Chapter 25

The director, fuming with anger, found the nearest restroom. Staring at the men’s and women’s toilets, he fell silent. He had just heard Qiao Chuchu mention the restroom, but she didn’t specify which one He Xuan and her male online friend were in.

The women’s restroom was busy and he couldn’t get in, so he decided to check the men’s restroom first. Just as he turned around, he overheard two women coming out, discussing in shock.

“Hey, did you hear any strange sounds in the restroom just now? It sounded like they were… doing that…”

“Huh? I heard something too, but are you sure?”

“How could I not be sure? I can definitely tell. These young people today are crazy, they can do it anywhere.”

—

Their conversation faded as they walked away, but their words echoed in the director’s mind.

“Strange sounds? Young people today are crazy? They can love anywhere?”

His anger flared even more. Did they really think they were talking about He Xuan? They couldn’t even tell the difference between the men’s and women’s restrooms. Without thinking, he turned and rushed into the women’s restroom, ready to knock on the door.

The woman who had just finished using the restroom screamed in fright, “Ah! Pervert!”

Without hesitation, she swung her bag at him. Her shout attracted attention, and other women came out, restraining the director and pounding on him.

He still hadn’t found He Xuan and wasn’t giving up. He continued knocking until a couple came out. It wasn’t He Xuan and her male online friend, but an unfamiliar man and woman.

Relief washed over him. He had misunderstood He Xuan, and from that moment on, he would no longer believe anything Qiao Chuchu said.

At that moment, He Xuan’s voice came from outside, “Stop hitting him, he’s here to deliver something to me. Sorry for disturbing you all.”

Most of the women were older, a few in their twenties, but many were local businesswomen. They were strong and mercilessly pummeled the director, leaving half of his face swollen.

“If you’re delivering something, why didn’t you ask a woman to do it? Why send a man? Aren’t you just asking for trouble?”

“Yeah, we thought he was a pervert!”

“Forget it, since it was a misunderstanding, let’s go. We’ve got work to do.”

—

He Xuan took the opportunity to help the director out of the restroom and led him to a quieter place to sit down.

“What happened? Tell me,” she said.

Her voice was calm, but it made the director feel guilty. He touched his swollen face and tried to change the subject, “He Xuan, my face hurts.”

“You deserve it,” He Xuan chuckled lightly. “Who told you to go into the women’s restroom? I didn’t know you had that kind of fetish.”

She was referring to his earlier mistake of entering the women’s restroom.

The director’s voice was weak, “I just wanted to find you…”

“Find me for what?” He Xuan asked. “Why couldn’t you just call me? Why did you have to go into the restroom? I don’t know if they took pictures of you. If they did, your reputation will take a hit.”

“It’s fine, I’ll handle it.” The director thought for a moment before continuing, “I saw your cameraman fall behind, and I was worried something might happen to you, so I came to check on you.”

The director’s voice was weak, and He Xuan immediately understood. She knew Ming Zheng hadn’t come to find her for this reason, but because he had overheard Qiao Chuchu’s words and came to catch her in the act.

Unfortunately, he arrived too late. She had already received a message from Qiu Dan and had separated from her male online friend.

Qiu Dan’s actions were instinctive. Perhaps because she had been protecting He Xuan for so long, she didn’t want anything to go wrong, especially not being caught by the director, which would be embarrassing.

—

The director returned, his face bruised and swollen, but his mood seemed to be surprisingly good.

The assistant was left stunned. They had thought the director would either succeed in catching her in the act or be devastated by the confrontation. But instead, he’d been beaten up and then comforted? Was this some sort of love-struck behavior?

The love-struck logic was beyond him.

Even Qiao Chuchu couldn’t understand it: 【I didn’t expect the director to be so bold for love, actually charging into the women’s restroom, getting beaten up and looking like a mess, only to miss He Xuan and her online friend by a hair. The classic love-struck fool, couldn’t even catch them, and got easily comforted by a few words. Laughing like a fool, tsk tsk.】

The director, his face now pale and gloomy, muttered, “Qiao Chuchu, you—” 【bleeped】

A deep sense of helplessness overwhelmed him. The director couldn’t find the words. His hands trembled like a sieve, but he still let it go.

“Director, did you call me?” Qiao Chuchu asked, confused. Why was he calling her now?

The director couldn’t say what he wanted to. All he could manage was, “Just buy the ingredients properly. Don’t get tricked.”

Qiao Chuchu: “Oh.”

【Wow, when did the director become so considerate, giving me reminders? Could it be that he set up a huge trap during the ingredient-buying segment? I better be careful, I’m not letting him trick my money away!】

The director, hearing her thoughts, was once again furious: His good intentions were taken as something else entirely!

