Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Flipping her phone face-down, Huang Yumeng tightly shut her eyes, "Quick, quick, Xin! Pinch me between the eyebrows, I can't take it anymore."

"Hang in there!" Just as Ping Tongxin was about to pinch her, the phone on the table vibrated.

"Was that a Weibo special notification sound?" Ping Tongxin paused, turning the phone over.

Huang Yumeng hesitated. Besides her own, the only special notification she had set was for Ning Yuyi.

Ping Tongxin: "Dream, your dear Ning just posted on Weibo."

Jolting upright, Huang Yumeng grabbed the phone and opened her special notifications.

Ning Yuyi v: My newly official boyfriend, Fan Zhongchuan.

Huang Yumeng: !!!

"They... they are really together!" Huang Yumeng gazed dizzily at Ping Tongxin. "Xin, I've shipped couples all my life, never thought I'd see a real one in my lifetime."

"Right? So, are you treating me to a celebratory meal today?"

"Eat what? Let's go right now!"

……

Although Ning Yuyi and Fan Zhongchuan were transparent about the matter, some radical fans still chose to unfollow and backlash.

Xie Yiezhou took to his main Weibo account to respond individually to these aggressive comments.

[Unfollowed 🙂 I became a fan because of your acting, but after so few projects, you're already dating someone from a wealthy background. Can't you be more career-focused? Disappointed.]

Reply [Sorry to say, but Ning Ning himself is from a wealthy family. He's in the entertainment industry because he loves acting. We don't need the money that comes from this.]

[Only one TV show aired in a day? Don't you have any ambition? We support you for your work, not your love life. Unfollowed and never looking back.]

Reply [Firstly, Ning Ning has only been in the industry for seven months. In that time, he's completed two top-quality shows and a major variety program. Can you find another newcomer with such achievements?]

[Feels like I wasted all my affection on him. Can't believe I supported him for so long. So disgusting. Can you refund the money I spent on him?]

Reply [Ning Ning hasn't endorsed anything, released albums, nor held fan meets. How exactly did you spend money on him? If you paid for a streaming subscription just to watch him, show proof, and I'll refund you.]

……

Thankfully, these aggressively negative fans are in the minority. Most who unfollow do so quietly.

Although Ning Yuyi lost some fans, he gained many new casual and devoted followers, leading to an overall increase in his fanbase.

After this commotion, Ning Yuyi and Fan Zhongchuan's relationship became widely known, even more so than the impact from the Xie family's collective Weibo posts.

Later, Xie Yiezhou visited Qing'an to discuss the findings of the investigation regarding the incident with Ning Yuyi.

"On the surface, it appears Ji Xiaoning was behind this," Xie Yiezhou said, tapping his knee lightly, "But she couldn't have done this alone."

Ning Yuyi: "Director Wang?"

"Yes."

Xie Yiezhou knew this man all too well. Although he was skilled in directing and scheming, his moral compass was questionable.

This time, it was Director Wang instigating things behind the scenes, trying to generate buzz for the show "Zhouyang Emperor".

Usually, he'd act openly, and actors wouldn't dare to challenge him.

But this time, he must've been wary of Ning Yuyi's background, thinking he could use Ji Xiaoning to do his dirty work more discreetly.

"That fool Ji Xiaoning got baited by some marketing tactics and played right into their hands," Xie Yiezhou commented disdainfully.

"Alright, that matter's settled. Let's wait for Zhou Yanghuan to come out," Ning Yuyi decided not to interfere any further, leaving the handling of Ji Xiaoning and others to Xie Yiezhou. "This is the first script my cousin adapted and it's credited to him. He's aiming for this year's best screenwriter award."

"My mother wants us to come home in a few days to take a family portrait," Xie Yiezhou remembered just before leaving.

"Mother told me. I'll be there when the time comes," replied Ning Yuyi.

"Ah, yes," Xie Yiezhou recalled something Lin Yiyue had entrusted him with, intending to relay it to Ning Yuyi.

However, looking into his clear eyes, he hesitated, unsure how to bring it up.

Ning Yuyi raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

Xie Yiezhou took a deep breath, sending over some documents he had recently downloaded to Ning Yuyi, "I've sent you something... be careful."

After uttering those words, Xie Yiezhou practically fled from Qing'an.

Ning Yuyi glanced at the files automatically received via WeChat.

A bold headline caught Ning Yuyi's attention.

——Precautions for Male-to-Male Relationships

——A Few Pointers for Males in Bed Together, Keeping Cancer at Bay

——Hazards of "Backdoor" Intimacy: Check if You're at Risk!

Ning Yuyi: ……

I have something on my mind, but I'm not sure if I should speak out.

Now, Ning Yuyi finally understood the awkward expression on his brother's face.

Ning Yuyi looked skyward, speechless. After a moment of calm, he went through the entire content of the files.

When he finished, cheeks flushed, he was about to delete these files when Zhou Erhe called.

Zhou Erhe: "Have you been comfortable at home these days?"

Ning Yuyi: "If I say I've been comfortable, does that mean there's work coming up?"

Zhou Erhe: "Even if you said you weren't, there'd still be work. The Grand Drama Festival is about to start, I've just sent you an invitation."

The Grand Drama Festival.

Ning Yuyi licked his lips, declining the invitation.

