Chapter 64
“To be ignored by sister only means I haven’t done well enough yet. Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Xu. I’ll work harder so that sister will notice me.”
Yu Jinzhe smiled as he spoke.
Xu Shuangrong’s smile stiffened slightly.
It was one thing for this new guest not to catch her hidden meaning, but why did he start self-strategizing?
“It seems your date with Teacher Xie tonight went very smoothly. No wonder you came back so late—you both must have been very happy.”
Since Yu Jinzhe wouldn’t take the bait, she aimed for a simpler target instead.
Sure enough, as soon as Xiao Jingxi heard that, he immediately looked over. There was now a clear hostility in his eyes toward Yu Jinzhe.
…
After a simple welcome for Yu Jinzhe’s arrival, the night passed peacefully.
At midnight, the cameras all switched off, and the “Love Observation” villa entered rest mode.
Xie Mi had just finished showering and was blow-drying her hair when someone knocked on the door.
It was Xiao Jingxi.
He was holding a plate of ribs wrapped in cling film, smiling gently.
“It was finally my turn to cook tonight, but I didn’t expect you to be absent. I even specially made sweet and sour ribs, your favorite. Such a pity.”
Xie Mi looked at the charred black lump on the plate. “You really hate me, huh? Regretting that you didn’t manage to poison me?”
The corners of Xiao Jingxi’s mouth twitched, but he forced his smile. “Don’t joke. Look, this portion is the one I saved especially for you.”
Xie Mi laughed. “Leftovers no one wanted, right?”
Xiao Jingxi almost lost control.
It was rare for him to act merciful and be gentle with her, and she still gave him no face.
“Xie Mi, I know what you’re thinking. You just believe Mr. Shen is showing interest in you, and the new guest has also thrown you an olive branch, so you’ve gotten a little too confident.”
“But I must remind you. Their interest in you is only temporary—because your current persona is popular, because you’re trending. Only then are you useful to them.”
“But a persona is still just a persona. I know better than anyone what you’re really like. How long can you keep up the act? The day you’re exposed, when it backfires, do you think they’ll still bother with you?”
“Xie Mi, recognize your situation. Don’t let vanity blind you. Quit this show obediently, and let’s return to how we were before—that’s where you belong.”
Xie Mi listened with a smile, then beckoned with her hand.
“Come here.”
Xiao Jingxi thought he’d convinced her. He curved his lips and leaned down tenderly.
But just as he got close, Xie Mi clamped her hand on his jaw. The moment he cried out in pain and opened his mouth, she shoved the hair dryer into it and alternated hot and cold wind at full blast!
Xiao Jingxi’s eyes rolled back instantly, his cheeks ballooned like a gorilla.
He shoved Xie Mi away in panic, stumbling back. Before he could steady himself, a vacuum robot zoomed down the hall and plowed straight into him.
Bang! Thud, rumble rumble rumble! “Ahhh!”
He tumbled perfectly down the staircase.
Xie Mi looked at the program’s sponsor-branded robot and gave a thumbs up.
“I always believed in you since you were little!”
Xiao Jingxi’s head buzzed, but he didn’t dare scream in anger for fear of waking the others.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Xie Mi suddenly inhaled deeply.
Xiao Jingxi’s pupils shrank.
Wait… what was she going to do?
“Movie King Xiao—fell—down—the—stairs—!”
“Help—me—ahhhh—!”
Her voice shook the heavens. Xiao Jingxi’s eardrums almost burst.
The pitch-black villa lit up instantly. Dozens of footsteps thundered up the stairs. Within moments, the stairwell was packed tight with guests and staff.
Everyone surrounded Xiao Jingxi like watching a circus monkey.
“Movie King Xiao! Are you okay? What happened?!”
“Movie King Xiao, your mouth… did you secretly shove a lightbulb in it?”
“Movie King Xiao, say something!”
Xiao Jingxi’s tongue was still numb. His mouth opened and closed—aba aba—but no words came out.
Then someone yelled at the top of their lungs, “Movie King Xiao fell and became brain-damaged!!!”
Xiao Jingxi: Your whole family’s brain-damaged!!!
In a whirlwind, everyone carried him downstairs for treatment. They bandaged his mouth tightly in several layers.
He was effectively muted.
Xie Mi nodded in satisfaction.
Finally, that laxative mouth was shut.
Although everyone sensed something suspicious, no one dared to pry further. Still, doubt toward Xiao Jingxi grew.
Surely he hadn’t been knocking on a female guest’s door at midnight?
That would be shameless.
…
The next morning, Xiao Jingxi appeared on camera with bandages around his mouth.
At his agent’s suggestion, the show explained that he had been reciting lines late into the night and developed mouth ulcers. Surprisingly, this even earned sympathy from fans.
On camera, Xiao Jingxi interacted with fans, his beautiful eyes filled with fatigue, his slender hands gesturing to assure them not to worry.
Fans, crying and shouting, threatened to demand accountability from his agency while also swooning over his “fragile beauty.”
Passing behind him, Xie Mi shook her head. “Truly, ropes always snap at the thinnest spot, and misfortune always finds the unfortunate.”
Shen Yanqing, returning from a morning run, added, “A pitiful man who’s disabled but strong-willed.”
And Xiao Jingxi, who heard it all: “…”
Were they mocking him to his face?
[Too cruel, you two]
[The moment I entered the livestream I was greeted with Old Xie and Old Shen’s trademark sarcasm—what a way to start the day]
[So I’m not the only one who thinks Xiao Jingxi is pretentious. I mean, how do you “practice lines” so hard your mouth blisters? Were you beatboxing in your room all night?]
[Hahahahaha sometimes Xiao Jingxi’s fans really are delusional]
At the dining table, seven breakfasts were neatly arranged.
In the kitchen, the refined youth had his shirt sleeves rolled up, calmly finishing the last touches.
When someone entered, Yu Jinzhe lifted his head with a light smile.
“Good morning. I couldn’t sleep well my first night here, so I got up early to prepare breakfast for everyone. I hope it suits your taste.”
Liu Woxing was surprised. “You made all this?”
Perfectly runny fried eggs, slightly charred whole-wheat toast, freshly washed blueberries and cherry tomatoes, paired with a cup of warm oat milk.
Not only did it look appetizing, but the nutrition was well balanced too.
Yu Jinzhe nodded.
Qiu Chengye clicked his tongue. “Didn’t expect to be eating fine bran in this villa.”
[Hahahahaha that line killed me]
[Everyone here’s a kitchen disaster (Xu Shuangrong knows a little, but not much) you have to understand hahaha]
[Our brother and sister really suffered enough before this]
[Little brother Jinzhe is love—so refined, so elegant, and now even a master of cooking, waaaah]
Only Xie Mi narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin.
Something wasn’t right.
