People always reward themselves for inexplicable reasons, just like Wang Huanxiu.
Bai Shuijin was heartbroken. “Because of you, sunflowers are no longer pure.”
Wang Huanxiu: “They were yellow to begin with.”
“…”
The sunflower’s petals were bright yellow and tender, drinking in the water from the sponge below, blooming vividly.
Last time they did it, Bai Shuijin lost his voice for three days. There were crows living in his throat. He didn’t even dare to speak when he went home, afraid others would know he had been poisoned mute.
Fortunately, Wang Muguang had already returned abroad to film, and Zhenzhu was busy with the design competition, so not many people noticed during those few mute days.
Only his dance partner Chen Yuan stared at him with shining eyes.
“Brother Shuijin, tell me a five-yuan story.”
“…”
Thinking of Chen Yuan’s curious eyes, Bai Shuijin shrank into the sofa, wishing he could squeeze himself into the gaps of the sofa.
“Tomorrow. Tonight the main character is Zhenzhu, we can’t mess around behind her back.”
After a day of classes tomorrow, the dance teacher will return abroad for a while, so he could rest for two days.
Having got the promise, Happy Hero planned to be Happy Hero tomorrow instead.
In the evening, Wang Zhenzhu returned like a shining star, the glamorous mermaid dress outlining her good figure. She spun a few times beautifully in the living room and said, “Shuijin Danzi, for you.”
She stuffed the trophy into Bai Shuijin’s hands, relaxing her fingers that had been carrying the heavy thing. Her joints were sore from holding it.
“For me?!” Bai Shuijin’s eyes widened. “This was earned by your hard work, you should keep it for yourself.”
He tried to hand it back. Wang Zhenzhu’s honor should stay in the display cabinet with her trophies. Why give it to him? Did she think he looked like a display cabinet?
Wang Zhenzhu’s red lips sent him a flying kiss. She hooked an arm around his neck, and said in a bubbly voice, “This is what you deserve, baby~”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
There wasn’t a single normal person in the Wang family.
Without Bai Shuijin, she would never have picked up her dream again. The moment she won this trophy, Wang Zhenzhu decided to give it to Bai Shuijin.
It had been planned already and now was the time to give it. Even if he didn’t want it, he had to take it, no one could refuse this young lady.
Her confident look was exactly like Wang Muguang’s.
Bai Shuijin still felt this gift was too heavy. “I don’t want it, take it back, it’s too heavy.”
“It’s pure gold.”
“… Light as a swallow.” Bai Shuijin lifted the trophy up and down like dumbbells.
It turns out the gold medals and trophies in the display cabinet were all made of pure gold. Now he really felt that he and the display cabinets were somewhat similar, both of them were gold-eating beasts.
That night, the trophy appeared at Bai Shuijin’s bedside, accompanying him to sleep.
The next day at the dance studio, Chen Yuan had already changed into dance clothes, stretching in front of the mirror. She spotted Bai Shuijin from the reflection and turned with shining eyes. “Brother Shuijin, you’re here.”
Dance practice was always exhausting and hard, so she always needed to find fun in the hardship. Her biggest hobby was listening to CP little stories.
She felt full of energy every time after hearing them.
Bai Shuijin responded: “Mm.”
Chen Yuan felt a little disappointed when she noticed that his voice wasn’t hoarse.
Bai Shuijin changed in the locker room, then stretched with her. The teacher would be half an hour late today.
Class time was fixed. If the teacher came late, they practiced on their own. Every minute and second was precious now.
Bai Shuijin strode across the studio with Chen Yuan, their movements flowing like water but filled with a tough strength.
Chen Yuan: “Brother Shuijin, what do you think teacher went to do?”
Bai Shuijin shook his head. “I don’t really know.”
Half an hour later, the dance teacher arrived slowly.
“I have news for you two, but I don’t know if you’d be willing to go.”
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan glanced at each other, and the dance teacher didn’t keep them guessing.
“The troupe I’m with spent the last year on a global tour, performing stage plays and dance galas. In a few days, the closing show of the tour will be held in America. For this finale, the lead invited me back, and I recommended the two of you. Hopefully, you can perform on stage once.”
