Chapter 97 – Promote to Boyfriend
The gift-giving channel closed, but there had been so many gifts that the notifications kept popping up for a while, filling the screen with bright colors. It took a moment before they finally stopped.
There were too many names to read individually, so he thanked everyone collectively.
No one expected the guy who always focused on earning money, whose profile picture was literally the God of Wealth, to one day turn off the gift feature. The audience was shocked and asked if he had already paid off his debts.
“Not yet,” Chen Bai said. “Still a little while to go, but I’m getting close.”
It was normal for viewers to send gifts when a gaming streamer won, but he felt that most of today’s gifts weren’t just because of the game. It seemed more like they just wanted to send him money or something else entirely.
Getting something for nothing didn’t sit right with him. Today’s gifts had already more than covered his time.
[Wait! Yi Bai, you’re not planning to retire once you pay off your debts, are you?]
[Damn it! I was just about to send a gift, and now the button’s grayed out!]
[Am I the only one who noticed that the top spot used to be held by Sister Qing? Now, with all these wealthy women… oh, and some rich men, too… Sister Qing is still number one. Just how rich are you, Qing?!]
[Er Bai, what will you do once you’ve paid off your debts?]
“Retirement is still a long way off.”
Chen Bai clicked his mouse and, with one hand propping up his face, chuckled. “Don’t let Sister Qian hear you say ‘retire,’ or she might have a heart attack.”
He thought for a moment and added, “I’ll tell you what I plan to do once I’m debt-free, but that’ll come later.”
If he mentioned it now, Sister Qian would probably really have a heart attack. He had to at least make sure his money-making partner wasn’t walking around with heart medicine in her pocket at such a young age.
[Chen Yi Bai, you’ve really turned into a mystery man!]
[Little one, I’m making a wish that you and Xu Sinian finally go public with your relationship. How many years has it been already? I was single when I first started shipping you two, and now I’m married, but you two are still just friends!]
[Wait, the comment above just woke me up! It’s totally possible! Look at Xu Sinian today! He’s being so bold! Remember how he used to be too scared to admit he sent flowers or clothes?]
[No way! Is my crush finally going to belong to someone else? [in disbelief.jpg]]
This time, Chen Bai didn’t respond and continued with his friends into the next game.
The morning passed quickly, and just before noon, Chen Yi Wan, who had spent half the day basking in compliments, came back home.
After playing with his grandparents to his heart’s content, he wiped his paws and ran upstairs. You could hear him trying to open the door even through the headset.
Leaving the computer for a moment, Chen Bai went to open the door for the young master.
The fluffy ball of fur was wearing a new bib again today, complete with ruffles and a little embroidered brown bear in the center.
Bracing for the impact of the furry missile, Chen Bai brought the big fluffball to the computer desk and adjusted the camera slightly.
In an instant, the screen displayed a zoomed-in, happy dog face.
Two fluffy paws rested on the desk as Yi Wan stood up to look at the computer screen. His ears were hidden in the thick fur, with only the tips poking out, showing a hint of pink.
Chen Bai placed the mouse under the dog’s paw and asked, “Do you want to play the game too?”
[For a moment, Yi Wan didn’t know who the real dog was]
[Hahaha, dog streamer! Yi Bai, you’re so dog-like!]
[Yi Wan: I don’t get it, but I’ll smile anyway.jpg]
[Fluffy little dog, I want to cuddle you! Auntie wants to pet you!]
Yi Wan settled in and refused to leave, determined to be part of the stream even if there wasn’t much room. He couldn’t understand what was happening on the screen but stubbornly stuck his head out to join the gaming session.
The stream ended at exactly 11:30, just in time for lunch. It was Xu Lang, freshly awake, who knocked on the door to call them for the meal.
His shout of “Brother Yi Bai” still rang in the ears of those who had watched the earlier streams.
[3XL! We were fans together back in the day, but you quietly became his little brother!]
[You betrayed us! Get out immediately!]
[But seriously, can’t you stream while eating (serious face)]
Streaming while eating is still a bit too difficult for most people. Waving goodbye, Chen Bai ended the stream with a smile.
After lunch, while relaxing in the living room, his business partner—mentioned briefly in the stream—called, warily asking about his plans once his debts were paid off.
Chen Bai left the living room to take the call in his room. Thinking it was about time, he shared his plans.
