The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH23

Chapter 23

Fu Xiuning went to the company’s legal department.

Although it was the weekend and the legal department was not officially working, someone was on duty to handle any potential emergencies.

The staff on duty, with nothing to do, was napping at this hour. Suddenly, faced with an unexpected visit from the boss, they scrambled awkwardly and nearly tripped over themselves trying to offer a grand gesture of respect.

Fu Xiuning ignored the fuss and asked, “Where are the contracts for this batch of trainees?”

The duty officer, still wiping cold sweat, quickly retrieved a document box from a cabinet. “They’re all here.”

Fu Xiuning took the box without hesitation. “I’ll take this back to my office to review and return it shortly.”

The staff member simply nodded, agreeing without objection.

The original contracts were stored in a very secure location; the versions they had on file were just copies. Even if the boss accidentally damaged one or two, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Returning to his office, Fu Xiuning searched through the box and pulled out Xing Shi’s contract. The date on it was from the winter vacation, and it bore the original owner’s personal signature.

He made a copy of the contract, neatly organized the pristine copy without any creases, and returned it to the legal department. Taking the duplicate, he then drove home.

Once at home, he headed straight for the newly purchased bookshelf. Pulling out one of Xing Shi’s classroom notebooks, he compared its content to the curriculum materials, confirming it was from a recent lesson. He took the notebook to his study to make copies, then dialed his assistant.

When the assistant arrived, the boss handed over a document folder.

Fu Xiuning instructed, “Find a handwriting analysis agency and verify if the writing inside belongs to the same person. Hand the results to me directly, as quickly as possible.”

With a system in place, Fu Xiuning avoided testing Xing Shi directly to prevent the system from noticing. Besides, Xing Shi was currently in a state of amnesia, so even probing him likely wouldn’t yield much. This method was the most straightforward and effective.

He added a warning, “Do not tell anyone about this.”

The assistant stiffened, nodded, and took the folder.

Watching his assistant leave, Fu Xiuning quickly went over the details in his mind.

The system wouldn’t waste energy on meaningless actions. The likelihood of those other hosts monitoring him was very low since they were all in different cities.

Lin Kecheng, being in the same city, might have some interest in him, but his attention was elsewhere for now. Besides, whenever Fu Xiuning handled these tasks, he kept his phone far away. Even if a host instructed their system to investigate him, they wouldn’t find out what he was doing.

This personal assistant was someone nurtured by his family, and over the past two years, they had resisted numerous bribe attempts from the hosts. They were reliable. Furthermore, since this assistant was mostly tasked with trivial errands, the hosts had long lost interest in investigating them.

Satisfied there were no flaws in his plan, Fu Xiuning returned to his room.

Xing Shi, as usual, trained at the company until late at night.

The day before, when he went to his apartment to retrieve some clothes, Yu Yi and the others had all been at the company, completely unaware of his plans to move out.

Not intending to disclose this for now, he casually mentioned as they reached the building downstairs, “I won’t be returning to the apartment tonight.”

Yu Yi and the others instinctively assumed he was heading back to school, considering it was Sunday, and he had classes on Monday.

They simply said, “Take care,” and parted ways.

Fu Xiuning’s home was located between the company and the school, forming an uneven triangle. While there was a subway station nearby, it required a short walk. Xing Shi, as he had in the morning, rented a shared bike and rode back.

Entering the access code at the door, he noticed the lights in the entryway and living room were on.

Switching out his shoes, Xing Shi walked inside and saw someone sitting on the sofa.

Fu Xiuning, dressed in pajamas, looked calm and gentle under the light. For once, he seemed less aloof, appearing slightly more approachable.

Fu Xiuning was fiddling with his phone. Hearing movement, he looked up and greeted warmly, “You’re back?”

“Mm,” Xing Shi responded, walking over.

As he got closer, the familiar notification sound played again.

?Ding Ding?
?Current favorability: -4?

At lunch, it had returned to -5, but now it was back up.

Xing Shi ignored it, curiously observing Fu Xiuning in this rare, casual state and asked, “Not sleeping yet?”

Fu Xiuning put away his phone. “About to. How did you get back?”

“Shared bike,” Xing Shi replied.

Fu Xiuning offered, “Do you need me to arrange a driver for you? After all, Qi Changyi’s the one paying for it.”

Xing Shi declined, “No need. Why would a trainee need a driver? That’s over the top.”

After a moment of thought, he added, “How about I get a scooter that looks like a little lamb? I’ve seen some at school; they’re quite cute. I’ll get two helmets, and we can go for a ride sometime.”

