FLME Ch46

Xie Heyu was holding cherries in his arms when Yu Wen suddenly rushed over. He had no choice but to raise one hand and slightly tilt his ear to listen to Yu Wen’s complaints.

After listening, he glanced at the living room. His good upbringing prevented him from saying anything. He remained silent for a long time, then took two cherries from the box and held them to Yu Wen’s mouth.

“Try them.”

The art of distraction.

Yu Wen didn’t even care if they were washed or not and instinctively opened his mouth. After finishing the first one, his expression froze, the annoyance dramatically solidified on his face. After eating the second one, he licked his lips, “Delicious.”

Hmph.

Forgiveness for the whole world.

Xie Heyu’s expression softened a bit, with what seemed like a slight smile. He went to the kitchen to wash some fruit. Yu Wen, irritated by the brightly colored yarn scattered all over the floor, didn’t want to deal with it and followed him into the kitchen.

Xi Su, however, was completely oblivious.

“Teacher Xie! Teacher Xie!” he shouted, “Forget about everything else and save us first! Do you see us? I’m right here!”

Teacher Xie turned a deaf ear.

Five minutes later, Xie Heyu and Yu Wen each carried a bowl of washed cherries, leaning against the kitchen door.

“Should we save them?” Xie Heyu asked.

“No,” Yu Wen responded coldly, like the autumn wind, “Let them struggle in the sea of bitterness for a while.”

Xi Su was about to be rolled into a ball of yarn, rolling back and forth on the floor. Chu Han, on the other hand, seemed quite at ease, draped in yarn from head to toe, and still lowering his head to crochet a new bundle. Whether he was successful or not was unknown, but his expression was very serious, as if he were conducting scientific research.

After finishing a bowl of cherries, Yu Wen was in a good mood. He finally picked up the scissors and went over to cut the two of them out of the yarn.

Yarn remnants were scattered all over the floor. Yu Wen gathered the usable pieces together, estimating that there was enough to crochet a dozen or so items.

Finally free, Xi Su was kicked by Yu Wen to clean up.

“Teacher Chu, don’t bother anymore.” Yu Wen said earnestly as he looked at Chu Han, who had been crocheting for a long time but still had a mess, “Don’t waste your energy in a field you’re not good at. With this time, we should be honing our strengths…”

“Huh?” Chu Han said in confusion, “I feel like I’m pretty good at it. Look, it’s almost taking shape.”

Yu Wen: “…”

“Teacher Xie, look, doesn’t it already resemble the shape of a koi fish?”

Xie Heyu glanced at his creation, then lowered his head, holding back with restraint.

“…Fine.” Yu Wen stuffed the entire bundle of yarn into his arms, “You continue, this whole lot is yours. Good luck.”

Judging by Chu Han’s crocheting speed, he wouldn’t finish this bundle of yarn in a whole night.

So just let him play.

Xi Su finished cleaning the living room, ate the jianbing that Xie Heyu had brought, and then independently washed a bowl of cherries. After eating the cherries, he turned on the TV.

“Battle Royale” was a prime-time variety show, unlike the update schedule of “Legend of the Immortal Sect.” It aired on two channels during the 9:30 pm prime slot, and then at 10 pm, it would be updated on streaming platforms.

To see the variety show as soon as possible, the most straightforward way was to sit by the TV.

Yu Wen glanced at the advertisement appearing on the satellite TV channel and asked, “What are you doing?”

Xi Su opened his snacks for watching the show, leaned on the sofa, and spoke with a tone of confidence, “I already know the ending of ‘Legend of the Immortal Sect.’ Next week will definitely be filled with heartbreak, and I’m not that stupid. I’ll watch the new variety show first to recharge my energy.”

Yu Wen: “…”

Xi Su: “Why are you looking at me? Impressed by my cleverness?”

Yu Wen’s expression was hard to describe.

After a long pause, he turned back to continue with his handiwork, secretly thinking: Just don’t cry later.

Xi Su was quite looking forward to “Battle Royale.” For one thing, it was Yu Wen’s best opportunity to date, and for another, he’d been a bit stressed by the plot twists in “Legend of the Immortal Sect ” lately and desperately needed some other works to distract him. He was familiar with Yu Wen’s acting—very immersive. By diving into another storyline, the finale of “Immortal Sect” wouldn’t hurt as much next week.

Xi Su thought his plan was perfect.

The unique background music of “Battle Royale” began to play, and even Chu Han lifted his eyes, glancing at the screen while still crocheting.

Yu Wen glanced over during a break from his koi crafting and noticed that Xie Heyu was watching too, his pupils reflecting the glow of the LCD screen, his side profile particularly focused.

“….” Yu Wen couldn’t help himself and quietly poked Teacher Xie’s waist, offering a kind reminder: “Don’t get too absorbed.”

Xie Heyu snapped out of it due to his small gesture, slightly turning toward him and lowering his voice so the other two couldn’t hear, “Is it a tragedy?”

Seeing that he didn’t mind spoilers, Yu Wen nodded honestly.

