Chapter 35
The destination for Xing Shi and the others this time was a seaside vacation villa in S City.
The hotel had a private beach that was relatively quiet, unlike the crowded public beaches where people swarmed like dumplings in boiling water.
The area boasted a wide range of recreational activities, from speedboats, jet skis, and flyboarding to wakeboarding. There was also a signature seafood feast, which was highly recommended.
Bei Jinrong and his friends had planned a laid-back itinerary: a beach barbecue on the first night, a day of relaxing on the sand or engaging in water sports the following day, a boat trip in the evening to enjoy a seafood dinner at sea, and then for the office workers, a late-night return to Z City while the rest stayed behind for more fun.
Summer was meant for carefree times by the sea, and Xing Shi happily agreed to the plan. But it was here that he unexpectedly ran into Fu Xiuning.
To say he hadn’t considered the possibility would be a lie.
Deep down, Xing Shi had harbored a secret suspicion and a sliver of anticipation. Yet, when he actually saw Fu Xiuning, he was still a little taken aback.
The system, on the other hand, was completely blindsided by this development.
It exclaimed excitedly, “So? Didn’t I tell you he wouldn’t just sit back and let you spend the night with some random man?”
“No wonder there weren’t any points deducted! Turns out he planned to follow you here!” It was ecstatic. “He’s finally stopped being so stubborn—this is the power of love!”
Xing Shi stared at Fu Xiuning and didn’t respond.
The system waited for a few seconds before taking the initiative to ask, “Say something! How do you feel right now?”
Xing Shi replied, “He’s worried about me.”
The system immediately affirmed, “Exactly!”
Xing Shi, touched, said, “Truly worthy of being my dear Brother.”
The system was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”
It nearly wanted to grab him and shake him. “Did your brain get filled with cement? What’s clouding your vision? He loves you! You’ve even said so yourself before!”
Xing Shi met Fu Xiuning’s gaze and held back a laugh as he retorted loudly, “I don’t believe it. He said it to my dad’s face—he only sees me as a little brother!”
The system instinctively prepared to argue but abruptly paused.
It never doubted its host’s intelligence. Previously, they’d endlessly teased Fu Xiuning for being awkward and passive, so why was Xing Shi suddenly playing dumb now?
After a moment of thought, it remembered Xing Shi’s fondness for playing with monkeys and asked sincerely, “Tell me the truth—are you messing with me?”
Xing Shi immediately laughed in his mind.
Not only was he teasing the system, but he was also having fun with someone else. He chuckled, “Oh, you figured it out.”
The system responded, “So that’s how it is!”
Instead of being angry, it actually felt relieved. As long as its host was aware of the situation, that was all that mattered. The worst-case scenario would’ve been him genuinely acting blind to the truth.
With an indulgent tone, it said, “Fine, as long as you’re happy.”
While the two of them were chatting, Bei Jinrong snapped out of his surprise and walked over to Fu Xiuning.
His friends hadn’t been exaggerating—this was indeed one of the big shots in their circle.
Though Fu Xiuning technically counted as part of the entertainment industry, Bei Jinrong knew his friends were referring to their second-generation elite circle.
Since childhood, Fu Xiuning had been the epitome of a “perfect child in other families” in their parents’ eyes, excelling in every way imaginable.
Even if Fu Xiuning hadn’t started his own business, his position as the heir of the Fu family alone would have made him untouchable. On top of that, he’d established his own company, running it with impressive success, enough to rival their families’ entertainment companies. Even now, trainees from both companies were competing in the same talent show.
However, Fu Xiuning had always been aloof and unapproachable, showing little interest in socializing.
Bei Jinrong couldn’t help but wonder how his friend had managed to get someone like Fu Xiuning to join them.
While he was still puzzling over this, his expression remained amiable as he greeted, “Brother Fu.”
Fu Xiuning glanced at him and gave a polite nod.
Bei Jinrong turned to look at Xing Shi, about to introduce them, but then realized something was off. He belatedly remembered that Fu Xiuning was Xing Shi’s boss and couldn’t help but mentally wince.
So far, he hadn’t managed to uncover Xing Shi’s background and wasn’t sure if Fu Xiuning was aware of it. But knowing Fu Xiuning’s reserved nature, it was unlikely the two were particularly close.
