The plane slowly rose. Zhan Yu was in a trance as the familiar scenery outside the window gradually blurred... Time flew by pretty fast in the novel.
Two young and beautiful figures got off the plan and passed through the crowd towards the airport exit.
Shengjin City's September sky was blue and cloudless as the sunlight shone softly upon the crowds. As the gentle breeze blew past them, it gave people a sense of comfort and happiness.
While enjoying the warm sun and the soft breeze, Xia Qiao, who wore a black long sleeved shirt and long pants, curved the corners of his lips and exclaimed, "I finally understand why you're always so calm when dealing with different situations."
"What do you mean by that?" Zhan Yu tilted his head to look at him while taking off his sunglasses.
"The unique features of a local environment always give special characteristics to its residents!" Xia Qiao smiled brightly at him.
Zhan Yu understood the underlying meaning in his phrase; he was complimenting the climate of Shengjin City! It was true, since even in the novel, the author described Shengjin City as "warm in winter and cool in the summer." It was a good place to live; all four seasons felt like spring.
Zhan Yu sighed in regret. Xia Qiao was wrong. No matter how great Shengjin City was, it wasn't the place where he was born, so this place had nothing to do with his growth.
He didn't want to reminisce about his past, so he changed the subject and asked, "You only have two days of vacation, why did you want to come to Shengjin City with me?"
Xia Qiao smiled and replied, "I want to talk to people and gain more experience. I also want to take a look at Shengjin City's scenery and visit your school."
Zhan Yu was about to ask, 'what's there to see in Shenjing college', when he was disrupted by his phone ringing in his pocket. He took his cellphone and saw that it was a call from Zhong Qin.
Three months ago, during the graduation ceremony, Zhong Qin called him to remind him that no matter how late his program would end, he must rush back to Shenjin City.
However, Zhan Yu still couldn't go back in time for the graduation ceremony due to his job. Because of this, Zhong Qin had complained about it for a long time until Zhan Yu couldn't stand it anymore. He wore his graduation tuxedo suit once again and took some photos, before sending it to his friend. Only after that did Zhong Qin stop mentioning that incident.
This time, it was the celebration for Shengjin College's 100 year anniversary. After knowing that Zhan Yu had agreed to Principal Zhao's invitation of being the host of their anniversary celebration, Zhong Qin would call Xiao Yu to remind him everyday because he was worried that the same thing would happen.
Even today, Zhong Qin called him before he got on the plane and called once again when he landed.
Zhan Yu couldn't help but tease him after picking up the phone, "Darling, strangers would think that we are a couple because of how frequently you check on me."
"We were not far from that point anyways. I even think that I worry more about you than myself, I'm about to become your mother."
"That's enough, if I have such a young mother, I would be scared to death!"
Zhong Qin laughed and scolded him, then he asked, "Have you landed yet? When are you free? I'll treat you!"
"I'll probably be free in the evening. I'm going to check out the college first to understand how the celebration will proceed."
"Okay, sure! Give me a call when you're finished!"
After Zhan Yu hung up, he asked Xia Qiao if he wanted to unpack at the hotel first, or go to school with him and then accompany him back to the hotel later.
Xia Qiao looked at him smilingly and replied, "Of course I'm going to school with you first."
"Okay." Zhan Yu fixed his hair that was messed up by the wind, and then stretched out his arm to call for a taxi.
Xia Qiao can't help but smile as he looked at how nimbly Zhan Yu had handled all situations.
The outdoor challenge show that was launched last summer in City A received exceptionally favorable ratings. The three hosts of the program, a senior with 5-6 years of experience, newcomer Zhan Yu and Xia Qiao all received high praises for the audience for their performance.
Zhan Yu's hosting style was dignified, magnanimous, and natural, which got him a lot people's praise. His Weibo fans reached 100,000 people within only half a month of opening his Weibo account.
The TV station of City A also favored his hosting talent, so they signed a contract to keep him in their TV station.
While Zhan Yu was a senior in college, he joined a few other reality shows in the station and all his performances was remarkable.
Within a year, he transformed from a newbie in the industry to a host with moderate popularity.
