Chapter 32
Director Li had seen Fu Xiuning at a banquet before and knew this man was the owner of Liuyue Entertainment.
For anyone with even a slight appreciation for appearances, it was impossible not to remember Fu Xiuning after seeing him.
When he turned around, Fu Xiuning was holding up an ice cream cone for Xing Shi. From this angle, his slightly raised arm obscured half his face. When he lowered it, Director Li finally saw who it was, and after a moment of stunned silence, he hurriedly stood up.
“President Fu?” he asked, surprised. “What brings you here?”
“I heard he’s filming an MV here, so I came to take a look,” Fu Xiuning replied.
Director Li was even more surprised. A company president coming to visit a trainee on set? It didn’t take a genius to figure out this trainee wasn’t ordinary. Seeing that Fu Xiuning wasn’t trying to hide it, he asked directly, “He’s yours?”
Fu Xiuning calmly said, “My younger brother.”
Director Li was taken aback but quickly adjusted. He turned and waved to Xing Shi, who immediately ran over and accepted the ice cream from Fu Xiuning’s hand with a satisfied grin, happily scooping out a bite.
Meanwhile, Fu Xiuning’s assistant distributed cold drinks and fruit to the staff.
Director Li, with a generous wave, announced a short break.
The crew erupted into cheers and eagerly started enjoying the refreshments.
They’d noticed Fu Xiuning as soon as he arrived, especially when he stood next to Yu Shu. Initially, they assumed the two were just friends. Now that they knew Fu Xiuning was the boss, they marveled at how someone could look better than a celebrity.
Up until this moment, Director Li’s attention had been focused solely on Xing Shi. Now, hearing the chatter around him, he learned that Fu Xiuning had been there for over ten minutes. Glancing at Xing Shi, who was intently eating his ice cream, he mused that the bond between the two brothers seemed quite strong.
Director Li didn’t waste the downtime, sitting next to Xing Shi to continue explaining the scene.
The MV’s plot was simple, revolving around a protagonist’s unrequited love.
Every object the protagonist saw, every mundane moment in his life, would remind him of the person he liked. This person brought him joy but also caused him heartache.
Yu Yi played the protagonist’s friend in the MV. His character was paired with another—played by a tall, rugged male model—as part of a subtle side couple. The three characters were close friends, occasionally playing basketball or sharing meals. Yu Yi’s character and the model had a rapport that, at first glance, seemed purely platonic. Only upon closer inspection would viewers suspect they might be a couple.
This secondary pairing was handled delicately, with no overt displays of romance. Yu Yi’s role was straightforward; he only needed to appear cheerful, without overtly conveying happiness.
In contrast, the protagonist’s role was much more challenging for a newcomer.
The love interest didn’t appear in the MV at all. The protagonist’s feelings had to be conveyed solely through his expressions and gaze.
Director Li stared at Xing Shi’s face, his ambitions running wild. “What I want is for your emotions to shine through. When you’re happy, the audience should feel that sweetness and cheer for you. When you’re sad, they should empathize so deeply they’d want to dive into the screen and shake your love interest, demanding to know why they don’t like you.”
Xing Shi savored another spoonful of ice cream, nodded obediently, and said, “Got it. I’ll do my best.”
Director Li was delighted. Such an outstanding appearance paired with strong backing, yet he didn’t throw tantrums under the heat or repeated rejections—what a rare find!
Yu Shu interjected, “How about I share some of my experiences?”
Director Li blinked, then smiled. “That’s a good idea.”
When Yu Shu had pitched the MV’s concept, he’d already mentioned his personal connection to the theme. It wasn’t exactly a secret, as the story had made it to the trending topics before.
Turning to Xing Shi, Director Li said, “This song was inspired by his own experience of unrequited love. He’s the one who understands it best.”
Xing Shi turned to Yu Shu with feigned curiosity. “Really?”
Yu Shu nodded with a smile, stealing a glance at Fu Xiuning.
Fu Xiuning sat under a parasol, holding his drink. His expression was calm, his demeanor aloof—exactly as it had been when they first met. Not a single thing had changed.
When Yu Shu was first bound to his system and saw Fu Xiuning, he was immediately captivated and chose the romance path without hesitation.
The round table beneath the parasol seated only the four of them. Yu Shu began, “Let me start by explaining why we included a secondary couple in the MV: it’s because the person I like is also a man.”
