Hello, Fall Guy!

The Marriage of the Elite production team worked efficiently. As soon as the guests decided where to meet the parents, the staff rushed out and arrived to set up the filming location.

Yan Siming had just gotten out of international school when he saw them. Looking utterly confused, he asked the cameraman, "What are you doing?"

"Are you here to interview my dad?"

"My eldest brother's scandal has already blown over? That's great!"

"I knew it. My eldest brother is so much like Dad—how could he possibly...?"

"Little one, this isn't an interview," the cameraman said with a smile, bending down slightly. "We're from the elite family show. We're here to film the part where the couple meets each other's parents."

The moment Yan Siming heard that, his little face dropped. "Is the Yan Family some place you stray cats and dogs can just come to?"

"What trashy variety show. You're just using elite families as a gimmick. Get out of here. The Yan Family doesn't welcome you!"

His sudden arrogance left the cameraman stunned. Why is this kid so damn annoying? With all that money, this is what they raised... The words reached his lips but went unspoken. The Yan Group was too powerful; ordinary people like them could not afford to offend it.

Compared to him, Young Master Song Yichuan was far more approachable. He had even worried that they might overwork him.

The difference in manners between rich second-generation kids is really fucking huge!

The cameraman grumbled to himself.

"Hey, can't you understand what I'm saying?"

When Yan Siming saw that the cameraman showed no intention of leaving and even seemed to be staring him down, his temper flared. He swung his schoolbag and smashed it toward the camera.

"Hmph! If you don't leave, I'll wreck all your machines!"

"Hey!"

The cameraman dodged backward.

"Don't mess around, kid. We're livestreaming right now—"

"I don't care whether you're livestreaming or not. Get the hell out!"

Yan Siming was like a crazed little lion.

The livestream viewers immediately began discussing it.

"Holy crap, is that the Yan Family's youngest son?"

"Why is he so crazy? Is he even worse than the rest?"

"Could this be because of the Yan Family scandal?"

"I heard he's closest to the eldest, Yan Tiancheng. The scandal hasn't been confirmed yet, but looking at this... it's probably true."

"Oh? The Yan Family still has the mood to host a production crew? I really didn't expect that."

"Maybe the Yan Family wants to use this chance to clear things up?"

"Yan Siming, stop making trouble!"

A grim, stern voice rang out in the courtyard. The child who had been called instantly froze, standing where he was with his head lowered in dejection.

"Oh, Dad, I was just—"

"In the Yan Family, it isn't your turn to speak."

Yan Qudong rebuked him coldly, displaying the full authority of someone in power. "Go back inside and do your homework."

"Oh, got it."

Though Yan Siming agreed, he was clearly unwilling. He bared his teeth at the cameraman before heading toward the villa along the pebble path.

Once the disturbance had temporarily settled, Yan Qudong put on a smile. "Everyone, you've worked hard. Please continue setting up."

As he spoke, he looked again toward the electric gate.

"Jinyu and Yichuan will still need a little while to get here, right?"

The cameraman checked his watch. "Ah, they should be here soon. Probably another five minutes."

"Good, good, good!"

Yan Qudong said "good" three times in a row, making his eager anticipation obvious.

He had long heard that enormous gossip could be heard around Song Yichuan. The ugly business in their family had been exposed by him. It was hateful, but valuable—and quite miraculous. If Song Yichuan could be used by him, it would practically be like gaining an intelligence network.

As Yan Qudong mulled it over, a black nanny van came into view and stopped before the open electric gate.

His eyes lit up. "They're here."

Yan Jinyu was the first to get out. When his long legs touched the ground, his bony, slender ankles were revealed. A sweep of his cold gaze immediately landed on Yan Qudong in the courtyard.

He pressed his lips together, his expression carrying a hint of distance. He seemed not to be close with this father of his.

The two stared at each other for several seconds. Looking slightly awkward, Yan Qudong shifted his gaze past him. The moment Song Yichuan poked his head out, Yan Qudong enthusiastically stepped forward.

"You must be Yichuan. Welcome, welcome!"

Yan Qudong's smile was kindly and gentle, making him look easy to get along with.

"Come in, come in! Dinner is already prepared!"

"President Yan sure knows how to change faces. He was so fierce when he was yelling at his son just now, and now he's acting like a smiling old auntie."

"Song Yichuan being so highly ranked on this romance show is one thing, but he's also this beloved in wealthy circles? Could he be holding some kind of group darling script?"

"President Yan is nothing like the rumors. Didn't they say he was arrogant and looked down on everyone?"

"Why does he look like some friendly old uncle in front of Song Yichuan? There's not even a trace of domineering CEO aura left."

"This Song Yichuan really has something."

Song Yichuan had barely stepped out of the car when he saw the smiling tiger trying to come at him face-to-face. The excessive enthusiasm made him uncomfortable.

"Um... stand there and talk."

Suddenly ordered around, Yan Qudong froze where he stood. From this far away, can I still hear his thoughts?

The next second, So this is the fall guy who raised someone else's son for over twenty years without realizing it. Nice to meet you.

Yan Qudong's smile stiffened on his face. This time, he was certain—he could hear Song Yichuan's thoughts even from two steps away.

"Dad, dinner is ready. If we don't go eat now, won't it get cold?"

Hearing that, Yan Qudong turned around and immediately saw the illegitimate son he usually disliked, a faint curve hanging at the corner of his lips.

Hmph, hmph. Could that mocking look on your face be any more obvious?

He was extremely displeased, but with the legendary Gossip King present, he could not show it. He could only agree, "The food won't taste good once it's cold. Let's go inside."

Song Yichuan, already so hungry that his mind was blank, heard there was food to eat and unconsciously quickened his pace. Before long, he entered the villa's dining room. Sweeping his gaze over it, he was suddenly shocked. Good lord, there are more people than dishes. Will I even be able to grab any food later?

Is this old fall guy deliberately setting me up?

Song Yichuan thought, He is Yan Jinyu's father, after all. I shouldn't curse him so harshly. So he changed his wording at the last moment.

"Yichuan, let me introduce you."

Yan Qudong took a deep breath and tried hard to steady his emotions. "This is my younger sister, Yan Quxue. You can call her Auntie."

The extravagantly dressed middle-aged woman curved her lips, her expression haughty and contemptuous.

"You're Song Yichuan?"

As she spoke, she looked him up and down. "You seem pretty ordinary. Those rumors must be made up. You're not nearly as amazing as they say."

"Hello, Auntie Yan. I'm indeed pretty ordinary, but you're not ordinary at all. The huge gossip on you is about to explode!"

What was it again? Let me take a look.

The moment Yan Quxue heard that, panic flashed across her face. She tried to stop him, only to realize it was futile, because Song Yichuan's thoughts had already sounded in everyone's ears.

Hey, found it?

No, no, no. Hahahaha... no, no, no, let me laugh for a moment first.

Everyone in the dining room widened their eyes, ready to feast on gossip.

Wow, don't you understand that shared joy is better than enjoying it alone?