Bai Shuijin silently crumbled in the background. How could someone in this world be so narcissistic?
After a long explanation from the butler, Wang Muguang finally believed that Bai Shuijin wasn’t a “true fan” who was crazed with love for him.
Upon learning the truth, Wang Muguang gave him a look of pure pity.
Bai Shuijin felt a chill from the stare. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. I’m just surprised you’re not my fan.”
“What’s there to be surprised about?”
“I didn’t expect you’d never ‘tasted’ someone as good as me before.”
“…”
Bai Shuijin felt as if a large steamed bun had been stuffed into his mouth; he was so dry he couldn’t say a single word.
The villainous family truly had a complete set of archetypes: Wang Huanxiu was the dark, powerful type, while Wang Muguang fell squarely into the “lowered IQ” category.
Although his physical condition was superior, the narcissism and arrogance unique to a villain were perfectly embodied in Wang Muguang.
Wang Muguang looked Bai Shuijin up and down, then turned to the butler. “How come I didn’t know my brother got married?”
The butler replied, “Master’s marriage was in all the papers.”
The news of Bai Shuijin making a fool of himself at the wedding had been on the news pages for two days. As long as one paid even the slightest attention, they would have seen the wedding news.
“That can’t be right. I check the news every day. How could I have missed it?”
The butler was momentarily speechless, hesitating to speak.
Wang Muguang asked, “What is it, Uncle Zhang?”
“Because, Master Muguang, you only care about yourself.”
Wang Muguang: “…” Bai Shuijin: “…”
He truly did have the kind of face that only looked for his own name in the news.
Bai Shuijin clutched his social practice report and started walking back, worrying whether he should ask the counselor for another one.
A shadow suddenly appeared beside him. “Why are you walking so fast? Let’s walk together.”
Bai Shuijin turned his head to see Wang Muguang walking side-by-side with him.
Wang Muguang looked down at him, his eyes scanning Bai Shuijin’s face. After a long pause, he spat out, “I must say, you’re actually quite cute.”
Bai Shuijin thought the guy was so narcissistic he only knew how to praise himself; he didn’t expect him to praise others.
“Just like a little winter melon.”
“…”
The only reason Wang Muguang had survived this long was purely due to his rock-solid family background.
Wang Muguang’s room was on the first floor. After he entered, the servants pushed his luggage into the room while he took a shower and then put on an eye mask to catch up on sleep.
He had just returned from a fashion week abroad; after flying all day, he needed rest.
He didn’t emerge from his room until dinner time. Wang Muguang had slept soundly; Bai Shuijin had already finished eating by the time he woke up. While Wang Muguang ate, Bai Shuijin sat in front of the TV at exactly 8:00 PM, ready to watch the historical Wuxia drama starring his “Hubby No. 1, Hubby No. 2, to Hubby No. N.”
It was the same show he had been following.
This drama followed a “film-as-you-air” format, so only two chapters were released each week.
Generally, releasing only two chapters a week is bad for maintaining ratings, but this show had the content, the plot, and the visuals. It could be called this winter’s blockbuster hit. Now, simply opening any video app would lead to countless fan-edited short clips of the show.
Bai Shuijin watched with great interest, his eyes practically glued to the lead and the second lead.
Wang Muguang walked over and glanced at the screen. “You like watching this?”
Bai Shuijin nodded. “Of course. This is the hottest hit drama right now.”
Wang Muguang’s expression turned a bit subtle. “Is that so?”
He then sat on a single sofa and started scrolling through his phone. His long legs were crossed they looked longer than life itself. He casually brushed his semi-long hair back; when he didn’t speak, he looked like a prince from some exotic land. Initially, there was a smile on his face, but as he scrolled, his smile gradually froze.
When the first episode ended, Bai Shuijin felt a bit peckish during the commercial break and began peeling lychees for himself.
With Wang Muguang right there, he couldn’t eat alone. Although they had only met today and the guy had insulted his height, Bai Shuijin, holding onto the idea of “one big family,” generously chose to forgive him and asked if he wanted some lychees.
Wang Muguang shook his head in refusal. “No need, though I know the lychees really want to be eaten by me.”
Bai Shuijin looked down at the lychee in his hand.
Times are tough for everyone these days; even fruit is being subjected to rumors.
