Be something everyone can praise

Rising, Chi An exchanged a glance with Chi Shuran, then walked out of the vegetable garden and craned his neck to look ahead. His gaze met Fu Yanci's slightly reddened eyes. The moment Fu Yanci saw Chi An, he looked utterly pitiful, as though someone had abandoned him.

Chi An's heart lurched, and he turned to leave. But the man ahead reacted like a cat spotting a fish, lunging straight at him, sweeping him into his arms, and hoisting him over his shoulder.

"Hehe, got you."

A second earlier, he had looked so aggrieved it tugged at the heart. Once he had Chi An in his arms, his eyes instantly turned bright and sharp. His pitiful air vanished without a trace, his lips curled upward, and one eyebrow rose smugly.

With his stomach pressed against Fu Yanci's shoulder, Chi An braced his hands uncomfortably against his back. Straining to lift his head, he glared at Song Wenjing, who had followed behind. "You'd better explain this to me, or nobody can guarantee you'll sleep peacefully tonight."

Covering his mouth, Song Wenjing gave a light cough. His eyes darted around, looking everywhere but at Chi An. He stammered, his gaze shifting evasively. "Well, uh, bro, watch him for me for a bit!"

"He just scared that girl into crying. I'll be back once I get a task! Watch him for me!"

"I'm off!"

He fled in a panic, giving no one a chance to react. Moving so fast he nearly tripped over a rock, Song Wenjing could not even spare a glance at the path. He just wanted to get away quickly.

He had originally brought Fu Yanci over only to see whether he could stabilize his mood. Who knew it would turn out like this? His uncle had never told him Fu Yanci acted like this!

"What are you doing?!"

"Fu Yanci! I'm still here! Who said you could hold my brother?!"

Chi Shuran tossed aside the basket in her hands, her eyes widening as she stepped forward to pry Fu Yanci's hands away.

His brows knitted, and hostility filled his stern face. His arm had barely moved before a hand held it down. At the same time, a slightly cool hand grabbed his ear, and Chi An's voice came from behind him. "That's my sister. Just try laying a hand on her."

His heartbeat suddenly grew heavy, his chest feeling as though a hot breath had lodged inside it. A sense of grievance spread from his heart. "She won't let me touch you."

"Put me down."

"No."

[I'm shipping them first, no matter what. I'd feel like I was letting that hug of Fu Yanci's down if I didn't.]

[Who carries someone over their shoulder when they hug them? Is that actually comfortable?]

[Fu Yanci is killing me, but I absolutely have to screenshot that ear-grabbing scene for my wallpaper! I've never seen such gorgeous hands! Add Chi An's profile, and I'm getting a faceful of handsome!]

[Is this scripted? Is the production team making them play up a gay ship? This is way too fake! He randomly has an episode, and only Chi An can control him. They couldn't even find better actors for the script and had to use people outside the industry.]

[Agreed. Get professionals if you want acting. Why get two outsiders? To make us viewers less suspicious? Frankly, that just makes it even faker!]

[Frankly, if your mouths are that bored, go lick every toilet in a public restroom clean and be something everyone can praise.]

[Swipe away if you don't like it. Who asked for your review? Did someone dig out your eyeballs, dab them with spit, and stick them to the screen? Watch if you want to; piss off if you don't. Who's forcing you?]

[A stinking loach gets a little seawater on it and starts thinking it's seafood. Can't even enjoy a variety show without running into a bunch of fucking Shark Coins. What rotten luck!]

Carrying Chi An over his shoulder, Fu Yanci passed Chi Shuran and entered the vegetable garden, meeting the eyes of Lu Wanqing, who had stood up opposite them to watch. Seeing their position, she covered her mouth in surprise. "Y-you two... isn't this a little too intimate?"

"Did the director arrange something? Isn't this a bit inappropriate? It's only the first day, after all."

Her eyes drifted seemingly casually toward the staff nearby. Anyone who did not know better would have thought the director was standing there, giving them instructions.

"Ah, sorry. I forgot this was live. I'm really sorry."

Pretending she had only just remembered, Lu Wanqing gave a little gasp and tapped her mouth reproachfully, looking apologetically at the two men ahead.

Fu Yanci quietly watched everything Lu Wanqing did and patiently waited for her performance to end. Then he bent down, set Chi An in the shade, and turned to address her bluntly. "You look like a QR code. Nobody can tell what the hell you are without scanning you."

"Always putting in your two cents when there's nothing going on. Really have to make yourself stand out, don't you? Who are you looking at, rolling those frog eyes around?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think there was a ghost hiding behind me. Put away your pathetic little schemes. I specialize in tearing apart people like you."

"You've spent all these years in show business and still don't know what you should and shouldn't say. Looks like this is all you amount to. Pack up and go home to farm while you still can. You've got a brain, but you only use it to add to your height. You haven't got a clue how to use it."

"Who knows if they'd even want you farming back home? How many vegetables can you even recognize? You've been at it all this time and only dug up those few plants, weeds mixed in with vegetables. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were planning to eat hay tossed with greens!"

Her understanding of Fu Yanci was upended once again. Everyone present turned their eyes toward her at once. Lu Wanqing felt all the blood in her body rush to her head. Enveloped in indescribable embarrassment, she wanted only to leave as quickly as possible.

"I..."

Lu Wanqing's lips parted slightly before she lightly bit her lower lip, a hint of helplessness and grievance in her eyes. She lowered her head, her long hair hiding her face so no one could make out her expression, but her faintly trembling shoulders were enough to make anyone's heart ache.

"Wanqing."

Stepping forward at the right moment, Li Nanyi wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a distressed expression. She raised her head and gently patted her back, then turned to glare at Fu Yanci. "We're still live. How can you speak to a woman like that?"

"Who doesn't make mistakes? She just forgot for a moment and kindly reminded you not to play up a gay ship right now. Fine if you won't listen! Why do you have to talk to her like that?"

"Did you think I was only talking about her, not you?"

A mocking smile curled his lips as Fu Yanci stared coldly at her. "You could've come out at any time, but you waited until I finished telling her off to play the hero?"

"What are you up to? Should I give you an award for being polite enough to wait until someone finishes speaking?"

"You know we're live, but she doesn't? Are you the one in show business, or is she?"

"As one of the people involved, how come I don't know anything about being told to play up a gay ship? You keep saying it's for my own good and telling me not to do it. Did you actually see us doing that?"

"Why don't we go confront the director together and ask whether he ever told me to do that?"

"Being close means we're playing up a gay ship? Then can I say you have ulterior motives for holding her right now?"

"Besides, nobody has ever dared make me do something I don't want to do."

His voice was not loud, nor did it sound as though he was deliberately emphasizing anything. "Chi An and I have known each other for almost five years. We've even shared a bed. What's there we can't do?"

Wait, wasn't that getting a little off track?!

Chi An strode up behind Fu Yanci and slapped him on the back. The sharp smack made Chi Shuran flinch. The sound alone was enough to tell how much force he had used.

She stole a look at Fu Yanci's expression. His face was stiff, as though he were holding something back. Finally, he let out a heavy breath and feigned ease. "Heh, didn't hurt. Hit a little harder next time."

Chi An said, "What a poser."