Fighting

Sheng Ke: ...

: You even called me Brother Yan. That's so cute.

Sheng Ke: Don't send me that stuff.

: I'm sending it anyway, and tomorrow I'll even give you a

livestream

. Remember to check WeChat then.

Sheng Ke: Then I'll block you first.

Zou Yan picked two obnoxious reaction stickers and sent them, then switched back to his chat with Xie Yibai.

: Xiaobai, what color are you wearing tomorrow?

Xie Yibai: Black.

: Then I'll wear black too.

Xie Yibai: Okay!

Whenever Xie Yibai had an important event the next day, his assistant would stay overnight at his home, coordinate his schedule and styling, and make sure he got up and left on time so that trivial matters wouldn't hold him up.

He lay on the sofa wearing a face mask and playing on his phone while his assistant ironed a spare shirt for him to wear tomorrow.

His assistant's surname was Kuai, and his name was Kuai Zhao. Xie Yibai couldn't say he didn't recognize the two characters, but the name really was uncommon and didn't exactly roll off the tongue. To make him easier to address, Xie Yibai had nicknamed him Xiaodao and saved him as "Assistant Dao" on both WeChat and his phone.

Xiaodao was the person closest to him. They often ate and lived together, and Xiaodao knew all about his various relationships. Seeing him first replace his agent and then grow close to people in the film industry, Xiaodao worried needlessly about his career and asked, "Yibai, I don't understand. If they want you in a movie, why did they reject you at that audition?"

"Who said I was going to make a movie?" Xie Yibai said. "Mind your own business."

His assistant wasn't very bright; his strengths were diligence, dependability, and a willingness to work hard. They'd worked together for many years and had more or less gotten used to each other, so even when they didn't see eye to eye, he'd never thought of replacing him.

"If you're not going to make a movie, why are you spending time with these directors and producers?" Xiaodao had a one-track mind and repeatedly asked questions that left Xie Yibai not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He said, "Because they can give me what I want."

Xie Yibai didn't consider himself particularly clever, but even a dullard would feel superior to someone stupider and develop a mischievous urge to tease them. He turned his phone around to show Xiaodao the chat history and said, "Look, I can solve all sorts of problems just by chatting with them. Isn't that easier than acting?"

Stupid as Xiaodao was, he still had basic reading comprehension. He craned his neck to read the conversation between him and Zou Yan and asked, "Is he another one of your backups?"

"What do you mean, another?" Xie Yibai said. "Where do I have any other backups?"

"That rich second-generation heir," Xiaodao said, thinking he'd really forgotten. He described him in detail: "The one who often sends you purple roses and gifts."

"Don't mention him!" Xie Yibai's face was full of disgust.

"If you dislike him so much, why do you still accept his flowers and gifts, and go to the audition he pulled strings to arrange for you?" Xiaodao's questions kept pouring out. "You just don't want to admit it. You're a gold digger."

Xie Yibai had become desensitized to insults since becoming a traffic star. He said numbly, "Yes, yes, I'm a gold digger. I'm the number one male gold digger in the domestic entertainment industry. Got a problem with that?"

Xiaodao hadn't stopped working while they talked. He methodically turned the shirt over and continued ironing, saying woodenly, "No problem. You're not digging for much anyway, not houses or cars or anything like that. Even I can afford those flowers and gifts, so just accept them without worrying. You deserve them."

Xie Yibai was baffled. He couldn't even tell whether that was praise or criticism. Annoyed, he said, "Go on, get lost. Don't talk to me. With your emotional intelligence, nobody but me would hire you."

Xiaodao said calmly, "Yes, which is why I'm very grateful to you. I won't go around talking about you keeping a fish pond."

"When have I ever kept a fish pond? I only do one-on-one!" Xie Yibai wanted to defend himself, but after taking a good look at Xiaodao's blockhead, he gave up. Why bother? I'd just be making myself suffer!

Before he knew it, the next evening had arrived, and Xie Yibai put on the shirt his idiot assistant had ironed to perfection. To be fair, Xiaodao was exceptionally good at housework and meticulous tasks, more than qualified for the job.

Because he'd signed a confidentiality agreement and couldn't reveal details of the dinner, Xie Yibai brought only the most honest and dependable Xiaodao to the venue. He should have brought his agent too, but he'd fired Sister Hu, and his new executive agent hadn't started yet. So, as he stepped into the luxurious mansion with its excellent privacy, there was a certain lone-warrior air to his retreating figure.

The staff led them into the dressing room, where the brand's styling team dressed him and did his makeup.

He wasn't here to eat tonight. He was here to work.

The stylist kept his hair and makeup simple, with the focus on the necklace around his neck, the bracelet on his wrist, and the rings on his fingers. The brand had invited him as a representative to offer its clients added value-a chance to meet a hugely popular star up close-and, secondarily, to use him as a product display and living advertisement.

The jewelry he wore consisted of new pieces that had yet to be released. The VICs invited to tonight's dinner would have the opportunity to preorder them before they went on public sale.

If the products sold well, he might receive extra compensation. Eager to work hard and make money, Xie Yibai entered the banquet hall, filled with elegantly dressed guests, as night fell, and switched into work mode beneath the dim lighting.

Money and power were the price of admission, and everyone at the main table tonight was either rich or powerful.

