“Liyue, why don’t you greet your seniors when you see them?”
A deliberately low, magnetic voice came from behind Jiang Liyue. Without turning around, he knew that the disgusting person had arrived.
“What? Teacher Zhan isn’t satisfied?” Jiang Liyue tightly gripped the knife in his hand, slightly turned his body, and glanced at Zhan Wen with a sidelong look.
Zhan Wen leaned against the kitchen door, shrugged indifferently, and said, “No need to be so angry. How did I offend you this time?”
Jiang Liyue snorted at his words, ignoring him, but also stopped cutting the tomatoes.
Zhan Wen looked him up and down with interest and said, “You’re quite enthusiastic. What are you planning to cook? Mind sharing some with me?”
Jiang Liyue turned around, supporting himself with his long legs, his eyes full of malice, but then he curved his lips into a light smile. He slipped his left hand into his pocket, his shirt subtly outlining his slender waist, exuding a seductive allure.
Of course, he himself was unaware of how enchanting he looked at that moment, his gaze like silk, the curve of his red lips just right.
Zhan Wen whistled in his heart, thinking, “A masterpiece is truly a masterpiece.”
“You want to eat? Do you think…” Jiang Liyue’s tone was light, as if he was having a pleasant conversation with Zhan Wen, but then he changed his tone, “Do you deserve it?”
“Hahaha, you’re still as sharp-tongued as ever.” Zhan Wen pretended not to feel the sharpness in Jiang Liyue’s words, using a joking tone to dissolve the slight awkwardness floating in the kitchen.
“There’s no need for us to be so tense, right? Even if we can’t be friends with benefits, we can still be friends.” Ever since Zhan Wen accidentally flirted with Jiang Liyue, he couldn’t forget this cold beauty and kept thinking about rekindling their connection.
But that flirtation was really embarrassing. Who would have thought that a seasoned player like him would stumble over a newly blossomed rose? The worst part was, this rose not only had thorns on its stem but also had poison smeared on its tender red petals.
He had merely touched Jiang Liyue’s waist, hadn’t even made a move, and was thrown onto the cold tiles of the bathroom. That wasn’t the end of it; he immediately felt a burning pain in his hand. He had to use his left hand to call his assistant, only to find out that his wrist had been dislocated.
During his recovery days, he searched for that fleeting beauty and found Jiang Liyue.
A seasoned homophobe, huh? Doesn’t he know the rule in the circle that homophobes are often deeply closeted?
Even if he’s not, isn’t it more fun to bend a straight guy?
Absolutely! It’s so damn challenging!
Jiang Liyue put down the knife, crossed his arms, and his slender fingers tapped rapidly on his arm. His legs were tense, and his whole demeanor screamed “stay away.” The disgust in his eyes was almost tangible, making the small kitchen space feel even more cramped.
Truly as ruthless as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
Zhan Wen raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and said helplessly, “Alright, I won’t disturb your cooking.” With that, he turned and left.
Only then did Jiang Liyue release the low pressure, turning back to continue cutting the tomatoes. Perhaps because he was distracted, the knife moved too quickly, and he didn’t notice the sharp blade slicing into his finger.
Instantly, a white, transparent scratch appeared on his finger, turning pink, and then red as blood slowly seeped from the wound.
Jiang Liyue let out a soft cry of pain. He had always been afraid of pain since he was a child, and his wounds healed slowly. He was always extra careful when using dangerous knives, but today, with something disgusting around, he had terrible luck.
Hearing Jiang Liyue’s suppressed voice, Zhan Wen’s heart fluttered, and he strode into the kitchen, ready to touch Jiang Liyue’s hand to see what was going on.
Jiang Liyue scolded in a low voice, “Get lost!” His right hand was gripping his left finger joint so tightly that it was turning white.
At the same time, Zhao Chenxing’s footsteps and familiar voice sounded from outside the kitchen, “Jiang Liyue, why isn’t it done yet?”
Zhao Chenxing had just finished a phone call and was about to go downstairs to check on Jiang Liyue’s cooking.
When they were kids, they had a clear division of labor: Jiang Liyue cooked, and Zhao Chenxing was responsible for watching and eating. Watching was mainly to ensure Jiang Liyue didn’t get hurt. That guy, when he was little, would tear up over the slightest scratch, making Ms. Yuan Li’s heart ache.