Xing Shi played along, feigning shock. “Huh?”
Yu Shu chuckled. “Did I scare you?”
Xing Shi adjusted his expression. “Not really—just surprised.”
Yu Shu asked, “You don’t mind, do you?”
Xing Shi replied, “Of course not.”
Yu Shu thanked him, then continued, “The person I like…”
He paused, his eyes softening with a tender warmth. “…is an incredibly exceptional and outstanding man. He has many admirers. I fell for him at first sight, and every time I see him, I’m overjoyed, cherishing every moment we share. Even after we part ways, I try to hear news about him—anything, no matter how trivial. It’s enough to keep me going.”
His tone shifted, tinged with melancholy. “But I know he doesn’t like me. I’m also aware of the gap between us. I don’t know how to make him notice me, and I’m constantly afraid he’ll suddenly fall for someone else. I’m torn between wanting to confess my feelings and fearing that he’ll find me annoying. That fear makes me insecure, and I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
He turned to Xing Shi with a smile. “Did that help inspire you?”
Xing Shi appeared thoughtful. “Kind of.”
The system scoffed. “Help inspire you? Please, this is all for Fu Xiuning’s ears! He’ll probably start playing the pity card next, trying to get you to help him out.”
Xing Shi agreed. “You’re right.”
The system felt vindicated. “Exactly! These little tricks of his are so transparent. Too bad for him—it’s useless. Just look at that ice cream. Fu Xiuning’s heart is with you!”
Ignoring the system, Xing Shi asked Yu Shu curiously, “Have you confessed to him?”
Yu Shu’s expression subtly tensed, and he shook his head. “No, I don’t dare. I’m afraid confessing outright would lead to rejection and make future interactions awkward. For now, I can only try to pursue him and hope to gradually close the gap between us.”
Xing Shi offered encouragement. “Good luck, Yu Ge.”
Yu Shu smiled. “I’ll try my best.”
With the break over, Xing Shi got back to work.
The MV mostly consisted of the protagonist’s solo scenes. Yu Yi and the male model’s parts were minimal, so the director decided to let them chat and get acquainted while Xing Shi worked on finding his footing in the role.
After some small talk, the two grew slightly more familiar and eventually wandered over to watch Xing Shi’s filming.
Fu Xiuning stayed seated, waiting for someone to finish work.
Yu Shu, thrilled by the unexpected opportunity to see Fu Xiuning today, also stayed and sat beside him.
When Yu Yi passed by, he politely greeted them.
Yu Shu, ever affable, offered advice to the rookie. “It’s normal to feel nervous or make mistakes on your first shoot. Director Li is very understanding—don’t worry too much.”
Yu Yi looked genuinely grateful. “Thank you, Yu Ge.”
He then turned to Fu Xiuning and added sincerely, “Thank you, too, President Fu, for the cold drinks. And about that thing with Qi Ge last time—you might not remember, but I’m really grateful. Thank you so much.”
Fu Xiuning hadn’t been involved in anything related to Qi Changyi and immediately realized it must have been one of Xing Shi’s fabrications. Calmly, he accepted the thanks. “You’re welcome.”
Watching Yu Yi walk away, Yu Shu asked, “What happened with Qi Ge?”
Fu Xiuning explained, “He’s a fan of Qi Changyi.”
Yu Shu already knew from his system that Yu Yi and Xing Shi were roommates. Guessing it was Xing Shi’s doing, he remarked, “I see.”
Not particularly interested, he shifted the conversation back to Xing Shi. “With his looks, why didn’t he join this year’s talent show?”
Fu Xiuning answered, “He didn’t want to.”
Yu Shu chuckled. “If he had, he’d definitely be a top-three crowd favorite.”
Fu Xiuning believed that too and responded with a simple “Mm.”
Xing Shi was currently acting out sweetness.
Thanks to the ice cream, he could now grasp the sweetness the director wanted. He quickly got into character and completed all the sweet scenes in one go.
Next came the bitterness. The director explained the feeling twice, but the results weren’t ideal. Resolute, he decided to take a page from Fu Xiuning’s book.
He had the staff line up several popsicles behind the camera and started eating them, one after another, in plain view of Xing Shi.
The reaction was… intense.
“Tone it down! This isn’t bitterness—it’s outright hatred.”
“Your popsicle is still there! Just think about how you have to wait until you finish work to eat it… No, that’s still hate!”