The other end of the line went silent for a while, then the agent spoke: “I’m going to hang up now and send you a document. Take a look.”
Chen Bai didn’t quite understand what document this was until, after the call ended, a message popped up on WeChat. The agent had quickly sent over a zip file.
After unzipping it, Chen Bai found 118 documents inside, all numbered from 1 to 118.
Each document was a carefully prepared PR plan for various scenarios, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of words. It was impressively thorough.
Seeing this for the first time, Chen Bai let out a sound of admiration.
The agent said, “These were prepared by the company’s PR department. Look through them and make sure you don’t end up causing too big a stir.”
Chen Bai, who had been about to cause a stir, humbly agreed.
Viewers gradually started noticing something was different when Chen Bai’s usual references to a certain friend became more specific—he started calling Xu by his full name or “Comrade Xu.”
At an awards gala, a reporter finally got the chance to interview Xu Sinian, asking why he was still single.
The man, who had always avoided such questions, simply said, “I’m waiting.”
Everyone knew who he was waiting for.
But no one knew how long he would wait.
As summer turned to fall, on the last day of late autumn, Chen Bai had no work and, unusually, got up early.
Yi Wan thought he was going to take him out for a walk and excitedly ran around the room, but as soon as Chen Bai put on his shoes and left, the dog realized there was no leash coming his way.
With a pat on the head, Yi Wan watched as his two dads left the house together.
Chen Bai had business to take care of, and today Xu Sinian was playing the role of chauffeur, driving him.
The early morning fog hung in the air, and the car moved slowly. The ginkgo trees lining the road were already yellow. The car’s lights were on, and the passenger, now fully awake, was checking his bank cards and ID under the brim of his hat.
The car drove from the suburbs into the city, taking about half an hour. They parked in a lot near the pre-scheduled bank.
After patting the pocket where his bank cards and ID were stored, Chen Bai pulled his mask up, slightly lowered the brim of his hat, and said, “I’m heading in.”
Xu Sinian reached over to straighten Chen Bai’s hoodie, which had gotten a bit crooked on the seat, and said, “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Chen Bai hopped out of the car.
The bank had just opened at 9 AM, and there were already a few people inside.
Because it was a large transfer and he was a high-value client, he headed straight to the private reception area. Having been there many times, he already knew the bank manager.
The process was familiar to him after so many visits, and he even made small talk with the manager along the way.
Halfway through the process, a bank employee brought in some documents the manager had requested, placing them on the table. Afterward, the employee, fanning her warm face, asked the now-maskless Chen Bai, “Is the person outside your friend?”
“Old Xu?” Chen Bai smiled. “Yeah, that’s him.”
The employee then asked, “Is today the day you’re paying off your last debt?”
Chen Bai nodded in response, curious how she knew.
The staff member didn’t say much, only responding, “Just a guess.”
Although already aware, the manager still followed protocol and asked about the purpose of the funds.
With a simple stroke, the final eight-figure sum was transferred, without any long wait or other complications. Just like that, it was done. The bank card suddenly felt much lighter.
Earning money takes a long time and requires a lot of effort, but paying it off happens in an instant.
The final step was signing to confirm everything. Chen Bai slowly wrote his name, carefully forming each character. After handing over the signed paper, the manager returned his bank card and ID with a smile, saying, “Congratulations, from now on, every penny you earn will be yours.”
Every bit of money from now on would no longer be just a temporary stopover, but fully his own.
Chen Bai smiled in return, pocketed the two cards, put his mask back on, and waved goodbye.
With nothing else to do, the manager escorted him out of the bank.
Beep—
The bank’s automatic doors opened, revealing a tall ginkgo tree outside, its branches stretching wide and shading half the sky.
Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, landing on the shoulders of the man standing beneath the tree.
In his hand was a bouquet of white roses, and beneath the brim of his hat, his dark eyes looked toward Chen Bai.
Chen Bai ran over, his hoodie and strings flapping as he did so, and the wind stirred the golden leaves on the ground.
Just as he was about to launch himself into a sprint during the last couple of steps, Xu Sinian, seeing the stairs ahead, took a stride forward and grabbed Chen Bai’s wrist, stopping his risky move.
Stopped in his tracks, Chen Bai was handed a bouquet of white roses, just the right size to fill his arms, with their soft fragrance filling the air.
