Qin Si Zheng, afraid Lu Xian Qing would really feed him, quickly took the chopsticks and focused on eating, gripping them tightly.
Due to the brief interruption from Ye Xu, there was no time for rehearsal. As soon as he put down the chopsticks, An Ning returned, tidying up and urging them to finish makeup—they were about to shoot.
“I’ll head back first, see you later, An Ning,” Qin Si Zheng said.
Lu Xian Qing raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Not seeing me off?”
“I will, Fourth Brother,” Qin Si Zheng quickly added.
An Ning, watching him dash off, blushed slightly and mischievously asked, “Fourth Brother, enough bullying for today?”
“What bullying?” Lu Xian Qing shot her a glance, opening a drawer to show her the bottles inside. “You leave things lying around? Forgetful, or don’t want to work for me anymore?”
An Ning slapped her forehead. “I forgot! I meant to put them away but forgot while delivering. I’ll remember next time! Luckily no one saw, or Xing Xing would skin me alive.”
Lu Xian Qing remarked, “Qin Si Zheng almost saw it. I hid them quickly. Also—when did she call President Ye?”
An Ning bowed her head. “Sorry, Fourth Brother. Xing Xing was just too worried about you that day. You really scared her. We… couldn’t do anything. You know how formidable President Ye is.”
Lu Xian Qing knew exactly how angry Ye Xu could get. He gritted his teeth, muttering a curse, then dialed He Xing. “Turned off?”
An Ning hurriedly explained, “She’s on a plane. Should land in about three hours. Do you need to reach her?”
Lu Xian Qing said, “Have her call me after landing.”
An Ning glanced at his face, cautious. “Fourth Brother, can we discuss something?”
“Hmm?”
“Please, no firing. Without another boss buying her fan diamonds, she’d cry to death.”
Lu Xian Qing rolled his eyes and tapped her head. “Playing both sides, huh? I’m transferring you to President Ye then.”
Seeing he wasn’t actually angry, An Ning breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sweetly. “I’m not going—I want to stay by your side.”
Lu Xian Qing was deeply touched. Then she added, “I’m family to my treasure, gotta have his back!”
Lu Xian Qing tossed his phone into her lap. “One second. Get out.”
An Ning scrambled away quickly.
When Qin Si Zheng returned to the makeup room, Chen Qiu was already there. Seeing him in the mirror, she smiled. “Come on, I saved you half of the fresh fruit. It’ll spoil if it sits too long.”
“Thanks, but I can’t eat mango.”
Chen Qiu looked surprised. “You’re allergic to mango?”
“Mm.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know. I’ll eat it myself then. You’re not allergic to anything else, right? I’ll have my assistant get something else for us tonight.” She pulled out her phone to send a WeChat message.
Qin Si Zheng said, “Tomorrow at noon I’ll ask Chang Feng to bring some over. What fruits do you like?”
Chen Qiu waved off the formality. “Anything works. I’m not picky, and I’m not allergic to anything. Oh, we’re not following each other on Weibo yet, huh? I’ll follow you.” She opened Weibo, searched his name, and hit follow.
Qin Si Zheng took out his phone. He rarely used Weibo; first Xu Zhao forbade it, and later the flood of obsessive private messages and comments kept him away. He opened it now and followed Chen Qiu back.
Chen Qiu, like a high-intensity gossip surfer, saw the follow-back and said, “Let me check the latest drama. Hey, did you hear the second episode of that little star variety show flopped?”
Qin Si Zheng had heard a little—Xu Zhao had mentioned it over the phone, saying the production deserved it.
Chen Qiu said, “Jiang Zhen doesn’t know how to handle kids at all. Filming with Si Qian Qiu, it was like a beauty pageant—constantly competing. Holy crap, such a huge scandal!”
Qin Si Zheng couldn’t keep up with his exaggerated reactions. Chen Qiu, losing patience, shoved the phone in front of him. “Lu Xian Qing liked Jiang Zhen’s Weibo! He’s never liked anyone else’s posts before—there’s definitely something going on!”
Qin Si Zheng froze. Lu Xian Qing… liked Jiang Zhen?
The screenshot on the phone made it clear—he must have tapped it while washing his hands. He came back and quickly locked the screen, not letting Qin Si Zheng see. So that was it.
Chen Qiu, caught up in the gossip, didn’t notice Qin Si Zheng’s expression darken.
The afternoon shoot went smoothly. Zhou Chang Jiang praised Qin Si Zheng briefly and explained the next scenes. Like a sapling, his acting needed careful nurturing.
