His Archrival Was So Petty

"That Omega mistook me for someone else that night."

Pei Jinghe's sudden explanation caught Wu Jiangyuan off guard.

He even thought something had gone wrong with his ears. "What did you say? What do you mean, mistook you for someone else?"

Pei Jinghe said, "He thought I was someone else. Once he realized, he ran."

Wu Jiangyuan said, "..."

His expression turned strange. That Omega had been in such a panic to escape that night because he had drugged the wrong person?

Melodramatic.

Utterly melodramatic.

What kind of melodramatic Mary Sue plot had wandered into this story?

At the same time, he thought of He Qu's suggestion to hold an interview to respond to the scandal. Perhaps he really could get this Omega to come forward and clarify what had happened that night, and that there was nothing between the two of them.

At that thought, he whipped his gaze toward Pei Jinghe.

"Where is that Omega?"

At an upscale residential complex-

Wu Jiangyuan stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the twentieth floor.

Then he turned to the man who had entered with him, his tone unfriendly. "What are you following me for?"

Pei Jinghe tilted his head slightly. "Wu Jiangyuan, do you always throw people away once you're done using them?"

What did he mean, throw people away once he was done using them?

Wu Jiangyuan's face darkened. "All I did was ask you to send me the address! You were the one who offered to drive me here."

It was nearly the evening rush hour, and he had only reluctantly agreed to Pei Jinghe's suggestion to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

Yet this guy was turning it around on him.

"Mm," Pei Jinghe drawled. "But the way you're chasing me off makes me think I'm your chauffeur."

The implication was that this displeased him.

Wu Jiangyuan understood. So this guy felt like a chauffeur and was upset about it.

Ever since childhood, he and Pei Jinghe had always kept a clear account between them.

Neither wanted to lose out to the other, nor take advantage of him.

Otherwise, Wu Jiangyuan would not have been so insistent on paying for that earlier meal.

Gradually, this had become an unspoken habit between them.

Speaking of that meal, Pei Jinghe did not seem to have noticed the transfer yet.

Wu Jiangyuan clicked his tongue. "So precious. Fine, I'll be your chauffeur next time."

A trace of amusement flickered through Pei Jinghe's eyes where he could not see it, but his voice remained calm. "All right."

Wu Jiangyuan rolled his eyes. In some ways, Pei Jinghe really was petty.

The elevator reached their floor.

Wu Jiangyuan stepped out first and rang the doorbell of apartment 2004.

The bell rang for quite a while before the door slowly opened.

Xi Jie wore loungewear, his hair disheveled, looking as though he had just woken up.

His face instantly drained of color when he saw his visitors.

"You..."

Wu Jiangyuan had already braced a hand against the doorframe to stop him from closing the door. His eyes curved in a friendly smile. "Remember me?"

Xi Jie looked past Wu Jiangyuan at Pei Jinghe behind him, retreating several steps with apprehension in his eyes.

"I already explained what happened that day. Didn't you agree not to give me any more trouble?"

Wu Jiangyuan tilted his head and pointed at Pei Jinghe. "Just to be clear, you explained it to him, not me."

Xi Jie said, "..."

He looked at Wu Jiangyuan in some confusion. "You're... Wu Jiangyuan?"

Wu Jiangyuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward to clasp his hand. "Great, you know me! I hear we're in the same line of work. Come on, let's get acquainted."

Xi Jie gave him a strange look. "You've been all over the internet lately. Everyone in the industry knows you."

Wu Jiangyuan was getting plenty of attention, though not the good kind. Among celebrities being criticized, he could definitely rank in the top ten.

Nine out of ten posts online were now insulting him. That counted as being wildly popular, too.

Wu Jiangyuan's smile did not reach his eyes. "Yes, and isn't that all thanks to those scandalous photos of you and me?"

That smiling face sent an inexplicable shiver through Xi Jie. Looking a little embarrassed, he pulled his hand back.

"What did you come to see me for?"

"Don't worry. I'm not here to settle scores."

Wu Jiangyuan folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "But discussing this in the doorway isn't ideal, is it?"

After a moment's hesitation, Xi Jie stepped aside. "Come in first."

"You want me to come forward and clear up your dating rumors?"

After hearing why he had come, Xi Jie looked troubled.

Wu Jiangyuan said, "Yes. I'll be holding an interview in a few days. All you need to do is come forward then and clarify that what happened that night was a misunderstanding."

Xi Jie hesitated. "But it's not really convenient for me to appear in public."

Wu Jiangyuan asked, "Why is that?"

Xi Jie said, "I'm not a celebrity. I'm just a manager, and I'm already planning to leave the industry."

Wu Jiangyuan leaned back against the sofa. He glanced at Pei Jinghe first, then looked back at Xi Jie and asked, "Whose manager are you?"

Xi Jie clenched his fingers and sighed before answering, "Nan Xiaoxing's."

Nan Xiaoxing?

Wu Jiangyuan was somewhat surprised.

He knew that name.

If Wu Jiangyuan was the most hated male celebrity on the blacklist, then Nan Xiaoxing was a red-hot A-list star on the honor roll.

He had won Best Actor with his debut film, "Dream of Anlan," and this year, his new film had earned him a nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

He was widely acknowledged as a talented actor, and was also the youngest Best Actor winner in mainland history.

"You're Nan Xiaoxing's manager?" Wu Jiangyuan smiled with interest. "So was Nan Xiaoxing at the banquet that night, too?"

Xi Jie said nothing, but his uneasy gaze had already given him away.

"It's fine if you don't want to answer. But is the reason you can't appear in public that you're afraid of causing trouble for Nan Xiaoxing?"

Xi Jie touched his ear awkwardly and nodded. "Yes. I'm currently handing over my work before leaving, and I don't want to cause him more trouble at a time like this."

Otherwise, his identity as Nan Xiaoxing's manager would affect Nan Xiaoxing to some degree.

"I understand." Wu Jiangyuan paused, then asked, "But do you think people won't recognize you in that photo circulating online?"

Xi Jie froze.

"To be honest, you're underestimating my haters a little. There's nothing they won't do."

Wu Jiangyuan gave a meaningful smile. "If you don't believe me, search for 'Wu Jiangyuan's rumored partner' online right now. Your name and photo will come up."

"It's just that the buzz has been suppressed for now, so it hasn't blown up."

Wu Jiangyuan's words frightened Xi Jie, and he hurriedly lowered his head to search.

Sure enough-

After he entered a few keywords, that photo came up.

Some people were digging into his identity. Xi Jie could make out the words "Nan Xiaoxing's manager" flashing before his eyes. He quickly put down his phone, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear.

Seeing his reaction, Wu Jiangyuan knew he had guessed right.

"See? Wasn't I right?"

"People have already uncovered your identity. Why not take the initiative and clear up our relationship with me, and resolve this before things get any worse? Wouldn't that be better?"

Xi Jie's eyes reddened, and he lowered his head in thought.

Wu Jiangyuan did not push him too hard and said nothing more.

Pei Jinghe, however, asked from beside him in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"You weren't actually sure whether anyone had uncovered his identity just now, were you?"

Wu Jiangyuan admitted calmly, "No."

Then he glanced sideways at Pei Jinghe, raising an eyebrow, his tone a little smug. "But I know my haters."

They would definitely dig.