Running into one’s own boss while out on vacation would undoubtedly dampen the mood. Bei Jinrong had worked hard to get Xing Shi to come out, so he silently resolved to help Xing Shi avoid Fu Xiuning and keep things comfortable.
“This is your boss, so I don’t need to introduce him, right?” he joked. “We’re here to relax, though. It’s a holiday, so no talking about work. Brother Fu has a great temper, so don’t be nervous.”
Feng Zifan forced a smile, while Yu Yi looked utterly obedient as both greeted, “Boss.”
Xing Shi, however, wasn’t nearly as restrained. With a grin, he stepped forward. “Brother.”
Fu Xiuning responded warmly.
Xing Shi asked, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here to have fun?”
Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “Wanted to surprise you.”
Xing Shi, ever direct, said, “Well, you’ve definitely surprised me.”
The people around them were stunned.
They had already found Fu Xiuning’s decision to join them puzzling. They’d chalked it up to him being in a good mood, but now the real reason seemed to be revealed.
Bei Jinrong’s expression froze for a moment before he turned to Xing Shi. “You’re Brother Fu’s younger brother?”
Xing Shi nodded. “Yes. My family knows him and asked him to look out for me. I’m staying at his place right now.”
The group of second-generation elites was once again caught off guard, their thoughts aligning almost perfectly.
Fu Xiuning actually agreed to take someone in?
It had to be either because the family ties were that strong or because the young master himself was willing. Judging by the conversation just now, the latter seemed far more likely.
Bei Jinrong forced a smile. “Is that so?”
Xing Shi had long noticed that these people didn’t know about his relationship with Fu Xiuning. But now, he decided to play dumb.
He immediately threw Yu Shu under the bus, exclaiming in surprise, “Brother Yu knew he’s my Brother, too. I thought he’d already told you. Didn’t he?”
Bei Jinrong replied, “He only said your background wasn’t simple. Nothing more.”
Xing Shi looked even more surprised and kept piling on. “Even Director Li and the others know! Why would he keep this from you?”
Bei Jinrong was taken aback. “?”
Yu Shu always had a knack for acquiring mysterious information, which was what had originally brought them together. If Xing Shi’s background was impressive enough for Yu Shu to keep quiet about, Bei Jinrong had assumed it would be hard to investigate and hadn’t bothered asking.
But Xing Shi was right. Why would he keep it a secret? That was just ridiculous!
Annoyed, Bei Jinrong grumbled, “Who knows what he was thinking.”
Xing Shi was satisfied with this and offered a consolation. “It’s fine. You know now, and that’s what matters.”
The second-generation elites became noticeably more cautious in their attitudes toward Xing Shi.
Regardless of his actual background, his connection to Fu Xiuning alone was enough to earn their respect.
Some of them glanced at Bei Jinrong, thinking this probably put a damper on his chances. Unless Fu Xiuning genuinely only saw Xing Shi as a younger brother, there wasn’t much hope left for him.
This outing had been organized by Bei Jinrong.
The group of second-generation elites usually didn’t care too much about formalities. On a normal day, they would’ve already started the beach barbecue, eating as they waited for the rest to arrive. But with Fu Xiuning present, everyone had followed his lead and stayed behind to wait for the others.
Now they understood—Fu Xiuning wasn’t waiting for everyone. He was waiting for someone.
Finally, everyone was here, and the barbecue could begin.
“Do you need to change clothes?” someone asked Xing Shi and the others. “If not, you can leave your bags here. If you do, go pick a room first.”
There were too many people for a single villa to accommodate, so they’d rented two.
The two villas were next to each other, and getting between them was easy.
Since Xing Shi and his group had come straight from work, they were still wearing training clothes. While technically casual attire, their shoes were athletic. Now that they were at the beach, they naturally wanted to change into slippers and something cooler.
The group split into two. One group headed to the beach first, while the other went to the nearby villa to pick rooms and change clothes before reuniting.
Fu Xiuning, having arrived early, had already chosen a room in the other villa. Since he hadn’t changed his clothes yet, he tagged along with Xing Shi’s group.
