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Shen Xingsui rushed over with lightning speed, and before Fu Jinxiao even had time to react, he covered the suitcase, “Teacher Fu!”
Fu Jinxiao was startled by his exaggerated movements.
Shen Xingsui gasped and said, “I, I’ll do it myself.”
Fu Jinxiao was a little surprised. The actor raised his eyebrows, half jokingly said, “Why, is there a bomb in your box?”
“No…”
Shen Xingsui’s face was a little red. He didn’t know how to explain his extensive collection without making himself look like an obsessive fan.
“Yes, I can do it myself.” Shen Xingsui explained while carrying the suitcase away from Fu Jinxiao. But his eyes met Fu Jinxiao’s dark and deep eyes again. This actor seemed to always be able to peer deep inside his soul. This made him nervous. “H-how… can I let you do this kind of rough work?”
Fu Jinxiao looked at him with great interest. He continued to tease, “Well, it’s okay if I do it occasionally, no?”
Shen Xingsui was choked. This actor was bad! He was weak with this kind of teasing… But still, his grip on his suitcase was iron-hard. “No… no need.”
Fu Jinxiao knew when to stop. He smiled softly as he looked at Shen Xingsui’s death grip. “Alright, alright. I’m just kidding.”
Shen Xingsui sighed in relief.
“You’ve been out for so long, at least you need to call home.” Fu Jinxiao stepped out and said, “Since I invited you into my home, I’ll call Auntie Xu in your stead.”
With that out-of-nowhere excuse, Fu Jinxiao left Shen Xingsui alone. He knew that pushing Shen Xingsui too far would be detrimental to their relationship. He knew the line he shouldn’t cross.
But Shen Xingsui was still a little hesitant. He always felt that Fu Jinxiao was a little displeased, so when he passed by, he still called nervously, “Teacher Fu, I…”
Fu Jinxiao stopped. He was still in his casual attire, and didn’t exude his usual noble aura. He looked way approachable, and that made Shen Xingsui unknowingly relaxed. He glanced at Shen Xingsui, his voice was full of magnetic gentleness. “Don’t be so nervous, Suisui. Just tell me if you need something.”
Shen Xingsui froze, it seemed that this was the first time Fu Jinxiao called him with “Suisui”. He couldn’t understand the meaning behind Fu Jinxiao’s mysterious gaze towards him. So, he shrugged it off.
Fu Jinxiao continued, “We are equal. I will respect your boundaries. So no need to be nervous. If you don’t want me to see what’s inside, I won’t see it.”
Shen Xingsui’s tense heart seemed to be relieved suddenly.
It was magical how Fu Jinxiao – the unattainable idol – was the person who understood him the best. He might be the flower at the mountaintops, but he… felt approachable. Like he would descend to Shen Xingsui, and they will…
Shen Xingsui dismissed his line of thoughts. It was going nowhere.
Still.
He thought that he might just fall deeper for Fu Jinxiao.
Fu Jinxiao put the phone aside and said to him, “Go, your Wang-jie is still waiting for you.”
Shen Xingsui nodded.
The phone had already hung up, but Wang Meican was still waiting for an answer. Shen Xingsui squatted down and began to try to unpack the suitcase. This suitcase was a 50-yuan inferior suitcase he bought randomly on the street when he was poor. At that time, he was going to participate in the filming of “Starlight”, so he needed a big enough suitcase to contain his belongings. But with his limited funds, he could only afford his one.
“Strange, why can’t the lock be opened?”
Shen Xingsui found out that this crappy suitcase might have been dropped somewhere today, so the lock was stuck.
“No way…” Shen Xingsui got a little desperate as he mumbled to himself,  “Why can’t I open it, should I pick it? I don’t know how to pick a lock at all.”
Wait.
He knew someone who could pick a lock.
Shen Xingsui remembered the scene when Fu Jinxiao used a copper wire to pick the lock of a door in that tower. His skill was admirable.
