Ning Shiyue stormed over to Zhuang Yiming just as the two had finished adding each other as in-game friends and were chatting casually.
"I'm telling you, Teacher Yuxuan," Zhuang Yiming exclaimed dramatically, "thanks to you, I managed to add that marksman you played with before as a friend, and we even teamed up for a few matches! His skills are seriously next-level—my username should belong to him instead!"
Back when Zhuang Yiming first registered for the game, he couldn’t think of a good name, so he simply went with "WatchMeCarryTheGame."
"Though your friend doesn’t talk much," Zhuang Yiming added. "He never turns on voice chat either, so I still don’t even know his real name."
Zhuang Yiming had only watched the first two episodes of Dear Mom and hadn’t had time to keep up with the variety show after joining the production. He had no idea who the latest guest star was.
Ning Yuxuan: "His name is Duan Ziyao. He’s a professional esports player."
Zhuang Yiming gasped. "Duan Ziyao? The mid-laner for OCG? No wonder he’s so insane! Teacher Yuxuan, you’ve got some impressive connections!"
Just as Ning Shiyue approached from behind, the first thing that reached his ears was the name "Duan Ziyao."
Salt in the wound.
Without hesitation, Ning Shiyue slapped Zhuang Yiming’s shoulder with unnecessary force and snapped, "What are you two up to?"
Both Ning Yuxuan and Zhuang Yiming turned around.
Zhuang Yiming grinned at the sight of him. "Happy birthday, Shiyue! Teacher Yuxuan and I just exchanged game friend requests. I was too shy to send one before, but since we ran into each other today, I figured I’d take the chance."
Polite address, reasonable explanation.
Ning Shiyue’s expression softened slightly.
Ning Yuxuan smiled at him. "What brings the birthday boy over here? Done accepting everyone’s well-wishes?"
Ning Shiyue huffed. "Yeah."
Zhuang Yiming’s gaze flickered between Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue before he tactfully said, "I’ll leave you two siblings to catch up. I’ll go mingle elsewhere!"
The birthday celebration was set up at an outdoor location arranged by the crew.
Today was a rare day off for the production team, and everyone was in high spirits, chatting in small groups while enjoying cake.
The entire crew knew how much Ning Shiyue valued his mother and sister, so when they saw him talking to Ning Yuxuan, they respectfully kept their distance to give the family space.
Ning Shiyue glanced around. "You’re not with Mom?"
Ning Yuxuan chuckled. "Everyone’s swarming the great Artist Ning for autographs. I didn’t want to add to the crowd."
For actors aspiring to reach greater heights in their careers, Ning Fei’s achievements were nothing short of legendary—an undisputed idol in the industry.
Given the opportunity, everyone wanted to learn from her.
"And you?" Ning Yuxuan asked. "Instead of enjoying the party, why come looking for me?"
Ning Shiyue thought, Because of that Zhuang Yiming, of course.
"What were you two talking about earlier?" he asked instead.
Ning Yuxuan’s brow twitched, and she deliberately replied, "Didn’t you hear? We were discussing Duan Ziyao."
Ning Shiyue’s face instantly scrunched up.
Ning Yuxuan laughed triumphantly. "Ning Shiyue, you should see your face right now. Just hearing Duan Ziyao’s name makes you scowl like you’ve eaten something sour. Do you really dislike him that much? Or—could it be—you actually believe those ridiculous fan-shipped pairings online?"
Ning Shiyue blurted, "Of course not! That guy’s three years younger than me—there’s no way I’d believe anything could happen between you two!"
"Then why?" Ning Yuxuan narrowed her eyes. "Or are you working as a spy for someone now?"
Ning Shiyue denied it again. "No! What kind of nonsense is that? Total slander."
Ning Yuxuan: "Then why were you asking about my preferences on Xie Zhiyan’s behalf?"
Ning Shiyue instinctively replied, "Because—"
He caught himself halfway.
"I mean—" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I wasn’t asking for him. I was just curious."
Ning Yuxuan gave him a look that said, Do you really expect me to buy that?
