Bai Yuhuai forcefully suppressed the urge to reach through the screen, drag Meng Hexin out, and make him stay in a haunted cave for seven days.
He restrained himself and, with a soft click, turned on the voice recorder, waiting to see what tricks they would pull this time.
By the time Xu Sanyu came back to find Bai Yuhuai, the game was almost over.
Xu Sanyu first glanced down at the screen: "...Brother Bai, you're performing exceptionally well today!" Then he looked up: "Brother Bai..." He swallowed.
Brother Bai's face was as cold as ice.
From top to bottom, it was written all over: displeased.
Xu Sanyu cautiously asked, "Are you today..."
Bai Yuhuai finally spared him a glance, putting a finger to his lips: "Shh."
Xu Sanyu quickly shut his mouth.
At that moment, a voice came through the voice channel: "Cool big brother, let's play together again next time."
Xu Sanyu was startled.
Damn.
Whose voice was that?
The young master's?
Who's the cool big brother? Why use such a name? Does his family run a fish and shrimp wholesale business?
That cool big brother chuckled, exuding the disdain of a supreme master: "No problem, it's a small matter. Get online at 8 o'clock tomorrow!"
Xu Sanyu hurriedly looked at Bai Yuhuai's expression again. Good grief, he was green enough to star in Avengers: Endgame.
The master left the channel first.
Meng Hexin said, "Wait a bit, Huaimeng will be online soon, don't rush to log off."
Jing Jiujiu: "Mmm."
Meng Hexin smiled: "Brother Xu, isn't this person more efficient than us?"
Bai Yuhuai coldly glanced at Xu Sanyu.
Xu Sanyu wished he could immediately swear to the heavens: I really didn't do anything terrible!
Meng Hexin: "Last time I only pretended for a few lines before someone recognized me. I think my acting skills should be quite renowned in our circle. How come I can't pull off a little girl?"
Meng Hexin continued, clicking his tongue: "Brother Xu, you can even charm a few, and they want to meet you in person. Why can't I charm anyone?"
Xu Sanyu's face was written all over with 'no, no, no, I didn't', not daring to look at Bai Yuhuai's expression at all.
He never taught the young master to do this!
It was all Meng Hexin's teaching!
"Why isn't Brother Xu saying anything?"
"Jiujiu, learn from Brother Xu. Brother Xu is truly a dark horse."
Xu Sanyu finally managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat: "Don't learn..."
Meng Hexin chuckled, assuming Xu Sanyu was just feeling embarrassed.
Soon, Huaimeng also came online, and they started a new game. Over the course of the evening, Meng Hexin's online friends multiplied like rabbits. Who knows where he tricked them all from, or if he used Jing Jiujiu to trick them.
When the nurse came in to tell Meng Hexin to put away his phone, Bai Yuhuai also closed the voice recorder with a grim face.
Jing Jiujiu softly said to the voice channel: "Bye-bye."
As soon as they went offline, Bai Yuhuai began to grab people.
Xu Sanyu was completely stunned behind him.
Alright then.
Let Meng Hexin die.
At least I can still live.
Xu Sanyu wiped his face, then suddenly remembered and quickly caught up, saying: "Brother Bai, you can't hit children!"
Bai Yuhuai turned his head.
Xu Sanyu stammered: "Isn't... the young master quite young? He's so young and has followed you, right? It's normal for him to occasionally surf the internet wildly, isn't it..."
This wild surfing.
Is very wild indeed.
Seeing that Bai Yuhuai's expression remained unchanged and he didn't say a word, Xu Sanyu became more anxious: "Actually, the young master is still very devoted to you. Last time when he saw you still had to stay up late filming, he was particularly concerned. He even secretly told me, uh..." Xu Sanyu stuttered for a moment before continuing, "He said he counted his money and was worried he couldn't afford to support you."
Bai Yuhuai's steps faltered: "Support me?"
Xu Sanyu: "Mm-hmm! I don't know why the young master would think you don't have money..." Xu Sanyu paused here, then said dejectedly, "Oh, maybe it's because the young master himself is too rich. That day he said he currently has only a few hundred million at his disposal."
Bai Yuhuai's tightly pressed lips finally relaxed a bit.
