Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Xing Shi washed his face and lowered his head to let the water droplets fall.

In his hasty get-up earlier, he hadn't noticed that he had pressed against Fu Xiuning's chest. At this moment, it felt like the warmth from Fu Xiuning's chest was still lingering on his fingertips.

He couldn't help but move his fingers slightly.

The system regretfully said, "If you hadn't run, you two might have kissed by now."

Xing Shi remained silent.

The system chimed in with a playful tone, "The fact that you had such a big reaction when you heard about the censorship feature shows that you definitely have feelings for him, and they're not low~"

Xing Shi continued to stay silent.

It was rare to see their usually mischievous host like this, and the system kindly said, "It's normal to be shy when you're young, don't feel embarrassed. After all, it's Fu Xiuning we're talking about—anyone who appreciates good looks would have thoughts about him."

It became happier as it spoke, "You two are practically made for each other."

Xing Shi said, "Shut up."

The system said, "Oh, come on~ Just talk about your feelings with me~ Tell me what you're thinking?"

Xing Shi said, "I've decided to move out and forget about him."

The system: "!!!"

Xing Shi said, "Are you going to keep talking?"

The system said, "Shut."

Xing Shi dried his face and left the bathroom.

He glanced at the open bedroom door, hesitated for a few seconds, and then returned to the living room.

Fu Xiuning was still sitting in the same spot, but he was no longer reading a book; instead, he was playing with his phone.

As they got closer, both of them heard the latest value.

"Ping"

"Current favorability: 59. The system had been tracking their relationship progress, and this number represented how much Fu Xiuning liked Xing Shi."

The system immediately clicked its tongue, "An accidental hug raised it by so much. Looks like he's really into you."

Xing Shi said, "What?"

The system fell silent again.

Xing Shi sat back on the sofa and picked up the materials again, looking at the introduction of the variety show.

The show was called "Time Agent," which featured a group of people with time-traveling abilities receiving a commission letter from a certain timeline, traveling to another world together to help the client solve problems.

The show had four regular guests, and there would be two additional guests each episode. Due to the interesting background stories each episode, it currently had a good viewership and was quite popular.

Xing Shi said, "Let's go with this one. The recording is next week; can I make it in time for this episode?"

Fu Xiuning nodded. "Yes, you can."

Xing Shi said in surprise, "Presumably they've already finalized the flying guests, right?"

Fu Xiuning replied, "Yes, it just so happens that it's one of our company's artists, so it's easier to negotiate."

Xing Shi felt relieved. "Are there any other reality shows? I think it would be good for Feng Zifan to get out and relax too."

Fu Xiuning nodded. "There are. I'll message you once the contract is ready, and you can bring him to my office."

Xing Shi said, "Okay," and the topic came to an end.

He scrolled through some news about reality shows on his phone, then looked up at Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning appeared calm, his pajamas softening some of his usual aloofness. Even as he played on his phone, he still looked effortlessly elegant and charming.

Xing Shi suddenly had a thought: if he hadn't been transported to this world, and Fu Xiuning hadn't encountered these hosts and systems, how and in what circumstances would they have met? What would their relationship be like now?

Fu Xiuning soon noticed the gaze from the side and turned his head to see Xing Shi staring at him without blinking. His eyes sparkled under the light, calm and intense, just like the first time they met.

Their eyes met, and neither of them looked away.

"Ding"

"Current favorability: 60"

Xing Shi's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "Bro, I'm going back to sleep. Goodnight."

Fu Xiuning's expression seemed to melt under the light, softer than usual, as he softly said, "Goodnight."

The next afternoon, Xing Shi received a message and, during the break between classes, took Feng Zifan to Fu Xiuning's office.

Qi Changyi was also there. His work had temporarily come to an end, and he had originally planned to pick a reality show to take the younger one out for fun, but found out that the selection had already been made.

When they walked in, Qi Changyi asked, "You guys interested in 'Time Travel Agent'?"

Xing Shi said, "Yes, I find it quite interesting."

Feng Zifan followed him in and greeted the two bosses.

Qi Changyi was already aware of Yu Yi's attempt to poach, so he wasn't surprised that Yu Yi hadn't come with them. He nodded at Feng Zifan and looked at Xing Shi. "Do you want me to take you?"

Xing Shi reminded him, "I'm recording next week."

Qi Changyi said, "I know, it can be arranged."

Xing Shi agreed readily, "Alright then."

