Amateur talent show? Top mentors are my students.

He Xu's eyes widened slightly: "...What?"

"I said I made an appointment for you at a hospital in the United States." Jiang Yanbai's tone returned to his characteristic, slightly exaggerated, relaxed manner.

"There's an ENT specialist over there who specializes in treating sequelae of vocal cord injury. He's done quite a few clinical cases—I had to ask someone to put me on the waiting list for over half a year. I was planning to tell you after I was sure I could get the treatment."

"But since you asked, I'll answer now."

He Xu stared at him for several seconds, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, as if he were digesting every word in those words.

"...When did you start looking?"

"I started looking around right after your voice broke out," Jiang Yanbai said casually. "Back then, I was in the US and knew a few people in the medical field, so I asked them to help me find out."

"At first, I contacted several people, but they all said they weren't sure. Later, I got in touch with this one—he looked at your medical records and said there was a chance."

"Xiao Xu, your throat can still be treated."

Jiang Yanbai withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair: "That's why I said, of your two students, one can only write essays, and the other can only cook porridge. The one who really does practical things for you is me—Xiao Xu. Tell me, who's more heartless?"

He Xu stared at Jiang Yanbai for several seconds, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, as if he was digesting every word in those words.

Then he lowered his head, looked at the bowl of porridge in front of him that was almost empty, and couldn't help but show a smile that was almost helpless.

"...Fine, fine, fine." He Xu finally raised his head and looked at Jiang Yanbai. "I have no conscience, okay? You have the most conscience, you're the most conscientious person in the world, are you satisfied now?"

Jiang Yanbai spread his hands: "I like to hear that. Say a few more words."

"roll."

"Look, you're swearing again." Jiang Yanbai's smile held a hint of smugness. "But I love it when you swear at me. You're so vivid when you swear, much cuter than when you're silent."

He Xu tossed the spoon into the bowl with a soft thud: "...Can't you be serious for once?"

"Where did I do anything inappropriate? Did you think what I just said sounded like I was joking with you?" Jiang Yanbai's voice unusually lost its playful tone.

He Xu's eyelashes trembled slightly.

He knew, of course, that Jiang Yanbai wasn't joking.

Given Jiang Yanbai's personality, he wouldn't bring this up unless he was absolutely certain.

But the problem is—He Xu never thought this was even possible.

It took him four years to accept the fact that "this is how my voice is."

He learned to sing in a low voice, to dance with his mouth closed, and to smile and say "I injured my voice when I was young" when others asked, "What's wrong with your voice?" It's nothing serious.

He has buried this matter deep in the bottom of his heart, and he hardly ever looks at it anymore.

Now Jiang Yanbai is telling him—there might still be a chance.

This kind of talk is even more awkward than "Your voice is beyond saving".

He Xu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the shimmering river surface in the night outside the window: "...Let me think about it."

"What are you considering?" Jiang Yanbai pressed. "You don't need to worry about the cost. I can help you coordinate the time. You just need to nod and then fly with me to Los Angeles."

"Jiang Yanbai," He Xu's voice carried an unusual seriousness, "Let me think about it."

Jiang Yanbai looked at his expression, remained silent for a few seconds, and then swallowed back what he was about to say.

"...Okay," he said. "You can think about it."

"But don't think about it for too long. The appointment schedule there is very tight, and the specialists aren't always available. If you delay too long, you might have to wait another six months to get an appointment next time."

He Xu did not respond.

Jiang Yanbai put down his chopsticks, looked at He Xu, and added, "But I'll save it for you."

He Xu looked up at him, his gaze revealing a tenderness he rarely showed to others: "...Mm."

-

The next morning, an unwanted figure appeared in the base's corridor.

Jiang Yanbai leaned against the entrance of the practice building, holding a cup of coffee in his hand, his posture as relaxed as if he were in his own living room.

The morning light shone from the side, giving his light brown hair a golden edge, making him look like he had just stepped off a magazine cover.

