He Came When the Cameras Cut

When the contestants came down, staff members were always there to help.

The mats were covered in water.
Ning Shixue was soaked through, his vision still dark, his knees weak.

Quick, quick!
The director hurriedly asked a staff member from the other program team.
Where’s your show’s doctor?!

[Help, when he jumped down, tears shot out of my eyes. Even with the mat below, jumping from that height must hurt a lot. If it were me, I wouldn’t dare.]

[Ningning should have grabbed the star on the right. It was closer to him. Maybe he wouldn’t have fallen so hard. His face is so pale. Did the director’s team originally intend for the guests to do this?]

[This unscrupulous program team. I’ve realized now, my wife has been sick since the first day of filming, right???]

The guest passage was right below the audience seating.
When Ning Shixue reached it, he tasted blood in his throat.
His dark, disheveled hair was plastered to his pale skin.
His eyes seemed to hold a sheen of moisture.

Should I carry you?
Tang He’an had followed Ning Shixue down and couldn’t help asking.

Ning Shixue didn’t try to be tough.
He couldn’t speak, could only nod.

Just as Tang He’an was about to lift him, sudden footsteps echoed in the passage.

The director looked up and was startled, a shiver running through him.
Xie… Teacher Xie?!

He didn’t know Xie Zhaozhou was the president of the Xie Group.
But everyone in the entertainment industry knew Xie Zhaozhou’s face.

Xie Zhaozhou had come straight from the company, then gone to the old residence and driven here.
He hadn’t changed clothes.

He wore a cold, impeccably tailored black suit, as if ready to attend a banquet at any moment.
His face was pale as jade, only his thin lips a vivid red.
He nodded slightly at the director.

It had taken him a moment to walk over from the audience.

Tang He’an was also stunned, his mind blank.

He had worked with Xie Zhaozhou before.
But Xie Zhaozhou probably didn’t remember him.
At the time, he had only played a nameless supporting role in a film Xie Zhaozhou starred in.

Xie Zhaozhou himself was like gold and jade amidst blazing fire—a household-name film emperor.
Any single one of his films was something many actors in the industry couldn’t hope to match in their entire careers.

In this circle, seniority wasn’t about age.
Although he was over a decade older than Xie Zhaozhou, to him, Xie Zhaozhou was the senior.

…Teacher Xie,
Tang He’an quickly greeted him.

Xie Zhaozhou’s narrow, dark eyes were deep as he took Ning Shixue from Tang He’an’s arms and said quietly,
Thank you.

No problem, no problem,
Tang He’an quickly waved his hand.

The staff members from both shows were silent, afraid to breathe.
The director didn’t dare make a sound.
When Xie Yaoyao had said Xie Zhaozhou was his Big Daddy before, he hadn’t believed it at all.

How could that be possible?

His heart couldn’t help racing with excitement, but he didn’t dare ride on Xie Zhaozhou’s fame.
When Xie Zhaozhou arrived, the assistant director had cut the live stream from Ning Shixue’s side.

[???]

[I’m really going to curse. What kind of crappy program team is this? They don’t film what they should, but they film everything else.]

The director felt a pang of sadness.

Was it that he didn’t want to? He just didn’t dare.

Xie Zhaozhou held him very steadily.
Ning Shixue’s head was spinning, and he didn’t even know who was holding him.
But leaning against Xie Zhaozhou’s shoulder, he suddenly caught that cold, sharp perfume scent.

There was also a faint trace of smoke, not unpleasant.

Second Brother?
Ning Shixue’s voice was a bit hoarse, his accent unclear, not like someone from Yan City.

His enunciation sounded very soft.

Mm,
Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes were dark.
As he looked down, his gaze fell on Ning Shixue’s pale, beautiful face.
He paused for a second before looking away.
Don’t talk.

Ning Shixue didn’t have the strength to talk anymore.
He was still dizzy, his feet not on the ground, his back a little tense.
He couldn’t help raising his hand to hold Xie Zhaozhou’s neck.

Xie Zhaozhou had only taken a few steps when a pair of ice-cold arms wrapped around him.
Ning Shixue buried the tip of his nose in the hollow of his neck, warm breath brushing against his skin.

His thin lips pressed together, but he said nothing.

–

The program team had set up tents by the sea.

Xie Yaoyao was crying, desperate to find Ning Shixue.
When He Lin took him over, Ning Shixue was lying on the cot, receiving an IV drip, seemingly already asleep.

