Shen Qing, Come Out and Take Your Scolding!

--[President Duan's WeChat.]

Right after that, the other party recommended a contact card. The profile picture had a very minimalist style, and the WeChat name was a string of gibberish.

Song Mingzhou immediately sat up straight. He hadn't managed to add Duan Xun's WeChat these past few days and only had his phone number. Was Duan Xun taking the initiative to add him now?

After adding him as a friend.

Song Mingzhou, mindful of his status as a kept lover, took the initiative to send a message:

--[Big brother.]

A minute later, the other side replied: [Mm.]

Still so brief.

Sigh.

Song Mingzhou proactively reported in: [I'm joining a production in a couple of days. It's an idol drama, and I'm playing the third male lead.]

--[Mm.]

--[Is there anything big brother wants to tell me?]

This time, the other side paused for longer. About three minutes later, he replied: [Stay safe.]

"Pfft."

Song Mingzhou pictured Duan Xun sitting coolly and arrogantly at the head of his bed, wearing that lazy, seductive face as he typed on his phone and reminded his little lover to be careful.

Tsk.

That was really interesting.

Song Mingzhou chatted with him for a while before going to take a shower.

Three days later, he officially joined the production.

There hadn't even been an audition, so it probably wasn't a particularly good show. These popularity-driven dramas existed solely to boost people and had no real meaning. The person this drama was boosting was Shen Qing.

The two of them encountered each other on set, exactly as expected.

Song Mingzhou wasn't surprised, and neither was Shen Qing. He seemed to have known Song Mingzhou would be here.

"Mingzhou."

Shen Qing took the initiative to greet him, his face wearing its usual gentle smile. In comparison, Song Mingzhou appeared much colder and more indifferent.

He gave a slight nod. "Mm."

Shen Qing seemed unable to see the coldness in his eyes and continued trying to get close to him. "Have you been all right these past few days?"

Song Mingzhou:?

What could possibly have happened to him?

Seeing Song Mingzhou looking at him as if he were an idiot, Shen Qing bit his lip. He seemed to want to say something several times, but ultimately said nothing, his probing gaze settling on Song Mingzhou.

[ Ding, a plot point has been triggered. In response to Shen Qing's question, the host must sarcastically insult him and ensure at least two people on set overhear it. ]

Song Mingzhou narrowed his eyes. Little 7, what did he mean by that?

Since this mission had appeared, Shen Qing's words had to have been loaded.

527 answered swiftly: The male lead, Gu Yanting, mentioned in an online interview the scene where he carried Shen Qing out. He confessed, saying that he liked Shen Qing and was pursuing him.

A confession?

Song Mingzhou thought hazily, Didn't I remember it saying before that Shen Qing and Gu Yanting went public after the house fire incident?

Whatever. It didn't matter.

Shen Qing looked at him again with feigned concern. "Don't overthink it. Yanting only said that because..."

"Because of what?"

Song Mingzhou looked him over with amusement. Caught off guard by that icy gaze, Shen Qing felt the hairs on his back stand up, and he actually became a little afraid.

Biting his lip, he said, "Are you still blaming me? Feelings can't be forced. Yanting really doesn't like you."

"Heh~"

A pleased chuckle reached his ears. Shen Qing looked into the young man's smiling face in confusion, dazed for a moment before the young man raised a brow and said:

"Is your brain full of digested grains? A pile of shit attracts flies, but eagles don't like it. Understand?"

Shen Qing's face went cold.

Song Mingzhou happily slipped both hands into his pockets, listening closely to the movement around them. Once he found the right moment, he raised his voice a little more:

"Don't shove the trash you picked up in front of me and disgust me with it. I'm not interested, so take your secondhand trash and get lost."

The sentence was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for two or three people to hear it.

Two were their assistants, and the other was the drama's second male lead, who happened to be walking over and heard it too.

[ Ding, host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully repaired. Current mission progress: 12/100. ]

Qin Xiao was stunned. His curious eyes traveled back and forth between them as he walked over. "What are you two talking about? Did you get into a fight?"

"..."

"..."

His emotional intelligence was worrying.

Shen Qing barely managed to put his gentle smile back on. He glanced at Song Mingzhou and said, "No, Mingzhou and I..."

"Don't call me that so intimately." Song Mingzhou was utterly blunt. "We're not close, and it makes me sick."

"..."

Shen Qing's smile still looked like it was about to crack. He took a breath and suppressed his anger before changing his words. "All right, Teacher Song. See you later, then. I'll be going first."

Song Mingzhou ignored him.

Qin Xiao was dumbfounded. He silently gave Song Mingzhou a thumbs-up. "Badass."

Song Mingzhou: "?"

[ Ding, a plot point has been triggered. Find out Qin Xiao's personal information and spread bad things about Shen Qing with him. Start stirring things up. ]

Song Mingzhou casually asked, "It's nothing. I just don't get along with him. He interfered in my relationship—you should have seen the news."

Qin Xiao:?? Even more badass.

They'd just met, and he could say something like that?

Song Mingzhou continued, "Oh, right, what's your name? You look familiar. You must be a good person."

Qin Xiao was quite pleased by that. His eyes immediately crinkled into a smile. "Hahaha, I'm Qin Xiao. I play the second male lead. I did see a little of the news about you guys. What happened?"

Gossip.

Song Mingzhou sighed and lowered his head dejectedly. With just the right embellishments and deliberate gaps, he told his own "tragic story," touching on everything without saying too much and leaving plenty to the imagination.

"Fuck!"

Qin Xiao slapped his thigh in anger. "I knew it! I thought something was off when I saw the news before. And when I watched that livestream variety show of yours, I knew you weren't that kind of person."

[ Ding, host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully repaired. Current mission progress: 13/100. ]

Song Mingzhou was a little surprised. "You watched it?"

"Of course I did." Qin Xiao sounded a little proud. "It was the first variety show our boss took part in, so naturally I had to watch it. By the way, you're pretty close with our boss, huh?"

Boss?

Who was that?

527: Duan Xun. He's an artist under Duan Xun's company, and Duan Xun is his boss.

[...]

No wonder the system had told him to complain about Shen Qing to this guy and spread rumors. So there was this connection—was it trying to add another layer to Duan Xun's villain filter?

Song Mingzhou was a little unhappy, and even his tone became less enthusiastic. "We're all right. Teacher Duan is a very warm and humble senior."

Qin Xiao's eyes nearly popped out. "Warm?? Humble???"

Was he really talking about the President Duan Qin Xiao knew??

Of course he was.

President Duan was blazing hot.

"What are you spacing out for?" Duan Xun pinched his soft waist in dissatisfaction. He didn't use much force, but Song Mingzhou still cooperatively cried out in pain.

He immediately pretended to be weak. "Nothing. I met someone from your company today."

Duan Xun raised a brow. "Oh? What did you talk about?"

Should I tell him the truth?

In the original plot, the original owner probably wasn't as shameless as me. He probably hadn't climbed into bed that many times. Tsk, unlike me—I already climbed into bed. Should I get ahead of it and complain first?

Although Shen Qing started it today, I insulted him and spread bad things about him. What if that Duan dog wants to protect his Shen Qing?

No, I need to accuse him before he can accuse me!

"Ahem."

Song Mingzhou put on a pitiful, wronged expression and weakly looped his arms around Duan Xun's neck. The reddened corners of his eyes tilted up in an exactly perfect curve.

"Big brother, Shen Qing scolded me again today."

"Oh?" Duan Xun suppressed the urge to curl his lips upward. Maintaining his cold, languid demeanor, he asked the little pet in his arms, "What did he scold you for?"

"He scolded me... umm..."