"What's going on with Xi Juan? Did his manager trick him into thinking this was a dating show?"
"No, is this really Xi Juan? Why is he acting so love-brained today?"
"I can't! Bro! You're showing off like a peacock! You're serious about this!"
Amid the flurry of bullet comments, the young man crouching by the stream washing a basket turned his head.
Brilliant sunlight fell behind him through gaps in the branches. His slender, graceful neck looked carved from jade, and even his delicate face held a dazzling beauty.
He rose with the basket in hand. Clear droplets slipped down his fingers, striking the limpid water and sending ripples spreading across its surface.
Two equally outstanding faces faced each other.
One was languid and carefree, the other pampered and beautiful.
Even the sunlight fell just right behind them. Amid the vast, lush mountain forest, the way they looked around in silence seemed like a scene from an idol drama.
The bullet comments went quiet for a moment, then quickly erupted into a string of "Aaaah!"
"Who could possibly not love someone who looks like that!!!!"
"Xi Juan swallowed!"
"Bro! He hasn't even said a word yet! Can you please stop looking so easy!"
"Nan Qing might be a flop, but he really is beautiful."
"Baby's pretty little face has that film emperor completely hooked!"
"I am planning to."
In the brilliant sunlight, Nan Qing's voice was soft and gentle.
Xi Juan felt his heart skip a beat, his fingers going numb.
The bullet comments were practically going insane, and so was Mona, the executive assistant at Huo Group Corporation.
Their big boss was like a living god of death all day long. Under that stern, crushing pressure, Mona's only hobby was following celebrities.
She had started liking Xi Juan this year. Though she had no chance to attend fan-support events or film premieres, she booked entire screenings whenever he appeared in a movie. She was remarkably generous when it came to supporting her idol.
Now the livestream had reached an exciting part. Mona covered her mouth and screamed inwardly. So excited, she slapped her palm against the desk.
A shadow fell over her phone screen.
"Enjoying it?"
Mona nodded furiously, finally finding an outlet for her excitement.
"Yes, yes!! They're so sweet, so sweet!!!"
"Really?" the voice asked again.
"They look absolutely perfect together!!!"
Mona looked up as she gushed, and her eyes instantly widened.
She slapped her phone facedown on the desk.
Unfortunately, the screen was still on. The young man's soft voice came through the speaker, accompanied by the babbling stream.
"You seem very interested in my love life."
Mona felt the death glare fixed on her. President Huo's intensely oppressive presence spread through the air, even the ends of his words carrying a dangerous note.
"So sweet? Perfect together?"
After several years as Huo Yuzhou's executive assistant, Mona's mouth reacted faster than her brain. She immediately changed her tune with obsequious eagerness.
"Not sweet. They don't suit each other at all. They're clearly from two different worlds!"
But their big boss was no longer listening. His long, sharply defined fingers closed around the phone and turned the screen over.
For a moment, Mona wanted to cover her face.
The man in the bespoke suit fixed his handsome eyes on the screen, his gaze landing on that excessively beautiful face.
The camera pulled back, bringing Xi Juan into view as well.
Huo Yuzhou's brows drew together almost imperceptibly as he watched those peach-blossom eyes light up. "Qingqing, then what do you think-"
At the same time, that soft, sweet voice sounded again, interrupting Xi Juan's unfinished words.
"Teacher Xi, do you want to see a picture of me and my boyfriend?"
Watching the screen, Huo Yuzhou's breath caught.
On camera, Xi Juan's expression also went blank for a second. "What?"
Nan Qing smiled and wiped his hands, then took out his phone and opened the lock screen to show him.
"Here, my boyfriend!"
With such an exciting development, and Nan Qing revealing his relationship for the first time on a variety show, the cameraman quickly aimed at Nan Qing's phone screen.
Not just Xi Juan, but everyone in the livestream saw Nan Qing's boyfriend-
He wore a well-tailored suit, his custom cuff links reflecting the light with understated luxury.
There was not a single logo on him, but both the cut of his suit and the fabric of his shirt showed that his financial means were not to be underestimated.
Not to mention, the man's long, finely jointed fingers rested on Nan Qing's waist, revealing half the face of a brilliantly gleaming watch on his wrist.
"Any knowledgeable bros want to take a look? What watch is our Brother Xi's love rival wearing?"
"Forget the watch. This guy just looks expensive. He must be loaded!"
"I work in secondhand luxury goods. That's a custom Patek Philippe. I once saw a client show off a non-custom version, and even that cost thirty million. The requirements for owning this watch are extremely high. I'd estimate the price is at least double!"
"Wow, wow, wow, is today a treat for hand lovers!! Taking screenshots like crazy!!!"
"Wait, are this guy's fingers really that long? That brat Nan Qing is eating way too well!"
"Warning to the dirty-minded commenter above!!"
The comments refreshed even faster. As everyone spread the word, traffic to Xi Juan and Nan Qing's livestream grew even heavier, leaving Director Xu beaming behind the scenes.
But while everyone else was smiling, Xi Juan could not.
There hadn't been any sign of anything with Nan Qing just a while ago. How had he started dating someone in only a few days?
This guy?
Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability. One look and you could tell he was no good.
Watching Xi Juan's complicated expression, the smile in Nan Qing's eyes deepened.
His long, thick lashes curled high, and the delicate-featured young man's eyes curved as he asked, as though showing off,
"Well? Handsome, right!"
"Judging by his face and build, this guy definitely can't be bad-looking!"
"Maybe he's a shrimp-type guy, though? Everyone knows men start showing their faces as soon as they have even a little bit of good looks."
"Is nobody concerned about Xi Juan? This bro looks like he's about to shatter into pieces."
On camera, Xi Juan withdrew his gaze without a change in expression and smiled at Nan Qing.
But soon, Xi Juan's gaze slid past Nan Qing again.
He tilted his head and stared straight into the camera, as though looking through it at his love rival watching the screen.
Ripples stirred in his shimmering peach-blossom eyes, and even his languid tone carried a challenge.
"Average."
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, Xi Juan did that on purpose, didn't he?"
"Wait! Are people really going this hard on variety shows now?"
"Aaaaaah, Teacher Xi's look is way too intense!!! Is he openly trying to steal someone's boyfriend!!!"
"What is this massive romantic pursuit shura field!!! Is the smell of gunpowder really this strong???"
"Nan Qing's boyfriend, are you watching the livestream? Someone really is about to win your wife away this time!!!"
"Aaaaaah, a shura field of powerful men competing for a partner has come to life!!! I'm definitely following this show!!!"