Performing in the finale of a major global tour!
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan’s eyes lit up instantly.
An opportunity like this was once in a lifetime. To stand on the closing stage of an internationally renowned troupe…they had only dared dream about it.
“You’re newcomers, so you won’t get roles or prime positions. You’d only go on stage during the final group dance at the gala, which is the last ten minutes. You’ll stand at the very edge with the other dancers.”
The teacher hadn’t finished. “Of course, that’s the good scenario. There are many dancers, but everyone hopes for a spot. Because it’s the finale, more performers are being added. Several dancers have also submitted resumes. There will be intensive rehearsals, and you still need to pass selection. I only signed you up for the slots.”
Just having slots was already incredible! Whether they could get on stage would depend on their effort.
After hearing this, Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan collapsed on the floor, grinning foolishly.
They had to grab this chance with both hands. It would be a beautiful line on their CV.
They will depart at dawn tomorrow. As soon as school ended, Bai Shuijin rushed home to pack.
Wang Huanxiu stood at the door, watching. “What about tonight like you promised?”
Bai Shuijin buried his head in the suitcase. “It can’t be helped tonight, plans can’t keep up with changes.”
“You broke your promise.”
Bai Shuijin nodded. “I really did eat something salty today.”
“…”
**“食言” (shí yán) means “to break one’s word/promise,” but it sounds almost the same as “食盐” (shí yán), which means “to eat salt”.
Bai Shuijin packed a full suitcase. He would be gone for a week, just like a business trip. After packing, he floated to Wang Huanxiu’s side.
“Laogong-ge, I’ll miss you.”
He buried the mutton-fat jade against the man’s chest. A week without seeing him, he would miss his dear chest and dear abs.
Wang Huanxiu’s voice floated above him. “Don’t have so much fun over there that you forget home.”
“I won’t.” Bai Shuijin tilted up his little face. “They also have roasted sweet potatoes abroad.”
**The word “蜀/Shǔ” for “home” sounds the same as “薯/shǔ” for sweet potato that Bai Shuijin twisted it into.
“…”
That night in bed, Bai Shuijin tossed and sighed, unable to sleep. Finally, he lay directly on top of Wang Huanxiu, his head resting on Wang Huanxiu’s face.
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
This night couldn’t be more absurd.
“Laogong ge, I’ll miss you during the week I’m abroad. Will you miss me?”
“No.”
Bai Shuijin’s heart skipped a beat, and he smashed the back of his head into Wang Huanxiu’s nose.
Take it back!
Man, your heart is so cruel.
Wang Huanxiu pinched his face. “I have a private jet.”
Did that mean he’d fly over to see him anytime?
After spending so much time with Wang Huanxiu, Bai Shuijin sometimes forgot that the man wasn’t just a villain, but also a domineering CEO.
Good, then it would be convenient to meet.
But what if he was busy? Too busy to fly, and too busy even for video calls. Wang Huanxiu was always a busy man.
Bai Shuijin pointed out the time problem. What if that happened?
Wang Huanxiu pressed the remote, and the electric blackout curtains slowly opened. The two-story high-rise room design and the huge wall-size floor-to-ceiling windows came into Bai Shuijin’s sight.
Outside was a gray-blue world. At this time, only street lamps and the hardworking sewer rats are busy.
Lying on the bed, Bai Shuijin found the sky outside more alluring than the city lights. Tonight the moon was particularly bright, like a lamp for the world, outlining everything clearly in the dark.
He could also see clouds drifting in the sky, slowly crossing the moon.
Wang Huanxiu’s arm tightened around his shoulder. “The moon abroad and the moon here are the same one.”
If you can see the moon…
Then both of them were looking at the same moon.
Wang Huanxiu kissed his ear affectionately. “What do you think of when you see the moon?”
Bai Shuijin: “This is something from decades ago.”
Wang Huanxiu: ?
“Runtu was stabbing at a badger in the field.”
“…”
*This is a scenes from Lu Xun’s story “My Old Home.” In it, a character named Runtu describes guarding a watermelon patch on a moonlit night and using a spear to stab a “cha’, a badger-like animal that steals melons. Bai Shuijin completely missed the romantic setting Wang Huanxiu was aiming for and just recalled a scene connected to the moon.
