Han Yi didn’t respond any further.
Exiting the chat, Xiayang immediately messaged the photographer on WeChat, pointing out the “minor flaw” in the original photo.
The photographer took a moment to process what he was seeing.
“Xiao Xia, you really have sharp eyes. Don’t worry, the final photo we’ll select for you isn’t this one; it’s a half-body shot without any flaws. Rest assured.”
“Oh, alright.” Xiayang felt reassured after listening to the voice message.
Having gone through this experience, he decided to avoid white underwear in future shoots. Loose pants, big movements, or high-waisted underwear could all lead to unflattering incidents.
Thus, he quickly opened the Taobao app and ordered a batch of deep black boxer briefs.
—
The next day’s filming required everyone to arrive at the set by 8:30 AM.
The car left the hotel early, and Li Ke took a picture of the sleepy group in the car, posting it on his social media.
—— “Since finishing the college entrance exams, I haven’t gotten up at seven. Today, I suddenly understand roosters, waking up early and crowing. Now, I feel like that rooster, screaming—aka, a screaming chicken!”
Among the group, only Xiayang seemed relatively energetic, munching on a fruit-flavored lollipop and enthusiastically filming a few donkeys on a nearby farm.
The donkeys were quite unique. Although small and not as majestic as tall horses, they had a cute charm.
He recorded a short video and posted it to his social media.
—— “A beautiful day starts with admiring the donkeys from the production team. Good morning, working folks~~~”
It was early, so there weren’t many likes or comments, mostly from those in the car.
—— Director Guo: “Full of energy! [Thumbs up] While everyone else is tired, you still have the energy to watch donkeys.”
—— Tang Siming: “Are those the legendary production team donkeys? Hmm, not quite what I imagined.”
—— Bai Xiaoxiao: “We’re so miserable, being forced to wake up early like donkeys.”
—— Director Guo: “@Bai Xiaoxiao, who are you shading?”
As Xiayang was reading through the comments, a familiar name caught his eye. Han Yi had surprisingly liked his post and left a comment:
—— “What you saw wasn’t a donkey; it was a pony.”
“……”
Xiayang paused, leaning against the car window to take another look. The farm and the “donkeys” had already faded into the distance, leaving them unclear. But whether it was a donkey or a pony wasn’t his main concern. He turned back and privately messaged Han Yi.
【Xiayang】: “Tsk, Han Dalao1, you’re so busy, but when did you start checking my moments?”
【Han Yi】: “Just passing by.”
【Han Yi】: “Filling in your knowledge gap.”
【Xiayang】: [Eye Roll]
【Xiayang】: [Haha, you’re quite the teacher, aren’t you?]
【Han Yi】: “Thank you.”
—
New actors joined the shoot that day, including Lin Yi, who played Lin Yi, a poor student sponsored by the tycoon Liang Shanyi.
They were shooting a scene unrelated to the murder case in Jiangcheng—a missing person case, with Lin Yi being the missing person.
Years ago, Liang Shanyi had sponsored Lin Yi, who then joined his company upon graduation. It was said that Liang broke the rules to hire him because Lin Yi resembled a younger version of himself.
Before the incident, Lin Yi took leave from work, saying he needed to accompany his mother to a doctor’s appointment. A few days later, his mother came to the company, saying her son hadn’t returned home for days.
On the day before the incident, Liang Shanyi attended an online industry summit. After the summit, he returned to his hotel, only checking out the next afternoon to return to Jiangcheng.
The scene began filming.
“Did you find anything new?” Shen Xing asked, pausing the video of Liang Shanyi attending the online summit on his computer.
Everyone shook their heads, except for Xiao Chang, who stood up and said, “I noticed that the Liang Shanyi in the video looks younger and thinner than the one we’ve seen in person. Typically, people look fuller on camera.”
“Exactly, that’s the key point,” Shen Xing nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips. Looking back at the screen, he continued, “I spoke to an entrepreneur who attended the summit that day. He said Liang Shanyi was supposed to give a keynote speech, but it was canceled, citing a severe cold that left him unable to speak.”
Xiao Chang scrolled through the computer screen, rubbing his chin. “So, he deliberately hid his voice. And look,” he pointed to the computer screen, “shortly after the meeting started, he put on a mask. Doesn’t that suggest something?”
“It suggests that the person attending the summit wasn’t Liang Shanyi, but Lin Yi, who had undergone detailed makeup to resemble him,” Shen Xing concluded firmly, placing a photo of Liang Shanyi in the “Major Suspects” column.
“Great, that’s a wrap!” The director stood up from behind the monitor, giving a thumbs-up. “Take a few minutes’ break; we’re moving to the outdoor set for the next scene.”
Xiayang took a drink of water and returned, where the makeup artist touched up his makeup.
“Your phone has been vibrating,” he said, pointing to Xiayang’s coat hanging on the chair.
“Oh, okay, thank you.”
