With ten days remaining until the deadline set by Fu Yunzou, Fu Yushen unexpectedly received a call from his elder brother.

Hearing his brother inquire about his progress, Fu Yushen felt a chill run down his spine.

He listened nervously as Fu Yunzou offered his “caring” advice, especially emphasizing financial matters.

Though puzzled, Fu Yushen couldn’t shake the anxiety creeping over him. After hanging up, he couldn’t help but wonder—what had he done recently to get back on his brother’s radar?

Still wracking his brain trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong, meanwhile, Yuan Xi was on the other side worrying whether his male god’s salary would be docked.

Since the scandal involving Qi Yunrou, Liang Hao seemed to have genuinely moved on from her.

Yuan Xi and Hong Xue had always gotten along well—they worked at the same company, and Hong Xue was far more approachable than Qi Yunrou. So, whenever Yuan Xi had questions, Hong Xue was always willing to help.

Gradually, Liang Hao started to integrate into their circle, offering advice and smoothing over relations with the crew.

Setting aside the Qi Yunrou drama, Liang Hao wasn’t a bad person.

As they spent more time together, Yuan Xi, Hong Xue, and Liang Hao became closer. Being key cast members, the three often found themselves acting in scenes together.

The advertisement Chen Yang mentioned was about to be filmed—it was for the cover of a magazine.

Naturally, with Chen Yang’s connections, the project was bound to be high-quality. NUESZ had a niche audience, but its influence and fan loyalty were exceptionally strong.

It was precisely NUESZ‘s distinct and unconventional approach that carved out its own unique space in the fashion magazine industry.

After battling its way through fierce competition, NUESZ had secured a spot among second-tier magazines.

For the same reason, each issue of NUESZ featured remarkably unique content, and those who graced its cover were often unexpected choices.

Yuan Xi landing the NUESZ cover was a complete surprise.

Upon hearing the news, Hong Xue suggested they celebrate.

She had been eyeing a particular hotpot restaurant for a while. However, as a female celebrity constantly watching her figure, she had resisted the temptation—until now.

With Yuan Xi as the perfect excuse, Hong Xue finally felt justified in indulging herself.

Eavesdropping on their conversation, Liang Hao overheard their plans to enjoy the feast without him. With a composed expression, he casually inserted himself into their conversation.

“Take me with you, or I’ll tell your assistant and manager.”

Yuan Xi and Hong Xue: …Kind of want to punch someone.

In the end, under the weight of his threatening gaze, Hong Xue had no choice but to give in to Liang Hao’s demand.

The hotpot smelled amazing, with a layer of bright red chili and spicy oil floating on the surface. Fatty beef and fresh vegetables bubbled and swirled in the steaming broth.

The rich aroma tantalized their taste buds, making their mouths water uncontrollably. The moment the food was cooked, three pairs of chopsticks dove in at once.

The fiery spice and delicious flavors left them utterly satisfied.

“Sister Xue, how did you even find this place? The food is amazing!” Yuan Xi mumbled through a mouthful of fatty beef dipped in sauce.

“If you ever want good food, just ask me. When it comes to eating, I’m practically an expert,” Hong Xue declared proudly.

She watched Yuan Xi devour another piece of beef, swallowed hard, and reluctantly settled for a bite of vegetables instead.

Liang Hao remained silent, but his chopsticks worked tirelessly—if anything, he seemed to be picking up speed.

By the end of the meal, most of the meat and hearty ingredients had been wiped out by Yuan Xi and Liang Hao, while Hong Xue, mindful of her figure, had mostly stuck to vegetables.

Stuffed and content, the three of them leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their stomachs with satisfied expressions.

In the corner, a camera flash flickered.

The next day, Yuan Xi headed to the NUESZ set for the photoshoot.

A set of photos began gaining traction online, slowly climbing the trending charts. The once-forgotten With You for the Rest of My Life production crew was suddenly thrust back into the spotlight.

Yu Xinglong scrolled through the latest Weibo updates, his expression dark and stormy.

# Rising star Hong Xue’s secret boyfriend revealed—romance sparks on set! #
# Did With You for the Rest of My Life’ Xia Xi land his role thanks to his girlfriend? Can he carry the character? #

…

Yu Xinglong glanced at the photos, then at Hong Xue, then back at the photos, and finally scanned the faces of those around him.

Rubbing her temples, Hong Xue took the initiative to explain. “That night, it was me, Yuan Xi, and Liang Hao having hotpot together. The person who posted these photos edited Liang Hao out.”

Liang Hao leaned in to take a look.

The images were taken during their late-night hotpot outing. Due to the camera angle, Liang Hao wasn’t captured in the frame.

With the restaurant’s backdrop and the dim lighting, the remaining two figures appeared close—almost intimate—from a distance.

On top of that, there were additional pictures of Hong Xue and Yuan Xi interacting on set. Though entirely mundane, the misleading angles added fuel to the speculation.

Anyone unfamiliar with the situation would easily get the wrong idea.

“So, this was a dinner for three, but I don’t even get a mention?” Liang Hao joked for once.

Yu Xinglong took a deep breath and shot a glare at the two leads. If he had a beard, it would probably be bristling with rage.