When he picked his room, he made it clear he wanted peace and quiet. Everyone was tactful enough not to choose the room next to his, leaving it vacant. Xing Shi noticed and moved into that room, while Feng Zifan and Yu Yi sensibly opted for rooms on the first floor.
The group changed into their beachwear and gathered downstairs.
Xing Shi wore a tank top and shorts with flip-flops, his entire demeanor exuding a casual and confident charm.
Fu Xiuning, dressed in solid-colored short-sleeved shirts and shorts with flip-flops as well, managed to exude an air of sophistication. His outfit didn’t look overly casual but instead gave off a more approachable vibe, as if he were partaking in everyday life.
As Feng Zifan watched them descend the stairs, he couldn’t help but sigh internally, just as he had upon first meeting them: these two really didn’t leave anyone else a chance to shine.
Bei Jinrong’s expression darkened slightly. He knew he couldn’t compare to Fu Xiuning and could only hope Fu Xiuning didn’t harbor “those kinds of thoughts” toward Xing Shi.
Yu Yi’s eyes lit up as he stared at them until Fu Xiuning’s gaze swept over him, prompting him to hurriedly look away.
When the group arrived at the beach, the chef was already busy.
The main dishes were seafood, all incredibly fresh. The lighting around them was soft, the sound of waves filled the air, and with an ice-cold beer in hand, the atmosphere was truly a treat.
Fu Xiuning didn’t have a habit of eating late-night snacks, so after just a few bites, he stopped.
He sat quietly next to Xing Shi, listening to their conversation, occasionally handing Xing Shi a grilled skewer. His movements were entirely natural.
Everyone noticed this scene, and their collective impression was that Bei Jinrong’s chances had just become even slimmer.
For Feng Zifan and Yu Yi, this was their first time witnessing how Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi interacted in private. Feng Zifan slowly realized something was amiss and thought to himself that it was no wonder Fu Xiuning protected Xing Shi so much—so this was the reason.
Xing Shi finished eating a grilled scallop and looked up as if sensing something, only to meet Yu Yi’s gaze. He froze for a moment.
Yu Yi was holding a skewer and staring fixedly at him.
Xing Shi raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
Yu Yi glanced at Fu Xiuning before winking at Xing Shi.
Xing Shi chuckled and looked away.
Aside from Fu Xiuning, Xing Shi had met everyone else here multiple times. The group chatted as they ate, and the atmosphere quickly livened up.
The second-generation elites had initially planned to play Truth or Dare to help Bei Jinrong gauge Xing Shi’s feelings. But given how things had developed, they weren’t sure if they should proceed.
In the end, Bei Jinrong discreetly kicked the person next to him, who then proposed playing a game. The suggestion quickly garnered everyone’s approval.
The game was simple: spin the bottle.
The proposer spun first, and the bottle pointed to Bei Jinrong in the first round. Without hesitation, he chose “Truth.”
The proposer smirked at his eagerness and played along. “Qian’er, do you have someone you like?”
Bei Jinrong’s nickname, “Qian’er,” was derived from the homophone of his surname “Bei” with the word for “shell” (a form of ancient currency), paired with the meaning of “finance.”
Without looking at Xing Shi, Bei Jinrong answered directly, “Yes, love at first sight.”
All his friends had the same thought: Damn, bold move, brother!
Stealing from the tiger’s den—this guy was gutsy!
The system also got caught up in the gossip. “He’s talking about you, right?”
Xing Shi answered confidently, “Yep.”
The system was surprised by his lack of hesitation. “Wait, you’re not even pausing to think about it?”
Xing Shi replied, “With my looks, what’s there to think about? And it’s not like I’m clueless.”
The system thought he made a fair point and was about to agree when it seized the opportunity to tease him. “If you’re so smart, why can’t you tell Fu Xiuning likes you?”
Xing Shi countered seriously, “No, he sees me as a younger brother.”
The system realized he was messing with it again and decided to stop resisting.
Xing Shi took a bite of his skewer, thinking that Bei Jinrong was just shy of outright confessing. It seemed he’d have to maintain some distance in the future.
In the past, his frequent outings were mainly to give Yu Shu opportunities to get closer to him.
