After he sent the message, there was no reply for ages.
Xie Huan scratched his head.
Maybe she was busy.
Sister Hua was indeed busy.
He was busy taking a call from Pei Tingyun.
That was right.
Although Hua Xin went by Sister Hua in the industry, he was a man through and through.
"I only asked Xie Huan to help look after you because you two got along so well yesterday. I really couldn't rest easy with you going abroad to film a show on your own."
Hua Xin's clear, pleasantly soothing voice came through the phone.
Unfortunately, no matter how pleasant Hua Xin's voice was, it could do nothing for Pei Tingyun, who was on the verge of a breakdown.
Pei Tingyun crouched in a deserted corner of the villa's backyard and snapped under his breath:
"But you didn't have to tell him every single one of my habits! Aren't you afraid..."
Pei Tingyun cautiously looked around, making sure there was no one nearby and no cameras before continuing:
"Aren't you afraid he'll be just like those people, hurting me in the name of loving me?"
Hua Xin said, "Don't worry. I investigated him overnight yesterday and only approached him after confirming he was fine. Besides, he only asked what you liked and disliked because he cares about you."
Pei Tingyun sighed. "So you told him just because he asked? How did I never notice how naive you were before? And don't forget, Xie Huan isn't some ordinary person. He's the Gu Household's true young master!
"If someone with that background really wanted to hide something, do you think a casual investigation would uncover it? The way that person pulled the wool over everyone's eyes a year ago, you..."
Before Pei Tingyun could finish, Hua Xin interrupted:
"Oh, relax, relax! A year ago was different from now. Trust your big sister's judgment! Xie Huan really won't hurt you!"
Pei Tingyun sneered.
"Heh, your judgment? If your judgment is so good, what happened with your ex-boyfriend? Should I go ask him in person..."
Hua Xin cut him off again. "We're talking about you. Why bring him up? I'm warning you, don't do anything rash!"
Pei Tingyun didn't respond, so Hua Xin knew he had agreed.
He steered the conversation back and earnestly tried to persuade him:
"I really do think Xie Huan is a good person. Get along with him. You have no idea-the entire internet is shipping you two now."
The moment he heard about shipping, Pei Tingyun lost his composure:
"You're not trying to make us promote a ship, are you?"
Hua Xin said, "Honestly, when I went to the company meeting today, the higher-ups did have that in mind. Given Xie Huan's background, having you promote a ship with him would bring the company enormous benefits."
Pei Tingyun said, "You didn't agree, did you?"
Hua Xin said, "Of course not! Has your big sister ever used you as a bargaining chip? Never before, and never in the future!"
After a pause, Hua Xin changed tack:
"But we can't entirely rule out the company secretly hiring a water army to pose as shippers and build hype. You know those old men at the company don't care whether you live or die when money's involved."
Pei Tingyun closed his eyes briefly and exhaled. "I know."
Hua Xin said, "Actually, if you were willing, dating Xie Huan for real and making the ship official might not be a bad thing for you. Your touch aversion is so severe. Finding someone you can touch isn't easy."
Right now, Pei Tingyun couldn't bear to hear a single word about dating Xie Huan.
He would defend his heterosexuality to the death:
"Hua Xin! I have no problem with you liking men, but don't drag me into your circle. I will never like men as long as I live!"
Hua Xin scoffed. "Oh, please. Do you think I didn't watch the livestream? You slept with your arms around him in front of everyone, and you're still saying you don't like men."
Pei Tingyun had no defense.
Because that afternoon, on the beach ATV, he really had slept with his arms around Xie Huan the whole way.
But:
"I... how is my kind of sleeping remotely the same as your kind of sleeping?!"
With that, Pei Tingyun hung up without giving Hua Xin any chance to speak again.
Looking at his phone's darkened screen, Hua Xin clicked his tongue.
"You're so embarrassed you're lashing out, and you still say you don't like him. We've known each other for years. As if I don't know you. Keep denying it! Besides, this is a match made in heaven. You can't escape it!"
Pei Tingyun felt his manager couldn't be relied on. He would have to have an honest talk himself.
Pei Tingyun reached the bedroom door and stopped.
He had already worked out what to say.
But when he opened the door and saw Xie Huan sitting propped against the headboard, shirtless and playing on his phone, every word deserted him.
All he could think was-
Why is he shirtless again?!
Hearing the door open, Xie Huan looked up.
"Oh, hey! You're back!"
Pei Tingyun walked in somewhat awkwardly.
"Why aren't you asleep?"
Xie Huan put down his phone and asked:
"Didn't you say this afternoon you had something to ask me tonight?"
Pei Tingyun sat on his own bed and frowned.
"Then put your clothes on first."
Xie Huan said, "Aw, come on, we're both grown men. What do I need clothes for? I don't mind you looking."
Pei Tingyun said, "..."
Pei Tingyun took a deep breath.
He struggled to control his gaze and keep it from straying to Xie Huan's firm muscles.
He said:
"There's something I need to confess first. I looked at your chat history with Sister Hua just now."
Xie Huan was utterly unruffled. "So you looked. He's your manager, isn't he?"
Pei Tingyun hadn't expected him to be so calm.
Surprised, he asked, "You're not angry?"
Xie Huan tilted his head and asked in confusion, "Why would I be angry?"
Pei Tingyun said, "I looked at your phone without permission. Don't you think I was invading your privacy?"
Xie Huan said, "Aw, come on, what privacy do we need between our own people? Go ahead and look. Look all you want."
Sure enough.
Sincerity was always the ultimate killing move.
Pei Tingyun suddenly understood a little why Hua Xin was so certain Xie Huan wouldn't hurt him.
Xie Huan was simply too sincere.
He made even suspecting him feel like a sin.
Seeing Pei Tingyun fall silent, Xie Huan cautiously studied his expression.
"Don't be upset, okay? I wasn't trying to pry into your private business through your manager. I just..."
Pei Tingyun frowned slightly. "You just said there's no privacy between our own people."
It's only been a moment, and he already doesn't consider me one of his own?
Xie Huan said, "Aw, come on, you're different!"
Pei Tingyun asked, "How am I different?"
"You're one of those eye..." The word was on the tip of his tongue, but Xie Huan forgot it again.
Aw, man, how did that word go again?
Xie Huan clapped his hands. "Oh, right, eye-dull! Eye-dulls all have privacy."
Pei Tingyun said, "..."
Dead memories suddenly rose up to attack me...
I thought the eye-dull bit was long over. Why is it getting an encore?
Pei Tingyun pressed a hand to his forehead.
Thinking Pei Tingyun was still unhappy, Xie Huan volunteered an explanation:
"Aw, come on, that's all there is to it! This morning, your manager contacted me out of the blue and asked me to help look after you.
"So I figured, we ain't seen each other in all these years, and I dunno what particular habits you've got these days..."
Pei Tingyun suddenly raised his head. "Wait! What did you say?!"