After Dumping the Scumbag, I Ended Up with His "White Moonlight” - Chapter 22

This was one of B City’s most prestigious villa districts, a sanctuary for celebrities and the elite. It was the kind of place where a year’s worth of Qiu Yuyi’s acting salary might not even cover the cost of a single bathroom.

After registering with security, Xiao Miao led Qiu Yuyi through the manicured streets, stopping with practiced ease in front of a particular villa.

He handed the container of porridge back to Qiu Yuyi. “Here we are! Brother Yi, go on in yourself. I’ve got to head out, but tell Brother Xia for me that I’ll be here to pick him up at 8:00 AM sharp.”

Qiu Yuyi tried to stop him. “Wait! You aren’t coming in with me?”

This was his first time at Xia Di’an’s home; the thought of walking in alone made him incredibly nervous.

“I’ll pass,” Xiao Miao chirped with a grin. “Go on, Brother Xia has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Ignoring the protest, Xiao Miao vanished without a hint of hesitation. He wasn’t about to be a third wheel; he hadn’t survived as Xia Di’an’s assistant for years by lacking situational awareness.

Standing before the massive front door, Qiu Yuyi spent ten minutes building up his courage. Just as he finally reached out to ring the bell, the door swung open.

“What are you doing standing out here like a statue? Why didn’t you ring the bell?”

Xia Di’an had just showered. He was wearing a black silk bathrobe, and water dripped from his damp, shoulder-length hair. Perhaps due to the steam, his “peach blossom” eyes seemed to be veiled in a soft mist.

He had just received a text from Xiao Miao saying the boy had been dropped off. When he saw the timestamp, he sighed helplessly and checked the monitor, only to see Qiu Yuyi standing dazed at the doorstep.

“Ah,” Qiu Yuyi murmured shyly. “I was just, a little nervous.”

Xia Di’an let out a soft laugh. “Silly boy, what is there to be nervous about?” His gaze fell on the bag in Qiu Yuyi’s hand. “Is that for me?”

“Yes!” Qiu Yuyi held up the porridge like a trophy. “It’s from a shop near my place—it’s amazing. It might be a little cold now, though. Let me heat it up for you.”

Xia Di’an took the bag with one hand and took Qiu Yuyi’s hand with the other. “Come inside first.”

He opened the shoe cabinet. “I don’t have spare slippers yet, so use these disposables for now. Tomorrow, let me know what else you need, and I’ll have Xiao Miao buy everything in one go.”

Qiu Yuyi blinked. The way Xia Di’an spoke made it sound like he was moving in permanently. Even though he suspected he might be misinterpreting the sentiment, he simply lowered his eyes and said obediently, “Okay.”

“Good boy.” Xia Di’an patted his head. “Rest for a bit. I’ll heat up the porridge. Have you eaten?”

“I have.” Qiu Yuyi looked up. “Let me heat it.”

“No, you rest.” Xia Di’an led him to the sofa. “Watch some TV.”

As Xia Di’an disappeared into the kitchen, Qiu Yuyi hugged a sofa cushion to his chest.

During his two years with Shen Nian, he had handled all the housework whenever the housekeeper was away. Shen Nian never lifted a finger. His excuse was always that he was exhausted from work, and since Qiu Yuyi stayed home all day, the chores were naturally his responsibility.

Qiu Yuyi remembered one night when he had a fever of 38°C. The housekeeper was on leave, and Shen Nian had come home late after a few drinks. He had woken Qiu Yuyi up, demanding something to eat.

Dizzy and shivering, Qiu Yuyi had asked if they could just order delivery. Shen Nian’s response was cold: “I didn’t get a boyfriend just to have to order takeout whenever I want a hot meal at home.”

Left with no choice, Qiu Yuyi had dragged his aching body to the kitchen to boil dumplings. When Shen Nian finished, he simply set the bowl aside and went to bed without once asking how Qiu Yuyi was feeling. It wasn’t until Su Yichen visited the next morning and found him semi-conscious that he was rushed to the hospital. By then, Shen Nian had already returned to the film set at dawn.

Recovering from the memory, Qiu Yuyi was surprised to find that these thoughts no longer caused him any pain.

He looked around the villa. The decor was in cool tones—vast, minimalist, and somewhat icy. It didn’t seem to match Xia Di’an’s personality at all. Suddenly, a small white fluff-ball scurried to his feet.

“July!” Qiu Yuyi laughed, scooping the Pomeranian into his arms. “Did you miss me?”

“I did,” Xia Di’an said, placing a bowl of steaming porridge on the coffee table and sitting beside him.

“I was asking July,” Qiu Yuyi said, his face flushing.

A smirk tugged at Xia Di’an’s lips. “I was answering for him. Who else did you think I meant?”

Qiu Yuyi glared at him, tongue-tied and blushing.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing.” Xia Di’an took a spoonful. The aroma of the rice and the tenderness of the fish were perfect. “It really is delicious.”

“Right?” Qiu Yuyi beamed. “Eat up. Yichen was actually the one who discovered this place.”

“Yichen?” Xia Di’an shot him a look. “Your manager?”