Wang Muguang’s emotions were very close to the surface. Seeing his expression which looked more like crying than smiling Bai Shuijin became curious about what he was looking at.
“What are you looking at? You seem unhappy.”
Wang Muguang turned his head. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me.”
“Oh.”
Bai Shuijin truly stopped worrying.
A few seconds later, Wang Muguang said, “Since you’re so curious about my affairs, I guess I’ll tell you.”
Bai Shuijin: “…” I’m not.
However, he still learned the reason for the disappearance of Wang Muguang’s smile. The biggest headache for a celebrity is a combination of their scandals and their own professional ability.
Right now, both were combined. The tags “Wang Muguang’s Acting” and “Wang Muguang’s Scandals” were trending together on the hot search list.
Bai Shuijin clicked in to investigate. Internet rumors said Wang Muguang would be joining the cast of the hit drama Night Traveler for a cameo. The reason this drama was so popular aside from a good script and director was its cast of good-looking and talented actors.
Wang Muguang’s acting had always been criticized. As soon as this news broke, he was immediately slammed on the hot search.
“I’m truly fed up. I don’t want to see rotten acting. Why invite him for a cameo?!”
“Being rich is amazing, isn’t it? Wang Muguang must have brought his own funding to the set.”
“I’ve said it before: Wang Muguang’s face is fine, but for acting, I have other choices in mind.”
“Wang Muguang, get out! This is my bias’s first work since debut; I don’t want him to ruin it.”
“Wang Muguang, I f*ck…?!~!: “
“With acting that burns the eyes like Wang Muguang’s, they still dare to invite him?”
“Doesn’t he know how much he weighs? Don’t ruin such a good production team. Please, get out yourself.”
“A piece of rat droppings ruining a whole pot of porridge.”
“Boycott Wang Muguang!”
“+1”
“Add my ID card to that too.”
Bai Shuijin watched the hot search comments, dumbfounded. In his past life, because he was working, he didn’t have much time to play on his phone. Even when he had it, he only replied to school messages and didn’t really follow celebrities. Seeing Wang Muguang being cursed out like this was quite a shock; scrolling down, people were even “greeting” his ancestors.
He looked at the news… Night Traveler… Why did that name sound so familiar?
Soon, the next episode of the drama began. The three large characters for Night Traveler appeared boldly on the TV screen.
“…”
Bai Shuijin was silent for a moment. “You’re going to act in this?”
Wang Muguang lifted his “shattered” face. “Yeah.”
Bai Shuijin was momentarily speechless. In truth, in the “Entertainment Circle” novel Wang Muguang belonged to, the villain was portrayed as a talentless, arrogant, and narcissistic character. If he was being cursed out for his acting, Wang Muguang wasn’t exactly being wronged.
It was just that the cursing was a bit too fierce.
Wang Muguang looked at him expectantly. “Do you have anything you want to say?”
Bai Shuijin was silent.
It was hard to comment, especially since all the bad comments had already been made by others.
Wang Muguang got up and sat next to Bai Shuijin, leaning in toward him. “What? Don’t you have anything to say to comfort me?”
It was as if he were giving Bai Shuijin a chance to console him.
As the other’s aura drew closer, Bai Shuijin leaned back slightly.
It was a fact that the other’s acting was being criticized; from a bystander’s perspective, there was no way to offer comfort. But as family, one didn’t need to stand on a scale of fairness. Family was for favoritism and bias.
The guy was Hubby-bro’s younger brother, which made him his younger brother too.
Bai Shuijin said, “Don’t pay attention to those malicious comments. Just take the good advice, hone your acting, and just be yourself.”
“I know, but I always care about other people’s attitudes toward me.”
Wang Muguang’s starting point in life was the finish line most people could never reach. He had a happy childhood, wealth, power, and background. Although his parents died when he was ten, an exceptionally capable older brother stepped up. His life had no worries; he was the “favored son of heaven” surrounded by everyone.
He entered the entertainment circle for his dream, but in the online world, he heard different voices different voices cursing him.
How different? They “greeted” his ancestors in eight hundred different ways without repeating once.
At first, he didn’t care, but later he cared more and more about others’ evaluations.
He even… cried like a water pump under his blanket in the middle of the night.
Wang Muguang looked at his phone, appearing as if he were about to shatter. “These comments make one’s heart feel so cold.”