This time, he had agreed to come partly because he wanted to enjoy some beachside fun and partly because Yu Shu’s current schedule wasn’t far from here. Xing Shi was curious to see if Yu Shu would show up after seeing the group messages.
He also knew Fu Xiuning’s appearance here likely had something to do with this, but how much of a factor it was remained unclear.
Meanwhile, Bei Jinrong spun the bottle.
This time, it pointed to another second-generation elite, who chose “Dare.” The unfortunate participant got teased thoroughly before spinning the bottle for the next round.
The game continued for seven or eight rounds. The second-generation elites were eager to see the bottle land on either Xing Shi or Fu Xiuning but kept missing them.
In the ninth round, the bottle finally pointed to Yu Yi. He flinched and, after a few seconds of hesitation, said, “I… I’ll pick Truth.”
The questioner knew someone in their group had been pursuing Yu Yi and asked with a grin, “Does Xiao Yi have someone he likes?”
Yu Yi shook his head but timidly asked, “Do idols count?”
The questioner perked up. “Who’s your idol?”
Yu Yi’s eyes sparkled. “Qi Changyi! I grew up listening to his songs!”
The group burst into laughter. Feng Zifan, noticing Yu Yi’s confusion, explained through his laughter, “Just don’t say that in front of Brother Qi. He debuted young and is only six or seven years older than you.”
Yu Yi realized his slip and blushed with embarrassment.
The questioner, however, quickly responded. “Using Brother Qi as an example… Does that mean you like guys?”
Yu Yi froze, his expression flustered as he instinctively looked toward their company boss.
His admirer noticed this and immediately intervened to ease the situation. “That’s a separate question, Brother. Xiao Yi, spin the bottle!”
The game continued for several more rounds, and the topic quickly shifted.
Finally, the bottle pointed to Xing Shi.
When Xing Shi met their collectively eager gazes, he smiled. “I’ll pick Dare.”
The group: “…”
Seriously?!
With Fu Xiuning sitting there watching, who would dare to mess with you?!
The person responsible for spinning the bottle felt Fu Xiuning’s gaze on them and opted for a safe, straightforward challenge.
Xing Shi calmly completed the task, spun the bottle casually, and continued the game.
The group quietly prepared themselves for the next round. After all, they’d already established a rule that players couldn’t repeat their choices, so the next time the bottle landed on Xing Shi, he’d have no choice but to pick Truth.
Five more rounds passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the bottle landed on Fu Xiuning, who also chose Dare and breezed through it effortlessly.
Two rounds later, the bottle finally pointed at Xing Shi again.
As luck would have it, it was Bei Jinrong who spun the bottle this time.
When Xing Shi picked Truth, Bei Jinrong clenched his fist under the table.
During a previous gathering, he’d overheard Yu Shu mention Xing Shi shooting a music video and learned that Xing Shi had no experience with romantic relationships.
Now, under Fu Xiuning’s watchful gaze, Bei Jinrong carefully phrased his question. “In terms of love, do you currently have someone you like, even just a little bit?”
Xing Shi stared at the table in front of him and remained silent for several seconds.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Fu Xiuning lifting his wine glass and taking a sip.
[Ding Ding]
[Current Favorability: 24]
The system exclaimed, “!”
It had been nervously waiting for Xing Shi’s answer, but upon hearing the notification, it was shocked. “What? Why?!”
Xing Shi snapped back to his senses and smiled inwardly.
If he had no one he liked, he’d simply say so. The fact that he hadn’t answered right away but instead hesitated spoke volumes.
He said, “I…”
Before he could finish, a familiar chuckle interrupted. “I’m not late, am I?”
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Yu Shu.
Their attention had been on Xing Shi moments ago, and since people had been moving to and from the restroom, they hadn’t noticed the figure approaching until he spoke.
Yu Shu noticed the bottle in the middle of the table and immediately understood what they were playing.
He was about to say he’d join in when he heard a familiar [Ding Ding] sound.
For a brief moment, both he and his system were delighted, thinking last time’s incident had been a fluke. But then the specific value registered in their minds.
[Current Favorability: -10]
Yu Shu: “!”
System: “…”
Yu Shu’s smile froze for a second. Fortunately, he was standing in a dimly lit spot, so no one noticed.
The group casually invited him to sit, shifting their focus back to Xing Shi and urging him to answer the question.