But…
‘No way,’ Shen Xingsui covered his face in shame. He couldn’t let Fu Jinxiao come near. It’s too embarrassing. Just now, he forbade Fu Jinxiao to see what’s inside, so how could he ask the actor to pick the lock on this suitcase now? Where would his face be?
Shen Xingsui was in a dilemma for quite some time. When Fu Jinxiao came back, he came to see Shen Xingsui looked like he was questioning about the meaning of life.
Fu Jinxiao poured a glass of water and put it beside the youth. He casually asked, “Have you already sent the photo to Wang-jie?”
“No…” Shen Xingsui blushed even more. His neck was flushed red now. “I… can’t open this suitcase’s lock.”
Fu Jinxiao didn’t expect that to come out of Shen Xingsui’s mouth: “What?”
The youth’s blush probably has reached down his chest. Still, he decided to rip the bandaid off in one go, so he elaborated, “I don’t know what’s wrong with the suitcase. Either the lock was stuck, or something lodged inside and it prevented me from opening it. I’ll go home tomorrow and study it.”
Fu Jinxiao looked at the offending object, then at Shen Xingsui. He never saw someone go that red.
It’s kinda funny, despite his mortification.
…wait, what did he mean by going home tomorrow to open the suitcase?
Fu Jinxiao’s mood dropped down. He put the water glass back on the table, and said slowly, “What are you going to do when you go home?”
Shen Xingsui didn’t expect this question, so he answered hesitantly, “Smash it, break it open?”
“Huh?” Fu Jinxiao mercilessly said, “That lock is a push-button type. It is not as easy to break open as other locks. Plus, have you considered that forcing it open that way might break what’s inside?”
Shen Xingsui was frightened.
Inside were all treasures that were still miraculously left intact! It was his precious collection! If he accidentally damaged it… he might pass out from crying himself hoarse.
Thinking of this, Shen Xingsui became anxious and helpless, “Then, what should we do?”
Fu Jinxiao sat lazily on the sofa, and unhurriedly offered his service, “Well, I have learned a little about lock-picking, maybe I can try…”
Shen Xingsui was very grateful, as if seeing a savior. He already forgot the whole thing about ‘not wanting to ask for Fu Jinxiao’s help after denying him in the first place’ because of fright. “Then, I ask for your help, Teacher Fu!”
A smile flashed across Fu Jinxiao’s eyes. Like a hunter with a net, watching patiently for his prey to fall into the trap. On top of that, his poor little prey was even very grateful to him.
Fu Jinxiao took a phenomenal ten minutes to crack open the offending lock. His hands were very nimble in opening the suitcase. He twisted the wire he took from somewhere, then there was a “click”, and the suitcase was finally unlocked.
Shen Xingsui was overjoyed, “Great! Thank you very much!!”
Fu Jinxiao said, “The lock cylinder inside is just old.”
The box suitcase slowly opened, and finally only a gap was exposed. Shen Xingsui remembered it belatedly, and rushed over to hug the suitcase to cover it up. He was very afraid Fu Jinxiao had seen what’s inside. He was so nervous that he even stuttered a little. “Ah, uhm, again, thank you very, very much.”
A strong tension and fear surged into his heart, and his eyes froze for a moment. He stared at Fu Jinxiao for a moment.
Fu Jinxiao squatted on the spot, the cold light of the living room fell on him, his head was lowered, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.
Shen Xingsui felt very uneasy.
After a while, Fu Jinxiao finally raised his head to look at him. The man’s expression was unfathomable. Shen Xingsui couldn’t guess what the actor was thinking.
Then, Fu Jinxiao smiled gently. “Is that very precious to you?”
Shen Xingsui could only reply, “I, you…”
Fu Jinxiao said slowly, “Okay, if those items are very precious to you… well, my advice is be careful. Especially because you don’t want it to be stolen.”
For some reason, the way Actor Fu said the word “be careful” had some hidden meaning to it. For the nth time this night, Shen Xingsui’s earlobes blushed again.
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