At exactly eleven o'clock, the alarm on Xie Chengnan’s phone went off.
He snapped out of his work-induced trance, remembering that this was the sign-off reminder Jiang Yuan had set for him earlier. He breathed a secret sigh of relief and turned to the camera. "The streaming time is up. So... goodbye, everyone."
Xie Chengnan finally stopped insisting on ending the stream and negotiated, "Then I'll start the broadcast again in an hour. Everyone should go rest and have some lunch too."
"No," Professor Xie said, cold and heartless. "I have to accompany my baby for lunch."
Jiang Yuan, however, didn't mind showing his face to drum up some hype. He sent Xie Chengnan a 'Deep-Sea Bomb' gift with a message: *Keep broadcasting.*
Professor Xie shot his young boyfriend a slightly dissatisfied look, but seeing the boy’s eyes curved in a mischievous smile, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
And so, the livestream moved from the second-floor studio to the first-floor kitchen. Jiang Yuan propped the tablet up on the counter so Xie Chengnan could easily see the comments.
Xie Chengnan rolled up his sleeves. As he placed the green vegetables into the sink, he began skillfully deveining shrimp.
Xie Chengnan looked up just in time to see a specific comment. While peeling a shrimp, he answered the viewer's question: "Not often. I basically didn't cook when I was abroad, and I've been very busy since returning to the country."
After saying this, he gave Jiang Yuan an apologetic look. "Because of my work, A-Yuan dismissed our previous housekeeper, so I often have to trouble him with takeout."
"It’s not exactly a trade secret," Xie Chengnan explained, glancing sideways at the screen. "Our company has already signed donation agreements with about a dozen universities, including Nanda. We will provide a batch of high-end models to the research institutes of various universities for teardown and study. Some of you might see them in your classrooms in a few months."
Xie Chengnan gave a low chuckle. "Then you're all underestimating domestic researchers. The mechanical structure of a domestic robot isn't actually that complex; what truly limits mass production is simply the cost."
These words seemed to trigger a thought. He stopped what he was doing, his tone suddenly becoming serious. "My original intention in founding Nanyuan Technology was to hope that more people would understand the robotics industry."
Perhaps because the following topic was more solemn, Xie Chengnan cleaned his fingers thoroughly and then leaned both hands against the edge of the counter.
He lowered his gaze slightly, as if looking through the screen at every single person on the other side. He spoke slowly: "The future of humanity can never rely on a single person to change. I might temporarily be walking faster and further than most, but it is undeniable that this is only because there were many more pathfinders who returned empty-handed, using their failures to point the way for me.
"I hope my success allows me to become a guide, to let more people watching me see a possibility of this world being changed. I also hope that some of you can find your own path within that possibility."
Xie Chengnan’s gaze softened, revealing an expression that could only be described as expectant. "This path might be very dull, very tedious, and you might not even be able to see where hope lies. But even if only one of you persists because of me, I would feel immensely honored."
Looking at the suddenly empty comment section, Xie Chengnan rubbed his nose and said helplessly, "Was that a bit too serious..." Before he could finish, his young lover suddenly entered the frame, hooked an arm around his neck, and kissed him forcefully.
Jiang Yuan used to hear Shen Qinian say that Xie Chengnan was a workaholic—no social life, no entertainment. Aside from eating, sleeping, and necessary exercise, he basically lived in the laboratory.
For the first time, Jiang Yuan realized that Xie Chengnan had probably truly prepared himself to spend his life alone. He had likely never thought about spending time and energy on another person, because to him, that was a luxury, a waste—an act equivalent to stifling life itself.
But they had met. And then, this man who carried the stars and the sea in his heart had willingly allowed himself to be dragged into the mundane world of mortals by him.
Jiang Yuan’s kiss continued to deepen. Xie Chengnan could feel the irrepressible emotion and the heart full of joy within it. Before the scene could spiral out of control, Jiang Yuan reached out and turned off the livestream.
It wasn't until an hour later that the livestream had a picture again. The viewers discovered that Professor Xie had changed his clothes and was now sitting at the dining table, looking neat and tidy.
"Ahem." Xie Chengnan couldn't find an opening line anymore. With a flushed face, he pretended to be calm. "As requested by everyone, a lunch broadcast."
The relatively composed Jiang Yuan teased along, "That's right, Professor Xie. Didn't you say you were going to dedicate your entire life to the development of human technology?"
Xie Chengnan took the hand Jiang Yuan had placed on the table and pressed a very light kiss to it. He chuckled softly, "I have dedicated my thoughts to all of humanity, but my soul belongs only to you."
Jiang Yuan’s face turned red, but the smile at the corners of his mouth was impossible to suppress.
Soon, a comment caught Xie Chengnan’s attention.
"Flower shop?" Xie Chengnan paused. Jiang Yuan rarely bought flowers. More accurately, he had only bought flowers once...
Jiang Yuan reacted immediately. "Ah? That sunflower girl?"
"Sunflower girl?" Xie Chengnan raised an eyebrow. "Baby, is there a story you haven't told me?"
Xie Chengnan finally remembered to ask: "So... why sunflowers?"
Jiang Yuan propped his head on one hand, pursing his lips with a smile. "Because the flower language of sunflowers is... a love that is never spoken aloud."
Xie Chengnan was stunned. Only then did he realize that Jiang Yuan had confessed to him that early on. If he had only asked one more question back then, he would have received a prepared answer...
Jiang Yuan clicked his tongue and changed the subject. "Who knew a certain someone wouldn't ask at all."
"Ahem, ahem." Professor Xie said aggrievedly, "Wasn't I busy secretly looking at you... You were dressed like that that day... How could I have time to look at flowers..."
Xie Chengnan’s gaze was initially a bit dazed, then thoughtful, and finally, it became somewhat meaningful.
Jiang Yuan quickly pushed his face away and said fiercely, "Don't look! Don't you dare learn bad things!"
Naturally, Xie Chengnan didn't dare say anything. He simply took out his phone and quickly placed an order for certain items.
Jiang Yuan happened to catch a glimpse: "!!!!"
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 南沅科技 | Nanyuan Technology | The company founded by Xie Chengnan, named after both protagonists. |
| 南大 | Nanda | Short for Southern University (Nanjing University or a fictional equivalent). |
| 烟火人间 | Mundane world of mortals | Literally "fireworks and the world of people," referring to the warmth and reality of everyday life. |
| 花语 | Flower language | The symbolic meaning associated with different flowers. |
| 向日葵 | Sunflower | Symbolizes "silent love" or "unspoken love" in this context. |
