Click, click-
Even the photographer sensed something was wrong with the atmosphere. His finger flew over the shutter, hoping to finish early and escape this bizarre battlefield of romantic rivals.
Yan Feizhuo lowered his head to look at the young master in his arms, then followed his gaze back to Jiang Shu's grim face. He whispered into his ear, "Haven't you acted enough?"
Sheng Nian lowered his head and scratched the back of his hand. His inner voice came through: [I'm done, I'm done. I'm going to push you away now.]
[Jiang Shu looks so ugly with his brows all scrunched up like that. Let's hurry up and finish this so we can go try some other attractions.]
The photographer hurried to finish. The instant he announced they were done, Sheng Nian pushed Yan Feizhuo away, handed his props to the staff member who came up, and ran off the stage, looking desperate to explain himself to Jiang Shu.
Once he came down, he saw He Gu, who apparently felt things weren't exciting enough yet, take the photos the Production Team had printed and start looking through them with Jiang Shu.
He Gu said with apparent emotion, "Jiang Shu, Sheng Nian really has grown so much."
Inside, however, he was secretly angry that Sheng Nian hadn't flown into a rage as he used to.
Although it was still clear that he was blindly in love with Jiang Shu just as before, he hadn't made a scene. Could it really be as Jiang Shu had said-that his love ran so deep he would even pretend to behave and swallow his grievances to win Jiang Shu's attention?
That wouldn't do. Without Sheng Nian there to take the brunt of it, he really couldn't withstand the attacks from Jiang Shu's crazy girlfriend fans.
"Jiang Shu, let's look at the photos. Sheng Nian did really well in all of them. He's improved so much. You absolutely have to give him a proper compliment in a minute."
Surely Sheng Nian couldn't keep his temper after this.
What Sheng Nian saw when he came down was He Gu deliberately holding up the photos to look at them with Jiang Shu.
Sheng Nian did get angry. He rushed forward, trying to cover the photos, and explained to Jiang Shu with reddened eyes, "Don't look, Jiang Shu. This was all acting. It wasn't real."
"I, I didn't..."
Before he could finish, a clear tear had already slipped from the corner of his eye.
By comparison, He Gu's behavior just now looked downright malicious.
Yan Feizhuo had already been unhappy, and now his expression turned even colder. "Hand over the photos."
"Since when did anyone dare touch what's mine?"
He Gu went pale, but he couldn't afford to offend someone as powerful as Yan Feizhuo. He hurriedly returned the photos in his hands to Sheng Nian.
[Seriously, what is He Gu doing? Are those yours to touch?]
[Sheng Nian likes Jiang Shu so much. Of course he wouldn't want him seeing these intimate photos of him and Yan Feizhuo. What is He Gu trying to do, stab him right in the heart?]
[Doesn't he always market himself as understanding and considerate? Why is his emotional intelligence so low this time? Or maybe it's not low emotional intelligence, but deliberate...]
[He Gu definitely didn't mean it. Who could have guessed Sheng Nian would be this fragile?]
[??? Do you even hear yourself? Are we blaming the victim now?]
[Having no emotional intelligence is part of it, but these aren't even his photos. Taking them and looking through them with someone else shows a serious lack of boundaries.]
[Mr. Yan really makes you feel so safe. The second he came down, he stood up for Sheng Nian.]
[And that line about "what's mine"-it feels like there's more to it. He wasn't just talking about the photos...]
He Gu hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Not only had Sheng Nian not lost his temper, he had reacted like this instead.
He hurried forward and took Sheng Nian's hand, trying to salvage things. "I'm sorry, Sheng Nian. It was my fault. I didn't think it through."
Sheng Nian kept his head lowered and wiped his face with the back of his hand, saying nothing.
Jiang Shu was just about to step forward and comfort Sheng Nian when Yan Feizhuo walked over, glanced at them, and took Sheng Nian away by the hand.
[Ding~ Congratulations, host. You have gained 3% Male Supporting Character Self-Salvation Progress and 300 System Coins. Current progress: 5.4%. Please keep up the good work.]
At the good news from the system, Sheng Nian was practically bursting with joy inside.
Although he was delighted inwardly, Sheng Nian kept firmly in mind that he couldn't act out of character.
Yan Feizhuo was leading him forward by the hand, but he turned his head back toward Jiang Shu. Seeing that Jiang Shu still said nothing, he lowered his head in disappointment and let Yan Feizhuo lead him away.
As Jiang Shu watched Yan Feizhuo take Sheng Nian away, he somehow felt a sudden emptiness inside, as though something of his had been stolen.
Watching him stare absently in the direction Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo had left, He Gu clenched his jaw with hatred, yet still had to keep up appearances.
"Jiang Shu, I really didn't mean it. I didn't think that much about it. You know me. I've never had any bad intentions."
"Sheng Nian won't be angry with me, will he...?"
As he spoke, he even put on a frightened expression, looking afraid that Sheng Nian would retaliate against him over this.
But Jiang Shu didn't comfort him as he had before. Instead, he said, "You're overthinking it. Sheng Nian might be a little spoiled, but he isn't petty."
After a pause, he added, "You really were careless this time. Apologize to him the next time you see him. He's easygoing. He won't hold it against you."
At his words, He Gu's innocent-flower mask cracked for an instant. Only by digging his fingers hard into his palms did he keep himself from giving anything away on camera.
"Yes. I'll apologize to Sheng Nian the next time I see him."
Meanwhile, Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo had walked far away.
Sheng Nian still acted listless, looking as though he couldn't muster any energy.
The little figure inside the transparent bubble, however, held his head high with pride, two flushed patches blooming on his cheeks in his excitement as he wriggled happily. Beside him, a speaker played the catchy tune, "Today is a wonderful day, everything you wish for will come true~"
Yan Feizhuo found the transparent bubble rather amusing. The young master's acting was improving. If he couldn't see the bubble, he might have thought, like everyone else, that Sheng Nian was truly deeply in love with Jiang Shu and utterly heartbroken.
Yet seeing Sheng Nian focus all his attention on Jiang Shu, even if it was an act, left him a little annoyed.
"It's noon. Hungry? Shall we get lunch?"
Sheng Nian rubbed his somewhat flat stomach and nodded, perking up as he said, "There's a really delicious burger place in Evernight Sky. Their seafood burgers and beef burgers are both specialties. They use cattle raised by Evernight Sky itself and seafood flown in from an ocean ranch. Can we go there?"
Yan Feizhuo: "."
When Sheng Nian still didn't hear an answer from Yan Feizhuo, he looked up at him in puzzlement.
They had left in such a hurry that neither had changed. Yan Feizhuo was still in his trench coat, dress shirt, and suit trousers, looking every inch a business professional. Going to a burger place did seem a little odd.
But Sheng Nian had wanted to try that place for a long time. His voice softened naturally into a coaxing plea. "Feizhuo, come with me. It really is delicious. You come with me this time, and I'll go with you next time..."
Helpless, Yan Feizhuo placed his large hand on Sheng Nian's head and ruffled his hair. "All right. Let's go."
Before you continue