Chapter 9: He Is Ascetic Yet Elegant

Shu Qian was trending on social media again.

All because she wiped Song Xun’s sweat in public.

Fans believed Shu Qian was deliberately seeking attention and hyping a CP (couple pairing) with the Emperor Song.

Then some marketing accounts dug into Shu Qian’s past and posted a few photos where she seemed to be flirting with other male stars, claiming she was a habitual offender.

The hype snowballed rapidly, growing out of control.

Yet at the same time, the atmosphere in the small villa was peaceful and beautiful.

“Teacher Song, your cooking skills are really good.”

Shu Qian’s eyes lit up with surprise for a moment.

Under the sunlight, she could clearly see the tiny blue veins on Song Xun’s eyelids.

Every move was elegant and ascetic, as if he regarded eating as a sacred ritual.

Perhaps because of Shu Qian’s intense gaze, Song Xun put down his chopsticks and looked calmly at her.

“Maybe one day I’ll cook you something else to try.”

As he spoke, the air circulation in the villa suddenly slowed, and the temperature seemed to rise a little.

Shu Qian was stunned.

The cameramen were stunned.

The live viewers were stunned.

[Song Emperor is such a gentleman; that’s clearly a polite remark.]

[So all the insults on Weibo calling Shu Qian a b*tch have no effect? They don’t affect her relationship with Song Xun at all!]

[Boycott Shu Qian! An entertainer with no real work who just hypes CPs isn’t needed in the industry!]

[Don’t spread rumors without evidence. What can a few photos prove?]

[Maybe it’s a mission arranged by the production team?]

[How much money does the person above make for saying that? Help me out? It’s easy to talk when you’re not the one getting stuck with this.]

Shu Qian’s long, beautiful eyes suddenly widened, her clear pupils reflecting Song Xun’s serious yet indifferent expression as if he were talking about something utterly ordinary.

She swallowed the food in her mouth with difficulty and forced a stiff smile.

She absolutely didn’t want any more contact with Song Xun, okay?

“Haha… Teacher Song, you’re too polite. How could I let you work so hard… haha.”

After speaking, Shu Qian lowered her head to avoid Song Xun’s gaze, picking at her bowl absentmindedly.

Suddenly her expression turned unpleasant.

Before coming here, Sister Lin had specifically warned her not to hype CPs with popular fans, and this was only the first day!

She guessed she had already been targeted countless times by Song Xun’s fans.

Only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks broke the silence in the villa.

Along with the cicadas chirping outside, there was a peaceful, comforting feeling of a quiet afternoon.

Song Xun crossed his arms, his deep eyes casually falling on Shu Qian, quietly observing all her movements.

Her rosy cheeks puffed up like an adorable little squirrel.

Song Xun rubbed his palm; the veins on his arm bulged slightly as if he was trying hard to control something.

[Shu Qian’s pretty smart, looks like she’s not trying to get close to Emperor Song.]

[Don’t relax your guard, this is Shu Qian’s usual trick. Don’t be fooled.]

[Participating in a variety show and always having to watch out for someone’s hidden agenda—Emperor Song must be so tired.]

[Shu the lapdog is retreating to advance? Damn woman, such tactics.]

At this moment, a small assistant from the production team quietly came over and handed them a card.

“Teacher Song, Teacher Shu, there’s a new mission.”

Hearing this, Shu Qian looked up and saw Song Xun holding a card.

“What mission?”

Curious, Shu Qian got up and leaned halfway over the dining table.

She was wearing a low-cut camisole today, and because of her movement, the neckline slipped lower, revealing a patch of snow-white skin under the sunlight.

Song Xun’s breath caught, his brows furrowed slightly, and he slipped the card into Shu Qian’s hand.

“Sit down.” His tone was serious, and his brows involuntarily knit.

Shu Qian was puzzled. Taking the card, she read:

“Tonight at eight o’clock, a meet-and-greet will be held in the villa. Everyone is expected to attend on time.”

Shu Qian curled her lips. She knew the production team was up to something big.

She’d have to see those two annoying people again tonight.

[Honestly, Shu Qian’s figure is really nice.]

[Only her figure and face are decent. Terrible character, no talent, nothing at all.]

[Drama again! Can’t wait to see what chaos Shu Qian will stir up.]

…

Time passed, and it was eight o’clock at night.

The production invited the five shared-rent groups to gather in one villa.

When Shu Qian and Song Xun arrived, they were the last to come.

Shu Qian’s slender high heels stepped into the living room, and her beautiful, sexy long white legs immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

The cameraman filming Shu Qian reacted quickly.

The camera panned slowly up from her legs to reveal a bright and delicate face.

Shu Qian lazily glanced around and first made her way to the empty spot by the sofa.

At center position, Lin Yiyang’s eyes fixated on Shu Qian’s long legs and swaying hips, his breathing getting faster. He secretly vowed:

Such a stunning beauty, I must win her over!

Lin Yiyang’s determination was quietly seen by An Jing, who clenched her fists tightly, jealousy almost burning her away.

An Jing exhaled and placed her hand on Lin Yiyang’s arm.

They exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering slightly.

“Our Shared Rental Life” forbids guests from bringing phones, but to keep up with online trends, they secretly hid a phone.

From the first day of filming, Shu Qian and Song Xun dominated the trending searches.

Even though Shu Qian was trending for negative reasons, Lin Yiyang and An Jing found it unbearable.

They wished the netizens would criticize her even more harshly, hoping someone could dig up black material on Shu Qian and get her kicked out of showbiz.

Though their motives differed, their ultimate goal was the same.

“Alright, everyone is here. Let’s officially start now,” the chief director clapped, signaling everyone to look over.

“First, welcome to ‘Our Shared Rental Life.’ Today is also the first day of filming. To help everyone quickly get familiar with each other…”

“The production team has prepared an icebreaker game—Truth or Dare.”

“The five guest groups will choose a judge to spin a glass bottle. Whoever the bottle points to must choose truth or dare.”

“Alright, let’s start.”

After a brief pause, the five groups began whispering and discussing.

Shu Qian watched Lin Yiyang, who was enthusiastically chatting among the crowd, instantly guessing his intentions.

She leaned lightly on Song Xun’s arm and whispered in his ear.

“Watch out for Lin Yiyang.”

Their lips parted and met, releasing a faint fragrance. Song Xun almost instantly turned his head, eyes locking on Shu Qian’s lips.

He looked for a long while before meeting her gaze.