Over the past few days, whenever Xie Zhuzhou returned to the production team, he saw Qin Fang's face, worn with anxious anticipation, as though he were still waiting for him. Xie Zhuzhou did not understand why he was so stubborn.
Qin Fang considered himself straight, so the original owner had approached him in a straightforward way, training with him and even managing his fan group. Later, when the original owner confessed, Qin Fang thought he was joking and called him disgusting.
After that, the original owner had continued chatting with him as usual. When his hand hurt, the original owner even hired a physical therapist for him. He had spent more money on Qin Fang than anyone else.
Yet Qin Fang had never thought about any of this, even taking everything the original owner did for him for granted. Was he simply unused to life without the original owner's care now?
"Xie Zhuzhou, are you even listening to me?"
"No." Xie Zhuzhou came back to himself.
Qin Fang had just called Xie Zhuzhou into the villa's backyard, wanting to reminisce about the past, hoping to stir his pity and return to their old life.
Xie Zhuzhou dealt him another blow. "You remember that I confessed to you before, right?"
"I, I remember... what about it? Weren't you joking?"
"I wasn't joking then. And I'm not joking when I ask you to stay away from me now."
Qin Fang paused, his hands clenching at his sides. He looked at him, dark undercurrents rising in his eyes. "Then what about now? If I accept you, will you come back to me and stop thinking about anyone else?"
"Aren't you straight?" The corners of Xie Zhuzhou's mouth lifted slightly, amusement in his eyes.
"I... I don't know, but if you want it, I can."
"Too late. I don't like you anymore. I did pursue you, but I also put in time and effort. Neither of us owes the other anything from now on. Let's leave it at that."
"No! Can't, can't we at least be friends?" He could not accept life without Xie Zhuzhou. Lately, he was always regretting it, regretting that he had been so naive as to let Xie Zhuzhou get close. His heart was a mess now. He was not even part of that circle, yet Xie Zhuzhou had thrown his entire life into chaos!
Every night, all he could think about was Xie Zhuzhou's face.
"Friends? You're far too greedy." Xie Zhuzhou thought that although the original owner had been fishing, he had also been genuinely good to them. They failed to remember his kindness, yet still wanted to keep him around.
Besides, he was not the original owner, and he could not be bothered with this game of playing house.
His ears filled with Xie Zhuzhou's cold, cutting words, Qin Fang thought he had never lacked anything growing up, least of all playmates. Xie Zhuzhou certainly knew how to play, lifting him high only to throw him down hard.
Watching Xie Zhuzhou walk away, he gave a mocking smile, his expression growing colder. His deep eyes were like stars sunk in an icy pool, his whole face shrouded in gloom.
"You're back?" Zhang Yin was reading a script in the living room. Seeing Xie Zhuzhou, he raised his brows slightly, then reminded him, "Did Director Wang tell you we're going skiing this weekend?"
"Skiing?" Xie Zhuzhou stopped beside the stair railing. "And?"
"The production team wants us to prepare our own gear." Zhang Yin did not ask whether Xie Zhuzhou could ski. Someone would teach him if he could not, anyway.
The weekend.
At the country's third-largest freestyle ski resort, one province away from City A, the view opened up as soon as they entered. Rolling mountains stretched in every direction across the expansive grounds, with two rows of conifers growing beside an endless expanse of snow.
Of everyone on the production team, only Xie Zhuzhou and Wang Zhengxiao arrived at the ski resort's helipad by helicopter. Everyone else came by car. Xie Zhuzhou alone got special treatment.
It was not actually that he wanted special treatment. His father simply would not allow him to travel far in unsafe transportation.
And taking a helicopter is safe? Xie Zhuzhou thought.
It was his first time in one. His heart raced, and they took off before he had time to prepare himself.
He really had not been trying to flex this time.
Everyone wore quite a range of expressions as they watched Xie Zhuzhou's helicopter approach.
Bai Shankui held the camera, filming the young master as he disembarked. Zhuang Xingye seethed with envy, gritting his teeth and thinking that Xie Zhuzhou could stand to show off a little less off camera.