Fu Xiuning dismissed the idea, stood up, and gently said, “Go to bed early.”

For the second night in a row, Xing Shi slept soundly in this house, with better quality sleep than before.

The environment was peaceful, without the disturbances common in apartments or dormitories.

The next morning, both had classes. After breakfast, they headed to school together.

It was Xing Shi’s first time showcasing his new look on campus, and the stares didn’t stop along the way.

Upon entering the classroom, a chorus of cheers erupted. Everyone was already familiar, so formalities were unnecessary, and their reactions were direct.

Some roommates, who had once jokingly declared they’d “bear his children,” stared in amazement and remarked, “You’re really starting to look like an idol now.”

Xing Shi laughed and sat down with them. “It’s mainly because I’m naturally good-looking.”

The roommates laughed and teased, but none of them denied it.

Under occasional glances from his classmates, Xing Shi calmly finished a class before receiving a message from Lin Kecheng, requesting to meet.

He readily agreed and asked the system, “That day, when he checked my favorability score, he only said ‘Congratulations’ and nothing else?”

The system confirmed, “Mm. Do you think they believed it?”

“We’ll find out when we meet,” Xing Shi replied.

That day, Lin Kecheng hadn’t had an easy time.

He’d decided to take action against Xing Shi, starting by having the system investigate him. The aim was to figure out who around him could be used, only to discover Xing Shi was He Fengbo’s son.

Recently, they’d dug into Qi Changyi’s background and uncovered his connection to He Fengbo. The two hadn’t publicized this relationship, so the media remained unaware. Lin Kecheng had even considered how to use this information for personal gain, like intentionally praising one in the presence of the other.

But now, the revelation had hit him like a slap in the face.

According to this connection, Qi Changyi could barely be considered Xing Shi’s cousin. Although the records indicated that Xing Shi and He Fengbo had conflicts, the soul in Xing Shi’s body now was not the original owner but a transmigrator!

Lin Kecheng immediately lost his composure.

The opportunities and the people he had schemed so hard to approach were effortlessly available to Xing Shi. The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.

In his fury, he let out a cold laugh. “This is what you call random? What an interesting kind of randomness.”

The system was shocked. “How could he have such a background?”

Lin Kecheng questioned, “Did your main system preselect the final winner? Are we hosts just here as extras?”

The system retorted, “Impossible! All hosts are given the same opportunities!”

Lin Kecheng shouted angrily, “With looks and a background like his, you’re telling me we all have the same opportunities?”

The system was momentarily speechless. After a few seconds, it said, “But… but he’s a fool!”

Lin Kecheng suddenly calmed down.

The system, sensing his silence, tried to reason, “He’s not only foolish but also suffering from amnesia. He’s not as smart as you. If we use him well, all of his advantages can serve us and become ours.”

Lin Kecheng listened and said, “Hmm.”

The system sighed in relief and analyzed, “Fu Xiuning seems to have learned about his identity. That’s why his favorability went back to -5. Through Xing Shi, we can get closer to Qi Changyi. Do you still want to target him?”

Lin Kecheng asked back, “Why not?”

He continued, “My ultimate goal is Fu Xiuning. Let’s first see if Fu Xiuning treats him differently and then decide on the next steps.”

The system, having just managed to calm him down, didn’t argue. “Alright.”

The two agreed to meet at a café on campus.

It was the same place where Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning had once stayed and ordered desserts.

When Xing Shi arrived, Lin Kecheng was already there. Smiling warmly, Lin Kecheng waved at him to place an order.

Xing Shi’s persona was that of a naïve, sweet fool with no social tact. Whenever the two were together, it was always the generous Senior Lin who treated.

Not bothering to be polite, Xing Shi went to the counter and ordered a latte and a small cake before settling onto the sofa.

Lin Kecheng observed Xing Shi’s new look up close, feeling a sour pang. He thought, if he had these attributes, his score wouldn’t be stuck at -5.

Xing Shi caught the fleeting jealousy in Lin Kecheng’s expression but noticed how quickly he composed himself. With an innocent look, Xing Shi asked, “Our alliance hasn’t expired yet. What’s the matter, Senior?”

Lin Kecheng looked at him. “I was at the roadshow site on Saturday too.”

Xing Shi had already speculated this after Lin Kecheng suddenly asked for his favorability score that day. Pretending to be surprised, he said, “Really? Why didn’t you come to say hello? Fu Xiuning was there too.”

Lin Kecheng replied, “I saw you two together and thought he seemed to treat you differently, so I checked your background.”

