Outrageous Nonsense!

Tang Li had originally wanted to use a little finesse to take a jab at Wen Shuang, but he never expected Xuan Zhe not to buy it at all. He did not have the nerve to test him a second time and left with his head lowered, looking utterly defeated.

Zheng Yuanfei and Lu Li followed close behind.

Lu Li's expression suggested that this had caught him somewhat off guard. He had indeed been targeted by the original owner of this body and instinctively feared him. At the same time, he knew full well that Wen Shuang should have long since been despised by everyone. Yet judging by President Xuan's attitude, he seemed to value him greatly?

Once the door closed, the office fell silent. Before Xuan Zhe could speak, Wen Shuang took two steps forward and pulled him into a hug.

Although, on the surface, Wen Shuang was the one pursuing Xuan Zhe, the young man was rarely this proactive. There was a trace of abandon after fright, like a child terrified of losing something he cherished.

"What's wrong?" Xuan Zhe gently stroked Wen Shuang's back, his heart aching for him.

After a moment, Wen Shuang said, "Do you think Lu Li is pretty great?"

Xuan Zhe frowned slightly. "Answer me one question first. The Lu Li you mean—is he the one Tang Li just brought in?"

Wen Shuang: "...Yes."

Xuan Zhe was puzzled. "Why would I think Lu Li is pretty great?"

Because he's the protagonist bottom! He has the Everyone's Favorite attribute!! Wen Shuang roared inwardly, but muttered aloud, "He's good-looking, and he has a good personality. He never makes things difficult for anyone, um... Anyway, he's great in every way." That was more or less how he had been described in the original novel.

Xuan Zhe could bear it no longer. He lifted Wen Shuang's chin slightly and studied him seriously. "I think you really need to see an eye doctor."

Wen Shuang: "..." Fine. He was no longer worried at all—he was even a little angry.

"At best, he looks delicate. He doesn't come anywhere close to the word 'good-looking.'" Xuan Zhe rubbed the red mole on the young man's right earlobe, thinking that Wen Shuang was the best-looking one. "Whether his personality is good has nothing to do with me, and as for being great in every way, that's even more absurd. Wen Shuang..." He leaned closer. "What are you worried about?"

Wen Shuang's gaze darted away. "I'm just afraid you'll fall for someone else."

"Nonsense." Xuan Zhe fixed his eyes on him. "Power One has plenty of artists, yet you're especially concerned about Lu Li."

Wen Shuang: "..." Did he have to be so perceptive?

"I..." Wen Shuang had just gone through something harrowing, and now that he had calmed down, his brain was not working too well. He could not think of a suitable excuse right away.

"Enough." Xuan Zhe stopped there. "Tell me when you want to."

He had always known that Wen Shuang carried many secrets. He was willing to wait.

Wen Shuang hugged Xuan Zhe tightly around the waist and rubbed his face fiercely against his chest. "You're so good."

Wen Shuang had asked Zhu Lian for leave and did not go downstairs. Instead, he lay wrapped in a blanket in the adjoining room while Xuan Zhe worked beside him with a laptop in his arms. Behind him was a patch of blue sky beyond the window. Wen Shuang blinked very slowly, thinking, As expected of my boyfriend. The protagonist bottom's halo is useless.

Lu Li made his high-profile return, gilded with the prestige of having returned from overseas studies. His fans had already been eagerly awaiting him, and now they were practically over the moon. Three trending topics shot up in a row. One was Zheng Yuanfei reposting Lu Li's Weibo with the caption [Welcome back], along with a hugging emoji. Rumors had long linked the two romantically, and their fans had always gotten along well. With this little episode, they were singing and dancing in the public square, devouring Zheng-Lu CP content with wild enthusiasm.

Just then, a marketing account with one hundred thousand followers suddenly broke some news. Its wording hinted that a recently popular newcomer had once pursued Zheng Yuanfei, using all sorts of methods, and was nothing like the innocent, harmless person seen on screen. The target range was far too narrow. Within ten minutes, the name "Wen Shuang" began appearing everywhere.

