Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

Due to the unexpected rescue incident and the persistently poor weather conditions in the mountainous areas of Guizhou, the "Heartstrings in the Distant Mountains" program team, after comprehensive evaluation and communication with the guests, decided to end the recording trip a few days early.

The official Weibo account quickly released a statement explaining in detail the reasons for the early termination, emphasizing that both teachers, Zhou Ai and Chu Yi, are now out of danger, their injuries have been properly treated, and they are resting and recovering. The statement also expressed gratitude to all the viewers who showed concern and support during the event.

Despite the shortened trip, the recording of the first episode of "Heartfelt Connections to Distant Mountains" has indeed brought substantial help and widespread attention to Yuntouzhai and its surrounding villages. Issues such as education, medical care, and sales of agricultural products have been promoted and resolved to varying degrees, which can be considered the greatest comfort of this trip.

On the day we left the village, the weather was unusually clear, and the sunlight shone on the terraced fields and stilted houses, as if coating the land with a soft, warm light.

Chu Yi's cast on his foot hadn't been removed yet, and he still had great difficulty moving around. However, from packing his luggage to getting on and off the bus, he didn't need to worry about anything at all—or rather, no one else had to help him.

Zhou Ai handled almost everything.

The crew watched as this top celebrity, who usually exuded a somewhat aloof aura, naturally squatted in Chu Yi's small wooden cabin, carefully folding his clothes, tidying up his belongings, and gently placing his laptop and books into his backpack. His movements weren't particularly skillful, even a little clumsy, but they were exceptionally earnest and focused.

Then, when Chu Yi needed to move, he turned around in front of Chu Yi very naturally, squatted down, and steadily carried the person on his back.

As they ascended and descended the steep stilted stairs, he walked with remarkable steadiness, his arms firmly wrapped around Chu Yi's legs. He shook his head and politely declined any offers of help from those nearby.

Whether it was carefully placing Chu Yi in the back seat of the car and adjusting the position of his leg in a cast, or carrying him again after arriving at the airport, going through the crowd and handling the formalities, Zhou Ai remained completely calm throughout, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Chu Yi may have felt a little uncomfortable at first, but under Zhou Ai's natural attitude, she gradually relaxed and would occasionally turn her head and whisper something in Zhou Ai's ear.

The interaction between the two was smooth and natural, with a tacit understanding and aura that was difficult for outsiders to penetrate. The natural intimacy and dependence they showed far exceeded the scope of ordinary colleagues or friends, leaving the other members of the production team and staff looking at each other with unspoken surprise and curiosity, but no one dared to ask any questions.

Zhou Ai's agent and team watched from the sidelines, their foreheads dripping with cold sweat. They wanted to step forward to help or subtly hint at the impact of the situation, but Zhou Ai simply glanced at them dismissively, leaving them only with their own anxiety.

Sunlight streamed through the airport's glass dome as Zhou Ai carried Chu Yi steadily, step by step. Chu Yi lay quietly on his back, her chin resting gently on his shoulder.

This unexpected journey began with a disastrous accident, but temporarily came to an end in an indescribable, ambiguous, and calm atmosphere.

No one knows what the future holds, but some things have indeed changed.

When the convoy arrived at the airport, as expected, media and a small number of fans who had heard about it had already gathered near the regular passageway.

Zhou Ai glanced at the flashing cameras and crowds outside through the car window, and without hesitation, instructed her assistant in the front seat: "Contact the airport and use the SVIP channel."

This is the first time he has proactively requested to use a special passage during a private event. In the past, he was not enthusiastic about this and even somewhat resistant to such deliberate isolation.

But today, he also has Chu Yi on his back, whose leg is in a cast and who cannot withstand any pushing or shoving.

The assistant immediately went to make the arrangements. The vehicle smoothly drove into the designated area, away from all the noise. Zhou Ai personally carried Chu Yi out of the car and led her through a quiet and private passage directly into the VIP lounge.

Zhou Ai only breathed a sigh of relief after they boarded the plane and sat down side by side. But he obviously didn't intend to be idle. As soon as he sat down, he very naturally took out a soft gray cashmere blanket from his backpack, unfolded it, and carefully covered Chu Yi's legs. He even tried to pull the edges of the blanket up to wrap Chu Yi up more tightly.

