He smelled so good

Within just a few minutes, clips of Xie Yuan bullying someone dominated the trending lists across major platforms, with views nearing a hundred million.

Many passersby who did not understand the situation cursed Xie Yuan in the comments.

The livestream also drew many casual viewers because of this. The traffic was there, but Director Ma's heart was lurching up and down along with it.

"I knew this troublemaker was something, but I didn't know he was this capable!"

"He single-handedly brought in a mountain of traffic."

"Honestly, it's agony and ecstasy."

The Deputy Director approached with a phone. "Director Ma, President Xie is calling for you."

"President Xie? Which President Xie?" Director Ma's brain stalled, and he failed to react for a moment.

"Xie Mo, president of the Xie Group."

"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Director Ma quickly sat up and snatched the phone from the Deputy Director. "Hello, President Xie. I'm the director of Heartbeat Means Action."

A moment later, Director Ma nodded repeatedly. "You want the livestream recording? No problem. I'll send it to President Xie right away."

"Young Master Xie? He's doing very well. He's brought our show plenty of traffic."

"Don't worry. I won't let anyone bully Young Master Xie."

Only after several minutes of conversation did Director Ma hang up.

The Deputy Director took back his phone. "Director, are we really sending President Xie the recording?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't we?" Director Ma reclined in his chair again. "Young Master Xie is our financial backer, after all. It's just a recording. It's no big deal."

The Deputy Director acknowledged him and went to send President Xie the recording.

Within minutes, a complete video appeared online.

The Xie Group captioned it: Everyone can see the truth for themselves. We will take legal action against those who falsely accused Young Master Xie.

Many people who had shared the clips began deleting their videos and comments.

Those with a little more foresight simply deleted their accounts and fled.

The smarter ones did not delete their videos, but followed up with the complete recording, praising Xie Yuan to the skies.

Countless storms raged online, while all was peaceful on Xie Yuan's end.

Taking large yet elegant mouthfuls of the cold noodles and freshly squeezed watermelon juice Mu Ze had prepared, Xie Yuan looked up and offered some praise. "Delicious. I didn't expect you to be such a good cook."

Mu Ze looked at the person before him, his gaze gentle. "If you like it, I'll make you other dishes in the future."

"You want to come work as a chef at my house?" Still eating, Xie Yuan nodded. "Sure. I'll pay you a little extra."

Mu Ze's gaze lingered on Xie Yuan's face. "I only cook for my family and my partner."

Anyone with a little awareness would have understood what such a blatant overture meant.

[Whoa, is this non-celebrity really that bold? Testing the waters so openly right off the bat?]

[Mu Ze really knows how to do this.]

[He's a non-celebrity, after all. Isn't he just after Xie Dog's family background?]

[I really want to know whether Xie Yuan will say yes.]

As the viewers waited expectantly, Xie Yuan looked up with cold noodles in his mouth and studied Mu Ze.

He watched for a while, until Mu Ze's palms were almost sweating, before Xie Yuan said, "You want to be my older brother?"

"That works too. My eldest brother and second sister won't mind having another younger brother."

A hint of surprise appeared in Mu Ze's eyes as he stared at Xie Yuan.

Did he really not understand, or had he simply not thought in that direction?

The livestream chat was discussing it too.

[Is Xie Dog playing hard to get?]

[Hahahaha, I'm dying. They're on completely different wavelengths.]

[Does Xie Yuan really not get it, or is he pretending?]

[That emotional intelligence. I can't watch.]

After staring at Xie Yuan for a while, Mu Ze said plainly, "What I mean is, could I date you, Teacher Xie?"

A textbook direct approach.

Date?

Xie Yuan looked up at Mu Ze. His skin was fair, better than that of quite a few girls.

His features were refined, his bearing gentle and cultured, and he looked very tender.

He could cook and was also the president of a major corporation.

With looks, power, and money, he was a good potential partner.

Most importantly, he smelled so good.

Xie Yuan could not help taking a deep breath, filling his nose with Mu Ze's scent.

Mu Ze was anxious.

He had never liked anyone before and did not know whether Xie Yuan would like a confession like this.

