After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH104

Chapter 104 – Extra (If Scenarios: Superstar Wen Yue x Pamper Young Master Gu #1)

Night in Jing City.

A paparazzo crouched in his car, binoculars in hand, watching the luxurious Yun Jian Club in the distance.

Although it was already late, a steady stream of luxury cars continued arriving at Yun Jian—one of Jing City’s top clubs. Operated on a strict membership basis, only the wealthiest and most influential people could even get in.

Tonight, he was here to photograph the latest rising star, Wen Yue.

Wen Yue had shot to fame late last year with a breakout film, and his momentum had only grown, putting him on the verge of becoming one of the top stars in just a few months.

The entertainment industry’s peak was fiercely competitive. Wen Yue’s sudden rise had naturally made him a target.

Rumors were circulating that Wen Yue had powerful backers who protected him from any attempt to undermine him. Despite countless attempts to discover the identity of this alleged benefactor, no one had managed to uncover a single clue.

That was, until tonight—an informant working for a rival had leaked that Wen Yue would be at Yun Jian Club.

Everyone knew that only the elite could enter Yun Jian. If Wen Yue, a relatively new star, could get in, it was almost certain someone influential was backing him.

This paparazzo had been hired by Wen Yue’s rivals to capture any images of his so-called benefactor, with a generous payout if he succeeded.

Just then, a luxury sports car pulled up arrogantly, parking directly at the entrance of the club.

The paparazzo heard the car’s rumbling engine even from a distance.

Paparazzo A: “Bugatti… My God, who’s inside?”

Paparazzo B: “In a showy car like that, stopping right at the front? I’d bet it’s that young master from the Gu family…”

As soon as he finished speaking, the car door opened, and a young man stepped out.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with ash-blonde hair, fair skin, and refined features that gave him an air of innocent charm. It was obvious he was someone raised in the lap of luxury.

While talking on the phone, he tossed his car keys to a nearby valet and walked inside.

Paparazzo A couldn’t help but comment, “I’ve heard the Gu family dotes on their young master beyond reason. This whole club, Yun Jian, was supposedly opened by his fourth brother. He was worried his little brother might get into trouble outside but couldn’t bear to restrict him, so he created this club. Now the place is swarming with the city’s high society.”

Paparazzo B chimed in, “Apparently, last year or the year before, this young master said he wanted to try his hand in entertainment. His siblings were all fighting to recruit him into their companies, especially his fifth sister, Gu Xiyin. She even announced that she’d poach any artist he was interested in from other companies.”

Paparazzo A: “How can they spoil him like that?!”

Paparazzo B: “Ah, so envious. Being born into the right family is a real skill!”

Just then, a tall man walked in behind him. He was dressed in a baseball cap and mask, covering himself thoroughly, but his broad shoulders and narrow waist made his model-like physique unmistakable.

The paparazzi instantly recognized him as Wen Yue and hurried to snap photos.

However, Wen Yue was alone.

Everyone knew that a high-end club like Yun Jian didn’t require its members to show a membership card; instead, entry was done by facial recognition. The staff at the door remembered all members’ faces, so non-members could only enter if accompanied by a member, subject to identity verification.

The paparazzi knew this well. Wen Yue had come alone, yet he’d entered directly without any ID check.

The two exchanged bewildered looks.

Paparazzo A’s voice shook slightly, “Could he… could he be a member here?”

Only full members of Yun Jian Club could enter via facial recognition without needing any identity verification.

Paparazzo B, also a bit nervous, tried to stay calm. “I doubt it. We’ve never heard of a wealthy Wen family in Jing City. Maybe he had his ID checked somewhere else? Let’s keep watching.”

*

Meanwhile, Gu Xingshi was complaining to a friend over the phone, “I’m so young, and they’re already pushing me to get married! They’re even telling me to go on blind dates! I’m not doing it!!”

As he spoke, he stepped into an elevator. The valet inside, recognizing him, pressed the button without needing to be asked.

Just as the doors were about to close, a hand reached out to stop them.

The valet quickly pressed the door open button.

When the doors reopened, a man wearing a baseball cap and mask stepped inside.

The man was extremely tall, and as he entered, the entire elevator seemed to shrink in size.