The white petals made the slightly reddened tips of Chen Bai’s fingers stand out even more. Xu Sinian bent down and asked with a smile, “Can I start the job now?”
Chen Bai froze for a second while holding the flowers, then quickly glanced at him before lowering his eyes, saying, “Give me your hand.”
Xu Sinian stretched out his hand.
His hand was much larger than Chen Bai’s, toughened by years spent on set and regular training, not the soft, pampered hands of someone unused to labor, with a thin layer of calluses.
Chen Bai, holding the flowers with one hand, reached out with the other. His fingers slid into the gaps between Xu Sinian’s, and he smiled, “Yes, boyfriend.”
A laugh came from above.
Xu Sinian curled his fingers around Chen Bai’s and held his hand firmly.
It was the last day of autumn, the same day they had met, and five years later, his wish had finally come true.
“…”
From not far away, a small round of applause could be heard. Chen Bai, holding his bouquet, turned to see the manager and staff almost pressed up against the window, watching.
He smiled, waved with his bouquet, his eyes crinkling with joy.
The new boyfriend asked, “Shall we go home?”
“Yes,” Chen Bai nodded, smiling. “Auntie Jiang said Yiwan is cry from frustration when we left without him.”
In the morning, it was Yi Wan who almost cried in anger, but by noon, it was the fans who let out a collective wail.
Since the morning, rumors had been circulating, but without any solid evidence, most people dismissed them as just more clickbait from marketing accounts.
But by noon, two long-silent accounts—one belonging to a famous figure and the other mostly managed by an agent—both updated simultaneously.
Both of them posted just a single photo, without any captions.
No words were needed; the photos themselves told the story.
Chen Yi Bai’s photo was simple: a large bouquet of white roses cradled in his arms, almost too big to fit in the frame.
It seemed like a random picture, but combined with the other photo, everything became crystal clear.
Like many times before, Xu Sinian had taken a photo of Chen Yi Bai.
The person walking ahead was holding hands with someone, their fingers interlocked. In the other hand was the bouquet. They turned to look at the camera, his messy hair under a cap, eyes bright and lips slightly upturned in a dazzling smile.
Just like before, but this time it was different—Xu Sinian wasn’t just storing the photo on his phone or sharing it privately. He could now post it openly on his social media.
On what should have been an ordinary, uneventful Monday, a bombshell dropped, confirming that the rumors from the morning were indeed true.
[OMG, look what I’ve just stumbled upon! Xu Sinian finally made his move! I thought Chen Yi Bai was only into money!]
[What?! Are you really together?! I can’t believe my eyes!]
[This is what it’s like to hold hands with Yi Bai! Just seeing the picture makes me feel like I’m going to burst with happiness! Xu Sinian, how can your heart handle this?!]
[Wife (tears) as long as you’re happy (wiping tears) you have to be happy, wife (sobbing) how will I live without you, wife (crying loudly)]
[I knew you two would end up together!! Five years, FIVE YEARS! I’m so happy I could cry! I’m like a little train, chugging along in tears today!]
[Grandma, your favorite couple is finally together! They’ve finally stopped tormenting each other and admitted it!!]
Fans who had been waiting for this moment for years finally got to see it bloom into reality.
Chen Bai had often mentioned that he wouldn’t consider dating until he’d paid off his debts. Now, with this post, it was clear to everyone that he had finally cleared his debts after so many years.
Becoming someone’s boyfriend wasn’t something to rush into, but no one expected that the moment Chen Bai paid off his debts in the morning, Xu Sinian, the big-name actor, would immediately lock down the boyfriend role.
While many fans rejoiced, some were bound to feel sad. People had thought it would be Xu Sinian’s fans or Chen Bai’s fangirls who would be most heartbroken. But surprisingly, neither group was.
Xu Sinian’s intentions had been so obvious for so long that his fans had fully come to terms with it over the years. Instead, they were more worried that Chen Bai would remain emotionally detached forever, leaving Xu Sinian stuck as “just a friend.” Now that the news was out, Xu Sinian’s fans were overjoyed, celebrating with drums and gongs.
The ones suffering the most across the internet were Chen Yi Bai’s boyfriend fans—cries echoed everywhere.
Actors don’t rely on being single to make a living, and they have the freedom to date. The more they understood this, the more heartbroken they felt. There was no one to blame, so they just cried harder.
