My Former Colleague Wants to Fake a BL Comeback Again - Chapter 2

The PD asked again, “Then do you have any special expectations for our program?”

Cen Jing replied, “Does expecting you to finish the entire recording safely count as a special expectation?”

“Haha…” The PD let out a couple of awkward laughs. “That is indeed quite special. But don’t worry, we’ve made many preparations to ensure the recording goes smoothly…”

“For example?” Cen Jing asked with a faint smile, tilting his head.

“For example, we hired several physically strong male staff members…” The PD cracked a joke following his lead.

“Hmm, a very wise choice.” Cen Jing’s tone was serious as he asked back, “What made you think of creating such a show in the first place?”

“Out of curiosity… Wait, this isn’t right? Why am I the one being interviewed now?”

【Literal move of “Turning the Tables”】

【I’ll answer! It’s because of curiosity, because of gossip, and because they just want to watch the world burn.】

【I really want to know exactly how much money the production team splurged to get these pairs together.】

【Actually, they’re all just using this as an excuse to make up. [Nods]】

【Fun fact: Since separating, all these pairs have seen their careers go downhill.】

【It’s true… As expected, only those who love their “wives” can truly prosper.】

【Hey, where’s the “wife” coming from?】

The bullet comments (danmu) were chatting away busily. On screen, the PD had concluded the interview. No deep questions were asked; it was just some small talk about recent events and a quick plug for Cen Jing’s currently airing TV drama.

Upon reaching the recording room, Cen Jing took a seat on one of the individual sofas. Holding the water poured by a staff member, his gaze drifted across the smooth floor, lost in thought. Fortunately, the main livestream camera should be on someone else right now; spacing out for a while wouldn’t hurt anything.

Ten minutes later, there was a click.

The door was pushed open from the outside, bringing in a breeze mixed with a hint of fragrance. Cen Jing instinctively looked over.

As expected, Chu Xingyun had arrived as promised. He was wearing a simple white shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing the elegant lines of his collarbones. Under the lights, his skin looked almost transparently pale. His nose was high, and his lip color was light, like cherry blossoms in early spring.

Cen Jing’s hand tightened around the water cup, causing subtle ripples on the surface.

【AHHHHH they met they met they met—】

【Report! I’m struggling to breathe.】

【Report! My toes have started curling into the floor.】

【Someone… put on a sad BGM.】

【I think we need something high-energy.】

【Guess who will speak first.】

“Long time no see.”

Before the bullet comments could even start guessing, Chu Xingyun spoke up. A faint smile played on his lips as his gaze fixed intensely on Cen Jing. He took a seat on the other small sofa.

“Long time no see,” Cen Jing responded politely. He brought the water to his lips and took a mechanical sip.

Following that, the scene fell into silence. It was as if the previous greeting was merely based on professional respect for the show. The silent zoom of the camera amplified this awkwardness.

Cen Jing prayed internally for a staff member to cue the next part of the process, but the person behind the camera simply stood there holding a clipboard, observing the scene. Clearly, they were doing this on purpose.

Cen Jing opened his mouth and then closed it again. Before the recording began, he had countless times, unconsciously, envisioned the scene of reuniting with Chu Xingyun in his mind. Every time, he imagined he could wear a dignified smile and chat casually with the other person as if nothing had happened.

But when the moment finally arrived, with this person who was both a stranger and a familiar figure sitting beside him, he couldn’t squeeze out a single word. He didn’t even dare to move.

…It was truly quite embarrassing.

After a few minutes of stalemate, Chu Xingyun was the one to speak first: “Ge, why won’t you look at me?”

【Damn, who understands? Before he said that, I didn’t even dare to breathe.】

【Enough! Chu Xingyun… you’ve stared until Cen Jing’s face is turning red.】

【So… Cen Jing isn’t speaking because of the awkwardness and not knowing what to say, while Chu Xingyun isn’t speaking because he hasn’t seen enough yet, right?】

【There’s even a hint of resentment in those words.】

【It’s obvious who wants the “remarriage” more. [Smirk]】

Cen Jing instinctively shifted his gaze to Chu Xingyun. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke softly: “…We should look at the camera.”

…They were recording a show, after all.

“Mm, I’ll listen to you.” Chu Xingyun blinked slowly, his lazy gaze shifting to the filming lens as he commented, “It’s dark and not very good-looking.”

Cen Jing’s tense body relaxed slightly. “…Mm.”

Chu Xingyun raised an eyebrow at the PD behind the camera and spoke bluntly, “Still not giving us the task? Do you want us to perform a skit for the audience?”

The follow-PD quickly spoke up: “Uh, there is indeed a task here that you both need to complete.”

As he spoke, a staff member hunched over and stepped forward, placing a sheet of paper and a pen on the coffee table in front of each of them.

“As you can see, this is a customized personal exam. You both need to get a perfect score to leave this room together, join the main group, and begin the official recording.”

Cen Jing picked up the exam in front of him and looked closely. It was densely packed with questions related to Chu Xingyun.

What was Chu Xingyun’s debut ranking?

What was the name of Chu Xingyun’s first solo album?

What was the first TV drama Chu Xingyun acted in?

…

Cen Jing glanced briefly toward Chu Xingyun’s side and could vaguely see that many instances of his own name were printed there.

“It’s an open-book exam; examinees are free to communicate with each other,” the PD added generously. “But you are not allowed to use your phones to search.”

Chu Xingyun chuckled, grabbed the pen, and began answering. After a moment of hesitation, Cen Jing followed suit. Only the rustling sound of writing remained in the room.

