Du Xiu Chapter 87

Chu Duxiu tactfully expressed that she couldn’t do stand-up bits about romance, but the director clearly had his own ideas. He made a snap decision: Chu Duxiu and Scallion would record under the romance theme, and the remaining themes would be assigned to the other performers.

The director glanced left at Chu Duxiu, then right at Scallion, and declared with confidence, “Even if you say you can’t come up with material, I think just listening to you two casually chat already sounds like a comedy routine. It’s perfect for our show.”

Maybe it was simply the gift of stand-up comedians – even just sitting around a table chatting, they made everything entertaining.

Chu Duxiu: “?”

“Director, was that really us just casually chatting?” Scallion muttered weakly. “That was me getting one-sidedly roasted, and I couldn’t even talk back. Isn’t anyone going to speak up for me…?”

He was determined to rely on flaunting romance for his material – absolutely refusing to bow down to the mighty Queen Chu!

Everyone burst into laughter. After wrapping up the discussion on the show’s content and receiving their assignments, they each went off to start preparing.

This was an outside program, with Shanle’s comedians taking turns recording. Chu Duxiu and Scallion would handle the romance theme first, while Bei He and Lu Fan would take on the workplace theme afterward.

Thinking of the show’s effect, Chu Duxiu also planned to gather some material in advance.

*

During the New Year’s holiday, Haicheng was filled with a festive atmosphere to welcome the coming year, with lanterns and decorations strung along both sides of the streets. The big malls were packed with people – after a whole year of hard work, everyone was letting loose on the final day.

However, Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci didn’t go out; they had arranged to meet at home.

Inside the residential compound, Chu Duxiu followed the map on her phone, walking along the greenbelt until she finally found the right building. Carrying a plastic bag in her hand, she had not yet reached the entrance when she caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance.

In the winter chill, Xie Shenci stood there in a thick coat, not knowing how long he had already been waiting downstairs.

“Why did you come out?” Chu Duxiu hurried over, surprised. “Didn’t I tell you to wait at home?”

Xie Shenci glanced at the fruits and vegetables in her hand, reached out to take the bag, and asked, “Why wouldn’t you let me come pick you up?”

“It’s barely a couple of steps away. I said I could find it myself.” Chu Duxiu followed him into the building, even reaching out to pat the back of his hand. “Weren’t you cold waiting outside?”

The two had agreed to play around with the record player today. Since Xie Shenci’s place wasn’t far from the company – reachable just by walking – Chu Duxiu had decided not to trouble him with going back and forth to her apartment. She simply had him send her the address instead and picked up some groceries on the way.

“Not cold. I didn’t wait long – you’re right on time.” Xie Shenci opened the plastic bag, glanced at what she’d bought, and said, “How about hotpot later? I can slice some salmon too; I’ve got wasabi at home.”

“No problem.”

The two took the elevator upstairs, quickly unlocked the door, and stepped inside to see the whole apartment. Although Chu Duxiu had visited Chen Jingshu and Xie Wentao before, this was her first time coming to Xie Shenci’s own place.

His home in Yancheng had been decorated in a more classical style, mostly with solid wood furniture – likely Chen Jingshu’s taste. But his place in Haicheng was spacious and minimalist, dominated by black, white, and gray, with furniture that carried a more modern feel – grand and a little austere.

Except for the cute bunny slippers sitting by the entryway.

After putting down the groceries, Xie Shenci casually tore open the plastic bag of slippers and set them in front of her. “Wear these.”

“Okay.” Chu Duxiu obediently slipped them on, then watched him crumple up the plastic wrap. She hesitated before asking, “…Did you just buy these?”

“Yes. The slippers at home probably wouldn’t fit you, so I picked up a pair that day.” Lowering his gaze to the bunny pattern on her feet, Xie Shenci looked quite satisfied.

Chu Duxiu felt he had gotten the wrong idea. True, she had once owned a stuffed bunny, but that didn’t mean every slipper in her life needed to be rabbit-themed.

