375.
Everyone had to do promotional photoshoot in the afternoon, so the shooting schedule was moved up by half a day.
We got up at 4:30 AM to film the morning scenes.
When I looked around, all I saw were tired, worn-out faces.
If you didn’t know any better, you’d think we were shooting a zombie film.

 

376.
But not me— I remained cheerful, optimistic, and smiling at life.
A single hit of sweetness could keep me energized for six months. With someone like Gu Yiliang around—basically a walking, self-operating candy dispenser—I could easily live another five hundred years.

The first scene went smoothly.
I sat in the break room playing Honor of Kings while waiting for the next shot, a light and breezy atmosphere surrounding me.

Xiao Chen, yawning, prepared my breakfast and looked at me blearily. “Yanyan, how are you still so full of energy?”

I took a sip of rice porridge and shook my head seriously. “You don’t get it. I’m being nourished and sustained by deep, unwavering affection.”

Xiao Chen stared at me, mouth agape, as if he were about to say something— But at that moment, Gu Yiliang suddenly pushed open the door, walked toward me, and placed a bottle of iced tea on the table.

 

377.
Well, Lao Gu... opening your candy stand this early in the morning?

There was a small sticky note on the plastic bottle. Curious, I took a look— There was a heart drawn on it.
I was so surprised that my hand shook while pressing the skill button, and I ended up delivering a fatal blow to the enemy.

My ranked match!!

Gu Yiliang laughed at my reaction and sat down beside me. “Let me help you fight. Guaranteed win. Did you eat breakfast yet?”

“If you say it's a guaranteed win and you lose, you owe me three skins!” I handed him the phone while picking up the porridge bowl.

He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You’ll definitely win. If I lose, I’ll buy you all the skins.”

 

378.
That eyebrow raise nearly melted me.

I sipped my porridge slowly, pretending to monitor his gameplay, while sneaking glances at the iced tea bottle.

I didn’t know why, but I suddenly felt like I was back in school, preparing a drink for someone I like — And he...

I snuck a glance at Gu Yiliang.
Today, he seemed different. Like he’d undergone some kind of transformation— As if he were an upgraded version of himself. His whole demeanor radiated “boyfriend energy”—like a magnetic aura.

The version of him from yesterday, frantically trying to figure out how to sell a “couple image,” had vanished.
Was I now looking at someone confident, someone with the presence of a Qing dynasty crown prince?

 

379.

Weak and fragile, scared.JPG
Weak and fragile, scared but secretly excited.JPG
Weak and fragile, scared but secretly excited, with a creepy little smile.JPG

 

380.
Honestly, ever since last night when he rescued me from my depressive slump with that massive dose of sweetness, now— Every time he so much as raised his hand like he was about to give me more sugar, I felt like collapsing on the spot and screaming:
“Sprinkle me!! Sprinkle it on my face!! Aim properly!! Don’t be too gentle—I’m a delicate flower!!”

 

381.
I had only looked away for a second when Gu Yiliang handed back my phone. The screen showed the enemy team’s crystal exploding.

I was about to bark out a string of flattery like a loyal puppy, But he gave me a satisfied smile, leaned in close to my ear, and whispered, “Impressive, huh?”

 

382.
Referee! He’s cheating!

 

383.
I was completely ensnared by his deep and seductive voice.
I nodded like I was hypnotized: “...Very impressive.”

He gave me a gentle smile and patted my head.

...Was he really this committed to the bit? Or was I secretly filming a hidden-camera show?

I looked around for cameras, but just then, the phone in my hand vibrated. I unlocked it and glanced at the message.

SoleilchaudOrange: “I beg you—when you leave the studio, turn left, walk 400 meters, and there’s a nearby hotel with king-size beds, 180 per hour!”

 

384.
William: …
How do you even know that??

Xiao Chen stood up laughing, talking to himself, “You’re thirsty, right? Want some milk tea? Less sugar, no ice, just a little tapioca? Alright!”

Then he ran off like the wind.

 

385.
Gu Yiliang looked puzzled at Xiao Chen’s fleeing figure, then shrugged it off. He turned back to me, smiling. “Come on, let’s get back to the set, go over the scene again, feel out the mood, and hope we can get it all in one take.”

I grabbed the iced tea bottle. “Got it!”

 

386.
Without exaggeration, when we acted out the scene last night, Gu Yiliang took the script and explained it to me in great detail, breaking it down and going through it like he was about to chew the lines for me and feed them to me himself.
How each line should rise and fall, how each emotion should evolve… I kept his advice in mind and applied the directions he gave me. Even though my performance wasn’t perfect, it was far better than what I had done before.
Sometimes, when I couldn’t get into the right emotional state, we’d redo the scene two or three times, but Gu Yiliang never lost his patience. He always smiled and encouraged me, re-explaining how to adjust my acting within my range.

387.
He’s really like a boyfriend!
He doesn’t reject me—he truly does his best to help me improve!
Having such a dedicated partner—what more could I ask for!
Your eyes, your smile—that’s the brightest thing I’ve ever seen!

 

388.
Wanting not to disappoint him, I gave it my all in my performance.
In the end, I gave too much energy. The other actors, including Gu Yiliang, had already gotten into the car and were on their way to the photo studio rented by the magazine company, but I was held back by the director. He asked me to stay in that mindset and film a few more solo scenes.

