The Night He Reached for the Stars

Xie Zhaozhou looked at her with dark, unfathomable eyes.
When her emotions calmed slightly, he spoke without any trace of emotion.
Actually, you wish it had been me who died.

Liao Yanwan’s whole body trembled.
She looked up and met his gaze.

Xie Zhaozhou knew Liao Yanwan had always resented him.
Because three years ago, Old Master Xie had originally wanted him to accompany him on the business trip.
But he was on a film set at the time, so it was changed to Xie Sui.

Then Xie Sui died in the car accident that night.

…Today is your elder brother’s birthday,
Liao Yanwan’s tears fell again, but she didn’t answer him.
She continued as if to herself.
On your brother’s birthday, you let Yaoyao go with that…

She bit her lip.
A lifetime of upbringing prevented her from saying anything too harsh about Ning Shixue.
But that moment of silence itself was more contemptuous than any words could be.

After a pause, Liao Yanwan continued,
You let him take Yaoyao out, and Yaoyao gets bullied. Do you even know?

Xie’s father stood nearby, his face dark, silent.

Xie Zhaozhou waited for her to finish before replying, seemingly avoiding the question.
Today is also my birthday.

He was eleven years younger than Xie Sui, but they shared the same birthday.

When he was little, Xie Sui was abroad with Xie’s father and Liao Yanwan.
Every year, Liao Yanwan would throw a birthday party for Xie Sui.
It wasn’t until late at night, after the party was completely over, or even the next day, that she would suddenly remember him.

Then she would call him and awkwardly say,
Sorry, Xiaozhou, Mama was too busy yesterday. But your gift has already been sent. You should get it in a few days.

Xie Zhaozhou no longer cared about such things.
He just found it absurd that Liao Yanwan had called him back for this reason.

Hearing his words, Liao Yanwan’s whole body stiffened.
She had indeed forgotten Xie Zhaozhou’s birthday.
But Xie Sui was dead.
Xie Zhaozhou insisted on raising Xie Yaoyao and couldn’t even take good care of him.
Her eyes were red, her gaze still full of resentment.

Xie Zhaozhou’s brow was cold as he looked at her and said,
As for Ning Shixue and Xie Yaoyao, what they want to do doesn’t require my permission, nor does it require yours.

Liao Yanwan trembled with rage and collapsed onto Xie’s father, crying bitterly.
Xie Zhaozhou ignored her.

He got in his car and left the old residence.

He had originally intended to go to the company.
But He Lin messaged him, saying they should go out for a drink after the show finished filming.
Xie Zhaozhou didn’t really feel like going to a bar…
But his cold, slender fingers resting on the steering wheel still turned towards the seaside.

When he arrived at the seaside, the variety show was already more than half done.

Xie Zhaozhou didn’t look for He Lin.
He found a spot out of the camera’s view, where no one else was around, and sat down.

–

Xie Yaoyao watched intently as the guests from the other show bounced around.
They all flew up into the air.
With the dazzling lights along the coast at night, it looked like they were flying to the sky.

They’re so amazing,
He Miao exclaimed beside him.
I want to play too.

Xie Yaoyao had stopped crying.
He blinked a few times, then snuggled back against Ning Shixue.
Pointing at the plush stars hanging at the finish line, his milky voice still hoarse, he said,
I want that one.

Ning Shixue: “…”

That really was like plucking stars from the sky.

The director finally saw an opportunity.
He hurried over, pitching his voice high, and said,
Uncle will go get it for you later. No, I’ll get as many as you want! I can get them all for you!

Anyway, the valuable things were the final prizes inside.
Those stars were just decorations.

…I not want,
Xie Yaoyao burrowed back into Ning Shixue’s arms, his little face pressed against Ning Shixue’s chest.

He didn’t like this uncle anymore.
He didn’t want his stars either.

Ning Shixue thought for a moment, then looked down and asked,
Want me to get one for you?

Xie Yaoyao immediately perked up like a puppy.

Ning Shixue discussed it with the director.
The program team had originally planned to let their guests play this game too.
Since Ning Shixue wanted to go now, of course the director had no objections.

But they had to go in pairs.

Tang He’an raised his hand.
I’ll go with him.

You stay with Jiejie Miaomiao for a bit,
Ning Shixue instructed Xie Yaoyao.

Xie Yaoyao nodded eagerly.

Ning Shixue and Tang He’an were the last to go.
Xie Zhaozhou looked up from the audience, and his gaze paused.

Leave it to me,
Tang He’an told Ning Shixue before they started.
I’ll grab it for Yaoyao.

