“Got my back, huh?”
Fan Qing stood on the balcony, phone to ear, a smile he could not hide in his tone.
He really hadn’t expected it. Nie Luo had actually come out publicly to support him.
Nie Luo remained silent on the other end.
Fan Qing’s smile didn’t fade.
“Huh? Aren’t you going to pay attention to me?”
Still no response.
Fan Qing’s smile grew brighter.
He lowered his voice slightly, full of warmth and affection.
“Are you paying attention to me?”
Nie Luo’s fingers twitched over the phone.
…Ah Qing always knows how to corner him.
There’s nothing he can do against Ah Qing—he can’t refuse him anything.
The familiar words felt like those from when they first got together. How could Nie Luo still remain cold-hearted?
In fact, managing to stay silent for just a few words was already the hardest, coldest restraint he could muster.
He felt helpless, slightly aggrieved.
“Ah Qing is always like this.”
Later, he’d come to assert control again.
“You didn’t tell me when something happened.”
Had it not been for the studio informing him, he wouldn’t have known while filming the ad outside.
So the silence was out of anger?
Angry Nie Luo was also very cute.
Fan Qing thought this while smiling, soothing his sulky boyfriend.
“That’s because I knew the studio would inform you. Besides, you worry about me, and I feel for you filming ads so hard. This shows our minds are connected—we’re truly compatible lovers.”
Nie Luo’s cheeks flushed lightly.
When it came to sweet talk, he simply couldn’t compete with Ah Qing.
Easily coaxed, he finally brought up another concern.
“But I never asked—publicly revealing your identity, wouldn’t that make things difficult for you?”
He was a little angry.
But he had thought it through.
Ah Qing indeed held real power in Tenghuang, that was true.
But he couldn’t always do the work and not take credit.
Jin Yi definitely wouldn’t have thought of this, he didn’t expect him to.
But Ah Qing… sometimes doesn’t pay attention to small things, Nie Luo had long noticed.
Ah Qing can be lazy in unexpected ways.
Fan Qing: “It’s fine, I was just going to talk to you about this.”
Nie Luo’s accidental timing coincided perfectly with the idea Jiang Mian had provided.
In this way, Fan Qing’s plan could smoothly proceed.
“…So actually I was planning to reveal my identity anyway. Since you started first, I had the company issue a statement directly.”
Fan Qing finished simply, lowered his gaze, and smiled sweetly.
“So I said our minds are connected—just as I was about to do it, you cooperated with me.”
Not really cooperating.
It just happened to coincide.
Nie Luo thought this silently, unwilling to say it aloud.
He considered it as coaxing Ah Qing.
“Mm, now that you’ve revealed your identity, any trouble so far?”
This was what Nie Luo worried about most.
“…Actually, there is a bit of trouble.”
Fan Qing bit his teeth in annoyance while speaking.
Really?
Nie Luo quickly got serious.
“What’s wrong? Should I help?”
“You can’t help.”
Sensing Nie Luo’s concern, Fan Qing hurried to explain, still biting his teeth.
“It’s actually not a huge problem…”
…but it still was a problem.
Fan Qing recounted it, exasperated.
“It’s related to Brother Jin.”
“Jin Si… Brother Jin? What happened to him?”
Nie Luo was confused.
How could this involve Brother Jin?
“Consider it my own fault.”
Fan Qing sighed, not embarrassed in front of Nie Luo.
“I originally planned to go to Brother Jin briefly, just to get some protection. But he went ahead and held a ‘small’ banquet, at which my identity—as if I were half his brother—was revealed.”
So in the end, he was just too young.
The older are indeed sharper.
Fan Qing gritted his teeth in frustration.
Brother Jin hadn’t even helped yet—he had stepped into the trap first.
Nie Luo: “……”
Ah Qing… really is starting to resemble Brother Jin in some ways.
Nie Luo didn’t voice the thought aloud.
He fell silent for a couple of seconds, then asked:
“So?”
Did this matter give Ah Qing a headache?
Fan Qing leaned against the wall.
He hunched slightly, the April warmth making a thin shirt cling lightly to his form, hinting at the contours of his muscles beneath.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s just that recently, more people have been inviting me to banquets.”
But all with ulterior motives.
Clearly, they were trying to curry favor, hoping to earn a good word from Jin Si.
Nie Luo understood.
Ah Qing was indeed sometimes lazy.
He blinked, long lashes casting shadows across his face.
“Then I’ll have the studio prepare your outfit, Ah Qing. Just tell them the schedule in advance. When the time comes, they’ll have everything ready—you just go to the banquet. No extra effort needed on your part.”
He understood Ah Qing.
His occasional laziness was born from meticulousness.
Ah Qing would never allow himself to appear out of place. So if attending a banquet, he would pre-plan everything—the outfit, the matching scent, even taking a proper bath beforehand.
Hence the occasional “laziness.”
Nie Luo thought this, and the coldness in his eyes softened slightly.
But it didn’t matter.
Things Ah Qing disliked? He could handle them.
Fan Qing listened, his brow relaxing.
