Chapter 68: Love and Hate

Chapter 68: Love and Hate

Zhang Qiran's words were like a thunderclap in the ears, resonating with power.

For a long time, the restaurant was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Yet, the live stream was like cold water hitting hot oil, exploding into chaos.

The screen was filled with question marks, exclamations, and meaningless "ahs."

"Hold on, what's going on here?"

"Did Zhang Qiran just say he won't like Song Zhehan anymore? He said that, right? I didn't mishear, did I?"

"Yes... you didn't mishear."

"But they're rivals, aren't they?"

"Aren't they always sending each other smear campaigns?"

"How can Zhang Qiran like Song Zhehan?"

"I'm having trouble understanding my native language now."

"It feels like someone stole my brain... ah ah..."

"So, Song Zhehan and Zhang Qiran have been secretly playing out a love-hate script behind everyone's back?"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Qiran's fans instantly lost their composure:

"No way?"

"If they've been playing out a love-hate script, then what are we?"

"Hahahaha... Are they going to tell us that Batman found a bunch of jokers here? Haha, get out!"

Zhang Qiran's fans reacted strongly. In contrast, Song Zhehan's fans remained silent.

A curious netizen couldn't hold back and asked, "Aren't any of Song Zhehan's fans going to say something?"

Song Zhehan's fans replied:

"What should we say?"

"What's there to say?"

"Haven't we told you before that if Teacher Gou gets into trouble, he'll handle it himself?"

"Yes, yes, please don't blame the fans for the main person's actions."

"Right! We believe that Teacher Gou is capable of dealing with this mess."

"Leave it to Teacher Gou!"

Regardless, they, as fans, wouldn't interfere or even could interfere. They would leave it to Song Zhehan to handle!

They would quietly enjoy the show!

Hehe.

Zhang Qiran's fans were almost amused by Song Zhehan's fans' silence, but no matter what they said, Song Zhehan's fans remained silent.

Other netizens couldn't resist joining in, and the discussion grew more intense.

In the restaurant, Zhang Qiran, due to his overwhelming emotions, suddenly stumbled, taking a step back unsteadily.

Zhou Zijian quickly stood up to support him. "Are you okay?"

As soon as the words fell, the tense atmosphere in the entire restaurant relaxed for a moment.

Ye Leyao had been observing Song Zhehan, watching the changes in his expression. He couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth curl up.

"I never thought, never thought, that I'd see a look of astonishment on Song Zhehan's face one day."

Of course, Ye Leyao wasn't the only one in the restaurant looking at Song Zhehan. The guests present couldn't resist casting their gazes upon Song Zhehan.

They looked at Song Zhehan and then quickly glanced over at Zhang Qiran.

Zhang Qiran was like a drunkard.

All his emotions were written on his face. At this moment, his eyes were red like those of a rabbit, tears falling uncontrollably. It was clear that he was heartbroken beyond measure.

Even Xia Yang and Qian Yue, who had just broken up, didn't display such exaggerated reactions.

Looking at Song Zhehan, he remained seated in his original spot. His hand on the table first clenched tightly and then quickly relaxed. His handsome brows furrowed, and for once, he forgot to hide the expressions on his face. His fox-like eyes were full of surprise as he gazed at Zhang Qiran across the table, puzzled.

It took nearly half a minute after Zhou Zijian spoke before Song Zhehan frowned and said, "Zhang Qiran, did you drink yourself stupid?"

Zhang Qiran, already supported by Zhou Zijian, had sat back down. Hearing these words, he turned to look over with an extreme reaction. His voice was angry yet couldn't hide the sobbing tone. "You're the one without a brain! I have a brain!"

Anyone could tell these were the words of a drunk.

Song Zhehan's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed somewhat. He leaned back slowly, his straight back slightly relaxing, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "If you have a brain, how could you say something like that? We didn't know each other before. Did you mistake me for someone else..."