With a helpless sigh, he added, “Junior, we’re allies. You need to share certain information with me so I can help you strategize. If you had told me earlier about your connection to Qi Changyi, I could have helped you come up with several plans to win over Fu Xiuning. I could’ve even arranged to join the company, making our collaboration more convenient.”

Looking disappointed, he sighed again. “Other hosts are all watching for an opportunity. They’ve been here longer than us, so the faster we act, the better. Do you know how many chances you’ve wasted?”

Xing Shi didn’t fall for the manipulation. Innocently, he said, “But Qi Changyi and I don’t get along.”

He continued, “If you check carefully, you’ll see that during the conflicts with my dad, my stepmother got involved. Qi Changyi actually dislikes me. Every day I go to the company, I’m on edge, terrified of running into him.”

Feigning fear, he added, “You have no idea what he said when we had dinner. He mentioned taking me to shoot variety shows and movies. At first, I thought he was a good person, but my system reminded me that he might just want to isolate me and cause trouble.”

Of course, this wasn’t true.

In the beginning, Xing Shi and his system were worried Qi Changyi might target him, but after a few days of brief interaction, it was clear Qi Changyi didn’t have such intentions.

However, Lin Kecheng, projecting his own mindset, thought the system’s analysis was likely correct.

He seized the moment to lecture, “That’s exactly why you should’ve told me. I could’ve helped you deal with the risks.”

Xing Shi replied, “I was worried you’d think I was dragging you down.”

Switching the subject, he added, “But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I said I wasn’t sleeping well, so Qi Changyi suggested I move in with him. Fu Xiuning, seeing my dad there, casually offered to let me stay at his place too. His tone sounded indifferent, but I didn’t care if he was sincere or not—I agreed on the spot!”

The system and Lin Kecheng were both stunned: “?!”

Lin Kecheng’s carefully crafted expression of concern cracked slightly. “…What?”

Seemingly oblivious, Xing Shi cheerfully said, “I’ve already moved in. Fu Xiuning arranged a guest room near the door for me. We’re separated by a living room, and since I’m out early and back late every day, it’s hard to run into him. But it doesn’t matter—I’ll keep working hard!”

Lin Kecheng clenched his fists, struggling to maintain a polite smile. “That’s… great.”

Xing Shi nodded enthusiastically. “It really is!”

At this moment, their coffee and desserts were served.

Lin Kecheng drank his coffee like it was a punishment and left hurriedly after finishing it, using some excuse.

Xing Shi, on the other hand, stayed and calmly enjoyed his dessert.

The system asked, “Why did he meet you today? Just to lecture you?”

Xing Shi responded, “Obviously. He wanted me to realize my mistakes and be more obedient in the future.”

The system scoffed internally. It couldn’t even get its own hosts to listen, let alone Lin Kecheng.

Still, it voiced a concern. “Now that he knows your background, what if you have a falling out and he gets mad and exposes you? I told you forming an alliance with him was a bad idea. Otherwise, no one would’ve guessed you’re a host.”

Xing Shi remained unfazed. “That’s why I told him I’m living with Fu Xiuning now. I’m so useful to him that even if he’s angry, he’ll have to hold it in.”

The system countered, “What if he sees your score rising and realizes he’s no match for you, then teams up with others to take you down?”

Xing Shi chuckled. “That would be perfect. I’ll take them all down in one go, and we’ll win, won’t we?”

The system: “???”

At this moment, Lin Kecheng and his system were also discussing Xing Shi.

The system believed that since Xing Shi had moved into Fu Xiuning’s home, he could be useful. As for Fu Xiuning’s true attitude toward him, they could observe it over time—there was no need to risk taking action against him.

Lin Kecheng, however, didn’t listen. He admitted that he was simply jealous and just wanted to mess with that fool for a bit.

Since their first encounter, Xing Shi had repeatedly irritated and provoked him. Lin Kecheng felt that unless he vented this frustration, he wouldn’t feel at ease. He didn’t mind if his schemes failed to harm the other person, but doing nothing wasn’t an option. After all, that fool wouldn’t suspect it was him.

“Besides, observation requires timing and patience,” he said. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

The system, knowing Lin Kecheng’s petty nature and fragile mentality, decided not to argue. “Alright, then. What’s your plan?”

Lin Kecheng replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t do it myself. Go and check those trainees again. Isn’t there anyone who dislikes him?”

The system had already looked into this on Saturday and confirmed that, indeed, some trainees didn’t like Xing Shi. However, with Fu Xiuning’s involvement, no one dared to provoke him.