Qin Si Zheng listened attentively. Lu Xian Qing tilted his head, watching for a moment before stepping forward to rehearse. But Qin Si Zheng politely nodded and excused himself. “Fourth Brother, Director Zhou, I’ll go touch up my makeup first.”
“?” Lu Xian Qing, watching him leave, turned to Zhou Chang Jiang, confused. “Did you scold him?”
Zhou Chang Jiang raised a brow. “Why would it matter if I did? Why are you so nervous?”
“This is my student. I’m protecting him. What’s wrong with that?”
Zhou Chang Jiang snorted. “Does your student care about you? He’s still primping over there. Embarrassing.”
“…Damn.”
Meanwhile, on Weibo, Lu Xian Qing’s like on Jiang Zhen’s post had quietly hit trending.
Jiang Zhen scowled at Xiao Fanqie, frustrated. This kid was impossible. Last episode with Qin Si Zheng, he had been perfectly obedient. This episode, though… full of trouble, plus illness.
He had packed a whole bag of medicine that day. If he slipped up, he could relapse. Why couldn’t the production find a healthier child?
He was about to lose it. If not for Qin Si Zheng, he wouldn’t be stuck here playing “feeding the mosquito.” He should have been filming with Lu Xian Qing!
The more Jiang Zhen thought, the angrier he got, cursing silently. Xiao Fanqie, noticing his mood, tugged his sleeve. “Daddy, are you upset?”
Jiang Zhen quickly forced a smile. “No, Daddy’s just thinking. Thinking how cute Xiao Fanqie is.”
Xiao Fanqie beamed. “Daddy’s cute too!” and leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek.
Though Jiang Zhen wasn’t germophobic, a kid’s saliva on his face still triggered a natural aversion. He forced a laugh and wiped his cheek. “Alright, nap time. This afternoon we’ll go play at Uncle Qian Qiu’s.”
Xiao Fanqie nodded and closed his eyes.
Jiang Zhen, however, couldn’t sleep. The place was sweltering, full of mosquitoes, and crawling with geckos and cockroaches. The production had clearly lost its mind, using such a terrible location.
Frustrated, he got out of bed for a walk and saw his assistant waving.
Dodging the cameras, he ran over. “Jiang Ge, your luck’s here!”
“What luck? No more using my hands to get ingredients this afternoon? Cooking made my hands rough; look at these wounds stacked up—my knuckles are getting thick!” Jiang Zhen complained.
The assistant showed him the phone. “No, look! The trending topic! You’re on it!”
Jiang Zhen frowned. “Did someone complain about me again? Ugh, these people have too much free time… When did this happen?”
Seeing the trending post, his eyes lit up. Lu Xian Qing had liked his Weibo—the post he had carefully crafted in his moody, nihilistic state.
It worked. He knew Lu Xian Qing would fall for it!
No one else in the industry understood the loneliness at his heights. Everyone wanted his fame, but no one truly understood him—except himself.
Jiang Zhen was thrilled, almost dropping his phone, grinning ear to ear. “I knew it! I knew it!”
The assistant whispered, “I told you, this role should’ve been yours. Qin Si Zheng somehow snatched it from you. Now, with Zhou Chang Jiang insisting on him, it’s backfired.”
Jiang Zhen felt the world was still on his side. No matter the twists and turns, Lu Xian Qing’s gaze would always land on him.
He clicked into the trending topic.
The Weibo notifications were blowing up:
【WTF, Fourth Brother liked Jiang Zhen’s Weibo? What’s going on?! Can someone in the know explain?】
【He’s filming, Jiang Zhen’s doing a variety show, they don’t even follow each other. No connection, chill.】
【Who knows? Someone explain, the kid’s anxious.】
【Wait, the one saying Jiang Zhen did the initial reveal… didn’t Qin Si Zheng swoop in and snatch the role? Then Jiang Zhen got hospitalized, mental state shaky. Fourth Brother’s like, defending him?】
【Whoa, I’m imagining a whole drama here.】
【Stop imagining! Zhou Chang Jiang always picks the actors he wants. Was the reveal really him? Funny.】
【Keep your drama to yourselves, he’s filming, not posting on Weibo—stay away from my baby.】
【Everything seems to revolve around Qin Si Zheng. That variety show was a lucky catch—if not for the desperate production, he wouldn’t have had the chance.】
【Maybe he accidentally liked it? Happens all the time. Xu Jin Han even liked his own meme video before, why is this surprising?】
Jiang Zhen, fed up, beckoned to his assistant. “Tell Xu Shu to buy two more trending spots. I’m leaving this hellhole and heading to Lu Xian Qing’s side.”