Defeated, Ning Shiyue finally admitted, "Fine… I was asking for Zhiyan-ge."
Ning Yuxuan’s curiosity piqued. "He asked for your help? What exactly did he say?"
After a brief internal struggle, Ning Shiyue pulled out his phone. "Here, see for yourself."
Ning Yuxuan gave him an approving nod. "Smart move."
She opened WeChat and scrolled to Ning Shiyue’s chat history with Xie Zhiyan.
Xie Zhiyan: [Shiyue, are you busy? I have a question for you.]
Ning Shiyue: [No problem, Zhiyan-ge! Ask away—I’ll tell you everything I know!]
Xie Zhiyan: [What kind of confession do you think your sister would like?]
Ning Shiyue: [Confession? She’s never been into them. As far as I know, every guy who’s ever confessed to her got rejected.]
Ning Shiyue: [But if you need help, Zhiyan-ge, I can ask her for you!]
Xie Zhiyan: [I’d appreciate that.]
Xie Zhiyan: [No need to mention it’s from me.]
Ning Shiyue: [Got it! Leave it to me!]
Ning Yuxuan couldn’t help but smile.
She hadn’t expected Xie Zhiyan to seriously consult Ning Shiyue about this. Judging by the timestamp, it was the morning after she’d asked for a "proper confession."
Back then, Xie Zhiyan hadn’t reacted much to her request, so she assumed he hadn’t taken it seriously. Yet here he was, seeking advice the very next day.
She tossed the phone back to Ning Shiyue. "Still denying you’re a spy?"
Ning Shiyue caught it and coughed awkwardly. "I was just helping Zhiyan-ge ask you a question—it’s not that big a deal. Hey, wait—"
But Ning Yuxuan had already pulled out her own phone and sent Xie Zhiyan a voice message:
"Some people can’t come up with surprises on their own, so they resort to outside help—how sneaky. But your little scheme failed. Your accomplice has been caught red-handed."
Ning Shiyue couldn’t stop her in time and could only stare in despair.
His flawless reputation was ruined!
He’d promised to gather intel for Zhiyan-ge and keep it a secret—yet he’d failed on both counts.
All because Ning Yuxuan knew him too well, leaving him no room to maneuver.
After sending the teasing voice note, Ning Yuxuan was about to put her phone away when—
An incoming call from Xie Zhiyan flashed on the screen.
She hesitated for a second before answering.
"Hello?" she said. "What’s up? Calling to explain yourself after your plan got exposed?"
Beside her, Ning Shiyue watched nervously but didn’t walk away.
Would Zhiyan-ge blame him?
He’d confidently assured him it was "in the bag," only to blow his cover in less than a day.
Xie Zhiyan’s voice, warm and amused, drifted through the speaker: "Not to explain."
Ning Yuxuan: "Then why call?"
The man’s words were clear and tender:
"Because I missed you."
Ning Yuxuan: "…"
The sudden sweet words nearly made her drop her phone, sending a faint tremble through her heart.
Ning Yuxuan exhaled silently, then paused, her brows furrowing—
Why was Ning Shiyue still standing there like an idiot?
Not only was he not making himself scarce, but he was also staring at her with wide, curious eyes.
Ning Shiyue was worried Xie Zhiyan might reprimand Ning Yuxuan on his behalf, so he lingered nearby, ready to explain at a moment’s notice: he really hadn’t meant any harm.
When Ning Yuxuan glanced at him, Ning Shiyue assumed Xie Zhiyan had mentioned him in the call.
He pointed at himself, as if asking: Is Zhiyan-ge asking about me?
Ning Yuxuan: "…"
No wonder Ning Shiyue had never been in a relationship his entire life.
Hopelessly dense and utterly oblivious—no wonder he was still single!
She and Ning Shiyue were standing in a secluded corner of the film set, with the crew milling about nearby. Finding a quieter spot wasn’t easy.
When Ning Yuxuan didn’t respond for a while, the man’s voice came through the phone again.
"Yesterday, you asked if I’d miss you when you’re away," Xie Zhiyan’s voice was deep and soothing. "Let me answer that again."
Ning Yuxuan: "…Mm."