“Have you watched ‘Immortal Sect’?” Yu Wen whispered.

Xie Heyu nodded.

Yu Wen’s gaze instantly turned sympathetic.

“Then I suggest you don’t watch this episode of the variety show right now…” Yu Wen beckoned softly, almost putting his lips to Xie Heyu’s ear, “Watching both together will be devastating. And next week, the finale of ‘Immortal Sect’ is all about the pain…”

“What are you two whispering about?” Xi Su suddenly interrupted, startling Yu Wen. The blue-haired guy’s suspicious gaze darted between the two. “What are you saying that we can’t hear?”

“I was spoiling the ending for Teacher Xie,” Yu Wen said. “Want to hear it?”

Xi Su: “…”

He didn’t say whether he wanted to or not, just dragged his lazy chair a little farther away.

The TV soon reached its first small climax, and Yu Wen finished sweeping through the books in the study, unlocking the mechanism on the door, and walked out alone.

The atmosphere created by the production team was well done, with slow scenic shots and a fluctuating cello melody that perfectly drew the audience into the background of the story. It felt as if you were truly in a quiet, spacious medieval castle, where countless mysteries and stories lay hidden in the corners, waiting to be uncovered.

Xi Su wasn’t particularly interested in the guests’ puzzle-solving and progress. He watched variety shows like dramas—he didn’t like to think too much. Although it was a mystery-themed variety show, for him, it wasn’t much different from watching a drama.

The few lines of poetry from the bard were clearly a hook thrown by the main storyline. Xi Su was already engrossed, staring at the TV screen, and couldn’t help but start guessing the plot.

“A longsword with a cross? Is it the hero? Why did they say he can’t get out?” He turned to look at Yu Wen, his clear eyes filled with confusion, acting as though he had already forgotten the pain from being spoiled before.

Yu Wen looked up from the ball of yarn, glanced at the TV screen, and just as he was about to speak, Xi Su recalled the fear of being spoiled, waving his hands frantically to gesture for him to pause.

“Stop! Stop! I didn’t ask you! Don’t say anything!”

…Yu Wen obediently mimed zipping his mouth shut.

In a way, Xi Su’s reaction was representative of most viewers’ reactions while watching. Yu Wen’s tolerance for the story was strong enough, but even now, thinking about the story of the hero’s team still tugged at his heart. He was a little worried about whether the audience could handle this massive emotional blow. With Xi Su as a live example in front of him, Yu Wen decided to observe and see which scenes elicited the strongest reactions from the viewers and later cooperate with the production team to appropriately soothe the audience.

After silencing Yu Wen, Xi Su had no one to discuss the plot with. Chu Han didn’t like to talk while watching TV, and Xie Heyu wasn’t the type to discuss things with enthusiasm either, so he could only turn to the bullet comments.

The bullet comments were all over the place, discussing a wide variety of topics, and to Xi Su, many of them seemed rather nonsensical.

「Ahh, Mama Little Koi is here!」

「A new season, a new beginning, a new story.」

「The set design and costumes in Battle Royale are so detailed, better than many dramas… The Western fantasy looks of all the teachers are fantastic.」

「Daniel Li’s silver hair is on point…」

「The new regular this season, that Teacher Melon King, really has a nice body, slim waist, long legs.」

「Hahaha Teacher Melon King! Why does that still sound oddly respectful?」

「My slow internet doesn’t remember his real name… I just recall his nickname, Melon King.」

「Teacher Melon King’s voice is also really nice, we’re in for a treat this season.」

「What? He hasn’t said much yet…」

「The written information in the show is all dubbed by the guests afterward. If I’m not mistaken, he’s the hero, and that hero’s journal just now was dubbed by him.」

「What?! The guests dub afterward?! Does Battle Royale always treat its cast this well?!」

「Based on my experience, not only is there dubbing, but there’s also a mini-theater in the extras.」

「Standard stuff from the production team, enjoy it.」

Since it was a live TV broadcast, Xi Su couldn’t skip ahead. He thought back to the hero’s journal just now, only remembering the somewhat spirited ending tone, a voice somewhere between a youth’s and a young man’s, clear and crisp.

He turned to Yu Wen and asked, “Did you dub your own voice for Battle Royale?”

Yu Wen sat cross-legged on the sofa, skillfully crocheting the yarn. The little koi in his hands was gradually taking shape.

He didn’t say anything, just nodded.

Xi Su imagined his own grandma knitting while watching TV and felt that if Yu Wen were to put on a pair of glasses, that aura of kindness would be complete.

A shiver ran down Xi Su’s spine, and he quickly brushed the absurd thought away. But when he looked to the side—Xie Heyu was wearing a pair of glasses, head lowered as he crocheted, looking quite “kind.”

…Damn his imagination.

Xi Su closed his eyes for a moment, turned around to stare at the TV screen, and refused to look back.

Not long after he turned away, the sofa’s two-person knitting team began whispering to each other.

“Teacher Xie, are you nearsighted?” Yu Wen peered at Xie Heyu’s gold-rimmed glasses, glanced once, then again.