As he reached the kitchen door, he noticed Jiang Liyue seemed to be standing very close to another man.
Zhao Chenxing took a closer look and realized the other person was Zhan Wen, the Film Emperor.
“You know Teacher Zhan?” Zhao Chenxing asked. Earlier in the living room, the two hadn’t interacted at all, so he thought Jiang Liyue didn’t know this senior.
Jiang Liyue didn’t want to hear anything related to “Zhan Wen.” He avoided the second question and only answered the first, “Just wait a bit, the noodles will be ready soon.”
Zhan Wen looked at Zhao Chenxing with interest. He had been too focused on Jiang Liyue in the living room to notice that he had brought another man.
He had to admit, Jiang Liyue’s assistant had the looks and aura to thrive in the entertainment industry.
His skin wasn’t the cold white like Jiang Liyue’s but a healthy, sunny fairness. His face was a soft pink, with smooth and comfortable bone structure, and a high nose bridge that didn’t seem aggressive, instead giving off a sunny boy-next-door vibe.
His figure was hidden under loose sweatshirts and sweatpants, but with Zhan Wen’s years of experience in the gay circle, he knew this assistant’s body proportions were equally outstanding.
Such an excellent prospect, and Jiang Yun hadn’t snatched him up? Instead, he was Jiang Liyue’s assistant? But now, under the guise of an assistant, he could rightfully appear on variety shows. Was he taking a shortcut to climb the ranks?
Thinking of this, Zhan Wen couldn’t help but ask, “Assistant? May I know your name?”
Zhao Chenxing thought to himself that this Film Emperor really had a short memory. They had already been introduced in the front hall, but he repeated the introduction, “Hello, Teacher Zhan, I’m Jiang Liyue’s assistant, Zhao Chenxing.”
Zhan Wen repeated Zhao Chenxing’s name and asked, “Zhao Chenxing? Is that your real name?”
People in the entertainment industry usually have stage names. It’s not that he was overthinking, but Zhao Chenxing’s name seemed to pair perfectly with Jiang Liyue’s.
He had already checked Jiang Liyue’s information before, and it was his real name. He just didn’t know if Zhao Chenxing’s was real too, or if this assistant was one of those fans who chased stars up close.
No, it couldn’t be that.
Zhan Wen quickly analyzed, and in just those few seconds of interaction, many details were exposed.
The way they interacted was key. Jiang Liyue not only cooked for his assistant, but there was also a subtle sense that Jiang Liyue was in a lower position, unconsciously trying to please. Jiang Liyue’s attitude towards speaking was also different; compared to this assistant, it was like heaven and hell, a gentle breeze versus a storm.
Tsk, even more interesting.
Zhao Chenxing naturally understood what Zhan Wen meant by asking. After all, when they went to school together, classmates were always curious about their names.
Especially after they entered middle school, many girls saw how close they were, and knowing they weren’t related by blood, would often gather in groups, watching them and whispering, occasionally letting out creepy giggles.
Just as Zhao Chenxing was about to explain, Jiang Liyue’s voice, filled with cold irritation, interrupted.
“Aren’t you leaving yet?” Jiang Liyue’s low pressure was clearly directed at Zhan Wen.
Zhao Chenxing sighed inwardly, thinking it had been a long time since he’d seen Jiang Liyue in such a low mood. In his eyes, Jiang Liyue’s health had always been poor, and Ms. Yuan Li was very concerned, constantly urging Jiang Liyue to stay positive and not get angry.
Jiang Liyue always listened to Ms. Yuan’s advice, at least in Zhao Chenxing’s view, Jiang Liyue had a pretty good temper.
What on earth did Zhan Wen do to provoke him?
Zhan Wen wasn’t even angry at being so blatantly dismissed. He deduced that these two were definitely more than just an actor and assistant, and felt a slight twinge of jealousy.
Zhan Wen squinted his eyes, his lips curling up without any emotion, and with a tone of compromise, he said, “Alright, alright, I won’t disturb your cooking. I’m leaving now.”
With that, Zhan Wen nodded at Zhao Chenxing, then turned his gaze to Jiang Liyue, who was lightly biting his lip, and left with a soft laugh.
Jiang Liyue’s low pressure only dissipated after the person left. He looked at Zhao Chenxing, his moist eyes filled with a pitiful expression, his lips slightly pursed.