Gu Xingshi glanced up at him curiously. From his angle, he could only see the man’s sharp jawline and a pair of pale, penetrating eyes.

The man seemed highly sensitive to others’ gazes and immediately looked over, his eyes hawk-like and filled with an intense aura.

Gu Xingshi hadn’t expected to be caught staring, so he felt a bit embarrassed. Yet he forced a smile and greeted the man politely.

To his surprise, the man merely nodded slightly before ignoring him.

Gu Xingshi wasn’t used to being brushed off like this. In his family, he was showered with affection—from his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even his cousins, who all spoiled him endlessly, always giving him whatever he wanted.

Outside the family, it was much the same. Ever since grade school, kids had fought to sit next to him, and as he grew older, his status as the Gu family’s young master and his charming looks had made things easy for him everywhere.

This was his first time encountering someone so indifferent to him.

A bit disgruntled, Gu Xingshi entered the private suite, his mood still sour.

Inside, a young man with striking blue hair sat on the sofa. Handsome but cold, he looked like he’d stepped out of a comic.

Gu Xingshi called out, “Fourth Brother!”

Seeing Gu Xingshi, Gu Yueqing broke into a smile. “What’s wrong? You look upset. Who dared to bully our little master?”

Gu Xingshi thought of Wen Yue in the elevator, hesitated, then said, “It’s nothing. Just mom pestering me about marriage—it’s getting on my nerves.”

Gu Yueqing didn’t press further and instead started discussing details of his upcoming fashion show.

Gu Yueqing was an internationally renowned fashion designer with his own fashion empire and also happened to be the owner of Yun Jian Club.

Remembering how Gu Xingshi had once wanted to try his hand in the entertainment industry, Gu Yueqing brought it up.

Gu Xingshi hadn’t expected his brother to remember. It had been an impulsive idea, and after learning more about what running a company entailed, he’d quickly lost interest. Feeling embarrassed, he stammered and simply said he was still considering it.

Gu Yueqing frowned slightly but, seeing Gu Xingshi didn’t want to discuss it, didn’t push further. Instead, he handed him a gift he had prepared.

Meanwhile, Wen Yue entered a private suite, took off his cap and mask, and drank a glass of water.

After a long wait, his uncle, Yan Zhiheng, finally walked in. “You sneaky kid! Not only did you come here in secret, but you’ve gone and become a celebrity?”

“If I hadn’t sensed something was off, that mud they were slinging would have stuck, and your name would’ve been ruined.”

Wen Yue glanced at him with cool, pale eyes. “You’ve said this a few times now. If you have nothing new to add, I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” Yan Zhiheng quickly stopped him, grumbling, “Where’d you pick up this impatience?!”

He placed a file in front of Wen Yue. “Here’s everything you need for that movie you wanted to audition for.”

Wen Yue took the file and examined it carefully.

Since the success of his first film, he’d received numerous scripts, but none had piqued his interest.

What did interest him, however, was a new film by renowned international director Feng Tingyun.

But joining Feng’s project wouldn’t be easy. As Yan Zhiheng had suggested, revealing his true identity could get him in the door, but Wen Yue had no intention of taking that route.

It wasn’t a matter of pride; both the Wen and Yan families looked down on his acting career. If he used family connections, their disdain would only deepen, and he’d likely be pressured into fulfilling their expectations, such as taking over the family businesses.

Besides, Wen Yue believed he could win Feng Tingyun over with his acting ability alone.

Yan Zhiheng tried to reason with him. “Listen, Wen family holdings are right there, yet you refuse to inherit. You don’t want to be involved with the Yan family either. Fine, it’s nice that you have dreams, but haven’t you already proven yourself? Your last movie did well.”

Seeing Wen Yue’s silence, Yan Zhiheng continued, “Keeping your identity hidden can be fun now and then, but when people don’t know who you are, they’ll go to any lengths. Take this latest incident—completely avoidable!”

Wen Yue looked up. “This incident was unexpected. Even if you hadn’t intervened, I could have handled it.”

Yan Zhiheng raised an eyebrow. “Alright, as long as you know what you’re doing. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. The higher you rise, the more obstacles you’ll face. If you keep your identity secret, this kind of trouble will only increase.”

