Sulan Qiao went out again to confirm, it should be Chu Cheng's Weibo.
At this moment, both the Qiao Li CP and the Qiao Chu CP fanbases were exploding. Both sides were arguing fiercely, swearing to defend their own idols. Sulan Qiao felt somewhat of a headache.
How should he respond?
Certainly, in his heart, he was inclined towards Chu Cheng, but at this time, anything he posted on Weibo would be analyzed with a magnifying glass. For the first time, he felt that being a star was too difficult.
There was a sound at the door, and Xu Zhili pushed the door open from the outside, making a creaking noise.
Sulan Qiao leaned back on the chair, looked at him helplessly, "Why did you post that kind of Weibo? You obviously know that netizens love to cause trouble, and this rhythm is a bit too much."
"It's just a work promotion," Xu Zhili paused for a second, then bluntly admitted, "Well, I admit, it was deliberate. I just didn't expect Chu Cheng to..."
"Chu Cheng registered and liked the Weibo, I didn't expect that either," Sulan Qiao, tapping the phone, turned the phone over and pressed the edge down, "You guys have me not knowing how to respond."
Xu Zhili squatted down and looked directly at him, self-mockingly smiled, "I said I wanted to compete fairly with Chu Cheng, and I meant it. I just didn't expect that he would confront me so quickly, he's quite formidable as an opponent."
Sulan Qiao thought, why didn't you take a look at who he is? Being young and being able to take over a group as a boss, how could he not be formidable?
"I won't respond anymore, anything I say in response is futile." Sulan Qiao lowered his eyes and looked at Weibo, and posted a behind-the-scenes short film of a program promoting the upcoming second episode, with just one word: "Looking forward."
Xu Zhili maintained a half-squatting posture, feeling somewhat awkward, "If you don't respond to me, it makes me feel awkward. Even if you leave a comment or an emoji."
"When you posted, did you think I would feel awkward too?" Sulan Qiao's temper flared up, he really didn't like being led by the nose. If Chu Cheng hadn't liked that post, all the comments would have been focused on that incident now.
"If it troubles you, I'll apologize to you, and I'll delete it now." Xu Zhili gestured to take his phone out of his pocket.
Sulan Qiao rubbed his forehead, looking at the new Weibo comments, still a competition between the two factions. "Don't delete it, deleting it would make it seem even more suspicious. Just leave it like this."
Xu Zhili nodded, unwillingly put his phone down again, and asked, "You and Chu Cheng, did you really go to London for fun?"
"Otherwise?" Sulan Qiao raised his eyebrows.
He didn't want to bring up family matters with him, let alone the matter of getting married.
Now his relationship with Xu Zhili has completely reversed. Sulan Qiao's tone was more like the aloof one, speaking as little as possible.
"Your relationship with him is even better than before." Xu Zhili wiped his face, took a step back, and sat on the chair opposite him, rolling the chair toward Sulan Qiao. "After this physical training, we're going to move out of the dorm. The recording ahead will be pure, I'm quite reluctant to leave."
Sulan Qiao nodded, feeling relieved. Thank goodness, they were finally going to move out of this cursed place.
The two of them faced each other in silence until Jinghe entered the dorm and asked cheerfully, "What are you two doing face to face? Cultivation?"
"Absolutely not." Sulan Qiao couldn't help rolling his eyes, "Don't make trouble, enough trouble already."
Jinghe stared at the two for a while and suddenly laughed, "I see, Xu Zhili has a thing for you."
Sulan Qiao didn't expect Jinghe to be so observant, and he was taken aback, "Don't talk nonsense, are you just like those clueless netizens?"
Jinghe rolled his eyes, "I hope so. I may have a sharp tongue, but my heart is clear. I see everything clearly. You just keep pretending."
"Alright, alright, let's stop. Let's go eat." Sulan Qiao got up, walked out of the dorm, and found a corner with no one around, ready to make a call to Chu Cheng to explain. Just as the call was connected, Sulan Qiao quickly cut in, "I didn't know about the Weibo @ me, and I don't plan to respond. If you're upset because of the photos, I apologize first. I will definitely keep my distance next time."
He said it all in a rush, emphasizing three "definitely" to express his loyalty.
"Since you've said everything, what else can I say?" Chu Cheng laughed, why is this kid so cute?
Sulan Qiao's voice lowered, sounding a bit aggrieved, "I'm afraid you'll ignore me."
Chu Cheng asked, "Do you care about my thoughts so much?"
