Chapter Twenty-Two: Zhou Ziheng’s Embarrassed Search for a Restroom

Due to limited conditions, only Yu Tang and Xie Yi’s rooms were relatively luxurious; everyone else had compact duplex apartments with two bedrooms and a living room. Some, like Zhou Ziheng's group, had just one shared bathroom for two people.

So, the moment Zhou Ziheng returned to his room and saw someone occupying the bathroom, he felt as if the sky had collapsed.

Clutching his stomach, his gold-rimmed glasses barely hanging onto his nose, Zhou Ziheng looked weak and pale. “Youran, are you almost done?”

Xiang Youran was still squatting in the bathroom. “Almost!”

Damn it, she had no idea what she’d eaten to cause this; she’d been having diarrhea ever since a short while ago. In between the cramps, her mind began to wander. She couldn’t quite recall what triggered the thought, but her expression suddenly stiffened.

Shit, could it be that damned string bean?

She vaguely remembered a similar scene in her previous life. Back then, Yu Tang’s group had served up string beans that were completely uncooked and, enthusiastically sharing them, managed to send everyone to the hospital.

She had been so careful this time—hadn’t touched anything Yu Tang handed her—so why was she still about to end up in the hospital?

Frustrated, Xiang Youran closed her eyes.

Zhou Ziheng waited outside for ages, but Xiang Youran still didn’t emerge. Unable to hold it in, he bolted for the door, deciding he’d just borrow someone else’s bathroom, as long as it was faster.

He hadn’t expected, though, that as soon as he stepped out, he’d run into the filming director lugging a massive camera.

The director’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhou Ziheng. “Hey, Mr. Zhou! You’re still awake? Would you mind greeting the viewers in our livestream?”

Bai Yang had sent him out at noon to chat with the guests, but he hadn’t had the nerve to knock on anyone’s door. Now, seeing Zhou Ziheng was like seeing a savior descend from heaven.

Ignoring Zhou Ziheng’s obvious distress, the cameraman hoisted the heavy camera and took off after him.

Clutching his stomach, Zhou Ziheng hurried along, while the cameraman chased him with the camera. The viewers in the livestream were thoroughly entertained.

[This is hilarious—Zhou Ziheng looks awful.]
[Maybe the cameraman startled him?]
[I think our guy just isn’t feeling well…]
[Come on, he’s as strong as an ox—how could he not be healthy?]
[Seriously, some people are too blinded by their filters.]
[Still, I feel like Zhou Ziheng is acting a little odd.]
[What do you know? Our Ziheng is an actor, not some idol. He doesn’t have to obsess over his image.]

Zhou Ziheng had no idea what they were thinking. He only knew that if he didn’t find a restroom soon, disaster was imminent. He knocked on the nearest door he could find.

When the door opened, Shen Tianshi stared at him with a look that could curdle milk.

“What do you want?” Shen Tianshi had never been courteous to anyone.

“Could I borrow your bathroom for a moment?” Zhou Ziheng could barely stand straight, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead, his voice trembling.

Shen Tianshi’s face darkened, and he snapped, “Get lost, I don’t like men,” slamming the door in his face like he was dismissing a beggar.

Stunned, Zhou Ziheng called out, “I’m serious—I’m not joking…”

He knocked again, but the door stayed closed.

Behind him, the cameraman was still filming, grinning when Zhou Ziheng glanced back. Zhou Ziheng frowned impatiently, but quickly replaced it with a gentle, fragile smile when he realized he was on camera.

It was useless, though. The hashtag “Zhou Ziheng throws a diva fit” quickly shot up the trending charts, sparking heated discussion in the barrage of comments.

[Wait, he got pissed off just like that?]
[Turns out he just wanted to use the bathroom—this is killing me, how pitiful.]
[Shen Tianshi is so rude! Can’t he just speak like a normal person?]
[Why does Shen Tianshi’s expression look so familiar?]
[Of course it’s familiar! We just saw the exact same look on Yu Tang’s face a moment ago (wipes sweat)]
[See? The best chemistry is between our favorite duo!]

After being rebuffed by Shen Tianshi, Zhou Ziheng kept moving, eventually arriving at Lu Zhiming’s room, the cameraman trailing him like a shadow.

Lu Zhiming opened the door from inside. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and black cargo pants, his cropped hair falling neatly over his forehead, giving him a fresh, energetic look.

Seeing Zhou Ziheng at the door, Lu Zhiming raised an eyebrow. “Looking for me?”

Zhou Ziheng nodded, clutching his stomach. “Yes, could I borrow your bathroom?”

Lu Zhiming stepped aside to let him in. “Left-hand side. Go ahead.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhou Ziheng rushed inside.

Lu Zhiming’s face remained impassive. When he noticed the cameraman standing at the door, he assumed he’d come with Zhou Ziheng.

With polite composure, he invited, “Would you like to come in and have a seat?”

[Go! You have to go in!]
[Aaaah, even Lu Zhiming has invited you—if you refuse, you’re just being difficult!]
[You can tell he’s got nothing to hide. If he did, no way would he let anyone inside.]
[Exactly! Lu Zhiming is just that open.]
[Lol, only Lu Zhiming could be so courteous.]

As the camera panned, it was immediately clear that even the cameraman couldn’t bring himself to refuse Lu Zhiming’s invitation.

The camera followed Lu Zhiming indoors, where he leisurely invited the cameraman to sit and brewed tea for him.

Under the lights, his thin T-shirt was faintly translucent, and it seemed as if his lean waist could be glimpsed right through the fabric.

[My god, he’s so handsome.]
[Damn, that waist is killing me!]
[I’m sorry, I’m climbing this wall first!]
[Even in these dreary lands, some irresistible man is always coming for me.]
[Don’t worry, I’m not even waiting for you to seduce me—I’ll find my way there just by the scent (sniff sniff).]

Bai Yang had been surreptitiously monitoring the live chat, and only when he saw these wild, unrestrained comments did he finally let out a satisfied laugh.

Looks like Lu Zhiming’s popularity is nothing to scoff at…

He immediately began plotting how to fully capitalize on it.

Before he could finish scheming, his own dressing room door was thrown open in a hurry.

“Director! Bad news!”

Bai Yang’s expression turned stern. “Pah! What bad news? Everything’s fine!”

“Oh, right, everything’s fine!” Yu Tang quickly echoed.

Now satisfied, Bai Yang narrowed his eyes. “Alright, what did you want to say?”

Yu Tang scratched her head, looking innocent. “It seems one of the guests has an upset stomach and needs to go to the hospital. I’ve already called an ambulance.”

Bai Yang’s eyes widened like saucers, and he immediately sprang to his feet. “What?!”