And sure enough, when she spotted her cup a moment later, she grew even more certain he had misunderstood.

“Want some water?” Xie Shenci took out a clean cup, poured in some warm water, and set it by Chu Duxiu’s hand.

“Thanks.”

After washing her hands, Chu Duxiu naturally took a couple of sips – only to notice something odd. She lifted the cup closer for a better look and found that the porcelain-white mug was decorated with a chubby, silly-looking bunny, with bright strawberries as accents – a childishly cute cartoon design.

“…”

Startled, Chu Duxiu blurted out, “Why is this a bunny too?”

She often carried around flashy cartoon canvas totes, sure – but she couldn’t help noticing that in his choices, the “bunny content” was seriously excessive.

Confused, Xie Shenci asked, “Isn’t it cute?”

“It’s cute, sure…” Chu Duxiu pursed her lips. “But I’m an adult now. I’m supposed to look more mature and composed. What about your cup – what does yours look like?”

She began to suspect he was like Chu Shuangyou, with a wildly mistaken impression of her taste, as if she were some kid obsessed with anime and cartoons, destined only for gaudy, colorful “cutesy” style.

But she had already grown up – she wasn’t that old-school anime nerd anymore! Even if she still was, she had to at least act like a well-adjusted adult.

Xie Shenci took out his own cup: solid black, no patterns at all.

“I want one like that too,” she said firmly.

Now that cup looked steady and mature.

“Alright.”

Xie Shenci had no objections. Dutiful as ever, he filled it with water and set it by her hand again.

Only then did Chu Duxiu feel satisfied. She resumed drinking her water – only to glance up and see Xie Shenci lifting the bunny cup. Standing beside her at the table, he casually took two or three sips, finishing off the leftover water.

Chu Duxiu’s eyes widened. “Why are you using that?”

Holding the cup she had just used, he answered with perfect composure, “You took my cup.”

“…”

A moment later, the two began sorting the ingredients. Chu Duxiu wanted to help wash the vegetables, but Xie Shenci shooed her aside. In the kitchen, he sliced the salmon, mixed the soy sauce and wasabi, then started preparing the hotpot ingredients.

With the sound of running water splashing, he washed the fresh vegetables one by one. Seeing her still standing by the sink watching, he said, “The record player’s in the living room – go study that. I need to get some practice in too, since the Spring Festival is almost here.”

Curious, Chu Duxiu asked, “What does the Spring Festival have to do with it?”

“I’ll have to go to Wencheng for the New Year. Better get used to work quickly, so I don’t give Dad an excuse to nitpick.”

“?”

Chu Duxiu said with a straight face, “My dad would never nitpick. He’s never even said a harsh word.”

Shi Qin had such a good temper, there was no way he’d make things hard for anyone.

Turning his head, Xie Shenci muttered under his breath, “…That’s exactly why soft knives cut deeper.”

Chu Lan might look fierce but was straightforward – one round of drinks and he’d be fine. But Shi Qin was the long-term observer type, clearly playing the slow and steady game.

“Let’s listen to some records together later,” Chu Duxiu suddenly suggested on a whim. “Perfect timing – I can get some work done and gather material for my writing.”

Xie Shenci was taken aback. “You’re working even during the holidays?”

Even though they were a couple, he felt he couldn’t play favorites – someone had to stop her from overworking herself.

“It’s for that lifestyle program. I got assigned to the romance theme,” she muttered. “And it’s all your fault. If I hadn’t gotten into a relationship, how would I have ended up in this mess? You’re fully responsible.”

The more Chu Duxiu thought about it, the more annoyed she felt. She had been writing scripts as usual, just not romance material – but the director’s odd logic was that the more contrived it was, the juicier the story. So he insisted she record for the romance talk-show segment, convinced that the transformation of an ‘AI single dog’ was the real highlight.

Since she’d been pushed onto the stage with no way out, she had no choice but to start gathering material in advance, just in case.

This was all Mr. Meow’s fault!

If not for him, she wouldn’t have been shoved into the romance group!