Secretly shocked, Yu Wei whispered beside Xuelai, "We almost made the young master carry our bags last time."
Xuelai had never imagined Xie Zhuzhou's family would be this extravagant. She had thought he was an ordinary rich second-generation heir.
Now it seemed Xie Zhuzhou had actually been quite polite, looking down on everyone equally, refusing to give anyone a pleasant face equally, and making everyone look up to him equally.
Wen Ruohuai's hands stopped as he adjusted his gear. His brows lowered, his lips pressed together, and the air around him grew gloomy. He thought that no matter how rich the Wen Family was, they could not casually take a helicopter out.
At the thought that Xie Zhuzhou might truly be someone he could not afford to provoke, his heart suddenly tightened and began pounding wildly. Countless thoughts crashed through his mind. He unconsciously gripped the sleeve in his hand, his knuckles whitening with the force.
Wen Nan, who had just returned from work outside the dating show, was utterly dumbstruck the moment he saw Xie Zhuzhou step out of the helicopter.
Remembering how conceitedly he had once assumed Xie Zhuzhou liked him, remembering his own bashful request when he knocked on Xie Zhuzhou's door, he let out a piercing scream inside.
Fuck, I'm seriously... dying of embarrassment!
Someone as high and mighty as Xie Zhuzhou must think I'm ridiculous!
Wang Zhengxiao had happened to be delivering custom-made jewelry to the Ji Family in person when Ji Wangyun, all smiles, bundled him onto the helicopter too, leaving him utterly bewildered.
Even now, the world still felt unreal to him.
Help, a super-rich third-generation heir is right beside me!
The Ji Family had once held the position of the country's richest family for several years. Decades ago, how incredible had it been to be the richest! That meant appearing on television and in newspapers. From what his parents' generation said, television stations back then had all been airing economic interviews with Old Master Ji.
Although they had kept a low profile over the past few decades, and the Ji Family had all but faded from public view, their businesses and products were everywhere. They also had countless industrial projects in partnership with the state. Their backing was rock solid.
It was simply not something that could be summed up in a single sentence.
And Xie Zhuzhou was Ji Wuqiu's son. His net worth... how much would that be? He did not even dare imagine it!
He considered their jewelry industry merely a tier that could come into contact with the super-rich. In terms of actual wealth, they did not amount to even a fraction of these financial dynasties!
Help, I actually made him peel potatoes the week before last!
And Xie Zhuzhou never refused. He even seemed to find it quite fulfilling.
"Hey, there's a rock ahead. Are you trying to break your front teeth?" Xie Zhuzhou's voice was languid and detached.
"Thanks for the warning, ha." Wang Zhengxiao nearly kicked the large rock, coming back to himself. He felt as though he had forgotten how to talk.
Who said Xie Zhuzhou was background decoration for the show? He clearly had the strongest backing!
Where on earth did Director Wang find this big Buddha?!
Before, Wang Zhengxiao had only thought Xie Zhuzhou was mysterious and bad-tempered. Now, he could only think that the young master was keeping a low profile...
"You're acting strange."
"H-how am I acting strange?"
Xie Zhuzhou said, "You never used to stutter or trip over your words."
Wang Zhengxiao silently wept inside, constantly worrying that he might do something wrong and offend Xie Zhuzhou.
"I used to be so funny, but I never saw you laugh once."
Xie Zhuzhou: ...
They awkwardly killed the conversation. Their attempt at socializing ended in failure.
It was better to stay a little aloof.
The two finally reached the group, and Xie Zhuzhou noticed that Director Wang had acquired a red knitted hat.
Xie Zhuzhou's arrival by helicopter had dealt a brutal blow to Director Wang's exceedingly fragile heart. Damn it, would the world end if there were one more rich person in it-me?
And how had I dared tell Xie Zhuzhou not to steal other people's screen time back then?!
I really had a death wish!
"Do you still need the camera carried? I can't ski, so I can't help you carry it for now," Xie Zhuzhou said mildly.
Wang Zhengxiao closed his eyes tightly. Sure enough, Director Wang really was... the bravest of them all. He dared put anyone to work.