Nie Luo stopped mid-sentence.
Fan Qing didn’t miss the brief flash of frustration across his face.
In an instant, he understood. A small, surprised smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He leaned in closer. The wind howled around them, but the warmth of his breath felt unusually hot in the cold air.
Nie Luo felt a faint itch along his exposed chest and neck, instinctively stepping back.
Fan Qing noticed, but his smile grew bolder.
“Brother… are you… caring about me?”
Could he take it that he held a place in Nie Luo’s heart?
Almost instinctively, Nie Luo frowned and denied it.
“You’re overthinking. I just think you two haven’t known each other long enough. He shouldn’t trust you too much.”
The words hung in the air, slightly wounding.
Fan Qing felt it. Nie Luo admitted it too.
The north wind cut sharply, and the smile on Fan Qing’s face gradually faded.
“You…”
Nie Luo hesitated, unsure of what to say next.
His brows furrowed, dark starry eyes narrowing, lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
Clearly, Nie Luo had spoken a harsh truth—but why did Fan Qing now look like the one who had been hurt?
Fan Qing’s heart warmed again despite the cold water of reality.
It was fine, he thought.
Nie Luo’s concern for Jin Yi wasn’t wrong; they’d known each other far longer, and yes, there had been a few times when Fan Qing had done… less-than-good things to Nie Luo…
Thinking this way, a sly smile crept back across Fan Qing’s face.
It didn’t matter. This would become a debt Nie Luo owed him. Later… he would make Nie Luo repay it with his body.
With that bold thought lodged in his mind, Fan Qing quickly composed his expression.
He didn’t reveal his true feelings; he even added a hint of wounded pride.
The eyes deliberately revealed beneath his glasses glimmered slightly, a touch of hurt and frustration undeniable. When Nie Luo met that gaze, he froze.
He had seen Fan Qing confident, bold, passionate—but never like this: small, wounded, almost offering his entire heart to someone else.
Nie Luo instinctively reflected on himself—had he spoken too plainly?
Fan Qing blinked, quickly masking his wounded act.
He cleared his throat and put his glasses back on, hiding his eyes.
“Since Brother Nie asked… I suppose I can say it. I made a deal with Second Young Master Jin. I wanted to find a path for development through his company. Recently, there was a suitable artist, so I negotiated and signed him. As for why I’m here… it’s not just me. Guan Junhao is here too. We’re here to finalize a deal with Second Young Master Jin.”
He deliberately laid everything out clearly, even revealing his true intentions.
Sure enough, he caught a trace of apology in Nie Luo’s eyes.
He didn’t wait for Nie Luo to speak, wearing a stubborn expression.
“You might have misunderstood something, but it’s fine. Brother Nie can ask Second Young Master Jin to verify. I need to take the artist for an audition, so I won’t keep you.”
He turned to leave, pretending not to notice Nie Luo’s attempt to stop him. The scarf and mask fully covered his face, but inwardly he felt a twinge of regret—he really couldn’t delay Jian Feiyang.
Still…
Thinking back on Nie Luo’s gestures, Fan Qing smiled faintly.
It wasn’t about finesse—the goal was achieved.
Watching his retreating figure, Nie Luo hesitated for a long moment.
He knew Fan Qing had been acting, but…
Fan Qing’s wounded gaze wasn’t entirely fake—he could tell.
After some deliberation, Nie Luo coldly called Jin Yi. If it hadn’t been for Jin Yi’s initial suggestion, he wouldn’t have any connection to Fan Qing…
His voice carried even more frost.
“You called Fan Qing and the others to this villa?”
Jin Yi: ???
Wait—how does Lao Nie know?
And… why is his tone like that, starting straight with an accusation?
He frowned, instinctively moving toward the window.
“Wha—?”
Jin Yi was stunned seeing the figure not far away.
“What are you doing at this villa?”
Nie Luo’s brows furrowed tighter.
“Never mind that. I’m asking you…”
Jin Yi cut him off smoothly.
“I’m telling you, Lao Nie, why ask? You’re not usually the type to care about this stuff.”
He couldn’t help but glance at Nie Luo a few more times.
Though Fan Qing had just left, Nie Luo immediately called Jin Yi.
It was impossible not to think something was going on.
Nie Luo remained silent.
…Indeed.
Seeing Nie Luo say nothing, Jin Yi stepped outside, humming.
“I did call them over, but it was for business. You don’t really think I brought them here like before, just messing around, right?”
“Besides, I haven’t even asked—what are you doing at this villa? Forgot last time I brought people over to play, you ended up in the news too? If I hadn’t been smart, your first scandal would have gone through…”
Wait a second!
Jin Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Actually… if you count Nie Luo’s first scandal properly, it might just be that his “first official one” is with Fan Qing, right?
Damn it!
Could it be that everything was part of Fan Qing’s plan?
“…I didn’t mean that.”
Nie Luo rubbed his brow. “I just wanted to remind you not to get too close to Fan Qing. We don’t really know him yet…”
Don’t know him?
Jin Yi walked to the doorway, feeling elated.
Don’t know him? Then why did you sit in his car’s back seat while leaving your brother all alone?
Don’t know him? Then why are you showing up at this villa?
