Chapter 100 - My Costar Finds Something

Yao Shen ignores the incessant vibration at first, more focused in carrying his luggage inside, and opening up his apartment, which has been closed for two months.

There's a distinct smell of dust permeating the still air. Yao Shen crosses the short distance towards the windows with his mouth and nose hidden in the crook of his elbow. He opens the blinds and slides open the window with a breath of relief.

As stifling as the weather is outside, his apartment's rank scent is a million times worse.

He sits down on the couch with a sigh and looks around at his small living room and cramped kitchen. 

Xin Hulei's Hengdian apartment probably isn't much bigger than this, even though house prices there are only a fraction of the absurd Beijing rates. Yet, Yao Shen can't help feeling like his dingy little apartment is a lot smaller and more rundown, but perhaps the only difference is Xin Hulei's absence.

Yao Shen misses looking around and finding Xin Hulei's things carelessly thrown every each way, misses the delicious smell of his food whenever he cooked for them.

He curls up on himself on the couch with a sigh, and finally takes his mobile out of his pocket, preparing for what the internet might be saying about him now.

A cursory search reveals the origin of the commotion. 'Crimson Promise's' official weibo account announced the hiatus, clarifying that this was only happening due to their commitment to strictly following the events of the book -- which includes a faithful representation of the seasons depicted in the novel.

On the one hand, it's not unheard for for dramas to break up production in order to have the events match specific seasons, and even more common for movies to do it.

On the other hand, those are all contemporary productions.

The netizens are quick to pick up the incongruities.

[Three out of two: What does that matter for a xianxia drama???? Are they afraid that we won't be able to suspend our disbelief if we see green trees during winter while the characters are flying around in their swords?]

That comment alone has over 400,000 likes.

Several people seem to share the same opinion.

[Cutie Pi: They must think we're stupid. It's obvious the show is going on hiatus for another reason. My money is on the rumors of disagreements between the cast]

[Crayfish Menace: What disagreements? This is the first I'm hearing of it]

Crayfish Menace and Yao Shen both. People on weibo jump wildly from one rumor to the next. Even if he wanted to, it's impossible to keep up with all of them.

[Cutie Pi: Apparently the two leads hate each other??? That's what people were saying after they went on that dating show and revealed that murder]

What?

[Yellow Tiger: Are you insane??? LeiLei and ShenShen are in love! But they're under immense pressure from their agencies to stay away from each other...everyone knows that]

[Cutie Pi: Idk man, that's what I heard, I don't keep up with stars anyway]

[Yellow Tiger: ^ then don't carelessly spread baseless rumours around!]

[Crayfish Menace: aren't you doing the same?]

[Sharkfin: You're all idiots, this is clearly happening because of that whole thing with the murder. Think about it, the producers must have been contacted by police, the actor's agencies, the actors themselves. Imagine the nightmare of media surrounding the set? This is clearly a move to wait for the dust to settle before resuming filming in peace]

Yao Shen agrees with Sharkfin, but he brings up something he completely forgot about.

They gave preliminary statements when they reported the crime, but Yao Shen at least hasn't been contacted since.

It's obvious none of them can have been involved in the murders, but police should still want to interview them to get more comprehensive statements.

Yao Shen can only imagine the paparazzi shots if the police went to find them on set.

Silver linings, and all that.

That's not the only reason behind the commotion on weibo.

On his and Xin Hulei's newly created CP supertopic, which is called, "Cosy and comfortable, open and honest"(1), the speculation is running wild.

[Chasing other people's dreams: Sisters, what do you think of the announcement????]

[Starfinder: I hope nothing happened between our two darlings >.<]

[Fish cake: you think they were caught doing something more intimate than kissing? OAO]

[Little Rose: could it be? we could tell from their behaviour on the dating show they were advised to interact as little as possible. Could they have slipped up?]

