Nie Luo’s initiated “hand-holding” didn’t last long.
The show was still playing, but a call came through.
After answering, Nie Luo hesitated before looking at Fan Qing.
“…I have to go now.”
Would Fan Qing be upset?
Although it was indeed work-related, he wasn’t in any rush at this moment.
“Alright, then take care, Nie Ge.”
Fan Qing instantly noticed the hesitation in Nie Luo’s eyes.
Angry? Not at all. He didn’t even have time to smile.
He had assumed that Nie Luo’s “mind me” gesture was limited to earlier.
He hadn’t expected this little hand-holding surprise afterward, and now even a sort of report-style consultation?
This was treatment only for an official boyfriend, surely.
He knew Nie Luo lacked experience in these matters.
But really… such an innocent person!
Especially such a beautiful, pure one.
Thinking of that, Fan Qing felt his heart swimming in honey.
Yet even with rainbow-colored thoughts rising inside, his face remained composed.
He feigned a glance at Nie Luo, then rose from the sofa armrest.
“Shall I see you out?”
“…No need.”
Nie Luo declined.
Fan Qing still followed him out.
Nie Luo’s long legs moved slowly despite their length.
At the door, Fan Qing smiled as he opened it.
“Take care, Nie Ge.”
Nie Luo looked at his smiling face, words caught in his throat.
He was really adorable.
Fan Qing’s heart bubbled, but his expression remained unreadable.
After a moment, he even asked playfully:
“Nie Ge, anything else?”
…Nothing.
He just felt things weren’t quite as he had imagined.
Nie Luo’s elegant brows furrowed slightly.
Before Fan Qing could speak, Nie Luo suddenly reached out and pinched the smiling face in front of him.
Fan Qing froze.
“Nie Ge… what are you—”
“Your smile’s… a little odd.”
Nie Luo said plainly.
Afterward, he looked at the faint red mark on Fan Qing’s face and inexplicably felt much happier.
Odd smile?
Fan Qing blinked lightly, then leaned slightly closer.
His smile deepened, rich and sweet.
“Now?”
He was genuinely surprised.
He had thought Nie Luo was a complete blank slate, but even the object of his desire always had a natural observational instinct.
Now, that was more like it.
Nie Luo thought silently, but didn’t say it aloud.
“I’m leaving.”
“Wait.”
This time, Fan Qing called him back.
“What is it—”
Nie Luo instinctively turned; the faint fragrance from Fan Qing brushed his cheek.
“This is a thank-you, Nie Ge—for minding me.”
Two simple words, soft and lingering.
“Just a cheek kiss, Nie Ge—surely you don’t mind?”
Fan Qing knew the importance of not overdoing it, keeping his tone light.
Yet his burning gaze lingered on Nie Luo’s thin lips.
They both knew exactly what the other was thinking.
This man, indeed, always pushed boundaries.
Nie Luo’s mind registered the thought.
Yet…
He noticed Fan Qing’s subtly proud expression and, without realizing, leaned forward.
Fan Qing’s Adam’s apple received a faint bite—just a momentary mark that disappeared instantly.
Fan Qing was caught off guard.
Nie Luo had bitten, then turned away.
Seeing Fan Qing stunned, his cold expression softened slightly.
“Mind you.”
Satisfied, Nie Luo began to step away.
After just a few steps, he turned back.
Fan Qing hadn’t even reacted yet, when he felt hands at his chest—Nie Luo buttoned up the two undone buttons of his shirt.
When done, Nie Luo exhaled, clearly satisfied.
This time, he really left—but before he went, he left a short, simple message.
“Behave yourself.”
So short.
So short that after Nie Luo’s figure disappeared from sight, Fan Qing leaned against the doorframe, grinning stupidly for quite a while.
It was even sweeter than he had imagined.
The cold wind nearly froze him solid, and even though Fan Qing’s heart was on the verge of melting, he finally turned back into the villa.
Surprisingly, this time he wasn’t met with three pairs of gossiping eyes.
Especially not Jin Yi.
He was busy poking Guan Junhao and muttering curses under his breath!
What was going on?
Fan Qing leaned a little closer and caught what Jin Yi was saying.
“Damn it, I really gave him a break. What is with Jing Yuan’s fans—are they all his mother? Do they even know how bad the group divisions were? Starving doesn’t mean you can’t find food yourself! Going on a survival show to cozy up to the Jian family kid for food? Is the pharmacy off-limits? Your team is strong and capable, and yet you go begging food from the old, weak, and sick group? How shameless can you be!”
So that was it.
Fan Qing immediately understood.
As soon as Jian Feiyang got off the plane to the filming site, he had obediently called to report everything, so of course Fan Qing knew the details.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard Jin Yi continuing to curse:
“Quick, do you have an alt account? Yeah, that one called ‘Jing Ge is the Number One Affectionate Brother’—go roast them! That ridiculous name already tells you they’re trouble. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Jian Feiyang has so much food, and Jing Ge is so close to him, shouldn’t he voluntarily share a little?’
“What the hell! Can people really say such things? If you had even a thin layer of shame on your face, you wouldn’t dare say something this brazen! Jian Feiyang’s food didn’t fall from the sky—why should he share it with you, voluntarily? And your so-called Jing Ge… are you a human or a giant infant? Can’t you find food yourself?”
