Category Archives: In-Progress

Translations of Chinese Boy’s Love webnovels. Only the English translation belongs to me everything else belongs to the original author.

In-Progress, Top Dupe

Top Dupe CH 048 Supermarket Part 1

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This should have happened after the wrap party last night. 

Since the wrap party was only attended by people from the crew, Luo Yu believed that they wouldn’t leak the video online. The most likely scenario is that the video was taken by someone else while Gu Xiaowei was on his way back to his room.

The gossip among netizens is relentless—who is the person being held in Gu Xiaowei’s arms? Many people zoomed in on the video to try to guess the person’s identity from the exposed shoes, but unfortunately, they clearly weren’t even high heels.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Some speculated that it might be a leaked film shot, but this was quickly disproved due to the background in the video. Others guessed it might be the female lead from the show, but observant sleuths noted that on that day, Xie Chang was wearing high-heeled boots.

Gu Xiaowei’s fans were extremely excited because it was the first time they saw Gu Xiaowei’s princess carry. Luo Yu swallowed nervously, looking at the shoes in the video and then at his own, getting a bad premonition.

He looked over at Gu Xiaowei and asked, “Um… can you tell me… how did I end up in your room after getting drunk yesterday?”

“I carried you back.”

Gu Xiaowei happened to turn a corner, and Luo Yu saw a faint smile on his lips, but it disappeared once the car hit the straight road.

“You could have carried me on your back or shouldered me; why did you choose to carry me in your arms?”

“It’s easier for you to vomit if I shoulder you, and carrying you on my back might result in you vomiting on my shoulder unexpectedly. So, carrying you with my arms is the safest.”

“Heh, your reasoning is so logical, I can’t refute it.”

Luo Yu thought to himself that if someone ever exposed him hiding behind the black umbrella… it’s him, it’s really him!

…But it wouldn’t be such a big deal.

Thinking this way, Luo Yu felt a bit more relieved.

“Can’t tell you’re quite strong. Despite me being a tall, broad-shouldered guy, you managed to make it seem like a feather-light experience when you were carrying me?”

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, who was squinting and enjoying the breeze with a relaxed smile, obviously not taking the princess carry seriously.

“Heartless.”

Gu Xiaowei said this lightly, but with a hint of gritted teeth.

They drove into the city, and Luo Yu put on a mask and sunglasses, pulling down the brim of his hat so he couldn’t be recognized. On the other hand, Gu Xiaowei was nonchalant, not even bothering with glasses, and went straight through the fast lane tollbooth.

Lu Yu gently poked Gu Xiaowei on the waist, “I say, aren’t you afraid of paparazzi tailing you with your face exposed like this?”

Gu Xiaowei replied calmly, “I’m not ugly, so why worry about paparazzi?”

“Alright, you win.” Luo Yu continued to wrap himself up.

“Senior Brother, where do you usually buy groceries?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“At the nearby Good Bowl Supermarket. The items there are cheap and practical, and it’s quite large. If you want, you can drop me off at the supermarket entrance, and I’ll buy groceries while you wait at my place,” Luo Yu said.

“Let’s go together.”

“Together?” Lu Yu laughed, “Are you trying to destroy my beloved Good Bowl Supermarket? If you go, whether it’s passersby or fans, they’ll all be after you, and you still think of buying groceries? Oh, are you trying to emulate those ancient beauties who ride around in empty carriages, returning home with a full load of fresh fruits and vegetables?”

“I… haven’t been to a supermarket in a long time,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu was moved by this.

“If that’s the case… you definitely won’t be able to go to the supermarket like this,” Luo Yu thought for a moment, “Park the car in the corner of the supermarket’s underground garage, and I’ll see if I can mitigate your overly noticeable traits.”

“Okay.”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei again, thinking… why is this guy so obedient?

Fortunately, it wasn’t the weekend, and the supermarket wasn’t crowded when they arrived, and there were plenty of empty spaces in the underground garage.

Gu Xiaowei parked the car in the corner, and Luo Yu pulled out his backpack, first finding a mask and handing it to him, “Put this on quickly.”

“Alright.”

Luo Yu then pulled out a pair of non-prescription glasses and put them on Gu Xiaowei’s nose.

Gu Xiaowei gently closed his eyes, his eyelashes like black feathers. Even in the dimly lit garage, Luo Yu couldn’t help but admire how good-looking Gu Xiaowei was, as if heaven had blessed him with good looks.

“You still stand out quite a bit like this,” Luo Yu sighed, feeling it was hopeless to salvage the situation, “Unless you wrap yourself up like a mummy, there’s no way to cover it up.”

“Or you can just wait in the car,” Luo Yu suggested.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei raised his hand, hooked his fingers upward, removed Luo Yu’s hat, and accidentally lifted a few strands of his hair in the process.

Luo Yu instinctively leaned back, feeling Gu Xiaowei’s knuckles brush against his forehead.

Gu Xiaowei put the hat on his own head, lowered the brim, and said, “This should make me less conspicuous.”

After saying this, he reached out to smooth down Luo Yu’s disheveled hair, then, before Luo Yu could speak, he opened the car door, stepped out with long legs, and walked away.

This guy must have been cooped up for too long; going to the supermarket felt like a vacation.

Luo Yu was stunned for a second, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply. At this point, he could only go along with it.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, watching Gu Xiaowei’s back, sighing that even if Gu Xiaowei covered himself from head to toe, his figure was still striking—just the back view was enough to impress.

They entered the supermarket, Gu Xiaowei pushing a cart, with Luo Yu walking in front, one hand gripping the edge of the cart. Gu Xiaowei followed Luo Yu’s lead, pushing the cart in the direction of his strength, and they moved in sync.

Luo Yu silently rejoiced that the supermarket wasn’t crowded.

They first went to the vegetable aisle, Luo Yu picked out lettuce and arugula, and then turned to Gu Xiaowei, “What about you? Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

“Then let’s pick out some meat and fresh produce; we’ve already got enough vegetables.”

“Mm, okay.”

Luo Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a vague gaze on him, but when he looked around, he couldn’t find the source.

They arrived at the refrigerated section, where Gu Xiaowei was examining beef rolls, lamb rolls, and other hotpot ingredients. Even though they weren’t having hotpot tonight, Gu Xiaowei was very curious, picking up each item, inspecting the ingredients and expiration dates, then putting them back.

His entire face was hidden, only his eyes visible. Luo Yu hadn’t realized how the brim of the hat obscured his brow bone and the mask covered his mouth and nose. With only his eyes visible, Gu Xiaowei didn’t seem distant at all; instead, his eyes and the depth of his eye sockets conveyed a deep, affectionate vibe.

“I’m planning to make braised spare ribs tonight, and I like to add some bean paste for flavor. How about you? Are you used to this taste?”

Luo Yu brought a jar of bean paste to Gu Xiaowei, holding it up to his nose, indicating he should smell it.

Gu Xiaowei rested one hand on the cart and adjusted his mask slightly to expose his nose, turning his face slightly to smell the jar of bean paste.

“I think this flavor is quite good,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

When he straightened up, his nose seemed to lightly brush against Luo Yu’s fingertips. It was very light and a bit ticklish.

“Then let’s go with that,” Luo Yu said as he put the doubanjiang (bean paste) into the cart. Looking up, he saw that Gu Xiaowei hadn’t pulled up his mask but was instead examining the packaging date on a box of frozen red shrimp.

“Please cover up that face,” Luo Yu said, lifting Gu Xiaowei’s mask up and pinching it on his nose bridge.

“So what if they see it?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Oh, are you being cocky because there aren’t many people in the supermarket?” Luo Yu laughed. “If you’re seen, then let’s marry you off with drums and gongs.”

“Then hurry up and buy some drums and gongs.”

“Huh?”

“Since you’ve seen my face, you need to come marry me to the sound of drums and gongs,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu was momentarily speechless and gave a thumbs-up, “Wow, you’re really something.”

He couldn’t even imagine how Gu Xiaowei would behave when he first fell in love, his flirtatiousness coming so naturally and effortlessly.

“Am I really something?” Gu Xiaowei asked, resting an arm on Luo Yu’s shoulder and giving him a slight push away from the freezer. “Aren’t we supposed to be buying ribs? Let’s go buy some.”

“Okay.”

At the rib section, Luo Yu bent his head to choose packaged ribs. He noticed that Gu Xiaowei’s arm wrapped around his shoulder, and a hand was blocking his profile.

“What’s wrong?” Luo Yu’s first reaction was that they were being photographed.