Xiayang reached for his phone and found a few missed calls and WeChat messages, all from a contact labeled 【Cheap Dad】.
It had been over half a year since their last interaction. From what he remembered, this “cheap dad” was quite scummy. During his biological mother’s lifetime, he was a freeloading parasite. After marrying the stepmother, he fawned over her, neglecting his biological son and favoring his stepson.
【Cheap Dad】: “Son, busy? Where are you making money now?”
【Cheap Dad】: “I heard you’re a big star now. I’m so proud of you [hug][hug][hug]”
【Cheap Dad】: “It’s getting colder these days. Wear more clothes, stay warm, and drink plenty of hot water.”
Xiayang took a deep breath, coldly typing out a single word: 【Read】.
He had no intention of wasting time on such an opportunistic person.
Those hot-and-cold games were better left for cooking hotpot.
—
The afternoon shoot lasted until 7 PM, with the sky already darkening by the time they wrapped.
The director, in a generous mood, announced, “Great work, everyone. Let’s go have some hotpot!”
The crew cheered.
“I’m going to pass, Director,” Xiayang said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “I have family waiting for me, so I’ll head back first.”
He had no scenes the next day and was allowed a day off according to the shooting schedule.
Since he hadn’t informed Han Yi in advance, he borrowed Tang Siming’s car and drove back to the hospital. The trip took nearly an hour and a half.
Entering the suite, the first thing he saw was Han Yi doing rehabilitation exercises on a muscle training machine.
His legs stood straight, already showing signs of strength, and they no longer appeared stiff. It seemed he would soon be able to walk normally.
Xiayang watched for a while from the door, unable to contain his excitement as he walked briskly over.
“Yi Ge, I’m back!”
Han Yi paused and looked at him, a hint of light flashing in his dark eyes before returning to normal.
“Although I want to see you get back in shape, there’s no need to push yourself so hard.” Xiayang patted his shoulder, teasing him.
Han Yi shifted his gaze from Xiayang’s face. “You push yourself hard too. Didn’t you say you’d have Fang Ming pick you up tomorrow?”
“I missed you. I couldn’t wait a whole night!” Xiayang blew him a kiss.
Mwah~
Han Yi swallowed, his wrist trembling slightly.
Xiayang’s stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten dinner. He felt like he could devour an entire buffalo.
“Do we have instant noodles?” He didn’t want to wait long for delivery.
Han Yi spoke in a low voice, “You didn’t eat dinner?”
“Uh… I did,” Xiayang hesitated, not wanting to admit he had rushed back without eating. Avoiding Han Yi’s gaze, he started to lie, “You know how hard it is to film. I always need a midnight snack; otherwise, I can’t sleep and have hunger dreams.”
Han Yi: “…”
He picked up his phone and dialed a number. “One nutritious late-night snack, delivered immediately.”
Xiayang quickly tried to stop him. “No need, delivery takes too long.”
Han Yi glanced at him and added, “Expedited. Within ten minutes.”
As he watched the man suddenly turn into a “dominant CEO,” the kind who exudes “overbearing” for the sake of his loved one, Xiayang was both shocked and perplexed. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
He felt like something had changed about his “plastic” husband…
The “CEO” approach worked wonders.
The nutritious late-night snack arrived right on time, in ten minutes.
After a hearty meal, Xiayang patted his full stomach, ready to take a shower and head to bed.
The batch of dark underwear he ordered had arrived today. Fang Ming had texted him at noon, saying they had been ironed and placed in his wardrobe.
Xiayang felt a bit embarrassed, thanking Fang Ming several times.
The bathroom was steamy, the warm orange light creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Half an hour later, Xiayang stood up from the bathtub, his wet hair clinging to his forehead, and his fair skin flushed pink from the steam. He dried himself off, wrapped a towel around his waist, and put on his underwear.
However, something felt off.
Hmm, this underwear feels a bit loose!
He quickly checked the size and found it was two sizes larger than he usually wore.
Damn! Was this a Taobao scam?
Annoyed, he stormed out of the bathroom, his pace brisk, the loose underwear barely staying on his hips.
He had to lift his robe and pull them up.
A glance from the side seemed to linger on the spot under his robe for a moment before quickly looking away.
Xiayang didn’t notice the look, heading straight for his phone. He opened the Taobao app, carefully checking the order details—X!L! Size!
It wasn’t the fault of the Taobao staff; he had selected the wrong size when placing the order.
Damn! He could only blame his own carelessness.
Though the underwear hadn’t been worn, it had been ironed and disinfected, so returning them wasn’t an option.
Thinking about the traditional virtue of frugality, he turned his generous gaze toward Han Yi.
“Dear, I have a few pairs of new panties. They are brand new and flawless. Since you bought the wrong size, I will sell them to you at cost price.”
Han Yi lifted his eyes to glance at him. “The size is too small; they won’t fit me.”
Xiayang: “…”
Xiayang: “Damn!”