Bai Shuijin was admiring the moonlight outside the window, when suddenly, Wang Huanxiu went crazy and kissed him fiercely. Only then did the two of them sleep, bodies burning with desire.
Now, both of them couldn’t fall asleep.
The next day, Bai Shuijin was sent to the airport. He waved goodbye to Wang Huanxiu who watched him enter the security check area before finally leaving.
Today his driver had been replaced with new personnel. Ever since Wang Pingtian was sent away, the little “accidents” around him had been happening more and more, one after another, and the people around him had all been changed, including the driver who had followed him for several years.
The original driver was an honest man, but the human heart was hard to predict. When Wang Huanxiu arrived at the company, Chen Ji handed in what he had investigated.
“Someone used his family as a threat.” These disgusting and despicable tricks are common in disputes, so it was not entirely the driver’s fault.
So after dismissing the original driver, Wang Huanxiu did not pursue it further.
Chen Ji handled matters cleanly. “President Wang, this time you can rest assured with the driver.”
He patted his chest and said, “I specifically found one with no parents.”
“…”
.
The plane flew in the air for fifteen hours before finally landing on the vast land. Bai Shuijin took off his noise-cancelling earplugs, woke Chen Yuan beside him, and followed the teacher down the plane.
They took a car all the way to the inner hall of the opera house for the tour performance. Almost everyone here was a foreigner, and everyone communicated in English. Fortunately, he had worked hard at learning English this month and could now communicate normally with others.
This was also thanks to the people around him who always practiced speaking with him. With more communication, he became proficient.
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan had no time to rest. After changing into loose sportswear that allowed movement, they were taken to the rehearsal room.
This was the venue for the final group dance.
The number of dancers on stage for the last ten-minute group dance reached over fifty, but the spacious, bright practice room easily accommodated over a hundred people.
The venue was not like a rehearsal room but more like a gymnasium.
The rehearsal space was aligned with the stage. A total of one hundred people participated in the selection, divided into two groups, A and B, with fifty in each. The final fifty who would perform on stage would be chosen based on their scores from both groups.
So the position they were practicing now might not be the same as the final performance position. The movement process on stage not only required remembering one’s own position but also others’, and they had to memorize the entire set of changing formations fluently.
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan were both assigned to Group B.
Bai Shuijin held his beloved number card. “I’m B.”
Chen Yuan: “I’m also B.”
Bai Shuijin: “Then together we are…”
Chen Yuan covered his mouth. “Enough, Brother Shuijin.”
Rehearsals were exhausting. Bai Shuijin was so tired he had no time to think of anything else. In one day, he had to change clothes two to three times.
After rehearsals, they were like eggplants withered by frost, listless and drooping as they walked out of the opera house.
Sure enough, there were always people better than others, mountains beyond mountains.
Bai Shuijin was hardworking and motivated, but the dancers who came here were the same, all hardworking and motivated.
Chen Yuan: “Brother Shuijin, will we be eliminated in the first round?”
Bai Shuijin said weakly, “Think more positively.”
Chen Yuan looked at him. “You mean we’ll be eliminated in the second round.”
Bai Shuijin wanted to cry but had no tears.
He meant at least the third round.
The place they stayed at was a hotel not far from the opera house. After being abroad and exhausted for a whole day, they missed Chinese food very much.
They found a Chinese restaurant by the street and went in. Unexpectedly, this restaurant was a popular local spot, and customers came in an endless stream during mealtimes.
Fortunately, Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan arrived early and got a table without having to wait outside.
When the waiter served the food, he asked, “Your friends want to share the table with you, is that okay?”
‘Friends?’
The two raised their heads at the same time and spoke in unison, “Your friends?”
Bai Shuijin ate fried rice. “I only went abroad in the past year. I don’t have friends overseas, it must be yours.”
Chen Yuan was also puzzled. She hadn’t heard any friends say they were in America. Maybe they came temporarily for a visit and happened to run into them? Or maybe they were already here and didn’t tell her, wanting to surprise her.
In fact, both of them were wrong.