“Nothing. Have you chosen the ribs?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Yeah, if we’re being photographed, let’s go back.”

“How about we buy some potatoes and beef as well?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

His tone was calm, showing no annoyance at being followed by paparazzi. Their attention didn’t affect his interest in shopping.

“Sure. Do you prefer curry flavor or braised?”

“Braised,” Gu Xiaowei said, taking off his hat and placing it on Luo Yu’s head, also adjusting the brim downwards.

“Hey, if you’re not afraid of being photographed, I’m not afraid either.”

“I don’t want that,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“Don’t want what?”

Gu Xiaowei didn’t answer but instead took the packaged beef and put it into the cart, heading towards the checkout.

Luo Yu watched Gu Xiaowei, whose air of keeping people at bay was growing stronger. He suddenly understood why Gu Xiaowei didn’t care about being followed—those who were following him didn’t dare to show themselves or get close. Since they couldn’t take any unflattering photos, Gu Xiaowei simply ignored them.

The checkout was self-service. Luo Yu scanned items one by one while Gu Xiaowei stood beside him, occasionally raising his hand to block from the side.

This meant he knew who was following and from which direction.

Luo Yu was a bit curious, and as he peeked in that direction, he was gently pushed back.

“What’s so curious? Once ‘Counterattack’ airs, you’ll get to enjoy this ‘treatment’ too.”

Luo Yu packed the items, and Gu Xiaowei said, “Let’s take the elevator down.”

In such a small elevator, if the paparazzi dared to come in, it would be a trap. Luo Yu guessed they wouldn’t be that bold.

As expected, only the two of them entered the elevator, and they returned to the car safely, not feeling any following presence, and arrived back at Luo Yu’s neighborhood.

This was Gu Xiaowei’s first visit to Luo Yu’s home. Fortunately, the living room was tidy. Luo Yu took a pair of slippers out of the shoe cabinet.

“My humble abode, don’t mind it, Teacher Gu.”

Gu Xiaowei looked around, “It’s quite nice.”

“Then make yourself comfortable and watch some TV. I’ll cook.”

“I’ll help you,” Gu Xiaowei said, taking off his jacket and rolling up the sleeves of his sweater to reveal his well-defined forearms.

Luo Yu didn’t hesitate and smiled, “Great, then could you please help with washing the vegetables?”

“Sure.”

Gu Xiaowei took the apron that Luo Yu handed him and put it on without any disdain, skillfully washing the lettuce and arugula in no time.

Luo Yu had already started cooking the ribs, while Gu Xiaowei was cutting potatoes next to him.

Just as Luo Yu put the beef and chopped potatoes into the stew pot, his phone rang.

“Sister Cui, what’s up?” Luo Yu asked while flipping the ribs.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Be honest with me. Did you go to the supermarket today?” Sister Cui’s voice had a hint of excitement.

“Yes, I bought some groceries. I’m cooking dinner tonight.”

“Who are you cooking with?” Sister Cui asked again.

“With…”

Before Luo Yu could finish his sentence, Gu Xiaowei took over the spatula, “You go to the living room. I’ll keep an eye on the fire.”

“Oh, okay, thanks.”

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In-Progress, The Kingdom That Never Sleeps

The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 040 I Like Spicy Food Part 2

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Half an hour later, they were eating the fish, rabbit, and chicken Tang Shen had released.

After the meal, Tang Shen took his leave. Surprisingly, this time Wang Zhen personally saw him off.

Under the bright moonlight, Wang Zhen in a white brocade robe looked like a celestial from the heavens. Before leaving, Tang Shen paused and asked, “Was your behavior today meant to tell me that to succeed, one must rely on their own efforts and not seek out vain things?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Wang Zhen looked at him in surprise, then turned to the steward and asked, “Did I say anything like that today?”

The steward honestly shook his head, “You did not, gongzi.”

Wang Zhen seemed to have undergone amnesia and turned back to Tang Shen, saying, “You heard him, I didn’t say that.”

Tang Shen, amused, said, “Thank you, Senior Brother. I shall take my leave.”

After a year in Shengjing, Tang Shen had known Wang Zifeng for a year.

As he judged when he first met Wang Zifeng, he was unfathomable, and Tang Shen still hadn’t figured him out. However, he gradually understood that his senior brother liked to speak indirectly. This time, he didn’t want Tang Shen to follow the other juren in releasing animals, but instead of saying it outright, he pretended to let him release them, when in truth he disliked the superstition.

In modern terms, this would be called, “Not speaking human!”

Yet, this might be what it means to be an official.

This is what it means to be an official!

Walking home, Tang Shen looked at the bright moon and sighed quietly.

On February 9th, the huishi began.

Before dawn, candidates arrived at Shengjing Examination Hall, waiting outside for a long time. Feng Bi carried a long-eared exam basket, and Yao San draped a fur coat over Tang Shen. It was still chou shi (1-3am), yet they saw the steward from the Minister Residence at the gate. Just like when Tang Shen took the xiangshi, the steward carried a long-eared exam basket.

Wang Zhen came from the Wang clan of Langya, who have access to many items even Tang Shen couldn’t buy, like non-smoking silver thread candles. After checking the contents of the long-eared exam basket, Tang Shen exchanged a few words with the steward before the imposing gates of the examination hall opened. Two rows of government officers emerged, shouting, “Candidates, enter!”

One officer finished, another continued shouting.

Twelve calls echoed, ensuring every candidate outside heard.

Tang Shen picked up his long-eared exam basket and said, “I’m going in.”

The steward said, “Tang gongzi, one more thing.”

Tang Shen stopped, “What is it?”

The steward said, “Before I came, gongzi instructed me to tell you—people remember the zhuangyuan, but rarely the huishi top scholar. Are you prepared for next month’s dianshi?”

Tang Shen was stunned. After entering the exam hall and finding his cubicle, he looked at the silver thread candle in the long-eared basket and pondered for a long time, finally saying helplessly, “Wang Zifeng, Wang Zifeng, why can’t you just say what you mean directly? Why do you have to beat around the bush? Where did you learn this bad habit!”

A zhuangyuan is renowned throughout the land, but the huiyuan is rarely remembered. 

This was Wang Zhen comforting him, indicating that even if he didn’t achieve the top spot in the huishi, he shouldn’t be too disheartened. He was also worried that Tang Shen, in his effort to achieve a good result in this examination, might exhaust himself and make mistakes, failing to even become a jinshi!

However, there was one thing Wang Zhen was right about. Tang Shen’s eyes shone with determination: “Ten huiyuan can’t compare to one zhuangyuan! This time’s huishi is filled with talent, and aiming for the top three is as hard as climbing to the heavens. What I seek is to be selected by the emperor himself in the golden throne hall and rank in the top three! The dianshi doesn’t test eight-legged essays or poetry; it only tests current affairs policy questions. At that time, argumentation is primary, while rhetoric is secondary. This is my chance!”

On the ninth of the second month, he entered the examination hall, and the topics were only revealed at midnight on the tenth. Tang Shen had already taken a nap and woke up before midnight, sitting upright in his assigned room, waiting for the officials to hand out the questions. Like him, there were thousands of other examinees. This was the huishi, the most important test of their lives. Not everyone could score high in the dianshi, but reaching the dianshi meant they had passed and it was just a matter of ranking. 

On the Mingyuan Tower, Chief Examiner Li, a Grand Secretary Li, struck the drum hard, signaling the official start of the examination. 

Tang Shen received the exam paper, took a deep breath, and opened them. 

The first question was an eight-legged essay topic: “The official from Yi requested an audience.” 

In the winter night, a cold wind blew, and all the examinees shivered and felt their hearts sink as they read the question. Even Tang Shen, upon seeing the topic, looked up towards the Mingyuan Tower. Although he couldn’t see Grand Secretary Li, the chief examiner, and the other deputy examiners standing there, he wanted to curse. 

“What shamelessness!” The examinee in the neighboring room cursed on his behalf. 

“The official from Yi requested an audience” comes from “The Analects of Confucius, Bayi,” and the original sentence is: “The official from Yi requested an audience, saying, ‘When gentlemen come to this, I have never failed to see them.’ The followers took him to see [Confucius]. When he came out, he said, ‘Why are you concerned about the loss of men? The Way of Heaven has long been without the Way; Heaven is going to use your master as a wooden tongue for a bell.'”

It means that an official from Yi heard that Confucius had arrived and requested to see Confucius. He said, “I have never failed to see every gentleman who comes here.” Confucius’ followers took him to see Confucius. After meeting Confucius, the official said to the followers, “Why are you worried about the loss of men? The world has long been without the Way, but Heaven will use your master to educate the people and restore order to the world.” 

