You're Ruthless

"You know what haters are like! Why did you use your main account to go after them?!" Sister Chen roared through the phone.

Jiang Tingxu moved the phone slightly farther away. When he turned around, Si You was still focused on his livestream. He hadn't checked Weibo, and Yuan Fei hadn't called either, so he didn't know what had happened.

"I went after them because they spread rumors. Was I not supposed to?"

Was it really because of the rumors that you went after them?! Sister Chen nearly shouted the words aloud. She took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. "Fine, leave the rest to me. You've only just returned after taking a break, and Spring Heartbeat had that safety incident. Some haters are taking advantage of the situation. They want to use Si You to disgust you..."

"They can't disgust me."

"I know!" Sister Chen shrieked, cutting him off. Is that disgusting to you? That's sweet, isn't it?!

"I'll have the studio clarify things." Sister Chen sighed. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless! Honestly, what's your status, and what's Si You's status? If anything really gets exposed, Si You won't escape unscathed!"

"Do you think I don't know that?" Jiang Tingxu said coolly. "Nothing will get exposed. Si You still doesn't know..."

As soon as his voice trailed off, Sister Chen hurriedly asked, "Doesn't know what?"

"Nothing."

Wasn't a woman's intuition terrifyingly accurate?

Sister Chen paused. "Si You still doesn't know that you, um... feel that way about him?"

Jiang Tingxu: "..."

Sister Chen no longer cared about her headache and began to gloat. "Movie Emperor Jiang, you..."

"Do you still want that luxury skincare gift set at the end of the year?" Jiang Tingxu's voice turned cold.

Sister Chen immediately shut up. "I'll deal with the online mess first. Bye."

Jiang Tingxu had publicly gone after haters—and Si You's haters, at that. There was something vaguely suggestive about it, mixed with something unspoken. But a certain possibility was simply too fantastical, so everyone consciously ignored it and came up with several excuses for Jiang Tingxu.

Look, Jiang Tingxu had just finished working with Si You, and Spring Heartbeat had received a pretty good response. If news got out that he'd turned around and badmouthed Si You to the staff, stabbed his teammate in the back, that wouldn't be good for his own reputation either, right? Besides, Jiang Tingxu had mellowed out over the years. Back when he first started going after antis, he always did it on his real account. If he was in the mood, he could argue with them until midnight. It didn't seem like something Jiang, the Movie Emperor, would do anymore.

Sister Chen later messaged him to ask whether he needed an auntie to come over and cook. Jiang Tingxu refused. It was only two days; restaurant delivery would do.

For dinner, Jiang Tingxu had even ordered abalone soup. It was smooth, tender, and fragrant—the restaurant's specialty.

Ghost Street was too full of vicious ghosts. Si You had only cleared three stages, leaving one for tomorrow. He couldn't be too presumptuous in someone else's home.

Even so, Si You currently had the fastest progress. The horror streamer next door, Airplane, was still nearly half a stage behind him.

"What a spread." Si You came out of the study, rolling his shoulders as he casually said, "Let this meal be my treat. I'll transfer you the money later."

Jiang Tingxu was plating the food. At that, he swept a cool glance over him.

Si You hurriedly corrected himself. "No, I mean, I want to treat you to a meal too."

Jiang Tingxu only gave him four words in response: "There'll be plenty of chances."

"Okay..."

The two sat at the dining table. Si You took a sip of soup, then raised a brow.

Jiang Tingxu understood. He liked it.

Only then did Si You have time to check his phone. He would have been better off not looking. The moment he did, he nearly spat out his soup.

Huahua had sent: [Jiang, the Movie Emperor, spoke up for you. Hehe, don't be scared.]

Si You: "?"

Then he saw Yuan Fei's message: [The online situation is gradually calming down. Don't make an appearance.]

Si You: "???"

Si You immediately opened Weibo. His notifications were flooded with mentions. He tapped one at random and was taken straight to the trending square. The hottest post was pinned at the top and more or less laid out the whole story. Si You didn't care about the rest, but when he saw the screenshot of Jiang Tingxu's Weibo post, his fingertips trembled slightly.

Given his current situation, Si You could accept being cursed at however people wanted. A horror livestream and a dating show couldn't erase the original owner's pile of dark history. Si You was used to carrying things alone. He hadn't expected anyone to speak up for him, but why had Jiang Tingxu...

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Tingxu said. "Eat first."

Si You slowly lifted his head, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Seeing that expression, Jiang Tingxu guessed it instantly. "It's a small matter. Eat first."