"I'd recognize you even if you turned to ashes!" Without thinking, Zhang Qiran interrupted Song Zhehan, his swollen, red rabbit eyes glaring fiercely at him, quickly averting his gaze the moment Song Zhehan looked over.

Li Siyuan's lips curled upward slowly, and he suddenly turned to Song Zhehan. "From what I see, although Xiao Zhang is drunk, he doesn't seem to be mistaking anyone for someone else."

Song Zhehan's expression immediately turned cold, his icy gaze sweeping over Li Siyuan. His voice was filled with a chilling frost. "What do you mean? Could it be that you're implying I abandoned him after leading him on?"

Li Siyuan hastily waved his hands. "Ah, ah, ah, I didn't say that. You're the one who said it."

After saying this, he laughed heartily, not minding the trouble he was stirring up.

Song Zhehan was seething with anger.

Yet, Li Siyuan acted as if nothing had happened. He poured himself a glass of wine and drank more than half of it happily before grinning at Ye Leyao beside him. "Look at him, doesn't he look like someone whose lungs have been punctured? I've never seen him so angry before!"

Ye Leyao coughed twice and lowered his voice. "You should talk less."

"Song Zhehan is clearly furious."

"What's the benefit for us if you make him angry?"

"Besides, I really want to know about his past with Zhang Qiran, but... looking at Song Zhehan's appearance, does he really not remember Zhang Qiran?"

"Could there be some melodramatic amnesia plot in between?"

Huoyan glanced at Zhang Qiran sitting next to him. He was still staring angrily at Song Zhehan. However, Song Zhehan was too preoccupied with his own turmoil to care and had already shifted his gaze away.

After a long time without a response, Zhang Qiran's eyes reddened even more.

After a while, he suddenly bowed his head.

As he lowered his head, Huoyan, sitting next to him, clearly saw two hot tears drop from his eyes.

Huoyan: "..."

This heart-wrenching appearance would make anyone think something more!

So what was going on?

Huoyan looked at Ye Leyao.

Ye Leyao's gaze was still on Song Zhehan.

After a moment of thought, Ye Leyao found a breakthrough and asked, "I heard Zhang Qiran mention earlier that he sent you a cake. Do you like cakes?"

At this point, Song Zhehan's mood was at its lowest, ready to snap at whoever spoke to him.

But seeing that it was Ye Leyao speaking, although Song Zhehan's mood was still terrible, he didn't lash out at Ye Leyao. Instead, he said impatiently, "No, since you love gossip so much, don't you know I'm allergic to milk? I've only eaten cake twice in my life, and that was when a junior gave me a goat's milk cake in junior high school..."

Song Zhehan's words abruptly stopped.

Ye Leyao's pupils widened.

"It's here!"

"A clue has appeared!"

Song Zhehan slightly turned his head and met Ye Leyao's widened eyes.

Qin Yao and Huoyan simultaneously looked over at the two of them.

A clue?

Did Song Zhehan recall something, or did Ye Leyao discover something?

After a brief eye contact, Song Zhehan suddenly raised his head and looked across the dining table.

Zhang Qiran truly felt wronged. His head hung low, his shoulders shaking as he cried, "Song Zhehan isn't a good person... He's really too much!"

"I... waaah, he's just a jerk waaah..."

Zhou Zijian and Wen Xiangyue stood on either side of him, both looking lost and helpless.

"Why don't we contact his agent?" Qian Yue couldn't help but speak up.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiran immediately lifted his head. "No need! I'll just cry... I'll just cry a little bit. There's no need to bother the agent. If I contact him again, he'll get angry... waaah..."

Even drunk, he knew not to provoke his agent.

But even if they didn't proactively contact Zhang Qiran's agent, it was likely that his agent would soon reach out to him, perhaps even rushing directly to the filming location in a panic.

Taking advantage of the moment when Song Zhehan's gaze shifted away, Ye Leyao quickly took out his phone.

"Junior high school... junior high school, Song Zhehan's description of his junior high school days..."

"Ah, found it!"

Huoyan's eyes instantly lit up.

Hurry up, hurry up!