This sentence praises Confucius’s excellent character and actions from the perspective of an outsider. 

But Grand Secretary Li, the chief examiner, chose this topic, “The official from Yi requested an audience”! 

If one connects the full text, the topic can be easily understood. However, no matter what, the essay must always revolve around the phrase “The official from Yi requested an audience.” 

An official wants to request an audience with Confucius. 

Writing an essay based on this phrase is easier said than done! 

In the examination hall of the capital, the examinees were pulling their hair out, staring at the papers, not knowing how to proceed. Grand Secretary Li had passed the imperial examinations and became a famous grand secretary, but the examinees in the examination hall were still striving for success! Giving them such an obscure topic made them curse “shameless” with some justification.

However, no matter how much they cursed, the essay still had to be written. 

Tang Shen held his pen and made some notes on the draft paper. He wrote down a few points to break down the topic but found none of them satisfactory. This kind of topic could easily lead one off course, and once off course or if an essay appeared to be disrespectful, it could mean the end of one’s chances in this year’s dianshi. 

Wang Zhen had told him to play it safe, not to aim for the first place, but to aim to pass and reach the dianshi. Only after guaranteeing that, then could he strive for ranking. 

Tang Shen bitterly thought, did Wang Zifeng know in advance that Grand Secretary Li would come up with such an obscure topic, making it easy to go off track? 

Then he thought again, that was unlikely. Because of him, Wang Zhen had already avoided any suspicion and did not become a chief examiner for this year’s huishi. 

The huishi was different from other exams. The chief examiner had to be a high-ranking official from the Palace Secretariat, and even the three deputy examiners had to be high-ranking officials from the Palace Secretariat. Wang Zhen had become a zhuangyuan at seventeen, and in the past two huishi, he had been a deputy examiner because of his insufficient qualifications and had never been a chief examiner. There were rumors that he was highly likely to be the chief examiner this year, but because his junior brother Tang Shen was participating, he had to avoid suspicion and didn’t even become a deputy examiner this time. 

Being the chief examiner of the huishi was a great achievement for any official and a milestone in their career. 

However, next time, given Wang Zhen’s qualifications, he was highly likely to become the chief examiner for the huishi three years later, with a higher probability than this time. 

After a bit of random thinking, Tang Shen sighed and continued to ponder the topic. 

An official wanted to visit Confucius and praised him after meeting him. Before meeting Confucius, he already praised Confucius as a gentleman. So “The official from Yi requested an audience,” requested an audience… What a “request”! The word “request” shows the official’s respect for Confucius and indicates that the official visited Confucius to meet a sage. 

Whether it was the official’s respect for Confucius before meeting him or his admiration after meeting him, it was all about praising Confucius’s noble character and actions. 

An official from Yi wanted to see Confucius. Who in the world wouldn’t want to see him? 

Even a thousand years later, the thousands of examinees buried in their exam cubicles writing essays also wanted to see him! 

Although it was inappropriate, Tang Shen suddenly thought of a poem: “You were born before I was born, and I was born when you were old.” 

Born at the wrong time! 

Inspiration struck him, and Tang Shen quickly wrote on the draft paper: “The official wished to see the sage and requested it. After seeing the sage, he praised his conduct. If Heaven gave birth to the sage but we couldn’t see him, we would request three times to see his sage words, seeing the sage without knowing it…” 

After breaking open the topic, Tang Shen carefully considered each sentence, polished his writing, and after two hours, finally finished the essay. 

He let out a long sigh of relief. 

The first question of the huishi was very difficult. He didn’t aim for perfection but just hoped to avoid mistakes. Tang Shen believed his essay was already quite innovative, and under the guidance of Liang Song and Wang Zhen, his eight-legged essay was always well-structured and orderly. As long as he broke open the topic correctly, there would be no mistakes. 

After resting for a while, he copied the essay onto the examination paper and then looked at the second question. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Seeing the second question, Tang Shen’s eyes widened, and he exhaled a breath, looking towards the distant Mingyuan Tower: “What shamelessness!” 

In the twenty-seventh year of Kaiping, the second question of the huishi in Shengjing was—

“Those who flee from Mohism will inevitably return to Yangism”!

TN: Neighbor Wang: What a coincidence, I also like spicy rabbit.

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In-Progress, Top Dupe

Top Dupe CH 047 Pure Color

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“Then I’ll wear it without an undershirt. You really don’t mind?” Luo Yu asked.

“Not at all.”

Luo Yu cheerfully put on the sweater. “Should I change into a pair of pants?”

“No need, it feels natural as if you’re at home.”

“Won’t it look inappropriate?”

“No, I’ll take a picture and show you.”

“Okay.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu didn’t strike a posed look but simply stood there smiling at Gu Xiaowei, then took a photo sitting on the edge of the bed, and another with one foot on the table, hugging his knee.

Gu Xiaowei took several shots, and Luo Yu immediately went over to check them.

The sweater suited Luo Yu well. Although he thought the pajama pants would look awkward, since Gu Xiaowei’s pants were silk, the combination of the sweater’s coziness and the silk’s elegance made it surprisingly fitting for him.

“I feel like you’ve made me look like a cover model for a magazine,” Luo Yu sincerely complimented.

“Hmm.” Gu Xiaowei turned his face, his breath just grazing Luo Yu’s ear. “Senior Brother has a unique charm.”

“What unique charm?” Luo Yu asked, curious about Gu Xiaowei’s way of complimenting.

“Having seen thousands of mountains and seas, you are the final chapter of my aesthetic.”

Luo Yu paused, then smiled, recognizing this line from the theme song of “Beast and Rose”. 

He was about to ask Gu Xiaowei how he knew this song, since it was released after the film, but stopped short. It would be odd if Gu Xiaowei had heard the song through some other channel, and Luo Yu knew the lyrics ahead of time.

“Teacher Gu should go out and see if the vast world is really not as beautiful as me.” Luo Yu laughed. “But thank you! It’s still because of your good taste. Remember to send me the photos; I’d like to post them on Weibo.”

“Sure.”

Luo Yu returned the sweater to Gu Xiaowei, who continued packing. Luo Yu then changed back into his own clothes and returned the silk pajamas.

“Shall I help you tidy up the things in the bathroom?”

“Sure. Just put everything in the toiletries bag,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu walked in and said while packing, “You’re really quite independent. I heard many actors need several assistants to help pack when they leave a set.”

“I don’t like others touching my things,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu paused. “Then why did you let Fang Qin stay in your room when you came to find me for the scenes?”

“To be precise, Fang Qin slept on the bed linens provided here, and I slept on the ones I brought with me,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

Luo Yu turned around and walked over to touch the bed linens. He had wondered why Gu Xiaowei’s linens were softer and felt better than those in his own room; now he realized it was because they were his own.

“But I slept on…”

Gu Xiaowei zipped up the first suitcase and replied, “You’re not ‘just anyone.’”

“Well… I just wore your sweater close to my skin…”

“I’ve worn your pajamas close to my skin as well. Is there a problem?” Gu Xiaowei countered.

Luo Yu answered, “Of course not,” feeling warm inside, as although Gu Xiaowei didn’t directly say it, every word implied “you are my own person.”

Soon, Luo Yu’s phone vibrated with a message from Gu Xiaowei, who had sent the photos.

Luo Yu looked at them and saw that they needed almost no retouching. They looked natural and had a good quality. He didn’t think much and posted them in a grid on Weibo with the caption: [Everyone needs a team member with both great taste and shooting skills!]

In less than a minute, comments had exceeded five hundred.

Comments flooded in: “Finally, not another selfie from gege,” “Today’s photos are so alluring,” “This lighting, this neckline, this room… I’m drooling,” “Gege’s gaze makes my heart race! Obsessed and crazy for you!”

Luo Yu touched his nose and asked Gu Xiaowei, “Wait, your photography style is quite serious? How did they spot anything inappropriate?”

Gu Xiaowei imitated Luo Yu’s tone, “Senior Brother, you transcend the desires of the world.”

Luo Yu laughed helplessly. “That line is my copyright and can only be used for you.”

Before long, keen-eyed fans zoomed in on Luo Yu’s eyes and vaguely identified the photographer!

Luo Yu’s comments section exploded.

[Oh my God, how does the photographer in Luo Yu’s eyes look so much like Gu Xiaowei?]

