Chapter 141: The Sea Is Vast for Fish to Leap, the Sky Is High for Birds to Soar

"Brother, over here, over here."

Xiongxiong waved at him from the entrance to the backstage area.

Shen Jixing gave a faint nod, signaling to his bodyguards that they didn't need to follow, and walked toward Xiongxiong with long strides. "What kind of trouble have you stirred up now?"

Xiongxiong’s body jolted. "Y-you, how do you know already?"

Shen Jixing stepped onto the landing, his voice sparse and languid. "I didn't. I was just bluffing."

A relaxed, masterful smile played on his lips. Behind him came Xiongxiong's high-pitched, marmot-like shriek: "Ah—!"

Xiongxiong, his little face twisted in misery, was just about to chase after Shen Jixing when he was suddenly seized by the scruff of his neck. A lingering, affectionate laugh brushed against his ear.

"I wondered who was warming up their voice; turns out it was you, little silly bear." Sikong Xiu’s fox-like eyes curved. "What, are you planning to go on stage too?"

Xiongxiong’s fur stood on end, and he swiped at his hand with claws bared. "Don't, don't touch me."

He turned and bolted, his eyes darting wildly, terrified of accidentally becoming prey to the fox. After all, creatures like bears were clumsy and full of meat.

"Brother, Brother, wait for me..."

Sikong Xiu shrugged with a light chuckle. "Big voice, but a tiny heart."

It took only a few words from Shen Jixing for Xiongxiong to spill everything.

"I, I didn't want to say it, but he wanted to kill me."

Shen Jixing was silent for two seconds, scanning the conversation on the screen from earlier that afternoon.

【S】: Did you receive the tie?
【Z】: I love you.
【S】: ...

Shen Jixing had become immune to his periodic confessions, but he always felt it was strange that those three words lacked an emoji.

【S】: Stop being neurotic. If you haven't woken up yet, whip yourself twice with the tie.
【Z】: How could I do such menial labor?
【Z】: You do it tonight, baby.

Still the same familiar pervert.

Shen Jixing had been busy at the time and hadn't replied much, saying only three words.

【S】: Me too.

He had responded to that abrupt confession in kind. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yili didn't reply again. Only now did Shen Jixing seem to understand—Zhou Yili wasn't secretly pleased; he was lost, remorseful, and heartbroken.

"How foolish."

Shen Jixing paused for a few seconds and said softly, "Actually, it has nothing to do with him at all."

He had simply made his own choice. The one chosen has the right to any freedom. Yet, the one being chosen often felt indebted and often ached for him.

"Brother, did I do something wrong..."

Shen Jixing didn't say whether he was right or wrong. "He might be able to kill you, but do you think I can't?"

In truth, Shen Jixing’s anger was far more terrifying than Zhou Yili’s.

Xiongxiong followed behind him, speaking the truth: "I know, but I thought about it, and in the end, I’d still rather die by your hands."

"..."

Sincerity is always the ultimate trump card. Shen Jixing couldn't help but laugh helplessly.

Xiongxiong whispered an apology: "I'm sorry, Brother. Actually, I had a little bit of a selfish motive."

These were words Xiongxiong had buried deep in his heart. Ever since the incident was exposed, he had sworn to follow Shen Jixing forever and never betray him. "I just hope everyone can treat you a little better."

...But Xiongxiong hadn't expected it to backfire on Zhou Yili.

A staff member hurried over to ask, "Mr. Shen, are you heading backstage? I'll take you there."

Shen Jixing shook his head. "No need."

The concert was about to begin; he didn't want to go over and provoke the little lion.

"Perhaps you should go?" The staff member whispered behind their hand. "I don't know how that door got locked from the inside, and no one can knock it open..."

Shen Jixing’s brow twitched as he glanced at the time. "Take me there."

Xiongxiong slapped both hands over his head. "It's over, ahhh, I really caused a huge disaster."

Xiongxiong prepared to follow, feeling dead inside, ready to offer his life in apology. Even if it meant the Empress Dowager had to step on this little bear to get on stage, he couldn't let this concert be ruined.

The staff member stopped him. "The concert is about to start. Please take your seat in the auditorium."

Xiongxiong pointed at the retreating figure. "Didn't you hear? His... Brother Zhou is having a breakdown and refusing to perform!"

The staff member hesitated but motioned for him to look at the screen. "The concert is about to start. Please take your seat."

Xiongxiong felt dazed, looking at the giant screen outside where the countdown to the start was underway—

"Five, four..."

Even as slow as Xiongxiong was, he knew that even in an emergency, a countdown wouldn't start so easily. A countdown meant an appearance was guaranteed. So.

"Three, two, one."

On the screen appeared a familiar, tall, and elegant silhouette. He stopped in front of the lounge door, lifted his long, fair fingers, and knocked gently on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Xiongxiong’s brain short-circuited.

...

Shen Jixing stood before the lounge door.

He vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on what. Perhaps the emotions beneath his frozen exterior were hidden too well; no one knew how panicked he felt at that moment, and so he didn't notice why the area in front of the lounge was deserted.

"Click—"

The sealed door opened from within.

Zhou Yili’s tall, dazzling figure suddenly lunged out, wrapping his arms around Shen Jixing’s waist with lightning speed and planting a kiss on the corner of his lips before he could react.

Shen Jixing was completely stunned.

"..."

He heard a deafening roar of screams erupting from the venue.

Then, Zhou Yili released him and ran toward the stage, his lips flushed red and a smile on his face. Only then did Shen Jixing realize he had been played. This was Zhou Yili’s unique way of making an entrance.

"Mr. Shen, I didn't lie to you." The staff member said, trembling. "It really wouldn't open at first, but then he opened it himself. We heard a line playing from his phone... something about... the 'honeymoon phase'."

Shen Jixing was speechless.

He rubbed his temple and walked toward the VIP box.

Zhou Yili had already charged onto the stage, the silver-blue microphone pressed to his lips, his voice carrying over the sound of rushing wind. "Is this opening familiar?"

The screams from the audience were constant. The moment that music video had been released, its view count had remained sky-high.

"So, the first song is—"

The audience answered in unison, "‘Loop’!"

What Zhou Yili wanted to prove was that whether it was the door on Christmas Eve, the door to the apartment at dusk, or the door the backstage staff couldn't open—the key was always in Shen Jixing’s hands.

He didn't need to wait for anyone to take him in; he came and went freely in Zhou Yili’s life. He was the master he worshipped for a lifetime.

"Bang!!!"

Silver-blue fireworks exploded on stage, the familiar music signaling the start.

Shen Jixing leaned against the doorframe of the box, watching the dazzling, passionate figure on stage, and reached up to gently touch the lingering warmth on his lips.

He sighed softly, "That’s quite enough."

Until the song ended.

Zhou Yili stood on stage, panting, the tips of his tousled blue hair shimmering like a brilliant galaxy, and the dust around him seemed to glow. He breathed quietly, lost in thought, as if he had used every ounce of his strength to sing the cycle of the lifetime they had traveled together.

Then, he asked everyone in the venue in his loudest voice—

"What is the next line after 'The sea is wide for fish to leap'?"

Shen Jixing, just about to sit down, froze in place.

He heard the entire venue fall into an eerie silence, followed by a violent wave of human voices, mingled with the fervent heat of the entire arena.

Every word was shouted with all their might, echoing in his ears.

"The sky is high for birds to fly!"

—

The main story will conclude tomorrow; that was the original plan. Those who want to see extra chapters can start making requests~