Xie Shenci thought for a few seconds, but didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded and said, “Alright, this really is my fault. What can I do to help you?”

Hearing his agreement, Chu Duxiu immediately shifted her attitude. She casually picked up a carrot from the basket, held it in front of her like a microphone, straightened her back like a TV reporter, and began a mock interview in full earnestness.

“Mr. Xie, pardon the intrusion – do you have any troubles in your relationship?” Chu Duxiu brought the carrot close to him, asking seriously. “Or, compared with your past single life, are there any things you find hard to adjust to?”

The scene was like history repeating itself – just like when she had cornered him at the hotel entrance, digging into his love life, desperate to drag all his past out into the open.

“No,” Xie Shenci replied firmly. “My only trouble is that I’m too happy.”

“Ew-” Chu Duxiu frowned. “That answer is so official. It doesn’t sound sincere.”

“Ew-” He mimicked her tone, raising a brow. “Are you fishing for dirt, or just dangling the hook in plain sight?”

“…”

Xie Shenci wasn’t a fool, eager to hand her leverage. He might not have eaten pork, but he’d certainly seen pigs run – he knew better than to answer a loaded question carelessly.

“No, of course not. Let’s be sincere and have a rational discussion – no right or wrong, okay?” Chu Duxiu looked utterly earnest, speaking gently. “This is just for gathering material, nothing more, I promise!”

“Alright,” said Xie Shenci. “But honestly, I don’t really have any troubles right now.”

Holding the carrot like a mic in one hand, Chu Duxiu pulled out her phone with the other, scrolling through the program outline as she asked, “Then let’s move on. Next question: why do you like this person? Why choose to be with them?”

“Why wouldn’t I like you?” Xie Shenci gave her a once-over, head to toe, and looked genuinely puzzled. “Is there anything about you that shouldn’t be liked?”

He truly couldn’t understand why couples always asked, “What do you like about me?” For him, it was hard to single out one specific “virtue.” Instead, he went the other way around – running through her in his mind, looking for flaws, for anything unworthy of being liked.

The answer: none. Everything fit. There was no reason not to like her.

Chu Duxiu was caught off guard by his straightforwardness, her face heating up. “You’re not allowed to answer a question with a question!”

He shot back, “Then why do you like me? And why are you always treating me like a cat?”

She mumbled, “Because you are like a cat… and besides, you treat me like a bunny too.”

Xie Shenci didn’t agree, protesting, “How is being in a relationship the same as raising a cat?”

“In essence, it’s pretty similar…”

“Similar how? The companionship? The affection?”

Under the warm light, Xie Shenci’s sleeves were rolled up, droplets clinging to his arms, revealing smooth, powerful lines and the sharp contours of his wrist bones. He reached up to turn off the faucet, setting aside the vegetables for the moment, clearly intending to focus on her answer – showing just how much he cared about her thoughts.

“Mm…” Duxiu snuck a glance at him, her eyes glimmering as she said, “At the core, it’s all about… wanting the body.”

“???”

The very next second, while his hands were still wet and defenseless, Chu Duxiu suddenly rose on tiptoe and planted a quick kiss on his neck.

Scoring a hit, she lit up with glee and bolted toward the living room. “Back to washing veggies! I’ll visit again another day – I’m off to check out the record player!”

It took Xie Shenci a moment to recover. Grabbing a towel to dry his hands, he immediately turned to chase after her. “Taking advantage of me, huh.”

The chase ended in an instant – unfamiliar with the layout, Chu Duxiu was caught by Xie Shenci, and soon paid the price for her sneak attack.

“I need to take that back.”

His breath was warm, his touch tender as it landed on her lips. At first it was like a faint drizzle, then the rain deepened – slowly prying her lips apart, offering a kiss both gentle and brimming with emotion.

Covered by his cool, refreshing scent, she first clutched tightly at his sleeve, but soon her fingers grew weak. Leaning against his chest, she felt as if all her senses were seized and overrun, leaving her nearly breathless.