"Yes, I do care." Sulan Qiao thought of that like on the Weibo, couldn't help but ask, "But... weren't you the one who said you won't register for Weibo?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Chu Cheng spoke, "I suddenly thought, do you want to follow each other?"
To follow each other? He had never thought about this.
Sulan Qiao hesitated, stuttered back, "Th-then let's follow each other."
As they spoke, Sulan Qiao kept refreshing Chu Cheng's Weibo. From the moment he liked the post, the number of followers had increased exponentially, and was close to breaking through to a hundred thousand. Suddenly that number changed from 0 to 1.
He clicked on the list of followers, and there was only one lonely figure, Sulan Qiao. He, Sulan Qiao, had actually become the only person followed by Chu Cheng.
His heart couldn't help but beat wildly, as if with this small action, their relationship had taken a big step forward again.
This man really makes people feel excited no matter what he does.
Sulan Qiao took a deep breath, confirmed again, and with slightly trembling hands, clicked on the "follow" button. The prompt below changed to the four big characters "mutual follow".
This successful action caused the fanbase to explode again:
"OMG, Chu Cheng and Sulan Qiao are following each other!!!"
"Just now was just talking about liking... why did they suddenly follow each other? Are they having private contact!"
【Sob, I feel like the lovely CP is about to break up, no, I have to wait for the second episode to air, I can be strong for a little while longer!】
【Ah, Xiaohui didn't reply! Chu, charge forward, take down Xu Zhili】
【Xiaoqiao didn't reply to Xu Zhili, but replied to Chu, I seem to know something...】
【Any sisters of the lovely CP here, let's cry together】
【Oh my, these two are so sweet, are they really not having an affair???】...
"The comments are exploding again." Su Lanqiao scrolled through the comments, then exited and clicked into Chu Chengkong's sparse homepage, where there was only one recently liked Weibo, his selfie. "Okay, now I've followed you, aren't you going to post something?"
Chu Cheng replied in his usual indifferent tone, "I'll post when I have something to post."
"Okay, then don't be mad." Su Lanqiao tried to appease him in a friendly tone, as if he had put all his patience into this person, "Although I don't know what you're mad about, but I can feel that you're not happy, so I apologize."
Chu Cheng was amused by his wife-like tone, "I'm not mad, I just don't like him, I was quite childish this time. Alright, let's move on from this."
"Okay, I'll come find you after I finish recording the program." Su Lanqiao casually made plans for the next meeting.
When pursuing someone, you have to be enthusiastic, that's what Yue Xi told him.
Chu Cheng responded with a light and casual tone, "I'm done recording, I'll come pick you up."
-
Su Lanqiao was delighted by the words "I'll come pick you up", feeling as though there was something to look forward to in life.
Because this was the final episode of the training camp recordings, lasting for over 10 days. In addition to physical training, there were also photo shoots, fashion, runway, and facial expression training, torturing all the contestants in every way.
When Su Lanqiao weighed himself, he found he had lost a full four pounds, and his abs were more defined.
But he didn't have time to think about this. As soon as the recording ended, he quickly rushed to the dorm to pack his bags.
"Why are you rushing?" Xu Zhili casually returned to the dorm, seeing that Su Lanqiao had already finished packing his belongings and was now zipping up his suitcase.
"I'm hurrying to go home for the New Year." Su Lanqiao replied casually.
During this period of time, he had been trying to keep his distance from Xu Zhili. They did their training separately, and there was no repeat of the teamwork from the first phase, where he had to drag Xu Zhili along even when he couldn't run.
Indeed, the further he went, the fewer friends he had left.
Xu Zhili shrugged and curiously asked, "Do British people also celebrate the Spring Festival?"
"I'm mixed-race, half Chinese." Su Lanqiao emphasized. When his mother was still alive, she used to ask him to make dumplings together. No one else in the family ate them, it was just the two of them trying to have a festive celebration.
Xu Zhili nodded and hit the nail on the head, "Your family isn't here, who will you celebrate the New Year with?"
This hit a sore spot.
Su Lanqiao simply said it offhandedly. He rented the house, so there wasn't much of a New Year atmosphere.
In previous years, Yue Xi had always invited him to spend the New Year together. He always felt it wasn't appropriate, everyone else was together with their families, and he, a single outsider, had no business joining in the festivities, so he just spent it alone.
Even Yue Xi had sent him an invitation this time, and he declined.
"Maybe with a few friends." Su Lanqiao retorted, "Just for the atmosphere, I'm leaving."