He couldn't wait any longer!

Ye Leyao skimmed through the plot, unable to resist sighing in amazement the more he read.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Song Zhehan said he didn't know Zhang Qiran!"

"Although Zhang Qiran was friends with Song Zhehan in junior high school, he was completely different back then compared to now! In junior high school, Zhang Qiran was a chubby little boy with big eyes. Now... well, he's an 180cm tall handsome guy in the entertainment industry. More importantly, he didn't even use this name back then. He used to be called Xiang Yang."

"Neither condition matches... It's no wonder Song Zhehan couldn't recognize him."

So how did they meet in the first place?

Ye Leyao continued scrolling down, and suddenly his lips curled into a smile:

"Hehe, no wonder Zhang Qiran has been thinking about Song Zhehan for so many years. It turns out that Song Zhehan saved him from danger in junior high school..."

"When Zhang Qiran was in junior high school, his parents had just divorced. Coupled with his poor health and the side effects of medication along with psychological reasons, his weight skyrocketed. Due to his weight, Zhang Qiran became sensitive and insecure, and he was bullied by many classmates in his class."

"It was during one such incident, when he was cornered in the restroom by classmates, that Song Zhehan happened to walk in. From that moment on, Song Zhehan found himself with a little chubby shadow trailing behind him."

When Huo Yan heard this, he suddenly understood.

A junior schoolmate from the same school who, years later, changed his name and appearance—no wonder even Song Zhehan couldn't recognize him at first sight. Even Huo Yan might not have been able to identify him right away.

But—

Even if Song Zhehan didn't recognize Zhang Qiran at first, couldn't Zhang Qiran have explained it?

Qin Yao shared the same confusion and couldn't help but look up at Song Zhehan.

Song Zhehan's brows were furrowed, his gaze still fixed on Zhang Qiran as if pondering something.

Ye Leyao continued flipping through the plot.

"Zhang Qiran was sensitive in junior high school, so his ability to perceive emotions was the most accurate. When he realized that Song Zhehan was someone with a cold exterior but a warm heart, he started clinging to Song Zhehan relentlessly. Later, their relationship developed into a close friendship, but unfortunately, it didn't last long…"

"Soon after, Zhang Qiran's father passed away due to illness. He was taken back to live with his mother and naturally transferred schools, losing contact with Song Zhehan."

"It wasn't until a year ago, when Song Zhehan debuted…"

"So Zhang Qiran has been silently in love for all these years?!"

The plot ended there.

Ye Leyao put her phone away and looked up, intending to see Song Zhehan, only to see him suddenly push his chair back and stand up beside her.

As soon as he stood up, all eyes in the room were on him.

Song Zhehan picked up the wine glass in front of him and walked slowly and deliberately towards Zhang Qiran.

Li Siyuan watched in shock and hurriedly leaned over to ask Ye Leyao, "What is he going to do? He's not going to hit him, is he?"

Ye Leyao thought about the unfinished sentence Song Zhehan had left earlier and shook her head, "No, he must have recognized an old friend."

Li Siyuan's eyes lit up, "So they really knew each other before? Tell me quickly!"

Ye Leyao: "…How would I know! I just think that unfinished sentence from Song Zhehan was quite intriguing."

Li Siyuan didn't believe her, "Just whisper it to me."

Ye Leyao patted his shoulder and raised a finger to her lips, "Shh, shh, shh, don't speak. Teacher Gou has reached in front of Zhang Qiran!"

Suddenly, not only did Li Siyuan fall silent, but all the guests present also stopped talking.

Everyone's attention was focused on Zhang Qiran and Song Zhehan, waiting quietly and patiently.

Song Zhehan seemed to have regained his previous ease, his posture and demeanor relaxed. He smiled at Zhou Zijian, "Brother Zhou, can you switch places with me for a bit?"

Zhou Zijian was very accommodating. After generously giving up his seat, he quickly walked over and sat down next to Ye Leyao.

This was a great spot for watching the drama unfold!