[God! Tell me this is Teacher Gu? The one who’s always serious and expressionless when not filming? He actually took pictures with his phone?]

[Luo Yu—you must have saved the universe in your past life! Quickly confess who the photographer is!]

Luo Yu stared at the comments in shock. “Do they have the eyes of the Monkey King? How did they think to zoom in on my eyes to find the photographer? I also zoomed in and only saw a silhouette. How did they recognize you from that?”

“Don’t know,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“Well… what to do? I’ll set this Weibo post to private,” Luo Yu decided, not wanting the matter to ferment online.

His casual Weibo post inadvertently rubbed off on Gu Xiaowei’s traffic.

In the thirty seconds of hesitation, Luo Yu’s anti-fans arrived, with various scornful comments starting to explode.

[Luo Yu is addicted to riding on others’ popularity? First it was He Mu, now it’s Gu Xiaowei! No shame!]

[No wonder the industry’s lowest! I zoomed in dozens of times and still didn’t recognize it as Gu Xiaowei. How did others figure it out?]

[My gege isn’t anyone’s photographer! My gege is unique. I’m taking him away immediately!]

Even He Mu, who was idle at home with no schedule, nearly blew his sheet mask off in anger when he saw Luo Yu’s Weibo. 

Initially annoyed by how Luo Yu’s photos were both classy and seductive, He Mu then lost it seeing comments guessing the photographer was Gu Xiaowei. 

How dare Luo Yu ride on Gu Xiaowei’s popularity!

Their drama had wrapped up ages ago!

He Mu wanted to tear into Luo Yu himself, but remembering his agent’s strict warnings and warnings of zero tolerance from Chairman Ou, he could only hope Gu Xiaowei’s fans would deal with Luo Yu.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei’s long-quiet Weibo suddenly had activity!

Not only did he retweet Luo Yu’s grid photos, but he also captioned it [My debut photography work].

Gu Xiaowei’s fans went wild, celebrating his debut as a photographer and began analyzing the composition and lighting of the photos, praising Luo Yu’s godly looks.

#MyDebutPhotographyWork# soared to trending.

At first, netizens didn’t know what was happening. Once they clicked through, they realized Gu Xiaowei had taken the grid photos of Luo Yu.

Several fashion magazines even retweeted and liked the photos.

Many passersby asked who the handsome guy in the photos was, noting his makeup-free look but still exuding elegance and a languid, pure charm. Several fashion magazines inquired about the model in the photos.

Gu Xiaowei’s retweet made the anti-fans of Luo Yu look embarrassed and retreat quickly.

He Mu was so furious he almost threw his phone out the window. He never expected that even after their drama had wrapped up, Gu Xiaowei would still be in touch with Luo Yu and personally take photos for him!

Luo Yu looked at his rapidly increasing Weibo followers and couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you keep giving me traffic? If this continues, I’m going to get spoiled by you…”

“Get spoiled how?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Just being picky about roles, not striving for more, and lying flat waiting for you to put me on the hot search.”

“I’d like that too, but are you willing?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice carried a hint of teasing.

“Why does it feel like your words are a bit strange?” Luo Yu squinted, thinking it over.

“This is the first time I’ve taken such serious photos for someone, and I can be seen in the reflection of your eyes, it counts as a joint photo for us. It’s quite meaningful; I don’t want you to delete it,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Right, we took a photo together. It’s not like we did anything wrong, so it’s fine to show it openly,” Luo Yu smiled.

“Senior Brother, are you helping me with the stuff in the bathroom?”

“Yes! Yes!”

Luo Yu picked up a black bottle from the sink. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be aftershave.

“Gu Xiaowei, what brand of aftershave do you use? It smells really nice.”

“Anka’s. I think the scent is called ‘pure color’.” Gu Xiaowei paused.

Luo Yu turned the bottle to read the label and instinctively read aloud, “Under the name of abstinence, performing acts of temptation…”

Gu Xiaowei’s expression darkened.

Then Luo Yu suddenly burst out laughing, as if he had discovered a treasure, and crouched beside Gu Xiaowei. “This line really suits you!”

Gu Xiaowei raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with a calm expression, “Have I… tempted you?”

Luo Yu nudged him with his shoulder, “Your very existence is a temptation to the world, okay?”

Luo Yu was never stingy with praise towards Gu Xiaowei.

But Gu Xiaowei quietly said, “I don’t want to tempt the world; being able to hold on to one person is enough.”

Luo Yu rested his chin on his hand, his eyes full of laughter. “Our Teacher Gu is so innocent… it’s just…”

“Just what?”

As Gu Xiaowei turned his face, Luo Yu’s finger hooked onto his shirt collar. “The higher you button up, the more people want to tear it open.”

“Do you want to, Senior Brother?” Gu Xiaowei asked, looking into Luo Yu’s eyes.

His eyelashes were slightly lowered, with a gentle yet passionate gaze, restrained yet hinting at uncontrollable madness.

Luo Yu lost his balance, propping himself on the ground and sitting back.

Gu Xiaowei turned his face, leaned close to Luo Yu, his breath close, and pressed his hand on the back of Luo Yu’s head. “You see, if you can’t handle my lines, don’t come over and stir things up.”

At that moment, Luo Yu’s heart raced as if a tiny spark had fallen into a peaceful field, nearly setting it ablaze.

“I won’t help you with romantic scenes again. You’re clearly a master at this!” Luo Yu stood up in annoyance, pressing the bottle of aftershave into the bag.

Gu Xiaowei, however, answered calmly, “Maybe later you’ll need my help with romantic scenes, Senior Brother.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

There would absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never be such a day.

Luo Yu turned his back to Gu Xiaowei and exhaled. It seemed he had been deceived by Gu Xiaowei from his previous life, thinking he was all serious and aloof! This guy was clearly quite good at flirting when he was younger!

When all the clothes were packed, Luo Yu helped Gu Xiaowei fold the bed linens and covers.

As they pushed three large suitcases out, Xiao Qin and Ah Yan were waiting for them.

All the luggage was loaded into an SUV, and Xiao Qin and Ah Yan got into the car.

Just as Luo Yu was about to climb in, Gu Xiaowei grabbed him by the collar.

“Senior Brother, you’re in the same car as me.”

“Huh?”

When Luo Yu turned around, he saw Gu Xiaowei sitting in the driver’s seat of a Mercedes, leaning out of the window. “Aren’t you still owing me a meal?”

Luo Yu was surprised at how serious he was about that promise. He ducked his head, smiling, and sat down next to him.

“What do you want to eat? Should I book a private room for you?”

After all, Gu Xiaowei attracted attention wherever he went.

“Can we go to a place near your place? We can cook together,” Gu Xiaowei suggested.

“Actually… I also wanted to cook for you,” Luo Yu said with a smile, surprised at how their thoughts aligned. “That way, we won’t worry about being photographed or disturbed and can talk freely.”

“Then after we go back, let’s buy groceries at a supermarket near your place.”

“You? Can you buy groceries?” Luo Yu was surprised.

With Gu Xiaowei’s fame, wouldn’t going to the supermarket cause a stir? He should have a personal assistant to handle these things, right?

Luo Yu wondered if he could even distinguish between Chinese cabbage and baby bok choy.

Gu Xiaowei replied, “Not only can I buy them, but I can also cook.”

Luo Yu laughed again. “Yes, little Classmate Gu is so impressive.”

He took out his phone to check and saw a message from Sister Cui, mostly about work.

Luo Yu then casually scrolled through the trending topics and froze. “Gu Xiaowei, why are you trending again?”

#GuXiaoweiPrincessCarry# was brightly displayed at the top of the trending list.

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Gu Xiaowei, who was driving, appeared indifferent. His influence was something others in the industry could only dream of, but he acted as if it were nothing.

Luo Yu curiously tapped on it and found a short video—Gu Xiaowei, with a calm expression, was carrying someone in his arms, while Xiao Qin was holding a black umbrella that just managed to cover the person in Gu Xiaowei’s arms, revealing only a hint of their shoes.

The protection was actually quite thorough.

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In-Progress, The Kingdom That Never Sleeps

The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 040 I Like Spicy Food Part 1

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Tang Shen had been in Shengjing for less than a year, but he had heard of the free-spirited Prince Zhao Ao.

Zhao Ao was the current emperor’s younger brother, titled Prince of Jing. By right, he should be called Prince Jing, but people called him Prince of Xiaoyao (TN: the free-spirited prince). Zhao Ao was nearly fifty, yet unlike other princes and royal offspring, this prince loved beautiful jade and jewelry, and more importantly, he liked to make connections with scholars from all over the country!