The seats on either side of Xie Yibai belonged to the chief designer and the chief financial officer. It seemed they were betting tonight's sales figures on him.

The honored guests took their seats one after another, and the third-to-last to arrive was Xing Zhanyun. He was no longer wearing that edgy getup. He'd cut his hair and taken out his earrings, and his formal clothes were impeccably tailored, but he was still a dissolute, unruly young master.

They saw each other but didn't exchange greetings. It wasn't that they were deliberately snubbing each other; rather, quite a few people wanted to greet Xie Yibai, and he was a little too busy to keep up.

Seeing Xing Zhanyun actually put him at ease. It confirmed the saying that people's troubles often came from overthinking. He'd been anxious because he'd thought too much.

The smartly dressed Xing Zhanyun and the pestering, empty-headed second-generation heir in his mind became two different people, leaving him feeling reassured and at ease.

I worried too much. Xie Yibai sighed inwardly, then boldly looked around for Zou Yan. He didn't check his phone while working, because that would be impolite and unprofessional.

His searching expression and body language drew a great deal of attention. A star was, after all, someone who could become the center of everyone's attention.

After searching for a while without finding him, Xie Yibai sat up straight. He suddenly realized everyone was looking at him and felt embarrassed.

"What are you looking at?" Xing Zhanyun stared straight at him and smiled. "Isn't your boyfriend right here?"

Chapter 15: Fighting

The word "boyfriend" struck Xie Yibai like a thunderbolt, splitting him in two. He cracked apart inside, though his skin still held together. His expression wavered as he slowly pieced together a relaxed smile and lowered his head, as if he'd heard an absurd joke. He neither acknowledged it nor argued; silence was the best response.

The seats on either side of him were empty, and not everyone had arrived, so the atmosphere at the table was relaxed. Everyone was chatting among themselves, and not all of them heard what Xing Zhanyun had said. Since Xie Yibai didn't respond, the onlookers hoping to eat melon couldn't get the explosive moment they were waiting for and let it pass.

Bastard, bastard, bastard. Deep inside, Xie Yibai was raging wildly. He really wanted to stomp Xing Zhanyun's head into a crack in the ground.

He'd actually embarrassed him on such an important occasion! He would never speak to this person again!

Afraid his expression would change if he kept thinking about it, he went back over the event schedule that had been coordinated beforehand. When it was time for the designer's speech, he would go onstage too, demonstrate the craftsmanship, and interact with several important clients.

Fortunately, he didn't have to memorize any lines. He only had to put on a sweet smile and go through the proceedings, and then he could eat.

Xie Yibai composed himself and waited quietly for time to pass.

He had only just calmed down when another hand landed on his shoulder. Zou Yan said, "Found you."

Xie Yibai turned around, then stood up, delighted and surprised. He'd thought Zou Yan wasn't coming.

As if he had

mind-reading

powers, Zou Yan said before he could speak, "What's with that look? Were you afraid I'd break my promise?"

"Yes." Xie Yibai looked around. "Where are you sitting?"

Zou Yan pointed to a seat at the secondary table, then asked with a smile, "How many years did you sign with them for? I'll contribute to tonight's sales too, or I won't be able to sit at the same table as you next year either. Oh, right, do you have a sales target? How much do I have to buy for you to get a commission?"

Xie Yibai hurriedly declined. "No, no, how could I let you spend money like that? If you see a design you like, tell me and I'll give it to you."

Zou Yan wanted to pat his head but didn't want to mess up his hair, so he only touched his arm and said, "Don't be silly. I'll head over there first. I'll come find you later."

Xie Yibai was about to agree when Zou Yan turned his head and spotted Xing Zhanyun. Before putting his meticulous plan to approach Xie Yibai into action, he'd heard the gossip about Xing Zhanyun and had also committed that distinctive face to memory from photographs.

From two seats away, he greeted Xing Zhanyun. "You must be Young Master Xing. I've long heard of you, but it's rare to meet you."

Xing Zhanyun stared at them expressionlessly, gave a soft, amused snort, and raised one eyebrow slightly in return.

Zou Yan had seen all sorts of situations and paid this attempt to intimidate him no mind. He smiled too and said, "I had dinner with your father the other day. He mentioned you'd only recently returned to the country and lacked experience. I heard from Shu Lin that you've just entered the film and television market as well, Mr. Xing. Our company happens to have a vacancy. If you're interested, feel free to contact me another day."

With that, he took out a business card and tossed it onto an empty plate. A push of his fingertip sent the plate bearing the card gliding smoothly across the snowy-white tablecloth to Xing Zhanyun's side.

"..." Xie Yibai wanted to laugh but didn't dare. He'd never expected Zou Yan, who was always so pleasant to everyone, to be so ruthless when he took a jab at someone, striking right where it hurt.

Having money in the family wasn't as good as having money of your own; having a formidable father wasn't as good as being capable yourself. You're trying to throw your weight around with me? Who the hell do you think you are? Zou Yan looked down at Xing Zhanyun with a warm smile, his eyes showing the affection one might have for an ignorant child.

Xing Zhanyun lazily reached out, seemingly to take the business card from the plate, but paused for half a second and picked up his champagne-filled stemmed glass instead. He raised it to Zou Yan in a toast and nodded gracefully. "Thanks, but should I call you brother, or uncle?"