Thinking back to the youth's earnest promise to protect him...
Bai Yuhuai put away the voice recorder, strode out, came to the outside of Jing Jiujiu's bedroom, knocked three times lightly, then pushed the door open and entered.
Jing Jiujiu sat up from the bed: "Have you finished talking with the guide?"
Bai Yuhuai: "Didn't talk."
Jing Jiujiu lowered his head to look at his wrist, where of course there was no watch, so he looked up at the wall clock again: "...Then why did you come back so late?"
Hearing him ask so righteously, with a particularly intimate tone, Bai Yuhuai felt both annoyed and amused.
Bai Yuhuai: "Playing games outside."
Jing Jiujiu immediately moved closer: "I've learned a few tricks from Meng Hexin recently. I think I've become a little bit better. When you want to play, let's play together. I can guide you."
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
No, thanks.
With him guiding, he might have a stroke on the spot from anger.
Outside the door, Xu Sanyu sent a message to Meng Hexin, pretending: [Oh, our Brother Bai just borrowed my account to play a game. Was he playing with you? Be careful, don't let the marketing accounts catch you.]
Meng Hexin's phone had long been thrown into the drawer under the nurse's supervision.
He sighed, tossing and turning, not knowing when he could be discharged.
Should he play a different game with the young master tomorrow?
With a plan in mind, Meng Hexin closed his eyes and started to sleep, completely unaware that disaster had already fallen on his head.
Xu Sanyu didn't receive a reply for a long time and was speechless.
This person wants to die, truly beyond saving.
Fine, light some incense for Mr. Meng.
In the room, Bai Yuhuai placed the voice recorder in front of Jing Jiujiu and pressed the play button.
Jing Jiujiu: ?
Until a voice came out saying "Cool big brother..."
Jing Jiujiu: ??
Jing Jiujiu: !!!
Jing Jiujiu was so embarrassed he could almost dig out a three-bedroom apartment on the spot.
Jing Jiujiu said softly: "Oh, I get it. The one using Xu Sanyu's account was you."
Bai Yuhuai raised an eyebrow slightly. He wanted to hear how the youth would quibble, or if he would counterattack first.
Jing Jiujiu sighed lightly and said seriously: "I know I was wrong. Deceiving people is not right. Meng Hexin said if you're sweet-talking, others will play games with you. I won't sweet-talk anymore in the future."
Bai Yuhuai's gaze unconsciously fell on Jing Jiujiu's lips.
Sweet-talking?
Bai Yuhuai quickly suppressed his wandering thoughts, thinking expressionlessly, is that the crux of the problem? Is it about deceiving?
Bai Yuhuai pulled over a chair with one hand.
The chair legs scraped against the floor, making a harsh "screech".
"Are you close with them?" He sat down face to face with Jing Jiujiu and asked.
"...Not close."
"Are you close with me?"
Jing Jiujiu: ?
What's the connection between these two?
But facing the man's cold expression, Jing Jiujiu still answered: "Close." Did Bai Yuhuai think they weren't close?
Bai Yuhuai spoke unhurriedly: "Then call me big brother and let me hear it."
Jing Jiujiu: ??????
Bai Yuhuai had an inexplicable irritation bottled up inside, but after hearing what Xu Sanyu said, there was also an indescribable pleasure in his heart. Various emotions were mixed together.
Bai Yuhuai stared at Jing Jiujiu's slightly dazed appearance, his lips half-open, his gaze flickering, as if starlight had fallen into his eyes.
So he pressed one hand on the back of the chair and asked in a low voice: "You can call strangers that, but you can't call me?"
"Brother Bai? Big Brother Bai?" Jing Jiujiu quickly opened his mouth. He still felt a bit confused. It's not like he hadn't called him that before. When it came to coaxing people, Jing Jiujiu was quite skilled.
Bai Yuhuai's heart quivered, even his fingertips went numb.
But he still kept a straight face and didn't speak.
Jing Jiujiu suddenly became unsure. Was this not enough? Oh, was it not cheesy enough? Meng Hexin said when you're sweet-talking, you shouldn't be afraid of being cheesy. You might find it cheesy, but everyone likes it.
So Jing Jiujiu leaned forward, moving closer, and also rested his arm on the back of the chair.