As his workloads continued to increase, he became busier, and so he only returned to Shengjin City a handful of times. The only reason he came back this time was solely because Principal Zhao asked him again and again, hoping that he would come back to his alma mater to help out. Zhan Yu couldn't refuse it, so he accepted the invitation.
Upon arriving at his alma mater, he went straight to the Principal's office. Upon pushing the door open, the faint smile on his face froze when he saw a certain person in a dark suit, sitting across from Principal Zhao.
'Lu Bai?'
Zhan Yu's fair hands were still on the handle when he was frozen in place. Why would Lu Bai be here at this time? Who can tell him? Was it too late for his to withdraw?
Obviously, there wasn't enough time for him to leave unnoticed.
Principal Zhao looked up in his direction the moment the door opened. When he saw Zhan Yu, he nodded delightfully and then secretly examined the expression on the person across from him. He was about to speak when another voice came from outside the door.
"Xiao Yu, what happened? Why don't you go in?"
'A man's voice?'
Principal Zhao was very surprised. "Little Yu, who's outside?"
'Who is it?' Lu Bai already had an answer in his thoughts-it was the male host, Xia Qiao.
Upon hearing the question, Zhan Yu suddenly realized that he was acting inappropriately. So he pushed open the door immediately and walked a few steps forward to introduce Xia Qiao, "Principal, this is my colleague, Xia Qiao."
As Xia Qiao and Principal Zhao greeted each other, the man who had his back facing them suddenly stood up.
Lu Bai turned around; his eyes skimmed over Zhao Yu and then landed on Xia Qiao.
Xia Qiao felt the change in the atmosphere around him when Lu Bai stood up. An oppressive aura surrounded him and it made him displeased.
Lu Bai curved the corners of his lips slightly and said with a lukewarm attitude, "Host Xia, we haven't seen each other in a long time."
Xia Qiao replied with courtesy, "CEO Lu, long time no see. It had been more than two years since we last met at College A."
"Hehe." Lu Bai's sight shifted to Zhan Yu, "Indeed, it had been more than two years."
Zhan Yu felt that there was an underlying meaning behind his words, but he ignored his gaze, he asked Principal Zhao for the schedule of the anniversary celebration and asked, "Is the order of the programs confirmed?"
"They will rehearse in the afternoon so you can adjust the order for tonight's celebration."
Zhan Yu knew that Principal Zhao had given him the authority to control the program, so he replied, "Okay, thank you Principal Zhao. Where are the other hosts?"
"There are three other hosts, their names are on the list. You guys can work on building good relationships with each other during the rehearsal."
Zhan Yu looked down at the papers in his hand and flipped through them while answering without hesitation, "Sure!"
Seeing him accepting the request without any hesitation, Principal Zhao said delightfully, "If the students and the media knew that you are hosting the show tomorrow, they would be very excited."
"Principal Zhao, you're overestimating me," Zhan Yu smiled and replied with ease.
"I know about your popularity in City A. I watched your shows and they were great. I believe that I have judged you correctly." Principal Zhao continued, "Right, A'Bai*?"
[ hi, here as I am now trying to edit chapters and some name parts more correctly so it can have clear understanding with the names so I have changed Lu Bai's nickname to * A'Bai , like I changed Grandpa Chen to Grandpa Lu.]
Lu Bai curved the corner of his lips slightly to show his approval.
Seeing that his list of things to do was completed, Zhan Yu wrapped up the conversation and said, "Principal Zhao, I'm going back now. I'll return in the afternoon for rehearsal."
He had to eat lunch, bring Xia Qiao to the hotel, and then write the script for tomorrow's anniversary celebration party. Principal Zhao thought that this opportunity was rare, so he didn't want to let him go so easily. "It's rare for Host Xia and Host Zhan to be here, how about I'll treat you guys to a meal? You have to give me face, so let's have lunch together."
"Principal Zhao..." Can you not be this polite?
Lu Bai seemed to have seen Zhan Yu's unwillingness, so he commented coldly, "Is Host Zhan looking down on Principal Zhao?"