Chu Yi had been feeling a little embarrassed by Zhou Ai's meticulous yet public care throughout the journey. Seeing him busy again, he finally couldn't help but reach out and gently press down on Zhou Ai's hand that was tucking him in with a blanket.

"My hands are fine, I can do this myself." Chu Yi sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness.

Zhou Ai paused, looked up at him, and said, "The temperature difference in Guiyang is huge. It was air-conditioned when we came in. You have an injury on your foot, so you can't catch a cold." He paused, then added, "Tell me immediately if you feel unwell anywhere."

Chu Yi was amused by his alarmed expression and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Teacher Zhou, if I may remind you, who's the doctor, you or me?"

Zhou Ai remained unfazed and replied confidently, "It's different now. Before you're a doctor, you're first and foremost a patient."

As he spoke, Chu Yi's gaze unconsciously fell on his face. Most of the small scratches from before had scabbed over and fallen off, leaving only a few faint pink marks. Coupled with the newly grown black hair roots intertwined with the still silver-white hair, the wild and untamed feeling was even stronger, yet at this moment he was doing the most careful and thoughtful thing.

Zhou Ai took out another silk eye mask from her bag and handed it to Chu Yi: "Use this, the light is too bright."

Xu Yang, sitting on the sofa in the aisle next door, watched this scene. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, a bunch of words about public relations, image, and follow-up arrangements rolled around in his throat several times, but in the end he silently swallowed them back, turning them into a silent sigh, and lowered his head to scroll through his tablet.

The flight from Guiyang to Beijing takes about three hours. The plane had just taken off smoothly, and perhaps because her body had not fully recovered, or perhaps because of the inexplicable sense of security brought by Zhou Ai's presence, Chu Yi, wearing the eye mask, tilted her head slightly to one side and quickly fell into a light sleep with even breathing.

Zhou Ai, however, showed no signs of sleepiness. He sat upright, like a guardian deity, his gaze occasionally falling on the person beside him.

When Chu Yi's head tilted unconsciously toward him for the fifth time due to inertia, Zhou Ai finally reached out carefully, gently placing his palm on Chu Yi's left cheek, and very slowly and steadily guiding the furry head to rest on his broad shoulder.

After completing this action, he slowly exhaled, as if he had accomplished something extremely important.

He was just about to adjust his posture slightly to make himself and Chu Yi more comfortable when he keenly sensed a strong gaze fixed on him from his right.

Zhou Ai turned her head and, sure enough, met the eyes of her manager, Xu Yang, which were filled with complex emotions.

Xu Yang shook the lit tablet screen in his hand, and was about to lower his voice to say something when Zhou Ai immediately frowned, raised her index finger without hesitation, and put it to her lips, making a clear and stern "shut up" gesture.

Xu Yang: "..." He immediately and tactfully made a zipping motion near his mouth to indicate that he would be absolutely quiet.

Zhou Ai then turned around with satisfaction. He first carefully adjusted the height of his shoulders to make Chu Yi more comfortable, and then carefully checked whether the blanket on the other's legs was properly covered.

After confirming that everything was correct, he looked straight ahead, but silently stretched out a hand towards Xu Yang beside him.

Xu Yang immediately understood and quickly handed the tablet, which already had the page set up, to Zhou Ai.

Zhou Ai took the tablet, his fingertips swiping up and down the screen at will, quickly browsing the densely packed schedule—a series of work, interviews, and the inevitable follow-up meetings regarding this accident that he would face after returning to Beijing.

His gaze was calm and focused, completely different from the man who had been carefully protecting those around him just moments before. Only the shoulder that Chu Yi was leaning on remained absolutely steady, without moving an inch.

Zhou Ai glanced through all the work processes and estimated the approximate time before casually placing the tablet with its screen turned off aside. However, his gaze involuntarily returned to the person leaning on his shoulder.

