Chapter 3

But Xie Ran had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at him. "Oh, right..."

Fang Huiwang instantly perked up.

Xie Ran had regretted it after all, hadn't he? Deep down, he still wanted to get back together.

Fang Huiwang sneered inwardly, putting on a stern expression as he prepared to give Xie Ran some attitude in return, so he would know Fang Huiwang was not so easy to push around.

Then Xie Ran said, "Don't call me Xiao Ran anymore."

Fang Huiwang froze and asked reflexively, "Then what should I call you?"

Xie Ran expressionlessly spat out two words. "President Xie."

Fang Huiwang: "..."

Fang Huiwang: "???"

Author's note: President Xie: That sounds much friendlier.

Fans: ???

Chapter 3

CEO

Speech

Fang Huiwang had been holding back a stomachful of rage as he drove home with his foot on the gas. The moment he opened his front door, he was met by a room full of balloons, flowers, and decorative string lights. Champagne and carefully wrapped gifts had been prepared on the living room table.

He had arranged all of this especially for Xie Ran, yet Xie Ran had simply decided not to come.

Had Xie Ran noticed something? Or had he really changed his mind and no longer wanted to get back together?

At that thought, that unfamiliar panic and agitation surged up again. Fang Huiwang instinctively shook his head, trying to fling away the unease.

Just then, his phone suddenly rang. It was his agent, as well as his studio partner, Kuang Youfang.

It was nearly two in the morning. Fang Huiwang frowned and answered. "What is it at this hour?"

"What's going on between you and Xie Ran?" Kuang Youfang's voice was full of anger. "Didn't you say you could handle him? Is this what you call handling him?"

Fang Huiwang was baffled. "What do you mean?"

"You haven't looked at the trending searches?" Kuang Youfang was nearly laughing from anger. "Xie Ran is really something. He blew up twice in one night, and the trending searches can't even be taken down. Well, you haven't had this kind of traffic in a long time either. Consider it a boost to your numbers."

"Take a look first. I'm calling a meeting with the PR department to figure out how to deal with this."

Kuang Youfang hung up in a hurry. Fang Huiwang quickly opened Weibo and saw that, in the middle of the night, Weibo—which had already been lively all evening—had another trending topic marked "explosive."

The trending topic was called: Xie Ran, No Feelings.

Fang Huiwang's eyelid twitched as a bad feeling rose within him. He hurriedly tapped into it.

The front page was filled with behind-the-scenes interview clips of him and Xie Ran at Snowball Satellite TV. Every video had a huge number of comments beneath it.

[Not gonna lie, isn't Fang Huiwang being way too obvious about throwing himself at him?]

[Hahahahahaha, too bad Xie Ran wouldn't play along. His whole face screamed disgust, okay?]

[Xie Ran: Don't come near me!!!]

[Oh my god, Xie Ran usually isn't like this. What has Fang Huiwang pushed him into becoming?!]

[2333 Xie Ran got his blood sucked once ten years ago. He got smarter this time, huh!!]

[Looks like Fang Huiwang is really about to flop. At his age, he still wants to hype up an old CP.]

[Haters, get yourselves treated! Brother Wang was clearly just being polite, and he still gets trashed? Meanwhile, people with no social skills get praised??]

[Am I the only one who thinks Xie Ran's no-feelings look is incredibly cool? It's more charming than his usual old-cadre vibe!]

[You're not alone! I also think Xie Ran looks more distinctive when he's all icy and cold!]

Fang Huiwang scrolled down with a dark expression. Nearly every video had similar comments beneath it. Although some people thought Xie Ran had been too disrespectful, even more people felt that if Fang Huiwang and Xie Ran were truly close, how could they have gone ten years without a single interaction?

Clearly, Xie Ran's answer fit the real situation better. People were already sick of celebrities' fake pleasantries in front of the camera, and they instead welcomed Xie Ran's "genuine" attitude.

Fang Huiwang's fans tried to control the comments, but they could not overcome the sheer number of ordinary users. In the end, they failed to contain them and instead drew a round of ridicule.

The more Fang Huiwang looked, the darker his face became. Finally, he could not hold back any longer and slammed his phone heavily onto the table with a bang.

The carefully prepared gifts and champagne on the table had now become glaring jokes.

"Xie Ran!!" Fang Huiwang growled hoarsely, his eyes red, and forcefully flipped the table over with both hands.

Several loud crashes rang out as everything on the table smashed to the floor. The champagne bottle burst as well, splashing pale gold liquid everywhere.

He stood amid the mess, panting for a moment. Then he bent down, picked up the phone with its shattered screen, and called Kuang Youfang. "I have an idea."

Kuang Youfang asked, "What idea?"

Fang Huiwang sneered. "Move Nangong Xu's release date forward. Schedule it for the same day as Xie Ran Studio's."

"Are you sure?" Kuang Youfang sounded surprised. "If you do that, you'll be slapping Xie Ran right in the face..."

He gave an unreadable laugh. "Haven't you always been unable to let Xie Ran go? Aren't you afraid he'll hate you for this?"

Fang Huiwang was silent for a while before scoffing. "I know what matters most."

"Good. That's what I admire most about you—you don't let emotions get in the way." Kuang Youfang praised him. "I'll make the arrangements right away."

The next morning, Xie Ran was working at his computer when the phone beside him suddenly rang. The caller ID showed Guan Shunan, the original owner's studio manager.

Xie Ran answered. "Speak."

Guan Shunan paused slightly on the other end, feeling as though Xie Ran's presence had suddenly become much more imposing.

It had only been one brief word, yet it somehow made her feel a sense of pressure.

But she quickly came back to herself. "Xiao Ran, have you seen the news?"

"No." Xie Ran asked, "Why?"

"Then hurry and take a look. Ambition Studio just announced that they're launching a virtual idol too, and they've set the release event for the same day as ours..."

As Guan Shunan spoke, Xie Ran opened Weibo on his computer. Sure enough, the number one trending topic was Ambition Studio's announcement that they were launching the virtual idol Nangong Xu.