Zhan Yu looked towards him with a forced smile. 'Lu Bai, this person is sick!'
"CEO Lu, you are joking. How am I looking down at Principal Zhao? I just thought that we are being impolite by having Principal Zhao treat us."
"That's easy to solve, just make Host Zhan treat us then." Lu Bai along followed Zhan Yu's words, his appearance was natural as it could possibly be.
Zhan Yu gritted his teeth secretly this jerk, and then smiled to Principal Zhao's smiling face, "Deal! Let Principal Zhao choose the place. I'm not familiar around here."
"No problem," Principal Zhao was happy to see this result without doing anything himself.
Lu Bai made a "humph" sound, then walked out of the office first.
Xia Qiao stood to the side. His confusion from a few years ago dissipated as he watched the exchanges between the three of them.
Zhan Yu and Lu Bai must have had a past that he didn't know about. Should he think about how to confess directly to Zhan Yu even though it was obvious to him that he only saw him as a friend the entire time? Should he confess? If it fails, will they still be able to maintain their current friendship?
Xia Qiao was hesitant.
Principal Zhao and Zhan Yu already decided which restaurant they were going to go, and Principal Zhao suggested that the four of them take Lu Bai's car to get there.
Zhan Yu didn't have his car with h, so it would be convenient to ride Lu Bai's car. But he was also unwilling at the same time, so he wanted to know Xia Qiao's opinion.
Xia Qiao froze for a while, then replied smilingly, "I'll do whatever is convenient for my host."
Thus, when Principal Zhao got on the back seat, Xia Qiao and Zhan Yu were stupefied.
Zhan Yu became overwhelmed. Principal, what are you planning to do? Huh!
Principal Zhao laughed when he noticed the awkward situation between the two, "I'm old, so it's uncomfortable for me to wear the seat belt. I'll leave front row seats for you young people."
"Oh." Zhan Yu thought inside his head: Yeah, you are old. we all respect the elders and cherish the young.
While he was hesitating between the front passenger seat and the back passenger seat, Xia Qiao quickly occupied the front passenger. As he put on his safety belt, he asked Lu Bai smilingly, "CEO Lu, you don't mind I sit here, right?"
Lu Bai tilted his eyes and glanced at him for a second without any expression on his face.
'Yes, I do mind.'
Zhan Yu watched the familiar yet unfamiliar scenery outside the window, he felt that there was something strange going on with the current situation!
Lu Bai was completely focused on driving the car and Zhan Yu was focused on looking at the scenery outside, while Xia Qiao and Principal Zhao were immersed on chatting about this and that. This indescribable oddness lasted until the end of their dinner; after Zhan Yu ate a tasteless meal, he was glad that he could finally get rid of Lu Bai. However, as they exited the restaurant, Lu Bai unexpectedly said, "Get on the car."
Zhan Yu, "Eh?"
Lu Bai glanced at Xia Qiao and said, "Isn't this Host Xia's first time in Shengjin City? Then, we should act as a host to show you around."
When Lu Bai said "we", his eyes were staring straight at Zhan Yu.
Zhan Yu felt his scalp turned numb by his stare. There should be no 'we' in that sentence!
Zhan Yu doesn't need his kindness! He was about to reject it politely when Principal Zhao said, "That would be great! I had been wondering where we should let our Xiao Xia reside. Since it's like this, I'll leave this to you, A'Bai"
Xia Qiao smiled faintly, "I don't want to bother Principal Zhao and CEO Lu, I'll go to the hotel myself."
"Don't be so polite, Xiao Xia. Just let him bring you along." Principal Zhao smiled sincerely.
Zhan Yu held back the urge to scratch his scalp in frustration. What are they planning? Huh!?
After Lu Bai escorted Principal Zhao back to the school and Xia Qiao to the hotel, he coldly spoke to Zhan Yu without glancing at him: "Get on the car."
Zhan Yu stood next to the car and looked up at him, thinking stubbornly: I won't enter your car a second time! Now that everyone else had left, he began to use his oppressive aura. Zhan Yu can't imagine how dumb he would be if he get on his car. He ignored him and turned around to walk away. Just as he stretched out his arm to hail a taxi, Lu Bai grabbed his slender wrist and dragged him in the direction of his car.
