Chapter 44 Part 1

Miao Jiayan left home a little after five in the morning. He had to rush to the airport for a ten-thirty flight.

Chen Chao rarely had such a leisurely day off, sleeping until almost noon. Xiao Kai came up to check on him a few times, but seeing him asleep, didn't disturb him. The guys went out to film by themselves.

Chen Chao wouldn't let them film Miao Jiayan, so Xiao Kai wanted to interview Grandpa Miao and Grandma Miao. When Chen Chao finally woke up, Xiao Kai asked if he could film, and Chen Chao said, "Who's stopping you?"

"But you didn't let me film yesterday," Xiao Kai said.

As he walked to the bathroom, Chen Chao said, "Did you say you wanted to film Grandma Miao yesterday?"

"So why can't I film him?" Xiao Kai said petulantly.

"If you film him, what are you going to ask?" Chen Chao said as he squeezed toothpaste onto his brush.

Xiao Kai didn't answer right away. After a moment, he said, "Just a normal interview, you know."

"Ask him why he has long hair, why he dresses like that, whether it's innate or acquired," Chen Chao glanced at Xiao Kai and continued, "Then ask if he's suffered anything because of it, and if he'll continue to insist on being himself in the future."

After speaking, Chen Chao started brushing his teeth. Xiao Kai, having been seen right through, laughed and said, "Damn."

"Boring," Chen Chao mumbled.

"Fine, don't let me film him then," Xiao Kai pouted and said to Chen Chao, "You're the worst. All this time, you never told me you knew someone like him. You just watched me worry about not having a good topic."

"Someone like what?" Chen Chao looked at him. "Just because someone is unique, they have to be your project?"

"Stingy," Xiao Kai huffed. "Unless you get Grandpa Chen to take me out to sea, I won't admit you're my good brother."

Chen Chao laughed and said with his toothbrush in his mouth, "Go ask my grandpa yourself."

"I will." Xiao Kai went downstairs, huffing as he walked.

Miao Jiayan should have had enough time. Arriving at the airport before nine-thirty for check-in would have been plenty. However, there was a problem on the road. The taxi driver didn't take the highway, instead taking a route that usually had little traffic, saying it was shorter and that he always went this way.

Who would have known there was an accident on that road? A large truck had overturned, almost completely blocking the road and leaving only one lane open. They were stuck in traffic for a long time. By the time they passed the accident area, there were only twenty minutes left before check-in closed.

Jiang Xun called and asked him, "Where are you?"

Miao Jiayan said, "I don't know either."

Jiang Xun was exasperated. "Are you still going to make it?"

Miao Jiayan asked the driver, "Can I make it?"

The driver was speeding like mad, leaning back and saying, "I'll do my best. I should be able to!"

Miao Jiayan relayed, "He said he should be able to."

Jiang Xun: "I really don't know what to do with you."

Miao Jiayan was quite calm, saying placidly, "If I don't make it, you go first. I'll take the next flight."

"The next flight is at five in the afternoon. You'll have to wait at the airport all day. Use your brain, sweetie," Jiang Xun asked him, "How many kilometers are left?"

"How many kilometers are left?" Miao Jiayan asked the driver.

"Forty-two," the driver said, glancing at the GPS.

Miao Jiayan: "Forty-two."

Jiang Xun: "..."

Jiang Xun: "Fine, just do your best."

Miao Jiayan felt this morning had been too full of twists and turns. Thinking about it, he actually let out a laugh.

The driver really did give it his all, speeding all the way to the airport. He felt very guilty inside; if he hadn't said this route was shorter, they wouldn't have been in danger of missing the flight.

In the end, Miao Jiayan made it to the check-in counter just as it was closing.

Jiang Xun took him to security, saying to him, "You and your ways. I told you to go eat, but you didn't."

Miao Jiayan had almost missed it and felt very embarrassed. He explained, "I originally didn't plan on watching."

"Then why did you go back?" Jiang Xun handed their IDs and tickets to the security checkpoint staff while Miao Jiayan waited behind him.

Only after they both got through did Miao Jiayan say softly, "I should have watched."

"You should have watched, so you didn't go eat, and now you regret not going." Jiang Xun, finding him contrary, flicked his hat.

Others didn't understand the feelings between him and Chen Chao. Miao Jiayan wouldn't talk about it either; only the two of them knew.

This trip for Miao Jiayan was at the invitation of Brother Di. Brother Di had wanted to photograph him for a long time, but Miao Jiayan kept putting it off because of exams.

Photoshoots for Brother Di were exhausting. He had high standards and was always dissatisfied with this or that. Sometimes, one set of photos would take many days to shoot, until he was finally satisfied. That's why every time Miao Jiayan came for a shoot, he could never accurately estimate the time. If he was lucky, it would be over in a day; if he was unlucky, he wouldn't be able to go back for a week.