The other hosts were always so busy, making it hard to see them much. This time, he was taking the initiative to meet Yan Feng, to probe his personality and plan the next step. And since Qi Changyi was the boss of the company and a top star in the entertainment industry, even if Yan Feng was difficult, he’d still show respect. By following Qi Changyi, he would have more opportunities to interact with Yan Feng.

Seeing that he didn't mind, Qi Changyi had his agent contact the directors. Given his standing in the industry, they could easily adjust the schedule, even if they’d already finalized the guest list.

While Qi Changyi was on the phone, Xing Shi took the contract that Fu Xiuning handed him, quickly reviewed it, and signed with confidence.

Fu Xiuning said, "Have Xiao Qin accompany you, and if anything comes up, just hand it off to him."

Qin was Fu Xiuning's personal assistant, and Xing Shi had already grown familiar with him, so he didn’t mind.

Fu Xiuning then looked at Feng Zifan and gestured to the documents on the table, allowing him to choose.

Feng Zifan had never imagined that he would get to live the life of "picking and choosing" before even debuting. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, it still felt unreal when it actually happened.

He tried to maintain his composure as he walked over and began flipping through the documents.

Most of the TV shows were ones he had heard of, and there were many different types. He hesitated for a moment.

Seeing how long Feng Zifan had been looking, Qi Changyi said, "You don’t have to decide today. If you’re unsure, you can think it over or listen to my advice."

Feng Zifan quickly agreed; Brother Qi had been in the industry for years, and listening to him was always a good idea.

Qi Changyi asked about his preferences and picked a TV show that was most suitable for him at this stage, saying, "I’ll assign you a manager, and he will handle the follow-up matters with you."

Feng Zifan gratefully said, "Thank you, Brother Qi."

The two trainees still had classes, so they stayed for a while before heading back.

They had entered the elevator during class time, and many people had seen them. Now that they were back, everyone couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Since Xing Shi's background was now well-known, he calmly replied, "Just signed up for a show for fun."

Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

No wonder he's the boss, he can just pick up a show whenever he wants—how carefree!

They looked at Feng Zifan and asked, "Are you going too, Brother Fan?"

Xing Shi said, "Yes, he's going to a different show."

Everyone felt envious, wishing they could get close to someone like him. Especially Hou Zhang, who almost wanted to call him dad.

But amidst the envy, they all couldn't help but look at Yu Yi. They thought to themselves that it served him right. If he hadn’t stirred things up, Yu Yi would have gotten a resource too.

With someone worse off than them, they instantly felt a lot better.

Life returned to its usual routine, with monotonous training.

Online, however, there was a stir because the situation report on Yu Shu's incident had finally been released.

The forensic examination confirmed that Yu Shu's cause of death was sudden death, with no external injuries or drug influence.

The police investigation was very detailed and released Yu Shu's schedule. He had just finished work and was supposed to rest for two days, but his assistant said he saw a group message and went to find them. The message records on Bei Jinrong's and others' phones also showed that they hadn’t invited Yu Shu; he had gone on his own initiative.

As for the mysterious fog… there was no explanation for that. The final statement was that due to air currents hitting the yacht and being startled by Yu Shu's incident, two people lost their balance and fell, resulting in injuries.

With the release of the report, all previous speculations like "rich second generation playing with death," "group drug use," and "group brawl" were shattered. Of course, there were still some conspiracy theorists who believed that capital had been used to smooth things over, but they were in the minority. The families of the second-generation elites were watching the public opinion closely and would sue anyone who dared to spread rumors.

Fans were heartbroken over the loss of their idol and lamented that his efforts had gone unreciprocated. Qi Changyi was then dragged into the discussion, which immediately sparked a heated debate online, angering his fans.

Xing Shi didn’t pay much attention and didn’t participate in the discussions.

The trainees all thought he had fainted due to a low fever from being scared by this incident, so they didn’t dare to mention it in front of him.

A week later, it was time for Xing Shi to record the variety show, so he packed his things to head to the airport.

As he dragged his suitcase out the door, he looked up and saw Fu Xiuning pulling a suitcase too, which raised his eyebrows.

The system immediately perked up: "Wow, not even waiting for you to be alone! Do you think he's making a move on you?"

Xing Shi brushed it off and turned to ask: "Bro, are you coming too?"

Fu Xiuning responded with a soft "Yeah."

He knew that Xing Shi was just going to meet Yan Feng, but plans could change. In case something unexpected happened and Xing Shi had to act, someone would need to help with the aftermath.

