Xu Zhiyan’s fans could not accept that their idol had been captured by his nemesis, so they began to frantically clarify the situation.
[Can you stop trying to latch onto his popularity? Actor Xu sending a birthday gift was just out of politeness.]
[Jiang Xu’s new movie, “Star River,” had its wrap-up party on his birthday. Many friends in the industry sent gifts and well wishes. Actor Xu sent a gift to congratulate him on wrapping up the drama. The lead character Jiang Xu played is named Star River, so is there anything wrong with sending a star-shaped brooch?]
[Laughing to death! Friends give gifts to each other all the time; why are you so desperate to label them as a couple? Are fans so afraid Jiang Xu cannot get married that they cling to every Alpha he meets?]
[Hey! Stop trying to whitewash it! I have never seen anyone give an eight-million-dollar brooch to an ordinary friend.]
[I reasonably suspect that Jiang Xu’s lover is Xu Zhiyan.]
[Your reasonable suspicion is very unreasonable. Please stop suspecting.]
[Jiang Xu is disgusting, get out of the entertainment industry!]
[Boycott this shameless clout-chasing. Jiang Xu, please stay away from Actor Xu voluntarily.]
The internet was in an uproar, and the atmosphere on the set was equally tense. Jiang Chuhe’s face was pale, his eyes rimmed with red, and tears welled up. “Jiang Xu, I am sorry! I did not know the brooch was a high-quality replica. My father probably did not know either; he must have been deceived.”
Ni Wentian immediately comforted him, “Chuhe, we all understand. Please do not cry.”
Jiang Xu said, “Yes, please do not cry. It is not like the one who cries the loudest gets the most attention. No one blamed you for using a replica, but if this footage of you weeping airs, people might think I am bullying you.”
Jiang Chuhe: “Nothing.”
Jiang Xu handed him a tissue. “Wipe it off! Your powder is streaked from crying; your face and your neck are no longer the same color.”
“I, I am going to wash my face.” Jiang Chuhe stood up from his chair and walked away in a hurry. To appear fair on camera, he had applied foundation all over his body; now that his makeup was ruined by tears, his face and neck were naturally different shades.
After Jiang Chuhe left, the atmosphere was not as awkward as before. Jiang Xu ate and drank as he pleased, his expression showing he did not care about the brooch incident at all. In truth, many fragmented images were surfacing in his mind, linking together to form a chain of memory. He had deduced and filled in most of the missing parts.
He looked down at the brooch in his palm. Xu Zhiyan was right; this was his birthday gift. But there was one detail that did not add up. JX was not an abbreviation of his name; it was an abbreviation of their combined surnames.
Jiang Xu. Xu Zhiyan. JX.
“Xuxu, have you noticed? Your name is my surname.” That was what Xu Zhiyan had said to him when he gave the gift. Thinking about it now, heh! This scoundrel was quite good at coaxing people.
Jiang Xu cut off his train of thought and put the brooch into his jacket pocket. Not long after Jiang Chuhe left, Director Zhao announced that the morning session had come to an end. There was a three-hour break, and the game segments would formally begin at 3:00 PM. Director Zhao was very generous. “You can use any of the rooms in Kuimei Mansion as you please. Please make yourselves at home.”
Luo Yuan’s mouth twitched. “Forget it! How can anyone rest in those rooms? I will just stay in the restaurant.” He would rather sit on a chair for three hours than lie down in a ghost-wedding room.
Ling Jiuxiao stood up and said nonchalantly, “I am going back to lie in the coffin. Do not get me wrong, it is actually quite comfortable.” He turned back to look at Luo Yuan. “Little fool, do you want to come with me?”
“I am not going!” Luo Yuan’s expression was full of resistance.
“Then you better be careful in the restaurant. You never know when a zombie with missing hands and feet might crawl out.” Ling Jiuxiao suddenly lunged forward. “Wah! I am going to bite off your toes!”