Chu Yi was sleeping soundly, perhaps because the eye mask blocked out the light, or perhaps because his body was truly exhausted. He tilted his head, with most of his face resting on Zhou Ai's shoulder. The eye mask covered his eyes, which usually carried a sense of aloofness, revealing only his smooth forehead, straight nose, and pale lips that were slightly parted due to his deep sleep.

His breathing was shallow and even, his warm breath brushing against Zhou Ai's neck, bringing a slight tickle. His soft black hair was scattered messily across his forehead, brushing against Zhou Ai's chin, making him seem completely unguarded, even revealing a softness and... cuteness that was completely different from when he was awake.

Zhou Ai's heart felt as if it had been gently squeezed by something, a mixture of sourness and tenderness.

However, this tranquil beauty could not dispel the increasingly clear unease and anxiety deep in his heart.

The plane was taking them away from that isolated mountain area, which seemed to temporarily shield them from all the rules of reality, and back to the orderly, complex city of Beijing.

What happens after we go back?

Zhou Ai could almost foresee it. Once the situation was resolved, Chu Yi's powerful psychological mechanism for self-protection would likely be reactivated.

He might intentionally avoid him, might use that polite yet distant attitude to redraw the boundaries, or might even... give him the rejection he's afraid to hear directly.

If that's the case, what should he do?

In Yuntou Village, in that extreme environment where it was just the two of them, he could justifiably "force" him, and could take advantage of Chu Yi's gentleness and reluctance to get closer step by step, even making those bold and transgressive moves.

But once we return to Beijing, everything will be different.

There lies Chu Yi's familiar life path, work environment, social circle, and... his blind date, Xie Huaiming, whose background he still doesn't fully understand.

Chu Yi had too many reasons and too many ways to push him away and redefine him as a "temporary colleague" or "ordinary friend".

The thought of that possibility gripped Zhou Ai's heart with a helpless panic. He realized he had no effective leverage to stop or salvage the situation.

All his "determination" and "confidence" seemed so vulnerable in the face of Chu Yi's possible indifference.

Zhou Ai sighed almost inaudibly, a bitter feeling spreading through her chest.

He turned his head slightly, looking at the fluffy head on his shoulder, and couldn't help but raise his fingertips to gently brush away the few strands of hair that naturally fell across Chu Yi's forehead.

Just as his fingertips left Chu Yi's forehead, a very faint sound of footsteps approached.

The premium cabin flight attendant, carrying a tray, came to serve drinks with a perfectly trained smile on her face, ready to quietly inquire about the customer's needs.

However, when she saw what was happening in front of her, her professional smile froze on her face, and her eyes revealed undisguised shock and...excitement.

From the moment Zhou Ai and his program boarded the plane through the SVIP channel, the entire flight crew was in a small frenzy.

Who would have thought I'd run into this top influencer at work?

Having finally secured the opportunity to work in this area, she wanted to remain professional and provide the service as naturally as possible.

But what did she just see?!

Zhou Ai, the top celebrity known for his "cold face," "aloofness," and "unapproachability," was now slightly tilting his head, his gaze fixed on the person sleeping soundly on his shoulder.

His expression was gentler than ever before. His usually nonchalant or flirtatious eyes were now filled with an almost overflowing focus and warmth, making him completely different from his usual image in front of the camera.

And that gentle gesture of brushing the other person's hair aside was so natural and intimate it was almost unbelievable!

The flight attendant's heart pounded wildly, and she nearly dropped the tray. Forcing herself to remain calm, she used all her acting skills to maintain a semblance of composure, and asked in a low, professional voice, "Mr. Zhou, would you like something to drink?"

Zhou Ai looked up at the sound, her gentle expression instantly vanishing, replaced by her usual indifferent and slightly aloof demeanor. Her voice remained low, as if afraid of waking the person beside her: "Warm water is fine, thank you."

The flight attendant quickly poured a glass of warm water and gently placed it on the small tray table next to Zhou Ai. She almost moved away from the area at the same time, her mind already exploding with shock at this earth-shattering discovery.

Zhou Ai, however, seemed completely oblivious to the little incident that had just occurred. All his attention remained focused on the sleeping person beside him and on his uncertain worries about the future.