Based on Xie Jixing’s limited experience, figuring out whether it had been “finished” or “unfinished” was very difficult.
He sat on the bed in a daze for a while and decided to find outside help.
But first, he needed to eat. He’d burned a lot of energy last night, and his stomach was already growling.
On the bedside table was a familiar thermos, with a sticky note on it in stylish handwriting:
【Little drunk cat, I went to supervise editing. Remember to message me when you wake up.】
There was even a crying-face doodle at the end.
It looked pitiful.
It was left by Qian Shuyun.
After serving him for half the night, his hands were even a little sore, yet he hadn’t gotten a single bite of “meat.”
And he still had to get up early for work.
A crying face was well deserved.
Hearing that Xie Jixing had been drunk last night, Aunt Wang specially made nourishing millet-and-pumpkin porridge, with a shiny layer of rice oil on top.
She also stir-fried some refreshing side dishes.
Xie Jixing ate while poking at his phone to contact Qian Shuyun.
What should he say?
After last night, he felt a bit shy.
How did other couples get over this mental hurdle?
After thinking for a long time, Xie Jixing sent a peeking-cat sticker.
Qian Shuyun called almost instantly.
“Awake?”
Just two words, and Xie Jixing’s ears instantly turned red.
That tone. That voice. That half-lazy, half-teasing, magnetic way of speaking.
He remembered that at the very end last night, Qian Shuyun had also said two words in that same voice.
So embarrassing?
Xie Jixing’s voice unconsciously became sticky. “Mm.”
“Have you eaten? How do you feel?”
How do you feel?
Last night, when Qian Shuyun was holding him, he’d asked the same thing.
Xie Jixing reacted like a startled kitten and completely missed the first question.
“What do you mean, ‘how do I feel’? It’s broad daylight—what are you talking about?!”
A muffled laugh came from the other end of the line. “I was asking whether you have a headache or a stomachache after getting drunk yesterday.”
Then he lowered his voice and added, “Xing thought I was asking about that kind of feeling, and why I couldn’t ask in broad daylight, huh?”
Xie Jixing gritted his teeth, blushed, and replied vaguely with a few “mm-hm”s and “uh-huh”s. After receiving a whole bunch of reminders, he hung up.
Too passive!
This wouldn’t do.
He finished his bowl of millet porridge in one gulp and opened his chat with his friend who specialized in “yellow content,” Wei Tingquan.
Qian Lai!!!: 【(Cat peeking out)】
Xiao Quan Shui Dingdong: 【If you’ve got something, just say it. That emoji basically means “Are you there?” (Cat rolling eyes)】
Qian Lai!!!: 【Can we do voice?】
Xie Jixing was still waiting for a reply when Wei Tingquan directly started a video call.
At the moment, Xiao Quan Shui was lying on his bed at home.
From the video, he looked positively radiant—like he’d been thoroughly “nourished.”
His face was flushed, his lips slightly swollen and pouting. Xie Jixing could even see several red marks on his Adam’s apple and collarbone.
It was simply unbearable to look at. Clearly very experienced!
He had asked the right person.
Xie Jixing stammered out an opening line: “Y-you… what are you doing?”
On the other end, Wei Tingquan stretched lazily like a snake spirit that had absorbed enough yang energy. “Can’t you tell?”
As he moved, the blanket slipped down, revealing even more marks. Xie Jixing even felt that a certain area looked a bit swollen.
Awkwardly, he pursed his lips. “I can tell… last night was intense.”
This made Wei Tingquan show off even harder. “I haven’t had work lately, so of course I’m taking advantage of the break to feast.”
Then he added, “My boyfriend is like a puppy. He loves leaving marks on me. If I have work before or after, he can’t fully let loose.”
“Hehehe.”
Seeing Xie Jixing’s ears turn red in shock, Wei Tingquan felt very satisfied.
He took the initiative to ask, “Aren’t you dating the Best Actor?”
“Why are you still so innocent?”
Then he looked Xie Jixing up and down suspiciously.
“Don’t tell me you two haven’t done it yet?”
“It’s been so long—what are you even doing in this relationship?”
“Is the Best Actor even capable?”
That string of questions was lethal!
After thinking for a while, Xie Jixing decided to protect his boyfriend’s dignity.
He muttered softly, “He’s… okay…”
After all, last night, when he touched his abs and accidentally went too low, he had clearly felt the size and heat.
It was… cough… very good.
“That answer…” Wei Tingquan rubbed his chin. “What do you mean ‘okay’? You’re not sure?”
Xie Jixing shook his head blankly. “Not really sure.”
“I’m speechless.” Wei Tingquan sat up straight, looking like he was about to give a lecture.
“How far have you gone?”
Xie Jixing blushed and briefly described what happened last night, then raised his doubts.
So there really are people in this world who’ve neither eaten pork nor seen pigs run.
