Chapter 68
The twins kept their voices extremely low. Lin Zhiqiao was standing a little far from them, so he couldn’t catch the last few words clearly.
[So “dear” what exactly? Ahhh, why did I miss the most crucial few words?!] Lin Zhiqiao rubbed his hands anxiously. [This is killing me, seriously killing me!]
But no matter what the last few words from the twins were, the scene in front of them right now was already enough to prove that Zhou Zili’s relationship with the twin brothers was anything but ordinary.
Clearly, it was far more than just knowing each other.
Ji Ran and Cheng Xia silently nodded on the side.
‘We’re dying of curiosity too ahhh.’
‘Seriously, is the first day of the show already this spicy? [excitedly rubbing hands.jpg]’
‘Following the Gossip King really does guarantee gossip! What kind of god-tier gossip-attracting physique is this? He can run into such explosive scenes just by passing by [slurp slurp.jpg]’
‘Wild guess: could this be a plot where twin brothers fall for the same person and end up fighting over him?’
‘Late night, little woods, brothers, beautiful boy… there are way too many elements in place already [wiping drool.jpg]’
‘Oh my god, just imagining it is already so intense.’
‘Damn it, both the twins’ livestream and Zhou Zili’s livestream are off. I really want to watch this drama up close ahhh.’
‘Just asking politely—can we ship this? If yes, then I’m not holding back [heeheehee.jpg]’
Using the dim moonlight leaking through the leaves, Lin Zhiqiao finally saw clearly that the one leaning down to speak by Zhou Zili’s ear was the blue-haired younger brother.
The red-haired older brother stood nearby with his arms crossed. He looked detached, as if none of this concerned him, but in reality his eyes stayed fixed on Zhou Zili the whole time, as though afraid Zhou Zili might run away.
After the blue-haired brother finished speaking, he raised his head as if waiting for Zhou Zili’s response. One arm lifted slightly and rested on Zhou Zili’s shoulder.
Zhou Zili staggered back a step, his back pressing against the tree trunk.
Lin Zhiqiao’s eyes widened in excitement, and he sharply sucked in a breath.
Zhou Zili’s reaction seemed to please the other party very much, so the blue-haired brother lowered his head even further.
From Lin Zhiqiao’s angle, their equally sharp, elegant noses were nearly touching. The scene was blurry in the darkness, yet unbearably ambiguous.
Lin Zhiqiao: [Aaaahhh!!!]
The next second, Zhou Zili reached out and shoved him away.
The blue-haired one looked very dissatisfied. “You—”
But Zhou Zili said, “I think someone’s here.”
The red-haired one, who had been standing there silent all along, looked around at the surroundings, and his gaze just happened to sweep over the direction where Lin Zhiqiao and the others were hiding.
Lin Zhiqiao was utterly shaken: [How did we still get exposed?!]
Ji Ran shot him a sidelong glance, wishing he could stuff a toilet plunger into that noisy inner voice of his.
How else did they get exposed?!
Obviously because of you, you giant leak of a person!!!
They had only gotten half the gossip, and Ji Ran felt itchy with curiosity, but there was no helping it now.
He secretly glanced once more in Zhou Zili’s direction.
Judging by the current situation, it was safe to say the twin brothers could not hear Lin Zhiqiao’s inner thoughts. As for Zhou Zili…
He probably could.
Otherwise, with how perfectly they were hiding, there was no way he could have noticed them.
Ji Ran thought it over silently.
Now that there was no point hiding anymore, the three of them could only pretend they had just passed by and greet the twins and Zhou Zili, “What a coincidence. You’re out for a walk too?”
Seeing that there really were people there, the blue-haired younger brother let go and stepped back two paces, clicking his tongue to the side.
The red-haired older brother nodded at Lin Zhiqiao. “Quite a coincidence, Assistant Lin.”
His tone was a little cold, as if he was very displeased by the sudden appearance of Lin Zhiqiao’s group.
Lin Zhiqiao didn’t notice at all that the twins were not exactly friendly toward him.
Once he got closer, under the faint moonlight, Lin Zhiqiao’s sharp eyes caught the fleeting expression on Zhou Zili’s face—
Relief. It was as if he was truly glad someone had come and helped him get rid of annoying entanglement, and he visibly relaxed.
Lin Zhiqiao blinked. [Zhou Zili doesn’t look willing at all… so this is actually forced love?]
Zhou Zili’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. He glanced at Lin Zhiqiao as though wanting to say something, but after his lips moved slightly, he still said nothing in the end.
Ji Ran resisted the urge to cover his face.
Alright. Confirmed.
Zhou Zili could hear Lin Zhiqiao’s inner thoughts.
Ji Ran could not help but worry a little. Someone like Lin Zhiqiao, who openly ate other people’s gossip right to their face and then got overheard doing it…
Wouldn’t he get beaten up sooner or later?
‘Why does Zhou Zili’s expression feel kind of strange?’
‘Could it really be forced love? Though honestly, Baby Li really does have the kind of looks that inspire forced love—just kidding.’
‘I’ll admit it first, I’m perverted. I really want to see Baby Li bullied until he cries. When tears slide past the mole at the corner of his eye, it’d definitely be so sensual, so intense [drooling uncontrollably.jpg]’
‘Calm down when shipping CPs, sisters. Forced love may be thrilling, but if Baby Li really doesn’t want it, then forget it.’
‘It’s fine to like someone, but if it causes trouble for the other person, then that’s not okay.’
