Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

Xu Qingyan was bewildered for a long time. Were dining companions really that important?

Yet, after some thought, he always felt that Pei Muchan was somewhat trying to "paper over the cracks." It wasn't about eating, perhaps because she didn't want the established state of her life to be disrupted.

During his school days, he had seen many girls of this type; they would go to the restroom hand in hand with their best friends, eat meals only with their dining companions, and even take baths together.

Once there was a falling out or if the other person's circumstances changed, the one who was more reliant on this state would surely be affected, as if they had broken up.

Ultimately, it was all due to a lack of security.

Some people like to walk the same path, eat at the same restaurant every day, and have a life that doesn't change. Once they get used to a certain state, they fear it being disrupted.

He guessed that Pei Muchan was probably in such a state; after all, he had seen her always moving about solo. Half a year ago, she was even cooped up alone in a dark room, depressed.

Could Pei Muchan be depending on him... it wasn't an impossibility, considering he had accompanied her to work and shared meals with her almost every day for the past two months.

"It's hard to say right now, I can't stay in Xinghai for many days," Xu Qingyan laid out the facts first, "this situation might have to continue until after the Spring Festival."

"Mhm," Pei Muchan, sitting on the sofa, looked down.

He always did this, first clarify what he couldn't do, then propose a workaround. For example, this thing in principle can't be done, but...

"But it's already late autumn, and winter is coming soon," Xu Qingyan leaned on the opposite side of the sofa, his fingers lightly tapping the back of it.

The orange light of the living room was warm, casting a glow over his delicate features.
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"I've heard that winter in Chang'an is beautiful, with snow falling on the Chang'an roads."

"I'll wait for you in Chang'an while you work on your album. When you're nearly done writing the songs, and I have some free time, how about I take you there for a trip?"

He never changed his plans for someone else's sake, nor would he say, "Then I won't go," or "You should find another dining companion."

That's simply being tongue-tied, deliberately creating conflict.

Or rather say, "I'll video call you every day," "I'll come back to see you whenever I have a day off," "I'll order meals for you," "It'll be fine after the new year."

Such words said were as good as unsaid, instead of saying such vague things better to say, "Be my girlfriend." Or, there's no better day than today.

Let's perform the wedding ceremony today.

Xu Qingyan looked further ahead; he knew very well what kind of person Pei Muchan liked. Definitely not the gentle, delicate homebody content with a quiet life tending to the household's needs.

He didn't want to be trapped in Xinghai, which would only become a shackle to each other, slowly killing the freshness between them. Maintaining the status quo stems from the fear of loss, and the deeper contradiction lies in a sense of crisis.

The solution was simple: set a higher goal.

Pei Muchan glanced at him, then lowered her eyes again. Her slow-reacting manner was somehow cute, as if she was chewing over the words he had just said.

"Winter is far, isn't it?"

"In just over a week, it will be the start of winter; we don't have much time," Xu Qingyan continued, "You concentrate on your album, after the start of winter it's a countdown."

"We've almost eaten our way through the restaurants in Xinghai, don't you want to change to a new food map?"

Pei Muchan pursed her lips and nodded.

"Will you take me?"

"Of course, Chang'an is much more fun than Xinghai," he nodded, "but you have to finish your album first. I remember you've only started on your second song, right?"

At this, Pei Muchan suddenly sat up straight, sounding somewhat guilty.

"I've already written half of it."

"Isn't that procrastination?" Xu Qingyan felt sheepish, he had found the right rhythm to the conversation, and sat down on the sofa, "With this progress, when will you finish three songs?"

"Can a singer's work really be called dragging?" she retorted.

After chatting for a while, Pei Muchan's mood had visibly improved a lot; their conversation had been effective.

He said that winter in Chang'an was beautiful, and he wanted to go see it with her. To some extent, he had set an expectation, a positive and upward-looking one.

Xu Qingyan gets days off every month; he will definitely return to Xinghai. He couldn't miss the satellite venue for the Spring Festival Gala, but Pei Muchan could go to Chang'an after completing her album.

True romance is not about giving up something for someone, but about taking them into a bigger world. The focus is not on staying or going, but on the assurance that I will be waiting there for you.

Even if we are mayflies, I still wish to show you the vast azure sky.

He glanced at the time and stood up.

"All right, I should head back now."

Pei Muchan also stood, uttered a hum, and escorted him to the door. She leaned against it, her fingers clutching the door frame, hesitating for a few seconds before speaking in a low voice.

"About tonight... "

"Don't worry, I can forget it all with a good sleep," Xu Qingyan gave her an OK sign, said solemnly, "Finish your songs, and let's go to Chang'an to see the snow together."

"Mhm."

"Okay, then I'm off," Xu Qingyan waved his hand, "It's late, you don't need to see me out; I'll message you when I get home."

"Mhm," Pei Muchan watched him turn to leave, then called out to him.

"What is it?" He showed not a trace of impatience.

Since that afternoon, Pei Muchan had noticed another conspicuous strength in him. His emotions were as still as deep waters, not stirred by external factors, stable as an abyss.

Her voice was slightly hoarse, a bit rough, and carried a hint of desperation.

"Can I have a hug?"

Xu Qingyan was taken aback for a moment; this was the first time she had initiated a hug. The previous two times, she had just suddenly hugged him when she was upset; it wasn't serious.