“Don’t worry, Jiang Ge, I’ve got it covered!” The assistant had had enough of the mountain set, sleepless nights, mosquito bites—everything.
Jiang Zhen thought for a moment, then posted a cryptic Weibo:
——Anything lost will be seen by the heavens; you are my heaven.
Feeling refreshed, he told his assistant, “I won’t touch my phone this afternoon, you and Xu Shu handle it.” Then he turned back to the house; even the moldy smell felt pleasant.
The reactions flooded in:
【OMG, what kind of confession is that? “You are my heaven”? Could it be Fourth Brother? So sweet!】
【Don’t cry, brother, the hazelnuts are with you, you’ll get back everything lost!】
【Qin Si Zheng snatching resources isn’t new, and now he’s in front of Fourth Brother—interesting times.】
Xiao Qin Xian, frustrated at all the snarky comments, posted a photo from the first day of filming—Lu Xian Qing bending down, smiling, ruffling Qin Si Zheng’s hair.
【Don’t drag my baby or Fourth Brother. Want to ride the heat? Not happening. This role belongs to my baby, Director Zhou picked him.】
【Qin Si Zheng earned Chu Jing fairly, looking forward to his portrayal of good amidst evil.】
Meanwhile on set, filming was about to begin. Lu Xian Qing stood while the makeup artist touched him up, already annoyed—Qin Si Zheng was starting to sulk at him. Spoiled kid. He’d see how to “punish” him during the shoot.
“Fourth Brother!” An Ning ran over, pale as if the sky had fallen. “Makeup artist, wait a moment. I need to tell Fourth Brother something.”
The makeup artist, understanding, left.
Lu Xian Qing lowered his gaze. “So urgent… is He Xing going to skin you alive?”
An Ning shoved her phone in his face. Lu Xian Qing froze. He liked Jiang Zhen’s Weibo? When did this happen? Did he even know Jiang Zhen? Was his account hacked?
Tears welled in An Ning’s eyes. “Fourth Brother, I know you might resonate with this person, but can you control yourself? Don’t like his posts!”
Lu Xian Qing stared at the screen, then recalled—he had seen Qin Si Zheng looking at Weibo while they were talking and had, slightly irritated, turned off his phone. Maybe it happened then?
“I didn’t like it,” he said calmly.
An Ning’s eyes reddened. “You’re still not admitting it? He Xing will go ballistic when she lands. It’s already a huge mess. I can’t reach her, the company said they’ll handle PR urgently.”
Lu Xian Qing frowned. “A like? Just say it was accidental. What PR? I have nothing with Jiang Zhen. Why make it seem like we were in a hotel together?”
“I know you two aren’t involved,” An Ning said, “but he posted a Weibo. Look here.” She swiped down and opened Jiang Zhen’s profile.
The ambiguous post had the whole internet convinced there was something between them—secret romance, marriage abroad, even combing old photos for evidence.
They even found pictures from Ming Fei’s birthday: Jiang Zhen posted a blurry, party photo, captioned, “Celebrating a friend’s birthday, drank a bit, throat hurts.”
Another post after filming a promo: “So lavish, still feels best at home.”
Other shared appearances, “affectionate glances”—Lu Xian Qing nearly smashed his phone. “When did I ever share affectionate glances with him?”
An Ning knew nothing was happening, but these posts kept piling up. Even explaining away Qin Si Zheng’s snatched role rumor didn’t help.
“Baby already has controversy over this role… what now?” An Ning worriedly glanced at Qin Si Zheng, who was buried in his script, seemingly unaware of the chaos.
Lu Xian Qing reached for his phone to post on Weibo, but An Ning stopped him. “Wait. Let’s see what He Xing says when she lands first.”
“Can’t wait, just trying to ride the wave,” Lu Xian Qing sneered. “Snatching roles too? Who does he think he is?”
An Ning hurriedly cautioned, “Fourth Brother, don’t act on impulse. Wait for the company’s response—I already told the boss, the PR team will handle it. Don’t start scolding anyone.”
Lu Xian Qing typed as he spoke, “Giving him face? If I don’t clarify now, what’s at stake later is my… chastity. My chastity is reserved for Yan Yan.”
An Ning blinked, “…Moderate your words a bit.”
By the time she said that, Lu Xian Qing had already posted the Weibo. His posts hit the platform a few seconds before the PR draft from Ming Fei Entertainment, effectively locking theirs in the drafts. The PR team stared, eyes wide. Their carefully written statement had been upstaged.