Lin Kecheng was dissatisfied upon hearing this. After some thought, he asked, “I remember hearing them mention something about a talent show. They said the spots are limited. Is he on the list?”

The system got to work and soon discovered new developments.

The original selection list had already been finalized, but today, an unexpected situation occurred. The production team had suddenly arrived at Liuyue Culture and specifically requested Xing Shi by name. The trainees were already discussing it in their private group chat, unsure if Xing Shi would be added to the list or replace someone already on it.

Lin Kecheng smiled as he took out his phone. “What’s the saying? A pillow comes when you’re ready for a nap.”

The system, watching him type away, advised, “Just try this once. If it doesn’t work, let it go, okay?”

Lin Kecheng’s mood improved as he chatted with people in the group. “Fine.”

After discreetly setting his plans in motion, he felt unsatisfied and muttered, “If only you could be an online troll, the chances of success would be even higher.”

Unfortunately, the system could only gather information and couldn’t perform underhanded tasks. Lin Kecheng had to handle everything himself.

The system said, “I can upgrade, but you need to earn more favorability points.”

Lin Kecheng responded confidently, “I will.”

Meanwhile, Xing Shi was halfway through his dessert when he received a message from Fu Xiuning, asking where he was.

He sent back the name of the café and immediately got a call.

Fu Xiuning asked, “Do you have anything else planned for later?”

Xing Shi replied, “No, I was planning to head back to the company and then come back for afternoon classes.”

Fu Xiuning said, “Wait for me by the roadside. I’ll get the car, and we’ll go back together.”

Xing Shi remembered Fu Xiuning mentioning in the morning that he had two classes today, which meant he shouldn’t have been free until noon. Curious, Xing Shi hung up, finished the rest of his dessert, and went outside.

Once he got in the car, he learned the director had shown up. “Didn’t I reject them yesterday?” he asked.

Fu Xiuning replied, “They haven’t given up.”

Xing Shi said, “Reject them again for me, please.”

Fu Xiuning explained, “I already did, but they said they want to talk to you in person. You might as well hear them out.”

Xing Shi asked curiously, “Are they a big deal?”

Fu Xiuning nodded. “Yes. The director specializes in variety shows and has produced several hits. He’s quite famous.”

That was why Fu Xiuning had skipped class to return to the company. After all, he would need to send multiple hosts to earn money in the future, which would undoubtedly involve variety shows. Fu Xiuning was willing to give the director some face.

When they arrived at the company, they headed straight to the meeting room.

The director and his assistant had been waiting for a while. When they saw Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi enter, their eyes lit up.

The director, having been informed by Liuyue Culture that the boss was bringing Xing Shi back, still confirmed, “This must be President Fu?”

Fu Xiuning nodded slightly. “Director Wei.”

Director Wei silently took a deep breath. Looking between Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi, he suddenly had the urge to sign both of them. Just seeing the two of them standing on stage together would drive fans wild.

But, of course, he knew the boss wouldn’t agree. Shaking hands with Fu Xiuning, he greeted him briefly before turning to Xing Shi with a warm smile. “You must be Xing Shi. It’s great to finally meet you in person.”

For this talent show, the selection list had been finalized long ago. However, Liuyue Culture was in a unique situation. Their first batch of trainees had already debuted, so the list had to be drawn from the new trainees, causing a delay.

When the trainees had trended on social media, the production team had immediately noticed Xing Shi. At the time, they thought he would be recommended, but surprisingly, he wasn’t. The moment they saw him, they knew he would be a sensation. If things went well, he could even carry the show’s popularity. Naturally, they didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so they came with sincere intentions.

But Liuyue Culture had emphasized the importance of the artist’s personal wishes, so they could only discuss it with Xing Shi directly.

After listening to the director, Xing Shi politely said, “Sorry, I’m not interested.”

The director’s smile stiffened slightly. “Do you have any concerns?”

Xing Shi replied, “I’m just a new trainee. I don’t know anything.”

The director reassured him, “That’s okay. There will be training after you join. We’ve also recruited some complete newcomers this time. They don’t know anything either.”

Xing Shi responded, “No.”

The director said, “We can also negotiate the revenue-sharing terms. I can guarantee the highest base pay for you and ensure you make it to the final rounds.”

Xing Shi remained firm. “No.”

The director looked at him and cautiously asked, “Do you have any conditions? If so, just let me know. If you want to bring a friend along, we can arrange that too. Everything is negotiable.”

Xing Shi blinked. “Anything?”

Seeing a glimmer of hope, the director quickly said, “Anything. Just tell me.”

Xing Shi pointed at Fu Xiuning. “If he goes, I’ll go.”