The other guests exchanged looks, and they all believed setting up a trap was exactly something the director would do. So, when it was time to buy ingredients, everyone was extra cautious, not wanting to get tricked by the production team.

The image of the director as someone who liked to set traps had already been cemented in their minds and couldn’t be erased.

—

In the morning, they had been so focused on buying ingredients for tomorrow’s tasks that they completely forgot about tonight’s food.

So, in the afternoon, they once again went up the mountain to find ingredients, since the production team hadn’t issued any tasks.

He Xuan and Qiu Dan, falling behind the group, quietly exchanged words.

“Sister Qiu, I’m really grateful you warned me earlier. Otherwise, that fool Ming Zheng would have caught us in the act.”

Qiu Dan frowned. She didn’t seem particularly happy with He Xuan’s gratitude. Instead, she felt a little frustrated and even began to regret giving her the warning.

“You need to be more careful next time. What if you got caught on the show? All your hard work up until now would be for nothing.”

This was her final warning as a manager. After all, she was the one who led He Xuan. She had played a significant role in helping He Xuan reach her current position.

He Xuan laughed softly. “Sister Qiu, I didn’t want this either, but they wanted me too much. They couldn’t help but come looking for me. If I didn’t go out, what if they did something extreme?”

Her words seemed to excuse herself, as if it wasn’t her fault. But the joy and pride on her face were almost overflowing.

Qiu Dan really couldn’t see where He Xuan was feeling helpless. All she saw was her happiness and pride.

“Qiao Chuchu knows too much. You should be more careful. There’s no such thing as a wall that doesn’t have cracks.”

He Xuan nodded. “I know, Sister Qiu. You don’t need to worry. I’ll be careful myself.”

At first, hearing Qiao Chuchu’s voice was always about her gossip, which made her panic. But now, it seemed like those people were just watching for fun. Their threat wasn’t that significant.

She had originally planned to reel in a few more small fish for this variety show, but now it seemed like the chances of success were very slim. However, it didn’t matter. As an excellent “sea king,” she had the ability to spot the right catch.

There were plenty of outstanding celebrities in the entertainment industry. She would always find more suitable and obedient “small fish.”

Her phone kept vibrating nonstop. Without even guessing, she knew it was one of her “small fish” texting her. After she had finally managed to get rid of one fish last night, another one came today, and during the day, no less. Thankfully, nothing serious had happened.

She would have to give them a warning soon—telling them not to interfere with her work anymore.

—

The mountain was full of ingredients. As long as they searched carefully, the baskets were quickly filled to the brim with mushrooms, wild vegetables, and even a few small fish caught from the river, perfect for making soup.

The two groups worked together to prepare dinner, dividing the tasks.

He Xuan took the initiative. “I’m good at making fish. If anyone wants a specific type of fish, let me know, and we’ll decide together at the end.”

“Hah.”

That laugh was quite noticeable among the group.

He Xuan scanned the room and smiled as she asked, “Chuchu, what are you laughing at?”

Qiao Chuchu made a small sound. “Ah… um, nothing. I just thought of a really funny joke.”

He Xuan deliberately pressed on, “What joke? Come on, tell everyone!”

“Well, it’s not that funny,” Qiao Chuchu replied briefly. “I just suddenly thought of how a sea king said she’s really good at making fish.”

【Pffft, hahahaha, it’s funny when paired with what He Xuan just said. How can a sea king seriously say she’s good at making fish? Isn’t the most skilled thing she does fishing?】

【Why is everyone looking at me? Was my joke that bad? I guess I’m just not good at telling jokes. I’ll stick to watching the drama unfold.】

“Hah—”

“Cough—”

“Ugh—”

The various sounds of suppressed laughter filled the air. Everyone couldn’t help but laugh, but they had to hold it back.

It was definitely funny, but they couldn’t laugh out loud, so it was a bit frustrating!

He Xuan’s expression shifted slightly. It was obvious that her comment was directed at her.

Couldn’t Qiao Chuchu just keep quiet for once? Why did her mind always wander off and come up with random things? The biggest obstacle to getting close to Qiao Cen was Qiao Chuchu. If only Qiao Chuchu wasn’t around…

“Cough, cough, cough—”

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she suddenly felt like something was choking her neck, making it hard to breathe and almost suffocating her.

“What’s wrong with you?” Qiu Dan, standing beside her, quickly supported her. Her face was pale, and she looked like something was seriously wrong.

He Xuan didn’t know what was wrong either. She herself wanted to know what was happening.