The restaurant fell unusually quiet, with only the occasional sobbing sounds from Zhang Qiran audible.

After sitting down, Song Zhehan didn't say anything. Instead, he placed his wine glass on the table, picked up the bottle of wine beside him, poured himself a glass, and took a small sip.

Zhang Qiran had been crying with his head bowed for some time. Now, feeling somewhat stifled, he lifted his head.

Upon raising his head, he realized that the person beside him had changed.

Startled, Zhang Qiran's body trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. With his swollen red eyes, he glared fiercely at Song Zhehan and angrily said, "Why are you here? Stay away from me! I don't want to see you now!"

The corners of Song Zhehan's mouth curved slightly. Not only did he not move further away as Zhang Qiran had demanded, but he even leaned closer, propping his chin in his hand. "Didn't you say you wanted to drink with me? How come you're two-faced? You changed your mind as soon as I came over?"

Zhang Qiran opened his mouth, "Bu—but… I, you…"

"What's with you?" Song Zhehan reached out to pick up Zhang Qiran's wine glass and directly pushed it toward Zhang Qiran's mouth, "Drink."

Ye Leyao blinked.

"Are you still making him drink?"

"Zhang Qiran is already drunk!"

Zhang Qiran lowered his head and glanced at the wine glass by his mouth, his lips moving.

After a while, he opened his mouth.

A clear smile flashed across Song Zhehan's eyes. Just then, he suddenly withdrew his hand and placed the wine glass back on the table.

Zhang Qiran was stunned.

It took several seconds for him to come to his senses, "Song Zhehan, you—"

"Since you say you like me, is your way of showing it by opposing me?" Song Zhehan suddenly interrupted Zhang Qiran's words with a cold voice. He picked up his own wine glass again, took a sip, and all the smiles on his face vanished, leaving only a cold and frosty side profile.

Zhang Qiran couldn't bear to hear Song Zhehan mention this matter; it ignited the anger in his heart uncontrollably, "When have I opposed you? Wasn't it you who threw away the medicine I gave you first?!"

Ye Leyao's expression flickered.

"Medicine?"

Song Zhehan frowned slightly and turned to look at him, "Medicine?"

Zhang Qiran's eyes reddened again, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice. His voice choked with sobs, "It was… the first variety show we participated in together… At that time, we weren't in the same group. We were splashing water at each other on the stage. I didn't intend to splash you. I wanted to splash Lu Cheng behind you…"

Song Zhehan recalled.

Ye Leyao had already found the information:

"Found it. This is from a variety show eight months ago, it's also Zhang Qiran's first variety show after his debut."

Song Zhehan also remembered: "You can still remember who was behind me eight months ago?"

Zhang Qiran snorted: "Of course I remember. After all, at that time Lu Cheng he..."

"What happened to him?" Song Zhehan raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Qiran pursed his lips and fell silent.

But Ye Leyao had already flipped through to the cut of this variety show. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurriedly handed his phone to Li Siyuan beside him to see.

Li Siyuan immediately laughed: "So Lu Cheng accidentally hugged Song Zhehan back then?"

Song Zhehan's expression subtly changed as he looked at Zhang Qiran.

Zhang Qiran, sitting there, tears streaming down his face, explained: "I didn't want to splash you, but he was always behind you, and he, he, he even hugged you! I... I just wanted to splash his hand, to make him let go of you... but I never expected..."

"The result was that another guest bumped into Zhang Qiran's hand, and this basin of ice water drenched Song Zhehan from head to toe, chilling him to the bone."

"So that's where the grudge started!"

Looking at Zhang Qiran again, he was still crying, turning his head away from Song Zhehan: "I didn't do it on purpose. After the program recording ended, I went out to buy medicine for you myself. I ran around outside, going so far to find a pharmacy. I didn't dare to deliver it to you myself, so I had my assistant send it over... After delivering it, I secretly went to check on you, but..."