Wen Yue nodded. “Understood.”

Yan Zhiheng looked like he had more to say, but Wen Yue had already stood up, holding up the file in his hand. “Thanks, I’m heading out.”

The casual way he intended to discard his uncle’s hard work was almost too matter-of-fact.

Yan Zhiheng nearly choked. “You are a piece of work, you know that!”

Wen Yue ignored him, putting his cap and mask back on.

Watching him, Yan Zhiheng rolled his eyes and muttered, “What’s the point of that? With a body like that, anyone could recognize you in a heartbeat…”

Wen Yue: “What was that?”

Knowing his nephew held grudges and could be vindictive, Yan Zhiheng quickly cleared his throat. “Nothing! Just… be careful out there and don’t let anyone snap a photo.”
Wen Yue collected the documents, gave a casual wave, and strode out.

In the elevator, his mind was busy strategizing ways to impress Feng Tingyun, the renowned director.

Suddenly, the elevator stopped, and as the doors slid open, a familiar scent—a light, sweet orange fragrance—drifted toward him.

He looked up, and there he was again.

The young man with ash-blonde hair, gentle and clear puppy-like eyes, and soft, fair skin that reminded him of a little cake covered in cream.

Wen Yue’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he took in the sight.

He’d noticed this man earlier when he first got into the elevator—those pretty, clear eyes that curved into a smile, making anyone’s heart soften. And that faint orange scent, sweet and enticing.

Now, the young man’s cheeks were tinged pink, perhaps from a little alcohol, and he leaned tiredly against the elevator wall, pressing a hand to his forehead with a faint frown.

Gu Xingshi rubbed his temples. After giving him a gift, his fourth brother had rushed back to work, leaving him to fend for himself.

He had planned to leave, but tonight his horse, Veronica, was competing in her first international event. So, he decided to stay at the club to watch the race.

Unexpectedly, Veronica had won first place, and in his excitement, he’d indulged in a few drinks, only to find himself feeling a bit tipsy.

A valet had offered to help him, but he’d waved him off.

As he stumbled out of the elevator, Gu Xingshi tripped and nearly fell to the ground.

Luckily, at the last second, a hand reached out and firmly caught his arm, steadying him.

Startled, Gu Xingshi’s dizziness cleared instantly.

“Are you alright?” a deep voice asked from beside him.

Gu Xingshi turned to his rescuer, meeting a pair of light-colored eyes.

Wen Yue’s cap had fallen off when he reached out to steady him, revealing the upper half of his face.

His eyes were deep, with a high, defined nose that held up his mask. Even with only half his face visible, it was easy to see his striking good looks.

After making sure Gu Xingshi was stable, Wen Yue released his arm, picked up his cap, put it back on, and left without another word.

Gu Xingshi snapped out of his daze too late, and by the time he thought to thank him, Wen Yue was already disappearing down the hallway.

*

“What?! You’re telling me that Wen Yue’s backer is the young master of the Gu family?!”

Jiang Sining stared incredulously at the paparazzo before him.

He was the one who’d hired the paparazzo to trail Wen Yue and find out who was backing him. At first, he’d only half-believed the tip that Wen Yue would be at Yun Jian Club tonight, but thinking it was worth a shot, he had sent the paparazzo just in case.

To his surprise, they actually captured photos. But what was truly unexpected was that they captured none other than Gu Xingshi!

Seeing Jiang Sining’s disbelief, the paparazzo pulled out the photos.

In the shots, a tall man held Gu Xingshi’s arm, almost as if drawing him into his embrace.

Although the man wore a mask, it was unmistakably Wen Yue.

Paparazzo A added, “We stayed at Yun Jian’s entrance the whole time. We saw Wen Yue go in alone, and he didn’t have to show any ID. Yun Jian has strict rules—this means he’s either a member himself, or someone overrode the club’s policies to grant him special access.”

This was one of the key points that led the paparazzi to conclude that Gu Xingshi was Wen Yue’s benefactor. After all, it seemed far more plausible that Wen Yue was receiving special treatment from Gu Xingshi than that he was a high-ranking member himself.

Jiang Sining was beginning to believe them, and his expression turned conflicted.