Jin Yi paused to catch his breath. Fan Qing thought he was done, but Jin Yi grabbed the nearby wine glass, wet his throat, and continued.
“And what do they mean ‘so close’? Missing a couple of brain cells, are you? Jing Yuan was clearly giving the Jian family kid a chance from the start, can’t you see? And that counts as being close? Then what about us—are we like sworn brothers or what?!”
…Well, no need to go further.
Fan Qing was shocked by the sheer force of his words.
But…
He walked a few steps over to Jin Yi and Guan Junhao.
Guan Junhao’s fingers were flying over his phone screen, excitement clear on his face.
“Second Young Master, I’ve already posted this. Anything else? Or should I open another alt account to copy it?”
Fan Qing’s brows slowly lifted.
Beside him, Huazhi let out a long sigh of relief.
He released his tightly clenched hands—he had been wrong.
Back when he was playing games with Jin Yi and heard him scold Guan Junhao, he had thought Jin Yi’s temper was a bit harsh.
Now, looking at this…
Jin Yi really was an angel!
Was Jin Yi’s temper really harsh?
No! Guan Junhao was just so hopeless it made people despair!
Fan Qing, act quickly, control this scene!
And indeed, Fan Qing did.
He reached out and took the phone from Guan Junhao.
“Hey, what are you doing? I haven’t let Guan Junhao finish scolding yet.”
Jin Yi and Fan Qing made eye contact, shrinking back a little.
But thinking it over, Jin Yi straightened up.
“I’m supporting the Jian family kid—nothing you can say about that, right?”
Guan Junhao sat next to him, looking like the loyal subject who’s done no wrong.
Fan Qing let out a light laugh, his gaze moving past Jin Yi and landing on Guan Junhao.
“You have alt accounts? Quite a few of them?”
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Guan Junhao’s forehead.
Damn it! He had forgotten about this!
Jin Yi froze.
Oh, right.
He slowly turned to look at Guan Junhao.
“When you signed him, you didn’t hand over all your Weibo accounts?”
He remembered Fan Qing had been strict about this, even making it a part of the artist contract.
So that meant…
Jin Yi inhaled sharply, realizing the trap Guan Junhao had dug for himself.
Guan Junhao had left himself completely exposed.
He scuttled aside quickly, leaving Guan Junhao alone.
Fan Qing’s eyes narrowed, sharp as a shark’s.
“If I remember correctly, you only gave me your main Weibo account.”
Guan Junhao’s pupils trembled.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
He struggled, his voice barely audible.
“…“
Fan Qing’s eyes stretched in a terrifyingly sharp gaze. His smile grew increasingly menacing.
Guan Junhao flinched, raising his voice to full volume.
“These were alt accounts I created after signing with the company, so I—”
Fan Qing’s gaze could cut through steel.
Guan Junhao felt utterly weak.
“…So I didn’t… have time to hand them over?”
Jin Yi, sitting nearby, glanced around and then picked up a candle from a cake that had been delivered for some reason.
He lit it solemnly, holding it before Guan Junhao.
Both Jin Yi and Huazhi glanced at him and solemnly closed their eyes in silent mourning.
Guan Junhao’s expression gradually cracked.
N-no way…?
At a place like this? He should have said something earlier! Opening an alt account would have immediately triggered a report to Fan Qing’s management—even if it was 3 a.m. and he was caught up in gossip, he knew he had messed up. There was still time to admit it… right?! Ahhhh!
Unexpectedly.
Fan Qing’s sharp, shark-like gaze slowly shifted toward Jin Yi.
Jin Yi’s heart stopped.
…Then Fan Qing’s eyes moved away.
Jin Yi gasped, feeling reborn.
Now, it was Huazhi’s turn to freeze.
He slowly raised his head, and his eyes met Fan Qing’s deathly glare.
“F-Fan… Fan… Fan Qing?”
Had he done something wrong? He was just a humble, foot-licking servant of the emperor!
Fan Qing let out a cold chuckle and walked over, bending slightly.
His long, fair fingers toyed with a delicate lighter.
It was over.
Huazhi’s expression cracked.
Fan Qing’s smile deepened, thick enough that it could almost be felt like a rain of blades in words.
“Where did you get this lighter? If I remember correctly, your contract clearly stated—”
Huazhi choked back a sob.
He wanted to kneel and confess right there.
“…I won’t do it again.”
Jin Yi looked utterly confused.
Wh-what’s going on?
“Second Young Master, you take this.”
Fan Qing suddenly tossed the lighter over, and Jin Yi instinctively caught it.
Jin Yi: ?
Why was he receiving Huazhi’s lighter?
Fan Qing restrained his smile, his expression cold.
“From now on, keep an eye on him. If you want Huazhi’s face to keep earning money for the company, that is.”
Jin Yi’s soul nearly left his body.
“Wait… He wants to ruin his own face with a lighter?”
…As expected of you.
Fan Qing shot him a look that spoke volumes before slowly saying:
“No. Your future cash cow was once an avid smoker.”
In an instant, Huazhi received another shark-like glare.