How could this be possible? Ni Wentian stood frozen in place, stunned as if in a dream. For an A5 Alpha with such immense capability, what just happened could have been a fluke the first time, but a second time made it seem much more subtle. He looked at the empty mud pile in the pit, then at Ling Jiuxiao in front of him, his expression more wretched than if he had swallowed a mouthful of filth.
How could a mere A3 dodge his attack? Unless Ling Jiuxiao was not an A3 at all. That would explain how he was able to use his pheromones to alter the trajectory of the mud projectiles.
Ling Jiuxiao smiled arrogantly: “It seems A5 is not all that impressive.”
Extremely arrogant! Ni Wentian clenched his fists tightly, his expression gloomy.
As the game ended, the glass cover descended automatically. Ling Jiuxiao hopped into the mud pit and slung an arm around Luo Yuan’s shoulder: “Little Tangyuan, how was that? Is your Brother Jiu impressive?”
“You just got lucky.”
Luo Yuan shook off his arm and stood to the side.
“Luck is also a form of ability.”
Ling Jiuxiao took the towel his assistant handed him and wiped the sweat from his forehead without a trace.
On the other side, Xu Zhiyan curled his lips: “Xuxu, what level do you think he is?”
Jiang Xu: “S1.”
“Hmm?” Xu Zhiyan was surprised: “All S-rank Alphas are registered; he is not one.”
Jiang Xu: “I trust my eyes.”
Xu Zhiyan’s expression grew complex. After this bout of amnesia, his little treasure had become quite different from before. Besides forgetting the history between them, there seemed to be a shift in temperament as well.
Ling Jiuxiao’s opening had been fiery, and the atmosphere in the chat became extremely lively. As the second group stepped up, the viewers in the livestream became even more agitated.
【A duel between S-ranks; I cannot imagine how intense this will be.】 【I bet Film Emperor Xu will win.】 【Have you not noticed? The key to winning or losing lies with Jiang Xu and Jiang Chuhe. If you cannot get the serve, it does not matter how high your level is.】 【The chance to maliciously sabotage his arch-rival is here. Go, Xuxu!】 【As long as Jiang Xu deliberately gets a few questions wrong, Xu Zhiyan is finished! Thick! Exciting!】 【Jiang Chuhe and Qin Ruizhe are a real couple; they definitely understand each other. This group is an overwhelming victory.】
The chat was right. Jiang Chuhe knew Qin Ruizhe’s preferences very well. To maintain the marriage alliance with the conglomerate, Jiang Chuhe had put a lot of effort into Qin Ruizhe. He felt no pressure at all regarding the director team’s questions.
Slap!
Jiang Chuhe hit the buzzer and answered with ease: “The flower Ruizhe likes is the red rose.”
Qin Ruizhe gained the serve. Jiang Xu had his hands in his pockets and shrugged helplessly: “Film Emperor Xu, this question is outside my knowledge range.”
Xu Zhiyan narrowed his eyes. It seemed his husband had forgotten everything about him. It was quite targeted; he remembered everything else, but only forgot him.
Bang!
A ball of mud slammed into Xu Zhiyan, leaving a very clear mark on his clean clothes. Jiang Xu’s expression shifted: “Xu Zhiyan, take this seriously!”
Xu Zhiyan sighed: “The game rules say I cannot dodge; I can only be a passive target.”
Jiang Xu huffed through his nose. You want to be a target, right? Then have enough of it.
Following that, Jiang Xu stopped reaching out and answering, completely giving up. Jiang Chuhe got every question right, gaining three serves. All three balls slammed into Xu Zhiyan.
【Jiang Xu, open your eyes and look at Film Emperor Xu; he is about to be beaten into a Dalmatian.】 【Stop pretending! Cards on the table! You want your arch-rival to die, right?】 【Jiang Xu is truly venomous! At first, he acted like a loving couple, then turned around and sold out my idol. You are really something! If I cannot spray you to death today, consider me the loser.】
【#WishStarRiver# is completely broken; my youth is dying so quickly. Who is crying? I will not say. Woo woo woo!】
Qin Ruizhe gained another serve. He held up the mud ball and sneered at Xu Zhiyan: “Film Emperor Xu, it seems your partner does not want you to win.”