“I feel dizzy, but it’s nothing.”

Qiao Chuchu: 【She’s about to collapse, and it’s ‘nothing’? Maybe she didn’t get enough rest after dealing with the fish at the pond yesterday? This sister is really tough, no wonder she’s the female lead. There must be a reason behind it.】

He Xuan: “……”

He Xuan took a deep breath. “What kind of fish would everyone like to eat?”

Only after the drama did the group respond.

“Braised fish.”

“Boiled fish.”

“This fish is too small. How about we use it for soup? Everyone can have some.”

Everyone had different opinions, but in the end, they decided to make soup since there weren’t many fish, and not everyone could get a whole one.

—

Comments on the live stream:

【Why do I feel like, when He Xuan said she was best at making fish, everyone was holding back laughs? What’s so funny about that?】

【Actually, there’s nothing funny about it. But if you consider that the context is she’s a big “sea king” (player), then it makes sense and creates a funny image.】

【Stop talking nonsense. Our Xuanxuan is beautiful and kind-hearted, there’s no way she’s a sea king. Some people are just jealous.】

【I also think so. There have been many times when the attitude of the Qiao siblings toward He Xuan wasn’t very friendly. It’s like they were intentionally avoiding her. They’re supposed to be on the same team, yet they have no sense of unity.】

【What do you mean no unity? And my Cencen is single, can’t he be shy around girls? Stop dragging him into everything, he doesn’t deserve the blame!】

—

The comments section became chaotic again, quickly filling the live stream with negative energy.

The director, however, only cared about He Xuan’s reputation and muted all the viewers who were slandering her. He ignored the other guests and the situation spiraled, causing the incident to trend on social media. The details kept getting filtered and distorted, making the situation worse than it originally was.

#Qiao Cen and his sister exclude their teammate#

#He Xuan can cook fish, but everyone secretly laughs#

【Why is it always about Qiao Cen? Why is he everywhere? It’s bad enough he’s in the spotlight, but now his sister’s being dragged into it too. Is he trying to pave the way for her?】

【Exactly, how poor must their family be that everyone’s coming to make money off them? Will another brother come out and join the variety show too?】

【He Xuan is so beautiful. I saw her play the campus belle in a drama, and her aura is absolutely stunning. She even knows how to cook fish! She’s so talented, beautiful, and kind-hearted. I’m already a fan of her looks, and I hope she releases more works.】

【Our Xuanxuan is so great, I don’t understand why they have to laugh at her. It’s really making me angry.】

【It was all Qiao Chuchu’s fault. I’ve never liked her, especially when she mocked He Xuan for being a “sea king.” No surprise, they’re siblings—just like Qiao Cen, neither of them is likable.】

【Some things shouldn’t be said so absolutely. There must be a reason everyone is laughing secretly, what if He Xuan really is a sea king?】

As expected, this netizen was soon attacked by He Xuan’s fanbase.

—

The guests had no idea about the online drama, as they hadn’t had time to check their phones yet.

There wasn’t much to do in the countryside, so after dinner, they cleaned up and prepared to sleep.

After the live broadcast was closed for the night, the guests finally got their phones back to handle some things. They scrolled through Weibo before bed and saw the trending topics.

Most netizens were defending He Xuan and criticizing the Qiao siblings. Even other guests weren’t safe from being criticized, with a noticeable bias in favor of He Xuan. It felt like a concerted effort to tear down one side while elevating the other.

It was hard not to suspect that someone was deliberately stirring up trouble behind the scenes.

The guests slept in a large dormitory-style room. Bai Yun and Qiao Chuchu shared a bed, and they both read the news together. Bai Yun whispered, “Chuchu, don’t be upset by the online comments. They always take things out of context and blow up useless issues.”

“Mm.” Qiao Chuchu nodded, “I’m not upset.”

【Anyway, He Xuan will definitely face a downfall next year, ruined by the fish she raised herself. Watching them fight it out will be so intense.】

Bai Yun’s eyes brightened. Justice would definitely win over evil!

She was looking forward to that day!

No one expected that day to come so soon.

In the dead of night, one of He Xuan’s “fish” came by again. She didn’t go out immediately, but the person began throwing rocks at their window.

The night was quiet, but the sound of the rocks hitting the window woke everyone up.

Qiao Chuchu mumbled groggily, “What’s that sound?”

“I don’t know, maybe it’s just some night owl?” Bai Yun patted her, “Go back to sleep.”

On their first night, they had heard cats meowing outside, as there were a lot of wild cats in the countryside that roamed at night. They assumed it was another cat.