“No, they’re blue-light blocking glasses.”

When Yu Wen looked a third time, Xie Heyu hooked his finger around the nose pad of the glasses, slightly bending his knuckle, and the glasses slid down his nose.

“Here.”

The show had already reached the archmage’s diary.

Daniel Li’s voice was very gentle, a kind of gentleness tempered by time, with a bit of laziness. Xi Su was completely absorbed in the plot now, even putting aside his snacks.

The bullet comments were just as engrossed.

「Wow, this feels like another ensemble cast… Yay! Long live ensemble casts!」

「Even though the grand mag’s diary was short, I already feel like I’ve seen the daily lives of the hero’s team.」

「This reminds me of the show next door…」

「Well done, Melon King! You’re now officially the number one ensemble cast actor in the entertainment industry.」

「My baby’s surname is Yu (makes a weak sound).」

「Alright, Melon King.」

「Hahaha, isn’t anyone calling him ‘Ghost Assassin’? That title’s so cool, and he gave it to himself!」

「When he used his sword to absorb the little yellow bird, I really laughed till I passed out. That definitely wasn’t a skill! The production team never gives out skills that broken!」

〔Judging by his expression at the time, that awkward but polite smile, hahaha, it was definitely an accident.」

〔The subtitles were even funnier: ‘The hero’s unique secret technique unlocked! It’s all thanks to the production team’s ingenuity~’ Hahahaha.」

「The sky may fall, but the production team will hold it up with their words.」

「Production team: When you go to court, bring your broken sword! Angry.jpg」

The bullet comments didn’t stay serious for more than three seconds. As they chatted, the topic went off track again, with everyone still blissfully unaware of the seriousness to come.

Xi Su said to Chu Han, “I wonder if the dragon will appear. There are only six guests, and it seems like there are no extra roles. Could it be an NPC…”

Chu Han lowered his head, focused on crocheting, and didn’t make a sound.

After a while, he looked up thoughtfully, as if something had come to mind.

His memory was slightly better than Xi Su’s.

Wasn’t the first thing mentioned in the Hero’s Notes that the Grand Magician and the Elf were dead?

These people… could they all be dead?

Xi Su went to the kitchen to wash some fruit, and when he came back, the TV was showing a scene of Yu Wen staring at a dragon-shaped glass sculpture on the ceiling.

There was no background music, just a long gaze.

Most of the plot related to the dragon hadn’t been unlocked yet, but Yu Wen’s long stare triggered many speculations, with the bullet comments debating whether he had discovered a new clue.

「Such a long close-up, it must be a foreshadowing. Either Teacher Melon has discovered something, or it’s related to the upcoming plot.」

「Although I don’t know what’s going on, this scene makes me feel uneasy…」

「The production team wouldn’t give a close-up for no reason… Could the hero and the dragon be a CP?」

「Holy cow, I’m dying from laughter. How do we guess the plot while making ourselves a bowl of rice at the same time? You, you CP shippers…」

「Watching dramas without shipping is like eating food without salt!」

「Let’s ship it!」

「One more guest for the Villain-Hero ship!」

「Alright, alright, let’s start shipping non-humans. Truly, this world belongs to us omnivores!」

Xi Su’s taste for shipping wasn’t that open. He wasn’t interested in the bond between the hero and the dragon. He just thought Yu Wen looked pretty cool in that scene. His expression, scattered in the interplay of light and shadow, was unreadable. The full-body shot showed his tall, well-proportioned figure, broad shoulders, and small head, perfectly proportioned. Holding a sword, he looked like a melancholic, deep, handsome man.

Xi Su was jealous. He, despite being in the singing and dancing business, had never had such an iconic photo.

He glanced behind him; the two on the couch were still crocheting, fully absorbed. The pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which to Xi Su looked like reading glasses, were now on Yu Wen’s face.

There were already two or three koi fish piling up on the table. Taking advantage of the commercial break, Xi Su went over to take a look. They had done a pretty good job: the yarn was even, and the lines were neat.

He picked one up and asked Yu Wen, “Can I say I crocheted this one later?”

Yu Wen: “Why?”

Xi Su: “I’m planning to build myself a new persona as someone handy and skillful.”

Yu Wen: “…”

Chu Han couldn’t hold back, “You can’t even clean properly, and you want to be known as skillful?”

Xi Su pulled out some crooked logic he had learned from his old company, “A persona is meant to be fake. If it’s real, is it still a persona?”

Yu Wen: “We at StarLight Media don’t do that. We’re a small outfit; we don’t have money to buy you marketing.”

Xi Su thought about it and agreed.

He then said, “Can I appear in your live stream later? I want to ride on your popularity.”

Yu Wen was amused by his sincerity.

Yu Wen glanced at the TV, which was currently airing Battle Royale, and had an interesting idea.

He said, “Why don’t we live stream ourselves watching the show? A real-time broadcast, watching with the audience, giving them the most genuine reactions.”

Xi Su thought it was a great idea, immediately brightening up.

“Sure!”