At this point, Zhang Qiran's emotions flared up again, turning his head to glare at Song Zhehan with red eyes: "But not only did you throw the medicine away, you said that among these guests, the person you hated the most was me... I..."

Zhang Qiran couldn't speak anymore, trying hard to suppress his emotions, but he simply couldn't do it.

Ye Leyao understood.

"In matters of the heart, unrequited love is always a chaotic battlefield for one person, and Zhang Qiran's personality is sensitive."

"He mustered up the courage with all his heart to approach Song Zhehan, but before Zhang Qiran could properly introduce himself to Song Zhehan, he heard with his own ears that Song Zhehan hated him the most."

"Who could accept that? No wonder Zhang Qiran would turn love into hate!"

The restaurant fell silent once more.

Ye Leyao looked at Song Zhehan, feeling anxious inside.

"So Teacher Goushi, aren't you really planning to say something?"

Just as Ye Leyao was agonizing over whether to remind Song Zhehan, he saw Huo Yan, sitting next to Zhang Qiran, suddenly pull out a tissue and pass it over Zhang Qiran to Song Zhehan.

Song Zhehan lowered his gaze, took it, and whispered his thanks, then passed the tissue to Zhang Qiran: "Stop crying."

Zhang Qiran didn't even extend his hand, turning his head away again.

Song Zhehan was unusually patient, explaining: "At that time, I didn't recognize you. To me, you were just a stranger. Imagine, when we first met, a stranger unceremoniously splashed me with water. Do you think I would give him a good face?"

"And," Song Zhehan drew out his tone, "because of you, I got sick when I returned from the program that day."

When Zhang Qiran heard this, his sobs paused indeed.

After two seconds, he turned his head slightly: "Then... then are you okay now?"

The corners of Ye Leyao's mouth curved upward instantly.

"Zhang Qiran, don't be too easy to appease! You're already pacified like this?"

Song Zhehan was speechless: "Are you stupid? How long has this been?"

Zhang Qiran hung his head: "Oh."

"When did you recognize me?" Zhang Qiran asked.

Song Zhehan maintained a straight face: "Just now."

Zhang Qiran was shocked, his voice agitated: "So for so long, you never recognized me?"

Song Zhehan found it even more amusing: "You changed your name, changed your surname, and even your face slimmed down quite a bit compared to before. How was I supposed to recognize you?"

Zhang Qiran was left standing there, stunned.

His alcohol-numbed brain began to slowly churn in thought.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Qiran seemed to come to a realization: "Yeah, it seems to be... So I should have explained to you back then..."

Song Zhehan was amused by his anger: "You're still as stupid as you were in junior high school."

As Song Zhehan offered the tissue again, this time Zhang Qiran reached out to take it, but his movements were very cautious. He pinched one end of the tissue with two fingers and quickly pulled the tissue into his own hands.

"I'm not stupid." Zhang Qiran's voice was very soft.

Song Zhehan pretended not to hear, continuing: "Then continue talking."

Zhang Qiran wiped the tears from his face. The alcohol made his thinking somewhat sluggish. Hearing this, he asked in confusion, "What to say?"

"Just talk about why you chose to follow the same character route as me, stealing my endorsements and roles?" Song Zhehan lifted his wine glass, watching the bubbles disappear one by one in the glass, "Although I didn't recognize you, you knew me. Why did you still choose to do this?"

Ye Leyao drew in a slight breath.

"It seems that Song Zhehan is preparing to settle accounts with Zhang Qiran bit by bit?"

Even Li Siyuan couldn't help but tsk-tsk: "He holds a grudge, truly."

Zhang Qiran stared blankly at Song Zhehan.

Song Zhehan didn't show much emotion on his face, but Zhang Qiran acutely sensed that Song Zhehan was angry.

Unable to resist, he scooted his chair away along with himself.

Just as he moved, Song Zhehan reached out and pressed his hand against the back of his chair. "What are you avoiding for? Don't you want to explain yourself?"

Zhang Qiran pursed his lips, his voice strained. "I... I wanted to explain myself, but it's true that I took your endorsement and role, so I have nothing to say."