The director: “?”

Fu Xiuning: “…”

Everyone else present: “???”

The director, who had actually considered signing Fu Xiuning, looked at him inquisitively. But when Fu Xiuning gave him a calm, unreadable expression, he turned back to Xing Shi, utterly baffled by this new generation. “Can I ask why?”

Xing Shi replied seriously, “He’s my brother. I feel more at ease when he’s there.”

Director Wei silently thought, “No wonder.” He finally understood why a company couldn’t make decisions for just one trainee—so this was the reason!

Still unwilling to give up, he asked, “Your brother is the boss and is busy most of the time. But he’s not debuting—are you planning to hold off on debuting forever just because of him?”

Xing Shi replied, “I’ll debut when I’ve trained enough to be confident. Right now, my skills aren’t good, and if I perform poorly, I’ll get mocked. My looks-based fans won’t be happy, and they’ll end up arguing with others. Sure, you’ll get the buzz, but who’s going to care about what happens to me? If my brother were there, and we both got criticized, at least I’d feel a bit better. But if he’s not there, how lonely would that be?”

Director Wei: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Brotherly love, united and inseparable—you’re really about to suffocate your brother.

Fu Xiuning immediately realized that Xing Shi was planning to use him as a shield.

Turning his head slightly, he said, “Alright, go to class now.”

Xing Shi obediently bid farewell to everyone and left the meeting room with a carefree demeanor.

As he entered the practice room, everyone’s gazes turned toward him in unison. Xing Shi guessed they had probably heard the news but calmly walked to the back of the group.

It was the last small session of the morning. After class, as usual, Xing Shi walked with Feng Zifan and the others upstairs to the cafeteria for lunch.

The elevator was crowded, so they routinely took the stairs instead.

After climbing two flights, Feng Zifan noticed Xing Shi’s calm expression and couldn’t hold back any longer. “I heard Director Wei came to see you?”

Xing Shi replied, “Yeah.”

Feng Zifan asked, “It was really about you?”

Xing Shi said, “Yes.”

Feng Zifan couldn’t help but hiss softly.

He wanted to ask more, but as they reached the next floor, their group slowed down. Feng Zifan decided to hold his questions for a moment when there would be fewer people around.

Lunch was relatively quiet. Although there were plenty of people sitting nearby who seemed eager to eavesdrop, none of them interrupted. The group didn’t bring up the topic either, focusing instead on finishing their meal. As usual, they took a stroll downstairs after eating.

When they reached the staircase, Feng Zifan noticed it was empty and decided to continue the earlier conversation. But before he could say anything, a burst of laughter and playful shouting came from behind.

Feng Zifan sighed helplessly and abandoned his plan once more. As they descended a few more steps, a startled “Oh crap!” suddenly echoed. One of the people roughhousing behind them lost his balance and stumbled forward, colliding directly with Yu Yi.

Caught off guard, Yu Yi was pushed straight into Xing Shi.

At that moment, Xing Shi’s right foot was about to step down, but the collision caused him to lose his footing. Having just eaten, Xing Shi had been somewhat relaxed and didn’t react in time to dodge. However, his instincts, honed in high-risk situations, kicked in immediately. With his left foot, he jumped down two steps, swiftly turned around, and grabbed Yu Yi’s shoulders, steadying him. The entire process took less than three seconds.

Feng Zifan, who had been walking beside Xing Shi, didn’t even have time to react. He only managed to rush over to help Yu Yi after the fact.

Xing Shi let go, raised his eyes, and looked at the person above them.

The person who had stumbled quickly regained their footing by holding onto the wall. Realizing they had bumped into someone, they hurriedly ran down to check.

The other two who had been playing around also came rushing down, apologizing in a flurry. “Sorry, sorry! We were just messing around and didn’t notice. Are you guys okay?”

Yu Yi, who had hit his nose, had watery, red eyes, looking as though he was about to cry.

Xing Shi was unharmed, and Feng Zifan hadn’t been affected. The group of people gathered around Yu Yi, confirming he was alright. Relieved, they apologized sincerely again before the situation quickly resolved itself.

Later, Xing Shi slouched comfortably on a sofa in the third-floor lounge.

Feng Zifan sat beside him and glanced at him after a moment of silence.

Xing Shi asked, “What do you want to say?”

Feng Zifan rubbed his nose. “I swear I’m not trying to sow discord, but the timing is just too coincidental.”

Xing Shi had already noticed two of the people earlier had somewhat shifty eyes. Hearing this, he wasn’t surprised. “What’s so coincidental?”

