Isn’t money good?

Chapter 16

The news of Ji Yunnian participating in “Each Grain is Hard-earned” was leaked that very night. Some netizens shared behind-the-scenes photos, marketing accounts rushed to repost them, and soon the news spread across the internet.

His fans were overjoyed, just like the previous year.

Ji Yunnian had been filming abroad for the first half of the year with almost no public appearances. His Weibo had been dormant for ages without updates, except for that one trending topic due to rumors.

His fans had been waiting eagerly, almost turning into “Ji Yunnian stones” from waiting so long. They even started checking financial newspapers, hoping to find any news about Ji Yunnian.

Suddenly learning that Ji Yunnian was participating in a variety show felt like money falling from the sky – absolutely worth celebrating.

However, before they could be happy for long, they discovered the revelation that Yan Shiqiu was also on the show.

[…Damn it.]

[Yan Shiqiu is definitely riding on popularity waves, isn’t he? Can’t he stand on his own?]

[So disgusting, so disgusting. The production team is also disgusting. Don’t they know about the big scandal last time?! It’s only been a few days, not even half a month! They’re clearly doing this on purpose!]

[“Each Grain is Hard-earned” is actually a decent opportunity, and Yan Shiqiu with no fame and no works can actually get on this show. Having a big backing really makes a difference.]

[Which leak said Yan Shiqiu terminated his contract last time? Is this what they call termination? Can we get solid proof that Yan Shiqiu had paid trolls whitewashing him last time?]

[So Yan Shiqiu is planning to get famous by sucking Teacher Ji’s blood?]

[Let’s boycott him, he’s been spoiled!]

[Brothers and sisters, I’ve already rolled up my sleeves, ready to charge into battle anytime.]

[Don’t rush yet. Yan Shiqiu is really stupid. Does he think variety shows are that easy? Someone with connections like him, with low EQ who loves to cause drama, will probably perform terribly on the show. Let’s wait for the show to air before mocking him – it’ll be justified, otherwise it’ll bring negative attention to Teacher Ji.]

[Makes sense, let’s all hold back for now. It’s just half a month.]

…

While Ji Yunnian’s fan groups were in turmoil, everyone gearing up to crush Yan Shiqiu, the two people involved were unaware and sleeping soundly.

After a dreamless night, when Yan Shiqiu opened his eyes, he felt a bit dazed.

He had forgotten how he fell asleep last night.

The air conditioning in the room was turned up high. Yan Shiqiu sat on the bed wrapped in his blanket for several minutes. When he heard the door being opened, he finally became alert, rubbed his messy hair, and turned his head.

Ji Yunnian was wearing loose sportswear, covered in sweat. Sweat dripped from his jaw down his neck, eventually disappearing into his collar. The intense masculine aura washed over him – even from a distance, it was clearly perceptible.

“Did you go running?”

“Mm.” With a light response, Ji Yunnian walked in, opened his suitcase to take out clean clothes, then turned to leave again.

Yan Shiqiu watched his retreating figure, then thought about his own exercise plan. He needed to get moving too.

The “his” body in the book was really too weak. If Ye Peiyuan discovered what he had done in the future and flew into a rage, sending people for a real-life PK, he probably couldn’t withstand a single punch.

Getting up from bed, Yan Shiqiu changed clothes and walked out of the room.

It was just past seven o’clock, still early. Besides him and Ji Yunnian, no one else was awake.

After washing up and doing some stretches in the courtyard to loosen his body, Yan Shiqiu went to the kitchen, planning to make breakfast.

In his previous life, he had been so busy for several months that he had no time to eat, which gave him stomach problems. After recovering, he started paying attention to his diet, never skipping any of the three meals.

After looking around the kitchen, he only found a few eggs, a small bag of rice, half a carton of milk left over from yesterday, and the toast bread he brought. He couldn’t help but poke his head out to complain to the production team in the courtyard: “Director Chen, you guys are really stingy.”

Chen Feng sat behind the monitors, arms crossed, laughing with a rather smug expression: “Being stingy is our show’s tradition.”

Yan Shiqiu: “…”

Fine, at least there were still ingredients. Being too greedy wasn’t good.

Yan Shiqiu cooked a pot of milk porridge and used the breakfast maker he brought to make sandwiches. When he saw Ji Yunnian approaching, he looked up and invited: “Want to eat together?”

Ji Yunnian looked at him for a while. “Okay.”

Xia Linqiu was still sleeping in the living room, so they couldn’t go in. Yan Shiqiu just stood in the kitchen holding his bowl to eat, and Ji Yunnian did the same.

“What time are you leaving?” Yan Shiqiu asked.

“Nine-thirty.”

“Oh.”

Ji Yunnian threw the question back: “What about you?”

“Same as you.”

“Going back to B City?”

“Yes.”

No one brought up another topic, and it became quiet.

After eating, Ji Yunnian reached out to Yan Shiqiu and said: “Let me wash the dishes.”

“You know how to wash dishes?” Yan Shiqiu blurted out instinctively.

“Is washing dishes difficult?”

“…”

Not difficult, but you shouldn’t know how!