 

389.
By the time I finally said goodbye to the director, removed my makeup, and joined Xiao Chen to head to the studio, I was already an hour behind schedule. The others were already getting ready and testing the lighting.
Ah, for someone like me coming from a "small town" (TN: metaphor for not being important), arriving late is a huge faux pas.
I greeted the other actors, sat down in the dressing room, and saw Xiao Chen repeatedly apologizing to the makeup artist, who seemed very angry. This made me feel even more embarrassed, so I got up and apologized as well.
The makeup artist glanced at me and handed a costume to Xiao Chen: “This is all that’s left. Hurry up and get him changed and into makeup.”

 

390.
When I turned over the costume, I was stunned. Xiao Chen was also surprised and rushed to find the makeup artist—but he couldn’t find them.
I was still in shock as I put on the clothes.
Still in shock as they did my hair and makeup.
Still in shock as I sat in front of the mirror.

 

391.
I didn’t even need to think to realize the makeup artist was trying to mess with me.
The outfit they gave me was in an extremely bright colour—blinding green.
I looked like a highlighter, glowing in fluorescent green as I sat there, blinding everyone.
It wasn’t a matter of whether I could pull off this colour—the problem was that it didn’t match the others at all. How were they supposed to shoot this? What about post-production?
The others looked like a squad of cool biker dudes, and I was over here like some green superhero shouting, “Safety first on the road!”
I was so anxious my face turned green too. Or maybe that was just the light reflecting off the outfit.

 

392.
Just as I was hesitating whether to go through with this outfit, Gu Yiliang pushed open the door and entered: “You’re still not ready? —”
He froze for a second, as if just as shocked to see me in green, then quickly composed himself: “Did you bring your own clothes?”
He had specifically told me to bring clothes. I answered awkwardly, “I was in a rush to get here, so I didn’t bring any…”
He didn’t blame me for not listening to him. He nodded and left the room.
Shortly after, he returned with another outfit and handed it to me: “The pants are fine, but for the top, wear this—it’ll match the others better.”
Phew. His masculine aura was so intense, I could barely breathe.
Time was tight—I didn’t even have the chance to ask where the clothes came from. I immediately changed in front of him.

 

393.
His gaze stayed fixed on my arms, inspecting them, before he finally let out a sigh of relief.
I tugged at the bottom of the outfit and asked, puzzled, “What is it?”
He shook his head and looked at me, clearly satisfied: “Nothing, it’s fine.”
He couldn’t possibly think I was doing drugs, could he?
I gave him a suspicious look, put on the leather jacket, and turned to check myself in the mirror: “It seems a little big, the shoulder line isn’t right.”
“Your shoulders are narrower than mine, so of course it won’t align perfectly,” he said as he stepped forward to adjust the collar. “Just wear it oversized, or when you're in front of the camera, you can drape it over your shoulders.”
I asked, surprised: “... This is your outfit?”
He replied, “Yeah, why?”

 

394.
Nothing! Don’t treat me like a delicate flower! Pour it all on me! I want more!

 

395.
I took a moment to think.
I actually had an identical outfit that I’d worn before at the airport, and fans had taken photos. I could just pretend it was mine. Even if an anti-fan found out, it’d still be within an acceptable range.
So… I’ll accept this candy with a smile!
Right at that moment, Xiao Chen came back—he hadn’t been able to find the stylist. When he saw what I was wearing, he asked in surprise, “You’re wearing Gu-ge’s clothes directly?”
I replied, confused: “How did you know?”
Xiao Chen looked at Gu Yiliang, who was standing there like a statue, then looked back at me and shook his head: “It’s obvious…”
I asked, slightly embarrassed: “… Ah, it’s that obvious?”
Xiao Chen analysed the situation and said, “The inner shirt is a bit too loose at the collar, the outer jacket’s shoulders are too wide for you, so it doesn’t fit properly, right? The sleeves are supposed to stick out a little. And the right side of the pants is slightly worn out. Since you’re left-handed, they’re clearly not yours.”

Me: “…”
What’s with this guy and a magnifying glass?! Do you have fire eyes like the great sage Taishang Laojun?! (TN: A highly revered Taoist deity, often identified as Laozi, the founder of Taoism.)
Are you Sun Wukong or something?! (TN: The Monkey King, protagonist of ‘Journey to the West’, famous for his mischief and sharp eyes.)

 

396.
I felt a bit hesitant and asked, “Uh… do you think this is too much?”
Gu Yiliang frowned: “What would be too much?”
Keep playing dumb.
Before rushing to serve the fans, could you please dial down your pheromones just a little?
Xiao Chen looked Gu Yiliang up and down—who was standing there like a coat rack—then gave me a once-over, shaking his head: “Well, there might be a tiny issue…”
Ah… farewell, my sweet sugar.
I sighed inwardly with regret and was just about to take off the outfit when I heard his voice continue: “Your hands look too bare without any accessories. Ask Gu-ge to lend you a ring. That should work.”
Me: “…”
Are you two both here to trap me?

 

397.
Without saying a word, Gu Yiliang took off one of his rings and slid it directly onto my finger.

 

398.
Me: “……………….”
Welcome back, my sugar.

 

Translator : DarNan