[Even though I knew this day would come, I didn’t expect it to come so soon. My wife, oh noooo.]
[Wait, I thought people were just joking when they called him their “wife.” Are there really people who meant it seriously? (wide-eyed)]
[That’s why I always said to stop calling him that. Now that Yi Bai is in a relationship, some people are crying their eyes out. See? [cat shrugging.jpg]]
[This is hilarious. Since Yi Bai is in a relationship, I guess I won’t have to work today. My boss is locked in his office, crying. I’ll just wait until he’s done before going in to give my report. Thanks, Yi Bai (seriously).]
[One of my coworkers is wiping tears while saving pictures of Yi Bai from Xu Sinian’s account. Isn’t this basically a kind of cheating?]
Some fans who had been sad at first suddenly found comfort after seeing others crying so heartbreakingly. They started eating popcorn and observing just how deep the sadness would go.
But before they could enjoy much drama, there was a sudden crash—too many users accessing the platform at once caused it to collapse.
On their way back home that morning, they encountered traffic, so by the time the two returned, it was already past noon.
Madam Jiang and Mr. Xu weren’t at work that day either. Their excuse was that they could take a break and wait for the couple to come home for lunch together.
The large bouquet of white roses stood out no matter where it was placed, especially when being carried in hand. The couple saw it and their eyes widened. They looked at the flowers, then at their son, standing off to the side. Their mouths moved as if to say something, but in the end, they chose not to ask any questions.
Lunch was a lively affair, and even Chen Yi Wan got some extra treats for no apparent reason.
While chatting in the dining room, the house staff casually passed through the living room several times, each taking an extra glance at the legendary bouquet placed on the table.
In just half a day, everyone in the household had learned about it.
One forgotten family member, Xu Lang, who found out that his brother had successfully wooed brother Bai, didn’t hear the news until the next day, and even then, it was through a conversation with classmates during a break at school.
Since the school was far from home, and he often went out with friends, he rarely came back on weekends except for long holidays. But this time, he rushed home after classes on Friday.
His timing was unlucky, as brother Bai had already left for another project, but his brother was home.
The younger brother looked at his usually quiet sibling as if seeing a whole new universe, staring without saying a word.
He had always suspected something was up with this guy!
His brother met his gaze with a calm look, completely composed.
——
A week later, when the buzz about their relationship still hadn’t died down online, Chen Yi Bai had already returned to the set.
Some fans had initially worried that once he paid off his debts, he would start taking breaks, and they’d see less content from him.
But those concerns were unnecessary. Before, Chen Bai had worked to pay off debts and make money for others. Now, he was working to make money for himself, and in fact, he had become even more hardworking.
When it came to earning enough money to retire comfortably, Chen Bai and his money-making partner were in perfect agreement.
Not long after confirming their relationship, he had already returned to work. Fans went from being concerned to desperately urging him to take a few more days off and experience a different kind of life.
But now that he was back on set, any talk of taking a break would have to wait.
This time, it was different from the previous project. He wasn’t the lead or a major supporting actor. He had just stepped in to cover for an actor who had encountered an issue. The shoot would only last one or two months.
During a break between scenes, he sat down to rest, drinking water handed to him by his assistant. His agent came over to confirm his schedule for the next few weeks and, remembering something from the fan comments, casually asked, “Do you need to leave some time free after this shoot?”
Sensing where the conversation was going, the agent tactfully brought up the matter of a certain newly appointed boyfriend who had yet to fully enjoy his new status.
Chen Bai “…”
It turned out her reminder wasn’t without merit. Chen Bai, holding his thermos, lowered his head in thought for a moment. Then his eyes widened slightly, his pupils seemingly trembling.
…He had finally realized that he now had a boyfriend.
The agent and assistant fell silent for a moment, offering a brief moment of sympathy for the recently promoted boyfriend, the great actor Xu Sinian.
Having finally grasped that he was, in fact, someone’s boyfriend, Chen Bai pulled out his phone and calmly opened his messaging app, proceeding to update Xu Sinian’s contact name.
The agent leaned over and saw that the contact was still saved under “Good Neighbor.”
The agent offered a brief, sharp critique: “Dating someone as clueless as a log must be tough.”
Ahhhhhhhhhh~ finally