“Yeah. He’s been so good to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.” Mentioning Su Yichen made Qiu Yuyi’s expression notably tender.

“I see.” Xia Di’an lowered his head, the overhead light casting a shadow over his face and obscuring his expression. He set the spoon down, his voice turning somewhat cool. “I’ve had enough. It’s too late to drive back safely; stay the night here.”

Qiu Yuyi looked at the half-full bowl in surprise. “You aren’t eating the rest?”

“Eating too much at night is bad for digestion.”

“Oh.” Qiu Yuyi accepted the explanation but felt a bit flustered by the invitation. “Will it, will it be an inconvenience if I stay?”

“Not at all. There are plenty of rooms.”

Qiu Yuyi felt a mix of relief and a strange sense of loss upon hearing he’d have his own room. He stole a glance at Xia Di’an, feeling as though the man’s attitude had suddenly turned cold.

“Are you mad at me?” he whispered hesitantly.

Xia Di’an paused, then gave a gentle smile. “No. It’s late; let’s get some rest.”

He led Qiu Yuyi to the third floor. “You’ll stay here. There are new pajamas and undergarments in the wardrobe. Call me if you need anything; I’m right next door.”

“Okay,” Qiu Yuyi nodded obediently. “Oh, your assistant said he’s picking you up at 8:00 AM.”

“Got it. Do you have plans tomorrow?” Xia Di’an asked softly.

“No, just studying my script.”

“Then you aren’t allowed to leave. Stay here and wait for me to come home, okay?” Before Qiu Yuyi could answer, Xia Di’an pulled him into a brief embrace and whispered into his ear, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Qiu Yuyi replied, dazed.

After washing up, Qiu Yuyi lay in the oversized, soft bed. He saw two missed calls from Su Yichen from an hour ago and dialed back.

“Xiao Yi? Where are you? Are you home?” Su Yichen sounded anxious.

“No, I’m staying at a friend’s place tonight.”

There was a silence on the other end. “A friend from the variety show?”

Qiu Yuyi’s heart skipped a beat. “Mm,” he managed.

“Alright. Stay safe. Call me if anything happens.” Su Yichen nagged him for a few more seconds before hanging up.

The Next Morning.

When Qiu Yuyi woke up, Xia Di’an was already gone. On the dining table sat the breakfast Xiao Miao had brought and a note.

He picked it up. It read: Wait for me to come back. You are not allowed to leave.

Qiu Yuyi read it over and over, his face heating up until he broke into a silly, helpless grin. He picked out a few items from the spread and began to eat slowly.

Since Leisure Time ended, Cao Ziping had created a group chat for the cast. A notification popped up:

[Cao Ziping]: “Just got word from the crew. The first official teaser drops today at noon!”

Noon today? Qiu Yuyi’s heart began to race with anticipation.

Qiu Yuyi glanced at the time in the top-left corner of his phone: 11:59 AM.

He opened Weibo and navigated to the official Leisure Time account. He refreshed the feed just as the program’s first teaser was posted.

He tapped on the video.

The teaser opened with a close-up of Xia Di’an’s face during an interview.

A staff member off-camera asked, “What made you choose to join our show this season?”

Xia Di’an leaned back, a subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Because one of the guests this season is someone I like.”

The scene cut to Xia Di’an opening a car door. He spotted a young man sleeping soundly inside, and a tender smile spread across his face.

Then came the moment the boy groggily opened his eyes. Xia Di’an’s smile turned meaningful as he said, “We’ve met before.”

The teaser quickly flashed through shots of Cao Ziping, Lin Xuemeng, Shen Jiashi, and Hu Shasha to keep the momentum going.

The final frame, however, returned to the two of them: Xia Di’an habitually picking up Qiu Yuyi’s suitcase while Qiu Yuyi trailed closely behind him.

The screen faded to black on that image.

Qiu Yuyi stared at his phone, speechless. Anyone unfamiliar with the show’s premise would watch that teaser and swear it was a dating program rather than a guesthouse management show.

He opened the comments section. Predictably, Xia Di’an’s fanbase had descended into total chaos.

[Live Chat & Comments]

Passerby A: Is Xia Di’an actually dating Qiu Yuyi?

Mrs. Xia: The production team is definitely looking for trouble. How do you turn a business show into a dating show with editing?

Mushroom Bunny: No way. Please tell me An-An didn’t join this show just for that person.

A Fish That Breathes: Can the “nobody” please stand on his own two feet? Xia Di’an is so pitiable—the show and this “no-name” actor are literally sucking the blood out of him for clout.

Little Flute Mushroom: Waaaaah! My husband is so miserable! I don’t even want to watch this anymore.

La La La: Am I the only one excited? The “Top-Tier Idol x Nobody” trope is such a vibe. I ship it!

Specter: Honestly, their visuals match so well. Standing together, they are pure eye candy.

My CP is Sweetest: 555555! I’m dying! It’s so sweet! It feels like New Year’s Day! AHHHHH!

Autumn Milk Tea: Let’s not fight, everyone! Let’s hope for a long-lasting friendship.

Suddenly, his phone began to ring.

When he saw the caller ID, Qiu Yuyi’s hand gave a violent tremble.