Seeing Xi Nian return successfully, everyone was pleasantly surprised and crowded around him. "Did you get the necklace?"

Xi Nian was a little out of breath from the high-speed run. He opened his palm to show everyone the necklace, then pieced it together with the one in Teacher Min's hand and walked to the mechanical lock to open the door. "Bai Yicheng is the mole. I locked him on the second floor."

Hearing this, Qiao Zhi was stunned for a moment, then said indignantly, "See, I told you I wasn't the mole, but none of you believed me!"

Kong Xi glanced at Xi Nian. "You guessed it long ago, didn't you? No wonder you deliberately dragged Bai Yicheng back with you."

Smart. She hadn't met a guest with such high EQ and IQ in a long time. However, saying this in front of the camera would be too offensive, so Kong Xi kept quiet.

As they spoke, Xi Nian opened the mechanical lock with a click. With the opening of the final door, light finally poured into the dim escape room. At the same time, the game's cold notification sound echoed in their ears.

[Game over. Congratulations on successfully escaping The Ivory Tower.]

Having been in the dark for so long, their eyes felt like they were going blind when suddenly exposed to the sun. Xi Nian squinted, taking a long time to adjust. He then saw Qiao Zhi collapse onto the ground, her eyes red as she wiped away tears. "What a crappy show! I'm never coming back again!"

Hearing this, the director's face turned green. Was it easy for him to set up all these traps? Not only was no guest eliminated, but he even lost a mole. And now he had to endure a scolding.

Bai Yicheng was also let out of the escape room by the staff. He walked up and lightly punched Xi Nian on the shoulder, both angry and amused. "Good grief, you look so quiet and unassuming, but you're ruthless when you make a move."

Xi Nian's schemes were never seen through, making it easy for people to overlook his presence. No one had expected that Team Two, which was the most likely to be eliminated, would survive to the end under his leadership. Teacher Min shook his head with a wry smile, repeatedly saying that the younger generation was truly formidable.

After the thrilling escape room adventure, everyone's relationship had invisibly grown much closer, and they all exchanged contact information. When Xi Nian walked out of the filming location, he saw a car already parked outside. A man in a baseball cap was leaning against the car, waiting. It was Lu Xingzhe.

From a distance, Lu Xingzhe seemed to have seen him too. He immediately strode over and handed a bottle of water to Xi Nian. "You're finally out. Are you tired?"

Xi Nian took the water, twisted the cap open, and took a sip, a smile hidden in the depths of his profound eyes. "Aren't you going to ask if I won or lost?"

Lu Xingzhe was nonchalant. He kicked a stone at his feet and muttered, "As long as you're out, it's fine. Who cares if you won or lost."

He never cared about these things. The only thing that mattered was the person in front of him.

Xi Nian paused at his words, seeming to want to say something. Just then, Qiao Zhi came over from the side and handed her phone to Xi Nian. "Let's add each other as friends. You're the only one left."

When everyone was exchanging contact information earlier, Qiao Zhi had gone to the car to change her clothes, only remembering to add him as a friend now.

Xi Nian glanced at Lu Xingzhe and saw that he didn't react. He then took out his phone to scan the QR code. Qiao Zhi probably felt they were kindred spirits and, for once, didn't hold a grudge. She even invited him to eat out next time. "Let's go for skewers some other day. I'll introduce you to some pretty girls."

As she spoke, she suddenly noticed Lu Xingzhe, who had been silent from beginning to end. She glanced at him and said with great interest, "Hey, is this your assistant? He's quite handsome."

Hearing this, Xi Nian raised an eyebrow slightly. He then reached out, pushed down Lu Xingzhe's cap, and nudged him into the car. He said to Qiao Zhi, "You can hire a handsome one too. I have something to do, so I'm heading back to the hotel first."

After speaking, he got into the back seat of the car and closed the door behind him.

Sitting inside, Lu Xingzhe lifted the brim of his cap slightly, glanced at the driver in the front, and then looked at Xi Nian. "You and Qiao Zhi seem pretty close?"

Xi Nian and Qiao Zhi were the type of friends who traded barbs. You could say they were close, or you could say they weren't. In his past life, they would exchange sarcastic remarks whenever they met. He fiddled with his phone, ultimately deciding not to deliberately tease the jealous Lu Xingzhe. "Not close. You saw it yourself, we just added each other."

Although Lu Xingzhe was suspicious by nature, he usually didn't doubt Xi Nian's words. When Xi Nian had said before that he didn't like Qiao Zhi, he had believed him. Hearing this now, he used the cover of their clothes to lightly trace his fingertips back and forth on Xi Nian's leg. "It doesn't matter that you just added her. Maybe you'll get close in the future."

He was actually a little uncomfortable inside, but Lu Xingzhe didn't show it. He was always smiling in front of Xi Nian.

He smiled when he was happy, and he smiled when he wasn't.