Yu Shu thought he’d identified the cause of the point deduction and pulled out a nearby chair, striving to sound natural. “What was the question?”
Xing Shi looked at him and answered obediently, “They asked if I have someone I like.”
Yu Shu’s grip on the chair tightened, and he thought to himself that no wonder Fu Xiuning had docked points.
He asked, “Oh? And do you?”
Xing Shi smiled blissfully. “Yes.”
[Ding Ding]
[Current Favorability: 25]
The system: “!!!”
Ahhh, it’s like celebrating the New Year—our host admitted it!
Although it’s probably just something he said for Yu Shu’s benefit, the system could still take it as real, right?
Yu Shu’s expression nearly cracked, but he forced a smile. “I remember when you were shooting the MV, you couldn’t even get into character.”
Xing Shi said gratefully, “That’s all thanks to the song Brother Yu wrote. I listened to it several times, gradually understood the emotions behind it, and realized I do have someone I like.”
Yu Shu’s rationality snapped entirely. In his mind, he roared, “Damn it!!!”
The system responded calmly, “…” before offering a reminder: “He’s deliberately saying this for you to hear. Please watch your language.”
Yu Shu growled, “I know that! But I can’t stand it!”
The system countered, “Then you’re falling into his trap. Are you okay with that?”
Yu Shu quickly calmed down, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. Then, with a composed smile, he said to Xing Shi, “Is that so? Congratulations.”
For a fleeting moment, Xing Shi felt a surge of killing intent. It passed so quickly it seemed like an illusion. Still, he smiled and said, “Thank you, Brother Yu.”
The game continued. Bei Jinrong, having heard Xing Shi’s answer, felt both dejected and faintly hopeful. What if Xing Shi didn’t like Fu Xiuning? Or what if Fu Xiuning didn’t actually have any feelings for Xing Shi?
That hope was quickly dashed.
Because the bottle landed on Fu Xiuning again, and with some trepidation, they asked him the same question.
Fu Xiuning replied calmly, “Yes.”
The second-generation elites: “!!!”
Even though they’d seen this coming, hearing it firsthand was still utterly shocking.
Yu Shu heard the answer clearly, and his emotions churned as he stared at the edge of the table, refusing to lift his head.
After uttering that single word, Fu Xiuning didn’t touch the bottle again. Instead, he said, “It’s getting late. Let’s end it here for tonight.”
No one objected. They all agreed and began to rise, heading back together.
Feng Zifan walked a few steps before glancing back to see Yu Shu still sitting there, hesitating.
Having spent so much time with Xing Shi, he’d come to understand a bit of his personality. While the back-and-forth between Xing Shi and Yu Shu had seemed fine on the surface, Feng Zifan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Yu Yi, noticing Feng Zifan’s pause, followed his gaze and also spotted Yu Shu. He called out, “Brother Yu, are you coming back?”
Yu Shu didn’t respond for a couple of seconds before lifting his head and smiling. “I just got here. I’d like to enjoy the sea breeze for a bit. You all go on ahead.”
Yu Yi nodded and turned back to follow the group.
Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning led the group at the front.
The two of them tacitly avoided mentioning the game. After entering the villa, they said their goodnights and returned to their rooms.
Xing Shi’s biological clock was regular, so he woke up early.
However, since they’d stayed up late the night before, he decided to let himself indulge in sleeping in for once. After heading downstairs for breakfast, he intended to go back to his room but ran into Yu Shu.
Yu Shu had taken extra care with his appearance, applying light makeup to look fresh and energetic.
He’d also carefully chosen his outfit, radiating star power from head to toe.
It was as though he’d completely forgotten the events of the previous night. He was exceptionally friendly toward Xing Shi, even warmer than before. Occasionally, there were even glimpses of affection in his demeanor.
Xing Shi decided against going back to sleep, choosing instead to see what Yu Shu was up to.
Fu Xiuning, an early riser himself, came downstairs to find the two of them heading toward the beach. He joined them without a word.
Yu Shu, however, acted as if Fu Xiuning didn’t exist and continued his warm chatter with Xing Shi. Xing Shi played along effortlessly, reciprocating with equal enthusiasm.