The “friends” the waiter mentioned weren’t friends at all but their dance partners from rehearsal that day.
There were two of them. The seats on Bai Shuijin’s side happened to hold four people. Since they would be seeing each other every day for the next week, it wasn’t a problem to let them share the table. Eating together didn’t get in the way anyway.
“Hello, my name is Tos.”
The blond curly-haired one sitting next to Bai Shuijin greeted him warmly.
Bai Shuijin also responded in English. “My name is Bai Shuijin.”
Tos spoke enthusiastically. “I noticed you during rehearsal. You danced really well.”
Bai Shuijin opened his mouth wide and stuffed rice into it, chew chew chew. “You’re also in Group B?”
Tos shook his head. “No, I’m in Group A, so I could see you better.”
When Group B danced, Group A observed, and vice versa.
This meal wasn’t boring. Tos chatted about many interesting things at the table. From his talk with his friend, they learned Tos came from a very good family. Their family business was a well-known sports equipment brand in America.
After finishing dinner, Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan clinked glasses, gulped down a glass of plain boiled water, and ended the battle of dinner.
When leaving, Tos called out to him.
Bai Shuijin only wanted to return to the hotel to sleep. He was so tired his soul was about to drift away, but out of courtesy he turned around and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Tos’s eyes were glued to him. “I think you’re very special. Among so many people, I noticed you at first glance. I think this is fate arranged by heaven. You’re like the apple in Eve’s hand.”
Foreigners all had a romance sickness.
Bai Shuijin stood there blankly. Are you done? If you’re done, I’ll leave then.
The next moment, Tos shoved something into his hand. While Bai Shuijin lowered his head to look, Tos lifted his legs and left. “You can come find me anytime.”
In his hand was a room card.
Bai Shuijin: “…”
So this was what they called a one-night stand?
Too casual.
Bai Shuijin tried to bend and break it but couldn’t, so he simply threw the room card into the trash. He was not going. He was married, and even if he weren’t, he still wouldn’t go.
That night, Tos waited in his room the whole night, but Bai Shuijin never showed up.
The next day at rehearsal, Tos found Bai Shuijin stretching.
“Why didn’t you come find me yesterday?”
Bai Shuijin had a question mark over his head. “Why would I go?”
Tos pondered. Could it be that he wasn’t obvious enough? So this reserved foreigner didn’t understand what he meant?
“My meaning is, I like you. You can come to my room tonight and we can spend a wonderful night together.”
“Why go to your room?” Bai Shuijin: “I also have a room. I can spend a wonderful night in my own room.”
“We can develop a relationship.”
Bai Shuijin shook his head and rejected directly. “We have no relationship to develop. I’m already married.”
Tos was shocked. “You’re married? So young?”
“Mm, so give up.”
Tos left after hearing this, but only for one morning. By afternoon, he had changed his mind.
“Your husband shouldn’t be here, right? You’re in a foreign land, you need someone to take care of you. I can do it, and I have a great body.”
Tos’s figure was indeed very good, foreigners have always loved fitness.
Bai Shuijin: “Sorry, I quit.”
Tos: ???
He has a lover now, so he would feel guilty if he looked at handsome guys with good figures openly. It would be better to look at them secretly.
What’s more, this was someone who deliberately wanted to destroy his marriage.
Tos’s looks and body were indeed excellent, but in terms of feelings, it was rather immoral.
Bai Shuijin refused him again and again.
“Even if I give you a lot of money, enough for you to spend a lifetime, you still won’t follow me?”
Bai Shuijin replied righteously, “No, never.”
Tos: !
This person wasn’t the kind who lusted after money and beauty…now he loved him even more.
Tos didn’t understand Bai Shuijin, so he didn’t know just how greedy and lustful he actually was.
In the following days, Tos began entangling Bai Shuijin, and even though Bai Shuijin completely ignored him, he still enjoyed it.
In the final selection, Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan perfectly entered the ranks of those who would take the stage.
On the day the performance began, spectators from all over the world entered the hall.
Chen Ji: “President Wang, the telephoto camera on the second floor is already set up, to make sure we capture all of Young Master Shuijin’s performance tonight.”