“Go clear this up immediately! Or don’t even think about getting any rest tonight!”

After saying that, he rubbed his chest as if trying to calm himself down. “We’re just a small production team—why do we keep getting caught up in all this drama? First Qi Yunrou, and now you lot. Can’t we get a moment of peace?”

Just as Yu Xinglong was about to finally catch a break, he noticed Hong Xue frowning and Liang Hao’s expression darkening.

The publicity team, who had been closely monitoring online discussions, hesitated before speaking up. “Director, the narrative is shifting. Now, people are focusing on the accusation that Yuan Xi got into the cast through connections.”

Again with the nepotism rumors?

Yu Xinglong immediately thought back to the drama that unfolded on set earlier. Qi Yunrou had already used similar claims to smear Yuan Xi’s reputation, and now the same situation was surfacing once more.

He frowned, realizing that this entire incident might have been targeting Yuan Xi from the start.

As the online discourse took on an all-too-familiar direction, Liang Hao’s expression darkened. He glanced at the director, who was furrowing his brows, then stood up from his chair.

“I’m making a call.”

Hong Xue watched Liang Hao’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. She turned to her assistant.

“Why do I get the feeling that Liang Hao knows something?”

Her assistant glanced at her, exasperated by her gossip-loving nature, then leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

Hong Xue’s expression gradually turned cold. She let out a mocking laugh but said nothing.

The director seemed to have come to a realization as well. Sweeping his gaze over the crew, he let out a chilling sneer. “I want a full investigation. Get to the bottom of this.”

Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaoke, who had been accompanying Yuan Xi during the shoot, saw the news circulating online. Her expression darkened as she glanced at Yuan Xi, then quietly stepped outside with her phone.

Yuan Xi was in the middle of getting his makeup done. NUESZ’s creative director was discussing the desired look and overall aesthetic for the shoot.

His image fit their vision perfectly—he wore a cream-colored sweater paired with black jeans, his hair styled in a deliberately tousled curl.

His large, expressive eyes were full of energy, his delicate features exuding a soft, endearing charm. When he smiled, faint dimples formed at the corners of his lips.

A sweet, innocent-looking boy was born.

During the NUESZ shoot, no one paid attention to their phones. The session, fueled by the photographer’s sudden burst of inspiration, ended up running longer than planned.

It wasn’t until the shoot wrapped up that someone approached the director, whispered a few words, and handed them a phone.

The director glanced at the latest news and frowned.

At that moment, Cheng Xiaoke returned from her call outside and handed her phone to Yuan Xi. The screen displayed the latest trending topic.

After reading it, Yuan Xi’s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he grabbed the phone and bolted out of the room.

Cheng Xiaoke stood there, dumbfounded, watching Yuan Xi dash away. She gave the director an apologetic smile before quickly following him.

As soon as she reached the corner, she overheard Yuan Xi on the phone with Fu Yunzou.

Seeing this, Cheng Xiaoke, who had initially been worried, immediately felt reassured. She calmly stepped back to a safe distance, keeping watch for him.

At the time, Fu Yunzou was in the middle of a meeting and had yet to see the trending news about Yuan Xi.

The moment Fu Yunzou picked up the call, Yuan Xi apologized without delay.

Fu Yunzhao didn’t say a word—he simply listened in silence as Yuan Xi explained everything from start to finish.

After listening to Yuan Xi’s explanation, Fu Yunzou borrowed a phone from his assistant and pulled up Weibo to check the latest trending topics.

His expression remained unchanged, and he even had a faint smile on his lips. But those who knew Fu Yunzou well understood—he was angry.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious that he had just sold himself out, Yuan Xi kept apologizing and explaining, desperately hoping his male god wouldn’t misunderstand.

But the silence on the other end of the line made him increasingly nervous.

Yuan Xi: QWQ I’m panicking. Why isn’t he saying anything? I swear I’m not dating anyone!

His throat was dry from talking so much, while Fu Yunzou remained silent. Yet, the temperature around him seemed to rise with each word Yuan Xi spoke.

“…Are you still listening?”

The continued silence made Yuan Xi even more uneasy. He hesitantly asked in a careful tone.

Fu Yunzou finally responded with a low hum—then fell silent again.

“…Are you busy?” Yuan Xi cautiously pressed on.

“I’m in a meeting,” Fu Yunzou replied, glancing around the conference room at the many curious gazes locked onto him. He narrowed his eyes and shot them a warning look.

Everyone quickly averted their gazes, pretending they hadn’t just been eavesdropping.

Yuan Xi froze for a second before hurriedly hanging up the call. But not before squeezing in one last sentence—

“I’ll call you again tonight! You go ahead and work, I’m hanging up now!”

Fu Yunzou glanced at his phone, now back on the home screen, and calmly set it aside. Then, he shifted his gaze to the person who had been interrupted mid-presentation.

Feeling the weight of his stare, the person quickly resumed their explanation.

However, throughout the rest of the meeting, curiosity buzzed in the room.

Who on earth had just called?

After all, their notoriously cold and detached young master had actually answered a phone call mid-meeting—and hadn’t scolded anyone for it.

Even the second young master had never been granted that privilege!

=^_^=