“Brother, you’re so thoughtful. What would I do without you?”
His voice, full of warmth and entanglement, made Nie Luo’s ears flush red.
Ah Qing was teasing again, Nie Luo mused, lowering his gaze.
But it was fine—he liked it.
“If you like, I’ll always be this considerate, so you’ll never have to worry.”
Nie Luo spoke softly.
He wasn’t consciously trying to be sweet, yet Fan Qing found his casual sincerity more moving than any flowery line.
A slight hitch in his breathing.
…What a pity.
A pity Nie Luo wasn’t right there; otherwise, he’d act as he had the last time.
No more thinking.
Fan Qing reined in his thoughts.
“Alright, I’ll follow your arrangements.”
He paused, voice hoarse and seductive as if whispering.
“I’ll wear whatever you tell me to wear.”
Just as he wished, a slightly hurried breath came through the phone.
Fan Qing let a hint of a smile escape between his lips.
“Ah Qing!”
Nie Luo suppressed his breath, gritting his teeth.
“Just wait, I’ll arrange you properly when I get back!”
And for the first time, he hung up proactively.
Going to film an ad, and after that, he would sort out Ah Qing.
Hung up on him?
Fan Qing raised an eyebrow at the phone.
Rare.
Seems he really did provoke him just now?
Hmm, perhaps not anger…
More like he provoked him.
Tsk.
Not bad!
A smile tugged at Fan Qing’s lips.
Daily teasing of Nie Luo—mission accomplished.
Fan Qing returned to his seat. A placard had been made for him by Second Young Master, a rare gesture of formality, even with a silver trim—“high-class,” as Second Young Master put it.
Fan Qing didn’t refuse.
Second Young Master was finally doing something useful for the company; he let it slide.
He opened his email, unsurprised to find a message from the advertisers.
An apology letter, along with a request to discuss compensation in person.
Faster than Fan Qing expected.
He knew why.
His title as general manager was merely the first stepping stone.
The real leverage came from Jin Si’s “small” banquet.
Thinking of this, Fan Qing’s expression became layered.
A banquet…
Even with Nie Luo’s arrangements, attending a banquet…
Fan Qing exhaled slowly.
He knew Jin Si’s intent.
Jin Si considered the title of Tenghuang general manager insufficient for Nie Luo.
Fan Qing understood.
Step by step, he had been planning for this.
He still didn’t stand high enough.
So Jin Si offered this opportunity.
The general manager title was just a springboard.
What would truly allow Fan Qing to seize greater power and authority was the resources gained from that “small” banquet.
…Tsk, another favor owed to him.
Fan Qing’s eyes flickered with a smile.
This big brother really wasn’t bad.
“…Knock knock.”
Fan Qing: Hm?
He glanced toward the door.
Hua Er hesitated outside.
“…Am I disturbing you, Fan… Fan Qing?”
That kid.
Fan Qing gestured for him to come in.
“What’s up? You need something?”
Hua Er nodded slowly.
“It’s about that thing you mentioned last time, Fan Qing.”
Last time?
Fan Qing’s memory was sharp; he immediately recalled.
He scrutinized Hua Er, raising an eyebrow.
“You figured it out?”
Hua Er paused.
“Couldn’t I?”
Wait, was this the wrong direction?
He wasn’t here to argue!
That kid, confident?
Fan Qing had something in mind.
“Yuan Jing didn’t catch on.”
Hua Er thought for a moment and suddenly began to understand.
“So… Fan Qing, you mean that you think I have potential?”
“Depends on you.”
Fan Qing stood up and stretched lazily.
“I just think you work hard. But you’re different from the others. They want to shine on stage, while I feel you want your abilities to be recognized—that’s two different mindsets.”
Seeing him so casual, Hua Er quietly exhaled.
But soon his attention returned to Fan Qing’s words.
“…Different?”
“Of course.”
Fan Qing looked at him knowingly.
“For example, you came to me just now—surely there’s a reason, right?”
Hua Er was silent for two seconds.
“…I… I saw the recent posts on Weibo about you, Fan Qing.”
His eyes glimmered with admiration.
“After people found out your true identity, their attitudes changed. I realized… Fan Qing, you’re impressive.”
“So…?”
“So, have you thought it through? Instead of being a singer or star, how about becoming my assistant?”
Fan Qing went straight to the point.
“Not in front of the crowd, but behind the scenes. Of course, all your previous effort won’t count for much.”
Hua Er understood.
He clenched his fists.
He… he had discussed this with his brother.
Even with how popular his brother was now, the respect he spoke of Fan Qing carried sincerity.
The kind of respect that could be felt in every word.
Hua Er wanted to be someone admired like that, not just someone shining on stage.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
Hua Er looked up, eyes filled with determination.
Being Fan Qing’s assistant would surely teach him a lot.
“Good.”
Fan Qing’s smile was cunning.
“Then here’s your first test: go tell Jiang Mian about this news yourself, and make sure to reassure her.”
Hua Er froze.
He slowly cracked a smile.
Wasn’t this supposed to be a learning opportunity?