If he were human at this moment, and if his waist strength wasn't quite enough, he would collapse right into Bai Yuhuai's arms with one slip.
And Bai Yuhuai was also thinking at this moment.
...It seems like with just a slight reach, he could hold the youth's waist.
Jing Jiujiu didn't notice Bai Yuhuai's gaze. He softened his voice: "Brother Yuhuai?"
The ice-cold breath blew on Bai Yuhuai's face, carrying the familiar scent of yin energy.
Bai Yuhuai's heart suddenly began racing uncontrollably, his throat went dry, and his entire being entered an oddly heightened state of excitement.
It was as if his adrenaline had suddenly spiked to the maximum.
Bai Yuhuai's mind was instantly crowded with various thoughts, all jumbled together like a mess of paste, unable to sort them out. But his face betrayed nothing, and he even calmly opened his mouth to ask, "Will you still call them in the future?"
Jing Jiujiu: "No, I won't."
He couldn't take it anymore. Hearing the recording, even he couldn't handle it!
Bai Yuhuai withdrew his hand from the back of the chair, inadvertently brushing against the back of Jing Jiujiu's hand.
Bai Yuhuai felt as if he'd been scalded, his entire body heating up.
He quickly raised his hand to loosen his tie, then stood up, pushed the chair away, and strode out.
Jing Jiujiu: ?
Is that it?
What a gentle way of teaching a lesson.
Jing Jiujiu licked his lips, watching Bai Yuhuai's retreating figure and thinking, he's still so easy to coax.
Why is he so easy to coax?
Bai Yuhuai is truly such a good person.
Bai Yuhuai walked straight into the corridor. The window in the hallway was open, and the cold wind blowing in his face finally helped him calm down a bit.
For a moment, Bai Yuhuai couldn't quite tell who had actually been punished in that little scene just now.
Am I sick? Bai Yuhuai thought, his expression grim.
The cold, chilling air blowing on my face, and yet I feel hot, I feel my heart racing.
And even... I only want Jing Jiujiu to call me that way.
Am I sick?
Bai Yuhuai stood outside until midnight. A lone wandering ghost accidentally bumped into the window with a "bang," but upon seeing Bai Yuhuai, it quickly turned tail and ran.
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
Only then did he realize his legs had gone a bit numb from standing so long.
Bai Yuhuai turned and walked back.
Xu Sanyu saw him and didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
This time, Brother Bai was truly angry... Xu Sanyu had never seen him this angry before.
He's even started punishing himself by standing.
Isn't this being so angry that he's almost lost his senses?
Bai Yuhuai didn't even look at Xu Sanyu, walking straight into the room.
Then he picked up Jing Jiujiu's entire ghostly form, returned to his own room, and tucked him into the bed. Although Jing Jiujiu found it a bit strange, he thought about how he had brazenly occupied Bai Yuhuai's bed for so long back at the villa... So Jing Jiujiu just obediently snuggled in and didn't move.
He had long forgotten the dignity of being a ghost.
Bai Yuhuai stood by the bed watching for a while before going to wash up.
He had figured out why.
Why am I so agitated?
Because I don't want Jing Jiujiu to be like other ghosts, afraid of me, fearing me, running away at the sight of me.
In fact... I want him to like me.
...
After the wrap party, Bai Yuhuai didn't plan to return to Capital City. He directly took Jing Jiujiu to Jiang City, where the mine was located.
Yin Mo and Ding Hanbing still had matters to attend to, so they had to briefly return to Capital City.
Bai Yuhuai paid for Xu Sanyu to rent a large bus.
Xu Sanyu was a bit confused: "This... who's it for? Are you going to ride in it?"
"Ghosts," Bai Yuhuai said concisely, then rolled up the car window.
Leaving Xu Sanyu standing there, swallowing hard.
A group of little ghosts were transported to Jiang City by the bus.
Bai Yuhuai found them a bit annoying, only Yuanyuan looked somewhat pleasing to the eye, probably because it had officially been given a tag and was considered a ghost raised by Jing Jiujiu and him.
So Bai Yuhuai separately opened a room just for them, including Lin Zhi.