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Any talented scholar from a humble background who presented their name card at Prince Jing’s residence could receive a meal. Every three years during the imperial examinations, the top candidates from each region came to Shengjing and could even participate in a banquet hosted personally by Zhao Ao. Although called the “Top Scholar Banquet,” the guests were not limited to just the top scholars. Last month, Mei Shengze had mentioned this to Tang Shen: “If you present your name card, you can also attend the banquet this December.”

Zhao Ao held no real power, but he was still a prince.

Tang Shen had not expected that Qianli Tower was one of his establishments.

After some contemplation, Tang Shen asked, “Is it just Qianli Tower?”

Shopkeeper Lu, hearing this, gave Tang Shen a thumbs up: “Little Boss, you are insightful. Of course, it’s not just Qianli Tower. Prince Jing’s love for beautiful jade and jewelry is well known in Shengjing. Besides Qianli Tower, the largest jewelry shop in Shengjing, Autumn Hall, is also under Zhao Ao’s name, managed by Shopkeeper Xing.”

Tang Shen responded, “Fragrant incense from a jade burner, red candles weep, casting light on the hall, evoking autumnal thoughts.”. Autumn Hall, indeed, Prince Jing is quite a refined man.”

Initially, Tang Shen had asked Shopkeeper Lu to gather information about Qianli Tower to understand the restaurant business landscape in Shengjing. Knowing that the behind-the-scenes owner of Qianli Tower was Prince Jing, who also owned the largest jewelry shop in Shengjing, Tang Shen considered his next steps and told Shopkeeper Lu, “In that case, let’s put our plans on hold for now.”

Shopkeeper Lu was stunned: “Little Boss’s intention is?”

“In three months, I will be taking the imperial exams. Originally, I didn’t plan to attend the Top Scholar Banquet, but tomorrow I will present my name card and should be able to meet Prince Jing. Meanwhile, continue to maintain a good relationship with Shopkeeper Xing. We still want to do the business of boxiagong, but we shouldn’t rush. I was worried that the boxiagong business would cause other restaurants in Shengjing to become wary. Even in Gusu, our business attracted envy, and it would be even more so in Shengjing.”

Shopkeeper Lu knew that Tang Shen was referring to the incident in Gusu when Shopkeeper Wang from Ruyi Tower had hired people to falsely accuse Xixia Tower.

Tang Shen said, “We should consider this matter carefully. Starting tomorrow, go with Yao San and Accountant Lin to look around outside Shengjing. I remember most of the workshops in Shengjing are in the east of the city. Find a workshop and rent it. We have plans for it.”

Shopkeeper Lu was a shrewd man and quickly understood: “Little Boss wants to start the soap business first?”

Tang Shen smiled, “Exactly! The weather is very cold these days, so you’ll have to work a bit harder.”

“It’s no trouble, Little Boss. I understand your intentions, rest assured.”

After Shopkeeper Lu left, Tang Shen pondered for a while, then took out a piece of paper and carefully wrote a letter of introduction.

The next morning, he personally went to Prince Jing’s residence. Showing his identity as the second-place scholar of the current Shengjing xiangshi, he received a warm reception from the gatekeepers of Prince Jing’s residence. Tang Shen handed over his name card and introduction letter, and after two days, someone from Prince Jing’s residence delivered an invitation, inviting him to attend the Top Scholar Banquet on the nineteenth of December.

On the nineteenth of December, Tang Shen donned a new Confucian robe and went to Prince Jing’s residence.

Prince Jing’s residence was already filled with guests.

The huishi would be held in February next year, and most of the juren had already arrived in Shengjing to prepare for the exams. The xiangshi was held every three years, and so was the huishi. However, not every top scholar would take the huishi immediately after becoming a juren. Sometimes, they felt their knowledge was insufficient to pass the exam for official ranks, or other matters delayed them.

At Prince Jing’s residence, Tang Shen saw Liu Fang and Mei Shengze.

The three of them were jurens from the Imperial College who would be taking the huishi next year and had all met the emperor. They agreed to sit together. Mei Shengze said, “I didn’t expect you to come, Jing Ze. Why are you here?”

Liu Fang, not as familiar with Tang Shen, greeted him and then sat aside, not joining their conversation.

Tang Shen asked, “Then why are you here, Sheng Ze?”

They both laughed.

Mei Shengze pointed to a middle-aged man sitting across from them: “That man is Xiao Gong from southern Shaanxi. I’ve heard that he is a late bloomer and his essay for the xiangshi was highly praised by the chief examiner, even claiming he wasn’t qualified to judge it.”

Tang Shen pointed to a plain-looking young man sitting next to Xiao Gong: “Do you know who that is?”

Mei Shengze was puzzled: “I don’t know.”

Tang Shen said, “That’s Liu Ze, this year’s top scholar who scored higher than me!”

They both laughed heartily.

In fact, most of the jurens attending the Top Scholar Banquet were like Mei Shengze, there to observe their competitors for next year’s huishi. Tang Shen sipped his tea, discreetly glancing at the main seat in the guest hall, which was empty. Zhao Ao had not yet arrived.

After about a quarter of an hour, footsteps were heard outside the guest hall.

All the scholars stood up immediately, but it wasn’t Zhao Ao who entered, but a tall, thin young man.

This was Zhao Ao’s eldest son, Zhao Qiong, the heir apparent.

Zhao Qiong walked to the main seat and bowed to the scholars. They returned the gesture. Zhao Qiong apologized, “My father intended to come personally, but unfortunately, the emperor received an elixir and decided to take it. My father was summoned to the palace to accompany him, so I will be hosting this Top Scholar Banquet instead.”

The scholars said in unison, “We shall listen to the heir.”

Zhao Qiong raised his cup: “To all the scholars.”

The scholars replied, “To the heir.”

Tang Shen smiled wryly and took a sip of his wine.

He hadn’t been able to meet Zhao Ao!

After drinking, Zhao Qiong spoke about some interesting stories from this year’s xiangshi, gradually lightening the mood of the banquet. After a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Qiong personally saw the scholars off. As the heir apparent, he was a member of the royal family, yet he stood outside the guest hall to bid farewell to each scholar, deeply touching everyone.

When Tang Shen reached Zhao Qiong, he was about to bow when Zhao Qiong said, “Judging by your appearance, you must be only fifteen or sixteen years old.”

Tang Shen replied, “I am fifteen this year.”

Zhao Qiong smiled, “May I ask, are you Tang Shen, the second-place scholar?”

Tang Shen was a bit surprised: “Yes, I am.”

Zhao Qiong saw him off and said, “Father once mentioned Tang yayuan and Wang daren.” (TN: jieyuan=top spot, yayuan=second spot)

Tang Shen: “…”

Tang Shen had a bad feeling but still had to ask, “Is it related to my Senior Brother Zi Feng?”

“Father said that with Wang daren‘s wisdom, scholarship, and kindness, his junior brother must also be talented. Today, seeing Tang yayuan, he is indeed like Wang daren, a gentleman like jade, polished and refined.”

“…”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “Thank you for the compliment.”

When Tang Shen returned home, Shopkeeper Lu had been waiting for him all night.

Tang Shen sighed and said, “There was a last-minute change. Prince Jing didn’t come; it was Heir Zhao Qiong who came. However, as we guessed, the prince’s heir was gracious and courteous. To nurture such an heir, Prince Jing must indeed cherish the scholars of the world. For the next steps, I will rely on you, Shopkeeper Lu.”

Shopkeeper Lu said, “Please rest assured, Little Boss.”

The next day, Shopkeeper Lu brought some top-quality red coral from Jiangnan to Autumn Hall. Such exquisite red coral made Autumn Hall’s shopkeeper hesitant to handle the order alone, so he quickly invited Shopkeeper Xing from Qianli Tower. As soon as Shopkeeper Xing entered the room and saw Shopkeeper Lu, he was surprised: “Why are you here?”

Shopkeeper Lu also acted surprised: “Brother Xing, aren’t you at Qianli Tower? Why are you here?”

Shopkeeper Xing cupped his hands and smiled, “To be honest, Autumn Hall is also part of our Qianli Tower business. As the general manager, I oversee both stores. I heard you have some top-quality red coral. Is it true?”

“Brother Xing, please take a look…”

As the New Year approached, another heavy snow fell in Shengjing.

