Netizens and fans were enthusiastically discussing the latest episode, while someone far away in the studio was sneezing frequently, startling Cheng who was nearby. Shi Guanghua was unaware of the netizens' comments about him. He reached for a tissue and continued browsing the computer screen.
Cheng was originally about to pack up and leave, but hearing the series of sneezes, he turned back to Shi Guanghua with concern: "Are you okay? Sneezing so much? I'll have to call someone to quarantine you!"
Shi Guanghua covered his embarrassment with the tissue and mumbled, "It's nothing."
Cheng said, "Don't stay up late tonight. I think your digital album is fine, no need to nitpick anymore."
Shi Guanghua had also been extremely busy lately, staying up late to work on music was routine, especially with the digital album release approaching. He was meticulously reviewing the new song "Miss9" over and over, not only overworking but also maintaining an unhealthy schedule.
This type of work wasn't like a regular job - it had periods of relaxation and intensity. When busy, he wouldn't sleep, or couldn't sleep at all.
Shi Guanghua mumbled a vague response, clearly not taking it to heart.
Seeing that he wasn't taking it seriously, Cheng deliberately added, "Don't get sick carelessly, or you'll infect Chu Yueyi too."
Shi Guanghua glanced at him, finally giving a clear response: "I won't stay up late."
Hearing his promise, Cheng snorted, "You'd better not. I'm afraid you'll do it on purpose to get infected, just so you can be quarantined together with her."
Cheng didn't trust Shi Guanghua, after all, he was currently rumored online to be in a show-sponsored romance, and was an ungrateful bridge-burner, supposedly full of schemes (?).
Shi Guanghua: "?"
Cheng: "Don't look at me like that, there's nothing you wouldn't do."
"..." Shi Guanghua felt that ever since he received the microphone gift, Cheng's attitude had become increasingly unpleasant. Jealousy had completely changed him, and his words always carried a sour tone.
"I'm heading back, you should go home early too. We're still recording tomorrow."
"Mm," Shi Guanghua tapped on the keyboard, "I'll finish this bit."
Shi Guanghua's "finishing this bit" was like the "next time for sure" in video site comments. He kept working until late into the night before finally getting up slowly.
The next day, the recording for the ninth episode of "Heart-Fluttering Promise" officially began. As Chu Yueyi rushed to the cultural park, she clearly felt a sense of exhaustion. The recent work had been too intense, even for her. The dating show was supposed to be relatively relaxed content, or rather, not that the recording was easy, but that working with her partner was comfortable.
Even so, she felt overwhelmed, yet didn't dare to rest.
She had no time to think about anything each day, mechanically completing various trivial tasks, just to resolve everything before the start date of her next project.
Chu Yueyi stepped out of the elevator and saw the familiar studio door. Her heart finally relaxed a little, and she rallied her positive emotions, not wanting to show fatigue in front of Shi Guanghua and the cameras.
But soon after she entered, she sensed something was off.
After greeting Shi Guanghua, Chu Yueyi keenly noticed something unusual and hesitantly said, "Your voice sounds nasal?"
Shi Guanghua looked no different from usual on the outside. He was still sitting in the black swivel chair and said softly, "No, it doesn't."
Hearing this, Cheng also looked up and said, "Are you catching a cold? Weren't you sneezing yesterday?"
Shi Guanghua pressed his lips together: "No."
Chu Yueyi stood to the side, unable to discern anything. Mainly because Shi Guanghua rarely displayed outward signs. If he didn't open his mouth to speak, he maintained a silent, cool demeanor that had nothing to do with fragility or haggardness. Because of this, when she first met him, she thought he was just putting on a sour face. Chu Yueyi pondered for a few seconds, then walked straight to Shi Guanghua and decisively reached out to touch his face. Without restraint, she slid her hand to his neck, then further down inside his collar.
Everyone who witnessed this was stunned, not expecting her to be so bold!
Cheng: "Ah, this..."
Surprisingly, Shi Guanghua didn't avoid her touch. His mind was now in a fog, only feeling that her palm was cool, bringing him some clarity. He obediently pressed his face against the back of her hand, like a large, well-behaved dog trying to cool down.
