Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The trending topics at 3 a.m. were nothing short of spectacular.

The comments section was flooded with blessings, in-depth analyses, screenshots, and fans happily shipping the pair—even a Super Topic had been created at lightning speed: "Fei Xiuqi and Chao Chao."

"The young master's romance only needed the distance of a mistaken confession #crying# The drone flew for half the night, ahhh!"

"Who's jealous? Me, QAQ"

"As Chao Chao's only long-term fan for seven years, my Chao Chao has finally married well #wiping tears#"

It seemed the entire world was celebrating this couple’s epic romance.

Only Zhuang Ji stood frozen in place.

After a long silence,

Zhuang Ji said, "Call Chi Cheng."

Lin Cheng: "...I already did earlier. He just accompanied his top artist into a film shoot and said... he doesn’t know Young Master Lu’s whereabouts."

"He doesn’t know?!"

Zhuang Ji slammed his glass onto the table with a deafening crash. "His own brother is with Lu Tingchao every single day, and he tells me he doesn’t know?!"

Lin Cheng looked down to see that the already fragile wooden side table had split with a pitiful crack, reduced to a sorry state.

The loud noise startled the director’s team.

The director rushed over: "Oh no, what happened? Why such anger?"

Zhuang Ji’s expression remained icy.

He tossed the phone back to Lin Cheng, turned to the director, and said, "I’m taking a day off tomorrow."

The director’s eyes widened: "Of course! No problem at all. Mr. Zhuang, you take care of your matters! One day… you’ll be able to make it up in just one day, right?"

The dark storm gathering in Zhuang Ji’s brow deepened: "That’s enough."

Zhuang Ji said, "He wouldn’t dare not come back with me. If he dares refuse, I’ll—"

The director: "What?"

Lin Cheng suddenly coughed.

The director slapped his forehead: "Ah, got it. Mr. Zhuang, I’ll get back to work. See you the day after tomorrow, see you then!"

"Tell Jiang Rong to send me the filming location of that variety show."

Zhuang Ji said, "Book the earliest flight. We can leave now if possible."

Lin Cheng: "..."

Lin Cheng hesitated for a moment: "Brother Ji. There are a lot of paparazzi outside… Wouldn’t it be too obvious if we left work like this to go over there?"

"Too obvious what?"

Zhuang Ji’s gaze was piercing. "My husband might leave me, and you expect me to care about appearances?"

Lin Cheng: "But if they take photos…"

Zhuang Ji: "Then let them take pictures."

Zhuang Ji fell silent for a moment, then reached out and yanked off the tie from his costume. "...They’d better keep shooting until Chao Chao won’t even step outside, waiting for me to come home every single day."

Lin Cheng: "...???"

*

The earliest flight to L City departed in two and a half hours.

Lin Cheng instinctively took out his memo to report the itinerary to Zhuang Ji.

Just as he was about to speak,

Zhuang Ji said, "Have Jiang Rong send me Chao Chao’s script. I want to read it."

Lin Cheng: "?"

Zhuang Ji glanced over.

Lin Cheng had no choice but to say: "Brother Ji, I just asked Rong… He said the director told him that Young Master Lu’s original partner was replaced by the investor of that show."

Zhuang Ji: "The investor?"

"To be precise, it should be the investor’s young son? He’s from Hong Kong, last name Fei. The one on the trending list."

Lin Cheng spoke more and more cautiously. "Rong also mentioned..."

Zhuang Ji: "Mentioned what?"

Lin Cheng: "He thinks Fei Xiuqi seems to be here specifically for Young Master Lu."

Zhuang Ji: "Hmph."

Lin Cheng: "?"

Zhuang Ji: "Shameless."

Lin Cheng: "???"

"Chao Chao only loves me."

Zhuang Ji leaned back into the first-class soft pillow and closed his eyes. "He’s just trying to tempt Chao Chao. It won’t work."

Lin Cheng: "..."

Lin Cheng fell silent.

Zhuang Ji lifted his gaze, cold and sharp: "You disagree?"

Lin Cheng: "No! Brother Ji, you’re absolutely right! He’s just trying to seduce Young Master Lu!"

Zhuang Ji was finally satisfied: "Chao Chao loves me deeply. But there are always some clueless outsiders who fail to see that Chao Chao belongs to me."

Lin Cheng: "..."

He sensed something was off.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud to Zhuang Ji.

There was a brief silence.

Zhuang Ji opened his eyes again: "Are there any clear frontal photos of Fei Xiuqi online? Show me."

Lin Cheng: "...Yes, Brother Ji, wait a moment, right away."

In the romantic atmosphere illuminated by fireworks, every photo featuring Fei Xiuqi's face also captured Lu Tingchao's bright expression.

Lu Tingchao seemed more suited to the night than anyone else; under the glow of moonlight and dazzling lights, his beautiful face was more vivid than all the colors.

—Lin Cheng mused inwardly, if it weren't for the salary, these two would really make a perfect match.

Lin Cheng braced himself: "Brother Ji, here."

It was a set of nine photos posted by newly converted CP fans.