When Bei Jinrong and the others gradually woke up and made their way to the beach, they were greeted by this seemingly harmonious scene.
One of them scratched his chin and hesitated. “Am I imagining things, or does it look like… Yu Shu likes Xing Shi?”
Another chimed in, “It’s not impossible. Remember how he used to hover around him whenever we hung out?”
A third added, “And didn’t he hire Xing Shi to star in his MV?”
The rest of the group let out a collective “hiss,” thinking to themselves that Yu Shu might secretly be in love with Xing Shi.
But wait—didn’t Yu Shu say in interviews that he’d liked someone for a long time? Did he and Xing Shi know each other back then?
Uncertain, they decided to observe further.
Feng Zifan grew increasingly uneasy and wanted to ask Xing Shi about it. Unfortunately, Xing Shi was never alone, so he could only resort to texting him.
Xing Shi casually replied with a “Don’t worry” and expressed interest in trying wakeboarding.
Yu Shu volunteered to teach him, but when Xing Shi learned that Fu Xiuning knew how, he turned Yu Shu down and happily went with Fu Xiuning.
Yu Shu didn’t seem discouraged. When they returned, he immediately approached them again.
As evening fell, the group took a boat out to sea.
The seafood feast was the highlight of the trip and well worth its price. They dined while enjoying the sunset, continuing until night fell and fireworks lit up the sky.
As the night came to an end and they prepared to head back, Yu Shu turned to Xing Shi with an apprehensive and nervous tone. “Xing Shi… can I talk to you alone? I… I have something I want to tell you.”
The group instantly turned to look, their thoughts in sync: Could it be true? Is this another tiger trying to steal from the den?
Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning were sitting next to each other. They both looked up simultaneously.
Fu Xiuning asked, “What do you want to talk about? Count me in.”
Xing Shi was in the middle of biting into a piece of watermelon, and his response was delayed as he used a napkin to wipe his mouth.
After setting down the napkin, he looked up with an innocent expression. “Brother Yu, you’ve secretly loved my Brother for so long. Seeing him come here specifically because of me and hearing him admit last night that he has someone he likes—yet you don’t resent me and even spent the entire day acting alongside me. Don’t tell me this is all just to get me alone so you can push me into the sea and make it look like an accident?”
The group: “!!!”
Holy crap, that’s explosive!
They collectively held their breath, staring at the three of them.
Yu Shu’s expression froze, and his hand at his side clenched into a fist.
His system, which had spent the entire day asking him what he was up to, still hadn’t received an answer. Now, seeing his state, it asked, “Did he guess correctly?”
Yu Shu didn’t reply.
The system felt like digging into his brain and asked coldly, “You know he’s smart and can’t possibly miss that you’re acting. What exactly are you thinking?”
Yu Shu only had one thought: kill Xing Shi.
He wasn’t clever, but he knew that smart people were often arrogant.
Besides, he’d noticed Xing Shi liked to toy with people, so he’d deliberately played the clown all day, providing entertainment for Xing Shi to lower his guard. All so he could seize this moment.
But he hadn’t expected Xing Shi to anticipate even this.
Yu Shu forced himself to stay calm, unwilling to give up, and said in a low, dejected tone, “I do secretly like your Brother. I also know he might like you. I just want to talk to you. Can I?”
Xing Shi keenly sensed another wave of killing intent and chuckled. “Brother Yu, I’m not good with words, so don’t take offense.”
He casually draped an arm over Fu Xiuning’s chair and said, “My Brother is so outstanding that countless people like him. To him, you’re just a background character, no different from the flowers and grass. Do you think your unrequited love makes you special enough to influence his life?”
There was a sharpness in his eyes. “Stop deluding yourself. Your crush is your own business. What right or position do you have to come and talk to me about it?”
It was a public humiliation, witnessed by everyone.
Yu Shu’s face twisted momentarily, and he almost lost control, ready to make a move.
His system, knowing his temper, immediately activated a Level 1 punishment.
Yu Shu trembled, his face paling slightly, but he continued to glare at Xing Shi without moving.
Xing Shi took it all in, deciding the timing was just right.
Leisurely, he stood up. “But I’m a kind-hearted person, so I’ll give you the chance to talk to me alone.”