Feng Zifan explained, “One of the guys roughhousing was Gu Zheng, and the one who fell is his roommate. On the company’s selection list, Gu Zheng is ranked last. If someone were to be replaced, it would be him.”

Unlocking his phone, he opened a group chat and handed it to Xing Shi. “You haven’t checked the group messages, have you?”

Xing Shi took the phone and immediately saw a familiar name in the chat.

Lin Kecheng: ?I heard there’s going to be a talent show. Are you guys part of it??

?Yeah, we are.?

Lin Kecheng: ?Congrats, congrats. Now I can brag about knowing future stars. I’ll rally everyone around me to support you!?

?Thank you, Senior!?

?We’ll help with the rankings too!?

Lin Kecheng: ?Anyone selected gets a bonus. Don’t overwork yourselves during training. It’s important to stay healthy. Whenever I watch movies and see someone miss an important competition because of an accident, it breaks my heart. Those dramatic plotlines are just a nightmare.?

?Hahaha, same here!?

Lin Kecheng: ?So be careful, everyone. Take care of yourselves, and do your best!?

Xing Shi raised an eyebrow.

Feng Zifan said, “Senior Lin sent this message to the group, and not long after, they pulled this stunt on you.”

He continued, “Do you think it’s possible they overheard what we said earlier? Maybe they found out Director Wei was really here for you, and coupled with Lin Kecheng’s message, they acted impulsively. Of course, that’s just my cynical guess.”

Yu Yi sniffled. “But… but wouldn’t it be too obvious if they got involved personally? They’d definitely be suspected.”

Feng Zifan chuckled. “With Xing Shi’s relationship with the boss, who’d dare join Gu Zheng in doing something stupid? It’s clear Gu Zheng had to do it himself.”

He added, “Maybe that’s exactly what they’re banking on—using the ‘even a fool would know this is suspicious’ excuse to make it seem like a genuine accident. If we insist it was intentional without evidence, we’ll just come off as overly aggressive.”

Yu Yi, still shaken, said, “But they don’t even know if Xing Shi is going to join the talent show yet.”

Feng Zifan analyzed, “Maybe they’re panicking. Everyone knows Director Wei is persistent. Gu Zheng is older than us and has achieved his ranking through sheer hard work. His natural talent isn’t great. If he doesn’t make it this year, he’ll definitely be overtaken by younger trainees next year and lose his chance to debut. I’ve said it before—the debut rate for trainees is incredibly low. The competition is harsher than you can imagine.”

He looked at Xing Shi and said, “Either way, you’d better be careful these next few days. Oh, by the way, are you going to participate in the talent selection?”

Xing Shi replied, “No.”

Feng Zifan visibly relaxed. “Then that’s good. Letting this news spread should be enough.”

Xing Shi let out a soft “mm” in response and handed the phone back to him.

Feng Zifan didn’t suspect Lin Kecheng in the slightest—this was completely understandable. From Lin Kecheng’s perspective, there was no way he could have known that Director Wei would suddenly show up at June Culture specifically asking for Xing Shi.

But Xing Shi knew better. Lin Kecheng had a system, and grasping this kind of information would’ve been child’s play for him. Moreover, Xing Shi had personally witnessed Shao Jianbo, driven to rage by Lin Kecheng’s schemes, grabbing a knife in retaliation.

Clearly, Lin Kecheng still held a grudge. This was an attempt to mess with him.

Though this wasn’t outright sabotage on Lin Kecheng’s part, it could at most be considered a form of provocation—not something bound by their agreement.

Even so, Xing Shi decided to pay him back in kind. He called out to his system: “When does my alliance with Lin Kecheng expire?”

The system replied: “Tomorrow afternoon at 2:43 PM.”

Xing Shi nodded with satisfaction. “Good.”

The system asked: “Why are you asking about him? Shouldn’t you be focusing on how to deal with those trainees? Or are you planning to just let this go?”

Xing Shi’s response was firm: “No way.”

The system eagerly chimed in: “What’s the plan? I can help!”

Xing Shi said simply: “It’s easy.”

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and messaged Fu Xiuning: ?Bro, I think someone’s trying to mess with me.?

Fu Xiuning: ???

Xing Shi: ?Can you pull up some surveillance footage for me??

He wasn’t looking to retrieve footage from the hallway.

Rather than analyze movements, expressions, or paths to determine intent, he directly requested footage from the restaurant. When he saw Gu Zheng glance their way twice before immediately following them, it became pretty clear that this was intentional.

His verdict: “His roommate must be really tight with him, huh? Even willing to take on trouble like this for him.”