The day before New Year’s Eve, Shopkeeper Lu braved the snow to find Tang Shen. He patted the snow off his shoulder and said, “Little Boss, Shopkeeper Xing invited me to his house for New Year’s Eve dinner tomorrow. He knows I’m from Jiangnan and have no family in Shengjing, so he invited me over.”

Tang Shen thought for a moment, “Have you decided what to give as a New Year’s gift?”

Shopkeeper Lu said, “Original soap, perfumed soap, and the Golden Wisp. These things have long appeared in Shengjing, brought by traveling merchants from Jiangnan. They’re not rare, and Shopkeeper Xing also has them.”

Tang Shen smiled and said, “Tomorrow, bring a box of Golden Wisp.”

Shopkeeper Lu was surprised: “Little Boss, I just said Shopkeeper Xing already knows about the Golden Wisp and has them at home.”

“Bring a box of Golden Wisp, but don’t use the packaging from the Zhenbao Pavilion of Gusu or the Jinxiu Pavilion of Jinling. Buy a piece of jewelry from Autumn Hall, and use the Autumn Hall’s packaging to present our Golden Wisp instead.”

Shopkeeper Lu immediately understood. He cupped his hands and said, “Little Boss, you’re only fifteen this year, yet sometimes I feel that in terms of business, I’m not as good as you even though I’ve lived over thirty years!”

Tang Shen laughed, “Enough with the flattery.”

He meant that too much flattery could be counterproductive.

Shopkeeper Lu pretended not to understand, scratching his head with an innocent look.

Putting aside the soap and boxiagong business, after the New Year, Tang Shen focused entirely on studying, preparing for the huishi.

Interestingly, as the exam approached, Wang Zhen no longer made Tang Shen write an eight-legged essay every day.

Today, Tang Shen went to the Minister Residence and handed over his recent calligraphy practice to Wang Zhen. After a quick glance, Wang Zhen set it aside and asked Tang Shen, “Have you released any animals lately?”

More and more juren gathered in Shengjing. As the exam day approached, they resorted to last-minute rituals.

Reading diligently every day was one way; buying animals at the flower and bird market to release them at temples was another. The closer to the exam, the stranger the scholars’ praying rituals became. Releasing animals was normal. Today, when Tang Shen arrived at the Minister Residence, he saw two young juren bowing at the gate.

“I heard this is the residence of Wang Zifeng, praised by the emperor as the ‘peerless zhuangyuan.’ Praying to him must be effective!”

Tang Shen: “…”

By this logic, being with Wang Zifeng every day, he should become a jinshi even with his eyes closed; otherwise, how could he live up to Wang Zifeng’s reputation!

Tang Shen was silent for a moment and said, “I didn’t expect Senior Brother Zi Feng to believe in releasing animals.”

Wang Zhen: “You don’t believe?”

Tang Shen thought, I’m a staunch atheist and a true socialist successor, how could I believe in this?

Wang Zhen sighed, “Better to believe it exists than not.”

Tang Shen: “Senior Brother?” He felt Wang Zifeng was acting strangely today.

“I had the steward buy you some animals this morning. Now, we shall go release them.”

Tang Shen, puzzled, followed Wang Zhen to the backyard, where the steward was waiting with a fish, a rabbit, and a chicken.

They were well prepared!

Wang Zhen: “Take this fish.”

Tang Shen: “…” He obediently took it.

“Release it.”

Tang Shen carried the fish to the pond and gently released it. But as soon as he did, he saw the steward start scattering fish food. The fish, just freed, foolishly swam back for the food and was promptly caught by the steward.

Wang Zhen said seriously, “It seems it is destined to stay with us.”

Tang Shen: “…”

Wang Zifeng, are you insane?!

Next, Wang Zhen said, “Take the rabbit.”

Tang Shen picked up the rabbit and released it in the garden as instructed. Soon, he saw the steward and two manservants retrieve the rabbit caught in a trap. When he released the chicken, it was also caught.

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Wang Zhen sighed, “The fish, rabbit, and chicken are so attached to us; we must not let them down. Steward, cook them.”

Tang Shen interrupted, “I like it spicy.”

Wang Zhen paused, his elegant face showing a hint of surprise, and he looked at Tang Shen with a thoughtful gaze. After a moment, he turned to the steward and said, “Make it all spicy.”

Steward: “Yes.”

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In-Progress, The Kingdom That Never Sleeps

The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 039 Because I Like It

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The two were drinking tea in the flower hall when it began to rain outside. It was a sudden, heavy downpour, and the crisp sound of rain hitting the banana leaves could be heard.

Wang Zhen quietly sipped his tea, still wearing bright red official robes, clearly having come straight to find Tang Shen upon returning home. Tang Shen discreetly observed him, knowing that although his senior brother was a bit eccentric in some ways, unpredictable in behavior and difficult to understand, he seemed to harbor no ill will toward him.

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Tang Shen sighed inwardly: Wang Zifeng just liked to provoke people a little, and he would bear with it.

Tang Shen was preparing himself mentally when Wang Zhen suddenly said, “For the second session of the xiangshi, did you choose the five questions on the Book of Changes?”

Tang Shen was taken aback and sat up straight, saying, “Yes. I heard from Senior Brother Zi Feng that the chief examiner, Grand Secretary Yang, likes the Book of Changes, so I took the easy way out and wrote about it.”

“You wrote well.”

A thought flashed through Tang Shen’s mind: How do you know I wrote well?

He quickly realized that since Grand Secretary Yang and Wang Zhen served in the same court, and it wasn’t a secret in the Imperial College that he was Wang Zhen’s junior brother. Thus it was possible that Grand Secretary Yang had mentioned his essay to Wang Zhen in private.

Having accepted this idea, Tang Shen picked up his tea cup, just about to take another sip, when he saw Wang Zhen take out a thick stack of paper from his sleeve. The top of the stack had a thin layer of paste marks, and upon closer inspection, the paper contained a proficient script in the Guange style!

Tang Shen was stunned, holding the tea cup in mid-air, neither drinking nor putting it down.

Damn!

Wang Zifeng had abused his power to this extent!

He had even secretly obtained his examination papers!!!

In modern times, wouldn’t this be equivalent to taking out the college entrance exam papers to review?

As if hearing Tang Shen’s thoughts, Wang Zhen looked up and, seeing Tang Shen’s shocked expression, feigned surprise and said, “Little Junior Brother, you don’t know that xiangshi papers can be freely retrieved?”

“Huh?”

“To prevent unfairness and omissions in grading, any candidate can freely retrieve their own papers after the results are announced. The tongshi exam papers are kept at the county government office for a year; the xiangshi and huishi exam papers are kept at the examination hall for three years. Little Junior Brother didn’t know?”

Tang Shen: “…”

How was he supposed to know such things!

Since candidates could freely retrieve their own papers, it seemed less shocking that Wang Zhen could take out his papers.

Wang Zhen smiled, “Come over and take a look.”

Tang Shen hesitated for a moment before walking over and sitting down beside Wang Zhen.

The flower hall had a carved purple sandalwood Luohan chair, and by pushing the small tea table in the center to the side, it could accommodate two people sitting side by side.

The xiangshi lasted nine days, with three sessions of three days each. Tang Shen had been unable to bathe and had not rested well during the examination. Having the chance to review his own writings was not only a way to refresh his memory but also an opportunity to identify and correct any mistakes.

Tang Shen looked at the two essays he had written in the first session and realized that some sentences could have been expressed differently to better convey the original meaning and be more impressive. He noticed the review comments on his paper, which read, “The opening is exceptionally brilliant, free-flowing, with well-balanced transitions.”

One of the most grueling aspects of the xiangshi and huishi examinations for the examiners was that every essay, no matter how poorly written, required comments. The comments were usually pre-written and attached unless the essay was so outstanding that the examiner couldn’t help but personally write a comment. Most comments were pre-written and attached.

The comments on Tang Shen’s first-session exam paper were pre-attached.

However, the five essays on the Book of Changes in the second session had beautifully written cursive comments that were written personally.

Wang Zhen said, “It is said that Grand Secretary Yang wrote it himself.”

Grand Secretary Yang wrote, “The excellence of the essay grows with distance, and its robust spirit is vigorous, expressing what others cannot.”

Tang Shen nodded.

Grand Secretary Yang indeed loved the Book of Changes.

The two discussed Tang Shen’s examination papers for a while in the flower hall. Wang Zhen offered some guidance, and Tang Shen nodded frequently. When the moon rose high, Wang Zhen called the steward, “Is dinner ready?”

Steward: “It has been prepared long ago.”

Wang Zhen turned to Tang Shen, “Then stay for dinner.”