Chu Yueyi calmly finished touching his face, then used her palm to feel the temperature of his forehead. She said evenly, "He doesn't have a cold. He has a fever."
Now when she touched him, he felt hot to the touch. She wondered how he had managed to maintain his icy facade, without letting Cheng and the others notice his condition.
Cheng was taken aback and hurriedly started searching, saying, "Wait a moment, let me find a thermometer."
The chief director also sensed something was wrong and said anxiously, "We can't film like this, quickly get to the hospital..."
Shi Guanghua, with his face still pressed against Chu Yueyi's hand, closed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "We can film."
Seeing him still trying to act tough, Chu Yueyi directly pinched his face and said coolly, "Shut up, don't make me angry."
"..."
Soon after, Cheng returned with a thermometer. Shi Guanghua quietly had his temperature taken, and sure enough, he had a fever.
Everyone on set became busy. The show couldn't continue filming today, so they helped arrange for Shi Guanghua to go to the hospital instead.
Chu Yueyi got in the car with the production team. She was one of the few calm people on scene and said methodically, "Director, we might as well use the album MV for this episode, along with some behind-the-scenes footage. We should have enough material. It's not good for him to re-shoot, he needs time to rest."
If the ninth episode wasn't completed today, the production team would have to find another time. Having Shi Guanghua record right after recovering from a serious illness would leave too little time for recuperation. It was better to use other materials to fill in for one episode.
"No problem, we've got it under control," the chief director said. Seeing Chu Yueyi get in the car, he stopped talking about recording and instead hesitantly asked, "Yueyi, are you coming along?"
"You must be tired lately too. You can go back and rest, we'll take him to the hospital."
Since the show had paused recording, Chu Yueyi didn't need to stay.
Her manager hadn't come, so she could just leave directly with her assistants.
Chu Yueyi paused for a few seconds. Her mind was working quickly, and she immediately gave a reasonable explanation: "Oh, I should get a COVID test too, right? A fever isn't a simple matter these days..."
The implication was that none of them could leave, they had to wait for Shi Guanghua's results.
The chief director nodded, "That's true."
Shi Guanghua's illness was naturally unrelated to the pandemic, just a common winter fever related to fatigue-induced lowered immunity.
Everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief, then took Shi Guanghua, who had completed his test, to leave. They transferred to a more expensive private hospital where there were fewer people and a more private environment, making the medical process faster.
Shi Guanghua couldn't bring the entire production team for his doctor's visit. After confirming there was no issue, the staff left first. The chief director originally wanted to leave one or two people behind, fearing Shi Guanghua and the others might encounter problems, but Cheng politely declined, saying they had enough people.
Chu Yueyi also sent her own assistant back. Now only Cheng and a few others remained in the hospital, which suddenly became quiet without the crowd of people. She sat with Shi Guanghua on the chairs waiting, while Cheng handled various documents and procedures.
Chu Yueyi touched Shi Guanghua's forehead with her finger. She felt his fever had worsened during the delay, and her brow furrowed slightly, showing concern.
Cheng reassured her, "It's fine, he's always like this. He rarely gets sick, but when he does, it hits him hard."
Chu Yueyi was a bit surprised: "You seem very familiar with this?"
Cheng said casually, "Of course. This is how it was for us abroad. When we got sick, family couldn't come. Today I'm accompanying Guanghua to the doctor, but in the past, he was the one accompanying me."
In Cheng's description, although Shi Guanghua was awkward with words, he was a good choice for accompanying someone to the doctor. During his time overseas, he often took friends to the hospital. Over time, people wouldn't seek him out for eating and having fun, but they always thought of him when they were vulnerable.
Shi Guanghua didn't mind this. He would refuse social activities, but not refuse to accompany someone to the doctor.
"Oh, but this time is a bit different," Cheng looked at the two sitting in the chairs. He gazed at Chu Yueyi and smiled, "You're the rare one who hasn't been accompanied by him to the doctor, but instead is accompanying him first."
Shi Guanghua rarely got sick, usually he was the one taking others to the doctor. Cheng hadn't encountered this situation in many years, and Chu Yueyi had coincidentally stumbled upon it.