Only Xie Zhaozhou was in the tent.

My daddy,
Xie Yaoyao’s eyes were still red, his cheeks streaked with tears.
He Lin put him on the bed, and he crawled over on hands and knees, lying down beside Ning Shixue.

He Lin told Xie Zhaozhou,
I’m going to get Miaomiao. I’ll find you guys later.

Mm,
Xie Zhaozhou nodded.

Xie Zhaozhou sat on a chair next to the cot.
Xie Yaoyao hugged Ning Shixue’s neck, lying on his chest, clutching the plush star in his little hand.
His chubby cheeks were squished.

He won’t be able to breathe if you do that,
Xie Zhaozhou reminded him, his voice cold.

Xie Yaoyao let go.
The cot wasn’t high.
He stuck out his bottom and scrambled down, his little short legs flailing.

There was a small stool next to the cot, but Xie Yaoyao refused to sit on it.
He pattered over to Xie Zhaozhou, lifted his chubby little face, and rested his soft chin on Xie Zhaozhou’s knee for a moment.
Seeing that Xie Zhaozhou didn’t push him away, he cautiously hugged Xie Zhaozhou’s leg and crouched down.

My dad, will he die?
He asked very quietly.

As soon as he spoke, his eyes reddened again.

Xie Zhaozhou half-lowered his eyes, looking at the dark little cowlick on his head.
He didn’t comfort him, just said very objectively,
Probably not.

Big Daddy was so amazing, and whatever he said was right.
Xie Yaoyao finally felt relieved.

When He Lin came over, that was the scene that greeted him.

Xie Zhaozhou’s black suit was still impeccably pressed, his long legs crossed as he sat on the chair.
And Xie Yaoyao was crouched by his side.

He Lin couldn’t help laughing.
This kid was always like a little puppy.

Xie Zhaozhou only considered himself Xie Yaoyao’s guardian.
Xie Yaoyao insisted on calling him Big Daddy.
Xie Zhaozhou had corrected him a few times, but Xie Yaoyao wouldn’t listen, so he stopped bothering.

He wasn’t close to Xie Yaoyao.
He Lin had never seen Xie Yaoyao before this variety show either.

I thought you weren’t coming,
He Lin nudged Xie Zhaozhou’s shoulder, smiling mischievously.
Did you come for me, or for your wife?

Xie Zhaozhou frowned and moved away.
Get lost.

Xie Yaoyao’s bottle was empty.
He had already drunk two today, so no more was made.
But he still held it in his little hands, lowering his head to suck on the nipple.

Hearing Xie Zhaozhou speak, he looked up with his red-rimmed, pitiful eyes and said in his milky voice,
Big Daddy cursing, not good.

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

He Lin laughed for a while.
He had brought some snacks for them, put them down, and went out to find He Miao.

Ning Shixue slept for over an hour before waking up.
His eyelashes fluttered.
Xie Yaoyao’s eyes instantly sparkled.
He climbed onto the bed and snuggled up to Ning Shixue, his chubby face rubbing against Ning Shixue’s cheek.

Ning Shixue was confused by this sudden display of affection.
After the IV was done and a nurse came to remove the needle, Xie Yaoyao finally reluctantly let go.
But he still stuck close to Ning Shixue like glue.

Nothing serious,
the nurse reassured him.
It was just sudden strenuous activity causing low blood sugar.
Get some more rest tonight, and you’ll be fine.

Xie Yaoyao rested his chin on Ning Shixue’s knee and reached out a little finger to touch the IV patch on the back of his hand.

Late at night, the tent’s light was dim.
They could still hear the waves crashing against the rocks.
Xie Yaoyao’s soft, chubby shadow was cast on the tent wall, his profile like a little bun.

But his little bun face still had tears on it, his eyelashes clumped together.

Ning Shixue leaned back against the headboard.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly raised his hands, interlacing his pale, cold fingertips.
He nudged Xie Yaoyao with his elbow.
Kid, look over there.

Xie Yaoyao turned around in a daze and saw, besides his and Ning Shixue’s shadows, Big Daddy’s shadow on the tent wall.
Another shadow appeared.

Bunny!
Xie Yaoyao exclaimed excitedly.

Ning Shixue arched his left hand and placed two fingers of his right hand on top of it.