Zhan Yu tried to struggle out of his grip, but Lu Bai glared at him with his sharp eyes, "If you dare to cause more trouble, I promise tomorrow's headline will be about me and you."
Zhan Yu gritted his teeth and glared at him aggressively! Do you think that you're amazing just because you have money?
Lu Bai lowered his eyes and sneaked a glance at him. He was content when he saw him baring his fangs and brandishing his claws. After placing him into the passenger seat, he closed the car door upon seeing that he sat there quietly.
Lu Bai got in the car and put on his seatbelt. He looked at Zhan Yu and saw that he seemed angered to the point that his face was expressionless as if he had no emotions.
"Does Host Zhan want me to put the seat belt on for you?"
Zhan Yu snorted and didn't spare him a glance as he fastened his seatbelt on in frustration.
Zhan Yu replied with a rude tone, "CEO Lu, forgive me for being slow, but what do you mean by this?"
"You don't know what I meant by this? If Host Zhan thought about it carefully, how would you not know?"
Zhan Yu took a deep breath, he was unwilling to play around with Lu Bai.
"I want to go home," Zhan Yu said directly.
Since Lu Bai seems addicted to acting as a driver, he'll return the favor to him.
Lu Bai glanced at Zhan Yu coldly, only to see that he had already turned his head the other way; he felt a little suffocated by this. The car ride was very quiet, besides the few times when Lu Bai had briefly picked up a few phone calls.
Zhan Yu continued to look at the scenery flashing by the window. He tried his best to ignore Lu Bai's presence when he realized and suddenly said, "That's not the direction to my house."
Lu Bai glanced at him and humphed inaudibly.
"CEO Lu, I apologize for troubling you by sending me home." Zhan Yu tried his best to keep calm; he was afraid that he couldn't resist the urge to go up and slap him. He had just came back and he had been seeing Lu Bai all day! What's up with that?
"Did I agree to bring you home?" Lu Bai said with a plain tone.
"You..." Zhan Yu was speechless! What was this person planning to do? Huh?!
The car drove into a familiar residential area, and after a long time of contemplation, Zhan Yu finally remembered why this place was so familiar. This was the area where Lu Bai lived!
While Lu Bai was unbuckling his seatbelt, Zhan Yu deliberately smiled at him and asked, "CEO Lu, are you going to invite me in for a cup of tea?"
"Yes, is Host Zhan going to do me this favor?"
"I don't want to."
Lu Bai tilted his head and looked at Zhan Yu for a long period of time. He looked at h for so long that Zhan Yu felt chills run down his spine. Finally, in a serious tone, Lu Bai asked, "What's Xia Qiao's relationship with you?"
"What relationship?" Zhan Yu said.
"Are you guys going out?" Lu Bai asked.
Zhan Yu was stupefied by this sudden question. Why did this person suddenly became interested in Xia Qiao?
Lu Bai watched Zhan Yu blinked his beautiful pair of eyes. It seemed like he was pondering about how to answer his question, but lost his patience, so he said impatiently, "Don't talk to him."
Zhan Yu was speechless, "CEO Lu, I think your request is over the top. First of all, Xia Qiao is my alumnus. Second, he's also my coworker, why do I have to talk less with him?"
When Lu Bai heard that, he faintly smiled. He turned around and reached out his hand and lifted Zhan Yu's chin by taking advantage of how close they were.
Zhan Yu was suddenly forced to face his handsome face and deep black eyes. He had never been so intimate with the same or opposite sex before, so his cheeks began to burn up. He wanted to keep his calm, so he lifted one of his arms to push away Lu Bai's hand. But Lu Bai quickly grabbed his arm and pressed it against the back of the car seat.
'This position!'
Zhan Yu clenched his teeth and tried to scratch Lu Bai with his other hand, but he caught his other wrist as expected.
Although Zhan Yu's hands were restricted, he was able to make him let go of his chin. But there was a burning sensation in the place where Lu Bai touched him, making him feel very uncomfortable.