Because of the driver in the front seat, Xi Nian didn't do anything. He just leaned back against the seat to rest with his eyes closed, pressing down on Lu Xingzhe's restless hand on his leg. Then, he pried open the other's fingers one by one and slowly intertwined them.

Lu Xingzhe's hands weren't as pretty as his face. The pads of his fingers and his knuckles had thin calluses and a few old scars. Compared to his current reckless and wanton life, they seemed to be the only proof of his past struggles and hardships.

Xi Nian's cold, hard heart suddenly softened for a moment, even if it was just for an instant.

...

After arriving at their hotel, the driver left, having arranged to pick them up for the airport at noon the next day. Lu Xingzhe had just pushed open the hotel room door and hadn't even had time to put his things down when a scorching body suddenly pressed against him from behind. An arm wrapped around his waist, pinning him against the wall.

Lu Xingzhe knew it was Xi Nian, so he didn't resist. The curtains in the room were drawn tightly, not letting in the slightest bit of light. He looked at Xi Nian's face, which was just inches away, able to trace the man's features from memory alone.

"Fuck."

Lu Xingzhe cupped Xi Nian's face and suddenly swore under his breath. The curve of his lips widened uncontrollably as he said teasingly, "You're too fast. How did you do what I wanted to do first?"

He'd been wanting to kabedon Xi Nian for more than a day or two.

Xi Nian couldn't stand seeing Lu Xingzhe act so brazen. He silently lowered his gaze, then tilted his head and bit his fair earlobe. A tingling, painful sensation instantly shot through his entire body, making even his tailbone go numb.

Lu Xingzhe let out a muffled groan, a shimmer of moisture seeming to appear in his eyes. He tilted his head back weakly, the sensation torturing him to the point he could barely stand. His vulnerable Adam's apple was exposed, bobbing up and down as he rasped, "Hey, I'm your fan, you know. Is this how you treat me?"

Damn it, when Xi Nian bit someone, it was both painful and ticklish. It was killing him.

Hearing this, Xi Nian was reminded of his group of rather abnormal fans. Lu Xingzhe took advantage of his daze to rescue his ear. He then took Xi Nian's hand and placed it on the small of his own back, separated only by a thin layer of fabric. "Do you remember..."

His tone was laced with a bit of laziness as he deliberately reminded him, "You signed your name here."

Xi Nian's memory was easily jogged. "What, you want me to sign another one for you?"

Lu Xingzhe provoked him recklessly, "Tch, sign it if you've got the guts."

Countless past events had proven that not only did Xi Nian have the guts, he was exceedingly capable. Yet, Lu Xingzhe loved to deliberately provoke him every time, only to end up being tormented until he was crying for his parents and couldn't even get out of bed.

After a chaotic battle, both of them were drained of energy. Lu Xingzhe's breathing was erratic as he lay sprawled on the bed like a corpse. It was only when he heard his phone vibrate with a notification that he managed to summon the strength to reach for the bedside table. The blanket accidentally slipped halfway down, revealing a glaring hickey on the small of his back, the kind that definitely wouldn't fade for a while.

Lu Xingzhe's vision was blurry. He opened his phone and saw that it was a message from Sun Ming, saying he had accepted a guest role for Xi Nian in a Republican-era drama. Filming was starting immediately, and he had to join the production the day after tomorrow.

A guest role. To put it nicely, it was a cameo; to put it bluntly, he was just a walk-on. Moreover, the filming location was in Film City, which was at least a four-hour flight from C City. Shanxing was now clearly making things difficult for Xi Nian on purpose because he was unwilling to renew his contract.

Lu Xingzhe frowned and looked at the script, only to discover it was a cannon fodder role that appeared in less than three episodes. He rapidly typed out a line, about to say Xi Nian didn't have time, when the phone was snatched away.

Xi Nian had woken up at some point. He glanced at the chat history and said to Lu Xingzhe, "Accept it. We'll fly over tomorrow, we should make it in time."

Lu Xingzhe leaned against the bed without a word. In his heart, he felt that Xi Nian should be playing the male lead, not some minor role. His voice was still broken and hoarse from their lovemaking. He paused and said, "You just finished filming a show. There's no need to run around for such a small role. The pay won't even cover the plane ticket."

Xi Nian knew it was just a cannon fodder role, but if he didn't want to be badmouthed, he needed to have at least some presentable work. With his current status, it was impossible for him to play a leading role from the start. "Accept it. It won't take much time anyway."

He seemed to be quite familiar with this process of climbing up from the bottom.

Xi Nian didn't feel much about it. In his past life, when he wasn't famous, he had also played many small roles. Moreover, with no works to his name right now, if he didn't want to be called a "vase" by netizens, he had to accept everything.

There was a faint ruthlessness in his heart; he didn't want to be looked down upon and trampled into the dust.

Seeing this, Lu Xingzhe fell into a subtle silence. He finally stopped trying to dissuade him, replied to Sun Ming's message, and then changed the flight tickets. He said to Xi Nian in a low voice, "You should get some sleep. You've been filming all day, and you have to catch a morning flight tomorrow."