The group of little ghosts had never enjoyed such treatment even when they were alive. They were all howling and chirping with joy, so excited that they temporarily forgot that their big ghost had been taken away by that fierce person.
Only Lin Zhi's face was written with melancholy, lost in some ghostly thoughts.
Meanwhile, Meng Hexin was staring at his phone messages, already scared witless.
He swallowed and called his agent: "...So, if I've offended Bai Yuhuai. Is there any hope for me?"
The agent was instantly terrified: "How did you offend him? Damn! No way! Bro, we haven't even made it big yet, are we going to be shelved now?"
"..." Meng Hexin knew there was no need to ask further.
There was no hope.
Not long after Meng Hexin hung up, his agent called back.
This time it was a video call.
The agent's face on the other end was written all over with the words "Oh, I'm dead," while he spoke in a funeral-like tone: "The newly negotiated endorsement deal is off, and all four appearances next month are gone."
Meng Hexin: "...It's my own fault."
"What exactly happened?"
"I..." Meng Hexin was originally a bit embarrassed to say, but now he steeled himself and bit the bullet, "I made Brother Bai's little darling call ten male netizens 'brother' in a game, just to trick one into boosting his rank."
The agent, upon hearing this, wanted to bash Meng Hexin's head in on the spot.
"No more talk, my phone's ringing again," the agent said coldly, turning away.
But not long after, he turned back with a somewhat conflicted expression of joy and worry.
"Director Cheng wants you to audition for his film after you're discharged," the agent said with a complex expression.
Meng Hexin was startled: "So suddenly?... But, if Brother Bai doesn't like me, would Director Cheng dare to use me?"
Agent: "It was Brother Bai who recommended you."
Meng Hexin was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted, exclaiming: "Brother Bai is truly a gentleman!" He continued, "I understand, I get it, I know! Next time I'll teach the young master to call him 'brother.' The super sweet kind... I can also share with him my collection of 308 non-repeating bedroom techniques. Enrich their life outside of work. I can even send the young master a couple of bunny girl outfits..."
Meng Hexin muttered on like this, happily bustling about to pack his clothes.
He was going to be discharged!
He was going to act in Director Cheng's film! Director Cheng!
The agent: "..."
I hadn't finished speaking yet.
Have you forgotten that Director Cheng's filming takes a whole year, and he doesn't allow any actors to go out, take on other roles, or accept other engagements? Have you forgotten how demanding Director Cheng is about acting skills, to the point of insanity, filming one version today and possibly changing to another tomorrow, torturing actors until they'd rather be dead?
For a moment, the agent couldn't tell if the Film Emperor Bai was really helping him or trying to torture him to death.
Meng Hexin's new spring had arrived, which directly resulted in Jing Jiujiu losing his gaming companion.
Jing Jiujiu spent a lonely night like snow, and the next day, the show's director organized a gathering, inviting all the MCs who had arrived in Jiang City for a meal together.
Jing Jiujiu, bored, went along.
The director was startled when he first saw someone beside Bai Yuhuai.
Although he had vaguely heard some rumors before, he didn't expect him to actually keep the person so close by his side...
Jing Jiujiu glanced at the director, but turned to say to Bai Yuhuai: "He hasn't paid me the rental fee for the castle yet."
Bai Yuhuai: "I'll ask for it on your behalf."
Jing Jiujiu: "Mm."
After greetings were exchanged, the others were itching to come and chat with Bai Yuhuai, but were deterred by Jing Jiujiu standing beside him. This youth, by himself, could outshine everyone present. No one wanted to be outdone by an unknown person, so they had to restrain themselves.
The director also wanted to chat with Bai Yuhuai, to express his gratitude and how moved he was.
Who knew Bai Yuhuai would only talk to the youth beside him.
"Didn't play any games today?" Bai Yuhuai asked.
"Not playing anymore."
"Is your phone locked again? I'll help you unlock it." Bai Yuhuai pretended. Even Xu Sanyu hadn't expected his boss's acting skills would be used in such a situation.
"Unlocking it won't help anyway. Meng Hexin said he's not playing anymore, he's quitting games. Actress Tao said she's going abroad for an event..." Jing Jiujiu sighed.
Bai Yuhuai rubbed his fingertips: "Oh? Then... what about Meng Hexin's online friends? You could play with them."