Wen Shuang's fans were suddenly dragged into it and were completely baffled: Huh?

The marketing account spoke with great confidence, and some passersby following the trend and antis immediately jumped out.

[I've always thought Wen Shuang was forcing a persona. Those previous recordings were probably all arranged by the production team. Otherwise, how could someone be so lucky? Things no one else could find, he could find? It's like he has cheat codes.]

[I've never been into Wen Shuang's looks. Thinking about it now, I feel like the word "fake" is written all over his face.]

Seeing the momentum build, the marketing account immediately pinned the post and let the situation ferment.

The entertainment industry had always been like this. Whether someone had done anything wrong or not, being popular was the original sin. Unknowingly, Wen Shuang had blocked the paths of countless people.

In less than an hour, #WenShuang and #ZhengYuanfei trended one after the other. Comments surged beneath them. No matter how strong Wen Shuang's momentum was, he could not possibly compete with Zheng Yuanfei. Their fanbases differed by dozens of times over. To the toxic solo fans and Zheng-Lu CP shippers, Wen Shuang was no different from a "mistress" who had suddenly squeezed in.

What was going on? They had just been celebrating Wen Shuang, and then he immediately started trying to make himself known. Even clout-chasing had rules, didn't it?

[Some people really should look at who they're trying to get famous off. Zheng Yuanfei and Lu Li's relationship—those who get it, get it.]

[Exactly. Can't you stand seeing other people happy? What a dark mind.]

Some of Wen Shuang's more hot-tempered fans fought back, but their firepower was insufficient. They were pinned to the ground and mocked mercilessly.

At the critical moment, someone stepped in.

Jiang Ning V: [Hiss~ With the relationship between Wen Shuang and me, I've never heard of him pursuing anyone.] Actually, I know, but I can't expose it. Sob sob sob~

Jiang Ning's manager sprinted from the first floor to the nineteenth. If not for his assistant stopping him, he would have lost his mind and rushed up the stairs to snatch the phone away.

Of course, by the time he took the elevator up and tried to order Jiang Ning to delete the Weibo post, it was already too late. In just three minutes, reposts had exceeded ten thousand. The "Shuang-Ning" and "Ning-Shuang" shippers emerged upon hearing the news and immediately formed an opposing front against Zheng Yuanfei's fans.

[I'm seriously confused. Are there really this many people these days with underdeveloped brains? Someone lights a spark and you instantly turn into a gun, going rat-a-tat-tat. Does having a mouth make you that proud? What if it's a misunderstanding? Are you little bastards going to apologize afterward?]

[Apologize? What apology? Aren't Zheng Yuanfei's fans famous for being stubborn to the end? Two years ago, Lu Li had a conflict with an artist on a variety show. Zheng Yuanfei personally jumped in—what deep brotherhood~ His fans swarmed in behind him and cyberbullied that person for three days! Kept beating a dead horse for a week! And what happened? In the end, footage came out showing Lu Li had fallen down the stairs himself. That artist never even touched him. Did they apologize afterward? No.]

As soon as this was said, Zheng Yuanfei's incident of "flying into a rage for his beloved" was brought up again. Back then, Lu Li had been injured, and perhaps Zheng Yuanfei had been too worried to think clearly. In any case, after hearing a few staff members at the scene stir up trouble, he immediately blasted a male artist onto the trending topics. That person's situation had been similar to Wen Shuang's now. His prospects had originally been promising, but after that incident, his resources were affected and he gradually faded from view.

[Oh, I get it now. Zheng Yuanfei is the crown prince of the entertainment industry. Don't offend the crown prince unless you want to be "blacklisted." You should've said so earlier. This humble subject respectfully invites His Majesty to ascend the throne! Ptooey!]

[Could someone be targeting Wen Shuang? I quite like this artist.]

[The commenter above has hit the truth.]

Zhu Lian was about to call Xuan Zhe when the situation unexpectedly developed in an entirely different direction.