Zhuang Ji's expression gradually darkened, turning completely grim.

Zhuang Ji asked Lin Cheng: "During these night shoots, have I developed dark circles under my eyes?"

Lin Cheng: "No, Brother Ji, your features are the best in the world..."

Zhuang Ji shot a cold look.

Lin Cheng: "Yes."

Zhuang Ji frowned: "What about my skin?"

Lin Cheng: "A little dull."

Zhuang Ji: "My eyes?"

Lin Cheng: "A bit lifeless."

Zhuang Ji: "Who is more handsome, me or Fei Xiuqi?"

Lin Cheng: "...Brother Ji is the most handsome."

Zhuang Ji looked unhappy: "After we land, book a hotel first. I'll rest for two hours, then arrange for a store to deliver a set of clothes."

Lin Cheng fell silent: "Okay, Brother Ji."

*

The seaside filming period for the dating show had all sunny days perfect for dating.

The "Love Cottage" had soft beds, well-functioning air conditioning, and after currying favor with Fei Xiuqi, the production team's attitude did a complete turnaround—

But Lu Tingchao still ended up with a pair of dark panda eyes.

The production team set breakfast in the central dining area. By the time Lu Tingchao dragged his slippers and took a seat at the table, the other guests had already taken their seats, with some even helping to fetch bowls, chopsticks, and plates from the kitchen.

Fei Xiuqi sat down beside Lu Tingchao and placed his breakfast in front of him.

"BB, morning."

Lu Tingchao cupped his chin in his hands: "Morning."

Fei Xiuqi asked: "What jam would you like on your toast?"

Lu Tingchao shook his head: "None, I don't eat in the morning."

A guest across the table frowned: "That's not good, is it? Xiuqi specifically got up early to make breakfast for us. I think you should at least eat a little."

"Oh."

Lu Tingchao let out a yawn full of listlessness, "That's just how I am. I grew up with a lot of freedom and never developed the habit of accommodating others. No nitpicking, alright?"

That guest: "You!"

Fei Xiuqi smiled: "It's fine, no need to eat if you don't want to. Would you like some milk?"

Lu Tingchao remained languid. He looked at his milk glass, then scanned the rest of the table, saying to Fei Xiuqi: "Brother, is this milk just for me, or do all the other brothers have it too?"

Fei Xiuqi, having grown up in Hong Kong, didn't get the reference at first.

Lu Tingchao took a tissue, stood up, and sighed melodramatically: "Sigh, it seems all the other brothers have it too. Nothing special, then."

Everyone at the table: "..."

The production team: "..."

The guest from earlier couldn't hold back: "...Are you a drama queen?"

Lu Tingchao coughed a few times, tossed the tissue into the trash, and turned back innocently: "I'm not. Are you a critic? You love to comment so much?"

Everyone: "..."

Fei Xiuqi: "The milk is just for you."

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Fei Xiuqi also stood up: "But yesterday's things weren't."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Fei Xiuqi: "From now on, everything that belongs to you will be unique. BB, what would you like to drink? Freshly squeezed juice, perhaps?"

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao had a bad feeling.

This feeling had been growing since yesterday's fireworks show and peaked today.

This was supposed to be just a low-rating show he joined to earn some extra cash.

But that drone performance yesterday... Lu Tingchao clearly saw many people recording it.

Will it be posted online?

Will it spark discussion?

Will... Zhuang Ji see it?

His already numb mind, foggy from a cold and fever, kept him tossing all night.

But his gut feeling told him this was trouble.

Lu Tingchao gestured to Fei Xiuqi: "Let's go for a walk."

"As you wish, BB."

Fei Xiuqi took Lu Tingchao by the hand and asked, "The beach?"

Lu Tingchao lowered his head, pondering, "Hmm..."

The two of them stepped outside.

But someone outside was just about to enter.

Their paths crossed abruptly.

Lu Tingchao slammed squarely into the newcomer's sharply defined jaw.

"Oof!"

Instinctively, Lu Tingchao clutched his head and looked up—

The person in front of him also glanced down slightly.

Lu Tingchao: "!!!"

The man standing at the door wore a perfectly tailored light gray suit, looking as crisp as though he'd come straight from a formal event. His strikingly handsome features were exquisite and extraordinary—the kind of face that had been repeatedly voted most popular male celebrity.

It was clearly still morning, yet he had even styled his hair and put on cologne. It was as if he had appeared from another world, descending out of nowhere.

—To catch someone in the act?

Lu Tingchao shrank back half a step on the spot.

Fei Xiuqi reached out to steady Lu Tingchao by the waist, moving to touch the spot where he had been hit: "BB, where did it hurt? Does it hurt? Let me see..."

"Not your business."

The man’s expression was extremely dark.

He brushed Fei Xiuqi’s arm aside and pulled Lu Tingchao into his arms with a possessive, forceful, and overtly competitive masculine stance.

"Let me introduce myself."

"Zhuang Ji."

The newcomer’s gaze was cold and intense as he reached out to ruffle the hair on Lu Tingchao’s head. "His legal spouse."