Chapter 1
In Chinese internet slang, (“eating melon”) is an idiom that means to be a bystander to gossip, drama, or a sensational event, without directly participating. It’s similar to the English phrase “watching from the sidelines” or “spectating drama.” People who are (literally, “melon-eating crowd”) are simply observers, enjoying the spectacle without involvement.
“Are you sure it’s here?”
In the bushes outside the Libo Hotel, Gu Xingshi adjusted his black baseball cap, lowering his voice as he asked, sneaking glances at the entrance.
[Of course I’m sure! I’m a ‘gossip system’; no juicy tidbit escapes me!] the system declared confidently. [Let me tell you, nobody in the entertainment industry’s most seasoned paparazzi circles knows about Meng Yuansheng and Jiang Mo’s secret rendezvous tonight! Only I…]
“Alright, alright, I get it. You’re amazing,” Gu Xingshi placated it half-heartedly, glancing toward the hotel entrance. Sure enough, he saw two men stepping out, one after the other.
The taller man, standing around six-foot-two, had a lean frame and wore a fisherman’s hat and mask, covering himself up thoroughly even at night. It was none other than the current entertainment sensation, Jiang Mo.
Following him was a slightly shorter man, Meng Yuansheng, Jiang Mo’s assistant and secret lover. Meng Yuansheng wasn’t wearing a mask; his longer black hair partly covered his delicate features, showing just a hint of his pale, fine jawline, which seemed to glow faintly even under the night sky.
The system chattered away: [Meng Yuansheng and Jiang Mo have known each other since they were kids. When Jiang Mo was about to enter the entertainment industry, his family cut him off financially. It was Meng Yuansheng who took on three part-time jobs to support him. After Jiang Mo became famous, Meng Yuansheng became his assistant, taking care of him both in and out of bed. But Jiang Mo… he’s no good…]
Intrigued, Gu Xingshi asked, “Tell me more.”
The system continued, [Take tonight, for example. Jiang Mo suddenly felt ‘the need’ and called Meng Yuansheng to his room. Meng Yuansheng rushed over from the capital, and as soon as he arrived, Jiang Mo dragged him into bed, pulling off 360 moves…]
“Damn! With flexibility like that, it’s a shame he’s not a dancer!” Gu Xingshi exclaimed.
The system blinked. [What?]
“Nothing, keep going,” Gu Xingshi said.
[Anyway, that jerk Jiang Mo,] the system went on, [has Meng taking care of him even when he’s sick. And after they’re done, he drags him out here for a late-night snack. Meng Yuansheng’s worried he won’t like outside food, so he even made him porridge to bring along…]
Gu Xingshi watched Meng Yuansheng carry a bag, trailing obediently after Jiang Mo. Apart from a slightly stiff gait, Meng Yuansheng’s beautiful face betrayed no discomfort.
Gu Xingshi clicked his tongue. “Good looks, great flexibility, and incredible stamina and tolerance — this guy’s made to be an idol!”
[Excuse me?] The system seemed baffled. [Aren’t you a little off-topic?]
Gu Xingshi replied confidently, “How so? As a manager, this is exactly what I should be focusing on!”
The system sighed.
Half a year earlier, Gu Xingshi received news of an inheritance. A distant uncle had left him a management company. Arriving in the capital with high hopes, he discovered it was an empty shell. All the artists had left, and the company’s accounts were emptier than his own wallet.
Ready to give up, Gu Xingshi found himself stuck. Luckily, he had a ‘golden finger’ — the gossip system.
He’d heard that Jiang Mo’s contract was up and that he was looking for a new agency. And as luck would have it, the system informed him that Jiang Mo had a secret meeting with his lover tonight.
Jiang Mo, five years into his career, had managed to maintain a pristine image, the industry’s symbol of purity. So, upon hearing this, Gu Xingshi jumped on a plane, ready to watch a bombshell unfold and hopefully snag Jiang Mo for his company. But this scandal was even juicier than he expected.
Watching Jiang Mo and Meng Yuansheng walk off, Gu Xingshi slipped out of the bushes and began to follow.
Just then, the system chimed in excitedly, [Guess who just called him?]
Already familiar with the system’s ways, Gu Xingshi knew this had to be something big. “Who?”
[It’s Meng Yuansheng’s cousin, Xu Yi! He sneaked a look at Jiang Mo’s phone, found out he was in town, and is waiting at the hotel entrance to surprise him!]
Gu Xingshi raised his brows. “Are they not worried about Meng Yuansheng catching them?”
[Ah, this isn’t the first time! Maybe they just like the thrill.]
“Wow…”
Meng Yuansheng stood still for a moment, watching Jiang Mo’s retreating back before his body swayed. He clutched a nearby tree for support before slowly heading into a 24-hour convenience store.
The system reminded him, [Aren’t you here to sign Jiang Mo?]
“Not anymore,” Gu Xingshi scoffed. “I’m not putting that dirtbag on my roster.”
*
Inside the convenience store, Meng Yuansheng picked up a hot milk tea to warm himself up. He sat in a corner, clutching the bottle, feeling a little lost, but he pushed the feeling down. For as long as he could remember, he’d always been soft-hearted and selfless, putting Jiang Mo first in everything.
Jiang Mo had often promised that once he achieved his dreams, they would go abroad and start a life together. Imagining this, a soft smile appeared on Meng Yuansheng’s face.
Just then, the door opened with a loud creak, and footsteps disturbed the quiet, dragging Meng Yuansheng from his pleasant daydream.