He didn’t think Ning Shixue stood a chance against him, and neither did He Lin.
With Ning Shixue’s skinny arms and legs, he probably couldn’t even outrun Ji Qing.

Ning Shixue said nothing.

Night fell.
The seaside bonfires burned even brighter.
Tang He’an took off running, but was surprised to find Ning Shixue right on his heels.
He couldn’t help turning his head in amazement.

Ning Shixue’s face gradually paled after only a few steps, losing all color.
But his speed wasn’t slow.
No matter how weak this body was, he was still a young man in his early twenties.

But Tang He’an, with his background as a stunt double, found this task too easy.
He quickly left Ning Shixue behind.

Xie Yaoyao’s eyes sparkled.
When Ning Shixue reached the trampoline, he started bouncing too, as if that would make Ning Shixue jump higher.

The soft hair on his head stood up.

Little Ning Gege is so amazing!
He Miao also jumped up to cheer for Ning Shixue, her little pigtails swinging.

It didn’t matter how Uncle Tang did.
Little Ning Gege was the best.

He Lin covered his face in heartache.

Tang Haohao was already shouting excitedly.
Even Ji Xiao softly called out a ‘jia you’ (加油/come on).

The other dating show program team had invited many random audience members.
The scene felt like a real competition, very noisy.
But the kids’ voices were too loud, and Ning Shixue still heard them.

Ning Shixue: “…”

Instant social death.

Ning Shixue immediately ran a little faster, trying to leave the embarrassment behind.
He even overtook Tang He’an during a segment climbing a fishnet.

Tang He’an grew increasingly astonished.

He felt a dissonance in Ning Shixue.
He even wanted to say… Ning Shixue seemed to have very good physical skills.

Ning Shixue was wearing those cut-out jeans again tonight.
He had no choice.
The original host’s pants either showed off his thighs or his butt.
He had to choose the ones that showed his waist.

As he climbed the ropes, his long legs stepped on the climbing holds below.
His pale, supple waistline was exposed.

His skin was excessively fair, that kind of pale that never saw the sun.
Under the moonlight, it even had a faint, soft glow.

[Oh no, so envious of Yaoyao. He can hug my wife’s waist anytime.]

[You can’t blame me for being lewd now, right? Who could resist? Drooling.jpg]

[Sniff, wifey is so hot, hiss.]

Tang He’an still beat him by a step.
But Ning Shixue, bracing his hands on the platform, flipped up with a clean, beautiful motion.
He had an extra measure of ease compared to Tang He’an.
Even though his face was already as pale as snow, it seemed effortless.

When jumping from the high platform to grab the stars, water jets would periodically spray up to interfere with the contestants.

It was embarrassing to admit, but Tang He’an was very afraid of water.
In the second he hesitated, Ning Shixue moved.
He lunged, grabbed a plush star, hugged it to his chest, and fell.

Like a crescent moon falling into water.

The previous contestants had also fallen like this.
Below were inflatable mats, perfectly safe.

Why can’t we see them?
He Miao asked curiously.

The kids were too short.
Their view was blocked.
They could only see the contestants fall, not where they landed.

Xie Yaoyao didn’t know either.
But that didn’t stop him from bouncing every time someone fell, his fair face flushed.

But the moment Ning Shixue fell, he watched him disappear.
Tears suddenly welled up in his already sore eyes.
He Lin almost couldn’t hold him back.

Daddy, my daddy fell down,
Xie Yaoyao’s milky voice instantly carried a sob.

He couldn’t find Ning Shixue anywhere.
A huge panic seized him.
He lifted his chubby little hands to wipe his tears, but they wouldn’t stop, blurring his vision.
He couldn’t find Ning Shixue at all.

Xie Yaoyao was almost hysterical with crying.
He leaned against the railing, his chubby face pressed into the bars, tears splashing onto his cheeks.
He refused to let anyone hold him.
My daddy down there.

Ning Shixue also hadn’t expected this body to be so weak.
For a moment after falling, his mind went blank.

His vision went dark for a second.
Lying on the soaked mat, he was too dizzy to stand up.
His heart felt like a dead weight in his chest.

Xie Zhaozhou’s dark eyes were hidden in the night.
From his position, he could just see Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue didn’t know where Xie Yaoyao was.
His fingertips were pale and cold, already stiff.
He could only raise his hand and wave to Xie Yaoyao by instinct.

Those beautiful eyes curved under the night sky, exceptionally bright.
Like water-like moonlight.
Like a dazzling, burning star.