Wei Tingquan was almost numb. “So you’ve never watched videos with close friends or buddies?”
Xie Jixing didn’t know what “videos” he meant, but Song Chu’s face still popped into his head.
He’d rather watch with a ghost.
Seriously.
The redness on his face faded, even turning a bit pale. He shook his head violently.
Wei Tingquan sighed helplessly and hung up.
Then several messages popped up in Xie Jixing’s chat window.
Cloud drive links ×10.
Xiao Quan Shui Dingdong:【These are what I’ve painstakingly collected over the years. Complete categories, high quality. Study well, no need to thank me. (Yellow-glowing kitten)】
Xie Jixing opened the first link. It was all videos.
He clicked one at random. It started blurry, then suddenly turned into live-action “real combat.”
This…
He frantically pressed the volume-down button until it was muted, then patted his chest.
Thank goodness no one was home. Otherwise, he’d have to crawl into a crack in the ground.
He glanced at the screen again. Things inside were already in full swing.
Hiss!
Xie Jixing leaned back strategically.
This material was too advanced. Not suitable for a first-grader like him. Change it.
The second link was much gentler—comics.
Compared to live-action, they were beautiful, romantic, and… erotic.
Very good. Perfect for beginners.
He watched the first one with a racing heart and flushed face.
Coincidentally, it was also about the entertainment industry. Both male leads were very handsome. If he imagined Qian Shuyun’s face…
He still thought his boyfriend was more handsome.
But—if he imagined the behavior…
Xie Jixing panicked. He looked down at his palm and recalled the size he’d accidentally measured last night.
Would that even fit?
Wouldn’t it burst?
Not all the comics were complete series. It was obvious Wei Tingquan browsed randomly online, and there were also some fanart.
Xie Jixing suddenly flipped to a very familiar strip.
Both characters were in ancient costumes he recognized immediately.
It was their styling from A Scroll of Long Songs.
As he scrolled, the plot got more and more wrong.
The young prince, jealous over his brother’s wedding, insisted on going to war and was instead tied to the wedding bed by his elder brother……and thoroughly “bullied.”
Xie Jixing stared in shock.
This… is that okay?
With trembling hands, he sent the image to Wei Tingquan.
Qian Lai!!!: 【Image ×1, ???!!!】
Xiao Quan Shui Dingdong: 【Ah, I accidentally mixed in fanart.】
【You know, I have a tiny bit of a thing for “brother ships.” (Blushing yellow cat)】
After sending that, he probably felt guilty and added another message.
Xiao Quan Shui Dingdong:【And you two are real anyway! Why can’t I ship it?】
Xie Jixing felt steam coming out of his head and locked his phone.
He was done with this guy!
But his hand betrayed him. He opened the image again and even saved it.
Stupid hand! What are you doing?!
He flipped the phone face-down on the table and angrily put his bowl into the dishwasher.
When he came back out, he stared at the phone, then guiltily picked it up again.
Study.
He still needed to study properly.
First, overcome psychological barriers. Learn from live-action.
During his break at home, Xie Jixing studied sneakily every day like a thief.
Part of him thought, maybe it could be tried.
Another part thought, no way, that’s impossible.
So every night he was extremely nervous.
Three days later, he realized he’d worried too much.
Because he couldn’t even see Qian Shuyun.
If Yin Wenshan hadn’t been there too, he might’ve thought his boyfriend had disappeared.
A three-hour movie generated terrifying amounts of footage.
Six editors worked simultaneously on sorting and rough cutting, and it still took five full days.
They worked in shifts, but Qian Shuyun and Yin Wenshan kept watching the whole time.
It would’ve been more convenient to sleep at the studio.
But Qian Shuyun insisted on going home every day.
Seeing Xie Jixing sprawled crookedly on the bed—clearly waiting for him but falling asleep halfway—made him feel happy.
The warm night lamp made Xie Jixing look soft and fluffy, radiating comfort.
Qian Shuyun would bury his face in his neck, take a deep breath, and feel half his energy restored.
Even if he only kissed the mole under his boyfriend’s eye and hugged him for a few hours, he’d wake up fully recharged.
This lasted over a week.
Finally, Xie Jixing saw his boyfriend while fully awake.
Qian Shuyun had an interview that day. He took off his suit, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned several buttons of his white shirt.
Xie Jixing was about to “study” another comic when his boyfriend walked in.
Startled, he dropped his phone. It rolled across the carpet and stopped at Qian Shuyun’s feet.
Qian Shuyun bent down to pick it up.
Xie Jixing reached out desperately. “Don’t!”
Don’t?
Why not?
Qian Shuyun narrowed his eyes and picked it up.
On the screen was the same ancient-costume fan comic.
Discussion
Comments
1 comment so far.
Sign in to join the conversation and keep your activity tied to this account.
No comments yet. Start the conversation.
the hardship of taking the final step