[Fish cake: who can hold back love? *w* I bet they couldn't restrain themselves and did something... nosebleed.emoji]

[Xiao Mian: Sisters, I drew a little something to represent what I think might have happened [attachment]]

Xiao Mian's artist rendition of events, shows Yao Shen sitting on Xin Hulei's lap, with a speech bubble above his head saying: "I can't hold back any longer"

Xin Hulei, who has a possessive grip on Yao Shen's oddly defined ass cheek, replies, "Me neither, I don't care if anyone sees us."

The art is very good, but Yao Shen still ends up laughing until his eyes sting. 

Unable to resist he takes a screenshot and sends it to Xin Hulei.

[Little Menace: Look at how creative people are]

He doesn't expect Xin Hulei to see his massage right away, but seconds later he gets a reply.

[Xin Hulei: They got your ass right]

[Little Menace: It looks like I have implants!!]

He knows that Xin Hulei is fucking with him, but he still gets offended on principle. 

[Xin Huelei: what is going on here exactly? why are we wearing period costumes with contemporary hair?]

[Little Menace: they think we got caught *red handed* on set, and that's why filming went on hiatus]

[Xin Hulei: we should have done that]

[Xin Hulei: will have to rectify that when we get back]

Yao Shen bites his lower lip while reading and rereading Xin Hulei's text. He wants to say something, to agree wholeheartedly, and remind him that 'exhibition' was one of the items on the spreadsheet -- although he supposes the nudes sort of count.

Instead he sends Xin Hulei another random screenshot of the conversations in the CP topic.

Minutes pass and Xin Hulei texts him again.

[Xin Hulei: did you see this? (screenshot)]

Apparently, Xin Hulei went to the CP topic to check the original post, and the comments under the art.

Most of them were of people gushing about the artist's style, and expressing their beliefs that something like that must have really happened, but something stood out.

[Heimao: That didn't happen, delete this now]

[Xiao Mian: Uh, are you lost? This is the CP supertopic for these two actors, we ship them here, you realize?]

[Heimao: I don't know what those words mean]

[Heimao: delete this]

The screenshot showed some more people arguing with 'Heimao' about how they were in the wrong place to complain about shipping. There were even calls to ban them from the supertopic. Heimao didn't engage with anyone, they simply requested for the picture to be removed.

[Little Menace: It's the same account I saw the first time too!]

[Little Menace: it's very suspicious]

[Xin Hulei: I agree]

[Little Menace: have you installed the cameras?]

[Xin Hulei: doing that now, I'll go back to pick up Jincan and Heimao when I'm done]

[Xin Hulei: I have a photoshoot tomorrow, but I'm free the day after, do you want to come over?]

Yao Shen would love to, but there's still a lot he needs to consider.

[Little Menace: Bi Jialu will get back to me tomorrow regarding my schedule, I'll let you know then]

He's only buying himself a little time to make up his mind, in the end, he doesn't know if he'll even be able to.

His stomach grumbles, reminding him that he has had very little to eat the entire day. Yao Shen casts a dispirited glance at his barren kitchen, all the appliances covered in a thin film of dust.

Delivery it is.

He's scrolling through the restaurants nearby, when he feels a chilling presence at his side. 

"Imagine my surprise when I found a group of maids cleaning out your hotel room," the ghoul says.

Yao Shen spares him a glance from the corner of his eyes. He didn't expect him so soon.

He guesses the decision is made for him, then. He pockets his mobile and wonders if he'll have signal in the Underworld.

"Change of plans."

The ghoul smirks. "Well, Second Highness is merciful, she's going to extend your deadline for another week."

Yao Shen gets up to his feet and gives the ghoul a serious look. "No need, I already have her answer."

Without a word, the ghoul approaches the bedroom door. Yao Shen follows after him, determined to get answers this time around.

---

(1) basically, Xin Hulei and Yao Shen's CP supertopic, is called, "Shen Shen, Lei Lei", using expressions that sound like the characters in their names