Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Brother Jia really came through.

Over the next few days, every time Xie Xu’s team released a piece of evidence implying that Xie Xu and I were just bros joking around, a new bit of material would come out showing Xie Xu and me in perfect sync.

On set, Xie Xu was filming an emotional scene while I stood off to the side grinning like an idiot. At the press conference for the new drama, Xie Xu spoke while I eagerly handed him the microphone. Backstage, Xie Xu slept with his eyes closed while I propped my chin on my hand and gazed at him affectionately.

It was as if wherever Xie Xu was, I was there too.

The Xihuan CP fans returned to the scene in full force. Overnight, they edited countless photos of Xie Xu and me together, and even started writing fanfiction about our love-hate entanglement.

While Xie Xu was up to his ears dealing with the thriving Xihuan CP, he still remembered to send me a message:

[Xiao Huai, I didn’t expect the situation to be a little worse than we imagined this time. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.]

[This is a bit tricky. It may take a while to handle.]

Seriously, I was moved to tears. Even at a time like this, he was still thinking of me.

I understood. The enemy was too powerful.

So, with tears in my eyes, I sent him a “It’s okay” sticker. Then I switched over to the fanfiction they were writing, read it with great interest, and conveniently gave it a like.

The moment I hit like, my phone started vibrating nonstop.

I switched to the background and saw 99+ messages mentioning me:

[That’s him, right?]

[Help, this time the actual person came to confirm it himself!]

[I seriously suspect Xiao Huai leaked all those ship materials himself.]

[The Best Actor is truly speechless: I thought of you as my bro, but you wanted my body.]

[Say it with me: official announcement! Official announcement!]

…

I was BBQ’d. I hadn’t switched to my side account.

Sure enough, Xie Xu immediately sent me a screenshot: [?]

I racked my brain and decided that taking a step back would open up a whole new world:

[If I said I didn’t do it on purpose this time, would you believe me?]

Crybaby Xie: [This time?]

I replied: [Mm, just this time. But if you want to understand it that way, there’s nothing I can do.]

“Crybaby Xie” called me.

I hesitated for a long time, but in the end, I bit the bullet and answered.

The moment I put the receiver to my ear, Xie Xu’s earnest “lecture” came through.

“Xiao Huai, the entertainment industry isn’t like other places. You need to rein it in a little.”

“I know, I know. Both of my ears are telling you they know.”

When I had first entered the entertainment industry, Xie Xu had loved nagging me like this too.

Without another word, he would call me, then ramble on and on.

Because I entered the industry a little later than Xie Xu, and because I was lucky enough to land a hit drama, over the past year since my debut, before every single thing-training, attending events, starting production, filming-Xie Xu would always call to remind me what to watch out for.

Looking at the trending topic still hanging on Weibo, I asked on impulse, “Haven’t you ever suspected that I really do like you?”

Xie Xu said calmly, “No.”

All right, that was a little disappointing.

As we were still on the phone, a new trending topic shot up on Weibo:

#Xie Xu’s Side States He and Xiao Huai Are Only Ordinary Friends in the Industry#

When I tapped in, it was a public clarification statement from Xie Xu’s studio.

At the same time, Brother Jia sent me a message:

[Xiao Huai, Xie Xu’s team is dead set on distancing themselves from us.]

[I’m guessing it’s affecting their attempt to hype a CP with that popular young actress.]

Attached below was a screenshot of his chat history with Xie Xu’s manager, Chen Zai.

At that moment, my call with Xie Xu was still ongoing.

Feeling a little down, I said, “Xie Xu, does this mean I won’t be able to see you for a while?”

“Hm?”

The other end fell silent for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

Looks like he had just seen the trending topic.

This guy always took everything onto himself.

“What are you apologizing for? None of this was your fault from beginning to end.”

It was all just my careful scheming, that was all.