"Please decline it for me. Neither 'Jiandao' nor 'Zhou Yanghuan' is up for evaluation this year. It doesn't make sense for me to attend."

"Not even walking the red carpet?" Zhou Erhe inquired.

"No, I have other commitments in the next two weeks. If they're not important, can you postpone them?" Ning Yuyi suggested.

"All of them?" Zhou Erhe looked over to Ying Jin, asking, "Are you planning a vacation?"

"Mm," Ning Yuyi's cheeks tinged with a soft blush, his eyes shimmering with a playful smile. "Perhaps for about two weeks."

"Alright," Zhou Erhe browsed through Ning Yuyi's schedule. "Besides the Grand Drama Festival, there's not much else. However, 'Zhou Yanghuan' premieres in three days, remember to share it then."

"Got it. I'll keep it in mind."

After the call, Ning Yuyi headed over to the neighboring villa.

In the evening, Fan Zhongchuan returned home after finishing his work.

The living room lights were on, but when he pushed the door open, no one was there.

Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, Fan Zhongchuan hung his coat by the entrance and made his way upstairs.

The master bedroom was in complete darkness. Flipping on the lights, he noticed the curve under the covers.

"Ningning," Fan Zhongchuan, rolling up the sleeves of his cashmere sweater, approached the bed, "What are you up to?"

"W-wait, stay right there," Ning Yuyi's muffled voice came from beneath the covers, sounding slightly choked.

Obediently, Fan Zhongchuan halted, watching from a couple of meters away.

Gathering his courage, Ning Yuyi cautiously extended a leg.

The sight of his pale ankle barely made it to Fan Zhongchuan's view before it retreated back under the covers.

After a brief silence, Ning Yuyi hesitantly called out again, "Fan Zhongchuan?"

"Mm, I'm here," Fan Zhongchuan's voice, deep as a cello, reassured Ning Yuyi of his presence.

Taking a deep breath, Ning Yuyi threw off the covers, kneeling on the bed wearing only Fan Zhongchuan's black shirt.

The black shirt hung loosely, the top three buttons undone, revealing the curve of one smooth, fair shoulder. Kneeling as he was, the shirt just barely covered his modesty, his eyes alight with a teasing glint.

From Fan Zhongchuan's perspective, hints of a sculpted derrière were barely discernible beneath the shirt.

Lust blazed in Fan Zhongchuan's eyes. Unable to restrain himself, he took a bold step towards the bed, grabbed Ning Yuyi's chin, and captured his lips passionately.

Unlike their usual gentle pecks, Ning Yuyi felt as if all the air was being drawn from his lungs, his arms winding around Fan Zhongchuan's neck.

It was only when a mild suffocation gripped Ning Yuyi that he was released.

He rested against Fan Zhongchuan's chest, gasping for breath, eyes shimmering with unshed tears, their corners tinged with red.

Fan Zhongchuan smoothly pressed Ning Yuyi back onto the bed, his kisses trailing from the corner of Ning's mouth, down to his throat, then to his collarbone and shoulder.

With keen eyes, Ning Yuyi noticed Fan Zhongchuan pulling out a small raincoat from the bedside table, which immediately diverted his attention.

"When did you buy this?" Ning Yuyi asked, genuinely puzzled.

Fan Zhongchuan chuckled, "I grabbed it last time we went to the supermarket, during checkout."

Ning Yuyi was still recalling that supermarket scene when an overwhelming sensation enveloped his senses.

……

When he woke up the next day, Ning Yuyi finally understood the pain Zhou Er had mentioned.

He tried to move his sore lower body, only to grimace in pain.

Did I spend a night in **bed or did I climb a mountain all night?!

Wincing, Ning Yuyi fought the discomfort, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.

Looking at the bite and scratch marks covering his body, Ning Yuyi couldn't help but curse silently.

Is Fan Zhongchuan a dog or what?!

A knock interrupted Ning Yuyi's examination. He quickly wrapped a towel around himself and opened the door.

Fan Zhongchuan stood outside, holding Ning Yuyi for support, "Why not rest a bit more?"

"Are you a dog? I can't even step out for days looking like this." Ning Yuyi pointed at the marks on his body, "And last night, even after I said 'no more,' you kept changing positions."

"Hmm, my fault," Fan Zhongchuan helped Ning Yuyi sit on the bed, bent down, and gave him a tender kiss, "I'll be gentler next time."

Ning Yuyi hummed, "I want spicy prawns."

"No, you need to eat light after... last night," Fan Zhongchuan gently said, gazing at Ning Yuyi, "The housekeeper made porridge this morning. I'll get you some."

Only then did Ning Yuyi recall the documents he reviewed last night and nodded in agreement.

Fan Zhongchuan fed Ning Yuyi spoon by spoon, then adjusted his pillows for comfort.

The towel had been discarded on the floor as soon as they got onto the bed, and several packets of 'raincoats' lay in the trash bin beside the bed.

After eating, Ning Yuyi felt sleepy again and dozed off against the headboard in no time.

When Fan Zhongchuan returned after taking out the trash, he was met with this sight.

Ning Yuyi, with closed eyes and a slight smile, was asleep against the pillows. His fair shoulder, adorned with little red "strawberries," peeked from under the blanket, contrasted against the black sheets, exuding allure.

Fan Zhongchuan covered him with the blanket and, overwhelmed with affection, placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.