Gu Xiao’s expression twisted with rage as he clutched his phone tightly, ultimately unable to resist the pressure from his father on the other end. With a look of humiliation, he rose from his seat.
His eyes burned with venomous hatred, and he paid no attention to the other contestants and staff around him, charging straight toward Gu Nanci outside.
At this moment, Gu Xiao was consumed by fury, his rationality completely gone.
His father had once again taken Gu Nanci’s side!
Not only did he know that Gu Xiao had hit Gu Nanci, but he also threatened to cut off his funds and abandon him and his mother if he didn’t withdraw from the competition and apologize as Gu Nanci demanded.
Why? Gu Nanci was just the child of a lowly woman! He, Gu Xiao, was Gu Zhaofeng’s own son!
Apologize? Bow his head to Gu Nanci? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
With reddened eyes, Gu Xiao stormed out of the studio in a few quick strides, grabbing Gu Nanci by the collar to demand answers. “It was you! You did this! You lowlife! You should have—”
With the broadcast set to begin in just a few minutes, the sudden commotion drew shocked glances from everyone around.
In stark contrast to Gu Xiao’s disheveled and undignified appearance, the young man at the door moved with graceful steps and a composed demeanor, breathtakingly beautiful, as if every strand of his hair glowed—a natural star quality that captivated the camera and drew all eyes to him.
Gu Nanci lowered his gaze with a faint smile. With a seemingly effortless flick of his slender, pale wrist, he firmly grasped Gu Xiao’s wrist. His eyes, hidden beneath stray strands of hair, held a trace of mockery as he pushed Gu Xiao back.
As they brushed past each other, he whispered in a voice only Gu Xiao could hear:
“I should have been at the place you arranged, waiting to be photographed in compromising positions and ruined, right?”
In Gu Xiao’s memory, Gu Nanci had always been someone who never fought back or argued back, easy to manipulate. With his family either dead or missing, Gu Nanci had grown up relying on Gu Xiao’s family for everything. Over the years, Gu Xiao had bullied him without restraint—Gu Nanci was treated worse than a servant, let alone a cousin.
This was the first time Gu Xiao had faced resistance from Gu Nanci. His pupils contracted in shock, leaving him speechless. “You—”
“Gu Xiao, there’s a blood debt between us, a matter of life and death. Did you think withdrawing from the competition would end it?” Gu Nanci whispered, his gaze sweeping over Gu Xiao with a hint of amusement. “Don’t worry, this is just the beginning. How does it feel to have your dreams shattered?”
“From today on, as long as I’m here, you’ll only ever be fit to watch from the sidelines!”
To strike where it hurts most—for Gu Xiao, who was desperate to surpass Gu Nanci and prove himself to Gu Zhaofeng, the worst pain wasn’t failure but being stripped of even the right to compete.
Even if the truth wasn’t the favoritism he imagined but the laughable interests of two gambling schemers.
But so what?
If she could keep Gu Xiao in the dark and fuming for the rest of his life, she’d be happy!
The pain from those solid dozen blows still lingered all over her body.
…She’d pay him back sooner or later!
Ignoring Gu Xiao’s red-eyed, impotent rage, Gu Nanci pushed him aside and shot a cold, warning glance at Gu Zhaofeng, who had rushed over panting to intervene.
“Keep him under control. I don’t want to see him again. Otherwise, I won’t mind having a chat with someone about what happened tonight!”
Gu Zhaofeng, dressed in a wrinkled suit, appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with faint streaks of gray in his hair and deep furrows between his brows. His shrewd, calculating eyes fixed on Gu Nanci for a moment before he spoke in a low voice:
“Little Ci, don’t go too far!”
“Would you like me to get a medical examination for the injuries?” Gu Nanci said nonchalantly, “and maybe a full-body checkup while we’re at it. Hmm… but then some things might not stay hidden.”