Wang Huanxiu took a seat in the VIP section. “Not bad.”
Chen Ji thought to himself: See, Boss, you can always trust me.
In the final ten minutes of the stage, Bai Shuijin followed the dancers up.
Wang Huanxiu appeared calm on the surface, but his eyes never left the figure on stage, unblinking.
Bai Shuijin had always said he wanted to perform on the world stage. He knew that even if it was just a corner position, he would still be happy. In the future, he would stand closer and closer to the center, impossible to ignore.
The troupe’s tour officially drew to a close. As the red curtain completely blocked the stage, the applause resounded without end.
Chen Yuan panted as she came to Bai Shuijin’s side. “Brother Shuijin, I think I saw Brother Huanxiu.”
Bai Shuijin had actually seen him too. At the final bow, he caught sight of Wang Huanxiu in the VIP seats with just one glance.
After not seeing each other for more than a week, this bad man was still full of charm.
The closing ceremony of the tour was a complete success. After all schedules ended, the lead proposed a celebration party at a nearby bar, with the rule that no one should go home sober.
Bai Shuijin and Chen Yuan changed clothes and followed along.
This was their last time gathering with the troupe. In this past week, the two of them had made many friends and had quite a few interesting encounters.
Tos naturally wouldn’t miss the last chance to pester Bai Shuijin. Maybe tonight, if the other party was happy, he would end up with him.
Tos came over to Bai Shuijin with a wine glass in hand. “Can you drink?”
Bai Shuijin: “Of course?”
“What do you want to drink? I’ll order for you.”
“No need, I’ll get it myself.”
Bai Shuijin walked over to the bar. A tall figure was standing there, dressed in a suit and leather shoes. In this neon-lit place, he was particularly eye-catching. He had a mature abstinent aura, and his broad shoulders and back showed off his masculine charm.
Bai Shuijin ordered a fruit cocktail, but when he turned around, he accidentally bumped into the tall man, spilling the drink all over him.
“Sorry, sir, I’m really sorry.”
He hurried to wipe it with his hand, but the man grabbed his hand.
Tos: “Hey! What are you doing?”
The man gave him a cold look, and Tos’s throat tightened.
Bai Shuijin still used his hands to wipe at the man’s chest, and even took the chance to grope a handful. “Sir, I’m sorry, I’ll take it back and wash it for you.”
Chen Ji didn’t know what these two were up to again. They had clearly seen each other, but refused to recognize one another. Obviously from the same country, but insisted on speaking in a foreign language.
He silently closed his eyes.
These two had ruined him.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Ji jumped in and said in English: “Wash? Our boss’s suit can’t even touch water, how do you plan to wash it? Take your hand off, country bumpkin!”
Bai Shuijin was at a loss. “Then what should I do, how can I make up for it?”
A pair of hands pawed at Wang Huanxiu’s body repeatedly.
Chen Ji said arrogantly, “What else? Pay up!”
“Okay, okay, I’ll pay.”
“Can you even afford it?” Chen Ji: “Our boss’s suit is at least five hundred thousand dollars.”
Five hundred thousand!
Bai Shuijin’s face showed difficulty. “I can’t afford that.”
Tos didn’t step in to help either. He was waiting for Bai Shuijin to beg him, so he would have a reason to win the beauty.
But Bai Shuijin didn’t ask him for help at all. Instead, he looked at the man drenched in alcohol pitifully and said, “Sorry, sir, I don’t have that much money.”
Wang Huanxiu, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. “No money?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Then what about the alcohol on my suit?”
Chen Ji immediately added, “Pay with your body!”
Bai Shuijin panicked. “What should I do?”
He really had no money.
Wang Huanxiu looked at him and sneered. “I don’t want your money. Another way.”
“What way?”
“Come back to my room. One piece of clothing off equals fifty thousand.”
Tos: !
How could someone humiliate others like this!
Bai Shuijin was not someone who bowed for money. Even if he ended up with debts and had to work everywhere, he would still stand tall and repay them in the most upright way!
Tos wanted to pull Bai Shuijin back.
Unexpectedly, not only did Bai Shuijin not refuse, his eyes even lit up. “Then my socks count as two pieces.”