But ever since he was little, he had known that if he liked something, he had to act immediately. Only once he had it in his hands would it be his.

Xie Yuan's incredibly supple waist and that enticing red mole flashed through his mind.

Mu Ze's Adam's apple could not help bobbing.

Waiting was always difficult.

When Xie Yuan went a long time without answering, Mu Ze suppressed his disappointment. "You..."

"Sure."

Xie Yuan's voice cut off the rest of Mu Ze's words.

"What did you say?" Mu Ze's voice held disbelief.

Xie Yuan repeated himself. "I said sure."

"You're very good-looking. You're my type."

"So far, I haven't found anything about you that I dislike."

"We can try dating and see how it goes."

Before Mu Ze could feel happy, Xie Yuan continued, "Aren't we already a couple trying out dating right now?"

His rapidly beating heart cooled in an instant.

So that was what he meant.

Mu Ze held back his dejection. "That's true."

Xie Yuan was wholly focused on eating and did not notice Mu Ze's disappointment.

Mu Ze changed the subject. "What would you like for dinner?"

Without pausing his eating, Xie Yuan replied casually, "Make whatever you think is best, as long as it tastes good."

"All right. It'll definitely taste good." With that, Mu Ze turned and left to continue serving customers.

After finishing the cold noodles, Xie Yuan returned to the driver's seat, sprawled back, and soon fell asleep.

[Xie Yuan can really sleep. I remember he slept all morning and only got up for lunch.]

[There are eight guests in total, and he's got it the easiest.]

[What was the production team even thinking, inviting someone like him onto the show?]

[Get lost, Xie Dog.]

[Would anyone really be willing to date someone like this?]

The comments in the livestream did nothing to disturb Xie Yuan's sound sleep.

After selling out of the ingredients he had prepared, Mu Ze packed everything up. When he looked up, he saw Xie Yuan's docile face.

He was so cute even asleep.

He looked up at the sun.

The sunlight was so strong. It would hurt his eyes.

Mu Ze approached slowly.

Watching his shadow fall over Xie Yuan, he could not help reaching out to trace his brows and eyes.

Xie Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of murderous intent passing through them. He turned his head, and his sharp gaze, filled with endless coldness, landed on Mu Ze's raised hand.

"What are you doing?"

Mu Ze's gaze shifted slightly, but his face betrayed nothing. "Blocking the sun for you."

"The sunlight's a little harsh. I was worried you wouldn't sleep well."

Xie Yuan glanced at the sunlight, narrowing his eyes slightly against its glare. "It is a little harsh."

He hopped down from the driver's seat and stretched.

As he raised his arms, his clothes rode up a little, exposing a small section of his waist.

Mu Ze's peripheral gaze shifted slightly as he watched Xie Yuan's exposed waist. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed together.

Soon, his clothes fell back into place, concealing the tantalizing sight.

Mu Ze quickly looked away, his expression as gentle and cultured as ever.

There was no sign at all that he was the one who had just been staring at someone's waist in a daze.

Xie Yuan spoke then. "You sold everything? Then let's go back to the villa."

Mu Ze's gaze swept regretfully over his waist. "Mm. Going back sounds good."

Mu Ze drove the little three-wheeled vehicle back toward the villa with Xie Yuan.

On the way, they passed a supermarket, and Mu Ze stopped.

"I'm going into the supermarket to buy groceries. Want to come?"

Xie Yuan lazily glanced toward the supermarket. "No."

"Go by yourself. I'm heading back to the villa first."

He hopped out of the vehicle, turned, and climbed into the production crew's filming vehicle.

"Give me a ride." Xie Yuan stood on no ceremony.

The filming crew fell silent for a moment, but took him along anyway.

Mu Ze watched the vehicle leave, remaining silent for a while before heading into the supermarket.

The villa was quiet, with no one around.

Without standing on ceremony, Xie Yuan reclined on the sofa and started watching television.

He looked so relaxed that there was no sign at all he was filming a dating show.

This was the scene Su Wanyue saw when she came downstairs.

"Teacher Xie, have you already sold everything?"

"Why did you come back alone? Where's Mu Ze?"