I was no paragon of restraint

Huo Xingye did not answer him. Instead, Jiang Zhen asked curiously, "Do you mean that trending topic about a family of three?"

Gu Tang waited a while, but no answer came from Huo Xingye. He felt a little disappointed, but he still wanted to stir things up.

Picking up on Jiang Zhen's question, he shook his head. "No, everyone online is saying Nan Zhou plays the guitar well because Brother Lu Zhou taught him well."

Then Gu Tang added with a smile, "Well, they were in the same group to begin with. They've spent practically every day together these past two years. It's perfectly normal for them to learn from each other."

He spoke of learning from each other, but his emphasis fell on the part about spending practically every day together for two years.

Everything he said hinted at how close Nan Zhou and Lu Zhou had once been. Never mind an old fox like Jiang Zhen, who had spent years navigating the entertainment industry-even the livestream viewers picked up on it.

Xingzhou CP fans cursed Gu Tang for being tasteless, while Zhouyu CP fans hurried to distance Lu Zhou from Nan Zhou.

But besides them, the livestream also had plenty of people there for the drama and spectators.

[What, so now that they're paired with other people, nobody's allowed to mention the past?]

[Those two know what their relationship used to be like. It won't be that easy for Lu Zhou to distance himself.]

[Their relationship is one thing, their ability is another. Nan Zhou's guitar skills are way better than Lu Zhou's. How could he have learned from Lu Zhou?]

[LMAO, are some of you professionals? Judging professional skills with nothing to back it up. If he hadn't stolen our Brother Zhou's storyline, what would that two-faced little fake even have to sell? All he does is leech off other people's popularity, everywhere he goes.]

[Lu Zhou fans, don't be ridiculous. Even if he wanted to leech off someone, it wouldn't be your precious idol. He's got a heavyweight like Huo Xingye looking out for him.]

Compared with the heated arguments in the livestream, the guests' reactions to Gu Tang's words were much less intense.

Especially Nan Zhou and Wen Yu, who were directly and indirectly involved, respectively.

After hearing him out, Nan Zhou merely gave a derisive snort in response.

Wen Yu was even more focused on eating the salad in front of him, paying no attention to anything else.

Only Lu Zhou abruptly shifted his gaze from Nan Zhou to Gu Tang, his eyes narrowing with a flash of coldness.

This time, Jiang Zhen was smart enough not to respond.

She had no desire to get caught up in this kind of controversy. Besides, there was nothing wrong with being a spectator.

Huo Xingye discreetly replaced the cold drink in front of Nan Zhou, then ladled out a bowl of hot soup and set it before him.

Only after watching Nan Zhou pick up his spoon did he ask unhurriedly, "Did he teach you?"

The words seemed like a rhetorical question, but they were addressed to Nan Zhou.

His tone sounded less questioning than mocking of what Gu Tang had just said.

Nan Zhou gave another disdainful snort.

Gu Tang kept feeling that the way those two interacted created a distance no outsider could breach. Huo Xingye in particular had seemed so handsome and gentle when Gu Tang watched the livestream, the guest who took the best care of his partner apart from Xu Xiao.

And compared with Xu Xiao, Huo Xingye's indulgence and care for Nan Zhou practically knew no bounds.

Yet when Gu Tang actually faced him, that sense of distance felt almost tangible, impossible to break through or penetrate.

Just now, for instance, he had clearly addressed Huo Xingye, yet Huo Xingye had not answered him directly, turning the question on Nan Zhou instead.

"Oh, that's just what people online are saying." Gu Tang gave himself a way out. "People online also say Nan Zhou's been riding your coattails, Mr. Huo."

In fact, some haters also said Nan Zhou's financial backer probably had dirt on Huo Xingye, which was why someone of Huo Xingye's standing would lower himself to come on a dating show and pair up with Nan Zhou.

But given Huo Xingye's status, an internet celebrity like him did not dare say that outright, so he could only make Nan Zhou the focus.

Gu Tang had only made the remark offhandedly, but to his surprise, Huo Xingye answered.

"Is that so? If he's willing to ride my coattails, that would be my honor."

"After all, I came on this show for him."

[Wh-wh-wh-what!!! Is he just revealing everything outright???]

[That's a confession, right? It's a confession!]

[Wait, these two are a real couple, aren't they? Is that what Nan Zhou meant by deliberately getting Huo Xingye to come on the show?!]

[Wasn't there gossip saying the best actor only came because someone's financial backer had something on him? Does this count as him indirectly confirming it himself?]

Everyone present except Nan Zhou widened their eyes.

But that was not all. Bracing one hand on the table, Huo Xingye turned to look at Nan Zhou and said slowly, enunciating every word, "I wanted to see him, so I came. It had nothing to do with anyone else."

[Aaaaaah!!!!]

[These two are seriously perfect together. Each one flirts harder than the other. Clutching my heart and slowly lying down.]

[Another day of crying my eyes out over beautiful love.]

[Nan Zhou, your husband's gone this far, and you're still not giving him any reaction!!]

[This counts as Huo Xingye openly backing Nan Zhou, right?]

Jiang Zhen covered her mouth, her eyes shining as her gaze darted between Nan Zhou and Huo Xingye, looking thoroughly delighted by the pairing.

Wen Yu stopped what he was doing too and glanced at Nan Zhou and Huo Xingye in turn.

Xu Xiao gave Huo Xingye an understanding look.

Gu Tang and Lu Zhou, meanwhile, failed to control their expressions, their eyes widening in disbelief as though wondering whether they had misheard.

Under everyone's gaze, Nan Zhou calmly finished the hot soup in his bowl.

He turned to look at the Alpha's handsome face, gazed into his deep, dark eyes, then slowly raised his right hand-and made a finger heart.

"Pfft!" Xu Xiao could not hold back his laughter.

Before him, there had been another, very soft laugh.

Then even Jiang Zhen burst out laughing. "A finger heart!"

Lu Zhou came back to himself. His expression still looked a little unpleasant, but he could control himself now. He began considerately peeling shrimp for Wen Yu, forcing himself to look at Nan Zhou as little as possible for fear of exposing his secret on the livestream.

"Let me tell you a secret." Nan Zhou leaned close to Huo Xingye's ear. "I'm no paragon of restraint."

Huo Xingye's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If I get carried away with the flirting, I'll cross the line."

Whether deliberately or for some other reason, his voice was a little huskier than usual.

The breath brushing Huo Xingye's ear was also scorching hot.

[!!!!!!!]

[Collapsing with a nosebleed.]

[Hurry up and cross it. I love it when you cross the line. Cross it for us to see.]

[Huo Xingye, take him. Are you an Alpha or not? I order you to take him right now, in front of everyone.]

[I don't believe it!! I don't believe Nan Zhou ever liked Lu Zhou!! If he could flirt like this, how the fuck could Lu Zhou have resisted???]

[Fans of that two-faced fake, get lost. Do you think our Brother Zhou eats any old trash like certain people?]

Huo Xingye half-lidded his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips. "Just carried away with the flirting?"

As though he had not heard, Nan Zhou picked up the cup beside him and took a sip.

...Why was this hot too?

The production team had called it a group dinner, but just as Nan Zhou had predicted, the meal would not come free.

When the guests were halfway through eating, director Pei Feng had the staff turn on the projection screen they had prepared.

It read: the guest whose name was drawn would answer a question from the fans.

Pei Feng invited Wen Yu to be the first guest to choose.

"Then I'll pick the third one."

As he finished speaking, the animation concealing the third line on the screen jumped aside, revealing its contents.

"A question for Nan Zhou: what was your first impression of Huo Xingye?"