Why did Lu Bai touch him?
Zhan Yu was angry at how Lu Bai was getting fresh with him without saying anything. "Lu Bai, I think you're the person whom I need to talk less to! Also, you better stop touching me!!"
Lu Bai chuckled again, "Are you going to say how it's improper for me and men to touch each other? If you really think so, why didn't you say anything when Xia Qiao touched your elbow when we were eating?"
When we were eating?
Zhan Yu thought for a long time before he finally recalled how Xia Qiao had touched his elbow because he was reminding him not to drink cold water. He told the waiter to change his cold water to warm water. He didn't take his action to heart. He didn't realize that Lu Bai was sitting across from him during dinner, so he was able to see everything.
Zhan Yu strengthened his nerve and confidently asked, "Do you think you guys are comparable?
Lu Bai replied immediately without any hesitation, "I don't compare myself with people like him."
Zhan Yu was disgusted with how Lu Bai thought of himself as "the best".
Zhan Yu refuted him, "What's wrong with people like him? Oh right, he's not as conceited CEO Lu is. He also doesn't get fresh with me like what CEO Lu is doing right now, right?"
"No kidding! You should try this position. Would you be comfortable in this position?"
Zhan Yu's both of his hands were pressed against the back of the car seat and because Lu Bai was so close to him, Zhan Yu had to adjust his breathing rhythm. He was angry and this felt unpleasant in every way.
"Humph. Zhan Yu, I will grant you your wish, so from now on, you better behave."
"What wish did you grant me?" Zhan Yu was confused.
Lu Bai's expression suddenly changed subtly, "Serves you right that you only got this far during those years!" This was a direct verbal abuse!
Zhan Yu worked so hard to get here. Did Lu Bai know how many small steps he had to take? Did he know much hard work and effort he had put forth all this time? Although he still hasn't become the top host, how did he become an eyesore in his eyes? What right did he have to belittle the hard work he had put into his work?
Zhan Yu's tone turned cold, "CEO Lu, I'm just a regular civilian, so I'm different from you. You were born with a halo. But what I have right now is not something you can belittle, even though they might not seem as glorious, but at least they are things that I obtained through my own hard work."
It was rare for Zhan Yu to have such a serious expression. Lu Bai remained calm and collected as he loosen his grip on Zhan Yu's hands and said, "Go upstairs and change into clean clothes. When the time comes, I'll send you back to school."
"Thank you, but I don't need it." Zhan Yu opened the car door, got off, and then took out his phone to call someone.
He will just tell Zhan Qiancheng to pick him up. He doesn't believe that Lu Bai would dare to get fresh with him in front of Zhan Qiancheng.
Zhan Yu found Zhan Qiancheng's phone number, but his phone was taken away by Lu Bai before he was able to dial the number. Lu Bai had taken large strides to walk around the car to grab it.
Zhan Yu was mad, "LU BAI! You bastard! Give me back my phone right now."
Lu Bai ignored Zhan Yu's protest, once Zhan Yu got the phone, Lu Bai used one arm to block Zhan Yu and used his other hand to type a set of numbers into his phone. As soon as he finished dialing the number in Zhan Yu'scphone, Zhan Yu heard his phone ring in the car.
Zhan Yu stopped his futile actions and could only foolishly watch Lu Bai return to his car to get his phone.
When Lu Bai returned his phone, he added, "This is my private phone number."
Zhan Yu's eyes were filled with rage this bastard, "Why do I need your private number for? Lu Bai, can you not be so self-righteous and self-assertive?"
"If I'm self-righteous and self-assertive, do you think you would have leisure time during these past two years?" Lu Bai glanced at Zhan Yu after he finished speaking and clenched his teeth. He said, "You're heartless!"
Zhan Yu wanted to turn his head and just walk away, and he did. But Lu Bai grabbed his wrist again and pulled him back when he had only walked a couple of steps.
Zhan Yu had a headache and supported hus head with her hand, "Lu Bai, don't do this. Let's have a talk and figure everything out."
"It's not something I can explain." Lu Bai refused to have a serious conversation with him. After all, he already knew that whatever Zhan Yu will say, won't be anything he wanted to hear.