‘Seriously, if you like him, then pursue him fairly and properly. Don’t do this forced-love nonsense… though if Baby Li is willing, then I’m voting for the red-haired brother [doge.jpg]’
‘Can’t they just both go for it together [muttering quietly.jpg]’
‘No way. If they did that, the show would probably get suspended for rectification [frowning.jpg]’
“It’s getting late, everyone should head back early,” Lin Zhiqiao said, barely remembering his duty as an assistant. “There are tasks tomorrow. Get a good rest tonight.”
The blue-haired younger brother curled his lip and said nothing. The red-haired older brother nodded instead. “Mm, got it.”
After saying that, Lin Zhiqiao was about to leave.
Zhou Zili suddenly called out to him. “I’ll go back with you.”
Lin Zhiqiao paused, a little surprised, and turned to look at him.
Zhou Zili hesitated, then asked softly, “Is that okay?”
The twins glanced at him. The blue-haired younger brother frowned, clearly wanting to say something, but his brother tugged on his sleeve and stopped him.
Ji Ran and Cheng Xia exchanged a glance, seeming to realize something. “Sure.”
So the three-person group became a four-person group.
The twins did not follow them, which made Zhou Zili quietly breathe a sigh of relief. He seemed much more relaxed as a whole.
On the way back, Lin Zhiqiao kept secretly observing Zhou Zili’s expression.
Zhou Zili was very quiet the entire time. His long, curled eyelashes stayed lowered, and no one could tell what he was thinking. His slightly pale yet very full lips were pressed together, making him look burdened with worries.
He really did seem troubled by what the twins had done.
The four of them quickly returned to the dorm building.
Ji Ran, Cheng Xia, and Zhou Zili were all in the A-Class dorm, so Lin Zhiqiao simply escorted them back and planned to check on the others while he was at it.
Dorm inspection was also one of an assistant’s duties.
It was already late, but the A-Class dorm was still noisy and lively.
Lin Zhiqiao poked his head in for a look. Aside from the red-and-blue-haired twin brothers they had just seen in the grove and who still had not returned, everyone else was in the dorm.
Hm? Wait.
Lin Zhiqiao paused and quietly started counting.
One, two, three… seven. Excluding the twins they had just run into, there was still one more person missing from the room.
Lin Zhiqiao checked the list and realized the missing one was Ming Ye from Mingguang Entertainment.
So he asked, “Does anyone know where Ming Ye went?”
Everyone shook their heads in unison.
“He was just here earlier. We even ate together,” someone said. “Maybe he went for a walk.”
Lin Zhiqiao nodded and decided to come back and check again later.
Zhou Zili had already returned to his bed and was quietly looking at his phone. On the screen was the video of his debut-stage performance from the daytime, as though he was reviewing it again.
Lin Zhiqiao glanced at him, then turned and left.
After only taking two steps, he turned back again. “Zhou Zili.”
Zhou Zili looked up. “What is it?”
Lin Zhiqiao said, “Come out with me for a second.”
Zhou Zili followed without suspicion.
Lin Zhiqiao closed the dorm door. “You and Hengyang, Hengxing…” He carefully considered his wording. “Did you know each other before?”
Hengyang and Hengxing were the names of the twin brothers.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Zili nodded. “Mm. We know each other.”
Lin Zhiqiao stared at his eyes. “What happened just now in the grove…”
“Just now, we were…” Zhou Zili paused slightly. His long lashes lowered as he avoided Lin Zhiqiao’s gaze. “We were just chatting. It was nothing.”
[Lying. That’s way too obvious, Baby Li.]
But Lin Zhiqiao did not press further. He only said, “Got it.” Then he smiled at Zhou Zili. “The production team won’t allow bullying to happen. If someone is bullying you, you can tell me.”
Zhou Zili stood there stunned for quite a while. His eyes wavered for a long time before finally settling down again. In a low voice, he answered, “Okay. Thank you.”
On the way back to his dorm, 888 asked softly: [Host, do you think those twins are bullying Zhou Zili?]
[Just in case.] Lin Zhiqiao said. [Baby Li looks like the kind who gets picked on easily, and he’s the type to bottle everything up and refuse to talk.]
‘Ah, so Xiao Qiao also feels like something’s off?’
‘It probably doesn’t count as bullying to that extent, right? Maybe it’s just that their way of pursuing him is a little… too disruptive.’
‘I actually quite liked that pair of twins…’
‘Didn’t he say it was just in case? Maybe we’re overthinking it.’
‘Whether it is or not, Xiao Qiao is so warm, sob sob. His boyfriend energy suddenly maxed out. That sense of security is unreal [in love already.jpg]’
‘Another day of falling hopelessly for the Gossip King [cat holding face.jpg]’
The mentors’ dorms were not far from the trainees’ dorms, so Lin Zhiqiao arrived at his destination very quickly.
Faint voices could be heard from inside the room. Lin Zhiqiao pushed open the door, froze, closed it, and then opened it again—
It was still exactly the same scene as before. He had not seen wrong.
In the living room, Su Jia was sitting on the sofa with a tablet in his hands.
And beside him, a tall young man was leaning against the armrest of the sofa. His upper body bent slightly forward, his head close to Su Jia’s, as though the two of them were looking at whatever was on the tablet together.
From Lin Zhiqiao’s angle, the posture looked exactly like the young man had Su Jia enclosed within his arms.
—It was Ming Ye.