Xie Yaoyao stopped crying, his soft little face even a bit stunned.
He pointed at the shadow.
This is Black Soil Wolf.

What was going on?

There was a wolf in their tent.

How could there be a wolf by the sea?
He thought wolves should all be in the mountains.
Were wolves by the sea… sea wolves?

This was way too scary.

But with Ning Shixue and Big Daddy there, Xie Yaoyao wasn’t scared at all.
Ning Shixue crossed his hands again, this time making a little bunny with even longer ears.

When he was little in the orphanage, there were hardly any toys.
Even if there were, they wouldn’t be for him.

The old headmistress would use hand shadows to soothe them to sleep.

He thought he had forgotten, but he still remembered.

Ning Shixue’s eyes curved as he whispered to Xie Yaoyao,
The little bunny is going to bite Big Daddy.

His hand shadow touched Xie Zhaozhou’s hand.

Xie Zhaozhou’s eyes were still dark, like the impenetrable night sky by the sea.
Even though Ning Shixue had lowered his voice, the tent was small, and he could still hear what he was saying.

The back of his hand stiffened slightly, but he didn’t move away.

Big Daddy got bitten!
Xie Yaoyao giggled.
When he realized what happened, he propped his chubby face in his hands and sighed.
Cannot, will get, spanked by Big Daddy.

Xie Zhaozhou: “…”

Xie Zhaozhou closed his eyes in exasperation.

He had only spanked Xie Yaoyao once.

Because Xie Yaoyao was running wild in the house.
No matter how the old butler coaxed and chased, he wouldn’t listen.
In the end, he knocked over the old butler’s medicine bottle.
Xie Zhaozhou had picked him up and spanked his bottom a few times.

That was half a year ago.
How did he still remember?

Weren’t kids supposed to be forgetful?

Xie Yaoyao had been crying all day and was actually very tired.
At first, he lay on Ning Shixue’s leg, staring intently at the shadows on the tent.
After a few minutes, his little head started to bob.
His eyelashes drooped, his eyes glazed with sleep.

By the time He Lin came over with He Miao, he finally tilted his head and fell asleep beside Ning Shixue.

Ning Shixue covered him with a blanket and then quietly asked the nurse,
Can I go out for a walk?

Don’t go too far,
the nurse said worriedly.

A program team staff member outside the tent heard and quickly came over.
Teacher Xiao Ning, I’ll go with you.

Ning Shixue didn’t speak.
He turned and looked expectantly at Xie Zhaozhou.

…I’ll go with him,
Xie Zhaozhou said, draping his suit jacket over his arm and standing up.

The staff member didn’t dare intrude.
Okay, okay.

He Lin and He Miao were still there.
He Miao had fallen asleep next to Xie Yaoyao.
Relieved, Ning Shixue went out.

There were still many people by the sea.
The bonfire blazed.
The other program team was wrapping up for the night.
In the distance, fireworks blossomed against the dark night sky, brilliant and bright.

Ning Shixue and Xie Zhaozhou walked in silence for a while.
When they had left the noisy crowd behind, Ning Shixue suddenly reached out and grabbed the fabric of Xie Zhaozhou’s shirt on his back.

What is it?
Xie Zhaozhou stopped.

Ning Shixue raised his other hand.
He was holding a wristwatch.
The craftsmanship was exquisite.
The dial was like a dark night sky, engraved with a crescent moon.
It looked cool and understated.

When he went with Tang He’an, the program team had informed the guests in advance what prize was hidden in each star.

He had spotted this watch at a glance.
Remembering Xie Zhaozhou’s profile picture, he thought he might like it.
That’s why he went for that particular star.
He hadn’t expected to overestimate himself.

He had gotten it, but at the cost of a bad fall.

Earlier, when researching Xie Zhaozhou’s information, he had accidentally come across his birthday.
Not knowing would be one thing.
But he happened to know, and tonight there was a suitable gift.

He just hadn’t expected Xie Zhaozhou to suddenly show up.

He had wanted to give it to him in the tent.
But He Lin was there, and he felt too embarrassed.
He didn’t know when Xie Zhaozhou would leave, so he had to ask him to come out.

Xie Zhaozhou’s gaze froze.

Fireworks crackled and burst in the night sky.
Ning Shixue’s eyelashes curved.
The fireworks were reflected in his beautiful eyes, like a flowing river of stars.
‘Happy birthday, Teacher Xie.’