Only He Xuan knew it wasn’t. Her phone was vibrating wildly with messages from her “fish,” insisting on seeing her. He threatened to stand outside the window until she came out.

This “fish” was the most handsome man in He Xuan’s “pond,” with a sweet, soft personality, yet he was also the richest and most domineering CEO, and the most possessive young man.

He Xuan had invested most of her energy in him and knew he was a man of his word.

“I’ll be right out. Wait for me.”

The sound of rocks hitting the window finally stopped.

He Xuan quietly got out of bed. Since Qiu Dan liked to wear earplugs while sleeping, she didn’t notice her movements and just turned over to continue sleeping.

However, when He Xuan opened the door, the sound startled Qiao Chuchu, who was almost back to sleep.

Still half-asleep, Qiao Chuchu took a moment to process what had just happened. Did she just see He Xuan leave the room?

Peering outside in the moonlight, she saw that He Xuan’s bed was indeed empty.

She immediately snapped awake and started checking He Xuan’s storyline, only to find that it had changed.

【Wow, He Xuan’s storyline is shifting so quickly! She’s going to crash tonight because the fish she’s been raising are fighting in public for her.】

【And there’s even the poor director involved, oh no! Looks like there’s going to be a good show.】

Bai Yun, still half-dazed, instantly became alert upon hearing these words. Oh wow, something exciting was about to happen!

—

“Ah Yan, what you did just now was too risky. What if someone finds out?”

He Xuan felt both love and frustration toward him—Lin Yan. His possessiveness was overwhelming, and his actions were extreme. If she didn’t keep an eye on him, something bad could happen.

“Why be afraid? I’d actually like to be discovered. That way, we can be together openly,” Lin Yan said, holding her tightly and not letting go. “We’re a couple. When will you introduce me to your friends?”

“Ah Yan, you know I’ve always dreamed of becoming a star. This is my time to rise in my career. You wouldn’t want me to be criticized because of relationship issues, would you?” He Xuan’s voice was soft. “I want to become a better version of myself and stand by your side.”

“With me around, who would dare criticize you?” Lin Yan rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her scent. “You don’t need to improve, to me, you’re already the best.”

“But I want to be recognized by the world, too. Don’t you want to show off a more impressive version of me, Ah Yan?” He Xuan’s voice was sweet and full of allure. “The youth drama you invested in, it’s already making waves. I’m stepping into this field for the first time, and look at the results. Your vision is so good.”

Lin Yan, charmed by her words, smiled. “It’s because you performed so well. What other projects are you looking at? Just tell me, I’ll invest.”

He Xuan laid out her intention. “I’ve been really into fantasy dramas lately. I want to leave you with a memorable impression, a fairy-like image. The script for ‘Immortal House’ looks good, we could give it a try.”

Lin Yan’s voice was full of indulgence. “Alright, let’s go with ‘Immortal House.’ Whether it makes money or not doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy.”

He Xuan kissed his cheek, holding him close. “Thank you, Ah Yan. You’re the best to me.”

But Lin Yan wanted more than just a kiss. He responded passionately, even thinking of what they could do in the small forest…

“Ahh—”

“Who’s there!”

A man, suddenly appearing with a flashlight, screamed when he saw the scene, attracting the attention of everyone nearby, who quickly ran over.

The people running over—were all from He Xuan’s “fish pond.” They had been waiting nearby, sending messages and making calls, hoping to meet He Xuan for a date.

But upon hearing the scream, they rushed over to find… the girl in the man’s arms looked like He Xuan?!

“Hehe?”

“Xuanxuan!”

“He Xuan!”

The three “fish” who happened to be nearby arrived just in time.

“Let go of her! Who is this guy?!”

Lin Yan said, “What are you shouting about? I’m her boyfriend. Who are you?”

“I’m her real boyfriend! You must be an imposter!”

“I’m her only boyfriend. We’ve even talked about the names for our future kids. What about you guys?”

“He Xuan, tell them—we’re the real couple!”

The scene was filled with loud arguing, and the director was woken up by the staff. He rushed over and, seeing the chaos with He Xuan surrounded by four men, charged straight in.

“Who are you guys? Let her go, or I’ll call the police!”

Unexpectedly, facing his threat, these four men weren’t intimidated at all. Instead, they mocked and provocatively looked at him. “Don’t tell me you’re claiming to be He Xuan’s boyfriend too?”

The director charged in and pulled He Xuan out. “I am! What about it? Do you have a problem with that?”

He Xuan forcefully pulled her hand back. She looked at the chaotic scene in front of her, her face pale and filled with discomfort, especially when all their gazes turned to her at the same time.

