Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Boring Bet

When Xianyan sat down in the chair, his sour expression soon returned.

“What happened just now, don’t tell anyone. If you do, you’re dead.” He tried very hard to look stern.

But after what had just happened, Bai Chenxi found him difficult to frighten. What should she do? Her heart remained utterly unmoved, and she even felt like laughing.

Knowing the boy cared about his pride, Bai Chenxi drew on every ounce of self-control she possessed, held back her laughter with great effort, and nodded gravely.

“Let’s make a bet!”

No, if she did not say something to change the subject, she was going to burst.

Xianyan’s eyes lit up. “Bet on what?”

After thinking it over, Bai Chenxi suggested, “Let’s see whose people find us here first. How about that?”

“Fine. But what’s the prize for winning, and the punishment for losing?”

Bai Chenxi: How should I know? I only wanted to say something to distract myself.

“You decide.”

Xianyan really did begin to think seriously about it. Bai Chenxi grumbled inwardly: at this speed of yours, before you finish thinking, they’ll already be here.

Though Xianyan took a little longer than expected, he still came up with an answer before anyone arrived.

“I’ve got it.”

Bai Chenxi looked over.

“How about this? Whoever loses has to treat the other to meals for a week.”

Bai Chenxi stared at him in disbelief. It was hard to believe this was the result of all that long thinking.

She asked uncertainly, “You’re sure you want to treat me, or have me treat you, to meals?”

“What’s wrong with that? You don’t want to?” Xianyan did not think there was anything wrong with his suggestion at all.

“You’re really sure you’re willing to? You’re not worried some reporter will snap a picture and talk nonsense?”

Bai Chenxi looked at him with curiosity. Was this still the Xianyan who avoided her like she was a plague? Had the worms frightened him silly just now?

“I accept the meal delivery.” As he spoke, Xianyan even nodded, deciding the idea was workable. Whatever punishment he had thought of, he had to see it through.

All right, it really was still Xianyan. Not foolish, then. But there was no great difference either; I was only being modest and making a token joke, and you actually took it seriously.

Then the two of them fell quiet again, though after what had happened just now, the awkwardness between them had eased a little. Because of the bet, Xianyan had grown alert and energized, and the atmosphere between them had become much more relaxed.

Watching Xianyan sit there in silence, Bai Chenxi asked, “What was the dance you were doing just now? It was pretty cool, and the song was nice too.”

Hearing someone praise his song, Xianyan could not help but feel pleased, looking as though her taste had finally done him justice.

“That song was one I wrote myself, and I choreographed the dance too. I’m preparing to release it, so I’ve been practicing whenever I have time.” Talking about something he loved, Xianyan grew more talkative.

Bai Chenxi said sincerely, “I feel like once you release that song, you’ll definitely attract another whole wave of fan girls. Especially that dance—the stage effect is going to be explosive.”

But Xianyan suddenly turned discouraged. “Actually, I wanted to write some songs with more depth too, but the company said they didn’t fit my image and wouldn’t let me release them.”

Bai Chenxi... Why was he suddenly pouring his heart out? She hadn’t realized she’d also have to provide emotional counseling before coming!

“You don’t like your songs? I think they sound great! And I can tell you like them too, or else you wouldn’t work so hard at practicing.”

“I don’t dislike the songs. I just dislike being defined as an idol.”

That was when Bai Chenxi had to speak up.

“What’s wrong with being an idol? Young, handsome—there are plenty of people who want that life and can’t have it!”

“That’s exactly the kind of thinking I mean. Once you’re labeled an idol, people only look at your face. Things like skill or professionalism have nothing to do with you.”

Bai Chenxi’s face flushed. Why did it feel like she was being put down?

“Who says that? Looks are a kind of strength too, all right? That way your fans can proudly say, my idol could have made a living on looks alone, but insisted on relying on talent. That’s what makes him cool!”

Xianyan was amused by her words. Those few lines really did sound like something a fan would say.

“You do seem to understand fans very well.”

“Of course.” Bai Chenxi said with some pride, “After all, I’ve spent years drifting among all sorts of fan communities and digging up gossip.”

Looking at Bai Chenxi, who spoke with such self-satisfaction, Xianyan thought: She doesn’t seem like the kind of person the internet says is always stirring up scandals.

Xianyan was not one for beating around the bush, and he had just opened his mouth to ask, “Those things about you online...”

when Bai Chenxi tugged at him.

“Listen, do you hear someone coming?”

“How are you here?” It was Xiaoyu’s voice. Bai Chenxi shot Xianyan a smug glance.

She had not even finished feeling pleased when she heard a boy’s voice say, “I’m here to find our Brother Yan.”

Bai Chenxi looked at Xianyan and said triumphantly, “I won.” Then she was about to call Xiaoyu over.

Driven by a fierce desire to win, Xianyan stopped her. “Neither of us is allowed to make a sound. Whoever gets found first loses.”

Bai Chenxi nodded in agreement. The two of them somehow ended up walking and talking as they went.

“Brother Yan said he’d practice the dance a little longer in the makeup room.”

“Sister Chenxi also said she wanted to come back for her phone.”

As they spoke, they heard the sound of a doorknob turning.

“It’s locked, so they must have gone out. Let’s look around nearby!”

Hearing that, Xianyan almost wanted to bang on the door. Could they not see the note on it? Had they not even considered that he might be locked inside?

Bai Chenxi had not yet had time to be pleased when Xiaoyu went on, “All right, I’ll look over there. If I see your Brother Yan, I’ll let you know.”

Bai Chenxi and Xianyan exchanged a look and shouted in unison, “I’m in here.” If they did not call out now, the two of them would really leave.

The assistant leaned against the door and listened, then pounded on it and shouted, “Brother Yan, are you inside?”

“It’s me. The lock is broken. Call a locksmith.”

“Oh!” The assistant had only just reached for his phone when Xiaoyu, on the other side, had already gotten through.

“Hello, is this the locksmith? This is... there’s someone trapped inside, so please come as quickly as you can.”

The assistant dropped the hand that had been reaching for his phone. They were both assistants—why was there such a difference between them? He needed to work harder.

Silently resolving himself, the assistant pounded on the door even harder.

“Brother Yan, don’t worry. We’ve already called; they’ll be here soon.”

Xiaoyu put away the phone and glanced at the overdone assistant. Who, exactly, was the anxious one here?

Outside, the assistant kept calling tirelessly, “Brother Yan, you’re locked inside—why didn’t you call? Oh, right, I remember now, you did call me, but you hung up right away.”

“I called back, and then your phone was off. Your battery wasn’t dead, was it?”

The assistant had rarely been so quick-witted, only to be scorned by Xianyan all the same. Xianyan glanced at Bai Chenxi, who was trying hard not to laugh, and snapped, “Can you shut up?”

Bai Chenxi laughed even harder. So that’s why he was laughing at me earlier. I wondered why his expression looked so strange—turns out his own phone was dead too.

Xianyan now felt nothing but regret. Utter regret. When he got back, he absolutely had to buy several power banks and make sure his phone always had battery.

Once the door was opened, Xianyan led the assistant away without looking back. The assistant even waved goodbye to Xiaoyu on purpose. He had learned a lesson today, and from now on he would do better.

The moment Xianyan left, Bai Chenxi crouched down and burst into loud laughter. Even the locksmith, who had not yet departed, kept casting sidelong glances. Were all celebrities this unhinged nowadays?