Chapter 70

"Lu -Lu Yisheng, what are you doing here?" The young idol known as No. 2 had spent considerable time mocking Xia Xi outside the door before finally entering with satisfaction. However, he was taken aback to find Lu Yisheng sitting beside Xia Xi the moment he stepped in. He froze momentarily, an unnatural expression flashing across his face, but quickly replaced it with an ingratiating smile as he made a beeline for Lu Yisheng, completely ignoring Xia Xi.
This behavior from the young idol was somewhat understandable, after all, Xia Xi's outstanding performance on stage had thoroughly embarrassed him. Being outshone in singing by someone with far less popularity was a blow to his pride, so it was natural he'd want to suppress the more talented individual.
"Lu Yisheng, I'm such a huge fan of yours! I've watched all your TV dramas and movies, and I've memorized many of your lines from the scripts. You're a legend in the entertainment industry, and I've always wanted to meet you. Today is truly my lucky day, I finally get to see you in person!"
Upon spotting Lu Yisheng, the young idol rushed over as fast as he could, his eyes brimming with admiration. He was already calculating how connecting with Lu Yisheng could guarantee him a steady stream of top-tier resources in the future.
Not only was the young idol excessively enthusiastic toward Lu Yisheng, but he also completely disregarded Xia Xi, who was nearby. He squeezed himself between Lu Yisheng and Xia Xi, acting overly familiar as he said, "Lu Yisheng, I'd love to chat with you about the films you've starred in. I've watched so many of them! Like your recent award-winning movie Shadow, I've seen it several times, and each time I'm utterly captivated by your god-like acting skills!"
Lu Yisheng, who had initially intended to ignore the young man, frowned when he saw him boldly inserting himself between him and Xia Xi. Pressing his lips together, his tone carried a hint of displeasure as he said, "Could you move aside?"
"Huh?"
"You're blocking us." Lu Yisheng pointed at Xia Xi, then gestured toward a distant sofa. "You, go sit over there."
"You, you two?" The young idol glanced at Lu Yisheng's unfriendly expression, then at Xia Xi, who appeared completely detached from the situation. Confusion flickered in his eyes before being replaced by clear irritation once he processed the request. He shot a venomous glare at Xia Xi before reluctantly moving to another seat, his expression oozing with disdain for her, as if deeply scornful of her attempts to curry favor with Lu Yisheng.
Was this a case of treating people differently based on their status?
Xia Xi noticed the young idol's malicious glare directed at her and his reverent gaze toward Lu Yisheng. She curled her lip, once again feeling the stark contrast between herself and Lu Yisheng. This time, however, the realization was the most direct and demoralizing she had ever experienced.
But it was clear that Xia Xi was never one to admit defeat easily. At that moment, her fighting spirit ignited completely!
It seems that if I want to become someone worthy of Lu Yisheng, I must put in enough effort.
Xia Xi made a decision about the song she had originally planned to perform as the grand finale, she would move it up and perform it earlier.
Sometimes it's unwise to reveal your cards too early, but Xia Xi wanted to shift people's impressions of her in a positive direction. So when she and Lu Yisheng finally got together, she hoped to receive more blessings than sarcasm. For that reason, she still made this decision.
She wanted to be closer to him.
"Xia Xi, don't overthink it." Lu Yisheng noticed the dazed expression on Xia Xi's face after encountering that guy earlier. A pang of heartache flashed through him. Unsure of how to comfort her, he gently nudged her shoulder. When Xia Xi looked at him, his eyes were filled with concern and sincerity. "Don't be afraid. I'll always be here."
Don't be afraid.
Don't be afraid,
Hearing these words from Lu Yisheng, Xia Xi visibly froze. The phrase felt strangely familiar. She stared intently into his eyes, trying to trace the source of that familiarity.
It felt so familiar, those words, that gaze.
It was as if she had heard those words somewhere before, as if she had seen that look in someone's eyes.
Just as Yang Jingyu finished singing and walked into the lounge, she happened to witness the scene: Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng gazing deeply into each other's eyes, their connection so intense it seemed to exclude everyone else. A wave of intense jealousy and resentment surged within her.
Her and Lu Yisheng? What right did she have?
First, she was entangled with Luo Chu'an, and now she was latching onto Lu Yisheng?
Aside from her pretty face, what else did she have going for her?
A bad temper, acting like a diva, practically every conceivable flaw. What exactly made Xia Xi so special?
Narrowing her eyes, Yang Jingyu concealed the venom in her gaze. Because of Lu Yisheng, her hatred for Xia Xi intensified, so much so that she wished Xia Xi would simply vanish from the world.
Tap, tap, tap,
She deliberately stomped her high heels loudly against the floor, creating a racket to interrupt Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng's intimate moment. She wanted Lu Yisheng to notice her, not have his eyes and heart fixated on just one person.
Clearly, she succeeded.
Xia Xi snapped out of her daze, withdrawing her gaze from Lu Yisheng. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and rubbed her nose, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably. Uncomfortable, she deliberately avoided looking at Lu Yisheng, her eyes darting away.
How annoying, such a perfect moment ruined just like that.
The thick-skinned Lu Yisheng showed no signs of discomfort. He glanced sideways at Yang Jingyu, who had made such a dramatic entrance, pursed his lips. His fingers unconsciously tapped alternately, betraying his unsettled mood. Those who knew him well understood that this was a sign of his extreme dislike for someone.
Yang Jingyu, who had schemed tirelessly to get Lu Yisheng's attention, finally succeeded in making him notice her, but not in the way she had hoped.
Scorched by Lu Yisheng's expression of disgust, her face twisted momentarily. Her initial plan to cozy up to Lu Yisheng evaporated instantly. Biting her lip, Yang Jingyu chose a seat as far away from Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng as possible, hoping to minimize her presence. She thought that if she did this, perhaps Lu Yisheng wouldn't remember what she had just done, and she could still leave a better impression on him in the future.