"My goodness, a genuine Koi Physique." Zhu Lian sighed. In a situation like this, unless one was a major star, an ordinary artist would simply be bullied to death by Zheng Yuanfei.

Someone from the PR department came over and looked at Zhu Lian in confusion. "What's going on? Did you buy internet trolls? We haven't even released our press copy yet."

Zhu Lian shook her head. "No..."

Lu Li browsed the comments online, his brows drawing tighter and tighter. The dim blue light cast across his face, revealing a gloominess entirely unlike his usual self.

Back then, when that male artist had been wrongfully accused, Lu Li had not stepped forward to explain immediately because he had been unconscious in a hospital bed. He had wanted to make amends afterward, but Zheng Yuanfei had said there was no need, so he had not taken it to heart. Lu Li had always trusted his lover deeply. He never expected it to become a stain against him.

And there was also...

How long had he even been gone? How had Wen Shuang's popularity suddenly grown so high?

"Stop looking." Zheng Yuanfei took Lu Li's phone away and brushed his cheek with his hand. "I can handle it. Trust me."

Lu Li sighed and returned to his usual gentle, harmless manner. "These people really are... They don't know the truth at all."

"Isn't the internet always like this?" Zheng Yuanfei sneered.

When Wen Shuang rubbed his eyes and woke from his nap, the marketing account had already deleted its Weibo post. Online opinion was split down the middle, and he had won without lifting a finger.

Wen Shuang stared at his phone for a long while and felt that he could not just sit around waiting.

Jiang Ning had already waded in. He had to make a statement too.

Wen Shuang informed Zhu Lian, then posted on Weibo as well.

Wen Shuang V: [Outrageous nonsense!]

Zhu Lian: "..." I thought you were going to write some deeply moving essay. That's it?!

Wen Shuang's fans had originally been angry, but the moment they saw those four words, they burst out laughing.

[Shuang baby is so cute, ahhhhh!]

[Expanded translation of "outrageous nonsense": Don't know him! Never pursued him! Get lost!]

Wen Shuang was not afraid of Zheng Yuanfei saying anything. Zheng Yuanfei cared most about Lu Li's feelings. In the past, he had desperately wanted to distance himself from the original owner, terrified that even a little contact would leave him unable to shake him off. He would never come out and confront him at a time like this.

Wen Shuang had guessed correctly. Zheng Yuanfei's expression changed the moment he saw the Weibo post. He gritted his teeth and endured it for a long time before finally giving up.

As long as he drew a clear line today, if anyone used this matter against him someday in the future, Wen Shuang would have more than enough reason to turn black into white. He had finally understood that, as cannon fodder in this book, he could not have even the slightest connection to the protagonist couple!

That evening, at Clear Day Manor.

After handling the matter online, Wen Shuang tossed aside his phone, rolled over, and burrowed into Xuan Zhe's arms. President Xuan was looking over reports and naturally lifted him a little higher. "Do you really not need my help?"

"See? I handled it all." Wen Shuang was not someone who let others knead him as they pleased. When it was time to fight back, he would not hold back in the slightest.

Xuan Zhe's fingertips lightly circled Wen Shuang's shoulder, carrying a sense of leisure and satisfaction. Drawing a clear line meant Zheng Yuanfei held no place in Wen Shuang's heart. For that alone, if Wen Shuang wanted to blast Zheng Yuanfei into the sky, Xuan Zhe would personally light the fuse.

Power One did not lack a Zheng Yuanfei. Sometimes, these artists were lifted too high by their fans and became somewhat full of themselves. They simply could not imagine how easy it was for an entertainment company to create a god.

"There's an auction tomorrow night. Come with me," Xuan Zhe said softly.

Wen Shuang did not hesitate much. "Okay."

It was a charity auction. Some people sought prestige, while others loved collectibles. Xuan Zhe had donated a sizable sum and was treated like an honored guest.

