At first, Shi Zhou hadn't understood how Bai Shen knew he was at Pace. He was still bewildered when he came out, unaware of what had happened.
The reporters at the entrance had no membership credentials, so they could only wait outside.
When they saw Shi Zhou emerge, they rushed over like sharks scenting blood, one dark camera lens after another aimed straight at him.
"Mr. Shi Zhou, is it true that you were romantically involved with the famous restorer, Mr. Xie Jiali, before appearing on Heart-Pounding Expedition?"
"It's said that all the guests invited onto Heart-Pounding Expedition are actors, doing it for appearance fees worth tens of millions. Is that true?"
"Are you really a member of Pace, or is that just a persona the production team created for publicity? Mr. Shi Zhou, look over here-"
"We hear you're the son of a candy factory owner, and your family arranged for you to appear on Heart-Pounding Expedition to advertise the business. Is that true?"
Camera flashes blazed all around him. Shi Zhou kept his head lowered and his lips pressed tight as he walked forward. He couldn't respond at all, or there was no telling what these people would write.
"Shi Zhou-"
As he struggled to squeeze out of the crowd of ten or so people, Shi Zhou thought he heard a familiar voice.
A large, warm hand closed around his slightly cold wrist. Startled for a moment, he looked up. "Bai Shen?"
Weren't we supposed to meet at the intersection across the street?
The man seemed to have come straight from work, his tall frame wrapped in a suit. Several bodyguards behind him spread their arms to keep anyone from jostling their boss. Bai Shen gave Shi Zhou a reassuring look, signaling him to leave this to him.
He partly shielded Shi Zhou behind him, making no attempt to turn his handsome face away from the clicking, flashing cameras. His tone and bearing remained composed as the crowd pressed toward him.
"Members of the press, under interstellar law, no media outlet has the right to interview individuals or organizations without filing the required application."
Someone recognized him. "Is that Bai Shen?"
"It really is! Heart-Pounding Expedition got Bai Shen on the show?! Sir, may I ask..."
Bai Shen gave a slight nod toward one of the cameras. Its owner sheepishly lowered it. "Our paperwork will be here any moment-"
They still tried to push forward, but the bodyguards were well versed in the procedure. "Sorry, but we have the right to delete the photographs you just took."
Seeing their reluctance to give up, Bai Shen raised his hand to check his watch, not bothering to waste any more words. "Please discuss everything else with my lawyer."
Only then did their expressions change, some turning awkward. It was just a few photos. Did he really have to go this far?
Besides, they were giving Shi Zhou, a nobody, free publicity, and he wasn't even grateful.
What a poser.
There was no point arguing. Looking at the shameless disdain on their faces, Shi Zhou clenched his fists.
Just then, Bai Shen's car finally made its way through the evening congestion to them. It mounted the steps without hesitation and slammed to a halt!
The media blocking their way stumbled back in fright!
"Hey! What are you doing? You nearly hit someone, you know! I'm going to sue you!"
One furious reporter reached out to slap the car window, but before his hand landed, he remembered that even selling his entire family wouldn't cover the cost of this car. His face twisted as he lowered his hand.
Two more cars followed the sleek black vehicle. A lawyer wearing glasses opened a door and breathed a sigh of relief. He had made it in time.
Hmph. You illegally blocked someone, and now you want to sue us?
Ha. Let's see who you think you're going to sue!
I'll argue you into the ground, you bastard!
A whole stream of thoughts scrolled through his mind, but the lawyer looked perfectly professional. He straightened his collar, coughed, and said solemnly:
"You have seriously infringed upon the rights of the chairman of Universal Group and his friend. We will pursue legal action to protect their rights. Please direct any questions to our legal department..."
The interstellar age wasn't like the old days. You couldn't just corner anyone you pleased and photograph them.
The laws had long since been brought up to standard.
But it wasn't just these small media outlets gathered there now. Plenty of passersby who didn't know what was happening had stopped to watch. Bai Shen frowned and gestured to the show's cameraman behind them.
"Head back first."
The cameraman tactfully got into one of the cars that had pulled up behind them.
Bai Shen opened the door of the stretched car. "Get in, Shi Zhou."
Shi Zhou nodded, his tense face looking quite composed. That surprised Bai Shen a little.
"Thanks, Shen," Shi Zhou said to Bai Shen as he got in after him.
Bai Shen murmured an acknowledgment.
With a click, a bodyguard shut the door, cutting off the noise outside. Everything suddenly went quiet. The car began to move slowly. Bai Shen sat across from Shi Zhou with his legs crossed, fingers flying as he studied his lightbrain with a serious expression.