"Otherwise, do you want to spend the New Year with me? My family is quite big, it's also lively." Xu Zhili grabbed his arm, trying to hold him back.
Su Lanqiao quickly pushed his hand away, afraid of being seen, "Spend the New Year with you? What are you talking about? Don't joke around."
Xu Zhili was a bit unhappy with his avoidance, furrowing his brow slightly, "You're not spending the New Year with friends? I'm also your friend. If Chu Cheng invited you, would you have accepted?"
"Of course, I like him, you know that." Su Lanqiao was very open, to the point that Xu Zhili didn't know how to respond.
"Xiaoqiao, are you really..." Xu Zhili closed his eyes and sighed, "Go on, have a happy New Year."
Su Lanqiao closed the dorm door, grabbed his suitcase, and walked quickly to the elevator, heading straight down to the parking garage.
The parking lot was on the second basement level. Su Lanqiao went to the old spot first, then walked around, but still didn't see Chu Cheng's car.
He was promised a pickup. This liar.
He felt a little dejected, lowered his eyes and was about to call Chu Cheng when a blue Ferrari parked in front of him.
The window rolled down, and Chu Cheng's hand rested loosely on the steering wheel, looking at him with lowered eyes, "Kitten, get in."
Being called kitten in such a sweet tone made Su Lanqiao feel all tingly. He looked up in surprise, and his earlier resentment vanished instantly, "President Chu, why did you change your car? Didn't Lao Chen come with you?"
"Lao Chen went home for the Spring Festival." Chu Cheng got out of the car, used one hand to help him put his luggage in the trunk, and gestured for him to get in, "The car is a birthday gift for you, you've never asked for it."
"This car is too expensive, I can't accept it." Su Lanqiao stepped into the car with long legs and looked around at the interior.
It was very nice, he really liked it.
"If I'm giving it to you, then it's yours. Fasten your seat belt." Before Chu Cheng finished speaking, he leaned over and reached around his waist, pulled out the seat belt, and with a click, fastened it.
Su Lanqiao blinked, taking in the scent of the person in front of him, the familiar smell of tobacco.
After a while, with neither of them moving, they maintained their close posture, with Chu Cheng's upper body almost pressing against him.
What was he waiting for?
Su Lanqiao's heart was pounding, unable to help but shift his body. His lips brushed against Chu Cheng's cheek, very lightly, a warm touch.
"Stealing a kiss from me?" Chu Cheng finally let go of him and teased him with a playful look.
"No, it was an accident." Su Lanqiao tightened his lips and spoke softly, like the buzzing of a mosquito. He thought to himself, clearly you've been still for a while.
Chu Chengman casually glanced at him and asked, "What are you planning to do these days?"
"I don't know, maybe just stay at home," Su Lanqiao said absentmindedly, then he looked at the date, casually mentioning that the Spring Festival was just around the corner, and tomorrow was New Year's Eve.
Chu Cheng frowned, feeling a surge of sympathy. The little guy had lost his parents and didn't have many friends, spending the Lunar New Year alone at home was quite miserable.
He didn't know whether Su Lanqiao was intentionally trying to soften his heart with those words, but regardless, his desire to take care of him grew even stronger.
"My parents went abroad for a vacation, so I invited Chu Rang and his boyfriend to celebrate the New Year, will you come?" Chu Cheng started the car, entered the navigation destination, which was a supermarket.
Su Lanqiao made a bewildered sound and turned to him with a surprised expression, "Chu Rang has a boyfriend?"
"He's a e-sports champion, named Lin Heyu. He had a crush on him for several years and only recently managed to win him over," Chu Cheng said, steering the wheel with one hand and casually resting the other on the car window as they chatted.
Su Lanqiao pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "A secret crush, how pitiful, but it's good that it worked out in the end."
During a red light, Chu Cheng glanced at him, "Have you ever had a secret crush? You seem to really empathize with it."
"Yes, I had a secret crush when I was young," Su Lanqiao nervously licked his lips and quickly brushed past the topic.
Chu Cheng, seemingly lost in thought, then said, "You matured quite early when you were young."
Su Lanqiao didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt that Chu Cheng's expression had become somewhat somber.
He fastened his seatbelt, his fingertips almost embedding into the strap, and hastily returned to the previous topic, "Is it inappropriate for me, an outsider, to intrude on your family's New Year celebration?"
"We're married," Chu Cheng lit a cigarette, took a couple of puffs, and hesitated before continuing, "Isn't it customary for me to spend the New Year at my in-laws'?"