Yang Jingyu was truly someone who knew how to read the situation, she understood what she wanted and when to step back.
However, her ability to gauge the moment varied depending on the person, as the look she directed at Xia Xi was filled with malice from start to finish.
"Lu Yisheng, you really are popular!" Feeling the hostility coming from different directions, Xia Xi gently nudged Lu Yisheng's shoulder with her elbow. Her face was still flushed, and she spoke to him with her head lowered unnaturally, though a barely detectable hint of jealousy tinged her tone.
Normally, Lu Yisheng wouldn’t care about such flattering remarks, but now, because it came from a different person, it stirred unfamiliar emotions in him. He struggled to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling upward, clenching his hand into a fist and quietly bringing it to his lips to hide his overly delighted expression. Yet no matter how hard he tried to conceal it, the joy in his eyes was about to spill over. For the first time, he felt that his popularity was something to be genuinely proud of. Lu Yisheng worked hard to keep his tone steady, "It's alright. Why does it sound like you’re a little unhappy? Are you jealous?"
"N-No," Xia Xi was stunned by his bluntness. She lifted her head and stared blankly at Lu Yisheng, her eyes filled with confusion. "I only said that because they treat me and you so differently. It’s not because I’m jealous. I’m not jealous, really,"
"Mhm, I know, I know." Seeing how adorable Xia Xi was, Lu Yisheng couldn’t hold back his smile. He reached out and ruffled her hair, it was as soft as he had imagined, and his mood improved even more.
"Lu Yisheng, your show is about to start recording! Why are you still here? Hurry up and leave, get out of my sight!" Just as Lu Yisheng was happily spending time with Xia Xi, an annoying voice came through the broadcast, shattering the intimate atmosphere. He lifted his head and cast a cold glare at the camera. If his displeasure could manifest physically, Liang Hui would have been covered in bruises.
The show I’m supposed to record?
A nonexistent program, how had it now become Liang Hui’s excuse to chase him away?
Lu Yisheng suddenly felt like he had shot himself in the foot.
He glanced at Xia Xi, who was now looking at him curiously, captivated by Liang Hui’s words, and felt a wave of frustration. Recalling the excuse he had just given her for being here, he found himself at a loss for words. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he couldn’t outright contradict himself. It seemed he had no choice but to leave and pretend to go record the show.
"Are you going to record your show now?" Xia Xi stole a glance at him, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
"Mhm." Lu Yisheng nodded gloomily.
"Then you should go. Don’t be late." Xia Xi smiled sweetly at him. "See you later!"
"Alright." Lu Yisheng ruffled her hair once more, his tone clearly reluctant. As he stepped out of the lounge, he shot a stern look at the surveillance camera. In a place where Xia Xi couldn’t see, his eyes held an unmistakable threat.
Liang Hui, you’ve really outdone yourself!
When Liang Hui saw Lu Yisheng's crestfallen expression as he left, he was practically dancing with joy in the control room. He laughed so hard his eyes crinkled into slits, thinking smugly to himself:
Hmph, so even the great Lu Yisheng has his day! Flaunting your love in front of me and deliberately bullying me for being single on my own turf, well, look at me now, breaking you two apart in no time!
Liang Hui declared that watching Lu Yisheng’s retreating figure brought him immense satisfaction.
Truth be told, although Liang Hui could be a bit talkative and annoying at times, he was incredibly reliable when it came to work. So, his decision to make Lu Yisheng leave wasn’t purely out of spite for Lu Yisheng and Xia Xi’s constant public displays of affection. The main reason was that he wanted to switch the live broadcast feed to the break room and didn’t want to air Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng’s interactions, lest the audience think their show’s popularity relied solely on hyping up Lu Yisheng’s relationship. That’s why he kicked Lu Yisheng out of the live broadcast area.
But… the more he thought about it, the more satisfying it felt.
After Lu Yisheng left, every time Liang Hui recalled the pitiful look Lu Yisheng had given Xia Xi, he’d instantly feel elated.
Alright, he had to admit it.
Despite all the high-sounding excuses, the most important reason really was that he couldn’t stand Lu Yisheng and Xia Xi always flaunting their relationship…
Who asked them to be so ostentatious and offend a poor, grudge-holding single dog like him?
Breaking up lovebirds, that’s the joy of being single.
“Xia Xi, what exactly is your relationship with Lu Yisheng?” Yang Jingyu, who had been sitting far away from Xia Xi, immediately approached her after Lu Yisheng left, probing for information with a tone full of suspicion.
One could say her behavior made Xia Xi feel like they were targeting the weak. When Lu Yisheng was still around, Yang Jingyu had been sitting quietly and obediently in the corner, but the moment he left, she came over to throw her weight around.
Xia Xi glanced at Yang Jingyu’s feigned friendly expression, then at the disdainful look on the face of the No. 2 young heartthrob, and felt a bit frustrated. She had actually been treated as an easy target.
“We’re talking to you, Xia Xi!” The No. 2 young heartthrob had also unknowingly positioned himself beside her, his eyes filled with displeasure and wariness. “How could Lu Yisheng possibly be with you? Have you been pestering him all along, forcing him to talk to you more?”
With that opening, the No. 2 young heartthrob immediately framed the relationship between Xia Xi and Lu Yisheng as Xia Xi clinging to him, while Lu Yisheng’s unwavering support for her was twisted into him merely tolerating her out of annoyance. Clearly, in his view, there was no real connection between the two.
Xia Xi pursed her lips, truly in awe of the No. 2 heartthrob and Yang Jingyu’s ability to fabricate narratives. Anything they didn’t want to believe, they simply ignored.