Don’t know him? Then why make this phone call?
He strode over to Nie Luo and hung up the call.
“Isn’t that exactly why you keep him close? So you can watch what he’s up to right under your nose?”
Yeah, right!
Fan Qing obviously had a scheming mind—but his target was Nie Luo, not Jin Yi. What did it have to do with him?
Well… not entirely.
Jin Yi draped his arm over Nie Luo’s shoulder, his mind already spinning calculations.
If Fan Qing could spot the problems in his brother’s mess of a company just by looking at the files, maybe the guy would be great at managing a company after all?
Jin Yi might not have talent, but he could bribe someone capable to help run the company!
And as long as Nie Luo didn’t fall for Fan Qing… then Fan Qing would have to work through him anyway, right?
So basically, no matter how cunning Fan Qing was, it was just a matter of Nie Luo’s love life. What did it have to do with Jin Yi making money?
All he had to do was give a bit of equity, some authority, help with connections—and he’d have a company that could earn enough to buy him SUVs, sports cars, and motorcycles. Tsk tsk, what a deal!
The more he thought about it, the happier he got. Jin Yi couldn’t help but speak up.
“No problem, no problem. You don’t know him yet? Fine, just take your time getting to know him. You’ll understand eventually, right?”
He said this while steering Nie Luo back toward the villa.
“Oh, by the way, I haven’t asked—what are you planning to do with your agent? Isn’t your contract with that mess of a company about to expire? Why not switch over to my side and let’s make some money together?”
Nie Luo’s steps faltered subtly.
He pushed Jin Yi’s arm away and smacked his forehead.
“Not running a fever, huh? What kind of dream are you having in broad daylight?”
Jin Yi: “?”
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong with your brother’s company? You’re acting like a clueless rooster!”
Nie Luo snorted.
“Have you even been to your company? If you had, you wouldn’t be saying that.”
Jin Yi frowned.
“I went these past two days! Didn’t see any issues though.”
He said it, feeling a little guilty.
Sure, he couldn’t see the problems.
But Fan Qing could!
Still… he couldn’t say that out loud.
Nie Luo glanced at him but didn’t say a word.
He didn’t care much, but as someone in the industry, he knew just how messy Jin Yi’s new company really was.
Given Jin Yi’s personality, it was already impressive that he was even participating.
Running a company to make a fortune?
Nie Luo looked at the gloomy sky. Dreaming seemed safer.
Still, at least his morals weren’t zero.
Jin Yi chuckled in his heart at Nie Luo’s scolding expression.
Here he was, fussing over him? Fine. Jin Yi decided to wait and see when Fan Qing would finally get Nie Luo.
Either way, Jin Yi had made his point: if Nie Luo wasn’t careful with Fan Qing, why would he come over and talk to him at all?
He could have just had the villa security stop Fan Qing, problem solved.
He got it, all of it.
Hmph. Jin Yi was clever.
He didn’t care if Nie Luo fell for Fan Qing—he was only dealing with a company his brother had rejected. Not the heartbreak and deception Nie Luo might face!
Meanwhile, Fan Qing arrived on time with Jian Feiyang.
The variety show Director Ma recommended was called “Seven Days of Survival: Two or Three Things.”
From the name, it sounded a little heartwarming, but in reality, it was a very realistic survival show.
The director, Zhao, was a scrappy fifty-something with dark skin and lean but energetic features.
The moment he saw Fan Qing and Jian Feiyang enter, he couldn’t help but stand and hover around them.
Jian Feiyang was okay with it, but Fan Qing stepped aside—only to be pursued by Director Zhao.
“Hey, where are you going? Come here, let me take a look.”
Zhao was enthusiastic.
Fan Qing smiled faintly and took a step back.
“Director Zhao, I’m Jian Feiyang’s agent.”
Zhao froze mid-step.
At that moment, the assistant director hurried over, apologizing.
“Director Zhao, you’re so fast! I haven’t had a chance to introduce—this is Xiao Jian, referred by Director Ma.”
He paused and gave Fan Qing a careful glance.
“And this should be Jian Feiyang’s agent, Fan Qing, right?”
Though phrased as a question, there was clear certainty in his tone.
Unlike Director Zhao, the assistant director kept up with the daily entertainment news. He had some impression of this agent who had been on trending searches before.
Still…
He couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Were the people revealed in previous news just for show?
This agent’s looks were too good—standing next to Jian Feiyang, it was barely believable. Any slightly less attractive agent would have been outshone completely.
“What are you doing as an agent looking like this—making everyone misunderstand you?”
The moment Director Zhao heard that, he couldn’t hide a look of regret.
He sneaked a glance.
Then another.
Gotta resist…!
…But he couldn’t!
Zhao eyed Fan Qing cautiously, testing the waters.
“I mean, Xiao Fan, look at you—really not bad. And these muscles,” his eyes roamed over Fan Qing’s biceps, “you’re perfect for our show!”
He paused, then couldn’t resist glancing at Jian Feiyang.
And then back at Fan Qing again.
After three seconds of hesitation, he smacked his thigh, wincing in anguish.
“How about… both of you come on my show?”
Double pay, of course!
Heartbreaking, really!