He added, "I’m just worried about you."

Xing Shi understood and emotionally replied, "Bro, you're the best."

Fu Xiuning said, "After all, you're my only brother."

Xing Shi was even more touched. "And you’re my only bro!"

Fu Xiuning looked at him. "Looks like Qi Changyi’s waiting for us downstairs."

Xing Shi replied seriously, "It’s different. He’s technically a cousin, but we’re brothers by choice, not by blood."

Fu Xiuning closed the door and led him downstairs.

Qi Changyi was sitting in the limo, watching them approach. At first, he thought Fu Xiuning was just there to see Xing Shi off, but then he saw him get into the car.

Not only that, after briefly greeting him, the two bypassed him and headed to the back seat.

Qi Changyi: "..."

He silently looked back, suspecting that the two might have already started talking.

For the whole ride, he felt like a third wheel, watching them bond like brothers, as if he’d been kicked in the gut a few times.

The filming location for the variety show was in H City’s film studio complex.

The area was vast, featuring various architectural styles from ancient to modern times. There were always drama crews filming, and many tourists, making it a lively place.

Xing Shi had been gazing out the window the whole time, and when they pulled up to the hotel booked by the production team, his eyes lit up as he turned to Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning smiled. "We’ll go for a walk later, I promise."

Xing Shi said, "Great!"

Qi Changyi intervened. "I'll take you to meet some people first."

Xing Shi obediently nodded, went upstairs to drop his luggage, and followed him to meet the director.

The director of *Time Agent* was surnamed Jiang, in his thirties, slightly balding but with a kind face.

He had reviewed Xing Shi's information and remembered him as the male lead in Yu Shu's MV. He was deeply impressed by his outstanding appearance and was quite pleased about the replacement. However, when he heard that Qi Changyi was also coming, he sensed that something was off.

A trainee who had only starred in an MV, replacing a senior from the same company, and then being personally brought by Qi Changyi—this wasn't just an ordinary situation.

Or maybe there was another reason.

Maybe Qi Changyi was trying to distance himself from the Yu Shu scandal by bringing the lead from Yu Shu’s MV to the show, showing that the unrequited love had nothing to do with him.

But Qi Changyi had weathered many storms over the years, so this scenario was less likely.

Director Jiang mulled over these possibilities, then, as Xing Shi stood before him, he couldn’t help but think how strikingly handsome he was. With a warm smile, he welcomed him, "Welcome to *Time Agent*!"

Xing Shi responded tactfully, "It's my honor to have the opportunity to participate in this variety show. I've been watching it for a while."

Director Jiang was pleased with what he heard, and after a few more exchanges, his satisfaction grew.

No matter if this newcomer had any background, at least his emotional intelligence was on point. He didn’t act arrogant just because of his looks or connections. This would make things much smoother. The director had initially worried that Qi Changyi had to personally oversee things because the newcomer might have a difficult temperament.

Qi Changyi waited until Xing Shi finished his conversation and then said, "We'll be troubling you to look after him this time."

Director Jiang smiled, "Don't mention it. It's only right that we take care of you since you're gracious enough to be our special guests on the show."

Qi Changyi asked, "Have the other guests arrived?"

Director Jiang replied, "Xiao Feng and Zi Xin are already here, but Xin Yu and Feng Ya will only arrive in the evening."

Qi Changyi nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then left with Xing Shi.

Xing Shi understood that Qi Changyi wouldn’t arrange a formal introduction to the other artists just yet. Instead, he would introduce them casually when they crossed paths, as a special trip to meet them would seem too exaggerated and unnecessary.

Xing Shi asked, "The director was talking about Xiao Feng. Is he our company's Yan Feng?"

Qi Changyi said, "Yes, he debuted from a talent show and has been developing quite well this past year."

Xing Shi asked, "Have you interacted with him?"

Qi Changyi replied, "A few times."

Xing Shi asked, "What do you think of him?"

Qi Changyi said, "He's quite dedicated and has a strong drive to succeed. Would you like to invite him out for dinner tonight?"

Xing Shi said, "Since we're from the same company and will be recording the variety show together, it might be good to invite him out for dinner tonight."

Qi Changyi looked at him and sensed that Xing Shi seemed somewhat interested in Yan Feng, so he said, "Alright, I'll invite him."

They had lunch on the plane, and by now it was already afternoon.