Ye Leyao was left with a head full of question marks.

"Huh? You really did it on purpose?"

"Could it be that you were trying to get Song Zhehan's attention this way?"

"It shouldn't be like that; Zhang Qiran doesn't seem that immature."

Song Zhehan was similarly amused by Zhang Qiran's words, his voice slightly cold. "Of course, I know you took my role and endorsement; I'm asking why. Although we haven't been in contact for so many years, you told me about your family situation in junior high school. Given your background, you wouldn't need to compete with me for roles and endorsements in the entertainment industry, would you?"

Zhang Qiran hummed in agreement, hesitating for a moment before speaking up. "I... I actually only took one of your roles; there were indeed two endorsements, but the second one wasn't taken by me; we competed for it together, but you lost... But, but you didn't fail every time! Recently, I couldn't compete with you."

"So what's the reason you took my role and endorsement?" Song Zhehan asked. "You still haven't explained the reason, or is it really as you said, that you just wanted to take them. Because I didn't recognize you, you held a grudge, or because I threw away your medicine before and called you a copycat, so—"

"No!" Zhang Qiran hurriedly interrupted Song Zhehan, not knowing which sentence had triggered him. His eyes reddened again, tears welling up inside. "I didn't want to take your role, but that drama... the leading actress of that drama, she... I can't say this... because our drama hasn't aired yet, although I don't know if it will air, but since nothing has happened yet, I..."

Ye Leyao couldn't help guessing when he heard this. "Could it be that the leading actress of your upcoming drama has some scandal, so you intercepted it?"

Zhang Qiran looked as if he had found a savior, turning his head instantly as tears fell down, then nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes... Yes, yes. I didn't enter the circle to make money; even if it delayed some time, it wouldn't matter, so I intercepted it."

As he spoke, Zhang Qiran quickly glanced at Song Zhehan again, saying softly, "And I didn't leave you uncompensated; didn't you get a drama soon after? I had the director contact you!"

Ye Leyao covered his mouth.

"Zhang Qiran! What should I say, you're the ultimate love-struck person! You're even more love-struck than my second brother; at least my second brother didn't give Su Rui any roles!"

Huo Yan: "..."

Could Ye Leyao's habit of delivering a killing blow at any moment ever be cured?

Ye Leyao had no idea what Huo Yan was thinking; his gaze hadn't left Song Zhehan for a moment.

There was no change in Song Zhehan's expression, but his hand holding the wine glass tightened slightly.

After a long while, Song Zhehan said, "The endorsement you took didn't seem to be exposed for food hygiene issues soon after?"

Zhang Qiran let the tears flow quietly, nodding. "Yeah, so I didn't sign a contract with them later."

"The last question," Song Zhehan said, "what's the deal with the persona and smear campaign?"

Zhang Qiran had been crying silently, but when he heard these words, he suddenly turned his head, and the tears flowed even more fiercely. "So, in your heart, I'm still a copycat? Do you think my persona is a replica of your previous one?"

Song Zhehan's gaze landed on Zhang Qiran's eyes, moving away in an instant. "At least, that's how it seems to me."

Zhang Qiran couldn't hold back anymore and abruptly stood up, knocking over the bowls and chopsticks in front of him, shattering them all over the floor.

Zhou Zijian hurriedly spoke up. "Ah, Little Song, how about we just..."

"I didn't copy you!" Zhang Qiran's voice was loud, drowning out Zhou Zijian's words. He was trembling slightly from anger, tears flowing like a faucet that couldn't be turned off. "I didn't copy you! I didn't! I didn't! And the smear campaign, my team did send it out, but didn't your team send it first?"

"You don't even know how nasty the campaign they sent out was, calling me a copycat, saying I mimic you like an idiot, but..." Zhang Qiran's voice choked up, unbearably aggrieved. "But didn't you say that to me before? You said I should smile more, learn to help classmates, and as long as I do that, I'll definitely have a lot of friends later on..."