Before the auction officially began, there was a small reception. Everyone was dressed extravagantly, with flawless smiles on their faces, while Wen Shuang stuffed pastries into his mouth in a corner.

Cao Nanyu had come along today as well. He stood beside Xuan Zhe, and when President Xuan finally looked toward Wen Shuang, he thought, Oh my god, you finally noticed he's embarrassing us.

Xuan Zhe spoke quietly. "Bring him another plate. I don't think Wen Shuang has had enough."

Cao Nanyu: "..."

Li Junshan was also present today. The young master still had that air of looking down on heaven and earth, his chin raised at everyone. He had originally been over ten meters away from Wen Shuang, but he kept moving closer until he finally tapped one hand against the table before him. "Stop eating. Can we have a little dignity?"

"Can't I eat?" Wen Shuang said as he stuffed another one into his mouth. "Xuan Zhe didn't call me over. He even had Assistant Cao bring me another plate. Want some?"

Li Junshan: "..." There was a lot to unpack in those words, and he did not process them immediately.

Li Junshan's attitude toward Wen Shuang had changed somewhat, mainly because this person had spared no effort in helping Yu Feng. If he had only been putting on an act, there was no need for him to suffer those previous grievances. Now Yu Feng's career had improved greatly and was getting on track, yet Wen Shuang had not gone up to claim credit. Instead, he had stayed far away.

Wen Shuang was mainly afraid that Yu Feng would suddenly punch him.

This sudden change was exactly what Young Master Li valued most: loyalty. His feelings immediately became complicated. He did not want to pay attention to Wen Shuang, but whenever he saw him, he could not stop himself from walking over.

"Did you know Yu Feng's mother woke up?" Li Junshan asked.

Wen Shuang paused, then nodded. "I knew." He had been following the hospital's updates all along.

Those words left Li Junshan speechless again. He could actually see a trace of sincerity in Wen Shuang's silence.

Li Junshan had nothing else to say. Finally, he gave a cold snort through his nose. "Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

Li Junshan: "Hm?"

He and Wen Shuang turned their heads at the same time and saw someone standing three meters away. He had regular features and a tall build, his face full of disdain and his eyes cold.

Wen Shuang lightly nudged Li Junshan. "Your enemy?"

Li Junshan denied it. "Zhong Ming and I have never even been close. Where would an enmity come from?"

Wen Shuang's expression changed slightly. "Zhong Ming? Ming as in 'remember'?"

Li Junshan laughed. "What, you even know that? Planning to keep another fish?"

The pastry in Wen Shuang's hand suddenly lost all appeal. Zhong Ming—the third most important supporting character who had knelt at Lu Li's feet in the original novel. If Wen Shuang merely could not stand Zheng Yuanfei, then for Zhong Ming, he felt contempt mixed with a few traces of admiration. To put it bluntly, this man was an unprecedented, never-before-seen, utterly bizarre... simp.

There was a scene in the original novel that Wen Shuang remembered vividly. After Lu Li seriously stated that he liked Zheng Yuanfei, Zhong Ming finally figured things out. He no longer simped for Lu Li alone. Instead, he loved Lu Li and everything associated with him, turning Zheng Yuanfei from a romantic rival into a "blood brother." For a while, Lu Li and Zheng Yuanfei joined the same production. Zhong Ming brought them meals and even remembered to make Zheng Yuanfei's portion extra spicy with fewer scallions...

Later, when the two traveled abroad, Zhong Ming booked their plane tickets several times and even planned their itineraries.

Wen Shuang could not understand what exactly this guy wanted.

Zhong Ming walked over, so Li Junshan naturally greeted him. "Hello, Brother Zhong."

Zhong Ming nodded, his cool, indifferent gaze falling on Wen Shuang.

Wen Shuang was still too immersed in the plot to pull himself out and directly called Zhong Ming by the nickname readers had given him. "Hello, Dog Bro."

Zhong Ming: "?"

Li Junshan: "..." That's bold, brother!

Wen Shuang: "..." This goddamn plot!