He remembered the book mentioning that Ji Yunnian never did housework and didn’t know how. It was only after being with Wen Chen that he started learning. What was going on now?

Speaking of which, although he didn’t remember many plot points, some parts had indeed changed and weren’t following the original storyline.

For example, he didn’t hand over the memory card, but gave it directly to Ji Yunnian, and even spoiled that the big villain was Ye Peiyuan. So the Ji family crisis never happened, and the plot of Wen Chen accompanying Ji Yunnian through thick and thin to help resolve the crisis also disappeared. Without the trigger for their emotional development, did Wen Chen still not like Ji Yunnian?

He seemed to have… disrupted Ji Yunnian and Wen Chen’s romantic storyline.

Yan Shiqiu straightened up and said seriously to Ji Yunnian: “I’m sorry.”

It was his oversight.

But he also couldn’t continue being a wingman like in the original text.

However, he would help in other ways.

Hearing his sudden apology, Ji Yunnian turned around with a completely bewildered expression: “?”

Yan Shiqiu shook his head and smiled: “I thought someone from such a good background like you would definitely be a young master who never touched housework. It was my stereotypical thinking. I’m reflecting on it.”

Ji Yunnian nodded: “Then I accept your apology.”

Yan Shiqiu raised both hands to his chin and bloomed like a flower toward him.

Ji Yunnian scoffed: “How old are you, still acting cute.”

Yan Shiqiu threw him a wink: “I’m not acting, I’m naturally adorable.”

Ji Yunnian remained expressionless: “Thank you so much, I’m about to throw up my breakfast.”

“I know, you’re envious of me.” Yan Shiqiu stood beside him with his hands behind his back, watching him wash dishes, nodding with understanding. “I get it, I understand.”

Ji Yunnian: “…”

As the two engaged in their daily banter, Zhang Xiaowen and Xia Linqiu also got up.

Xia Linqiu rubbed his eyes and ran to Yan Shiqiu’s side: “Brother Shiqiu, can you help me with some problems later?”

“Sure.” Yan Shiqiu said, “I’ll explain the ones I understand.”

Xia Linqiu became happy: “Great.”

“Do you guys want breakfast? There’s milk porridge keeping warm in the pot, plus sandwiches and salted duck eggs.” Yan Shiqiu added.

Zhang Xiaowen’s cool expression changed, staring at him with starry eyes.

Noticing his expression, Yan Shiqiu found it amusing.

He thought Zhang Xiaowen’s agent might not have a clear head. Such a confused yet adorable kid, but they insisted on maintaining a cool persona. If they wanted him to maintain a persona, that would be fine, but sending him to this kind of variety show – wouldn’t it expose everything immediately?

He had watched three episodes, and the road-blindness, foodie nature, shyness, and bashfulness were all exposed.

But it was also possible that the agent did it intentionally, wanting exactly this kind of contrasting cute effect?

Yan Shiqiu pondered for a few seconds, then tossed the question aside and stopped overthinking.

Xia Linqiu finished eating quickly and energetically dragged Yan Shiqiu back to the room, dumping all the problems he couldn’t solve last night in front of Yan Shiqiu: “Take a look first.”

Yan Shiqiu hummed in acknowledgment.

Actually, these problems were all very simple for him, like three-digit addition and subtraction. But he couldn’t show off too much, since he still had to be careful of Ye Peiyuan for now.

He had to stay alive and well.

Picking out a few more challenging problems and setting them aside, Yan Shiqiu said: “I can explain these to you.”

Xia Linqiu nodded like a pecking chick: “Mm-hmm.”

After explaining the problems, Ji Yunnian knocked and entered to get something. Yan Shiqiu’s gaze fell on the few problems he couldn’t explain to Xia Linqiu, and he suddenly called out: “Teacher Ji, wait.”

Ji Yunnian stopped: “What is it?”

Xia Linqiu also turned around in confusion.

“Sorry to trouble Teacher Ji for a few minutes. Can you explain these problems to Linqiu?” He looked up with a frank admission: “I don’t know how to do them.”

“You don’t know how but you’re so confident about it?” Ji Yunnian looked at him.

Yan Shiqiu corrected his word choice: “Not confident, honest.”

He smiled and added: “Can you help?”

Ji Yunnian didn’t refuse. He turned and walked over, standing behind Xia Linqiu: “Let me see.”

Xia Linqiu felt pressured, thinking this scene was exactly like a homeroom teacher standing behind him watching him do homework. He obediently handed over the paper: “Thank you for the trouble.”

Yan Shiqiu gave up his seat and patted it: “Sit.”

Ji Yunnian glanced and sat down.

He crossed his legs, his slender fingers holding the pen, quickly writing the solution process on scratch paper resting on his leg, then writing the formulas and theorems used in the margin.

After finishing, he handed it to Xia Linqiu and explained the thought process.

Ji Yunnian’s voice was low and pleasant. When he spoke, his pace wasn’t fast, with clear articulation that was very comfortable to listen to.

When he explained problems, his eyes were slightly downcast, his thick eyelashes also lowered. Sunlight streamed through the window, half falling in. His profile was bathed in sunlight, with flawless contours.

Yan Shiqiu couldn’t help but look at him a few more times with appreciative eyes.