Fu Xiuning reviewed the footage silently, then gestured for Xing Shi to go take his lunch break.

Later that afternoon, Fu Xiuning waited until he was back at work before summoning the training department. He requested the rankings list for Class 1 and, after confirming that the person ranked below Gu Zheng wasn’t his roommate, said, “Replace him.”

The instructor hesitated, cautiously asking, “Did something happen?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “No, just felt like it.”

He curled his lips into a smirk. “Privately fill out the paperwork and submit the updated list. Announce it on the final day.”

The instructor felt their heart skip a beat.

Announcing it the day before entry, just when Gu Zheng would think everything was settled and might even have packed his bags? That would practically drive him insane.

Sensing there was more to this, the instructor didn’t dare press further, nodding obediently before leaving.

That afternoon, Xing Shi attended a class at school before returning to the company, where he trained until evening as usual.

Feng Zifan and Yu Yi, already aware of what he’d done during lunch and the results of his investigation, had been waiting all this time without hearing any developments. They whispered, “What did the boss say?”

Xing Shi replied, “He told me not to worry about it.”

Feng Zifan asked, “And then?”

Xing Shi thought about Fu Xiuning’s wicked temperament and said, “Just wait.”

No matter what Fu Xiuning’s attitude toward him might be now, as long as Qi Changyi was around, Xing Shi wasn’t worried that Fu Xiuning would ignore this issue.

With a wave, he said goodbye. “I’m still not going back to the apartment tonight.”

That evening, Fu Xiuning was once again lounging in the living room, scrolling through his phone. When he saw Xing Shi, he greeted him as usual.

Xing Shi sat down beside him, curiosity evident. “Bro, how did you handle it?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “Replaced him.”

Xing Shi asked, “But I didn’t hear anything about it.”

Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “I told them to announce it on the last day.”

Xing Shi internally applauded. Of course, Fu Xiuning would deliver.

Satisfied with his curiosity, Xing Shi moved on to the main topic. “Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “I’ll mostly be at the company.”

Xing Shi gave a time range and asked, “You’re not in any meetings then, right?”

Fu Xiuning confirmed, “No meetings,” waiting for further explanation.

Xing Shi said, “Then just wait for my signal. Once I message you with ‘class is over,’ call me immediately.”

Fu Xiuning asked, “What for?”

Xing Shi said, “To handle something. I’m not sure if it’ll go smoothly, so it’s a secret for now.”

The system grew curious too: “What are you planning?”

Xing Shi replied: “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

After a good night’s rest, he arrived at school the next afternoon feeling energized.

After finishing one class, he called Lin Kecheng, saying he wanted to renew their agreement.

Last night, before going to bed, Lin Kecheng had his system look into Xing Shi and learned that Xing Shi had turned down Director Wei’s invitation and that the trainees were already aware of it. He clicked his tongue in disappointment.

Still, having successfully pulled off his little scheme, he felt slightly better and didn’t deliberately stall the renewal. He cooperatively agreed to meet.

Lin Kecheng waited at the entrance of the teaching building for a while, but when Xing Shi didn’t show up, he called him.

Xing Shi picked up quickly. “Senior, something came up on my end of the classroom. I might be a bit late. Why don’t you just come upstairs?”

Lin Kecheng didn’t mind and hung up before heading to the second floor.

Xing Shi instructed his system to keep track of Lin Kecheng’s position. As soon as he heard that Lin Kecheng had entered the stairwell, he headed over, holding a book in one hand and fiddling with his phone in the other.

When he spotted Lin Kecheng, he smiled. “I’m done now. Just let me finish this text.”

Lin Kecheng nodded and turned to go back downstairs.

Xing Shi leisurely followed behind, sending Fu Xiuning a three-word message.

Two seconds later, his phone rang. He answered cheerfully, “Hello, boss~”

Fu Xiuning, hearing his chipper tone, responded with a calm “Mm.”

Ahead of him, Lin Kecheng froze upon hearing Fu Xiuning’s name, his steps faltering.

But Xing Shi didn’t stop and bumped into him.

Lin Kecheng staggered, instinctively reaching for the handrail. However, due to the impact, Xing Shi stumbled as well and fell forward, accidentally knocking Lin Kecheng’s outstretched arm off course.

Lin Kecheng completely lost his balance and instinctively reached out to grab the nearest person—Xing Shi.

Xing Shi didn’t even try to dodge, letting out a startled yelp as he tumbled down with him.

The descent was quick, but Xing Shi maintained an air of effortless control throughout the process.