Lu Xian Qing posted:
“If you’re sick, go get treated. I know a good psychologist @Shen Qing. Social safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
“Mine, little A Jing @Qin Si Zheng.”
The second post included a photo An Ning had taken: Qin Si Zheng squatting on the wall, gazing at him from afar.
The posts instantly stirred the internet, redirecting the trending topic back to him. Ming Fei, unsurprised, told the PR team who came to consult: “Follow Lu Xian Qing’s lead. Crush this Jiang Zhen nonsense. Understand?”
PR team: “…Understood.”
Fans flooded Lu Xian Qing’s Weibo. Some even checked Shen Qing’s account and confirmed he was indeed a highly regarded psychologist.
【LOL, hahahaha, it wasn’t a like, it was a doctor recommendation. Jiang Zhen better go see him. Fourth Brother personally recommended the doctor, wish a speedy recovery!】
【Get treated if you’re sick, hahahaha, Fourth Brother, you’re the best.】
【Feels good to slap back, right? Trying to ride the hype while Fourth Brother is filming? And didn’t the variety show collect phones? Jiang Zhen hid his and posted?! This production is terrible, I’m done.】
【Where’s the variety show’s explanation? Last time, they resolved the Qin Si Zheng contract so quickly. Won’t pretend they didn’t respond this time, right?】
【Jiang Zhen, clarify your relationship with Fourth Brother! Don’t just play the moon landing! Claiming you’re performing good vs evil doesn’t make it true. Show evidence! Poor Qin Si Zheng, you were so nice to him on the show, Jiang Zhen, ungrateful.】
【Jiang Zhen wants fame badly, huh? This stunt is ridiculous.】
【Fourth Brother is protecting the kid, right? Right? I’m not imagining this, am I?】
【My baby is suffering! Just trying to act in peace, and now accused of snatching a role. Thanks, Fourth Brother, for clearing him!】
【Wait, my little A Jing. Mine! Fans, I’m losing it—this cp is real! Sweet enough to cry, help!】
【Fans, calm down, why not just celebrate together?】
【? Fourth Brother has fame, so what? What do you mean? He liked a post someone forced him to? Saying someone’s sick?】
【Fourth Brother said something wrong? Recommend a doctor to someone sick—what’s the problem?】
【Confessing?】
【My brother already has mental health issues, recently hospitalized. Stimulating him like this, is it okay? Even if you don’t want it public, don’t hurt him like this. Fourth Brother, you know how much he loves you?】
Fans checked, realizing the cp between Fourth Brother and Jiang Zhen was genuine.
【This hype stunt actually worked. Fourth Brother recommended a doctor, and sticky Jiang Zhen got caught. Stop forcing a fake cp, it’s real emotion, not imagined.】
Fans of Lu Xian Qing and random viewers laughed. Fans of Xiao Qin Xian and Qing Shan You Si also spoke up:
【My Qing Shan You Si doesn’t promote, we provide our own support. Your brother personally hyped this and still couldn’t gain traction, hilarious.】
【Real cp? Only in your dreams. Everything’s dreamland, I still want Qin Si Zheng.】
The post completely reversed the online narrative. Still, Lu Xian Qing wasn’t fully satisfied and called Ming Fei.
Ming Fei chuckled, “Already handled, why are you calling? But you’re going all out—why? Usually you don’t react this strongly to clickbait.”
Lu Xian Qing said, “Do your job.”
Ming Fei: “Haha, I know—it’s for your kid, right? His team is really useless. Xu Zhan as an assistant? Even I think he’s hopeless. If you really like him, sign him to Ming Fei. Deduct the penalty from you, won’t cost much.”
Lu Xian Qing: “Talk about the contract termination.”
Ming Fei, shocked: “No, I’ll cover the penalty. As long as Qin Si Zheng wants to come to Ming Fei, I’ll pay any penalty, okay?”
Lu Xian Qing: “Think about it, hanging up.”
Ming Fei gritted his teeth: “Even more foolish than me. You want to chase a kid, and the penalty is on me.”
Posting the Weibo didn’t resolve everything—there were still many follow-ups, but Lu Xian Qing no longer cared. With a few taps, he had secured justice for his kid.
“Xing Xing’s calling!” An Ning panicked. The screen flashed He Xing’s name as if she were about to strangle them.
“I’m filming, very busy,” the instigator said calmly, turning away and leaving An Ning frozen. She shakily answered, “Hello, He Xing?”
He Xing almost roared immediately: “Where’s Lu Xian Qing? Get him on the phone!”