Chapter 13
#RuanFengtheschemingoldman#
#XieMitearingaparttheoldscumbag#
#XieMiJudgeoftheEntertainmentIndustry#
With Ruan Feng’s downfall, Xie Mi also shot to fame.
Netizens under the trending hashtags split into two camps: one focusing on cursing Ruan Feng, the other commenting on Xie Mi’s performance in the show.
[Air Not Allowed]: Just ten minutes and she made a veteran actor’s reputation collapse on the spot—this sis is seriously awesome.
[Long hair and waist]: Suddenly I’m kind of loving Xie Mi’s craziness. The entertainment circle is such a mess, we need at least a few people brave enough to speak up.
[Broken buttocks]: I’m dying, Ruan Feng wanted to posture in front of Xie Mi, but she wasn’t afraid at all—straight up taught him a lesson.
[A smile makes everyone jump]: I’ll say it again: “husband” isn’t a gender, it’s a vibe.
[Wudang Mountain Little Yellow Dog]: If all those rumors about Xie Mi being a diva on set were actually bought by Ruan Feng, doesn’t that mean she’s actually not a bad person?
[Snowmelt and bleak]: Don’t completely whitewash her—don’t forget she still has one major scandal.
Just as Xie Mi’s reputation was starting to recover, the Xiao-Rong CP fans couldn’t sit still.
As her biggest haters, the ones who—if extreme enough—could literally stab her in the hospital, they absolutely could not allow her to be redeemed.
So they immediately created the hashtag #XieMiHomewrecker, laying out from start to finish how Xie Mi had been Xiao Jingxi’s “dream girl,” how she had intruded on the Xiao-Rong CP, and how utterly shameless she was.
The tag shot up onto the trending list.
Meanwhile, after sending Ruan Feng off, the program began its morning sports event.
Director Niu picked up the loudspeaker to cue the flow.
“Sports stimulate adrenaline, magnify human senses, and make it easier to spark romantic chemistry with those around you.”
“So today, we’re holding the first sports event of Love Observed—a three-legged race!”
This part Xie Mi remembered.
In the original book, Xiao Jingxi and Xu Shuangrong were paired together. Neither was good at three-legged racing, so halfway through they both fell, accidentally lips touching—an iconic scene where the Xiao-Rong CP relationship warmed up.
“And now, I’ll announce the pairings!”
Director Niu’s voice came through the loudspeaker:
“Liu Woxing and Qiu Chengye, one group.
Xu Shuangrong and Shen Yeqing, one group.
Xie Mi and Xiao Jingxi, one group!”
The big grin on Xie Mi’s face instantly disappeared.
Excuse me, who taught you to divide teams like this?
Shouldn’t you be promoting the hottest Xiao-Rong CP? And this doesn’t match the book at all!
Not only Xie Mi, but even the fans in the bullet screen were furious.
[Why are you splitting up my Xiao-Rong CP!]
[This isn’t right. The hottest CP in the show is Xiao-Rong. There’s no way the crew wouldn’t promote them. Someone must’ve pulled strings backstage.]
[Obviously it’s Xie Mi, deliberately having the director pair her with Movie King Xiao just so she can get close. Speechless…]
[Can Xie Mi stop being a homewrecker? I literally just praised her, and now this. I’m done.]
Xiao Jingxi, expressionless, walked over to Xie Mi with the strap, “Tie it up.”
In their previous “relationship,” Xiao Jingxi had always been in the higher position, long used to ordering her around.
So naturally, he handed her the strap to tie their legs.
But Xie Mi flatly refused.
“Sorry, I don’t know how.”
Xiao Jingxi’s lips twitched. Unexpectedly, he didn’t argue, just crouched down and tied their legs himself.
This cooperation was strangely out of character.
Just as Xie Mi was wondering what trick he was planning this time, she suddenly felt a gaze fixed on her again.
There it was.
The same as earlier, when she had faced off with Ruan Feng—that gaze had been on her the whole time, like a hunter observing prey.
This time, Xie Mi didn’t ignore it. She looked back directly.
Leaning lazily against a tree with his arms folded, Shen Yeqing’s peach blossom eyes were especially arresting.
Meeting her gaze, his thin lips curved into a smile—provocative and charming.
——Need me to help?
He mouthed the words.
Xie Mi only smiled without speaking, calmly withdrawing her gaze.
Before figuring out his intentions, she wouldn’t respond.
The three pairs stood ready at the starting line.
Qiu Chengye wrapped an arm around Liu Woxing’s waist and swore with confidence, “Don’t worry, I’ve got good athletic instincts. As long as you don’t mess up, we can win.”
Liu Woxing smiled gently, “I’ll do my best.”
Xu Shuangrong bit her lip nervously. “Mr. Shen, I’ve never done a three-legged race before. If I drag you down, please don’t scold me.”
“Don’t worry.” Shen Yeqing wore his usual faint smile. “I’ll definitely scold you.”
Xu Shuangrong’s lips twitched awkwardly.
“At my signal, we step with the left foot first,” Xiao Jingxi said flatly, eyes forward.
“You’d better not pull any tricks,” Xie Mi muttered. Her mind was only on the seafood feast prize—she wanted to win quickly.
“Start!”
With the signal, all three pairs set off.
“One-two-one! One-two-one!” Qiu Chengye shouted so loud it shook the ground—only to find he and Liu Woxing hadn’t moved from the starting line.
Shen Yeqing and Xu Shuangrong set off steadily. They weren’t fast, but at least didn’t stumble.
Xie Mi, focused on seafood, immediately stepped with her left foot.
But—
That bastard Xiao Jingxi also stepped with his left foot!
Their legs were tied: his left foot to her right foot. Which meant both of her feet were off the ground—sending her weight pitching forward to the ground.
Whether intentional or not, she felt him yank her slightly.
The result: she didn’t fall straight down, but right into Xiao Jingxi.
Wait a second. She suddenly understood.
Xiao Jingxi did this on purpose. He tricked her into stepping left so she’d fall—right into him. Then she’d be accused of deliberately throwing herself at him.
Oh, okay. That’s how you wanna play?
Take this!
Xie Mi slammed a fist into his back. Xiao Jingxi nearly spat out last night’s dinner. Using that force, Xie Mi regained her balance.
“Are you insane?!” Xiao Jingxi roared.
“Sorry, you told me to step left. But you stepped left too. I lost balance and just grabbed onto you. You don’t mind, right?”
Xie Mi had no intention of taking the blame, bluntly exposing his little scheme.
Xiao Jingxi’s facial muscles twitched—he was clearly holding back fury.
“Grabbed onto me? That was a punch! You nearly sent me to the afterlife!”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t clear earlier. I meant I’d step left. Looks like you misunderstood.”
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Jingxi said, “Again. This time you step left.”
“OK.”
Though she answered, Xie Mi stayed sharp—this time she stepped with her right foot.
Sure enough, Xiao Jingxi used the same trick and stepped left again!
Xie Mi laughed in disbelief.
Oh, so that’s how you wanna play, huh?
Fine. You’re ruthless? Then don’t blame me for being ruthless too.
