You Are Deep in The Stars

“I can tell you the truth, but you must be mentally prepared and keep it strictly confidential. Can you do that?” Bai Xi asked seriously.

Liu Chunchun nodded hesitantly, then whispered, “Are they friends from another world?” His mind wandered to tales from TV shows like “White Snake” and “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”.

“It’s another world, but not quite like what you’re imagining. To be precise, it’s another planet,” Bai Xi clarified, studying Liu Chunchun’s reaction. “It’s very, very far from Earth. Do you understand?”

“Another planet? Aliens?” Liu Chunchun’s panic and shock resurfaced. Images from ET, Star Trek, Men in Black, Independence Day, and Star Wars flashed through his mind. He had always thought such encounters were confined to screens, not his own reality.

“Which planet is it?” he managed to ask after a moment.

“Gems and Stars,” Bai Xi answered simply.

Liu Chunchun found the name oddly romantic. No wonder the assistant was so fond of diamonds; he must have missed his homeland.

“That explains a lot,”

Bai Xi continued without delving into specifics. “So, are you still willing to stay with Mr. Wang?”

Wang Yuanchen leaned against the wall, his face pale. Why was the choice being handed over like this? Shouldn’t they first ask him if he was willing to put up with this fool any longer?

Fortunately, Liu Chunchun found some empathy at that moment. He sniffled and said weakly, “Maybe you should ask Mr. Wang first. I may have overreacted earlier, and he has always been very kind to me.”

Wang Yuanchen scoffed audibly.

“Don’t worry, he’s willing to keep living with you.” Han Zhuo gently ushered Wang Yuanchen back into the bedroom, his demeanor friendly and calm, as if he were selling a product. “Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, life can return to normal. That’s good. Let’s take our leave.”

“Hey, wait a minute!” Bai Xi hurriedly grabbed his arm. “Are we just leaving like this? Shouldn’t we stay a bit longer to make sure?”

“No need to worry,” Han Zhuo assured, putting an arm around Bai Xi’s shoulders as they walked out. “They may not look pleased, but they’re reliable. We’re here to explain, not to babysit.”

Bai Xi remained concerned, glancing back as they left, but Liu Chunchun simply waved, signaling them to drive safely and not to linger uncomfortably like before.

In that moment, Bai Xi felt a wave of relief. His protege had matured.

Once the two were gone, before Liu Chunchun could gather his thoughts, Wang Yuanchen strode into the bedroom, gathered up Liu Chunchun and the blankets, and promptly carried them out.

“I can walk on my own… ah!” Liu Chunchun yelped as he was unceremoniously tossed through the air, landing with a painful thud on the hard floor.

“Why are you so unfriendly?” Liu Chunchun protested tearfully. “If you were in a movie as a mean alien, it’d flop at the box office. Shouldn’t we love each other and have a happy ending to win an Oscar?”

Ignoring him completely, Wang Yuanchen strutted back to his room. Yet barely a minute passed before he returned, pulling off the quilt with determination.

Liu Chunchun burst into tears again, wrapped in thin blankets against the cold, wondering, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’

.

Meanwhile, in another car heading back, Bai Xi looked around, puzzled. “Is this the way home?”

“No,” Han Zhuo replied simply.

“Then where are we going?” Bai Xi frowned. “It’s past two in the morning already. It’s very late.”

“Are you sleepy?” Han Zhuo glanced at him. “Do you want to sleep?”

Bai Xi shook his head, feeling a mix of emotions. Who could sleep with the biting cold wind blowing?

“Well, if you can’t sleep, you might as well go somewhere fun.” Han Zhuo grinned, stepping on the accelerator. “Buckle up.”

The wind roared in their ears as the sports car sped along the viaduct.

Some residents in the buildings nearby scolded them for racing late at night. “Those rich kids are unbelievable. Why can’t they let anyone sleep?”

Bai Xi smiled and leaned back in his seat, for once not pressing Han Zhuo for details, just going along for the ride. They traversed countless streets and alleys until finally stopping in front of a towering hundred-story office building.

“Here?” Bai Xi questioned, perplexed. “What are we doing here?”

“Get out of the car.” Han Zhuo unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over to help Bai Xi open the door, hinting at a big surprise.

“What’s with the secrecy?” Bai Xi asked, his curiosity piqued as he stepped out into what seemed like a garden, eagerly awaiting the surprise like a child anticipating a gift.

“Do you really think I’d settle for something ordinary?” Han Zhuo stood before him, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Not at all,” Bai Xi retorted with a smirk, “You even compete with Aunt Li for the kitchen. That’s a kind of superpower, and quite impressive.”

Han Zhuo chuckled, placed his arm around Bai Xi’s waist, and whispered, “Close your eyes and think of your favorite place.”

Bai Xi complied, shutting his eyes tightly. Suddenly, he felt a slight tremor underfoot, akin to a tiny earthquake. When he dared to open his eyes again, they were standing… in the middle of a garbage dump.

Han Zhuo: “…”

Bai Xi: “…”

The air was thick with a foul stench, and Han Zhuo was visibly deflated.

“Why on earth is your favorite place a garbage dump?”