“Ah! Help!” Luo Yuan quickly pulled his feet onto the chair, his face as pale as paper. Hearing Ling Jiuxiao’s laughter, he gritted his teeth and growled, “Boring!” After teasing Luo Yuan, Ling Jiuxiao walked away, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
Cui Qinglan was braver and chose a room filled with skeleton frames. Ni Wentian sat in the lobby and did not leave. Jiang Chuhe did not return after going to touch up his makeup. The others left one after another.
Jiang Xu found a secluded, quiet spot and took a call from Shi Jin. “The show’s impact is great today; your name is all over the hot searches.” Shi Jin’s excited voice came through the receiver. “My precious cash cow, with you around, I will be able to buy a house and get a wife this year.”
“I am recording this. I will post it on Weibo later. I will title it: ‘Renowned Agent Treats Artist as a Cash Cow: Is This Moral Decay or Human Nature?'”
“Master Jiang, I was wrong!” Shi Jin knew when to concede. “I was just joking, but the heat is real. Your Weibo follower count is still rising, and there is a huge group of people shipping you and Actor Xu.”
“It looks like I need to post on Weibo to tell them not to ship us blindly; it will only hurt them.”
“Actor Xu is protecting you both inside and outside the show, helping you slap Jiang Chuhe in the face, and even arranging PR to watch the Weibo feed and sweep away the hate-followers. What else are you dissatisfied with?”
“I can handle it myself; I do not need his help.”
“Then why do you not reveal your true identity on the show? Once the world knows you are the young master of a business dynasty, Jiang Chuhe will be kneeling on the ground licking your feet.”
“He is not worth it.” Jiang Xu’s words were always sharp and hit the mark.
“Mr. Ning specifically called me and ordered me not to let you suffer any grievances on the show. If you are not happy, just fight back. No one dares to do anything to you.”
“Tell my dad I have never let myself suffer.”
Shi Jin knew Jiang Xu’s character well enough to know he was not someone who would let himself be taken advantage of. With Xu Zhiyan protecting him, he certainly would not let any demons or monsters stir up trouble.
The call ended after a brief chat. Jiang Xu prepared to head upstairs to find a room to rest. No sooner had he entered the second-floor hallway than he was blocked. A tall, large Alpha stood before him, casting a shadow that blocked the light in the hallway.
The view turned dim in an instant. Jiang Xu took a step back to create distance and said with a dark face, “The law states that it is illegal for an Alpha to release pheromones at an Omega at will. If you do not want to end up at the police station, then retract your disgusting pheromones.”
Qin Ruizhe spread his hands. “I did not release any pheromones. Maybe it is just because I am an S-rank Alpha that my pheromones are more intense.”
“You do not need to keep your rank on the tip of your tongue.”
“Is this not a world that looks at rank? Did you not approach Xu Zhiyan just because he is an S-rank Alpha?” Qin Ruizhe moved closer to Jiang Xu. “Or are you trying to get close to him just to make me jealous?”
“Go look in a mirror and see what kind of person you are. Do not forget, I was the one who insisted on breaking off our engagement.”
When Jiang Xu was still with the Jiang family, they had tried to marry him off to Qin Ruizhe to climb the social ladder. Qin Ruizhe had pursued him relentlessly, but Jiang Xu knew he was a playboy and had refused him immediately.
“Jiang Xu, I am an S-rank Alpha now. Do you know how many Omegas want to have a relationship with me? My taking an interest in you is your honor. If you behave, I will keep a place for you by my side.”
The rise in rank had brought Qin Ruizhe countless benefits. Being pursued by countless Omegas made him feel his charm was boundless. In his eyes, Jiang Xu’s coldness toward him was just a ploy to play hard to get.
“Playing hard to get is fine for a while, but if you continue to be disobedient, I will dump you.”
Jiang Xu’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. He hooked his finger at Qin Ruizhe. “Come here.”