Who are you looking down on? Too small!
How big do you think you are to be this cocky?
“I… I bought the extra-large size,” he said, enunciating each word firmly.
If not for the fear of an accident, he’d have shown him right then.
“XL size, XL size, XL size.”
Repeating it three times for emphasis.
“Hmm, I know,” Han Yi nodded, his tone calm. “That’s why I said they’re too small; I need one size up.”
Xiayang: “…”
Xiayang: “……………………”
Sorry to bother you.
There’s nothing more to say.
I don’t feel like talking anymore.
—
The next morning, he woke up in a warm glow. The white diamond-patterned curtains let in the autumn sunlight, casting a golden hue over the bed.
He glanced at the bed beside him, noticing it was empty. There was no sound from the bathroom either, and oddly, Han Yi’s wheelchair was still in the corner, seemingly abandoned.
…Where is he? Where did he go this early?
All sleepiness vanished as Xiayang jumped out of bed, checking under the bed, in the closet, and even lifting the toilet seat.
Still no sign of him.
Did he turn into a butterfly and fly away?
Maybe he went to the rehab room.
Just as he was speculating wildly, he looked out the window and spotted a familiar figure near the outdoor fitness area of the hospital’s garden.
There stood a row of hand-wheels and walking aids, usually used by the elderly.
Xiayang watched for a few moments, then couldn’t help but laugh. He opened the window and shouted, “Good morning, Grandpa Han~~”
Han Yi, who looked up at the sound: “…”
“You’re not fully recovered; don’t overdo it. You might accidentally hurt yourself.”
Han Yi, his face darkening: “…………”
Jokes aside, Xiayang was genuinely concerned. His plastic husband had only been in rehab for a little over half a month and was already brave enough to leave his wheelchair and go downstairs alone.
A real tough guy…
He ran downstairs, entering the garden to find Han Yi had left the “elderly fitness equipment” and was standing on the garden path with his back to him.
The sun shone on his tall, upright body, the golden outline captivating.
That physique, simply amazing!
Xiayang shook his head, pushing aside his shallow admiration for the moment. He walked up and grabbed Han Yi’s arm, straightforwardly saying, “You’re getting too cocky, coming down here alone without your wheelchair.”
Han Yi looked at him, his dark eyes reflecting the sunlight’s tiny beams.
“Breaking the dependence. If I don’t see the wheelchair, I won’t feel like relying on it.”
“Incredible. Did you grow up reading ‘How the Steel Was Tempered’?” Xiayang gave him a thumbs-up, sincerely impressed. “A real man has to be tough on himself. You seem to be exceptionally tough—like a wolf.”
“……”
Han Yi didn’t respond further.
The air was quiet, the autumn wind rustling the leaves. Xiayang noticed a small yellow leaf on Han Yi’s shoulder and tiptoed to pluck it off.
Han Yi glanced sideways at his doe-like eyes. Just as Xiayang was about to speak, his phone rang in his pocket.
It was the “cheap dad” calling again
Xiayang felt a wave of nausea. After giving a terse response of “Read” yesterday, had they not gotten the hint? How shameless to call again today.
“What do you want?” he answered, irritation clear in his voice.
“Oh, Xiayang~”
It wasn’t his “cheap dad” but his stepmother, Yin Xuan. Her overly ingratiating tone sent a shiver down his spine.
“Spit it out.”
“Well, today is your father’s birthday, and we were hoping to invite you and your husband to dinner tonight. You’ve been married for a while now; you can’t forget about your family just because you have a husband.”
Heh, only now did they remember to have a family dinner.
Such a shallow, insincere family.
He recalled how, back when the marriage alliance was first arranged, his “family” had told the original Xiayang not to contact them unless necessary. “A son married off is like water thrown away,” they had said…
The sudden invitation for dinner was definitely more than just celebrating his cheap dad’s birthday.
He was curious to see what this opportunistic family was up to now.
“I’ll come, but my husband doesn’t have time,” he replied, his tone devoid of emotion.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Han Yi glancing in his direction.
“Oh, Xiayang, it won’t take much of Mr. Han’s time. Just a simple meal. Please, do bring him along…”
Before she could finish, Xiayang hung up the phone.
“What’s going on? Who called?” Han Yi walked over and asked.
“My former family,” Xiayang said, lowering his gaze. “They want to invite you to dinner, but I told them you’re busy tonight.”
“I’m free,” Han Yi replied, his gaze steady on Xiayang. His lips curled into a slight, firm smile. “If you’re going, I’m going. I’ll go with you.”
Xiayang was taken aback by the unexpected support. His chest felt a little warm. Perhaps this time, having Han Yi by his side would make dealing with his so-called family a bit easier.
As they prepared for the evening, Xiayang couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and trepidation. What could his stepmother and cheap dad possibly want now? And how would Han Yi handle the situation? Tonight was bound to be interesting.
1.Dalao : big shot / godfather ↵
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