"You!"
"You can continue to walk out on me, but I won't be a gentleman where I only grabbed your wrist the next time you walk out on me."
Zhan Yu felt like there was fire burning in hus eyes! How was he a gentleman? He didn't see it at all!
The two refused to budge. Zhan Yu, who wasn't in the mood to have a battle of wits and bravery with him, said: "President Lu, can you be generous enough to bring me to school?"
How could it have looked to others when Lu Bai suddenly told him to come to his apartment? He didn't know when the two of them became familiar with each other. They clearly hadn't spoke once in the past two years.
Lu Bai smiled at Zhan Yu. "Are you that uncomfortable being with me?"
Zhan Yu shrugged his shoulders. "I am indeed feeling quite uncomfortable. Let's stop seeing each other from now on." They simply didn't have anything to say.
Upon hearing Zhan Yu's blunt words, Lu Bai's face immediately turned gloomy.
Zhan Yu smiled. "President Lu, I'm just saying the truth. If you really can't take this, just leave me alone. We can just stop seeing each other."
"Are you just going to repeat these words?" Lu Bai.
"Then why do you keep on torturing me? Lu Bai, I don't know what you want to do but I really don't have time to entertain you." Zhan Yu said indifferently, "I'm not interested."
Lu Bai tried to suppress the stormy expression on his face as he asked calmly, "What's your reason?"
"What reason?" Zhan Yu.
"The reason why you're not interested." Lu Bai.
Zhan Yu laughed. "I need a reason for why I'm not interested?"
"Zhan Yu, don't think that you can casually dismiss me. I won't let you use the same reasons twice. I will give you time to get used to this."
Zhan Yu was flabbergasted. 'Was he not speaking the human language huh???'. H had no idea how to continue to communicate with Lu Bai! This person was simply unfathomable. Why must he pester him endlessly?!
Zhan Yu waved his hands. "My head hurts. I don't want to talk to you about this. You should bring me back to school. If not, I'll call a taxi." He said this and was about to leave.
Seeing Zhan Yu unwell expression, Lu Bai knitted his eyebrows. He took a step back and said, "I'll bring you back to rest."
Zhan Yu waved his hand. His house was quite far from school and he wouldn't be able to catch up with the rehearsal time had he taken a round trip back home. How would he even have time to rest?
"Bring me back to school."
Lu Bai allowed Zham Yu to have it his way, seeing how persistent he was. When they arrived at school, Zhan Yu found the three other hosts who were discussing the dress rehearsal that they will be having. With Zhan Yu, there were two men and women. That way, the pairs made the division of work convenient. The three hosts chosen from the school were quite remarkable. They looked at Zhan Yu in admiration and shock. One of the rather small and delicate female hosts even asked Zhan Yu for his signature and requested a photo with her. They discussed for a while before Zhan Yu concluded their draft.
Zhan Yu asked for a laptop and printed out the script he thought of on the way here. In the end, he made a few changes. The initial draft was set and it was about time for the outfit rehearsal. They followed the original workflow. Everyone was shocked by aura as Zhan Yu greeted everyone at the beginning of the event.
The three hosts secretly admired Zhan Yu inside their hearts. As expected, he was truly a host from the TV station! His model and ability was different from others because of this, the three of them gave their best, trying to keep up with Zhan Yu. The entire workflow of the outfit rehearsal was quite successful. They fixed some parts that weren't satisfactory and Zhan Yu slightly adjusted the order of the programs appearing on stage so that the entire evening party's programs will flow smoothly.
Upon completing his work, Zhan Yu glanced at the clock and saw it was 4:40pm. He was about to call Zhong Qin when unexpectedly, Lu Bai passed through the school corridors and headed for the assembly hall. At this moment, Zhan Yu, who stood by the assembly hall's door, finally detected something wrong. He looked to the left and to the right, trying to find an escape route when Lu Bai arrived in front of him. He said in an extremely natural tone, "It's over? I'll drive you back."
Zhan Yu's heart thumped quickly. 'Not right, not right. There seems to be something wrong!'
To be continued...
...