Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Brother Jia was waiting downstairs at my apartment building. The moment he saw me, he quickly tossed away the cigarette in his hand and ran over.

“Xiao Huai, you’re finally back. Are you okay?”

I shook my head, and Brother Jia finally let out a breath of relief.

“I don’t know how the production team found out about what happened with Xu Ze, but to win back public favor, they really are willing to do anything.”

“Xiao Huai, I don’t think I can hold off the company much longer.”

I poured a glass of water and handed it to Brother Jia. “It’s fine. Do whatever needs to be done.”

“You really don’t plan on clarifying?”

My voice sharpened. “Brother Jia.”

“I know, I know.”

“I’ll help you deal with the breach-of-contract penalty as much as I can.”

“Thanks, Brother Jia.”

Chapter 14

Night fell. Moonlight shifted in the shadows beyond the window. Aside from a few updates Brother Jia had sent me, there were no other messages on my phone.

It was terrifyingly quiet.

Until a phone call broke the silence-it was from Xie Xu.

The moment I answered, Chen Zai said anxiously, “Xiao Huai, get over here quick. Xu-ge drank, and he won’t let anyone touch him. I thought about it, and you’re the only one who might be able to talk him down.”

Chapter 15

When I arrived at the private room, Chen Zai was standing at the door. Xie Xu was sitting alone in front of a large round table, an empty bottle of red wine before him.

With one hand propped on the table, Xie Xu lifted his head slightly when he saw me.

His mouth turned down. “Xiao Huai, what right do you have to make decisions for me?”

“I didn’t…”

He suddenly raised his voice. “You did!”

Drunk Xie Xu talked so much. He was even kind of cute.

I was so exasperated I laughed. “Okay, okay, I did. Then will you come home with me now?”

Xie Xu snorted. “No.”

“Why not?”

Xie Xu said, looking terribly wronged, “Xiao Huai will get mad.”

I pulled out a chair and sat beside him. “Xiao Huai won’t get mad.”

“You’re lying. Xiao Huai doesn’t like seeing me with other people.” Xie Xu tried to wave his hand, but he was far too drunk; he couldn’t even lift it. “What about you? Would you care if Xiao Huai was with someone else?”

“I…”

Before I could finish, Xie Xu toppled straight over.

With that alcohol tolerance, he still tried to drink like other people.

I lifted Xie Xu’s arm and shifted all his weight onto my shoulder.

But by accident, his lips brushed against my neck, his warm breath spilling over my collarbone.

It was as if an electric current had shot through me. My whole body went abruptly stiff.

Seeing this, Chen Zai hurried over in a few steps, wanting to help.

I turned slightly to the side. “It’s fine. I’ll carry him back.”

Chen Zai still looked worried and kept watch beside us until Xie Xu was steady on my back.

He pressed a baseball cap down over Xie Xu’s head. “Be careful. There might be paparazzi waiting around.”

“Okay.”

I carried Xie Xu out through the back door, while Chen Zai put on Xie Xu’s jacket and went out the front, drawing the paparazzi away.