Bai Shuijin sat a bit closer to him. “Why must you care about those things? If you do whatever others tell you to do and change yourself because of them, then you won’t be yourself anymore. So don’t care about others’ ey—”
Just then, Wang Muguang thrust his phone screen in front of Bai Shuijin’s face. A comment surged into view.
“I really want to give Wang Muguang a fierce slap.”
Bai Shuijin: “Ey… ears. Slaps.” (Note: A pun on eyes/ears/slaps in Chinese).
“…”
Online comments ruined the mood. Bai Shuijin snatched the phone from his hand. “Maybe you shouldn’t look at it.”
“But those comments are already branded into my brain.”
Bai Shuijin bit the bullet. “So what? You’ll forget eventually. Don’t take it to heart, and don’t be sad anymore. Be a man with a big ‘butt-itude’ (stamina/backbone).” (Note: Bai uses a slang phrase for backbone).
As a result of those words, the other person seemed even sadder.
The “starlight” on Wang Muguang dimmed, as if he had lost his life’s goals and hope.
“What’s wrong now?”
Wang Muguang hesitated for a long time before finally saying one sentence.
“Actually… my butt is quite flat.”
Bai Shuijin: “…”
So you’re sad now because your butt isn’t perky enough?
This villain, Wang Muguang, was truly eccentric.
But the fact that Wang Muguang had a flat butt was so deeply ingrained that when he stood up, Bai Shuijin couldn’t help but steal a few glances.
It seems… alright, I guess?
Wait!
Does that mean Hubby-bro’s butt is also flat?!
That night, when Wang Huanxiu returned from the company, he saw Bai Shuijin and Wang Muguang waiting at the door.
He already knew about Wang Muguang’s return, having received a call that afternoon.
“Brother!” “Hubby-bro.”
“…” For some reason, Wang Huanxiu momentarily regretted coming home.
Bai Shuijin was constantly focused on Wang Huanxiu’s rear, but the man’s trousers made it hard to observe.
Wang Huanxiu didn’t give the two of them a look, walking upstairs with his long legs. When Bai Shuijin went to the room to find him, he was changing in the walk-in closet. His tie was off, his cufflinks unfastened. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist; the lines of his arm muscles were visible beneath his shirt. The scene was full of raw tension.
Sensing the gaze, Wang Huanxiu glanced over. “What is it?”
Bai Shuijin stood at attention unconsciously and swallowed. His mind was now entirely filled with the question of whether Wang Huanxiu’s butt was perky or not.
He couldn’t verify it yet, since he couldn’t see it directly with the naked eye.
Unless he tried to sneak a feel while the guy was sleeping.
“Hubby-bro, can we sleep together tonight?” He clung to the doorframe, looking at Wang Huanxiu expectantly.
He had already showered and was standing at the closet door in his pajamas.
He grinned, offering a sweet, obedient face.
The answer was decisive: “No.”
The man dropped the word and turned into the bathroom.
He had returned at midnight. The high-intensity work had pushed his emotions to the brink; he was feeling quite irritable.
When a person lacks sufficient sleep, their emotional control is poor.
Moreover, a phone call from the “Old Master” had given him an even bigger headache.
Wang Huanxiu didn’t bother changing into pajamas he was too lazy to put them on only to take them off in the morning so he walked out with a bath towel wrapped around his waist.
The muscles on his body were like a sculptor’s masterpiece; his abs and the serratus muscles on his sides were clearly defined. Unwiped water droplets slid across his powerful chest.
Coming out of the bathroom, he didn’t see Bai Shuijin.
The little pest hadn’t pestered him tonight.
He thought that after refusing the request to sleep together, the other would pester him with soft words or make a scene.
To his surprise, there was no movement at all.
His attitude toward Bai Shuijin had always been cold. Being rejected for so long would inevitably cause hurt, and he didn’t care to wonder if the other was truly sad.
However, the other’s obedience today was indeed unusual. After being rejected, he had just quietly left without pestering him further.
Wang Huanxiu’s narrow, sharp eyes scanned the doorway for a few seconds. There was no sound; the guy really had gone back.
He was actually well-behaved tonight.
He walked to the bedside and lifted the quilt, intending to sleep. The next second, Bai Shuijin’s fluffy head popped out from inside.
Wang Huanxiu: “…”
Bai Shuijin, who had been lying in ambush for a long time, sprawled out inside the bed: “…”
Was I discovered?