"You said to be like the sun, to live towards the sun..."

"I listened to you and did it, and then you said I was a copycat..."

"Wah wah wah, Song Zhehan, you're a big liar! You don't remember anything, only I do!"

Zhang Qiran cried louder and louder, then pushed his chair away and prepared to run out.

"Ah ah ah—"

Ye Leyao got up in a hurry, but Song Zhehan moved faster than him, grabbing Zhang Qiran's arm directly. "Where do you want to go?"

"What do you care where I go?" Zhang Qiran's voice was hoarse as he struggled hard. "Let go of me! Let go of me quickly! I really hate Song Zhehan the most..."

"You don't know how hateful Song Zhehan is; he clearly doesn't remember me, yet he says he hates me the most, and then this person actually invites me to participate in a variety show..."

"But I'm spineless, and I really came, and then this bastard actually says he wants to see me embarrass myself on the show... He's really too much!"

"Wah wah wah wah... I'm never going to like him again!"

Song Zhehan held onto Zhang Qiran's hand, and Zhang Qiran stood there, wailing to the sky.

Crying and crying, he lost his balance, and his body fell straight toward Song Zhehan.

Song Zhehan could only catch him, and then Zhang Qiran hung onto half of Song Zhehan's body and continued crying.

The other guests exchanged glances.

Qian Yue spoke up first. "Still saying they don't like each other..."

Xia Yang nodded in agreement. "If this isn't love, then I might as well stop making idol dramas."

Ye Leyao said, "It's obviously deep love, starting to deceive themselves."

Ye Leyao couldn't help but look at Song Zhehan's expression again, taking only one glance before covering his mouth and turning away.

Li Siyuan followed suit, looking once and couldn't help but laugh outright. "Tsk tsk tsk, look at how Teacher Gou is suffering, talking less tonight."

Who could disagree? Indeed!

It was about time; the melon had been thoroughly enjoyed, leaving all the guests with expressions of contentment on their faces.

Zhang Qiran, having cried herself weary, now slumped her head against Song Zhehan's shoulder, her eyes closed in exhaustion.

"How about we help him back to his room?" Xia Yang suggested.

Zhou Zijian stepped forward. "I'll assist you."

The trio supported the inebriated Zhang Qiran as they made their way towards the elevator.

Suddenly, Zhou Zijian recalled something and turned to Song Zhehan. "By the way, isn't Zhang Qiran sharing a room with you?"

Ye Leyao couldn't hold it in any longer, bursting into exaggerated laughter.

"That's right! Not only are they in the same room, but it was our very own Teacher Gou who personally invited him!"

The other guests, remembering this detail, couldn't contain their amusement either, their laughter echoing through the air.

Song Zhehan's expression transformed into an intricate mix of emotions in that instant.

Qin Yao chuckled for a moment before sobering up. "I've already arranged for his assistant and agent to be contacted; they'll take extra care of him tonight."

Song Zhehan resignedly closed his eyes, nodding. "Thank you for the trouble."

Then, Qin Yao added, "However, until his agent and assistant arrive, I'm afraid I'll have to impose upon you, since you're sharing a room with him."

Li Siyuan erupted into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "Hahahaha—"

A sharp glare from Song Zhehan did little to quell Li Siyuan's mirth.

The elevator soon arrived, and the four figures vanished from the live stream.

Ye Leyao and the other guests began tidying up the aftermath. By the time they finished, it was already midnight.

Today's filming had been exhausting, and the evening's juicy gossip only added to the fatigue. Ye Leyao should have gone straight to bed, but sleep eluded him. Upon returning to his room, he opened Weibo instead.

The top trending topic was lengthy yet hilariously wicked—

#Will Zhang Qiran Flee Earth After Sobering Up?#

Ye Leyao's grin stretched wider than the sky itself.

Absolutely!

Not only had he gotten drunk, but he had also made a "passionate confession" to Song Zhehan in front of everyone...

And today wasn't even the last day of filming; there was still an entire day left tomorrow.

Oh my!