Chu Yueyi fell silent, feeling a bit guilty hearing these words, but fortunately, Cheng didn't pursue the reason for her staying.
"I'm going to pay the fees, then after he gets his injection we'll head back. Please keep an eye on him for now."
With that, Cheng left with various documents, leaving only Chu Yueyi and Shi Guanghua sitting in the chairs.
Shi Guanghua's reactions were noticeably dulled by his high fever, yet his expression remained impassive. If not for his burning forehead, one could hardly tell he was ill.
Upon hearing Cheng's words, he instinctively leaned towards Chu Yueyi and, uncharacteristically, complained, "I don't want an IV drip."
His face was hidden beneath the brim of his hat, which pressed down some of his jet-black hair. Now, with his increasingly nasal voice, there was an oddly whiny, mumbling quality to his speech that contrasted sharply with his typically tall, aloof demeanor.
Chu Yueyi knew she shouldn't be amused, but after confirming he wasn't in serious danger, she found his wilted appearance both funny and intriguing. When healthy, he always maintained an "I'm cool, I'm aloof, I don't like talking" attitude. Now, sick, he was grumbling about not wanting injections and just wanting medicine, completely abandoning his cold idol image.
Chu Yueyi gently adjusted his hat brim and reached out to check his temperature. Unable to suppress a smile, she said, "Mr. Shi, are you throwing a tantrum?"
Shi Guanghua, with his currently high temperature, was languidly leaning back in his chair. He wanted to move closer to her but was mindful of his condition. He lowered his eyes for a moment, then looked up at her and softly replied, "Mm-hmm."
This sound was so faint it seemed like an illusion, but she heard it nonetheless.
Faced with his bright gaze, Chu Yueyi suddenly felt her heart melt. She felt as if even the coldest heart would crumble to pieces at his muffled voice.
Noticing her gentle expression, Shi Guanghua pleaded in a low voice, "Tell him I don't want an injection."
Shi Guanghua thought Cheng was overreacting, believing this was clearly something that could be resolved with medication, yet he insisted on an IV drip at the hospital.
"Oh—so it is a tantrum," Chu Yueyi mused with a drawn-out tone. She then flashed a tender smile and mischievously added, "But I'm afraid that won't work. There are many things in life we don't want, but we can't always have our way."
She'd taken the sugar coating but fired back the bullet.
She appreciated the tantrum but rejected its purpose.
Shi Guanghua: "..." Is this how one should treat a sick person?
Shi Guanghua pressed his lips together in slight dissatisfaction. He silently reproached her with his gaze, seemingly unable to understand why she wouldn't take his side.
Chu Yueyi was unmoved by his small resentment, finding that the feverish Shi Guanghua was even more confused in his reactions than usual, with a more direct thought process, rather like an innocent child.
She deliberately adopted a tone used for teasing children, intentionally provoking him: "Not only will you get your injection-jection, but you'll also take your medicine-dicine, and then go to bed-bed."
She used several childish reduplications in a row, feeling irritated by her own affected tone and guessing that Shi Guanghua would feel even more annoyed.
After hearing this, Shi Guanghua was silent for a few seconds. Instead of showing irritation, he lowered his gaze and asked, "Will you stay with me through all of it?"
Under normal circumstances, he would never say such a thing. It crossed the boundary of their professional relationship, and he had firmly decided not to make any rash moves before the finale.
However, when people are sick, they become particularly vulnerable. Even the strongest individuals can be fragile at such times.
He was feeling awful all over, and so he began to have selfish thoughts.
He hoped she would stay with him; even just chatting like this made him feel a bit better.
Chu Yueyi saw Shi Guanghua's eyelashes trembling nervously and suddenly realized he had mustered up the courage to speak, deeply understanding that he was indeed ill.
He had become anxious and unsure, his hard shell completely shattered, exposing only the softest part that was most easily hurt – the inner self without any ability to protect itself.
Promises have power, which is why she always held back with everyone, never saying things she couldn't follow through on.
But on that day when she saw the sky full of fireworks, she had also made a silent promise to herself.
She didn't believe in forever, but as long as he still needed her, she would try her best to accompany him for a while longer.
She had no reason to refuse him.
"Sure, I can do that. I'll stay with you through it all."