Jing Jiujiu: "I didn't even add them as friends, Meng Hexin can't add random people."
Bai Yuhuai felt extremely relieved.
Meng Hexin still had some sense, maybe he could suggest to Director Cheng to be a bit gentler with him.
Bai Yuhuai: "Then you have nothing to play."
Jing Jiujiu could only turn his head, looking at Bai Yuhuai expectantly again: "Let's play Mario when we get back tonight."
Bai Yuhuai's lips curved slightly: "Alright."
As they spoke, they arrived at the big restaurant.
The director said: "Everyone eat well today, because once we get to the town tomorrow, there won't be much to eat..."
Everyone gradually took their seats upon hearing this.
Ji Meng saw Jing Jiujiu and Bai Yuhuai from afar, his mood still somewhat complex.
He always felt that Jing Jiujiu was the ghostly shadow in the ancient castle... He even thought that Jing Hao's death might be connected to him.
After all, before Jing Hao went completely insane, he had only seen Bai Yuhuai.
Ji Meng clenched his fist in frustration.
He had worked so hard to get close to Jing Hao, thinking his luck was finally turning... and now, it had all slipped away so easily...
Jing Jiujiu hadn't initially noticed Ji Meng's gaze.
However, today Yuanyuan had come out with them, and now she had crawled under the round table, up the chair back, and onto Ji Meng's head.
Jing Jiujiu had no choice but to look at Ji Meng, his expression cold, and ask, "Why are you staring at me?"
Ji Meng panicked for a moment, hastily averting his gaze.
He realized then that when this beautiful youth's face turned cold, his aura became somewhat intimidating.
The little ghost Yuanyuan, unable to understand Jing Jiujiu's words, caught sight of his cold expression and immediately slid down, obediently crawling back to Jing Jiujiu's feet and hugging his leg without moving.
At this point, Ji Meng forced a smile and said, "Because... you're very good-looking."
The others silently agreed.
Only Bai Yuhuai, who had remained silent all along, suddenly gave Ji Meng a cold, indifferent sidelong glance.
Ji Meng's heart trembled. ... He had only complimented Jing Jiujiu once, and this was enough to make him jealous?
The director spoke up to ease the tension, urging everyone to start eating.
Jing Jiujiu couldn't eat, so he simply picked up his chopsticks and began serving food to Bai Yuhuai.
Everyone silently took in this scene.
Damn!
Such a beautiful person, with good temperament, good personality, and even serving food?
Little did they know that at this moment, Bai Yuhuai's mood was like riding a roller coaster, shooting to the peak in an instant.
This ghost is too bewitching, even able to control my heart, making it rise and fall at will.
Bai Yuhuai's heart pounded, desperately trying to suppress the surging blood in his body.
After finishing the meal, everyone started to leave.
The cold wind hit their faces.
Jing Jiujiu noticed that Bai Yuhuai's face seemed a bit flushed.
"Did you drink?" Jing Jiujiu asked softly.
Bai Yuhuai's gaze fell on him, truly seeming a bit tipsy. The blood in Bai Yuhuai's brain roared—
He calmly said, "No."
"Never mind, drunk people never seem to admit it," Jing Jiujiu said worriedly.
"No. I'm very rational." Bai Yuhuai carefully hooked his hand with Jing Jiujiu's.
Jing Jiujiu: "? Your whole body is burning up."
Bai Yuhuai responded nonchalantly, "Mm, it's nothing. Just that the blood in my body is a bit out of control."
"Out of control?" Jing Jiujiu's eyes widened. Could blood heat up on its own? Shouldn't they go to the hospital?
Bai Yuhuai: "Mm." "It wants to rush towards you."
Jing Jiujiu was stunned.
He still remembered the marks on his hand, burned by Bai Yuhuai's blood.
... Was this going to melt his entire ghost form?
Jing Jiujiu quickly hugged Bai Yuhuai tightly: "Bai-ge, Bai-gege. You need to control yourself." He tried very hard to help Bai Yuhuai push his blood pressure back down.
Bai Yuhuai looked down at him, exhaling hot breath: "...Mm."
The director in front couldn't help but chuckle softly: "...So clingy. No wonder Bai-ge insists on keeping him by his side."