Shi Zhou lowered his head and began to stare into space.
After such a tense, nerve-racking experience, his very first thought was actually-
Those thin-soled leather shoes Bai Shen's wearing look so good.
He glanced at his own white sneakers, their two bows neatly tied. He brought his legs together, feeling that the other man's shoes still looked a little better...
Before long, the leather shoes opposite him shifted and came to rest beside him.
Shi Zhou looked up into a pair of dark eyes. "Did that scare you?"
The man's voice was low and gentle, unlike his usual tone.
Shi Zhou shook his head lightly. "No. I'm just sorry you had to come pick me up."
Bai Shen didn't answer. He simply took two paper bags from a hidden compartment in the car and extended his suit-clad arm, his expensive watch reflecting a subtle, luxurious gleam. "Here."
Shi Zhou didn't even realize how frighteningly pale he looked.
And here I thought this kid was unflappable.
"I bought you coffee and bread at the street corner. Have something to tide you over."
They had agreed to meet at the street corner, where traffic wasn't as congested as on the main road. But after waiting a while without seeing him, Bai Shen had realized something might be wrong.
Otherwise, the production team wouldn't have suddenly asked him to help pick Shi Zhou up.
Stopping while painting could interrupt his train of thought, so although the cameraman had gone out to get himself two meals, Shi Zhou hadn't eaten anything since morning.
Shi Zhou opened the paper bag, and the sweet fragrance of bread drifted out. His stomach immediately growled.
His ears slowly reddened.
He had been like this since childhood; any shift in his emotions made him blush.
Bai Shen chuckled. "Go ahead and eat."
He didn't return to the seat opposite, either.
In the quiet car, the only sounds were the tapping of keys and Shi Zhou's barely audible swallowing. For some reason, as he breathed in the faint amber scent coming from the man beside him, his heart slowly settled.
He stole glances at Bai Shen while eating. With traffic so heavy earlier, how had Bai Shen reached him? Had he run over?
On closer inspection, there were slight creases in his leather shoes, and a few strands had fallen loose from his usually immaculate hair...
Under Shi Zhou's gaze, Bai Shen couldn't concentrate. He quickly finished what he was working on, closed his lightbrain, and said sternly:
"It's all been taken care of. My legal department will work with Heart-Pounding Expedition's legal department to bring charges. We can't let this set a precedent."
In truth, none of this could really be blamed on Shi Zhou.
In previous seasons, the non-celebrity guests hadn't had a chance to become so popular so quickly at the outset. This season's production team was also working under pressure, afraid the show wouldn't measure up to the first three seasons.
Today's opportunity had been a good one, so they had paid to get Shi Zhou his own trending topic ahead of schedule.
But they were still in the introductory stage. Without booking out the venue or having the production team accompany him, the situation was unpredictable. It really wasn't a good idea.
Who "Shi Zhou" actually was didn't matter. People only knew his name was connected to "Heart-Pounding Expedition" and the other guests. Those media outlets couldn't find the others, but they could make trouble for Shi Zhou.
They couldn't be allowed to write whatever they pleased.
Otherwise, not only would Shi Zhou's and the other guests' reputations suffer, but the Heart-Pounding Expedition production team would also be saddled with trouble before the show even aired.
Fortunately, Shi Zhou hadn't said anything rash.
The kid probably understood the consequences. Shi Zhou swallowed his last bite of bread and thanked him earnestly:
"Thank you, Bai Shen. If you hadn't come, they might already have published their stories today."
Bai Shen shook his head. "Not at all. You handled it exactly right."
If Shi Zhou had said anything, even a single "no," these people would have spliced it after some unrelated question and published it with their own embellishments.
Shi Zhou had handled the situation calmly. It was already the best response he could have managed.
Shi Zhou smiled and nodded, color gradually returning to his face.
He had only learned recently that although interstellar law explicitly prohibited interviewing individuals and groups without approval and permission, countless people throughout history had been willing to take the risk. Major media outlets cared about their reputations and the law and disdained such tactics, but the small outlets on various planets weren't so particular.
A fine?
Fine me all you like. I'll still make more than you charge me.
Two months earlier, when his family's factory was put up as collateral, his father had been in the hospital and his mother had been trying to secure loans. Shi Zhou had been the one to handle the subsequent staff dismissals and paperwork.
Back then, dark camera lenses and harsh, leading questions had all borne down on Shi Zhou's slender shoulders. What had he felt at the time?
He had forgotten.
But after going through that, he had learned how to deal with these people.
Before you continue