Si You said, "Oh."

Only the faint clink of tableware remained in the living room. Si You drank every last drop of the abalone soup and was even a little stuffed after eating.

"Movie Emperor Jiang..." Si You began softly. "First, thank you. Really. After everything lately, I don't even know how I can thank you properly. Second, don't get involved in this kind of thing in the future when people are attacking me. It's not good for your reputation either."

"My reputation wasn't built on smearing others." Jiang Tingxu's expression was solemn. "Someone spread false information in the name of my studio. I merely clarified and corrected it. It was perfectly reasonable."

It did sound perfectly reasonable, but that didn't stop Si You's emotions from churning. "Anyway, thank you."

Jiang Tingxu's expression softened. He tipped up his chin slightly. "Eat some more."

Si You shook his head awkwardly. "I'm full."

He had finished that bowl of soup because Jiang Tingxu had moved him so much he was a mess. He hadn't wanted to waste it.

Si You cleaned the dining table, left the trash in the corner of the kitchen, then straightened up and took out his phone. He opened that explanatory post again, found the screenshot of Jiang Tingxu speaking up for him, and almost uncontrollably stroked it twice before decisively saving it.

Should he ask Linzi to pick him up later? Just as Si You thought that and stepped out of the kitchen, he heard Jiang Tingxu say, "Can you sleep alone tonight, or do you want to share a room with me?"

Si You nearly fell over. He stood frozen in place, his scalp tingling. Get a grip! At the same time, he couldn't understand why a single sentence from Jiang Tingxu had thrown him into such chaos.

"Huh?" Si You stared blankly. "Would I disturb you?"

"No." Jiang Tingxu's tone was calm. "You washed your clothes and pants without telling me. I only noticed just now and hung them out, but they won't be dry tonight. We might have to go to the film set tomorrow evening. Why make things difficult for yourself?"

That made sense.

But... he remembered that washing machine had a drying function. Maybe Jiang Tingxu preferred air-drying?

Wait!

"You hung them up for me?" Si You's voice rose.

Jiang Tingxu said lightly, "It was nothing."

Si You wanted to rush to the master bedroom balcony like a whirlwind, grab that set of clothes, and say: What did you ever do to deserve this?!

"Si You." Jiang Tingxu took two steps forward, instantly closing the distance between them. His voice blended with the halo of light overhead, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere that made him seem gentle and captivating. "Your..."

Si You's heart began hammering wildly.

"...filter on me, isn't it a little too thick?" Jiang Tingxu finished.

Was it thick? It definitely was. Even though Si You had returned to the beginner's village, his nature hadn't changed. He was proud, arrogant, and willful, yet he also felt the boredom and numbness of being lonely at the top. The solitude rising from the depths of his soul had been soothed the moment he saw Jiang Tingxu. Si You had no doubt that if his past-life self had met the current Jiang Tingxu, they would have become kindred spirits at once.

Although he still had to work hard in this life, that didn't affect how highly Si You regarded Jiang Tingxu. The more he looked at him, the more he felt that this man possessed an elegant strength that could not be broken.

People naturally yearned for beautiful things, and Jiang Tingxu's beauty carried an air of being his "kind," making Si You happy from the bottom of his heart.

Jiang Tingxu was different from other people—truly different. If Si You had to explain it, he could list countless reasons.

That was precisely why, with their current identities being so awkward, Si You was afraid Jiang Tingxu would misunderstand or dislike him. He was careful with every step he took. It could be said that he had never treated anyone with such care before.

As for the deeper stirring in his heart, Si You couldn't make sense of it.

Seeing that Si You didn't speak, Jiang Tingxu smiled. "I'm teasing you. A lot of people in the industry put a filter on me."

It was as if Si You had finally been given a way out. He sighed in relief. "Mm."

"Does your chest still hurt?" Jiang Tingxu asked again. "Can you sleep alone tonight?"

"I can!" Si You answered immediately. God, he seemed to have finally realized that he had slept in the same bed as Jiang Tingxu last night. It was fine, Si You comforted himself. He and Jiang Tingxu were both men, and they were friends now. Sharing a bed was no big deal, right?

Si You's thoughts were a tangled mess, but if he had looked up, he would have found Jiang Tingxu's gaze filled with the words "scumbag."

Someone still hadn't remembered.

"Um..." Si You said. "I'll take my clothes to the guest room where I'm sleeping. That way, I can wear them when I get up tomorrow."

Jiang Tingxu said, "Go ahead."

