Dead Meme, Why Are You Attacking Me Now?

Back then, they had sworn up and down that they were joining Metamorphosis to turn over a new leaf, strive to become upstanding citizens, and promote positive values in the entertainment industry.

And what happened?

They were all late the moment filming began?!

And the first one to stroll into the hotel—a little nobody who had made a name for himself by leeching off others—even declared that he would uphold his detestable, bizarre image?!

Wasn't this a goddamn show of defiance?!

The director felt his chest tighten as his temper flared. He stormed out of the office, pointed at Xie Chen, and snapped, "Film if you want to film. If not, get the hell out! Do you think the production team is your own home?!"

Xie Chen, who had been sitting on the sofa waiting for the other guests, slowly lifted his head. The corner of his lips curled up into a somewhat wild smile. "You want me to get out?"

"You want to terminate the contract?"

Xie Chen's smile caught the director off guard, leaving him stunned for several seconds.

It wasn't as though he had never seen Xie Chen before. He had made an impression shortly after his debut.

One word described him: obedient.

How obedient?

When the entire internet had cursed him out, he had never once defended or explained himself. At events or appearances, he had willingly acted as a backdrop, a supporting leaf, as though drawing even the slightest attention would bring him trouble.

After all, that face of his was truly exceptional. Heaven had practically handed him a meal ticket. Becoming popular should have been effortless...

Yet now, his image had suddenly changed. It was genuinely surprising.

Had Xie Chen finally come around?!

Was he switching personas?!

Before the director could figure it out, that clear, lazy voice continued, "Terminating the contract means paying compensation. Are you ready for that?"

"..."

To keep these celebrities from casually breaking their contracts, they had all signed agreements with astronomical penalties.

Xie Chen was actually using that to trap him instead?!

How the hell had he thought of that?!

The director was furious. "Then... then you were late! Doesn't that count as breaching the contract?!"

"Late?" Xie Chen raised a brow. "If you think that violates the contract, then deal with it according to the rules. I don't care."

The director was about to snap back when his assistant jogged over and leaned close to whisper in his ear. "There's no clause about lateness in the contract. Back then, we were only focused on the compensation amounts."

Director Li: "..." Damn it, he had lost a move!

The entire scene was being livestreamed, and the comments began flooding in.

[So rude. He was late and still argued so self-righteously. No wonder the Xie Family kicked him out. Did a dog eat all his manners?!]

[Xie Ran, who debuted not long ago, is the Xie Family's real young master, right?! He was kidnapped by traffickers at three years old. It's so pitiful—just look how thin he is. He obviously suffered from malnutrition for years! Xie Chen hogged such good resources and still didn't know how to make use of them. I'm seriously outraged on the Xie Family's behalf!]

[Maybe he saw that the Xie Family had abandoned him and got scared that he would never have access to those good resources again, so he started leeching off Best Actor Huo?! He really has no shame!]

[Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? Hahahahaha, I remember Director Li being insanely good at handling people. He was always the one tormenting guests—when had a guest ever made him suffer like this?! Xie Chen's mouth is something else!]

[How did I never realize Xie Chen had this skill before? He wasn't flustered at all in this verbal sparring match, and he was steady, precise, and ruthless!]

[Since when is talking back a skill? Today's paid commenters are way too unprofessional. Can they only force themselves to praise him?]

[...]

Just as the director was at a loss for how to retaliate, the awkward atmosphere in the hotel lobby was broken by another late guest.

Host Wei Mingqi poked his head in and walked inside with a grin, greeting the cameras and the director. "Hi, everyone. Sorry about that. The nanny van broke down halfway here, so I was a little late. You don't mind, right?"

He spun the lie with a straight face, then glanced toward the sofa. Seeing Xie Chen sitting there with one leg crossed over the other, looking as though he had not been reprimanded much, he immediately relaxed. "Little Xie, you got here really early!"

Early, my ass.

He was already half an hour late!

Director Li was so angry he nearly started swearing. But on second thought, once they reached the filming location, there would be plenty of hardships waiting for them. Deciding that out of sight was out of mind, he waved a hand and gritted out, "I'll wait in the car. Hurry up."

"Sure!" Wei Mingqi answered obediently. Then he plopped down beside Xie Chen and immediately switched into gossip mode. "Last time on that show, you said Best Actor Huo had kidney deficiency. Was that true? How did you know? Have you two been involved? What did you mean by anorectal problems? Don't tell me it's what I think it is?!"

He suddenly jerked back, his eyes widening as he covered his lips with a hand. "Best Actor Huo did it for love..."

Xie Chen unhurriedly turned his head and shot Wei Mingqi a sidelong glance. "If you want a quicker death, you can keep talking."

"..." Of course Wei Mingqi understood what that meant, and he gave an awkward smile.

Who didn't know about Best Actor Huo Wenye's power and background?

But once his occupational habit kicked in, he simply could not control himself!

Just as he was wondering how to salvage the situation, an icy voice came from behind him. "Did what for love?"

"What else could he do? Of course, be the bottom," Wei Mingqi replied before his brain could catch up, turning around as he spoke. The next second, he froze completely. "H-Huo, Huo Huo Huo..."

"Trying to sing 'Huo Yuanjia' right after the livestream starts?" Xie Chen sneered. "This is Metamorphosis. No one asked you to show off your talent."

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong with the atmosphere. Wei Mingqi in particular had turned the color of pig liver, utterly lacking the high spirits he had shown while gossiping, and he shakily rose to his feet.

"Brother Wenye, I didn't mean it."

Only then did Xie Chen turn around as well, and the sight of that noble, aloof face left him stunned too.

Holy shit, why was that lunatic Huo here too?!

Had he come as the investor daddy to supervise the work?

That was way too dedicated, wasn't it?!

Before he could finish grumbling inwardly, Director Li—who had just said he was going to the car—suddenly popped up from nowhere. "Oh, Brother Wenye, why are you here so early? I said I'd send a special car to pick you up, but you wouldn't let me..."

Huo Wenye seemed not to have heard the overly enthusiastic words at all. He pressed his pale lips together and persistently asked, "What is a bottom?"

Wei Mingqi: "..."

Following the principle that if he was going down, he had to drag someone with him, he raised a hand and pointed at Xie Chen. "I don't know. I only heard about it. Bottom or not, Xie Chen understands it best."

"Anyway, he was the one who said you had an anal fistula!"

Xie Chen: "????"

Why was a dead meme suddenly attacking me?!

And—

When the fuck did I ever say Huo Wenye had an anal fistula?!