“They’ve only taken a couple of bites. You don’t have to look so resentful. Pull it back!”
Fu Xiuning, seeing the commotion from afar, walked over to observe, just in time to hear the system’s input.
Even the system couldn’t bear to watch anymore. “If Fu Xiuning were with someone else, how would you feel?”
Xing Shi thought for a moment. “I’d send him a wedding gift.”
The system said, “…I’m asking about your feelings, not your actions.”
Patiently, it tried to guide him. “Listen, your sexual orientation is male, right? Now imagine someone like Fu Xiuning, such an outstanding man who’s clearly into you. If you missed out on him and had to watch him date someone else, wouldn’t you feel upset?”
Xing Shi, eager to finish filming, genuinely tried to visualize it. Yet, no matter how hard he thought, he just couldn’t picture Fu Xiuning in a relationship with someone else. He was honest: “I can’t imagine it.”
The system pressed on. “What do you mean you can’t imagine it? Fine, let’s say he’s moved by Yu Shu and agrees to his confession.”
Xing Shi let out a cold chuckle. “Ha.”
The system perked up immediately. “Are you… jealous?”
Naturally, Xing Shi wouldn’t tell the system that Fu Xiuning already knew who the real host was. He gestured for it to shut up and continued thinking.
In the magical world, he had experienced bitterness before. Back when he was part of a small team, he was the only one who survived. While many teammates were mere acquaintances, watching them fall one by one had still been a heavy blow.
He tried channeling that memory, but the result still wasn’t quite right.
Director Li stroked his chin, analyzing the performance. “It’s a lot better, but this feels more lonely than bitter. There’s also a sharpness to it, like you’re about to snap and start attacking people.”
Xing Shi replied, “I’ll adjust.”
Suddenly, the system exclaimed, “I’ve got it!”
Xing Shi asked, “What is it?”
The system eagerly explained, “Imagine this: Fu Xiuning stops treating you like his little brother. He bans you from the private dining area, doesn’t watch shows with you, stops buying you snacks and ice cream… basically, he stops spoiling you and shifts all his attention to someone else. What would you do?”
Xing Shi thought it over calmly. “I’d become his dad.”
The system: “…”
Do you have some kind of obsession with being a father?
It was losing hope. Completely losing hope.
Despite his sarcastic remark, Xing Shi did seriously consider what it would feel like if his relationship with Fu Xiuning fell apart.
Director Li suddenly exclaimed with excitement, “Hey, that hint of disappointment is getting there! Hold onto it!”
Xing Shi blinked in surprise and caught sight of Fu Xiuning in his peripheral vision. He turned to look.
Fu Xiuning was watching him, and their eyes met mid-air.
[Ding Ding]
[Current favorability: 22]
The system was ecstatic. “Look at that! He can’t even suppress how much he likes you!”
Xing Shi replied, “Shut up.”
He withdrew his gaze and heard the director say, “You still need to add a touch of bitterness. Let me think…”
Director Li, aware that Xing Shi lacked romantic experience and was struggling to relate, asked, “Have you ever dealt with anything frustrating in real life?”
Before Xing Shi could answer, Fu Xiuning stepped forward and suggested, “How about failing two courses at the end of the semester and having to retake them next term?”
Xing Shi: “!”
The system: “!”
This was absolutely brutal!
The director was intrigued. “Would that work?”
He turned to Xing Shi, whose expression now carried genuine pain. Seeing how effective it was, the director quickly capitalized on the moment and wrapped up this scene before moving on to shoot with Yu Yi and the male model at the basketball court.
The shoot lasted until the afternoon.
The overcast sky eventually gave way to rain, during which Xing Shi performed both sweet and bitter scenes before finally wrapping up.
Yu Shu smiled. “Congratulations on finishing! It’s been a tough day. Dinner’s on me. President Fu, care to join us?”
Xing Shi looked at Fu Xiuning.
Fu Xiuning declined.
Yu Shu’s expression briefly faltered, but he quickly recovered with a polite smile. “How about you, Xing Shi?”
Xing Shi replied, “I’ll pass too. I was too excited yesterday and didn’t sleep well. I want to head back and catch up on rest.”
The truth was, Xing Shi only took this job and asked Fu Xiuning to visit so Yu Shu could witness their dynamic firsthand.