It was rare for Xie Zhiyan to be this tender over the phone.
But right now, she couldn’t focus wholeheartedly on his sweet nothings.
Xie Zhiyan: "What’s on your mind?"
Ning Yuxuan shot a glance at the still-gawking Ning Shiyue: "Nothing."
Hearing the edge in her tone, Ning Shiyue cautiously asked, "What’s wrong? Is Zhiyan-ge still mad at me?"
He kept his voice low, but their corner was quiet enough for Xie Zhiyan to catch it.
Putting two and two together, Xie Zhiyan quickly grasped the situation.
Xie Zhiyan: "…"
He asked, "Is Shiyue with you?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Yeah, I’m with the reinforcement you sent. I’ll talk to you later, bye."
As she hung up, Ning Shiyue fretted over his image in Xie Zhiyan’s eyes: "What did he say? Does he think I’m unreliable?"
Ning Yuxuan rolled her eyes: "Yes, extremely unreliable. The absolute worst."
Finally, Ning Shiyue sensed something amiss.
On Ning Yuxuan’s first night away from Beicheng, her boyfriend had called—perhaps, just maybe… they’d wanted some private time?
Ning Shiyue’s expression shifted, and he hesitantly ventured, "Uh… did I… interrupt something?"
Ning Yuxuan gave him a look. No words were needed.
Ning Shiyue: "…I’ll leave now."
Ning Yuxuan grabbed his sleeve: "Relax, I already hung up. Where are you even going? Besides…"
She smirked at him. "Since it’s your birthday today, I’ll let it slide."
Ning Shiyue quickly changed the subject: "Want some cake? I’ll grab you a slice."
She’d eaten dinner right before arriving on set and hadn’t touched the crew’s birthday cake earlier. But now, after a short break, her stomach had room again.
"Sure," Ning Yuxuan said. "Get me one with strawberries."
Eager to redeem himself, Ning Shiyue hurried to the table, cut a generous slice, and brought it over on a disposable plate.
"Here," he handed it to her. "Two strawberries, just like you asked."
Ning Yuxuan took a bite.
It was delicious—rich cream, sweet fruit filling.
Between bites, she casually asked Ning Shiyue: "How’s filming been these days? Exhausting?"
Ning Shiyue didn’t answer.
She popped a strawberry into her mouth and frowned at his silence. "Well?"
Ning Shiyue: "…"
This was the first time Ning Yuxuan had ever asked if he was tired.
In his memory, she’d never shown him this kind of concern before.
Life on set had been decent—Director Zhang Tai was strict but professional, and the cast and crew were easy to work with.
But as the male lead in his first historical drama, the physical and mental strain was immense.
Add to that the melancholy of nightfall and the fact that today was his birthday…
To his horror, Ning Shiyue felt his eyes growing suspiciously moist.
He immediately turned away.
Ning Yuxuan, mid-bite, watched as Ning Shiyue spun around, head bowed, like a scolded puppy.
Amused, she circled to face him. "What, hit a nerve? Has filming been so tough it’s brought you to tears?"
Ning Shiyue jerked his head up: "I’m not crying from exhaustion!"
Ning Yuxuan batted her lashes: "Then is it because you’re moved by your kind, thoughtful sister’s concern?"
Ning Shiyue: "…"
Her teasing dried up any lingering tears.
He muttered, "No one loves praising themselves as much as you do."
Ning Yuxuan grinned. "Alright, since you’re on the verge of tears, how about some good news to cheer you up?"
"I’m not crying…" he grumbled. "What news?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Our esteemed performing artist, Madam Ning Fei, might be in love."
Ning Shiyue froze: "…What?"
Ning Yuxuan: "You heard me."
Ning Shiyue: "With who?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Double Golden Dew Award-winning actor, Liang Jihuai. Ring any bells?"
Ning Shiyue: "…"
Of course it did. Liang Jihuai’s achievements were legendary—his performances were even used as reference material in their acting classes.
Ning Yuxuan added: "He drove Mom and me to the airport this morning. But it seems he’s still in the courting phase—Mom hasn’t agreed yet. They’re… exploring things."