Miao Jiayan hadn't livestreamed in a long time, not even once this month. He had to stream to get his hours in.

So, Miao Jiayan started a livestream during the photoshoot, having Jiang Xun hold the phone for him to show everyone the shoot.

Brother Di had been photographing Miao Jiayan for three years, and in those three years, his stylistic preferences and aesthetic inclinations regarding Miao Jiayan had never changed.

This time, he had Miao Jiayan wear a black slip dress, simply cut from a piece of fabric, like a nightgown, with no patterns or embellishments. His pale, slender shoulders and back were exposed, his hair was half-wet and draped naturally, and he stood barefoot on the carpet. When Brother Di photographed him, he rarely had him wear long pants; it was either shorts or a slip dress, his calves always had to be exposed.

Once, Sister Fangfang said Brother Di had a "straight guy's aesthetic," always liking this particular style.

At the time, Brother Di had said, "This kind of aura is the most outstanding thing about him. If I don't shoot this, what should I shoot?"

"There's so much more you could shoot. Can't you just change it up?" Sister Fangfang said with disdain.

"No," Brother Di said. "I'm only shooting this."

"Should I stand or sit?" Miao Jiayan asked Brother Di.

"Up to you." Brother Di never directed him, giving no cues for poses, but he would be unhappy if it wasn't done well.

Miao Jiayan couldn't figure out what he wanted, so he could only ask, "Brother Di, what are you looking for?"

Brother Di looked at him through the camera, took a close-up shot of his face, and said, "Desire."

Brother Di had casually given a word. While the two of them continued with the shoot, the scrolling comments on this side had already gone crazy.

The screen was filled with scrolling "Ah"s.

Jiang Xun, who usually didn't speak during livestreams and was basically a human phone stand, couldn't help but say, "You guys are hurting my eyes."

The scrolling comments were another string of "Ahhh"s.

—Brother Xun, you finally spoke!

—In my lifetime, will I ever get to see you two in the same frame!

—Show us your face!

"Why look at me? Look at your Yanyan," Jiang Xun said.

Jiang Xun had helped create this account for Miao Jiayan in the beginning, and he had continued to help manage it. The fans on the account were not unfamiliar with him. Although they had never seen his face, they knew there was always someone like him by Miao Jiayan's side and could hear them talking during livestreams.

Many fans thought they were a couple who just didn't want to go public. When Miao Jiayan first started streaming, he had explained a few times, but no one believed him, so he eventually stopped talking about it.

Miao Jiayan had a very light shade of lipstick on, not very obvious, almost unnoticeable, but it made the texture of his lips look more matte.

Droplets of water from his hair fell on his collarbones and back, a few seeping into the fabric of the dress.

He looked straight at the camera. His gaze wasn't fiery, but it was very focused. Meeting his eyes through the lens, one couldn't look away, only wanting to quietly look at his eyes.

"Beautiful," Brother Di said.

Later, Miao Jiayan tied his hair up, gathering the half-wet strands into a high ponytail. A loose lock that hadn't been tied up fell down the back of his neck.

—How can I get to kiss my wife!

—Yanyan isn't stunning at first glance, but he's really the type that grows on you, he holds up to close scrutiny!

—My stunningly beautiful wife is mine, wuwuwu.

...

—What do you mean not stunning at first glance? I think he's beautiful at first sight. It's not like only those with thick eyebrows and big eyes are considered beautiful, okay?

...

—I think so too, a delicate look is truly the best.

...

—Can you guys be a bit more objective? We all like Yanyan, but he really isn't the stunning-at-first-glance type. There's no need for such mindless praise.

Jiang Xun hadn't looked at the screen for a bit, and when he did, the "strong features" and "delicate features" factions were already arguing in the comments.

"Aesthetics are such a personal thing, there's no need to argue about it, right?" Jiang Xun said with a laugh. "You could argue until you're blue in the face and still not convince each other."

Brother Di was looking at the photos, and Miao Jiayan happened to be on a break. Hearing what Jiang Xun said, he glanced over and said, "What's wrong? Don't argue."

"You want me to tell him what you're arguing about?" Jiang Xun asked.

The screen was a flood of "No no no"s.

Most of the people watching the livestream were fans of Miao Jiayan. The few passersby who clicked in might say unpleasant things. If Jiang Xun saw them, he'd block them. If the screen scrolled too fast and he missed it, he'd let it go.

The young girls in the stream were very cute, always encouraging him and interacting in an adorable way.

"The phone is about to die. If the stream suddenly ends, it's because the battery ran out," Jiang Xun said.