With Lin Kecheng, Xing Shi could act like a naïve sweet boy, but that wouldn’t work on Yu Shu. Yu Shu didn’t know he was the real host and only had information about his former self.
Based on the “original host’s” profile, Xing Shi used to be clever and calculating—someone difficult to approach. While his personality had since improved, maintaining a “hard-to-get” persona was crucial to avoid suspicion.
By establishing this impression, Yu Shu would have to put in significant effort to pursue him.
If Fu Xiuning’s attitude toward him were indifferent, Yu Shu might decide Xing Shi wasn’t worth the time and give up.
So today’s goal was to show Yu Shu how differently Fu Xiuning treated him, cementing Yu Shu’s determination to pursue him.
After all, compared to the notoriously skeptical Fu Xiuning, who started with a baseline favorability of -5, Xing Shi was clearly the easier target.
Faced with consecutive rejections, Yu Shu maintained his smile.
He turned to Yu Yi. “What about you? You didn’t have many scenes today, so you’re probably not as tired. Let’s grab dinner, and I’ll personally take you back to the company afterward.”
Yu Yi hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Yu Shu exhaled in relief, smiling as he ruffled Yu Yi’s hair. “Great! If everyone turned me down, I’d be heartbroken.”
Xing Shi knew Yu Shu wouldn’t dare harm Yu Yi, as doing so would damage his own reputation. With that assurance, Xing Shi politely bid them farewell and left Z University in Fu Xiuning’s car.
When they got home, the housekeeper had just finished preparing dinner.
After each taking a shower, they sat down to eat.
Xing Shi savored a few bites before looking across the table. “Ge, I feel like Yu Shu is pretty devoted to you.”
Fu Xiuning remained composed. “That’s his business.”
Xing Shi recalled their previous conversations. “I remember it was during a discussion about your unique ‘constitution’ that we mentioned him. You put Lin Kecheng in that same category. Are they alike?”
Fu Xiuning glanced at him, understanding he wasn’t asking about known facts, and replied, “No. At least Lin Kecheng didn’t try to pursue me.”
Xing Shi noted the emphasis on the first part.
If Lin Kecheng and Yu Shu were different, that confirmed Yu Shu was a transmigrator. If the system claimed failing to capture Fu Xiuning’s affection meant being taken away, absorbing Yu Shu’s energy would be akin to hitting two birds with one stone.
He asked, “What do you think of his character?”
Fu Xiuning met his gaze and answered calmly, “Not a good person.”
Transmigrators made up the majority of hosts.
The native hosts selected by the main system were typically ordinary individuals with ambition but lackluster lives, often timid and indecisive. These traits made them easy to manipulate and form contracts with their systems.
In contrast, transmigrators had more distinct and vibrant personalities. Though initially resistant to their systems, they inevitably fell in line.
Fu Xiuning couldn’t quite explain why, but he seemed to naturally attract these individuals.
They would glance at him, grow fixated, and then collaborate with their systems to pursue him, often employing extreme tactics.
Of all the transmigrators Fu Xiuning had encountered, Xing Shi was the sole exception.
Not only did Xing Shi resist his system, but even after several interactions, his attitude remained the same. Living under Fu Xiuning’s watch didn’t change that either.
Instead of trying to get closer or win him over, Xing Shi seemed more interested in stirring up trouble—or scheming against him.
[Ding Ding]
[Current favorability: 21]
Xing Shi: “?”
System: “!”
Fu Xiuning: “…”
The system panicked. “Why?!”
It hadn’t seen a favorability decrease in ages and was instantly distressed. “Is it because you kept mentioning Yu Shu? Is he jealous?”
Xing Shi was equally puzzled but knew that couldn’t be the reason. He innocently replied, “How would I know?”
The system pleaded, “Stop mentioning him! Change the topic!”
Xing Shi responded with a simple “Mm” to wrap up the topic of “not a good person.”
Then he took a bite of his meal, subtly observing the person across from him. Could it really be that bringing up Yu Shu as “not a good person” reminded Fu Xiuning of himself and spiraled into thinking he wasn’t a good person either?
That would be so petty—what happened to the bond of brotherhood?
He couldn’t help but mutter, “A man’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. I’m not even trying to steal Yu Shu.”
The system chimed in indignantly: “Exactly!”
Xing Shi continued, “He says he doesn’t care about Yu Shu, but deep down, he’s probably thinking something completely different. Hah.”
