Was Xie Yanci cheating?

Though he felt like crying, Xu Shi still forced a polite smile onto his face and greeted each camera.

"Wow, you're both wearing the same style of suit." The host looked the two of them over.

"They're not the same style," Wen Yu corrected.

He was the sole brand ambassador, yet even he hadn't received this season's new designs before Xu Shi was already wearing one.

Xu Shi could only smile awkwardly beside him.

He knew absolutely nothing about luxury goods.

The host nodded meaningfully. "I hear you both auditioned for the Male Lead in Director Song Zhixing's new film. Is there anything you'd like to say to each other?"

"?"

"?"

Xu Shi and Wen Yu exchanged a glance, neither knowing who had leaked the news.

Song Zhixing was notoriously strict about confidentiality and absolutely forbade anyone from leaking anything.

The cameras from the various media outlets kept rolling. Wen Yu took a deep breath and said slowly:

"Director Song Zhixing's reputation in the industry speaks for itself. Naturally, everyone wants to audition for his new film."

Wen Yu steered the topic away from himself and Xu Shi.

Xu Shi nodded furiously beside him. "Exactly."

Same here.

"Ohhh." The host drew out the sound. "Do you feel that competing with everyone else for a Male Lead role lowers your standing?"

"No." Wen Yu slowly shook his head. "Xia Cen is a very distinctive character. I hope I can portray him well."

"Of course, that's assuming Director Song chooses me."

"Haha, you're too modest." The host gave a couple of dry laughs beside him.

The tension-filled interview came to an end.

Xu Shi had spent nearly half an hour standing there as a backdrop without being asked a single question. He didn't even know what purpose his presence served.

"We're screwed." Xiao Chi gripped his wrist tightly. "This is blowing up. We're going to get torn apart!"

Xu Shi had more or less seen it coming. From the moment he started walking the red carpet with Wen Yu, he had felt something was wrong.

"Do you think..." Xiao Chi suddenly lowered his voice. "Could Wen Yu's team be behind this? Deliberately using the Male Lead role to stir up publicity?"

No sooner had the words left Xiao Chi's mouth than the sound of a glass smashing came from the lounge.

"This is outrageous!" Wen Yu's manager pointed at a staff member's head and berated them. "Who arranged those questions? How dare you ask something like that!"

"Enough." Wen Yu caught his hand and signaled with his eyes for the innocent staff member to leave quickly.

"Someone definitely arranged this on purpose..." As he spoke, Zhang Ya's gaze unconsciously settled on Xu Shi, who was watching from the sidelines.

President Xie's little lover.

He certainly had the clout to get the organizers to drum up publicity using the Male Lead role.

Unable to stand his purely malicious stare, Xu Shi rolled his eyes. "What the hell does it have to do with me?"

Zhang Ya snorted. This was the first time some nobody had walked all over him so brazenly, yet he couldn't afford to offend the powerful patron backing this untouchable figure.

He gritted his teeth in hatred. "You'd better pray President Xie keeps liking you."

Xu Shi said, "...What-what the hell is it to you!"

He sounded distinctly less confident as he said it.

He was getting divorced soon. He felt that if he kept acting this recklessly, the day of his divorce would be the day he died.

No!

He couldn't just sit around waiting to die!

Xu Shi took out his phone and called Secretary Zhou directly. "Where's Xie Yanci?"

Time to check up on him!

It was somewhat noisy on the other end. Secretary Zhou hesitated for ages without managing to say a word.

Xu Shi frowned. "What's wrong? Did he drop dead?"

Was it so hard to say because he was out looking for an Omega?

Secretary Zhou cleared his throat and ventured cautiously, "President Xie is at a nightclub. I'll send you the address."

Xu Shi: "?"

Was he actually cheating?

Xie Yanci going to a nightclub was no different from a eunuch visiting a brothel.

The thought of a certain ascetic watching an Omega's sultry dance with a perfectly solemn expression made Xu Shi laugh out loud.

Perhaps when the Omega pressed close, he would even say, with a serious face, "I'm a germaphobe."

"Hahahaha..."

Hearing the laughter over the phone, Secretary Zhou froze.

Had his spouse gone mad with anger?

He didn't understand this couple's idea of fun. As a long-suffering employee, he had to report to President Xie immediately.

The private room was very quiet, without even the faintest smell of alcohol.

It was a welcome-home party for Song Zhixing after his return from abroad. A group of childhood friends had timed their arrival for the end of Xie Yanci's workday and cornered him at the office, pleading and cajoling until he agreed to attend.

To accommodate President Xie's preferences, even smoking and drinking were forbidden in the nightclub's private room.

Standing beside Xie Yanci, Secretary Zhou reported quietly, "President Xie, your spouse just called to check up on you. I sent him the address."

Check up on him?

At those unfamiliar words, Xie Yanci paused in the act of drawing a tile. "Mm."

The single syllable emerged from his throat. He didn't take it very seriously.

From what he knew of Xu Shi, he would probably laugh it off as a joke, not be idle enough to make a special trip to "catch him cheating."

"Yanci, are you that busy with work?" His friend Shen Che spoke indistinctly around the e-cigarette between his lips.

"It's a family matter," Xie Yanci corrected him.

"Oooh!"

A chorus of teasing instantly filled the room.

"I really envy you," someone chimed in. "Your spouse doesn't keep tabs on you at all. Unlike mine-I have to check in three or four times just to go out, then video call every thirty minutes."

Xie Yanci: "..."

Song Zhixing clicked his tongue twice. "And you're complaining? Try having a spouse who barely acknowledges you and can't even be bothered to catch you cheating. See how happy you'd be then."

Xie Yanci: "..."

Shen Che joined in. "Quit showing off your love life. We've seen enough of you two being sickeningly sweet on Moments!"

The Alpha grew a little embarrassed at the teasing and protested, "Posting on Moments is mandatory. Who doesn't announce their relationship or marriage on Moments?"

Xie Yanci: "..."

He was a loner by nature and couldn't fit into this circle of friends.

His long fingers found a two of characters. Xie Yanci laid down his tiles. "Full flush."

"Holy shit! You were secretly building a big hand?" Shen Che reluctantly handed over his chips.

"Ugh, President Xie's won all the spending money my spouse gave me."

Xie Yanci: "..."

How irritating.

They played eight rounds, and Xie Yanci won seven of them.

He had good luck.

But he wasn't happy.

This little bit of money was of no use to him whatsoever.

Ding-

A ringtone sounded.

Xie Yanci instinctively picked up the phone on the table. There wasn't a single personal message on the illuminated screen.

Instead, the Alpha beside him answered a video call. "Honey, I'm playing mahjong with Song Zhixing and the others. I've lost so much money. Boohoo..."

Xie Yanci: "..."

Annoying.

Rubbing his temple with his long fingers, he reached out and tapped Shen Che's shoulder. "Give me a cigarette."

"A cigarette?" Shen Che stared at the big-shot president in disbelief. "You smoke? Now that's a rare sight."

He tossed over a pack of slim menthol cigarettes.

The lighter clicked crisply. Xie Yanci tilted his head and lit a cigarette.

The curling smoke obscured his guarded, dark expression. All that could be seen was him picking up his phone and sending Secretary Zhou a message: [When is Xu Shi coming?]

After a long hesitation on the other end, a reply finally appeared:

[President Xie, I don't think your spouse said he was coming.]