Men's Tears, a Wife's Glory

Shen Ranxin and the others paused, then turned to look at Cheng Cheng and Gu Yifei.

Jiang Ye seemed to have only just realized what had happened. Stunned, he said, "You didn't pull out Lu Zhi's paperbush tree, did you?"

Gu Yifei guiltily darted his eyes around and hid slightly behind Cheng Cheng.

Cheng Cheng smiled. "Of course not. We just bumped it by accident while watering the ground today. Maybe President Lu didn't plant his paperbush tree properly, so it got blown over by the wind last night."

It was much the same as Lu Zhi claiming Cheng Cheng's red ribbon had not been tied tightly enough last night.

Shen Ranxin: "..."

He really did hold grudges over the smallest slight.

"It's one thing for Cheng Cheng to dig up Lu Zhi's paperbush tree, but why did you have to join in?" Shen Ranxin looked at Gu Yifei with disappointment. "Haiyan, use your brain for once."

Cheng Cheng was the protagonist bottom. No matter what he did, could Lu Zhi, the protagonist top, really beat him to death?

But Gu Yifei was different. As cannon-fodder background characters just like him, they really could be retaliated against by Lu Zhi!

He had a cheat ability. Once the plot was over, he could take the money and fake his death, but Gu Yifei did not have that luxury.

Gu Yifei glanced at him and muttered softly, "Anyway, I just don't like him. He's always clinging to you..."

So, when he saw Cheng Cheng get up early that morning to dig up Lu Zhi's paperbush tree, he had become an accomplice without a second word.

Shen Ranxin sighed and ran toward Paperbush Garden, with Cheng Cheng following after him.

Afraid that they would get into an argument, Fang Yu followed as well. If they really started fighting, he could at least stop them.

When Shen Ranxin arrived at the paperbush grove, he saw Lu Zhi squatting on the ground, silently digging at something with his hands. His paperbush tree lay toppled on the ground, and the ribbon belonging to Shen Ranxin had been torn down and lay broken beside it.

Shen Ranxin stopped in his tracks. Fang Yu and the others caught up and stood outside the garden, looking at Lu Zhi's lonely back.

He knelt alone in the dirt, trying to replant his paperbush tree.

Fang Yu had the softest heart. Seeing Lu Zhi like this, even his usually gentle tone carried a trace of disapproval. "Cheng Cheng... you went too far this time."

Cheng Cheng crossed his arms and gave a cold, unmoved laugh. "Teacher Fang, I don't understand what you mean. If my ribbon could be blown away by the wind, why couldn't President Lu's paperbush tree be blown over? The wind was so strong last night. It's not impossible, is it?"

Fang Yu sighed.

Shen Ranxin did not say a word. He simply stood there and watched Lu Zhi dig a hole bit by bit with his hands, replant the paperbush tree, then pick up the red ribbon from the muddy ground and slowly hang it back up.

Shen Ranxin: "..."

He had been so cocky when he tore off Cheng Cheng's red ribbon last night.

Honestly, what Cheng Cheng had done was not especially excessive. But seeing Lu Zhi's solitary figure, Shen Ranxin inexplicably felt a little angry, even subtly heartbroken.

He was like an abandoned puppy that had gone hungry for days, finally managed to beg for a little food, only to have it kicked away by a passerby.

Frowning, Shen Ranxin walked over, his figure blocking out the sunlight.

Lu Zhi turned to look at him, his eyes red-rimmed.

Shen Ranxin: "...You don't have to cry over it."

Lu Zhi stood and abruptly hugged Shen Ranxin, burying his head in Shen Ranxin's neck as he sobbed softly.

"He dug up my paperbush tree." Lu Zhi whined. "You have to stand up for me."

Shen Ranxin: "..."

[Holy shit? What? President Lu cried? Camera! Zoom in! I want to see President Lu cry!]

[An Alpha's tears are an omega trap. I want to see President Lu cry too! Get the camera on him! Hurry! I'll send ten carnivals!]

[Seriously, I thought President Lu would fight Cheng Cheng with that personality of his?]

[Wouldn't an Alpha fighting an omega be beneath him?]

[To be fair, President Lu's back just now looked so wronged and pitiful. Cheng Cheng went too far...]

[???? Does the internet have no memory? This brat didn't look like this when he tore off Cheng Cheng's red ribbon last night!]

[Could President Lu's pheromones smell like green tea?]

[I swear on my dignity as an Alpha, he's faking it.]

[Damn it, you Alphas are just jealous of our President Lu!]

[Such a tea bitch.]

[Good grief, those two sobs sounded so affected his throat must be smoking by now, right?]

[Shut up! Would fans like us not know whether President Lu was putting on an act? Stop asking. He was born that way!]

[Cheng Cheng: Fuck, why didn't I think of this last night?]

[Men's tears, a wife's glory. See that? My husband's tears are incredibly lethal!]

Shen Ranxin pushed at his shoulder. "...My clothes are wet. Get up."

Lu Zhi said, "Then promise you'll make it up to me tonight."

Shen Ranxin: "? I didn't do it. What am I supposed to make up for?"

Lu Zhi curled up against him like a delicate little bird, and Shen Ranxin began to regret rushing over just because he had felt the slightest bit sorry for him.

"Get up first. As for making it up to you... we'll talk tonight."

Only then did Lu Zhi raise his head and follow Shen Ranxin back.

Shen Ranxin coughed and said, "...Let's go back."

The crowd, who had not eaten breakfast all morning but had already been force-fed a pound of dog food: "..."

Lu Zhi turned to glance at Cheng Cheng, raised an eyebrow, and tugged at his clothes to reveal the hickey on his collarbone.

Cheng Cheng narrowed his eyes and followed with a cold expression.

Gu Yifei was so angry his teeth itched.

How had he never noticed that Lu Zhi was such a bitch before?!

Bastard!!!!!

Cheng Cheng's original plan had been to seize the chance to hide in Shen Ranxin's arms when Lu Zhi discovered that his paperbush tree had been dug up and flew into a rage.

But Lu Zhi had fucking taken that route too.

Cheng Cheng rubbed his temples.

He had been careless. He had known all along that Lu Zhi was this shameless!

*

After a rowdy morning, everyone was hungry. According to the production crew's rules, the last two people to wake up had to make breakfast that day.

Fang Yu had originally expected Cheng Cheng and Gu Yifei to be the last two awake, but those two omegas had run off before dawn to dig up someone else's paperbush tree. As a result, Shen Ranxin and Lu Zhi became the last two to wake up.

"Can you cook?" Jiang Ye asked Shen Ranxin without much hope.

Shen Ranxin shook his head. "No."

Jiang Ye asked Lu Zhi again, "What about you?"

Lu Zhi said, "What do you think?"

Jiang Ye: "..."

Just as everyone thought they would probably go hungry today, a honk sounded outside the villa, followed by a booming voice.

"Nicholas Iron Pillar! Your delivery!"

Shen Ranxin slowly got to his feet. "Coming..."

Everyone: "!!!"

Director Zheng: "!!!"

No, the production crew had already cut off the little villa's connection with the outside world yesterday morning. The guests' phones could see nothing but the livestream comments.

How the hell had this brat ordered takeout?!!!