The system corrected him: “No, it’s not that. What he cares about is you! You shouldn’t keep mentioning other people in front of him. Don’t you understand?”
Xing Shi: “I don’t know!”
Fu Xiuning: “…”
Xing Shi only complained for a moment before brushing the thought aside and focusing on his meal.
After a few seconds of silence, Fu Xiuning also moved past it, shifting the conversation to something more serious: “Yu Shu will definitely try to get closer to you. If you find it troublesome, leave him to me.”
Xing Shi paused mid-bite and looked up at him.
Fu Xiuning said, “I’ll handle him for you.”
Xing Shi understood the implication—Fu Xiuning was worried Yu Shu might resort to extreme measures and wanted to protect him.
He replied calmly, “It’s fine. Let’s see how he plans to approach me first. Don’t worry, no matter what he does, I’ll let you know immediately.”
Yu Shu contacted him again a week later.
On the day they finalized the job, the three of them had added each other on WeChat and created a small group chat.
Yu Shu sent a voice message, his tone carrying a noticeable smile: “The first cut of the MV is ready. Do you guys want to come and take a look? It’s at Director Li’s studio, not far from the company. I’ll send a car to pick you up, and we can grab lunch afterward.”
During a break between classes, Yu Yi listened to the message, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Xing Shi.
Fang Zifan noticed his expression and asked, “What’s up?”
Yu Yi quietly explained the situation.
Though curious and eager to tag along, Fang Zifan knew they’d signed confidentiality agreements. Until the MV was officially released, they couldn’t share any details.
He said enviously, “Go for it. If it were me, I’d already be on my way.”
Yu Yi turned to Xing Shi for confirmation.
Xing Shi nodded and sent back a simple “Okay.”
When their class ended at noon, the two quickly freshened up and headed downstairs to the company’s entrance.
Yu Shu’s car had been waiting for a while, and as soon as they got in, it departed.
Xing Shi gazed lazily out the window, finding the route increasingly familiar. Moments later, when the car stopped, he stepped out and found himself staring at a sign: Linlan Garden.
Yu Shu had just arrived as well, standing with Director Li and the others.
He greeted them with a smile. “You’re here.”
Xing Shi raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t we supposed to watch the MV?”
Yu Shu explained, “Director Li and the others have been busy all morning and haven’t eaten yet. I figured you guys must be hungry too after all your training, so I thought we’d eat first and then watch the MV.”
Xing Shi responded with a casual “Oh” and followed them inside.
The group made their way through the winding hallways. Halfway there, they passed by a private room. Yu Shu suddenly stopped, saying, “Huh? I think I just heard my friend’s voice. Can you wait for me a moment?”
Xing Shi was taken aback. “Huh? Did someone speak? Did you guys hear anything?”
Yu Yi hesitated before shaking his head.
Xing Shi turned to Director Li and the others, who also shook their heads, then looked back at Yu Shu.
Yu Shu maintained his composure. “It was just one word, but it sounded familiar.”
Xing Shi was impressed. “You can recognize someone from just one word?”
Yu Shu chuckled. “Maybe it’s because I’m a singer—I’m sensitive to voices. Let me check real quick. You guys wait here.”
Xing Shi was curious about what Yu Shu was up to and played along, agreeing without moving from his spot.
Then he called on the system: “Check who’s in that private room.”
The system quickly pulled up a list of seven names—both male and female, all around their age. Some were celebrities in the industry, while others came from well-off families. “There’s nothing particularly noteworthy. What’s he up to?”
Xing Shi patiently waited a few minutes until Yu Shu returned and informed them who was inside.
Upon hearing there were acquaintances, Director Li and the others couldn’t resist going in to say hello, and naturally, Xing Shi and Yu Yi followed along.
As the system had said, the room was filled with young men and women.
When they noticed Xing Shi and Yu Yi, their gazes immediately locked onto them, asking their names with interest.
Xing Shi felt a few particularly intense stares fixated on him. While responding to their questions, he quietly pulled out his phone and messaged Fu Xiuning.
Xing Shi: [Brother Fu, I’m out eating with Yu Shu.]
Fu Xiuning: [You’ve already told me.]
Xing Shi: [We’re at Linlan Garden.]
Fu Xiuning: [So?]
Xing Shi: [I’m not sure, but I feel like he’s trying to set me up with someone to experience love, so I can empathize with him or something.]
Fu Xiuning: [?]
