I'm not the Type to Show Off

"Would this guest please stop talking complete nonsense with a straight face, and please stop making up and spreading rumors? Thank you."

Director Ji looked at Ye Yizhou with a serious expression.

"What rumors did I make up? What rumors did I spread? Did I say I was definitely part of one of the three couples?"

Ye Yizhou spread his hands, looking innocent, his voice even aggrieved. "Don't go falsely accusing me like that."

Everyone: ??

You started this whole thing, and now you're the first to feel wronged?

Still, come to think of it, Ye Yizhou really hadn't explicitly said that, but wasn't that exactly what he had been implying?

"Hmph, that one line of mine definitely sent your livestream buzz through the roof. Don't act hard done by when you're the one reaping the benefits."

A confident smile played at the corners of Ye Yizhou's lips, as though everything was under his control, and he gave a soft scoff.

Director Ji: ...

To be fair, Ye Yizhou wasn't wrong.

If a variety show had no buzzworthy moments and drew no attention, wouldn't all their work have been for nothing?

Although these were industry rules everyone tacitly understood, saying it so directly...

"Don't just blurt everything out! Where are your manners?" Director Ji called out quietly, helpless and anxious.

"So, Yizhou's reason for joining this show was..."

The more Pei Lan listened, the more confused she became, and she couldn't help voicing her question.

As soon as she finished speaking, some of the guests turned their eyes toward Song Jincheng.

They had heard plenty of gossip about Ye Yizhou liking Song Jincheng and throwing himself at him.

However, from the start of the show until now, Song Jincheng hadn't said a single word to Ye Yizhou. They hadn't even made eye contact.

Song Jincheng was famously gentle and well-mannered. For him to treat someone as though they didn't exist showed just how much he loathed Ye Yizhou.

Sensing everyone's gazes, Song Jincheng smiled gently and asked as though he didn't understand, "Why is everyone looking at me?"

"No reason, no reason."

Everyone shook their heads in tacit agreement and looked away.

They didn't notice the contempt and distaste that flashed across Ye Yizhou's face when he heard Song Jincheng speak.

"Tell them yourself." Director Ji raised a hand to cover his eyes, giving the impression that what he couldn't see couldn't bother him.

"Oh."

Ye Yizhou answered nonchalantly, "I wasn't planning to come. I was all ready to go home and inherit the family business."

"Huh? Inherit the family business? A young master?" Jiang Chuyu really was very innocent; his eyes lit up immediately.

Ye Yizhou couldn't help chuckling. He was pretty cute.

"Then may I ask what businesses your family owns, 'young master'?"

Although Zhong Xi called him young master, the mockery was obvious. He was clearly targeting Ye Yizhou, unable to stand his showing off.

"Fields, land, cattle and sheep, and some hills."

Ye Yizhou started counting off his family's holdings on his fingers, then waved a hand. "There are some other things I won't mention, in case you say I'm flaunting my wealth. I'm not the type to show off."

"Heh."

At the mention of fields, land, cattle, and sheep, Zhong Xi couldn't help rolling his eyes, seemingly looking down on Ye Yizhou even more.

Although the other guests also found it a little awkward, they still offered awkward but polite smiles.

Clearly, everyone knew how to manage their expressions on camera, apart from certain individuals who really were stupid.

"Then what changed your original plan?"

Jiang Chuyu sat sideways on the sofa, both hands resting on the armrest as he leaned a little closer to Ye Yizhou.

Jiang Chuyu looked curious, as though he genuinely wanted to hear the story.

"There were some other reasons I won't get into for now, but mainly, when the show announced its guest lineup, some people just couldn't learn to focus on their own favorites. Why did you have to put me down to express how happy you were?"

Ye Yizhou's gaze turned cold. Propping his chin on his hand, he curled his lips into a slightly mischievous smile. "Fine, then. If you won't let me be happy, I won't let you have too much fun either. Just returning the favor!"

[???]

[Is Ye Yizhou challenging the almighty viewers?]

[How does he dare?]

[Then leave. Don't get in the way of us admiring his good looks.]

[His movements are so natural and cool, and his smile is so bewitching. I suddenly get Ye Yizhou's appeal.]

[Seriously, Ye Yizhou was good-looking before, sure, but now his beauty is so vivid and vibrant. It's killing me.]

Director Ji spoke through gritted teeth. "What did I ever do to you? You won't stop until you've wrecked my show, will you?"

Although he had mentally prepared himself beforehand, he hadn't expected Ye Yizhou's remarks to be this explosive.

He really dared to say anything.

"You were the one who told me to say it, and now that I have, you're unhappy. Why are you so hard to please?"

Disdain was written all over Ye Yizhou's face as he turned his head away, unwilling to pay Director Ji any more attention.

Was this menace really not going to bother pretending anymore?

Director Ji was suffering, but Director Ji couldn't say so.

The guests' gazes darted between Ye Yizhou and Director Ji as they openly enjoyed the drama.

On the day the show announced its guests, Ye Yizhou treating Director Ji to dinner to get onto the show had even trended!

But judging by their exchange now, things didn't seem as simple as the paparazzi had made them out to be.

[They're fighting, they're fighting! Could Ye Yizhou's partner be Director Ji? Are we allowed to ship this? I'm dying.]

[If Director Ji weren't a little too old, a little too fat, a little too short, and already married, I'd ship them.]

[Director Ji: where are your manners?]

[Is Ye Yizhou getting back at Director Ji for agreeing to let him on the show, then dropping him when the lineup was announced?]

[But Ye Yizhou still ended up on the show!]

Whenever Ye Yizhou spoke, the barrage of comments surged. Every sentence he uttered sparked heated discussion among the livestream's viewers.

"Please head upstairs and choose your rooms. Once you've put away your luggage, come back to the living room."

Director Ji resumed moving the show along. Ye Yizhou was the show's biggest wildcard, completely beyond his control, so he might as well stop trying.

The camera followed the guests upstairs as they carried their suitcases. Halfway up, they realized Ye Yizhou hadn't followed them. He hadn't even moved.

Everyone couldn't help stopping and turning back to look at Ye Yizhou.

"Yizhou, aren't you coming to choose a room with us?" Jiang Chuyu invited him.

Ye Yizhou shook his head. "There are only six rooms. You go ahead and choose."

"At least someone knows his place."

Zhong Xi held his head high, looking rather proud.

Hearing there were only six rooms made him even more pleased. Ye Yizhou was nothing but a clown who had insisted on forcing his way in and throwing himself at someone. The production team hadn't even prepared a room for him, so who knew what he kept acting so arrogant about?

"What about you, then? Where will you sleep tonight?"

Only Jiang Chuyu asked with genuine concern.

Ye Yizhou revealed a meaningful smile. "Me..."