If Xie Chen Weren't Such an Eyesore, It Would Be Even Better!

Morning sunlight bathed the backward village.

The smell of manure lingered at the tip of his nose.

And—

The breathtakingly beautiful face before him.

Xie Chen did find it somewhat familiar, like a memory sealed away in some corner that he could not recall for the moment.

Still, he did not dwell on it. Keeping his guard up, he put some distance between himself and Huo Wenye. "I remember the production team has a rule that guests can't interact with observers. Sorry, but to avoid suspicion, I should get going."

With that, Xie Chen was about to take a step forward.

To his surprise, Huo Wenye moved faster and blocked his path, looming over him with his half-head height advantage. "What rule? Why haven't I heard of it? Aren't you looking for breakfast vouchers? I still haven't sorted out my breakfast. Why don't we go together?"

The distinguished Buddha-like figure of Beijing's elite circle was being far too proactive, startling Xie Chen.

He drew his head back, distancing himself from that scorching breath as his mind immediately raced.

What does this big shot mean? Could this be a trap?

Does he know that I know where the breakfast vouchers are, so he came over specifically to keep an eye on me?!

Damn it, Huo Wenye wasn't on this show in my last life. There's no way I could've predicted his moves!

Seeing the utter resistance on Xie Chen's face, Huo Wenye straightened up slightly, a trace of frost appearing on his face. "You're unwilling?"

The cold, deep voice and piercing gaze made Xie Chen instantly understand the unspoken meaning: If you're unwilling, then you want to cheat. And if you want to cheat, I'm following you even more closely.

Xie Chen said, "Then I... am willing?"

The instant the words fell, the powerful oppressive presence withdrew. Huo Wenye pursed his lips slightly, a pleased curve briefly lifting at the corner of his mouth before vanishing. "That's good. Let's go."

At the sight of this, the livestream comments exploded.

[Was this specially arranged by the director? Is the observer also acting as a supervisor? Poor Brother Ye, having to film a show with the freak he hates most!]

[Brother Ye only films one drama a year. He usually keeps such a low profile, and there's never any gossip about him. Us fans have been waiting so painfully long. Luckily, we can see him on Freak Transformation. He's so handsome it's killing me. If only Xie Chen weren't such an eyesore, it would be even better!]

[It's probably impossible, but why do I have the illusion that Brother Ye deliberately approached Xie Chen?!]

[Definitely impossible! That idea is absurd and ridiculous! What the hell is Xie Chen? If Brother Ye weren't completing a task, he wouldn't even spare him a glance!]

[But now that you mention it, I've never seen Brother Ye this proactive or talkative before...]

Naturally, Xie Chen had no idea that Huo Wenye's fans were going wild in the livestream. To avoid arousing suspicion, he turned on his heel and headed in the opposite direction from the breakfast vouchers.

Huo Wenye seemed to want to say something. His lips parted and moved, but in the end, he silently followed Xie Chen.

After receiving his task, Xie Ran first returned to the room to wake Wei Mingqi.

In his eyes, this gossip host had the least background and was naturally the easiest to push around. There was no need to fear offending him, either.

"Brother Wei, time to get up. The director is waiting for us to film."

Xie Ran had been patient at first, but there was no response from the bed, as though its occupant were dead asleep.

Gradually, the young master who had been brought back to the Xie Family grew impatient. Sounding helpless, he said, "Brother Wei, if you don't get up, no one will get breakfast. If you really can't wake up, I can only help you."

He turned and walked to the wall, reaching for the washbasin sitting on the basin stand in the corner. Before even the cameraman could react, he flung its contents straight onto the bed.

"Fuck, who was that?!" Wei Mingqi shot upright, wiped his face with one hand, and stared at the culprit in confusion and fury. "Are you fucking sick?"

"Sorry, Brother Wei. I called you several times, but you wouldn't wake up. The director was urging us to do the task, so I had no choice but to..." Xie Ran looked aggrieved and innocent, though cunning and malice hid in his eyes.

Wei Mingqi finally understood. He gave a cold laugh. "So this is what you do when someone won't wake up?"

He threw off the blanket, put on his slippers, and walked over to Xie Ran. "Come on. I'll go wake the others with you and see what you do if they don't wake up! Splash water on them too?!"

The cameraman filming alongside them aimed directly at Wei Mingqi's furious face. Several wet strands of hair hung before his eyes, making him look especially comical.

[This way of waking someone up really is disrespectful. Besides, Xie Ran only called out twice. If someone is a deep sleeper, they definitely wouldn't hear him!]

[I keep feeling that Xie Ran did it on purpose. He's nothing like as innocent inside as he looks. He chose Wei Mingqi first because the other guests are harder to offend, right?]

[What eyes of yours saw that Xie Ran did it on purpose?! He called twice and Wei Mingqi still didn't wake up. Was he supposed to yell through a megaphone all morning? There wasn't even much water in that basin. Does he really need to be this dramatic?!]

[Are people really hating just for the sake of hating now? He slept like a dead pig, and they still had to wake him gently? Fuck, if you can do better, go do it yourself!]

Wei Mingqi's words did not register with Xie Ran at all.

So what if he comes along?

I'll splash you and not the other guests. What can you do about it?!

He's just a washed-up host. What kind of storm does he think he can stir up?!

He sneered inwardly, though none of it showed on his face. Looking pitiful, he headed outside and reached the room next door after only a few steps.

Just as a staff member opened the door with a key, a roar came from inside. "Get out! I didn't order room service!"

It was Luo Mingyu's voice.

The comments began flooding in again.

[Hahahaha, fuck, the paparazzi really can be trusted. Didn't they say last time that Luo Mingyu was either partying at a bar or sleeping in a hotel? Did he sleep himself stupid and forget he came here to film a show?!]

[What's Xie Ran going to do this time? Rush in and splash him with a basin of water too? Do you think Luo Mingyu will beat him to death?!]

[Thinking back to Xie Chen choosing B now, he really escaped disaster. These guests are either sleeping like dead pigs or think they're in a hotel. They might even file complaints!]

Before Xie Ran could respond, another voice sounded from inside. "Shut up! If something's wrong with your brain, get out. Don't disturb other people's sleep!"

It was obviously Li Sifan.

Neither of them seemed easy to deal with.

Xie Ran was beginning to worry when a sinister voice crashed into his ears from behind. "Go in. Splash the water. Isn't the director in a hurry? Didn't you say you had no choice?"

[Hahaha, I almost forgot there's a "grim reaper" standing outside. It looks like he won't let this go if Xie Ran doesn't splash that water!]

So, Xie Ran braced himself and walked into the room, calling out softly, "Brother Luo, Brother Li, the director asked you to get up and do the task. If you're late, breakfast will..."

Before he could finish, a pillow flew out and smacked Xie Ran squarely across the face.

Father Xie, who had gotten up early and was watching the show while washing up, saw this and immediately felt both angry and heartbroken. He grabbed his phone and called his eldest son.

"How can you let Xiao Ran suffer such grievances on the show?! Doesn't Xie Chen care?! Can't he manage without him?! Send the third one there! Arranging a guest appearance isn't difficult, is it?!"