside his ear. Ming Huai snapped back to attention, turning to find Ji Tingqian standing there in his pajamas, looking in the same direction he had been. Unlike Ji Tingqian, whose face was perpetually icy, Ming Huai loved to smile. He turned, crossed his arms, and leaned against the windowsill.

"I'm guessing our Weibo accounts have already exploded."

Ji Tingqian lifted his eyelids, turning to gaze deeply at Ming Huai. The young man before him was handsome, with a slender figure. They had known each other for barely a month, yet on their very first day together, they had crossed the line into intimacy. Then, just when they thought their paths would never cross again, they had swiftly ended up on the same reality show. Ji Tingqian admitted that initially, he had suspected Ming Huai of harboring ulterior motives; that suspicion had peaked when Director Gao extended the invitation. He never participated in variety shows; this time, part of the reason he accepted was out of gratitude for Director Gao's past mentorship, but another part was because of Ming Huai himself. Burdened with doubts and intent on testing him, Ji Tingqian wanted to figure out exactly what purpose Ming Huai had in approaching him. However, the look of stunned surprise on Ming Huai's face the moment he stepped into the courtyard gave Ji Tingqian a clear answer.

Regarding that previous encounter, Ji Tingqian still wasn't certain whether it had been an accident or not, but this time, Ming Huai's arrival definitely hadn't been part of his plan. In that moment, Ji Tingqian was absolutely certain: Ming Huai's expression was genuine.

"Perhaps."

Just as Ming Huai began to feel uneasy under Ji Tingqian's scrutinizing gaze, Ji Tingqian calmly uttered those two words. By the time Ming Huai looked again, the wary, probing expression had vanished completely from Ji Tingqian's face, as if it had been Ming Huai's illusion. Stretching lazily, Ming Huai's peripheral vision caught the camera nearby; it was switched off.

Suddenly, he desperately wanted to kiss Ji Tingqian, just like on so many mornings in the past.

"Ji Tingqian,"

Ming Huai's voice sounded soft and yielding; for a moment, Ji Tingqian even thought he was acting coquettish.

"I suddenly really want to kiss you."

Ming Huai's frankness was something Ji Tingqian admired, but when that frankness was directed at himself, it felt entirely different from before. And what was most terrifying was that Ji Tingqian found himself utterly unable to refuse such a Ming Huai; he couldn't even muster a shred of resentment toward him.

"Ming Huai, don't joke around."

Ji Tingqian spoke like a parent watching their own mischievous child, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness, though his lack of concern was genuine. Ming Huai was always the type to act immediately. Convinced Ji Tingqian wouldn't push him away, he took two steps forward and embraced him. Their height difference—half a head—was perfect for kissing. Without giving Ji Tingqian any chance to refuse, he quickly pressed his lips against those thin ones. It was a familiar sensation. By the time Ji Tingqian managed to peel Ming Huai off him, a full minute had passed. For a kiss, a minute was long enough. Ming Huai was in high spirits; he didn't kiss again but held onto Ji Tingqian, refusing to let go. That natural, clingy demeanor always made Ji Tingqian feel as though Ming Huai had done this many times before. This sudden realization left Ji Tingqian feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Once the two had finished getting ready, everyone else gradually woke up as well. The moment Ji Tingqian and Ming Huai stepped outside, they ran straight into Zhao Manman. The young girl instantly perked up upon seeing them.

"Brother Ji, Ming Huai, have you checked Weibo? You're trending!"

Zhao Manman addressed these words primarily to Ming Huai. Although after spending these few days together she'd discovered Ji Tingqian wasn't nearly as unapproachable as rumors claimed, in her heart she still placed him on a pedestal akin to a senior. Neither of them was surprised by this outcome.Ming Huai is a top-tier idol who never lacks buzz, while Ji Tingqian's fame lights up half the nation; it's no exaggeration to say that even a photo of Ji Tingqian sipping a drink would trend instantly. The photos both posted yesterday were identical, making discovery inevitable—it would've been strange if this hadn't exploded into controversy. Speaking thus, Zhao Manman pulled out her phone right in front of them, opened Weibo, and exclaimed with a teasing tone, "Another trending topic just popped up."

Ming Huai leaned over to take a look, acting as though he weren't one of the main characters involved. The number-one trending hashtag boldly read "Ji Tingqian comes out,"

immediately followed by "Ming Huai comes out."

In just one day, the two of them occupied eight spots in the top ten trending list; celebrities who had paid for trending placements today must be crying tears of frustration. After glancing at it, Ming Huai sighed and remarked somewhat wistfully to Ji Tingqian, "Why do your topics always go viral? People will accuse me of riding your coattails."

A fleeting smile crossed Ji Tingqian's face. Ming Huai wouldn't let the matter drop. Claiming he feared being hunted down and scolded by Ji Tingqian's fans, he asked whether they could follow each other and jointly craft a "close bros"

persona. Deeply fixated on this idea, Ming Huai pushed Ji Tingqian back into the room. Sitting side by side on the edge of the bed, Ming Huai unlocked his phone and carefully examined the trending topics. Just as he'd expected, fans from both sides had already exchanged hundreds of layers of insults beneath the posts. The scene was dramatic—and utterly gruesome. Ming Huai found it unbearable to watch. Ji Tingqian looked directly at Ming Huai's phone screen, and his expression turned equally remarkable. Two fans, in particular, were engaged in an especially fierce and spirited exchange: one username read "Ji Tingqian Is My Husband,"

the other "I'm Huai's Diehard Fan."

"Ji Tingqian Is My Husband"

: Rivals, let's keep things civil, but your side's attempt to ride our wave is blatantly obvious.

[Smile]

[/Smile]

"I'm Huai's Diehard Fan"

replying to @Ji Tingqian Is My Husband: Heh, don't act like your side didn't post photos too. Who's really riding whose coattails remains to be seen.

[Smile]

[/Smile]

"Ji Tingqian Is My Husband"

replying to @I'm Huai's Diehard Fan: Sorry, I just feel your side isn't worthy of ours. After all, one party clearly grovels before the other.

[Smile]

[/Bye]

"I'm Huai's Diehard Fan"

replying to @Ji Tingqian Is My Husband: True, I also think we're unworthy. One is a twenty-eight-year-old old cured meat, the other a twenty-four-year-old fresh young cut.

[Smile]

… Peace ended there; what followed became these two users' exclusive battleground for mutual insults. The twenty-eight-year-old "old cured meat"

and the twenty-four-year-old "fresh young cut"

sat side by side. Ming Huai awkwardly withdrew his phone.

"We should issue a statement."

Although Ming Huai felt somewhat pleased that this incident had landed them on the trending list, he knew explanations were still necessary. Pushing things too far would only invite public backlash.