Chapter 34 – 034

Gu Xian was furious. “Are you out of your mind? I can still taste the mango in my mouth!”

“And,” he grabbed Xie Yunjing’s collar, his sharp gaze fixed on him, “what exactly do you mean by this?”

There were clearly other ways to handle the situation, there was absolutely no need to resort to kissing him.

“What could I possibly mean?” Xie Yunjing retorted. “Isn’t this the most efficient method? Besides, you’re the one who said it, haven’t we done far more intimate kisses several times already? It was just a peck on the corner of your lips. Is there really a need to be so dramatic?”

Xie Yunjing’s description was a bit too detailed, and those intense entanglements naturally resurfaced in Gu Xian’s mind. Even the corner of his lips, which had just been kissed, seemed to tingle faintly with heat.

Gu Xian frowned, gripping Xie Yunjing’s collar even tighter. “Are you seriously in love with me or something?”

Xie Yunjing lowered his head slightly, letting his sunglasses slide down a bit. “What do you think?”

Gu Xian scoffed. Considering his past relationship with Xie Yunjing, even if Xie Yunjing were truly in love with him, he wouldn’t admit it so easily. After all, that would be akin to handing Gu Xian a handle to use against him at will.

“I don’t care if you’re in love with me or not!” Gu Xian let go of Xie Yunjing’s collar and warned, “You’re not allowed to kiss me again!”

“I kissed you twice, you kissed me twice, it’s a two-to-two tie,” Xie Yunjing replied, pushing his sunglasses back up as he continued to pin the blame for that drunken kiss on Gu Xian. “But what about when you decide to kiss me?”

“There won’t be a ‘what about’!” Gu Xian snapped, snatching the sunglasses away. “There won’t be a next time!”

He wasn’t an idiot. Having already noticed something was off, why would he willingly deliver himself to the other party’s lips?

Xie Yunjing stormed off in a fit of anger, or at least, that’s how it appeared. The entire 《The Legend of Song Mountain》 crew was already aware of the argument between Gu Xian and him. Naturally, anyone trying to dig for information would hear exactly this version of events.

Xie Huaihong: I heard Yunjing went to the set to find you today and ended up arguing with you there?

How fake.

Gu Xian rolled his eyes.

Your Brother Xian: Nonsense! Have you not noticed how much you’ve been stealing Xie Yunjing’s spotlight lately? Every single time, you’re one step ahead of him and know his plans inside out. How could he not suspect me?

Your Brother Xian: Can you tone it down a bit? You’re making things really difficult for me!

Xie Huaihong: Brother-in-law, you must be joking. Aren’t you and Yunjing long-time rivals? Since when are you afraid of him?

Ungrateful scum, discarding the donkey after it’s done grinding.

Since Xie Huaihong, that bastard, didn’t care about his well-being, Gu Xian wasn’t going to hold back either. He deliberately struck Xie Huaihong where it hurt.

Your Brother Xian: Of course I’m not afraid of him. But Xie Huaihong, you don’t actually think that snatching a few of the collaborations under Xie Yunjing’s control guarantees you the heir position in the Xie family, do you?

Your Brother Xian: Think carefully. If you push too hard and make Xie Yunjing completely suspicious of me, there won’t be any more daily intel from me. Without my information, do you really think you can outplay Xie Yunjing?

There was a long silence on Xie Huaihong’s end before a new message finally came through.

Xie Huaihong: Gu Xian, watch your tone.

Xie Huaihong’s fragile ego had clearly been crushed hard.

Gu Xian scoffed disdainfully.

Your Brother Xian: I still need to make money off you, so there’s no need for me to make things difficult. But at least try to think long-term. Don’t get a taste of success and immediately forget about my situation.

Xie Yunjing came out of the bathroom, then towel-dried his half-dry hair. Noticing the expression on Gu Xian’s face, he sat down beside him.

“Did Xie Huaihong contact you?”

Gu Xian let him glance at the chat history while complaining, “Is Xie Huaihong really part of your Xie family? How can someone be so shameless?”

Old Master Xie was beyond reproach, the epitome of a model elder. As for Xie Yunjing, while undeniably annoying, his character was, to be fair, beyond question as well.

Xie Yunjing chuckled. “Maybe it’s a genetic mutation.”

After reading through the chat log, he commented, “So next, you’re planning to make Xie Huaihong ‘yield’ to me?”

“Otherwise what? Are we really going to let him inherit the Xie family?”

“It doesn’t seem like it would hurt you much either.”

“Yeah, right. Xie Huaihong relies on me to take you down. If he actually gets to the top, the first thing he’d do is get rid of me.” Gu Xian tapped away on his phone, sending messages to manipulate Xie Huaihong into backing off. “And it’s not like I can’t do the math. You and I are legally on the same marriage certificate. Legally speaking, when you inherit the Xie family, I’d be entitled to half of your assets. Sure, Xie Huaihong might offer me some benefits, but would he give me that much?”

His hand suddenly slipped, and he glared at Xie Yunjing, who had squeezed in beside him and was now lying down. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Got tired of sitting.”

Gu Xian was already lying close to the edge of the bed, and with Xie Yunjing lying down, half of his body was practically hanging off the bed. The limited space forced Xie Yunjing to press up against Gu Xian, and with nowhere else to place his left hand, he lifted it and draped it over Gu Xian’s shoulder.

“Get to your own side!” Gu Xian tried to shove him off, only to have Xie Yunjing grab him around the waist.

“Don’t move.” Xie Yunjing’s tone made it clear that if Gu Xian pushed him off, he’d drag Gu Xian down with him.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Such a big bed, and you insist on squeezing into this tiny spot!” Despite his complaints, Gu Xian still scooted inward a bit to avoid Xie Yunjing actually pulling him down to the floor.

Xie Huaihong had finally managed to win a few rounds against Xie Yunjing, and he was savoring the sweet taste of victory, reluctant to let go. Convincing him to obediently back down without arousing suspicion was no easy task.

Gu Xian focused intently on stringing Xie Huaihong along. The familiar scent of shampoo lingering around him. Gradually, his guard against Xie Yunjing began to relax.

By the time he had successfully talked Xie Huaihong into submission, he realized that Xie Yunjing had not only rested his head on Gu Xian’s shoulder but had also placed a hand on Gu Xian’s stomach, idly stroking it.

…Xie Yunjing always touched his stomach, and damn it, Gu Xian was almost getting used to it!

“…What are you doing?”

“Just checking the fitness trainee’s progress,” Xie Yunjing replied with a straight face. “The flab is gone, abs are starting to form. Good work on the training.”

“Good work, my ass!” Gu Xian shoved him. “I’m done talking with Xie Huaihong. Go back to your own side!”

“And what if I say I’m not leaving?” Xie Yunjing responded, pulling him even closer.

— You’re seriously not in love with me, are you?

— What do you think?

Xie Yunjing’s retort from earlier on set echoed in Gu Xian’s mind, leaving his head buzzing. He barely managed to suppress the panic rising from being unable to break free of Xie Yunjing’s grip. Forcing a mocking smile, he sneered, “Xie Yunjing, you’re not seriously that desperate, are you?”

“I am.”

“???”

Xie Yunjing’s straightforward response was so abrupt that Gu Xian didn’t even have time to react.

Warm breath brushed against his neck and chin. Xie Yunjing, positioned slightly lower, looked up at him from below, his lips just a fraction away from touching Gu Xian’s skin.

“Gu Xian, does what you said about helping me still count?”

Author’s Note:

He made his move!