They lingered in intimacy for a long while, until both their ears were flushed red, before finally parting, slow and reluctant.

Sensing a change in his body, Chu Duxiu felt her own heat rising all over. She shot him a sidelong glance. “Petty.”

Xie Shenci’s Adam’s apple shifted slightly. Not daring to look at her directly again, he opted for a tactical retreat – heading to the living room first to change the subject. “I’ll set up the record player.”

Moments later, a vinyl record was in place. Gentle music flowed through the apartment, countless graceful notes spilling out as if a singer were right there before them, lazily crooning.

“So amazing.” Chu Duxiu stared at the record player in awe. “It sounds completely different from regular speakers.”

The moment the vinyl began to spin, the atmosphere of the home shifted – suddenly it felt like being in a cozy little bar, wrapped in the warmth of everyday life.

Xie Shenci nodded. “Yeah. It’s the record itself – this one was recorded live, not digitally pressed.”

“No wonder,” she said with certainty. “It feels like it has direction, like you’re right there in the space.”

“This is unpolished sound,” he explained. “It’s not necessarily better than digital music, but its strength is authenticity – richer details, warmer tones. Of course, it’s less precise than digital, the fidelity isn’t as high.”

Chu Duxiu kept her gaze fixed on the record player. “I like this.”

“I like it too,” Xie Shenci replied softly. “It’s like stand-up comedy – not perfect, but closer to real life.”

He longed for everything that carried life’s vitality. It didn’t have to be flawless – small imperfections made it all the more moving. A jade with a blemish wasn’t a flaw; it was the beauty of truth revealed.

A leisurely holiday, gentle sunlight, relaxing music – doing nothing but sitting together by the record player, leaning into one another as they savored the old notes etched in vinyl.

At that moment, their thoughts quieted. Without needing words, their hearts drew infinitely close, sharing in the beauty and serenity the music brought.

After a few tracks, Xie Shenci glanced at Chu Duxiu nestled in his arms and suddenly said, “A cat can’t play music for you.”

Clearly, he was still hung up on their earlier conversation, deliberately reminding her of it.

Chu Duxiu: “?”

Not long after, they switched to another record, set out the salmon and hotpot, and enjoyed a lively meal to the sound of music, celebrating the New Year holiday.

Scooping up a slice of meat with the ladle and placing it into her bowl, Xie Shenci added, “And a cat can’t dip food for you either.”

Chu Duxiu: “?”

After dinner, the two cleaned up the dishes and moved to the living room to play video games. The TV screen was connected to a console, and with controllers in hand, Chu Duxiu and Xie Shenci dove into the colorful game world, excited to give it a try.

Though both of them were adults, they played with childlike glee, chatting about game strategies as they went, and before they knew it, hours had slipped away.

In the middle of the game, Xie Shenci suddenly said, “A cat can’t play video games with you.”

“…”

Looked like he just wasn’t going to let this go.

Chu Duxiu kept her eyes glued to the screen, casually soothing him. “Alright, don’t sound so pitiful. I’m not going to raise a second pet – you’re Mom’s favorite baby. There’s no way I’d bring home another cat.”

She’d heard his complaints so often her ears were practically calloused, and now, sensing the sulky “eldest child’s” mood, she decided to give a solemn promise.

Hearing her shamelessly twist things to her advantage, Xie Shenci: “???”

On the screen, the game suddenly froze, and their characters stopped moving.

She pressed the buttons and looked at him in surprise. “What’s going on?”

Xie Shenci set his controller down calmly. “Pause. Rest your eyes. Also… time to cuddle the cat.”

If she insisted on treating him like a cat, then fine – he might as well stop resisting.

“Cuddle the cat?”

The next second, Chu Duxiu was swept into his arms without warning. And just like that, she found out what happens when the roles reverse between human and cat – this wasn’t her “cuddling the cat” at all, it was the “cat cuddling” her!

“…Mmph.”

The tables had turned – the cat was singing its victory song, taking revenge by smothering its human.