Initially, he’d thought that if he could identify Wen Yue’s backer, he could find a way to control him.

But Gu Xingshi…

Jiang Sining hesitated. He wasn’t necessarily afraid of Gu Xingshi himself, but rather his fiercely protective siblings.

He only wanted to deal with Wen Yue, not risk his own career.

So, gritting his teeth, he reluctantly decided to hold back—for now.

Late that night, Wen Yue leaned on the strength of Yan Zhiheng’s information and his own acting skills to secure the lead role in Feng Tingyun’s upcoming film.

To attract investors, Feng Tingyun held a reception, and Wen Yue, as the male lead, was naturally expected to attend.

As the heir of the Wen family, Wen Yue had been to countless such banquets since he was young, but he found them tedious and wearisome.

After finishing the requisite rounds of greetings and small talk, he slipped away to the balcony for some air. Just as he began to relax, he noticed Gu Xingshi entering the banquet hall, following closely behind his elder brother, Gu Qin.

Gu Xingshi instantly regretted his life choices.

He should have known better than to casually say he wanted to “try his luck in showbiz.” He’d tossed the comment out and forgotten about it, but his siblings hadn’t.

Especially Gu Qin, the CEO of the Gu family’s entertainment company, who had taken his words seriously and was determined to teach him everything—from industry connections to navigating hidden rules of the entertainment world.

Gu Xingshi had wanted to refuse, but seeing Gu Qin’s earnest expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say no. So here he was, half-heartedly dragged along.

Fortunately, as soon as they entered, Gu Qin was pulled away by a group of people eager to network.

Seizing his chance, Gu Xingshi quickly slipped away, but even without Gu Qin by his side, he was still surrounded by people eager to talk. As the beloved youngest Gu sibling, anything he said held weight, so everyone was eager to make an impression.

Unable to escape entirely, he looked around and finally managed to sneak out onto the balcony.

Just as he thought he could finally relax, he realized someone was already there.

Wen Yue turned at the sound.

Seeing him, Gu Xingshi’s eyes widened in recognition. “Ah! It’s you!” The aloof, handsome man from the elevator.

Wen Yue froze, surprised that Gu Xingshi remembered him.

Gu Xingshi stepped closer excitedly. “You left so quickly that day—I didn’t get a chance to thank you!”

Wen Yue replied coolly, “It was nothing.”

Gu Xingshi blinked, then asked, “Are you an investor too?”

After a brief pause, Wen Yue said, “I’m the male lead in this film.”

Gu Xingshi’s eyes sparkled. “Wow! That’s amazing!”

Wen Yue was taken aback. Most people in high society viewed actors as part of the entertainment underclass. Even his own family, who said they supported him, secretly looked down on his career.

He had expected Gu Xingshi to feel the same, but the sincerity in his eyes was like a warm breeze, soothing a hidden corner of Wen Yue’s heart.

As they continued chatting, Gu Qin, meanwhile, was growing uneasy.

He had overheard two people gossiping about Gu Xingshi in the restroom, claiming he was backing a young actor and protecting him from potential rivals.

At first, Gu Qin scoffed at the rumor, but then, through a window, he saw Gu Xingshi on the balcony, laughing and chatting with none other than Wen Yue.

Gu Qin knew his younger brother well. Although he seemed outgoing, he was quite reserved around strangers. Gu Qin had never seen him this animated while talking to someone he didn’t know well.

He couldn’t help but feel his heart waver.

Summoning his assistant, Gu Qin ordered him to investigate Wen Yue’s background.

The assistant quickly returned, not only confirming that Wen Yue was the male lead in the upcoming film but also uncovering his prior experiences and career timeline.

“Wen Yue?” Gu Qin murmured, frowning. The name sounded familiar.

Suddenly, something clicked.

It was around the time Wen Yue entered the industry and began filming his first movie that Gu Xingshi had first expressed an interest in joining the entertainment world. And today, despite usually avoiding such events, he had willingly attended the reception—most likely just to see Wen Yue.

The more Gu Qin thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

He pondered for a moment, then created a new family group chat.

Gu Qin: [Hey, family, I think I’ve discovered something pretty big.]