“…Okay.”

After dinner, Tang Shen bid farewell to Wang Zhen. Wang Zhen had already changed into an indigo satin robe, a color often worn by women, but on Wang Zifeng, it accentuated his graceful and handsome appearance without seeming effeminate, making him look even more elegant. Before Tang Shen left, Wang Zhen had a servant hand him a copybook.

Wang Zhen said, “Although handwriting is no longer important in the huishi since each paper is transcribed to prevent cheating.”

Tang Shen knew this as well. During the huishi, apart from anonymizing the names, the court hired xiucai with excellent handwriting to transcribe each candidate’s paper. In the end, the examiners reviewed the transcriptions, not the originals. This greatly prevented cheating in the imperial examinations.

Wang Zhen said, “Even so, good handwriting is very important.”

Tang Shen felt a bit tense, thinking Wang Zhen might open another back door for him. He hesitated for a moment and cautiously asked, “Does Senior Brother mean…”

“Because I like it.”

“…”

Wang Zhen laughed, covering his mouth with his fan, “I was joking with you. When you are selected as a candidate for the top three in the palace examination, the emperor will personally review your essay, and you will understand the benefits.”

Tang Shen returned home with a lot of unspoken words. When he opened the copybook, he found it was Wang Zhen’s own handwriting. He quickly understood: Wang Zhen wanted him to change his script!

A wise man can still make mistakes.

Previously, Wang Zhen had him learn Zhong Taisheng’s “Famen Temple Stele”, as Zhong Wei was once considered one of the top four Confucian scholars in the world, known for his strong and powerful handwriting, considered the best regular script. Many scholars learned the Zhong style because it was easy to master and looked good. However, in the palace examination, even if all the candidates wrote in Zhong style, Wang Zhen would not let Tang Shen use it.

He had prepared everything for him.

Looking at the copybook, Tang Shen felt a mix of emotions.

Wang Zifeng, as his senior brother, had indeed fulfilled the role of a teacher.

The huishi was to be held in the spring of the following year, and Tang Shen began preparing early. Unknowingly, more and more juren arrived in Shengjing. Talented scholars from all over gathered in Shengjing, preparing for the next year’s huishi.

Tang Shen stayed at the Imperial College, and even if he didn’t intentionally seek out information, classmates eagerly shared the latest news with him.

“Have you heard? The top scorer of the last xiangshi at the Jiangnan Examination Hall arrived in Shengjing yesterday and rented a house in the west of the city!”

“Is it Wang Xiao from Jinling Prefecture? I heard he is distantly related to the Wang family of Langya.”

“That’s him! He was supposed to participate in the huishi two years ago, but he said, ‘I am not confident in becoming the zhuangyuan this time,’ and gave up the exam. Now that he is in Shengjing, he must be determined to win the top spot.”

“So what, our Imperial College’s Liu Fang and Mei Shengze are not to be underestimated.”

Mei Shengze modestly cupped his hands, “You all praise me too much, but Jing Ze was also the runner-up this time, with outstanding talent.”

With one sentence, Tang Shen was pushed into the spotlight. Although he knew his friend was complimenting him, Tang Shen gave him a helpless look, blaming him for dragging him into this. Outwardly, however, Tang Shen remained calm and said, “I don’t dare to think about being the zhuangyuan; let’s just pass the exam first!”

Becoming the zhuangyuan at sixteen?

That would be even more shocking than the “Peerless Zhuangyuan Wang Zifeng“!

Not only had Tang Shen not considered such a thing, but none of the students at the Imperial College thought Tang Shen could become the top scorer.

Time quickly passed, and soon it was winter.

Tang Shen was at home writing and reading. It had snowed heavily the day before, and the Imperial College was on a three-day break, so Tang Shen stayed home to study. He took a sip of tea when he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The wooden door creaked open, and Shopkeeper Lu patted the snow off his coat as he entered.

“Heh, this snow is really heavy. Little Boss, Shengjing is so cold, unlike our Gusu Prefecture where it never snows like this!”

Tang Shen smiled and pointed to the brazier in the center of the room, “Go warm yourself by the fire.”

Shopkeeper Lu immediately went to the brazier and warmed himself. “That’s much better. Little Boss, I went to Qianli Restaurant again this afternoon.”

Tang Shen put down his brush and looked up at him with a serious expression. “What happened?”

Shopkeeper Lu said, “There is both good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”

Tang Shen replied, “Tell me both.”

Since Tang Shen didn’t give him any leeway, Shopkeeper Lu had no choice but to continue. He said helplessly, “The good news is that Qianli Restaurant is the largest restaurant in Shengjing. Besides it, there are 321 restaurants in Shengjing, none of which provide boxiagong services. In fact, none have ever offered boxiagong services!”

This meant that Shengjing was a large and untapped market!

Tang Shen’s eyes lit up. He then asked, “What’s the bad news?”

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Shopkeeper Lu said, “Originally, I just wanted to find out how to do restaurant business in Shengjing. But after contacting Shopkeeper Xing of Qianli Restaurant, I discovered something. Little Boss, do you know who stands behind Qianli Restaurant?” Without waiting for Tang Shen to respond, Shopkeeper Lu sighed, “It turns out to be the free-spirited prince, the Sixth Prince Zhao Ao!”

AN: Little Boss Tang: Actually, my senior brother is very good to me, I know that. It’s just that he… likes to tease people! I just endure it. By the way, why is my senior brother so good to me?

Old Neighbor Wang: Raising a kid is actually quite fun.

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In-Progress, Top Dupe

Top Dupe CH 046 Playing With Fire Part 2

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“Xiao Qin really knows our tastes. Every time, she orders exactly the dishes I want to eat,” Luo Yu said, breaking his chopsticks and taking a bite of the chili pepper chicken.

Gu Xiaowei, however, rested his chopsticks and looked over. “Senior Brother, shouldn’t you tell me about Jiang Yunxie?”

“Jiang… Jiang Yunxie… he’s been taken in, hasn’t he? Haha…”

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For some reason, under Gu Xiaowei’s gaze, Luo Yu felt guilty.

Even though this guy was eight or nine months younger than him.

“Was his liquor any good?” Gu Xiaowei asked again.

“Of course his liquor wasn’t good…” Luo Yu said slowly, feeling like he was being caught in a lie.

How did Gu Xiaowei know about this? When he came to pick him up, they didn’t talk about it on the way, which meant he had just found out.

“I saw you drinking quite happily,” Gu Xiaowei’s gaze sharpened, making Luo Yu even more uneasy.

Who had told Gu Xiaowei? The news was well managed by Jiang Yinchuan, keeping it unrelated to him in the public eye.

Could it be Xie Chang? No, no, Xie Shang wouldn’t discuss this with anyone else.

“How did you know?” Luo Yu asked quietly.

“First, tell me, do you know what kind of person Jiang Yunxie is?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Uh… he shouldn’t be interested in someone like me,” Luo Yu thought back to Wen Zhilan, who had been by Jiang Yunxie’s side that day.

“Jiang Yunxie isn’t blind,” Gu Xiaowei said coldly.

Luo Yu suddenly didn’t know whether to be grateful for Gu Xiaowei’s recognition or not.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t suffer any losses that day. He didn’t even touch a single strand of my hair.”

“Alright, Senior Brother, tell me the truth so I can judge if you really didn’t suffer any losses.”

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you—just stop looking at me like that, like you’re interrogating a criminal!”

Luo Yu didn’t explicitly explain how he knew Jiang Yunxie was plotting against him and Jiang Yinchuan, just mentioned that someone had tipped him off, then described the situation at the scene, including how Jiang Yunxie was at a loss when he pretended to be sick, painting a vivid picture.

But Gu Xiaowei didn’t seem to relax. Instead, his frown deepened, and by the time Luo Yu finished, a bone-chilling coldness had filled his eyes.

“Hu Wei actually dared to set you up like that?”

“Well, he’s locked up now,” Luo Yu said, picking up some minced pork eggplant.

“Since Jiang Yinchuan didn’t drink the spiked tea, why did Jiang Yunxie still insist on drinking with you? He still wanted to get you drunk. Did you ever think about why?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Take down one first, then find a way to take down Jiang Yinchuan. If a cup of tea didn’t work, he’d serve Jiang Yinchuan a bowl of soup,” Luo Yu said, picking up some garlic-stir-fried water spinach.

Dude, can we stop talking about Jiang Yunxie? There’s so much good food here, discussing this scumbag is just asking for indigestion.