Xi Nian was indeed a bit tired. Hearing him, he pulled him into his arms, resting his chin on the top of his head. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Do you think there will be a day when I finally make it?"

He relied on Lu Xingzhe in his past life. Who should he rely on in this one?

Himself?

Xi Nian wasn't actually sure.

Hearing this, Lu Xingzhe opened his eyes in his embrace, shifted slightly, and said with a smile, "You can."

He kissed Xi Nian's chin and lowered his eyes. "You will stand taller than me."

One day in the future, Xi Nian will stand taller than anyone else...

Lu Xingzhe seemed to believe this more firmly than anyone.

Xi Nian seemed extremely tired. He closed his eyes without a sound, and his breathing soon became even, as if he had fallen asleep. Lu Xingzhe didn't move. After a long time, he glanced at the time, then quietly put on his clothes, got out of bed, and moved silently without making a sound.

Xi Nian's contract termination with Shanxing had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible. But who to sign with afterward was another problem. An artist's popularity and status were their bargaining chips; the more chips they had, the better the terms.

Lu Xingzhe sat on the sofa and opened his computer. The faint light from the screen flickered on his face. He quickly browsed through the artist rosters of several entertainment companies he had recently shortlisted. He finally discovered that a few newcomers recently promoted by Zhongyi had been poached by a rival company. However, because the news was being suppressed, word hadn't gotten out yet.

Escape Room: Decode would air in a few days. The show had a stable viewership, so no matter what, Xi Nian's popularity would rise again. If they released the news of his contract termination at that time and gave Zhongyi a hint, the contract terms could be improved by more than just one level.

Lu Xingzhe's mind raced, thinking of ways to maximize the benefits. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Xi Nian turn over in bed. He discreetly turned off the computer, then stood up and walked to the closet, pretending to pack their luggage.

Xi Nian was a light sleeper and, sure enough, he woke up. He threw back the covers and got out of bed. Seeing Lu Xingzhe packing clothes, he turned on the bedside lamp and said, "I'll pack with you."

Lu Xingzhe pouted. "This is an assistant's job."

Xi Nian's hair was messy, and when he looked over, he had an indescribable, decadent sort of handsomeness. His fingertips lifted the hem of Lu Xingzhe's shirt and glanced casually. "Have you ever seen an artist sleep with their assistant?"

"Hey!" Lu Xingzhe reached out to cover himself but was a step too slow. Hearing his words, he started counting on his fingers with mischievous intent. "There are plenty of those. Do you know Cen Qiuming? The movie star with the most cinema resources? He's having an affair with his female assistant. And also..."

Before he could finish, Xi Nian covered his mouth. The latter gave him a half-smile. "You seem to know quite a lot."

Lu Xingzhe coughed awkwardly a couple of times and said nothing.

Xi Nian let him go and stuffed the clothes into the suitcase. "If you talk so much next time, you can pack by yourself."

Anyway, he had never seen someone as energetic as Lu Xingzhe, who was always full of life after they had sex. He didn't know who was being insulted.

Lu Xingzhe didn't argue with him. He simply stopped what he was doing and sat on the sofa, habitually curling into a ball. His fingertips unconsciously touched the hickey on the small of his back, and his tone, heard in the darkness, sounded surprisingly innocent as he muttered, "What if it disappears?"

Xi Nian looked over at his words and met his sparkling eyes. He froze for a second before realizing what Lu Xingzhe was talking about and suddenly found the person before him a bit childish. "If it's gone, I'll just give you another one."

After speaking, Xi Nian zipped up the suitcase. After making sure nothing was left behind, he said to Lu Xingzhe, "Go to sleep early. We have a plane to catch tomorrow."

Lu Xingzhe lay on the sofa without moving, his back and waist aching. He bit his fingertip, then held out his hands to Xi Nian. "Can you carry me?"

'This isn't an assistant I hired, it's an ancestor,' Xi Nian thought. He glanced at Lu Xingzhe, then walked to the sofa, bent down, and picked him up. The scent on his clothes was faint as always, yet it seemed to have a bit more warmth than usual.

This person was still so light.

So light that every time Xi Nian braced himself with ten-tenths of his strength, he could only use seven-tenths.

Lu Xingzhe's chin rested on his shoulder. It was sharp and a little digging, but the touch was soft and warm. His hair inadvertently brushed against Xi Nian's ear, causing a slight tickle.

During that short walk from the sofa to the bed, Xi Nian dazedly heard Lu Xingzhe say something in the darkness. "Xi Nian, if only I weren't a paparazzi."

Xi Nian paused, then asked him, "If you weren't a paparazzi, what would you want to be?"

Lu Xingzhe rested on his shoulder and said with a grin, "An investor, of course. I'd make you the male lead, and you could act in whatever you wanted."