After the secret marriage to my top star partner

Chapter 30.2

Editor: Princess

The program’s van was spacious. Ai Qian Qian had already returned to the hotel, but the previously eliminated contestants—Duan Shi, Du Ling, and Cui Zhixing—were still inside, resting.

As soon as Cui Zhixing saw Mu Nan step in, his face soured instantly.

However Mu Nan wasn’t in the mood to deal with him either, so he just asked, “Where’s Cheng Han?”

“Teacher Cheng’s leg injury needed a check-up, so he was sent to the hospital. He won’t be filming the final ending scene.”

Hearing this, Mu Nan let out a breath of relief. “That’s good.”

To break the awkward silence, Duan Shi spoke up first. “Mu Nan, you were amazing! But I really didn’t expect Cheng Han to be the traitor.”

“I wasn’t that amazing, actually, it was all…” Mu Nan almost said, it was all thanks to Cheng Han. But then he remembered that Cheng Han was the hidden boss, and the words stuck in his throat.

Duan Shi, however, was already showering him with praise. “I knew sticking with you was the right move! I’m definitely teaming up with you again next time!”

“Tch.” Cui Zhixing suddenly let out a cold scoff. “Like you even did anything. If it weren’t for Cheng Han, you wouldn’t have lasted a second.”

If it were any other day, Mu Nan would’ve had a hundred ways to snap back at him. But right now, he just didn’t have the energy.

Du Ling, on the other hand, let out an even louder scoff, clapping sarcastically. “Yes, he’s useless. Meanwhile, you’re a pro at picking fights with your own teammates, huh?”

Cui Zhixing’s face turned green, then he shut up.

**

Back at the hotel, Mu Nan crashed into bed the second he got to his room. But sleep didn’t come easy.

The moment he closed his eyes, he saw ghosts. Rotting flesh. Endless flames. And Cheng Han’s gaze as he fell.

But his body was so exhausted that even as nightmares tormented him, he couldn’t wake up. He was trapped in a cycle of restless dreams, unable to break free.

He ended up sleeping for ten straight hours. Yet when Xiao Jin woke him up, he felt just as drained as before.

“Nan Ge, it’s time to go back.” While Mu Nan washed up, Xiao Jin packed his luggage.

Mu Nan had a toothbrush in his mouth as he mumbled a half-hearted response, but the images from his dreams still wouldn’t fade.

He never knew he could get this emotionally invested in a show.

Losing sleep over a variety program? Feeling like crap over a scripted plot twist? And worst of all, he couldn’t even talk to anyone about it.

“How’s Cheng Han’s leg?” He asked casually as he finished brushing his teeth.

Xiao Jin replied just as casually, “I checked with Ai Jia. Nothing’s broken, just some bruising. It’s not serious.”

“Oh.” Mu Nan didn’t know what else to say.

**

Maybe it was the shock, maybe it was sheer exhaustion, but the moment Mu Nan got home, he collapsed and fell sick.

Xiao Jin stayed behind to take care of him for two days. But by the third day, Mu Nan noticed the dark circles under his eyes and kicked him out, giving him a whole week off.

And just like that, the house was completely empty.

Mu Nan had deliberately chosen to return to his small apartment instead of the villa. He was too drained to be walking back and forth in such a big space. Now that he was sick, the benefits of a smaller place became even more obvious, as just making it to the bathroom was tiring enough, let alone going up and down stairs every day.

Of course, there was a downside to it too, and that was boredom.

After Xiao Jin left, Mu Nan had nothing to do but rest. His throat was too sore to practice singing, and his head was too foggy to write songs. His daily routine turned into watching movies and dramas during the day, then going to bed early at night.

This went on until Saturday afternoon, when someone suddenly showed up.

The door opened with a key.

Only Xiao Jin and Wilder had a copy of his apartment key, so he didn’t think much of it. He just threw on a loungewear jacket over his pajamas and walked out of the bedroom.

But when he saw who was standing at the door, he froze on the spot.

“Cheng Han? What are you doing here? Wait, how do you have my house key? And, what’s in those bags?”

Cheng Han walked straight into the kitchen, setting his bags down. “Hotpot. Are you eating or not?”

Mu Nan: “Huh?”

---

Half an hour later, the two of them had moved the dining table into the living room, set up the electric stove, and started cooking hotpot.

Mu Nan had a yin-yang pot at home, and Cheng Han had conveniently brought two different broths—one mushroom-based, one spicy beef tallow.

When they placed the pot on the stove, Cheng Han unerringly put the mushroom broth on Mu Nan’s side.

As for the ingredients, he had brought a ridiculous variety—meats, vegetables, everything. He handled all the washing and prep work by himself, while Mu Nan, the sick one, was unceremoniously kicked to the couch to sit around and do nothing.

He sure didn’t act like a guest.

Mu Nan sat there for a long time before finally reacting. “Where did you even get my house key?”

“How much duck intestine should I wash?” Cheng Han’s voice came from the kitchen.

“All of it, all of it! I love duck intestine!” Mu Nan perked up immediately, running over excitedly. “Oh, and wash the tripe and artery slices too!”

“Got it.” Cheng Han replied without hesitation.

Once everything was ready, the hotpot started bubbling away.

“Want to watch the show?” Cheng Han asked.

“What show?” Mu Nan was busy stuffing meat into his mouth.

Sighing, Cheng Han rubbed his temples. “Your show.”

“The first episode’s out already?!” Mu Nan finally remembered. “Absolute Fear” was officially airing today.

“Ohhh.” He suddenly turned to Cheng Han, realization dawning. “So that’s why you came over, to watch the show with me!”

Cheng Han: “Otherwise?”

Mu Nan: “…..”

“Nothing.” He said with a big, toothy grin.