Gu Xiyin: [What’s up?]

Gu Qin proceeded to share his findings, and the chat immediately erupted.

Gu Xin: [What?! Our precious little brother has a ‘kept man’?!!!]

Gu Xiyin: [Aaaaah! This must be Xingshi’s first time liking someone, right? What if he gets hurt? I didn’t expect him to fall for this type! Should we introduce him to someone else?]

Gu Yuansheng: [Are we sure? Who exactly is this person? What’s his background? Is he respectful to Xingshi?]

Gu Qin, feeling slightly overwhelmed, decided to drop all the background info he’d gathered into the chat.

Gu Xiyin: [He’s an actor? Interesting! But how did Xingshi even meet him?]

Gu Xin: [Who cares how they met! As long as Xingshi likes him!]

Gu Yuansheng: [Not so fast. What if he approached Xingshi with ulterior motives? Xingshi is pure-hearted and could easily be tricked. We should investigate this guy thoroughly.]

At this point, Gu Yueqing chimed in, somewhat hesitantly.

Gu Yueqing: [Actually, I think I might already know who he is…]

Everyone: [???]

Gu Yueqing: [I met Xingshi at Yun Jian Club recently, and he seemed a bit off when he arrived. He wouldn’t say what was wrong, so I looked into the security footage, thinking someone might have upset him.]

As he explained, Gu Yueqing uploaded a video clip he had saved from the surveillance footage.

The video showed Gu Xingshi stepping into the elevator alone. Moments later, Wen Yue extended a hand between the elevator doors to enter. Gu Xingshi quickly hung up his call and glanced at him, only to look away when Wen Yue turned toward him. But soon, he turned back with a casual greeting, though his expression quickly fell after Wen Yue replied.

The siblings in the chat felt a pang of sympathy.

[Who is this guy?! Spill his name, and I’ll make him pay!]

Gu Yueqing: [I found out his name is Wen Yue. He’s connected to Yan Zhiheng, if that rings a bell. Yan Zhiheng has a sister who married into the Wen family overseas, and they have a son—Wen Yue—who’s the Wen family heir.]

Gu Qin: [So that’s why his name sounded familiar!]

Gu Yuansheng: [Wait, if he’s the Wen family heir, why wouldn’t he stay abroad? Why go undercover as an actor here?]

Gu Xiyin: [I have a bold theory. What if he came back to China… ‘because of Xingshi’?]

Everyone: [!!!]

Gu Xiyin: [Think about it. Two years ago, when Xingshi graduated, he took a gap year and traveled to the country where the Wen family is based. He stayed there a week longer than planned, saying he liked the cultural landscape. Now that I think about it, could they have met back then?]

Gu Xiyin: [And remember, Xingshi has loved acting since he was little, but… well, let’s just say he wasn’t exactly gifted at it, so he gave up. But he’s always admired actors. Maybe Wen Yue entered the industry because of this admiration?]

Gu Xiyin’s hypothesis seemed to link all the clues together, leaving the entire family in deep thought.

Even Gu Qin’s feelings toward Wen Yue shifted. When he’d first heard that Wen Yue had upset Xingshi, he’d disliked him intensely.

But now…

Meanwhile, Gu Xingshi was blissfully unaware that his siblings were constructing an entire romance around him and Wen Yue.

Right now, he was engrossed in listening to Wen Yue share behind-the-scenes stories about the film crew.

Though Wen Yue kept a calm demeanor, he was surprisingly easygoing, and his voice was pleasant, making his stories all the more captivating.

Before long, however, Feng Tingyun called Wen Yue away.

Almost simultaneously, Gu Qin sent Gu Xingshi a message, telling him it was time to meet some people.

Gu Xingshi sighed.

If he could persuade his third brother to stop pushing him into the entertainment industry, he would. Despite occasional bursts of enthusiasm, he was, at heart, a self-admitted slacker!

Still, he dutifully followed Gu Qin, though his gaze drifted toward the exit every now and then, calculating when he might be able to escape.

Gu Qin, who had been keeping a close watch on his brother, noticed his wandering gaze.

Since he left Wen Yue, he had been preoccupied, constantly sneaking glances at the door as if expecting Wen Yue to appear. This only made Gu Qin even more certain of his suspicions.