Gu Xiao’s face instantly paled, thinking Gu Nanci was hinting at his own history of violence. He immediately lashed out: “You bastard, I hit you and that’s that! After all these years our family has raised you, you really think you can sue me—”
“Gu Xiao!” Gu Zhaofeng snapped sharply. He had clearly understood Gu Nanci’s underlying message: if pushed too far, they’d all go down together—no one would come out unscathed.
Thinking his father still wasn’t on his side, Gu Xiao shouted with reddened eyes, “Dad! Am I your son or is he?!”
After that, he shot both of them a hateful glare, gritted his teeth, turned, and stormed out.
Gu Zhaofeng stood there seething, grinding his teeth in frustration.
That ungrateful fool! That idiot! Knowing nothing and still…
Gu Zhaofeng took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and forced a hypocritically kind smile toward Gu Nanci. “Little Ci, let’s talk—”
“No time,” Gu Nanci replied curtly before turning to leave.
Gu Zhaofeng: “…”
Watching Gu Nanci’s retreating figure, Gu Zhaofeng felt so furious his heart ached, unable to resist kicking the air in frustration.
Dragging this out wasn’t a solution. If they didn’t settle this matter, Gu Nanci might not be in a hurry, but he certainly was…
Left with no choice, Gu Zhaofeng sat down by the entrance with a humiliated expression, obediently waiting for the competition to end.
Inside the studio.
Gu Nanci found a seat in the back row and took out a wet wipe. As if having touched something disgustingly filthy, he meticulously wiped the fingertips that had just come into contact with Gu Xiao.
Perfectly timed, right at the thirty-minute mark, the live broadcast began.
Over on the production side, the staff who had been anxiously fearing last-minute chaos before the broadcast let out a long sigh of relief. With a sense of release, they directed the cameras to focus on the contestants’ seats.
Heaven knows how terrified they were when they saw one contestant charging out as if ready to start a fight—their souls nearly left their bodies!
Fortunately, he was later taken away by family members and said to have withdrawn from the competition, not affecting the key contestant the director had designated.
…Tsk, that face! No wonder he’s a key prospect!
If someone like this couldn’t debut, he’d turn his head upside down—
Wait, what name was on that chest badge?
Gu… Gu… Gu Nanci!
Wasn’t that the famously notorious “vase” who had gained infamy far beyond the usual circles?
Sharing the same thunderstruck expression as the camera director were the other contestants present.
Holy crap! That face! He’s definitely debut material… Another competitor to worry about…
Wait! Gu Nanci???
Wasn’t that the “top-tier” black-and-red celebrity who had united anti-fans across the entire internet?
The entire venue fell into stunned silence. In a space usually filled with dozens of noisy boys giving everyone headaches, an unexpected quiet descended for several seconds.
When the live stream connected, viewers saw the eerily silent scene.
[Is my stream frozen? Why no sound?]
[Anti-fan here, came to see what new antics this attention-seeking vase is pulling!]
[Changchang! Xiaojiu! Where’s my long-term CP, where are they!]
[Where’s Yangyang! Where’s my big Yang bro sitting… Why is it so quiet today?]
[…Can’t help but say, does Gu the Vase have some kind of poison? Why do my eyes automatically lock onto him whenever he’s on screen???]
[Upstairs, maybe you’re just deeply in love.]
[Bullshit! Don’t insult me! I’m an anti-fan!!!]
…
Lights flashed, music swelled.
The host holding a microphone walked out, instantly greeted by cheers and screams from the audience.
“Yin Yue! It’s Actress Yin!”
“It’s the goddess!”
“Just for the chance to see Yueyue once, even if I get eliminated next round, it’s worth it!”
Gu Nanci raised her eyes. On stage, the woman wore a custom-made fishtail gown, her makeup flawless, her expression haughty. She had the innate air of one accustomed to being the center of attention, and with just a casual glance at the audience, she elicited a wave of screams.
Suddenly, their gazes met.
Yin Yue shot her an undisguised, blatant look of disgust.
Gu Nanci narrowed her eyes, still trying to recall any memory related to the two of them, when suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder.
“Hey, buddy! Is this seat taken? I’m in a bit of a bind—mind if I sit here?”