Despite the scorching August heat, nothing could dampen their enthusiasm for having fun. Xing Shi went back to find Fu Xiuning, and the two of them applied sunscreen before heading out together.

As they turned a corner down the corridor, they saw a guest room door ahead open, and a boy wearing a black T-shirt and shorts came out. It was Yan Feng, with his usual calm demeanor.

As they looked over, he also noticed them.

Fu Xiuning heard a familiar voice.

Yan Feng said, "This is you begging me."

The AI said, "Yes, we're stooping down to say hello, nothing more."

Yan Feng gave a cool hum, "Let’s not make this a habit."

The AI immediately said, "Thank you, boss! You're the best!"

Yan Feng gave it an "Mhm," then looked at Fu Xiuning with a slightly surprised expression, "Boss? What are you doing here?"

Fu Xiuning said, "Accompanying him."

Yan Feng and the AI both looked at Xing Shi, and this time they were genuinely surprised. Was Fu Xiuning actually willing to go out of his way to accompany someone?

Yan Feng took two steps forward, "Who's this?"

Fu Xiuning said, "My younger brother."

As he introduced the other person to Xing Shi, Xing Shi politely greeted, "Hey, Brother Feng."

Yan Feng was quite pleased with this address and nodded.

The system, however, was anxious.

Its host had never paid much attention to Fu Xiuning, and they were likely the last to know that Fu Xiuning had a younger brother.

It said, "Newcomer, should I check him out, boss?"

Yan Feng said, "Go ahead."

The system received the command and quickly provided the information.

Yan Feng said, "Not bad, this one can be my little brother. What’s his rank?"

The system replied, "Number 27."

Yan Feng thought for a moment, "He Dao’s son... move the priority up. Number 12."

The system said, "Okay."

Having found a new little brother, Yan Feng showed a bit more patience and asked with a smile, "Where are you headed?"

Xing Shi said, "Just going out for a casual stroll."

He knew the other party must have found out his identity and continued chatting while observing. Yan Feng could smile, but his attitude wasn’t warm. He seemed condescending, unlike Yu Shu, who was more approachable.

As Fu Xiuning had said, there was an inherent arrogance in him.

Xing Shi looked at him with admiration and said, "I watched your talent show, Brother Feng. You came out fourth or fifth, right? You were very popular and amazing!"

Yan Feng: "!"

The system: "!!!"

Yan Feng angrily thought to himself, "How dare he bring up my shame!"

The system advised, "Calm down, boss. He’s just a newbie and genuinely thinks you’re amazing!"

Yan Feng said, "I don’t even acknowledge the word 'fifth'!"

The system expressed, "It’s our fault. If we had brought you here sooner, first place would definitely have been yours!"

Yan Feng said, "Well, you know that."

The system said, "It was indeed our mistake. Let’s not dwell on this. They’re heading out for a stroll."

Yan Feng hmph-ed again, "Tell me again, who are they? Do they deserve for me to accompany them?"

The system explained, "I didn’t mean for you to come along. I thought you were bored and needed some fresh air."

Yan Feng wasn’t interested and casually responded to Xing Shi, saying, "Then I won’t bother you guys."

Xing Shi noticed him tense up for a moment and replied, "Okay, see you, Brother Feng."

Yan Feng nodded and turned to go back inside.

Xing Shi exclaimed, "Huh?" "What was it that Brother Feng went out for? Why is he heading back in again?"

Yan Feng paused for a moment and said, "Almost forgot."

Xing Shi saw him change direction and, not caring how long he'd be wandering outside, followed Fu Xiuning out of the hotel.

The two of them chose an area that resembled an ancient site.

Although it was hot, it was bearable. They strolled around and explored for the entire afternoon. After returning to the hotel, they showered and went to the restaurant.

Yan Feng was called out by Qi Changyi, who nodded at them once he took his seat.

Xing Shi deliberately chose the seat opposite Yan Feng and curiously asked about the audition.

Yan Feng was hit on a sore spot again and felt like pressing Xing Shi's head into the food, but with Fu Xiuning and Qi Changyi watching, he held back and patiently responded.

Inwardly, Yan Feng silently vowed, "One day, I’ll make this kid cry and beg for forgiveness."

The system added, "Right, and we’ll rise to the top, reclaiming the glory that’s always been ours!"

Yan Feng hummed in satisfaction. "It's fine if they don't understand now. They'll eventually learn to behave."

The system echoed, "Yes!"

