Chapter 6

Chapter 6

After the show wrapped, I hurried after Xie Xu, but Xie Xu didn’t so much as glance back.

Watching him get farther and farther away, walking like someone had set him to ten-times speed, I knew there was no way I was catching up.

I was just about to call it quits and head back when a reporter suddenly rushed over and shoved a microphone in my face.

“Xiao Huai, may I ask if you bullied someone back in high school?”

Her voice was loud-loud enough that the staff, fans, and other guests nearby all turned to look.

She blocked my path, refusing to let me leave.

As more and more people gathered to watch, she pulled a stack of photos from her bag and turned to face the crowd behind her.

“Everyone, take a look. This is evidence of Xiao Huai’s bullying. The victim is still psychologically affected to this day. Why should someone like him be allowed to enjoy his fans’ admiration without a care in the world?”

I found it ridiculous. “Little reporter, if you’re going to make accusations, you’d better have proof.”

The reporter moved the photos right in front of me. “This is proof.”

The photo was densely covered in handwriting. I had no interest in reading it-until I saw the signature at the end: Xu Ze.

It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned that name.

I had a feeling this was aimed squarely at me, so I decided it was better to leave first.

But the reporter rushed up and stopped me again.

“Are you admitting it by staying silent?”

“After all these years, have you never felt the slightest pang of conscience?”

More and more onlookers gathered. At a single look from the reporter, they surged forward and surrounded me.

The crowd pressed in so tightly there was no gap to escape through. Countless curses and voices of disgust swirled around me, the noise making my head ache.

It wasn’t until a car horn suddenly blared from somewhere nearby that the uproar was briefly cut off.

Then, all at once, someone in the crowd grabbed my hand.

“Come out first.”

Chapter 12

“I knew our Xie Xu would never abandon me. So? Not mad at me anymore?”

I sat in Xie Xu’s car with one leg crossed over the other. Beside me, Xie Xu still had a stern look on his face.

His voice was low, and he sounded a little angry. “They were saying those things about you. Why didn’t you refute them?”

I waved it off like it was nothing. “Oh, it’s fine. I really don’t care about that stuff.”

“If they want to curse me, let them. I can’t be bothered to clear it up.”

The moment I finished speaking, Xie Xu turned his head. Those extremely beautiful eyes stared straight at me. “But I care.”

“Huh?”

Xie Xu said in a deep voice, “Xiao Huai, what exactly do you take me for?”

Take him for?

Looking into those eyes that could gaze at a dog with deep affection, my heart skipped a beat. Afraid that tiny bit of my hidden feelings would be noticed, I stammered, “Of course… a brother.”

“Besides, what they said wasn’t exactly wrong. I really did get expelled in high school for fighting…”

Before I could finish, Xie Xu cut me off. “That’s not what happened.”

He was being serious now.

“You know full well that as long as I tell them what happened back then, they won’t-”

I put away my mischievous smile, my tone turning solemn. “Xie Xu, stop worrying about me. Don’t let me affect you.”

He had never been willing to bring up those things. I understood that.

So why should I make him relive that dark past over something I truly didn’t care about?

The car stopped downstairs from my apartment building.

I opened the door and waved at Xie Xu’s grim face. “I’m off, then.”