Just as Lin Kecheng hit the landing buffer, Xing Shi timed it perfectly, pressing down on him with deliberate force.

The next second, a pained scream tore through the air: “Ahhh!!!”

Fu Xiuning, still on the call: “…”

Xing Shi ignored his phone and hissed, climbing to his feet. “Ouch… Senior, are you okay?”

Then, before Lin Kecheng could respond, Xing Shi took the initiative: “Why did you stop so suddenly? And why did you drag me down with you?”

Lin Kecheng’s face was pale from the pain. His lips trembled, but he couldn’t utter a word.

Xing Shi rubbed his arm. “I think I’m gonna bruise…”

Halfway through, he noticed that Lin Kecheng wasn’t moving. Alarmed, he crouched down anxiously. “Senior, what’s wrong? Say something! Don’t scare me like this!”

Grabbing his phone, he feigned panic. “Boss! I think Senior Lin is in really bad shape. I’ll have to hang up. Remember to help me apply for a leave of absence from class! Senior, hang in there—!”

Fu Xiuning: “…”

It was the transition between classes, and students were bustling through the hallways. Hearing the commotion, a crowd quickly gathered around them.

Lin Kecheng ended up being taken away in an ambulance.

Xing Shi, wearing a solemn expression, followed along and rode in the ambulance to a nearby hospital. He watched Lin Kecheng, now in a pitiful state, being wheeled into and out of various examination rooms. Xing Shi felt deeply satisfied. Keeping Lin Kecheng lying down obediently like a sheep ready to be shorn seemed like the perfect outcome.

During this time, Fu Xiuning called to ask for the hospital’s location and soon drove over.

When he entered the hospital room, he found Lin Kecheng lying on the bed, his right leg suspended in a sling.

The diagnosis: a severe fracture.

It was still in the fixation stage, but surgery would be needed to insert metal screws. A hundred days to heal from injuries of this severity—Lin Kecheng would effectively be disabled for the next few months.

On Saturday, Fu Xiuning had overheard Lin Kecheng talking to his system and had been pondering how to deal with him. Yet, in just two days, the situation had resolved itself.

When Lin Kecheng saw Fu Xiuning, he tried his best to prop up his upper body, wanting to maintain a composed image. “Senior, you’re here.”

Fu Xiuning’s tone was gentle. “Don’t move, just lie down.”

He asked, “What happened?”

Lin Kecheng forced a bitter smile. “I lost my footing while going downstairs.”

Fu Xiuning advised, “Be more careful in the future.”

Lin Kecheng nodded weakly, his face still pale.

As Fu Xiuning observed Lin Kecheng’s condition, combined with Xing Shi’s series of actions, everything clicked into place.

So, Lin Kecheng had tried to set up Xing Shi, only for Xing Shi to send him to the hospital in the exact same manner?

A faint creak of the door interrupted his thoughts as it swung open.

At the same time, a system notification sounded.

?Ding!?

?Current Favorability Score: -3?

Lin Kecheng knew it was Xing Shi and looked up.

Xing Shi walked in with a stack of medical forms. When he spotted Fu Xiuning by the bedside, his expression immediately brightened as if he’d found his backbone. “Boss, you’re here!”

Fu Xiuning looked him over and asked with concern, “Are you hurt?”

Xing Shi replied, “Just a few bumps. The main issue is Senior Lin.”

Fu Xiuning acknowledged this with a simple “Mm.” “As long as you’re not hurt, that’s good.”

At that moment, Fu Xiuning’s phone rang. Seeing that it was his assistant, he said, “I’ll take this call outside.”

He left the hospital room and walked down the corridor. Unable to suppress a chuckle, he finally answered the call.

The assistant said, “Boss, the handwriting analysis results are out.”

Fu Xiuning paused briefly before arranging to meet at the hospital parking lot.

When the assistant arrived, they handed him a sealed envelope.

Handwriting analysis was a complicated process.

For private institutions, the standard turnaround time was usually 30 business days to complete the evaluation and issue the results.

The process relied heavily on the expertise of professionals, and using photocopies instead of originals or high-quality scans often reduced accuracy. However, the assistant had luck on his side. Upon arriving at the institution, he discovered that one of the staff was a former college senior of his. Furthermore, the institution’s partnered experts happened to be in Z City at the time and were available.

With enough money, anything could be expedited.

Fu Xiuning accepted the envelope and dismissed the assistant.

He got into his car, lightly running his fingers over the envelope’s seal before carefully opening it.

His eyes skimmed over the professional terminology and analysis, eventually landing on the conclusion:

The handwriting was confirmed to have been written by the same person.