Ning Shiyue stayed silent for a long moment before finally managing an "Oh."
Ning Yuxuan: "So? Thoughts?"
Ning Shiyue struggled: "I…"
She cut in: "If you object, I’ll veto it on Mom’s behalf."
Ning Shiyue: "…Who said I object?"
Now it was Ning Yuxuan’s turn to be surprised: "So you support Mom and Liang Jihuai?"
Ning Shiyue: "I didn’t say that either."
Ning Yuxuan crossed her arms, waiting.
Ning Shiyue huffed: "What if I neither support nor oppose it? Is that allowed?"
Truthfully, when Ning Yuxuan first mentioned their mother’s potential romance, his initial reaction had been… complicated.
After all these years, she’d always been alone.
But he was no longer a child—he could certainly handle such matters. If his mother wanted to pursue her own happiness, he wouldn’t oppose it.
As they spoke, Ning Fei finally managed to extricate herself from the crowd of fans on set.
"Yuxuan, Shiyue," Ning Fei walked over, "Why are you two hiding in this corner?"
Ning Yuxuan blinked. "Nothing much, just chatting."
"By the way," Ning Yuxuan glanced meaningfully at Ning Shiyue, "I already told Shiyue about... that matter."
Ning Fei paused, then quickly realized what her daughter was referring to.
Her daughter had mentioned before that she would help her talk to Shiyue about her relationship with Liang Jihuai, but Ning Fei hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. She still felt a little uneasy.
Ning Shiyue might not seem like the type to openly express his emotions, but Ning Fei knew her son was just as perceptive as his sister, if not more so.
"Shiyue..." Ning Fei looked at him.
Ning Shiyue cut in before she could continue, "Mom, don’t treat me like a kid. If Ning Yuxuan can understand, of course I can too."
Ning Yuxuan silently rolled her eyes but resisted the urge to call him out.
A flicker of surprise crossed Ning Fei’s eyes before she nodded. "Thank you, Shiyue."
Ning Shiyue turned his head away. "It’s nothing."
The next day, filming would resume as usual, so the impromptu birthday party wrapped up by nine in the evening.
One by one, the guests left the set and headed back to their hotels.
Director Zhang Tai approached Ning Shiyue and his family.
"Teacher Ning," Zhang Tai said. He was slightly younger than Ning Fei, and though they had never worked together before, they had crossed paths a few times in the past.
Zhang Tai had already greeted Ning Fei earlier, but this time, he was mainly looking for Ning Yuxuan.
Ning Fei took Ning Shiyue aside to chat, leaving Ning Yuxuan and Zhang Tai a few minutes to talk privately.
"Yuxuan, I didn’t get your name wrong, did I?" Zhang Tai chuckled. "Shiyue—ah, no, Ning Shiyue—often mentions you on set. He’s always praising how beautiful you are. Seeing you in person really lives up to the hype."
The words were clearly polite small talk. Ning Yuxuan knew Ning Shiyue would never gush about her like that in front of the crew.
She smiled and shook Zhang Tai’s hand. "Hello, Director Zhang."
Zhang Tai nodded. "Your mother mentioned you’ll be visiting the set during the day for the next couple of days?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Yes."
Their trip to Jiangcheng was mainly to visit Ning Shiyue, so they hadn’t planned much sightseeing.
The summer heat in Jiangcheng was stifling, making it unbearable to stay outside for too long during the day. Visiting popular spots in the evening would be enough.
"Ah, I see," Zhang Tai said warmly. "Actually, I have a role in mind. Would you be interested in making a cameo?"
Before Ning Yuxuan could respond, he quickly added, "Don’t reject it right away. It’s just one scene, a few lines—it won’t take much of your time. Your look fits the character perfectly, and I’d really love for you to take it on as a favor."
Ning Yuxuan had been about to refuse, but his explanation piqued her curiosity. "What kind of role?"
Zhang Tai grinned. "The male lead’s—well, Shiyue’s character’s nemesis. A woman who appears alluring but is actually venomous at heart."
...