Gu Qin had a meticulous nature and was an unabashedly doting older brother. He was always the first to support Gu Xingshi in all his whimsical pursuits since childhood.

Although he was displeased about “his precious cabbage” getting uprooted by “a pig,” there was nothing he could do if his cabbage was willing. Thus, he grudgingly accepted the situation.

As a gesture of goodwill, he not only invested in Feng Tingyun’s new film but also initiated a collaboration with Wen Yue’s talent agency.

Initially, there were rumors about Gu Xingshi and Wen Yue, but gossip was common in this industry, so few people took it seriously. However, Gu Qin’s investment caused some people’s perception to change.

By the time Wen Yue emerged from his closed-set filming, the rumors had reached a fever pitch.

They were now saying he was a ‘kept’ celebrity, with Gu Xingshi supporting his career and even asking for help from family members for his sake. The story painted a love as passionate as “mountains crumbling and seas drying up.”

Wen Yue: ……

Then, he received a call from Yan Zhiheng.

The moment he answered, Yan’s uncontrollable laughter burst forth. Wen Yue hung up unceremoniously.

Once Yan finally stopped laughing, he called back, “Is this the brilliant idea you told me about before? Hahaha!”

Wen Yue replied coolly, “Finished laughing?”

“Wait, wait, don’t hang up!” Yan begged. “I know it’s fake, and I know why you joined the entertainment industry. Others might not, but I do! But since it’s come to this, how do you plan to handle it?”

Wen Yue said, “I’ll issue a statement to clear it up.”

“Take my advice; statements don’t help. You know the saying: ‘Explaining is just covering up, and covering up is just confirmation.’ People will find a way to interpret it as suspicious!”

Wen Yue frowned. “So, you think I should just ignore it?”

“Exactly! If you try to clarify, you’ll just end up drawing more attention. Let it go, and soon enough, it’ll be old news. New gossip will come along and cover it up.”

“Seems like that little Gu heir has the same idea, or he would have spoken up by now…”

Wen Yue paused, feeling a strange ripple in his heart, like a small stone had been dropped into still water.

Gu Xingshi had recently become obsessed with a new game. After five days of playing, he finally finished it. Only then did he realize his phone had run out of battery.

Plugging it in to charge, he headed downstairs to grab some snacks.

To his surprise, his mother was sitting in the living room.

He popped his head out from the staircase, then quickly tried to sneak back to his room.

“Stop right there!”

A few minutes later, Gu Xingshi sat on the couch, head down, bracing himself for his mother’s usual “marriage persuasion tactics.”

But to his surprise, Madame Gu chided him instead, “So, you have someone you like? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Do you think I’m the type of mother to break up true love?”

Gu Xingshi: “…Huh?”

Madame Gu continued, “I’ve already heard about it. Since you like him, bring him over to meet the family soon. Otherwise, people will continue saying it’s just a ‘kept relationship,’ which is so unpleasant!”

Gu Xingshi: “…Huh?”

Madame Gu waved it off, “I know you have your plans. I’ll stop pushing. As long as you’re happy together, I’m satisfied.”

With that, she left for her beauty appointment, leaving Gu Xingshi in a daze.

What…just happened?!

He went back to his room, checked his now-charged phone, and pieced together the truth from countless WeChat messages.

Apparently, a rumor had surfaced that he was “keeping” Wen Yue—and the story was quite convincing! Now, since he hadn’t come forward to clarify, everyone seemed to think he was silently confirming it.

Who would’ve thought he’d been too busy gaming to notice his phone?!

Even more unusually, none of his elder siblings, who usually cared the most about this kind of thing, had stepped in this time.

Just as he pondered this, a voice call interrupted his thoughts.

It was from a friend, inviting him to a birthday party, and they couldn’t resist teasing him, “And hey, why not bring that boyfriend of yours along?”

Gu Xingshi: “……”

He was about to clarify that he had nothing to do with Wen Yue, but then he hesitated.

If he explained, wouldn’t his mother just start pushing for marriage again? Besides, it had been days since this rumor started, and there had been no denial from Wen Yue’s side.