Xing Shi noticed Yan Feng's gaze on him had softened a bit. He blinked and threw in another sharp comment, but seeing Yan Feng remained composed, he let it go for the moment.

After dinner, they headed back to their rooms for the night. The next morning, they arrived at the recording site.

The four regular hosts of the *Time Agent* show were Yuan Xinyu, Lu Fengya, Yan Feng, and Wen Zixin—two men and two women.

Yuan Xinyu and Lu Fengya were the senior members, while the other two were newer idols.

Qi Changyi led Xing Shi to greet them before they began makeup, after which Xing Shi was guided to his designated position.

As the flight guests for this episode, Xing Shi and Qi Changyi were given a simple "prequel" designed by the production team.

Under their guidance, Xing Shi filmed some footage and then followed the pre-designed route to reach the destination.

The six ability users, who had felt the call, gathered. Yuan Xinyu first cued Qi Changyi and Xing Shi to introduce themselves before getting to the main topic.

The premise was straightforward: the six of them had been having recurring dreams about the loves and conflicts of an ancient dynasty.

Following the clues, they arrived at the ruins and decided to search for the client's distress letter. They would then use their powers to travel to the client’s time and help solve the problem.

The six were to split up and act separately.

Before parting ways, Qi Changyi glanced at Xing Shi. "You got this, right?"

Xing Shi replied, "Don't worry," and casually chose a direction to search for the letter. He quickly found some clues and soon discovered a wooden box holding the letter.

Upon opening it, he saw it was indeed a distress letter, which he skimmed through quickly. He spotted the signature.

Client: Resident of Gamma Star.

Below was another line: "You are the only one entrusted, so be sure to hide your identity, okay~"

Xing Shi blinked in confusion. "What?"

The system echoed, "What?"

Xing Shi looked at the PD and asked, "Are you sure there's no mistake?"

The PD smiled without saying a word.

Xing Shi put away the letter and thought to himself, "This is going to be interesting." A solemn and majestic ancient palace with an alien inside—if one of the concubines were involved, that would be quite something. I wonder if the emperor knows he's sleeping with an alien?

He returned to the meeting point and found that he was the first to find the letter.

The PD filmed him briefly, then signaled that he could rest until the others returned.

Xing Shi caught a glimpse of Fu Xiuning arriving and walked over to stand next to him.

Fu Xiuning said, "I heard we're switching to period costumes soon?"

Xing Shi replied, "Yes, this story is set in ancient times. After we finish filming the initial group discussion scene, we'll 'time-travel' to the past."

Fu Xiuning was curious and asked, "What did the commission letter say?"

Xing Shi, getting excited, took out the letter and waved it. "Guess who wrote it. You get three tries. If you guess correctly, I'll agree to any one request of yours."

Fu Xiuning confirmed, "Any request?"

Xing Shi said, "Yes!"

Fu Xiuning said, "The scope is too broad. I'm not familiar with your story's context."

Xing Shi said, "Just within the palace."

Fu Xiuning said, "Can the answer be general, like prince or consort?"

Xing Shi generously said, "It can."

Fu Xiuning looked at him and continued, "Will the events in the palace involve court officials?"

Xing Shi replied, "I don't know. Probably not."

Fu Xiuning paused to think. The fact that Xing Shi would make such a bet meant the answer probably wasn't something obvious like a maid, eunuch, or concubine.

Or maybe the answer was simpler than he thought, and Xing Shi was just playing mind games.

He probed, "Maid?"

Xing Shi said, "Wrong."

Fu Xiuning immediately took a different approach, "A monster that has gained wisdom."

Both Xing Shi and the system let out a sharp breath. Xing Shi said, "Still wrong, but you're getting closer. How close, exactly?"

Fu Xiuning asked, "Does it allow supernatural elements?"

Xing Shi said, "It doesn't."

Fu Xiuning said, "Someone from the sky?"

Xing Shi paused for a moment and said, "Are you thinking of a celestial being?"

Fu Xiuning could tell from his reaction that he was about to hit the right answer. His lips curved into a smile, but he didn’t follow his lead. "It’s someone from the heavens, so what do you think?"

Xing Shi handed the letter to him.

Fu Xiuning opened it and fell silent, pausing to process the unexpected content.

Who would’ve expected an alien in this ancient world?

He folded the letter shut and handed it back.

"This still counts as someone from the heavens, right?" he smiled at Xing Shi. "You set the terms, and now you have to follow through."