Chapter 4

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On the day the field inspection successfully concluded, all the staff of the production team gathered at the mountain campsite for a bonfire party. When it comes to bonfire parties, people in television aren’t much different from ordinary office workers—they started playing cards after just a few beers. Liu Cheng hadn’t played Three Kingdoms Kill for many years, but Gu Qingqiu dragged him into the game. Surprisingly, Sun Chen, who usually kept to himself and didn’t socialize much, didn’t refuse and, after being invited by a colleague, sat down to join.

During the game, Liu Cheng, who was actually quite skilled, played recklessly, targeting Sun Chen every time he played a card. At first, everyone tried to guess whether he was a spy or a rebel, but eventually, they just ignored his chaotic gameplay. As for Sun Chen, who was the target of Liu Cheng’s attacks, he ended up being the big winner of the game—every round ended with his team victorious. If he was the spy, everyone else was doomed to fail.

Liu Cheng lost badly, but he was still quite satisfied with attacking Sun Chen. To him, it felt more like a ritual. After spending these days together, Liu Cheng realized that Yu Xingzhou was right—Sun Chen was like a robot; there was no point in taking things too seriously with him, as it would only make oneself seem childish. Liu Cheng admitted that he was somewhat childish, so he wasn’t particularly forgiving, but he didn’t bear any deep grudge against Sun Chen. He simply saw it as harmless fun to poke at Sun Chen whenever he had the chance.

—Like what he did next.

Although the activities in the mountains were a great way to burn off energy, it had been days since Liu Cheng and Gu Qingqiu had any intimate moments. That night, they both had a bit to drink and were feeling restless. They left the card game early, but even someone as bold and reckless as Liu Cheng felt that doing anything outdoors was out of the question. As Liu Cheng glanced back at Sun Chen, who was still playing cards, an idea of a perfect location flashed through his mind—

When the team first set up camp in the area they had booked, everyone chose their own spots to pitch their tents. Being social creatures, most people set up their tents close to one another—except for Sun Chen, who had placed his tent in the most secluded and quiet spot.

The thought of “making trouble” in Sun Chen’s tent awakened all the mischief in Liu Cheng. He pulled Gu Qingqiu toward the tent, teasing him about not knowing whose tent it was. “I picked this spot just for a ‘secret rendezvous’ with you.”

They sneaked into the tent while no one was around. Gu Qingqiu was surprised. “I didn’t think you were such a neat person.”

Liu Cheng was surprised too. He hadn’t expected Sun Chen’s tent to be so organized, with everything packed away neatly, including the sleeping bag.

“I tidied up just for you,” Liu Cheng lied casually as he took out the sleeping bag to use as a mattress.

In Liu Cheng’s plan, he didn’t intend for Sun Chen to catch them—though he wouldn’t have minded if it happened. The problem was that Gu Qingqiu clearly wouldn’t be happy, so this was more like a childish prank, one that required a quick escape after the deed was done. Liu Cheng just wanted a quick thrill, but somehow, things quickly became more intense than he expected. The night with Gu Qingqiu was more exhilarating than any they’d had before. Liu Cheng lost track of time, how many times they went at it… or when he ended up falling asleep with Gu Qingqiu in his arms.

When Liu Cheng woke up again, the morning light was already filtering through the tent’s window. He sat up suddenly, still disheveled, and stared at the tent in confusion for a while. Gu Qingqiu, disturbed by the movement, groggily rubbed his eyes. “What time is it? We’re not late, are we?”

They weren’t late for the scheduled departure, but for a prank, they were definitely too late. Liu Cheng hastily threw on his crumpled clothes. “We’ve got time. If you’re tired, go back to sleep for a bit.” After getting Gu Qingqiu to lie back down, he stepped out of the tent. The bright bonfire from last night was now just a wisp of smoke, and a few people who had stayed up all night were still playing cards. Liu Cheng asked them where Sun Chen was, and they told him that Sun Chen had likely gone back to his tent to rest.

But Liu Cheng knew better—Sun Chen obviously hadn’t gone back to his own tent. Liu Cheng, his head still foggy, thought for a while before heading to his own tent.

When he unzipped it, the first thing Liu Cheng saw was his messy pile of clothes. Then, he spotted Sun Chen in his sleeping bag. The shifting light highlighted Sun Chen’s features, making his face look like a piece of art. Stripped of his usual cold and aloof demeanor, Sun Chen’s sleeping face was purely exquisite and beautiful. Liu Cheng spent a long time deciding whether or not to wake him up. In the end, he quietly zipped the tent back up and left.