Gu Xingshi recalled something Gu Qin had once told him—a bit of insider knowledge about the entertainment industry. Apparently, it was tough for an artist with no powerful connections, like Wen Yue, to get ahead. Could it be that Wen Yue was deliberately letting people assume that Gu Xingshi was his “backer,” just so he could gain a bit of footing in the industry?

Though Gu Xing felt a twinge of discomfort at the thought, he could understand. After all, if the rumor was beneficial to them both, why bother clearing it up?

With this thought, he murmured, “Hmm… let’s talk about it later.”

Then, he ended the call.

Of course, he had no intention of bringing Wen Yue along.

Not addressing the rumor was one thing. Actively reinforcing it was another.

But little did he expect what would happen next.

When he arrived at his friend’s birthday party, he spotted Wen Yue among the guests.

His friend gave him a mischievous grin. “Well? Knowing you’d be too shy to ask him, I did you a favor and invited him myself. Surprise!”

Gu Xingshi: “…Wow, thanks so much!”

To avoid any awkwardness, he quickly handed over his gift and slipped away to a quiet corner.

However, his choice of spot turned out to be a bit too secluded.

Before long, a man and a woman came over—two people he recognized. The man was the cousin of his birthday friend, and the woman was his fiancée.

Neither noticed Gu Xingshi in the corner as they began whispering sweet nothings to each other.

It was then that Gu Xingshi realized these two were secretly involved!

Soon, swept away by passion, they began kissing.

Gu Xingshi: “…”

Now he was really in a bind.

Leaving would be awkward. Staying put, though, wasn’t much better, especially as things heated up between them.

Just as he found himself in this impossible situation, his hand accidentally knocked over a small decorative item.

The noise jolted the two lovebirds out of their reverie.

“Who’s there?!”

Gu Xingshi froze, pressing his hand to his forehead, uncertain what to do next, when suddenly a hand pulled him aside.

The man and woman glanced around the room warily, failing to spot anyone.

“Maybe it was just the wind or the cat knocking something over?” the woman suggested.

The man looked doubtful, but without finding anyone, he dropped the matter.

Meanwhile, in the heavy drapery at the back of the room, two figures huddled close together.

The curtain blocked all light, and the narrow, dim space was filled only with their mingled breaths, which seemed to make the air dense.

Wen Yue held Gu Xingshi close to his chest, one hand covering his mouth.

The warmth and faint urgency of Gu Xingshi’s breaths against his palm seemed to seep into Wen Yue’s heart, making it beat erratically.

When the couple finally left, Wen Yue released his hand.

The two men awkwardly crawled out from behind the curtain.

Gu Xingshi turned around, startled. “It’s you!”

Wen Yue said in a low voice, “It was an urgent situation just now—my apologies.”

Gu Xingshi shook his head. “No, if not for you, I would’ve been discovered. I should be the one thanking you.”

He wanted to ask Wen Yue why he was here rather than mingling in the main hall, but then he noticed a hint of discomfort in Wen Yue’s expression.

It suddenly dawned on him—Wen Yue had been invited by their friend on his behalf.

Most likely, he hadn’t come willingly; he probably didn’t dare refuse.

Gu Qin’s words surfaced in his mind again, and Gu Xing felt a pang of sympathy.

After all, this whole situation had started because of him.

They both knew the rumors were false. Wen Yue couldn’t really treat him as a protector.

On impulse, Gu Xingshi blurted out, “I’ll… I’ll keep you!”

Wen Yue, who had been struggling to find the words to explain why he’d followed him here, was utterly stunned.

“!!?”

Gu Xingshi quickly realized how that sounded and tried to backpedal. “I don’t mean it like that! Don’t get the wrong idea—I mean we could work together. I can be your support, and you can help me avoid marriage pressure. Mutual benefit!”

For some reason, Wen Yue felt a twinge of disappointment at that.

Seeing Wen Yue’s silence, Gu Xingshi hurriedly added, “Don’t worry, it’ll be a completely professional arrangement. If you ever start dating someone for real, we’ll call it off immediately. I won’t hang around to pester you!”

Wen Yue looked at him, his face slightly flushed from the heat behind the curtain, his eyes bright and earnest.

In a moment of unexplainable impulse, he agreed.