Back then, they had sworn up and down that they were joining Metamorphosis to turn over a new leaf, striving to become upright and respectable, and to promote positive values in the entertainment industry.
And what happened?
They were collectively late on the very first day of filming?!
And the little nobody who had gotten in by riding someone's coattails, the first to step into the hotel, was even declaring that he would stick to his obnoxious, bizarre persona?!
Wasn't this a blatant show of defiance?!
The director felt his chest tighten as his blood rushed to his head. He stormed out of the office, pointed at Xie Chen, and snapped, "Film if you want to film. If not, get 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 raised his head. The corner of his lips lifted into a somewhat wild smile. "You want me to get out?"
"You want to terminate the contract?"
The director was momentarily dazed by the curve of Xie Chen's lips, 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 was he?
Even when the entire internet cursed him out, he had never once argued back or clarified anything. At events and scheduled appearances, he had willingly acted as a backdrop, like even standing out a little would bring him trouble.
After all, that face of his was simply too outstanding. It was practically a gift from heaven; becoming famous would have been ridiculously easy for him...
Yet now, his image had suddenly changed. It was genuinely surprising.
Had Xie Chen finally come around?!
Changed his persona?!
Before the director could figure it out, that clear, languid voice continued, "Terminating the contract means paying compensation. Have you prepared the money?"
"..."
To prevent these celebrities from casually breaking their contracts, they had all signed contracts with sky-high penalties.
Xie Chen was actually using that against him?!
How could he even come up with that?!
The director was furious. "Th-then you were late too! Doesn't that count as breaching the contract?!"
"Late?" Xie Chen raised an eyebrow. "If you think that violates the contract, then handle it according to the rules. I don't care either way."
The director was about to retort when his assistant jogged over and whispered in his ear, "There's no clause about being late in the contract. Back then, we only focused on the compensation amount."
Director Li: "..." Damn it, one wrong move and he had lost the game!
The entire scene was being livestreamed, and the comments began flooding in wildly.
[So rude. He was late and still tried to justify it. No wonder the Xie Family kicked him out. Did dogs eat all his manners?!]
[Wasn't Xie Ran, who debuted not long ago, the Xie Family's real young master? He was abducted by traffickers at three years old. So pitiful—look how thin he is. You can tell he's been malnourished for years! Xie Chen occupied such great resources and still didn't know how to make good use of them. I'm really upset on behalf of the Xie Family!]
[Maybe he saw that the Xie Family had abandoned him and was afraid he wouldn't have access to those good resources anymore, so he latched onto Best Actor Huo?! He really has no shame!]
[Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? Hahahahaha, I remember Director Li being incredibly shrewd. He was always the one tormenting guests—when had a guest ever made him look bad?! Xie Chen's mouth is seriously something else!]
[Why didn't I realize Xie Chen had this skill before? He didn't panic at all during that exchange, and he was steady, precise, and ruthless!]
[Does knowing how to talk back count as a skill? Are internet trolls really this unprofessional now? Can they only force themselves to praise him?]
[...]
Just as the director did not know how to strike back, the awkward atmosphere in the hotel lobby where everyone was gathering was broken by a late guest.
Host Wei Mingqi poked his head around, then walked in with a grin and greeted the camera and the director. "Hi, everyone. Sorry about that. The nanny van broke down halfway here, so I was late by just a little bit. You don't mind, right?"
He spun the lie with a straight face, glancing toward the sofa. When he saw Xie Chen sitting with one leg crossed over the other and looking as though he had not been scolded much, he immediately relaxed. "Little Xie, you got here really early!"
Early my ass.
He was half an hour late!
Director Li was so angry he nearly started swearing, but then he remembered that once they reached the filming location, there would be plenty of suffering 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 first. Hurry up."
"Got it!" Wei Mingqi obediently replied. Then he plopped down beside Xie Chen and switched into gossip mode. "Last time on that show, you said Best Actor Huo had kidney deficiency. Was that true? How did you know? Did you two have contact? What did you mean by anorectal problems? Don't tell me it's what I think it is?!"
He abruptly jerked back, widened his eyes, and covered his mouth with one hand. "Best Actor Huo did it for love..."
Xie Chen unhurriedly turned his head and shot Wei Mingqi a sidelong glance. "If you want to die a quicker death, you can keep talking."
"..." Wei Mingqi naturally understood what he meant and gave an awkward laugh.
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 did not know how to wrap things up, a chilly voice came from behind him. "Did what for love?"
"What else could he do? Of course he's a bottom," Wei Mingqi's tongue moved faster than his brain. He answered as he turned around, only to freeze completely the next second. "H-Huo, Huo Huo..."
"Are you trying to sing Huo Yuanjia right after going live?" Xie Chen scoffed. "This is Metamorphosis. No one asked you to show off your talent."
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized something was off about the atmosphere. Wei Mingqi in particular had gone the color of pig liver, utterly lacking the spirited energy he had shown while gossiping, and he shakily rose to his feet.
"B-Brother Ye, I didn't mean it."
Only then did Xie Chen turn around as well, and when he saw that noble, cold, arrogant face, he froze too.
Fuck, why was Huo the Madman here too?!
Was he here to supervise as the big investor?
Wasn't that a little too dedicated?!
Before he could finish grumbling inwardly, Director Li, who had just said he was getting into the car, suddenly popped up from nowhere. "Oh, Brother Ye, why are you here so early? I said I'd send a car to pick you up, but you wouldn't let me..."
Huo Wenye seemed not to hear the overly enthusiastic words at all. He pressed his pale lips together and stubbornly asked, "What is a bottom?"
Wei Mingqi: "..."
Following the principle that if he was going to die, he needed someone to drag down with him, he raised a hand and pointed at Xie Chen. "I don't know. I only heard about it. As for bottoms and all that, Xie Chen understands it best."
"Anyway, he was the one who said you had an anal fistula!"
Xie Chen: "????"
Was this dead meme suddenly attacking me?!
And—
When the fuck did I ever say Huo Wenye had an anal fistula?!
Before you continue