【Open-book, but you can’t leave unless you get a perfect score… the production team has some tricks up their sleeves. This way, when they hit a question they don’t know, they’ll inevitably have to communicate. Isn’t that an invisible way to pull them closer!】

【Communication might not necessarily happen… [Wicked smile]】

【I just saw the full exam paper from the production team; the questions cover the other person’s activities from their debut right up until joining this show…】

【Which means… if they don’t communicate, almost only a die-hard fan could submit a perfect score?】

【…Kneeling to the production team.】

Chu Xingyun didn’t skip a single question, smoothly completing the first 18. Upon reaching the 19th question, the pen hovering over the paper suddenly stopped. He turned his head to look at Cen Jing, who was resting his chin on his knuckles in thought, and asked, “Ge, who was your first on-screen kiss?”

Cen Jing froze for two seconds before answering, “…Yu Lian.”

After answering, Cen Jing instinctively tried to recall Yu Lian’s face in his mind. He couldn’t remember it. However, he remembered that this drama was the first one he took after their limited group’s contract expired. He played the second male lead and had a slight romantic storyline with the second female lead played by Yu Lian.

The ratings at the time weren’t good. To generate hype, the TV promotion bought a “Cen Jing gives away his first on-screen kiss” trending topic for three days. In reality, his kiss scene with Yu Lian was completely faked through camera angles. Her investor boyfriend wouldn’t allow her to actually kiss other men.

“Yu Lian,” Chu Xingyun repeated the two words, writing them under the question. “…That name is quite unfamiliar.”

Cen Jing’s hand stopped writing the answers. “She left the industry after filming that drama.” She went off to marry her investor boyfriend; he had even attended the wedding.

“Ah…” A tone of fake regret flowed from Chu Xingyun, “I was hoping to have a chance to exchange notes with her.”

Cen Jing: “…”

What would two people who have absolutely nothing to do with each other “exchange”?

Cen Jing asked back casually, “Exchange what?”

“You wouldn’t want to know.”

“Oh.”

Chu Xingyun continued answering. After two more questions, he asked again, “In your first album, who did you sing a collaboration song with?”

Cen Jing replied with his head down: “Yu Yan.”

“Your relationship with him really is good,” Chu Xingyun said with a half-smile.

“It is very good. We even ate together a few days ago.”

“I see…” Chu Xingyun gritted his teeth and wrote down the name Yu Yan heavily. “I saw some news a while ago saying he got a girlfriend.”

Cen Jing raised an eyebrow slightly. “You actually believe what the marketing accounts say?”

Yu Yan indeed had a girlfriend, but since the man himself hadn’t come out to admit it, Cen Jing certainly couldn’t be so indiscreet as to reveal it.

“It is indeed untrustworthy. Before, there were marketing accounts saying that you bought a house in Beijing back then just so we could live together after our group disbanded.”

【[Raises hand] I actually saw that news!】

【Were they at a stage where they could have lived together? (Asks in a low voice)】

【The people asking probably haven’t done their ‘archaeology.’ Let’s put it this way: back then, even if someone said they had registered for marriage, a huge crowd would have believed it.】

【Even after the unfollowing incident, a large group of fans was certain they were just having a lovers’ spat, and that making up was only a matter of time.】

【And that ‘time’ has dragged on until now. [Cries]】

“Nonsense.” Cen Jing’s hand holding the pen trembled slightly, and the handwriting became a bit distorted. “How could I have afforded a house back then?”

…He could barely afford the rent.

“If it were true, I’d be dying of regret,” Chu Xingyun sighed with a laugh. “That’s a house in Beijing!”

Cen Jing carefully regulated his breathing: “Even if I bought it, your name wouldn’t have been on it. What’s there to regret?”

“Fine… hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less regretful.” Chu Xingyun stopped writing and asked again, “What was your game ID for the exhibition match?”

“…Nine-Life Cat.”

Chu Xingyun commented, “Sounds like a couple’s ID.”

【??? Why would you say that?】

【Slander from a former teammate.】

【Chu Xingyun seems to be talking in his sleep.】

【Can you please leave our baby Cen Jing alone? He’s had zero scandals since debut.】

【No, I’m really curious, what could the couple’s ID for Nine-Life Cat be?】

【Back from Baidu… it’s Seven-Second Fish.】

“You’re overthinking it,” Cen Jing said without changing his expression. “‘Nine-Life Cat’ is a common phrase.”

“Then ‘Nine-Tailed Fox’ would be more common, wouldn’t it?”

Cen Jing put down his pen, his tone somewhat impatient: “I hope that after you finish asking the questions, you can stop drifting into idle chatter. I need a quiet environment to answer the questions.”

“…Fine.” Chu Xingyun nodded slightly twice. “No more chatting.”

The show was going to be recorded for half a month; he had plenty of time to talk.

After asking four or five more questions, Chu Xingyun quickly reached the last one.

——Please write down his name.

He instinctively straightened his posture and wrote the two characters for ‘Cen Jing’ stroke by stroke. After finishing, he gently traced the outline of the characters with his fingertip.

“I’m finished,” Cen Jing’s voice suddenly rang out beside him.

Hearing this, Chu Xingyun stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. Throughout the entire process, Cen Jing hadn’t asked a single question.

But now he said he was finished.

His heart began to throb uncontrollably in his chest, each beat louder than the last, echoing in Chu Xingyun’s ears.

“Finished?” He instinctively pressed his hand against his left chest, feeling the rapid pounding beneath his palm.

【Brother, you seem a bit excited.】

【Oh my god, oh my god! Cen Jing actually finished without asking a single question… I’m even more shocked than little Xingyun! [Moved][Tears]】

【I told you ‘Gaoshan Jingxing’ would never be BE (Bad Ending)!】

【So, coming on the show is just to show off their love. [Cool]】