“Jiang Yunxie wasn’t planning on giving you to Jiang Yinchuan for free. If he got you drunk, he’d take you home himself.”

As Gu Xiaowei said this, Luo Yu nearly became the first actor to choke to death on garlic-stir-fried water spinach.

“Me? He’s interested in me? Impossible!” Luo Yu stood up, spun in a circle in front of Gu Xiaowei. “Aren’t I manly? My fists are tough enough—I could knock him out with one punch! Besides, he likes those bright and stunning types… Am I bright and stunning?”

Gu Xiaowei coldly replied, “You’re more than bright and stunning—you’re absolutely breathtaking.”

Luo Yu couldn’t take it anymore and shoved him a big piece of rib. “Enough. I’ll call you ‘big brother,’ just stop, okay? Anyway, whether Jiang Yunxie likes bright and stunning types or absolutely breathtaking ones, now he’s got nothing but tears behind bars. Hu Wei is done for as well.”

“Thanks to Hu Wei, Zhuque Media is also facing widespread criticism,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Yeah, it’ll be tough for them to operate for a long time,” Luo Yu smiled. “I wonder who Bo Wenyuan is begging for help now? Hey, wait, you still haven’t told me how you knew I went to Jiang Yunxie’s dinner.”

Gu Xiaowei closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. “I read Xie Chang’s lips when she was talking to you, and combined with the recent headlines, I figured it out.”

Luo Yu immediately showed an expression of admiration, “So you can read lips too? That’s really amazing.”

“Eat,” Gu Xiaowei said softly. “After you finish eating, take a good look at the movie script Director Lin gave you.”

Luo Yu paused, “What did you just say? A movie script?”

His two TV dramas hadn’t even aired yet, and now Lin Yue was giving him a movie script?

This was something countless actors dreamed of—getting a chance to appear on the big screen.

“The movie is called ‘Beast and Rose’. Director Lin recommended me to play the male lead, a modern painter named Lu Pingfeng.”

Luo Yu froze, “What did you say? ‘Beast and Rose’?”

“It sounds like a romance, but it’s actually a suspense film.”

“I… I know it’s a suspense film. I want to ask you, have you read the script? Do you… do you want to play Lu Pingfeng?” Luo Yu asked cautiously.

Gu Xiaowei looked over seriously, “I really like this character. But I would prefer if you could play the role of the forensic assistant, Wen Yuchi.”

Luo Yu was stunned.

In his previous life, Gu Xiaowei played the male lead in this movie, while the role of forensic assistant Wen Yuchi was directly given to He Mu without an audition, as Dijun Media was one of the investors.

The entire story revolves around a modern painter named Lu Pingfeng.

His style is filled with decay, struggle, and cold death, making his works highly appealing to collectors due to their strong visual impact and emotional resonance.

However, some psychologists speculated that Lu Pingfeng had antisocial personality traits and a strong criminal inclination, which added a layer of mystery to his paintings, causing their value to skyrocket and making them highly sought after.

After Lu Pingfeng’s latest painting was auctioned for an eight-figure sum, a series of murders occurred, with the victims’ final forms resembling Lu Pingfeng’s previous paintings, making him the prime suspect.

Forensic assistant Wen Yuchi, through his analysis of the victims’ bodies, worked with Lu Pingfeng to unravel the truth.

In his past life, Luo Yu had a deep impression of Gu Xiaowei’s performance in this film. He vividly portrayed Lu Pingfeng’s gloominess and self-doubt, restraint and indulgence, and the fine line between reality and madness.

When Luo Yu first saw Lu Pingfeng on screen, his immediate reaction was that this man was a wandering soul who appreciated death, seemingly in control of everything, but actually waiting for a ray of light to shine through.

On the other hand, He Mu’s portrayal of Wen Yuchi was much like his previous performances in school dramas—always smiling brightly, steadfast in his belief that Lu Pingfeng was not the killer, and constantly using his expertise to prove Lu Pingfeng’s innocence. He tried his best to present a clean and determined image.

But unfortunately, in Luo Yu’s view, He Mu’s performance was too superficial, reminiscent of the old trope of a kind and strong female lead saving the male lead, lacking depth and failing to match Gu Xiaowei’s acting.

Simply put, Gu Xiaowei had already sunk to the depths of the ocean, while He Mu was still floating on the surface.

Because his co-star wasn’t on the same level, Gu Xiaowei had to carry the performance himself.

After the film was completed, Gu Xiaowei took over two years off, reportedly due to difficulty in coming out of character, requiring extensive psychological counseling and therapy.

It was during Gu Xiaowei’s recovery that Luo Yu restarted his career in stage plays.

Both of them had gone through very challenging times.

“Alright, I will study this script carefully,” Luo Yu said.

“You can take a look at it first. The screenwriter is Xia Tan. Her movie scripts are always very dynamic in terms of character interactions. But she mentioned to me that she’s not satisfied with this version of the story. So, for now, just use the structure as a reference. When it comes time for the actual audition, you should receive the latest version of the script.”

Luo Yu frowned, “Are you sure there will still be an audition? Dijun Media will probably invest, and at that point, they’ll just cast… cast whoever they want to promote from their company.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, his brow slightly furrowed, “Where did you hear that? I only heard that Honghe Film and Television is still looking for partners. The company I’m with, Xinghan Films, will be investing in this movie. Dijun Media is still in negotiations, but Honghe Film and Television may not agree to their terms. After all, Honghe Film and Television took a huge hit when Jiang Yunxie’s scandal caused their stock to plummet. They may not be able to accept Dijun Media’s revenue-sharing demands.”

Luo Yu was taken aback. He had only changed Jiang Yunxie’s fate, yet so many things seemed to be shifting, including the possibility that the crucial supporting role of Wen Yuchi might no longer belong to He Mu.

If a more talented actor took on the role, it might actually be a good thing for Gu Xiaowei.

After they finished lunch, Gu Xiaowei took Luo Yu to chat with Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua.

Perhaps because Luo Yu had a history of skipping auditions, Lin Yue repeatedly urged him to make sure he attended the audition if he received an invitation.

“Even though Director Sheng Yunlan is very well-known, and the first thought is that he’ll cast famous actors for important roles in his films, that’s not always the case. Any good director cares more about whether an actor fits the role, especially on the big screen. Having box office appeal is one thing, but any strengths or flaws in an actor’s performance are magnified on the big screen. So, screen presence is crucial,” Lin Yue said seriously.

“Director Lin, trust me. I’ll give this opportunity my all.”

“Good.” Lin Yue finally relaxed and patted Luo Yu on the shoulder. He really treated Luo Yu like both a mentor and a friend.

They talked about many scripts and characters, from historical dramas to modern detective stories, from powerful officials to ordinary people. Luo Yu had many ideas and concepts that aligned with Lin Yue’s. Lin Yue kept unscrewing and screwing back his thermos, talking the whole time without even remembering to take a sip of tea.

When they returned to the room, Gu Xiaowei began packing his luggage.

He had been living there for almost three months, spanning two seasons. He had three large pieces of luggage, which was considered minimal for an actor entering a film set.

As Gu Xiaowei started taking clothes out of the wardrobe, Luo Yu curiously walked over and began taking them one by one.

“All your clothes have a great texture but are very understated,” Luo Yu thought to himself, admiring Gu Xiaowei’s sense of style.

Most of these were casual clothes, not ones styled by a designer.

“Do you like them?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice suddenly sounded close to his ear.

He moved closer, and although there was still some distance between them, it felt as if he was about to brush against Luo Yu’s cheek. Through the air, Luo Yu caught the scent of his aftershave, crisp and cool like frost in the snow.

His other hand reached around Luo Yu’s shoulder, as if to pull him into an embrace.

Before Luo Yu could react, Gu Xiaowei’s hand grabbed the tie hanging on the rack and began adjusting it.

“I really like your style,” Luo Yu said.

“Do you want to try it on?” Gu Xiaowei asked again.

“Haven’t you already cleaned this?”

“It doesn’t matter. I really want to see you in this sweater.” Gu Xiaowei picked one up and lightly pressed it against Luo Yu.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“This one?” Luo Yu looked down at it. It was one of the warmer-toned pieces in Gu Xiaowei’s wardrobe, which piqued Luo Yu’s interest. “Since you want to see it, I’ll try it on for you.”

With that, Luo Yu turned around and took off his pajamas. Just as he was about to find the undershirt Xiao Qin had brought back, freshly dried, Gu Xiaowei said, “The neckline on this one is pretty wide, so the undershirt might show.”

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