Xu Zhiyan: “Do not jump to conclusions before the very last moment.”
Qin Ruizhe thought he was just being stubborn: “This game tests the tacit understanding between partners. Jiang Xu does not understand you, and if he does not answer the questions, you will not even get the serve.”
Xu Zhiyan: “I believe in Xuxu.”
The simple “I believe in” caused the fans in the livestream to burst into tears.
【My idol! Touch your head, you have sprouted a love brain.】
【He really, I am crying to death!】
【The pure-love warrior falls.】
【Jiang Xu is not worth it; brother, let us give up!】
【Jiang Xu, get out of the entertainment industry! Jiang Xu, lifelong hater! Jiang Xu, begone!】
No one noticed Jiang Xu’s cheeks tighten, his smile growing cold. His fingers, resting at his sides, clenched one by one. You jerk! Playing psychological warfare, are you?
Jiang Xu gritted his teeth, watching that mud ball slam into Xu Zhiyan’s chest.
Bang!
The mud splatter settled, piercing into his vision like a clear, eye-stinging mark. Xu Zhiyan, you are really something!
Jiang Xu flicked his hand fiercely and turned his gaze to Director Zhao: “How many questions are left?”
Director Zhao: “Six questions.”
Jiang Xu curled his lips into a disdainful smile: “Just enough to send him to his grave.”
Director Zhao was so frightened by this smile that he dropped his megaphone on the floor. He knew Xu Zhiyan and Jiang Xu were at odds, but he never expected the relationship to be so hostile that they wanted to end each other.
【Jiang Xu, I advise you to act like a human being!】 【Jiang Xu smiles; life and death are unpredictable. Film Emperor Xu, good luck to yourself!】 【My idol did not offend you, right? Is it necessary to go this far, Jiang Xu?】 【Strike while the iron is hot; no problems there!】 【You have to be ruthless to an arch-rival. Xuxu, take him down!】
Qin Ruizhe was smug. He knew Jiang Xu liked to be contradictory; he would act like he did not care, but in his heart, the scales were still tipped in his favor. He was really going to great lengths just to let him win. No matter how impressive Xu Zhiyan was, what of it? With Jiang Xu backstabbing him, he had no chance of winning.
A new question appeared on the big screen: [Which part of yourself is your partner most satisfied with?]
“Throat knot.”
The clear, refined voice sounded, accompanied by the “beep” of the buzzer. Everyone was stunned, their gazes involuntarily turning to that tall, upright figure. Jiang Chuhe was still maintaining the posture of having just raised his hand to press the buzzer. He looked at Jiang Xu beside him, shocked: “You…”
Jiang Xu was blank-faced: “You were a step too slow.”
Jiang Chuhe quickly adjusted his emotions. It was useless for Jiang Xu to have buzzed in first; he might not get it right.
“Answer correct.”
Director Zhao’s voice pierced Jiang Chuhe’s heart like a needle. He looked at Jiang Xu, shocked. How is this possible? How could Jiang Xu know Xu Zhiyan so well? It must be a coincidence.
In the mud pit, Xu Zhiyan kept his gaze fixed on that tall figure, his eyes burning like fire. It seemed his little treasure cared more about him than he had imagined. Feeling his gaze, Jiang Xu looked back, his sharp eyes flashing with a warning. You jerk, I will settle the account when we get home.
Xu Zhiyan obtained a mud ball, his deep eyes looking at the man opposite: “It seems I was not wrong; Xuxu will not let me lose.”
Qin Ruizhe gritted his teeth: “What is the use of just one serve? I have hit you four times.” Dreaming of catching up to the score? Keep dreaming!
“Is that so? Then you had better watch closely.” Xu Zhiyan raised his hand and tossed the ball.