They were all afraid that following the trail would implicate them.
By the time Xu Chun saw the news, it was already being reported on television. He was having dinner at Xie Jianyuan's house, because after eating the noodles Xu Chun had cooked, Xie Jianyuan had decided that Xu Chun could come over for meals whenever he had nothing to do.
Xu Chun politely declined for a while, then, judging that he had held out long enough, promptly accepted.
The host on television was reporting on Lu Xian with fervor. Xu Chun listened absentmindedly.
He was indeed behind it.
He had given Lu Xian a taste of his own medicine, but he wasn't stupid enough to think he could bring someone down with unfounded photos, as Lu Xian had.
He knew Lu Xian was having an affair with a married company executive, and that there was more than one man behind him. All he had to do was pay off a paparazzo to take intimate photos of Lu Xian and the executive. But instead of posting them online himself, he sent them to the executive's wife's phone.
Lu Xian had many patrons keeping him, and Xu Chun had chosen this one because his wife was particularly formidable. Her family had made its fortune in the underworld and had gone legitimate, doing business all these years, but its resources were still there.
Xu Chun had also stayed in touch with Xiao Qi, the assistant Lu Xian had taken from him. He knew that Lu Xian hadn't treated her well after taking her away. Because he didn't trust her, he had kept her around as a mere figurehead and quietly ostracized her.
Xu Chun had also instructed the assistant named Xiao Qi to record the video and post it online.
That was how one truly made sure someone could never recover.
On television, the entertainment news host reported on Lu Xian with fervor, beneath a headline in large, bold letters: "Entertainment world shaken."
Xu Chun listened distractedly, looking down as he continued peeling an orange. When he saw Xie Jianyuan coming out of the kitchen carrying a dish, he paused in surprise.
He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed Xie Jianyuan. Eating at someone else's house while letting the host carry the food out, Xu Chun couldn't help blushing. He hurriedly stood up to take the dish from him.
"It's fine." Xie Jianyuan stepped around him, smiling to show he didn't mind. His gaze fell on the orange in Xu Chun's hand, and a thought occurred to him. As if joking, he said, "I was just about to have an orange."
He raised the plate in his hands, indicating that his hands were full.
Xu Chun already felt guilty, so when Xie Jianyuan gestured like that, he thought nothing of it. He pulled off an orange segment and popped it into his mouth.
Before he could pull his fingers back, he felt his fingertips brush against moist lips. Warm breath swept over them, making them tingle.
For some reason, Xu Chun felt the backs of his ears grow hot. He tried to withdraw his hand in a fluster, but then, suddenly, for some reason, his whole body stiffened.
He... licked... me!
The tip of Xie Jianyuan's tongue seemed to brush his fingertips inadvertently, instantly raising goosebumps all over Xu Chun. He quickly pulled his hand back, nearly dropping the rest of the orange.
Xie Jianyuan savored the rare sight of his embarrassment. His dark eyes deepened, and the smile on his lips grew wider.
"Brother Chun, what's wrong?"
Looking at Xie Jianyuan's oblivious expression, Xu Chun couldn't help silently berating himself.
Xie Jianyuan was a straight man. He probably hadn't even noticed what had happened, while Xu Chun had made a fuss over nothing.
"...Nothing."
Xie Jianyuan smiled. "Then let's eat."
The host on television had reached the most exciting part of the report, unwilling to leave out even the details in the video.
Xu Chun watched as he ate, thinking that Su Li would have her hands full these next few days. He just didn't know what the company would do with Lu Xian.
Suddenly, Xie Jianyuan gave a questioning hum, his tone rising slightly as he frowned at the person in the video.
"Isn't that Lu Xian?"
Xu Chun paused. He had almost forgotten that Lu Xian and Xie Jianyuan knew each other. In his previous life, Lu Xian had stuck very close to Xie Jianyuan, presumably because he had learned about his background.
"He doesn't seem like that kind of person," Xie Jianyuan murmured to himself with a puzzled frown.
Xu Chun sneered inwardly, then set his chopsticks across his bowl and turned to Xie Jianyuan with a smile. "Then what kind of person do I seem like?" he asked gently.
Xie Jianyuan said nothing.
His instincts told him this was a fatal question.
Chapter 23: Sasaeng Fan [Complete Chapter]
But it only took an instant to turn a fatal question into a chance to score points.
Xie Jianyuan thought for a moment, then smiled at Xu Chun, showing a row of white teeth.
"Brother Chun is naturally the best."
Xu Chun smiled gently. He had only wanted to tease Xie Jianyuan because he was a little unhappy to hear him say that about Lu Xian. He hadn't expected Xie Jianyuan to take him seriously, and seeing him gazing at him so intently, Xu Chun couldn't help examining his own behavior.
"I was joking." Xu Chun shifted the cat on his lap, turning it over to scratch its belly.
Xie Jianyuan was sitting beside him too. He reached out to stroke the cat. "Haven't you gotten thinner lately?"
Xu Chun gave a puzzled hum, then picked Zora up and held her above his head. He examined her carefully for a moment but saw nothing.
"I don't think so."
"No." Xie Jianyuan chuckled softly by his ear, his voice gentle, as though afraid of disturbing something. "I meant you."
"Me?" Xu Chun looked at him in confusion. "Have I?"
"Of course you have." Xie Jianyuan looked at him seriously and reached out to touch his slender arm. "Your arms have gotten thinner, and your chin is pointier too."
Xu Chun touched his chin and gave a little hum. "I lost a little weight for my new role."
He hadn't noticed that Xie Jianyuan was still holding his arm. Only when he felt the warmth of their skin touching did he frown and try to pull his arm away.
Seeing him frown, Xie Jianyuan obediently let go.
Xu Chun rubbed his wrist and joked, "Come to think of it, I owe you quite a few favors. Looks like I'll have plenty to repay in the future."
He was always eating at Xie Jianyuan's house, and Xie Jianyuan had helped him out of a difficult situation too. Whenever he thought of the hostility he had originally held toward him, he couldn't help berating himself for judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.
Xie Jianyuan said nothing, only giving him an unreadable smile.