“Say it yourself. Who is your woman?!”

Everyone in the room was sharp. At this point, they’d already figured most of it out.

He Xuan knew that no matter how much she tried to talk her way out of it, she couldn’t calm down all five “fish.” Who knew they’d all show up at the same time? Raising so many fish was such a hassle.

Her silence confirmed their suspicions. She actually! How could she be playing all of them at once?!

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from a distance.

【Wow! A massive drama with five fish. I came out just in time to catch the live-action gossip. So exciting! If I’d come a bit later, I would’ve missed this amazing scene.】

【Let me see who’s involved. A rich and clueless CEO, a singer in pink underwear, an honest director, a puppy-like host, and a straightforward actor…】

【I have to admit, He Xuan is really something. She has great taste. All the fish she’s keeping are rich, and they’re all celebrities.】

【Five boyfriends running into each other, and they didn’t fight?】

【Could it be that none of them are able to fight back? Their own girlfriend is being snatched away? They’ve all been played? Four hats on their heads… no, actually seven hats—three other boyfriends haven’t shown up yet.】

He Xuan’s boyfriends: ???

The newcomers didn’t quite understand the meaning behind the voice, but the director knew!

“He Xuan, you really have eight boyfriends? Do you even deserve my sincerity? How could you do this to me?!”

He felt so blind. How could he keep trusting her, making excuses for her? Turns out, he was nothing but one of her backup fish. Wasn’t two enough? She had to go for eight?!

He’d never seen it with his own eyes and always thought Qiao Chuchu’s words were exaggerated. Now, having witnessed it firsthand, the director’s heart had shattered.

The others were also shocked, and Lin Yan immediately rushed over, grabbing He Xuan’s arm. “Is what he said true? Tell me! Hurry up and say something!”

—

Today, it was the assistant’s turn to be on duty. He had just dozed off and, not realizing it, fell asleep. While lying down, he accidentally opened the main live-streaming room.

Coincidentally, there was a camera installed in the small forest where they were, and the footage was shown live.

Although it was already 2 or 3 a.m., there were still some night owls awake.

【What’s going on???】

【Why is the live-stream open at this hour? It’s so blurry and dark, I can’t see anything clearly.】

【Shh, you can hear them talking.】

【The girl in the middle looks like He Xuan…】

【No “looks like,” it is! Oh my gosh, I think I just heard something huge! He Xuan, such a beautiful woman, actually a big-time player, dating eight boyfriends at the same time?!】

【There are only five people in the video, not eight.】

【Maybe the others haven’t arrived yet. He Xuan is so impressive, dating so many boyfriends at once, and actually managed to gather them all together. So awesome!】

【Wait, is that the director, the fat guy in the big shorts?】

【Hey, even though their faces are unclear, their bodies look pretty good, except for the fat director, haha.】

【I can’t believe this is real, it must be acting. I’m a fan of this goddess! Please don’t mess with me like this. Ugh, I’m so heartbroken!】

—

Since it was so late and there weren’t many people watching the live stream, it didn’t draw much attention at the time. However, a netizen took a screenshot and posted it online. As dawn broke and more people joined the discussion, the topic began to attract attention.

Originally, He Xuan’s “fish” couldn’t stand any slander against her, but now, they were heartbroken by her actions and didn’t address the situation immediately.

As the number of people discussing the matter increased, it started to go viral.

#HeXuanTheBigPlayer#

#HeXuanDatingEightBoyfriends#

#HeXuanMasterOfManagingBoyfriends#

【I don’t believe this is true. Someone must be deliberately slandering my He Xuan. Haters, get lost!】

【He Xuan’s fans, don’t doubt it. I was there and saw it with my own eyes—five boyfriends showed up at the same time and almost fought. It was a real battlefield.】

【This is so exciting. How did He Xuan manage to date eight boyfriends at once? And in the end, she was surrounded by five of them? Just thinking about it is thrilling!】

【He Xuan, the real “Master of Managing Boyfriends.”】

【He Xuan is so beautiful, why is she so fickle? I wondered why I don’t have a boyfriend. Turns out she’s dating eight at the same time. Where’s my chance? Wahhh.】

【I won’t comment until I know the full story. Let’s wait and see. I’m just watching from the sidelines.】

【The live-streamed footage looks real to me.】

【Wow! Everyone go check out Manager Qiu Dan’s Weibo. She just posted a confirmation about He Xuan! They’re fighting now!】

Upon hearing this, the crowd of onlookers quickly rushed over to Qiu Dan’s Weibo.