The person who entered seemed to be on the phone, and he didn’t notice Meng Yuansheng sitting quietly in the corner. His voice rose in excitement: “…This is huge news! It’ll be the top trending topic tomorrow for sure!”
“A scandal about Jiang Mo! Isn’t it explosive?”
Originally, Meng Yuansheng hadn’t paid much attention, but he froze.
Meanwhile, Gu Xingshi exaggeratedly continued his performance while signaling the system to keep an eye on Meng’s reaction. “I tailed Jiang Mo’s lover all the way here! It’s the real deal!”
Meng’s face went pale. Thinking he’d been noticed, he hurriedly pulled out his phone to text Jiang Mo.
But the next words hit him like a brick: “Jiang Mo’s lover… is a young actor, Xu Yi.”
Meng Yuansheng went stiff, his mind immediately denying it.
How could it be Xu Yi?
Yet, fragments of memories started piecing together in his mind. Xu Yi, two years younger than him, had always idolized Jiang Mo, clinging to him at every opportunity, calling him “Brother Mo” affectionately and acting as if Jiang Mo was his actual brother.
And Jiang Mo never refused his advances. On several occasions, Meng had seen Xu Yi wrapping his arms around Jiang’s neck or lying on his back, sharing a closeness that was hard to ignore.
Jiang Mo had brushed it off, saying that Xu Yi was just young and clingy, and that he treated him like a little brother out of love for Meng.
So, even though Meng had felt uncomfortable, he had brushed it off as his own sensitivity.
But had it really been his imagination?
As if to crush his hopes, the stranger’s voice continued from the doorway. “Believe it or not, but I don’t buy any ‘brotherly love’ crap! It’s not like Guan Yu would carry Zhang Fei into a hotel like that!”
The man’s voice faded away.
Meng Yuansheng, no longer able to ignore it, scrambled out of the store to confront the stranger but found him already gone.
He stood there, hesitating and waging an internal battle before finally making his way to the hotel.
Once he’d left, a head popped out of the bushes nearby.
Gu Xingshi sighed in relief: “Phew! Mission accomplished.”
The system rubbed its hands together in excitement: [Let’s follow him! We can’t miss such a juicy scandal!]
The two of them snuck into the hotel, trailing behind Meng Yuansheng.
As Meng neared Jiang Mo’s room, his heart clenched with every step, until he finally reached the door.
The door was slightly ajar, and from the crack, he could hear sweet, muffled sounds spilling out.
It was like a bucket of cold water dumped over his head.
He felt his entire body go cold, trembling uncontrollably, before he pushed open the door.
On the suite’s couch, two bare bodies intertwined.
It was the two people closest to him.
At that moment, though, it was as if they were strangers.
Facing the door, Xu Yi seemed to notice something, his eyes flying open to see Meng standing there, expressionless. His voice cracked as he exclaimed, “Cousin!”
Still absorbed in his lust, Jiang Mo chuckled, “Oh, you little devil, you really like spicing things up, don’t you?”
Xu Yi paled. “No…it’s not…”
Realizing something was wrong, Jiang Mo turned to see Meng Yuansheng at the doorway, his face draining of color. “Yuansheng…why…why are you here?”
Peeking in from the doorway, Gu Xingshi caught the whole scene, muttering under his breath. He then snapped a few photos of Jiang Mo and Xu Yi without hesitation.
The people in the room were too distracted to notice.
Clinging to Jiang Mo’s arm, Xu Yi, looking dainty and pitiful, murmured, “Brother Mo, he already knows, so let’s just tell him…”
“Shut up!” Jiang Mo pushed him away roughly.
Caught off guard, Xu Yi fell to the floor, his face a picture of humiliation and distress. “Brother Mo…”
Ignoring him, Jiang Mo scrambled to pull on his pants, trying to speak to Meng, “Yuansheng, please let me explain…”
But before he could finish, Meng slapped him hard across the face.
Slap!
The crisp sound echoed through the room.
Both Gu Xingshi and the system thought, Whoa!
Meng Yuansheng’s eyes were red, and his body swayed with emotion.
He had always been obedient to Jiang Mo, enduring everything in silence no matter how far Jiang Mo went. This was his first time standing up to him, and though he was filled with anxiety and fear, he felt a surprising surge of liberation.
Jiang Mo touched his stinging cheek in shock; he couldn’t believe that Meng Yuansheng had struck him.
Ever since he entered the entertainment industry, things had gone his way; he was used to being adored and pampered. No one had ever slapped him, especially not his usually gentle, submissive Yuansheng.
Anger flared, and he spat out, “How dare you hit me! Who do you think you are? Everything you have, I gave you! I only treated you nicely because you were obedient, but you really thought you were my official boyfriend?”
The words were cutting, so much so that even Gu Xingshi, watching from outside, felt repulsed.
Unexpectedly, Meng was eerily calm, “You’re right.”
Everyone froze.
Thinking Meng was backing down, Jiang Mo relaxed.
But in the next instant, Meng unscrewed the thermos in his hand and poured the entire contents of porridge over him.
Jiang Mo shouted, “Meng Yuansheng!”
Gu Xingshi barely held back his laughter: So badass!
“I’ve decided,” he thought to himself. I’m signing him.
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Lmao, go Meng Yuansheng.
What a scumbag, go Meng Yuansheng! Also, love our MC he’s so decisive
Ohhh starting the story with something good!!! Go Meng Yuansheng!
QAQ I love how the mc handled the information given to him by the system. I was thinking that if he’ll straight up ask Meng Yuansheng.
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