Si You walked into the master bedroom without looking around. The familiar scent made it hard for him to focus. He hurriedly took down his clothes and pants, then dashed back out with his head lowered.

He hadn't expected Jiang Tingxu to be waiting at the door.

"Got them." Si You smiled lightly. "Good night."

Jiang Tingxu said nothing.

Just as they brushed past each other, Jiang Tingxu swiftly grabbed Si You's arm. His movements were sharp and efficient, as if tinged with dissatisfaction and anger.

The moment Jiang Tingxu leaned closer, his breath landed against Si You's ear, sending waves of numbness racing from his tailbone to the top of his head.

Something was slipping out of control, Si You thought.

"Still haven't remembered?" Jiang Tingxu reminded him. "At last night's dinner, you got drunk. After I helped you to the side to rest, Gao Jin came over..."

As Jiang Tingxu spoke, some hazy images became clear, and Si You's brain started moving again, filling in the rest.

Right, Gao Jin had come over. He had looked at him with lust in his eyes and even snapped at Huahua. Si You had been furious, leaped up, grabbed Gao Jin by the collar, and immediately started mocking him.

What had he said again?

"Want to sleep with me? Who the fuck do you think you are? Even if I were desperate, I wouldn't choose you, okay?"

Right, right, right. Then Gao Jin's face had turned ugly, and he had followed it up with—

"If you were even half as outstanding as Jiang Tingxu, I might look at you twice. The problem is, are you worthy?"

Fuck!

Si You's expression gradually twisted as he thought, How is this any different from dying of embarrassment on the spot?!

Jiang Tingxu missed none of the changes in Si You's expression and coaxed him along. "Then I came over. What did you say?"

Then?

Jiang Tingxu had told him to let go, and he had. Then...

"If he were half as outstanding as Jiang Tingxu, you'd look at him twice? What happens after you look at him?"

"I'd only look twice. There's nothing after that."

"What if it were Jiang Tingxu himself? Would you only look twice then?"

"If it were Jiang Tingxu, I could consider sleeping with him."

Si You's eyes flew wide open. His mind went blank with a buzz.

Jiang Tingxu was finally satisfied. He slowly let out the breath that had been trapped in his chest all day, deliberately exhaling it over the stretch from Si You's neck to the base of his ear. He watched with satisfaction as the area flushed crimson at a visible speed.

"You flirted with me, then forgot every last bit of it?" Jiang Tingxu laid out the truth, his tone lifting slightly. It didn't sound frivolous; instead, it carried a hint of grievance and temptation.

Si You turned as red as a boiled shrimp, feeling as though steam were coming out of both ears. "I..."

"I really deserve to die!"

Jiang Tingxu: "..."

"I'm sorry, Movie Emperor Jiang!!!"

Jiang Tingxu: "..."

Jiang Tingxu looked at the sincere apology all over Si You's face. After facing off for a moment, he was finally angered into laughter.

"Si You." Jiang Tingxu said coolly, "You're ruthless."

Si You felt as if he had been on a roller coaster. He stammered, "No, I... I was drunk. I didn't know. I really, I didn't..."

Then Jiang Tingxu's face was suddenly right in front of him, and Si You fell silent.

"Don't say things like you didn't know because you were drunk. I don't like hearing it." Jiang Tingxu raised a hand and gently pinched Si You's chin. The distance between them narrowed to its limit, their noses nearly touching. The man's fingertip pressed neither too lightly nor too heavily against Si You's lips, making the color there scatter before gathering again.

Si You felt as though his heart were about to leap out of his throat.

The darkness in Jiang Tingxu's eyes was deep. He clearly hadn't done anything, yet at that moment, Si You felt like a rabbit cowering beneath shrubs in a rainforest. The world was vast, but the hunter's gaze was everywhere. The other man's breathing was so heavy that it seemed to merge with the rolling storm clouds overhead, ready to crush down at any moment. Though he didn't want to describe himself this way, Si You truly felt like he was just one step away from being swallowed whole.

This was also the first time Si You had experienced, up close, Jiang Tingxu's true oppressive force after he stripped away his gentle, peaceful exterior.

Something wasn't right...

Jiang Tingxu sensed that Si You wasn't ready yet. This pace seemed too fast for him.

Jiang Tingxu's rationality returned, and he slowly stepped back.

The suffocating aura dissipated with him. Si You took two deep breaths.

"I don't want to scare you." Jiang Tingxu's voice was hoarse as he patted Si You's shoulder. "Get some rest."

Si You blinked, then heard the sound of the door closing.