Liu Cheng chatted with the young men who had stayed up all night playing cards and finished off the leftover snacks from the previous night. Not long after, he saw Sun Chen emerge from the tent. Sun Chen, noticing Liu Cheng, didn’t react and simply headed toward the makeshift public bathroom. It seemed like he was going to freshen up, but since he didn’t have his toiletries with him and didn’t see Gu Qingqiu, who was still in his tent, Sun Chen just went to wash his face.

Thinking about how Sun Chen had silently given up his tent the previous night and now couldn’t return, Liu Cheng felt an unusual sense of guilt, as if he had bullied a child who didn’t even make a sound when wronged. He ran over to call out to Sun Chen. “Let me grab your toothbrush for you?”

Sun Chen casually turned back and glanced at him. “You know where I keep my toothbrush?”

“You only have one bag; where else could it be?” Though their suitcases had been left at the foot of the mountain for convenience, Liu Cheng still remembered his surprise at how little luggage Sun Chen had brought with him.

In response to Liu Cheng’s question, Sun Chen calmly replied, “I left my toiletries in the bathroom.”

It took Liu Cheng a moment to realize that Sun Chen wasn’t making do without brushing his teeth or washing up—he simply didn’t need to return to his tent.

After Sun Chen walked away, Liu Cheng finally remembered that he hadn’t even brushed his own hair. He went back to his tent and searched for the comb that he could never seem to keep track of. When he found it under a T-shirt, he suddenly noticed the neatly packed sleeping bag nearby. He picked it up instinctively and found that the recently packed sleeping bag was still warm.

To ensure everyone was ready to leave on time after a day of wild fun, the administrative assistant, who had been given the task, quickly started checking the tents and waking people up. Although the young assistant wasn’t staying on the mountain, she knew whose tent was farthest out, so when she returned from checking that tent, she gave Liu Cheng a subtle, worried look. Liu Cheng couldn’t help but find it amusing. He guessed the assistant was concerned that he might discover something between his lover and Sun Chen. Just then, Sun Chen walked back from the public bathroom. Liu Cheng instinctively looked at him. Having finally managed to tidy up his own hair, he now paid attention to Sun Chen’s hairstyle. Sun Chen’s hair wasn’t short, so it should have been more prone to messiness, but it seemed to have a natural wave, and unlike his usually cold demeanor, Sun Chen’s hair was exceptionally soft. Liu Cheng recalled how Sun Chen had looked before freshening up, and it struck him that this was someone who probably looked presentable even right after waking up.

With everyone being woken up, the campsite soon became bustling with activity. Those staying at the foot of the mountain helped clean up the bonfire’s remnants, while those who had camped out packed up their tents and belongings. Gu Qingqiu, who had apparently deduced from the assistant’s reaction whose tent he had slept in, didn’t hold it against Liu Cheng and soon came over to help him pack his messy tent.

“I should have known that a tent that tidy could only belong to Producer Sun,” Gu Qingqiu remarked casually while looking for Liu Cheng’s socks.

Liu Cheng instinctively asked, “Does Sun Chen have OCD or something?”

“Not really, but Producer Sun is very particular about order.”

Liu Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you think he might actually be a robot?”

Gu Qingqiu paused his task and glanced at Liu Cheng, a hint of something inscrutable in his gaze. But before Liu Cheng could become curious, Gu Qingqiu sighed and said, “Don’t say that about Producer Sun. He’s a good person.”

Liu Cheng shrugged. “Robots are usually good people too.”

When they finally finished packing up and joined the others, Liu Cheng noticed Sun Chen standing at a distance. Liu Cheng had so much stuff that they ended up being one minute late for the departure time, but everyone was already waiting for them. Liu Cheng expected Sun Chen to make a comment about punctuality, but instead, their guide and driver simply confirmed everyone was present and announced that it was time to leave.

The mountain path was narrow, and though there weren’t many people, they soon formed a long line. Liu Cheng and Gu Qingqiu were near the front, and as they passed some trails close to cliffs, Liu Cheng couldn’t resist looking back for Sun Chen. He hadn’t paid much attention on the way up, but now he was curious about how Sun Chen would handle these trails, which would feel dangerous to anyone with a fear of heights. As expected, Sun Chen was at the very end of the line—he was easy to spot, wearing a white jacket that stood out. Liu Cheng imagined Sun Chen must be walking very cautiously, which made him stop and tell Gu Qingqiu, “You go ahead.”

He waited to see Sun Chen struggle, but if necessary, he was also willing to lend a hand.