On the way back to the hotel, Ning Shiyue couldn’t shake his curiosity about Zhang Tai’s private conversation with Ning Yuxuan. "What did Director Zhang say to you? Why did he have to send me away?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Nothing much. He just said you always praise me for being beautiful and gentle on set. Standard polite talk."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
Somehow, he still didn’t quite believe it.
At the hotel, the three of them took the elevator up together.
Ning Shiyue’s room, like most of the male actors’, was on the third floor.
Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei had one of the hotel’s best suites on the eighth floor.
After Ning Shiyue got off the elevator, Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei returned to their rooms with their key cards.
"Mom, you can use the bathroom first," Ning Yuxuan said. "I’ll shower after you."
Ning Fei preferred to sleep early, and during past filming schedules, she had always used the bathroom first.
Ning Fei agreed and went to wash up and remove her makeup.
Whenever she went out, Ning Fei always made sure she was impeccably put together. Washing her hair, drying it, and going through her skincare routine took at least half an hour.
Ning Yuxuan changed into a nightgown, stretched out comfortably on the bed, and pulled out her phone to pass the time.
There were a few unread messages, one of them from Xie Zhiyan.
Xie Zhiyan: [Are you resting yet?]
Ning Yuxuan rolled onto her stomach in the middle of the bed and typed back: [Not yet, just got back to the hotel.]
Xie Zhiyan: [How’s the place?]
Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei were staying in a family suite with a large bedroom and a semi-open balcony.
After a moment’s thought, Ning Yuxuan carried her phone to the balcony and closed the door behind her.
She tapped the call button.
Two seconds later, the line connected.
Xie Zhiyan: "Yuxuan?"
Ning Yuxuan smiled. "Didn’t you say you missed me? Consider this my act of mercy—a phone call just for you."
Xie Zhiyan: "Are you alone this time?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Mom’s washing up. It’ll probably take her half an hour. I’m on the balcony with the door closed."
After a pause, she asked, "What about you?"
Xie Zhiyan: "At home. Just finished work."
The line fell silent for a few seconds.
Ning Yuxuan tilted her head up at the moon, suddenly remembering Xie Zhiyan’s unexpected "I miss you" from a few hours earlier.
She wanted to hear it again.
Pressing her lips together, she murmured, "So... what are you thinking about right now?"
The man on the other end seemed to see right through her. Instead of answering, he let out a low, amused chuckle.
Ning Yuxuan: "...Xie Zhiyan!"
At her half-annoyed tone, his laughter finally subsided.
Xie Zhiyan: "I miss you."
The words were tender, laced with just a hint of resignation—as if he was indulging her on purpose.
By ten o’clock, the stifling Jiangcheng air had cooled slightly.
Ning Yuxuan touched her cheek in the breeze. It felt warm.
"Oh," she said. "I know."
Xie Zhiyan: "That’s it?"
Ning Yuxuan: "Yeah, that’s it."
What else did he expect her to say?
Even if she knew, she wouldn’t say it.
Not when his "I miss you" had sounded so reluctant earlier.
Xie Zhiyan seemed to accept it. After a few seconds of silence, he asked, "How’s the weather in Jiangcheng?"
Ning Yuxuan wasn’t sure if she was disappointed. Gazing at the moon, she replied, "Sweltering during the day. But it’s nice now. I’m on the balcony in my nightgown, and the breeze feels cool."
Xie Zhiyan: "What kind of nightgown?"
Ning Yuxuan froze.
She hadn’t expected Xie Zhiyan to ask something like that—it didn’t seem like him at all.
For a moment, she wondered if he’d been drinking again.
But she swallowed the question before it could leave her lips.
Ning Yuxuan glanced down at her nightdress and spoke slowly, "Nothing special, just an ordinary spaghetti-strap nightgown. Light purple, with a shallow V-neckline. The neckline is semi-transparent lace, embroidered with roses. There's also a little bow, right at the center of the chest..."
She kept her head lowered, absentmindedly yet meticulously describing every detail of the dress she wore.
When she finished, Ning Yuxuan asked, "Well? Can you picture it now?"
No one answered her.