Shen Yiheng paused for a moment when he reached the corner of the corridor.

He thought he was seeing things.

Last night, Jiang Yanbai took He Xu out for dinner. Logically, they should have parted ways after dinner.

This person should go back to the hotel, get on the plane, and disappear from He Xu's life—at least until the next time he feels like "caring."

But Jiang Yanbai was still standing there, and even waved at him.

"Good morning, PD Shen." Jiang Yanbai's voice was clear and bright. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Shen Yiheng's brow twitched, and he walked over and stopped two steps away from him: "...Why are you still here?"

"I'm waiting for Xiaoxu."

Shen Yiheng's fingers curled slightly: "Why are we waiting for him?"

"Let's wait for his answer," Jiang Yanbai said matter-of-factly, taking a sip of coffee with a relaxed demeanor that made one want to punch him.

Shen Yiheng frowned even more deeply: "What answer?"

Jiang Yanbai took the coffee cup away from his lips, his gaze falling on Shen Yiheng's face, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved up.

It was a smile that had been planned for a long time, knowing that what was about to be said would instantly change the other person's expression.

"Of course it's the answer—to elope to America!" His tone carried an extremely irritating, yet deliberately nonchalant, air.

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Shen Yiheng seemed to have been put on pause.

His brain clearly went blank for ten seconds.

"...What did you say?"

"I'm telling you," Jiang Yanbai said with unusual sincerity, "I'm waiting for Xiaoxu's answer about eloping to America!"

"You have no idea—yesterday, I specially booked a private room with floor-to-ceiling windows by the river. The candlelight flickered, the water shimmered, and the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful."

"I confessed my love to Xiaoxu under the moonlight and invited him to elope with me to America. Xiaoxu was stunned on the spot and cried with emotion. He said he would think about it."

"You know, a man has gone to such lengths, and she's said she's considered it, how can I not wait? I can't just walk away, that would be so heartless!"

As he spoke, his fingers gently traced the rim of the coffee cup several times, his expression one of blissful reverie, as if he were savoring a timeless, unforgettable love story.

Shen Yiheng stood there, feeling as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, his expression blank.

"...Elopement?" He repeated the word, his voice a little dry. "You mean...He Xu?"

"Yeah, Xiao Xu." Jiang Yanbai tilted his head, his expression blank. "Don't you know? The relationship between him and me has long since transcended that of ordinary 'friends'."

"What's the relationship?" Shen Yiheng's voice rose half an octave.

Just as Jiang Yanbai was about to speak, a voice came from the other end of the corridor, carrying the hoarseness and impatience characteristic of the morning.

"Jiang Yanbai, what the hell are you spouting now?"

He Xu walked out from the corner of the corridor.

He had clearly heard the second half of the conversation, and his expression conveyed a sense of helplessness, as if to say, "You're doing it again."

He walked between the two men, stopped, glanced at Shen Yiheng first, and then turned to Jiang Yanbai.

"You came all this way so early just to tease him?"

"I wasn't teasing him at all," Jiang Yanbai casually handed the coffee to He Xu. "I was sharing our future plans with you, our PD student—didn't you say you wanted to think about it?"

"I'm thinking about going to the US to get my voice checked," He Xu explained, taking the coffee. "It's not about eloping."

Jiang Yanbai shrugged: "Getting your voice checked and eloping don't conflict. Once we're in America, we can see a doctor during the day and go on dates at night. How perfect is that?"

"Say one more word and I'll puncture your tires tonight."

Jiang Yanbai immediately shut up, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender: "Okay, okay, I won't say anymore."

Shen Yiheng stood there, his gaze shifting between the two of them: "...You mean...going to America to get treatment for your voice?"

"Hmm." He Xu turned his head to look at him, his tone flat. "Jiang Yanbai found a specialist in the United States, saying there's a chance of surgery—what else did you think?"